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Cafe Tiramisu

3.5 star rating
based on 182 reviews

Category: Italian  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Financial District
28 Belden Pl
(between Bush St & Pine St)
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 421-7044
  • Hours:
    Mon-Thu 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
    Mon-Thu 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
    Fri-Sun 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
    Fri-Sun 5:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
  • Price Range: $$
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Street
  • Attire: Casual
  • Good for Groups: Yes
  • Good for Kids: No
  • Takes Reservations: Yes
  • Delivers: No
  • Take-out: Yes
  • Waiter Service: Yes
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: Yes
  • Good for: Lunch, Dinner
  • Alcohol: Full Bar
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182 Reviews for Cafe Tiramisu

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johanna a.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
09/06/2008

Went there for lunch recently after getting recommendation from coworker. Very cute, solid food, so-so service. The waiter wasn't too polite, but in the scheme of things what concerns me is the food. My veal medallions with lemon caper sauce was spot on. It was a beautiful sunny day so we sat outside and the nice breeze that was coming in made it a very picturesque afternoon.

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8

Sue Ann M.

Campbell, CA

3 star rating
09/04/2008

Great Atmosphere. Super cute cafe with a feeling of Europe. Great people whatching area. Food was ok.

We had Raw Oysters - ok
Mussels in Saffron - YUMMY
The Dessert sampler - ok

The best part was the Saffron sauce soaked up with the bread, but they took the bread and bowl away before we had a chance to finish. We felt just a bit rushed even though they were not trying to turn tables over. It was late in the afternoon and not crazy busy at all.

I would definity go back again as I enjoy the atmosphere.

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108

Adam X.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
Updated - 08/28/2008

Went again tonight. For the first time ever sent something back which I never do (the risotto), but everything else was spot on. Just outstanding. I can still taste it... those short ribs are incredible in the Red Wine Sauce Served with Horseradish Mashed Potatoes as was the Ultra-Wide Fettuccine with Wild Mushrooms and Wild Boar Ragu.  Steaming hot and wonderful.

do it... do it.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating 08/10/2008

    1 Star for consistency (over 15 years always just as good the next time)
    1 Star for exceptional… Read more »

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68

Vickie Y.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
08/25/2008

Located in cute Belden Place in the city, I  must hand it to this restaurant for its location.  Treated a friend here for his birthday the other night.  Really enjoyed the location with outdoor seating and the lively atmostphere.  Food was decent-  I enjoyed the bacon wrapped pork medallion with mashed potatoes, my friend tried the sea bass, and the birthday boy had the peppered seared ahi tuna...  that was good.

Service in my opinion was a little abrupt, but my company didn't seem to mind.   We ordered a bottle of merlot, but didn't notice until halfway through the dinner they had brought us the cabernet.  

Overall, I enjoyed myself with good food and good company.  I would return again, great for groups or a nice date  =)

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69

BH L.

San Jose, CA

3 star rating
08/23/2008

Came here for the first time during Friday night dinner hours.  My awesome two friends were treating me for my birthday and I had never been to the Belden Place alley before.  All the tables were lined up next to each other outside...restaurant to restaurant with people packed in like sardines.  When we sat down, I literally could hear four conversations around me from adjoining tables since we and most people who sat outside had to raise our voice to be heard.  

Well onto the food.  I ordered the seared ahi which was excellent along with a spicy vegetable risotto that came with it.  My friends had the pork chop and salmon which I also liked.  We ordered a half bottle Mondavi merlot from our waiter but after a few sips, we found out he gave us a Cab...what the f----?  At that point, whatever, the wine was fine.  Despite the wine cock-up, our waiter tried his best to serve us...although the seating arrangement made it hard to talk to him.  For dessert, we got the panna cotta with the fresh fruit.  I liked it and how it was their lightest dessert compared to their biscotti, chocolate cake, or creme brulee options.  

I'd definitely come here again but perhaps during a less crowded lunch service or an early dinner.  There are like five other restaurants on the Belden Row, so I'd probably head to see those first before I try Tiramisu again.

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113

Adam Z.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
08/29/2008

It's good, but Brindisi di Cucina Mare on Belden Place is better.

