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Sportivo Coffee Bar
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 8 pm
Sat 8 am - 6 pm
Sun 9 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
86 reviews for Sportivo Coffee Bar
Review Highlights
"They have free wi fi which was a place."
(in 7 reviews)
"Can't wait to come back when they have live music."
(in 8 reviews)
"Reasons to love Caffe Sportivo."
(in 16 reviews)
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86 reviews in English
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Review from Chris A.
Redwood City, CA
11/30/2011
Redwood city has by far the best coffee out of any place I've ever lived. No less than 4 stellar cafes, and all very different.
This is my easy pick for where I'd go if I want to read a book in a cafe. Absolutely no doubt about it. Quiet. Comfortable. Well lit. Very good coffee. This is a great place! -
Review from David S.
Mountain View, CA
9/29/2011
This used to be the Backyard coffee company, or so I'm told.
I rolled in thinking I would just get some decent coffee for the road, but it turns out this place is a little polished gem. They take their coffee as seriously or more than Peet's, so it's not 'coffee of the day, decaf, and a flavored coffee', it's super-high quality beans from different regions of the world, prepared with utmost attention and care.
I had a chance to chat with Kris the owner and Gino the barista, and they were two of the friendliest people I've ever met in a coffee place. I could tell what they do is a labor of love, and they don't want to sell coffee - they want to introduce people to varietals and flavors they won't get a chance to experience otherwise.
If you're a coffee enthusiast, it's worth the visit. -
Review from David W.
San Mateo, CA
8/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ever waited half an hour for a cup of coffee that literally took your wonderful perky morning and turned it upside down and made you ready to throw up? That's Sportivo for you.
The decor is lovely, actually, just like you'd expect at a friendly mom-and-pop coffee shop. There's a piano and a guitar hanging out, comfy couches, it's well lit, and the baristas are cheerful and easy on the eyes. That's why this place gets two stars instead of one. The atmosphere is lovely. They don't mind people on laptops, either.
I met up with my friend there and, after about 15 minutes of sitting at the coffee bar, the barista made first eye contact and I enquired about whether it would be possible to order coffee. He talked me through a few of the specials and then ran off to prepare other people's coffees. After another 10 minutes or so, he came back to ask me what kind of coffee I'd like. I picked the "Milky Way" with an extra shot. The coffee showed up another five minutes later (total wait: about half an hour) and had enormous amounts of salt on top. I tried scraping it off to get to the coffee underneath and was rewarded with more shockingly salty sips, kind of as if the espresso had been brewed with seawater. After I finished off what I could I actually felt really severely nauseated and very nearly puked. Two hours later, my stomach is still in knots. For a $5 coffee I waited half an hour for.
I'm not going back, even though it's cute. -
Review from hen a.
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
backyard coffee company?...morning before x-rays...quick coffee search...corner of brewster and caltrain tracks...parked in private lot...empty eight am morning...nice relaxing interiors...tables and sofas....order of the large el salvador...pricey at $four.eighty-five...five minutes of wait...delivered a cup of unique coffee brew...kind of hard to describe...sharper, deeper, stronger coffee flavor...good coffee...quick look for a bite, but not seeing much offerings...might be nice to have a glass case with some croissants, muffins, etc..or, did i just miss seeing it somewhere?...
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Review from Jesse R.
Redwood City, CA
1/15/2012 5 Check-ins Here
The coffee is great and the expresso is smooth tasting. Very relaxing environment and the owner and staff are very nice.
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Review from Josh O.
Redwood City, CA
8/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Sportivo is a super chill coffee shop in Redwood City near the downtown area. There are many stools, a sofa, crayons!, and a bookshelf with games and books.
I saw drinking chocolate on the menu and ordered it - tasted like pure chocolaty, sugary goodness.
Didn't see a lot of things to nibble on unfortunately. The barista drink selection is great, and I'll try a mocha next time.
There's also a piano, drums, and mini-me version of a 4-string guitar. -
Review from Jeremy G.
It is now called Back Yard Coffee Company and my previous glowing review still stands true.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/24/2011
This is my new favorite coffee hangout in the Redwood City area; and that's saying something.
