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Guerilla Cafe

4 star rating
based on 95 reviews

Category: Coffee & Tea  [Edit]

Neighborhoods: Gourmet Ghetto, North Berkeley
1620 Shattuck Ave
(between Cedar St & Lincoln St)
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 845-2233
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  • Hours:
    Mon 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
    Tue-Fri 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
    Sat-Sun 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
  • Price Range: $$
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Parking: Street
  • Attire: Casual
  • Good for Groups: No
  • Good for Kids: No
  • Takes Reservations: No
  • Delivers: No
  • Take-out: Yes
  • Waiter Service: Yes
  • Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: Yes
  • Wi-Fi: None
  • Good for: Breakfast
  • Alcohol: None

95 Reviews for Guerilla Cafe

This business is a Yelp Sponsor

One of Guerilla Cafe's Favorite Reviews

Photo of Matt C.

Elite '08

20

63

Matt C.

Brookline, MA

5 star rating
04/11/2008

Unbelievably good. Went here in search of a quick bite and some serious caffeination. Both orders were met by a ginger pear waffle and French press Blue Bottle coffee - probably the world's strongest brew.

The various types of eggs also looked appetizing and the espresso beverages are served in huge cups. Really, just go there.

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Elite '08

53

195

Quyen T.

Berkeley, CA

4 star rating
Updated - 09/27/2008

I'm still a fan.  The food comes in small servings and is still pretty barebones (they don't have a kitchen--just toasters, egg poachers, waffle makers, etc.), but the coffee is still out of this world.  And, on a Saturday, sitting in the Gourmet Ghetto, reading my NY Times, sipping my Blue Bottle coffee, life just can't get any better than this...AND I live here!  I love Berkeley.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating 04/28/2007

    Vibe: absolutely terrific

    Music: Marley/reggae

    Location: Gourmet Ghetto

    Rotating Art: so cool!

    Coffee:… Read more »

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0

26

bel l.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
10/05/2008

delicious food. great people. excellent music.

good for body and soul.

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Photo of Tinny S.

Elite '08

31

110

Tinny S.

Berkeley, CA

4 star rating
08/26/2008

I finally gave in to a friend's perpetual whining about wanting to try Guerilla.  I'd always been turned off by the lack of seating, lines, dirty looking punks eating outside, and the fact that they sold t-shirts at the front counter.  The whining finally got too persistent and high pitched to ignore, so there I went, and here is the 411.

I usually hold off reviewing a place until I've tried it at least three times, but judging by the neat little molded poached eggs, consistency is not an issue here.  Remember this so you do not make an ass out of yourself: after you enter, order what you want at the counter and pay.  Then you will be given a picture of an activist and left to find a seat on your own.  I ordered the Mediterranean platter (4 slices of wheat toast, 2 poached eggs, fresh tomatoes, marinated olives, and feta $8 rounded up) and spicy mocha while my friend ordered the waffle of the day (original $?) and a coffee.

The food was delicious, light, and left me comfortable enough to go do jumping jacks or something afterward (do not attempt).  The waffle comes with fresh fruit and they use creme fraiche instead of whipped cream to top it off.  The spicy mocha was pretty delicious and beautifully presented in a giant bowl.  

The only gripe I have is that the barista needs to get on his game!  The ladies in the kitchen be cranking out all sorts of delicious food, and the barista needs to keep up.  We finished our meal before we got our drinks.  Apparently, so had everyone else.  This creates an awkward situation because there are angry hungry people in line giving menacing looks at the people sitting at cleared tables nursing drinks.  This causes me, an avid practitioner of common courtesy, to chug my giant bowl of hot spicy mocha and get out so those waiting may have a seat.  

Try to go on off hours so you can enjoy your delicious food and giant steaming bowl of spicy mocha without leaving in a sweat!

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2

4

Ling M.

Brooklyn, NY

2 star rating
10/06/2008

This place definitely has a cute diner vibe, and the waffle plates look great. It's a bit small and cramped since it seems like everyone is buzzing to get in here on a Saturday, and unfortunately, the service doesn't exactly compensate for that.

When I first sat down at the bar seating, a waitress came over and I asked for a cup of coffee. She said I had to go to the front counter to order.

