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Printers Inc Cafe
Category: Food Coffee & Tea Coffee & Tea [Edit]
320 S California AvePalo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 323-3347
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
123 reviews for Printers Inc Cafe
Review Highlights
"The place is relaxing and has indoor and outdoor seating."
(in 3 reviews)
"Free wi-fi is always great."
(in 3 reviews)
"had a hot mocha and mocha-type dessert."
(in 8 reviews)
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123 reviews in English
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Review from T L.
Union City, CA
1/24/2012
Printers makes the best mocha on California Avenue. And its the cheapest. The coffee beans they use are perfectly roasted and have this wonderful creamy taste. I find other shops' coffee taste burnt.
I think her name is Susie, usually makes my coffee in the morning. She's fast! Lately, she hasn't been filling my cup to the brim, dunno why, but it's okay. The owner does have a harsh and uninviting tone sometimes, as previous reviewers mentioned. But I just assume this is his manner, not that he is personally attacking you. What I do like about him is that he always serves coffee piping hot.
I would give 5/5 stars if only they accepted credit cards on small purchases. For as long as I'm in the area, I will be buying my morning coffee here. -
Review from Keevstah W.
San Jose, CA
1/22/2012
Great location, and the concept of the place is good.
But, it missed on so many levels. I came with my friend, as we wanted something simple and fast.
I ordered the special, the lasagna, and she ordered as simple sammie.
Needless to say, the lasagna was lukewarm, had a slight chlorine taste, and the lettuce leaves in the salad were wilted! Since I paid about 9-10 dollars, I was very disappointed.
With so many good eateries nearby it's a shame. This place could be so much more. I rarely give this kind of rating to any place, but the two or three times since that I've walked by it, I cringe. -
Review from Toshinobu K.
Santa Clara, CA
10/17/2011
Do you have a good life and need to be ridiculed by someone?
Are your ears in need of someone shouting into it?
Do you want to test the boundaries of social mannerism with the owner of this cafe?
If any of the answers are "Yes", com'on down to Printer's Cafe!
The owner will give you a rude answer every time you speak to him. Regardless of how polite you are, you will be ridiculed and perhaps shouted at. Oh, and try to use your credit card at this restaurant, and you will literally get your card snapped in half and thrown back at you because of the "credit card surcharges" they have to endure. They do impose a "minimum amount" for credit card transactions (which is illegal, by the way, and if reported to Visa, Printer's Cafe will get their privileges revoked), but even if you are way over the amount, you will still get the evil eye and yes, card snapped in half and thrown at you.
I do like the location; right smack in the middle of California Ave, and a nice airy semi-outdoor patio seating configuration. However, paying ridiculous amounts of money for a small sandwich and being treated like dirt is really not my cup of tea.
Avoid Printer's Cafe at all cost... -
Review from Megan L.
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place disappointed me overall.
The service behind the counter was barely adequate. The lady taking my order barely looked at me and was more concerned about what appeared to be her friends or family siting at one of the tables than my choices. She didn't seem to knowledgeable about the ingredients in their soups (I have a food allergy and so have to ask) and overall failed to impress me with customer service skills.
I ordered the split pea soup which came out lukewarm and was disappointingly thin. Most pea soups I've gotten are thick, hearty, and piping hot. This soup was none of the above. The vanilla Italian soda was fine but that is hard to mess up.
With rents what they must be on CA street in Palo Alto I thought they would serve good food here to remain in business but I apparently I was wrong. -
Review from Steve B.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012
This is a good spot to grab a bite on California Ave. I work close by and it is on the regular rotation for lunch. Menu has a lot of variety and it's all good. The owner Al is a cool guy.
GET THE SLOW ROASTED PORK TORTA SANDWICH when they have it (usually once a week), it is amazing. Their coffee drinks are good, too. -
Review from Kourtney L.
