Baker & Commons

i’ve been here on four occasions now and i highly recommend this cafe. it’s a cute neighborhood joint with delicious pastries and good drinks—what more is there to ask for? i highly recommend the early grey cake, the cardamom cake, the passion fruit tart, and of course the biscuit (both standard with butter and jam and the sandwich form).

Had a couple idyllic weekend mornings here. Heavenly brunch spot and I love a big foamy latte, especially in fall when the outdoor area is covered in beautiful yellow leaves. Pastries are expensive for the size.

Great upscale neighborhood cafe with convenient assortment of pastries and good espresso. Aesthetic and atmosphere of the cafe is well kept and somewhere between quiet luxury and casual. Would come again with friends and family!

It's a very local cozy neighborhood cafe with variety of great choices of coffee drinks and pastries/cakes. Great place for brunch and afternoon coffee. Check for soup of the day for sure. Service is normal cafe order-to-sit with great casual atmosphere with WiFi. Indoor and outdoor settings available. There is flat entry and wide inside and outside for navigation. Good for kids with high chairs and outdoor seating, seniors, groups, meetup and couples. There is free parking lot bring the cafe. Free and paid street parking spots available.

One of the best Lavender Matchas I’ve ever had. The breakfast was also great. About $30 for one person for these two things. A bit expensive for a cafe, but the quality it there!

The best sausage breakfast biscuit I've had in the bay. Every piece of that biscuit was good. The homemade sausage patty and the soft scrambled egg beautifully blended with the cheese! All of it harmoniously well seasoned. Will be back!

Asked for decaf but I don't think they got it right. I have a medical condition and my heart was racing for the rest of the day. Could have been dangerous. Please train your staff better. They have excellent biscuits, and the rest of the food is pretty good too. Coffee is average. Atmosphere is pretty chaotic and tables are often dirty. No wifi. Still one of the better cafes in the area.

Wonderful food in a vibrant, fast paced diner atmosphere. The service is friendly and the food is delicious. We ordered tuna salad melt, shakshouka, BLT, and grilled cheese. Everyone enjoyed their meal and ordered dessert. Warm biscuit with homemade jam, dark chocolate pecan cookie, tiramisu. The cookie was the best I've had, and I really enjoy a good cookie.

Wow. Just wow. Best coffee I've had in ages. Excellent bitter kick. Ordered tiramisu and it was perfect. Well priced for college Ave as well. Though staff is nice, line was quite long -- expect to wait. Crowder and bustling but, for me, this made me feel more "part of it" than "too crowded." Would highly recommend.

Outstanding hours and interior spaces - good desserts and ok pricing. I love the hours of this bakery. I actually was looking to go to Nabolom but they close at 2pm on most days - this conveniently is right next door. I can't tell you how much I appreciate a place like this open late - its casual and perfect for visiting with friends. A bar area available too for mingling if your dining solo. Good desserts - but for almost every dessert I saw room for improvement. To start with mango pannacotta had 1/4'' of water on top. Probably wasn't too fresh and was way too sweet. I get these in Little Italy in SF and was shocked by how sweet it was. Owners need to try what they serve at Stellas - not saying its the more authentic way but this was super sweet. The chocolate cream pie had a delicious rich flavor and texture and the crust flavorfully toasty but the crust was soggy. On this dessert I would blind bake the crust add a thin layer of melted chocolate to the crust and then fill in the chocolate cream. Leave off the bits of chocolate on top - doesn't add anything the way a layer of chocolate between the layers would to keep things from getting soggy the next day. Blueberry bread pudding was ok - but it was one big clump like it always is. I hate to say it but this dessert could be so much better if it was two layers - one layer of bread and one layer of pudding - its so easy - I make better bread pudding at home myself and am a novice. The tiny $1 almond pastry was perfect. If I had a cup of coffee and a few of those it would be 10/10. Maybe if you got this far just do that.

We ordered pastrami sandwich and tiramisu. 11/10 for both. A bit pricy but it's worth it! Nice spot to catch up with friends or go on a little date. Quite busy so not great for studying or reading. Line moves quite fast.

