Berkeley cafes - are any of them chow-worthy?
It's well known that there are a lot of cafes surrounding UC-Berkeley, most of which exist not to provide good food but rather (1) the supply of caffeine that keeps most of the university going, and (2) study space for the thousands of Berkeley students who need it (or who like studying in cafes, which I don't get, but anyway...)
But even though food isn't their #1 priority, does anyone have any Berkeley cafe picks from a food perspective?
I always liked Village Grounds on Shattuck, and Nefeli Cafe on the northside for sandwiches and salads.
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I've always liked Yali's - I really love their sandwiches, particularly the mozzarella and the grilled veggie. I've seen plenty of people with to-die-for salads. And I really enjoy their bagels in the morning (add tomato and cucumber!).
I know I'm not the only Berkeley grad student to go in with work in the morning, order coffee and a bagel and sit along the wall, then get up a few hours later and order lunch, and then another coffee...
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Chuckles the Clone
Mar 1, 2009 04:23 PM
Another place I haven't been in for centuries is Le Bateau Ivre. I remember they used
to have a very nice bowl of soup. That it's still there, and has survived the passing of
its owner last year, makes me think it's time for a visit.-----
Le Bateau Ivre Restaurant
2629 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA -
Chuckles the Clone
Feb 28, 2009 09:56 PM
I have a dim and ancient memory of Lois the Pie Queen once setting up shop in the
back of Caffe Mediterraneum. A mating with possibilities though it didn't last long.
I haven't been in since approximately the late Pleistocene but their website has
a food menu. Actual food food rather than the usual oat hockey puck cafe stuff.
Anyone dared visit lately? http://www.caffemed.com -
*Truly* chow-worthy, as in you'd go there for the food? Probably not.
Caffe Nefeli, on Euclid just north of campus, has the best cappuccino, and a solid selection of salads and entrees.
As I write this, and read others' comments, it's becoming evident there's a huge opportunity to combine good coffee with truly good food in Berkeley. If Austin can do it, surely Berkeley can.›1 Reply -
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A bit of a thread drift - has anyone tried the Taco Cart parked near the other carts at Bancroft and Telegraph? I was there last night and it was still open at 7:30 but unfortunately I ate already. It looked good however, and the prices seemed on par -- 4/$5. Sorry, didn't seem worthy of a whole new thread.
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re: ML8000
It's been a while since I've been there, but the cafe at Musical Offering (a classical record store) had decent salads and pastries. Bread Workshop--a mile down University Avenue from the campus (right at the old line for liquor sales) has decent sandwiches.
I've often felt that many coffeehouses--not just in Berkeley--have a bad food policy, or maybe they're just paying rock-bottom prices for the stuff.
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nicedragonboy
Feb 25, 2009 02:49 PM
as a student I used to love the toasted bulgogi sandwiches at Expresso Experience on Bancroft across from the campus. and the focaccia sandwiches and salad combos at Sufficient Grounds.
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Second Guerrilla Cafe, even though the definition of "guerrilla" on their signage is inaccurate.
Way down Telegraph, Mokka liberally sprinkles words like "organic" and "Niman" over their menu. I've had good salads there, but the single-estate coffees are the draws. Not particularly close to campus.
I've had fairly good soups and sandwiches in the past at ultimate people-watching spot Yali's on Oxford, but not having been there for a while, I don't know if their expansion on to campus has diluted the quality.
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re: bradluen
Caitlin McGrath
Feb 25, 2009 04:03 PM
I was going to mention Mokka, as well. Their panini are quite good, and they make good espresso drinks. I suppose it depends on your definition of close, but it's about a 15-minute walk to campus, unhurried.
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meloncollie
Feb 24, 2009 11:10 PM
I don't know if La Note counts, but that's by far my favorite eatery in Berkeley for brunch/lunch. It's on Shattuck Ave. and is absolutely phenomenal. While I usually get breakfast there, I've had the ratatouille and a couple of their sandwiches. Their drinks are also great. The mocha is a nice, dark chocolate drink with espresso. Can't tell you exactly how they make it, but trust me--'tis good.
Here's the menu: http://www.lanoterestaurant.com/image...
As far as strict coffee houses go, I used to study at Royal Grounds. Wouldn't recommend it for coffee. If memory serves me correctly, I found Caffe Strada to taste better than Milano if you're going to be hanging out on the Bancroft/south side of Berkeley.
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La Note Restaurant Provencal
2377 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704Royal Ground Coffee House
2409 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704Caffe Strada
2300 College Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704›10 Replies-
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re: meloncollie
Chuckles the Clone
Feb 25, 2009 06:37 AM
Even if it were picked up and flown to a land where cafes had table service, as opposed to here where cafe almost universally means counter service, La Note would still be unmistakably a restaurant.