Three stars for the food with an extra star for getting to eat outside.

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7

John A.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
08/20/2008

Every now and then I go out on dates, remarkable, huh? well, I always choose Tiramisu due to the warm romantic atmosphere and the laid back staff, I say laid back because they kinda ignore me all the time, I think it's because how I dress! Aanyway, I go late, like at 9:15pm, this way the alley way is thinned out and you can talk amongst your girl to where it doesn't seem like you are yelling at her. I always eat the Crab cake for starters, then I munch on a grilled Salmon dish. When you are done dining, if you choose, you can continue to enjoy the atmosphere with some drinks, or if the date is going bad, you can blame it on the weather and how cold it is to cut it off short, anyway, nice vibe with a romantic chill feel, I really like this place.

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7

Evelyn B.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
08/30/2008

First time at Belden Place Alley - loved it. So cute and very European (Spanish, Madrid, Plaza de Santa Ana) feel. We waited to get outdoor seating which was worth it considering the beautiful weather.

The pre-meal bread was good, the olive oil with basil/pesto was yummy but could have had more garlic.

As for the meal, the risotto was tasty but the shrimp was too dry. We also had the Capellini (with proschetto wrapped scallop) and it was good...however, when they say scallop they mean scallop, as in one, singular, not plural ;-)

Anyways, minus 1 star for the slightly drunken waiter that was rushing us...and minus the other star for not entirely superb food.

I will definitely be checking out some more restaurants on this cute little alley because the ambiente is great :)

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Elite '08

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Ed U.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
07/30/2008

I remember that Pike Place Market scene in "Sleepless in Seattle" where Tom Hanks, worried about re-entering the dating scene after his wife died, gets counsel from Rob Reiner on how to meet women. Rob says cryptically "Tiramisu!" to which Tom doesn't know whether he should be eating it or performing it with an extra-large vibrator and a dozen hard-boiled eggs. That's how I kinda feel when I'm in this always-crowded place. Given that I forgot my vibrator and eggs (...of all days!), that left me with just one other option - eating.

Of all the Belden Place places, this is probably the best food-wise. That's not really that high a watermark as I'm kind of meh on all the other places, maybe because I feel they should do more crowd control in that alley during the lunch hour. But Italian is hard to screw up unless you're Buca di Beppo or the Olive Garden. Cafe Tiramisu is better than that and actually delights me on occasion.

I had a soup-salad combo while dining with a colleague there, and it turned out to be a smart digestive move. I had the $7 bowl of Heirloom Tomato Soup, creamy with a drizzle of basil-infused olive olive and a couple of croutons. As a complement, I went for the $13 Roasted Yellow Peach and Arugula Salad with Prosciutto and Aged Ricotta. It was a nice blend of peppery and sweet and a good combo of textures. That turned out to be satisfying enough.

Dining inside did make a difference, and the service just seemed more punctual since most of the noise was coming from the outside. I didn't have any room for what I assume to be their signature dessert - tiramisu - but I did find my vibrator later. What happened after that is not particularly relevant to this review.

FOOD - 4 stars...well-prepared soup and salad does the trick for me
AMBIANCE - 3 stars...not particularly exciting decor-wise, but you may want to sacrifice the sun at lunch to secure a greater peace on the inside
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...serviceable with an Italian accent
TOTAL - 4 stars...I'll let this Belden Place eatery have four stars and let the others aspire to it

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anya e.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
08/01/2008

I came here with my office for a farewell lunch for someone. We had 19 people, so we were seated in the basement section. Bread and olive oil, as well as drinks were quickly served. I had the sausage with rigatoni and spinach which was good. Others had the braised ribs, seared ahi and sole which received good responses. The only thing I disliked was that the basement is a thouroughfare for the kitchen staff. Other than that, everything was pretty good.

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Aron L.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
07/24/2008

I really like this place.  I think it's because I love risotto and the risotto here is good.  

I've been here a couple times.  It's pretty fancy and quite pricey but I've always enjoyed the food, wine and company every time I've been.  I've had fun every time I've been here so I guess I like it.  I like the whole Belden Lane area though.  Eating outside in the cool San Francisco air.  What more can you except from life (except lots of other stuff).

