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Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Sandwiches Nightlife Bars Italian, Sandwiches, Bars [Edit]
566 Columbus Ave(between Stockton St & Green St)
San Francisco, CA 94133
Neighbourhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
(415) 362-0536
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
345 reviews for Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe
Review Highlights
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"I love the combination focaccia sandwich." In 70 reviews -
"Man, that oniony foccacia bread is heavenly." In 14 reviews -
"I had the tomato mozzarella panini and loved it." In 48 reviews
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344 reviews in English
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Review from Brian D.
4/20/2012
Came in on Friday April 13th for dinner - and was impressed. We ordered a Caesar Salad -- split onto two plates and made to perfection, simple yet tasty along with the Canneloni and the Veggie Sandwich.
Each item was prepared in front of us - by the staff and tasted amazing and a great value for the price. I will definitely be back again. -
Review from Nancy K.
4/16/2012
Frommer's includes a stop here during Day 1 of San Francisco and who are we to disagree? We were quickly seated and told that the kitchen was backed up - a nice touch. We ordered drinks, a half salad and two sandwiches: mom and I split a meatball and K got an eggplant.
The dressing on the salad was a little odd but the lettuce was great. The sandwiches were good but very different from the East Coast version on which I grew up: they use Swiss cheese here, a really different twist. Both servers were incredibly nice local hipsters who clearly cared about the job they were doing and answered our initial barrage of questions about the beer on the menu with which we weren't familiar.
Very good way to break up the day! -
Review from Wolf Yener O.
North Hollywood, CA
3/25/2012
Best spot in Little Italy.
Great people/service and top tasting food.
They have a true coffee machine! Their deserts are made home made from the true Italian owners.
A++ -
Review from Jennifer D.
Somerville, MA
5/17/2012
Walked around North Beach yesterday morning for a half hour looking for a place that 1. was open for lunch, and 2. would fulfill my random intense craving for an eggplant parm panini and a diet soda. Stumbled into Mario's and was happily surprised that it met these requirements. One enjoyable conversation with the server and one absolutely delicious panini (for real... the focaccia bread was AMAZING) later, and I was happily off to enjoy the rest of my day!
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Review from Paul D.
San Francisco, CA
5/15/2012
I'm not going to say the menu wowed me but the people, decor and the location did. Just came out of lunchtime prayers at St. Francis with thoughts of death, retribution and light weapons tactics weighing heavily in my well calculated thoughts, and I needed a place to chill before getting back to work. The beer list is nice and it is a vibe from the old town that I miss. So completely worth it. The food probably is good too. I had a salad, so hard to judge. I'm gonna try the tuna melt next time.
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Review from Jessica G.
Garden Grove, CA
On our adventure through Little Italy we stopped by Mario's because we heard they had a mean meatball sandwich.
We walked in, and I don't know if the girl working there could tell we were tourists but I got a weird vibe from her. Like this was a local spot and she didn't know what we were doing there. Or maybe it was just her being an awkward hipster girl...I'm not quite sure. Either way, I didn't get a good vibe. Since we had already been exploring elsewhere we ordered one sandwich to go.
When we got to the hotel we finally started grubbing. The sandwich was very good! It was melty, gooey and flavorful. The cheese, meat, veggies and sauce went well together. If it was based solely on the sandwich this place would be a 4 stars, but because of the snobby girl, I'm giving it a 3. Oh, wellll.Listed in: San Franny
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Review from Nors D.
San Francisco, CA
5/10/2012
Love the meatball sandwich. This place is a neighborhood staple for lunch. Nice sidewalk tables next to the park!! Would be five stars but service can be a bitch sometimes.
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Review from Troy C.
San Francisco, CA
5/19/2012
three letters OMG..
this place is awesome and I mean awesome. the fococia is just sexy and the service exceptional. the Italian sausage sandwich is heaven.
it is my new regular spot. -
Review from Sharon N.
San Francisco, CA
4/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Coffee and food excellent, service not so much by the guy with the curly mustache...maybe he's pms'ing
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Review from Joe S.
1/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been coming here since I could walk. It's an awesome place that defines SF food culture.
The actual cafe was a cigar bar many moons ago, not much has changed however now it's a hot sandwich spot and cafe. I'd advise you to grab a seat at the bar if there is room, but the old school tables next to the windows are not bad either.
