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Categories: Restaurants, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Downtown BerkeleyMon-Thu. 6:00 a.m. - 1:30 a.m.
Fri. 6:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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Yeah, looks like bad restaurant service might be a late-night thing. I got much better service the time I came before 10pm.
Quiche was excellent. I'm bumping my score from 3 to 4.
IMHO, restaurant is still too expensive though. Coffee price is what you'd expect though.
* 1 star as a base score.
* Open way late with Wi-Fi and Coffee (+1)
* Service is meh in the back. It…
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As a cafe its a nice little eclectic place, it offers a great selection of coffee, this place holds many fond memories for me, as i would walk long and far to study there. As a student you were encouraged to limit the amount of time you spent there as to allow the tables for the eating customers.
as a place to eat it is a decent place to get a meal at a late hour. I like their food and found that it was actually better than average. Definitely better than fast food as an option.
The location is within walking from the campus, and not too far from the BART.
I have tea here when in town.
This is where I feel like a vampire in berkeley. . . .well okay, not really. It's just the only frikkin cafe in all of berkeley near my house that's ever open later than 9pm.
Does it drive anyone else completely bonkers that in a city where most of the population are students . . . . .there are BARELY any late night cafes or restaurants around that are open? It's just a liiiiittle frustrating.
ANYWAYS, not to get distracted *ahem*
Here all the service that I've gotten has been. . . .mediocre. There's definitely one woman here that is friendly every time I go, but for the most part the staff is dismissive and seem a little bit. . . .well. . . depressed.
The restaurant food has been good whenever I've eaten there, and their soy chai lattes are also yummy, but nothing spectacular.
I give them four stars for being open late night and letting me and my friends bum around for hours even after we finish our food or drinks.
6.20.2009
My brown colored strawberry shortcake was short of good. This was far from fresh because the whipped cream clumped and the strawberries were beginning to go bad. The many air pocketed cake tasted like the Malaysian cakes from a Chinese bakery.
The guy behind the counter said they bake the cakes themselves and they go quick. I had no idea what he meant after eating the cake. Perhaps their other cakes or pastries are better.
This spot is easy to find on University; right on the corner. The restaurant is big enough for the coffee+ pastries students in the front; and the restaurant talkers in the back. It's spacious and the vibe is quite a simple cafeteria scene. I ordered the Irish Whiskey Coffee & the Chicken Katsu Salad. The Irish Whiskey was a bit bitter; but it was definitely strong. My salad was huge! good thing I saved it for my dinner. It was fresh, filling and scrumptious; just enough brain food to hold me down for a couple of hours. Students come here to do their work, get buzzed and chit-chat. I dig the scene; totally kick back.
I also managed to get their Chai-soy tea [super strong as well] and their bread pudding. It's has a very old school vibe and the presentation of the food was pretty cool. Good place to have eats, study, read, get free wifi & have a beer.
So I'm not from Berkeley, but seeing as how it's a college town my friends and I figured we could find a place not a bar or fast food to eat after midnight. Sad to say this isn't true, but fortunately for us we stumbled across Au Coquelet.
The food wasn't incredible but it was edible.
It's a lot bigger than it looks from University Ave. Seating up front seems primarily for the coffee/tea customers and there are plenty of tables in back.
I'll be back if I'm looking for somewhere late to eat but I will explore other options first.
I'll give it 3 stars because it's sort of an institution, and a place of last resort in Berkeley. Their cafe is decent, with plenty of coffee drink options and good desserts. The employees in the cafe are sweeties, the servers in the dining area are a bit dippy.
I would steer you away from the restaurant. Don't waste your money. There are a couple of Crepe places around here that might do the trick, and recently I went to Crepevine up on Shattuck at Cedar, which was also open late, and has some yummy snacks.
I have some fond memories of going here, and some memories of the horrible sandwiches I have eaten here.
It attracts an interesting crowd, so it makes for funny people watching. The corn plants in the dining area are crazy, they are like old growth indoor trees.
Evelynn used to live above the flower shop next to Au Coquelet, so we'd both go semi often.
Her parents treated us to the only full meal we've had here...it was pretty good.
I can say, though, that the coffee has seemed to get worse and worse. It used to be really good. And then it's waned off so much that the last couple times I've gone in, I order tea.
