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Category: Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhoods: North Berkeley, Gourmet GhettoMon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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Good food (i love the hummus plate and the turkey sandwich) and great lattes. The atmosphere is terrible though for comfort -- very stuffy and warm. It's too bad though because I'd want to be here all the time otherwise! It's always nice to see people sitting outside on a warm day; hopefully they're sitting with their dogs so I can pet them.
Service is always nice and has a laid-back charm.
I also got a free illy can which I proudly walked home with. :D
People thought this was:
Pretty cafe with very brusque service. I like coming here every so often, but the attitude at the counter often makes me go elsewhere. (Like Village Grounds across the street, which has much better customer service.) And what's up with the missing sink in the bathroom? Isn't this a health-code issue?
I do like their Italian sodas and free wifi, though.
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I think I found my new study place. It's pretty small, but I like the vibe here.
+ Seriously good sandwiches. I got the turkey focaccia which is smoked turkey, avocado, jack cheese, roasted red bell peppers on focaccia bread for $6.25. The bread was all warm and toasty, nom nom nom. My bf got the pastrami panini for $6.95. So damn good. It's pastrami, caramelized onion, dijon and swiss on Acme's olive bread all grilled = super melty and hot. I am definitely getting this one next time, although my turkey sandwich was very good.
+ Good drinks. Great iced tea and espresso.
+ They play a mix of good music and use Pandora's radio online! From where I was sitting, I took a peek behind the counter and saw. At this very moment, Daft Punk is on. Study-inducing? Hell yeah. Edit: It was very near closing so maybe that's why DP and other good beats were on louder than in the afternoon.
People thought this was:
good iced coffee.
I actually came into this place with the intention of going somewhere else, but I didn't realize it until I went to review the original place here. Similar names, same street. This coffee shop is on a very uninteresting part of Shattuck where the traffic is noisy without the accompanying noisy foot traffic. Not to my taste.
The guy behind the counter was helpful but not particularly nice or welcoming. The espresso was very good (got a cappuccino), but the environment has to be nice for me to want to stay long. It's also a really small shop. Mehhhhh.
Great coffee, atmosphere and food.
Very well made espresso drinks a vast majority of the time (a good cappuccino is oft' so hard to find!) and the limeade is to DIE FOR on a hot day.
Haven't been there in a while for food, but I used to enjoy the tabouli, eggplant on focaccia and various sweets.
People thought this was:
The coffee here is one of the best in Berkeley. The sandwiches are also one of the best around in Berkeley, with very fresh ingredients. Everything in here is done well and to my liking. I come here after work with friends and it's a nice calming place to relax for hours. I also love this place because we have a secret menu item that's not available to the public, so this is our place :)
It's a little off the main campus, but it's a good place to study or get some work done. I can't do work at cafes, but there's a good crowd of people here, and it doesn't get overly loud like Strada or Milano.
The artwork inside changes monthly and is pretty neat stuff. There was a soccer painting exhibit a couple months ago that was awesome stuff.
I had a lot of reasons to ban this place before today but must admit that I didn't.
The things that bothered me before were:
A. the chairs are extremely uncomfortable - the support of the chair keeps sticking in your back while you sit. It might have been ok had I not planned to sit there more than half an hour, but for a person always on the lookout for places to work, this is less than perfect.
B. I can vouch that if the cheesecake isn't done the day before they still serve it the day after - I was there when they opened their doors one day, and saw a third of the cake on the show window
C. The restrooms could have been cleaner.
D. If you are not careful and try to charge either your debit or credit for less than 5 dollars, lets say, for 4.5 dollars, they just add half a dollar to your bill without saying a word.
Still, as I said, I did come back over and over, mainly because I want to support small coffee shop businesses.
But today they simply made me realize that I am not welcome to say the least, and it is possible that I will never return:
They put small postcards on their counter that had 4 maps of Israel showing how "the jews" occupied little by little Palestinian land, from 1948 when it was all Palestinian until this day when it is all "jewish land".
