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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
1010 El Camino RealMon-Thu. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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Cafe Borrone is a great local cafe located in downtown Menlo Park, right next to Kepler's Books. They have outdoor seating that's perfect for spending sunny weekend mornings or warm evenings hanging out with friends. Some nights there's live music.
Their drinks are good, I usually get the Mexican mocha, Mexican hot chocolate, or the soy chai latte. I think the baked goods are just okay. I really like their breakfast food, though. The waffles topped with fruit are delicious-tasting (as well as delicious-looking). The red onion/feta and mushroom/creme fraiche scrambles are my two favorites. The lox and bagels plate is also wonderful, coming with your choice of toasted bagel, lots smoked salmon, nice juicy tomato and cucumber slices, thinly sliced onion, capers, and cream cheese (for you to self assemble). Yum!
People thought this was:
The espresso here is fantastic and they serve great food.
I just moved to Menlo Park and was starting to get a little bummed by the coffee selection in downtown. There's a Starbucks, Peet's and Menlo Cafe, which also isn't very good, and then I found this place.
The first time I came here there was a line out the door. Surprisingly, it moved pretty fast and there was a girl walking down the line taking orders. Now that's really great service! Then I started thinking -- they're making the orders way too fast for my cappuccino to be any good (a good cappuccino takes time). I was wrong. The espresso was excellent and the foam was perfect!
I've come back a couple of times and the quality is always consistent and employees are really friendly. I think I'm going to become a regular.
People thought this was:
Brunch with my BFF brought us to Cafe Borrone, great service, great food and I loved the patio seating.
My Swiss Chard Omelette was delish. BFF had a veggie panini which was an open faced, cheesy, veggie goodness!
The have a vast menu from hearty salads, pastas, sandwiches to gourmet desserts.
I'd totally come back.
Ok, since working there, I have to re-do my review of Borrones. I don't even know where to start... basically, they run their business extremely unethically and since I was employee, I have not returned. I do not wish to support them and what they do.
Minimum wage (good tips make up for it), 5 hr 50 min shifts with only a 15 minute break (this is awful if youre on your feet all day), invasion of privacy ( I had a family member pass and the manager interrogated me as to why I needed a few days off - extremely upsetting and invasive), did not give me the raise/"promotion" they promised at time of hire, did not take action when fellow employees stole from me... the list goes on. these people do not care about their employees, just making profit. Do not support them.
People thought this was:
Seriously, I'm not lying when I say that this is my favorite cafe. Such a great place and you'll see… Read more »
Bellini... good.
Turkey, tomato, spinach, balsamic sauteed onions, smoked gouda sandwich with garlic mayo on foccacia... EXTRA good.
Blended white chocolate hazelnut coffee... *DROOOOOL*
Cafe Barrone, where have you been all my life? And why must you be SOOOOO far from me??? =(
This is such a great cafe where you can get breakfast, lunch AND dinner. And you're able to top it off with your choice of wine or coffee. It's such a cute place with a GREAT outside seating area. And they'll even bring your food out to you! No waiting by the counter for them to shout out a number or name.
All their sandwiches sound great. The one I ordered was one of the specials for the day. It was SOOOOO good. It was the perfect combination of sweet (from the balsamic onions) and salty. I savored every bite of it! The bellini was a nice touch. It was made of champagne, riesling and white peach puree. YUM.
BUT... the white chocolate hazelnut coffee... HEAVENLY.
I was afraid that it would be overly sweet like a bunch of other coffee places with blended drinks. But it was the right balance of everything. I never knew that white chocolate and hazelnut went together so well! You CANNOT leave without getting this!
I'm looking forward to coming back here. I totally want to try their breakfast. =)
People thought this was:
Exspensive for what it is and below average food.
Be sure to dine outside!
