This café a few doors down from Trader Joe's is the perfect spot for brunching and working/studying! There is wifi, plenty of seating for individuals or small groups, and outlets near the big tables. The chicken and croffle is just as good as everyone says it is. The chicken is a thin slice of juicy chicken thigh meat, fried to perfection (I personally think the texture is reminiscent of popcorn chicken). The syrup isn't too spicy despite the name and pairs well with both the croffle and the chicken. If I were to get this again, I'd add some more spice on top. I also got the cherry blossom tea, which is a flavor I haven't seen other cafes offer. They were also nice enough to refill my hot water for me! :) Despite the growing lunch crowd, my food and drink came out speedily. As a side note, I loved the little flower vases they put next to the small tables. Really enjoyed romanticizing my remote work experience here! read more

Café Etoile - Chicken and Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

I came here with two friends on a Sunday morning for brunch and to work and loved it. It was my first time there and the inside was super cozy. However, it was pretty crowded so if you want to study then 10am-1pm would not be the best time to go since they're pretty busy. I got the avocado toast + a scrambled egg and it was so good. The bread was super fluffy and chewy and they didn't skimp on the avocado or eggs. A perfect lunch and would definitely recommend stopping by here!! read more

Café Etoile - Avocado Toast + Eggg - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cafe Etoile was super cute! I was 8 months pregnant so that means a lot it's in the Berkeley area. We wanted to go somewhere cute and quiet for breakfast while attending a family reunion and we stumbled across this spot. We found street parking right across the street ( it's the Bay Area so please leave nothing in your car. My partner ordered the Chicken and Croffle it had like a sweet and spicy sauce over the waffle, it was really tasty and had great texture. I had the back on and egg sandwich with an over easy egg and I was definitely pleased. I also had an iced matcha which was also impressive. It was a pretty simple menu but the food was really good and the service was nice as well. Definitely worth a try! read more

Café Etoile - Dining area - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Café Etoile was the perfect post-dog park cafe to visit with our dog. Although it has limited dog-friendly outdoor seating, the cafe is situated a small walk away from Ohlone Dog Park if you plan your days around your dog (like myself). I only got food so I can't speak to their coffee, but the food was excellent! The kimchi fried rice had really good flavor and the egg was perfectly cooked. Our dog got spooked by all the passing cars, so we had to change our order last minute to to-go. The staff was so friendly and kind even after the change! read more

Café Etoile - Kimchi Fried Rice - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've driven by Café Etoile countless times and have always been entranced by their croffle photos. I tried a croffle elsewhere so the idea of popping in kind of disappeared. Aside from that point, but I was Yelping cafes with ample seating inside, accessible parking, and different drink and food choices. Café Etoile seemed like the best option that fit all categories. Located on the corner, the cafe is fairly easy to find. Outside there are a few tables while inside is more spacious. Plenty of space to work, study, or hang out with its close proximity to Cal. The communal and individual tables seemed popular for those working plus they have free WiFi. The baristas working were helpful and accommodating with our questions and requests. They remade our drinks after an error which was appreciated. Items come out staggered one at a time where they're retrieved at the bar. It can be hard to decide on what to get! The humble cafe offers small bites such as pastries and sandwiches. Plus beverages like espresso, tea, and iced drinks. As a tea lover, I couldn't pass up on an Iced Chai with Almond Milk. I asked for light ice and light sweetness; it's nice they offer alternatives. Unfortunately, the drink didn't shine. There was barely any chai flavor and it was more milky than I had expected. My Pop got his own drinks and a Cheese Croffle. He said it was okay but not noteworthy. If you're looking for a mix of French and Korean pastries, desserts, lunch items, and beverages then Café Etoile has your back! I recommend coming here if you're a student or worker at Cal due to its close proximity. Parking can be found in the shared Trader Joe's lot or on the street. This may not be a place I'll often seek out but I know if I come I'll get a decent beverage or small bite. read more

Café Etoile - Iced Chai Latte (Almond Milk) - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Cute Korean cafe next to Trader next to Trader Joe's. I ordered a pistachio coffee. They also have the usual Western pastries along with Korean meals and sweets which I will have to come back to try. read more

