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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
10% off your entire bill
Take 10% off your entire bill (valid Monday-Thursday) when you mention you found us on Yelp.
- 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
252 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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252 reviews in English
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Review from Allie S.
Oakland, CA
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 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 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 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 Melanie C.
San Francisco, 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 Charlie P.
Richmond, 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 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 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 Micah L.
Berkeley, CA
1/25/2012
amazingly great little place in a small unknown part of berkeley.
i am so happy to have this gem in west berkeley. from drinks to simple snacks and various food items, this place has got it for all like minded.
here even the higher up on the staff treat with dignity and greatest respect.
i knew right away by the all the full tables once i entered that this place was great. it talks the talk and walks the walk. happy to have and live by the only cafe in west berkeley. come here and they will give it to you straight and not continuously try talking a tip out of you. that is class. -
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 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 Aaron W.
San Leandro, CA
1/29/2012
The foods were great and price isn't too bad. The workers over there are very friendly . Everything tastes good so just order anything and u would be satisfy
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Review from Akshay K.
San Jose, CA
1/29/2012
The fresh orange juice is a must. It has a sweet nectar-like consistency that is truly unforgettable. i enjoyed it more than my meal, which was a delicious eggs benedict.
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Review from Veg F.
Berkeley, CA
1/28/2012
4.5 stars!
A little ways from 5th street as you know it. Despite the slightly isolated location, a wonderful find!
First of all, GREAT SERVICE. I think it was the owner who approached us as we scoured the menu, trying to decide what to order (everything sounded great!)
An incredibly nice guy, he gave us suggestions and even threw in a free side of potatoes for us!
Another plus, tons of vegetarian options, but lots of meaty things for the boyfriend too.
The food:
I got the baker's mash, 1 egg, rye bread (standard breakfast)
-It was a smaller plate, and for the price, a fair serving! It was just enough to satisfy-and everything was prepared very well! I wanna try the french toast or pancakes next time though! It looked huge, covered with fresh berries!
-The boyfriend enjoyed his carnivore sandwich!
We'll be back, great service, good food, can't wait to try the french toast!! -
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 Sara J.
Sacramento, CA
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love that we can order at the counter where we were hooked by fresh squeezed OJ and lemonade. Bottomless (self serve) coffee. Veggie-friendly, but I don't recommend the fake bacon - try the fake sausage? Easy parking and not too crowded - we parked right across the street at 11am on a Sunday. Reasonable (not huge) portions and low-ish priced. Really easy-going in here, friendly vibe, greeted by the owner upon entry. Family everywhere.
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Review from Amy G.
Berkeley, CA
1/21/2012
After being told we had a 1-hr wait for three people at Bette's Oceanview Diner on 4th (Sat. morning at about 10:30am), I quickly suggested Tomate Cafe, for which I see appealing signs on my route back from work. Hidden away in an industrial neighborhood, it has a really cute and clean ambiance with walls that are painted in warm shades of yellows and reds. I believe that their entire menu, both breakfast and lunch, is available all day: entrees are ~$8-10 and it is more informal in that you pay, sit down with your number, and they don't wait on you during the meal. I got the Jump Start Breakfast with scrambled eggs, pancakes, and sausage. I guess I'm not used to eating standard American breakfasts, but I had to season the eggs with salt, pepper, and ketchup because I think they just cook them plain? The pancakes were whole grain and thus less fluffy and more chewy than the norm. Overall, everything at this place tastes very healthy--it has that organic, hippie-ish lean. Simple, standard meal. Satisfied and no complaints, but perhaps I should've been more adventurous. Their Mexican breakfasts look really tasty, I'll try that if I happen to come back in the future.
Pros: parking, large portions, friendly staff, quick 10-15 min service -
Review from andres V.
Berkeley, CA
2/3/2012
I've work on 4th street for 7 years and Tomate Cafe is a neighborhood staple. Its perfect for lunch with clients, were the food is excellent and priced reasonably. Plenty of options for vegetarians. I would head to work, park, pick up my coffee and breakfast bacon and egg sandwich, and be back at lunch. only negative is that it gets crowded sometimes for lunch. The staff is excellent, and they know you by name. Breakfast on weekend is ideal, this place is a hidden gem, guaranteed a seat with minutes or as you walk in. You wont be disappointed.
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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 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 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 audra m.
Hayward, CA
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 Debbie L.
Rancho Cucamonga, 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! -
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 Brian L.