Ordered: Steak Charascurco (sp?) panini $10.75
Right by the Menlo Park Caltrain Station
Read a good book while eating
O_O amazing desserts displayed
Nice to people watch
Enjoy your food and drinks
Aside from the steak panini that I got, I also tried one of the cheese platters (sharing platters). It was yum!!! I'm lactose intolerant, but I made my stomach deal with it! ahaha I really liked the goat cheese brie!! mmmm Love soft cheese! The bread they gave us though was a bit over baked... almost crouton crunchy! =\ Sadly, I was so full from the panini and cheese platter, I couldn't order any dessert! :( I know, quite disappointing, huh? I was totally eyeing the cheesecake with the blackberry sauce!! mmmm :)
But I do want to come back and try breakfast! I do love to people watch and enjoy a good meal! :)
Go green take: caltrain to the Menlo Park Station
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This is a review by a vegetarian
I've never written a Barrone's review? that can't be right. Must be some Yelp mischief going on.
Let's face it, north of Mountain View and south of the Mission, Cafe Barrone's is the center of all social and business life. I've gone there for first dates, old out-of-town friend reunions, job interviews, mixers, break-ups (thought that was going to be the jumping off point for an nth date), people watching, dog watching, baby watching, whip cream fix, to hear confessional, and to make a pitch for the funding of my online-scheduled in-home tattooing & body art startup.
Cold drinks are good. Hot drinks are good. Desserts are good. A friend asked rhetorically, "Is there a bigger patio in the bay area? It's like Italy here". Though I think she said that last part loudly as an invitation to nearby men to pinch her.
Anyway, you don't need a reason to go to Barrone's. When you're in Menlo you either go there or you had some reason not to.
People thought this was:
I came here for dessert after dinner. It wasn't really the quiet coffee shop/cafe atmosphere I had expected; however, I was pleasantly surprised. The cafe was large and very open with indoor and outdoor seating, but with many patrons, it still maintained a cozy feeling. There was also a lively band with brass playing in the corner and a couple dancing in front of the cash register.
We went to the counter to order our desserts and drinks. I decided on a fruit tart and a chai tea. Both were delicious. The tart, especially, was my favorite. There was a generous assortment of berries on top, and the crust and filling were creamy but not too rich nor too sweet. It was a perfect balance of fresh fruits and starchy goodness. The chai was also very good and not overly sweet. Although it wasn't as spicy as others I've had before, the flavor was still there and it went well with my dessert.
While the atmosphere of the cafe was delightful, the outdoor seating away from the band was a good choice for quiet conversation. It was a nice way to end a date evening out and to enjoy the last of summer evening weather.
BRING BACK YOUR DELICIOUS DARK ROAST COFFEE!
Update. Ever hopeful, I visited again a couple of weeks ago and the coffee was still as tasteless as hot water. After more than a decade of offering some of the best cofffee - rich, flavorful, dark roast - they switched to something that coffee-haters would universally approve of. What a tragedy.
I also tried the espresso. It tastes stale. I think they get away with this because they mainly use espresso in sweetened coffee-based beverages.
Never take anything for granted. Why didn't I go out of my way to complement them on their coffee during the years that they served great coffee. Alas!
This has been a 5 star place since it opened, but something changed recently that makes it FOR ME at… Read more »
#1 thing to get here: MOCHA FREEZE with whip cream!!! (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) It is seriously to DIE for! If I were to die tomorrow, I would come all the way to menlo park from san francisco just to have my last taste of it!
Everything else is pretty good and very fresh! I recommend all the sandwiches. Salads I thought were only ok but pretty fresh.
Desserts are good also. I've tried the tiramisu and it was pretty creamy.
Overall, this is the perfect place to eat lunch, relax out doors on a sunny day, next to the water fountain. Ah.. This is the life..
People thought this was:
Cafe Borrone used to be a staple hangout when I was in high school, well over a decade ago, and I returned there this past weekend for lunch with my siblings and cousins.
It's still ridiculously busy and sort of stressful, trying to find a place to sit, but once you get a spot, it's pleasant enough.
I opted for a chicken breast panini and was sorely disappointed. It seemed to be spread with store-bought spaghetti sauce. Not really the flavor combo I expected when I read "sun-dried tomato."
While fine, Cafe Borrone isn't going to be someplace I journey from the city to visit.