The first time I passed by this shop with my son he explained that there is always a line outside. My wife and I came here for some breakfast and surprise... there was a line outside. Now I know why. Only one person taking orders and people deciding what they wanted when they got to the front of the line. My wife and I were no different. There was so much on display that we could not decide what we wanted to do. They have an extremely friendly team who walked us through the process of ordering, taking a seat and waiting for our food. I did get a cup of their excellent coffee to wait with. We found a comfortable seat and waited (just a few minutes for our food.) The egg sandwiches (see photos) were amazing... Fresh eggs with either fresh bacon or sausage on these incredible biscuits. These were truly delicious and a treat. My wife and I enjoyed it all so much. The cinnamon muffin was awesome. This is such a great spot for both the locals and visitors. A cozy spot to hang at with friends and enjoy some really good food [and coffee.] We are definitely looking forward to our next visit. KUDOs to the team at Baker & Commons.

This place is amazing!! Located in the heart of Elmwood, Baker & Commons is a neighborhood staple. Their coffees all come with two shots of espresso, and they have a rotating menu of baked goods that smell and look incredible. They also have a menu of food for their sit-down restaurant, including a soup of the day. The restaurant itself is on a corner lot. It gets great sun and has some outdoor seating. You can pick up a free postcard at the register with a beautiful watercolor painting of the restaurant on it (perfect to put up on your fridge!). The coffee is excellent. The double shot of espresso is tasty. I've had both iced and hot coffees from Baker & Commons, and I loved them both. The iced latte I had did not taste watered down, which is a huge plus. I also tried some baked goods: a slice of pear cake with a salted maple frosting, a savory scone with sun-dried tomato and herbs, and a slice of coconut almond cake. Genuinely so good! And I'm not even a dessert person! The people who work here are extremely friendly and will strike up a conversation with customers, regardless of the length of the line. The restaurant has a very homey feel. I'll definitely be returning!

Stopped in on a whim and they had one item in the bakery that's gluten free and vegan... it was a red berry (strawberry or raspberry jam bar, I was too excited and hungry lol. The bar was hands-down one of the best oat bars I've had. The crust and oat crumb was a perfect balance of juicy jam and streusel. Not overly sweet. I can't wait to go back. Helpful staff and a very large indoor dining room, come and plan to stay and visit with friends or get some work/studying done.

It's a very local cozy neighborhood cafe with variety of great choices of coffee drinks and pastries/cakes. Great place for brunch and afternoon coffee. Check for soup of the day for sure. Service is normal cafe order-to-sit with great casual atmosphere with WiFi. Indoor and outdoor settings available. There is flat entry and wide inside and outside for navigation. Good for kids with high chairs and outdoor seating, seniors, groups, meetup and couples. There is free parking lot bring the cafe. Free and paid street parking spots available.

Good bakery goods, efficient service but don't expect much hands on help - not bad just is. Very good breakfast for a college town restaurant. The restaurant has that college town feel of we're deeper than fast food, but not everybody invoked is making a career of found service - relaxed vibe.

In a word, messy. The adjective applies to a whole lot, from how the place came to be (spoilers: damage control after a 2015 incident regarding race) to the filthy tables/floors; from bags of kitchen dry goods left in the customer area instead of a storeroom to all of the chipped and cracked drinkware. From what I understand, this place has a persistent line out the door. This is sometimes a good sign (meaning that the menu is good and people like to pay frequent visits) and maybe this really is the case but when I've come here it's slow service. Regardless whether you're dining in or taking something to go, expect to wait. The already-cramped indoors will feel even smaller with all of the other people waiting for their stuff and the staff weaving between them to try and fling orders or bus tables. All of these could be overlooked if the full menu was stellar. It isn't. The star of the show is the baked goods and, even here, it's a pretty plain affair. Prices do not match the portion sizes or final preparation. Everything will be slapped together and, as some other reviews mention, possibly already on its way to cold.

Stopped by for a little mid afternoon snack with my partner, enjoyed a thick slice of creamy cheese cake, and the classic hot cocoa. Before the whole social media debacle at Elmwood café, I really did enjoy all the breakfast and lunch items on this menu and the more affordable prices, especially for the baked goods. However, I don't find myself coming back to this establishment as often due to the high prices. Anyhow, thought I might give it a try today. Service is friendly, and the interior has café vibes that older folks seem to enjoy for reading and doing work.

