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3rd and U Cafe
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
49 reviews for 3rd and U Cafe
Review Highlights
-
"happy hour prices are so good." In 9 reviews -
"limited but respectable selection: Blue Moon, Sierra, etc." In 5 reviews -
"Its cheap, its on campus and still downtown, it has great..." In 8 reviews
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49 reviews in English
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Review from Sheena T.
3/3/2012
I wouldn't have discovered this place if one of my professors didn't choose to hold her office hours here. 3rd and U is close to campus, near the L&S counseling and across from Ali Baba. The paninis and fries here are really zestful and flavorful. It's ideal to share the panini meal with a friend if you don't want to overeat or splurge. I've gotten the chicken pomodoro panini the past few times I went here and it was always brought out within 5 minutes. If the meal was a dollar or two cheaper, this place would be perfect for my student budget.
I believe 3rd and U Cafe is family-owned and I love to support family businesses whenever I can. There is this one lady who always brings out the food to the tables and she's always had a smiling, positive attitude.
I don't drink, but I remember seeing specials on beer/pints. -
Review from D K.
Sacramento, CA
5/5/2012
Two stars for the burger selection and the philly cheesesteaks. They actually do a cheesesteak pretty well here. Tons of sandwiches to choose from. And the prices are pretty good. Cheap beer as well.
Unfortunately I've experienced the bad service here multiple times to know not to go back. Even for cheap beer night. One time: ordered a burger combo meal. After 30 minutes of waiting I realized something was wrong when people who ordered after me were eating already. I went up to tell the cashier guy who didn't seem to care. He kinda looks around for the owner but can't find her so he panics and takes my order again. He even asks the cook if he's made my order before and the chef said "no there's no ticket for that order" so clearly someone messed up. Probably gave it to someone else who ordered the same thing. Whatever - all the front house consists of is undergrads, this sort of thing happens.
Now what really upset me was it took another 15 minutes before the owner came over to apologize. WITHOUT MY FOOD. I've been in here for 45 minutes, I don't have a full hour to kill on lunch if I'm not eating! Her response was basically "sorry you had a bad experience, maybe come back another time!" Haha what?! She hands me my food like she did me a favor, I scarf it down and jet out of there.
If they improve their service and revamp employee training or something I'd consider going back but the whole experience left a bad taste. I can easily go a block down for a shwarma at Sam's instead. -
Review from Tiffany H.
Davis, CA
5/5/2012
I wouldn't have stumbled here if my friends didn't choose this place to discuss plans for our socal trip.
Friends ordered garlic fries, pesto fries, a sandwich (forgot which one) and a round of great whites (beer). The garlic fries were okay (but it's really hard to mess up garlic fries). Their pesto fries needs more pesto and less garlic. And great whites? Need I review? :P
I ordered garlic fries, greek fries, and their spinach and mushroom mini quesadilla. Their greek fries were garlic fries + very little cheese, I could barely differentiate between the two. The spinach and mushroom mini quesadilla was pretty much a huge tortilla + cheese + spinach +mushroom. It was pretty good-- they definitely do not skimp out on the cheese there!
Mini coma? Accomplished by the end of our meal.
Decent food + cheap prices. My bill + tip ended up being around 6 dollars. If I ate alone, I would definitely would have to box my leftovers.
Fortunately, I did not experience the terrible customer service other Yelpers alluded to.
Verdit? I wouldn't come here unless it's happy hour (3pm-630pm). A note, if you plan to use credit or debit, they charge you 30 cents if your bill is under 5 bucks! -
Review from Al G.
Sacramento, CA
5/3/2012
This place has absolutely terrible customer service and their food is only so so. Yes, it is definitely cheap to eat here....but you're gonna be sacrificing good food, good service, and mediocre food at best. I highly suggest you go to Davis Wiki and find cheap eats somewhere else. I cannot stress enough about unprofessional and unpleasant the owners are as well as their little boy who also "works" there. My coworkers and I went to this place for the first time and we will never be back, nor will anyone we know.