OK, that's fine. So I schlepp myself to the front counter, put the order in, and return to my seat. When the waitress brings it over, there are no condiments included -- no sugar, cream, etc.

Which in turn means that I get up again, scour the tiny place for the condiment table, and end up leaning over a seated, uncomfortable-looking guy just to access a couple of sugar packets.

My breakfast plate (I had the proscuitto, eggs and toast) was not great either. The proscuitto tasted a bit sour and was a bit hard, like it'd been sitting out too long.  

Overall, I'm unimpressed. It was my first time there though, so I'll give it another try.

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7

65

plot t.

CA

1 star rating
09/28/2008

ser...viss?  what is this "serviss"?  you want more cream?  oh no i have disappeared into the black dirty hole of the guerilla cafe and you will never have your cream.  or sugar.

i hope you like your coffee black.  serviss.  hah!

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5

117

Annie F.

Berkeley, CA

4 star rating
09/05/2008

I went here for lunch a couple times and it's very nice.  It's a great healthy, down-home cafe with funky music.  Good paninis and great  lightly dressed salads.  I don't think it'll be any place that blows your mind, but if you're in the neighborhood at lunchtime, I recommend it.

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40

42

Miss C.

Berkeley, CA

4 star rating
08/27/2008

Spicy hot chocolate, served in a bowl cup, with gorgeous flair, mmmmmm.

This is a nice place to just chill and hang out, the egg dishes are served all day, though they are only poached eggs (no scrambled, I asked) and they have a good selection of paninis.  The Challah French Toast is slices of thick challah bread, toasted, not what one thinks of as traditional french toast with the egg batter and all.  Pretty hearty really, and for the $3.95 price, ya, a good deal actually.

The jam (or preserves) that they had was decadent, I believe it was blackberry, hard to find good jam like that.  A fresh fruit cup had several different fruits, I dare say twice as much selection as that of standard fruit cups, served with fresh mint.

Spicy hot chocolate does have a bit of a kick, I'm curious to try the other drinks too.  The artwork on the foamy part was very impressive, and the sheer size of the bowl, nice!

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17

49

Kristina s.

Berkeley, CA

3 star rating
08/18/2008

Berkeley seems to be empty on a sunday morning and i was starving Guerilla seemed to be the only place that my boyfriend and i could get breakfast.  The atmosphere was nice and very "berkeley". I like how instead of numbers to keep track of orders they gave us a card with guerilla activist. We split one of their specials, the panini. I liked the side salad had a very light dressing just the way i like it. the panini well my half anyway was very cheesy. My boy friend complained that all the good stuff was on my side, and it was. His side was half empty so he ended up paying and eating mostly bread.

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Elite '08

143

136

Jonathan D.

Berkeley, CA

4 star rating
07/19/2008

I dropped the wife and son off at Codornices park for a birthday party and then walked down to Guerilla for a little brunch with my little girl.  When we got to Guerilla, it was packed, but people were getting up so I thought we could make it work.

Navigating the entrance/line/cashier cluster was tough with a baby backpack, but people were friendly and helpful and it all worked out.  I placed my order, found a small table in the back and got the little one's lunch ready.

Moments later, an espresso was delivered to the table - wonderful (just as expected).

Moments after that the friendly wait staff placed some toasted sourdough with poached eggs, salmon and capers in front of me.  The poached eggs were perfect - I mean really perfect.  And the toast soaked up all the runny egg to make for a delicious dish.  I threw a little salmon and capers on it with a little cucumber - WOW.

And very important, when delivering hot coffee and food to the table, they were always careful to steer clear of any possibility that something would spill on my daughter.  I love it when people take obvious precautions.

Highly recommended.  Really at the tops in Berkeley for breakfast.

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Photo of Sandy C.

 

3

13

Sandy C.

Oakland, CA

4 star rating
09/08/2008

funky cafe with great organic food, blue bottle coffee, and actual information on "guerillas" who have influenced the world (i.e. che, nelson mandela) -- this is on the card you get with the number for your food!   the wait can be long for a table, but my girlfriend and i love the music (i have found more new music there than at hear music), and the prices are pretty good.

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0

6

Emma C.

Berkeley, CA

5 star rating
09/07/2008

The food is great here, but the reason I always slyly suggest Guerilla Cafe when the question of whether to go out for breakfast on Sunday morning comes up is because it's like eating inside a submarine. Seriously, I would be giving it seven stars if it were even smaller, just the bar to sit at and the kitchen.

