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Tomate Café
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch American (New), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
2265 5th St(between Allston Way & Bancroft Way)
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 549-9885
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 3:30 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
270 reviews for Tomate Café
Review Highlights
-
"However, this cafe makes fantastic french toast." In 49 reviews -
"Notable eats: eggs benedict, forager plate, hummus." In 11 reviews -
"They get five stars though for being so dog friendly." In 23 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
270 reviews in English
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Review from Lindsey F.
Berkeley, CA
5/15/2012
Perfect place to go for any type of breakfast mood.
We were eating closer to lunch time, so I went for the Foragers. Sweet potato roasted perfectly, yummy turnips, and steamed kale served with two eggs, rice, beans and cantaloupe. Super satisfying. My partner got a lox scramble which was really tasty.
Definitely want to go back and try more of their breakfast and lunch. Everything sounded and looked amazing! We sat outside to take advantage of the sun in their cute patio area. Plenty of seating inside as well! -
Review from Erika H.
Berkeley, CA
5/1/2012
The breakfast sandwich here is bomb! Delicious bagels, white cheddar, thick sliced bacon, and eggs cooked on a stovetop.
I've never really gone wrong here. It does what it's trying to do perfectly. -
Review from Jen L.
I've visited Tomate several times for breakfast/brunch, and I can say that I am a fan of their food and relaxing cafe.
Environment:
*LOVE sitting outside on a nice, sunny weekend morning. So serene, adore the overhanging wisteria, absolutely magical.
*LOVE when they have live music outside - all of the bands I've heard were spot on!
*Like the big, bright inside seating - plenty of tables/always see people studying as well.
Food:
*LOVE the oatmeal - they steam the milk on top so it comes out looking like a latte. They add lots of raisins, nuts, etc, so it's a very hearty meal. I like mine sweet, so I always add more brown sugar (from the coffee bar).
*Good food overall - cuban plate, sausage scramble - all hit the spot when you're looking for a good breakfast.
Service:
*Love when the guy is there - sweet and makes small talk, making you feel comfortable and at home.
*Didn't really love being ignored by the woman taking orders - I was ready to order before she picked up the phone and then proceeded to take another phone call after without so much as a glance my way or an "excuse me" - I understand that it can get busy at lunch, but you should at least acknowledge your customer and I would not have minded waiting.
Despite that little rant, I do very much enjoy my weekend brunches at Tomate and will definitely be back! They have accommodated small groups and large groups well, so I'm glad I've found a spot in the area that's not an hour wait (Cafe M!)! -
Review from Jennifer W.
Berkeley, CA
4/24/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The menu is pretty big, but pretty standard offerings. This place is vegetarian and vegan friendly. For breakfast, there's egg plates, omelettes, scrambles, pancakes, oatmeal, granola, bagels, pastries. For lunch, there's sandwiches, soups, and salads. They also have burritos, quesadillas, and tacos. Tacos are $2 on Tuesday.
They serve McLaughlin Coffee. The fresh squeezed orange juice is the real deal. The harvest plate is a good, hearty sampling. The fried apples were caramalized and super sweet, syrupy. The zucchini cakes were delicious, but didn't taste much cheese. The eggs were perfect and not sure what kind of sausage used. The jumpstart plate is similar, except with a bready item. I could be wrong, but I don't think they actually forage the items served in the forager plate, but they are all things in season. The eggs benedict were good, but not the best. I think there was just too much hollandaise sauce. There was a branch of boiled kale, which I thought was bland. There was also a whole roasted red potato, which was delicious with the sour cream. I got some bonus bacon too.
It's a little out of the way unless you work in this industrial part of town, but worth the trip. There are a good many people who congregate at this hidden gem. Come on for brunch when there is a live band. That's my favorite thing about this place. Service is slow during brunch. Prices are decent. Don't forget to check in for 10% off. -
Review from Jamie M.
Alameda, CA
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
You know a place is good when you being concocting excuses to justify a return visit. "Hmm, so and so is visiting, maybe we should take her to Tomate?"; If we drive this way, we might as well stop at Tomate for breakfast."
