Cafe International — Restaurant in San Francisco

From about 2006-2012 I went here often. The coffee is average, but they use coffee-ice cubes in the iced drinks, which is cool. The food is fine, but not itself a destination. The open mic can be interesting. The mural in the patio area is cool, they (at least used to) allow smoking (upside down "no smoking" sign, lol)

I remember, in my younger years, Zahra always made me a little nervous. She was always nice to me, in context of one of the people she recognized as regularly buying a lot there, but some weird energy underneath. Revisiting the hometown for the first time in years, as I've wandered, I've noticed an interesting dichotomy in SF: the bougie trash and street trash have greatly intensified. Colors are showing, be they uptight entitlement or wallowing in piles of garbage. It's funny how each, so literally, creates the other.

Nostalgia made me think Cafe International would be exempt, somehow. I walked in for the first time in however long, toward the patio to put my stuff down before ordering, hoping to indulge in some nostalgia and spend the day there, intent on spending far more than I should. Zahra didn't recognize me, which showed her colors and explained that energy that always made me nervous... To speak so condescendingly to someone one doesn't know (or remember), to speak down to a customer - any person - as a child with such asinine assumptions, is the sign of a disgusting person, hidden behind a gregariously narcissistic facade. This perfectly describes Zahra, as I experienced her now, as she intuitively made me so nervous years ago. It's funny: when younger, I would've cowered; now, if not for nostalgia, anyone speaking to me like that would be shut down quickly and harshly. She got off light - in person, at least.

It was a fun place because of the people I knew who would go there, who regularly gave her money for generic food, because of the atmosphere, which has now seemingly cracked with the rest of San Francisco. It's not somewhere with any appeal otherwise: every restaurant nearby has better food, every cafe with comparable or better coffee. The couches are cool, I guess. But I'm not fond of narcissistic...

Review:

I have been coming to this place regularly, but after today’s experience, I will never return. The way the owner spoke to me was beyond unacceptable.

Since the place was busy and many people were ordering, I decided to sit outside first and choose my spot before placing my order. As I sat down, I took out my notebook and started working on something while waiting. Within minutes, the owner, a woman, came outside and rudely confronted me.

I told her that I was about to order, that I had just arrived, and that I knew her and this place well—I’m not a first-time customer. I always order something when I come here, and if I wasn’t planning to, I wouldn’t have settled in like that. I wasn’t taking up space for no reason, nor did I look disheveled or incapable of ordering. But instead of speaking respectfully, she told me, “I’m the owner, and I can kick you out if I want to.”

What kind of attitude is that? There’s a proper way to communicate with customers, and saying “I want you to order something” in such a condescending manner is completely unprofessional. Honestly, I can’t help but feel that she spoke to me this way because I’m a woman. If I were a man in a suit, I doubt she would have been this aggressive and insulting.

No one would feel inclined to place an order after being spoken to like that. I came all the way here to get some work done and have a meal, but instead, I was met with arrogance and disrespect. Absolutely terrible customer service. Avoid this place if you value being treated with...

Cafe International has the best baked tofu sandwich I've ever had! The seasonings/sauce they use is unique, simple, delicious and light, and wonderful. Breakfasts are a treat; your bagel is served with hummus, sprouts, tomato and red onion sliced paper thin, and it comes with a fruit cup or some other side. Who else serves a bagel and hummus with a side? They have a wide variety of sandwiches, smoothies, bakery treats, etc.

Zara (Zhora?) is warm and efficient at the same time, gladly substituting whatever is usual for whatever they got. The coffee is great.

The decor is, as one other reviewer said, quintessentially San Francisco - and real, not the simulacrum found in many trendy places. The old "Fillmore's" sign is still mounted on the wall above the free periodicals shelf. The floors are worn and beautiful, local artists hang their works on the wall. They have mix-and-match tables, chairs and coffee mugs. No, it's not "Starbucks pretty." It's really pretty.

There's internet access, of course.

Have I mentioned prices? Downright reasonable. In fact, I don't know how she does it.

And they have backyard seating! The patio is decorated with well done murals by talented artists.

This is my favorite lazy morning or afternoon hangout, even though I've moved to the Mission...