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Mon-Fri. 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
"You MUST get the breakfast burrito with bacon - and make it spicy. I've had two this week and they've changed my life. Seriously - this…" read more »
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Inexpensive lunch option with great outdoor seating and quick service..
The pizzas I've had are good, I also enjoy the ham sandwich and the Italian sausage sandwich.
Things I've come into with high hopes and left with broken dreams.... 1. Ford Modelling Audition 2006
2. America's Next Top Model Audition 2008
3. When I looked over at Tony at the urinal last time we were out
4. South Beach Cafe
Had wanted to try this place for a longtime because the pizza, in the pictures, looked amazing. So, on the way to the ballpark to watch the outdoor opera stopped in. Here is where the problems began, the pizza dough was not tossed or rollled when ordered but was little flat cracker like things they had laid out in a stack earlier in the day. Maybe they tossed it earlier, but thats all hearsay. Then, the pizzas are TINY. Like minituare, Kindegarten lunchroom, it would take 5 of them to equal one Escape from NY Slice small. The taste you ask? MEH. MEH. I was hungry so a MEH review is really a MEHHHHHHHH review. Lets call a spade a spade, this place is not a good value (as some have suggested) and is, not that good.
Where's the beef? The chicken sandwich tasted good, but all bread and no meat makes Jack a dull boy.
Sit outside if you can.
When I worked in this area this used to be one of my favorite lunch places. I am in love with their Pizza Antonio. A thin layer of prosciutto under fresh mozzarella. Sometimes I ask for capers on it...they give it a kick. Mmm. The crust is thin, crunchety, smoky deliciousness.
I usually just get the pizza and an Italian soda. Best meal ever. Fuck the salad.
Actually, I like the caprese salad. But if you fudge that up you have serious culinary issues.
I just started working in the neighborhood so was hopeful about South Beach Cafe. Unfortunately I was quite disappointed.
I came in, the place was empty, and who I believe was the owner was behind the register counting out some money. He didn't acknowledge me. I stood there for a while while he ignored me. Then I said "I'm ready to order" and he glanced up, then back down, then kept counting the money. He ignored me for almost two minutes and at no time did he ask someone else to help me or at least say "sorry, will be with you in a minute".
I ordered and sat down. I ended up next to a guy talking REAL LOUD on a cell phone. I detected that the owners and waitress were not going to do anything about that, so I moved.
The door was open, and the restaurant was very cold. And I am not a person who gets cold easily, and I was wearing a warm outfit. I asked if the waitress could close the door. She did, then I heard her yelling back and forth to the owner...she rudely pointed at me a few times while telling the owner in Italian that it was my fault. He ordered her to open the door back up. She did, and I sat there freezing.
There was also a lot of yelling across the restaurant between the staff and various buddies who came in. Very loud, and I felt like I was crashing someone's party.
I can't stand places that are rude to the customer, make you feel ignored, invisible, or an annoyance, and seem to exist only for the benefit of the staff. Based on other reviews I have read on this place, this is a common experience.
Pizza has been trendy. This is not one of those trendy places. What you find here are good, non-fancy, made to order pizzas for cheap. You can get a thin crust, fresh out of the oven pizza for under $10. If you don't want pizza, there are breakfast items, salads, pastas, sandwiches and more. I like that the coffee ($1.50; $0.50 for refill) comes with steamed milk.
Service has always been friendly and efficient. Love the outdoor seating as we can bring the pups. It's so cute watching them sit and stare at our pizzas, hoping for some crust.
I've had three experiences here: The first was terrible, the next two were fantastic. Hence the 3 stars.
The first time, my girlfriend and I went for the Wednesday Night Fondue. We're both so-so on swiss fondue, but we didn't feel like driving up to Marin to get The Melting Pot, so we walked a few blocks down to this place. After we started digging in, we noticed one of the guys who works there staring at us disapprovingly.
He walked over and gave us a lecture on how to properly eat fondue, starting with the proper way to impale the bread, and swirling it around the cheese the correct direction and mixing it together, and then twirling the fork this many turns, and then eating. No, it did not taste better. For God's sake, I'm eating bread and cheese.