Cruise in and grab a hot focaccia sandwich with a few beers (ANCHOR ON DRAFT) and the small-vintage vino glasses of red wine wine is nostalgic and PROPER. To complete the Mario's experience grab the best piece of tirramisu you'll ever eat along with a cappuccino made with Graffeo coffee roasted locally right up the street.
After visiting this spot you'll be embarrassed of where you eat and drink coffee. -
Review from Tania D.
San Francisco, CA
2/29/2012
This is a cute little corner cafe! Love the tiramisu here. Right across from the cathedral and Washington Square....
Get a tiramisu and a coffee/tea and just people watch :) -
Review from Sarah G.
1/9/2012
I want more places like this in Boston. It is a tiny little cafe/bar/sandwich shop and supposedly a cigar store too? All of that packed into one tiny corner shop??
You walk in here and see the big oven to cook their pizzas and paninis and to melt all of the cheese that Kelly D. got on her tuna melt. That oven is tucked into the bar itself and when we were there, they had two awesome people working, the guy who worked the bar and made all of our food made sure we were all completely happy with our sandwiches and pizza. Frances S. and I both got panini's, mine with chicken and pesto and sundried tomatoes and cheese all melted and toasted together and Frances S. got their mozzarella panini and we were both pretty happy with them. A little on the small side though for the cost and definitely in comparison to Kelly D's tuna melt which was made open face style, and I pretty much had sandwich envy with that one ha ha Kat got one of their sausage pizzas and she also seemed pretty darn content.
A nice quaint little bar and lunch spot that if you happen to be walking around this area, I know the people here will treat you like they are your friends. -
Review from Ace C.
San Francisco, CA
4/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
My friend and I got the sausage sandwich and the #2 chicken sandwich: both were very good. The staff was friendly. It's a great place to sit, enjoy and watch the world go by, which is a plus.
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Review from Dave C.
San Jose, CA
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Fun place to stop by for a beer or coffee. Sandwiches are good too.
Kinda small, but that's part of the charm. -
Review from Carol C.
Alameda, CA
12/19/2011
I never knew about this place until my younger sister suggested meeting here for lunch before we headed to Pier 39. The cafe is pretty casual and cozy. Even though the service is a tad slow, still it's a nice place to relax, enjoy the scenery (if one is sitting by the window) and carry on a conversation without a lot of noise around.
Since my sister has been here before, she mentioned that the sausage and meatball with marinara sauce on onion foccacia bread were the "bomb". Instead I opted for the smoked turkey & pepperjack sandwich with my usual...an Arnold Palmer. Reading over the menu, I have to say everything sounded delish. Thus, it will be more visits to this cafe in the future to taste the meatball, breaded eggplant sandwiches and the tiramisu listed under Italian sodas.
My smoked turkey sandwich (piping hot and fresh) with the pepperjack cheese oozing from the side and the hint of dijon mustard was yummy. It was a nice balance without any flavors overpowing each other. However, my expectation for an Arnold Palmer was a tall glass filled partly with iced tea and then topped off with lemonade. Yes, the beverage came in a tall glass, but I was caught off guard and slightly disappointed that it was a bottle of Snapple Arnold Palmer (3 star). I guess that's why the Arnie Palmer was listed at a price of $2.25. -
Review from Alison B.
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Mario's is a great neighborhood cafe. I love stopping by this place for a cappuccino/beer/panini/whatever. I'm not a huge panini fan, but I come here for their paninis. Service is friendly, even though it's a small place you won't feel rushed out if you want to sit there and read for a bit. I like how even though it's in a touristy area, it does't feel touristy. No complaints at all.
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Review from Benjamin K.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2012
I was confused by the name since I don't think they actually sell cigars. A cigar store that sells sandwiches definitely sounds like a dive, but this place had decent Italian-style panini sandwiches. I wasn't thrilled by my grilled eggplant sandwich flavor-wise but I'm pretty sure their other offerings are much better.
The ambiance is pretty hipster. The staff was friendly and funny. -
Review from Freddy H.
San Francisco, CA
5/2/2012
I will do dirty, dirty things for a Chicken Sandwich #2
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Review from Karen M.
