Caffe Sport Reservations
Order Caffe Sport Takeout or Delivery
Caffe Sport Photos
Business Info
Caffe Sport Popular Dishes
CAFFE SPORT ATMOSPHERE
More like Caffe Sport
Recommended Reviews - Caffe Sport
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night after my cousin recommended this place, which has been around for years. I honestly didn't have high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was! I especially enjoyed the pesto pasta, which was fresh, creamy and full of flavor, and the shrimp scampi, with perfectly cooked shrimp. The waiter was also quick and efficient. The restaurant has that classic, longtime neighborhood feel, perfect for enjoying a good meal and catching up with family or friends. Overall, a great dining experience, and I'd definitely come back!
Caffe sport is an Italian restaurant old tradition fun ..I thought I did visit but it changed ..I got a personal size pizza with pepperoni and it was dinner ..hm
I'm a sucker for smiley staff. We were in North Beach on a whim and figuring out where to eat, when I noticed Caffé Sport's staff was in front smiling and greeting passersby. One glance at the crowd outside Sotto Mare, Caffé Sport it is (it was empty)! Caffé Sport has been a North Beach institution for as along as I can remember. They're known for their old-skool Sicilian food, their "orange sauce", and kitschy vibe. Considering all the stellar Italian restos in the city, we had a very disappointing meal. I later found out that the original owner passed and it's been under new ownership for several years now. Not sure if this has to do with it or if it was just a very off day. FYI, they charge 3% for using a credit card and their online menu prices isn't up-to-date. Friend got a diet coke for $6 a can?! F O O D * Complimentary Bread & "Orange Sauce" Maybe this was better back in the day? What we received was stale and dense bread, served with what tasted like commercial vodka sauce. * Homemade Lasagna w/ mushroom beef ragu, ricotta, mozzarella ($25): https://tinyurl.com/zpwwy5aj Who can resist gooey, molten cheese?! Other than the mozzarella, the lasagna was meh, flat layers with most of the meat in the surrounding ragu that was very salty. * Pasta Con Salsiccia Rigatoni w/ vodka sauce ($28.99): https://tinyurl.com/yd7kmjcx Sadly, this tasted like boxed pasta, jarred sauce, and industrial breakfast sausage patties. The patties were hard and rubbery, not fresh and they didn't even bother to break it apart into smaller pieces. Wildly overpriced for the quality. * Side of Sicilian Meatballs ($7): https://tinyurl.com/48v3wxx6 Firm, dense balls in a salty marinara sauce. Probably would have tasted better if it was warmed through. Good value tho. * Fries ($7): https://tinyurl.com/54hdmndn For the drunchies, I appreciate the huge portion for the price. Not sure what brand of frozen fries they use but it was hella salty. S E R V I C E What drew us to Caffé Sport was the very friendly staff in front. While they remained friendly during our interactions with them, service was less than bare minimum. With the tip option starting at 20%, it's fair to expect basic service like water refills. Despite the restaurant not being busy, our pastas took over 30 minutes to arrive. A M B I A N C E OG kitschy decor with indoor and outdoor seating. Fit for tourists. Overall, a very underwhelming meal with pastas that felt overpriced for their quality. I'm obvs in the minority tho. It's hard to overlook when you can get fresh, house-made pastas with scratch-made sauces for the same price, or less at numerous other restos in the city. If you're a local, I recommend taking advantage of the Caffé Sport's TGTG deal: $4.99 pasta surprise bag before deciding to dine-in.
Cafe Sport is a North Beach gem. We ordered the vegetable pizza and the Carne e Funghi (penne with a beef and pork ragù, mushrooms, and cheese) -- both were excellent. The pizza had a great charred crust, and the pasta was rich and hearty, packed with mushroom flavor. Portions were generous and the service was solid. This is exactly the kind of cozy, old-school Italian spot North Beach is known for. Will definitely be back -- highly recommend for pasta lovers.