Not only was this extremely expensive at $30ish for a pot of cheese(never again for the fondue night), we felt like that guy was judging us the rest of the time. No thank you.
I came back here to grab a caprese sandwich (my favorite), and to my delight, it was delicious. The ordering process can be slow though, and because I beat the lunchtime crowd, I watched as the line grew longer and longer, and several people walked out after waiting in line for too long.
Another girlfriend and I came to get breakfast after Town's End told us that it was a 30-minute wait for brunch, so we ordered the scrambled eggs (with sausage for me, proscuitto for her). It was served with a hunk of sliced baguette, cheesy eggs (which, in my opinion, were a bit dry and overcooked), two slices of tomato, and two hash browns. Breakfast was surprisingly delicious, and my only complaint was that my milk was room-temperature, not ice cold like the way I expected.
Next try: the pizza. Stay tuned!
Walked over here with a few friends after a couple other places we tried to go to were closed on Sunday night!
Ordered the Antonio with prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato, and basil (?). It's pretty authentic Italian thin-crust style pizza and they're all reasonably priced. The entire pizza was covered with prosciutto, then there were slices of mozzarella, and tomato, topped with basil. Mmmm...delicious!
This pizza is great....if we're comparing it to my lunchables pizza. And even then it's only winner by a nose, because it's about the same amount of food, and it's overpriced for the size. Not as cardboard as Oscar Mayers crust, but certainly not the freshest dough I've had by any means.
This place is great for inexpensive meals. Warm brie in the sandwiches is awesome.
yes they are talking shit about you... quite literally - as you nosh on that thin crust pizza. Every other word out of the owner's mouth was "cagato" or "fa cagare"... made me LOL but really now, did it cross his mind that somebody in the place, i.e. me, might understand what he was saying?
Anyway the post-sailing cappucino was fair to middling and yep I will come back to try the pizza, which smelled compellingly good. Though perhaps I'll order ahead as we are tacking off Treasure Island so as to avoid the purported wait...
-------
Un consiglio al proprietario: Le conviene parlare ad una voce leggermente piu' piano perche' io come cliente non voglio pensare al cagare prima di ordinare il caffe' GRAZIE! :)
Went here about a week ago... Thought it was a nice location along with the condos there. It was perfect weather to eat out on the patio. I thought the pizza was pretty good. Perfect personalized pizza to be satisfied with. Nice place to stop by for lunch on a laid back day.
Good food, pretty good value - not a great selection. Friendly staff. They need to do something about the swarm of fruit fly's that fly in circles in the same few areas day after day. it's annoying.
Awesome location, good prices, wonderfully flavored pizza and great coffee.
Excellent, authentic little Italian place on the Embarcadero. One of the "true European" places in SF.
With ever-present futbol or motorcycle racing featured on the big screen TV, South Beach Cafe offer patrons good, casual Italian food at not unreasonable prices. Staffed by a manager (owner?) and usually only one busboy/waiter/gofer who are sometimes more interested in watching whatever sporting event is playing oh-so-loudly on the TV, the service is a bit erratic, brusque, and slow, but in a very genuine Italian way.
Offering counter service, rather than a sit-down experience, South Beach Cafe features thin crust pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and desserts (try the tiramisu), most for under $10. Portions are not huge, but you will leave feeling satisfied, and your wallet will not be as light as at other over-priced establishments in the area.
Good for a casual bite, especially if you get to sit at one of the outside tables on a sunny day.
The people here are definitely authentic Italians. They're also what I like to call 'friendly racists'. Last time I came in with a friend and the owner kindly guessed that his name was 'Raj'. Nice work 'Antonio'. But, I will admit, their pizzas are fantastic. The best is the bruschetta pizza..mozzarella, chopped tomatoes, garlic, basil..definitely worth trying. I'd stick to their pizzas, their lasagna is horrible.
The vibe is very casual. The place is charming in it's own way and there's always some soccer match on TV. Also, they have a nice little outdoor sitting area in the front that's decorated with lights. Nice place to sit on a warm night.
