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Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery
Categories: Food Bakeries Restaurants Burgers Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Bakeries, Burgers, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
1346 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd(between Berryman St & Rose St)
Berkeley, CA 94709
Neighborhood: North Berkeley
(510) 526-2260
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7 am - 9 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
250 reviews for Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery
Review Highlights
"And the pumpkin pancakes were DE-LICIOUS."
(in 70 reviews)
"Cheese puffs are little bites of heaven."
(in 30 reviews)
"The chocolate mousse pie is AMAZING."
(in 53 reviews)
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250 reviews in English
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Review from Kimberly C.
Berkeley, CA
2/6/2012
Not all dineries (is that a word?) are created equal. Fat Apple's is top notch. As a girl born and raised in the Midwest, the vibe here embodies that, and it takes me back everytime I step into the place.
I think it might be the servers, they are my favorite thing here--friendly, eager, warm, welcoming, efficient. Let me tell you a story--
Yesterday my friend and I went there for Sunday brunch and were seated right away. After settling in, ordering a coffee (which is dark and amazing, both with and without cream), we received our cheese puffs ahead of time to nibble on while we waited for the main meal.
After what only seemed like only five minutes, the waiter came over and apologized for not getting our food to us yet. I suppose he forgot to put in our order to the cooks. To make up for his "mistake" he gave us two more cheese puffs and comped our entire bill! I was just enjoying my company, not to mention those cheese puffs and coffee, but man!! Over-and-above--I like it.
I love this place. It's hard to find that home-grown feel in Berkeley.
Keep on, keeping on :) -
Review from billy t.
Concord, CA
1/29/2012
absolutely #1 favorite all-star happy good time burger. fat apples serves the BEST burger i have ever known. they are a little pricey but worth every shiny nickel i own. milk shakes are the nectar of the gods.
it's all about that shredded longhorn cheddar -
Review from Buck Buck M.
San Rafael, CA
1/19/2012
Before I even get to the food I must say that the waitresses here are top notch. Always friendly and accomodating at just the right level--warm,smiley and efficient but not intrusive.
And the food is good too. Basic American diner type food. Nothing super special but nothing that will disappoint either--except the fries. Cooked in the wrong oil for too short an amount of time. Hardly worth mentioning.
It can get pretty crowded but I've never had to wait more than a couple of minutes.
One word of warning, however: there are some people--I am certainly not one of them--who like to mess with meter maids as much as possible because they see them as the scum of the Earth and entirely soulless and despicable. Well, lots of meter maids eat here for some reason and if you abhore the thought of someone pranking a meter maid while you are trying to eat lunch I'd suggest coming on an off-hour. Everyone deserves the right to a peaceful, quiet lunch no matter how mean, heartless, lowdown and dirty you think they are. -
Review from Garett N.
Berkeley, CA
1/16/2012
Came here for brunch. We arrived at around 10:30 am on a Sunday and didn't have to wait long for a table. Food came out quickly and the service was good. The tables are maybe a tad too close to each other since people walking by our table, kept knocking stuff on our table.
Food itself was delicious. Try the cheese puffs. Recommended. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Oakley, CA
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
After a trip with the kids to Tilden's Regional Park, a stop at FATAPPLE'S was a given. The bf had never been, despite having once worked for the city. Crazy, right?
Their menu consists of a wide variety of items. Suitable for every taste. More than enough of a selection to please everyone in my family. I was confident he'd enjoy as much as I do.
My go-to, of course, is the cheeseburger. It's superb! I typically go with an order of fries to compliment my juicy burger. Sometimes, I'll also order an additional side of veggies... because not only are their veggies flavorful and full of color... lets face it, I could really use more of the green stuff in my diet.
If you like pie, and really who doesn't, you will not want to end your visit without first trying one of their freshly baked pies. My favorite, the Olallieberry.
I am still in love with FATAPPLE'S after my many years of enjoyment. My love continues to go strong with each repeated visit every few months.
Seriously, it's rare to find a restaurant that I enjoy so much, time and time again. And in Berkeley, no less! -
Review from Catheryn S.
