"One thing I miss about pre-COVID days is spending hours in a cafe, reading, and feeling like a college student prepping for an 11am class. Which is why the first time I stepped inside the Downtown Berkeley breakfast and lunch spot, nostalgia hit me. The aroma of fresh pulled espresso and buttery pastries filled the air. Beautiful house plants lined the window sills. And the menu has the comforting morsels I would have enjoyed in between sips of my double capp: bagels, hashes, soups, and sandwiches. Thankfully, there’s takeout. My first trip there I grabbed a latte and a tomato tartine with balsamic caviar and whipped feta on a savory pao de queijo-like waffle. And when I got home I recreated the coffee shop feels with this video. Though pretending isn’t the same as hanging out at a new Downtown Berkeley hotspot, enjoying their great coffee and delicious food in my kitchen is a welcomed alternative." - Lani Conway