I came here with my partner on a Sunday afternoon! We parked in the back and got in line. The place has smaller tables with indoor and outdoor seating. It seems like the tables are "first come first serve" like a cafe. My cashier was very enthusiastic, and we got our order within 15ish minutes. We loved the avocado toast with the poached egg. Having it over garlic bread made the item taste so flavorful. I enjoyed the creaminess from the avocado, and the freshness with the tomato. The poached egg added so much more, it was my favorite avocado toast by far! The shakshouka was okay. The eggs and tomatoes paired nicely with the toasted bread. However, I think it tasted plain, it wasn't too special or flavorful. My partner had the smoked salmon sandwich. He said it was also okay, a little too salty. I got a taste and felt like it needed some creaminess too. Overall, the portions were small and price was high, but the place is very cute and we were happy to have gone once.

Service matters. I remember having a somewhat middling experience when this space was the Elmwood Cafe, but quite frankly, that didn't compare to the level of disservice I received on my recent visit. Listen, I don't write smack about a cafe unless it's warranted. This time it was. I knew it was a bad omen when I was standing in front of the order taker. A bossy woman behind me decided to grab a laminated menu lying in front of me and slapped it over my face without acknowledging her self-entitled behavior. The order taker was apparently amused but looked impatient for my order. I decided on the $15.95 Shrimp Louie Salad and a $3.50 Iced Tea. I got a number and to their credit, I got my Iced Tea right away (photo: https://yelp.to/HBWySA22KT). I found a small table outside and waited...and waited...and waited...and waited. Meanwhile, young customers arrived, ate, and departed. Even the bossy woman got her hot food and left. I guess I should consider myself lucky she didn't hit me with a bread roll or her purse. I went inside twice to inquire about my salad, which mind you, didn't require any cooking. I was told it was coming. I could've guessed that. Coming onto the half-hour mark, the salad arrived with no acknowledgement of delay, no sense of anything done wrong by me. An apology would have been nice but nothing I was expecting given the indifference to my inquiries. The salad itself was underwhelming considering the wait - just four shrimp, a poached egg, and the remnants of a mixed greens salad. The asparagus was MIA (photo: https://yelp.to/P1afhPx4Df). Oh me, oh my. FOOD - 2.5 stars...a lackluster shrimp louie that would've been rejected even at Fishermans Wharf AMBIANCE - 3 stars...as good as Elmwood gets SERVICE - 1 star.., this is where they fall...big time BOSSY WOMAN - 0 stars...just mean TOTAL - 2 stars...at the moment people don't give a damn RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

Brief Summary: - Light portions - Indoor and outdoor seats available - Line out of the door. Suggestion is that if you are in line, line along the wall instead of standing straight from the door entrance - Food orders will be delivered to your table; drinks are called out - After eating, bus your used dishes to the bus station There were a few places we marked as a place we wanted to eat, and this was one of them. We were attracted to the photos that were taken at this restaurant. In the early morning, when we arrived at this location, there was a line out of the door, turned a corner and then ran along the wall. At that time, we were going to take a few walks around the block and then return to this street. The time proceeded into the mid-afternoon, and the line was not that long anymore. We probably waited around 15 minutes when the seats opened up. All of the ordering was one at the entrance clerk, and then we went inside and claimed a seat. Because we ordered food, we got a number but the staff informed us that the coffee and tea will be called out. Fortunately, I was sitting with my relatives, so they sat and waited for the food while I was close to the kitchen and pickup station for the coffee and tea. I was amazed to see the staff members shifting around cooking, plating and filling coffee cups in a space as small as some chain-store coffee place that started with the letter S. The drinks came first; we drank a few cups of coffee around town so we decided to only have tea for that day. it comes in a cute yellow teapot, and the tea was refreshing. The food came at the same time, so there was no wait time between the group. At the time, my appetite was low because I had a headache, so the current portion was nice at the time. However, if I was at my usual appetite, the portions are light and small. A relative of mine, who was at their usual hungry day, peered at their plate and flashed a perplexed expression at me, a subtle but glaring hint that a post-meal is required. For the meal itself we ordered a toast with poached egg, the avocado toast -- that appeared most in the photo list --, and grilled cheese with today's soup. For this day, the soup was beet soup, and that was very delicious. Out of the three meals, the grilled sandwich stood out. The surface was crispy, so it was a great texture element with the gooey cheese.