Richmond, CA
Updated - 10/25/2011
I just came back from a long trip where I treated myself to daily espressos and pastries. I woke up at 6AM and decided I didn't have enough time to make breakfast. Nor did i want to. After a 12 hour flight, who does? Anyways, I chose to give this place another chance ... and it was the only place besides Denny's that was open pretty early. I walked in and realized the bakery is open at 6AM but the "sit down get your grub on" is only open at 7AM. I stuck around. Denny's was too far already.
I had a double espresso (yups, addict blame the EU) and an apricot (something) pastry. Total was $4.81. Pretty much the same price I would pay in the EU given the exchange rate so good deal. The double espresso was good. Might never go to coffee again. As for the pastry, I was fearing something overly sweet and greasy. It was just the right amount of sweetness. The taste of the apricot and that "something else that I can't remember" was not overpowering. It was a good balance. The crust was the right amount of flakiness. All in all, a great buy.
This wouldn't be my first choice for breakfast given my previous experience but I guess the reputation for good baked products is promising.
Thanks!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/15/2010
Just not what I expected from the long line. Maybe I'll go back and just try another pastry like… Read more »
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Review from Lauren S.
Berkeley, CA
9/3/2011
I'm biased but oh well. This place is great. Everything homemade, everyone friendly, all the food just delicious.
Reubans have delicious corned beef on them, perfectly done and melting/shredding in your mouth. Pies are incredible! -
Review from Jen Z.
Berkeley, CA
7/11/2011
YUM! This place gives you the small town feel in an urban environment. The service was impeccable and food was yummy. I ordered the 2 eggs, potatoes, with chicken apple sausage and we shared a short stack of pumpkin pancakes at our table. The pumpkin pancakes left a little to be desired... I was expecting a stronger pumpkin flavor but still delicious nonetheless. The waiter split our bill 4 ways for our convenience which was amazing.
P.S. Their orange juice is GREAT... especially if its curing a hangover. I'll be back!! -
Review from Janaia R.
Albany, CA
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here for brunch and it was pretty good.
After reading other yelp reviews, I decided I HAD to try the pumpkin pancakes so I I ordered the pancake special that included pumpkin pancakes, chicken apple sausage and scrambled eggs. The pumpkin pancakes were DELICIOUS....it was like eating pumpkin pie in pancake form. TRY THEM.
I also ordered some cheese puffs and apple pie to go. The apple pie was pretty standard (not bad, but not amazing) and the cheese puffs were not what I expected. The texture of the pastry itself was nice and flaky, but the filling was sweet and didn't really taste like cheese. Not sure if I was given the wrong type of puff by accident. Can any Yelper describe what this cheese puff is SUPPOSE to really taste like?
PROS:
-Affordable. $6.95 for pumpkin pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs..good in my books.
-The pumpkin pancakes are some seriously good stuff. Should not be overlooked.
-Fast service and seating, even for a Saturday brunch (we got there at 10:30am, which seemed to be perfect time right before the brunch rush).
-This place is kid friendly.
CONS:
-Not very big portions if you have a big football player appetite (I have an average appetite and didn't finish all my food).
-Cheese puffs and apple pie didn't live up to my expectations.
Overall: I would come back here again to get the pumpkin pancakes and try something new. Although I gave the restaurant 3 stars overall, I would give those pumpkin pancakes 5 scrumptious stars! Mmm.... -
Review from Mike M.
Fresno, CA
8/21/2011
Awesome bakery items and perfect service by our server Ben this morning. He's a pro and obviously loves his job.
Our son had the pumpkin pancakes, very good. The potatoes are an embarrassment as was the (dry wilted) wheat toast that came with my barely cooked eggs. If an item on the menu is not baked it's is not worth it.
Clearly they can bake like no one else, just be honest and be a bakery. The blueberry scone was maybe the best we have ever tried.
Interior was comfortable and friendly, neighborhood cozy with many well behaved kids with parents present. -
Review from Courtney H.
Berkeley, CA
10/25/2011
You know those cheese puffs there in the bakery? They're not actually sprinkled with powdered sugar; it is, in fact, a non-lethal form of crack that has been sweetened. Because seriously, why else would they taste SO GOOD?
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Review from Barclay W.
Santa Ana, CA
7/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
My parents consider this place an institution, but I have never had such experiences here. Granted when I went as a child I was a vegetarian and after I had a slice of chocolate pie and then got terrible food poisoning the same night I swore I would never go back.