Fresh orange juice--check.
Awesome coffee--check.
Live Music playing while you enjoy your weekend brunch--check.
Yummy breakfast eats--check.
I ordered coffee and the Harvest Breakfast. My honey bear ordered the french toast. Okay. What is it about this coffee that is so special? The coffee was fantastic. And the Harvest Breakfast was a not-to-be missed breakfast delight. The zucchini cheese cake was delicious and unexpected. The cinnamon apples were comforting and complimented the rest of the plate well. The Harvest Breakfast is going to be my Tomato go to dish. My HB enjoyed his french toast enough but I don't think he was as wow-ed as I was by the Harvest Breakfast.
The only possible gripe I have about Tomate is that we waited a long time for our food. I used to work in the restaurant industry, and I think we likely came at the end of a rush. Plus--as time passes, the long wait fades from my memory and I only remember the super delicious food and sunny, happy environment. -
Review from Lina L.
San Francisco, CA
5/7/2012
This place is a hidden gem!
A bit off the beaten path in the warehouse area of Berkeley, there is an outdoor dog-friendly patio, delicious food, friendly staff, and a young, fun crowd. Great place for weekend brunch after a night of shenanigans.
I had a vegetable egg scramble which was delicious, and they've also got great smoothies. -
Review from Sofia M.
Berkeley, CA
5/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
if you're coming here, come fri-sun before 10:30 or after 12:30 to avoid a long wait. the food is delicious and the staff is very friendly. jack, the owner, is a very sweet and attentive guy. you MUST get the huevos rancheros...they're better than in Mexico!
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Review from Kit K.
Berkeley, CA
3/16/2012 5 Check-ins Here
Dear, sweet Tomate, why did it take me so long to find you!
I love breakfast, and apparently so does everyone else in the East Bay, because there is a glut of delicious places to eat, but honestly, Tomate is hands down my new favorite.
A beautiful courtyard, super-friendly staff (Hi Jenna!), and quick service because you order right when you come in. The menu is great for vegetarians: anything that usually includes meat can include a bacon or sausage substitute. The meat substitutes are either homemade or at least not sourced from the grocery store, and they're quite tasty.
One of my favorites on the menu is the Jumpstart: 2 eggs, your choice of meat (or substitute!) and either pancakes or french toast. What? A veggie option with both sweet and salty components? I'm there.
It's a great place to come by yourself, and an equally favorable spot to take a friend or friends. -
Review from Natasha B.
Berkeley, CA
4/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's a good place for breakfast in Berkeley on the weekend because the food is good and you won't have to wait 45 minutes to sit down. Not to say that it's not busy - always a lot of people in there at breakfast, but I've never had to wait more than 3 minutes for a table.
-
Review from Bonnie R.
Santa Maria, CA
5/9/2012
The French toast IS delicious topped with berries and almonds.
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Review from Allie S.
2/5/2012
I love this place so hard. Whatever it is that you're hungry for: this place makes it SO GOOD.
I'd give it another star if they picked up and moved to Oakland. -
Review from Lindsey S.
Huntington Beach, CA
I've been to this place many times and it has never let me down! All of their food tastes like it is made with fresh and organic ingredients, and I love the combinations of flavors for all of their plates.
I'm obsessed with their portabello mushroom sandwich! Anything you'll get will be great. The owner is also really nice so make sure to say hi! -
Review from Rachael N.
Cleveland, OH
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars.
Gathered here recently in my past SF trip to meet up with friends around Berkeley. I was rather surprised, that at 10am, we could seat a table of 12, with no reservations! Nice place to meet up- had it been a little warmer, maybe we could of sat outside!
This place is a good place to meet up for breakfast- with their fresh squeezed juices. I ordered the gourmet pesto scramble- and it was pretty tasty- not too oily, with a ton of broccoli and pesto in it... well worth its buck.
The others said they liked their scrambles as well. Everything here was pretty standard- it's a cute little breakfast spot, but nothing was mind-blowing about the food. But if you're looking for a place with easy parking and have a large party, with good food, stop by here for sure!