Oakland, CA
1/12/2012
I just visited for 4 hours last night with a colleague/friend...and found this to be a charming little spot. Love it! The place is pretty cozy and feels like your own personal cafe when you walk in....very friendly, familiar, charming...
Simple menu which is awesome---simple wine list, again, no problem. I don't do or need fancy-shmancy. My friend told me try either the tuna, sausage, meatball or eggplant panini....now I usually delve into meat options but I'm a huge fan of eggplant so I opted for that and an unlimited amount of Malbec.... SO GOOD! The bread...incredible, the flavors in the eggplant, wow, hearty.... I tried his tuna.... SO GOOD! WIN!
***note, the amount of Malbec had no influence whatsoever on the rating of the food, promise!***
The server was a really nice character who poured our last glass on the house.... don't know if that meant he was really being gratuitous or if it was because we almost finished the bottle... :) Who cares! It was great.
And the neighborhood is a gem to walk around after... apparently there is a great gelato spot nearby... possibly my next review?? -
Review from Monica S.
11/13/2011
This isn't "fancy" Italian food. But it's honest and satisfying. My favorite is their lasagna, an unpretentious mix of noodles, rich tomato sauce, goopy mozzeralla cheese, and ground beef. Salty, fatty, meaty goodness. Sometimes, when I'm elsewhere eating fancy lasagna, I wish it were this.
The space is small and cozy and has nice views of the nearby church and park. It's a great place to read a book and sip some wine. -
Review from Xavier F.
Asheville, NC
12/28/2011
I don't normally give 5 stars, but this place deserves it.
The eggplant panini was phenomenal. The espresso is excellent. The people are friendly. The place is small and cozy with great ambiance.
They were pretty jammed so it took 20 min for the food to arrive, but it was well worth it. -
Review from Maryam S.
San Francisco, CA
3/6/2012
Best cappuccino ever
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Review from Vicky L.
7/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Let's get something straight. A hot tea and a latte should not cost $7.
Oh wait, it's because they overcharged and I didn't feel like bringing it up to them because we were in a rush to leave.
Just another regular coffee shop with some good people-watching seats overlooking Washington Square Park. With so many other options in this area, Mario's doesn't rank high on my list. -
Review from Ebert S.
Aptos, CA
4/17/2012
I've lived in S.F. for over 20yrs and would come here at least once a month. I moved away but still have to stop by here every time I visit my family to get my meatball sando fix. Bar None the best meatball Sandwich ever. I sit at the bar, order an Anchor Steam and feel like I never left. The staff is great, they remember me and address me by name, which is amazing.
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Review from princess p.
San Francisco, CA
8/7/2011
small very cozy, with an old world feel. The best sandwiches, meatball, eggplant, sausage, and main dishes are amazing as well.
Beer and wine selection is okay. I do love this place. When I got out of the psyche-ward this was the first place I went to. --JK, however
Great comfort food.
Some surly staff, but the food makes up for it. -
Review from Rob L.
San Francisco, CA
8/13/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Unpretentious perfection. Amazing staff! Excellent food! Perfect location!
I suggest- Breaded Eggplant sandwich, and an IPA draft. Chill, and tip your servers well!
Cheers! -
Review from Eric B.
6/4/2011
Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store is one of the oldest cafes in North Beach, (and maybe the US) and was founded by Mario Crismani and his wife, Liliana. They serve oven baked Focaccia Sandwiches (and other Italian fare), beer, wine, coffee, great desserts, but no cigars.
Gayle and I have been here on a date, and were lucky to find a table at this very compact and authentic corner space. It's also cool to see Washington Square park across the street and watch the world (including a few Bohemians of course) go by. The food was good, the service was "direct", the energy was exciting, and the decor was homey. In other words, it's a real North Beach neighborhood experience. -
Review from arielle n.
San Francisco, CA
4/9/2012
great little place to come for coffee, drinks, and eats. the staff is kooky and fun and the grilled focaccia sandwiches are delicious!!! (the cheese pizza was just okay).
for a casual meal i enjoy this place more than most of the restaurants in the neighborhood. -
Review from Kelly C.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 4/15/2011
This was the worst groupon-type experience I've ever had, and the worst restaurant experience I've had. Truth be told, it's one of the worst ways I've been treated as a human being, hands down.