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Situated neatly on the corner, you walk into this cafe with family and friends to enjoy little coffee. They have some unique ideas for you taste buds. I love the options. The sandwich line offers some great ideas to push the palate forward. My foodie/partner daughter took me here. Totally partners in crime and palates. She knows me well and I and quickly learning her unique palate. She introduced me to Cheese Croffle. Really? All these years and I never tried one? I am KETO driven but sometimes turn a blind eye to a lil' syrup on my what naughts. It was super yummy. I want more. My bad. But you know they have a need to introduce new items on the menu to locals to keep it real. Like the new item to hit the menu ... Mint latte. Oh - freakin' boy. We had a great meeting with a friend and enjoyed the gnash. Side note. Try the Korean sando and ask for extra kimchee. Bammmmm! read more

Café Etoile - Choffle time.Yaaa. - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The breakfast sandwich was delicious but it fell apart upon grabbing it, I had to eat the bits with a fork Flavor 10/10 Sandwich infrastructure 1/10 read more

Food - 5 Service - 5 Value - 4 Restrooms - 5 We had breakfast here a few weeks ago. Salmon Avocado toast with egg and the Breakfast Sandwich were both fresh and tasted great. Lavender matcha drink was awesome. We'd probably come back again and try some other dishes. Restrooms were modern and clean. read more

Café Etoile - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Overall, food is pretty excellent. The price and quality of the meals and drinks are fair. Food wise, we ordered the blueberry scone, salmon avo toast, and chicken and croffle. I personally tried the chicken and croffle and I was amazed... for the most part! I know croffles are just literally croissants being toasted in a waffle machine but for some reason, I am always down to just pay for that when I can do the same thing at home. The size of the chicken thigh they used was generous. I couldn't finish it ngl. It was also crispy AND juicy. The best of both worlds in fried chicken. I would be so down to give a 5 star rating if there was either more spicy syrup provided or if there was flavor added to the chicken. Not sure about ya'll but if the chicken isn't flavored, it's a red flag for me. Based on my friends opinion, they thought their dishes were also great. As for the drinks, we got matcha lattes. I am very critical of my matcha cuz I have had some pretty bad and expensive matcha but also some that were genuinely worth it! Their matcha is definitely on the good matcha that is worth it side. You can also tell it's good matcha cuz of the color too. Located in the midst of University Ave area, it's a pretty busy street. This is a great spot for busy college students that need to study in a cafe with good nomz. You also need to bus your own table which is a benefit in my opinion. You do order up front and need to get your food once your order is ready but honestly with this being a busy study spot, this is good for anyone in general. Overall, I would definitely come here again. Their matcha lattes are definitely worth not taking a lactaid read more

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A super cute homey Berkeley spot ran by a local family! I cam here with a group of 4 friends and there's 2 large tables inside that fit ~10 people, and smaller tables inside and outside too. This spot is a small cafe though, so come with your group all at once if you're a larger group. My friends and I all got different brunch dishes. Fried Chicken and Croffle (4/5): was never a huge fan of this concept til now! Came out fresh and warm, and had a great crunch to it when i tried it. Chicken was moist and flavorful and a yummy way to start the day. Cream and Berries Croffle (4/5): perfect if you're craving something sweet with a soft crunch! Croissant French Toast (2.5/5): was craving se french toast, but overall it cane out pretty soggy and a bit mid. It was still yummy, but I probably wouldn't order again. Known for their croffles!! Try them out! Service was also super friendly and nice! Would come back again :) read more

Café Etoile - Croissant French Toast - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Having driven by here countless times on my way to and from Trader Joe's, I finally stopped in to meet a friend for tea and will certainly return, thanks to the friendly folks, pleasant atmosphere, very nice chai and tasty basil pesto croffle! They have an interesting menu, including many Korean items. I'll be back! read more

Overall: So good and super cozy. Huge portions for the price and some of the tastiest chicken and waffles I've ever had. Seriously, look at that huge portion of chicken - Martinelli's apple juice bottle for scale. Service: * Order at the counter and grab a table. Food comes out super quickly. Everyone working here is super sweet, I think this is a family-owned/run place? On our way out the cashier asked us how we liked everything (yes, very much!) and they were very happy to hear that. Food: * Highlight: the chicken in the chicken-and-waffle was absolutely amazing. Like the juiciest popcorn chicken you've had. Well seasoned, juicy, still tender, and the breading wasn't too hard or soft. Conclusion: Would definitely come again to try their coffee drinks and other food selection, especially the Korean fusion dishes and the croque monsieur + madam. read more