Well I did go back because my friend wanted to come here for breakfast. I told her about my past experiences and she said, well that isn't possible, they are a breakfast place only. That cracked me up because they are actually known more for their burgers and sandwiches then breakfast. She didn't even know that this place was open that late.
I do take some major issues with Fat Apple's though.
1) The layout is idiotic. We come in and there is a couple in front of us waiting. The issue is that there are a bunch of open tables. The problem? They are all two people tables that can't be easily moved. It was frustrating to see two open tables that are unusable because the table between them in being used at the moment. Essentially we waited for 20 minutes because the person in charge of the layout for this place wasn't thinking.
2) Waiting here sucks. Waiting is not my favorite thing in general but Fat Apple's takes the cake on waiting. You walk in and the hallway is big enough for maybe four to five people. There are little swinging doors you can see over and you just stand there in the only entrance or exit of the place feeling like cattle in a chute. Blech.
3) The service was terrible. Our waitress took our order quickly and we got our food fast enough but that was it. I had finished my glass of water and it never got refilled. I have never been somewhere that doesn't instantly refill your water. She saw us many times.
4) The breakfast menu was something I could have made at home. Essentially I paid $7 for scramble eggs and bacon, and they weren't even that good. The menu was very simple and not exciting. I found the food itself to be bland and not well done. I know they are better at lunch and dinner but still, come on.
The only thing that saves this place is the pie. I loved their pies growing up as a kid. Sadly after I got sick one night after eating a slice of their pie (not sure if it was caused by their pie or not) I have never had another. However I see the Ollalaberry pie and I want a slice so badly.
Would I come back to Fat Apple's? Maybe for lunch or dinner but never breakfast. Better places exist now in Berkeley and Oakland so I would take a drive to something new. -
Review from Marin G.
Green Brae, CA
11/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yummy pumpkin pancakes!! Perfect breakfast food.
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Review from David W.
4/3/2011
Fat Apple's is a childhood favorite of mine, but today I visited for the first time in a while for dinner and remembered why it deserves to be on "the circuit" from now on.
We had a delicious dinner tonight of the **Portobello Sandwich** and the **Shepherd's Pie** which was a special of the day. The Shepherd's Pie was very tasty. Fluffy mashed potatoes with a crunchy parmesan-encrusted top, and a delicious beef stew underneath, with plenty of carrots and peas. Yummy.
The Portobello Sandwich was also tastier than we anticipated. It was not heavy, but it had a fluffy, tasty bun, tomatoes, lettuce, grilled onions, and a spicy mayonnaise over the grilled portobello mushroom. Also very good!
Dessert-and-drink was the lovely **Olallieberry milkshake** that was big enough for two, and then some, and had actual chunks of olallieberry throughout. Another great thing -- the two entrees and milkshake were a grand total of $23 plus tip. Not too shabby for a very filling and delicious meal!
We didn't save room for pie, but I can tell you, this is the number one reason why I come to Fat Apples. Every year without fail, we get a shit-ton of Apple pies and Olallieberry pies for Thanksgiving. Tip: You'll need to order ahead if you want to do that for Thanksgiving. :)
If you haven't had olallieberry, do yourself a favor, and do. It's a cross between a loganberry and a youngberry (all incestuously related to the blackberry and the raspberry sooner or later). It's also hard to spell, but you can't hold a grudge against it! -
Review from anne p.
Berkeley, CA
11/5/2011
Went in and was devastated to find that they are not making the chocolate velvet pie any more..... What on earth is up with that? chocolate pudding pie is a joke as a replacement.....otherwise I am a big fan, just a disappointed one right now...
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Review from Nina Y.
3/7/2011 2 photos
With a reunion in the waiting, fellow yelpers Kathleen W. and Dmitriy S, and another friend, we had to get together for some catching up. When I had told a friend that i was going to Fat Apple's, he demanded that I get the cheese puffs and that I get some from him as well.
Food:
cheese puffs - so good. They were filled with sweetened cream cheese and the outside was so flakey. I would definitely come back for these cheese puffs.
French toast - 3 huge pieces of french toast. It was decent - like typical french toast.
Pumpkin pancakes - 4 pancakes. The pancakes were nicely pumpkin flavored, but nothing too amazing.
Apple filled pancake - HUGE, and the nice caramelized apples on the inside was good. I thought they would just be chunks of apple, but the caramelization was delicious.
