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Yellow Wood Coffee & Tea - CLOSED
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants American (New) Coffee & Tea, American (New) [Edit]
215 Alamo PlzAlamo, CA 94507
(925) 837-1234
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
80 reviews for Yellow Wood Coffee & Tea
Review Highlights
"Nice, relaxing space with plenty of tables and comfy chairs."
(in 8 reviews)
"Good place to study, free wifi is nice."
(in 3 reviews)
"my absolute favorite cafe."
(in 3 reviews)
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80 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica A.
Alamo, CA
Updated - 5/27/2010
I had to update my review to give my new fave place, Yellow Wood Coffee & Tea, five stars.
We went last week for the Deep Sea wine tasting event and had a great time. I'm loving the fact that we have a local place in Alamo that has terrific, weekday tasting events. Who needs to leave Alamo to go to Walnut Creek? Not me!
I highly recommend that you check out the great Thursday night tasting events. What fun and we got our Deep Sea Sauvignon Blanc for $16 a bottle (normally retails for $23) - Oh how I love a great bargain. :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/2/2010
I stopped in at Yellow Wood today for a Chai tea latte when I went to get a boba tea and realized my… Read more »
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Review from Joe A.
Alamo, CA
5/27/2010
This is a very cool, though kinda clicky upscale coffee joint, you get the vibe that if you where gay, black or had any liberal views, the clientel might show you the door. But I'm not bitter, Just a gay black liberal living in the suburbs.
The staff is friendly, attentive and well intentioned, a bit misguided and brainwashed, but a fun loving bunch nonetheless, what else would you expect from disaffected suburban teenagers? But I digress.
Now for my 50 cent opinion, which in a place like this won't get you too far. I have lived in Alamo for 19 years, in fact I live right across the street from this joint. It has changed hands a few times since it opened when I moved here. This incarnation is pretty good compared to the predicessors.
Here is the problem I have. I work for a living,and I don't wear a tie to work if you get my meaning. So money is tight, especially now.
Occassionally I like to splurge and have a coffeee drink, you know espresso with some variation on steamed milk.
My favorite is cafe mocha. When this place opened they where really doin' a good job, good coffee, real oily pulls coming off that machine and all the drinks where double shots. YOW! The chocolate was some yummy confection that was was carfully blended into the espresso before the milk was added, delicious and powerful!!
Once comparatively fair on pricing, Yellow Wood has since seen there way clear to be the most expensive coffee shop in the area. That's right, I have done the resarch. Starbucks charges $3.65 for a double shot mocha, Peet's $3.20 and Yellow Wood a whoping $4.55 !!
Yellow Wood now uses canned whip cream and canned chocolate syrup. More in line with a Starbucks drink. And Peet's, well what do you need to say? The best coffee beans in the world, and they make there own chocolate sauce, and there own whip cream.
Sorry, You have lost me as a sucker, I mean customer..... -
Review from Ryan H.
Walnut Creek, CA
7/10/2010
Lauren D.'s comment Is not the way to win the hearts of the neighbors. At this point I really want to know why the hell the iced coffee is nearly $5 and why poor customer service is allowed at this place.
And Lauren, you were getting poor reviews before Diablo Magazine ran their Best Of issue so suck it.
Hopefully this place changes because I went there not long after they opened and it really was a nice place for coffee.
Still not as good as Sideboard but it used to be ok.
Later, Boners, I'll be down the street... -
Review from Lisa D.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2010
Glad to see we are not the only ones who think the "service" here was lousy and inconsistent.
Mistakes were made on our orders several times. The employees were never very nice about making it right either. We chose to go elsewhere and are glad we did.
Only reason we're posting this now is we saw they are closed. Maybe a good place will open there...will will hope so! -
Review from jim e.
Pleasant Hill, CA
8/8/2010
I started going to yellow wood just after they opened. It started off as a nice place, a "pub" of sorts that served coffee instead of beer. Where one could either meet up with friends, or just hang out and use the wi-fi. It was simple, and the coffee was good to boot.
Not having gone for a few years, I was eager to go back and visit again, and I must say I was a bit disappointed. Yellow wood seems like a place that has grown to become too many things at once. They serve coffee in the mornings, wine in the evenings, lunches, breakfasts. You can either have a full meal, or hang out and just drink. I was almost offended when asked to grab my own muffin out of the "self serve" pastry table. (The old pastry cabinet is now stuffed with quiches and other lunch items). And, the only reason I was offended had to do with how expensive their prices are. Even the coffee drinks aren't as good as I remember them being.
