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Garden Deli & Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Sandwiches Restaurants Cafes Sandwiches, Cafes [Edit]
356 Main StHalf Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-3425
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
126 reviews for Garden Deli & Cafe
Review Highlights
"Their olive/walnut bread is soo good."
(in 23 reviews)
"HMB is my favorite day trip spot."
(in 20 reviews)
"The line out the door can be intimidating."
(in 7 reviews)
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126 reviews in English
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Review from Maureen G.
Stockton, CA
9/6/2011
Oh man! The least costly meal we had all Labor Day weekend and definitely one of the best! I was bummed cause they were all outta olive walnut bread but the homemade french bread.....hmmmmmm, so soft so sour doughy, the turkey piled high. Love the packaging; placed in a nacho boat (that's what I call them-it's a paper and recyclable container that isn't made out of plastic or Styrofoam, and placed in a wax paper sleeve. So green and so good! Lots of sides to choose from, homemade cookies, many bottled beers and soft drinks and a plethora of single serving bagged chips and homemade salads including potato.
Hey, if you are in HMB for a day trip or for a fun filled vacay, check out the Garden Deli & Cafe. Cheaper than a snack attack at Trader Joes and more phenomenal than a "lets grab some stuff in case we get hungry on the road" from Whole Foods-fresher than that too!
Oh, almost forget, awesome patio, big roomy tables and benches out doors, garden and live music to boot on a Monday; well, it was Labor Day!Listed in: By the Sea By the Sea!, Earl of Sandwich, HMB
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Review from Colleen C.
Brooklyn, NY
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
5am: Wake up in NYC.
8am: Depart JFK
noon: Arrive SFO
130: Bask in the sun at an outside table at Garden Deli & Cafe. Eat a wonderfully fresh Chef's Salad (the half portion is HUGE, fyi) with gigunda sprouts, generous cuts of deli meats and cheeses, ultra fresh greens and a bowl of hommade black bean and ham soup. Wash it down with a Stewart's orange soda. Bliss.
Half Moon Bay is sleepy, but cute. Also if you are driving down to Carmel/Big Sur...this is a good stop before you really hit the road! Our midweek/midday stop was much needed and this little lunch spot surely hit the spot. At roughly $8 for a salad, I found it to be rather economical as well, parking was quite easy on the street, the sandwich/salad options curated, yet expansive. It's not anything fancy, but its very fresh and flavorful...and everything comes on their homemade bread as well.
Also, very helpful staff. Counter service.
Great spot for lunch. Grab a spot outside and thank god you are in California.Listed in: California Coast Vacation 2012
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Review from Spencer E.
South San Francisco, CA
12/4/2011
As many people have said, their olive walnut bread is very good here. I got their tuna fish sandwich and they do not skimp out on the tuna fish. I really enjoyed their sandwich since it tasted a lot like a homemade sandwich.
They also have a lot of glass bottled soda drinks to compliment your sandwich with nicely. This is a great place to check out if you're in half moon bay and want to grab a quick lunch. -
Review from Katharine A.
San Jose, CA
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sandwiches are decent, but nothing that special. The bread is good, but I didn't have the experince that the people here rave about. It is really nice that the bread is fresh, but it didn't blow my mind. The turkey in the sandwich was pretty bland and the whole sandwich was OK, but I wouldn't make a special effort to stop here again.
What really got me was the inefficiency of the whole operation. It was a busy day, but it was astounding how long it took to get a sandwich. Line was long, but not out the door. It took a rediculous amount of time for them to take orders and process them....and even more to pay at the end.
Many people came back to return wrong orders while I was in line. The cashier and the people making the sandwiches kept switching roles and it delayed everything. There seemed to be a lot of confusion and a little revamping of the process could make for a far better experience. -
Review from Byron Y.
Los Altos, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
My favorite deli in the HMB area. I would go out of my way to hit this place up for lunch. Favorite bread is the wheat - sweet, almost like squaw bread. True that there's a line out the door, but it moves. Hard to finish a sandwich in one seating - it's piled high with ingredients, and they are not stingy with the meat. Far better than all the also-ran chain sandwich shops. Go early if you want the olive-walnut bread - they always seem to run out by 1pm.
