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Tricolore Caffe & Catering
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Event Planning & Services Caterers Restaurants Italian Pizza, Caterers, Italian [Edit]
590 Washington St(between Columbus Ave & Hotaling St)
San Francisco, CA 94111
Neighbourhood: Financial District
(415) 391-0509
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 3:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
78 reviews for Tricolore Caffe & Catering
Review Highlights
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"My favorite of their soups is the white bean tomato soup." In 3 reviews -
"this is my favorite secret lunch spot." In 6 reviews -
"Good selection of pizza, pasta salad and sandwiches." In 6 reviews
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78 reviews in English
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Review from Annie G.
Pacifica, CA
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
The pasta is absolutely delicious. The pizza is just okay. The guys there are always friendly and ask how you're doing. They turn and burn pretty quickly and it's good for a take-out lunch or to grab a slice of pizza.
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Review from Brad B.
San Francisco, CA
3/16/2012
I've worked a block away from this joint for a year and never really had any co-workers talk it up. With a $3 LevelUp credit I finally gave it a shot today for lunch take-out. If watery pasta and a 6 to 1 noodle to sauce ratio is your thing then then you've got to check this place out. I honestly don't think they took the 30 seconds needed to drain the pasta and they rationed out the sauce as if there was a tomato famine going on.
I'm told the panini's are ok but after my initial experience it will take an $8 LevelUp credit to get me back in there. My word is my bond. -
Review from Adrienne G.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2011
Met up w/ Yelp buddy Simone W for a sunny-workday lunch & couldn't have been more impressed w/ Tricolore
Choices consisted of the Veggie & Turkey Panini - was declared delish
I chose the half Mozzarella Panini w/ a bowl of the White Bean-Tomato Soup
The soup was so filling & the sandwich was so toasty & melty w/ the soft mozz that before I knew it, I had polished off my whole meal.....& had the muffintop belly to prove it
I also got some of their freshly baked, homemade Zucchini Bread for later & it was uber-yummy. Soft & moist & spicy bread w/ a crunchy cream cheese-like topping, this was the perfect Fall weather treat
Will certainly come back - there are loads of other combos I'm looking forward to trying!Listed in: Grilled Cheese
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Review from Maximillian M.
San Francisco, CA
2/23/2012
Had the penne salad with artichokes, sun dried tomatoes and what appeared to be bits of turkey cold cuts (hmmm). A bit too strong on the vinegar, but it was otherwise fine.
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Review from E C.
San Francisco, CA
6/12/2011 7 Check-ins Here
WEE!!!
One of my go-to places for lunch :)
Everyone who works here is super nice and there is always a bunch of regulars here (good sign!)
Traditional italian fare made WELL and at reasonable prices. Always super fresh.
There are always seats open and outside seating area as well. I like sitting here by myself sometimes, or it's a great place to talk and eat too. Casual atmosphere.
I LOVE their pesto and I get their soup instead of going to the Soup Company.. I don't like chains and this place is actually CHEAPER than if you go to the Soup Company. Plus you know it's homemade and fresh.
Num num. Their pasta is authentic and I can't wait to try everything else.. Portions are great too. I always come when I have a craving for pasta. -
Review from Chris K.
Redwood City, CA
Updated - 3/13/2011
If you happen to be near the financial district and are looking for a place to eat lunch, it is well worth the short walk! I have been going there at least once a week with a bunch of friends for the last couple of years and am enjoying it every time.
This is a great little Italian restaurant right across from the Pyramid building. I have been there many times and really enjoy the food, atmosphere and service. You can even eat outside and enjoy the midday sun.
I have tried almost all of the items on the menu and have been extremely pleased. They have a great selection of fresh salads, authentic Italian pizza and pastas. If you are into desserts like me, you must try the amazing homemade tiramisu along with a cup of cappuccino!
I especially like the friendly staff which is always upbeat and very friendly!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/4/2010
If you happen to be near the financial district and are looking for a place to eat lunch, it is well… Read more »
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Review from Tammy C.
Updated - 9/22/2010 2 photos
(See pics)
More of 3.5 stars.
I needed my Italian fix and this is a good takeout place that is fast with good food. This time I got linguine with tomatoes and mozzarella, and it was pretty good, though I wish they were cherry tomatoes.
The salad dishes did look very look and will have to give it a try next time.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/21/2009
Local lunch place with fast service. A fairly busy place with good salmon panini and great prawn… Read more »
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Review from Chris D.
3/25/2011
Here we gooo...value!
Here we gooo...consistency!
Here we gooo...efficiency!