And, I don't like the kids they have working there now. They seem almost dismissive of the customer, like their parents are somehow forcing them to work there just so they can learn responsibility. It's as if I'm somehow inconveniencing them by merely placing my order. I do like the enclosed patio; it has really gone a long way to help with the seating issues, especially during peak times. Anyway, if I have 8 bucks to spend on a latte and a scone, I would consider going back, otherwise I would gladly go someplace else. -
Review from Alexis M.
4/10/2010
This place is adorable!
I went for a long run with a friend yesterday which started and stopped at Yellow Wood. We then went in for some coffee and to meet another friend.
What a cute place. They layout is cozy and warm, the staff is really nice and helpful and the coffee is great. It doesn't have that over brewed burnt taste like some other coffee houses (cough cough *starbucks*).
The food looks amazing and my girlfriend says the paninis are to die for.
I also love that they have wine for the evenings. What a great way to add revenue. -
Review from Nilu r.
San Francisco, CA
10/25/2009
Delicious coffee, brewed strong, bold flavor, smooth finish...and a GREAT pick me up the morning of the Cruella Century for which they were a sponsor!
I have never been to the cafe, but the free coffee offered by a super friendly lady to the riders really impressed me. It fueled that first climb up mount Diablo better than I could have hoped for.
Next time I am in the area, I will sure to go to the cafe for more of that tasty brew! -
Review from Tinny S.
Pasadena, CA
1/28/2009
Nice large cafe with plenty of seats, electrical outlets, decent drinks, and free wifi.
Too bad it's a total DOUCHE MAGNET. -
Review from Robert C.
Brentwood, CA
1/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
How else can you describe a place like this... just like paradise perhaps, yes.... is it euphoria.. not quite. I took my wife here for her 40th birthday and what a great choice. The Latte we had was just delicous it was not the best ever but it tops any in the area that we have had. One thing to watch out for it is VERY busy place seating can get scarce.
Now let me give you the rundown.
The parking was great...
The interior was very cool
The people working we nice, and defiantly knew how to make a coffee.
The cost was fair.
Oh and if you have friends that like to have a drink but don't like coffee they even serve wine and beer... So it is a great place to go to hang out. -
Review from Kara B.
East Bay, CA
6/29/2008
One of my favorite places. Why? Friendly and attentive service(They actually care about their customers), Great coffee(I've had several coffee connoseuirs attest to this), very relaxed, several outlets, clean, nice decor, and free wifi. With the exception of their hot chocolate(wasn't chocolate-y enough), every drink I've had there is tasty, especially their loose leaf teas and their espresso. Their lunch food consists of panini's, salad, and yogurt, and it is all satisfactory.
Typically, most of the tables are filled with people, but it doesn't ever get that loud, it is a good place to study or get work done. It is also a good place to have coffee with a friend, there are some comfortable couches. They also don't blast obnoxious music that will drive you crazy if you are trying to concentrate - which is a plus in my book.
My only real complaint is that I don't get good phone service inside Yellow Wood, so I have to go outside to talk on the phone, but for everyone else's sake, this is probably a good thing. Additionally, I wasn't impressed with their hot chocolate.
Disclosure: The yuppiest yuppies on earth frequent at Yellow Wood, but its Alamo, what else do you expect. -
Review from Marissa C.
Oakland, CA
12/3/2007 7 Check-ins Here
Update 2.28.08:
I'm sitting here at Yellow Wood, on my lap top (free wifi, of course), at 6:36PM. "But I thought Yellow Wood closes at 6:00PM?" They DO...but now only on Sunday-Wednesday.
Welcome to "Moonlight at Yellow Wood". The staff has upped the image, all dressed in slick black, the menu offers Napa/Sonoma/Rutherford's best Chardonnays, Cabernets, Sauvignon Blancs, etc, delectable charcuterie platters of sumptuous meats & breads, and desserts to appeal to everyone.
