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La Note
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch French, Breakfast & Brunch
2377 Shattuck Ave(between Channing Way & Durant Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Neighborhoods: UC Campus Area, Downtown Berkeley
(510) 843-1535
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 2:30 pm
Thu-Sat 6 pm - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1368 reviews for La Note
Review Highlights
"Their Lemon Gingerbread pancakes are amazing."
(in 116 reviews)
"Cause the Brioche Pain Perdu was so delicious."
(in 65 reviews)
"I ordered the Omelette de Pommes de Terre."
(in 28 reviews)
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1365 reviews in English
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Review from Allen S.
San Ramon, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Seldom does everything come together as nicely as it did at La Note.
La Note is a French style bistro. Wicker baskets, pictures, some French sayings and eclectic tables make you feel that you are dining in a different country. Much of the menu used both French and English La Note has a nice patio.
The staff made our day. Everybody worked well together and were willing to help each other out when a table needed something. The staff made the customers feel welcome and were willing to engage in conversations.
We had the œuf à la coque (three minute boiled eggs). It has been years since I have had this delicacy that few restaurants prepare. The entreé came with crispy potatoes, grilled tomato and grilled garlic. Scoping the egg out of its shell added to the experience.
The second course was lemon gingerbread pancakes and poached pears. Based on taste, the entreé should have been called gingerbread-lemon. The blueberries and poached pears augmented the excellent gingerbread flavor. The touch of lemon added a nice contrast to the overall sweetness.
If you want to experience a experience that transports you to a different culture, you should visit La Note. -
Review from meshell c.
Oakland, CA
2/4/2012
Brunch was on point. There is a good selection for the brunch menu, simple and standard, minus any Eggs Benedict items.
I got the 2 eggs with bacon and home fries. We added a short stack to share. The eggs were tasty and the bacons were nice and crisp. Home fries were standard and cooked just enough to where they are not burnt. The short stack was nice and fluffy. Oh, and they have good java! Overall, the food is on point.
Atmosphere: it can get a little loud in their and the seats are somewhat tight, but you can make it work. They have an outside patio as well.
Bottom line: This is definitely a repeat. -
Review from Jacqueline C.
Oakland, CA
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I very much enjoyed brunch at La Note. I had been wanting to try it for the last year and finally found an excuse one sunny Bay Area morning in January.
The only downside is the wait. Our wait was seemingly cut short (even though we were there for awhile) because we opted for outdoor seating, which it was still a bit cold for. They had just opened the patio for the morning, it appeared, and we were one of the first parties out there.
The patio is charming -- nicely painted, with fruit trees hovering over. Will definitely be coming back with the puppy once she grows up a bit. I LOVE outdoor patio seating on a nice day!!!! Especially for a lazy brunch!
There were so many yummy sounding choices on the menu, it was hard to decide what to order. I ultimately decided on something I had been eying since I first saw the menu months ago . . . the Lemon Gingerbread Pancakes with Poached Pears. YUM The gingerbread was so yummy that I didn't even need any syrup on my pancakes -- just some butter to moisten them up a bit. The poached pears added a tart flavor and juicy texture. I also ordered a side of bacon . . . I need my protein in the morning.
My husband had the French Toast (the "La Note Pain Perdu"), which was prepared in orange water batter. It was very flavorful and, again, didn't even need syrup! Definitely set a new standard for French Toast . . . and who's going to argue with the French over French Toast! Not I! He also had a side of the Merguez sausages, which he really enjoyed.
Can't wait to come back and try some of the egg dishes! -
Review from Hannah A.
It's the little things that count.
It's the roasted garlic cloves, perfect grilled tomatoes and oatmeal blueberry pancakes.
It's the 2 minute eggs with thinly sliced bread (for dipping) and a balanced cup of coffee with neatly wrapped sugar cubes in a bowl. It's the little table nestled in a corner by the window and the sun shining through on your face. If this is what france is like, I need to take a trip there soon. -
Review from Courtney S.
San Ramon, CA
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
You know the food is good when you are eating and there is no conversation. No one speaks, utters a word, even a syllable until the food is gone. That was my experience at La Note.