It feels like being on a space station, where room is tight but you're making do! Also I can't identify any of the machinery they use to cook the amazing food, so that just adds to the appeal.

When the Mos Eisley Cantina closes in the early morning, the Guerilla Cafe opens next door. It's so cool!

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1

23

Suzanne D.

Berkeley, CA

5 star rating
09/18/2008

this place is simply lovely.

even when I was being totally indecisive the girl behind the counter was totally sweet- and made me feel perfectly normal (which is rare at cafes)

The americano was amazing...the biscotti was delish and the quiet afternoon vive was quite enjoyable.

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2

20

Tanya R.

Oakland, CA

4 star rating
07/30/2008

I'm a little reluctant to tell you about this place, because it is already too crowded and I can't get a table sometimes. Oh well, it's crowded because it's the best place for a hip breakfast experience in the East Bay. They serve Blue Bottle coffee (the best coffee in the Bay Area), awesome waffles, and delicious poached eggs with toast. I had the soup once, and that was good too. I love the art, and I enjoy the vibe Andrea and Keba have created. Really, the only reason I'm not adding the fifth star is because it's hard to get a table, and the service isn't stellar...okay, maybe I'm just possessive.

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2

8

Danika D.

Berkeley, CA

3 star rating
07/21/2008

So this place is a very cute, artsy cafe. I definately felt as though I was not artistic enough when I walked in!

The food was good and yummy, but it wasn't anything that spectacular and unique. I had a hummus plate with veggies and pita, while my boyfriend had their Mediterranean Plate, which has been highly touted on other Yelp reviews for this venue.

I give it a 3 because I could easily buy all of the food components and put them on a plate, which is what our plates basically were. No real mixing of ingredients or 'cooking' done except to hear the eggs and toast the bread.

Also, the space is veerrryyyy small. I would guess maybe 15 people tops could eat in here comfortably.

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Photo of Jaymie L.

 

1

8

Jaymie L.

Richmond, CA

4 star rating
08/13/2008

I haven't eaten a full meal here yet so my review is limited to coffee only.  It's good, not burnt, and not Starbucks.  So if you're walking down Shattuck and want a near perfect latte skip the Starbucks on the corner (rumored to be closing anyway) and walk the 50 extra feet to Guerilla Cafe.  You're coffee will actually have the effect that coffee is supposed to and you won't feel like you drank warm watered down somewhat frothy milk.

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Photo of Mystery X.

 

1

15

Mystery X.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
09/11/2008

Simple and good, simply good. This place has done great things with their limited space.  They have a clean well lit open kitchen, a nifty counter bar lining the front of the kitchen, nice tile work,  a small picnic table out back, more nice tile work in the bathroom (and I think a condom machine ?!? but I don't think it was stocked, it appeared more as a relic or perhaps an artifact from what ever it was before) They use fair trade coffee and make a variety of coffee drinks.  They use local, organic and sustainable produce, and reduce their waste with a vigorous recycling program.  The set up is that you order up front and find a table and take a seat.  They give you a table marker that features some revolutionist  in history, socialist or other civil rights advocate and bring the food to you.  The service was good. On each table is a bottle of their home made hot sauce extraordinaire made with a triad of peppers. It's kept in glass bottles for non deceptive reasons - it is HOT.  
The crowd is local and very Berkeley.  They play upbeat world music and have some very cool art on the walls that's in sync with the rest of the place.  The menu is simple, basic and wholesome and the prices were a little more then what I would have like to have paid for what I got but I get it; local, organic, sustainable.  It costs more.  They feature polenta in variation on the menu but its all soft cooked, not baked or grilled.  Also they use an egg poacher instead of poaching  them in simmering water so the end product isn't what I look for when I order a poached egg.  Also I suspected that I would be hungry again soon after I left and that proved to be true. All and all it's A OK, clean, friendly and about as Berkeley as you'd expect.

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1

1

Julia P.

Berkeley, CA

4 star rating
08/28/2008

I was strolling around Berky today with a girlfriend and walked past Guerilla. My roommate had been telling me how much she wanted to check it out so I popped my head in just to see if they had anything other than coffee...affirmative.