"Would you like Italian or Mexican?" My son was picking up "Too Good To Go" surprise bags for us and a neighbor. We had two creamy pesto pasta plates, one rigatoni & one linguini, and a girthy burrito stuffed with beef, beans, rice- substantial. Had a taste of the burrito before my teen inhaled it- savory. The pesto was so delicious, made with an abundant amount of roasted garlic and basil so it had a rich depth of flavor. I ate it with relish- the whole bowl! My only quibble is the pesto was a touch too creamy: The roasted garlic had already nicely mellowed it. Caffe Sport was nicely populated with a few diners having an early Sunday dinner at 5 with quite a delivery few orders ready to be picked up. Service was warm and welcoming, we'll be back in person. Located in the very heart of North Beach right on Washington Square Park, come after an afternoon strolling North Beach or for Saturday/Sunday family dinner- and takeaway always! Tutti a tavola a mangiare!
Seated immediately on a tuesday evening. Lots of vibrant decor that makes the place feel cozy. Food was great. They give some bread with vodka sauce. We ordered the seafood risotto and pasta alla diavola. Both served nice and warm. Risotto was creamy and had a bunch of mussels and shrimp. Pasta was really flavorful and also had some spice to it which made it even better. Friendly staff - patient and let us try out some wines before picking.
Day before Valentine's Day we decided to do a night out in North Beach and dined at an old favorite Caffe Sport. There's been some changes to menu since the last time but the old favorites are still there, especially the Shrimp a'la Franco (formally the shrimp a'la Antonio), and my gosh this had to be one of the best dishes we've eaten so far in 2026. If you love garlic, high a chance you'll like this dish. They used these huge prawns served with zucchini. The sauce is addicting, makes you want to soak up every bit with each shrimp and even to dip in the bread. We also got a Cesar salad, and the pasta carne e fungi (meat and mushrooms). Luis the owner is so kind in sweet. He knows my family and I have been coming here for over 30 years and was open to feedback as I thought there needed to be more béchamel in the meat and mushroom pasta, and was receptive to it. Service was 10/10, shrimp a'la Franco was the star of the show and overall we enjoyed our dinner here. Will definitely go back just to satisfy my shrimp craving.
The last time I was here was 18+ years ago! Food was delicious and exactly how I remembered it. Fresh, garlicky and cooked to al dente perfection. Chefs kiss! Staff was fantastic, called me by my first name, and I felt right at home. Parking can be a challenge but that won't stop me from coming back.
Got a burrito! for dinner from Caffe Sport through the TooGoodToGo app tonight. It was very good. It's not on their regular menu. Is this what they feed their staff? If so, it's a nice perk. I would have posted a pic but was too hungry. Sorry. Likely I'll get a burrito from them again very soon and hopefully I'll have more self control....
We may have ordered the wrong items, but this place was fine overall. Service was very slow, and calamari was alright. Ambience was fantastic, and the quality of the pasta and pizza were good. But nothing really stood out. Would consider coming back to order different items but underwhelming first experience.
The food was great! Got seated fast. Server was ontop of it. Pepperoni pizza was super good!! Gnocchi on point! I have to add that my friend who ordered it said she will be dreaming of them because they taste like her late Italian mothers and she would come back just for that. Rice ball things were perfect and crispy! They were a little worm and could have been hotter. The burrata was a little bland... no oil or vinegar. Two pieces of small bread. We ended up adding it to our pizza crusts. We would come back!
Really busy Saturday night in North Beach, but we were lucky to get a table here with practically no wait. The staff worked to get us seated promptly. They were really busy so I didn't expect the food to come out as fast. I did have to remind them of sending out our oysters after our pasta came out and we were already well into our meal. The free bread is nice touch along with the sauce it comes with. Oysters tasted briny and fresh. Pasta pescatore did not skimp on the shrimp. A solid meal overall. We were not rushed on our meal at all which sometimes happens at bustling spots like this one. Also, it was a fun and colorfully decorated space. There were lots of Christmas lights and tinsel up for the holidays.
It was unexpectedly one of the best Italian spots I've had in SF! The fettuccine & spaghetti with meatballs & mushroom ragu were both done super well and not too heavy. The sauces were flavorful and not too salty! Food also came out very fast and we were able to eat & pay quickly without hassle since we were on a time crunch. The only odd thing was that the free bread arrived at the table after our food arrived. Service was on the slower side -- not sure if that's because we were sitting outside. Would definitely come back for more of the menu when I have more time!