Hayward, CA
2/4/2012
I've never had a bad experience here. Just around the corner from my work makes for a nice stroll to grab coffee. The coffee is great tasting, and you beat the line across the street at "The Bucks". Ive come here in the early am and early afternoon on several occasions, never once during that time did I receive the experience mentioned below. However, my order even though repeated a couple of times was mistaken for a small coffee and charged for a large. Once realizing I didn't have the time to address it, nor did I want to spend an extra 10 minutes to address over 1.00 mishap. The area on California street has a great vibe and the decor is neat. I like it every now and again.
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Review from Phil D.
Palo Alto, CA
2/9/2012
Printers makes the best breakfast burritos in the area. Highly recommended.
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Review from Kellie M.
Redwood City, CA
1/30/2012
Printers Inc has been a staple on California Ave for years. I work in PA & have been going there for 11 years. Since the change of ownership, unfortunately it's never been the same!! The Bola Sol/Mexican Mocha has always been a favorite, just hasn't tasted the same, and the owner is not so nice/rude @ times!
Chris a great light to Printers, worked there for years, but left because of the new owner. Thank God, I stumbled upon a new place, but closer to where I live, & there was Chris working there!!! Very happy because the esspresso is delicious, still has the mom n pop feel like Printers, but with MUCH better SERVICE!!! Meant to be! -
Review from Jean R.
San Ramon, CA
1/15/2012
The owner of this restaurant is rude, unprofessional and lacks customer service. I'll bet he will dismiss most of the poor reviews he is getting lately as unimportant. He probably assumes that people are discriminating against him due to his ethnic background. HOWEVER, this is not the case. That would be cowardly of him to not realize that his rudeness is the sole reason for the poor reviews. He should also consider observing the amazing customer service that his peer has down the street at the Mediterranean Wraps cafe.
When I was in there last week, he made me a very watered down mocha and became rude when I brought it back to inform him it was too watery. I use to live in the area and felt the cafe had one of the best mochas around because they didn't make them too sweet like most places too. So when I stopped here for a mocha I expected it to be a nice, rich and not too sweet mocha. Instead, it was watered down and tastes horrible. It tastes like he used a lot of water and instant hot chocolate powder.
When I told him it was weak, he told me I had to pay $.65 for another shot, which I did. I thought he would remake the drink. Instead he poured the shot into the watery, powdered drink mix. After he developed an attitude about me bringing it back, I even tried to tell him that it wasn't my fault that the drink was watery. But he walked away from me. I thought maybe he didn't hear me so I said it again and he ignored me.
Why can't he realize that he cannot skimp on ingredients and charge a lot of money for a watered down product? Why doesn't he realize that he can't be rude to the people who are keeping him in business? -
Review from Jessica R.
Palo Alto, CA
1/17/2012
The Rubin here is amazing...........great ice tea too......
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Review from SC G.
Palo Alto, CA
Updated - 1/31/2012
Such a wonderful Cafe! I love the outside patio and just the location in general is fantastic. My family and I go about 2-3 times a week; the salads are so big and amazing! My family loves the fresh sandwiches and of course the GELATO! Coffee and espresso drinks are perfect for a crisp morning or a pick me up in the afternoon...... the owner is "quirky" and is really friendly/funny once you get to know him! The staff is always helpful too.
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/27/2011
I love this place! Everytime I am in the area I always stop in for some breakfast or lunch.… Read more »
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Review from Yvonne M.
Los Gatos, CA
1/13/2012
Wow. What happened to this place? This used to be a nice little cafe to grab some coffee and a bite to eat. I used to look forward to coming here.
But we moved away, and haven't been here in about 3 years. What a world of difference. And not for the better.
My husband and I stopped in for lunch when we happened to be in the area for an appointment. The counter person was unhelpful. Not rude, just unhelpful.
But the food was horrid!! We ordered an eggplant sandwich to split, and 2 bowls of soup. The cafe obviously believes that a little goat cheese thrown on top of eggplant that has been thrown on top of dry bread is worth $8.45. The side salad had lettuce that was rotten. And the soup! When did this quaint little cafe start serving Campbell's soup? So, all in all -- $22 for a bad sandwich, 2 bowls of Campbell's soup, and lettuce that was so far past its prime and rotten.