We ended up lunching there and spending hours talking, watching the women hustle (gracefully, of course) in the open kitchen and chatting with the barista.

Anyways, the food: Personally, I am a panini lover...they are like little warm, crunchy but soft, self-contained meals with endless options...love 'em. That said, I haven't had a good one in a while.

Guerilla's ladies grill up the sandies and serve it with an awesome side salad. They were great (Try the Caprese). The barista dude was super slow...but he was so entertaining that we didn't really care.

Overall...diggin' it. Great coffee, well-done panini, good atmosphere.

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Photo of Mike A.

 

1

10

Mike A.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
09/11/2008

I've eaten here a few times since this place opened. Again today. The place sells itself primarily on it's charm and bohemian atmosphere. Bob Marley music plays in the background. The staff are young, hip and cool and look like the type of clients they're trying to attract. However, these kids need to realize that they work there, not eat there. A lesson in customer service is in order. The gentleman "serving" me could barely be bothered to give me the time of day.  I wouldn't say he was TRYING to be rude but it was certainly obvious that he didn't want to be there.

I've eaten here before and I know service has been better but even when it was better I still got the impression that I was being ignored. I would have to ask for stuff like cream for my coffee,  I had to ask for my biscotti, it takes far too long to give me my check (back before you had to prepay for your meal), etc.  While these small things may seem trite when they come all at once it leaves a sour taste in your mouth.  Food comes at a premium here. A waffle, two eggs and a coffee cost me $16. For prices like that I would expect better service.

I'm not hating on this place but it's ashame that their customer service isn't up to the same standard as their decor. So, a nice place to look at but no such a nice place to eat at. I gave it 3 stars because I don't really dislike it, I just wish it was better.  There's a lot of potential in this place.

P.S. The food is okay but let's be honest. This place isn't attracting people based on it's food.

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4

39

Benjamin T.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
07/08/2008

Excellent coffee (Blue Bottle) and overall fun atmosphere. I have only picked things up to go here, but what I have had has been good.

Service is nice and friendly. Seating seems a bit limited for how popular it is.

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1

25

Marion G.

Oakland, CA

5 star rating
07/14/2008

The food is fab, but the thing that really has me hooked is their 'spicy hot chocolate'. It boggles my mind how few places get hot chocolates even close to decent (most use squirt bottles with Hershey ick). Learn from Guerilla how to do hot chocolate right! WOW!!! Killer, AND with a creative, easy decoration.
Sure, the service is sometimes a bit tardy, but these are mostly college students, so they're not professionals. Big deal. The service has also gotten better recently, it seems to me, perhaps due to yelping...

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10

133

Soppressata Z.

Berkeley, CA

3 star rating
08/10/2008

it's healthy, vegetarian but filling, without too much seating. pretty cheap (under $10 and most dishes under $6). not good for large groups. the polenta is savory and delicious! very light cafe fare. coffee is great. hip, laid-back looking crowd. great vibe. reggae music. nice idea for a quick and casual weekend lunch or light brunch with a friend or two to chat. i'd go back, but probably not for their food.

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Photo of Rosalind C.

Elite '08

31

166

Rosalind C.

Pittsburgh, PA

3 star rating
06/11/2008

I did NOT heart this place.  I'm sure if I had been in a better mood, the lax service and running out of food business would have been fine, but unfortunately for them, they caught me on a bad day.

Tried to order waffles, but they were out.  When I reordered, the kid manning the cash register seemed a little mathematically challenged, which was not fun to deal with.  Then, the food took FOREVER to come out.  My friend got her food probably a good 20 min before I got mine.  Wtf?  Constantly had to badger the servers for utensils and other things.

To add insult to injury - the food wasn't even that great.  I do hear that the coffee drinks are the big draw.  Oh, and they are expensive for what they are.

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6

4

Dominique N.

Berkeley, CA

2 star rating
04/09/2008

This place is NOT Revolutionary.

Don't get me wrong. I really really want to like Guerilla. The owner and employees seem nice. The waffles and coffee were intriguing. I have been to the Caf three times and with each visit my opinion has dropped like the value of the dollar.

I was in awe the first time I went and was willing to give this place a five at first. So damn hip, so revolutionary. But, like many times in life, I am glad I did not give it up so easily ("You go girlfriend!" heard in background).

