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    Social Cafe

    4.9 (138 reviews)
    Closed • 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    SOCIAL CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Social Cafe

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    Pastry and drinks case! | IG: @nomwithelaine
    Elaine N.

    I happened to be in this area, so I went here on a Tuesday around 11:30am for lunch and there was no wait. I've actually been looking for a good sandwich shop, so I decided to try this place! It's a small shop with 2 small tables in front of the store, but no seating inside. Anyways, I ordered the Miami Sandwich which is like a basic turkey sandwich. When I tried it, I was a bit disappointed by how dry it is! This sandwich had mayonnaise, but I felt like it needed a lot more so I ended up adding a bunch of mayonnaise to it later. The sandwich tasted good, but the only problem was how dry it is. I'd recommend this place if you're in the area, but you shouldn't have high expectations for a good sandwich here. Like, yes the sandwich tasted good, but the dryness bothered me. They do sell other things here too, so maybe I'll try their drinks or pastries next time.

    Cubano
    Jando S.

    The last place I expected to find delicious Cuban food was in the Bay Area -- but SF never fails to surprise me. Tucked in the urban jungle of SOMA, Social Cafe serves the lunch crowd (#1) with a simple array of Cuban specialty pastries and sandwiches. Owners Ruben and Terry, both Miami natives with Cuban roots, have created something special here. Social Cafe has quickly made a name for itself as a quality spot for a tasty meal. Their lineup of classic pastelitos are excellent. Whether it's a guava, guava with cheese, or mango with cheese, traditional carne or even the spinach and feta, one cannot go wrong. Their chicken and meat pikas are also standouts -- savory, fresh, and wrapped in a beautifully light and flaky dough. Add a drizzle (#2) of their signature pika sauce and it becomes a next-level snack. The sandwich game here is strong. Favorites include a nod to their hometown, the Miami sandwich, an extremely underrated chicken salad sandwich, and even a croqueta sandwich. I'd be remiss not to highlight their authentic Cubano sandwich, made with a house-baked Cuban bread that brings everything together. Pair it with a tasty croqueta or their uber popular cortadito / cafe con leche, and that's a proper lunch. Customer service has always been friendly and welcoming, with staff often bilingual in Spanish and English. Prices are reasonable at around $12 a sandwich and $2.50 a pastelito. Mornings and early afternoons are the best time to avoid the rush or risk favorites being sold out. Social Cafe is a fantastic option for solo lunching and for those looking to feed the masses, their catering is top-tier. Pro tip: Call ahead to beat the lines. __________ (#1) i.e. Closes at 4pm. (#2) Or drown it in the sauce. It's that good.

    Menu
    Erik H.

    If you are headed to jury duty, there is NOTHING around there. Even the McDonalds is gone these days. There used to be a Subway but it is now The Social Cafe. The judge even acknowledged the Hall of Justice is a hard place to get to and there is nothing around there. I walked in to the Cafe just to look. My case was interesting but I didn't want something heavy that would put me to sleep. They have pressed sandwiches and smaller items as well. I really enjoyed my ham and cheese and maybe next time I will have the Cubano. That said, if you want something smaller I highly recommend the meat pastries! Brought home a few and the were gobbled up immediately! Go with the OG and the Spicy. Both really are great and make a light lunch or snack

    Croquette sandwich

    SF has many good sandwich spots but only one will give you a Cuban sandwich like this (peep that cheese pull). I love croquettes so I had to try the croquette sandwich. Pair that with a colada and you'll feel like you're in South Beach. Just beware! By the end of your sandwich, you'll be covered in crumbs (as you should be).

    Mango and Cheese Pastry
    Rose T.

    I was first introduced to this Cuban bakery at a Yelp event. Since I was in the area, I decided to get a Mango and Cheese Pastry ($2.50 + tax) as a snack. +Warm, flaky puff pastry +Good amount of mango jam -Wished there was a bit more cream cheese to balance the mango jam Side notes: 1.) Limited outdoor seating 2.) Walking distance from Hall of Justice *Verdict: 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars d/t service. One of the owners' daughters was the cashier and she provided quick & friendly service with a smile.