The woman that took our orders was very pleasant and nice. Three of us ordered salads (no hot meat....nothing needed to be cooked) and the other two ordered sandwiches. We all ordered within a couple minutes of each other. The two sandwiches came out first, then one of the salads. After waiting almost ten minutes and still not getting the other two salads, I went to inquire as to why it was taking so long. I was informed by the female owner that my salad was finished just then and she handed it to me. I stayed to wait for my other coworker's salad, so could bring hers to her as well. The female owner questioned my as to why I was still standing there, I told her that I was waiting for my coworkers salad that she had ordered awhile ago. She asked the male employee in charge of salads where it was, he told her, "I'm making it now." As he told her this he was reaching over and putting a handful of lettuce into a bowl.....very obviously he forgot about the salad until that moment and with a frantic look on his face, he began to make it. The female owner then looked at me and told me I could go ahead and go back to my seat now. She informed me that she will bring the salad when it is done. After another 5-7 minutes of not having the salad delivered, I went to inquire again. I asked what was taking so long, since we were all on a time schedule for our lunch break. She spoke to me in an extremely condescending tone and said, "Well, people order their food at different times, ya know?!" I was appalled and disgusted with her lack of customer service. I explained to her that I know how restaurants work....I've been to one before. I went on to ask her why other folks were getting their food before my coworker got hers, since she had ordered BEFORE a lot of the other folks did. She became flustered and turned her back to me and began to walk away....as she walked away she YELLED back across the restaurant, "Go eat somewhere else!!" WOW! I was in shock! I have never ever heard any owner say that to anyone, let alone me. Afterward, I said wow, nice customer service skills you have there. Suddenly, the little boy with his hat on backwards behind the bar puffs up his little chest and says to me, "You got a problem?!" Ha! I though I was being punked! Was this for real?! Do business really act like this?! Unfortunately, the answer is yes......Yes they do act like that. I ask the little boy to please change his tone and listen if he wanted to the answer....apparently my request was above his skill level. I immediately asked for a to go box and thanked the nice woman who took my order.
The female owner could have EASILY said, "I apologize for the mistake (or delay), we will get that right out to you." Instead, she made excuses, wouldn't admit fault and displayed a disgustingly poor attitude not fit for any business.
******I HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU CHECK FOR OTHER CHEAP EATS AND DRINKS IN DAVIS******* -
Review from Donna T.
San Jose, CA
4/10/2012
Came here once with a friend and will come back again! :) My professor also held office hours here too haha, humorous.
Food: B
I ordered the Philly Cheesesteak meal and it was delicious! It came with a side and soda and I was very happy with the portions and the price I paid for it. It seems that they do cook everything to order so that's a relief. A pretty decent American food joint! My friends like the sandwiches here as well.
Location/Ambiance: C+
Convenient because it is located right next to campus, so few professors use this place as Office Hours. However the exterior decoration of the restaurant is horrendously ugly. Inside the restaurant looks simple with dim lighting, but dim lighting 24/7 and ugly outside look is a NO NO.
Service: C
Minimal customer service interaction. I ordered my food at the register and they brought it out and that was it...At least when we did interact, they were very nice about it. There were like 1-2 other customers at the time so they weren't super busy either. Came on a weeknight for dinner.
Prices: A-
I think the prices are reasonably cheap for a college town! I have not tried the beer but the philly cheesesteak was not over $5 I believe... Apologies if inaccurate! But I remember not paying over $10 for my meal, and that always puts a smile on my face :)
TL;DR? Decent food for Cheap prices, don't come here for Service or Pretty Decorations. Casual hangout for friends or FWB :) hahaha -
Review from Kristina N.
San Jose, CA
I love this place. I have been here 5+ times and they consistently good with their sandwiches. Their paninis and sandwiches are the best! They're affordable too, unless you make it a combo (+fries/salad with a drink). My favorites are the turkey avocado and the monte cristo. I'm surprise it's not more crowded here... it's footsteps away from campus and there's ample seating.
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Review from Keith R.
Davis, CA
2/28/2012
Have again: The Philly cheesesteak was very good.
Not have again: The French fries were not hot and just ok. Better to spend this money on double meat for the cheesesteak! Extremely slow service (took 20 minutes to get our food), which is not good if you are grabbing a quick bite between classes or lectures. -
Review from Phillip T.
San Jose, CA
3/4/2012
The service was nice! I have never had the waiter remember people's names when they came out with the food... And the service was fast, probably because not that many people were there.