I'm really sad about this, and hope this wonderful little cafe gets sold to someone who cares. -
Review from unsa u.
Palo Alto, CA
1/12/2012
I am a regular customer of this cafe since 2001, unfortunately the recent owner of the cafe is very rude and has little respect toward the customers. I think he should not take orders, rather stay back in the kitchen area as he has no people skills at all.
I ordered a hot tea and got surprised when I saw a very tiny tea bag in a large cup of hot water. Even though, I did not make any comment, the owner of the cafe, who noticed my disappointment, immediately confronted me saying; "WHAT !!" I told him that I would welcome a bit stronger tea as I paid $2.17 for a cup, he responded saying that he is planning to make the tea bags even smaller and that this is more than enough.
I always support non-chain cafes and hate to give a bad review for Printer's Inc. cafe, however, I have a feeling that this cafe would be a much better place under a new management. -
Review from Shawn G.
Mountain View, CA
1/31/2012
I can't believe it has taken me thing long to write a review. I moved to Palo Alto last year and Printers Inc has to be one of my favorite local places to hang out, have some coffee or lunch, and relax. The pesto pasta is out of this world. And finishing off a meal with gelato- yummy! You really can't beat their patio on a nice sunny day. Overall, I LOVE Printers Inc!
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Review from Kathy Y.
San Jose, CA
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I picked up a whole tray of desserts here for lunch. I was in a hurry so I didnt get a chance to take a look at the inside. All I know is that this place has some delicious desserts. My coworkers and I love the small sized variety you can choose from. It comes on a nice white platter- makes it easy to serve because it's ready to be put on a table. My favorite is their lemon one. It's got a crust on the bottom with a refreshing lemon taste. I usually don't like over powered lemon flavor so this was perfect to fulfill my sweet tooth after lunch. Help yourself to seconds because the treats are small and there are tons to choose from!
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Review from Mabelle A.
San Bruno, CA
Updated - 12/5/2011
Still like the thanksgiving sandwich =) Will really need to venture out and try something different here. My friend got the lasagna and it looked really tasty.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/20/2008
Wanted to go out for lunch and was craving soup - they had a soup and half sandwich combo - it was… Read more »
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Review from Nathan B.
Palo Alto, CA
9/5/2011
Haven't figured this place out yet. The espresso is pretty bad, the staff is super nice, the furniture is pretty rickety and uncomfortable, the outside patio is great, and the hours are terrible.
If they served top shelf espresso I could care less how lame everything else was. If they were open till midnight I wouldn't care if they served Foldgers, I'd still show up.
It's perplexing how places like this can get so many things wrong and still be in business. -
Review from Cesar H.
San Jose, CA
7/3/2011
WOW! Where do I start?
My wife and I are regulars to the Sunday Farmer's Market on California Ave. We have been coming here for quite some time and decided to try something new. Today was a scorcher of a day @ 10am and saw there were quite a few people sitting outside of this place.
We decided to try something new...soooooo....We ordered our food and sat outside to wait. The food arrived timely and fine but our iced drinks were nowhere to be found. I gave it a few minutes in case of a follow up. A few minutes passed by so I went to the cashier and informed them we received our breakfast and no beverages. The lady at the cashier replied, "Well, I don't know because I didn't take your order. Talk with the other cashier." *Strike 1*
OK, I saw there was a water station and I got 2 waters for my wife and I. I saw the lady pull aside the other cashier and I beamed a look over to them, of "What happened?" and walked back to my table.