Here we gooo...tastiness!
Here we gooo...quality!
Here we gooo...cleanliness!
Here we gooo...friendliness!
Here we gooo...proximity!
My lunch "rock" 3-4x/week for seven years and counting... -
Review from Mark D.
1/24/2011 1 photo
chicken panini
It was a very basic sandwich. While I realize traditional paninis are not pressed, this sandwich would have been much better if it had been pressed and if it included cheese. The sandwich was simply too basic to stand out. It wasn't bad. There was just nothing special to make it different or better than any of the other sandwich shops. Since it is close to my office, I may return and try a pasta dish or pizza. -
Review from Dee H.
9/22/2011
Love the sandwiches with home-made foccacia bread!! It is SO GOOD. I loved the fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil and black pepper (mozzarella sandwich). The salads are good too and the prices are VERY REASONABLE and lunch friendly!! Wasn't too big on their cookies...kinda flakey-ish crumbly texture? Not my style, but their paninis are BOMB and catering service is reputable.
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Review from Linda L.
Oakland, CA
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very delicious!, I had their prawn gamberi and it was very fresh and delicious. The portion is just right. It's a small restaurant but very quaint and quiet.
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Review from Alvina W.
San Francisco, CA
8/4/2010
This is the place to go if you want something quick with pretty good sized portions. The line, if there is any, moves pretty quickly.
I've only ever had their 2 salad combinations so I can only speak to that. I've tried the pasta salad with tuna and capers a couple of times and it's pretty good - very flavorful. I've also had their Mediterranean salad which is a combination of cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta cheese. That's also pretty tasty, but the vegetables are very roughly cut (huge pieces!) I wouldn't recommend the salad with zucchini, roasted red peppers and mushrooms...I got that once and the zucchini and mushrooms were hot and the roasted peppers were refrigerator cold...very odd combination.
Overall, good price, nice portions and a combo of 2 salads of your choice comes with 2 pieces of bread for under $7. -
Review from Marsha Z.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2007
...Very average. Located directly across the street, it's a haven for Transamerica Building folks looking to fulfill their lunchtime munchies. From the outside, I always thought it was a full-scale restaurant, table service and all. But it's rather small, with a walk-up counter; the layout is more conducive to take-out orders.
Prices are on par with other Italian eateries around the FiDi, so you can easily stuff yourself for under $10. Though not a bad choice for lunch, I'm sure you can find better quality further up in North Beach.Listed in: The Requisite FiDi Lunch List
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Review from Nelson W.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2007 1 photo
I used to work kitty corner from this place in what I affectionately refer to as the "Tommy Toy Building" (655 Montgomery).
Tricolore has great pizza, great salads (the Mediterranean is my personal favorite) and great sandwiches. Even when it is busy, getting in and out of here is pretty fast.
The only thing I haven't tried that needs to be tried is the gelato. Judging by how they do everything else here, it's going to be GREAT. -
Review from Allyson V.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2006
A great quick and inexpensive lunch. I like the soup and salad combo or the soup and sandwich combo or the salad and 1/2 sandwich combo. I have not tried the pizza, but it looks and smells pretty good. The minestrone isn't the greatest (it's not bad, just not the greatest), but it is vegan. I'm always happy to find a place that makes vegetarian soup. The white bean soup is really good, though. I'm partial to the house salad, which is greens, cherry tomatoes, and goat cheese with a balsamic vinaigrette. My friend/co-worker prefers the feta salad. Our biggest complaint at Tricolore is that they provide too much bread. It's not that the bread is bad; quite the contrary. The problem is that we feel obligated to eat it, and just don't need those extra calories. You can see the dilemma here, right?
The staff is friendly and the order line moves quickly. -
Review from Di J.
San Francisco, CA
4/22/2010
I love this place. First time to come for lunch. It's not crowded and have a nice Italian atmosphere. The food is fresh and cheap. The combo menu is only between 5.50 - 7 where you can get a combination of 2 of soup/salad/sandwich/pizza. Healthy light lunch.
Will come back to try other stuff. -
Review from spiff e.
San Francisco, CA
6/15/2006
One of my go-to places for lunch in the area. Easy, because it's just across the street from the office. Typically go there when the clock hits 2:00 and I realize I have yet to each lunch. Or even once, when it was 3:50 and I still hadn't eaten. But sometimes, I go there because I have a random craving for the salmon focaccia sandwich, and that was pretty much all I ate. That is, until I discovered their pasta salads. The tuna pasta salad is great. The pasta with the tomato and mozzarella is also good. And I haven't had any trouble asking for extra tomatoes or whatever. Even in the tuna salad which doesn't come with tomatoes. And they always smile like they recognize me, which is nice.