Plus, you get 10% off your bill on weekdays. That's a nice plus! -
Review from Bernie R.
San Clemente, CA
4/11/2012
This place was awesome. Im still talking about my meal. I will make sure I go again!!!
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Review from Melanie C.
Berkeley, CA
1/16/2012
Order at the counter, vulture for a free table, and have a great organic-friendly meal that's really tasty and fresh. Filling but not super filling. Very casual. Lots of kids on the weekend.
Delicious Rooster sandwich w/ chicken, cheese, sprouts, crisp lettuce and tomato. Comfort food huevos rancheros with tasty ranchero sauce and crispy tostada like shell (side of collards was random and so-so).
For Mexican aficionados, no Mexican rice in the burrito. Not tragic but fyi. :) -
Review from Blake B.
3/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Was driving around Berkeley this morning and found Tomate Cafe on Yelp. It had good reviews so we thought we'd give it a try. We had the Italian Sausage scramble and the breakfast burrito and both were very tasty and satisfied our cravings.
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Review from judy n.
Had CE nearby and my fellow foodie classmate and I stopped her for lunch after we were dnoe, before I had to head back to work.
lots of Vegetarian options. and they have Bacon sausage tofu...i'm interested in trying this for next time!
Check in deal! 10% off your order!
to drink:
hot apple cider. pretty much just hot apple juice w/ slices of apples in it.
to share:
French toast w blueberries... a half order is only 1 piece of toast, and yet a full order is 3 pieces of toast. I'm not sure where they got their math from... but we each enjoyed a piece of french toast and berries, and my friend got to take the third home for another meal.
Harvest breakfast. Overeasy eggs bacon multigrain toast. Zucchini cheese cake. Fried apples. with cooked kale. everything was pretty good, the zucchini cake was a bit different... but interesting nonetheless.
other toast options: Sourdough or rye
Tomato basil soup. mm... yummy! Huge bowl of soup! this is a meal in itself. we definitely ordered more than our bellies could handle! and it comes w/ toast to dip inside as well.
Great quiet brunch place, and open on mondays! :) -
Review from Jamie F.
Berkeley, CA
2/4/2012
I found this place from Yelp and really wanted to give it a try. I came several months ago for the first time and had a bomb omelette along with a really good cup of coffee. This morning I decided to visit Tomate Cafe again to confirm the positive perception I got from my first visit. And yup, that perception was confirmed! I had the Carnivore Sandwich, or something like that, and it was yummy. A blast of horseradish really cleared my sinuses (though not too extremely) and complemented the roast beef really well. Also, I happened to go on a sunny day, so sitting outside in the beautiful weather really helped my impression of Tomate Cafe. The orange juice was really good too! Can't go wrong with fresh-squeezed juice :)
I will definitely be coming back to explore the other parts of their menu! -
Review from Charlie P.
Oakland, CA
1/14/2012 2 photos
Best breakfast joint west of Shattuck. Try the Eggs Beatrice, French Toast, or one of their daily specials, you can't go wrong. My biggest gripe is the coffee, way too weak.
If you want to keep it low stress and super tasty then go here. Easy to find, easy to park, easy to get a table. However, If you want thee best breakfast in Berkeley, go to La Note...Rick and Ann's is great as well. -
Review from Willow K.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2012
Today is Sunday, and today is the day when my dearest husband made the appointment to go try and hopefully buy his new car... at 10am. OK, we're morning people, we can make it work. Oh but wait, it's in Berkley. I love Berkley, but I don't know Berkley, breakfast?
I looked and asked around, but kept coming back to this name "Tomate Cafe". I'm French Canadian, so anything French sounding... Reviews are good on Yelp, let's go see!
I had an egg white omelette, no cheese, with potatoes, no sour cream, wheat bread no butter... I'm a health nut and breakfast places tend to view that with an annoyed sneer. Not at all there, the lady at the counter was nice, very easy going.
My husband had a breakfast burrito with bacon. He's not the special order type.