But even the tea has been ruined for me. We just wanted two cups of steamed soy milk with a earl grey tea bag in each...they wanted to charge me nearly $8!!
While it has a cool vibe and is one of the only cafes (not to mention restaurants) open past midnight in Berkeley, the cons outweigh the pros for me. I'd have to be hard up for anyone to see me there anytime soon.
I used to love coming here to "study" in college because there are yummy desserts, and moreover, it's open late (though only 'til 1, nowadays; used to be later). More recently, I've been using this spot quite regularly for client meetings.
There is a front section with counter service for drinks/desserts, and a back restaurant for sit-down service. While the drinks and desserts are good, the food is average.
The big problem I have is with the service in the restaurant. I had dealt with a slow, unduly sour-faced employee in the past, and I thought maybe he was just having a bad day. But today, I sat down in the restaurant area with two brown-skinned, Indian-accented clients (which I mention because it MAY have been relevant, even in 2009 in Berkeley) -- two of us with drinks in hand ordered from the cafe portion -- and that same gentleman approached us to ask if we wanted to order something. The person in the group who did not have a drink asked for a beer, and the server said, "Well, yeah, OK, but the reason I ask is that this section is for people who order food, like burgers, and soup. If you're not having food, I'm gonna ask you to move to the middle section, or the other room."
Now, if there had been a large crowd in the restaurant, and people clamoring for seats, I would have completely understood his concern and special need to approach us to regulate. However, the restaurant was only about 10% full, AND one of us asked for a beverage, AND the other two also had items from the same establishment. AND there are very few things that piss me off more than senselessly enforced regulations.
Oh yeah, and after we moved to the other section, the sour old dude never even brought us the beer.
I hate people who see 3 stars as a bad thing :( I like Au Coquelet a LOT....I just have to distinguish between the restaurant and the cafe
What I would really like to do is give it **** for the restaurant and pastries, and ** for the coffee and desert
LOVE that its open late, takes cards, has daily specials, good vegi options AND breakfast. I can come here to do school work, have my coffee and pastries, stay for a few hours, and then get lunch. If I hang out in Berkeley until late, I can grab a late night snack and its all good! The food isn't impressive, but its good, and relatively inexpensive. I really like the vegi sandwich a lot, and the blintzes. Anything with a Mexican spin (hueveros rancheros, eg.) totally kills!
HATE most of their deserts, however,, and their Organic "coffee" seems to just be bastardized organic espresso. My husband loves this place, and loves the guy who makes his coffee every day, I, on the other hand, look for any excuse to walk an extra six blocks to Sonoma Coffee: "Oh, gee, the wind is blowing SW today, better go to Sonoma instead!" "What, road construction on University, lets NOT go up that way for coffee this month"
...you get the picture.
Perhaps I'll try their espresso drinks, or maybe one of their Irish Coffees (yes, WITH WISKEY!!!) yummmmm! (really, that in itself is a reason worth going here)
I will be back, I will always come back here, and I will continue telling people to come here...its a sure bet restaurant and cafe in Berkeley, and has been around for years and years! They have ample seating, are student friendly, take cards, and have some nice art up. But, if I were you, I'd steer clear of the deserts (specifically the blueberry tart) and the OG coffee. Stick with your basic house pot coffee, a nice pastry or salad/sandwich for lunch, and for the love of the spaghetti monster, go to a real patisserie/bakery of you want GOOD dessert!
This was my favorite little cafe ever while I was at Berkeley. I think I took everyone here. I loved their breakfast plates and their mimosas are great, too. The service wasn't always great, but it's all about the atmosphere and good food. I'll definitely come back here for breakfast when I come up. PS, the restaurant is in the back and there's a cafe for pastries and coffee in the front.
C'est vraiment du gâchis!
This place's layout is pretty sweet. It would do you well if you are looking for a place to study or read with a cup of tea or joe. If you are looking for a meal; however, I would pass. It has a boring menu that isn't even executed well.
Overall: Skip it
Value: Meh, its fairly priced, but you can find better options for the same price.
I work nearby and often go here for a lunch. Typically take a burger with salad, which is simple but works great for a lunch and is good. The service is not spectacular but usually quite fast. I like something about the dining hall: it is high and bright and works well for casual lunch discussion. They have free WiFi.