Café Etoile - Huuuuge chicken and waffles + fruit waffle. Martinelli's for scale. - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

The breakfast sandwiches here are really good. I recommend checking out this spot. there's a few more things I haven't tried, but everything looks so good read more

Quick Summary: - Near Trader Joe's - Lunch time hours, so it is not open in the evening - Plenty of tables and chairs inside and outside the building - Coffee is strong but not sour - Hefty dishes, entered hungry, left pretty full - After eating, bus your used dishes and utensils to a cabinet area in the right most side of the cafe I always miss the hours on this cafe because I'm hardly in Berkeley in the early morning, or I prioritize Trader Joe's late in the evening. By the time I'm on Martin Luther King Jr. Way, the cafe is done for that day. Opportunity finally came when I had a day off one day and came here the moment I arrived in Berkeley. The interior is very wide, so there are plenty of tables and chairs. There are two large tables that could fit 6-7 people, but we chose the 2-person tables, that were placed along the windows. On the wall, there was a food menu, and one of the spots was reserved for special menus. It was a salmon bagel sandwich that day, and I chose this one. I also ordered the croque-madame because I saw that a lot in the yelp photos. The cappuccino came first and then the savory dishes. The menu name was called, so I suggest listening carefully and take a proof of receipt, if orders that sound like yours was called. On this particular day, maybe it was because it was the weekday, but there was a handful of people. A poster on the counter that read, "for weekends, only stay at a minimum of 2 hours" so I had a feeling it would be busy. The salmon bagel sandwich was generously stacked with layers of smoked salmon. It was so good (this is coming from someone, who likes seafood). My relative, who tried this said that it was a bit too fishy for them. If you like fish, then this was a super good salmon bagel sandwich. It also contained tomato, rosemary, cream cheese, and cucumber. A refreshing dressing was poured on top of the cucumber and tomato for the tangy sour flavor. It is also pretty hefty, so I suggest ordering this when you are feeling really hungry. I also didn't feel like eating a large dinner meal in the evening. I tried a bit of the Croque-Madame, and my impression was that there was a lot of cheese. On the contrary, I'm not a huge fan of dishes with too much cheese, so near the end, as the dish cooled down it grew harder to eat. However, to mitigate that, it has ham and a nicely cooked egg that oozes slightly upon cutting it in half. It didn't spill over the sandwich, so I liked that more -- I like when the bread of the sandwich is dry and crispy and not wet or drenched. Speaking of the bread, this Croque-Madame had two thick slices of bread. I anticipated an open faced sandwich, so I didn't expect the two slices of bread. This one is also a hefty dish, so I also recommend eating this when you are really hungry as well. read more

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Get the chicken and croffle or live with regret over whatever you ordered instead. It's so juicy and perfectly cooked with a breading that's not too heavy, but will likely make more than one meal. This place is a popular spot for studying as well as meeting up/enjoying a meal. Whenever we've come there are usually some tables taken up by laptops but since there are a lot of small tables in the space we can usually find an empty one for our family or push some together. They have a time limit on weekends to accommodate heavier crowds. They do have other fusion items on the menu but I've only tried the chicken and croffle and the croque madame, the latter of which was not bad but horribly overshadowed by the chicken. They also have an extensive drink menu that includes sparkling beverages, lemonades, lattes, etc. They seem to have one public restroom. Street parking only for this place, which can be a pain on this street. We've parked on university and walked over. Great brunch spot! read more

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Chicken and waffle was not good at all. The chicken didn't look like chicken as it was flat and had weird texture Also the waffle was cold. Didn't like the syrup either as it had hot sauce in it. Beware of what you eat here !!! read more

