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Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
Moffitt Undergraduate Library"Today I died and went to heaven. Heaven being Angeline's. I just had THE most amazing fried chicken of my entire life. It came with amazing…" read more »
The Good:
* Ham/avocado/swiss panini
* Mediterranean salad
* Chinese chicken salad
* Most of the soups
* The cakey/dessert-y things
* Free wifi for students
* Late hours
* Awesome outdoor seating if the weather is good
The Bad:
* The breakfast pastries: Avoid, avoid, avoid.
* The coffee: Okay in a fix.
* The prices: Not super affordable.
* The crowd: You will always have to hawk for an indoor seat.
* The staff: They really, honestly couldn't give a rat's ass about you.
That was easy!
I recommend the salads (especially the mediterranean vegetarian salad and the blue cheese/bacon/egg salad), the soups are decent, the veggie and chicken quesadillas are good, and the chai latte is superb. The best deal is to split one of their huge ass salads with a friend.
Ditto what everyone else said about price being meh and convenience great. Its a great place to study--too bad you have to wait forever for a seat inside no matter what time it is because tables for two are almost always occupied by one person.
They accept Cal 1 card.
Relatively cheap and convenient for students taking a break from the studying at the library.
I think it's a genius idea that they should have at every library.
I mean, it only makes sense to have some caffeine next to a library where you need it. It's so convenient.
UCLA should take note. At UCLA, (although i love the school) you have to walk down the hill to Kerkoff to get coffee which isn't that bad but then it's the middle of the night and it's hella dark you might trip and fall and break your face on the stairs (not that it's happened to me). And i don't think it's open until 2 am. It closes at like 11 even though the library is open 24 hours.
But the Free Speech movement is open until 2 am just like the library.
They are always packed though even though there is a lot of outdoor seating. Probably gets too cold for all the starving students.
I suggest that they give away free pastries to the students that are there till late night. Like 1 am when they are closing anyways. It'll go a long way to help with their PR. Oh wait, it's the UC system. They're probably raising prices on the donuts as I write this. $10 for a bagel anyone?
Everything I have had here is delicious, but on a student's budget, it isn't affordable. If your a student looking for affordable and good in this area of campus it is best to head up Euclid for more options on a budget.
Two words: bloody brilliant.
I'm not a big coffee drinker, so I'm trying out their other selections:
+ Roast beef sandwich. Holy crap. Holy. Crap. Everything from the texture of the foccacia to the amount of chipotle-ing the chipotle mayo did was perfect. Small package, GREAT flavor.
+ Clam chowder with sourdough bread on the side. Perfect, perfect consistency.
- Barbeque chicken quesadilla. Looks fancy, but nothing special. A bit bland, to be honest.
+ Hot chocolate. Not watery, not hyper sweet, just a nice, roasty chocolate drink for a chilly day like today.
Location is superb, right smack in the middle of campus and just off the libraries. Prime studying territory and a cozy place for group meetings. The only downer is that the outdoor patio somehow sucks all the wind in and gets FREEZING cold on the non-sunny days. Fantastic if you nab a seat indoors. This is definitely a tried and true Berkeley landmark.
3 stars for food. The food is pretty bland, I would recommend walking the 5 minutes to Bancroft or Hearst.
5 stars for location - so convenient!! Especially during finals...
FSM is great for the quick Red Bull/ coffee/ chocolate chip cookies run...
It is also a great place to meet someone to quickly go over some work.
There's nothing particularly great about any of the food or coffees served here. I've had the paninis and sandwiches offered and both times was pretty disappointed.
However, it's on campus and convenient. Those are the only two reasons I would ever eat at Free Speech; but it's still over-priced (almost $15 for a sandwich and a coffee) and pretty bland.
You're better off just eating at People's Cafe or the Yali's Cafe on campus
And they only take Cash :/
I've been going to Cal for two years and I've never sat down at FSM to study until this summer. During the school year, this place is always packed with PEOPLE. Not like you can't get enough of that at Berkeley already.