And for some reason I found a bee in my fries... It's all good though, I shooed it away and enjoyed my food!
I didn't realize I had this review on draft for about 8 months, so I don't remember what I ordered, but this place is decent and I recommend to those who want to grab a quick bite come to this cafe! -
Review from Nicole K.
West Sacramento, CA
2/27/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Where to start? I have a small bias to this place because they are so close to where I work, and they offer a good variety of fresh American lunch food. But, I also judge them a little differently because of their location. It bugs me that they do not offer a proper breakfast during breakfast hours. Not only because they are such a close location to campus, but because they are on a main thoroughfare to and from campus. I feel they could make a killing on offering good coffee and breakfast snacks in the morning at least between 8am and 11am.
But, as they are mainly a lunch/dinner place, I guess I will rate them as such. Their food is good, consistent in quality and fresh. They offer a nice variety that seems to please most. They are very friendly and they get to know their regulars. -
Review from michele s.
Granite Bay, CA
4/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was not impressed at the least. I came here to get lunch and read for my next class. I ordered the lunch combo panini with a salad with vinaigrette on the side. Panini was good but they just gave me a side of oil for my dressing! It was gross. Also their soda machine is out of nearly everything except diet coke and mr pibb...ok...then my diet coke tasted something funny as if the syrup was old. Disgusting. Not happy, especially for the price..subway would have been way better and way cheaper.
-
Review from Lori N.
10/11/2011
2 pints for $5.25 all day, every day. Can't really say no to that. The fact that they charge you tax is kinda weird, so your total comes out to $5.63 or something random. We had some Racer IPA and Blue Moon on a Monday night, but I hear beer selections are limited most days.
The bar's really big & definitely wasn't too lively on a Monday night, but maybe it's more fun on the weekends. They have a decent deal on Thu & Fri nights, 3 pints for $6.50. That's probably the cheapest pint you could get on a Fri night! I also took a sneak peak at their menu, which looked pretty cheap with most items being around $5-$7.
This place was made for college kids on a budget! -
Review from Brian C.
El Macero, CA
3/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food here isn't very good. Seems like frozen or canned items that are barely reheated. Only advantage I saw was close proximity to campus and beer, but didn't drink that night. Would consider checking out beer selections, but would stay away from food altogether.
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Review from Jordan S.
Davis, CA
6/27/2011
If you are looking for a place with great happy hour specials, average food, a decent selection of beers on tap, and an aggravatingly high probability that they are tapped out of everything except the fucking Newcastle, look no further.
Still, the times when they aren't tapped out of Ranger IPA or Sierra Nevada and the beers are 2-for-$5 make up for the other times when I have to glug down a Newcastle or Blue Moon. -
Review from Florence S.
San Francisco, CA
9/4/2011
3rd and U was the place to go for my friends and I since we wanted somewhere close to campus. Not a bad decision.
I ordered the chicken strips w/ fries and buffalo sauce. I had a strange craving for them and they really hit the spot. They came out piping hot, so don't burn yourself. They also came with seasoned fries; they were tasty.
My friends enjoyed their orders. One had a cheeseburger; I forget what the other one ordered.
We sat outside though I would have preferred sitting inside, but we were only outside because it was ridiculously loud inside. Our group hadn't seen each other in a while (a year maybe) so we had a lot of catching up to do. Screaming at each other across a small table wasn't exactly the way to go about it, so we decided to tackle the outside flies instead.
Service is pretty minimal. You order with them & pay at the front, choose your table, and they'll deliver you're meal to you when it's ready. Unless you need something else, that's all the interactions you'll have with them. The minimal service provided are excellent, though. Drinks (minus alcohol) are self-served.
I'd definitely come back again. The location is great if you only have a short lunch hour and you need to get back on campus. The prices are pretty average but the portions and quality are great. -
Review from Angela C.
Davis, CA
12/7/2011
I come here a lot because it's so close to my department, and it's fine. They seem to have gotten their liquor license back and are still doing buy one get one free beers. I like the buffalo chicken sandwich for lunch (it's strangely unsatisfying for dinner) and I do kind of love them because they provided me with a place to work the night some generator at my apartment complex blew up and I had a paper due the next day. Also the guy who works there is really nice, I feel like he's always there.
