Cafe 817 brings back that good old time feeling of walking into an establishment run by people who care. Serving food that not only satisfies the palate, but also makes a statement in terms of uniqueness, freshness, creativity, and conveying a true sense of Italian/European origin. Variety is insured here as the menu changes regularly to keep up with seasonal changes.
While dining there and talking with other patrons, I discovered that some who live in San Francisco go out of their way to regularly have breakfast or lunch at Cafe 817. The reason is obvious; even SF does not have a restaurant that matches what is offered here.
Do yourself a favor, go to Oakland (it's cheaper than flying to Italy), and try a PLT (pancetta, lettuce, and tomato panini) or truffled eggs benedict with real truffles!! You will be pleasantly surprised at what you find.
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