The service: The lady at the counter was a little slow for the crowd, but we were in a hurry, so maybe we were just a little sensitive (more than maybe). Other than that she was very nice, easy going, laughed when I apologized for all my "special demands" and gave us a super nice smile and a wave when we left.
Food came rather fast, It was obviously warm and fresh, I loved my omelette. There was kale in there (I believe) that could have been cut in smaller pieces (I hate huge piece of greens in food) but that's really my ONLY complain about the food. The potato that came with the omelette turned out to be perfectly baked potatoes. It was delicious and healthy!
My husband loved his burrito also, raved about bacon being the right choice "You can't go wrong with bacon!" I love that man!
The place is cute, not fancy, but inviting in a homey sort of way. There's a very cute and comfy looking outdoor seating area that must be wonderful on sunny warm days. It was too cold today however, so next time!
All in all, not a fancy place, but delicious food, many healthy choices, easy going staff, and a very welcoming ambiance. We will be back! -
Review from jun k.
12/17/2011
Came here with a HUGe group of people for a Sunday breakfast before church.
We sat outside and it's really great because you can order separately, it's great for groups, and the food is DELICIOUS.
Anything is pretty great.
Beware the Vedic tea. At first glance it sounds cool and the first sips are fun.. but it's literally slimy. I had fun with it, but I don't know if it's everyone's cup of tea. :p -
Review from Justin M.
Berkeley, CA
11/27/2011
Took my wife and dad here.. my wife ordered the tufu scramble, dad had the harvest meal and I went with the cuban.
They nailed the greens and the eggs.. no complaints there. but the rest of the food was bland and uneventful. Dad enjoyed his meal and was satisfied. My the plantains were stale, dry, and cold.. (my wife couldnt swallow one that she tried to eat)
I will give this place another try.. one experience is just one experience. It has a nice, clean, vibe and the people are friendly. The menu looks creative and the food generally looks to be prepared well.. -
Review from Michael H.
El Cerrito, CA
1/14/2012
Saturday brunch delight. Family place with many kids, but for some reason well behaved, so not a hassle. I ordered the chicken leg and thigh combo, which is served with these red potatoes that are pan fried with butter, I think I'd go back just to have the potatoes. The chicken was cooked perfectly, and I was certainly a satisfied customer. Definitely a good place to go when the weather is nice.
The future wife says the sandwiches are very good, she's unfortunately not as descriptive. The bread they use for sandwiches is high quality, crusty on the outside and soft/fluffy on the inside. Flavorful sausages. -
Review from Nique F.
10/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
The best $5 lunch I've had in a loooooong time. Taco Tuesdays are totally what's up - $2 chicken or veggie tacos, 50 cents to add guac or sour cream, and the tacos are more than generous in size. The chicken was all white meat, poached and healthy; and the veggies were an unusual blend of eggplant and squash. Much appreciated!
Tomate's location is cute and tucked away, sort of hidden in an otherwise industrial-ish 'hood. They have a shaded outdoor patio and a sunny diner-like interior. Lots of people were hanging with their laptops, so I'm thinking I'll need to camp out a little longer next time, as it seems to be the norm.
Service was chill and friendly, though the food took longer than I expected to arrive - adding to the pleasant, leisurely vibe of the place.
Bottom line: taco truck prices with cute cafe ambiance...whatcha waitin' for?Listed in: Frugal & Fab, Go Solo!, Coffeeshop Campout!
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Review from Nina U.
Emeryville, CA
3/7/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Steak/pork chops with eggs....so very very good.
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Review from Yolanda R.
San Pablo, CA
1/6/2012
Owner - super nice
staff - very sweet - remembered my name quickly.
butternut soup - the bomb - hint of nutmeg wowwwww!!!!
lentil - lemony with some tumeric I believe . yummmm
tortilla soup - spicy and thick with crunch tortillas sprinkled .dollup of sour cream and avocado piece... uhhhh yumm
I have not tried the tomato soup but I know it is yummm
If you got good soup then you go me hooked.
try it. -
Review from Audra M.
