Restaurant Review : Caffe Greco in San Francisco, California

Being on Montgomery Street in the midst of the most touristy part of North Beach, you can expect Cafe Greco to be a bit overpriced. They are - a smallish cup of coffee will run you two bucks, and it's that trendy-but-mediocre Illy stuff that really isn't quality enough to justify the price hike. Don't expect authentic Italian atmosphere either, as the staff all seems to hail from somewhere south of the U.S. border. In their defense however, it's a nice place to sit when it's not too crowded, and they do have some pretty tasty dessert treats for when you are in the sweets mood. On the menu are such delights as tiramisu, plum tart pie, cream puffs, chocolate cake, cannoli and Italian soda among others.

One thing I'd like to point out from my experience with them - when I ordered coffee there, I noticed the barista attempted to charge me 25 cents more than what the menu said the price was. I thought it was just a simple mistake at the time, but then I noticed a couple of other reviews and comments on the internet that mentioned the same thing was done to them, by exactly 25 cents each time. I think the baristas here might be making a habit out of hustling cash-flushed tourists and yuppies who aren't likely to pay close attention to the menu (or won't want to raise a stink if they do). So keep an eye out for that if you do choose to visit.