4 months ago
The food was alright. Nothing terrible but it did not meet my expectations and was not the best Italian food I have had. The service was great though. Our waiter was super helpful and attentive which I really appreciated. Overall it was an okay experience but I would not come back. read more
4 months ago
If you're staying in North Beach and trying to choose among the countless Italian restaurants , do yourself a favor and pick this one! We are SO happy we did! - The food was absolutely outstanding. The Frutti di Mare was packed with fresh seafood and incredible flavor, - pizza was fantastic and my mega picky kid devoured it - I wasn't too hungry so I got the chilled seafood appetizer and boy oh boy - it was GREAT! The atmosphere felt like stepping into rustic Sicily--warm, cozy, welcoming, and wonderfully authentic. It had that rare homey feeling that makes you want to linger over dinner. The service was equally impressive. Luis was an absolute rockstar--attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely helped make the evening special! Gave us homemade limoncello - and it was fabulous!!! San Francisco gives you no shortage of Italian restaurants to choose from, especially in North Beach, but this place exceeded our expectations in every way. We left talking about how glad we were that we chose it. Highly recommended! read more
5 days ago
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night after my cousin recommended this place, which has been around for years. I honestly didn't have high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was! I especially enjoyed the pesto pasta, which was fresh, creamy and full of flavor, and the shrimp scampi, with perfectly cooked shrimp. The waiter was also quick and efficient. The restaurant has that classic, longtime neighborhood feel, perfect for enjoying a good meal and catching up with family or friends. Overall, a great dining experience, and I'd definitely come back! read more
7 months ago
I'm a sucker for smiley staff. We were in North Beach on a whim and figuring out where to eat, when I noticed Caffé Sport's staff was in front smiling and greeting passersby. One glance at the crowd outside Sotto Mare, Caffé Sport it is (it was empty)! Caffé Sport has been a North Beach institution for as along as I can remember. They're known for their old-skool Sicilian food, their "orange sauce", and kitschy vibe. Considering all the stellar Italian restos in the city, we had a very disappointing meal. I later found out that the original owner passed and it's been under new ownership for several years now. Not sure if this has to do with it or if it was just a very off day. FYI, they charge 3% for using a credit card and their online menu prices isn't up-to-date. Friend got a diet coke for $6 a can?! F O O D * Complimentary Bread & "Orange Sauce" Maybe this was better back in the day? What we received was stale and dense bread, served with what tasted like commercial vodka sauce. * Homemade Lasagna w/ mushroom beef ragu, ricotta, mozzarella ($25): https://tinyurl.com/zpwwy5aj Who can resist gooey, molten cheese?! Other than the mozzarella, the lasagna was meh, flat layers with most of the meat in the surrounding ragu that was very salty. * Pasta Con Salsiccia Rigatoni w/ vodka sauce ($28.99): https://tinyurl.com/yd7kmjcx Sadly, this tasted like boxed pasta, jarred sauce, and industrial breakfast sausage patties. The patties were hard and rubbery, not fresh and they didn't even bother to break it apart into smaller pieces. Wildly overpriced for the quality. * Side of Sicilian Meatballs ($7): https://tinyurl.com/48v3wxx6 Firm, dense balls in a salty marinara sauce. Probably would have tasted better if it was warmed through. Good value tho. * Fries ($7): https://tinyurl.com/54hdmndn For the drunchies, I appreciate the huge portion for the price. Not sure what brand of frozen fries they use but it was hella salty. S E R V I C E What drew us to Caffé Sport was the very friendly staff in front. While they remained friendly during our interactions with them, service was less than bare minimum. With the tip option starting at 20%, it's fair to expect basic service like water refills. Despite the restaurant not being busy, our pastas took over 30 minutes to arrive. A M B I A N C E OG kitschy decor with indoor and outdoor seating. Fit for tourists. Overall, a very underwhelming meal with pastas that felt overpriced for their quality. I'm obvs in the minority tho. It's hard to overlook when you can get fresh, house-made pastas with scratch-made sauces for the same price, or less at numerous other restos in the city. If you're a local, I recommend taking advantage of the Caffé Sport's TGTG deal: $4.99 pasta surprise bag before deciding to dine-in. read more