I figured I would get a heartfelt apology for simply forgetting. We're human and make mistakes. Instead, after a few minutes, we receive our drinks...simply dropped off with no eye contact, no comment to explain what happened. *Strike 2*
To add to further insult, I started to sip on the drink and the drink was extremely watered down. The mocha didn't taste like it had much milk, let alone much espresso. I was PO-d. I collected myself and my wife and I picked up our plates and returned our full drinks to the lady behind the counter from Strike 1. We informed them the drinks were very watered down. She just said "OK. You know you only ordered one shot." *Called Strike 3*
Given what had transpired involving these 2 gals, I didn't get any one of them to own up to any of these opportunities to make a wrong right. We were simply blown off. That was the most upsetting thing here.
If it is over your head, you can offer to have a customer talk to management, for damage control purposes. If you really care about your business, a simple business service etiquette for these gals would go a long way.
It's situations like this that make me question, why I pre-paid a tip on the receipt, before I received any food and/or service. In this case, I wish I could've taken my tip back and our 2 iced mocha requests.
I wish I had better news to report, but this 1 star rating was, unfortunately, well deserved. -
Review from Carina M.
Updated - 6/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Today's experience was something I didn't expect...I didn't want to go to Starbucks because I wanted to support a local business. We went to Keeble and Shuchat, got a couple of lenses and tottered off to Printers for coffee.
Hubby surprised me with a bar of NY style cheesecake. I took one bite and discovered it was stale. The top part was a little too crusty and just not pleasant. Hubby thought I was being sensitive until he took a bite. It was not up to snuff.
He took it up to the counter and told the girl there that it was stale. She looked at him and said, "Stale? What's stale?" then pretended to not speak English. ! She took the STALE NY Style cheesecake bar and threw it away, not even offering anything as a replacement nor did she offer an apology. I dislike bad customer service and hubby was going to let it go. I did...for a little bit.
Then I heard a cutomer up at the counter and she was about to get a dessert. Before I knew what was coming out of my mouth, I promptly went, "Don't do it. Their desserts are stale." I really don't know where that came from because it's not like me to ever do something like that. I think the shitty customer service really prompted me to be less than gracious. Just because I turned the other cheek doesn't mean I don't know how to throw a punch.
The "I don't speak English" girl who helped hubby before piped up to the customer, "It's just the NY style cheesecake bars." (Why keep them there, then? If they're stale, take them out, FFS!) For the record, her English was suddenly fine...
A few minutes later, Ms I-Only-Speak-And-Understand-English-Only-When-It's -Convenient plunked down $3.25 on our table saying, "This is for the cheesecake you were not happy with."
Moral of the story? If you insist upon going there, find out if the desserts are fresh and find out if your barista/customer service girl "speaks" English all the time, not when it's convenient for her.
Playing a stupid Mexican who doesn't understand the language doesn't make you credible at all. Not one bit.
Final verdict - Starbucks will always get my business when we go to Keeble & Shuchat...it pains me to say that now...However, after all the crappy attitude I've been getting from local coffee shops (save for Barefoot Coffee), I'll take a sunny Starbucks attitude over surly local joint any day.
I once said that customer service is a dying industry in California, specifically in the Bay Area...and this encounter reinforced it for me.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/26/2010
While much pricier than your average cafe, I found their dark chocolate gelato to be… Read more »
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Review from jennifer l.
Menlo Park, CA
Looking for an Independent Cafe and not your regular Starbucks joint? Come here! There's free wifi and a mini Art Gallery inside.
I actually only order one thing from their menu here, and it's the Printer's Ruben. I will not order anything else besides this sandwich. The Ruben is actually made with Pastrami, and if you know me, I'm the biggest Pastrami fan you'll meet! So if you love pastrami, come here and get your Printer's Ruben.
My only suggestion is that they get rid of those mini fruit flies when you enter the cafe. But hey! Those fruit flies give it more of an Independent Cafe feel, and I like it that way. ;)Listed in: The Peninsula Cheat Sheet
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Review from Alisha T.
Menlo Park, CA
7/1/2011
-- Overpriced Drinks.
Their smoothies are $4.50 and their equivalent of frappuccinos are more than $5. Seriously, what? Starbucks is RIGHT across the street, and they make the same drinks for cheaper.