Last time I went, our little group got everything from oysters, mussels (in saffron-fennel sauce), lobster cioppino (which included scallops, salmon and shrimps), veal and a bottle of chianti.  I liked it all but there are a few things to keep in mind:

(1)  I'm in the middle of a love affair with oysters so my opinion may be biased.  It was AWESOME!

(2)  I don't really know what either saffron or fennel are (I'm guessing they're herbs of some sort) but I liked the food.

(3)  Lobster cioppino was overall good.  I'm decent with seafood quality so my opinion on this point is not totally off the mark.

(4)  I know nothing about wine.  I like saying the word "chianti" but I couldn't tell it apart from a "cabernet sauvignon" (which I also like saying because it makes me sound cool).

In conclusion:  Yay! I'm a fan.  So speaketh Yelp.  So speaketh I.

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Elite '08

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Jin B.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
07/21/2008

Cute little place in the middle of Belden Place in the Financial District. Good eats and great ambiance.  They have really great oysters and the raviolis is to die for!  So glad that I got a chance to check this place out.  Funny thing is, as you walk through Belden Place during lunch, there are hostesses and waiters waiting outside trying to get you to come to their restaurant and eat.  It's like being in France all over again not speaking a lick of their language and trying to nicely say no as you walk through to get to where you need to be.  Love the area though.

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Shawn R.

Broomfield, CO

4 star rating
07/12/2008

Cafe Tiramisu is a must stop for me when I visit San Francisco. Thanks to my buddy John M for taking me the first time. The food if excellent my favorite gnocchi anywhere. Be sure to bring a jacket and eat in the Belden Alley its the only way to experience the place. I took my wife here to celebrate our 15th anniversary.

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michelle r.

Walnut Creek, CA

4 star rating
07/03/2008

So I thought yesterday was my first time at Cafe Tiramisu but when I got there, I realized I had been there once before. Anyway, I can't remember last time, so here's my review of yesterday's lunch.

First of all, I love the atmospere of Belden lane... so the location is great. We started with the appetizer crab cake... and yes, cake is singular. There is only one but it was pretty good. I had the Linguini with clams which was excellent. My buddy Sam had the Rigatoni which he loved. Bread... appetizer... entrees... are we done? Nope. Gotta have dessert, hello?! So of course, we just can't try the Tiramisu... we get the Dessert Sampler for two. It was the highlight of the lunch... we got to taste the Tiramisu, Creme Brulee, Rasberry Gelato, Canoli, Cream puff, Biscotti, and a chocolate cake of some sort. Fabulous dessert! Overall, a fantastic lunch.

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Elite '08

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Genevieve Y.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
06/25/2008

Date & Time:  Wednesday June 24, 2008 @ 7pm
Company:  Sara & Justin, Mommy & Michael
Crowd:  Mixed Groups of FiDi Professionals from 20's-40's & Handful of Tourists in Couples
Atmosphere:  Lively
Decor:  Cheery Split-level Space.  Murals Painted on Brightly painted Walls.  Tightly-packed Banquettes & Tables for Quatre.  Generous Amount of Heated Outdoor Aluminum Tables.
Service:  Super-friendly & Helpful
Imbibe:  Italian Vino
Devour:   Steamed Mussels, Beef Carpaccio, Raw Oysters, Crudos(Seasonal), Lobster Cioppino, Rack of Lamb, Braised Short-Ribs, Ravioli, Linguini & Mini Dessert Sampler for Dessert- Minimum 2 @ $9.50 Per Person
Notes:  Gets an Extra Star for being my Mommy's Fave restaurant in The City & Mommy loves Restaurants in the Country-side of Italy.

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Elite '08

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Jim C.

WA

4 star rating
07/06/2008

It has been a really, really long time since I've eaten here -- so long it's probably not very cool of me to even write a review.  Oh, well.

My memories are of a beautiful spring evening sitting at a table out in the Lane, feeling like I'm in Europe or something, loving the food, the wine, and the company.  Every night should be like that, yes?

