Visiting this cafe on a sunny weekday morning was such a delight! As you enter in, the staff take your drink order and then your food order to get you started. They make your drink on the spot so you can sip on it while you wait for your food to be prepared. I liked this approach a lot because it saved time from having to wait for a waiter to come over. The outdoor patio was beautiful and very peaceful. There were lots of plants and a fountain trickling softly in the background. As for the items that I ordered, everything was very delicious! I got a sweet red rooibos tea latte with almond milk. It had a mild but comforting flavor. The veggie tyab was the true star of the show. The entree came with perfectly sautéed mushrooms, spinach, bell peppers, grape tomatoes, and diced zucchini. The veggies were seasoned with lemon and sumac, making them savory yet refreshingly zesty. The side salad with grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives, cucumber, and feta had a nice light dressing on it. The baba ganoush was smoky and scrumptious. It reminded me of the baba ganoush I've had back home in Lebanon. The plate was also garnished with thick, creamy hummus that went very well with the veggies. The dolmas were tasty as well, and the bread was great for scooping everything up. I also ordered a blueberry scone to have for breakfast the next day, and it was wonderfully buttery and lemony at the same time. It had a good amount of dried blueberries and was the perfect texture. It went very well with a nice cup of tea. The staff were very friendly and welcoming, especially the man making the drinks. Despite the ever growing line of people, they kept up the hustle with cheer and got my food order out very quickly. I would definitely recommend checking out this lovely cafe. There was plenty of outdoor seating options as well as ample indoor seating, although it began to fill up as it got closer to noon, so I would suggest coming early. read more

Café Leila - Veggie Tyab - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Nice healthy food, great variety of latte teas. Just don't order coffee. They're not baristas, they have no clue how to make a proper cappuccino! They don't control the milk temperature adequately (burnt my tongue!) and simple bad coffee. But their turmeric latte and salads are great. And their garden is dreamy! read more

Have eaten here several times and returned against my better judgment at a friend's suggestion. they have an absolutely beautiful space, and deeply mediocre food. I ordered the $16 Mediterranean salad and it was Fine but worth half the price. read more

Café Leila - $16 mediterranean salad. - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Salmon on Asiago bagel with veggies 10/10 Strawberry Matcha smoothie 5/10 Good favors but nothing special Lamb burger 10/10 Came with fries and a salad, very filling ! Loved that this place was dog friendly! Would of appreciate more service from the person who left us our food just left and didn't ask if we needed anything. It was our first time coming here too. read more

Café Leila - Back garden area - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

What a treat to visit Cafe Leila! The portions are huge and taste of quality ingredients. I greatly appreciate not having to choose between fries and a salad...I love that I get both! WOOHOO! The highlight for me is the amazing drink selection. From a variety of teas and coffees, to smoothies and juices...all made fresh! And the baristas are lightening fast! The space is beautiful inside and especially out with plenty of seating, eclectic art, natural light, and even a calming fountain! During this visit we had: Lamb burger-- 3.8/5 The red pepper spread and hummus were excellent, however, my lamb was very over cooked (though I had ordered medium rare). Still, the spices used to marinate the patty were fantastic. I took the other half home to dip in soup bc it was too dry. Fries were delicious!! Fried fish sandwich-- 4/5 Excellent! Just a bit heavy and globby with the mayo, but all in all, tasty! Strawberry Haven Smoothie, Turmeric Matcha Latte, and Body Healer smoothie -- 5/5 All drinks were fantastic, fresh, and not too sweet! read more

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Café Leila is a decent spot for lunch. The menu is massive, from traditional sandwiches and burgers, to salads, to Mediterranean options like falafels, etc. They have a massive patio for outdoor seating, as well as lot of indoor seating so if you see a line, fear not - it moves very quickly as people are queuing up to place orders at the counter prior to sitting down. They also have a small parking lot, which is almost always full unless you get there super early or are just lucky. There's no service per se - someone will bring the food out to your table, but nobody is going to check on drinks, refill water, clear tables, etc. During the lunch rush, the food took about 25 minutes to come out so if you're looking for a quick bite, this might not be the spot for you, but if you want to enjoy beautiful weather with friends on the patio, this place is amazing. The food was decent. The lamb burgers looked quite good and the chicken tyab was delicious. The portions are pretty large - the chicken tyab can easily feed two people. read more

This place has been on my bucket list for some time because I'm a tea enthusiast. I was pretty disappointed with the unfriendly service and latte. After ordering my latte, I was expected to go behind the cashier to grab my drink while other patrons were either handed their drink or brought to them. Cafe Leila has a beautiful outdoor deck and indoor area but this isn't a place I would go to again. read more

