Not Greek to Me Caffe Greco, North Beach, SF

Caffe Greco remains, in my mind, the cafe of choice in North Beach after Cafe Roma and Cafe Puccini closed their doors. Our family has been going to this unassuming cafe for nearly thirty years. The appeal can be attributed mainly to the price, which is still totally affordable, and the taste, which is actually, very European, meaning, it caters not to the California bicycle enthusiast who needs a large dose of bitterly roasted grounds, but rather, it's milder and has a just-right flavor suitable for reading the newspaper, book or magazine.

Moreover, their espressos and cappuccinos are simply just the perfect amount of frothiness and cloud-soft deliciousness, courtesy of Illy grounds. The dolci are, well, very Italian: Their tiramisu is arguably an essential companion to a caffeinated experience amid the bustling and exciting frenzy of Columbus Ave. But their sweet offerings of cannolis and panfortes also cater to sweet-toothed travelers.

Cafe Greco is also at the center of things, close to Chinatown where we sometimes shop for the occasional bokchoy and mandarin oranges. The cafe employs the same exact servers, frisky, friendly Mexicanos who know their clienteles really well, including the local coppers who pass by routinely to get their little cuppers. Add to that the large French-Italian cafe posters, North Beach prints by local artist, Howard Munson, and black and white photographs that the ambience has the effect of an authentically unpretentious San Francisco place to hang out.

Needless to say, their outdoor front patio, currently arranged for pandemic safety, can charm anyone what with huge plants and plenty of seating space for cafe aficionados. They also offer lunches of caprese salads, sandwiches and matching mineral drinks Européen style!