I cannot believe I haven't reviewed Au Coquelet. I like this place. The food can be hit or miss (though I love their French onion soup) and the people working there can be grouchy or brusque.
But people: They now have wifi! Get caffeinated and get online, or something like that.
High end looking brunch place that is sort of a divey diner in a nice space.... menu is decent for brunch, but the food was sort of rote, and uninspired. The coffee wasn't the best either... but the vacant servers were too kind and friendly.... and they were really sorry about the wait or the mistakes. Free mimosa with breakfast = how can I complain?
You could end up here if all the other joints are at full wait, and if you do... frankly I would pass.
Gotta love Berkeley and it's eclectic mix of people, most can be found here at Au Coquelet. This is not gourmet and doesn't try to be, Honest food at a fair price, Rueben for around $7 is a deal. Better than most cafe's have been to in a long time and several steps above any chain restaurant.
I've been searching for a good coffee and study spot since I moved to the east bay a year ago. My requirements: solid coffee, decent pastries, wifi, and an atmosphere conducive to work. Cafe Au Coquelet hits two of three. The cafe felt as though it had once been a fancy kaufeehause. People chatted quietly or worked on laptops. Despite all the laptops, there was no wifi and no outlets, and somehow I felt like laptops weren't really welcome. The chatting couples seemed way more appropriate for the space. My espresso was awful. I should have guessed this from the beginning, ordered a coffee, and gone with the whole bad-diner-coffee-teenage-nostalgia thing. The pastries were pretty good and the selection was great.
I didn't have a great experience here, but I think my expectations were ill fit to the place. I'll probably be back with a good friend and a good book for some bad coffee, a yummy pastry, and some heated lit-crit.
So my friend and I stopped into Au Coquelet the other night after spending some time working on a report for her work at a Starbucks (I don't review Starbucks, just in case you were wondering, cookie cutter, seen one, seen them all).
She suggested Au Coquelet as it was close to where we were, and usually has plenty of seating. The overall atmosphere is quite nice, not too boisterous, but definitely not dead. They appear to have just about everything that you could ever possibly want to eat, and I believe the waiter said they are open and serve food until 1:00am, a good thing to know.
I was not really hungry, so, just got a tasty beverage and enjoyed the scene. My friend, who is a vegan, was accommodated quite nicely. There was nothing directly from the menu that she could eat, but the waiter was quite nice and basically asked her what she wanted, and then proceeded to make her just that. An open face sandwich with Tomato, Avocado, and Cucumbers on Wheat Bread, with a vinaigrette dressing on the side. As the sandwiches all come with Chips and Salsa, I was the lucky beneficiary of her no salsa stance. Onions/garlic, etc., a no-no.
Overall, a great time, great folks, the only drawback, the staff, once the order has been dropped off, are absolutely inattentive, and did not come over to see if we needed anything else. I could have used another drink, but, alas, it was not forthcoming, hence, only 3 stars for this one.
But, I will definitely go back whenever I am in the neighborhood, as there were a number of items on their menu that I would like to try sometime.
Now listen, perhaps it was a misunderstanding when I brought my brother, unable to chew, to Au Coquelet because "they have the world's greatest milkshakes" and found out that no, in fact, they don't serve them. Must've read the wrong yelp review?
But in all seriousness, this place used to be across the street from where I lived. I never went, because who goes somewhere convenient? Now that I live 5 blocks away and am in constant need of internet, I go here all the time (foolishly; minus one star because they don't have internet? this IS a cafe, right?).
This is probably the most spacious cafe in all of berkeley in terms of square footage (and is not obnoxiously divided into two levels). It's a combination cafe (with hit-or-miss pastries: chocolate insanity cake - yes please!, banana bread - dry as an old woman's lips. Oh, and the "fortified" coffee drinks are terrible, don't waste your time) / restaurant (no milkshakes, but pretty solid, if on the pricier side, although the one of the women servers never washes her hair, very noticeably). Yes, that sentence was typed by an english major, and makes me cringe, too.