-
Review from Brad T.
Woodland, CA
10/30/2011
I love this place! Cheap beers, good food, friendly staff.
It's a great place to meet up some friends and unwind. -
Review from Janet H.
5/17/2011
Whaaaatttt!!! I can't believe I haven't been here all year until NOW!
Funny thing is, my two friends and I decided to cut our study sesh in the library short and head over here for a pint of beer instead... I find this quite ironic, especially since we were originally studying for our beer brewing class midterm that we were about to take in an hour!
Super awesome deals, great happy hour deals, and friendly service! By awesome deals, I mean bottomless fries when you order a combo, and 2 for $5 beer?! What!
3rd & U is probably my new favorite place to go. The vegetarian panini was generously stuffed with vegetables (bonus points for a whole ton of avocadoes inside!) and was perfectly heated. Not too crunchy or soft, and the perfect temperature. The ingredients were also fresh and crunchy. Yum! The sandwiches are decently sized and would be a perfect meal in between classes. I've only been here once but I adore this cafe. I may be a bit biased, since they also have Blue Moon, my favorite, on tap, too...
but most importantly: the fries. Oh my gosh. So addicting. It also doesn't help that they're bottomless...
I might just have to "study" for my FST3 class here from now on... hehe. and taking that midterm was a lot more enjoyable. Just sayin'.Listed in: What I'm going to miss about…
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Review from Kris I.
5/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friend and I were going to go here for Sunday brunch. She heard they did $2 mimosas, and I was down. Tell me why they were definitely not open at 10:30am. Or 11am. Nor did I see a sign on that door. And I wasn't the only one expecting them to be open!
I want an explanation. Until then, I am still waiting for a $2 mimosa and keeping the one-star rating. Suck it. -
Review from Charla A.
3/11/2011
I LIKE IT !!! :)
happy hour prices are so good! we got a basket of garlic fries, a chicken taco, 1 italian soda, three sliders, and even more fries for around 10 dollars.
the staff is very friendly and helpful, however they call your name out when your order is ready. i can see this being problematic if being served during lunch rush or during a noisy game playing.
like everyone else says, the 2 pints for $5 seems unreal! the food is actually very good, and it hits the spot after a long class. -
Review from Aileen Y.
Davis, CA
11/12/2010
I used to hate this place.
The service was slow as shit, and the food wasn't even great. God, I hated how slow this places was!!!
However, yesterday changed my mind.
The atomosphere is relaxed and casual enough that you can wax lyrical about your recently-made, bad life decisions. The workers are super chill (read: super cute), very efficient and they go out of their way to make sure you have everything you need.
Happy hour French fries were only $1-- reeedonkulous!
But the thing that really won me over?
TWO PINTS FER $5 DOLLAS!!!
And I'm talking Stella and Blue Moon, not some watery, frat-row crap.
I think I might live here soon. -
Review from Kevin S.
Sacramento, CA
9/24/2010
I met up with some friends here on a Thursday night. I really just wanted to talk, chill, and have a good burger and drink. Good thing I went here!
I'm not sure how crowded this place usually gets, but there weren't that many people here when I went--stayed from 7-10:30pm. Maybe it's because it was Welcome Week at UC Davis and everyone was doing their own thing.
What I love:
-California Burger
-$2 corn dogs
-2 pints for $5...all day!
-3 pints for $6...Thursday/Friday from 8-11pm!!! (limited but respectable selection: Blue Moon, Sierra, etc.)
-Flatscreen TVs for your viewing pleasure
Decent prices. Burgers/sandwiches range from $4-6, and they have a "Make it a Combo" option for $2 to add fries + drink
There is also outdoor seating. The staff is really nice, but my food order took a while.
I'd def check this place out again. -
Review from katie c.
Woodland, CA
4/19/2011
There are several awesome things about 3rd&U
*Their Happy Hour is the bomb. $1 garlic fries- are you kidding me?!
*The staff always makes me feel welcome, like I'm an old friend they've never met!
and most importantly:
It's one of the BEST people watching spots in all of Davis. :) -
Review from Rick E.