Let me list the problems this establishment has:

Visit 1, Liked it, food/people.... Blah, blah, blah...

Visit 2,

1) I waited for an HOUR and was not served my food.

2) THEN, when I asked the serve what had happened he was like "We put it on the shelf and the guy did not see it." "So basically you just lost my order for an hour?" I asked. "No, I said he didn't see it" was the reply.  Lets be real here. If my order is not seen for a whole hour lets just cal that LOST.  

3) After waiting an hour home skillet would not discount my order but instead gave me back my money SANS FOOD

Visit 3,

4) Hand to hand combat for tables

The staff were not helpful at all. This woman who ordered after me took a seat we were waiting for. When I asked the owner, he was like "whoever has the earlier receipt can sit there". To bad he didn't actually make that jerk woman even show hers!

5) Our food (which they managed not to loose this time) came out before we even had seating.

So there Guerilla Cafe. You are not so tight. I see past your trendy facade and your nice rack. Here are some things you could do to make your actions match your message:

1) Better customer service.
Lets face it, this is not a communist/socialist society. That might fly in France, but last I checked I am not on the 30 hour work week and I aint gots the universal health care. Be nice. When you F up, admit it, and gimme back my damn-hard-earned green backs, please.

2) Faster Service
I am not paying you 20 bucks to stand in line for government rations. I love Che, Fidel, and Marx as much as the next one. But, again, save that for people paying you in francs. Bring me my food in a timely manner.

3) Faster Seating
Lets not perpetuate inequality; help a sister find a seat. Do I need Rosa Parks to organize a sit in? Problem 2 creates problem 3. If people are taking up hot real estate for hours just waiting for their food it creates a backlog of tables. Letting the rich jerks get ahead is just playing Republican, Guerilla Caf. I thought communism was all about systems? Work that ish out please.

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8

16

Rich R.

CA

4 star rating
06/09/2008

Marsha, one of the partners at Masse's Bakery, confided in me that when she wanted the best shot of espresso, she would go to the Guerilla.  So I checked it out, and she was right, but there's ever so much more great food and fun going on there.  Notice that the cappuccino is exactly barristed from Blue Bottle tutelage, and unbelievably great.  Now I go for the poached eggs, the ever changing array of waffles, and the street art.

I produced a small video about my experience at the Guerilla: http://tastemakers.tas...

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Elite '08

17

109

Christy T.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
04/20/2008

Very tasty brunch.

I had a fabulous panini here-- brie and peppers and zucchini.  I was really impressed.  The sandwich is actually filling and flavorful, unlike so many fancy yet mediocre sandwiches which seem to be everywhere in the Bay Area.  No, this was great.  Obviously quality ingredients, freshly (not soggy/old) grilled veggies.  Nice little salad on the side, which for once wasn't some puny afterthought.

And of course Blue Bottle Coffee.  Mmmmm.  So very good.  I love Blue Bottle.  And I love this cafe for being cozy with filling food AND Blue Bottle.  For as much as I love the Blue Bottle Cafe in SF, the food is kind of small and overpriced.  And the atmosphere isn't nearly as cozy as this swell, warm little cafe.  This is a nice place to sit and hole up.  It lends itself to conspiratory conversation.  All with my favorite coffee in all the Bay Area.

Other things I liked: the order numbers (to place on the table) each have a different revolutionary figure, like Assata Shakur or Bob Marley.  Endearing.

And the grapefruit (with honey and lime zest) was marvelous.  Perfect complement/end to the meal.

I was blown away.  Kudos!

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4

10

Kelly K.

Oakland, CA

4 star rating
05/26/2008

I love this place.  Admittedly, I went when it wasn't busy (2 p.m. on a weekday) and it became a routine as I've been out of work this week and busy relocating.

Yeah, you have to be on top of your order if it's busy or if certain lackadaisical staff members are working, however the food is good, the music is kickin', and the artwork (done by local artists; was compelling photographs of south Asia when I was there) was cool.

Try the special paninis.  They rotate the menu, so you have new options every couple weeks.  I liked the turkey, gruyere, and sundried tomato; the caprese was also really good.  Love the hummus plate and the Red, Gold, and Green Zinger.  It's really tasty.

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3

9

Tyler M.