People thought this was:
The coffee is just not impressive. Considering this place is so popular you'd think they'd try to offer aromatic, rich, flavorful caffeine.
So far I've had the blended white chocolate with hazelnut, blended ghirardeli chocholate, nonfat blended mocha, and iced coffee.
The waffle is too small, flat in flavor, and there's a small ration of fruit on top.
Bagel and Lox isstandard fair that's hard to mess up anywhere, so it was decent here.
Berry tart was pleasant, I'd order it again.
Service: Abrupt, short, and make you feel rushed and on edge to order quickly. Kinda like a soup nazi vibe.
Like I've said before the best thing about this place is sitting outside enjoying the sun and admiring all the beautiful canines that accompany their owners.
People thought this was:
Sunday brunch with the girls @ Cafe Borrone yesterday was a great pick for the following reasons:
1. Gave me a reason to go to Menlo Park. It's located between the city and the south bay, which was a great meeting spot for me and my girlfriends.
2. The fact that you can order either breakfast or salad and sandwiches was good because it gave us options, depending on our mood.
3. The line was long, but it went by quickly. The workers are efficient. One worker takes your order, and then you pay right away.
4. I like the fact that you can pay and order on your own. Keeps you from having to deal with the headache on splitting the check after the fact.
5. There is outdoor and indoor seating!
6. The Mocha Freeze is absolutely fantastic. I am a huge fan for sure! I'd describe it as a mix between a mocha frap from Starbucks and a milkshake. Absolutely worth the calories!
The food was "ok". It wasn't anything I couldn't make myself, but then again I ordered an egg omelette and waffles with mixed berries. How difficult can that be? Can't screw that up!!
Wonderful cafe in downtown Menlo Park! My favorite when I lived here. Now that I'm in SF I don't make it here as much, but it's still delicious every time. The chicken salad is yummy, and for a treat, try the frosted mocha - it's fantastic!
In the mood for some California American food for dinner?
Perhaps you would like a sandwich - chicken salad, turkey, ham and swiss, or pastrami?
Maybe a cup of soup with a salad - a minestrone with a chicken salad?
Perhaps a quiche - a hearty artichoke quiche, spinach and mushroom maybe, or the crab and leek?
Only interested in a coffee and dessert? Try the cappuccino, the Mexican chocolate or the Cafe Borgia. Any of these would pair well with the tiramisu, berry tart, or napoleon.
While eating, enjoy the folksy music from the band of the evening.
People thought this was:
My brother brought me here, and I immediately remembered that I had been here before.
In 2001, I remember sitting outside on a busy morning and enjoying a Turkey / Avocado sandwich which turned out to be bigger than my face and was very good.
Fast forward eight years and Cafe Borrone is just as busy, we opt to sit outside and shortly after collecting our drinks, our order arrives. Impeccable service from what appears to be a college kid.
Orange juice - very nice and very sweet, freshly squeezed, you almost have to chew it on the way down.
Coffee - average, it could be quite good, but I'm a bit of a coffee snob, and also take my coffee at ridiculous strengths sometimes.
Pastrami and cheese grilled sandwich: Actually very good indeed. did what it said on the menu, I wasn't left fishing any ingredients out. I like the fact that if you want pickle you need to ask for it!
Highly recommended for a weekend brunch.
People thought this was:
I'm giving Cafe Borrone 3.5 and it's only because I had limited taste of its vast selection. Definitely 1 BIG star for it's great outdoor patio. On a warm summer day, it's terrific to find a restaurant that has plentiful seating.
Another +1 star for the food. I was running late so my friend ordered me the Cafe's Famous Chicken Salad Sandwich on Raisin Bread. The offering of raisin bread is another +1. Too seldom do sandwich shops not offer enough variety in bread. Me, I'm a fan of raisins so I have to support its use even in lunch sandwiches. It adds a nice sweet surprise. The chicken salad itself was really good too. How can anything mixed in creamy mayo not be.
I gave the additional half star on the menu. Without having tasted the items, the menu options and pics makes me want to come back. And that's a big plus.
So as Arnold said, "I'll be back."