Oh anyway, that time I ran over there for lunch at 3:50, by that time, all I had to choose from was pizza or a turkey pesto sandwich. I went with the sandwich, even though I don't like pesto. Or at least I thought I didn't. How fortuitous! Turns out I find pesto rather tasty. Thank you to TriColore for expanding my palate.Listed in: In and Around the Pyramid
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Review from Mindy K.
Oakland, CA
6/5/2006
I really shouldn't write reviews because I get so sentimental about the places I go for lunch. I guess working in the same block of SF for so long, that's bound to happen. In any case, one of the places I am really attached to is TriColore. The food isn't always the most amazing- I'd like to see at least one more ingridient in the salata della casa- maybe red onion? And the pasta salads need a sprinkle of salt and pepper on occassion, but the pizza is delicious- the simpler the toppings, the better. And the soups are fantastic! I am in love with their split pea and their butternut squash soups.
Plus, the guys here are nice, remember your face, and go the extra mile. Once when their credit card swiping machine was broken and I didn't have cash, they wrote my first name on my receipt and taped it to the wall and just told me to come back some time and pay it when I had cash or the machine was fixed- which I did the next week just because they were so great about it. They could have lost that seven bucks and I could have walked away with a free meal, but finding that kind of hometown friendliness in the middle of the financial district made my day.
You can tell the food is homemade. Just like your momma's cooking- not always five stars, but always authentic and made by a real person, with fresh ingridients. A step up from a hole in the wall, but small enough to feel like you've escaped the chain sandwich stores, TriColore rocks- especially early or later than the typical lunch crowd, when the place is all yours. Did I mention they have gelato and great chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies. yeah.Listed in: Lunch for under $10 in FiDi.
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Review from Wendy F.
San Francisco, CA
4/6/2009
Tricolore, you never let me down.
You are my new best friend.
You are like the dressing tossed in my salad,
the half and half stirred in my coffee,
and the jeans on my bottom half.
You are fresh and delicious any time and every time I meet you at lunchtime. Pastas, pizzas, soups, salads, deserts. Italian heaven, and quite affordable. Can we pinky promise to be BFF???? -
Review from Megan H.
San Francisco, CA
8/28/2009
This place is O-K. They have some great combo options that are inexpensive, but I wasn't impressed with the food. The proscuitto panini hardly had any meat and the bread was not the best bread for a panini. I also had the tricolore salad (with goat cheese and grape tomatoes) and it was less than par.
I agree with Jon N......I wish it was better because the location is great. -
Review from Sandra M.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2010
This is one of my favorite lunch spots in the financial district! I wish it wasn't so far from my office - or I would probably go there every day.
It's a cute, little Italian café with really sweet Italian guys who run it, and they have awesome soups, salads, pastas, pizza, and my favorite - grilled paninis!
They have minestrone soup every day which is deeeeelicious (their special white bean tomato soup is up there too), and then I also always get their grilled mozzarella tomato panini which is amazing - the mozzarella is so fresh and creamy. They have a wide variety of paninis, and they are all super tasty.
I love their combo options - I always get a cup of soup and a half panini for only $6.25, pretty sweet deal if you ask me - especially considering how good the food is.
The pizzas and pastas I have had are also excellent, as are the salads.
Great food, great service, great prices. Rare find in the financial district. -
Review from Bert K.
11/4/2008
Nice and close.
Today I had the 1/2 pannino: prosciutto, fresh mozzarella cheese on a light piece of foccacia bread. A side of lentil/tomatoe soup and a slice of pizza
with salami, cheese and tomatoe sauce. All pretty good, total price $10.85 Ok, I ate a lot today. Needed the fuel for tonites voting.
Will be going back.
Customer service: fine.
Decor: different and italian-ish. Small place , lively atmosphere. -
Review from Jonas T.
San Francisco, CA
3/11/2007
A quick, delicious, and not too expensive lunch. I had a salad and the greens were very fresh and crisp. None of that pale white/green lettuce garbage in this salad. It's all dark green lettuce - the nutritious stuff.
JONASAPPROVED! -
Review from Christine T.
Pleasanton, CA
4/10/2007
*3.5 stars*
First visit in AGES (first visit was pre-Yelp)...
... went with a craving for pizza. The slice w/ pepperoni (but upon tasting, was more like linguica-YUM!) w/ mushrooms and garlic caught my eye... they warmed it up (wow! just for me?!) and I was on my merry way to scarf it all up in record time back in the lunch room.