This was my first visit and I quickly found that this place has their stuff together as far as food is concerned. Perfect for a mid-morning brunch, La Note offers French toast, pancakes, crispy bacon, ham, etc. If you find that at brunch you don't want breakfast food they have a menu that caters to that as well.
I am a big fan of the lemon gingerbread pancakes with scrambled eggs as the side. The pancakes were not overly lemony or gingery -- they provided the right amount of spice for me.
Make sure you show up early or try and reserve a table. This place fills up fast, and the seating area is very small. All-in-all, a slice of provincial France in Oakland. Oui oui, La Note! -
Review from Jocelyn C.
Oakland, CA
2/8/2012
Small place & gets really crowded during the weekend. Best to arrive early; they open at 8am. I've been there once & did enjoy my food. Bad thing though, I wasn't used to an omlette being plain & all add ons were on the side & like $3-4 each item, like sausage & such. That's the bad part, because ordering all that becomes expensive. I don't mind going back again though & trying out other things & I would reconmend to those who enjoy breakfast.
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Review from Mina P.
Morgan Hill, CA
2/7/2012
GREAT SERVICE!!! Our server was fantastic (attentive, cheerful, kind), hence the good tip. As for the food itself, it was pretty dang good. I'd recommend their pastries and pancakes. Although I'm a bit suspicious that their cinnamon bread is from Semifreddi's (tastes exactly the same!). Do they make their bread? I'm not sure, but regardless, tasty pastries!!
Note -- the place is very loud so it's sometimes difficult to hear the conversation you're having with your friend(s). If you're looking for a quieter place for breakfast/brunch/lunch, Le Bateau Ivre Cafe might be a better selection.
But really... awesome service and tasty pastries/breakfast items makes the loudness of the place forgivable :) -
Review from Andrew S.
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Got three different types of pancakes. They were all delicious but I liked the pear pancake the best. Definitely one of the better breakfast places in Berkeley. We reserved through opentable. It got kind of crowded and the tables are relatively close together but it was a very "berkeley" experience. Really cute place.
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Review from david d.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012
Went to La Note for dinner. At opening there was a long wait as the hostess was performing double duty in providing water and glasses for each table. Awkward. To cut to the chase, some of my food was very good, but I was given the bum's rush to get out. They really wanted to turn my table. So immediately as I finished one course, the next was immediately put before me. That's no way to dine. That's not hospitality. Oh, and my waitress never inquired of how I was doing or whether the food was any good. But as I said the food was pretty good and the serving sizes quite large.
I started with a cup of tomato soup with basil. There was some grated cheese atop the soup. This was a lovely plate of food. The soup was thick, tasty, and nicely complemented by the basil and cheese.
A plate of raviolis filled with goat cheese came with pears and spinach. The plate didn't look particularly appetizing as presented. But the taste was all there. Nicely al dente ravioli filled with mild cheese and plenty of great pears and spinach.
Finally their bouillabaisse. I was a bit let down by this. The shrimp and scallops in the bowl were good, likewise the mussels and clams. The crab legs were nice enough, although as usual I made a mess dealing with them. But the sea bass supposed to be in the stew was nowhere to be found.
If only they had let me enjoy between courses I would have had a much better experience. -
Review from Daniel T.
San Leandro, CA
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food....is....incredible! I had the Lamb Sausage Sandwich which had a sun-dried tomato pesto inside a baguette which was to die for! It also came with a side of mixed greens. The dressing was a little too light for my taste, but it's just my personal preference. The sandwich was the perfect size as well to fill my happy belly. Service was great as well. The waitress was attentive and extremely friendly while still giving my wife and I the intimate privacy of just us at the table.
A downside (and reason why I didn't give this place 5 stars) is that the host area is VERY unorganized. The host is barely at her station, you have to put YOURSELF on the list and amount of people in your party, and her wait-time estimates are horrible! She quoted us 25-30 min.......we waited 57 min. Be prepared to wait awhile regardless because this place is constantly busy. Another downside is that you can't make reservations or call aheads. -
Review from Julius O.
Berkeley, CA
1/15/2012
The ocean's bounty in your bowl. That's what you get with the Bouillabaisse Marseillaise for dinner at La Note. Sandwiches can be had anywhere, even here. But you can't find something like this anywhere, or have the patience to cook it at home. It's special, it's honest, it's French!
