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Baldie's Café
Categories: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants American (Traditional) Breakfast & Brunch, American (Traditional) [Edit]
2649 Decoto Rd(between Clover St & Lilac St)
Union City, CA 94587
(510) 429-9059
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 6 am - 9 pm
Thu-Sat 6 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
216 reviews for Baldie's Café
Review Highlights
"I had the Chicken Fried Steak, what a hearty meal."
(in 18 reviews)
"French toast was tasty without being overly sweet."
(in 16 reviews)
"The hash browns were crispy but not too crispy."
(in 22 reviews)
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216 reviews in English
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Review from Alex M.
Hayward, CA
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a local cafe that serves pretty good food. Everytime we come here, we are promptly seated and attended. The wait service will not gush at you, but the are polite and efficient.
As for the food, its pretty good, but will not blow your mind. I always get a low calorie platter with turkey, because I'm in training, but everything looks good and they serve large portions. Great place to come if you are in the area, but I wouldn't make a trip out of it. -
Review from Linda C.
12/20/2011
With the plethora of breakfast joints in and around the area, Baldie's is one of those staple locations for many locals. I've patronized many times and have been greeted with courteous service each and every time. That said, the food could really use some salt and pepper. Lacking flavor, Baldie's seems to serve up really bland items. Now, I understand that most people don't want their food to be a greasebomb, but at the same time, they don't want to have to use a ton of salt and pepper either. Each time I go to Baldie's I almost always reach for the salt shaker and/or ketchup bottle, and it gives me a feeling of under-whelment.
The location is really clean and its never too busy, though sometimes they do get overwhelmed and service level goes down. However, that's usually during the busy times and to be expected.
Overall, a solid three stars for serving up standard American breakfast with good service. Not horrible, but not wonderful either. -
Review from Oak S.
Visalia, CA
11/25/2011
Ate here several times before without any complaints. This morning I got the chicken fried steak and eggs. The serving was large but the gravy had zero flavor.
The service was good at the beginning of the meal. Our drink order was taken as we were seated. Our food looked good, was hot and was delivered quickly.
When we were done with our meal we sat for 8-10 minutes before we saw our waitress to get a box and our bill. -
Review from sha e.
Union City, CA
1/27/2012
it's a local cafe with people from neighborhood to grab great food. I had a chicken steaks & eggs , it's good- full plate( always been a full plate), can't get wrong with any food u order. good service.
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Review from Dave B.
Fremont, CA
11/25/2011
Being a local café we wanted to go with Baldy's to help support our neighborhood. We called 4 weeks before our son's 1st birthday to place a large order for his party. We were quoted a price. The same week as his party we called the café to confirm everything was still on. On the 2nd call we spoke with the "owner" who clammed the price we were told was way too cheap and he would have to talk to the employee who did the quote and he would call us back, then hung up without closing the conversation. The day he was supposed to call us back to let us know the status of the order he never called us back and when we called them we were told "we were supposed to call you back?"
Normally I would not trash a company knowing how hard it is to make a buck but being the circumstances and that they decided to avoid handling this situation as a stand up company should. I feel it's in the best interest of the local community to know just how Baldy's handles business. I also hope that by posting this that the Baldy's café changes its attitude on how it conducts business with its customers. -
Review from Treena F.
San Jose, CA
1/3/2012
Came here New Year's day for some grease after the New Year's Eve celebration. Got the chicken strips, fries, and a side salad. Everything was pretty delicious and the café smelt like a classic old diner. If I am ever in the area again, I would go back. Just keep in mind, it's nothing fancy but classic diner in a strip mall.
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Review from Poiuytrewq A.
Union City, CA
11/4/2011
Diner was full on a Thursday evening!
Milk shakes were good! Tried Banana and Pineapple. Pineapple tasted sweeter than banana.
Dinner: Corned Beef and Cabbage
The corned beef tasted like corned beef (not the canned kind).
I really liked the cabbage but that might just be me.
The carrots were not mushy which tells me they were fresh and not overcooked.
Overall, will probably take my family here. American food galore-just what my dad, former Navy man, would like. -
Review from Ralph R.
Union City, CA
1/23/2012
Baldies is the neighborhood place where everyone comes to simply get a good meal! Food Portions are Huge! The wife and I gave up and simply share a plate nowadays . To get two is a waste of money. We could never finish a full plate! Favorites here are the Minestrone soup and Ribeye Steak! STaff always friendly and always do their best to make sure their customers are being taken care of.
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Review from Alex R.