Tasty tasty! Good crust, good amount of garlic, sausage was also good and so were the sauteed mushrooms.
I'm looking forward to going back and trying their panini, salads and soups... -
Review from Nerd A.
Oakland, CA
3/29/2007
I eat Tricolore at least once a week and it doesn't disappoint. The sandwiches are placed on warm Focaccia bread and come with greens, thinly sliced ham, olive oil, and other fresh ingredients.
I tend to order a half sandwich(they are large) and a side creaser for lunch but I have ventured into the pizzas and pastas. The pasta here is always great but i found the pizza to be too hard and salty for my taste.
Overall a nice, inexpensive place to get lunch that is on the healthy and fresh side.Listed in: Lunch in the Financial…
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Review from Chad O.
Newark, CA
2/13/2009
This tiny cafe does everything to make sure you know it's an Italian eatery.
I found the pizza to be very good. The ingredients were fresh and the cheese and toppings seemed to be of high quality. The pizza melted in my mouth as I took a bite. The sauce was good but slightly watery from the fresh tomatoes. The crust was light and they crisped it up for me.
There wasn't much time for cleaning, but a nice small place to go for lunch. -
Review from Melissa S.
Oakland, CA
3/14/2006
SO GOOD! For five bucks, the authetic Italians will serve you salads, lasagana, pizzas, soups, pastas or any combination thereof. Genuine, like mama used to make!
Textured walls contribute to the homey ambiance. The staff is sweet and constant.
The food is good and you can avoid the lunch crowd by swinging in before 12:30 or after 1:15. -
Review from Tien N.
1/8/2007
The inside provides a nice atmosphere giving it a nice mom & pop sort of atmosphere, and in a way reminded me of Florence.
The selection of pasta, pizza, and other Italian foods all looked great from what I saw, and there's a daily special to keep you coming back looking for something new.
The service is speedy, the staff is friendly, and most importantly the food is quite delectable. The pasta that I had all the right ingredients that made it just right and very flavorful. Will come back to this place at a later date. -
Review from Aaron M.
Berkeley, CA
8/10/2007
Tricolore is one of the three places I can order-in lunch via my office's you're-not-leaving-your-desk-until-this-crap-gets- done lunch menu service. I've probably eaten just about everything on the menu several times over. Two observations stand out from the countless meals eaten at my desk:
One, I love their soups (for a take out lunch place). Tomato white bean and pure of butternut squash are both healthy and veg/vegan friendly (not that I'd ever say no to a cheese or dairy). They have a weekly rotation of soups and there is always something good and healthy.
Two, this is the only Italian restaurant in which I've been served bad focaccia. I just hate their homemade bread, which is saying a lot as I'm a total bread / carb whore. Seriously, I could live off of a bizzaro-Atkins diet should on be invented (patent pending). Yet I won't eat the bread at Tricolore because it is bland, sort of woody, and lacking in the classic focaccia flavor or texture. This is important to know because all sandwiches are made with it too, so I avoid them like cold brussel sprouts served in the morning by Grandma because you refused to eat them the night before.... Um, ignore that last bit, I think I'm over sharing.
Long story short: Solid lunch place, just stick to the soup and pizza. Other non-sandwich options are nice too. Very solid place. -
Review from Gladys c.
Los Angeles, CA
3/14/2007 2 Check-ins Here
YUMMY! Cute, cozy Italian cafe with all sorts of goodies. My friend took me here while searching for lunch and I instantly found a lot of options. Prices are reasonable and the portions are generous. I love the atmosphere too, it's homey and comfortable.
There's a big menu for the little restaurant - pizza, pasta entrees, panini, calzone, soup and a variety of salads. I also like how they list prices for combinations so you don't have to wonder if it's going to cost you a fortune.
I can't wait to come back and try the paninis and pizzas - the ingredients all look very tasty and I can't get enough of prosciutto! They also have breakfast and a full coffee bar with espresso drinks made from organic coffee beans.
I went with the pasta bolognese and a cup of vegan minestrone soup. The portions were generous and elegant presentation for a to-go order. It was so good and I love how it wasn't too greasy or salty. I'm definitely coming back for more! It's my new favorite lunch spot! -
Review from Jay E.
Santa Barbara, CA
10/1/2010
I was fiending some pizza and this is the closet place to my work. $3.85 for a small/medium sized slice, soggy crust and pretty greasy.
I guess the positive was it tasted like pizza and satisfied my craving, but other than that it sucked. I would never go back for the pizza. -
Review from Quinallison J.
