Homemade Cafe

Great diner. We had the scallion hash - a special - and corned beef hash. Pancakes were stuffed with blueberries and a great share. Very fluffy. Biscuits looked great.

I was poking around the Plaza looking for a place to get a sando, when I overheard a couple of Pinhead Hipsters talking about their favorite Berkeley cafe. The leader of this two person posse said, and..without a doubt the Grunwald Café is the best in Berkeley, but his little yesboy called him on it, and declared the Homemade Cafe is the top cat in Berkeley! So...off I went. The chicken sando was indeed the best in Crazy Town! 5 ☆☆☆☆☆

Well seasoned chicken, the waffle maker was broken today, the substitute was a pancake which was light, fluffy and buttery. The staff was friendly and attentive.

I was so happy that Homemade was reopening. And then I went and ate and OH MY GOODNESS. It was so delicious. I had a sausage biscuit breakfast sandwich and it came with two fairly large sandwiches, so I brought one home. The biscuit was delish, service was lovely, coffee was good and plentiful. Kiddo had pancakes and I wanted to eat those too. Highly recommend and I will go back soon and often.

We often don’t appreciate things enough until they’re gone. I’m pleased to report that Homemade Cafe is back after the long closure. A rare miracle for us all to appreciate! They may be working out issues with all the new staff, but we’re all rooting for this spot to return to form 🤞

I'm a cancer patient living on extremely low income. Disabled. Homemade Cafe is a godsend! Their "everybody eats" program is awesome!! I'm able to eat a good, hot, wholesome meal from time-to-time. Today, I had the Corned beef hash breakfast today, and it was delicious. The staff is very nice always. To the establishment: THANK YOU, from the bottom of my heart, for looking out for the underprivileged in our community!

Truly homemade biscuits and gravy. Coffee very good. Large portions. Very friendly and helpful staff. Eggs cooked perfectly. Wanted to try the corned beef hash— maybe next time!

The fried chicken and eggs florentine were out of this world! The veggie omelette was perfect! We will be back again soon!

We had brunch at the Homemade Cafe on Sunday, June 22. The place was moderately busy, and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table outside. The makeshift outdoor seating area is well protected from sun and wind, but traffic noise from the street (cars zipping by at 30MPH just feet away) was always there. In our party of six, we ordered a fried chicken sandwich, seasonal frittata, Leo's Scramble, corned beef hash, a short stack of blueberry pancakes, and bacon & eggs with toast. We also ordered some of their biscuit beignets - more on those in a bit. The wait for the food wasn't too long, and gave us time to yak at the table amongst ourselves. We did have to ask for water twice, but they were prompt about refills once we got it. Often when you have a party of six, one person ends up waiting and waiting for their food after everybody else has been served, but not at the Homemade Cafe. Everything came out at the same time. Well, nearly everything. As I sat and appraised all the different meals around the table, I wanted a bite or two of every single one of them other than the bacon & eggs. I mean, I can make bacon and eggs at home! The pancakes were thick and fluffy and studded with blueberries. The corned beef hash was overloaded with corned beef. The frittata was blanketed with homemade pesto, the fried chicken thigh in the sandwich was thick and crispy, and the Leo's scramble was so rich it practically requires a nap afterward. As we were finishing our meals and the bill came, we asked about the beignets. We noticed that they were not on the bill, and it turns out they did not make it onto the order ticket, either. Not to worry, though. Within a few minutes, we had our order of beignets as a dessert, and on the house, to boot. For the quantity and quality of the food, the menu prices are more than fair. That's not the end of the story, though. At the Homemade Cafe, they pay their staff a living wage, so tipping is not part of the deal. They also provide free meals to anyone in need, subsidized by donations. Food and fairness. Care for the employees as well as the community. We will definitely be back.

