I’m always a excited when I see a surprise new opening in my area. Previously, at this location, there was a bakery that, quite frankly, sold some very overpriced goods, so I wasn’t really a patron. The bakery closed as quietly as it opened. So imagine my surprise when I saw that Social Cafe had also quietly opened here. They are a Cuban cafe, where they make a small selection of Cuban sandwiches and pastries. As I am always on the lookout for a new lunch place, I knew I was going to have to stop in for sandwiches one day, but as I passed, I also realized I needed to try one of the pastries as soon as possible.
The pastry selection consists of a few sweet and a few savory. The savory options include a spicy chicken and two different beef pastries, while the sweet options include guava and mango. All the pastries are made in house and are surprisingly inexpensive for San Francisco, running currently at $2 each. I’ve tried several, and while my favorites are the spicy beef and the guava and cheese pastry, they are all incredibly tasty and well worth the price. The dough itself is slightly sweet, so even the savory pastries have an interesting sweetness and a great balance of flavor. If these pastries are standard Cuban fare, I’m jealous of Cubans everywhere.
I’ve also tried a few of the sandwiches that are $12 each. The Cubano sandwich was really nice and the house-baked bread really is something special. There is also a croquette sandwich which substitutes the house roasted pork with their croquettes, and it’s also quite a tasty take. But their chicken salad sandwich is definitely my favorite of the three, as the filling is full of flavor. It’s definitely well worth the price, and these sandwiches are staying on my lunch list.
Social Cafe is definitely a hidden gem in the neighborhood as they provide outstanding sandwiches and amazing pastries. I am a bit concerned about how close it is to the house, as it may be way too easy to stop in for one of the amazing guava and cheese pastries. Add to that their fantastic Cuban coffee, and it really is a winner. Stop in to chat with the friendly staff and try it out yourself!
Score: 4.5/5
Recommendation: Chicken Salad Sandwich, Guava and Cheese pastry and a Cuban coffee to finish!
Social Cafe
804 Bryant St
San Francisco, CA 94103