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Review from Karrot L.
Saratoga, CA
1/1/2012
Yummy sandwiches with lots of ingredients and good bread. Tastes like a sandwich we'd make from scratch at home with high quality ingredients. One a nice day, there are tables outside to soak up the weather.
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Review from Rick R.
San Carlos, CA
12/23/2011
Best sandwiches on the San Mateo County coast!
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Review from Henry C.
Menlo Park, CA
8/28/2011
The Background:
Tiny hole in the wall that is literally a counter, a couple shelves, and a fridge for drinks and ice cream. Three people fit in the back, two to make the sandwiches and one to check people out. Small place with long lines because of the great food.
The Positives:
As everyone else has said, the bread here is fantastic. The proportions of ingredients was perfect. Don't expect anything fancy here as there is nothing needed besides simple, fresh ingredients well done and perfectly made.
The Negatives:
Long lines and small cramped ordering area. -
Review from Anh D.
9/2/2011
My husband and I were walking around downtown Half Moon Bay trying to figure out where to eat around 3:00 pm (half the restaurants are closed after 2:00 pm, and most places are NOT even open on Mondays/Tuesdays) on Monday. Then, we saw a big sign for sandwiches made with fresh house-made bread at the San Benito, so of course we had to come inside!
We just wanted a light sandwich, since we were going to go to dinner soon, and my husband and I decided to split a pastrami sandwich with Swiss on wheat.
The lady behind the counter told us that she couldn't toast the bread, which my husband wanted, but I don't like hot bread, because it tends to get to sharp on the corners.
The bread was so delicious! There was a lot of delicious mayonnaise and mustard, which was perfect for me, but my husband thought it was too much (just a small caveat to those who like drier sandwiches). The Swiss cheese was perfectly melted on the sandwich, the slices of tomato, lettuce, and pickles were wonderfully thin but not too thin. The pastrami was perfectly hot and juicy (even though it was on cold bread. The bread wasn't even "cold." The thick slices of just-cut wheat bread were just room temperature, as if it had just been baked that morning and was just kept behind the counter where the lady was making the sandwiches.
All in all, a perfect, delicious sandwich. I would love to come back here! The pastrami is highly recommended!
This place is a bit of a hole in the wall, located next to a restaurant and in the same building of that restaurant and an inn. It's kind of hard to find, but it's worth hunting for. -
Review from Melissa S.
Santa Clara, CA
9/21/2011
Great food! the bread is soo yummy.
But they need a better system, cause apparently there is a line for ordering and a line for paying, but after waiting in the wrong line for 5 minutes I figured it out. Maybe they should have a sign or rails or something, cause this one lady was all piss off that she waited in the wrong line too, seems like a common problem. -
Review from Jessica B.
Sunnyvale, CA
8/2/2011
I am tempted to give them 5 stars but they're not QUITE on the same level as my beloved Beach Hut Deli... but WOW! It's true that the bread really makes the sandwich... although the other ingredients are pretty extraordinary as well. The veggies were very fresh and crisp and the meat was tender and not overly salty. I ordered turkey on their homemade french bread and am slightly embarrassed to say that I ate almost the whole thing (typically I can only eat a half of a sandwich). My secret tip is to throw a couple of chips on there for some added crunch. YUM!
I also have to disagree with the pricing... for such a large sandwich, I don't think $6.50 is too much by any means. Sure, if you throw in a whole bunch of extras it can get pricey, but they very clearly display their pricing so you should know what to expect... -
Review from Ed U.
You probably know that Half Moon Bay is not the culinary hotbed of the Bay Area. Or maybe not. I don't know you. But you remind me of my mother. Stop judging me. Anyhow, Jamie W. and I were taking a very leisurely drive along Hwy 1 from Santa Cruz, a beautiful stretch of road that I had never driven before. Starting to feel peckish from Pescadero onward, we stopped in downtown Half Moon Bay hoping to satisfy a late afternoon need for a bite. There were slim pickings since it was Easter Sunday.