Believe me, I would have looked favorably on a poster that said "free Palestine" or something about the current war situation, but this is verging on the anti-semitic, cheap propaganda.
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This cafe is very close to my house, so I should preface this review by saying that I RARELY eat or drink in the cafe. I pretty much always have take-out.
But the fact that this cafe is convenient is not the only reason I come here multiple times per week. The coffee and espresso are great! My favorite drink is their Cubano which is just like a normal latte with brown sugar added to the ground espresso BEFORE the shot is made. It has just the right amount of sweet. The Mexican Mocha with soy is also a favorite. And perfect for dipping with a chocolate covered Semifreddo biscotti.
The food is also great. Their hummus is creamy and flavorful with a good portion size. My only criticism is that occasionally the pita is a bit stale.
The sandwiches are all good. The ones I eat the most are the eggplant with melted mozzarella (very satisfying; has a hummus spread on it; and I love melted cheese), the turkey focaccia (a tasty Berkeley cafe classic), and the tuna melt.
If you aren't in the mood for a sandwich, there is also a tuna salad option.
For dessert, the cookies are a good option. The chocolate chip is more hard/crunchy than soft but has some subtle flavors that make it a little different than your average chocolate chip cookie. It's good! The ginger cookie is zingy and not too heavy.
There are many pros to Fertile grounds but there are still a few cons. Firstly, while many people on Yelp seem to love the owner of this cafe, he is not my favorite of the people who work here. He's always rather aloof and a little slower paced. My favorite server is the girl who works here - her coffees, sandwiches and bagels are by far the best and she has NEVER screwed up an order. Plus she always remembers what my boyfriend and I like to order.
The other con is of course the size of the space. It's so small! If it was twice the size I would definitely come here to study. (Village Grounds the street has a better set up for studying but their food is not as good and their coffee is inconsistent and often bad).
And the length of time to get food can be quite long and is never fast. If you order food and there are others in line behind you, you will likely wait until after they have ordered and got their coffees until your food is even started. It's not a very efficient system when there is only one person working. There is definitely room for improvement.
But this is still one of my two favorite cafes in the area, tied with Yali's. And the combination of good food and drink earns Fertile Grounds a solid 4 stars.
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I don't actually like iced tea most of the time, but it was hot today and I didn't want coffee and for some reason I ordered it.
It was amazing, I wanted to order another. Anytime a place gives me an "i don't really care for that" to an "omg i want another one of those" experience, I feel like they deserve a good write up.
go there, drink the iced tea, and make eyes at hotties while you hide in your book.
The owner is a friendly sort
the illy coffee's swell.
The hummus is delectable,
the sandwiches as well.
The wi-fi's nice, and art, and there's
fresh pomegranates, squeezed.
If only it were twice as big!
I would be twice as pleased.
People thought this was:
Hands down this is one of my top 3 favorite coffee shops. My favorite drink is an awesome mocha biancha with soy milk. Amyn, the owner (don't know if I spelled that right) is so particular about the presentation that he offers with food and beverages, it's just spectacular. The prices are reasonable and the hummus couldn't be better unless it came in a jug! Not to mentino, the owner uses illy coffee which is has a perfect espresso taste and nice, smooth finish.
Free wi-fi, great music selection from the owner as well as good conversation. This place is always packed, but so worth it, especially if you get a table!
I don't think I would've finished graduate school without this spot. I wrote many a paper here.
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OKAY so I've never had the courage to come in here because there were always pretentious-dictionary-reading-vintage-glasses people sitting outside of it not actually reading, but just sitting there and staring at people. Gee, thanks.
So it's not Fertile Grounds' fault for the people, but I guess it didn't make it inviting. I finally came here with the lady friend because she's a coffee buff and I was "preasantry surprised" that it's actually very quaint and cutesy inside. WHOWOULDHAVEKNOWN.
Rated only for the coffee, but I got a Mexican Mocha (Spiced Chocolate ooo!) and it was dericious! Lady friend also gives the thumbs up for coffee taste and the inside tables aren't as bad as I thought.