I loved this place. I got the french toast which was absolutely heavenly. The fresh fruit and almond slivers was such a great treat. The bread they used is a cinnamon swirl bread which made it even more delightful. The coffee is sooo good. The flavor is just perfect. I have never had a better cup of coffee.
The service was great as well. I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Krystal H.
Berkeley, CA
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came in with the BF for a late MLK Day brunch and I'm so glad we did! The staff are extremely friendly and the french toast was better than *GASP* Rudy's Can't Fail! I know, I can't believe I'm saying that but it's 100% true. Loved all the fresh fruit! Will be back soon!
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Review from Robert S.
Walnut Creek, CA
12/12/2011
Decent Food. So-so Ambiance. A bit Overpriced.
We tried this restaurant on a late Sunday morning with a ravenous appetite, which gave us a chance to sample several dishes. The eggs Beatrice, which is served with the special house sauce, was really a tasty creation. The eggs, the white toast, and the vinegary sauce really came together. This entree was served with a a slice of bacon (which I liked), and southern style mustard greens (which I did not.) This was by far the best thing we tried that day, but at $10 I think it was overpriced.
We also tried the Jumpstarter, which was french toast topped with fresh berries, and a slice of bacon. This dish was okay, but the bacon was a little burnt. Again, as long as I'm paying $10 for a plate, I can think of tastier meals and better ambiance around Berkeley.
The biggest disappointment was the chicken tacos. We each ordered one of these and were both disappointed. Not bad, but definitely not anything special. -
Review from Shannon L.
Fremont, CA
I never expected to eat one of the best french toasts here. I'm just going to load up on the Semifreddis Cinnamon Twist Bread and eat that for the rest of my life. If anyone tries to make me french toast with anything else, I will just scoff at them, throw the bread in their face, and ridicule them for serving me trash.
But in all seriousness, I don't even like french toast. I'm a pancake girl. And this piece of bread... at Tomate... has the power to convert me.
To balance out my sweet dish, I also tried the Harvest Breakfast which is rightly named but could be more so rightly named with something like "What Berkeley eats." Just look at my picture and you'll agree that even WITH bacon, it screams health nut, hippie, freak. But don't get me wrong, it was pretty good.
The "zucchini cheese cake" or zucchini potato pancakes was really interesting to eat. The fried apples were neither too tart nor sweet. The bacon tasted legit... from a lean and happy pig. And the portions just seemed right. I shared this with a friend but it's almost like a sample platter of various things that give you more than a tease, but enough to appease.
Don't forget to order one of their drinks... a mocha or one of the uber healthy teas. They're all great! -
Review from Vy N.
Fremont, CA
Definitely a fan of this place! Recently, I took red meat and chicken out of my diet and so this place has great vegetarian/vegan options. I came here for brunch with an old friend and I ordered the tofu scramble (half ordered) and a ginger/lemon tea.
I totally love how this place has so many vegetarian options! Anyhow, the tofu scramble was good; it had a very light curry taste to it and it was mixed with cabbage, mushrooms and tomatoes. The multi gran toast was good with their homemade jam. The tea was a nice touch with its chunks of ginger and lemon. Oh, and they have a live jazz bands in the morning. I'll be back! -
Review from albion r.
Oakland, CA
8/17/2011 5 Check-ins Here
First visit:
Harvest Breakfast $9.25
2 eggs (I got over easy) with housemade zucchini cheese cake, fried apples and your choice of bacon or sausage (I opted for sausage)
perfect eggs... nice and a bit runny in the center. just the way I like them. the zucchini cake is ridiculous. SO tasty. if they offered this as a side, I could easily make a whole meal of it so it's just as well that it's a limited offering. this plate also included a side of blanched kale. a bit of bite left ~ a very nice balance for the richness of the egg and the dessert-like and welcomed fried apples.