Café Etoile - Waffle and Maybe Chicken - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cute cafe right next to Trader Joe's. We came here a little after 1pm and it wasn't too crowded but definitely has a nice atmosphere if you want to come for a study date or brunch. The service was great too especially since it was our first time. Everything is order at the register and you're given a buzzer for when your food is ready. The coffee was delicious as well. However, there is only one size for iced drinks so keep that in mind. I tried both the pistachio iced latte and the vanilla sweet cream cold brew. Both were great I just wish they came in bigger sizes than just the 12oz. The chicken in the chicken and croffels was really juicy and crispy. It paired wonderfully with the spicy syrup they serve it with but if you're not into spicy syrup they also have a regular one that you can sub. The Croffel itself was nice and flakey. The spicy syrup made it so the dish so it wasn't overly sweet. The kimchi rice was really good especially with the perfect runny egg on top. It was slightly sour from the kimchi which I really loved since most kimchi rices I've had cook off all the sourness from the kimchi. Overall the food, atmosphere, and staff were wonderful and Cafe Etoile is a must go to spot if you're in the area. read more

Café Etoile - Chicken and Croffle, Bacon and Egg Croffle, and Kimchi Rice - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

SOLID BRUNCH SPOT basically American brunch meets Korean flare Croffle and Chicken - croissant waffle is genius! Crispy, flakes and sweet, so good!! - chicken was a good large size and battered and fried Taiwan popcorn chicken style. I think they could've brined or marinated the meat to make it a little less dry but it was still good with the syrup with Korean red pepper flakes Bulgogi sandwich - juicy and packed! The bread was spongy fresh and tender, soaking the juice of the meat and slaw up nicely. Everything was well balanced and buttery. The Bulgogi was thick cut yet tender. Cilantro added a bahn mi tasting flat when paired with the pickled onion Matcha latte - strong, tasted real and fresh. Very well balanced and excellent Chai latte - fragrant, good like your typical Chai latte Cozy wooden local atmosphere, very chill , found a seat easily at the communal table. The typical gypsy panhandler walking in and out to beg for money occasionally alternating with the Trader Joe's next door but she wasn't too much of a bother, this business keeps the bathroom key at the register, probably some deterring going on there. read more

Café Etoile - Matcha latte Chai latte - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This place was amazing, I went here a week ago and haven't stopped thinking about it. The price was high but it's Berkeley, like what can ya do? I got the eggs Benedict with fried chicken on a Croffle. The flavor was like I died and went to heaven, I closed my eyes to enjoy it. I wish I could download that meal onto my tastebuds so I can replay it. Gorgeous presentation, friendly staff that took our order right away. Food was quick too, diverse range of options. They ask that you bus your own table, which is fine, but the downside of that is that the table doesn't get wiped down between every customer so it was sticky from the customers before. Only small complaint. The place wasn't as fancy as the food itself, just a normal cafe. A good study spot it seems. Great meal, I will be going back frequently. read more

Café Etoile - Chicken Croffle Egg Benedict - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was in the neighborhood and I was looking for a quick lunch. I was in the mood for a "Fried" Chicken sandwich but the other place I went to was not open yet. I had been to this local coffee house before and knew that they had a Stellar sandwich amongst other specialty foods. I went and ordered a Chicken Sando and a Kimchi Fried rice with Bulgolgi beef. I passed on the coffee but they do have an awesome cold brew. The food was ready really quick and they were so friendly there. Food was so good and it was plentiful and it tasted great. There is parking on street and also at TJ which is literally next door. Bathroom at the Cafe was also clean and plenty of seating inside and a few patio tables are available outside' if you wanted to sit there. Definitely a gem among all the other Coffee shops in Downtown Berkeley. read more

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A lovely little spot for breakfast or lunch. I enjoyed that they had outdoor seating and also the indoors seemed nice as well. We both got the croffle with bacon and egg. It was really delicious. I love how everything had a very fresh feeling like you could tell it was just made for us. It was kind of funny trying to eat the croffle with a plastic knife and fork though - so we ended up just picking it up. Definitely a great spot for breakfast - glad I saw the recommendation on Yelp! read more

Café Etoile - Bacon and Egg Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

You walk in and order your food at the counter. They will give you a buzzer to let you know when to pick up your food. You can sit anywhere. The dining area was clean. I got the smoked salmon bagel, my kids got the cream and berries croffle, and my husband got the chicken croffle. I tasted all of them and they were enjoyable and special. I got the mint lemonade to drink and it tasted like sprite so for $5 it was disappointing. I would go back but I'd try a different drink. read more