Overall this place is worth going to for a chill dinner. While the employees are a bit racist, you can tell they don't mean any offense. Try this place out, but if the owner tries to guess your name based on your race, revert into 'Mario' voice and see how he likes it.
Have eaten there about once a week for over 4 years while working in San Francisco (Mission Bay area). Good and cheap, My default is the combo (soup and choice of sandwich with salad) for less than $10 with drink taxes and tips.
Shatangi has a new addition to the Best in Pizza list. I look forward to the no attitude service and always good sammies and salads and AWESOME pizzas at SBC. Sometimes a bit of a wait but well worth it.
Shatangi told you...
This place is pretty good. I like the thin crust pizza and I think it is pretty authentic. No crazy foodie ingredients, just traditional italian pizza.
I have noticed that there are all these thin crust pizza places popping up in SF, but I find them rather bland...but southbeach pizza has never disappointed me.
The staff is friendly and I enjoy going there when I have time.
:)
Lazy hazy Sunday afternoon walk brought me to this unpretentious down to earth with good casual ambiance for a late lunch. Sitting outside watching beautiful people passing by with a nice cold beverage. It does not get any better than this. The waiter brought out my order of 1. Insalata Caprese Salad 2. Prosciutto half sandwich with a cup of homemade chicken vegetable soup. it is simple yet delicate meal full of life. I enjoy the meal so much but I enjoy it even more when my bill came out. Additional perks is that the people are from Brazil and they have futbol on the big screen with Brazilian music in the background. A big big plus for me being a futbol fan. Too bad they do not serve the caipirinha. Enjoy.
I've never had worse service than at this cafe! I asked question and the owner started screaming at me. Then I wanted to work on my laptop with a friend, and we were told we could only have laptops outside. Again he said this in a way that was less than polite. The restaurant was practically empty mind you- there was only one other patron. It was a cold day, but I had already ordered my food so I had no choice. The quality of the food definitely didn't justify being antagonized over my lunch and sitting in the cold. The restaurant didn't even fill up while I was there! There are other cafes nearby where the food is great and the owners and staff are friendly. I'm so glad we have other options in SOMA!
Me and my girl went here for a convenient dinner since it's a stone's throw from our place. I ordered the Chicken Lasagna and an Italian beer. The lasagna was good for $8 and I will likely get it again. It was about an inch thick (or thin?) but did not taste of asiago cheese, only marinara, mozzarella, chicken, and pasta, but tasty nonetheless. I can't say my girl had the same experience. She ordered a pizza caprese which looked tasty at first glance, but unfortunately the bottom was burnt to the point where it was unappetizing. If it weren't burnt, it may have been worth the $8 price tag. We'll probably try this place one more time, hopefully they'll get both orders right next time.
So before they added the '80s Miami Vice neon sign--or maybe after they added it; I'd never noticed it before, but then I wasn't paying attention either--back when this part of South of Market wasn't often referred to as South Beach, when Pac Bell Park was new, when the dot-com people were still living in the studios they paid too much for but didn't care because they were young and dumb and making lots of money, I came here a few times with my brother and his girlfriend. This was around 1996 or '97.
This is the first place I ever saw (and tasted) Torani Italian soda. After I had tried it, I was constantly looking for other places that carried it. Now, you can get it basically anywhere, but I remember thinking it was a huge deal when I found it in the pharmacy of the medical building my dentist was in in Whittier.
Anyway, I don't remember much about the food here, but the people who worked here (and owned it, according to my brother) were really nice. They had Italian accents, which (again according to my brother) were fake, as he had heard them speaking without the accents.
Faux accents or not, this place gets high marks for introducing me to something I actually liked--I don't usually like new things. I might just give it five stars, but I haven't been in twelve years, and I'm suspicious of that neon sign.
Forget the pizza, there is much more to eat there. This is a restaurant owned by Italian guys and they know what good food is.
If you need a place with excellent quality food at a very good place, this is the place. The quality/price ration a among the best of San Francisco.