I love this place. It is perfect for Sunday brunch with the fam. The coffee is okay, nothing special but the pastries are pretty yummmmy. The only bad thing is the service, the people at the register are not very friendly and I understand its a busy place but there's no need to rush me for my order...
It is really hard to get a table but it's not their fault its such a popular place and people love the atmosphere.
I'll probably come back in hopes to get better service from the counter staff.
I had the Chicken Salad sandwich which is served on toasted raisin bread. It was delicious, but not nearly as much food as I was expecting for the money. It did come with a big juicy chunk of orange which was nice. I also enjoyed a mocha (and I am picky when it comes to espresso-based drinks) as well as a delicious chocolate chip cookie. For now I'm giving this place 3 stars mostly due to value for the money.
Nice atmosphere, lively. Location is great and fountain outside never fails to entertain kids from 0 to ~12. BTW, Kepler's bookstore next door s really adding to the whole experience.
OK, back to the food. Food is good. I like quiche Lorain, melts and Minestrone soup. I like their salads too, but don't remember which ones in particular. Portions are relatively large.
I think I tried plain coffee ones - was not impressed, but their coffee Borrone is a must. And Frutte de Bosco - berry tart is the best! I always get them when in Borrone.
Overall - is great family or meeting place. Walk to Menlo Park downtown and Burgess Park if you want to go to the playground before or after. Again Kepler's proximity. All of it makes for a nice destination.
Just be warned that about lunch time it could be crowded. Come here few minutes before noon, you are fine and can order and get table in moments.
Who doesn't love Borrone's?? Great place to meet friends, or sit with a book or a laptop. My favorite is their toasted chicken salad sandwich on toasted raisin bread. Yum!
One more reason to go there: on Sat., Oct. 17th, Marina Borrone is donating a portion of the day's revenue to Village Enterprise Fund -- they are participating in a "Shop and Dine Out" event for World Anti-Poverty Day. So eat at the Cafe Borrone on Oct. 17th -- help our local economy while starting small businesses for the poor in East Africa through Village Enterprise Fund.
Go to the Fish Market. Buy one of their lovely shrimp louie salads. I think it's about $12. Big. Too big to finish. Plus you get a whole basket of bread.
Now go to Borrone. Stand in line to make your order, then stand around, vying for a spot in an outside table with the increasingly rude clientele (my husband watched one guy sit at one table and put his things at another the other day.). Then order their shrimp salad. About 1/2 the amount of shrimp and about 1/3 the amount of lettuce. Oh. If you want any bread with that it will cost you - maybe about $3. Price for Borrone salad? $13- something.
Dirty, stressful, takes their customers for granted.
People thought this was:
I've gone to Borrone for over 15 years now. I live in the area. It's close. Their food is good.… Read more »
pretty much an institution in menlo park
cafe bor-rown-eee
that cup of coffee was like a dessert, delicious
the whipped cream is a little thick -- can't even get to the coffee at first
People thought this was:
Defifnitely the best cappochino I have tasted outside of Italy. Also the atmosphere is so European!
I absolutely love this place. I consider it a real treat for lunch/brunch. Freshly squeezed OJ = amazing. Mocha Freeze = a yummy well-worth it indulgence. My absolute favorite=Veggie Melt. Bread is fresh and really good, and ingredients are top notch. I'm one of those people who likes one dish and will keep ordering it, and since I don't go here too often, I tend to keep asking for the veggie melt. That said, I've tried their waffles and one of their salads, but given that I don't remember them, def going for the veggie melt whenever I make it next!
People thought this was:
I don't know how this place ended up in Menlo park but I'm sure happy it exists. Everything on the menu rocks and it's decently priced too. You get your bang for your buck here. Their salads and scrambles are excellent.
After reading all these reviews I MUST try their coffee next time.. Oooh and that pecan pastry looks good too. I wish it was brunch time right about now.
Good Lord! It is going to be dangerous working next to Barrone's. I had only been to Barrone's once before, but I have been frequenting this place in between training sessions all week.
I tend to have my favorites when it comes to local cafe's. This will indeed be one of them.