Our dinner was fine. Service was abrupt, but not so much that we would make a fuss. When the bill comes, I show him the coupon on my homerun app. The night manager at Mario's flips. He tells me that it's no good, he'll only accept printed, that I should have told him when I came in. He starts screaming in the middle of the restaurant and caps it off by simulating slapping me in the face.
Let's be clear how offensive this is. I've a women in my twenties. He's a man in his forties. And he just simulated slapping me in front of 15 people because I had the gall to use a prepaid coupon his restaurant had volunteered to offer.
In my opinion, he stopped just short of assault, and I absolutely felt unsafe and threatened while in their restaurant.
I'm disgusted that this is the way we were treated for patronizing his restaurant with a prepaid coupon that his restaurant agreed to. And by bringing friends who spent double what the coupon was worth. None of us will ever be returning, which is a shame because I really loved this place and despite not living in the neighborhood made it a point to come several times a year and recommended it to many friends. I'll never make that mistake again.Listed in: Watering Holes, Stinkers
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/11/2009
Funky little Italian joint smack across the street from Washington Square Park. I came in here for… Read more »
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Review from Gero W.
Los Angeles, CA
9/23/2011
User to live in SF for more than 7 Years.
Walters were nice and polite. Location is great, food is mediocre at best.
G-man -
Review from Novalina N.
San Francisco, CA
4/21/2011
Perfectly satisfied with the meatball and the combination sandwiches. Meatball sandwich is pretty good. I ate the combination sandwich the day after, so it definitely is not as good as if it was eaten there. The focaccia bread is yummy, but it's really thick and 1 dimensional? I probably prefer a panini myself.
Tiramisu tastes amazing! I finish the entire dessert myself. I like how it's a bit wet and very flavorful.
I used a HomeRun voucher with me and there's a little bit of confusion on whether the expiry date has passed. He stared at the voucher for a good 10 minutes before giving me the americano and water. The owner doesn't seem too pleased with the voucher in general I'd guess, so I definitely advice against buying any vouchers for this place. And this is validated by another reviewer's crazy experience before mine! -
Review from Karena Q.
San Francisco, CA
7/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've passed by this place a bunch of times and finally stopped in for a quick bite before lounging in the park. I walked right in and started chatting with the guy behind the bar/kitchen that was making sandwiches and pizzas. Found out they do take out so I ordered up a chicken panini and coffee and continued chatting. The space is super cozy and had I not wanted to soak up some sun, I probably would have stayed to eat my sandwich there.
The sandwich itself wasn't anything spectacular. It wasn't bad, it wasn't excellent...just meh. I did see a plate of sausage and polenta that got me drooling, so maybe I'll just go back and sample that? Yes.
Also, I asked for a coffee and they offered me an americano instead. I mean, yeah, I get it. Same concept, but I feel like I ended up spending more money. -
Review from Roxy G.
SOMA, San Francisco, CA
6/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
The lasagna was greasy, the glasses were dirty, and the wine list consisted of "cab" or "merlot"
I think we ordered the meatball sandwich too, but it was so uneventful I don't really remember if it was "ok" or ''good", but it certainly wasn't great or memorable.
I wanted to like it, the location is great, but the actual quality of food and beverage was low.
I suppose if you want to grab a beer and sit at a bar in a prime location it's good. I was terribly unimpressed :( -
Review from Amy L.
1/5/2011
It turns out that this is my sister's favorite cafe in San Francisco, and she'd been hiding it from me for almost 10 years! Since she introduced me to Mario's, I find myself drawn back here every time I want to sit with a friend over coffee and dessert or a sandwich without having to deal with the rough, misanthropic crowd over at Cafe Trieste or the overly bright lighting at Mara's. Mario's feels intimate, definitely Bohemian, maybe a little sexy. It's your secret hideaway in plain sight.
The cafe mochas here are delicious, rich, not made with cheap chocolate like at so many other places in the area, but something smooth and tasty. The crunchy focaccia sandwiches are delish, if perhaps a tad pricier than expected for "just a sandwich" (giving me a pepperoncini or two with it doesn't really count in my book, especially since I don't even like them). There are better sandwiches out there, but these tasty.
But best? Is the homemade tiramisu. YUM. Seriously? It's the BEST in the city, even *gulp* better than mine (and I make a MEAN tiramisu!!! Just ask my friends...). Who would've thought I'd find it here in what is essentially a cross between an Italian coffee shop and Hernando's Hideaway?!!