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Gigi T.

Emeryville, CA

4 star rating
06/24/2008

We went to Cafe Tiramisu for a team lunch and the overall dining experience was pretty awesome.

We sat outside since it was a pretty nice sunny day and not too cold.

For starters, we had:
- Mozzarella & Tomato - Yummy Mozzarella, super fresh, soft, and bouncy.  Delissshh
- Crab cake - it was alright.... I had better crab cake before...  Not enough crabmeat or something
- Mussels in Saffron-Fennel Broth - great delicious sauce!  Large portion for the price, but the mussels are a little too soft for my taste.
- Artichoke blossoms - pretty good, wasn't that memorable.

Entrees:
- I had the Lobster Ciopinno, and there was really a lobster in there! (half)  The lobster was delish!  The sauce was great!  Very generous amount of seafood - scallops, shrimps, clams, mussels, fish.  And for the price of $20, it's a great deal!
And I had a taste of:
- Black Peppered Seared Ahi - done the way it supposed to be.  Black pepper ahi pan seared to perfection
- Caesar Salad -Fresh Dungeness Crab Meat & Chile Croutons - for $13, it's awesome.  Fresh crab meat on top of refreshing caesar salad, yum!

Desserts - we shared:
- Tiramisu - IT WAS DELISHHH!  tiramisu in thin chocolate box, yum!  
- Trio of Creme Brulee - very very good, wasn't too heavy.  I liked the cherry and mandarin flavor lots.  Don't really care about the lemon one
- White Peach Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream - pretty good, nothing EXTRAODINARY to rave about though
- Warm Chocolate Cake with Hazelnut Sauce and Ice cream on the side - omg, the sauce is delicious! I have a feeling they made the sauce themselves!  I love the hazelnut flavor, soo sooo sooooo good.

Yep, well deserved 4 strong stars!

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LeAnne S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
06/25/2008

I have a funny story how I came to know Cafe Tiramisu. Read on.

My grandfather hails from Scalea, Italy. A tiny port town on the coast in Southern Italy. One day he was driving through Oakland and spots a license plate that says "SCALEA". At a stoplight he jumps out of the car and knocks on the window of a very frightened lady. She cracks her window as il mio nonno asks "Does your license plate have anything to do with the town in Italy?"

Lucky for us, it did. She was the wife of the owner of Cafe Tiramisu who also is from Scalea. Now knowing that, my family celebrates every and any occasion we can here.

The food is great, the desserts are made in house and cannot be overlooked (I am not even a dessert person at all).

I deducted one star because I was hoping the waiters would know more Italian so I could use it.

But how can you pass up this little piece of Italia that is Belan Place?

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Laurie K.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
07/01/2008

Love having dinner on Belden lane, feels like I'm in Europe, strolling down the lane as the hosts are coaxing you into their establishment. Cafe Tiramisu has a cosy, romantic feel to it. Bring a first date there guys, if it doesn't work out you haven't broke the bank...:-)

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Angela O.

San Leandro, CA

4 star rating
06/23/2008

My hubby and I recently lunched here.  I remembered the caesar salad with crab from a previous visit and wanted to come back for another taste.  We shared the beef carpacio, caesar salad with dungeness crab, pan seared ahi over risotto, and warm peach tart.  The salad was as I remembered, crispy, creamy, crabby, and delicious!  The ahi was done just right (seared and still rare) and the risotto was very tasty.  The peach tart was beautifully presented (we had to take a picture on our phone) and yummy!

We sat at a table inside the restaurant, which was nice and much roomier than being packed in with everyone outside.  Plus we were able to enjoy our own conversation (not everyone else's).  The service was good and the staff was friendly.  I will definitely return again for my favorite caesar salad and next time we're trying the dessert sampler!

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Jessica O.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
06/10/2008

Went here with my co-workers for lunch today. Pretty damn good I'd say. I HIGHLY recommend the dessert sampler. Awesome!!

I had the sand dabs for my entree, which was not bad. I do like my sand dabs a bit crispier.

The crabcake wasn't fantabulous, but the sauce that went with it was pretty good.