Firstly, the COFFEE! It has been a mission and a half finding good coffee outside of Portland and Seattle. The Mocha (double) and their famous FROSTED (icy & lush) Mocha are two of the most tasty, aromatic coffees my taste buds have had the pleasure of experiencing. And that says a lot, I fancy myself more of a tea person but that is simply because I hadn't had REAL coffee in the bay.
Service has also been wonderful every time so thank you to the staff!
My only complaint are the prices and some of what the dishes lack. Which are sides usually accompanying a dish. Like if I ordered soup (which I did), where is the bread? Scrambled eggs (where's the toast?), Veggie Melt, ooh lala (Where is the side salad?). But again the quality of the food is pretty amazing so I understand the prices, I'm the type of girl who only really spends on two things. Books and FOOD (good meals and ingredients).
Anywho as I sit here writing this little yelp, savoring a slice of homemade lemon yogurt cake I anticipate my paychecks will be going straight to my coffee habit but at least I'm supporting a local business and nourishing my inner foodie - life is good :)
People thought this was:
Excellent service. Excellent Food selection. Food was out in a timely manner. The employees were very friendly and diligent.
Wish there was more seating as it can get pretty packed.
Two Words: Frosted Mocha
It is a coffee milkshake (how I always order it and they know what I am talking about) and it is wonderful. I have no wish to know how many calories are in it, but I always feel like I have to go for a good run after I drink one.
Favorites:
-Jarlesburg cheese, Avocado, tomato and sprouts on a baguette
-Basil Mozzarella sandwitch on a baguette
+ Everything I have seen others order always looks so good.
I love the outdoor tables and the busy atmosphere during lunch. Is it just me or does everyone who works or eats here beautiful? Just an observation.
Why only 4 stars? I am a grad student and it is a bit expensive for lunch.
We were craving for sandwich & found Cafe Borrone through Yelp. It was a very nice experience overall. Great food & friendly atmosphere.
I ordered the portabello sandwich, and my friend ordered the spicy Italian sausage sandwich. Both were excellent, & worth the wait. Yeah, it's a bit slow, as everything eas fresh-made & it was crowded at dinner time. I just saw that lots people recommended the frost mocha & wished I had tried it. Oh well, always something to look for for our next visit.
If there's anything that annoyed me about Cafe Borrone, it'd be that it's right next to a Tobacco bar, and I absolutely disliked the smoke occasionally flown from the bar. But again, it's not Cafe Borrone's fault...:-p
You know you are a foodie when you are willing to drive 30 miles
out of your way for an enjoyable dining experience.
Believe it or not, Menlo Park is at least 10 to 15 degrees warmer than San Francisco almost anytime of the day.
So hands down, this is one of my favorite cafe for five main reasons:
+ abundant outdoor seating with a fountain on a sunny day,
+ efficient servers who knows how to serve and are courteous,
+ delicious food ( vegetarian melt, minestrone soup, spinach salad),
+ hip patrons from the peninsula, like Stanford University students,
+ the BEST frosted mocha with whip cream I have ever tasted.
//
//
//
| ~~~~~~ | The frosted mocha ($4.50) is so thick that you can not
| | possibly suck it from the thin straw they provide you. You ll
| | need a spoon, unless you are a hardcore SUCKER.
| |
| | Please do not PM me. TMI.
| |
| |
-------------
I dedicate this review to a true foodie, Jennifer C P ::laughing.
People thought this was:
MY REVIEW FOR DINNER -
DECOR - I love the open space, indoor/outdoor seating option. The chairs are plastic though. I also love the chalk board menu!
You order food at the counter, and they bring you the food.
We sat outside to listen to Indie/Folk/Grass music.
1) The special was really good. It was the meat lasagna. The edges were slightly burnt and the tomato sauce was a bit spicy. I really enjoyed this dish!
2) Pastrami sandwich - I was disappointed that it did not have red onions or sauerkraut in it. They also ran out of RYE bread! What a disappointment!
The mocha drink (I tried only) looked very good but upon trying it, it was so sweet!