As the menu says, allow extra time for preparation. We snacked on the bread and butter while waiting, and asked for more when running out. Here's the description:
"Our traditional hearty, savory fish stew with a saffron broth, shrimps, scallops, clams, mussels, crab legs, and sea bass, served with croutons and rouille (saffron aioli)"
The seafood was fresh, and the portions generous. It was surprising to find more clams, scallops, and shrimp as we worked our way towards the bottom.
The broth was light and savory. While tempted to add salt to the broth, my friend cautioned that doing so would mask all the unique flavors in the stew, especially the seafood. I agreed, and didn't do it.
We finished with chocolate cake and raspberry sauce for dessert.
It was a great experience, and was surprised there were reservations available 2 hours before dinner on a Saturday night.
I'll close by also mentioning the Lemon Gingerbread pancakes for breakfast/brunch. Absolutely delicious! The deux/short stack is more than filling. Sadly, I ordered the full stack, and couldn't finish it.
As Julia Child always says, "Bon Appétit!" -
Review from Nora S.
1/12/2012
Nice French cafe with a lot of interesting breakfast items. I had to come here to try out their seasonal lemon gingerbread pancakes and my plan was almost derailed after I saw everything else on the menu.
My husband ordered the bread basket. Comes with a croissant, cinnamon brioche and freshly toasted baguettes plus butter, honey and jam. Everything in it was delicious. We thought this was a great buy for $6.50.
Of course, I ordered the lemon gingerbread pancakes (comes with poached pears). A bit pricey for a stack of two ($9.95), but they were very good.
We got a raspberry oatmeal pancake for my son, again a bit on the expensive side ($4.95 for one). This is where La Note fell flat. The pancake was tasteless. Even with the raspberries. I've had many an oatmeal pancake and I know they can taste better.
Still, we would like to come back and try more items. Service was very nice and it is a pleasant place to have breakfast.Listed in: The most important meal of the…
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Review from Nik j.
Brooklyn, NY
2/5/2012
So damn good! the service was quick and the food was so delicious. I ordered the southern style french stew called the ratatouille avec merguez lamb sausage and poached egg. I'm pretty sure i had a food orgasm as I finished every last bit of the dish. i highly recommend this space. it's a little crowded but it's work the wait and the pricing is pretty reasonable. go!
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Review from Jack T.
San Jose, CA
1/15/2012
This place is the perfect, non-pretentious, neighborhood French Restaurant.
Great service, tasty food and great atmosphere.
Got a date? This is it. -
Review from Andrew K.
Berkeley, CA
1/11/2012
Disappointing Dinner Experience.
Other than the romanic french ambience, this restaurant left me apologizing to my guest the blandness of every dish from soup to dessert. I can appreciate undersalted food but the flavorlessness of the bouillabaisse with its desiccated vegetable pieces left me bewildered at how this restaurant received over 1000 reviews on yelp with an average of 4 stars. Even the bread pudding was bland, drizzled chocolate with high amount of cocoa butter but lack of cocoa and sugar left much to be desired. However, most reviews on yelp were for brunch but I am not sure whether it is worth the risk. -
Review from Sabrina T.
San Francisco, CA
1/9/2012
The wait wasn't that bad! But the service was slow and the 'creamy raspberry oatmeal' was seriously mediocre.
The omelette de pommes de terre was good, but not that exciting. They charge for syrup but I saw the waitress filling up the fancy glass bottle from a giant, generic looking plastic bottle. Genuine maple syrup anyone?
And the saving grace of this meal, the creme fraiche pancakes.. hands down one of the best pancakes I've ever had!
But still, I won't be back, they need to get more creative with their brunch. -
Review from Cammy C.
1/13/2012
Having gone to other fancy french restaurants and being totally disappointed by their tiny entrees on very large plates that cost a fortune, I was convinced that the problem was, I just didn't like French food! I have even been to FRANCE and was not impressed by the places I went (with the exception of one creme brulee.) But LA NOTE has me falling in love with French.