I joined some friends for lunch at Cafe Leila. The good news is that we enjoyed gathering at a lovely table on the patio on a gorgeous day. The food orders came out pretty quickly. My friends that ordered burgers said their French fries were the best ever. The portions were ample. I made the mistake of ordering the fish tacos...very disappointing. I couldn't even tell it was fish...it was greasy blobs and chunks of 'something'...(the menu said breaded wild snapper)... no flavor. The tortillas were slathered with a salsa. This might have been expected for a $3.00 taco but not for 2 of them at $18.00. It looked like it was thrown onto a plate with very little concern for presentation. And to top it off, I didn't make 'Clean Plate Club'. I left most of the mess on the plate. read more

After coming to this place for brunch a while back I really enjoyed it. However my most recent visit was quite disappointing, lackluster to say the least. What started off my unpleasant experience was when I ordered an oat milk Cappuccino, and it was subpar, I asked for a remake of it, only for it to be mediocre, after the barista expressed that oat milk doesn't work when it comes to making cappuccinos, hmm I disagree. (Oatly Oatmilk barista milk comes to mind). Food quality was OK, but I don't think I'll be coming back. Anyways, thank you. read more

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Cafe Leila has been a favorite brunch spot since my first visit. Everything is great- the food, service, and relaxed vibe. I love their spacious, shady patio with fountains, plants, and quirky art. The parking lot does fill up, but street parking is always plentiful. I usually go for the Classic Greek omelette, but everything I've had has consistently been delicious. The portions are generous, but not too heavy, and the ingredients are always fresh. The ginger lemonade and lattes, hot or iced, are excellent, too. Cafe Leila is also the perfect spot to treat a visitor to brunch because it's quintessentially Berkeley in the best way. read more

Café Leila - Classic Greek omelette - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cafe Leila is worth trying for the back patio. You order your drink / food inside the cafe and sit at a table of your choosing. The back patio garden is beautiful! Beware, it does not have heat lamps for a cool day and is not covered if it's raining. I enjoyed both my latte (with added vanilla syrup) and huevos Veracruz (forgot to take a picture). The huevos Veracruz came with a tortilla, potatoes, and pineapple on the side. Most importantly, their back patio is dog friendly. My dog loved looking at all the birds and activity while we ate. Inside, only service animals are allowed. read more

Café Leila - Cafe Latte - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Cutest outdoor patio, and the BLT and veggie wraps were fresh and delicious. Crisp salad too!

Leila's is consistently delicious featuring the freshest ingredients and the best service! The outdoor seating area is so perfect for lunch on a hot summer day. Highly recommend the Salmon Salad. I love the yogurt dressing, herbs and generous portion of avocado. Always love how the edges of the salmon are nice and crispy, too. Bring your sun hat! read more

Café Leila - California Salmon Salad - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Break fast was delicious and Deluxe coffee was so yum We came from Sacramento to Berkeley for hike this place was nearby Service 10/10 read more

Yes, there is a small parking lot. It was full when we arrived. I had to park around the block, but not a big deal. Several people waiting outside to get in but the movement was reasonably quick. You order at the register, pay, take a number and find a table. Your food will come find you. They take credit cards but prefer cash. If you're drinking water, that is self-service in what are probably 4 oz tumblers (or maybe 6 oz). Either way, too small! Coffe appeared to be refillable but you had to go to the service counter to get it. We sat side in the back with our friends. She ordered a Grilled Eggplant Sandwich and I got a BLT and paid extra for avocado. Both came with salads. She also got an Apple Streudel. Everything was very good and our meal was quite filling. read more

Café Leila - Grilled Eggplant Sandwich - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Nice little cafe that serves breakfast all day and lunch. I enjoyed the latte and veggie scramble. The barista is very warm and accommodating. I want to try other things on the lunch menu next time. read more

Great ambiance, relaxing space, delicious fresh food, and they have a private parking lot too. Will be coming back again!!! Staff were really nice and not too much rushy with the customers very laid back. Very pleasant and cheerful place. read more

This is one of my favorite places for brunch and lunch. I love the food. The garden is so nice too. Staff is great.

I love the food. It's always delicious, and comes fast. When the weather is good, I always sit outside. Its beautiful. Highly recommend

I want this place to be so good...and while the vibe is...I find the food and drink offerings overpriced and of poor quality. Additionally, the service is slow at the front counter. Paid 5.25 for an extra hot cappuccino today. I was serveda large mug filled with a little espresso and over a cup of medium hot frothy milk...that is not a cappucino! How bout some barista training for all staff esp to accommodate the extensive drink menu. Pretty please!!! Take a trip down the road to CoRo coffee room and sample real coffee drinks and top notch service. read more

This place is just so delightful. I'm looking forward to more vegan options one day. The setting is absolutely perfect. A garden. Some art and the service is really friendly. read more

Wow! A cafe that makes good coffee and spicy chai. A rarity these days. The counter service was super friendly and the indoor space is warm and inviting. The outdoor patio is also wonderful, but it's rainy today so I'm very appreciative for a warm cafe when so many places don't heat their space properly. Thank you Cafe Leila! read more

This place has some great vegan options, plus yummy warm drinks and a wonderful outdoor seating area!