Alas, with no expectation, we came upon the San Benito Deli just before it was closing and ordered sandwiches. They're $6.50 each and nothing special in regard to the roast beef or turkey they use on the inside. But the bread. Oh man, that was really amazing homemade bread. I had the whole wheat, but it was so soft and flavorful that I was almost willing to throw all the stuff inside out just to eat that bread (see photos). It's also nice to hang out in the street-side patio as the sun was starting to droop. But then you probably would tell me to stop slouching and sit up straight. You remind me of my mother. Stop judging me.
FOOD - 4 stars...next time I'm buying a loaf...so good that it didn't need the other stuff
AMBIANCE - 4 stars...a very relaxed setting on an Easter Sunday
SERVICE - 4 stars...really efficient sandwich maker
TOTAL - 4 stars...love the homemade carbs...stop judging me -
Review from Alan B.
Franklin, TN
12/1/2011
Great outdoor seating. We recommend the parrot tree. Amazing bread is worth the comment. Get the local tea. Great chips selection.
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Review from Chelsea L.
Half Moon Bay, CA
6/17/2011
Fresh (sometimes still warm) homemade bread, oh yeah baby! They now serve three kinds; Whole Wheat, French and Olive Walnut. Although I'm usually the type to choose whole wheat at other places, I usually get French here because it's so nice and soft. The whole wheat is also pretty good. The olive walnut is good too...I'm not a bit olive fan though so I usually stay away from that one.
As far as sandwich choices this place knows how to make a VERY yummy hot pastrami sandwich. I've also gotten a classic turkey as well as their avocado and cheese. All of them a very good.
They always have a fresh soup, always a nice addition to the meal!
This is a very casual, order at the counter type of place. Seating in the bar or outside is available.
YUM! -
Review from Justine K.
Menlo Park, CA
7/22/2011
Best sandwiches ever. Nothing fancy/hipster/yuppy about this place though, just classic, simple, delicious sandwiches with great ingredients. Their homemade soups are consistently good as well.
Marie has been working there forever and she is so nice and friendly. The line gets out of control sometimes but it goes fairly quickly since it is very well-run and efficient.
Their olive/walnut bread is soo good. Chef salad with tuna and avocado is super delicious as well. -
Review from Breanna W.
Boulder Creek, CA
9/5/2011
I had a ham and cheddar sandwich on french bread. I really wanted to try the walnut olive bread because it sounded AMAZING, and everyone raves about it. Unfortunately they were all out, but the french bread did not disappoint one bit. There's something so comforting about eating freshly baked bread, and this place definitely knows that they are doing in that respect.
For 6 dollars, the sandwich is stacked high with tasty (not-too-salty) meat and two big slices of cheese for each half. They do not skimp on their integral ingredients. All of the fresh veggies perfectly complemented the sandwich.
Great customer service. This place was packed when we went there. The seating is outdoor only, so make sure you bring a little jacket in case it gets cold. The patio is quite lovely and really allows you to enjoy the small-town feeling of Half Moon Bay. When we showed up, a musician was packing up his equipment; it would be nice to come back and have a meal while watching some local entertainment.
They get you on the drinks and chips. I think paying $1.50 for a 12oz can of Coke is kinda lame, but that's probably just me.
I'm excited to go back and try their soups/salads. -
Review from PK S.
Burlingame, CA
5/31/2011
My Tuna Sandwich wasn't fresh and we all ended up with DIARRHEA. Before I would have rated this place a 4 but now, it's fallen to a 1.5/5.
The walnut olive bread is good, but you gotta stay away from the tuna or any of the "fishier" selection of meats.
Also, the sandwiches are $6.50 before any extras, but they don't exactly offer the right change, consistently shorting me 40 cents this trip and 50 cents the next. I guess it's chump change, but what's with shorting me every visit and no receipt? -
Review from Betsy V.