The other girls had the ahi tuna which they raved over, and the one guy we were with had the sea bass which he hated because the green olives it was served with overpowered the taste of the fish.

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A B.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
06/17/2008

I have lived about 3 blocks away for over 5 years, and have never been to Cafe Tiramisu until last weekend - weird!!  But I finally tried it, and it was good.  Not great, but good.  My friend and I shared the green salad and the Bufala(o?) Mozzarella to start, both of which were yummy.   Then I had the rigatoni with sausage, spinach and goat cheese, which I really liked.  She had the cheese ravioli, which looked really good - but I didn't try a bite.  We were too full for dessert - will try next time.  Would love to come back when it's warm so we can sit outside (it was tooooo cold that night I was there, even with the heaters)!  Bottom line, cute place in Belden Lane, with solid food.

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Oren F.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
06/26/2008

Belden Place is just a wonderful place to eat, and I love eating at Cafe Tiramisu.
It's nearby sister restaurant "Brindisi" is about the same, but Brindisi is more Seafood centered and generally isn't as busy.

They have a wonderful roast chicken dish here, and their pasta is wonderful.

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Scott N.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
05/26/2008

The BEST meal I've had in San Francisco!  My friend and I were eating a Christmas/birthday dinner here last year.  Ever since, the meal has gone down in our life's story, the BEST MEAL EVER!  The wild boar was amazing and the taste/sensation lingered with me for days.  The truffle venison was wonderful.  And the final cappuccino was lovely.  My only complaint isn't really a complaint, just a mistake of my own...I should have stuck with my gut feeling and ordered the Pinot Noir, not the Sangiovese.  The deeper, richer flavor of the Pinot would have complimented the sweeter, richer flavor of the boar, rather than the complex fruity/oakiness of the Sangiovese.  My bad, not yours.  Anyway I look at it, the night was to be remembered...food and all.  Bravo!

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Soham K.

New York, NY

4 star rating
05/16/2008

I went to Cafe Tiramisu for lunch. Ordered a salas, appetizer and a main dish. The Salad was amazing with just the right dressing. The appetizer had mozarella de bufalla which is made from buffalo milk instead of cow milk so it tasted great.

The entree took forever and we finally got bored and left. I wish they were a little more sharp and quick... but the food was amazing. Beware that the portions are not "Olive Garden" sized.

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Gina E.

Mesa, AZ

5 star rating
04/22/2008

This eatery is in a quiet little alley around all the good stores.  The walls are Pompeii-esque and the cafe is run by authentic Italians.  

There is a lot of room outside the cafe.  Inside is kind of tight but comfy.

I recommend the "brick" chicken, which is so tender and juicy.  The chocolate gelato and souffle and hazelnut soup (or on their menu, hezelnut) are so rich and yummie.  You can't go wrong.

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Dave S.

Benicia, CA

4 star rating
06/04/2008

My bon voyage party was here as a table of 10 for lunch. Had the crab cake starters. Not fantastic but well made. Sauce was a touch more salty than preferred and the crab cake was not intended as a 'sharing" appetizer. The Antipasti was delicious although the roasted bell peppers, not being a fan of them, were everywhere.  The main course, the salmon encrusted with a crab and pesto was tasty on top of a bed of wax beans and a very delicate flavored sauce from squash blossoms. The salmon was cooked quite right and was a perfect serving.
Dessert was actually a clever departure. Not off the wall, but I ordered the molten chocolate (cup) cake, the scoop of gelato and all accompanied by a warm pureed hazelnut chocolate soup. That was a very key and nice approach.

The house Pinot Noir was pleasant on the first bottle and a little less complex on the second.

The service was excellent and very warm, and the weather matched.

As far as wine goes, I think I may start bringing my own to any restaurant and pay the corkage of $12-20... That would still almost be worth it.

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Eddie C.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
05/01/2008

I'd give this place 3.5 stars for nice ambiance and decent food.  The service is a bit lacking though.  

It's inside a really cool alley where a bunch of restaurants are located near the financial district.  There's a bunch of communal tables outside that make it a festive environment.  

My salmon was a little over-cooked but the veggies and sauce was good.  The service could be better as we had a wrong dish delivered to our table.