Cafe Sport is a North Beach gem. We ordered the vegetable pizza and the Carne e Funghi (penne with a beef and pork ragù, mushrooms, and cheese) -- both were excellent. The pizza had a great charred crust, and the pasta was rich and hearty, packed with mushroom flavor. Portions were generous and the service was solid. This is exactly the kind of cozy, old-school Italian spot North Beach is known for. Will definitely be back -- highly recommend for pasta lovers. read more
8 months ago
"Would you like Italian or Mexican?" My son was picking up "Too Good To Go" surprise bags for us and a neighbor. We had two creamy pesto pasta plates, one rigatoni & one linguini, and a girthy burrito stuffed with beef, beans, rice- substantial. Had a taste of the burrito before my teen inhaled it- savory. The pesto was so delicious, made with an abundant amount of roasted garlic and basil so it had a rich depth of flavor. I ate it with relish- the whole bowl! My only quibble is the pesto was a touch too creamy: The roasted garlic had already nicely mellowed it. Caffe Sport was nicely populated with a few diners having an early Sunday dinner at 5 with quite a delivery few orders ready to be picked up. Service was warm and welcoming, we'll be back in person. Located in the very heart of North Beach right on Washington Square Park, come after an afternoon strolling North Beach or for Saturday/Sunday family dinner- and takeaway always! Tutti a tavola a mangiare! read more
8 months ago
Seated immediately on a tuesday evening. Lots of vibrant decor that makes the place feel cozy. Food was great. They give some bread with vodka sauce. We ordered the seafood risotto and pasta alla diavola. Both served nice and warm. Risotto was creamy and had a bunch of mussels and shrimp. Pasta was really flavorful and also had some spice to it which made it even better. Friendly staff - patient and let us try out some wines before picking. read more
Day before Valentine's Day we decided to do a night out in North Beach and dined at an old favorite Caffe Sport. There's been some changes to menu since the last time but the old favorites are still there, especially the Shrimp a'la Franco (formally the shrimp a'la Antonio), and my gosh this had to be one of the best dishes we've eaten so far in 2026. If you love garlic, high a chance you'll like this dish. They used these huge prawns served with zucchini. The sauce is addicting, makes you want to soak up every bit with each shrimp and even to dip in the bread. We also got a Cesar salad, and the pasta carne e fungi (meat and mushrooms). Luis the owner is so kind in sweet. He knows my family and I have been coming here for over 30 years and was open to feedback as I thought there needed to be more béchamel in the meat and mushroom pasta, and was receptive to it. Service was 10/10, shrimp a'la Franco was the star of the show and overall we enjoyed our dinner here. Will definitely go back just to satisfy my shrimp craving. read more
The last time I was here was 18+ years ago! Food was delicious and exactly how I remembered it. Fresh, garlicky and cooked to al dente perfection. Chefs kiss! Staff was fantastic, called me by my first name, and I felt right at home. Parking can be a challenge but that won't stop me from coming back. read more
5 months ago
Got a burrito! for dinner from Caffe Sport through the TooGoodToGo app tonight. It was very good. It's not on their regular menu. Is this what they feed their staff? If so, it's a nice perk. I would have posted a pic but was too hungry. Sorry. Likely I'll get a burrito from them again very soon and hopefully I'll have more self control.... read more
We may have ordered the wrong items, but this place was fine overall. Service was very slow, and calamari was alright. Ambience was fantastic, and the quality of the pasta and pizza were good. But nothing really stood out. Would consider coming back to order different items but underwhelming first experience. read more
8 days ago
The food was great! Got seated fast. Server was ontop of it. Pepperoni pizza was super good!! Gnocchi on point! I have to add that my friend who ordered it said she will be dreaming of them because they taste like her late Italian mothers and she would come back just for that. Rice ball things were perfect and crispy! They were a little worm and could have been hotter. The burrata was a little bland... no oil or vinegar. Two pieces of small bread. We ended up adding it to our pizza crusts. We would come back! read more