San Francisco, CA
11/12/2011
I would have to say this is one of my favorite sandwich places in the Bay Area. They are HUGE and the bread is delicious. Every so often my husband and I will head to HMB, pick up some sandwiches here, then drive over to La Nebbia winery for an outdoor picnic and a glass of sparkling wine. It's a perfect afternoon. The last time we came my gusband (gay husband) tagged along with us and it was laughable how high maintenance he was ("Do you have a panini press here?" was the first question amongst many requests) They laughed along right with him and still tried to cater to his many needs (no panini press, fyi). Great business and I hope they stay around for a long time. Oh, and my favorite is the egg salad sandwich with two slices of salami. YUM!!
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Review from Andrea V.
Belmont, CA
6/24/2011
Their broccoli and cheese soup was very, very good... I heard their sandwiches are good but I really didn't like how the lady working the cashier & handling the cash/credit cards, would dip her fingers (without gloves into the salad container) ,and scoop out the lettuce for a sandwich. (Each and every time). Very unsanitary!!
Maybe if they have prepackaged bread or something since apparently their bread is really good according to many reviews. -
Review from Annalise F.
San Francisco, CA
7/5/2011
If this review was just on their bread it would be 4 stars- hands down. Let's just state that right off the bat.
My boyfriend and I decided to pick up sandwiches here before we went on a long walk/hike on the beautiful cliffside. He was extremely happy with his sammie- but he's also very, very easy to please.
I'm not sure why, but it didn't "wow" me. I think I was looking for more options than what was being provided. (Pesto? Aioli? Fresh basil?) Again, other than the bread, nothing struck me as stellar.
The outside patio is a nice place to sit, eat, and listen to the local musician play. The 12 year old girl in me really liked the overtly phallic wooden "art" piece in the right hand corner of the patio too. Yes, I did take pictures! -
Review from Maurizio B.
San Marino, CA
7/20/2011
Sandwiches were good, prices no so good.
2 full ham sandwiches: $13,00
add chesse: $1,20 (I think the sandwich comes w/o it)
1 half salame sandwich : $ 4,00
add chesse: $ 0,60
3 little bags of chips: $ 4,95
3 sodas: $ 6,75
Grand total: $ 32,00 , WTH ?
No way I'm coming back. -
Review from Quincy V.
San Mateo, CA
7/9/2011
I'm definitely a sandwich connoisseur and by far, this has got to be one of my favorite sandwich spots around. Thankfully, it's walking distance from my work.
Their bread is freshly baked and they have a choice between French, whole wheat, and olive walnut loaf. They create and pile on the fixings quick and skillfully. If only they had one closer to my house.... -
Review from Don V.
San Jose, CA
8/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had the tuna sandwich on fresh baked wheat bread. WOW!! 5-Stars+
I wish this place was closer to San Jose ! -
Review from Dan R.
Dublin, CA
4/28/2011
Superb sandwiches.
Excellent fresh breads.
Friendly service.
Total win. -
Review from Fatimah A.
Oakland, CA
5/4/2011
The best sandwiches ever! Thank you's go out to the locals that referred us to the "San Benito Hotel" (the Garden Deli is next door). The bread is homemade and extra soft!
So I return from a 3 year red meat hiatus with the Pastrami sandwich - mmm, I hope all of my red meat meals are as delicious as this sandwich - but back to the bread...
..the bread melts in your mouth it's so good! The perfect sandwich for a nice picnic on the beach. -
Review from niki m.
San Francisco, CA
3/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Been stopping here since I was a kid whenever we drive down the coast and need something to eat. Hearty, quick and homey sandwiches, a decent bang for your buck.
Say all you want, but their home made bread filled with anything is a delicious and healthy alternative to the fast food options just before half moon bay along high way 1, and if it's not wet out, eating on their out door patio is a great way to spend a few minutes of your drive. -
Review from Sarah d.
Sunnyvale, CA
4/15/2011
Three words -- Walnut Olive Bread!
The first I went here, I wasn't sure what people were raving about! After eating a turkey sandwich on the walnut olive bread, I was hooked. Not only is the bread good, but they do such an amazing job with everyone that goes in there. The lines get long, but they work really fast to get everyone's order out prompto.