I came to Cafe Leila with my significant other today. The service was pretty okay, you seat yourself and go up to order and pay once you are ready. I decided to try the matcha zen smoothie with mango. It was a solid 8/10 my partner had the pick me up and loved the rich chocolate flavor 9/10 we tried two main dishes: vegan breakfast burrito (tofu, potato, mushroom, avocado, tomato, onion, and spinach) which was pretty good but not anything spectacular. it was HUGE and will definitely fill you up 7/10 my s/o tried grilled chicken pesto and didn't enjoy it too much. she said it was dry and lacked flavor 5/10 the restaurant was pretty lively around 12 or so but we were still able to dine without a wait. The inside seating area was nice and the outside area also looked cute but it was raining. read more

Café Leila - Vegan Burrito - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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After a hike in Berkeley, me and two friends found this places on yelp that looked (and confirmed by me now) as spacious. As American diners go, I'm glad they have their private garage. On yelp everyone seems to rave over the lamb burger, but I was in the mood for beef. I ordered a lamb burger and 'substituted' it with beef because I wanted all the same toppings as the lamb one. I was not disappointed. I had tried another burger, the lamb burger before and felt they substituting it with a beef patty is worthwhile to try because the medium tasted more moist than the lamb one actually. Their fries and salad are fresh and great. The highlight as of 6.27.2020 when I write this review is the back patio with many outdoor seating tables, water fountain and real plant decor. In civics time it's the best news to be certain about. On Saturdays, breakfast stopped serving at 3pm. Restaurant closes at 4pm. Staff was friendly as long as you order quickly. I want to drink coffee here next time. . read more

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I got the lamb burger, which needed some yoghurt sauce or something. The patty wasn't nearly as thick as the advertised pictures, but it was good. The fries were really good as was the salad. This place gets an extra star for the beautiful patio. It's a beautiful garden spot with different size tables. Very quaint. If you need to study or work, this is the spot. read more

Café Leila - Lamb burger - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Last weekend my daughter and I tried Cafe Leila for the first time. It's an amazing place. The outdoor patio is very comfortable. The service and food are outstanding. I had a Rueben sandwich with fries. It was the best sandwich I've had in a long time. The portions are huge. I had 3 meals out of 1 sandwich. My daughter had tea and I had a Mocha. Their coffee beverages are very nice. The barista drizzled chocolate around the glass. It looked beautiful and tasted great. For food, service and ambiance, I give Cafe Leila a 10 out of 5. Wow. I do have to say that it's about 20% more expensive than most of the cafes I've been to over the years. So I think the $$ should list $$$. However, with that said, run, don't walk to Cafe Leila. It's a wonderful "foodie" experience. read more

Very overpriced, $20 for a breakfast burrito with bacon, yeah sure. I can't believe the audacity. Haha no thanks. I passed

Mary and I met here today for lunch. Although I hadn't updated my review, Alan and I returned many times for lunch, bringing Jordin and possibly Clara, sitting outside. We also sat inside. Today parking was difficult. Mary and I arrived at about the same time. The lot was full and there were no parking spots on the street. We both pulled out of their lot and went searching. After driving around the block I found a spot almost directly in front and pulled into it, figuring someone else had pulled out after lunch. I was dismayed to notice when I came out of the car to discover I was in a red zone, in front of a fire hydrant. I decided to leave my car there since we wouldn't be there that long and joined the line which was out the door. Mary joined me quickly. I knew what I wanted: a tuna sandwich on wheat bread and some of their basil ginger lemonade. Mary looked at the menu and decided on a lamburger, w/ the same lemonade. As we moved down the line I noticed that they had rugelach from Outbaking, which I have had bookmarked to try. It's a collective of Ukrainian refugees and the profits from their work go back to Ukraine. They had poppy seed, apricot and strawberry, but by the time I got to the front of the line to order they were out of poppy seed, which would have been my first choice, so I went w/ apricot. We were given a number and went out to the garden to find a table. Mary brought out the drinks and my rugelach. After a reasonable wait our lunch dishes were brought, along w/ cutlery wrapped in napkins. My sandwich had tomato slices in it. Generally I don't like tomatoes w/ my tuna because I have found that tomatoes make the tuna taste more fishy than I like. But these tomatoes didn't do that and I enjoyed my sandwich. The sandwich was accompanied by a salad of spring mix dressed in vinaigrette. Mary's lamburger came w/ a smaller version of that salad and w/ a huge pile of hand cut french fries, which surprised her, as she hadn't noticed either on the menu. She offered me some of her fries and I enjoyed a few. My sandwich was delicious. The lemonade was full of ice and weaker than I remember. The rugelach was good. Mary liked her lamburger a lot and took half of it home, along w/ what was left of the fries. It was a delicious lunch in the sun and I didn't get a parking ticket, although I wouldn't knowingly park in front of a fire hydrant again. read more