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This is such a cute little cafe to visit, located right next to Trader Joe's in downtown Berkeley. You order up at the counter, and then you get a buzzer and choose a table to sit at. This is definitely more of a place to eat rather than a cafe for studying. I ordered the Croque Madame ($14), but I liked that there were other options that were around the $10 range since it seemed pretty affordable compared to other places in the area for good quality food. The croque madame was really good! The cheese on top of the brioche bread gave it a nice, creamy and sweet flavor, and the egg and the meat added the savory kick to the flavor profile. It was also refreshing to have some salad and orange slices on the side to finish off the meal. I'd love to try out some of their other dishes next time I'm in the area! read more

Café Etoile - Croque Madame - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Stopped by on a Saturday around noon-ish looking for a quick bite. I'd walked by this place a number of times in the past and was excited to finally try it out. Ordering at the cash register was quick and easy, service was very friendly. I ordered the breakfast sandwich with an iced chai latte (+ oat milk) while my partner got the spicy chicken sandwich. The place was mostly full but we were still able to find seats inside at a large table. We waited around 10 minutes before our buzzer rang and we could pick up our food from the counter. Overall I'm content with our order especially for the prices of the sandwiches, but was disappointed by the chai. Spicy Chicken Sandwich: Yummy! A good balance of spicy and sour, with the chicken itself being crunchy but still juicy. Nothing crazy but a solid sandwich especially for the price. 7.5/10. Breakfast Sandwich: Nice! I was admittedly craving something very "basic" breakfast-y so this hit the spot. If customizations were a thing, I probably would've added something either spicy or sour to up the experience, but that's just me being nitpicky. Overall solid breakfast sandwich. 7.5/10. Iced Chai Latte w/ Oatmilk: I'm not sure if this was just a one off situation but I literally took a sip and was immediately confused. The drink basically tasted like creamer with the tiniest hint of chai. I had to have my partner taste it to confirm I wasn't going crazy. The combination of the thickness and lack of flavor (+ a heavy hand of cinnamon on top) made it basically un-drinkable for me. Didn't wanna make a fuss about it especially since it was a bit busy so we just kept it, but was bummed out. Would not recommend getting an iced chai here. In general this is a solid place with good prices and quick friendly service. read more

Café Etoile - Iced Chai Latte with Oat Milk. Didn't have much chai flavor, wouldn't recommend. - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Was looking for a quick breakfast bite and so glad we stumbled upon Cafe Etoile! It's next to Trader Joe's in Berkeley. The croffle (croissant waffle) is a new concept I've never had before and I have to say was so yummy!!! 5/5 recommend - I'd come back just for that; but along with the fried chicken, which was juicy and thin breading, it was a tasty chicken and waffles combo. You also get 2 pieces of chicken! (Well worth $13). The spicy side sauce was like a sweet kick to top the dish. The biscuit sandwich with sausage ($11.50) was also delicious! Great biscuit and hearty with the egg, cheese, and arugula. *this seems to be only available in the weekend. Decent indoor seating and some outdoor; seems to be a great spot to do some studying or work (free Wi-Fi; there were lots of students). The concept seems to be Korean/French/American, with plenty of great breakfast sandwich options, pastries, and coffee/tea. Quick service. Come check this place out! read more

Café Etoile - Chicken and Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Good portions and price! All super yummy: chicken and croffle, croissant french toast, breakfast sandwich with egg avocado. there's lots of seating, and it's right next to the Trader Joes in downtown Berkeley. read more

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I usually spend time in Berkeley as a midpoint when meeting a friend who lives in Walnut Creek. Usually I find places to dine at through Yelp & Cafe Etoile didn't disappoint. Basically, you order your items at the counter & visit the counter to pick up your items. There is no table service. The dining room has several 2 top & 4 top tables with marble finish. My dining partner & I both wanted to try the breakfast biscuit so we ordered the same thing. Usually I like to share a variety of items but I was so hungry (o had an empty stomach) & the description of the breakfast biscuit sounded yummy. The biscuit was perfect, slightly crumbly, mild flavored & the crispy bacon, scrambled eggs & arugula were the perfect harmony. I also had a hot chai latte which was perfect to sip while enjoying my breakfast biscuit. I was so hungry when I arrived that I didn't see the regular food menu on the counter. I saw some things like the croissant French toast that I would like to try my next visit. read more