Cute place located right in the middle of downtown Half Moon Bay! Definitely recommend going here on a quick lunch date. -
Review from Heather K.
Half Moon Bay, CA
8/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not really my cup of tea....but I'm not a sandwich person. And this is a straight-up sandwich shop. That's really all they have! I guess it's a good variety for those who like em (the menu boasts a large number of different sammiches) but I'm difficult because I'm a vegetarian AND a fat/calorie-phobe. So no good options for me here. And before you say anything, NO, two pieces of bread with nothing but a bunch of vegetables between them does not make a good satisfying meal. :P The line stretches out the door so expect to be in it for quite some time. We waited in line for a long time today, only to finally discover upon getting inside that there was nothing on the menu I wanted. I think it would behoove them to post a menu outside at least. No indoor seating but the outside patio is large and pretty, especially on a nice sunny day.
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Review from Kathy S.
2/5/2011
I got the last Olive Walnut Bread!!! Wow, I'm like freaking LUCKY!
So, the OWB ran out at 2PM on Sat. afternoon. We ate it in the hotel bar as it was cool outside.
I got the OWB pastrami with swiss. You don't need chips with this sammie as it's HUGE! Well, hearty is a more appropriate word.
I dunno about the blonde handling the $ and the sammies but I will be on the lookout for that the next time I'm there.
I saw other people ordering salads which look super awesome! -
Review from Noah C.
2/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
After taking our dog to Montara Beach, we usually stop by downtown Half Moon Bay for a snack, lunch, or early dinner. Garden Deli has now become a regular place for us to grab a quick bite.
Of the sandwiches I've had here, I prefer the ham over the roast beef. I usually throw on a hunk of avocado and a some jack cheese as well. The bread is really the standout here - I go for the french bread, which has just enough snap while still remaining creamy after chewing.
My reservations about this place stem from how they always seem to run out of random things. Once I wanted sprouts on my sandwich, but they didn't have it. Another time, they were out of Black Forest Ham, so I was stuck with the regular kind.
The only other complaint I can think of is how much goddamn mayo always winds up on this sandwich. I'm not a huge mayo fan (unless it's the Japanese/Kewpie kind), so it can be off-putting to bite into nothing but bread and mayo at times. -
Review from Kwame D.
Herndon, VA
2/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Three words: OLIVE WALNUT BREAD. Pick any sandwich filling you want, but you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't get it on this DELICIOUS homemade bread!!!
Coming off of Ike's, I had set the bar pretty high for a sammitch. This Half Moon Bay eatery came highly recommended, and didn't disappoint. Huge portions. Freshly made bread. And this -- this is where it topped Ike's -- a large, covered outdoor eating area.
It was a great last stop before heading back to the east coast! Well done. -
Review from sara n.
San Diego, CA
9/13/2011
YUM. Too many choices! I had the egg salad and avocado on the olive bread. Excellent.
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Review from Devin A.
Cupertino, CA
1/26/2011
Sandwiches are fantastic, but usually my complaint is that they offer nothing I couldn't put together myself at home - it'd be like going to a bar that only serves milk, orange juice, and water.
I was walking down main street when I saw this place, it looked tiny but the sign in the window "Homemade Bread" peaked my interest. I went in and took a look at the menu and it seemed like an extremely simple deli/sandwich shop.
The next day on a lunch break I decided to try my luck. The lady who runs the counter is a saint and put together my 3 orders without a hiccup, she even through in a free brownie for me. The turkey on the olive-walnut bread was incredible, everything tasted very fresh and the consistency of the bread made the sangwich hard to put down.
Finally, a sandwich place that had something unique to offer - homemade bread. Also they have a great drink selection. If you're on main street and want something to bring to the beach with you this is the perfect place to pick up a meal. -
Review from Tina J.
Berkeley, CA
12/28/2010
We're first timers who came here by recommendation from family. :)
Despite running out of olive walnut bread (around 4-5pm), I was super pleased with a turkey sandwich with everything (lettuce, onion, pickle, mayo, mustard) on their AMAZING homemade wheat bread. My boyfriend got the roast beef w/ everything on wheat. I could only finish half, but we both loved them - especially the bread! Each were $6.50 +tax.
