Cafe Lo Cubano, 3401 California Street, San Francisco

Having a coffee shop a heartbeat away from both a Starbucks and Peets Coffee calls for gumption in this age where chains dominate every street corner. But considering this is San Francisco, where individuality IS the norm, Cafe Lo Cubano is holding on to its guns, fitting neatly into the Laurel Heights hub with a unique style of its own. Just as the name suggests, Cafe Lo Cubano is a Cuban-themed joint, from the coffee down to the offerings of sweet and savory bites (priced reasonably between $4-$7). The cafe itself is quite inviting, with two large sectional sofas amongst several table sections. There is a stereo open for use, where I found the latest Putamayo world music CDs available for public listening! During my latest visit, I enjoyed a traditional Cafe con Leche, similar to a latte, with a not-so-traditional touch of Caramel. This drink was delicious and quickly disappeared! On a previous visit, I opted for a hot chocolate. While I was impressed by the size of the glass, the drink was a touch too sugary for me. While the cafe is an extremely inviting place to sip a drink and chat with friends or read a book, I did find the service lacking. On both occasions, the servers either got my beverage order wrong or ran out of a key ingredient. With the case of the wrong order, there was no apology. Just a snap from the server that I should have been more clear. I'm not sure how asking for a shot of Torani Caramel flavoring could have been more clear, but its okay. I non-chalantely shrugged, reordered my drink, and curled up with my book on the couch, listening to the sweet sounds of salsa waft through the air. Despite the service, any cafe which has a nice living room vibe has my vote. Just don't order too complicated of a drink :)

Review by: Ameena Rafanan

Posted: Wednesday, February 01, 2006