Top Bakery Cafe in Berkeley
Sconehenge Bakery & Cafe
2787 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705, United States
This place, alternately a gun store, Creamery, a refrigerator outlet, a couple of different cafes, and a real estate office over the past eight decades, has now settled into its current identity, sconehenge Bakery & Cafe, apparently a favorite of Berkeleys elderly who populate the cafe as I speak. Putting down a very straight ahead all American breakfast, reminiscent of one a person might find at Dennys, Sams, or one of the old school breakfast places. For under $20 if you can get in and out with a decent meal bad. The staff is really nice Im also this is a great place to hang out for an hour while you get your car service next door at Berkeley Honda.
Peets Coffee
2124 Vine St, Berkeley, CA 94709, United States
But it all depends on the baristas skill and the store. The original Vine St store is pretty consistent in quality with some outdoor sidewalk seating...local hangout for decades for some who are now gray haired...a nice location, but parking can be challenging. Walk there if you can.Several good quality boutique stores nearby and Gourmet Ghettos sought after eateries .The Shattuck downtown store is a different environment...and they always have an insufficient amount of chairs. There you have to have a code for the bathrooms.More street people around, virtually no parking but a hop, skip and a jump from downtown BART stn. With Berkeleys downtown at your doorstep, including 2 3 movie theaters!The Solano Ave Peets continues to be, a good place to stop over for a relaxing cup. Recently remodeled theres ample seating inside and on the extra wide sidewalk there. Lots of shops and eateries nearby.Finally, the Telegraph Ave site....pkg again a chore so best for walkers. Cal student area including student oriented casual eateries and shopping. Very little left of Telegraph of the 60s...this Peets is fine..again, coded bathrooms as this area is part of the street culture hub..
Bettes To Go
1807 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710, United States
This is a To-Go lunch spot adjacent to the Oceanview Diner. Its basically an entire separate restaurant with a different kitchen. I work on Fourth Street, and this my go-to place for lunch. I used to do Market Hall, but the food here is better and the prices are better, pretty reasonable for the bay. You can get a satisfying meal for ~$10 and a good snack for $5. They do a few things really well. All the prepared dishes from the glass case Ive tried have been great. Some staples include lentils & feta, chicken salad, potato salad, and theres always a daily special thats been tasty every time Ive tried it. You can also combo the mixed greens salad (+ tomatoes, pickled red onion, and dressing) with one of the prepared dishes, which makes for a light and fresh lunch. The middle eastern combo (hummus, greens, pita, dolmas, veggies) is a lot of food and a good deal; the empanadas are great for a snack, and you get some fresh homemade chimichurri with them. The burrito is kind of funny (you get two little burritos) but its cheap and tasty. Tuna toast is a good snack as well. Last but not least, the baked goods are bomb. As I understand it, they have a few different bakers who come in and contribute to the pastry case. All the cookies and cakes Ive had have been delicious. The lemon pistachio shortbread, brown sugar shortbread, lemon cake all transport me to a childhood I didnt know I had. All in all, the output of this place is truly impressive. There are so many different little elements to the lunch offerings, and everything appears to be homemade, even the pickles! I dont know how they manage it and run a full-on diner next door, but Im grateful for it. Its got a locals-only vibe and can be pretty hectic at the lunch rush, but that shouldnt deter you. Also, you dont necessarily have to take it to-go; theres two high tops inside and some seating out front.