In short, Yellow Wood has done what I formerly didn't think possible...got even better :)
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As a connoisseur of coffee houses, I can definitely put Yellow Wood in the top ten of all coffee places I have ever been to. After a slew of unsuccessful retailers and even another coffee shop in the very same locale, I am happy and confident in saying that I'm sure Yellow Wood is here to stay. Here's my run-down:
Food: Excellent, fresh, and anything but hum-drum. Their paninis are delicious and innovative. Try the California Adventure Panini with cranberries, mixed greens, turkey and mustard sauce/dressing (if I remember correctly)....delicious! Their various salads aren't as diverse, but equally fresh and yummy.
Coffee: Although I'm partial to some blends over others, you can still tell the coffee here is fresh (just like the food!). It's not as potent as what you might get at a Peet's, but it's still very flavorful and not your watered-down Starbucks fair. I was also happy to know that their baristas know the different between a wet or dry cappuccino. And for a seemingly younger set of kids, I was impressed! My personal favorite: Caramel Marvel Latte
Tea: Despite the fact I'm an idiot and didn't know how to use their fabulous tea infusers (I sort of made a mess by pressing the "trap door" bottom and spilled all over the table...oops!), the quality of teas and the variety surpasses all other local coffee/tea locations. My fave: Gunpowder Green Tea
Ambiance, Furniture, etc.: Tables come in a variety of sizes to suit ones needs. Small intimate settings for two, big long tables for the laptop users (and free wifi), and circles of large, plush leather seats, for solo coffee drinkers or a group of friends. The decor is mostly warm yellows (naturally) and rich browns, and there is usually a nice mix of jazz, classical or folky alternative music to relax to, but not played so loud that you can't hear your fellow coffee sippers.
This place does occasionally get pretty crowded, which maybe its only pitfall, but its not like they can do anything about being the most popular coffee house in Alamo! Their newer staff occasionally goofs an order (no one is perfect), but EVERY time they offer some form of compensation (a free dessert drink, cookie, etc.). At Yellow Wood they are ALL about taking care of their customers and building loyal clientele...so far so good :)Listed in: COFFEEEEEEE! (and tea!), Mangia! Mangia!
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Review from steven r.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/4/2009
Been here many times. Best for coffee or meeting someone. Warmer days/nights offer outdoor seating. Exclectic crowd, if that's even possible in Alamo. Really nice crew. Little pricey. Usually spacious seating but tables fill-up fast. Lots of folks killing time on their laptops.
Weekend evenings provides entertainment which is nice but wines by the glass are way too expensive. Pop into Safeway, but a bottle then brown bag it in the car before checking out the live music. *kidding* -
Review from Spencer n.
Alamo, CA
3/30/2008
By far one of my most fave. coffee shops in the alamo/danville/walnut creek area. Very upscale feeling, and although the staff is young they are extremely attentive and can make some damn good coffee. The free Wi-Fi is a nice touch as well. They also serve good sandwiches and little treats. Only draw back is the fact that it always seems to have a crowd. I have yet to find a time when there arent a crap load of people.
PS their yellow wood, wood looking commuter cup is amazing. I use it all the time and always get questioned about where I got it. hehe -
Review from Kat W.
Bay Area
8/25/2010
I come here to study a lot. They have great salads and soups and their blended ice coffees are delicious (dare I say, better than Starbucks). Also the free WiFi is a major draw for me.
My only peeves would be (1) that it's pretty expensive and (2) that the staff could use a little more training. Service can be a bit slow and orders wrong pretty regularly. But when you consider it's high school kids, I can cut some slack. As far as prices go it IS Alamo after all. Also, compared to what I would pay to use the wireless at Starbucks or some other places, I'm still saving money.
Overall, I'm a fan. -
Review from J T.
4/15/2010
Nice multi purpose place to be in Alamo. Work, chat, drink, etc.
It can get noisy and hard to hear when there are lots of people around. But good coffee, some people watching opportunities and free wi fi are good reasons to check out this Alamo spot. -
Review from Tam F.
10/19/2007
I came to this place yesterday afternoon with my girlfriend for some much needed girl time chatting, etc. She happens to be in a local production and had a couple of hours before she had to be to the theater, so I convinced her to meet me at my house, take a quick run to the bank and to "check out this tea place I had read about on YELP".
So....
We walk in. I am immediately impressed with the size, setup, cleanliness and warmth in this place. The chairs. couches. tables. are comfortable and well positioned.