I can see how it can get really crowded though, as I had a hard time even passing by one person in there...Anyway, not too shabby as a starting place for spending the rest of the day in the Gourmet Ghetto.
As said by Thomas Wayne in Batman Begins:
"Bruce, don't be afraid.".... TO GO INTO FERTILE GROUNDS
People thought this was:
In my search for a place to work from my laptop, here is the breakdown -
Yay:
1. Good coffee and a decent array of snacks to pick from
2. Relatively quiet environment condusive for work
3. Plenty of electrical outlets for your laptop
4. Accepts credit cards
5. Good WiFi connection
Boo:
1. Not too many tables, so it can get congested at times
Overall, I like this place - though I thought it strange that they had paintings of soccer pictures on sale. Not your standard art offering..
It is a good place and if it does get crowded you can cross the street to Village Grounds Cafe which has more seating.
People thought this was:
This is a great cafe--probably the best espresso drinks in Berkeley, no matter what time of day or who the barrista is. There is usually good music, not too many laptop workers, and even if there isn't a lot of seating, there is always a place at one of the bar-style seats at the window.
Desserts and cookies are okay, and I don't know about the food, but this has been my favorite neighborhood cafe since it opened.
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Well, after reminding them about that one time about 15 minutes ago I ordered a sandwich that I would love to be eating I have something worth your while to report: a glitch in the menu!
There are tomatoes on the pastrami panini.
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I came on to yelp just to review this place. It's right by my apt. so I've given it a shot...came in about 3 times to study. Every single time, the owner has made me feel very uncomfortable about being there. He scolded me for moving the table, pushed a chair into my friend's leg, and was just all together not welcoming or friendly at all. Their coffee may be good, but the study place is really small anyway; really though, the owner just sucks. I'll be taking my business across the street to Village Grounds now.
Yeah! Now one of my favorite coffee shops! I didn't know about it until after I graduated, which is a shame because I definitely would have brought my laptop down and enjoyed the quiet studying atmosphere. They really make lattes right, and I truly enjoy the turkey focaccia sandwich. When I'm feeling like a treat, the Mexican mocha is pretty perfect. Also, the hummus is delicious. It's rare to find a good, quiet coffee shop with great coffee AND food.
People thought this was:
Love this coffee shop. Love the Turkey Focaccia. Not just a coffee house; they have wonderful food, fresh juices, and desserts. Friendly customer service- just love to hang out here.
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My favorite cafe in Berkeley.
The food is always really good. The falafel is pretty authentic and tasty and the sandwiches are good. The hummus and labne are also good, but very overpriced in my opinion (you can get about 5x the amount in the store for the price they charge :( - and given that all they do is serve it on a plate with some pita, you may as well). My favorite drinks are the mexican mocha (mm, spicy chocolately not-too-sweet deliciousness) and the lemonade. The lemonade is some of the best fresh lemonade I've ever had, especially if the owner makes it. They use real lemon juice, lime, selzer water, and vanilla syrup. The quality of the drinks can vary depending on the barista, but I've never had anything terrible. I've never had their drip coffee, so I can't attest to its quality.
I've never had a problem finding a seat, but the seating is fairly limited. Free wifi and a clean bathroom makes it a convenient spot to sit and read/study.
Credit card/ATM surcharge if your order is under $5.
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I always walked by this place on my way to the Cheeseboard and thought, "Damn that place looks pretentious".
Well, I finally spent a rainy Tuesday afternoon here and you know what? It is. (but it's still cool).
I think it's the bar counters that line the two windowed nooks in the front of the store that give the place a "hey, look at me! I'm cooler than you!" vibe. Especially when most of the patrons are situated with their laptops-- a sea of Apples no less, all facing forward in an almost "neener-neener!" styled position.
I will give props however to the diverse clientele that was patronizing the cafe that afternoon. Hipster bicycle fiends, dog-walking North Berkeley elderly couples, cracked-out Cal students, the token Berkeley dreadlocked vegan caucasian (male), and me.