Don't expect high gastronomy. This is a place where you get the Italian version of comfort food. Salads, Sandwiches, Pizzas, Entrées and very good desserts. They have an expresso machine and they know how to use it.
If you love soccer, this is the place to go when big European teams play a game. Many fans gather there to watch the match on big screen tv.
Something happened over here between the last time I visited and this morning, and it was not good. The same gruff individual worked at the counter, but something unfortunate happened to the quality of the food and the coffee.
My coffee was incredibly weak and watery. When I asked a waitperson to dump out the cup so I could refill it from the other pitcher, he generously made me a fresh coffee from the espresso bar... but they must just have poor coffee beans, because this cup didn't taste much better.
Our breakfast sandwiches were mediocre. The vegetable egg and cheese on focaccia was pretty tasty but the focaccia was a bit mushy and the sandwich was on the bad side of lukewarm.
It was fair. Perfunctory. I don't think I'll come here again.
This little spot seems a bit out of place with its mildly offensive funky neon decor, but the… Read more »
Pizzas appeared to be their strong suit.
The first day on the job, my new manager treated several of us to lunch here. The pizzas were thin crust, and the prosciutto pizza appeared to be all meat. A basil leaf on one of the pizzas was about the size of my hand. Truly amazing.
I ordered a Caesar salad with chicken, and a diet Coke. It looked like this would have cost me about $7, had I bought it myself. The romaine lettuce was fresh and crisp, the dressing was Cardini, the chicken was cooked all the way through, and I wished there were more.
One of the guys ordered the schiacciatina, an impressive roast chicken with pesto, tomatoes, and gorgonzola. which looked well worth the 20-minute wait. During the wait, we enjoyed a great conversation in the shaded sidewalk seating.
This is one of the places we like to take people who are visiting or new to the city... it's a great intro to the food, and it's at a very reasonable price especially people coming in from the burbs (read: cheap!)
I can't get enough of their lasagna and my wife can't get enough of their pizza! We've eaten there… Read more »
I have very fond memories of this charming little cafe. I used to work just down the street and this was a regular lunch spot. I truly felt like I was stepping into a bonafide Italian cafe each time I came here. I usually got take out -- love their roasted veggie & brie sandwich on a crusty baguette served with a green salad. I have also had their pizza... pretty good, although I've had better. Lotsa competition in the city.
I loved how I'd walk by at 10am and chances are there'd be some old timer enjoying a glass of wine out on the patio.
The cute Italian men who work here were always super charming and put me in a good mood with their flirty ways.
Oh how I miss this joint!
South Beach Cafe is one of the places near my work that I don't get sick of eating. Everything I've eaten there has been delicious, and they are very friendly. Baked things like lasagna take a little longer, but they are well worth the wait. It is inexpensive, and you get good sized portions, most dishes come with a side salad and bread as well.
Two very enthusiastic thumbs up.
All you need to order is the Chicken Pesto Pizza. It's amazing. really. Second favorite option- the chicken lasagna. Perfection.
The staff is very friendly- go ahead, start a conversation. It's a great neighborhood spot and they'll remember you. It's quick, easy and inexpensive- just what you need down the block.
Stay for an espresso or a glass of wine and bring your laptop..free wireless. The decor isn't great, so this isn't a romantic date place.
I'll be honest. I have never sat down and had a meal here. I call, order pizza, run in, run out and I'm back at my desk in under 10 minutes eating some damn good pizza. It's the only reliable place in the city to get a caprese pizza with fresh basil and mozzarella. They make it super fast and I have no idea what other people are talking about, the management is great. One time, a friend and I even scored free chocolate croissants.
The patio looks nice and shady, if you prefer to sit in the sun I recommend getting pizza to go and eating in the park across the street.
This place has great pizzas... I haven't tried anything else really. Well a soup once and a dessert both quality! The owner is so nice and always there. This place is known for being a hot soccer spot also it is right by the ball park which is cool!
I also have heard that they have a fondue night on Wednesdays and i have yet to go but it is a good price sounds good and im thinking to check it out!
Im a fan!