Granola with Fruit and Yogurt $6.25
house made granola with four different types of fresh berries and syrup
my companion polished this off and still wanted more. that's always a good sign
Second visit:
Forager Plate $8.75
root vegetables, turnip, sweet diane yams, kale, and your choice of protein (eggs or meat)
a fantastic balance with the toothsome turnips and the rich sweetness of the yam. clean kale and very tasty black beans. again I got eggs, over easy. they were served atop a healthy mound of brown rice.... the yolk mixing in perfectly.
Chile Rellenos plate
this was on the specials board. my companion absolutely destroyed it. I managed to snag a bite and it was truly a desirable dish. flavorful and not greasy. after having made chile rellenos and knowing how labor intensive they are and how easily oil saturated they can get, I'm stoked to find a place that makes them so well. I will certainly choose their version and not hassle making them myself.
We are going to aim back here for one of the weekend specials,
Huevos Rancheros or pulled pork anything
I'm also chomping at the bit to try some smoothies like:
Persian Cucumber $5.25
Barlean's green powder, avocado, persian cucumber and honey
Date Shake $6
date paste, almond butter, coconut milk, vanilla extract, banana and maple syrup
Ample seating in the airy dining room or out in the pleasant and sun drenched patio.
Super personable owner/cashier.
$2 bottomless and potent coffee.
the menu prices might seem a bit steep but the food is really good and lovingly made. ample portions and satisfying. organic when possible and super fresh. well thought out plates.
I really don't mind paying a dollar or two more than somewhere else when I am so sated and fortified.
home cooking without having to prep or clean up.
totally my kind of place.
I can't believe we didn't stumble upon this place earlier but no time like the present.... now it will certainly be on our rotation. -
Review from Justin L.
8/6/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Since we frequent Berkeley pretty routinely, we are always up for a new spot. For brunch, we decided to check out Tomate Cafe.
Place is quaint with really friendly service. I enjoyed the pulled pork & mushroom omelette and my SO liked her soba salad. Date & banana shake was also tasty.
Meal overall felt healthy & non-greasy. Given the reasonable prices and convenience of ample free street parking right in front, we'll definitely be back.Listed in: East Bay Express
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Review from Ying S.
San Francisco, CA
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Decided to check it out based on other reviews, and wanted to check it out for myself.
Went with another friend and had Sunday brunch.
What can I say...
Decor is 1 star
Food is 1 star
I gave it 2 stars because it's got great street parking and it is somewhere off the main.
BTW, there's no cell reception.
You are better off going else where for brunch, like Crepevine, 900 Grayson, Doyle cafe, Homemade, Saul's, Fat apple, etc. -
Review from Keilin H.
10/4/2011 2 photos
I LOVE tomatoes, so I guess it makes sense that I would love this cafe!
Like the tomato itself, this place is good for you (or at least it seems so!). They have a ton of vegetarian options and even their baked goods seem healthy (Morning Glory muffins made with whole wheat flour!). There are lots of choices for the omnivores and meat eaters too though ie the Carnivore sandwich rarr!!
Like other Yelpers have mentioned, the location is kind of weird...it's in the middle of a bunch of offices and surrounded by a residential area. The cafe probably has a monopoly on the lunch rush because there doesn't seem to be any other place to eat. Not that I'm complaining!
The people that work here are friendly enough.
If the weather is nice, there is outdoor seating. It makes your food so much tastier when you have greenery and flowers around you! :)
OH! And free wi-fi! Perfect for catching up on some work during lunch break!
One of my biggest complaints is that they close so early!! I wish they would stay open at least til 5 pm...
Other than that, Tomate Cafe rocks! -
Review from Ali A.
Stockton, CA
1/27/2012
It's places like this that make me wonder why I waste my time trying to find good food in the huge McDonald's that is the valley. I would be here erryday (yep, erryday) if it were closer to me... sadly, places like this are a treat on my hiking weekends. Pretty awesome reward system though... work off the calories, then go somewhere like Tomate to fill back up again. Sign me up.
This place was crackin' at 2:30 on a Saturday afternoon... line was snaking around the front to order, while a table inside for our group of seven was clearly a dream that would not come true. Fortunately for us, they have a nice little patio area where we could set up camp (and also luckily, the weather was permitting). Ordering was easy, as the entire menu and the specials for the day were clearly written on several chalkboards near the front. I find it weird typing this, but I am actually happy that the line was about ten deep... gave me a chance to figure out what I wanted!