During the summer, it's a little more mellow, so it's not as crowded.
- Coffee: I love their coffee!!
- Mocha Bianca: almost as good as the one from Strada.
- Latte: Vanilla = extra 50 cents, nonfat milk = extra 10 cents, total = $3.85 = too expensive for just a latte
- Pastry: their pastry is alright
- Food: I tried their Californian Deli Sandwich and it was really good.
Good place to study because they have nice seating area, but I doubt I'll be able to study here during the semester. Outdoor is nice for light reading/meeting.
5 stars for free coffee!
If you bring your own cup they will fill it up for free, only during a different 1 hour period every day though.
I just throw my mug in my bag in the morning and check in every so often.
No complaints.
Coffee: not the best I've tasted, but then again, I view coffee as more of a caffeine delivery system as opposed to something to savor, so in that regard their coffee does the job. And it's cheaper than starbux =)
Food: pretty good, a little on the small side and pricey.
Location: this is where it shines. In my opinion, it's central location right on campus, and next door to the library, makes this cafe. Great place to meet with groups (especially at those outdoor stone tables), great place to cram for that final while saving precious minutes that would have been lost if you went to cafe on Durant or Bancroft. Plus, you stand a good chance of bumping into some old friends you haven't seen since freshman year there, due to the sheer volume.
I love this place. Not the best coffee, not the cheapest or best food, but I have fond , fond memories of studying here with buddies late into the night.
FSM is basically where all CAL students will frequent often at some point in their time on campus. During the school year, it's nearly impossible to find a table inside. When you do find one, you basically don't leave until you absolutely must.
The outdoor seating is nice during the summer, but the concrete benches are so uncomfortable. During the fall and winter, it's freezing, but when there's no seating inside you suck it up and go outside. They should consider installing heating lamps.
The sandwiches are expensive, but I do enjoy their turkey panini with avocado, tomatoes, mozzarella on foccacia. The salad that accompanies the sandwich is sort of blah.
The only drinks I've ordered here are chai lattes and mochas. It was here that I discovered the greatness of the chai latte; so GOOD!
One drawback is they don't take credit card, although I think they just started to take cal1 points? Also the workers there sometimes carry a "I don't give a damn" attitude; I don't blame them though, college students can be annoying.
I have many fond memories studying at FSM for bio, physics during the summer, and with random groups. The pictures of the free speech movement lining the walls of the cafe are awesome!
Go Bears!
PRO:
get inspired and rallied into social changer mode
with the promising combo of caffeine plus socio-political art!
VEGAN CON:
no vegan pastries. no vegan granola bars. no vegan cookies.
Good place to remind yourself that you're in a different income bracket than the majority of your fellow students. Just gape open-mouthed at the prices for a while and then go home to your ramen.
I have to go to the bathroom. Bad. Really bad. If I get up, I'll never get my seat back. Maybe the feeling will subside...
With a raging case of undiagnosed ADD or maybe even ADHD, I love FSM. It's always crowded and there's always something to distract me while studying. I can even eat here alone and not feel awkward: plenty of people around to look at, the tables are decorated with newspapers from the '60s, and the CNN effect is always steadily going strong in the background. Magic. Good luck finding a seat, though. I used to cut out of class early in order to find one. And once you do find one, don't even think of getting up until you know you're ready to leave. If you're having trouble, try sharing a table with someone and not so subtly edging them out. The more books you have, the better.
Best quality food on campus, but you will pay for it. Go for the soup/salad combo. It's probably the best bang for the buck and the soups are really good. Sometimes they accidentally give you a bowl instead of a cup -- score!
Minus one star for not taking credit or ATM cards and only cash or Cal1.
