Cafe Fanny rip-off?

[Alexandra Eisler]

My chow pup and I stopped by Cafe Fanny yesterday morning for a late breakfast. She had a slice of the apple galette and was very pleased; delicate puff pastry and warm, firm apple slices, without much added sugar.

I ordered the "Seasonal Fruit with Organic Strauss Yogurt" and received 2/3 cup of apple sauce with a TABLESPOON of yogurt on top. For $4.25.

Is this SOP? I expected a bowl (or at least a cup) of fruit and thought the yogurt would be an actual portion, not a garnish, based on the name of the dish.

The apple sauce was just ok, by the way. Seemingly, no added spices or sugar, just tart apples. ("The food was awful. And the portions were so small") Next time, I'll stick with the millet muffin.

[dixieday2]

Well, stop by the Frog Hollow Farm Cafe in the SF Ferry Building during the week, and you can get a lovely fresh-fruit/yogurt/granola parfait-- layers of fruit puree, fresh fruit (a mix of citrus right now), lots of Straus yogurt, and housemade granola. $6 but very generous and freshly made! Fills up a 16-oz cup...

[xanadude]

Probably should've asked what the 'seasonal fruit' is, b/c right now there's not a lot around...I can't imagine citrus would've been better.

[wolfe]

Pomegranates were in season 11/06.

[xanadude]

Oh you're totally right, I didn't look at the date; I'm not sure I'd like pom + yogurt, but persimmon or quince might have worked.

[wolfe]

I'll try pomegranate with yogurt if TJ's still has their fresh in season arils from India are still available. Yogurt and membrillo is also a possibility.

[chemchef]

This is one of the few places in the EB that knows how to pull a good shot and knows what a cafe au lait is. Top notch coffee drinks. I also like their millet muffins and used to like the beignets (tho not as much as the ones at T-Rex!), but lately the beignets have gone downhill. Still, its on my way to work and I could do much worse than coffee and oatmeal or muffin from Fanny.

Just like in the threads about Chez Panisse, there are the people who like, understand and respect what they do, and there are the ones who think it is all a crock and an excuse to overcharge people. It is no different for Cafe Fanny. This will never change. I am of the former mindset.

[Robert Lauriston]

I wouldn't call Fanny a bargain, but if you're not ready to pay top dollar for first-rate ingredients, third-rate service, and a view of the parking lot, why wait in line for half an hour?

[bdotu]

But why not pay $6 to drink, uncomfortably, the coffee like the French truck drivers drink, and pay $4.00 for a micro-tome thin slice of acme bread. Come-on you're paying $$$ to
be seen with the bad taste crowd.

This joint and its parent is well known for choice ingredients, rather than fine cuisine. Choice ingredients? Invented the baby vegetable craze, but took 7 years to discover that
they had no flavor. How do they get away with that. Lousy staff & several minutes to squeeze a macchiotto must be part of the slow food movement. Many great breakfast joints in the Bay Area. This is not one.

[BernalKC]

Nothing like some steamy hot sarcasm for breakfast. Finger lickin good!

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Cafe Fanny
1603 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702

[Missmoo]

I've always liked it, but I mainly get the egg dishes. Which is not a lot of food, but very good.

[leoj]

I have to agree with you, though I will go on occassion. It's very expensive when you consider the size of the servings. Surely someone will jump in with the comment "but when you consider that they use only the highest quality locally sourced ingredients it's really a bargain." Yea, but it's still a rip off!