Dinner at Caffè Macaroni in North Beach is instantly comforting. The tiny dining room of this old-school Italian spot is steps away from an open-air kitchen where the owners crack jokes with the chefs before pausing to hug some regulars. Don’t feel left out though. You’ll be updated on these customers’ latest vacation soon enough before hearing about the daily specials. We prefer skipping the menu here and letting the owners (who double as the wait staff) take charge. They won’t steer you wrong. If you’d rather make your own choices, stick to the pasta section, but the secondi are hit or miss, including an unevenly cooked lamb shank. Portions are also unpredictable, with some dishes that could easily feed the entire table while others will require you to draw up negotiation papers to determine who deserves the last bite of penne. Just be sure to save a tiny corner of your stomach to store a shot of limoncello—the owners will join you for a quick cheers to end your meal. Reservations are usually easy to get any day of the week, but plan to sit in the heated parklet as the dining room’s 10 seats fill up first.