This is a very good cafe with convenient location, alright coffee and pastries, good food in a jam, wifi, some indoor seating, and lots of outdoor seating when the weather is nice. The morning buns and almond croissants are really good here. Outside there are well-lit stands with local and international newspapers in large print, updated daily. It is also nicely located in Moffitt Library with easy main stacks access.
unfair to say, but it is the best cafe ON campus - though strada and milano beat it by far
FSM has some crazy history that I really should know more about, being a bear, but since my knowledge is spotty I refer you to: http://en.wikipedia.or....
So let me stick to what I do know: pastries. The pastries here are GOOD, and not unreasonably priced, about $2 each.
Some of the yummies I've had here: Chocolate cake, raspberry cheesecake, pumpkin cheesecake, almond croissant, and more. I've been eating this stuff since Freshman year so there's quite a few I'm leaving off, though I do have a penchant for the cheesecakes and chocolate cake.
Basically, the pastries are way better than what you could get at the GBC or DCs or the Bear's Lair food court, and what better way is there to get through a class than by eating something yummy for the tummy?
I also like the actual Cafe. Cool decor, internet (but of course), and nice, chill atmosphere. Only bad part is the sometimes *insane* lines between classes.
Thumbs up for FSM!
I like that it's open so late. The food doesn't taste the best; however, the selection of pastries is awesome. Their coffees are above average too.
Downsides: The coffee is mediocre, the vulture-like waiting on the limited amount of tables can be vicious, the bathroom might be sprayed with urine by some douche who used it beforehand (maybe this just happened to me) and conversations of the people sitting nearby can be incredibly distracting.
But overall, the FSM is a cool cafe. Good place to meet up with classmates and study with friends (central location) and their food is delicious (especially the Californian sandwich w/ focaccia bread).
A definite Berkeley-must.
The coffee is god-awful terrible, the food ok but way overpriced, and at least 50% of the time your order will get messed up.
So why 3 stars? Best place to study/do work on campus that isn't the library. When it isn't super crowded. Make sure you come with your laptop at 100% battery life, because fighting for an outlet can be brutal.
I have been to FSM a few times in my studies at Cal, usually late at night and usually with study groups. I mostly get food (some of their soups are okay and their asian chicken salad is decent) but i rarely get their coffee. When I do, the situation looks something like this:
First visit:
Me: 'I'll have a nonfat cappuccino please."
J: "I'll have a nonfat latte."
*drinks*
Me: "These drinks taste terrible. Let's never get them again."
J: "Agreed."
Second visit:
J: "I'll have a cafe au lait"
Me: "I'll have a nonfat latte"
J: "Steph, what are you doing?"
Me: "Well, the cappuccinos are bad. Maybe this will be better" *drinks and makes an unhappy face*
J: "Steph, all the espresso drinks are bad. The plain coffee is passable I suppose... hence the cafe au lait"
Me: "Right... remind me never do this again."
Third Visit:
Me: "I'll have a nonfat cappuccino."
J: *looks at me incredulously*
Me: "FUCK!"
... God knows which visit...
Me: "I'll have a mineral water and cobb salad!"
J: "Yay! You're learning!"
Yeah... the coffee is shit. But when you need a boost past midnight, it's just the place. Better than that, they now take meal points for those of you still in the dorms (and even though the food is bad, it's about a million times better than dorm food)
Most recent visit to FSM:
J: "I'll have a cafe au lait please."
Me: "I'll have a nonfat cappuccino"
J: *laughs hysterically*
Me: "What's so funny?"
J: "It took you nearly two years to learn this and what do you order?"
Me: "crap..." *facepalm*
Old habits die hard I suppose...
I get all misty thinking about FSM. I seriously do. Appreciate it while you're there, kiddies, you will miss it when you're gone.
My main study buddy and I used to be here 'till close on many a night-- Reading Milton, discussing Derrida and dissemination, cramming for tests, and writing essays. I always grabbed my morning coffee here on the way to Wheeler. Sometimes I had their soup for lunch.
I was even at FSM the night the votes were counted in the '04 presidential election. And I was there the following morning, watching CNN with a hundred fellow students, tears in our eyes as we realized Bush would assume a second term despite all of our phone-banking and meek contributions.