Union City, CA
9/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Baldies will always have a place in my heart. This is probably one of the best sit down family restaurants in Union City. I've been coming to this as long as I remember.
Baldies is a good place to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Having tried mostly everything on the menu I would have to say their Club House Sandwich is the best club I have ever had. And every time i go there for lunch or dinner I always seem to get the club sandwich because its just that damn good and they also know how to cook their back to perfection! The breakfast is really great there too! Good portions for the right price! -
Review from Erica M.
Fremont, CA
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food is decent. But great service and very clean. Will be returning.
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Review from Clarissa Y.
Union City, CA
8/22/2011
Baldie's Cafe is a nice little traditional American type cafe. It's a bit cute, but in a sketchy area... When I went with my friend, there was a homeless looking 20-30 something woman who was yelling cuss words and wanted to fight with my friend and I when we were just passing by. WTF SCARY SHIT RIGHT THERE.
We saw her hanging around a bit more and had to hide behind cars to avoid her.
Inside, is a diner type decoration. Pretty small and quaint, not a 5-star fancy restaurant, but cute.
The menu had a decent variety for such a small cafe. Breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, meats, and pasta. I went for the pasta and had Linguine Scampi for 13.95. Was a bit of a disappoint honestly... really large portion so it was a good deal, but the pasta was a bit rough. Mediocre at best.
Overall, Baldie's isn't bad. I'd come here again, but would not go out of my way. The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't really worth the scary, sketchy area. Plus, it's not that close to much else so not convenient either. -
Review from Priya B.
Fremont, CA
11/20/2011 58 Check-ins Here
You can never go wrong with Baldie's! It is the spot! Great breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I love their French toast, country fried steak and eggs, all of their sandwiches and burgers, and I recently had their chicken marsala and it was great! I love going here!
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Review from Jacelyn L.
Union City, CA
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Got the Saturday morning before 7:00 a.m.
Crowd: not busy about 4-5 tables filled
Got in to see the waitress at the system holding a piece of paper completely engrossed with her entries, didn't bother to even look up at us.
So we stared at the specials board for a few. After that we didn't know what to do so I asked if we should just sit, she then tells me to go ahead.
We sit and wait for what seems like forever (mind you I have a 6 & 7 yr old who are starving), but it was probably 10 minutes AND still no waitress to greet us with menus.
I get up to go and fetch menus for my fam, and there is an old guy suddenly appeared & I ask him for menus and he hands them to me.
Ok another 5-10 minutes AND still NO drink order, no food order, and no waitress/waiter to acknowledge us PERIOD!!!!
COME ON your not even BUSY!!!! Every one that was there was already served!
I am not a first timer here and usually enjoy this place above all others, but this is just redic!!!
1) Greet and seat myself
2) get my own menus
3) wait around 25 minutes for NO SERVICE.
Unacceptable and totally disappointing, because now I have to find a new spot.
This is a sad day that I have to review this place poorly, esp. since my hubby took me here for the 1st time over 10 years ago. -
Review from Thai Hien H.
Los Angeles, CA
12/3/2011
I love breakfast food. This place fills that spot when you want some good eggs and hash browns. It was also very cheap! My order was under 6 bucks! What more can you ask for?
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Review from Vb L.
We were out and about looking for someplace different to have a burger and, thanks to Yelp, we ended up and Baldie's.
Diner = French Dip, chili, french fries
And Baldie's did them all so well! The French Dip had a big, fresh bun, lots of lean meat and super salty dip. The french fries were so hot that I had to wait for them to cool in order to pick them up and dip them into the cup (okay, he called it a cup even though it was a big bowl) of chili. The chili was just the right everything with cheese and onions to make it superb. It was delish!! The waiter was friendly, with just the right amount of attentiveness. I laughed because he was bald (and the name of the place is Baldie's, right?)
Go to Baldie's if you like a good, down home diner.
TIP: There's lots of parking and a 7-11 on the corner for a Slurpee desert! -
Review from Jennifer V.
Ann Arbor, MI
9/3/2011
I love Baldie's. Love it like Joan Rivers loves plastic surgery. Love it like Willie Nelson loves pot. Love it like Kanye loves being a douche. You get the picture.
Maybe I'm biased, because I grew up with Baldie's. I used to come here after soccer games growing up, trying to beat the Sunday church crowd, so we didn't have to wait an hour for a seat. Their burgers are awesome, and their breakfast is delish.
Oddly enough, their clam chowder is rather tasty! For a non-seafood restaurant, they've got the clam chowder Friday thing down pat.