Really busy Saturday night in North Beach, but we were lucky to get a table here with practically no wait. The staff worked to get us seated promptly. They were really busy so I didn't expect the food to come out as fast. I did have to remind them of sending out our oysters after our pasta came out and we were already well into our meal. The free bread is nice touch along with the sauce it comes with. Oysters tasted briny and fresh. Pasta pescatore did not skimp on the shrimp. A solid meal overall. We were not rushed on our meal at all which sometimes happens at bustling spots like this one. Also, it was a fun and colorfully decorated space. There were lots of Christmas lights and tinsel up for the holidays. read more
1 year ago
It was unexpectedly one of the best Italian spots I've had in SF! The fettuccine & spaghetti with meatballs & mushroom ragu were both done super well and not too heavy. The sauces were flavorful and not too salty! Food also came out very fast and we were able to eat & pay quickly without hassle since we were on a time crunch. The only odd thing was that the free bread arrived at the table after our food arrived. Service was on the slower side -- not sure if that's because we were sitting outside. Would definitely come back for more of the menu when I have more time! read more
1 year ago
I finally tried their food for the first time. I love seafood, so I got the Scampi al' Antonio. It's Gulf Prawns served hot with their homemade recipe of a white garlic sauce and steamed zucchini on the side. This was absolutely delicious with lots of garlic and spices. The staff is really nice, and the interior is very lively. I can't wait to try more items on the menu next time. read more
Been wanting to try this place and I finally did. We came here for a little bite to eat since we weren't that hungry. We shared a salad and some garlic bread. We also got a To Good To Go meal too so we got to try their pasta. All was delicious. But, when we got our to good to go. It was very small portion. But it was only $5 bucks so I can't really complain. The pasta was good though. I will come back and try something else. read more
1 month ago
1 year ago
A local spot in North Beach that's been here for many years. We were thinking about getting Italian food and wanted to try the spot. We got two pasta dishes, clam and linguine is my go to and I'd say I'd give it about 3.5. The flavor was a bit bland, not much garlic or buttery taste. The other pasta dish had their house sauce, which was better. The service was pretty quick. We went on a weekday for an early dinner, so wasn't busy at all. However, the price for two passes plus tip was around $75. A bit pricey for what it is. read more
5 months ago
charming and traditional little spot in north beach. the pastas are around high $20s to $30s but the portions are huge. we tried the: - cheesy garlic bread: very soft inside, loved this! - gnocchi with meat sauce: gnocchi itself could have been cooked for 1-2 min less, I like my pasta more al-dente - porcini trifolati ravioli: lots of mushroom goodness! read more
1 year ago
(3+), Twas a time that going to Caffe Sport was an exceptional, iconic SF experience. Now, it's a good experience. The old school ambiance is still fun. The staff however, didn't seem the least bit invested. In the old days, the place was run by some real "characters" and it definitely added to the experience. Wine by the glass severely overpriced!!! ($15-16 for a glass is retail for an entire bottle.) $23 corkage is definitely worth it if you'd end up buying 3+ glasses anyway. The mushroom risotto was quite good. Risotto undercooked but not bad. The mushrooms in the dish were just brown mushrooms; the sauce has porcinis. The pesto with shrimp was very good. The Caesar salad was also quite good. As were the bread/spread. read more
2 months ago
5 months ago
A San Francisco institution since before the 1970s, this restaurant pleases in every way. arrange parking at one of the several garages. Recommend the 1600 block on Powell Street. Casual so you can drool over the menu before making's choices. If unfamiliar with entrees by name, ingredients and specified. Plenty of veggie choices but cheese with practically everything, so not really vegan. Most fascinating feature: your pasta will be scorching hot even at the bottom of the food, so be careful. read more
6 months ago