Baker and commons is a very cute neighborhood spot with delicious food and drinks. There are heartier options like breakfast sandwiches but also many pastries to choose from. Staff have always been polite and the service is quick even with its usual weekend line.

Quaint and bustling place with outdoor seating. Good place to eat and try their desert menu! And read. Not the best for studying on electronic devices... unless you have unlimited data haha!

Great food, friendly staff, one of my favorite places for breakfast or lunch. The biscuits!

My fav in the area. Their vanilla latte is delicious. Baked goods are delicious. Fun ambiance of regulars and a nice community spot. They usually have a line and it may be a bit slower to move but it's worth the wait. All the staff is SUPER nice. My go-to when I'm in Berkeley.

Ordering is easy and quick, found a table inside relatively easily early Saturday morning. Not too noisy but plenty of room inside and feels cozy. Coffee is tasty, got the vanilla cold brew and an oat milk latte. Poached egg sandwich and biscuit sandwich with avocado both came with juicy red tomatoes and fresh ingredients. So glad we popped in, and will definitely be back! Oh and the cinnamon roll slaps

Those folks know how to bake! The biscuits and the cinnamon rolls are top notch. They're homemade.

Loved the buttermilk biscuit and garlic herb roasted potatoes. Friendly service. Nice breakfast stop.

Salads are amazing! As are their sandwiches and baked goods & cafe drinks. Service is quick and easy with indoor and outdoor spaces. Great neighborhood vibe in lovely shopping area of Rockridge/Elmwood. Great bookstore nextdoor!

Last time I went and got the sausage breakfast sandwich and it was horrible handmade sausage so I never went back but recently I wanted to try this other sandwich that looked good which was the smoked salmon sandwich. It was very good and not fishy. I definitely will be getting this regularly when I get the chance.

Maybe my favorite cafe in Berkeley! Stopped in for the first time on a Saturday morning. There was a line out the door, but it moved quickly and gave us time to check out the pastry case. There was a good amount of indoor seating, and limited outdoor seating. There's also a bathroom which is always a plus. We ordered cappuccinos and a couple scones. It took around 10 minutes to receive our food, but it was busy so understandable! Cappuccinos were super strong, which I was happy about. The cinnamon chocolate scone was fresh out the oven... superb, especially when dipped in the coffee. The cranberry scone was my favorite though, so rich and flakey and perfectly rich, all infused with wonderful flavor. Can't wait to visit again.

Baker & Commons is a classic Berkeley cafe. It has the small town ambience of Elmwood and feels like the perfect local spot for brunch, meeting up with friends, studying, or a nice date. The cafe has seating inside and outside, and there can sometimes be a line out the door that goes by very quickly. They have a great variety of desserts and bites to pair with any drink. I am a big fan of Baker and Commons now as it's one of my favorite study spots (though they have limited outlets by the window and no free wifi), but I only have one main note which is don't order a matcha (tastes a bit like cereal milk).

This is such a cute brunch spot in Berkeley! Seating was a little cramped but the place was kept pretty clean. I ordered the smoked salmon sandwich/toast and the salmon was so fresh, matching perfectly with the toasted bread. I'm not sure what dressing was provided, but it tasted so good with the salad.

French cafe ambience in Elmwood. Popped in mid-morning on a Saturday. While more than half the tables were full, the turnover is quick enough that you won't be waiting long. We snagged a table tucked along the front window and ordered brunch with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Their wine selection consists of "easy drinking," table wine ($10/glass or $20/bottle for all wines) and the Sauvignon Blanc arrived chilled in an ice bucket. The poached egg sandwich and Biscuit Sandwich were both delightful! I would prioritize their homemade biscuits, which are hearty and buttery. Overall, a solid experience that I would be happy to repeat.

This is our spot!!! We've been coming here for years. I don't know why it took me so long to write a review. The staff is always super quick which is great because there's always a line. Don't let that deter you from trying this place!! The food is ALWAYS delicious. The pastry fridge is always stocked with the most delicious deserts. Coconut cream pie, Carrot Cake, Tiramisu, Strawberry Panna Cotta, Olive Oil Cake, Tarts, Scones... the list goes on. The Chai Latte, and Matcha Latte with oat milk are my favorite drinks to order. I wish I had pictures to take. Maybe today when I go back for a second time ;) I'll take some.

i always see a long line for this place, so i finally came for brunch. it's pretty cramped inside, but we were able to find a table. tiramisu- the coffee flavor is super strong, and they got the perfect texture! roasted chicken breast sandwich- this was so good! the bread is warm and toasted, but not too hard, and the flavors of the mushroom and chicken are so good. breakfast sandwich- the biscuits are super thick and flaky, and the eggs are well cooked. the sausage also tastes homemade overall, i would come back for the vibes and to try more of the menu!!