We go to the counter and look at the goodies in the case. YUM. Then I notice there is a sandwich board, and ask my friend if she will need to eat something before her show. She immediately ordered the pesto chicken Tuscan sandwich, and I ordered peppermint tea (she had tea later). The guy waiting on us (must be a highschooler) was friendly and had great, though muted blue hair. (I have to admit. I am missing a little bit of the "funky" I was used to when I lived on the other side of the tunnel). My friend really enjoyed her sandwich-we both liked our tea, and really like the atmosphere.
We did peruse the store attached. Cute stuff, but I wasn't really in the mood to look for anything.
This place really deserves a 4.5. Have to knock off 1/2 point due to the "taste" of coffee I had then almost spit out. Okay, I admit. I am a huge coffee snob. I like a good cup of coffee-even the Peet's I love has roasts I can't stand, and as long as we are not drinking Starbuck's I will give most a try. Even diner coffee can be good sometimes. This was just bleh, but it could have been due to it being 4:30 in the afternoon...
I can't wait to go back with my laptop and a book on a day when I am feeling like I need to do some people watching. -
Review from alexandra r.
Danville, CA
8/21/2008
So very relaxing to come here after work with Husband and drink huge coffees out of big yellow mugs and sit in leather club chairs with glistening candles flickering in the distance all while relaxing jazzy tunes softly playing in the background. The atmosphere wipes away whatever stresses are lingering from your workday.
Extremely friendly staff but not in the annoying fake friendly way. Just real people who seem to enjoy what they do and aren't too snobby to actually smile at you. At first moving to Diablo Valley from Pacific Grove last year was a little shocking to my system because so many places have such cold customer service (unlike PG where everyone treats you like a neighbor). I like that this place is in Alamo yet I detect not an ounce of pretentiousness.
They do a delicious white mocha that in my opinion outdoes SB. Yeah it isnt as cheap as SB but supporting a local coffee house is better for the soul and conscious.
I only wish they were open till 9 every night (for now only Thurs, Fr & Sat). -
Review from Vivian W.
San Ramon, CA
10/28/2008
Awesome neighborhood cafe - perfect place for studying or catching up with friends. Their coffee & tea are served in these big yellow cups - I'm especially a fan of their wide tea selection. It comes in this drip container with loose leaves, after it finish brewing, you can place this on top of your cup and it drips out the aromatic tea. I ordered their Earl Grey and a madeleine cookies - perfect for the afternoon. Although I did not try their paninis or other pastries, they sure looked and smelled delicious as I look onto my neighbor's tables.
The cafe is filled with big comfy chairs throughout, as well as many big tables and chairs with outlets found everywhere. Not to mention the free Wi-Fi, this doesn't get any better for a graduate student that has work all the time. -
Review from Monica W.
Walnut Creek, CA
12/26/2007
Yellow Wood is a very warm and inviting coffee house that is not only cozy, but the coffee and food are phenominal.
I'm usually a latte kinda girl, but OMG, the coffee here is fantastic. I put a touch of cream and a smigen of honey is all I need in their coffee.
The service is always excellent... everyone that works there is always smiling and happy. Just genuinely kind and super polite.
The food is also awesome. The breakfast paninis are delicious and not greasy. The pastries are fresh and light... The salads are just the right porportion and really tasty.
Needless to say, I'd much drive from Walnut Creek to have coffee than walk across the street to the Starbucks. -
Review from Po L.
San Francisco, CA
6/9/2008
A local coffee shop with a lot of action.
In the day and age of the Starbucks and Peet's the local coffee shop is still alive and kicking. It's like Starbucks is trying to push the little coffee shop's head under water but just won't go under.
It is very refreshing. The place was busy through out the day. There is free wifi and the tea is good. I ordered two green teas (Dragonwell and the powder with Dragonwell is much lighter then the powder) that were small and a bag of chips for $5.30.
There is lot of seating outside and air conditioning inside. Inside there are tables and arm chairs so you can have you meetings with your friends. It can get a bit noisy, but nothing too crazy. Power outlets are easy to find along with parking. -
Review from Emily J.
4/27/2009
I will definitely be visiting Yellow Wood Coffee & Tea again. This is a great spot for working remotely. Nice, relaxing space with plenty of tables and comfy chairs. They have free wifi and their friendly staff made me a delicious nonfat chai latte for less than $4.
They also have tasty sounding snacks so it truly makes for a great non-office office.Listed in: Caffeine
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Review from Chris W.