I got the Cuban breakfast (shrimp, organic black beans, organic basmati rice, greens, eggs and... wait for it.... PLANTAINS) and a mimosa made with actual fresh-squeezed orange juice, pulp and all. Holy afternoon breakfast... needless to say, it all went to a happy place shortly after being set in front of me. Oink oink.
I didn't get a chance to try anything else that was ordered at my table except for the side potatoes that my uncle got with his Carnivore (which, according to him, was excellent). I can honestly say, when given your choice between the green salad and the potatoes as a side for ANYTHING there.... tater it up. SO good.
To round off the deliciousity we experienced, one of the nice ladies that work there came out and gave us about five carrot-apple bran muffins FREE. Seemed they made "too many" this morning and they weren't going to sell them by closing... sooo they pretty much sealed the deal in me coming back there, by the gesture alone. Oh yeah, and said muffins were scrumdiddlyumtious. Must. Return. Soon. -
Review from Amy O.
8/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Whoa. Used the check-in 10% off offer from Yelp, but that wasn't why we chose to go here. We just wanted to try something new on the border of Emeryville and Berkeley. But, wouldn't go back...here's why....
Ordered Harvest Breafast which comes with a zucchini cake (pretty good), side of breakfast meat (bacon/sausage), some apples, greens (super bitter) and eggs. I ordered eggs over medium, and was served with hard centers. I asked for new eggs, and when they came back, I was told that eggs over medium do have hard centers. Wait, even if that is true, who is the customer? However, I am right, because every other restaurant seems to cook them the way I am accustomed to.
The place seemed slightly dirty too. There was bugs everywhere.
Every breakfast is around $10...but you clear your own plates?
There's room for improvement and drop the attitude. -
Review from Grace C.
9/16/2011
3.5 stars
The location is super weird - there's like nothing around it - the area is absolutely deserted at least on a Sunday at 11:30. There was no line, and there were a good number of tables available.
Tomate Cafe serves good food at a decent price. The pesto omelette was tasty. The pulled pork omelette was pretty good as well. I'll probably return & try more dishes.
My only gripe: the table was super sticky - I think it's just because of the table's varnish, not necessarily that it was dirty. But still, it was annoying that whenever I touched the table with my skin, it would just be stuck there.
Oh, and also: Use the 10% off check-in offer from Yelp! -
Review from Carrie P.
San Francisco, CA
8/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Two words...FRENCH TOAST. I don't even really care for French Toast but this was on another level of deliciousness. Deliciousness 2.0, DSquared, like delicious and mouthwatering got married and gave birth to this French Toast. Alas my friend ordered it and not me so I only got one bite. Seriously considered ordering a second breakfast even though I had already finished mine.
Food is good and fresh with a homemade feel. You order at the counter and they bring you your food. Water and coffee is self serve. Come prepared for low key and you'll leave satisfied. -
Review from Debbie L.
Berkeley, CA
11/21/2011
Came here with a group of 13 girls for a friend's birthday, and although Yelp says "No Reservations", I called in, and the cafe was willing to set aside two tables for our brunch group. Already off to a good start! Our party members arrived separately, and thank goodness for the reservation because two large groups arrived shortly after, and the cafe got busy and bustling around 10am real quick.
A friend and I shared the Lox Scramble (salmon) and French Toast, and both were DELICIOUS - a good balance between savory and sweet. I suggest getting the French Toast half with berries and sliced almonds (extra $2.00).
The birthday girl and her brunch party had a grand time. The cafe didn't rush us for our tables, the chair and table set-up around the cafe was very flexible and constantly rearranged depending on the size of your party, there is outdoor seating, free Wifi, a casual and light-hearted ambience, and the ladies behind the counter were super sweet. Best of all: we all got 10% off of our bill for the facebook check-in.
I definitely want to come back and try their sandwiches and lunch plates!