The… Read more »
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Review from Michael D.
Livermore, CA
8/22/2011
great place to hold a casual meeting, relax over a cup of specialty coffee or get some work done.
Nicole was very hospitable and provided great information about specialty coffees. -
Review from Christopher R.
Los Angeles, CA
Love this cafe, and I've always been a fan of the Mom and Pops cafe. It's really nice and spacious. On the walls hang some paintings of a local artist. And unlike most cafes, it has not only one but a few couches. Plus a piano inside. And the barista was pretty friendly and even brought the coffee to where I was sitting at, instead of me getting it from her once it was ready.
Not only they have music performance on some days, they also seem to have a movie screening every Friday night. And of course, free internet, but then again, internet is free in most cafes anyway, right? Well it is worth mentioning anyway.
Even though their regular coffee, which unlike Starbucks comes in more than two flavors, are a little bit more expensive than those of that popular chain, but it is worth it since they seem to make it only when you order it. And the one I got was pretty good, so no complaints here.
So definitely I will be back. -
Review from J H.
San Jose, CA
4/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Found this place after taking a class at Wallin's Dive Center and eating lunch at Sancho's Tacos. We loved This cafe!
They have 5 couches to lounge on as well tables outside and inside the cafe. There's a bookshelf with puzzles and books to peruse and free wi-fi. Cute kids art work decorates the walls and there's a piano,too. FYI: our 'for here' mocha and cappuccino had designs in the foam. :0) -
Review from Lee S.
Redwood City, CA
12/23/2011
Very good cappuccino but not quite at the same level as the Coffee Grind. Expensive - $4.25. Very nice and comfortable inside, upscale ambience, a good place to go to sit down and enjoy your coffee.
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Review from Sai D.
San Jose, CA
3/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is probably the best coffee house on the peninsula. A very nice room, surrounded by windows, great for people watching, and their menus is also quite nice.
I visited Sportivo recently to attend a book signing for a friend who recently released a novel. The seating was nice, the keep a nice pitcher of water for patrons, they're bathrooms are quite clean and the walls were filled with artistic creations by adolescent students from a local elementary school.
They have free Wifi which is a coffee house staple
Bottom line if you're looking for a relaxed atmosphere thisis the place for you. -
Review from Holger B.
San Francisco, CA
I went here on a sunny Saturday morning in the need to start the day with some coffee.
Great service and nice selection of freshly brewed coffees. A bit short on breakfast items but they have bagles and some instant Oatmeal.
However, I missed some fresh muffins and some fluffy puff pastry items wouldn't hurt either.
I really like the comfy interior with the big leather couches. There even is a piano in case the caffeine makes you want to rock out a bit.
Apparently they have book readings and other events there - check it out. -
Review from Buck S.
Redwood City, CA
7/26/2011
What can I say. I'm an old timer and remember "St. Michael's Alley" in Menlo Park. Now that was a coffee house. Sportivo captures the essence, the thing that words can't describe. That make a coffee house a coffee house. Art, plants, bon temps, food, JAVA, couches, friends, impromptu live music. Poetry. Why even Bongo Drums. Shades of Maynard G. Crebs. Bob (Gilligan) Denver to you young'ns. Good Grub too.
Now if we can get them to stay open to midnight you couldn't get in the door. Sooo! just have you mocha at a table outside.
Well All I Can Say is: HU-RAH! -
Review from Davide M.
San Mateo, CA
3/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Like most my reviews, I try not to post a review until I either have returned to visit them a couple of times, or it has simply amazed me enough that I just had to write about it.
My first visit just hapened to randomly find this place on Yelp after grabbing some fish tacos at Sanchos (highly recommended). Seemed like a fairly nice place and wasn't too far out of the way so we gave it a shot. Me and my mom ordered Cappucino's and my father ordered a Affogato (double espresso poured over vanilla ice cream).
After my first sip I knew I would have to come back again to see if it had been a fluke or not since this was best cappucino i have had in a while. Unfortunately you dont get a design in your cup and not every visit has been as good, but stil worth the trip. What really suprised me was when stopping by while working, the barrista still decided to put a design in my cup, regaurdless of it being togo or not. Now thats someone who loves there job. -
Review from Katie B.