So listen, if you're looking for somewhere open until 2am, not superskeezy, and pretty average-priced for a cafe, go here. It's nice in the daytime and has a cute location/decoration inside for the claustrophobic. If you're looking for somewhere special, you might want to check around (or read more of my reviews, eh? ;))
First things that catch my eye at the counter are:
-lots of fruit tarts
-lots of specialty dessert drinks
OK, while the food and decor is nothing special, this cafe remains constantly good for everything a college student needs. There is ample seating room and the noise level is just perfect. It's not dead quiet, but a nice hum of talking between study groups. This is also one of those rare places that is good for all breakfast, brunch, lunch, linnder, dinner, dessert, and late night. I can think of no place closer to campus that would open as late as this cafe does.
chai: bland
hot chocolate: powdery
french roast: strong
my favorite thing about this place: the rooster painting with gold background
My boyfriend and I visit Au Coquelet more often than our own kitchen, and mutually refer to it as simply "the restaurant." From the large amount of regulars we see, we're not the only ones!
The food here is consistently good, with fresh, quality ingredients being used. Prices are very fair. The menu is broad-ranging, and a "specials" menu is updated daily with new selections. Breakfast, steaks, salads, burgers, pizzas and pasta are all on offer. My recommendations:
-Curry Chicken Fettuccine
-Tiger Burger
-Vegetarian Quiche
-Hot Ham & Swiss Sandwich
-French Onion Soup
They also feature an awesome beverage assortment, ranging from coffee, tea and soda to beer, wine, and liqueurs, as well as a dessert menu full of house-made treats.
The restaurant itself has a cozy vibe, and is a fun spot to people-watch while dining. The staff is very warm and attentive, and are flexible if you want substitutions to your order. Parking can be difficult as it's located on a very busy corner, but don't let that deter you. Au Coquelet is a must-visit for well-priced cafe-style dining!
Apparently they run off a generator in the back or a wind turbine or something because as many have noted, there are no outlets. I almost unplugged a neon sign once when things got desperate, but thought the scary guy behind the counter (who's always there) would eat my soul.
I'd like to thank Au Coquelet for staying open so late. But I'd also like to ask that they please make some decent (not burnt) coffee and keep it in a thermos or something rather than on a heater. You're a coffee shop. It's gross.
why 3 stars? well the late hours, obvi. But more importantly, the carrot cake. So so so so so yummy. And I hate carrot cake! But this stuff is nuts good. Get some.
While this is a good cafe for some, this is an exceptionally great cafe for me; a Cal alumnus who did most of his school work in the nigh. This is the ONLY cafe that opens past midnight in Berkeley. I find this place a second home at times and even after graduation, I continually revisit it to see its changes. The faces, the pictures on the walls, the menu, and even the waiters have changed through out the years but I still feel welcome and at ease. The coffee is good and the cranberry torte goes good with it.
They've added a full service kitchen with some Mexican side dishes to their menu as well as a full selection of liqueurs. I've seen them sell cigarettes from the front counter as well. It's all pretty weird, sooner or later it will become a saloon of the old west. It still stays open late, and I still feel the urge to stop by whenever I see a parking spot open on University Ave.
This is one of the restaurants that I have been meaning to get around to Yelping. Au Coquelet is one of my favorite spots for late night dining in the East Bay.
They have a surprisingly large selection of entrees ranging from sandwiches to pastas to salads to omelettes. It's a great spot for a burger if you're so inclined, and they have lots of them. They're open into the night and service is always friendly.
My only complaint about Au Coquelet is that it can sometimes be hard to find an open table--they are often packed, even into the am. Thankfully their dining area is large and the diligent diner may be able to eke one out if they head to the rear area.
I'm not often in the East Bay late at night like I was years ago, but Au Coquelet still reliably offers up yummy meals when I am. These guys rock.
There's the service is kooky, moody, slightly inconsistent, but endearing nonetheless (my favorite waitress is the girl with the dreads who always seems a little stoned--she is a sweetheart); the food is excellent (I'm a big fan of the quiches, and some of their soups, esp. the chicken corn chowder, are SUPER good--don't do the nachos unless you're trying to sate a very specific late night craving, though); and I can always rely on them to be open when I've got a hankering for late night tea.
(Hilariously enough, I just realized this all describes what visiting my mother is like--just replace the stoned waitress with my fourteen year old brother yelling, "DUDE!!!" at the WOW game he's engaged in, and this blurb is multi-applicable.)