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angelica s.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
06/25/2008

I ate here with one of my friends and I felt really sick afterwards.  I thought it was just me but she felt the same too.  We ordered oysters,  crab cake, beef steak and short ribs.  We're thinking it was the oysters..

I'll give it  another try and get pasta instead.

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Ronjini M.

Emeryville, CA

4 star rating
03/10/2008

Great spot to grab lunch on a day like today, seems like a nice romantic spot for dinner as well.  Its like a little piece of Europe.  Its pretty discreet and I would have never found it on my own, but its absolutely adorable.

I had the buffalo mozarella salad, which was phenomenal.  The Mozarella was super creamy, the prosciutto was super tasty and fresh...and dessert...oh dessert.  

I decided on the warm chocolate cake, the best decision I made ever on a Monday.  It comes with a nice chocolate ice cream in a wafer bowl and a hazelnut soup, which is perfect to dip your warm chocolate cake into.

What a meal...it was more like an event, perfect meal for a sunny Monday.  It got my mind off of work for an hour and put me in a very happy place.  Enjoy.

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Libby L.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/11/2008

If you've been nearly everywhere in SF - from the Mission, to South Beach, back up to the Marina and even over to (s)Nob Hill (hehe) - for a delectable, fun, relaxing dinner, Belden Place is def your spot for a new, interesting dining experience.

Belden Place is a fun (albeit cramped-and-crowded) spot in the city amidst the tall, shadow-casting skyscrapers in the Financial District.  Walk in and you'll find yourself sandwiched between the bricky, dark facades of two adjacent buildings that form Belden Place in it's entirety: an alleyway.  

You'll walk by several restaurants (Cafe Bastille, Plouf = French, B44 = Catalan) where you'll have menus shoved in your face (a little touristy? yes... kinda New Yawwwwk?  hellz ya) and you can plop down at an outdoor table under a tall heat lamp or opt for inside seating.

I had dinner at Cafe Tiramisu and it was relatively uncrowded and fun.  I had a glass of prosecco to start that was fab.  For an app to begin, we had a crab cake in lobster bisque and for dinner, shared the pepper-encrusted ahi tuna filets with spicy veggie risotto.

The ahi was really tasty and rare - which I love.  I thought the pepper crust was slightly overwhelming, though.  Didn't take away from the freshness of the fish, which I thought was perfect.  The spicy risotto was delish and delectably al dente...

... and, if you're at a place called "Cafe Tiramisu", you can't GO there without ordering the tiramisu, RIGHT?!  I mean, that's practically a crime. ;)

Needless to say, we ended with the tiramisu and it was deeeeeeeeee-LISH!  Flavory without being too potent, creamy and fluffy and a huge portion (although I did find it odd that the dessert was heapingly huge but the dinner was, while a good serving size for the two of us, not as large relative to the dessert).

Totally a spot I'd recommend for - -

1) San Franciscans looking for something different, new and off the beaten path

or

2) Tourists who are looking for a cool place with yummy food and a chic yet urban vibe

(although you could just swap out a dinner at Belden Place for a long lunch and cocktails on Maiden Lane... you get the picture)

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sandra p.

Sausalito, CA

4 star rating
04/22/2008

Snuck out of work for lunch with the husband... nice place but a bit pricey. We ate inside because I was freezing outside... sorry this LA girl is still not accustomed to the SF chill even after 3 years.  Good attentive service. I had the cioppino and my husband had the seared ahi over risotto. He said his was good and mine was ok - I like cioppino to have a real spicy bite.  I'd return... I like a visit to Belden Place and this little spot was cute with good service.

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Ashley Q.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
04/14/2008

What better than a rare beautiful and warm San Francisco evening to venture to the al fresco eateries of Belden Place.  I anticipated a great evening under the hanging lights sipping some chilled white wine.

We had outdoor reservations.  To our dismay we were seated inside and downstairs.  Needless to say I felt a little neglected.  The whole point of coming here was to enjoy an evening outside.  For times sake we took the inside table.