My favorite thing on their menu is definitely their milkshake.... I love me some dairy.
Best story ever about Baldie's? There's a large, 16x20 framed print of Elvis above the milkshake/coffee area, in which he has his arms crossed, looking rather smug, yet sexy (as always). A few years ago, we were here with a friend. She saw the photo, and yelled out, "OH! HELL! NO!" We looked at her, baffled, and she pointed to the photo, outraged. She thought it was one the servers, and got all upset. It was amazing. We never let her live it down. -
Review from Matthew K.
Union City, CA
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Little gemstone in union city that not a lot of people know of. Good old classic sit down diner, think of it as a super iHop, a LOT better quality and customer service, and way better food. I definitely love this place and will most definitely be coming back
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Review from Betty W.
Fremont, CA
9/2/2011
4 star average out of 193 reviews?!?! Are you kidding?! I went here for the first time after driving by many times over the years. It was crowded and we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, so I thought it must be pretty good to draw so many people. UGH! Wrong! The food was not just bad, it was disgusting. Greasy and gross. Really gross. Either I'm a food snob or all the people who gave this place a good review have really low culinary standards.
At least the waitress was nice and attentive. -
Review from Danielle M.
Union City, CA
Greasy.
Unhealthy and processed.
Like, everything I've had there is like, wtf.
My friend got scrambled eggs and sausage. And it was a joke.
Small portions & high prices.
The servers are nice....when you get a hold of them.
But I must say the Ranch Dressing is bomb.
But w/o that, the food is bland. -
Review from Peter B.
Newark, CA
3/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ummmm Goooood.
-Good Coffee
-decent food
-good portions
-great service
NOT a "foodies" paradise, but servicable comfort food. -
Review from char s.
Salinas, CA
8/30/2011
Before my grandfather passed away him and my grandmother used to go quite a bit and always loved the food and the people that worked there. They are friendly and attentive. When he got to ill to go out I use to pick him up french bread and Ministrone Soup...
Great Food
Great People
Good Price and a lot of Food -
Review from Carina R.
Fremont, CA
10/13/2011
Love Baldie's. I have only been here for breakfast, but that's enough for me to know it's delicious. I have had the French toast - loved it. Denver Omelet - loved it. Spanish omelet - loved that too. I've made my own omelets with different items....always a winner! It's simply good food. No frills, no gimmicks, what you see is what you get. And some days you are in the mood for simple and good. The place is not that big, and you usually have to wait, especially on the weekend. Obviously I feel it's the worth the wait since I have waited several times and keep coming back. I don't wait for crap food and I don't come back for crap food. The servers are nice too, and the ambience of the place is very homey and cute, little American diner.
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Review from STEVEN H.
Fremont, CA
10/30/2011
Eating here for breakfast may be good but you may want to forget about eating dinner here.
Ordered the Rib eye for $15.95 and it was bland tasting, very chewy, fatty and had a lot of grizzle. Also the mushroon sauce was very sour tasting for some unknown reason. The rice was also mushy tasting. However I will say that the minestrone soup was very tasty.
I also heard another customer complaining about his Ribeye at another table. Son and his friend ordered cheesburgers. Burgers looked as though they had been precooked and dry. If you want a burger- I suggest you just go to In & Out.
For the four of us with tax and tip it was $70!
I would stay away from the Rib Eye. I would not eat it again even it it were free at Baldie's. Don't get me wrong, I was not expecting a top grade cut of meat, but I was expecting at least something that you could at least eat vs a piece of meat that would have been better served to Fido!
Will not be back. -
Review from Sevasti S.
Fremont, CA
7/2/2011
Great feta cheese salad dressing! All you need is salad and some delicious French bread and you will have a satisfying meal!
If you dare indulge, the beef kabobs are good. The salad dressing keeps me coming back.
Attentive, friendly service. Clean. Inexpensive. -
Review from nn X.
Union City, CA
10/9/2011
They didn't take well over the phone for to-go orders. I had to walk in and place the order again and waited extra time there.
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Review from Tiffany M.
Union City, CA
9/25/2011
Close to home. I love Decoto!! Especially places like Baldie's. A typical Cafe Diner feel. Sandwiches and Burgers are great!! Definitely, will come again to try their breakfast!!
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Review from Krista F.
San Leandro, CA
4/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is the kind of breakfast place you want to crawl to when you're hungover. Not that that happens to me...
It's no frills. The food is good and the portions are huge. Lots of choices for both lunch and dinner. There was a good selection of jam/jelly flavors on the table. I hate when all that's left is marmalade. The service is friendly and my water glass was never empty. They didn't mind that my friend and I sat catching up for a while!