Walnut Creek, CA
12/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Amazing brunch spot with a dog patio. The vedic tea is a must and the Cuban was awesome!
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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 Grace C.
9/16/2011
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'd like to 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 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 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 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 Adrianna L.
San Pablo, CA
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food was not all that for the prices. Expected much more. Nice location and friendly staff. Don't order the pancakes. Too thin. Only thing I liked was the French toast. One time stop.
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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 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 Tammy T.
San Francisco, CA
11/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
impressive!
+ good portions for sharing
+ pancakes w/ cornmeal
+ self serve, no crowds, no wait, no stress
- very cheesy omelets
not sure if i'll come back, but it was good. -
Review from Hiva e.
Lake Forest, CA
12/3/2011 1 photo
Dropped in this morning for the first time. I consider myself a breakfast connoisseur and am usually pretty disappointed with what places will try to pass off as breakfast.
We were immediately greeted by the owner, Jack. Super friendly and personable and made us feel like we had just walked into his kitchen.
I ordered the Jump Start breakfast, which consisted of eggs, 2 slices of thick, perfectly cooked bacon and two delicious whole-wheat pancakes bigger than my hand. The pancakes were COVERED with blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and sliced almonds? To say it was delicious would be an understatement.
My friend ordered the Jump Start breakfast with french toast--the toast was thick and fluffy and prepared perfectly (also covered in berries).
The coffee was better than what I make with my bean grinder/french press at home--something that came as a bit of a surprise to me. I mistook the sugar for creamer and nearly gave myself diabetes with the first sip, so don't make the same mistake I did.
It's hard to find a place with breakfast that impresses me this much, but Tomate Café did. I can't wait to go back and try the huevos rancheros, which Jack recommended. I'll probably end up going back tomorrow for lunch now that I think about it. -
Review from Vivian C.
Berkeley, CA
7/25/2011
How does a breakfast place run out of french toast and sausage?!?!?
Well, anyway, that forced some creative brunch choices. After a whole lot of deliberation, we ended up with blueberry pancakes and the pulled pork omelet.
Last time I had the pulled pork omelet it was TO DIE FOR but for some reason this time it just wasn't as good. Not sure exactly why. Just wasn't the same. Tomate does eggs well though, so it was still fluffy and good.
Blueberry pancakes came and they came burnt on the outside, runny/undercooked on the inside. Blegh. Owner was super nice, though, and had the kitchen whip up a new plate of pancakes for us. The pancakes were your average pancake fare: fine.
Tomate has always performed in the past, so I'll be back--perhaps earlier next time to try and catch their french toast. -
Review from Dustin R.
Berkeley, CA
9/23/2011
This place has great food. everything is made fresh and has the feeling of home cooked. The staff are great and have corrected mis-orders immediately and with out hesitation. The owner Jack is very helpful and gives the personal touch. He makes you feel important.
good Job! Keep it UP! -
Review from Tina W.
Walnut Creek, CA
7/14/2011
Why I go here?....it's close to my office.
Would I drive from somewhere else, just to eat here? Nope.
It's not that the food is bad. It's not. It's just....different. And unfortunately, overpriced. I have yet to try their any of their breakfast items, so this review is based solely on their lunch menu.
Although there are a few standard faves (mmm..tuna melt) on the menu along with your not-so-standard items, even the usual fare is just a bit off. Not necessarily off in a bad way, just not exactly what you're used to. Everything has a certain taste... I just can't put my finger on what it is. But all of the ingredients have always seemed fresh, so that's a plus.
I don't mind the process of ordering at the counter and then having it brought to your table, I just wish they paid a little more attention to wiping down the tables. It's a 'bus your own' type of place - some people choose to bus their own tables and some people don't. I don't mind bussing my own, but can't help worrying that because it's been cleared they won't bother coming out to wipe down the table. And sometimes they don't. I hate walking up to an empty table to find it dotted with pieces of rice, potato or whatever else the person before me may have eaten. Yuck.
All in all, it's not a bad place. Cool atmosphere and friendly staff. I'll be back for lunches, I'm sure. 4th Street just isn't quite within walking distance from work. Bummer.
OH....and Choose the green salad over the potato salad if you're ordering a sandwich. The potato salad is kinda bland and has often tasted sour. : / -
Review from Golda R.
11/4/2011
Good breakfast (and big) and good lunch!! Their omelettes are big and their sandwiches are good too. Its a place to go if you want to eat fresh ingredients packed with varying flavor.