The service wasn't bad either. The latte I had was decent but the fresh-squeezed lemonade with a sprig of mint was absolutely delicious. However, the albacore tuna sandwich I had off the menu was phrased as such to make it seem "steakier", when in reality it ended up being just a warmed-up tuna sandwich. *frowny face*
Free Wi-Fi and a number of outlets for Michi-chan to suck on round out a solid, albeit not mind-blowing, cafe experience in North Berkeley.
I'll probably be back, but only because Guerilla Cafe has no Internet service.
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Ah, Fertile Grounds.... it's the kinda of local coffee place you want to live next to...where the barista knows your "usual", and you have your spot by the window to study...well such was the case w/my friend...and i reaped the benefits!
The people that work there are very friendly :)
The artwork changes regularly so keep a look out!
The food is alllll good and awesomely priced (about 7 bucks for a satisfying lunch and dessert!)
TRY THE TURKEY FOCACCIA!!!! SSOOOO Good. oohh and ask for "panini style" :) b/c you can't go wrong w/focaccia, basil mayo, turkey, avocado, tomatoes, and bell peppers
Their hummus are also awesome, as is well everything to eat there...including the tuna salad, soups, etc. OH and the swiss muesli... which makes for a fantastically healthy and filling breakfast.
Drinks: the espresso drinks are realllyy good, get the mexican mocha!
and another great one... the lemon spritzer (made w/sugar water!!)
oh also the mocha bianca
AND THE DESSERTS... ohhhhh suuuchhh gooood TIRAMISU
and cheesecake
and born yesterday (only a buck!) pastries.. like hte rasberry brownie
and chocolate chip cookies
... i think you get the point
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Great cappucinos and yummy hot cocoa. I have yet to try the food...
The owner is super nice and is there almost all the time. This place has a pleasant relaxed atmosphere and very reasonable prices. Definitely a favorite in the area!
Creamy mocha bianca - I could sip it forever. Perhaps because I was on vacation, perhaps because it was a crisp yet sunny day in the Bay, perhaps because it was made from illy beans, perhaps because I needed that caffeine fix - that mocha bianca hit the spot.
This cafe is one of the reasons I really miss living in California. It is so difficult to find great coffee so I take refuge in this humble abode. The workers know how to make drinks but the owner is the master. He's probably the most passionate about the quality of his product. I've seen some imitators but this is the best coffee shop in a 100 mile radius. Seriously, I've looked :-)
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Fertile Grounds is a nice place to work. Good coffee, free Wi-Fi. The drawback - not much seating.
For a cup of coffee and a book-read, this place would be great. For a long day of computer work, a larger, more spacious coffee shop may be better.
I do enjoy visiting, however.
The best coffee shop in Berkeley to surf on your laptop (free wi-fi), read or work, and enjoy a warm, quiet, pleasant atmosphere. It's clean but not sterile, friendly and not creepy. Baristas are really nice, drinks are good. It's usually not too crowded, never empty. A consistent, congenial coffee shop.
Update: I have to shout out the hummus and tabouli here. Top notch stuff. Order it.
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I absolutely love this place. The owner Aiman is a seriously charming and dashingly handsome young man who always remembers my name and my favorite kind of tea. Kudos to the free wifi and attempt to squeeze as much comfortable sitting as is possible into the little room. There are also some little tables out front that are usually open.
Get a sandwich, you won't regret it. :)
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Oy. I am SO over the Berkeley cafe scene. The constant stream of students and other academia-related peoples fighting for a seat at crappy topsy-turvy tables can be overwhelming. Plus, it gives me weird flashbacks to my undergrad days.
When I'm in the East Bay and need a quiet place to chill, this is the place to be. Fertile Grounds is an unassuming cafe that is clean and cozy. They've got free wi-fi and a menu with sandwiches and other treats that lean toward Middle Eastern cuisine.