Berkeley, CA

3 star rating
02/21/2008

They make amazing waffles and lattes (two major food groups, obviously).  HOWEVER, this shit will take forever to come to your table.  I ordered two coffees when my family visited a few months back, and we waited 30 minutes to no avail.  I sat, thirsty and uncaffeinated, and utterly disheartened.

If you're doing the whole breakfast til 1 thing on a weekend, bust it with vigor, for the food is really really tasty.  But don't look for a weekday coffee spot, because you'll have a lot of thumb-twiddling time.

However, bonus points for always busting choice soul and funk on the stereo.  Nina Simone FTW.

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9

23

james g.

Berkeley, CA

4 star rating
02/06/2008

Love it.  Great, interesting food and chill atmosphere.  Yam waffles -- so good!  Everything i've tried is made well.

I'm a huge huge fan of the fact that they use 'second-hand' plates/etc.  Gives the place character and cuts down on waste.

My two gripes (one significant and one small) are: No wireless, and it's a bit pricey.

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2

16

Scott B.

Berkeley, CA

2 star rating
02/17/2008

Yummy waffle, full-bodied shake you up and down coffee with evap. milk,

Funky music in a good way. Delicious hot sauce and paninni.

So why a 2star? Well, riddle me this--are they EVER open?
Yea, and it is dark in there (I'm particular on lighting). Definitely overcharging so it's hard not to feel ripped off.

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12

93

saudade s.

Oakland, CA

5 star rating
04/22/2008

Had brunch with a friend on a Sunday.  It was packed, but service was smooth and fast.  We shared the polenta with gorgonzola and poached eggs, and the pear waffle.  The eggs were perfect, and the polenta was so creamy with a perfect amount of gorgonzola -- not overpowering, but just right.  Waffle was super tasty, with fresh pears sliced on top and just the right amount of creme fraiche, with maple syrup on the side.  The food seemed decadent, but also wholesome and good for you.  

I also had the Africano -- a shot of Blue Bottle espresso with milk (soy in my case -- I don't think they charged extra).  Delicious.  

My friend and I were there for quite some time just talking and never got the stink-eye to leave.  Such a nice experience, I didn't even mind the world music! :)

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58

Beetle B.

Berkeley, CA

3 star rating
04/22/2008

It's really hit or miss but I still go back... When it's good it's great.

Any problems I've had have had to do with incompetence, not malice.

The music ranges from awesome-I-want-that-ipod! To turn-it-off-the-pain!  

And about the incompetence- it's not exactly a tightly run ship. Unlike the earlier poster, though, I don't have a problem with saying "Hey- my lunch has been sitting on your shelf for 10 minutes! Fork it over!"

In other words, if you don't mind riding herd on your meal you'll get good food in a place that's too hip for its own location.

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Elite '08

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Daniel A.

Berkeley, CA

4 star rating
12/02/2007

Very cool all around.  They've got down what they're trying to do pretty well.

I give them extra points for doing a lot of things the way I happen to like them.  Like poached eggs.  And sourdough toast.  And prosciutto.  And sludgy coffee.  These things aren't feats; they're just choices made well.  Oh, and kalamata olives.

Most things that Guerilla offers are hard to screw up, so it's the simple act of offering those things that makes them cool.  It's like when you go to someone's house for the first time, and you peek inside their fridge and cabinets and decide, "Alright - we can be friends."  Other people do that, right?

The only reason that I'm withholding a fifth star is that I feel like they charge for their coolness.  The material cost of my $10 meal there would probably have been under $4 at Andronico's across the street.  So basically I paid them $6 to collect ingredients already in my kitchen and arrange them nicely on a plate.

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BayAreaLoveLetters, aka M.

Berkeley, CA

5 star rating
03/24/2008

My favorite local coffee shop (and judging by the crowds, that of many others as well).

Organic Blue Bottle coffee (amazing--if you haven't tried it yet, please do so soon), organic milk, comfortable, if tight, seating, attractive art, great tunes, lots of sunlight, and did I mention, good coffee? Okay, *great* coffee. And without the pesticides and nasty milk hormones, goes down a lot more smoothly.

My current go-to cafe for a caffeine buzz or pleasant environs. The perfect neighborhood coffee shop in this North Berkeley locale.

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24

christine l.