U Dessert Story
1849 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709, United States
Great drinks and AMAZING desserts. Their service? Nonexistent.Pre-pandemic we ate at one of the locations in San Francisco and loved the desserts. We had the matcha lava cake, the Thai tea crepe cake, and something else I dont remember. It was so good that when we found this location in the east bay we were so excited because we could drive here and not have to cross the bridge or deal with the cold wind of San Francisco. This location is making me rethink my patronage completely.When I got home from work we decided that it would be a great celebratory treat to pre-order desserts. I put in the order a few hours ahead of time and it gave me an estimate of 7:05-7:15. We chose the Strawberry Cheese Cake Greek Togurt Bingsoo, the Chocolate Bingsoo, Young Coconut Pandan Crepe Cake, Thai Tea Crepe Cake, Hojicha Banoffe, Mango Tango Spritzer and a Blue Lychee for drinks. I thought this was great because Id be able to finish dinner and then we could head out. When we left I got a text saying the new time was now between 7:15-7:20. They had more than two hours to stew on when the timing would work for this order, but I guess they just threw that out the window.We got to the location at 7:10 and I was able to get a servers attention pretty quickly and they said it would be another 5 minutes for them to complete the order. They still had to make the drinks. Id already waited several hours anyway, so what was a few more, right? I got an Email at 7:16 saying the order was ready so I went back in. The guy preparing the drinks noticed me from earlier and said my name to hand me a big bag of desserts and then got me the drinks. It was nice that he remembered and was timely about the hand off, but that was where it ended.I put the desserts in the back seat and the drinks in the front so we could sip some while on the drive back home. We arrived back home around 8 and I started getting the desserts laid out when I noticed the reason why this review is only 1 star. After all that wait, from the pre-order, getting a new wait time, and the drive there and back, they had left off one of the items. So not only do they change the pick up time that they asked me was good for me, they left off an item that I paid for with no substitution and no mention of it when I went back into the store to pick up my order. Youd think that paying $110 with $15 tip would equate to some semblance of service, but I guess that was a mistake on my part. Either way these people were able to waste both my time and take my money without giving me what I ordered. No matter how good their desserts taste the service is bitter and rotten.TL;DL Pre-ordered $110 worth of desserts for them to change the pick-up time after left an item out that I didnt find out about until driving back home.
Noahs NY Bagels
1883 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707, United States
For those mornings when youre feeling like eggs bacon and potatoes might be a little too much, but are still yearning for something Hearty, a real New York style bagel, with lox and a schmear, tomato and thin sliced onion will really hit the spot, well not making you feel stuff, or robbed at the checkout buy some $30 price tag that several local places are fond of charging for breakfast. One of these Bagel sandwiches with lox and some coffee will set you up for the day really nice people, my server today had one of the most interesting voices Ive ever heard on a human, and was super cool, and I was in and out in a second with my yummy Bagel sandwich. Give the regular breakfast routine a rest, and check into the kosher world of Noahs New York Bagels.
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Bench Caf Ptisserie
1947 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States
Recently, we had the pleasure of discovering Bench, a newly-established café nestled in the heart of Berkeley that is an absolute charm. The ambiance of Bench is nothing short of phenomenal, providing an inviting vibe that feels like a cozy haven for patrons, whether theyre seeking to relax, work, or engage in friendly conversation. But the most impressive aspects of Bench are their delectable offerings and service. Their coffee is sublime, boasting a diverse selection of unique blends that are guaranteed to satisfy the discerning tastes of caffeine aficionados. Their pastries, too, are of exceptional quality, featuring a delightful blend of traditional favorites and innovative flavors, each baked to perfection. The perfect combination of an appealing ambiance and a quality menu at Bench sets a high standard in the café culture of Berkeley. This charming gem of a café is a must-visit for anyone seeking an exceptional coffee and pastry experience.
The Line Coffee
3001 Telegraph Ave E, Berkeley, CA 94705, United States
What a bright spot in Berkeley! I remember when it was possible to create a friendly + warm relationship with small business owners. Believe it or not, we have our own Tom in the neighborhood. IMO we have to appreciate the human kindness, wherever possible!On to the quality of the goods! Honestly, my usual order is the iced coffee as an occasional treat. I choose to spend my hard-earned money on value items. BUT: I had the chance to try one of his puff pastry delights recently. OMG the first to last bite was heavenly, I am not exaggerating! I will only spend my money on something I can't prepare myself. Wow! You know only someone who truly loves and enjoys food can create such a delicious treat! Thanks Tom!UPDATE: one word: PIZZA -- I have been restraining myself from ordering one every day since I first tasted. My test to know if a pizza is worth it is to order the Margherita -- every ingredient must be great! Toms sauce is out of this world!