We also ordered desserts. I got the blueberry cheescake. This was pretty good.
Overall, I'll come back again to try the breakfast or enjoy a cup of tea with my book!
Kepler's - the bookstore is right next door.
PARKING - We had no problem with parking b/c we walked here from Live Oak/Roble Ave.
If there is a place with an interminable line, you'll find it here. The line moves relatively fast and if you're with someone, they can scope out a place to sit. I've gotten to really like outdoor seating and they've got plenty of it. The waffles with spiced apples and pecans were different from my normal thing and I wanted to stray from my usual waffles and berries. The scrambled eggs with feta and spinach were good, rich in taste, probably from the feta. I didn't get to try the frosted mocha, but got my latte that left me happy full and satisfied.
People thought this was:
Very interesting! I got a chicken salad sandwich and it came on toasted raisin bread. Now there's a new sandwich idea for you! I never thought of making a sandwich with raisin bread. The chicken salad itself had golden raisins in it too, so there was a lot of raisiny goodness in there.
On the pricey side, but hey, it's Menlo Park, what do you expect? ;)
People thought this was:
I can't not write a review of Borrones given I spent a good portion of my high school career and the majority of my breaks from college sitting at a table on their terrace. Borrones has a unique atmosphere and is the ultimate meeting or catch-up place. Plus their coffee is delicious and reasonably priced and the whip cream is to die for. We used to order side orders of whip cream which they gave to us with minimal judgment. The food is a little overpriced but generally tasty--but really what does food matter when you can sit outside listening to a live band catching up with old friends until midnight.
Despite being located right on El Camino, Cafe Borrone has a relaxing outdoor atmosphere with good food at reasonable prices. The lines can be long on weekend mornings, but in my opinion it is worth the wait. It is also conveniently located next to Kepler's bookstore, a great spot to browse books while sipping coffee.
3.5 stars. The blueberry biscuit was good, once I got a pat of butter for it. (It was a little dry otherwise.) Wish they'd had the sticky pecan bun, though--looks great from the picture! Coffee is strong enough without knocking you over with bitterness. Good vibe here--busy but not jam-packed at 9:00 a.m. on a Monday. Will go back soon and try the pastrami.
MY FAVORITE COFFEE PLACE OF ALL TIMES! yes, it's better than Starbucks, Peet's, Coffee Bean, and any other place you can think of. Why you say? Because not only does it have delicious, awesome cofee, it also has super delicious sandwiches and desserts.
One thing I love about this place is the atmosphere. You can sit inside, but when it's super nice outside (like right now), theres this calm and care-free feeling that you have when you sit outside sipping on your cafe borrone coffee (with cinnamon and almond flakes), or munching on your turkey sandwich. Either way it's really nice sitting outside (I also like to sit outside with my shades on and observe what's going on around me...hehe)
So of course the one thing I'd recommend to get at this place is their house coffee - the cafe borrone coffee. I love how they give you the spice of cinnamon, the crunchiness and saltiness of the almonds, and the sweetness of the whipped cream. Remember to swirl everything around so you get a taste of everything at one time - otherwise you won't appreciate all those flavors I just talked about.
As for the food - any sandwich is pretty much delicious - especially the turkey one (turkey's my fav kind of sandwich meat-oh, and add avocado on it!). The veggie melt (hot sandwich) is good too, but only if you like those veggies mixed together. Sometimes I don't like the baguette because it's so hard, so ask for it on a softer bread. The cookies are delicious and I know sometimes they slices of various pies ( and cheesecake!)
Oh, and another bonus is that there's a bookstore right next to the Cafe so you can go buy a magazine/book and read it while you'e enjoying your meal.
Cafe Borrone is awesome. Everything I've gotten here has been great, drinks and food. The nice open space makes it feel relaxing and the tables outside are wonderful on a warm summer evening. The staff is friendly and efficient. Might not be the most work friendly place as there's no free wifi and the power outlets are limited. On occasion I've been able to steal wifi from some neighboring store. My friends and I will still come here to try to get work done even though the wifi and power outlets are a gamble. We just like this place that much.
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