The place has a warm romantic cottage feel, and the servers are very personable. Since I'm not a big fan of breakfast foods, nothing on the menu really stood out to me. So I asked our French waitress what she recommended, and she said the brioche pain perdu was very popular among other patrons. I read the description and it just sounded like fancy french toast! I thought, "But I want more than just BREAD for breakfast!" However, I trusted her and ordered it. Believe me when I say, I have never had FRENCH TOAST the way it was meant to be until I tried the brioche pain perdu. I was very pleased with my choice in the end.
I also tried a few bites of my friend's food, so I know their ratatouille is also noteworthy, it's all veggies but so full of flavor! And the breakfast plate that comes with eggs, sausage, and potatoes--it sounds plain and boring but everything was cooked juuuust right, and perfectly seasoned. I normally avoid scrambled eggs and breakfast sausage, but again, La Note changed my mind.
If I ever get up early enough to eat breakfast again, I'm definitely coming here. I might even set my alarm extra early on the weekends just to make it to La Note. -
Review from Steve M.
Murrieta, CA
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I am a huge breakfast lover! Nothing like a great meal to start your day! That being said, I am a tough critic when it comes to breakfast joints. La Note has topped my list of favorite breakfast cafe's. I was visiting my brother in Berkeley and he took me to this quaint cafe in Downtown Berkeley. Usually the line is out the door which is always a good sign.
The day after Christmas wasn't so bad. The coffee is amazing, just the right temperature to drink immediately. The order: Scrambled Eggs, Home Fries (the best), and a Oatmeal Raspberry Pancake. All of the food was excellent, I left feeling perfectly satisfied. I highly reccomend this cafe' if you find yourself in the Berekely area! -
Review from Justin L.
12/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Being a Cal grad, I definitely have a soft spot for places in Bezerkley. Among breakfast spots, this is definitely one of our faves. This Christmas weekend we had the chance to introduce my little sis from NYC to this little gem of a place.
The weekend wait may always be a bit long, but I think it's worth it once you finally get to sit down and reward yourself to some French-inspired goodness.
Here are a few of my faves that may be worth your consideration when perusing the menu:
Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Croque Madame Sandwich
Omelette Fromage et Jambon
(If you are a fan of ratatouille, I heard it's pretty good as well)
When the weather's nice in the spring & summer, dining on the outdoor patio is always an added bonus.
So check it out & bon appetit. A bientot.Listed in: East Bay Express, Brunchaholics Anonymous
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Review from Carlos G.
Alameda, CA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
You have to have the Creme Fraiche Pancakes ....that is all.
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Review from Andreas L.
Berkeley, CA
2/7/2012
Living just around the corner from this place, it has become my girlfriend and I's guilty pleasure on the weekends.
Pros:
The food is really good. I like the bread basket with different breads, their omelets are really good, the home fries have a nice taste of Rosemary and the servers are very friendly(especially since it's so hectic during the weekend).
Cons:
1. It's very crowded. I think the place could benefit from removing 2-3 tables, which would make it less crowded and the noise would be much lower. 2. If you get one of the tables in front of the door, bring a sweater, because so many run in and out the there is a draft all the time, which somewhat ruins the dinning experience. 3. I'm a hot chocolate-holic, and their hot chocolate is pretty good, BUT WHY ruin it with canned whipped cream? I have never understood canned whipped cream. It's more expensive than buying cream and whipping it yourself and it taste like crap.
This is the biggest upset for this place, and it's unfortunate, because the food is really good, and i would definitely come again, but I'm not gonna order their hot chocolate anymore.
So La Note, if you read this. PLEASE drop the canned whip cream, it is ruining your hot chocolate. -
Review from Jamie K.
Berkeley, CA
1/23/2012
La Note is a gem in Berkeley. They have such a quaint location and decor as well as delicious and down to earth food. Its provencal cuisine and so to me appeals to a wide variety of tastes. While I think their breakfast is the true essence, I also love the brunch and dinner selections as well. In addition they have reasonable prices for the quality of food they offer as well as a good selection of some french beers* which I find quite nice*. So if you are in Berkeley and looking for something unique and incredibly delicious you should absolutely stop at La Note. Now take into account that on the weekends for breakfast you can expect to wait 30mins - 1hr for a table as this lil secret gem is not secret to the local folk of the area :)
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Review from Alexandra R.