Redwood City, CA
8/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
What an awesome local coffee spot. The lattes and mochas are superb, smooth, and very large servings for a reasonable price. The decor is modern and relaxing with large couches to lounge on, tables with bar stools to perch at, and free Wi-Fi, which is why I come, to grade papers while highly caffeinated in a peaceful environment. I've come early Saturday mornings, where one of their baristas played her acoustic guitar and sang. It really added to the coffee bar vibe. I've come during the week when it's much quieter and slower, and this is the greatest time to come if you want a delicious cup of espresso, while reading or working.
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Review from Jen H.
10/15/2010
A cute, hidden coffee shop! Cute decors.
If I was driving, I probably wouldn't never pass by this place. I stumbled upon this shop while walking/exploring the neighborhood. This is a great alternative to big chained coffee shops nearby--a block away from RWC caltrain station. -
Review from BRASS SERVICES B.
Redwood City, CA
2/24/2011
I've gone here five times over the past 8 months and three experiences stand out:
1. First time I went they had no sign up showing coffees or options. The young blond barista was too busy flirting with a friend to notice me as a patron. My wife thinks I was just jealous that he didn't notice me, but I really was interested in the coffee. lol.
2. My second attempt to go was a weekend excursion to introduce the wife to the spot and upon arriving in the middle of a Saturday, they were closed, so we and another couple jaunted over to The Grind for our fix.
3. My fourth arrival there was the best. The espresso art was great and their menu was much clearer. Not very personable, still, despite my efforts at gregarious interaction. I'm really quite good at small talk, but they were simply not engaging.
After another effort of middle of the road service, I've written them off as a rare occasion place when nothing else is convenient. -
Review from Suzi M.
San Carlos, CA
9/19/2011
I love this place, the vibe the coffee, the people, the spontaneous music that may happen at any moment. There is nothing not to like here!...it feels like home when you want it to and also like you are in someone else's home when you want it to.
I always have a good time here no matter what happens. I am ever so grateful for this place & Chris, the owner, who treats people so well and keeps on thinking of new & interesting things to bring in...I hear movies are next.
Salute...Suzi -
Review from Shooter M.
Santa Clara, CA
8/21/2011
This place is pretty good. I have a crush on the girl that works behind the counter, can I call you?
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Review from D E.
San Carlos, CA
10/25/2010
Good place to work: electrical outlets, free wi-fi, couches, good iced coffee, very clean and nicely designed interior. Right by train station. Closes kind of early (6pm/7pm).
The owner(?) Chris is very hardcore about her business --- she mops the floors and cleans the glass herself. -
Review from Laura B.
Stanford, CA
7/14/2010
Reasons to love Caffe Sportivo:
-Staff are friendly as hell
-They not only offer soy, but also ALMOND MILK, in original, vanilla AND chocolate
-CHOCOLATE ALMOND MILK CHAI, Frothy and delicious
-Free Wi-Fi
-Walking distance ot Caltrain
-Reasonable prices
-Clean bathrooms
-Tons of books, games to keep you occupied with your friends
-Local's haven as the stuff recognizes 75% of the people that drop in
Reasons not to love Caffe Sportivo:
-I'll let you know when I find one -
Review from Kristen R.
Mountain View, CA
7/11/2011
A friend gave me a heads up on this place, after several months I finally made it over there. I always love trying the non-chain places and this one did not disappoint. the coffee was great, very welcoming atmosphere. It was totally quite on a Monday afternoon, might need to take my laptop with me next time.
I had a non-fat mocha which had a very unique flavor to it, my friends both raved over their shots of espresso. Apparently the beans are roasted in Sonoma and delivered next day. Very fresh!
This will become my sneak away from work afternoon spot for sure. -
Review from Hey La P.