Blueberry Waffles - yum! Blueberries was especially good with the waffles, but they also had this olallieberry-raspberry jam that also went great with it.
Overall, I had some good food with some great friends. I would come back for those delicious cheese puffs! -
Review from Galina Y.
San Diego, CA
12/23/2011
I come here for their pies, they are to die for! They are AMAZING!!!! They are fresh, not too heavy, and so so so scrumptious! I get them for every occasion: birthdays, holidays, graduation, etc. Going today to get one for Christmas Eve dinner :-) Can't wait.
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Review from b p.
San Francisco, CA
3/29/2011
I've had Fat Apple's cream puffs before and they are sinfully delicious. We were in the neighborhood and decided to stop by for some dessert. Unfortunately, they didn't have any cream puffs since they are only served during breakfast. So, we had a slice of their apple pie and a chocolate eclair. The slice of apple pie was huge (enough for two people to share). The crust was buttery and flaky.The apples had a nice firmness to it. I wished that we had asked for them to warm it up a little because the filling was cold. The chocolate eclair was not too sweet and had the same cream filling as their cream puffs. The pastry part had a nice firm but chewiness to it. Both were delicious!
Their service was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient.
I would like to try their breakfast or brunch. -
Review from Andrew C.
I saw that Ed U, one of my favorite Yelpers, gave Fat Apples 4 stars for their cheeseburger and pie (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) so decided to check it out.
Things didn't go my way before I got there.
I punched the address into my Google Maps Navigation and it said "Your destination is 900 feet ahead on your right" just as I saw a parking spot. OK, I thought, I can walk 300 yards, and parked, unsure of how the parking would be ahead. Marching forward, I reached the next street and looked at the house numbers which were going in the wrong direction?!? I doubled back and found Fat Apples 15 feet BEHIND my car on the LEFT!! Damn you Google Maps!!
Anyway, finally got to this brightly lit restaurant in the boondocks of Berkeley. A neighborhood joint on a tree lined corner. Not much to look at really, but who cares if the food is good.
Ed gave 4 stars to the cheeseburger so naturally I ordered the Reuben (?? - $9) . . . and then subbed out the fries for onion rings. The plate came out with 4 rings, a dill pickle spear, and 2 slices of tomato (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
The onion rings were overcooked and somewhat burned. The Reuben looked better (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) than it tasted. It was put together well with a nice amount of kraut & dressing, but the thinly sliced corned beef was really dry. It was a chore to swallow even with swigs from my Pale Ale.
Sounds like burgers or brunch are the way to go here.Listed in: Reubens! (and other hot…, Campus Crusade for Cuisine
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Review from Dmitriy S.
San Diego, CA
A long-awaited friend reunion early in the morning meant only one thing: Friday brunch. And what better place to do brunch than on a quaint little street corner in North Berkeley. Packed with the typical generation that you would see at a place like this, we were definitely the odd ones out at Fat Apples, but that didn't stop us.
We started out with the widely raved about cheese puffs, which definitely lived up to their expectation. Very flaky on the outside, and tender, moist, and full of cheesy flavor on the inside. Don't expect anything like cheddar, though. It's pretty sweet, but still maintains the cheesy feeling.
I ordered the Apfelpfannkuchen, which in German is simply "Apple-filled pancake." It was served with very wet sour cream, which didn't go along with the pancake at all. The dish itself was just alright. Small bits of apple spread throughout the pancake, but nothing too special. For $8, I don't know if I'd come back for it.
I also had the chance to try a bit of the French Toast and Blueberry Waffles, which were all very typical. I've had much better waffles at IHOP before, and they definitely can't compare to Belgium. Our other friend got the Pumpkin pancakes, which I didn't try since I hate pumpkin.
One thing that stood out here for me is their olallieberry sauce. To sum it up, olallieberry is 1/2 blackberry, 1/4 raspberry, and 1/4 dewberry, which all somehow happened to mate and create this wonderful berry. The suace tastes amazing and goes well with pretty much any dish here. Best of all, it's just sitting on the tables and you can always ask for more of it! -
Review from troy m.
12/24/2010
[3.5]
While I could go on almost indefinitely making remarks to the effect of, "Damn s/he's got some FAT apples," that doesn't actually make the food at Fat Apple's (the restaurant) any more exciting.
