UQBAR Mediterranean Cafe

AMAZING brand new business in West Berkeley! I got a 10/10 breakfast sandwich and drip coffee (ate the sandwich so quickly I forgot about a picture). Lovely ambiance to read or work, and super friendly staff and owners, who I chatted with. The owners also hired all of the workers from the previous establishment that was in this location which is awesome! I wish I lived closer so I could be a consistent regular!

Food was delicious-- beautifully plated, interesting flavors, good size portions-- and the cafe had a great vibe. Delicious espresso drinks too! Not pictured: the most beautiful hummus plate ever and tahini chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven (ate them too fast to get a picture). Had a fantastic lunch and will definitely be back!

Really great breakfast and service! They had some unique pastries as well but forgot to get any photos. Excited to come here in the summer and have breakfast in the gorgeous front patio area :-)

Was is town visiting family & tried this great new place for post Thanksgiving breakfast. It was super! Order at the counter was quick & easy. Had a very nice flat white & blueberry muffin to start. Followed by squash shakshuka that was excellent. Talked to owner Jenny and she said food is sourced locally & they use in season produce, thus squash instead of the traditional tomato for the Shaksuka, that was served in a hot, small cast iron skillet made for fun presentation that kept the dish warm as I went back & forth from my coffee & muffin. Jenny does the baking & the muffin top was sweet with a tasty crust and the blueberries big & delicious. Behind the counter is an open kitchen where we could Benji (co-owner & spouse) hard at work. Interior is clean with ample breakfast seating, great for families, singles & couples. Art work from local artists featured on the walls, as well a unique LED clock. Was tempted to sit in cute outdoor courtyard but the morning chill kept us inside. Fast, friendly & attentive staff. Muffin was so good that I got a chocolate chunk cookie for the road & wish that I had bought several, so buttery good, crisp on the outside, soft on the inside with the right balance of chocolate chunks. You may need to search a little harder for Ukbar but it is definitely worth a trip & will be on my list for lunch when I’m back in town.

Nice compact menu with a few things they seem to do well — we had a hummus platter with chicken, a muffin, and a shakshouka. The muffin was very good and warm with dates, the shakshouka a little on the sweet side but very good w a little spicy sauce, and the hummus very solid with a fresh baked pita. Wasn’t too pricy and not too crowded either. Will drop by again!

Shakshuka, veggie sandwich, and chocolate cake with butter tahini frosting were to die for! Cute patio and excellent, friendly service. Dog friendly, too!

Amazing food, service, space, and all around good vibes! Thoughtfully curated menu that accommodates many food allergies and restrictions while still achieving incredible flavor and quality. Can’t wait to go back and sit on their sunny patio!

Have been eagerly anticipating the opening of this place ever since the former restaurant at this location closed. Worth the wait! I got in for lunch service during the soft open, I think the first or second day of service. All-day breakfast options, and lunch specials that start at 11am. I had the spicy salami sandwich and a garden salad. Not your ordinary fare -- kale and pomegranate seeds for the salad, for example. Sandwich was substantial and very tasty. Menu leans pretty hard toward Mediterranean fare. Hummus looked excellent (didn't try it); flatbreads were good (swiped from my wife's plate). Wine and beer service which I didn't try at lunch on a work day, but some interesting selections. Nice vibe in the restaurant. Staff are super friendly. Order at the counter and take a seat; my food was out in just a few minutes. They've also got a pretty little patio seating area that I didn't try out. A few neighborhood folks tied their dogs to the patio railing and enjoyed their meals outdoors. This place is a winner.

Great spot! Stopped by here to get some work done and grab a bite and some coffee. Really great space with lots on natural light. Service was quick and the food was on point. Will def be added to my rotation of Berkeley cafes for when I'm working from home.

Wonderful new spot. Fantastic food, great ambience, and just quality through and through. Highly recommend.

Great addition to the neighborhood. Their breakfast sandwich is delicious and pairs nicely with the fig leaf latte. They also have sandwiches, soups and salads for lunch. Today I tried the lamb over hummus and the kale Caesar. The salad was great and I really like the fried chickpeas on it. The lamb over hummus was also tasty, but I wish it was a little beefier with more pickles/veg. All of the staff I interacted with were friendly and I recognized some familiar faces from Tomate Cafe which occupied the space before UQBAR. The ambiance is nice and I enjoyed the music they were playing. I will definitely be back.

UQBAR is amazing! They kept some of the staff we knew and were worried about from Tomate, who seemed to be very happy. The owners are just delightful. Everyone is friendly and the service is great. The food is beyond fabulous. My friend had a red lentil soup and I had the shakshuka (made with squash and caramelized onions - the best I've ever had). Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free options are listed on the menu. Street parking is easy and free. Their hours are Tuesday - Thursday 8 AM - 2 PM Friday - Saturday 8 AM - 8 PM Definitely go. It's fabulous!

Love this spot...I had not been to the previous cafe so had no expectations...but the outdoor seating away from the street in a cute courtyard looked so inviting. Inside, it's bright and cheerful, nice windows with comfy bench seats and plenty of tables. I had a gorgeous plate with savory on one side--the creamiest hummus, carrots, sliced tomatoes, olives, soft boiled eggs, house made flatbread--and sweet on the other--labneh with honey, apple slices and apple butter, grapes, sliced kiwi and pomegranate pips. As photogenic as it was delicious. To drink, I got an oatmilk fig leaf latte...the fig leaf "simple syrup" gave it a nice slightly sweet taste. Lovely spot...I'll be back!

Cute little new spot in Berkeley. Stopped by today and there was a steady amount of people and felt like a real community hub with lots of generations represented. I will be back to try their mezze platter another time when I can sit and eat but jumping on here to say do not sleep on their pomegranate lemonade, it was the perfect combo of tang and sweetness!

Just WOW. Had the lamb sandwich. Chock full of moist, tasty lamb with just the right amount of sauce and toppings on a perfectly toasted ciabatta. You order at the counter and they bring it to you on real plates with real silverware. Super friendly staff and a great cafe atmosphere with some nice art to look at while you are eating. I will be back!

I discovered this new restaurant on my walk in the neighborhood and will absolutely be back! All the staff are welcoming and attentive, the menu is rotational, but I don't think there is a bad choice. I ordered the veggie sandwich and I could not have been happier when I opened the to go container, so fresh and full of flavor, a sesame seed bun?! LOVE!! Cannot recommend this place enough!

Have been waiting for this place to open ever since the last cafe in the location shut down. Got there for lunch on the first day of service. Menu includes some great all-day breakfast options, and lunch selections that are available starting at 11am. Some of the dishes are on a printed menu that's likely going to be pretty consistent over time. Most of the lunch options, when I got there, were written on the chalkboard near the counter, and I expect they'll turn over relularly, depending on what's in season and appeals to the kitchen crew. You order at the counter, find a table and the wait staff brings your food to you. My lunch took just a couple of minutes to arrive. I had the spicy salami sandwich and an excellent kale-and-carrot salad with pomegranate seeds. Finished off with a delicious chocolate chip cookie for dessert. It was maybe a bit more than I really needed, but everything was so good I cleaned all the plates. Indoor seating area is airy, bright and pleasant. Easy conversation, not too noisy. There's a patio/courtyard seating area as well -- folks from the neighborhood stopped in, tied their dogs to the patio railing, sat own for a chat and snacks. Really good vibe.

The food was fabulous. I had the ham sandwich- very fresh and flavorful. Staff was friendly and helpful. The cookie was exceptional.

Got the lamb sandwich. Really tasty and tender. The service is also really good. Even though there was a big group of people ahead of me, i got my food fairly quickly.