I mainly took my little companion here for dinner (as her parents were trying to sneak out for their dinner). I ordered a cheese pizza (the standard for young kids--only cheese!) and it was good! Simply and no fuss to it. The best part of the evening is when I got the chance to sample a little dessert: the tiramisu! I have to say it was one of the best I have tried--creamy and oh so good god good! I would definitely go back for that! Cute little place and friendly staff.
Being the [amateur] pizza connoisseur that I am, I get *stoked* to try new pizza places. So when I was deleriously hungry yesterday and drove around aimlessly in a starvation-induced haze, I stumbled upon South Beach Cafe. The smell of thin crust deliciousness drew me in. It was a gorgeous day, so there was a great little seating area set up outside under some trees and old timers were playing chess and the sea breeze was bringing in the smell of low tide....mmmm. Just another day in paradise.
The place has counter service only and the owner (?) was very friendly. Quite a few pizzas to choose from, although nothing too exotic or out of the ordinary. The salads and antipasto plates looked good but all I could think about was delicious melty cheese and crisp crust so I ordered a pie with mozz, legit italian sausage and fresh basil. Diner #2 had the chicken pesto pizza. Each pizza was under $8. The food came out quickly, but be reminded that it's self-serve, so grab a caddy with olive oil, balsalmic, parm & peppers.
The pizza itself was delicious. The location is great if you're in the area. We came late on a Saturday afternoon so it was fairly empty, although I've passed by after ball games and its packed.
4 stars because of the lack of creative pizza options and because it's not Delfina (I kid, I kid...kinda).
A friend and I came specifically to try the Fondue night promoted so heavily on the window, and it was weak. Bread, pickles, cocktail onions, and yellow wax peppers constituted the dipping items. C'mon man! This is fucking California, fresh veggies are cheap here. Maybe having all-pickled stuff is traditional somewhere, I donno. I do know that it doesn't make for a balanced flavor experience; all salty and sour, no savory or sweet. And the cheese wasn't all that either, just plain ol' new swiss, no hint of wine or aging. Certainly nothing which would make up for the poor dipping selections.
Tried a pizza as well (to get some extra cheese!) which was worlds better. The service was pleasant and pneumatic, and the atmosphere relaxed. I'll come for a pizza and a beer again.
You walk into this place and are immediately greeted by a heard of flies. They like to hang right in the middle of the restaurant and it's incredibly gross and might just make you want to turn around and walk out. If the flies don't stop you, the ugly green sketchy vinyl table clothes just might. (When were they actually last cleaned properly?) AND still, if you decide to move forward to place your order at the counter you might just find yourself confused and extremely turned off by the crazy guy taking your order. I still can't figure out if he's on drugs or just in a naturally challenged by reality. He's extremely rude. If you can get past all this, than you will be rewarded with the one of the best thin crust sausage pizzas of your life. And the bruchsetta, so good that I find myself craving it at all times of the day and perhaps even dreaming about it.
The sanitary status of South Beach Cafe is questionable.
But the food is delicious and I haven't gotten sick yet, so I'll keep coming back.
I love cheese. I love Italian food. I love olive oil in Italian food. I love European soccer. I love cappuccino after meals. I love homemade food. I love red wine.
If you love these things, you too will love South Beach.
Quick and easy place to grab lunch - even when the rest of SoMa is FLOODED with Giants fans looking for the same thing. Had their chicken pesto pizza for under 7 bucks. It was tasty and arrived so fast. Their outdoor seating is the way to go - they've got a killer view of the Embarcadero.
This is my 300th Yelp review. I half-expect balloons to come down from the ceiling when I hit the "post" button!
South Beach Cafe is a great space, feels very local, and just has a nice energy about it.
I love a good pizza and they can produce. I suggest going strictly for the atmosphere and the pizza.
The wine list is sparse and the other food doesn't live up to the pizzas. I think they should just focus on pizza, like Pauline's and Little Star, my two favorites, then they will really thrive.
Give it a try, get your favorite pizza, and soak up the energy.
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Parks
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Restaurants
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