I had the breakfast sandwich with Niman Ranch ham, coleslaw, and a poached egg on top. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but not particularly better than any equally arterially offensive dish from, say, Au Coquelet down the street. The ham and coleslaw are certainly a step up from Au Coquelet, but they are delivered at a bit of a pr$mium.
I think I should have gone with the apple pancake my friend got; basically an excuse to eat pie for breakfast. -
Review from Dana K.
Berkeley, CA
9/18/2011
This has become our family go-to breakfast place. Very neighborhood-y, good food (amazing croissants) and really good pies. The service is great- kind, happy and makes you feel like part of the fam.
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Review from Yushan K.
Berkeley, CA
1/17/2011
This review is for the pastry-to-go part of the restaurant. The chocolate mousse pie is AMAZING. Airy and fluffy, perfect for when you want your fix without feeling weighed down. I've had cheese puffs before, they're very good. Also if you're short on cash, they have day-old pastries for cheap. They have whole cakes and pies if you're having a birthday or something to celebrate.
I've heard their restaurant food is decent, but haven't tried it yet myself.
When I have no complaints or substantial suggestions for improvements, you score 5 stars from me! -
Review from Kathleen W.
San Jose, CA
3/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
If there's any meal that I specifically enjoy going to a restaurant for, it's BRUNCH! I'm a real brunch critic. Fat Apple's was next to be put to the test. I went with fellow yelpers, Dmitriy S. and Nina Y. for a much needed catch-up :]
On a Friday morning, the restaurant was not too busy. Most patrons found solitude in reading their newspapers making our group, in comparison, seem like a rowdy bunch. Oh well...on to the food:
We ordered:
- Cheese puffs - delectable
- Pumpkin pancakes - 4 pieces of perfection
- Blueberry Waffle - a giant Ego with a side of blueberry preserves
- Apple filled pancakes - 1 pancake the size of your face
- French Toast - 3 colossal pieces
I had little bites of everyone else's dishes. Favorite: pumpkin pancakes. Why have I waited so long to find you, dear pancake? You make me smile.
We had a good variety of what Fat Apples had to offer. However, the only stand-out, for me, was the pumpkin pancake. For one thing, I thought the blueberry would be incorporated into the waffle. Disappointed :( Oh, (cream) cheese puffs are yummy too. They' make a good treat! -
Review from Sabrina P.
San Diego, CA
10/7/2011
I rarely find a tasty brunch spot that is better than what I can make at home. Fat Apple's really surprised me with their pumpkin pancakes! They were very moist and I couldn't finish the whole dish of 4. Their eggs over easy were also tasty and the fresh fruit really was FRESH! Loved it all1
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Review from Jean K.
Oakland, CA
9/11/2011
This is one of those long-lived oldies, a rare neighborhood diner that has managed to survive over twenty-five years of economic ups and downs. There are those who cherish it, and those who shrug and say, "Eh, it was okay."
Parking is street, and crappy. FA is small, with half the space filled by the kitchen. They're famous for their pies and pumpkin pancakes, but I needed a protein fix so went for the corned beef hash. This definitely didn't seem like the type of place to poach an egg, so I asked for 'over easy' and they were perfectly done.
The hash was okay - nice small diced potatoes, with shreds of corned beef just salty enough but not too salty, and some sauteed onion. It was good, but nothing exceptional.
The service was fast and efficient, but you have to remember to ask for refills on any beverage, because they don't make the rounds to top off cups the way most breakfast places do.
It's a decent place for breakfast, but with Royal Café/Albany and Bistro 1491/Berkeley so nearby and much easier to find street parking, I don't see much reason to come here. Fat Apple's isn't at the level of these two favorites of ours, so unless you're in the area and need something within walking distance, you can pass this one by. -
Review from Amiee H.
10/30/2010
Finally got to try this place after passing by it so many times!
Food:
1) French Toast (comes with one egg and sausage): REALLY GOOD french toast! I don't know if it's cause of the bread, or the egg or the way they made the egg and the bread but it was a DELICIOUS! The best I've had anywhere so far! I'm a fan of the french toast here!
