Nothing Like It in Bay Area
While Cafe 817 may be labeled a "cafe," such a moniker cannot accurately convey the unique ambiance that actually transports guests to Italy, rather than where one is actually sitting, namely, in an older part of downtown Oakland, CA. As a bay area resident since the early '60s I can truly say there is no place like Cafe 817 in the Bay Area.

Cafe 817 is located in a part of Oakland that is currently undergoing major redevelopment and gentrification with young couples and professionals moving into the area in large numbers. This part of Oakland was once a thriving business neighborhood, much like the Castro, the Mission, and North Beach districts in San Francisco. The area began to decline in the late 1950s and early '60s, with many merchants closing their shops except for a few, like Ratto's Deli, who remained. Today, Cafe 817 which is located next door to Ratto's, is part of a revival underway bringing back that good old time feeling of walking into establishments run by people who care. Serving food that not only satisfies the palate, but also which makes a statement in terms of uniqueness, freshness, creativity, and conveying a true sense of Italian/European origin. Variety is insured here as the menu changes regularly to keep up with seasonal changes.

While dining there and talking with other patrons, I have discovered that some who live in San Francisco go out of their way to regularly have breakfast or lunch at Cafe 817. The reason is obvious; even SF does not have a restaurant that matches what the proprietors offer here.

Do yourself a favor, buy a ticket to Oakland (it's cheaper than one to Italy), and the cost of which maybe a bridge fare along with the cost of breakfast or lunch, and dine here just once. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you find.    [28 Sep 2005 17:51:15]

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Recommended Dishes: The breakfast Polenta plate; the foccacia ham sandwich; espressso and Cafe' Latte

     ­Bud Olsen, TCP Realty   ugo123us at yahoo dot com

Great Caffe!
Caffe 817 has great food in a great atmosphere. The ambiance of the place is a breath of fresh air in downtown Oakland. A great place to stop in for a cup of coffee or breakfast on a Saturday morning!    [17 Oct 2005 12:59:29]

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     ­KB   

never going back
Cafe 817 hasn't been the same lately. I've been going there for about 5 years and the quality has certainly declined. Lately the food and especially the coffee isn't up to par and you feel like you're being rushed out the door. But today was the coup de grâce. I'd just arrived and met a friend seated at one of the bench tables outside and had put my feet up on the chair opposite me underneath the table. A few moments later the owner or manager came by and yanked the chair out from under my feet and told me that they didn't allow people to put their feet on the chairs there. This immediately got bumped up to the top of my list of worst restaurant experiences I've ever had. Ynbelievable. I believe that in this day and in this area there's no reason to put up with such things. I won't be going back, my money will be going elsewhere.    [01 Sep 2006 17:31:48]

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Recommended Dishes: n/a

     ­Anonymous