If you haven't read the Mario Savio quote on the wall-- Do. In fact, rent the documentary on Berkeley in the 60's so that you can fully appreciate your school's role in the movement this place is named after.
And don't complain about always being here to study. That's the point. It's why you're in Berkeley. Love it or don't, but life will never be like this again.
My primary purpose in sitting @ FSM was to meet students I tutored. It's a convenient place to meet on campus. There are several tables inside and free WIFI. Outside, there are longer benches and tables which work very well for meeting bigger groups. Free Speech serves hot and cold food. I've tried their salad, soup and sandwiches and there's nothing to write home about. The salad tend to be fairly small. The soup is almost always bland and the sandwiches are edible. I did like some of their desserts. The raspberry cheesecake in particular is quite good. Their coffee cake and almond croissant are also good.
FSM has a few selection of food which I think the students can appreciate if they're studying @ Moffitt and are looking for the closest place to eat during breaks. I'm not sure the prices are reasonable, however. One needs to only walk across Sproul to find cafes that have better prepared salads and sandwiches at much affordable prices.
Although this cafe has a great location, I find its coffee to be aggressive and not very complex. Accordingly, I never order naked espressos or even macchiatos from these guys. In fact, I generally stay away!
However, I was here yesterday after lunch at a friend's suggestion. I ordered a cappucino, and my friend had a latte. The milk really saved the day. Sitting out on the terrace in the sun, we were both very happy with our drinks -- and with the FSM Cafe.
Amazing panini. Soft, luscious focaccia that felt like it was at risk of breaking off into chunks, but stayed strong in supporting the roast beef, cheese, and vegetables inside. Toasted not lightly, but not obnoxiously crunchy...it all melted in my mouth.
Also:
-Very convenient location.
-Location inside library means that the rest of your day is more likely to be productive.
-Food isn't overly filling, which means you actually can think.
-Seating is doable if you're alone and you aren't too shy to ask someone to share their table.
-I feel bad for the cafe because of the people who sit on their laptops for 8 hours occupying a table without buying anything.
-Outside is not great but not terrible.
-I happen to like the mini salad that comes with the sandwiches!
-I also happen to like their black coffee.
-Sandwiches are $6.50 and they don't take any CC :( :( :(
So. Good. This is my favorite panini place that I can think of. Delicious turkey panini and fresh side salad to go with it. Seating is not so great, and prices are a little high, but damn, it's good... possibly good enough to go back after graduating........
I heart their atmosphere (as well as their food)!
Definitely try their sandwiches and salads, though! The sandwiches all come with a small side garden salad. They really fill you up.They have some creatively interesting yet sometimes unappetizing soups so I'd suggest to stay away from those unless they have a good soup of the day (eg. Tomato Basil)
They don't take credit card, but you can use your Cal 1 Debit Card if you're associated with the university (student, faculty, etc). Also, it can be difficult to find a seat inside when it starts to get dark and/or cold.
I went on a Friday during lunch time. I recommend going when the students are off as it is too crowded and MUCH TOO slow otherwise. I waited nearly half an hour for my salad to go.
I have tried all their salads and nothing else. Their salads are marvelous. I can get whatever I want on the side and they are filling. I recommend trying all their salads and you will surely find a favorite.
The decor is nice. I always read the excerpt of the Mario Savio speech on the wall. It has become one of my favorites.
The menu us full of ingredients that are support sustainable agriculture, and are local and organic when they can (so they say).
Okay, so this place is amazing when it comes to final, midterms, or taking a break from the library.
I really like the paninis cause they always taste good. But the vinaigrette dressing can be a bit acidic at times but it's still good nevertheless.
Their black bottom muffin, biscotti, and espresso brownie bar are my stable.