Food: very good, and really wonderful baked goods. Service: stand in line to order/pay at the counter; food then delivered to your table (if you can get one). Counter staff was terse but efficient. Cons: the prices are outrageous. A simple biscuit with a scrambled egg was nearly $11. My friend had a small, simple salad that was $16. Ridiculous prices.

Cute little café but it does get pretty busy with a line often times. Their food is good buts it's a little overpriced for me, which is why I'm eating it a 4. I got their avocado toast and they put some certain garlic spread on it which makes it super delicious! Their pastries and desert selection looks pretty solid so I can't wait to try those next time

Best iced vanilla latte I've had in a long time. You can see the actual vanilla bean that they use and it's not overly sweet. Perfect balance I get mine with lite ice. Also the outdoor seating is wonderful :)

Baker and Commons is a go to place to grab breakfast and a coffee in Berkeley. I usually opt for the avocado toast with an egg which is quite delicious. I have also had the oatmeal on more than one occasion, but don't feel that it is anything too special or tasty, especially for the price you are paying... For coffee, I consistently order the lavender latte, which is really good when enough syrup is added (otherwise it just tastes like a regular latte). The lavender spritzer is a really refreshing drink as well. As for lunch items, my favorite is the tuna salad as a melt. It's very tasty and is a good portion for what you pay, as well as coming with a side salad. The interior is cute and cozy with a nice display of pastries which I have yet to sample. This place is usually bustling with customers, especially on weekends so be prepared to wait in line for sometimes upwards of 20-25 minutes. I have never felt that the service is anything special, or exceptional. I also feel that the ordering system is not very efficient and is definitely something I would like to see improved upon. Having only one employee taking the orders really slows things down. On one occasion, I had to wait about 40 minutes just to order with a line that wasn't incredibly long because of this inefficient system. Overall, the food and drinks are tasty but do not come here if you are in a rush! Even for Berkeley, I feel as though this is a pretty pricy spot, but the food is consistently good so really can't complain there. I would say the food and ambiance warrants this spot 4 stars, but the wait knocks down the rating.

I love this little cafe for its cappuccino in-a-bowl moment and the warmed up biscuits. The only downside is that spacing a is a bit cramped, and the food isn't all amazing. They also don't offer free WiFi, or else it would be a nice place to study.

Super cute brunch/coffee place with an amazing location at the front of Elmwood. They have ample indoor and outdoor seating, but no wifi or outlets, which unfortunately make it a rather inconvenient study spot. Everything they serve is also relatively overpriced, in my opinion, so these two factors combined bump the place down a star for me. My go-to here is the heated-up biscuit with butter and their jam of the day (I had raspberry this time), along with a lavender latte, which comes to a total of around $10. The biscuit is always flakey and buttery, and tastes delicious with the combination of the condiments. I also love coming here for the lavender latte -- sometimes just for that -- and the quality is consistently high. The staff are very kind and accommodating and are very eager to provide suggestions and adjust your order to your liking.

The place looks very nice but everytime I've been there it's really underwhelming. The food is really simple but almost always disappointing. The coffee is not good. The only thing that it's ok are the pastries. The service is terrible, which makes sense because there is always a big line.

Great brunch place on College Ave. only a 12 minute walk from Unit 2 dorms. Very pricey. 5-10 min wait for food. Freshly juiced OJ is refreshing.

I was pretty excited to finally try Baker & Commons, but it was rather underwhelming. I came for brunch with a group of friends and ordered a roasted chicken sandwich. While the sandwich itself was good, with soft bread and juicy chicken, the portion was tiny for a $15 sandwich. There was also a long line when we came on a Sunday morning, so be prepared to wait!