4/10/2008
Kim, are you sure that 3rd & U haven't already acclimated to the Davis way of thinking? Yet another Ikea'd out yuppie-haunt with a boozhie veneer over a vacuum of soullessness? Check! Can't call a sandwich a sandwich...it must be panini? Check! Yeah, I'd say this place is definitely too much of the same ol' Davis suckiness. So full of potential based on location alone, yet this place sucks and has no hope of getting better. A total con job of a restaurant.
Basic menu dominated by a typical choice of fairly inexpensive sandwiches and salads. There are also two choices of "quick meal combos," including the one thing that is unique about the menu: TWO CORNDOGS w/ fries!!! Someday, I wanna go in there and see someone order that just so I can see how ridiculous it looks. Corndogs on those stylish square platters? Why not pour a Mickey's into a gleaming crystal wine flute?
The owner seems to be hanging out behind the breakfast bar everytime I walk by. This guy obviously cares not to own a great restaurant. I think he got into the restaurant business just to have a place to hang out and talk to people and longingly eye college cuties. And when the scenery and conversation's not enough, there's always a giant plasma screen to watch ESPN Sportscenter! Wotta life! Dude's so unconcerned with striving for true restaurant greatness, he didn't even hire a chef. Just a wage-slave cook.
Any chef with the slightest bit of culinary education knows that eggplant must never be undercooked, otherwise it will taste like acne medication and have the mouthfeel of the Jello-mold that crawled across the dinner table in "Better Off Dead." It is required that eggplant be raised to an adequate temperature for a certain amount of time in order to leech out the alkaloids that give the raw plant its astringent flavor. Roasting works best. So, when my girlfriend bit into her eggplant panini, she recoiled. One more bite confirmed that it was disgusting, and into the trash it went.
I got the so-called "Italian panini," expecting several layers of spicy meat on some crusty artisanal bread. Sadly, what I got was no better than the sandwiches my mom might've packed me for lunch when I was a kid...and that would be on her most hurried morning. It was just a few layers of zero-personality meat on dry bread. As much as I hate Subway (and have boycotted the place since 2002), I know that I'd be at least 300% happier with their "Italian BMT" sandwich. Even at Subway, I'd've had more meat with more flavor, more produce, fresher bread that's at least somewhat warm, and I woulda had SEVEN MORE INCHES for 50 cents LESS!
What we got was an insult.
Possibly the worst restaurant in Davis??? (And that's saying a lot!)
Diana, you needn't be too nice. I see it's your first ever review. But this place flat out FLUNKS....WITH A BIG FAT EFF!
*** EDIT:
Kevin, it is always so easy to see through when someone's first ever Yelp review is a point-by-point rebuttal of a one-star slag. Could it be that you work there or are connected some way with the place? You'll be going there on a regular basis to punch the clock or sign the checks, right?
What? This place can't possibly suck because the owner owns two restaurants? By that logic, McDonald's must be the greatest restaurant ever, I guess.
My dissatisfaction is my fault because I didn't ask what's *in* the sandwich? "How many layers of meat do you put in the sandwich, and how many Scoville units is that coppa?" Would they have told me the truth? Should we have asked "Do you cook the eggplant or serve it raw?" Is it nitpicking to say that there wasn't anything likable about what we ate...not the flavor, the portion size, the dollar value? I tried to nitpick to find something I did like. But it was no use.
And we're not supposed to give a review until we've tried everything on the menu? Sheesh, it takes a really bad "chef" to undercook eggplant. That's fundamental.
If I don't get out much, no one gets out much. I get out too often. And I haven't gotten out to anyplace that made a worse first impression than this. I didn't even mention that they switched our order with someone else's. I chalked it up to a rookie mistake. -
Review from Robi P.
Davis, CA
4/15/2008
After reading reviews (there are a few, some quite dubious, one scathing), I let curiosity get the better of me and I stepped out of character (the only coffee I drink in Davis is my own) and ordered a couple of coffees ath the new joint in town.
Initial impression: It may appear to be a pre-fab sports bar, but that is a HUGE improvement over the vintage soup kitchen look of Roma...
Second impression: I met the GM, a very personable chap named Brody(?). He was the espresso machine driver and not very busy when I went in around one o'clock. I really enjoy talking coffee with baristas and we had a good chat.