Outdoor ambience: We had a great time savoring the sandwiches in the garden and venturing around the back to find a lovely view of the back garden from their wooden bench swing. (Look for the hidden, narrow pathway around the back to the right, it will lead you to the back garden swing!)
Coming back here next time we're in Half Moon Bay. -
Review from Melissa Marie M.
San Ramon, CA
9/27/2011
This is literally the best sandwich place I have ever eaten at. I always take my sandwich (& Kettle chips..& an Orangina) and eat outside. They have the best homemade bread in the world! I live in the East Bay but my boyfriend & I love this place so much we will make the 45 min drive out there for this!!
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Review from Jennie S.
San Francisco, CA
I wish I liked this place more.
We decided to go here because of the rave reviews they got on Yelp. They even have all these awards posted on their wall! Also a sign stating they are "THE BEST."
This place seems like your very basic small sandwich shop. The workers were these three young guys behind a small counter, simply taking orders and putting simple sandwiches together.
I ordered the egg salad sandwich on the famous walnut olive bread (luckily got the last slices before they sold out!) and my friend got a sandwich on their french bread. The bread on my sandwich was OK, nothing fantastic and also didn't seem like the kind of bread you'd eat a sandwich with. I would have enjoyed the olive walnut bread more by itself or as a dessert (not that it was really sweet). My friend really enjoyed his sandwich on french bread that he ordered -- I mean he REALLY enjoyed it. I think He would have given this place 4-5 stars... I tried his sandwich and still was not too impressed.
Maybe I'm not a sandwich person? So I wouldn't trust this review ;OP -
Review from Erin D.
El Granada, CA
7/9/2011 10 Check-ins Here
This has been a local favorite for years and well know for its freshly baked bread. It is a gem on the coast! The servings are large and they don't skimp on the goods! The staff is friendly and efficient at completing your order quickly especially when a line is forming out the door! Aside from the weird bird and baker statues the ambiance is very relaxing. It is a great delight to visit on a sunny day and sit out on the patio with a warm delicious sandwich.
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Review from Heidi S.
10/25/2010
Really good sandwich, kind of like what you'd expect grandma to make. No frilly spreads or veggies like some of the more modern sandwich shops. The home made bread was delicious. They had a huge assortment of chips and drinks.
There were a few things that could use some improvement. The most prominent was that the lady making our sandwiches was super crabby. And although we did come in 40 minutes before closing, I still would have appreciated a smile or a little customer service. The second was that the menu, although simple was super hard to read. I really wanted a few minutes to get my bearings and felt rushed to order.
Next time, I will make sure to take my time in ordering and hopefully the sun will be out so we can enjoy our sandwiches in the sun. -
Review from Sydney M.
San Jose, CA
9/6/2010 10 photos
Nothing to write home about the meats, except they do pile it on. The bread makes all the difference. Sadly at 12 noon, no more could be had to take home. We were told to call in even 48 hrs in advance, which we intend to do the next visit.
Unique chips and root beers we haven't seen before, but probably not new to locals. Wifey says we'll stop again. :) Oh, and please put up some umbrella's to block some of the sun on the "garden". -
Review from Virginia D.
El Cerrito, CA
5/31/2011
we ended up at Garden Deli after the very sad discovery that Two Fools Cafe is no more (yes, we have not been to HMB in a while...). I was all Sad Sally & ready to give up on lunch. glad we decided to give Garden Deli a chance!
the homemade bread is really really really good. in hindsight, we should have gotten a a loaf to go! hubby & I had hummus on whole wheat, the wee one had a cheese sammy on French. we were all happy. this is a solid 3.5 stars. hummus & PBJ are the only vegan options. I wish they'd get hippy & bust out some mock sandwich meats & vegan sides.
the line can get long, but stick it out, it goes pretty fast. lots of seating outside. bring a jacket- it gets windy.