This is my favorite restaurant spot after the movies. Everything delicious. Courteous and helpful. Menu has great variety. Soups are the best. Comfortable seating inside or outside. Very popular usually a line. Never disappoints

What a tasty early lunch!!!! There was plenty of seating inside but it's TIGHT. Plenty of people were enjoying the outdoor seating available, too. My friend and I split a banana chocolate muffin situation that was VERY GOOD. Huge valhrona lookin chocolate bits. Our large drinks came in actual bowls. She got the smoked salmon option and subbed avo for cream cheese. My cow cheese intolerant body enjoyed a sub of goat cheese instead of Gruyère in my roast chicken sandwich. Flavors were great. Acme Bread roll was soft. Balsamic vinaigrette that came with my side salad was delightful and bright. Greens were fresh. I really enjoyed myself! Highly recommend. They write your name on a little dry erase placard and the timing of the food was A-okay. There's also PARKING right in the back!!!! It's metered but I had NO IDEA that was a thing. Very easy to use the pay by mobile app or whatever.

Totally packed on a weekend afternoon, yet 10 or more tables occupied by single "diners" using their laptops--having a policy on weekends seems more than fair and sensible. Also don't serve customers out of badly chipped glasses.

Food is yummy. I wish service were better and owner smiled sometimes. Best gluten free pastries pretty much in all of Berkeley and oakland. Would be even better with GF bread!

Went around 4:30pm. Not so busy and the weather was so nice! The service was great. My Mocha was delicious

Food is great, however between you and your food stand cashiers who can't stop blabbing at nauseum with every person they are helping! We want our food and quick. Not interested in a gab sessions!!!!!!! This is not a social visit.

Being a college student, I find myself coming to this place often. Tasty food, kind staff, and such a cute place to sit back and get some work done. The last time I came here, my friend and I were studying. I ordered the hummus sandwich with a side of bacon, and she got the shakshouka. The sandwich was awesome, super fresh and full of vegetables. They also gave me so so much bacon, and even added a bunch inside of the sandwich. Super tasty. My friend said her shakshouka was really tasty, tomatoey and garlicky just how she enjoys it. I'm rating this place a 4 rather than a 5 because some drinks could be worked on. The matcha latte had an odd flavor to it, and some soda syrups like grapefruit and lemon didn't have the kick I was looking for. If you're looking for a lowkey place to hang out with friends, study, or just enjoy a good meal, definitely give this place a shot!

Absolutely amazing, the food here is so good and the matcha is amazing. It gets busy but definitely worth it.

The food is ok, not great. Not really worth the money but on par with large breakfast chains. Seating is limited and very cramped. The service was the worst part of the visit though. It took 60 minutes for our order to be delivered. At a little over 30 minutes I ask about our order, they said they were plating it and it was up next. We then watched 4 more orders for the same items we had ordered get delivered to other guests. I asked again at about 50 minutes, 2 more to-go orders later they finally brought out our food. The topper was that after all that they got the order wrong. An hour wait for food in a busy restaurant is understandable, but not when you are serving orders for the same food ahead of others, and then to get it wrong on top of it, and then get irritated with the customer when they ask for a correction. Will not return, do not recommend.

Friendly staff and patrons. Great for business meet ups or casual drinks and eats. I had the grilled cheese and tomato soup that was delicious. Chai tea was great as well. Weekends are BUSY!! To get a better experience, frequent it on a weekday like Monday at noon

Literally the best biscuits in the bay. Just be sure you get it warmed up with butter and jam on the side. The line is always out the door because they have a sweat or savory treat for literally everyone. If you're in a rush order online otherwise be prepared to wait to order of for a seat or table. Trust me it's worth the wait. Bring your book or people watch. The choice is yours.

I had been looking for a good Dessert place and had seen this on a Yelp foodie Insta page. I was doing a Berkeley Rest week tour and wanted a dessert like Pecan pie or a Carrot cake. I found this on the Ashby College side of Berkeley and it was busy. I went right after Lunch rush but grabbed a few slices of Apple Crumble and a couple slices of Carrot cake with pecans. Lady/ counter person was friendly and helpful. If I had not already had eaten lunch, their lunch choices looked amazing. There was plenty of seating and a few patio tables to enjoy your Lunch or coffee beverages. I will go back for either lunch or coffee next time I'm in the area. Pies and Carrot cakes were absolutely phenomenal!!