Bay Area
1/5/2012 1 photo
After going here many times, I realized that it's not worth the wait for brunch. I mean, it's a nice place to take a visitor to Berkeley, then you can use that wait time to catch up. But for someone who's been in the area for a while, I rather go to Venus or Rick and Ann's, or even Vault Cafe down the street. But nonetheless the food is delicious (you can't really go wrong with brunch).
Dinner is delicious here. I had the Bouillabaisse Mareillaise (did I mention how I hate reading French menu's?) which is basically a tomato based seafood stew (like a French Ciopinno) which was EXCELLENT. You have to wait a little longer for them to prepare it but it's definitely worth it (if you're not starving already after waiting). -
Review from Lacey B.
Berkeley, CA
12/22/2011
This is one of my top 2 places in Berkeley to have brunch. AMAZING!
While there will always be a long line and you can't make reservations on weekends, it's well worth it. The decor is great, everything is very French and just, cute. Everyone who works there is super nice and pleasant. The service is always good, despite them having tons of people always waiting in line.
The food-TO DIE FOR! The omelet's are amazing. My two favorite are the caramelized onion and ham and the potato one. You have to get the home fries (they have some kind of rosemary seasoning that is just great). I am also in love with the pancakes. The pear one is amazing.
If I go with one person, the perfect meal is sharing two omelet's and one pancake. You will be stuffed and happy.
If you have a group, I HIGHLY suggest getting their bread basket. The jam is the best I've EVER had. So fresh.
Just remember, you will have to wait in line. But, I tend to walk around a lot and look at local bookstores, so it's worth it to me!Listed in: Berkeley
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Review from Andrea R.
12/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious food, great service and cozy atmosphere make this magnifique! Expect a wait, but it is worth it!
I had the LA NOTE PAIN PERDU made with cinnamon brioche which was absolutely spectacular. The lavender honey drizzle was amazing. The portion is generous so I'm glad I didn't get sausage (though I wanted) because my hubby wasn't there to help me out. My dear friend had the LEMON GINGERBREAD PANCAKES AND POACHED PEARS. I took a bite and I have to say it tastes just like Christmas even though it's served all year round!
I look forward to going back again soon to try lunch and dinner and enjoy another scrummy breakfast. -
Review from Hemang S.
12/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Was visiting Berkeley from LA for a friend's wedding & was staying nearby at a college apartment. My friends took us here for brunch and I fell in love. From the quaint cottage feel, from the front to the inside to the back garden/patio to the delicious food, I couldn't find one thing wrong about this place.
Oh wait, I did... THE WAIT. Don't even think about getting in under 90 minutes for a weekend brunch, this placed is packed with everyone from hungry, hungover Cal kids to the overly affluent that put up with said college students in the are.
I Couldn't help but people watch while I was here. Parking is tough on Shattuck, but you can easily find one if you are patient enough.
I will be coming back next time I'm up in the bay ! -
Review from Heejoo J.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/9/2012
Love, love, love this place! The atmosphere, the service, and the food at La Note were everything I could ask for in a breakfast at noon. Thankfully, the wait wasn't too long (~15 minutes) and parking wasn't too hard to find that day (weekday).
We ordered the creme fraiche pancakes and cote sud. Their spicy merguez sausages were absolutely delicious and the homefries were perfectly seasoned. I definitely appreciated their efforts to avoid over-salting the food, unlike most places that try to give their customers a heart attack. The eggs from cote sud were also perfectly cooked over-easy. I became a fan of pancakes after eating the creme fraiche pancakes - they were so fluffy and delicious!
Can't wait to go back and try their other items :) -
Review from T L.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/28/2012
Finally made it back to La Note. Yeah Buddy! Got there early at about 9:30 on a Sat and guess what No F'ing Line! Started of with our caffIne fix and they do have a nice selection of it. We both ordered the combo that consisted of soft scrambled eggs, bacon, and your choice of pancake. Yum Yum! This place has great food and service, seriously a must try. My only beef with this joint is that I like a little more on the plate (minus the 1 star).
Listed in: Breakfast & Brunch
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/24/2010
The brunch was great! I had the Lemon Gingerbread pancakes and my wife had the Les Oeufs Lucas. Also… Read more »
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Review from Valeria H.