The only reason why I took away 1 star is because the Italian soda is not that great and it's always crowded with a bijillion people during normal school year.
had the soup and salad combo. the house salad was extremely average. the soup - chicken tortilla - was not pleasant. it was somewhat lukewarm, chicken tasted like fake meat, and the corn not blended with the rest of the flavors in the soup.
Great tea, yummy pastries, outside patio where you can soak up the sun or watch the fog roll in....depending on the weather. It's a great place to eat, hang out, study, ponder, write poetry and talk with friends.
Haven't tried any of the "real" food, yet...just the pastries, which have all been good. Sometimes, I pop in just to get an espresso brownie....creamyliscious!
But watch out for the Berkeley squirrels....they're bad asses and will try to hijack your food if you leave it unattended outside. Plus, they viciously defend their territory when another squirrel comes too close. Literally, you could find yourself sitting in the middle of a squirrel smack down.
Oh, and bring your laptop...of course~
The name of the cafe will entice you...actually finding a table will make you want to stay...for 8 hours.
I agree with most students that this is not the best place to work, but I love FSM Cafe anyway. The clusterfuck is enough to deter you, no matter if this place is smack dab (according to my internal compass) in the middle of campus. But, if you're ok with people around you chatting about whatever the hell lecture they just got out of or whether or not a boob piercing at Zebra's is sanitary, then congratulations you have it made. Not saying it gets ridiculously loud and obnoxious here, but if you're alone, you'll want to have headphones.
This place gets ample light and the walls are adorned with pictures of Cal's days of yore - extra points for inspiration. I didn't get the chance to try the food here, except for the pasta salad (ok if you're starving). I also would advise against sitting outside unless you're meeting someone. It can get cold and the glare from the sun is not conducive to reading or laptop use.
I was here early in the morning. It was like McDonald's sponsoring a third world country in there. It felt like a Starbucks trying to pull off.. well, just about ANY cause. It felt like the Inferno. Everyone was flying around and didn't want to make any relationships. I didn't find our little corner to be particularly warm or cozy or conducive to conversation or ANYTHING. Gut this place. Put couches in here. Some fucking megaphones. And let her rip! Free speech, man, what a bitch. ON TOP OF THAT. Don't fucking call THAT cappuccino. Nop. Sorry, dudes. NOT A MOTHER FUCKING CAPPUCCINO. Call me a snob. Maybe I am. But you gotto get THAT drink another name. If it's not a fucking cappuccino, why call it that? I pray.
Dear God, please give free speech another chance.
Maybe I'll go back for a sandwich, which I hear are good.
SIDENOTE: A cafe serving this shit ass "cappuccino" should ALWAYS, I mean ALWAYS (and I hope the law would back me up on this one) have a bathroom within running distance available to it's customers. If you're here before 9 when the library opens... Wear Diapers, the moffitt bathroom here doesn't open until nine!
One star for bringing me closer to GOD.
I don't even know where to begin listing the craptascular issues with this place. Maybe the beginning is a good place to start:
(1) It is rather difficult to get a seat at a table indoors, particularly the nice, squishy seats that run along the wall. Not everyday is an outdoor seating day
(2) The cashiers are kinda rude. Perhaps not rude to me so much...someone suggested they're nicer to females. But they're pretty goddamn rude sometimes. One time I was studying there and one dude came around sweeping. Nothing was under my seat but he just HAD to have the broom knock into my seat repeatedly. Another time one of the workers was bothering a student about moving a table to a place it normally doesn't go, but instead of the worker putting the table back where it should be, he moved it around somehow and the table ended up where the student put it in the first place...???
(3) The workers shout out people's order numbers in a very obnoxious way. I've been to my share of restaurants...that degree of shouting is really unnecessary. I bring headphones just to drown them out.
(4) The food is too expensive for what it is. I've never understood why that line is so long. I seriously take the time to walk to the Bear's Lair because I can get anything the FSM has cheaper over there. Thank you Cheese 'n' Stuff and Heavenly Healthy Foods.