Third impression: BONUS! Each shot is ground just prior to pulling the shot.
The product: Tony's coffee from Seattle. Not locally roasted so not the epitome of fresh, but Brody was confident that it was less than
9(?) days post roast.
My double shot was pleasantly bitter chocolate, like baking chocolate, with little complexity. I think this bean could have been on a bit past it's prime.
My cappuccino was a disappointment. Same lackluster espresso with overheated stiff capped foam.
So let's do a little math:
We will assign a base star rating of 3 stars.
-2* for kim t.'s, and kevin f.'s fake reviews. I was inclined to give an automatic one star review for such balderdash, but that is against the terms of service and I'm not that bitter.
+1* grinding per shot!
+1* Tony's is organic.
+1* Brody is a sweet heart.
I think that I'll stop there cause I'm feeling generous. The coffee here is as good as the best shot I've had at a cafe in Davis. That's not saying much for this town, but I don't regret going in for a couple.
I will return. When I see some proper ceramic cups on top of the two group La Marzocco. I'll expect some micro foam.
Stay tuned for an update. -
Review from Ann Z.
Oakland, CA
9/11/2010
I always get the California Burger and I LOVE it! It's so yummy and I really like the bread they use for their burgers. Everyone who goes to 3rd and U needs to try the CA burger. There are also free refills on your sodas!
The service is good. The people who work there are really friendly :) -
Review from Kevin V.
Sacramento, CA
12/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
Well, this will grab your attention: $5 for 2 Pints!
Ask any UCD student, this place is great! Great pub-like food, two LCD TVs with the latest games on, and a good selection of brews. For about $9 you can get 2 beers and a meal. Good deal. I haven't been there at night, but I can imagine its a hot spot with the awesome drink specials. Two thumbs up! -
Review from Jess G.
Elk Grove, CA
MMMM DELICIOUS YUMMY FRIES!!!!
I ordered the california burger combo to go. It was 5.95 plus 2 dollars for the fries and drink plus tax. It was done in less than 10 minutes! That's awesome because I was not late for class at all!
The California Burger was like if a Western Bacon Burger and a California Roll had a baby. This burger would be that baby. Not that there was rice in it but that It was the Western Bacon without the fried onion and it was replaced with an avocado. As a person who really and I mean REALLY doesn't like avocado I really enjoyed this burger. I didn't know that there was even an avocado in it until i was halfway through it and I actually looked down at my burger when I took a break from inhaling it.
The fries were so good! No wonder they don't condone sharing on endless fryday. It was so crispy on the outside and so soft of the inside! There was a nice even layer of salt and it wasn't like ridiculously salty like some other places.
However I would have to say what made my experience sad was when I got my drink. So most of the machines you know are push your cup up against it to get the soda right? well i wanted the sprite so it had this tab thing for soda usually that says water sharing the same nozzle as a soda. so I was confused and pushed the soda button down and I left after filling up my drink. It wasn't until I drank it right when I left that i realized it was CARBONATED SODA. OMG FROWN!!!! but I was too embarrassed and scared to go back because the girl working the counter looked like she didn't really want to be there and was really freaking me out. -
Review from Kristine L.
Fairfield, CA
2/5/2011
There are two things I love about this place: the Chicken Pomodori sandwich & the Happy Hour menu.
I haven't taken advantage of their $5 for 2 pints deal, but I will eventually.
It's clean. It's close to campus. Plus, they aren't terribly slow at getting your food to you. Simple as that! -
Review from Hunter G.
Davis, CA
11/23/2008
This was long a familiar Bohemian spot in Davis that had two locations and by Bohemian I mean dirty. It didn't stop me from going in there though and one of the best double cappuccinos that I've ever had came from the previous Cafe Roma that it was.
So then the place became 3rd and University Cafe. I waited and waited to see how it would transform. I would ride my bike by it every day watching the progress of the remodel. Then it opened and I yawned. I had no desire to go in. It just didn't call to me. Maybe it was the name. 3rd and U? I hope they didn't pay a consultant to come up with that one. I would have been more intrigued if it were called Poison Cafe or even The Slightly Cleaner Than the Last Cafe Cafe.