Pay at the register. It definitely doesn't break the bank, and there's plenty of cash left over for that next night out that i'm not drinking. -
Review from Janey K.
Bay Area
10/20/2011
Their food here is really good, I think I'm addicted!
Biscuits and gravy are delicious. Not too bland, not too salty just perfect and filling.
Chicken salad and avacado sandwhich delicious as well. They load the sandwhich up with so much avacado, it's such a treat.
Split pea & ham soup and their lemon chicken soup both really good.
Everything here seems homemade and that's so rare for restaurants these days! I love that their food isn't loaded with salt/sodium and everything is freash. Can't wait to try a different dish. -
Review from Cassie C.
Los Angeles, CA
4/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
A solid place to get comfort/diner food.
Big portions, fast service, and fast turnover even when it's packed full. I got the Belgium waffle, bacon and eggs, which were delicious but nothing to write home about.
+1 star for the service, the servers stopped to talk even though it was packed and busy, and our waters were always filled even though we were seated in an obscure area (near the bathroom). -
Review from Christine T.
Fremont, CA
Support local businesses! I rather pay a bit more to know that my food is made fresh to order and not shipped on a freight container pre-made for re-heating.
While it's 1+ hour wait at iHop or Denny's to microwave your food, come to this family owned restaurant and enjoy a home cooked meal.
It's not only cool to be seen here, it's all-American Harley cool! Yes....several local Harley groups are known to frequent here to take in a hot breakfast before burning rubber on the highway asphalt to a nirvana no confined car owner can understand. VROOM...VROOOM your way here for their ever-changing breakfast specials. -
Review from judy n.
11/11/2010
This is the first time in a while that Yelpers have steered me wrong...
I was in the area with a girlfriend, and we wanted some yummy satisfying brunch after our run and some badminton time... so we headed on over to Baldie's...
we shared 2 dishes...
- French toast - way too egg-y. the toast was dense and just blah...
- Eggs Benedict - wow this was the biggest offender of all... The egg should be perfectly poached so when you pierce through the whites, the yolk oozes out over the rest of the dish... our eggs were soft boiled, so the yolk had already solidified. AND... when did Hollandaise sauce become lemony?
Yes... we left full, but that's cuz we don't like to waste food, especially when we are paying good money for it.
but you disappointed me on your brunchiness...
Reasons why i MAY come back?
- there is a counter area that is first come first served... so you don't have to wait in the line for booths.
- the server was pretty funny/entertaining. customer service might have me make a second attempt at brunch here... might...Listed in: Brunchy Yummyness in NorCal, Yummy Benedictions...
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Review from Aelia D.
Fremont, CA
4/26/2011
This is the sort of diner that has regulars-- the staff knows their names, and may even have their orders memorized. If people like a place enough to keep coming to it, and the staff cares enough to learn names, you know it's a good place. (And their staff really seems great.)
We got there at around 8am, looking for food. We were seated immediately, and given the time we needed to find breakfast without being ignored. (There's a fine line, and they balanced it). Coffee was good, served quick, and kept hot.
Turnaround for food was about 10 minutes, which is nice and quick. We got in, got breakfast, and ate within about 45 minutes.
French toast was tasty without being overly sweet. Eggs were cooked well, pancakes were fluffy, bacon was yummy. It's definitely no-frills breakfast. There aren't sides of un-asked-for fruit, no garnishes, no silly patterns on the plate, but it's good food, served hot. (Comfort food at it's finest, and a rare representation of a non-greasy diner.)
I don't know about their other meals, but if they're this good, I've just found a new favorite diner. -
Review from Mariena F.
Union City, CA
1/16/2011
Sunday night dinner. No wait. Wide variety of food. Classic diner decor. Fast service. Friendly waitstaff. Clean. No cringing when my huzzy and I walked in with my 5yo and 1yo and requested a high chair - SCORE!
Greek salad - 4 stars. Just what you would expect. Tomatoes, greek olives, red onions, green bell peppers, feta, dressing on the side.
Kids cheeseburger - 5 stars. Came with fries. Kiddo Loved.
Kids ravioli with meat sauce - 4 stars. Kiddo ate the sauce with the freebie french bread. Didnt eat the ravs. I think it was because of the non-traditional seasonings. Maybe some nutmeg in the meat. Not a traditional italian seasoning taste. But palate pleasing none-the-less.
Omelete with hash browns - 4 stars. Large portion, maybe 3 eggs or more. Lots of potatoes.