-- Lots of tables -- Good for groups
-- Gelato Classico -- All of their gelato appeared to have semi-melted (more melted than the Palo Alto Gelato Classico gelato looks), so we asked one of the employees if something had happened. She assured us that that was how it was supposed to be ... quite odd. We decided to try the dark chocolate anyway. The flavor was excellent, but the texture was inconsistent (clumpy in some places and liquidy in others). -
Review from JJ W.
Avondale, AZ
7/22/2011
I can't believe this place had worse review than Cho's down the street. I had to come here to wash out my bad taste at Cho's with a proper meal.
I ordered their pastrami sandwich and French onion soup. The best soup and sandwich combo in Palo Alto. I ordered mango and strawberry gelato for the twins and they enjoyed them. The gelato was decently priced and creamy-- quite delicious. -
Review from Angela W.
Stanford, CA
1/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
This sizable cafe is the best (non-chain) caffeine joint to go to for a downtown PA meetup with more than 4 people. They've got generous seating both inside and out. Tables can be easily shifted to accomdate larger groups. The flow of people ordering does not disrupt patrons, as it does in the other smaller cafes around the area.
The drinks are reasonably priced. The gelato is smooth.
Free wifi, but no accessible power outlets. =(
Also no credit card swipes for purchases under $5. =( -
Review from Oren R.
San Francisco, CA
9/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you don't like servicing people, you're in the wrong business. We came in with nothing but a smile and the guy treated us with disrespect and unkindness. "what do you want?" should not be in his vocabulary when he's behind the counter. The food is ok, but I will never return. Too bad my prematurely given gratuity will not return to my wallet as well.
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Review from judy n.
2/16/2011
great spot for people watching! There's indoor and outdoor seating, and an opening to the art gallery!
Typical latte's here.
cranberry scone, was a bit on the dryer side... but still tasty and was the right amount of sweet. :)
and on sundays, the farmers market is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. -
Review from Klaus t.
San Jose, CA
9/30/2011
A lot of people seem to be easily offended by the service here. While I admit the service isn't the greatest, they are neither intentionally rude or bad people. It's called they are normal and aren't kissing your ass like you'd expect at a 5 star restaurant. This is a cafe. Most people need to understand that a good number of their customers simply buy coffee and bum off their wifi (myself included).
Coffee's good (better than the Starbucks down the street IMO) and it's actually on the sunny side of the street in the morning.
If you enjoy the service staff leaving you to your own business, you will enjoy this place. Otherwise, go somewhere else to find excellent service. -
Review from jazzy l.
San Francisco, CA
3/3/2011
The huge windows open up during the summer so I guess that is an added plus. The name "Printers Cafe" is also an added plus.
I did not see any electronical outlets.
Parking is 2 hours only
A cup of tea is $2.40 with only 1 tea bag? That is a big rip off.
Sandwiches and Desserts did not look too appealing to me.
There is an art gallery in the back which is pretty neat.
Seats and table arrangements were spacious. -
Review from Adrienne H.
Palo Alto, CA
5/29/2011
5 stars solely for the gelato - they sell Gelato Classico for less than the store in downtown Palo Alto. A small is only $2.95 and you can combine 2 flavors. The selection of flavors is somewhat limited, but when I stopped here today after the farmers market they had 2 of my favorites - caramello chocolate crunch and cafe mocha. Both are creamy and rich. The caramello has crunchy pieces and a rich dark chocolate flavor, and the cafe mocha had an excellent coffee flavor and a thick fudge ribbon. Gelato Classico is absolutely excellent gelato, and I love that they sell it here for less than in the GC store near University.
Listed in: Delectable Desserts, Ice Cream & Gelato, Cal Ave
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Review from Jim W.
Palo Alto, CA
12/13/2010 2 Check-ins Here
It's rare for me to venture away from the Palo Alto Baking Company or Joanie's when it comes to grabbing brunch on a lazy weekend on California Avenue. But, every once in a while, I'm reminded of how good the sandwiches are here.