Oakland, CA

3 star rating
07/13/2008

is it fair to subtract a star for having our coffee sitting on the table without saying it was ready? i just grabbed it and i think micah was a little worried that we may have picked up someone elses coffee, but we were the only ones that ordered an ice and a hot coffee to go.

the coffee itself was not so great. HOWEVER i did order the iced cairo with cardamom. micah laughs at me cause im always ordering off the wall stuff, but how else would you know if you like it or not? my problem is that i usually dont like what i order and micah being the loving man he is usually trades me. =)

other than that, the cafe was cool. it was all organic and had some super cool art up from what i assume is a local artist. they have cool tshirts and jackets. food looked good and the barista made some really cool lattes for the couple at the bar.

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Elite '08

30

66

helen t.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
11/17/2007

Guerilla Cafe is one of the only places in Berkeley to serve Blue Bottle coffee, which is in turn available in a variety of uncommon drinks, including the Cubano (espresso with condensed milk) and the Cairo iced coffee (infused with cardamom).

But aside from that, it's one of my favorite places to get brunch. The walls are always covered with pieces by local artists, the music is a mixture of reggae and trip-hop (among other great things), and the revolutionary, fair-trade/organic theme of the entire place is very refreshingly Berkeley hip. My most frequent pick is the ever-changing specialty waffle, which usually comes topped with fresh fruit and/or nuts and a dollop of plain yogurt. But sometimes I like to share a waffle and a plate of poached eggs with a friend, or switch it up with the savory polenta with grilled mushrooms and tomatoes, which is in the form of a porridge instead of a cake.

And if you're a fan of spicy foods, disregard the questionable nature of that bottle of Black Panther habanero chile sauce on your table and give it a try. It packs a pretty big punch, but is incredibly delicious (and is available for purchase as well!).

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Elite '08

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166

Midori G.

Pasadena, CA

3 star rating
12/15/2007

Equal parts espresso and steamed milk = Africano
Equal parts hipsters, local artists, and N. Berkeley Posh = Guerilla Cafe

I love coming here for my coffee,whenever I happen to be in Berkeley in the A.M.. All the coffee drinks I've ever had have been stellar. As for the food, I am usually underwhelmed  - not bad, not amazing, just solid brunch and lunch items that could use a bit more of spice.

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10

Stephen A.

El Cerrito, CA

2 star rating
05/16/2008

Maybe they'll be nice to you, maybe they won't.  Food's good though, albeit overpriced.

Small place, worth checking out if you're not in a hurry and if you're not on the verge of suicide and wondering to yourself  "Humans suck, they're not nice, I'll give them one more chance to be friendly, let me try this cafe..."

The first time I went there it seemed like the staff was avoiding us.  No eye contact, no acknowledgement.  We were hanging out by the cash register waiting to order.  Finally the person comes over and asks "Are you ready yet?"

It's a place where the staff have some "friends" coming in and out and sometimes the conversations with the friends trumps customer service.

It was weird, after a very cold reception one person was suddenly acting nice.  The rest remained cold.  I put a tip down, but I wish I could designate the tip for the food and not for the service.

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503

Anita C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
02/21/2008

The Guardian ain't lying when they said this place has the best waffles in their "Best of the East Bay" edition...we had coconut cardamom waffles!!! DELICIOUS...

The Blue Bottle Co. coffee is too good as well, my latte was enormous. It was served in what seemed to be a bowl. Insane.

The Mediterranean  plate was tasty as well; poached eggs, feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, olive and bread.

The music is fun and there is funky artwork everywhere. I would totally come here again.

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4

Minky O.

Berkeley, CA

3 star rating
03/31/2008

This my kind of place, where the crowd is down and the people are brown, an in your face manifestation of the call for revolution;
they call & I come,

because the coffee is good and the waffles are even better,

and once you know how to delegate personalities, things go smoothly:
for me this is where things are hit or miss, sometimes I'm cool enough, but lately, I'm not.  There is no way to get that feeling out of the way-  to be able to simply sit down for a cup-o'-organic yummers coffee, stare at scrap art & be easily amused by the black panther hot sauce, while I bob my head along to the music-  i wish it were always like that, but that uncool feeling is stronger than the coffee sometimes

I'd like to give it a higher rating but the cost of the price with personality is higher than Im willing to pay, abuse on two fronts, I'd pay more to have less

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