Is the atmosphere good for a date? Uh, no. And while Au Coquelet wouldn't be bad for dinner, there are so many better places in downtown to catch that particular meal.
But it IS perfect for studying, late night snackin', lunch, and the cafe has decent coffee, yummy pastries, and a comfy, casual atmosphere.
What can I say? Maybe I just have a soft spot for kooky people and decent eatin'--I can make concessions for Au Coquelet's faults.
I came here once before after landing at Oakland airport around 11 o'clock at night. I don't remember if it was great or not since I was so hungry then.
Fast forward to today.
It's hot. It's 93 friggin degrees in my apartment. I kid you not (I wish I was).
So naturally I don't want to move an arm, let alone cook. No baking fish for me tonight. So I'm looking for a nice light meal to eat for dinner. I checked reviews around and landed on this place and thought I'd give it another try.
We walk in, and it takes us a few seconds to realize we should head to the back. So we do. We sat at a table toward the front and waited for the waitress... Afterall, the sign did say grab a menu, take a seat, and a waiter will come. After about 15 minutes no one came.
Then we realize that the waiter service was only for the back part. Ohhhhhh! Okay! So we find ourselves a new seat and wait.... and wait ... and wait.
For another 20 minutes until a waitress comes and takes our order of salmon burger and turkey burger with avocado and fries.
The wait for the food was about another 15 minutes. My burger had no avocado, but as I realized this the cook came running up with a bowl full of it.
Then we eat.
Salmon burger was okay, would probably get again. The turkey burger was a thick flavorful patty and the fries were crunchy (probably would come again).
Then we're done eating, and waiting for the check.
... Waiting.... waiting.... waiting for another 30 minutes.
She comes and gives us the check, and we wait for change.
Yup, you guessed it... waited...... waited.... waited.
The entire dinner took us near 2 hours, and the service was atrocious. If you're coming, I'd suggest sit up front where you wait on yourself.
I've got to say that I was really surprised to like the food.
I just thought of it as a cafe.
I almost ordered the juevos rancheros but instead,
I ordered an omelet with 2 kinds of cheese, avo and bacon.
The cool part was that they cooked the bacon in the lining of the omelet so it was like a 'wall of bacon'. It made every bite dense and crunchy. (I rarely eat bacon, but this was one time I was glad I had ordered it.)
They also made a point of accommodating my no-sugar, no-flour request.
Instead of toast they brought me a delicious side dish of sautéed veggies with garlic.
They did the research and found out that their chili has a little wheat in the base, for those of you who need to know.
There food isn't bad!
I was impressed.
Au Coquelet has it's pros and cons.
Pros: Very ice decor, good food, decent coffee, and most importantly, lots of seating and open until quite late. The cafe itself (as in the building, furniture and decor) are really what make this place worth going to.
Cons:
The thing that drives me crazy about this place is their lack of outlets. C'mon people! This cafe is right next to UC Berkeley and they are open until the ams. What do you think people really do in there besides study and write papers? So why are there about ZERO (okay maybe there are one or two somewhere) outlets for us students to plug into when we have a paper due the next day.
Seriously, this was the biggest downer for me when I went to Berkeley and wanted to get some work done here. It often forced me to take my studying (and thus my business) elsewhere.
The other thing is that everything here is way overpriced. Like, by a lot. As in, as a student, I'd sit my poor ass here, sipping the cheapest thing on the menu (often an apple cider) and sigh heavily because that person's sandwich looks soooo good and I am soooo hungry but I must starve because I am a poor student and Au Coquelet doesn't care.
Lastly, I know other people here like their desserts, but I always found them pretty stale and just not very good.
The food is delicious but can be very pricey. I live above this cafe, so I've had a lot of stuff here. Their pastries are also good (you have to try the fruit torte) but really expensive as well : (
They now have a starving student special where a sandwich is only $5. It's very much so worth it. Au Coquelet uses the best ingredients, and the food always tastes amazing. My current favorite is the Mexican chicken sandwich and the Mexican burger. Who ever thought that putting salsa and jalapenos on a burger would make it that much more amazing?
