Stella Pastry & Cafe

Classic tiny Italian bakery. Reminds me of bakeries of my youth, except this one has survived. Nay, thrived.I had to try the Sacripantina, of course. It was a solid dessert. Airy cake, smooth vanilla-ish custard, crumbles sprinkled on top. Delivers what it promises.The problem is, everything else looked so much better. I guess I'm a sucker for chocolate in my desserts.I don't regret my choice but this is a case where the famous thing on the menu shouldn't be the automatic thing you pick.Service was quick, atmosphere charming... there's two small tables outside on the sidewalk, just big enough to enjoy a leisurely dessert.I'd definitely go back again.

Tiramisu was decent but not enough espresso flavor coming through - mostly whipped cream rather than mascarpone for the filling. The almond biscottis were good and I appreciated that they don't break the teeth. The cafe could be a little cleaner with the food handling.

I visited on a Friday night around 7:30 PM. The place had a few people around but wasn't too busy, and seating was available. The staff was super friendly and well-organized.I ordered the fruit tart, and it was delicious. Not only was it beautifully presented, but the fruit complemented the sweetness of the tart perfectly. I wasn't a big fan of the sugar glaze on the fruit, but I'd still revisit this spot. They offer a great selection of Italian pastries, and the ambiance was very cozy.

Stella Pastry & Café is a North Beach classic and an absolute must-visit for lovers of Italian desserts! I picked up their Fedora cake, and it was beyond incredible--layers of chocolate mousse, ladyfingers, fresh whipped cream, and dark chocolate curls, all perfectly balanced in texture and sweetness. The powdered sugar on top was a beautiful touch that enhanced the presentation and taste.Of course, I couldn't leave without trying their signature Tiramisu and Sacripantina, and both absolutely lived up to the hype. The Tiramisu was rich yet airy, with the perfect espresso-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone cream. The Sacripantina, their famous Italian sponge cake with layers of zabaione cream, had a delicate yet decadent flavor that melted in my mouth. If you visit Stella, these two are must-try desserts!The pastry cases are packed with an impressive selection--biscotti, cannoli, pignoli cookies, fruit tarts, cheesecakes, and so much more. Everything looked fresh and well-crafted, making it hard to choose just one thing. The small, cozy seating area is perfect for enjoying a pastry with an espresso while taking in the warm and welcoming atmosphere.The service was friendly, and the staff was helpful with recommendations. Prices are fair for the quality and authenticity of their Italian desserts. If you're in San Francisco and love classic Italian pastries, Stella is the place to go.

Wanted a quick dessert after dinner and stumbled into this place -- thank goodness we did! It was not crowded when we got there around 7:30 PM, so we were able to grab a table. The crowd came in about 20 minutes later and there was a line out the door with all tables full, so you know it's a local favorite.We got a piece of Sacripantina cake to share. It had beautifully clean layers and was so fluffy and light. The liqueur was light and gently soaked the cake so none of it was soggy but the flavors shone through well. I loved every single bite and would definitely come back to have it again and try the other pastries!

Stella is a local favorite when it comes to a late night bite that won't break your wallet or your calorie count- maybe depends on how discipline you are. The best item I would recommend to anyone is the Almond shave jam biscuit - easy 5/5. I say all the biscuits are the highlight while the other cakes and canola are mid at best. We got served pretty quick and the staff was able to recommend some good options. Stella is located in the heart of Little Italy where you can buy a cup of cofffee to go or drink in the shop- either works. The atmosphere is a bit on the busy side. Not very lowkey.

My favorite Italian bakery in San Francisco! All their pastries are amazing, from the cookies to the various cakes. Their tiramisu is my favorite out of all the places I've eaten, including upscale Italian restaurants. Most places can't get the ratio of cake/lady fingers to mascarpone right, and the cake layer is either way too dry or way to wet. Not at Stella -- their tiramisu is the perfect tiramisu for me.The tiramisu is made with a vanilla sponge cake (not lady fingers), and has the perfect ratio of cake to mascarpone cream, as well as a beautiful layer of dusted cocoa powder on top. The espresso and rum provide richness, sweetness, and a bit of bitterness but the cake is never wet or mushy. Both cake and mascarpone layers are super airy and light; it's rich but never dense.My other favorite slice is the sacripantina: alternating layers of sponge cake and zabaglione, a creamy custard filling. The crumb topping adds a nice nuttiness as well. Just as I'd expect from Stella, the ratio of cake to cream is perfect.The cookies and biscotti are fantastic here as well -- I think we've probably tried all of them at this point. The biscotti has the perfect crumb: never dry or hard, and full of spice.You really can't go wrong here, I haven't found something I disliked yet.

"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli" -- Clemenza, "The Godfather". Walked from the ferry (22 minutes at my pace, 27 minutes per Siri) to pick up cookies for my company's holiday cookie event. I also picked up a slice of the Sacripantina cake for myself. Unlike my Yelp friend Maria H, I did think the cake was extraordinary as did SFGate in a recent article. Love Maria H but the cake was sooo good!!! The cookies were just average hence the 4 star review. Service was friendly and they boxed everything up nicely. Recommended!

Me and my girlfriend stopped by here last night after we went to the Cobbs comedy clubStrawberry cheesecake was really good and very sweet with a very soft top bread. The tiramisu was really good as well. The total came out to about $14 but definitely worth it. It's a very small shop, but there is outdoor and indoor seating as well. Will definitely come back.

Ambiance: it's a small and cozy desserts shop in the area Service: you place the order at the counter and grab it at the cashier station, disorganized line for takeout and dine-in orders Food & Drink: variety choices for pasty and coffee drinks Sfogliatella - *** dry and crunchy outside, but filling didn't taste good, not as half good as authentic ones in Italy Drip Coffee - *** average tastePrice: affordable prices, and it costs less than $10 per order including a drink and a pasty