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I really had no idea what this cafe was about before I gave it a try for lunch. I had thought it was a Greek spot and apparently it was until recently Cafe Nostos. Oompah! Now it's more of a brunch spot serving primarily Cal students looking for electrical outlets. At least that's what I saw as they gunned for the tables next to the windows. I have to admit the geek vibe made me feel a bit geriatric. Uniquely positioned on a neatly organized series of clipboards, the menu looked like an interesting fusion of French and Korean flavors. Rather ambitiously I decided to try two dishes. The first was the $9 Avocado Toast where they mashed a whole avocado on a slice of whole wheat bread. It was topped liberally with radishes, pickled red onion, and cherry tomatoes (photo: https://bit.ly/3YICn1l). For added sweetness, it was drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette. It was good and quite a lot. Had I known, I might not have ordered the $10.50 Bibim Salad which was definitely an entree dish with brown rice, kimchi, carrot, radish, cucumber, and spring mix topped with a fried egg. It came with a side of spicy Gochujang sauce that definitely kicked it up a notch (photo: https://bit.ly/3FN1jMD). Good stuff, even for long-ago UC alumni like me. FOOD - 4 stars...I went for the Korean side of their menu and thought it was good and quite generous AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...a bit younger than I'm used to, but it was well maintained SERVICE - 4 stars...quite a nimble crew here TOTAL - 4 stars...maybe they could offer a senior discount...I mean a REAL senior RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2CbVh8u read more

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The ambience was cozy and the service was great!! Kimchi fried rice with bulgogie was one of the best even to me, 70 year old Korean housewife. read more

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Cafe Etoile has the cutest korean cafe aesthetic going on with its wood tones and flowery decor. Perfect place to catch up with friends or take a break with a drink in hand. I got the bibim salad and matcha latte, dine in. The bibim salad was okay - it tasted like a very healthy version of a bibimbap with the fresh radish and brown rice alternatives to usual bibimbap ingredients. The gochujang dressing was delicious and spicy. The matcha latte was delicious but could've used a bit of sweetness. My friend asked for it to be sweetened and it was way too much, so maybe ask for a little bit of sugar? They also had issues making my friend's order - first it was the wrong size then it was with the wrong milk, both of which cost extra. Since they're still pretty new I'm hoping to visit again within the next few months and see that they've worked out these kinks. read more

Café Etoile - Bibim Salad - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Clean, casual, self-service spot near UC Berkeley. Small place, but we still found a spot to sit. There are plenty of seats and high chairs for children too. I really enjoyed the toffee latte. Smooth, creamy, with plenty of nutty flavor. The food was delicious too, especially the chicken croffle. Would definitely return next time I'm in the area. read more

Café Etoile - Toffee Latte - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

My friends and I came here for brunch and it was a bit more fast casual, order at the cashier then sit down place. Nonetheless, I get it because the place got super busy super quick. The bacon and egg crocodile was pretty good and standard. Crispy bacon, runny egg, and the croffle was covered in cheese. The berries and cream croffle had a not too sweet creme that reminded me of whipped butter and was a nice dessert. I wish the croffle was a bit fluffier inside. I got the bulgogi sandwich, and it was so monstrous and big that I only ate a third, and my friends who got the croffle had to help me. The bulgogi was SO tender, juicy, and plentiful. I definitely recommend it to be most worth the price if you come by extremely hungry! read more

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My husband's food was great, but the service left something to be desired. It could have been the noise level that made communication difficult, but the gentleman at the front mixed up both my order and my husband's. He ordered an Americano while I asked for a mint latte. Although he eventually sorted out his order, I decided to go ahead and drink mine despite it being incorrect. My husband's food was delicious, but unfortunately, my bacon wasn't crispy due to the mix-up and seemed a little rushed, but bread and the arugula were delicious. I'd love to return, perhaps on a quieter day when the atmosphere is more relaxed. On a positive note, the barista was terrific--she had a warm smile and seemed genuinely passionate about her craft of making lattes. Was not sure where to throw out the compostables? read more

Café Etoile - Front area - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Café Etoile is such a great spot to grab coffee and a quick bite! Food is made fresh to order and the coffee will definitely wake you up. Great service! I recommend getting the breakfast sandwich or the Spicy Chicken sandwich. read more