We left with 1/2 of the greek salad and most of the ravs. Lots of food. Good experience overall. Will definitely return. -
Review from Kevin D.
Fremont, CA
3/3/2011
I really think this place deserves 3.5 stars. But alas...no fractional stars.
After hearing about Baldies since I was in junior high, I though it would be nice to try. Denny's sucks and my arteries can't take another trip to The Country Way.
We came in and were immediately seated. The whole place is clean and is kept up well. Immediately a guy with a massive mustache took our drink orders and quickly brought them.
I ordered the Belgian waffle, as did my sister and my ma' got the usual eggs n bacon. The food was VERY good. I've never had a Belgian waffle that fluffy and buttery. (this isnt health food here, ok) Breakfast with juice and everything was a tad below $10 a person. Not bad.
I just wish we had a bit more attention from the staff. We didn't really have server. The hostess took our orders and delivered them. I finished my orange juice and no one came to ask if I wanted another one. I have a cold currently and was looking to load up on vitamin C. -
Review from Justin L.
Hayward, CA
1/1/2011 7 Check-ins Here
My favorite breakfast spot! The biscuits and gravy are wonderful, and they have a selection of tasty omelets.
The wait can be long on the weekends, so be ready to chill for a minute. -
Review from Beverly R.
Fremont, CA
1/30/2011
Please note, I have two reviews in one here...
This part of my review is for breakfast only and was made around Jan/Feb-11. I decided to keep the review as it was because I had two very different experiences both times and felt it wouldn't be fair to forget about the initial experience.
...great place to go after Sunday mass or before mass let's out. Good comfort breakfast grub (yes, this is "grub like" cuisine) at a low low price. Warm maple syrup with your freshly made Belgium waffles, crispy hash browns to accompany your chicken fried steak, prompt and attentive service to round it all off. I gave Baldie's 4 stars for this experience.
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This second part is a revision-addition if you will, is based on dinner we had on 04-11. I don't know if the people working just had a rough day because it was just a bad experience (here's why):
1. The busboy/beverage/water pourer was unsanitary looking, greased up hair (I'm taking a huge chunk of hardened/white hair gel that just did not support my appetite). It disgusted me so much I couldn't shake that hair gel scene from Something About Mary out of my mind.
2. Our waitress, though attentive and friendly was wearing a white shirt which on her torso was dingy yellow and streaked with food giving the impression she used it rather than her apron to wipe her hands,
3. The marinara sauce tasted like it was sauce used for their chili (just without the beans). Just a full measurement too much of the cumin here...
4. The ranch dressing had this long thin brown looking something floating within it.
And....
5. The kicker, I had clear view of the gentleman (the manager (?) behind the counter) picking at his teeth for a good full minute with a toothpick only to NOT even washing his hands before passing a bottle of ketchup to one of the patrons. Ewww
For this, the sanitary conditions alone is enough to make me go elsewhere for my diner fare. it's really too bad, however even with a good breakfast experience I can't shake all the thoughts I have about where hands have been, how clean the kitchen is, etc... -
Review from Lisa M.
Hayward, CA
3/3/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Every Union City native knows and loves Baldies. I have been going here every since I was young! I used to go with my family and friends often. Now I frequent this location with my boyfriends, friends and now their families. =)
I usually order breakfast items here no matter what time I come. The omelets are belly-pleasing and the service is right on target. I will forever be an appreciative costumer here. -
Review from Paulo B.
Fremont, CA
4/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent traditional American breakfast. Best bacon I've tasted in this country. The pancakes were as good they get too. Toasts tasted like real bread ( which is so uncommon)..
The wait was a bit too long for my taste - almost 40 min. Once we got a table the food arrived fast though. -
Review from Raven B.
Union City, CA
7/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
My food was okay. I'd rather go to Denny's because it's cheaper and you get more. My friend had chicken fried steak w/ hashbrowns and both were BURNT. Like BLACK. So obviously their chefs are stupid. Glad I didn't pay for it.
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Review from Jon H.
CA
9/7/2010
Everytime I come here, I feel like I'm being transported back to some 1950s diner. i love the atmosphere and the homestyle cooking of this breakfast joint. Dennys? yeah right. Dennys is like overdue lunch meat that you only found in your cupbard because it's stinking up your house. Baldie's in the class of awesome delicious food that has a sweet spot about 12 inches down my esophagus next to my small intestine. HMMM goodness.
Dependable. Great service. And LOVE THE HOMECOOKED STYLE!