Is there -anything- to eat at Royal? Other than the Worst Blueberry Muffin I've Ever Had?
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re: adrienne156
I used to live near Royal and have had quite a few lousy baked goods from there. I never tried any of their fancy-looking desserts, figuring they can't have been much better.
I probably shouldn't have used the word "cafe" in my original post when I meant "coffeehouses" (and near the University). Of course there will be good food options if you include all of Berkeley and any place with the word "cafe" in its name. My bad.
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re: Agent 510
meloncollie
Feb 25, 2009 11:56 AM
Haha, sorry, I had suspected that that's what you meant, but on a very slight technicality (La Note serving sandwiches and coffee! Good coffee, too), I decided to include it ... you know, just in case :)
Yes, the only good thing about Royal Grounds was the availability of seating for the studious. I remember getting a couple of their pastries and not being too impressed with them, if at all.
I'm curious to see how this thread grows. I'd be interested to know of a great coffee house in Berkeley as well.
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re: meloncollie
Yeah, what I was trying to get at was whether there might be any food gems hidden among all these places that are seemingly all about coffee and WiFi.
I'm no restaurant biz expert but I wonder if that could be a good business model for a new Berkeley coffeehouse...offer good sandwiches and pastries, not just "good enough", and distinguish yourself from the masses. If someone did that, they might actually pick up some take-out business, which can't be that common at most of these places - you walk in, and if all the good spots are taken, you walk back out.
Anyone been to the new Sonoma Coffee Cafe on Durant and Fulton?
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re: Agent 510
You should check out Blakes (yes, I said Blakes). I don't know if they've changed over yet, but they are overhauling the whole restaurant to be exactly the model you describe above with a counter where you will order and be given numbers and food runners will deliver the food. I believe there will be free wi-fi as well.
ETA: I'm 99% positive they are putting in an espresso bar as well.
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re: Agent 510
bbulkow
Feb 26, 2009 08:56 AM
Well, if that's your question ---
If you hang out in these cafes for a few hours around lunch, you'll find that some specialize in lunch. In the telegraph area, there's one right on bancroft that starts with an M that gets quite a bit of takeout business - they have a full sandwich board and, I think, some Moroccan specialties. It seems that plenty of adults and grad students (not undergrads) walk in from their offices.
But the university has been putting in decent food in the buildings, such as the Jimmy Bean's in Haas business school.
In the particular area of Telegraph/southside berkeley, the competition point revolves around students, which are a particular market on the price/performance scale.
If you look farther afield, like Milano on College, you'll find plenty of cafes that do a decent food business. In my area we have much beloved Cafe Barrone in Menlo Park, where we often go for casual dinner. But prices there would be considered steep southside berkeley - $40 for two. 2 thick sandwiches, the tomato salad which we split, a pint of beer, and a mexican chocolate.
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wolfe
Feb 24, 2009 02:38 PM
Does the Brazil Cafe on Shattuck do a good tri-tip sandwich and mango smoothie like the mother shack on University?
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re: wolfe
meloncollie
Feb 24, 2009 11:03 PM
Brazil Cafe is on University at Shattuck (well, more like between Shattuck and Oxford). I don't think there are two locations, unless I'm remembering wrong.
It's also been years for me since I last went. I found it to be superb, though a little salty for my taste.
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re: wolfe
rworange
Mar 20, 2009 11:10 PM
Yes. Brazil Cafe on Shattuck has everything the shack on University has plus a few more dishes. They usually have a Brazilian dish of the day. The dishes that are the same at both locations taste the same, IMO. It is just if the funky appeal of the shack is more to your taste.
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Chuckles the Clone
Feb 24, 2009 02:26 PM
Poached eggs on toast at Cole, possibly it's in Oakland though inches across the border
on College Ave.I've had a thing or two at Guerrilla Cafe across-ish from Village Grounds on Shattuck but
I can't remember what, though what memories I have are pleasant. I do recall right after
they opened I got an espresso there and thought it was possibly the best I'd ever had.
Subsequent visits have not risen to that level.In the morning the Trieste on San Pablo has a hefty cheese danish thing that's at least
2/3 sweet cheese goop and is fantastic. At least, if you're like me and a big fan of
sweet cheese goop.Lately Crixa has had something they're calling German Onion Bread which is a thick
square of somewhat sicilian-pizzalike-shaped wholewheat bread topped with onions, sour cream, cheese, and poppyseeds. It's my new favorite thing.
http://www.crixacakes.com/images/0008... -