My favorite spot to park myself is at one of the corner stools up front. I can lean back against the wall while sipping on my au lait and read or watch the harried world go by.
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Three words:
FRESH POMEGRANATE JUICE!!!
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The mustard yellow walls seem to be dirty & worn and send a message of carelessness what can be transcribed to the brewing of coffee as well. For example, the white mocha's are watery and it is obvious that the steamer pressure is nowhere near where it should be.
What is worse, is that it leaves a after taste which doesn't match the espresso but, instead of rotten milk. Another mistake was that the foam itself was not thick enough either nor did it show any real hints to the exact espresso that was made with.
Moving on to the tables and chairs, which are narrow and seem to be old. The chairs are something that might have been found in some thrift shop and by the lack of padding and lumbar support... they could only be second hand.
Personally, "illy" based out of Italy were the first people in the world to popularize drinking caffeine. Yet, we someone who is untrained and has inferior machines it would be impossible to truly get everything needed from a small cup of coffee here.
As for the use of VISA instead of CASH, they charge 50cents as a surcharge. Personally I find this type of business practice outdated. After all, all these things are tax deductions for the owner and don't need to be passed on to the consumer. Overall, I was really disappointed by this place.
Clearly, my standards for cafes is much stringent that I previously thought. Also spider webs plague the cafe floor because of improper cleaning.
There lack of awareness for the surrounding makes me only doubt what condition the food and other products they sell here are in.
Thankfully I didn't have to go into the bathroom...
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I'm very picky about coffee, and this cafe is among the very few and elite for coffee and tea. Love the turkey foccaccia sandwich and tabouli. it's not on the menu but ask for the nus-nus (half coffee, half milk)
Free wi-fi. My only complaint though is that sometimes FG is filled with laptops--makes it look more like a computer lab than a spot to enjoy a latte & chill. We nicknamed it the Laptop cafe.
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It's a little weird feeling to write a review about a place while you are currently sitting and patronizing the place you are about to review.
So yes, I'm writing this review while sitting in one of the chairs of Fertile Grounds. My belly is full of their delicious falafel with fresh tahini mix, iced chai and I still have half an eaten cheesecake in front of me, waiting to join the falafel and chai. That should be a good sign.
This is a great little cafe with free wifi and comfortable seating. It's relatively small but there always seems to be a place to do your work, relax with a book, or waste time writing reviews on the internet. There are plenty of electrical outlets scattered about the cafe so there's never a worry about your laptop pooping out on you mid-sentence.
The food is definitely great. A friend of mine (a self-proclaimed authority on Mediterranean food) says this is the best falafel in town and I don't disagree. I'm normally not a fan of falafel, but I order it every time I'm here and I'm hungry for a substantial meal.
The drinks are equally good. I'm not a big coffee drinker so I can't speak for their coffee but the tea, chai and fresh squeezed juices are delicious.
The owner and the people who work here are friendly and keep the place in great condition. Sometimes I find the owner a bit stand-offish but it's probably because he's just busy and serious about his work because he is known to carry on friendly conversation if the occasion arises.
The walls of the cafe are adorned with art from local artists which can be a nice touch of the art is nice. It's kind of hit or miss, but looks a lot better than blank walls.
I wish I could give it 4.5 stars because the only reason why I don't give it a full 5 is that sometimes it can get a little rowdy in the cafe with too many people or the owner's friend's kids running about. But overall, the crowd is good. If you like being around academics.
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Its Sunday morning, and I think I am going to make this place a ritual. Wondeful soothing Brazilian music fills the air with the click and clack of free internet squatters (including myself) renting space with a hot cup of joe and oatmeal peach pastrie. The best part of the whole thing is that I've been here several times and loved it always. I think I am going to take home a free emptied 'illy' coffee can he has set up behind the bar. I guess just ask for one.