Food: 4 Decor: 3 Service: 4 Came here for a weekday lunch with a friend. No wait walking in. Oven Fresh Garlic Bread $7.00 Fresh Italian bread with roasted garlic, brushed with butter and seasoned with Parmigiano cheese and parsley 5/5. Delicious. Perfectly grilled and garlicky with some tomato sauce. Linguine Ai Frutti Di Mare $32.00 Linguine pasta with crab legs, clams, mussels, shrimp, and scallops in white wine sauce 4/5. Really good al dente pasta with a wine sauce that was surprisingly light. Pasta Tutto Mare $30.00 Fresh clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp, and scallops in olive oil, garlic, red wine and marinara sauce. Your choice of pasta 3/5. Good. Our other seafood pasta dish was better since I preferred the wine sauce and crab legs. Service was good. read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
Looking for a new Italian restaurant in North Beach, we decided to try Caffe Sport. We were the only customers for awhile. My wife got the pasta with mushroom ragu and I had a HUGE bowl of minestrone soup. Both were excellent and tasted old school authentic. Service was excellent. read more
We came on July 4th, we drove up from SJ for the day with the sole purpose of eating all day. We started in Chinatown, walked through North beach, went to Haight st, then Ghirardelli Square, the Wharf and back to North Beach for dinner at Caffe Sport. They were busy as it was the 4th and the street was closed for the celebration. We were greeted and acknowledged right away, were told it be about 20 minutes wait for a table for 4 inside. We had excellent service, delicious food and a great family time. For appetizers we ordered the mushroom ravioli and calamari, we had Cesar salad, my daughter ordered a pizza, my son the lobster ravioli, my husband the shrimp scampi and I had the salmon and wrapped it all up with a cappuccino. It was a great evening at the lovely caffe sport, the old decorations on the walls makes it a perfect place to visit. read more
4 months ago
This place has amazing Italian food! The pasta sauces tastes delicious but somehow still unique from other italian restaurants. I love the decor i feel like im in an old family restaurant in italy. Our server elliot was great, friendly and accommodating. Will definitely come back when we are at north beach read more
3 months ago
I got a Too Good to Go order and it was outstanding. I initially thought it was just plain rigatoni but there were meatballs in the bottom under the pasta. It was creamy, cheesy and the meatballs were very flavorful. I think it was a typical serving size and we split it between three women who aren't big eaters. I would definitely go back again. read more
Wow! This is a friendly and warm place with, most importantly, great food. I'd returned for calamari ( best ever) and a Caesar salad I'd had here before, but my son and I were temped by the other seafood options on the menu, like a mix of muscles and clams in white wine and garlic or the seafood antipasto. We finally decided to point at the menu with eyes closed and the antipasto won. He wanted the arugula and I have to say, normally I'd prefer other greens. However, Caffe Sport's lemony vinaigrette and the freshest cherry tomatoes made that my new favorite. We started with the castelvestrano olives marinated with spices and lemon and noshed on them throughout the meal. Perfect. The seafood was perfectly cooked and so fresh, served on ice and with a tiny bottle of Tabasco and house-made cocktail sauce. If you are going for drinks, the olives and bread with dip would be a great snack. The last time I visited it was warm and I sat outside in their parklet. Inside for this visit was decorated for Christmas and was so festive. Since it was lunch, we didn't try the pasta this time and the big salad, seafood, olives and bread were enough for lunch. North Beach is fun any time but for me, during the holidays it's a must.Caffe Sport has old school warm hospitality and very good food. We had so much fun and if you go, you will too. read more
4 months ago
Great food, AMAZING service, great ambiance. PLEASE visit this place if in town and any locals! read more
Page 1 of 28
More info about Caffe Sport
574 Green St
San Francisco, CA 94133
North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Directions
(831) 249-2492
Call Now
Visit Website
https://www.caffesportsf.com
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
Caffe Sport Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Caffe Sport
Has the food changed since the restaurant was sold?
I went there a couple nights ago and I was shocked at how different the food was. It wasn't totally horrible, but definitely not the same. I don't think my family and I will be going back.
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
60 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
16 years ago
14 years ago
17 years ago
17 years ago
12 years ago
5 years ago
17 years ago
4 years ago
15 years ago
8 years ago
4 months ago
18 years ago
14 years ago
15 years ago
21 years ago
19 years ago
15 years ago
6 years ago