San Francisco, CA
8/9/2008
Great drinks, great food, great atmosphere, free wifi, easy parking, PERFECT for studying, friendly staff
the bad: it can get a little crowded, noisy idiot soccer moms with their whiney kids occasionally, if you're in a hurry-- forget it because they take a long time to make drinks and a century to make a sandwich! -
Review from Kimmie Q.
Alameda, CA
1/10/2009
Soy Chai Latte, extra hot.. the perfect drink on a cold winter's morning. They made my drink oh-so-perfectly. It was frothy and sweet and velvety.. yum!
This shop is a cool spot to hang out with friends, lounge around, snack, or people-watch. I haven't had a chance to check out the live music they offer, but there's a nifty blackboard out front that lists the upcoming dates & acts.
It was a little too noisy for studying on the weekend. A pair of earbuds will cure that problem. I think I'm going to make this my "go-to" place for studying when I want to get out of the house. Its a nice change from the cookie-cutter Starbucks environment. -
Review from Bob B.
Walnut Creek, CA
5/17/2010
My wife Karen and I, and some friends attended YELLOW WOOD NIGHTS, where both food and wine are accompanied by club styled music. The overall experience reminded us of early YOSHI's Jazz House in Berkeley. There are so few great coffee houses in the area and none with the qualify experience Yellow Wood offers.
We went for the music and the tapas style food and wine. Our waitress was Amy who was very pleasant and suggested several of the food items we enjoyed.
We started with the tapanades which were savory olive and pepper spreads on crackers. We love the taste but thought bread rounds would have been easier to eat.
We had a round of white wines with the appetizer consisting of Sav Blanc, Chards and the Table White which was excellent with the tapanades. The cool thing about Yellow Wood is they have three sizes of wine to enjoy: "A Taste" for about $3-4, a glass $6-9 or a Carafe of 2/5 glasses for 12-18 which is the best deal.
With the white wines, we had the fruit and cheese, and the meat and cheese platters for the four of us. The cheeses were mild and nicely at room temperature. The meats were thinly sliced and very fresh as was the fruit. Two bonuses were the scatterings of dried blueberries and mango's that complimented wines nicely. The second bonus was the thinly sliced lightly garlic-ed french bread which was still warm. Super good.
Now for a flight of Red's. Our waitress sent over the manager Chad who really knows wine. He suggested a 2001 Cab which we got a carafe. Our wives went for a taste of a different cab since they didn't want another full glass (or more) of wine - the taste was a great option. Chad suggested pairing the wines with some Panini's
Our third course was a couple of the Panini's. We had the chicken pesto and the Californian with avocado, chicken and bacon. Both were a big hit and we savory enough to get your attention and filling enough to be a great addition to the meal.
Our final treat was the chocolate fondue and coffee. Five Stars again. -
Review from Chris S.
Pleasanton, CA
9/6/2006
Probably my favorite cafe. Very engaging staff, good espresso, and free WiFi cover the requirements for a favorite cafe. Putting it over the top are the decor, gift items and the regulars.
There's a group with 2 big, friendly German shepards that seem to stand watch over the place in the morning. Gives the place a very good feel.
I called it my favorite, but it's not perfect. My small (enough to not lower the its status from 5-star) qualms:
- I wish their fruit salad came in a size other than Gigantic
- It can be a bit slow in the morning
It seems I have to make the tough decision to stop off (or not) every morning on my commute from P-town to Concord. -
Review from Sheila D.
Alamo, CA
9/27/2006
I came to Yellow Wood for an iced coffee just yesterday. The counter gal was very friendly and smile-y. I wish I was hungry at the time cause the paninis on their menu all sounded delicious. My iced coffee was delicious (not too strong - Peets and Starbucks are just too much for me). The atmosphere is quite cozy and I made a mental note to bring my work there next time I'm working from home. They have Wi-Fi so it is certainly doable.
UPDATE 10/30/2007: PSSSST! They are applying for their wine & beer license -- yikes, am I in trouble or WHAT?!?!? (can't wait!) -
Review from Sarah C.
San Diego, CA
5/22/2008
This is a cute little coffee shop with tons of seating. I've only had their regular drip coffee and an blended toffee nut drink. The regular drip tasted like crap, but the blended coffee was really good.
Prices were a little on the expensive side, but what do you expect in Alamo? I wish they had a larger selection of baked goods, but they do have a pretty extensive sandwich menu.