We really wanted to like the new Homemade Cafe, especially since we frequented the previous spot and hoped to support the relaunch. The food itself was decent--my Fried Chicken Brunch Sandwich and my husband's Biscuits & Gravy Breakfast were fine. But the overall experience was uncomfortable. When we arrived, the server seemed overwhelmed and flustered. We ordered two double cappuccinos that came out half full (see photos). When we politely flagged it, the owner brought over a pitcher of frothy milk to top them off--not ideal. What really made the experience unpleasant was the tension among staff. The server raised her voice at the owner at the register (we were sitting just a few feet away) and continued to be audibly irate in the kitchen. The whole vibe felt tense and hostile. I understand growing pains with new management and staffing challenges, but this just didn't feel like a welcoming or professional environment. Sadly, we won't be back--but I do hope this feedback is helpful as they continue to work things out.

Sadly the former charm of the 1st owners is gone. The food is good but... We went when it was not crowded (no line) on a Sunday. Our order took 50 minutes, and both our orders were wrong. The waiter had verbally confirmed the orders so wrong was not a mere case of misheard. Everyone was nice about it. They gave us free coffee. However it still cost $43 for 2 wrong orders that took too long in a room that lacks any real charm. Mural is gone, booths are gone, bathroom air is super moldy (I'm allergic), bathroom soap is the most intensely perfumed anti-bacterial soap (stays with you). All of it in pieces no biggy but in total added up to a frustrating experience. I don't go out to eat often so when I do, I'd like it to be pleasant. I remember at the old place, the wait was always a bit long but the cool wait staff and trippy counterculture ambiance made it a nice experience. I am glad to see an old small business come back after Covid but I may not return.

Under cooked pork sausage and undercooked mushy French toast. I told waiter about it and said I was leaving and she did asked to remake it, but I said no thank you and that I would just leave as it's a red flag. She then looked at me weirdly and gave me a a long okay like I was the one in the wrong. Undercooked pork is a health risk and undercooked French toast is nasty, if you can't get that right then why would I stay. Also water cup had food on it and bathroom smelled heavily of mold.

I went on a Monday late morning and I ordered the corned beef and hash. They told me about a special that was similar to it so I ordered that and it was a really good. It was nice and crispy. The eggs were good as well. I got sunnyside up. Coffee was nice and strong and hot. My waitress was friendly and then there was a guy that came later to check on how was I doing with my food. He had a nice smile. I couldn't tip what I wanted because they add on some kind of gratuity but no big deal.

Absolute top tier resturant. So sweet and kind, food is delicious. Got a grilled pimento cheese w tomato jam on rye and it was amazing. Food came fast and hot. Also love their everybody eats program, so good for feeding their local community!

Everyone was very friendly, welcoming and checked on our table throughout our meal. Food was delicious! Great flavor and quality ingredients. Lots of sunlight and local art. Had a sighting of the local turkeys taking a morning stroll.

Well, it was an improvement, albeit not perfection. It was edible, so the compost didn't get it. My sauerkraut wasn't strong enough, so I have to buy more. The compost got that. IIf/when I return to Homemade I will try their breakfast food so the point is moot. I wouldn't order the sandwich again.

Hey, if this is in your area and you aren't coming here that's just stupid. Come on, they are making sausage gravy that's more sausage than gravy, the breakfast potatoes are real crisp mountains of potatoes and the coffee is jet fuel. Refresh your cup any time at the station in the dining room. I sat at the communal table and had great conversation. I ordered the hash brown poutine - it was enough for a football team. Ok I exaggerate- but it was certainly enough for one football player. There are so many southern adjacent dishes on the menu, go once and I'll bet you go more than once.

The worst service ever, the waiters are so rude we clearly mentioned what we wanted but a different the waiter had to come back to ask again and my pancake was undercooked and came with hair on and our spoon was dirty so nothing is clean here. Ambiance is terrible as well. Save your money and go somewhere else

Mid food at best, and then they charge a 20% auto-gratuity when all the servers did was take our order and give us our food which is insane. Didnt ask how the food was, didn't offer any drink refills, didnt come by to ask if we were ready for the bill. Why am I being forced to pay an extra 20%?? I have no problem tipping (generously even) when servers actually make an effort but this was piss-poor. Not coming back

Biscuits were hard. Difficult to cut with a knife. Corned beef in hash was fine. Corned beef in the benedict was tough and difficult to cut with a knife. Service was good - friendly & cheerful. The cooking and menu isn't as good as before they reopened.

