Fair Fix Cafe

 

1

27

Lauren H.

Fairfax, CA

Yum, Fair Fix!
We've been remodeling the kitchen for the past 2 months and have been dining out the entire time.  Fair Fix is where we go when we need something green (i.e., salad).  I order the same thing every time I go there: Mediterranean Plate, spinach pie and baklava.  Mediterranean Plate is like the greatest hits of middle eastern food--hummus, dolmas, tabouleh and falafel staged around a green salad.  
We usually get it to go, but it's a fun place to people-watch, especially on a rainy day.

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2

9

jodene e.

Seattle, WA

My friend and I stopped in here for lunch en route to a meditation retreat at Spirit Rock. We'd just flown in from Seattle and I had tracked down lunch possibilities via Yelp the night before. As we approached Fairfax, we were  delighted to encounter an old skool hippie kind of town -- not the Marin either of us had expected. Our delight grew larger when we walked into the Fair Fix and felt a 70's groovy cafe vibe, complete with photos of Buddhist monks on the walls -- perfect for getting in the "meditation retreat" mood .

The menu board was resplendent with delicious and healthy vegetarian options. (Can't remember if there was anything with meat.)  Lots of sandwiches, soup and Greek fare. We each went Greek, she ordering a massive avocado salad with hummus, and I ordering a hummus plate with falafal. Both were fresh and tasty. I finished off my lunch with a piece of bak lava. Yum!

I wish we had stopped here on the flip side for breakfast...the choices looked equally good. Ah well. Next time.

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26

27

Jackie B.

San Rafael, CA

So, there's no way I'd let all these folks not honor my favorite place to eat - HANDS DOWN!  

First of all, Fair Fix cafe is a slammin' coffee cafe/eatery.   Yes, it's a small time business run establishment, which means that they might put heart and time into your food, which means you'll have to wait a little bit longer.  And, it's not a place that caters to the "I have money so I expect to be served" place.  You order at the counter, you sit, they let you know when your order is ready and you take your food, silverware and all to the table of your choice.  If you feel like a full service dining experience, this is not the place.  And, yes, if you want something a little extra (like the extra tomatoes on my salad I always ask for) you have to ask nicely.  Whether or not you pay for the extra tomatoes has more to do with whether or not you've befriended the wonderful people behind the counters.  

I must admit, I'm biased, yes.  I grew up in Fairfax and Fair Fix cafe was the place where we'd go sit and chill after we were already baked.  It's where we used to go and play backgammon and talk all night.  In a place like Fairfax, it's one of the only places where teens can hang out safely without their parents and not get into too much trouble.  

And, it's the place I still go to today for the best home made soups (my favorite is corn cilantro and chunky vegetable) and excellent salads.  Very vegetarian and vegan friendly.  I also really like the grilled chicken sandwich with sweet chili sauce on Bordenave's french bread.  

Admittedly, the staff gets the orders wrong every once in a while but, I've bene going there for over 10 years and it's only happened a handful of times, and it's usually just them forgetting to put the cheese on the sandwich like my boyfriend asked for.  Nothing major and they always fix it.  

As for having "character", Fair Fix cafe has plenty of character.  The people of Fairfax are what gives Fair Fix cafe its character.
Yes, there've been new businesses that have popped up, but, Fairfax has still retained it's small-town charm, which I might add, cares nothing for catering to the mere passerbys. Fair Fix reflects the people of Fairfax, who as a population are probably more likely than other people to give you their last dollar if you were broke and stranded on the side of the road.  They would probably give you a ride to the nearest gas station, or maybe even invite you into their home instead of just lending you their cell phone to call the local tow company.  

So what if you can't find a newspaper that isn't all neatly folded into squares and rectagles? If you haven't noticed, Fair Fix is one of those places where tree huggers, and hippis and bare feet (take that you germaphobes!) can still be welcome without judgment.  Or, you'll find me there.... after a long day at the office in slacks, pumps and a blazer, enjoying my chai latte, bowl of soup and my favorite Harry Potter book.

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4

33

Claire F.

Fairfax, CA

I love Fair Fix for lunch.  The cabrese salad is delish, and I know people who have traveled miles for their jambalaya.  I understand that they have fabulous pesto tuna melts as well.  
The little surprising twist to Fair Fix is that it is a lunch place masquerading as a coffee shop.  That's the tricky part though; the tiled tables, the free wi-fi, the local artist displays,  and couches laden with slouching teens; it's all just a cover.  And this, at times, can leave people confused and a little wounded.
I am sure that many people walk in and think, "Hey, cozy interior, angst-ridden young people: I'll bet this place does some good pastries and coffee."  They are wrong though.  The coffee will be served to from a thermos and will be tepid and bland.  The pastry will be store bought and have the spongy, partially-hydrogenated feel of a Twinkie.  Too many times I have seen the frowns of newcomers as they scowl in annoyance at the teens for having mislead them into believing that this was a place that served coffee.  
Was it all a brilliant marketing scheme?  
Were the teens employed to roll languidly off the furniture just to lure customers into the false delusion that this is a choice coffee local?
No, the teens know what;s up.  
You can get coffee anywhere: at the Fair Fix, you get a light and tasty meal.

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Elite '08

41

270

mindy s.

Oakland, CA

I can really only review a few select items here, but they all get four stars:

The iced coffee
The croissants
The FALAFEL - really really tasty falafel - crispy, with big slice of tomato and fluffy pita and delicious yogurt sauce. i can inhale these things in about 12 seconds. (that means I just ate two in the time it took you to read this review!)

follow up with a scoop of lavendar honey vanilla at Scoop down the block and you're all set for a lazy afternoon of window shopping/staggering around Fairfax in a food coma.

yum!

oh, and cash only. be prepared yo.

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Elite '08

128

216

jill j.

Mill Valley, CA

Since the Roastery was closed for renovations, the cycling gals stopped in here for our caffeine fix before proceeding up to Alpine Dam.  It's an average coffee cafe.  It's a little grungy, but I expected more Fairfax *character*, and Fair Fix really didn't seem to have it.  They do have free wi-fi, but we weren't there to surf.  Coffee seemed fine.  My scone was really tasty and hit the spot.  Cool old couch to sit on - nice when your butt's been stuck to a bicycle seat for a couple hours.

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Elite '08

136

247

Joe B.

Oakland, CA

Had the fairfix melt, which sounded better than it was - pesto, tomato, mushroom, cheese, on wheat bread.  Might have been better on focaccia, but wasn't given that option.  Service, wait time, and attitude were bad.  Mocha was great, though.  GF wasn't too excited by her meal, either.  I would stop here if I was refueling after a ride on Mt. Tam and it was the only thing open, but otherwise, give it a miss.

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Elite '08

201

341

mary a.

South San Francisco, CA

i found this place more of a coffee house, than a cafe. when i came in for lunch,  i noticed that  newspapers and other reading materials were all scattered in one corner of the cafe by the window and it's quite messy.  a posting board can be found  at the back towards the bathroom with tons of things for sale, missing pets, tutorials, & etc. a couch and a coffee table (with more newspapers on it)  is comfortably situated in the middle of the cafe. we  kind of waited long for  our food, for there was only one person fixing /preparing the foods. i had their mediterranean salad with generous portion of romaine lettuce, tabouleh, feta cheese, tomatoes, onions and olives, while my friend had a roast beef sandwich. both foods were quite tasty and satisying.

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