Overall, this is a decent place to get some coffee and study (if you like studying in coffee shops), but there wasn't anything special about it. Thumbs up for the free Wifi though. -
Review from Max V.
San Francisco, CA
9/20/2010
The rude, righteous attitude of the kids working in this place was a big turn off to our group. Mistakes to our orders were never dealt with in a civil manner, not one "I am sorry" either.
Once we were finally given what we ordered and paid for (not that the way we were treated was a reflection of having paid or being a customer by these oversized brats) the food and beverages were so-so.
Thankful the doors to this establishment are CLOSED! -
Review from H D.
Belmont, CA
3/21/2008
I'm pretty impressed. I happened upon this place is desperate need for free wi-fi to do some quick work and happen to be on 680.
This places has tons of indoor and good outdoor seating. It has a upscale and relaxed feel to it. They have jazz some nights, but it's a good place to study or get remote work done.
I only had the drip coffee, which was great. They have a good selection of food and I think they have alcohol too. The staff was very friendly and went out of their way to make their customers comfortable. -
Review from Melanie K.
Pinole, CA
1/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I wish they would open again. :( so far, nowhere else has anything close to their toffee nut frappe. *tear..
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Review from Maria B.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 6/4/2010
The service in this place has really gone downhill. There are about 10 people working in the back and yet my order ALWAYS, ALWAYS comes out wrong. My orders are not complicated, usually just coffee/tea, and sometimes a food item. The kids that work here don't have any knowledge about the food items they're selling and just have no customer service training whatsoever. There doesn't seem to be a manager or supervisor around either. I really liked this place before, especially because it's right off the Iron Horse and it's cozy inside, but I'm just tired of going there and waiting 20 minutes to half an hour just to get my order right. I've gone to much busier coffee houses where the customer service is far superior with only half the staff.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/16/2009
I tried this place because of all the great reviews on Yelp. The coffee is very good and they have… Read more »
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Review from sandi h.
Helper, UT
8/2/2007
"Yellow wood" is the warmest, coziest, most tasteful and delightful Coffee
house in the East Bay! I won't spoil your first impression with mine,
"Just Go There" And it is Joined by "Sage Terrace" which is a place that will provide you with the most gracious living your senses can experience in numerous ways From Styling your home to celebrating your attitude! I'm talking Accessories and Necessities!
Tuck yourself in at Yellow Wood and indulge their Holiday events! -
Review from Abby C.
Palo Alto, CA
8/27/2008
Food: great, i had a panini. they give some chocolate on the side for a sweet treat at the end.
Atmosphere: comfortable, spacious, cute boutique shop attached
Cleanliness: A+
Customer Service: average, nothing memorable -
Review from Stephanie H.
Berkeley, CA
9/20/2008
Even after reading the good reviews, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this place. The location (in the middle of Alamo Plaza across from Safeway) just does not seem like a place where you could find an awesome coffee shop.
The spaciousness and comfy seating were what won me over. I'm used to cafes where you have to fight just to get a little counter space. Here there's plenty of seating (and outlets), a mixture of tables and large, comfy armchairs.
While soccer moms do frequent the place, it's not too bad. I went in expecting that (this is Alamo, after all) so it was fine. I was actually surprised by the number of young people (er, college students and people in their 20's) chatting and working on laptops.
I had a drip coffee and it was good. The sandwiches looked yummy, too. -
Review from E V.
Dublin, CA
1/17/2010
3 1/2 stars is what I really wanted to award to this place, and since I would rather over-rate it a bit than underrate it, I gave it 4 stars instead of 3.
Good coffee, good tea, decent baked goods.
Good soup, when they serve it warm enough.
Comfy seats and a nice ambiance.
Good quiche.
Free Wifi
The service is the weak point here. It is inconsistent. The staff is sometimes not knowledgeable about their limited menu items, drinks are often not warm enough, that goes for other food items
Overall, it's a nice cafe, and I frequent it despite its service shortcomings. -
Review from Elizabeth D.
San Leandro, CA
7/10/2010
The place is kind of cool but gets too loud and crowded during peak hours. Their coffee is great! not to crazy for the food =(...It is expensive and portions are very small.. $13 bucks for a salad and an iced tea? nahh....I go occasionally to use their wi-fi , of course, after paying 5 bucks for an iced tea...
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Review from Natalie W.