The food was somewhat expensive for the quality served. The service was slow, and when I visited, there weren't many customers, yet the tables needed to be cleaned. Additionally, the hot sauces were not labeled, making it difficult to determine their heat levels. They also included a 20 percent gratuity, which I believe should have been optional, allowing me to choose my own tip amount. I will not be returning.

Service was fine. The food not so much. It lacks flavor and salt. The gravy with sausage tasted off. I hope I don't get sick from it. I also found a brown hair in my gravy. I will not be back.

Homemade Cafe was simply the best! They are now closed down. The service was great and the ambiance was always pleasant, as I've frequented this establishment since I was a kid-- literally for over 30 years. Now they're gone. So sad. Hopefully they pop up again somewhere else. Wishing them luck. The pic attached is one of the good ol' faithful meals: ranch rancheros.

I went here this week for lunch - had breakfast here for lunch. I really enjoyed the food - it was truly delicious food. I had eggs, sausage, potatoes and coffee cake (which I took to go) and my friend had omelette and greens and cannot remember. The food is good here. My only issue is that for two people - it was over $60.00 for breakfast and that the tip was an auto gratuity. I am used to auto gratuity on large parties not on small parties (there were 2 of us). I am glad I was informed of their policy because I would have also tipped as I am a tipper too. So I am having feelings about - the cost and the gratuity. Not sure how I feel. I am not sure I will go back again at those prices - it seems like everything is an upcharge on their menu so the price is not really the price. 3 stars for decent food.

No liquor license but still has a full cocktail menu. Out of latte syrup. Out of sausage for a breakfast sandwich. On a holiday weekend well before their 3pm closing time. They either don't know what the hell they're doing, or they're so careless they couldn't give two sh*ts. Basic stuff like updating menus, communicating with staff, or warning customers? Forget it. They're perfectly fine wasting your time and leaving you pissed off. We bailed before ordering because life's too short for this level of incompetence. Avoid like the plague.

On Sunday morning, we ordered the BEC and The Combo. But despite them being on the menu, neither mimosas nor tomato juice were available. Okay. Please print new menus.

The food was good but not great. The highlights were the fluffy pancakes, homemade jam, and hot sauce. I especially liked the spicy orange sauce. The service was very friendly but I was surprised they automatically charged a 20% gratuity when the water and coffee (refills) were self-serve and I was dining alone. I got two pancakes, 2 chicken apple sausages, one egg over easy, and a black coffee. Everything came out to $27 including tax and non-optional tip. The ambiance was nice with local art work and plenty of natural sunlight but the meal just felt too expensive for what it was. Other than the sauces nothing really stood out about the meal. That said, I think this place has potential. A fruit/vegetable garnish and an extra egg would have really elevated the meal and its value.

Went in with my girlfriend and got seated within a few minutes. Staff are super helpful, kind and friendly. The restaurant itself is clean, doesn't have any weird smelling odors. The food took about 25 minutes to come, we ended up waiting for a while. I ordered the corned beef breakfast and my girlfriend ordered the blueberry pancakes. We found that the food itself was not all that special especially considering that the price point was far reaching compared to the quality of the food. The eggs were cooked fine and how I asked for but lacked any type of seasoning. Same deal with the corned beef, lacked salt and pepper all the same. My girlfriend's pancakes were raw in the center. Overall I'd say that the staff were nice and friendly but we did not get what we paid for.

Simply put, it's hard to imagine sweeter, kinder service or better food. Our breakfast was delicious! I love, love, love the potatoes...love the thyme in there - it reminded me of Thanksgiving stuffing - it was wonderful. We were touched that they brought my sister a big piece of banana cake for her birthday as a surprise! We sat inside but I'm told they have a heated patio too. I'm also told that they've fed a lot of hungry people who have fallen on hard times over the years out of the goodness of their hearts. They were so kind. It's a great local place worthy of your support.