Funny story: a couple of years ago, we were on California Ave. and someone asked us where the "Princess Cafe" was. We had no idea, and joked that that we would be terribly interested in finding this place also since we'd never been there. As it turns out, the person was meeting a friend and misheard "Printer's Cafe" as "Princess Cafe". Ha ha. Jolly good, dear chap!
Anyway, back to those wonderful sandwiches. If you're willing to wait, get the hot sandwiches. I can recommend the portabello or the eggplant sandwiches, which come with a salad drizzled with a vinaigrette. As for the cold sandwiches, the portabello wrap is a good alternative. Incidentally, if you order the lemonade, be sure to add a liberal amount of sugar (or simple syrup, if they have any) because, boy, is that thing tart! -
Review from Liz B.
Redwood City, CA
5/4/2011 12 Check-ins Here
Printers probably gets to see more of my face than most places because it's conveniently located, they take Discover, and they also serve breakfast all day. Any place that offers breakfast food ought to really offer it at all times, because why shouldn't I consume something that someone traditionally considers breakfast whenever I want? Last time I checked, the freedom to have whatever food I was craving was precisely why I was looking forward to becoming an adult! I spent so much time wanting to be a grown-up so I wouldn't get told no by authority figures when all I really wanted to eat was a bagel, or granola and fruit, or whatever the case may be, the point is breakfast food is good food outside of breakfast time. They also have a different soup of the day, and the half-sandwich/half soup (or salad) combo is a good value for those who happen to be indecisive and want to try multiple items off of the menu. Among the salads, the Printer's Salad is my favorite because I happen to be partial to goat cheese, although if you're not a fan then you probably won't like it too much.
Bottom line: There's an art gallery that you can wander into, and a patio if you're inclined to eat outside. They've gained my favor mainly because they serve breakfast all day, and they take Discover, and they're relatively tasty, too.Listed in: Discover takes discovering
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Review from Ada W.
Palo Alto, CA
7/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Terrible service. Cashier man has an attitude. We bought 3 salads/ sandwiches and took more than 30 mins, they are not even apologetic. Food was fine but there are many choices nearby that I will be reluctant to return?!
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Review from reilly j.
San Jose, CA
1/4/2011
Stopped in for some coffee this morning, I was in the neighborhood waiting for my brother to finish traffic court.
I ordered a breakfast croissant and for $5.50 I had high expectations. I don't know what it is, but the way the egg was cooked made it amazing. The bacon and cheese were cooked into the egg, honestly best breakfast sandwich I have ever had. The house coffee cups are a little small, not sure if refills are free.
They have an art gallery next door that they open to the public.....supporting the arts pushed me up to 4 stars. No reason to go out of your way, but if your in the area it is worth checking out. -
Review from Adam O.
Houston, TX
3/11/2010
I had skipped breakfast and ended up arriving too early to pick up my camera at the repair shop down the street, so I had an empty stomach and some time to kill.
I saw the starbucks, but I like supporting local businesses, and I was right to step in to Printers Inc Cafe. I got a egg and cheese sandwich on a croissant and a chai latte. The chai was smooth and delicious, tasty without being too spicy. The breakfast sandwich was incredible... the croissant was crispy on the outside, and so flakey and buttery on the inside... and honestly I would go back if I was anywhere close to there.
I do like the fact that they seem joined up with the photography school, but I didn't really notice a lot of independent art on the walls, and I think that would have been a nicer touch. -
Review from surai j.
7/31/2010
Sure it's pricey for what you get, but what isn't in Palo Alto? Did you notice that gas costs 20 cents or more in PA than in MV?
Portabello Mushroom sandwhich could convert me into a Vegetarian, so rich and meaty tasting.
All their juices are fresh squeezed, including the strawberry lemonade that hits the spot on a sunny afternoon.