Their onion rings are delicious. Their barbecue sauce is EVEN more delicious. Sometimes i think I get the delicious onion rings just to have an excuse to use the bbq sauce. Their mango vinaigrette salad dressing is also amazing. This place is so good!
Everytime I get the daily special (the one with fish) I cry when I taste the dill sauce they use on the fish. It's the most amazing thing in the entire world.
The nachos are also amazing. I love the fact that this place closes so late, so my friends and I always have a place to go for a midnight snack.
While I immediately started scorning a date for saying this was "the best breakfast place EVER" I'm still giving them four stars. The food isn't terribly delicious but as a study venue, Au Coquelet has a lot going for it.
I was first introduced to this place by my awesome friend Liz C. when I was but a young, innocent freshman at Cal. While I like to think that we corrupted each others' lives, in retrospect taking me here after a night out on the town may have ultimately saved my academic career.
They don't have internet, which for me is a good thing because it keeps me off this damn website. The food is also pretty good as far as Berkeley study-friendly cafes go, they are open late, and the service is really accommodating. The front room gets great light during the day, and the back tiled section has a really comfy bench that I can be found at frequently.
As far as the clientele go, it's sometimes a little hit-or-miss. I find there to be fewer distractions when sitting in the front area but the tables are usually wobbly. In back, it can be a perfect getting in the zone atmosphere or there can be a book club meeting/group study session.
Though not entirely figure friendly, the fries here are really, really good. I don't know what it is, I just love them. My favorite thing to get here is a garden salad with blue cheese dressing and a side of fries. I also really like their huevos rancheros and the eggs blackstone, while not the best breakfast EVER are decent when you don't have to send them back because the potatoes are undercooked or the eggs are overcooked. Pastries on the other hand are always a huge disappointment here. They look amazing, but trust me, every time I give in I'm disappointed.
I had lunch yesterday at Au Coquelet Cafe. It was pretty good, nothing super special. Service was quick and easy and food was tasty.
I had a hot sandwich (ham, roasted peppers, cheese) with a salad and an Anchor Steam. It was a lot of food so I ended up taking half home. My dining companion had breakfast - eggs, ham and potatoes. He said it was perfect, just what he was looking for.
I would return for a quick, cheap bite. I also am interested in going for late night eats :) Probably better than Jack In the Box...
If you are going to Berkeley Rep and don't want the hassle of making reservations and spending big bucks this is a great alternative. Food is good and you can linger over a beverage until it is time to go the the theatre
Tanked or ravenous, the only two states you'll ever find me at Au something-Frenchish-that-has-too-many-vowels. Any only because they've got late night eats until 1am.
Appreciating the broad windows, sky lights and open tables, I figured it would be the perfect place to hunker down and bang out some writingz. So I peruse the yummy looking dessert station, sights set on the carrot cake and ask the fellow if he could point me in the direction of the nearest outlet. He shakes his head. No power. Strrrrrrrrike one! "Wi-fi?" I inquire. Another shake. Strrrrrrrike two! And awesome employees. Right.
I shrug and proceed to the dining area to scarf down a mediocre salmon burger. Meh is the word. No wonder there are so many empty tables. The juice drips down my forearm and on my way to the restroom I see a lone outlet with the words "NO PUBLIC USE" scrawled on them. Way to create a welcoming, vibrant culture, guys.
I spun on a heel and pranced out.
One of the few late night spots in Berkeley I would actually hang out at by myself. In the past near 10 years, I've hung out here alone on many an occasion. And yes, a few dates I suppose. Glad there's something here in Berkeley open as late as Au Coquelet, even later than some of the pizza spots, which is where I actually wanted to go last Tuesday night after a movie, but sadly, those were closed up already. So enter this establishment, which help me cap my night in town on a happier note. And this time it was just a slice of a blueberry custard torte with a cup o' joe. Honestly I haven't ever sat down to a meal in the restaurant-portion of the place, in the back--someday i do need to. I really never have thought of this like I do of other places where you sit down with your laptop, so perhaps that's why I'm not as disappointed about the place as other Yelpers seem to be. And you know I'll be back.
Came here for a quick lunch with my husband. There's a cafe and restaurant - we went to the restaurant part. I had a chicken parmigiana sandwich - huge breast of chicken with tons of cheese and fresh tomato sauce - served on ciabatta bread. YUM! Comes with a small salad.