Berkeley, CA
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Deliciousness in french food form.
Brunch favorites include the pancakes and omlettes.
Dinner- goat cheese roasted garlic toast appetizer. entree- the ravioli, oh, my god. an epic, cheesy, delicious experience. -
Review from Casey S.
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Breakfast isn't just the most important meal of the day, it also pays host to some of the best food ever. Anybody who says otherwise has never had apple sausage or an omelette from La Note.
Potatoes, rich coffee, and sweet sugary pancakes round out this lovely package in this lovely setting, but the wait for quality food can be grueling. HOWEVER - If you're willing to risk the cold, the back area is usually available right away. It's all in the name of good food! -
Review from Elle C.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 11/30/2011
Now that the cool weather has arrived, one searches for inner and outer warmth.
La note is where I go after visiting the lab on Dwight Way where they take my blood,
which for all I know is then given to Vampiresdot org.
I am always glad La note hasn't changed over the years. Oh sure the waitstaff by now have PHD's MD's and have published novels but the waitresses are still lovely
polite and just a tad forgetful.
This morning La Note was full of young people who in spite of the shenanigans at their University, were chatting away cheerfully to one another. It was good to be with human beings eating good food, smiling, and feeling right with the world.
Their parents must never have taken them to IHOP. thank goodness!
I was so pleased by the ambiance, I ordered pancakes, well one only, as they are huge!!!
I say visit La Note, it is a national treasure!!!!! Good coffee, good food any time of day1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/11/2010
I think one is supposed to think you are in the Provence, bien sur,
This would be quite a stretch,… Read more »
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Review from Brandon Y.
Castro Valley, CA
Brunch has always seemed like a meal made up by couples who woke up too late for breakfast. This morning I had the privilege to spontaneously grab a meal at La Note with a friend, consequently swaying my opinion of brunch and shattering my ill-founded antipathy of French cuisine.
We only had to wait about 10 minutes without a reservation, which went by in an instant with all the knick-knacks there were on the wall to focus on. The environment is quiet enough for a real conversation, but not quiet enough to be more interested in neighbors' exchanges.
This morning I ordered the Cote Ouest, pleasantly surprised when I received an omelette covered in ratatouille. Additionally the meal came with sourdough (there's a wheat option) and their house potatoes. I gotta say, I was happy with what I ordered. I devoured it quickly, and was comfortably full.
The service was phenomenal. We had a waitress who joked around with us and even spoke fluent french with another guest sitting nearby. She would ask us how we were throughout the meal, but not to the same annoying extent as some other restaurants.
I enjoyed it. If you are not a fan of brunch, or French foods in general, give it a try, maybe it will hit you like this: http://www.youtube.com... -
Review from Jenny M.
San Francisco, CA
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review is for the management of this restaurant.
Overall it was an ok experience. But there were a few points that are worth mentioning.
First of all, the menu is deceiving. The "fresh squeezed juices" are not actually fresh squeezed. They're probably Odwalla or something, but not fresh. I find bottled citrus too acidic and can't drink it.
And the Merguez sausage is made with Lamb and there's no mention of this on the menu. Even when I inquired about it, the server offered no information on it. Sausages can be made with anything obviously, but usually made with pork sausage unless otherwise specified. I took one bite and nearly hurled. I can't eat lamb, I find it terribly gamey and gross.
My plate was also incredibly small for my meal. My toast was literally hanging off my plate and onto the table. I had to ask for a side plate just to access the various items on my plate.
We both ordered an egg brunch each and asked for one short stack of these famous lemon pancakes for our "dessert". Our server even mentioned that one pancake would be enough for "dessert", however all three plates arrived at the same time, on an already small table. So by the time we got to the pancake, it was cold and rubbery. Pretty much tasted like a stale gingerbread soggy cookie.
The only upside (1star) was that my 3 minute eggs were perfectly cooked and the roasted potatoes were accompanied with roasted garlic cloves which were great, once I got them peeled, but I love roasted garlic.
My boyfriend got the bacon and the scrabbled eggs with goat cheese and chives and they were tasty too.
With a few fixes in the menu printing and service kinks, this place would warrant a return visit, but not until then. But if you do want to check it out, be very specific in your ordering and inquiries. -
Review from Sam Y.