I figured I'd never go in but a friend who wanted to have lunch close to campus said he had been there. I ordered a Turkey Panini and my eyes lit up when I saw the taps. "What kind of beer do you have?" I asked. "Nothing yet." the counter person told me. My heart sank and one star floated away from my review.
The panini wasn't bad and it was a nice day to sit out on the patio and drink beer... oh wait.... Anyway, I might go back when the taps are flowing and then I'll update my review. -
Review from Veronica S.
Fremont, CA
3/31/2008
Haven't tried any of the foods yet, but the inside was nicely remodeled since Cafe Roma's was here. They added a long tall seating/bar-table ish type thing along with a flat screen tv.
I had a caramel machiatto and it was really good and it was fast. Maybe they are picking up since they opened.
Prices are cheap/decent, it's evident that they are competing with Pluto's and Burgers & Brew, they seem to offer what those two locations are known for : specialty burgers & salads.
Hopefully will come back to try some of the food!
Popular items on the menu:
grilled ham, eggs & cheese sourdough sandwich : $3.50
bagel with butter: $1.50
Turkey/Roast Beef/Salami/Tuna sandwich: $4.50
Specialty sandwiches: $4.75-$5.95
Paninis: $5.25-$5.75
combo: +$2 (you can choose salad or fries & a soft drink to add to your meal) -
Review from Everett L.
Sacramento, CA
I went to this place today for lunch at the recommendation of a friend. The first thing I noticed about this place was that concrete floors and low ceiling made in conjunction with a crowd made for a loud environment. At the time we showed up, it was right before the lunch rush and it was somewhat loud inside. I'd imagine that the noise level is annoying on a packed night.
I got the Turkey Club and enjoyed it. It wasn't anything special, but it was fresh and tasted good. Overall I enjoyed my meal and I'd check it out again. -
Review from Charlie P.
Oakland, CA
9/23/2010
They almost made me late to my first class ever at Davis!
I got there at 1135 thinking I'd make my 1210 class no problem. I had my order in by 1140 but my turkey sandwich wasn't ready until NOON! I wolfed that bad Larry down and hit the road 5 minutes later only to arrive my class just after 1210. I got stuck in a terrible seat way in the back and in the isle. I could barely see, barley hear, and I had to keep moving my legs to let people by.
Moving on...My food was really good. My turkey sandwich was outfitted with lettuce, tomato, red onion, mayo, spicy mustard, and sprouts with Swiss cheese on sourdough: very tasty, very fresh. I went with the combo which include a fountain drink and a nice Caesar salad, all for about $7.
I will definitely hit up 3rd and U again but this time I'll be prepared to wait up to 20 minutes for a sandwich. -
Review from Marlon T.
1/8/2009
I've been here two times, it's alright.
I feel like there should be more in the restaurant; It feels like there is something missing.
The food seems to take a while to come out even when it wasn't busy. Maybe it was just that day.
This seems like your regular grab a sandwich and fries place. It seems a little generic. I don't think I would go here again, I've had better.
Your experience in Davis could be complete without this place. -
Review from Ben K.
11/1/2009
You know, I didn't have high expectations for 3rd and U, but it meets those modest goals completely adequately. The food is not great. The coffee is not great -- but free refills are. Decor isn't stellar, the bar only kind of exists.
But whatever. 3rd and U meets the three criteria of good real estate: Location, location, location. When it's time to get out of the office, but I still need to get work done. When I need some coffee and don't want to drop another $2 for a fill-up. When I want to sit somewhere and not feel any pressure to buy something substantial. 3rd and U comes through. I wish it were open real bar hours so I could take advantage of the cheap pints, or I wish the food were actually good (because, honestly, how much effort does it take to make a good sandwich?) but, in the end, I can hardly hold it against the place. Maybe if I'd known the location when it was a more bohemian hotspot.
The truth of the matter is that that stretch of 3rd should be better than it is, but there seems to be something pathologically keeping everywhere from really being great.
But sometimes good is just a-ok. -
Review from Herbert S.
Davis, CA
6/9/2010
I have very mixed feelings about this restaurant; one the one hand, some of the food is pretty lousy, but on the other hand, they have 2 pints of beer for 5 dollars.