If I could add negative 5 stars I would. When I heard the story of how the place was able to reopen because of a new partnership I was happy that the city was able to keep a staple. Unfortunately this Homemade Cafe isn't anything like the old and should close immediately and not waste the investors money. Today at 9:45 I visited for takeout and had the following happen. 1. Overheard Woman ask for milk for her tea and was denied it. 2. Was told I could not have toast because they were saving it for breakfast sandwiches. 3. Was given burnt home fries that were cold. 4. Was given dry cold biscuits 5. No utensil to eat although it was asked for. 6. No condiments If you want bad food, bad service and more bad food go for it. This is not what you have grown accustomed to and with so many options in the city of Berkeley I would highly suggest you go elsewhere and not waste your hard earned money. They couldn't pay me to walk in the doors again.

The food was expensive for how bad it was. Generally, diner brunch is pretty hard to screw up, but they managed. Entrees were in the $20-30 range and our food was inedible. Mine was overly salted to the point that it was disgusting, and my husband's Benedict was also bad. The hollandaise sauce was splitting and old. We will not go back. They also forgot part of our order and charged us for it anyway.

Food was ok. I had the fried chicken sandwich against my will. Our server was horrible. I had to clarify a few times with him about our order and he still got it wrong. They said they would fix it but at that point my partners order was already there and I didn't want her to eat alone. On top of everything they charge a 20% gratuity on all orders. Then they just shrug their shoulders with no solution. This place sucks.

Homemade 2.0 has a couple beta elements, but the essentials are strong: friendly service, great menu, fun people-watching (improved by the bigger windows), and THE BEST PANCAKES IN THE WORLD. Glad this Berkeley mainstay is back!

Such a disappointing experience. My partner & I went to get some late breakfast & were treated like a burden. The food was decent, but the server was rude and inattentive to basic service. At the end, getting our bill, they forced a 20% "service fee" on the table . I am a healthy tipper when service is good, but being forced without it being clear that they are going to add a "service fee" seems unethical and unkind. I hope they can be more clear to future customers that they're forcing "service fee" on all tables.

I have been a long-time customer since the 1980s, and today, I had a horrific takeout experience. I should have known when I walked in, and the place was empty, albeit I could not get through when I called ahead. I ordered biscuits and gravy, sausage with eggs and home fries. My wife had a cinnamon roll pecan waffles, fried chicken, black eyed peas and collard greens and lemonade. Here is my experience: Ordering: An ordeal. You have to order online using their app. They charge 1.5% to package your food. I have never had to pay a packaging charge. Apple pay didn't work so I had to manually enter my number. They indicate you will receive a confirming receipt via email and if not to call a number in the app. I did not receive the email so I called. The number did not work so I called the restaurant. My call went to voicemail so I had to drive over and see if they got my order eventhough my bank indicated they got their money. the app indicates the food will be ready in 25-35 minutes. I live less than minutes away and I drove over about 15 minutes after I ordered. Food: EVERYTHING was cold. Biscuits and gravy: The biscuits were very big but they gave only a smattering of gravy. The home fries, which were some of my favorites there inedible, burned and raw on the inside. No chef should have put that mess on a plate. I had to reheat everything but I couldn't eat much. A swing and a miss here. Chicken and Waffle and cinnamon roll: Outrageously bad. I have never had a pecan waffle where they just throw some pecans on the waffle. The pecans are supposed to be in the batter. The waffle was very unremarkable. the cinnamon roll had lots of butter and sugar and a very tough texture. Another swing and a miss. Once warmed, the chicken and black eyed peas were actually good but I can do better. Lemonade. Good. Too bad they don't offer Arnold Palmers (Lemonade and Iced tea.) I called the restaurant to tell them about my experience. You get the feeling the chef does not have pride in their work and just wants your money. They apologized but told me there was nothing they could do but to give them another chance as they were going through growing pains. Outrageous. i agree with Claudia M's review. This is not a reboot. It seems like they are best at getting your money. they should stick to the fried chicken and greens. The gravy was good but you get very little. I asked whoever answered the phone to have the owner call me. Of course I didn't get a call. This business model isn't good. I doubt I will be back, not after spending $65.00 for mostly inedible "food." The irony of it all is that at the cash register, they ask for a yelp review. I give it to them, they have balls.