(5) I've never been to a restaurant that charges you EXTRA if you eat on a plate. How can their food be so expensive then they're charging 20 cents to wash the plate? They could have at least hidden the charge so I wouldn't feel snubbed. I'll have mine on the wax paper thank you!
(6) The only TV in there is on CNN 24/7. Umm cuz that's "the best news" on TV. There's no sound anyway, they should continue on their thrifty track and get rid of the TV altogether. I don't wanna hear about Jane Fonda's sex life at 50 on Larry King Live when we're in a war.
The only reason why I gave them an extra star is because I LOVE the carrot cake. They lose points for sloppily dumping it into a paper bag, causing the frosting to stick to the wax paper in a most unsavory fashion. It's called a TO GO BOX!
If I must state my occupation, I will of course go on to say that I am a college administrator. I work in college administration at UC Berkeley. I am one of many. I push papers and pay grad students and talk a lot about academic disciplines that I don't personally study. It actually can be kind of fun, if you don't let yourself be crushed by the bureaucracy and/or your filing cabinets.
Anyway - my office is housed in the University library, which is majestic and beautiful with views of Berkeley and the Bay and the GG Bridge. Not too shabby. Also, this places me within close proximity of the Free Speech Movement Cafe, a place of coffee and food and students and really nice people behind the counter.
Yes, it is expensive. But you know what? It's in the dead center of campus (for which rent must be rather steep) and everything there is actually GOOD. Some of the other campus places run by the dining services are expensive and the drinks/food are unexciting at best.
At FSM, the coffee is fresh, strong, and HOT (try the Spider - house coffee with an espresso shot. That'll put hair on your chest), and the food is well-made and tasty. My favorites: the hot turkey panini with avocado and pesto and the cobb salad with fresh greens and lots of hearty cobb-y toppings. Yummmm. I don't go everyday, because that wouldn't be the most cost-efficient way of doing things, but on days when I value convenience for lunch and/or my morning coffee at home just doesn't cut it, FSM always satisfies.
Wowzers! This place is awesome. It's right in the middle of UC Berkeley and the main libraries. The inside has pictures of the FSM...of course. Big area to sit outside.
As for the drinks, I've only gotten the hot chocolate (so good) and the espresso...boy, is it strong. A kick in the face strong...you'll be wide awake for lecture.
The tuna melt is out of this world great. I've never had a better tuna melt sandwich and I've tried a lot. Comes with a good portion of a salad too all for about $6.50. The Mediterranean salad is crack, really. It's a huge portion so I usually take some back for later.
The first thing that attracted me to FSM is their raspberry cheesecake. The taste is unexplainable....I always get one when I'm there. They have lots of other sandwiches and huge portions of salad.
All in all I recommend FSM. It's a great place to study, watch tv, meet cool people, and just chill out. I know us students need that every now and then.
Good luck finding a sit.
*Most importantly, you'll get to practice your Spanish when ordering*
The Free Speech Movement Cafe is exactly what most coffee shops attempt to emulate. They have a social and dynamic atmosphere complemented by that San Franciscan modern aura that keeps people working on their homework for hours at a time.
Their selection of foods is a bit limited but the quality compensates. The coffee's great, the seating is comfortable and there's a plethora of plug outlets.
The people are often easy to approach, so you can take a break between chapters and get to know someone that's interesting. It's a fantastic way to get work done without unproductive interruptions. Great for students and faculty!
I loved studying in the FSM at Berkeley. Although the prices are a tad high to eat there all the time, the prices for coffee and drinks are decent and they make it rather well, too.
It's a nightmare trying to find a place to sit so unless you go really early (sometimes there's a line waiting outside the door already) or really late, you're gonna have to breathe down the back of someone who's already sitting down, hope you make them uncomfortable enough to leave, and grab their table. Otherwise, esp during finals time, you're gonna have to be REALLY lucky to get a table.
That said, their salads are great, sandwiches are alright, and pastries are sometimes okay and sometimes not. Skip the overpriced juices and just go for the coffee. No time limit, so linger there all you want. But watch out cuz if I want a table I'll breathe down your back.