Salads offer the best of bay area produce, amazing freshness and flavor, no tomatoes that taste green here.
Great lasagna, again could make me into a vegetarian. You forget that you're eating non-meat here. The food is so yummy.
Their soups are homemade and standout.
The con: breakfast is pretty bad. Their eggs are dry and bland and the ham taste like it came from safeway's day old deli or something, very generic and surprising for this place.
The art gallery is a good distraction while you wait but I'm afraid I'll sneeze on a painting and have to buy it, the price tag on those things keep me away. -
Review from Alvina W.
San Francisco, CA
9/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
I Cal-trained it up to PA to visit some friends and while waiting to be picked up, I stumbled across Printers Cafe.
I had the Pina Colada smoothie ($4.75 inc. tax). Service was at best meh. Would it really hurt to smile? But in any case, the smoothie got the job done. I sat in the outdoor seating, sipped my smoothie (managed to get some on my dry-clean only silk shirt), and cooled down.
Note:
- wide variety on menu, but baked goods didn't look fresh in the display
- bathroom is in the back behind the gallery
- looking for napkins? (because you don't get one with your drink) they aren't anywhere near the cream, sugar, utensils. After I got back from the bathroom to clean my shirt, I noticed a stack behind the counter which is within reach...so sneaky! -
Review from Frances H.
Seattle, WA
8/19/2007
First time: Went around seven in the evening with my boss and boyfriend, had a Bola Sol, a slice of berry pie (delicious), and other pastries and coffee-esque drinks to pass around. Service was fine, seeing as we were the only ones there.
Second round: Went around twelve thirty with my entire family (2 kids under 10, two adults, one teenager). They were out of bagels, you see, but failed to mention that detail until we had ordered our third bagel sandwich (much of this was, I think, due to the language barrier which is an annoyance in and of itself). Well, the egg sandwich was a piece of un-toasted bread with scrambled egg. It came with some butter and jam on the side. My father's Reuben was 95% bread, 2% cheese, and the remaining percentage meat. My step-mom's sandwich, specifically requested to have no cheese, came with lots of cheese. My Greek salad was limp and without dressing. The employees were passive and unhelpful, not to mention poor communicators (Spanish-English language barrier aside).
Coffee's alright though. As is the atmosphere. Too pricey for the quality of food and service. -
Review from Christina J.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2010
Free wi-fi. Patio space. Flamenco music. Bad coffee. No outlets. Zero decor. 1 star service. Kill me already!
I ordered my lunch and sat down to work. 5 minutes later the other cashier is at my table, glaring down at me, and says, "You need to order something!" It wasn't a question. It wasn't a request. It was a freaking command, being barked down to a surprised customer who'd already PAID the $10 prerequisite to opening her laptop. While she stood there, the busboy brought my order to the table and looked blankly at her. I looked at her, at the food, and at her again. She hardly even flinched, turned around, and walked off w/o a word. What she should have done instead is simply apologize...
-- Turkey & Jarlsburg Sandwich
Oil pooling on top of my cheese isn't appetizing to me. There was supposed to be fresh basil in it too, but there wasn't. Breakdown: Baguette, mayo, one razor thin slice of deli-sliced turkey, thick slice of cheese. Toast in conventional oven on 375 until lightly browned. It's not abysmal, but I definitely wouldn't pay anything close to $10 for it.
-- Spinach Salad
They use the spinach tubs from costco. Costco is great, but this particular spinach prep has the leaves aired out so well (to extend fridge life) that the leaves are crispy dry and have a slightly mulchy bite. Their choice of dressing didn't pull all the flavors together either.
Let's go to The Counter or Tandoori Oven across the street instead:
1/2 Sandwich & 1/2 Salad = $9.23Listed in: Coffee Love
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Review from Meredith L.
San Francisco, CA
8/16/2010
I have to add myself to the list of people who gave this place a low rating. I would have given it one star if I had experienced the bad service people keep writing about.