San Mateo, CA
6/28/2010
For whatever reason I have put off going to this place up until a few months ago. Now that I have been there and tried various coffee drinks, I am totally hooked! Their coffee is really, really good and I looooooove their frappe drinks. They have these really yummy-looking rugelach and I'm determined to try one next time I'm there (maybe tomorrow?). The people that work there are ALWAYS friendly and helpful (I hope I am not jinxing it by saying that) and I like the close-knit neighborhood vibe it has going on. There are quite a few people that seem to park it for long periods of time on their laptops so it's pretty quiet in there.
I appreciate their commitment to the community and environment and am thrilled to have a great Starbucks alternative in the neighborhood. -
Review from Dan B.
Updated - 10/7/2008 1 Check-in Here
With local coffee spots on the brain, I decided to visit Caffe Sportivo again now that they've been open for several months.
The staff gave me a very friendly greeting. (Once again, I was the only one there.) I asked for coffee and they pointed to the bean selection behind the counter. I chose Mocha Java and they proceeded to make it by hand. I crossed my fingers (since my last coffee experience here was less than stellar). Total cost was $1.90, which is 20 cents more than Peet's. My coffee was on the thin side, but pretty tasty this time.
While all this was going on, another patron came in, ordered coffee, paid and left. It turns out they have a decanter of their "house coffee" ready to go. I wish I had known about this option because I was in a bit of a hurry. Annoying.
It occurs to me that the only main draw of Caffe Sportivo is the lack of crowds and business. They have free Wi-Fi, nice furniture and lots of room. Consequently, this could be a decent place to get some work done or pass some time on the internet without fighting the crowds (like at Peet's). But if it ever gets crowded then I would just choose Peet's for their much better pastry selection and more dependable, cheaper coffee. Sorry Caffe Sportivo, but if others feel the same, this seems like a recipe for a death spiral.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/2/2008
Oh, the sacrifices I make for Yelp! With a little time on my hands I decided to bypass my morning… Read more »
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Review from Lolia S.
San Francisco, CA
6/28/2008
It's rather barren inside right now but they haven't had the official grand opening yet (just the soft opening). I thought it would be nice to have lunch here but there are no lunch items and not even breakfast pastries. She did say that they would offer more pastries soon. Other than the espresso drinks, all they have are some items from Just Desserts (cupcakes, individual cakes) and cold bottled drinks.
I had a medium latte ($3.50). It was stronger than I expected - pretty good actually but it didn't have much foam and seemed to need more milk.
The owner is a personal trainer and I think uses the back room for that purpose. I wish they would add some healthy lunch items - since the owner is a personal trainer and the training occurs at the same place, you'd think they'd have healthy food (rather than cupcakes and cakes). Right?
Redwood City could really use a place for healthy, freshly made salads (under $10). I'd love a nice chopped veggie salad in a tangy, lowfat dressing and a panzanella salad. Plus Peet's has coffee and pastries just down the street, so Caffe Sportivo should offer something different to attract customers.
They plan on offering wi-fi later but that's not available yet. The black leather couches seem comfortable but the place doesn't feel cozy yet because it's so sparse - just some furniture - no magazines, no plants, unadorned walls. They did have nice air conditioning though and some outdoor tables.
It feels too soon to form a real opinion about this place. I hope it becomes something interesting. -
Review from Alex L.
Belmont, CA
6/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
We come here for a lovely delicate tea or a coffee while the kids are at music lessons on a Saturday morning. Like the selection of home baked cakes and cookies as well as the comfortable sofas. Thanks for making us feel welcome when we show up with a baby and a toddler who are determined to investigate every nook and cranny in the place ;)
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Review from David P.
7/4/2008
I think they really blew a great opportunity to get their business off the ground this morning in the midst of the July 4 Fun Run.
On one hand, they had some balloons out and long winded flier, the bottom line of which had something to do with a free biscotti offer.
Otherwise, the cashier seemed like she never used the cash register before and the manager went back and forth between deer-in-the-headlights and stressed out.
While apparently its supposed to have something a personal training operations in the back room, the lights were off and shades drawn. it took a while to connect the dots. (Caffe Sportivo -- cafe -- sports motif -- Yelp listing had mentioned something about training -- ...)