This dump deserves at least three dollar signs if only because a fucking hardboiled egg costs 75 cents. Thats also pretty much the only thing worth getting here unless you want to pay 10 bucks for a warm Cobb salad in too much dressing. The coffee SUCKS, the prices SUCK, but the selection, especially for late-night studying rounds, oh yeah IT FUCKING SUCKS. "Hmm, shall I have the defrosted cheesecake or a bag of chips with my muddy "fair-trade" cup of coffee? They both sound soo refreshing at 2 am. Brain-food, really."
Okay so there is one thing about this place that keeps it from earning the monostar. On any given night, should you be lucky enough to actually find a seat, sit back, put your studying aside, and prepare to witness an endless influx of the HOTTEST Persian girls you never knew went to this school. Why do hot Persian girls love this place so much? I'll never know. But God bless America, Free Speech has em hooked.
OVERPRICED AND UNFRIENDLY CAFE OFFERS LITTLE MORE THAN CONVENIENCE
FSM is a place that should have two separate review pages, one for males an one for females.
As far as I know, at least the food is the same for both sexes. That is, from time to time when I've had a sip or a bite of a female friend's order, it's been just as unexceptional as mine. The sandwiches aren't bad per se; they just don't contain any ingredients that aren't in my fridge right now.
As I sat there just now, eating a bowl of flavorful [hence two stars instead of one] but solid-deprived soup, I thought about all the nasty things I would say in my review. On my way back downstairs to write it, I ran into a girl I know. I made a comment about seeing her there a lot. "I love this place!" she said (without a hint of sarcasm).
That's because you have breasts. The young men behind the counter smile at you and treat you like an old friend. They remember what you like, they ask how your finals are going, they tell you they like that thing in your hair.
When I order something, I get a very different reception. The message they try to send is "Hey, man, I'm not into guys or anything, but I'll serve you because it's my job."
Once when I ate there, I asked for a ham panino without cheese. In a few minutes, the guy called my number, and I took my sandwich from the counter. Guess what was in it.
I order things without cheese all the time, and I've had all kinds of restaurants screw it up. It's a little mistake that I easily forgive, because I'm so used to it. Hell, I bet it even happens to female customers sometimes. But then:
I politely reminded the guy that I had asked for no cheese.
His eyebrows dropped. "That is not what you told me."
I insisted, still nicely, that it was what I had told him.
"Well I'll make it again," he said, "but that is not what you told me."
Let's just say for one minute that I really did forget to say no cheese. Let's say that even though I have to utter those two words at about half of the meals I ever eat, I forgot to say them just this once.
What greater good does it serve, Mr. Barista/ToasterOperator, for you to tell me that I didn't say "no cheese"? Your ego? Or maybe it's constructive criticism; you're trying to teach me how to order better next time. Thank you so much.
I love this place!
From Sun-Thu, this place is open as late as the adjoining library -- 2am. Which is nice, since you can grab that last cup of coffee before you head home and finish that last page of your term paper that you oh god make this end already i don't care about what plato and caesar have to say help me
Anyway, the drinks and food are actually reasonably priced for a cafe. Their sandwiches and salads are decent, and they're usually prepped quickly. The problem, however, is the crowd. Jesus, the crowds. A parade of students, faculty, and staff results in ridiculous lines during lunch hour. Good luck finding a place to sit indoors during the afternoon/evening hours. The lack of seating bothers me, since the cafe only opened a few years ago. Couldn't they have anticipated the popularity of the place? It's difficult to get a decent-sized study group organized here because the seating is so awkward (individual chairs placed around very small tables).
The outdoor seating isn't too bad, but beware of the student groups who gather here AND TALK VERY LOUDLY JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN.
Neighborhood: Downtown Berkeley
Category: Education
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
Category: Coffee & Tea
Berkeley, CA
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
Category: Coffee & Tea
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