I've spent more time than I care to admit here because of the beer; which is excellent. They may not have an astonishing selection, but all the beer is fresh, and served through clean lines, so it doesn't have that sour, buttery taste that can develop in unused kegs. This is a big plus, because it doesn't matter if you have 50 beers on tap if all of them suck, because you let them go stale.
After the third or fourth pint at lunchtime, some of their sandwiches taste pretty amazing, and I have had some amazing experiences with the food while slightly inebriated. The eggs Florentine sandwich is exactly what a drunk needs, it's greasy, fatty, and dripping with deliciousness. It even has some spinach, so you don't get scurvy.
Now, when I've been here un-intoxicated, the food has always been somewhat lacklustre. Sometimes, it's even been downright lousy. I've had an eggplant sandwich so undercooked as to be inedible. Most of the time though, it's just mediocre. The food tastes uninspired at best, usually just stereotypical for the type. The Caesar salad tastes exactly like any generic Caesar salad anywhere in the world might, without much creativity. All in all, I've been less than impressed with the food there, at least when sober.
I'd suggest coming for the beer (you can't beat 2 pints for $5) and then maybe staying for food. -
Review from Dean W.
San Francisco, CA
7/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I always come to 3rd and U to watch games. It's never too crowded and the beer is definitely cheaper (2 for $5). I used to think this place was pretty cool, but it got so much better after the addition of a happy hour menu. the trio sliders with fries are so delicious. I haven't tried the breakfast buffet yet, but for $10 only, I will soon!
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Review from Kimmie M.
4/17/2011
3rd and U is my favorite place in Davis. Its cheap, its on campus and still downtown, it has great service and staff- SO friendly and sweet. Family owned and run so they really care. Delicious paninis, fries, chicken fingers--typical bar food selection but amazing and cheap. But the best part is that you get TWO PINTS FOR FIVE DOLLARS. How cheap is that? And its not this Bud Light BS. Some really great beer (including Boont, one of my faves) for that cheap! I recommend this place to everyone.
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Review from Abby P.
Sacramento, CA
9/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
3rd and U is a great little place for lunch. The food is consistently yummy - the philly being my personal favorite. I love that they have counter seating as well because it is great for single diners.
I must say I am surprised by the scathing review by the previous reviewer. To complain that a place where you drop a few dollars for a meal should have a chef in the kitchen is beyond ridiculous. I'm sorry but you just spent $7 bucks on a burger, fries and a drink, do you really expect to see a dude in a tall white hat come out and ask how your meal is?
Also a panini, in the modern American term of the word, is a toasted, pressed sandwich, which almost always thin. Maybe you were looking to order a sandwich instead of a panini? Those can be found on the menu under SANDWICHES. Better luck next time.
PS: I almost always drink my Mickey's out of cut crystal. Tastes so much better that way. -
Review from Derrick C.
Davis, CA
8/18/2010
This place is AMAZING.
I've been to 3rd and U a lot of times. It's definitely worth eating if you're ever on campus and if you're hungry and want to get a little buzzed. Their menu, although limited, is enough for anyone to get a quick bite to eat.
I usually come in for a burger and beer. They have all types of burgers, etc, but I'll usually get the california burger. Everything I ever wanted- bacon, cheese and avocados, are all in the burger. Their fries are also pretty freshly fried and crisp. I don't think I've gone crazy, but I'm pretty sure that they used to be steak fries. No matters because I like this one more.
The other day I came here around 5:15 and it was pretty empty. Sucks that it's empty but good because I get my food out faster. Like always I got a california burger with fries and 2 pints. It was the perfect food for a nice summer day. They leave all the doors open but it's breezy and warm but not stuffy inside. Plus they had baseball on so it was even better.
The only complaint I have about this place is that their food takes long sometimes to come out. That and the napkins are placed way in the back counter so it's awkward to get napkins (sorry i'm a messy eater). But in retrospect these aren't really complaints so 5 stars. -
Review from Jennifer D.
San Jose, CA
10/14/2008
The first time I came here left me with a very good impression. The waiter/waitresses were so nice I even left them a note thanking them. The only reason why I go here is for their delicious Philly Cheese Steak which is what I always order. It beats eating at the dining commons any day!
There are also inside/outside dining. The waiters/waitresses bring your food to you so that's another plus! Love the price. Love the place. Double thumbs up!