On its own, the coffee shop and its offerings seem no different from any other cafe around. If you are going to tie the two concepts together, why don't they lean more strongly on the apres spa relaxation theme and have more of a decor as well as drink and food choices that go along with that? Instead, it just came across as a disjointed, "floor wax AND a desert topping" kinda place.
Another kink they need to iron out is that you get your coffee cup at the cashier, Thermos on the other side, sugar and stirrers in the middle island and then back to the cashier for whole milk or half and half. (Another case in point, if you are going on the healthy theme, you would think they would have milk options with less fat.)
I don't mean to just rag on them. I really wish them well and hope they can work through these kinks to be another great addition to downtown Redwood City.Listed in: Broadway (RWC) Bound
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Review from Tracy O.
San Mateo, CA
4/6/2009
Free wireless in a coffee shop with squishy chairs in Redwood City! Why haven't I heard of this place earlier?
Next door is Charm's Chocolate Chip Cookies, so grab a cookie and head over to Caffe Sportivo for an iced latte and chill out!
The place is a bit "cold" feeling - open, empty, the music wasn't very inspiring, but the iced latte I got was refreshing and well made. It looks like they had a good selection of munchies too, which is nice if I wanted to hang out for a bit. -
Review from Kristine T.
Redwood City, CA
11/22/2009
I have a new crush....
I've been driving past this place for a couple of months and I heard the buzz around town but I never imagined it could be so good. After a Sunday of running around town I needed a spot to settle down with a book, hot chocolate and savory snack. Then I remembered the local coffee spot that I've been meaning to get to.
The outside does not do Caffe Sportivo justice. The inside has this great energy to it, that genuine, real deal feel. It's not forced, it's not Starbu, I mean corporate - it's locally owned and run and they mean it.
They are dedicated to local and organic, and the quality and the taste are a sure testament. Their staff is warm, inviting, friendly but not rehearsed. I ordered a soy hot chocolate and a bagel with cream cheese (yes, it was an oxy moron order). They offered to toast the bagel (yes please !) and they bring your order to you. I found a spot on the high bar stool and settled in. My hot chocolate with pure barista artistry was brought over with my perfectly toasted bagel. I'm not sure where they source their bread from, because the bagel tasted so fresh and perfectly chewy on the inside that it must have been baked just hours before.
In the back they have a personal training area which is immaculately clean - difficult to find these days. There is attention to detail here and the true effort to make this a neighborhood spot. They have a monopoly competition every Sat. early evening which is followed by a different local band. I love that their hours for the weekend say midnight-ish or 2am if it's busy. If I sound like I am just glowing about this place, I am - after that's what a crush is, right ? -
Review from Holly J.
Mountain View, CA
6/24/2010
I have come to Caffe Sportivo a few times now and have always had my coffee for here in a ceramic cup and haven't had any bad coffee drinks so far. The price is really competitive to other bigger chains and they use organically sourced fair trade coffee. Caffe Sportivo also uses local, organic baked goods and snacks (power bars). I appreciated all the recycling options while not making you feel guilty to sit and enjoy your coffee.
Coffee has become a bit like conflict free diamonds and it seems that even the simple pleasures can be taken away. You can enjoy guilt free in a quiet environment with free wifi.
They host local artist installations and have live music. I think they really try to engage the community. This is a diamond in the rough because it really hasn't been discovered yet. Give it a try and I think you'll be back. -
Review from David H.
Redwood City, CA
6/30/2011
I'm working at Sportivo right now. Nice, relaxing environment! Quiet enough to work, the prices are better than Starbucks, and they do indeed have WiFi. I look forward to checking it out on a Saturday morning, on the way to the Downtown Farmers Market, to see if the energy level picks up. But for a weekday, this is ideal.
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Review from salina m.
Redwood City, CA
12/24/2009
Best coffee shop in the area--by far!
Great location, cool vibe, GYM?!, yummy & healthy treats, socially responsible & hip. And, the coffee is delicious. It seems all that is done here is done with much thought and TLC.
It's a must.
OH--and, have them show you the 4-min total body workout machine. CRAZY NUTS! I'm working up the courage to try.... -
Review from TJ D.