Berkeley, CA
2/5/2008
It's hard for me to think of a single negative thing to say about this place but I'll try to give my best unbiased map out of the great and maybe not so great details of Yellow Wood.
First of all, I make it into that little place two days out of the week at least. I work in the shopping center on weekends so I'm in there more than once a day when I'm there. This undoubtedly helps with the super good comments I've got to list:
*Just about everyone there knows my name and my favorite drink. No joke, I can say I want my usual and they know it. My usual is not a 'usual drink.' Soy Chai Latte with a Triple Shot of Espresso! These wonderful people not only know me, and my drink but always have friendly conversations with me about whatever is happening lately. It's nice to have a rappore with the baristas.
*COMFY chairs. For me, no cafe can get five stars if they have uncomfortable wooden chairs and rickety tables. This place has a wide variety of tables, chairs, cushy chairs and even a couch. This allows for an even wider variety of socializing and studying to take place. Got something to do??? I bet you could do it there: talk, eat, read, study, write, work with your computer, make greeting cards (I did that at their big round table), crossword puzzles, board games, etc.. you name it and theres a table and chairs that would work for you.
*The worlds CUTEST botique is right next door...albiet a little pricey (but do consider what town you're in). The place is called Sage I believe... and it has the nicest little gift ideas I've ever seen.
*PANINIS that will rock your world. The con on this is that they are pricey. The breakfast paninis definitely are way more expensive than they need to be... but I still find myself ordering them because they taste so good. My favorite breakfast panini is the trailmaker (although the other one is REALLY yummy too) and my favorite other Panini is the California Adventure. I can't complain about any of them though. I've had about half of the ones on the menu and have NEVER been dissapointed.
*MISTAKES: So, since when is a mistake a PRO? Since it happened at Yellow Wood. I used to joke with a friend that people there messed up my orders on purpose. Basically, every time they'd mess up I'd end up with extra food. Once they forgot me (when the place was new and overwhelmingly busy). They gave me free lunch and two desserts: AMAZING--one for me, one for my friend. Another time they messed up part of my order and gave me a free coffee coupon. Another time, the guy thought they used the not so 'wonderful' tasting part of the portabello mushroom (I swear I didn't notice) and he came up to me later with a whole new panini for me to take home without me even mentioning a word! Such great service. They're so eager to have you satisified with the place.
From that, I'm pretty sure my vibe on this place is clear. I love it. It's absolutely my favorite place to be. The ambiance is warm and the decor is centered around my favorite poem ever (Robert Frost's). Destiny I guess. I should say though, my two complaints are that they close WAY too early (6PM), but it makes sense since the whole town shuts down pretty early...AND, sometimes they take a long time to get food ready (but thats also explainable based on how busy they are.. they've gotten exponentially better at that as they've had time to get their groove going). What I do is tell them I'll come right back for my drink. They're always fine with it and I just run off to sign in at work or to do whatever errands I have to run in the shopping center. By the time I come back they're ready for me! -
Review from Erica K.
Danville, CA
8/4/2010
Nice place to sit and think. Great ambiance and it has a lounge feel to it. Great place to take your book and or laptop and chill out while sipping latte.
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Review from Susan D.
3/8/2010
Wow, I've seen this place and driven by I don't know how many times. Usually go to my old standby Starbuck's for a coffee, but I was going to run into RIchard's next door and I was in a time crunch.
Really beautiful and inviting inside....who knew? Lot's of yummy looking baked goods, that I had to put my blinders on because I'd just come from the gym and it was "coffee only" for me.
Coffee, decaf latte delicious. Though it's $2.60 @ the Big "S" and it was $3.35 here @ Yellow Wood, a bit pricey.
Lots of interesting trinkets for purchase and the store next door is connected for easy moseying over.....
The place had lots of comfy chairs for gathering with friends, and I saw they have music and open mic night on a monthly schedule. Also they had wines so you cold make it a fun meeting place by the look of it. I did go back again with my husband for a coffee, again great coffee...just a bit expensive.
But I'd definitely keep it in mind as a good meeting spot for a nice coffee or tea in the afternoon, for a good atmosphere and victuals. -
Review from Nat R.
Walnut Creek, CA
9/12/2010
Independent coffee shop with a relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere. Definitely a nice change of pace from your Starbucks. They have the best mochas, and have wine and music on sone nights.