That being said, my turkey pesto sandwich was pretty bad. The whole thing was toasted, which should have meant that the bread was crunchy and that the sandwich overall was somewhere between warm and hot. Sure, the baguette had a bit of crunch, but was absolutely smothered in poorly made pesto. The cheese had been pseudo melted and the turkey was lukewarm with jerky-like edges. Roasted red peppers had not quite managed to be warmed up which left them very slimy and disconcertingly cold in comparison to the rest of the sandwich. To top it off, they attempted to stuff WAY too much spinach in the remaining space--the baguette was sliced like a hot dog bun--which meant biting into the thing was not even an option.
Overall, a crappy way to spend nearly $10. Should have just eaten one of their tasty looking desserts. -
Review from Wendy K.
8/5/2009
While on California Ave., I decided to try and switch up my lunch a little. The same old, same old was getting a bit boring. Enter, Printers Inc Cafe.
I was craving some form of salad, so that helped narrow my focus. I studied the handwritten board and saw that they offered a Mediterranean Tuna salad (tuna, celery, water chestnuts, dill, capers, and low-fat yogurt) on a bed of greens and some bread. I was intrigued, so I asked to sample the tuna before deciding to buy. After all, $9.15 for a lunch salad was WAY more expensive than what I'd usually pay for lunch during the work week....
One bite and they had me. The tuna is chunky, not watery, not smothered in mayonnaise like other places have tended to do. It was a bite of deliciousness.
So I forked over my precious $9.15 for the salad. I asked if they could add some tomatoes, and they were very accommodating, which I appreciate it.
Based on ordering to-go and on the seemingly high food prices, I'd give them 5 for service and friendliness, 3 for the price of their salads and sandwiches, and 4 for the tuna salad itself, which averages as a 4-star review.
Now that I've eaten the salad, I realize that $9.15 may not be such an outrageous price because it seems that I may be able to get another meal out of it. So, $4.58 for lunch isn't so bad! So I'd give the price of this particular salad a 4. Still a 4-star review overall.
Will I return? Not sure. If I do, though, I'd have the Mediterranean Tuna again and will hope that I can eek 2 meals out of it!Listed in: Show Me the Caffeine, California Ave., Palo Alto
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Review from Ron C.
Hayward, CA
2/12/2009
I found myself galavanting around this area in search of a good spot to begin reading a new novel I found in bargain bin section of a book store. After parking and walking a few blocks, I noticed this cafe and the patrons reading, studying, chatting and laptop-ing all of which compelled me to see what this place is about.
I walked in and was greeted by the cashier who was helpful, especially after notifying her it was my first time in the cafe. I was in the mood for an early dinner, so she suggested the chicken enchilada. Because of the cold night, I ordered hot cider to keep me warm while I read my new book.
I found a seat in the corner of the cafe where I could have some privacy and focus on reading, sipping on my cider, while I waited for my order. The cider was subpar: it seemed too watery, and the cinnamon sticks placed in the drink seemed like little bits of of floating bark, which was bothersome. To be honest, hot apple juice and an orange slice would've been more tasty.
My order came shortly after, and it looked very appetizing. It was accompanied by a good portion of vinaigrette dressed greens topped with crumbly feta. The enchilada was pretty tasty considering it is a cafe. It was presented as a group of four, layered with a tasty and tart green chile sauce and a dollop of sour cream. It was a perfect suggestion.
I dove deeper into my new book, and found myself there for a couple hours. Though it is not a library, the place can be a little noisy with various conversations and the overhead muzak. The lower lighting was also not completely conducive to heavy reading. A laptop-lit table would've been a good aid to make up for the somewhat dim light. Wifi service is a big plus, but I did not have my laptop so I cannot attest to its quality or cost, if any.
If I was in the area again, I would come back midday and have lunch while the sunlight compensates for their light. It would also be a good place to have a casual conversation with a buddy outside. It was a little chilly to be seated outside. Some heating inside would've helped make the place feel more comfortable and intimate.