Bay Area
8/4/2008 3 photos
This little place has some great selections and pretty good deals for lunch. I had the vegetariano panini with the insalata penne pasta salad. I think this is the first vegetarian sandwich I've ever had and I have to say "who needs meat?" lol. I was a bit if-fy about trying it, but zucchini and mushrooms just sounded so yummy to me (i've been eating a lot of vegetables lately).
The foccacia bread is so soft and lite that it doesn't overpower the sandwich. Equal amounts of everything made it a nice lite lunch treat. For half a sandwich and salad, it was $9, a little steep, but really filling for my tummy. A few bites of half the sandwich and salad already satisfied my hunger. I'll have enough for lunch even tomorrow! -
Review from lea m.
San Francisco, CA
5/24/2007
I absolutely LOVE Tri Colore. I used to work across the street at the pyramid and ate there 3-4 times a week, but now that I'm down on California St., I only make it over there like once a week. I make the walk because the food is sooooooooooooo good!
I usually get a half of a sandwich (the Tacchino), and ask for it hot. They put it in the oven so that the cheese melts into perfect yumminess. I also get a small mediterranean salad which has thick slices of cucumber, tomato, olives and cheese. Oh it's so tasty!
The staff is so friendly and always smiling. They will not only remember the faces of their regulars, but also their names. I am greeted personally each time I go in and even engage in some quick chit chat. This place is not your average get in, get your food, and get out sort of joint. It's an absolute gem. -
Review from Annie C.
Fremont, CA
7/2/2007
LOVE their pizzas
pastas are good could be better if the portion was a little bigger
pricey but worth it -
Review from Jamaal C.
Richmond, VA
3/4/2009
Ideal for lunch. Everything is good: from the pizza to the paninis to the pasta. Service is quick and cordial. The combos offer variety and decent portions.
The vegetariano is my personal fave. -
Review from Carmen Y.
San Francisco, CA
2/28/2010
Great lunch spot in the back of Fidi right across from the Transamerica Building.
Great selection of salads, soups, panini's, pizza, coffee and more. Totally affordable prices for a decent portion. I always go for their combo of a salad or soup and a panini. Yum! The owner is a total sweetheart (always so friendly and welcoming) and the staff is just as friendly.
Very cute little Italian cafe! -
Review from Cat T.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 4/7/2009
Upon getting additional feedback from coworkers, they felt that the pasta to sauce ratio was too high (e.g. not enough sauce). Fair point, but the way I see it is...it's because people are used to what I call the American-style of Italian food. So - I reiterate...order from here if you like light (more) authentic Italian quick cuisine/good catering.
I would still order from Tricolore for an office event becauce frankly, it's a lot cleaner (because there isn't crazy greasy sauce spilling everywhere), works better with our budget, it's healthy and people loved the salad.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/3/2009
I tried Tricolore a couple weeks ago because I coordinate events at work and wanted to try a new… Read more »
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Review from Beth D.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2010
It was raining and this was right across from my building so I thought it would be quick and easy to grab some pizza.
I walked up to the counter, and since I saw they already had half a pepperoni pizza sitting right there, I ordered a slice of that. Not sure why I had to wait another 15 minutes after I ordered before they actually gave me a slice since it was sitting right there. This is the greasiest pizza I've had in SF, my stomach already hurts and I used two entire napkins blotting up the grease.
I might have a different opinion if I'd tried the pasta or maybe fruit salad, which looked pretty fresh.
Note: this is not the place for a special order on pizza slices or a sandwich as it's all pre made. -
Review from Carmina B.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 11/5/2010
A little disappointed that they messed up my catering order yesterday for a board meeting. They forgot to include the dessert that I had already paid for. When I followed up to alert them, Joe was kind enough to reverse the charge and apologized for the mistake. Given that I've ordered from them before it would of been nice if he threw in a little something more as an incentive to entice me to order from them again, especially since a tip was given in advance.
Listed in: SF Catering Vendors
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/1/2010
Quaint and casual place for lunch. Fast, fresh and friendly service, just as it states in their… Read more »
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Review from Florencia P.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2009
If you are looking for a good focaccia sandwich, soup and salad then this is the place to go. Whether it is to go or to stay, I found them to be quick and efficient. Their house salad has a decent amount of goat cheese and cherry tomatoes. I have also had their turkey focaccia and it was big enough for 2 lunches. Also had their lentil soup and was good too.
It usually never fails. One item on the menu/display that was unusual was swiss bichermuesli which is not something you see everyday. Yet to try it but kudos for selling it.