2) Pumpkin pancake special (comes with one egg and bacon): For how much everyone on yelp has praised the pumpkin pancakes here, I think it's kinda mediocre. The pumpkin flavor of the pancake was alright, but it didn't really come through the dough of the pancake. The pancake consistency here was decent, but not the best I've had. It's nothing special for how much everyone raves about them on yelp.
Service:
Friendly and nice. Very prompt service and food came fast too. Couldn't complain.
Ambiance:
Cute little place on the corner of MLK and Rose. Very easy to miss if you weren't looking for it. I think from just a quick glance I would have thought this place was just a simple bakery and not a sit down restaurant. Inside feels like a glorified Denny's or IHOP or Hometown Buffet. It's clean and comfy. The restroom is kinda weird because it's outside and feels like you are going in an outhouse.
Price:
I personally felt like it was a bit pricey for what you got. I was still hungry after I was done eating and that rarely happens at other places that service you a decent portion size for the price we paid. We ended up paying around $26 for everything, tax and tip included. That price for breakfast and for still being hungry afterwards.....doesn't seem worth it to me.
Overall:
It's nice that I got to try this place but I don't know if I would come back. I think I might wanna order the French Toast again and maybe try one of its scrambles if I do come back, but that's if I do come back.....Listed in: Breakfast/Brunch!
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Review from Dave Y.
8/11/2011
Good pies, decent food, but mostly good pies. A good reliable place for coffee and dessert.
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Review from Linda L.
South Bay, CA
3/17/2011
Can't think of a better place for apple pie. Hot, buttery and flakey crust. Mmmmmmm...
The reuben sandwiches are pretty good too. And the service was great. Would definitely come back. -
Review from Anna S.
El Cerrito, CA
Pumpkin pancakes =yum. I also had the potatoes and sour cream, and an egg.
My boyfriend agreed my pancakes were awesome. He wasn't wowed by his omelette.
I'm sure we'll be back, this is a cute little spot in North Berkeley. It was still full at almost 1 on Sunday.
He bought a cheese puff pastry at the bakery on our way out, and said all the other reviews were right, and it was delish :) -
Review from Brandy M.
Pleasant Hill, CA
7/3/2011 4 photos
Not What I Expected...Very Bland Food.
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Review from Rebecca R.
Oakland, CA
1/10/2011
Sunday 10am. no wait. very Strong coffee. yum. ordered the whole wheat pancake special. 2 large pancakes, slightly crisped with a moderate amount of maple syrup. Delicious! Endless coffee. thin crispy bacon. over hard egg is over hard--I just might try asking for an over medium next time.
The food was good & standard. Not a ton of food, but not too little. I left feeling well satisfied, but not stuffed. I am for sure coming back! Clearly, this is a place for families to come too, and the tables are close, so if you're not feeling the kid presence maybe you should brave the lines and go to La Note--delicious too! -
Review from SuperRockStar N.
Oakland, CA
7/10/2011
Things change, things change- this used to be such a sure thing for breakfast- so much so there is a ritual order in my family....
Now it's just a bit more complicated and- inconsistent.
Cheese puffs- as a side to take the edge off the hunger pangs with the first sips of coffee- the standard waffle special scrambled egg and bacon, crisp. Potatoes for the table. (Apple pancake for the table*) Coffee, cream, water.
The seater/greeter was a non event, the server was rushed- there was a lack of back and forth- the all important and thoughtful how do you want it? When do you want it- as a result- everything all at once- scrambled eggs browned, and a pile up of foods- including cheese puff with waffle. The coffee was so burnt tasting it was watery bitter mess- gone is the robust Petes 101 now replaced with a new rosteries blend- perhaps this batch was burnt perhaps this is the new norm- I miss a big breakfast coffee blend that has richness as well as dark roasting- sigh The waffle was not a full waffle, looks good but if you flip it there are no dimples on the underside- not enough batter old batter- who knows-
*apple pancake, flaccid bland except bitter- cinnamon in the batter- dark brown... Strange presentation, thoughtless.
Why?? it's a simple diner menu it should be clean, fresh and well executed- it has been in the past... Why the change? Oversight? Laziness? Its hard to understand. -
Review from Trish B.
Oakland, CA
8/28/2011
My mistake for coming here on the weekend...lousy service and average breakfast. I was still hungry when we left!
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Review from Eric B.