Husband had their chicken salad salad. Yep, yummy chicken salad, on a salad. If not for the celery (which I don't eat) I would totally order this. The chicken salad itself if rich and so good.
Big portions - two people, under $20.
Went here because I was in the area and didn't feel like walking further for coffee... basically for convenience. Upon first glance, I thought I was going to be disappointed because the coffee looked like it was in the most disgusting tub everrrrrrr... I got the organic fair trade small cup of coffee (which is actually a bit bigger than most smalls) and it came out of a reused HUGE tub of daisy sour cream (no sour cream in coffee) but the tub just looked gnarstyyyyyy. Anyway, although I somewhat feared contamination by the various many types of bacteria out there such as staph, e.coli, bacillus, clostridium, enterobacter, ETC. I told myself the coffee would be hot and most organisms would *hopefully* die.
Added 2 big spoonfuls of brown sugar and YUUUUUUUUUMMMM..... One of the best cups of coffee I've had in a while... not too bitter, not burnt, flavor just right, good even after it had cooled down a bit.
Will definitely be returning here, maybe to try some of the fruit tart or pecan pie (peeee-can pie....reference to my favorite movie) :D
-1 star for the gnarsty tub.... even if it contained delicious coffee.
Note: probably best to use cash as using card holds up the line like no other..... takes like 1-2 minutes per card customer whereas cash is fast.
I dropped in here in my officeboy finery. Needless to say, I was ignored for a while.
Thankfully I understood this protocol and waited them out to establish myself as a "tolerable yuppie" and was able to have a coffee without a near riot, protest signs, and chanting.
This was fortunate.
Open late, so think of this place for those late night "study sessions" that lead to informal anatomy recitations. Study hard now, students!
It took me a few tries to find this place on Google Text, because the spelling eludes me ... but it was sure worth the effort!
Totally unpretentious and homey, with exposed brick, great coffee and good Sunday brunch. I had the Mexican Scramble (mmm, spicy and cheesy!) with the flakiest biscuits. The whole thing, including coffee, tax & tip, came to $12.
Highly recommended. The only reason I didn't give it 5* was the perfunctory service (slow-ish and nobody checked up on me).
Oh another thing that is charming or not, depending on your mood. They do not have wi-fi.
I work nearby, and discovered Au Coquelet quite by accident. Honestly? I love it. I go here all the time. The prices are reasonable, the staff is friendly, and the food is insanely good (the hot ham and cheese sandwich, as an example, is completely and unexpectedly delicious). I've only ever eaten in the restaurant (not the cafe part), but everything I've ever ordered has been super tasty.
On an interesting side note: I recently finished a very cool sci-fi book called "The Strange Adventures of Rangergirl," which takes place in Santa Cruz (it's, for lack of a better way to describe it, a completely California-centric novel). In the back, where the author credits various people and places for helping him with the book, he thanks Au Coquelet for being the spot where he edited that particular manuscript. Pretty cool, huh?
Anyway, check it out. It's awesome. (And the book is definitely worth a read.)
I went to Au Coquelet tonight because of the other Yelp reviews. I'm new to the area and wanted something like a sandwich at a late hour. Au Coquelet looked like the spot. I dug the ambience inside, with the cafe area in front and restaurant in the back, wood everywhere, and nice bright but not harsh lighting.
I just had the Vegi Au Coquelet (french roll sandwich) and a beer. That sandwich is good! Warm, fresh, avocado, and other yummy veggies just right. I was a little bummed about the near-$8 pricetag on it. But if you're accustomed to those kinda prices, it's worth it.
The service was so-so, but prompt enough and they knew when to leave me alone (I was working). The groups of regulars and pairs meeting up to chat gave a good coffeehouse vibe which I appreciated.
All in all, a worthwhile spot if you're in the area, particularly if you need something late night, but I wouldn't make the drive just for this place. And I second other reviewers who lament the severe lack of electrical outlets in a late night cafe!
$5 Cocktails All Night + Happy…
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
Happy Wallet Dinner
Neighborhood: Montclair Village
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Downtown Berkeley
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Elmwood
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
Category: Restaurants
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