Allston, MA
11/29/2009
Living near this cafe, I've been able to be fair and give this place several tries. After doing so, I feel solid with the 2-star rating.
The interior is the typical SF coffee shop aesthetic, which is not an issue. My main point of contention is that the environment is where the focus stops. The actual products are low quality, and it is easy to see (taste) that the ingredients are poor. For instance, the mocha served here has a generic mass-produced cocoa powder taste. This was in addition to the drink not really having a concrete taste profile: not really coffee, not really mocha, not really ...anything distinct.
The drip/regular coffee was unremarkable as well. I am all for organic/fair-sourced coffees and emphasizing such in the selling of these products, but that should not translate to "well you're doing a good thing but the flavor is going to be bad".
I did have a good experience with a soy chai I ordered during one visit, which was tasty and well balanced. Also, another positive aspect is the parking lot behind the building. Although there is a large CalTran lot across the street, it's nice to see it's available.
There is something "off" about Sportivo, it's just not quite clenching it in terms of return value or personality of environment. The whole workout area attached to the cafe is just...weird. Outside of turning kinetic energy into power to blend a drink, I see no other viable connection between coffee and exercise. It's a stretch, but the link should be more obvious. -
Review from Emily S.
Redwood City, CA
9/30/2009
I would never have known this place was here, had I not randomly glimpsed it from the train and decided to check it out later. The chai I ordered wasn't bad (chai at most places tends to taste the same), but what really hooked me was that I was given a student discount, even though I didn't ask for one. The space is clean, spacious, there's free wifi, making it a good place to do work. The baked goods didn't look too appealing, as they were sitting around in plastic wrap. I might try one of the paninis next time.
Suddenly, I want a massage...wonder how that happened...Listed in: From RC with Love
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Review from Carey Benjamin H.
Redwood City, CA
12/24/2009
Awesome Space!
Awesome Friday Nights!
Awesome vegan sweets!
Chris is the sweetest girl.....ever!
I have been walking by for a month because each time I want to go in...I remember that I haven't written this review yet...goodgrief!
Now I will go get a snack and a cup o joe at Sportivo! -
Review from grace g.
Honolulu, HI
Checked in in yelp at sportivo and received a free mocha latte! Their mocha is the best I've ever had! They have it spinning/being mixed in this machine that reminds me of willy wonka. Also had their walnut rugelach, which was amazing!
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Review from Alea G.
5/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
I came here in my ongoing quest to find the best local study spot. Although it didn't quite measure up in that respect, it's a cute cafe with good coffee. I wasn't able to find it the first time I tried to go there, but I was able to on the second try.
The service was good. The people there were friendly. I had the latte. It was very good, but I've had better elsewhere.
As a study space, I can't say it was the best. Either I was relegated to an uncomfortable high chair with no plug or a table where the table was way too high to be outlining without injuring my wrists.
But other than that, it's a cute place, the service is good and the coffee is great. That's what's important in the end, right? I'm also intrigued by the fact that it is also a training center and that there is a gym. -
Review from Jason C.
San Lorenzo, CA
9/11/2009
I had:
- Iced Coffee (tastes normal, nothing special, nothing bad)
- Zucchini bread thing (had raisins, carrots, nuts in it; tastes ok too)
The Good:
- Decent prices (cheaper than Starbucks)
- Good selection of snacks (bagels, breads, cookies, etc)
- Everything organic (almost everything?)
- Board games & books
- They recycle your "trash"
- Looks unique, nice design, spacious
- Clean (bathrooms and main area)
- Outdoor seating
- FREE WIFI! (and it's NOT horribly slow; tested speed is DL: 4384 Kbps; UL: 348 Kbps)
- Friendly staff
The Bad/OK:
- No specialty drinks really
- A little cold (temperature wise, I was wearing tshirt & jeans; good on a hot day though!) -
Review from Leon C.
San Francisco, CA
7/13/2008
This place had some really friendly service and good overall service. My friend really likes the cappucino that is made here.
The atmosphere of this place is not too lively yet, because it just opened. They have free wi fi which was a place. The place just opened and there making more improvements which I thought is good.