The menu was very Italian.  The black squid ink spaghetti reminded me of my recent trip to Venice.  I had the Sand dabs with a balsamic reduction, which was a bit too acidic.  Good thing I had wine to wash it down!

All could be repented during the dessert course.  Since there were a few of us, we ordered 3 deserts to share.  They were generous in portion (after all they should be at $9.50 a pop).  I was really looking forward to the creamy Panna Cotta, which unfortunately had the texture of mixed yogurt..... Think non fat yoplait with fruit. Their signature dessert, Tiramisu, was good, but nothing to rave about.

On the next beautiful warm night in SF, I would love to venture back to Belden place, but perhaps to a different restaurant.

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Sarah P.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
04/09/2008

I love the atmosphere in Belden Alley so much, why oh why can't their restaurants measure up to the excitement my taste buds expect when I walk down the narrow passageway being accosted by the hosts with menus??

Like B44 and Taverna, Tiramisu was "eh". Cramped, nothing really to write home about. I had just started my vegetarianism when I came here and was excited to learn how the other side of the food chain picks items out from the menu. There wasn't ANYTHING vegetarian except for maybe a side garden salad. I decided then and there that I would continue eating fish for now. None of this vegan nonesense just yet.

SO I ordered the sanddabs, not realizing that they were going to be coming out literally swimming in pure butter. SWIMMING! It was like a really unhealthy sand dab soup. And the flavor was nothing to write home about. Sauce was on menu as "wine reduction" ... tasted some wine, but was too overpowered by the pure butter to notice any other flavors. Did I mention it probably had about 3 sticks of butter in 1 single dish? I felt so sick after eating there, I had to go home from work early. Not a bad thing unless you have painful stomach cramps well into the night. Most humans shouldn't consume that much butter and fat in one sitting. Really.

Too much money for a poorly executed menu.

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Cheryl Q.

Dublin, CA

3 star rating
07/13/2008

Took a coworker to lunch here to discuss their annual review and goals for this next year. Made reservations the same morning on www.opentable.com for 12:15 and was able to get in with no problems. Was seated inside immediately and I ordered the Risotto -Summer Porcini Mushrooms & Asparagus with Sage Garlic Chips Crust $20 and my coworker ordered the Sea Food Mixed Grill - Roasted Shallots Mashed Potatoes & Lemon Caper Sauce $23.

My food came out lukewarm, but tasty. I didn't bother sending it back because it took a little bit of time to come out and I was too busy talking to my coworker.

We shared the Tiramisu and it was very good. I'd probably go back just for dessert, as the risotto was just ok and a tad on the expensive side.

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sarah F.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
04/06/2008

I really enjoy going to Belden Place.  It's a fun place to go with friends.  So we tried out this restaurant; and I was soooo hungry.  We were promptly seated, but downstairs.  I felt like I was in the maid's quarters.  Well, not really; but we were away from the rest of the restaurant.  I ordered the risotto with a 1/2 lobster.  It had asparagus, and pesto.  It was okay.  For $24, I expected a bit "more." Not necessarily in quantity, but in quality.  There was not much of a "melt in your mouth" factor.  The flavors were not really refined; kind of bland.  

I am disappointed, b/c the other Yelp reviews are really good!  Maybe I just went on an off night.  However, our waiter was sooo nice.

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SL N.