I think this is a great place for a first date. Or catching up with an old friend. It's not well suited to larger groups, because it's actually kind of a tiny place, narrow and a bit cramped, although I HAVE seen folks trying to fit 6-7 people at what is really a four-top.
If you're in a WHEELCHAIR, this place might be a bit too frustrating to try to maneuver around, and I'm not sure how accessible the bathroom is, since I didn't visit on any of the times I was here.
Just writing this review has made me think about going back to Mario's for another round of cafe mocha and tiramisu...mmmm....!!!! -
Review from Cactus F.
San Francisco, CA
4/2/2011 4 photos
I want to put a 4.5 but it won't let me. Not a five because I did not sample enough food to give it a good overall rating.
I went in with a buddy early in the morning and it was just opening up. The man behind the counter had a cute little pony tail on the top of his head. He was super friendly. He didn't mind that I actually raised my hand like a school kid when we were ready.
We had two lattes: frothy on top with milk and it was good overall.
One tiramisu was shared. Excellent balance of flavors here. I usually hoard food to myself but this one had to be shared. The strength of the liqueur shines through but with out the alcohol-y taste. It's flavor is bright, and the lady fingers are not soggy, the mascapone and Chantilly layers were nice and light. It was just perfectly balanced with a mellow sip of my latte.
Good place to just b%^E# about issues by the open doorway while staring at people walk by. -
Review from kenny d.
San Francisco, CA
10/20/2011
it pains me to blast marios with a 1 star review because their food is good but....
Last time i ate there i ordered a chicken panini to go and while i waited for the guy to make it I watched him (with one glove on) sweep the floor, put his hand in the trash, touch multiple other dirty surface's with both hands then proceed to handle my sandwich and garnishes with unwashed hands with one glove still on. I dont mind cleaning up while you wait. but for f@cks sake wash your hands and put on clean gloves before you handle someones food. Especially if they are standing right there watching you the whole time. Based on this one experience I unfortunately will never return to this establishment. -
Review from Gloria H.
Updated - 12/4/2010
After trying to get in a few other places without success, we settled here. The side door was locked so they can accommodate another table of 2 inside., where we were sat.
We shared the pizza special - prosciutto with arugula - $10? The pizza fits on a dinner plate. It was a nice thin crust pizza with a very generous portion of chopped up arugula on top. The end crust was crispy.
Hubby had a pint of Sierra $5 and I had the Italian watermelon soda $2.
Service is a bit slow so be prepared to chill and enjoy the quaint ambiance - not the ideal place if you are in a hurry or with someone you can't carry a conversation with...Listed in: Places to eat in North Beach, Sandwiches...deli, gourmet,…, Some of our favorite spots in…, Check Please!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/1/2008
Great location, cozy and nice easy vibe. Love the old school music in the background too, just… Read more »
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Review from Gemma J.
2/22/2011
Best. Lasagna. EVER.
Bohemian, yes... Cigars, not so much. Which is great news, because instead they have delicious food!
I personally ordered the grilled eggplant panini, which was incredible, but the lasagna was actually the best of its kind that I've tried yet. The carafe of red wine and the sunny day certainly helped, although it did get a touch cold on the terrace because the sun wasn't directly hitting it. Despite the homeless serenader and the nippiness, however, it was a fabulous way to spend a lovely President's Day and be outside after such a long week of rain. Our server slash bartender was friendly, in a quirky hipster kind of way, and the prices were the usual North Beach standard... which, in this case, were absolutely worth it. Very quaint, right next to Washington Square Park, and great for people-watching without being right slap in the middle of the chaos. Even the bizarre restroom set-up seemed strangely enchanting after such a scrumptious meal and charming experience! -
Review from Mukul S.
San Francisco, CA
One of the best places in northbeach to much on some amazing sandwiches, punctuated with awesome Italian sodas. The staff is awesome. Very accommodating and nice. I loved the music too that was being played in the background just in the right volume. Thank u guys for a wonderful afternoon!
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Review from Shane R.
San Francisco, CA
12/5/2011
The mozzarella panini is amazing. Takes a bit for them to prepare but, oh man, it is well worth the wait.
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