Oakland, CA
1/6/2012
Arrived at 1:40pm. Sat at 2:53pm. The waitress is eating a meal with her friends next to us. It's 3:20 and we still don't have food. So much for a birthday brunch...
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Review from Danny C.
Oakland, CA
12/21/2011
Came here for lunch one day after finding this place on yelp and boy was I disappointed. After reading mostly great reviews, I expected this place to be a lot better than I what I experienced.
Although about half the tables were open when we arrived, it still took the hostess over 10 minutes of us standing around to get seated even though I clearly saw a couple of staff chatting over in the back by the bar area. After we got seated a waitress came by after a minute to see if we were ready to order. Haven't even really looked at the menu yet, we just asked for water and to give us a few more minutes......
......10 minutes later there was still no water.
Finally we had to ask another server to get us our water and to take our order. I ordered the pasta special of the day which was bland and tasteless while my girlfriend ordered a french toast with a side of that $3 blueberry compote. She kept giving me the look like, wow do I feel ripped off. I tried the compote that was barely more than a tablespoon's worth for $3 and I knew what she was feeling. It tasted almost like the little packets of jam you find lying around at some diners.
Final bill came out to ~$35 after tax and tip for the two dishes and coffee.
I had friends come here rave about their experience, but I beg to differ. -
Review from Valerie G.
East Bay, CA
12/20/2011 2 photos
When I arrived the hostess told me the wait would be 25-30 minutes, it was actually 40minutes. So when you come here be prepared to be lied to.
The creme fraiche pancake was very good, no doubt about that... But it was not worth the wait. The pancake was fluffy and the swirling creme had a taste that was really good. I think the pancake was the best part.. The scrambled eggs and potatoes on my plate were also delicious but not filling. My boyfriend ordered the Brioche Pain Perdu (Basically like french toast) it was very sweet. It was good but not to die for either.
Drinks- I ordered the lemonade pomagranate or should I say Limonade pomagranate (That's what my receipt says lol) had a sour flavor to it, it sorta tasted like medicine/licorice, if you like those type flavors then hey go for it.
Overall I will not be back unless it's at a time when it's not that busy. -
Review from Vivienne M.
Contra Costa, CA
1/22/2012 1 photo
Lovely, intimate French restaurant on Shattuck. Go early to get a great seat by the window where you can watch the street life as well as the restaurant activity. A bit pricey if you also order wine with your meal but lovely presentation, great service and yummy food. The accordion player was a hoot (apparently no one else in the restaurant realized he was playing Staying Alive by the Bee Gees - what a laugh!) Cheery, entertaining and just good fun! The dessert was killer.........
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Review from J E.
Oakland, CA
1/17/2012
I could come here every weekend. The only downside is they don't take reservations for brunch and we did have to wait almost an hour. BUT the wait was worth it! The place is french country cute/provencal with a delicious menu to match. Everything from the sugar cubes on the table to the herb roasted tomatoes to the baguette with whipped butter and jam was lovely enough to ohh and ahh over. My dining partner said she would come every week. Service was great and the food came fast after we ordered even though every table in the places was still filled. Totally worth the wait drooling over the menu.
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Review from Yolanda M.
Berkeley, CA
1/23/2012
La Note's atmosphere is very cute and European, and all its menu items sound delicious. The wait for weekend brunch can get pretty long, and the brunch items are on the pricier side for us student-types. That said, I look forward to going back sometime and treating myself!
The brioche pain perdu is divine, and the hot chocolate is delicious! I would recommend both. And if the weather allows, I'd recommend sitting outside on the patio! -
Review from Ted R.
Hey kids, here's a clue to make your weekends a little more fantastic. There's no brunch wait at La Note around 2pm.
My fave menu item is the Cote Est: 2 fluffy, soft scrambled eggs, 3 strips of astonishingly good bacon and one pancake of your choice. Lemon gingerbread is a my choice! Add a mimosa and their deliciously strong coffee and it's food joy in paradise.
The patio in the back is so very sweet on a sunny day. Now that you'll have to wait for! (Note that the patio service ends in early November and won't start again until April). Service is always great here. Beatrice is especially super-cool.Listed in: Best of the Best, ROTD's
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