4/21/2011
This Fat Apples is smaller and cozier than it's El Cerrito sister and you'll probably spend more time trying to find a place to park. However, it has the same good food, an more interesting intellectual edge, and perhaps a better and separate Bakery selection. In fact, sometimes I'll stop just for Breakfast pastry planning. My Kid also likes the fact that we can walk across the street to Mr. Mopps for toys after our late breakfast or lunch.
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Review from Brittany W.
Berkeley, CA
9/5/2011
For an All American breakfast lunch and dinner this is your place. I liked the food but I wasn't absolutely blown away. I could tell it was of good quality but I also could have made the burger myself. The wait staff was super friendly, however the whole restaurant could use a face lift. I like the feel of grandma's kitchen but this place needs a little more charm in the decor. The prices are good though and the milkshakes are quite delicious. Maybe next time I will just get a slice of their famous apple pies and try something else off their menu! This place is charming and a I recommend going.
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Review from Tawnya L.
Berkeley, CA
8/8/2010
Having friends visiting us from out of town we decided to take them to a nice brunch before they headed home. I chose FatApple because I liked the name, and the location was convenient. I also chose this place despite it only having (mostly) three stars across the board on Yelp.
Over all the experience was not a bad one, however not really memorable, except I will remember that its overpriced and our server didn't tell us about the specials that are NOT on the menu that would have changed a few of the parties orders.
The things I personally liked, are that I could substitute the home fries for the vegetarian chili, and that I was able to have a pastry with my meal instead of toast, so I chose the cheese puff. Most other yelp reviews talked about the cheese puff and I can say it doesn't disappoint.
I got a cheddar cheese omelette, with the chili & (obviously) the cheese puff. The omelette was sub-par it was not pleasing to the eye or particularly tasty. The chili was tasty and served with a salsa verde which was also tasty. The cheese puff was all that I imagined delicious.
Others in the party had 1. Pumpkin pancakes (Thanksgiving year round) pretty good, small portion (actually that was true for every dish)
2. Corned beef hash, I didn't try it but the feedback from he who was eating it was, "its good"
3. Waffle, which looked to me like just a step above eggo except not square. She only ate half.
All that being said the coffee did keep coming the service is nothing to write home about other than that though.
If I go back it'll be to get a cheese puff or two from the bakery.Listed in: Its Berkeley Yo!
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Review from Lane W.
Berkeley, CA
6/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
Fat apples, residing on a lazy, sycamore-protected MLK corner, is about as close to a neighborhood restaurant as you'll find in Berkeley.
Our brunch yielded no suspense, appearing exactly as you might expect it would: an orderly stack of wheat pancakes and an unkempt, yet tasty omelet. I'll attribute the lack of culinary surprise to our ordering FAIL, though, as we clearly overlooked the pumpkin pancakes.
The check came without our asking. I was about to give the restaurant 5 stars just for that little gesture, but then I realized it was merely the result of a scheduled waitressing break. (I've never quite understood why restaurants impose loitering on you. Check service should be prompt).
If you're entertaining out-of-towners, and want Berkeley to seem a little more homely than it probably is, a Saturday brunch at Fat Apples will produce the intended effect. -
Review from Kim W.
Vallejo, CA
12/6/2010
Not sure what all the hype is about on this place. Granted, I've only been once which was about two weeks ago and it was just to the bakery. But the apple turnover I had was not enough to make me want to come back. They warmed it up for me, the outside was flaky, apples (though small) inside and flavoring were okay. My friend raved about a cheese scone. But we both pretty hungry once we finally got to this place so who knows if it was really as good as she says. I would have liked to order more, but nothing under the glass really sparked my interest. I only ordered the apple turnover because I needed something at least.
But perhaps I'll go back for the restaurant one of these days. -
Review from Carol S.
Monrovia, CA
8/1/2011
My husband and I visit this bakery every time we are in the bay area. Breakfast is yummy and the service is great. The servers are friendly and quickly refill cups without hesitating. I had the pumpkin pancakes and my husband had the buttermilk pancakes. Although the pumpkin pancakes were fluffy & good, the flavor on the buttermilk pancakes were better.
Our most favorite item in the bakery is the cheese puffs! OMG! Yummy! Cream cheese filling, light and flaky! Delicious! We even zapped a couple of them in the microwave the next day and they were just as good! Can't wait to visit again!