San Francisco, CA

1 star rating
05/28/2008

I would give this place zero stars if I could.  I brought a copule of friends from out of town here the other night since they hadn't yet been to Belden Place. What a complete letdown. We were all seriously disappointed.  The meal started with my *trying* to order a reasonably priced - think under $40 - bottle of Sangiovese.  The waiter rudely countered they were out of it and suggested a $70 bottle of Chianti. When I politely said that we weren't interested in a Chianti, he walked away and someone else came up to talk to us about the wine. They were out of our first two choices and we finally settled on a reasonbly priced bottle of Syrah (in the $35-40 price range), which our waiter commented "wasn't very good" when he realized what we ordered. Ok, um, then why do you have it on your menu if it's "not very good"??! Does this mean that the only wines that are "good" are the ones that are over fifty bucks!? Anyway, moving on. The wine turned out to be decent, and then it was time to order. They had only one veggie option (ravioli), which I wasn't really in the mood for. Since they had several other pasta options, I asked if the meat could be left out of one of them (since they had other veggies in the ingredients). He (again, in a very rude tone of voice) informed me that, no, the kitchen could NOT leave the meat out because it was put together in advance! Huh!!?? Pre-made meals!? Really!? Were we at Applebees?! Then, he pointed to ONE dish they could leave meat out of: a pasta with tomato sauce. I asked if, since they were leaving the meat out, they could throw some mushrooms (or any veggies) on in its place, and he said yes. Well, surprise, surprise, the dish comes out with only pasta and tomato sauce (and the small amount of goat cheese that came on top). When I asked about the veggies, he replied that they didn't have any. HUH??? The kitchen doesn't have a single vegetable!!?? REALLY??! Well, by then, I was so annoyed by his rudeness and the absurdity of it all (I do NOT intend to pay in the neighborhood of $20 for some boiled pasta with a little bit of sub-par tomato sauce slapped on top), that I told him I was sure the kitchen could find SOME veggies somewhere. He abruptly snatched my plate, took it to the kitchen and brought it back a few minutes later with some asparagus thrown in. And, surprise, surprise, the only other ingredient (besides the pasta and tomato sauce) - the goat cheese- had disappeared! I asked him if they could put this back on there and he replied: "You want MORE cheese!?" As if I was asking too much because I wanted the cheese that was SUPPOSE to come on the dish AND a few pieces of vegetables in the place of the meat that was left off!!!!!

After it was all said and done, the food was maybe a 2.5 or 3, but the service renders it a zero! My friends' meals were equally average, and they were so astounded at the terrible service that they asked me if service is "usually like this in SF". Thanks, Tiramisu, you ruined the night out with my out of town friends and made me look like an idiot for taking them to this place that they commented "must be for tourists since they certainly don't seem to care about repeat business". This is one of the worst dining experiences I've had in years. I will NOT, I repeat NOT be back.

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Elite '08

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jubi l.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
02/26/2008

For our anniversary, Mr took me to Cafe Tiramisu.
It was cold and drizzling Saturday night and the place was packed.

We had a 8 PM dinner reservation and we didn't get seated til almost 8:20 PM. The hostess lacked hospitality, she could of apologize for us waiting in the cold but she kept on ignoring us. As you can see, I had become one angry Asian girl. But for the sake of my bf I kept my cool.

As we walked in the restaurant, we were seated in the basement on the base of the stairs (were all the patrons that needs to use the bathroom and waiters running up & down, it's a bit daunting - I literally have a picture of a waiter landing in our table) . Wow, what a romantic setting they placed us in.  On top of that we got stucked listening to one drunk girl who's loud, cursing  and obnoxious, she was a teacher mind you. Right next to our table was a mom and 2 kids.

I am so glad though that at least their food made up for the lack of service. Not even the customary glass of water was given to us, we have to asked twice. When we finally rcvd our water, one glass had hair in it.

Mr went ahead ordered a bottle of Sangiovese to calm my ass down.

For dinner:
Venison Carpaccio "Alla Rossini"
with Foie Gras & Black Truffle $18

Ravioli with Dungeness Crab
& Potato,Saffron, Crab Bisque & Caviar $19

Sand Dabs over a Bed of Artichokes,
White Wine Sauce, Balsamic Reduction $24

and we had Tiramisu for dessert. The food was delicious. I give them that. so my verdict on Cafe Tiramisu, just go there eat, do not expect A+ service coz you are not going to get it.

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Christine N.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
03/16/2008

Cafe Tiramisu was fabulous! I hosted my birthday party there with a group of 22 and the wait staff was very accomodating. We had the whole downstairs basement to ourselves and we were all able to order a la carte from the menu. The food came out in a timely manner and our waiter,  Sam, was awesome and very attentive and entertaning. Everyone was pretty happy with their meal except my boyfriend and friend who got the papadelle ragout with boar - a dish not worth trying. I had the beef spareribs and it was very very tender. We also got an order of mussels and the broth it was in was delicious! I will be coming back!

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