FAVA
2114 Vine St, Berkeley, CA 94709, United States
Uber Delicious & Uber Healthy Fresh!!! Omg. I wish I lived close by I would eat at Fava everyday!!! Cheapest organic green juice i have ever seen and tasty.I ordered online and when I went to pickup I asked about the green juice if it was organic. I was greeted by one of the owners, Unbeknownst to me at the time, with a big smile. She & her employees have this amazing friendly and cool vibe.I got the spicy chicken pita. Omg I was in heaven. Spicy plus the earthy abundance of herbs plus the lovely pickled cabbage and amazing pita bread.. I was in heaven. A blue dragonfly came to visit me as I took my first bite. Guess it wanted some! Lured by the scent.. and flew away as I didnt pay it much heed as I was entranced with this lovely edible creation that I was mtg for the first time.The green juice quenched my thirst. Refreshing.The Tahini chocolate cookie. To die for and huge!!! Bigger than the photos on Instagram. I was shocked how it took up the entire width and length of the paper bag it was resting in. My only thing was it had 2 much chocolate!!.but thats bc im a minimalist with the chocolate chips and love my cookie dough. But thats me. The sesame seed sprinkle atop made it more fun and delightful to eat!!!! Im still dreaming about that cookie. Best chocolate chip cookie ive ever had.. im in love!Red lentil soup amazing!! Best everEnuf reading my rambling? Go to FAVA! Now and eat delectably amazing fresh yummy grub thats good for u 2! Made by awesome peeps.. i.bow to them.Over and out folks!!!!!!
Caf NOSTOS
1930 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States
My favorite East Bay cafes for working during lockdown - #6, Café NostosNostos is fully open for normal business! That means ceramic plates and cups, outdoor AND indoor dining (and there's a lot of space indoors so it doesn't feel crowded) and Wi-Fi, bathroom, etc. All the luxuries that we took for granted before lockdown. Last time I was there I had a latte, caprese sandwich with a Greek side-salad, and baklava. The owners are kind folk who are happy when people enjoy their food. The food is very good – the Semifreddi's ciabatta used for sandwiches is delicious and goes well with the Mediterranean-style fillings. The Greek side-salad was totes delicious and pretty substantial. The homemade baklava is also really well done – the pastry is light and crispy and the filling has lots of walnuts and is not too sweet. I think I ended up skipping dinner after that late lunch :-)I'm also giving café Nostos 4 out of 5 “Green Stars” for social and environmental impact, based on this:• Nostos is using ceramic cups and plates for in-house dining, avoiding plastic waste.• Most of the menu is vegetarian, although choices are more limited for vegans.• Overall, the menu follows the Mediterranean diet, which is accepted to be more sustainable (and healthier!) than most diets (except for a completely plant-based diet).• Coffee is from Illy and tea is from Dammann Frères. These are both old-school European companies that do their own thing when it comes to ethics & I think they are both mediocre as far as trade and agriculture policies go. Probably a little above average for Illy Coffee.• My baklava was made in-house and the ciabatta for my sandwich was made by Semifreddi's bakery.Interested in writing green star reviews? If so, please check out the Green Stars Project.
Fourne Bakery
2912 Domingo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705, United States
There's a lot of free parking in the area so I didn't have to walk too far, but the line was already around the corner around 11:15am on a Sunday. I only waited about 15-20min, so it wasn't bad at all.I also got suuuuuper lucky and got the last ham and cheese croissant! I definitely recommend first times to try it, but not the best one I've ever had. I also got the ham and egg croissant but it wasn't that flakey and the filling was ok. I don't normally get that many croissants but any time I see anything twice baked I have to get it so I tried the twice baked almond chocolate too. It wasn't as crispy as I would've expected but it wasn't bad. I also don't normally get morning buns but this one had a lot of layers and seemed flakey like a croissant instead of the ones that are more like a bun/bread. It wasn't that flakey actually but also not bad.The seasonal nectarine tart was too sweet tor me and was similar to a crumble tart. Canele was good but not the best I've ever had.Surprisingly, the star of the show was the cheese roll! I got it because it looked really cheesy and it was BUT the bread was super chewy kind of like sourdough and I loved it! Very different from the one I had at ACME and I would definitely go back just for this.I wanted to try the flan and toffee cake but they don't do slices so I'm not sure if I'll ever get a chance to try this :( I also want to try the pizza but I'll have to come on a Saturday for that next time.Everything costed over $3 but no more than $6 with the croissants around $4.25-$5.50. Pretty typical prices for a French Bakery :)