Wow... someone JUST smiled at me as I was seated here hacking and sipping away at this place, which is worth a STAR. *****
It turns out the smile was from a fellow coffee drinking visiting parents in Moraga. She was coax'd to coming to Fertile Grounds as part of an agenda to spend part of her day. The nice lady lives in Austin, Texas possibly working later in San Antonio and have been a Berkeley tourist for just a couple of busy days. With that morning being free I offered directions to West Marin and its coastline (Nude Beach). I gave her my email address, but I don't know if she went.
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Awsome coffee shop. They use Illy Coffee, which is twice as expensive as the beans that Starbucks or Peets uses and they charge less for a coffee drink. Not only that, they sell Illy by the can for $9, which is $3 less per can than the next cheapest place.
The coffee is excellent. Maybe not as good as my favorite Cafe Grecco in North Beach, but almost half the price. The pastry and desert stuff they have is excellent as well. I am not a student and don't hang out in coffee shops, but it would be a good place to go if I had to kill time.
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Tasty coffee and ginger snaps. The cozy atmosphere means that you're never lonely even if you're completely engrossed in your laptop -- and yet the company is almost always friendly and courteous. Somehow the people there are less distracting than they are at Berkeley Espresso, even though the seating space is smaller. It's a great place to study.
The only drawback is that you'll have to be lucky to find a table. You can always sit at the window bar, though, and watch the people walk by.
Oh Carrot Cake, I miss you.
You're a sweet, but not cloyingly overindulgent piece of delight.
In many ways, you're like a great makeout session. I fear that if I taste your embrace too often, you'll lose your charm. Thank god you're in the 510 and I don't run the risk of daily temptations. Just a pang of hunger for your touch on my tongue every so often.
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I've walked by this charming cafe a million times, but never ventured inside until today. It's a nice cozy spot to hang out and warm your soul with a cup of joe, especially on a dreary, rain soaked afternoon. They have free WiFi, hence lots of coffee-drinking nerds affixed to their laptop screens. The cafe was relatively quiet except for the know-it-all loudmouth who adamantly used his outside voice inside and passionately disputed the existence of global warming with his girlfriend.
I ordered a single decaf macchiato for $2.00. The espresso was strong, but also bitter and had high acidity with a sour finish, which leads me to believe that their coffee beans are old and rancid. I used to like illy once upon a time. What happened to their quality? Maybe it was just operator error. Minus one star for bad coffee.
Minus another star for inattentive service. The postpubescent cashier was off to a good start. She acknowledged me by making eye contact, without actually saying "hi". Then as I was giving her my order, she decided that I was boring her and started a conversation with her co-worker. WTF? The barista behind her actually heard my order and started making my macchiato, but little Miss "I Should Have Asked Santa To Bring Me A Longer Attention Span And Some Manners For Christmas" had the nerve to ask me what I ordered AGAIN. Four words -- a single decaf macchiato. Wow, life is rough.
This would be a great cafe to frequent more often, but two strikes -- bad coffee and bad service -- are enough to keep me away.
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Good place to sit if you can ever find a seat. The staff can either be nice or snobby depending on if you get the baristas or the owner. Food and drinks are okay.
One time I was with my boyfriend studying here and the owner came up and literally yelled at us about whether or not we had bought anything yet. I assured him that my boy and I were about the buy drinks once we had gotten properly settled and he just stormed off.
Don't waste your time here, go across the street to Village Grounds.
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Good coffee, generally quiet and free wi-fi. I've been coming to this place to study recently, and I've found myself fond of the Scharffen-Berger Mocha. I usually don't like mochas cause they're too sweet, but this one is good cause you actually taste the chocolate rather than being overdosed with sugar. and i also think this is the only place in berkeley that i've to serve an egg cream... mmmm....
anyway, the only thing i have to complain about is that the place is freakin cold. for some reason they like to keep the window open even when it's 45 degrees out and raining. they're usually nice about it and close it (or tell you to close it) if you ask, but just be warned, it gets cold there.
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Neighborhood: North Berkeley
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: South Berkeley
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Elmwood
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Gourmet Ghetto
Category: Coffee & Tea
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