    Chicken salad w/ croquettes and ice Cortadito
    Michele T.

    Read the reviews and wanted to give this place a try. Ordered the chicken salad which comes with croquettes ($12), an iced cortadito ($3.50 + .50 for ice), and a guava cheese pastry ($2). Food arrived pretty quickly. Downside - there's only a couple of tables outdoors that were taken during my visit, and no seating available inside to enjoy my lunch. The chicken salad was flavorful. It was served with chilled green lettuce, which was a good complement. The croquettes were still warm and also tasty. The guava and cheese pastry was flaky and tasted fresh - not too sweet and a nice treat to end my meal.

    Priscilla W.

    Social Cafe offers sweet and savory pastries at very affordable prices! They're located half a block from from Bryant St courthouse, a convenient location for those reporting for jury duty. I stopped by 30 minutes before closing and got one guava & cheese pastry and one spinach & feta pastry. The guava & cheese was beautifully laminated with buttery airy pockets. The guava was sweet and worked well with creamy cheese. The spinach & feta had a generous amount of filling with some creaminess from the feta. Both pastries were very flakey and delicious. Social Cafe has limited seating, so this place is more of a grab-and-go. The cafe is bright and clean, and they have a windowed kitchen area to see the bakes in action. The owner is such a sweet person and very friendly too!

    Dana Z.

    Social Cafe is such a cozy spot with very delicious cubano and a variety of Cuban pastries. It is family owned and everyone seems super down to earth! I loved everything I've tried so far, most notably the cubano. The bread made in house, pork is also roasted in house, and every bite is the perfect amount of juicy pork, ham, mustard, and crispy yet soft bread. The pastries are also super delicious. Absolutely loved the chicken and beef pies which were spiced perfectly and tucked in a flaky puff pastry (that is made in-house!) Highly recommend overall.

    Dominic B.

    Best Cuban sandwiches from the only Cuban bakery in the Bay Area. When I have the craving, I typically just pop in on a whim. Counter service ordering that is quick and efficient. In addition to Cuban sandwiches, they also serve Cuban coffee, Cuban pastries, and weekly specials. While I don't always get pastries (they are phenomenal though) I always get a sandwich. Ham and House roasted pork is densely packed in on authentic Cuban bread with pickles that perfectly add acidity. Sandwiches are cut in half and each half is easily a meal but a full sandwich will definitely have you feeling very full. Staff are some of the friendliest in the bay.

    Meat Pastry "OG" (Pastelito de Carne) Dozen Meat Pika Pastry (Pika Pastelito de Carne) Dozen
    Lauren C.

    Found this place on Yelp when looking for a good Cuban coffee in the area and so happy we did, we've pretty much been going back every weekend since. The cortadito is absolutely delicious and the perfect pick me up in the morning. We had to also try their pastellitos once we saw all the delicious options from their display case. We've tried the OG and the beef pika so far and we're hooked. I'm from LA so the obvious Cuban bakery we have down there is Porto's and these are way better than any potato ball you could get. I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting SF who needs a quick small bite that packs a punch. Additionally, the owners are super kind and really hard working you can see they really run this place and give it that homey vibe. Also there's always street parking right out front. A must-try!

    $26 for 12 pastries

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    2 months ago

    We are a Cuban family from Miami Florida, We loved everything including the croquets done with love & perfection. Recommended 100%.

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    2 years ago

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    Terry R.

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    Terry R.

    Thank you, Dominic for your kind words and s support!

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    11 months ago

    Yummy and filling Cuban Sammie. If hard to find, stay focused. The pastries also very good.

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    1 year ago

    Great affordable coffee and pastries! I live across the street and come in as often as I can :) Ask about their specials. Highly recommend!

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    Terry R.

    Thank you for your kind words, Kenzan!

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    Ask the Community - Social Cafe

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