First time here. The corn beef hash was outstanding. Burberry pancakes were amazing. Served with maple syrup. The bread is artisan, and the raspberry jam appears to be a homemade. Lots of love in this food

Great tasty food, super slow service. I think they need to fugure out how to turn tables a bit faster, and seat people in the right tables for their group size. It's frustrating to see a group of 3 take a big table and then our party of 6 stand in the sun for 30 minutes. Growing pains maybe? Super happy to see them reopen.

Sadly, this is NOT reboot of the old Homemade Cafe. My waffle was served cold, such that the whipped butter didn't melt at all. I returned it and since the service was glacial, I cancelled getting a replacement. There are plenty of breakfast cafes in this price range with better quality and service. We won't be coming back

This spot is very close to my house, and I just want to create a record that while we had been fans of the "Everybody Eats" program, towards the end, every single meal we had here (more than 2 dozen) was made uncomfortable by the manager his yelling at and belittling his staff, in an increasing fashion until we could not stand it anymore. We had to stop eating there despite wanting to support a small struggling business because one day the yelling was so bad, my 5-year-old son began to cry at the table. He said "I feel so bad for everyone who works here". I cannot be complicit in the abuse of employees. So we stopped coming after years of loyalty. I read interviews where the owners blames customers for now showing up because they want "slicker" breakfast places. I just want anyone who is wondering to know, that is not what happened. Loyal patrons stopped coming because they didn't want to be complicit in the manager's verbal and emotional abuse of his employees. Mismanagement is why this place closed, not rising costs or disloyal patrons. It's ironic that a place that built its reputation on everyone's right to eat violated its own employees right to work with dignity and free from abuse.

Glad they reopened. My wife and I had a great meal. Staff are nice, excellent coffee which you can refill yourself. The new menu is more expansive and innovative and it invites you to try something new. I had a perfect pecan waffle and my wife had the Good Luck Eggs, which are poached and served over a mix of beans and collard greens, fabulous. The biscuits were perfect and they had home made strawberry preserves which were outstanding. I have been going there for decades, was bummed when they closed and delighted they are back. It is a Berkeley institution.

This place is more superb than ever, and it started at five stars. The food is wonderful: even something as simple as a salad is tasty enough to persuade small children to gobble their vegetables! Service is casual but precise, and relaxed/friendly. Ambience is optimized for comfort; art displayed on walls is imaginative and tasteful. Now, all I need is fifteen stars to do it justice!

No value for money at all. 14 bucks for a cold veggie sandwich and takeout box is not compostable.

A friend and I went there to dine two men of color. We sat down and the young waitress sat and waited on three other tables before coming back to us. The other tables that got there after us got their food before us. When I inquired and informed her I stopped there on my way to the airport and needed to go she then went to the kitchen and asked them to hurry my ticket. She was condescending when speaking to me saying that the other tables got their food first because they were waited on first without offering explanation as to why she waited on them first. We ended up walking out without even trying the food. I guess it's true what they say about dwb (dining while black) in Berkeley it doesn't work.

The quality of the food and service does not justify the price. I ordered the French toast and potatoes; the former was soggy and not particularly appetizing. Potatoes were ok but not much flavor. I waited around 25 minutes and was presented with the bill before the food even came out (strange... what if I wanted to order something else?) The couple sitting next to me was not thrilled either. Add on the 20% mandatory gratuity (I'm all for paying restaurant workers, but let's face it this was not exceptional service) and it left a sour taste in my mouth. I wouldn't revisit this place, not worth the cost.

Friendly service, great food, and a charming location! I had the chicken and waffles, which were fantastic.

We're so happy that this neighborhood gem is back and it's better than ever. Delicious egg dishes, creative coffees and yummy baked goods. Service is terrific and efficient. Love this place!