Cafe Etoile recently took over the old Cafe Nostos joint-- I believe the owners finally went into retirement. I'll miss the fresh spanakopitas and other phyllo pastries ;_; That being said, the new spot isn't bad-- in fact, they gave the interior a much-needed refresh. Fresh paint + brighter furniture do a lot for a space! They're now offering a sort of Korean-French fusion, all-day brunch menu. The cafe is still buzzing with students and folks working remotely. Outlets galore. We usually grab a bite and drink to go. Their lattes are not great, really syrupy. We've tried a few croffles, and the novelty is fun, but kind of ends up tasting like a slightly denser, sweeter waffle? Almost like a cronut? All the croissant hybrids start tasting the same after a while lol. Their sandwiches and toasts are good, just on the heavier, richer side. Don't expect to be productive afterwards-- it's definitely food coma food. read more

Great new cafe and brunch spot! There aren't too many good brunch restaurants around, so when I saw this on yelp I was super excited to check it out. I came at around 10:30 on a Friday and there were a decent number of people inside already. There's plenty of seating available, and the overall vibe is really nice. You order at the counter, then pick up your food with it's ready. You also bus your own table when you're done. I got the chicken and croffle, which was quite reasonably priced in comparison to similar restaurants in the area. There were two pieces of lightly breaded and fried chicken, on top of a small and lightly sweetened croffle. The chicken was juicy and cooked well, though I thought it tasted slightly bitter which I was kind of confused about. The croffle, however, was perfect and I'd totally get it again. I've never had one before, and the flaky layers with the sweet exterior were perfect. The spicy syrup it came with wasn't my favorite, but not bad. This place is definitely worth a visit if you're in the area! I'd come back to try more of the croffles. read more

Café Etoile - Chicken and Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

What a cute little cafe! I was very curious to try out their croffle (croissant waffle) and it did not disappoint! The space is cute with rustic furniture with an open kitchen, plenty of seating inside and a couple of tables outside as well. Service was friendly and our orders were cooked to order. We did try their coffees but the menu looks great so we will have to come back for the drinks next time. The menu is not huge but the items were inventive , fusion cuisine: kimchi fried rice, sweet and savory croffles, croque madam, etc. I got the croffle with chicken and it came with a spicy syrup - so delicious! One thing that could've been better was ventilation, as some major smoke built up inside...nothing an open window can't solve though. read more

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Put simply, I think I may have found Berkeley's best brunch spot! Café Etoile is a newcomer in the Berkeley food scene, having opened just a few months ago. Initially, I was apathetic about the arrival of yet another humdrum cafe, but after browsing the menu offerings, my attitude 180'ed completely. The menu features offerings of French and Korean fusion with typical French lunch dishes like the Croque Madame as well as unique meals with added Korean flare like the Bulgogi Sandwich. What REALLY caught my eye though were their flagship croffles - a hybrid of croissant and waffle that I can only describe as one of the best carbs known to man. I ordered their Cream and Berries Croffle, and this might just be the most delicious thing I've had all month. Of course, the base is a slightly crispy, slightly tender croffle, but what makes this dish truly special are the toppings. You could tell everything was homemade from the ripe fruit topping to the freshly whipped cream (something you typically don't see in casual restaurants). While all the toppings were sweet, they weren't saturated in sugar and still let the croffle's underlying buttery flavor shine through. The baristas and chefs are miracle workers, dishing out heavenly bites that make customers' mornings. For dishes like these, I'd expect to shell out just under $20 at U Dessert Story, the famed Berkeley Social Club, and other Berkeley brunch establishments, but for THIS, I paid only $13. For the quality of ingredients, impeccable service, and how delicious the food was, that's nothing but a steal. Worlds better than any other brunch restaurants or cafes in Berkeley, Café Etoile truly is the etoile (star) of the show! read more

Café Etoile - Cream and Berries Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Nice spot, I went for the fried chicken and croffle. They used dark meat chicken so it was nice and juicy, though a little bit of seasoning on the chicken itself might be nice. The exterior was great and crunchy, and the croffle was nice and dense and chewy as you might expect such a combination to be. Will likely come back for this dish again. read more

Café Etoile - fried Chicken and Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California