This saddens me... But this place was HORRIBLE!!! Food was painfully bad! Service was non existent!! We arrived at 2p seated outside with two other parties... Great start... Then NOTHING. Waitress disappeared with out a word for 45 minutes. End up grabbing one of the busboys who graciously takes our order. It is now 15 minutes before they're scheduled to close. Food comes quickly but very unappetizing and looks like a bit of mush. Does not taste better!! I had ordered a hash brown dish with sausage ,gravy, eggs and toast. Dish was painfully horrible. Other dish ordered was huevous ranchero... Unfortunately, this dish made my partner sick. Why was this sad to me.... Because 40yrs ago, 30yrs ago.... This Place was amazing. Simple food with great service. On top of horrible good with lacking service... We Then get a bill with 20% tip added! This was not ok... We barely saw the waitress and had no service. Even 10% would have been a stretch. HARD PASS... This Place is no longer edible... They even messed up the potatoes... Which used to be one of the main stars. $50 meal..2 breakfast, no drinks... Ridiculous! Disappointing

I've been coming to this cafe since it opened back up and it is always a 10/10 experience. The food is phenomenal, I highly recommend the BABE sandwich, their pancakes, and the daily coffee cake is a must. The staff is also extremely helpful and friendly. Can't recommend checking out this spot enough!!

This is where I go for breakfast before work. My go to is pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Quality varies from day to day, but the range is "good" to "the best I've ever had". Every time I come, I'm hoping that day will be a good egg day. The staff are friendly, but they can be overwhelmed if it's busy like normal humans would be. Likewise if the kitchen has 15 orders in process, you shouldn't be surprised if your food takes a bit. The middle of the week is a good time to visit if you want to avoid the crowds.

let me start by saying that the wait person was kind and accommodating so this review is not about the service but the food: never have had such bad breakfast. I got the basic breakfast with bacon and home fries. The potatoes were at the same time burnt and undercooked which is hard to accomplish. The wait person offered to bring me a new plate when I mentioned this to them but it was still as bad. The egg was ok, just not a lot of it and the bacon was dry. Overpriced and bad. Never going back. Get a new cook.

Was beyond excited to relive the days of old and enjoy a short stack of blueberry pancakes, crispy bacon and home fries in the confines of the compact, yet cozy and familiar space. While I can appreciate a refresh, the new space is cold and unsettling. Especially the line to the register where customers were literally hovering over those dining, and the occasional bump to the back of your chair. Once you order, people were walking and standing in the small space watching you eat while waiting for a table. The condiments on the table were not clean, we had to ask for flatware, our drink order and refills. The food was as delicious as I remembered, but didn't make up for the discomfort of the new environment, service, harried vibe...and price point. I'm willing to pay for the experience, but not this experience. I want the OLD Homemade Cafe back, PLEASE!!!

What a nice surprise to have the Homemade Cafe back in business. Still very Berkeley,. a touch more expensive than before, but still in the ball park of other similar places, higher than Denny's but lower than Chez Panisse. We had two standard breakfasts, that were excellent quality and quantity about $50 which had the tip already included. Service was excellent, everyone seemed to be putting in extra efforts to welcome back the customers. Wish they didn't close at 2pm and continued into dinner time, outdoor seating was a nice added touch.

Went with a friend for breakfast after they reopened. Glad to have them back. I had scrambled eggs, which were good. He had French toast, which reminded him of the French toast he had there in 1981. Things are different but great to have them back.

Not sure what's happening here but I hope it's just rehab. I love this place - have for many, many years. Great breakfasts, humane ownership. 4.5 stars

Nahhh the home fries were some of the best I've had. They know what they're doing here. Cute breakfast spot with cool art hanging up. The staff was awesome - I wanted any type of parfait or fruit and the cook made up a special thing for me to get that! Very grateful and appreciate the vibes here

I'll give five stars for the quality of the food and the friendly staff but the old Homemade vibe is still missing. I sure miss the counter seats with a front row view of the busy kitchen. I really want them to succeed but the stark austere tables and chairs on the bright white floor make me feel like I'm in a school lunchroom or something. My omelette and small OJ came to over $30 including mandatory 20% tip! Maybe I need to get out more but to me that was a tad high considering I ordered at the cashier station. Maybe minor but packets of S&P instead of shakers seemed kinda tacky as well. I have loved this place for many years so I really hope they are able to get some of the old groove back again...

Nice ambiance, tasty food, friendly servers. And YES it is open again! Opened 19 February 2025!