Cute patio in the back It was a nice day and it was nice to eat and read there But the prices are very steep for what you get Very inaccessible to people like me Must come for celebration or something read more

Café Leila - Melt off tuna $19?! - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place is not far from Berkeley Marina which is where we were when i found this place on yelp. It was such a nice day out i wanted to look for a place with outdoor seating. Once we arrived, we parked on the street and came upon this small looking cafe. But when u go inside, it's a large place and has an even bigger outdoor patio where u can sit under unbrellas for some tables. I tried the tumeric matcha latte and it was pretty rich. The salmon salad was really delicious.. very fresh greens! This place reminded me of the health conscious cafes in LA. The prices are pretty high but enjoyed my experience altoget read more

Cafe Leila has an amazing back garden section but there are a few reasons why I haven't returned. A few years ago I had to make some diet changes due to a health condition so there's a rather sizable list of things I'm not able to consume. That being said I can usually find side dishes for specific items I can mix and match. A side of chicken, fruit cup, side of bacon, etc. However, although I split a sandwich and was able to enjoy the chicken within it, beyond that and a refresher drink - the style of the menu and the food just didn't work for me. Finally, the service wasn't amazing. While they do bring your meal to you (our second dish took a really long time to get to the table), they don't bring you silverware. Something they explained very loudly to one of the women at a table near us. I could absolutely see this space really working for people who don't have any meal allergies and who value having a large outdoor area for seating, but for me, for lunch, it was a bit of a miss. read more

Staying in Berkeley and drove down the street to this beautiful gem of a spot. The staff was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. All the ingredients seem so fresh and the food felt authentic, locally sourced, and flavorful. On the pricey side for a casual cafe but portions are big enough for two making it definitely worth it! The salmon and shrimp were especially delicious. The atmosphere of the space is super special and I would definitely return if I was spending more time here. Lots of specialty and healthy drinks for tea/coffee lovers! Food came pretty fast and it was the perfect energy to want to sit here for a couple hours and enjoy the garden ambiance and delicious aromas. read more

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Super fat pancakes. Love the outside seating. Was not overly crowded when we went on weekend

What a beautiful little place for breakfast. The have a long list of coffee beverages but I opted for the inflammation buster chai and it was delicious. I had the smoked salmon omelette and pancakes, both excellent. Definitely a great spot and the patio is so peaceful. read more

Café Leila - Salmon omelette - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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tl;dr Large portions but not the best Food: 3.5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Value: 3.5/5 Service: Doesn't really exist Full Review: I came here for brunch with my friend on a Saturday late morning. I ordered the salmon omelette and a sweet red latte. The salmon omelette was very decently sized but WAY too salty. I am particularly sensitive to salty food, but it was almost unpleasantly salty. Would not really want to order it again. The red latte was indeed sweet and tasty. Not necessarily strong coffee taste though. Like many reviewers have said, they have a very nice and sizeable outdoor patio as well as a small interior. However, possibly due to the size of the space, service doesn't exist after you leave the cashier. They will bring you your food, but if you need something afterwards, you probably will have to go back to the counter yourself. It's also a bus your own stuff type of joint. read more

Café Leila - Sweet red latte iced - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

My first time- interesting menu. delicious FRESH food and delivered as ordered. I'll be back!

A very enjoyable menu for breakfast. Service: is informal and relatively efficient. You stand in line to order and the line frequently spills out onto the sidewalk. Drink orders are often taken just before your food order to speed things along. You get your drink order right away and grab a table. Then they bring your food. Pastry selection is ok. My reason to return is the omelette with dates, goat cheese and basil. This really is a magical combo. My dining companions have ordered salads and other omelets , and they thought they were good, but none moved me to try anything but the magic date combo. Basically if you like dates and goat cheese separately you will love this. The fruit side that decorates each plate is usually half good-- like one type of fruit tastes fine but not all the selection. The patio in back is one of the nicest outdoor eating spots. It's spacious and has lots of garden art to look at. Bathroom grade: B+. It's pretty clean, a bit worn. Single serve gender neutral. Parking lot is next door. It's often full but street parking usually easy to find. read more

Another hidden gem in the east bay. It's one of those places you keep passing, and can't quite tell from the front how big it is. Café Leila serves breakfast and lunch, and has a great outdoor patio. It's a self-seating restaurant that frowns upon credit cards, which may make the buying process a little wonky on busy days. The big plus for me was that they actually give you two pieces of toast with breakfast. If you've read my other reviews, you know how important this is to me. I will definitely repeat. read more

Wow this place has a lot of rules for customers to follow and yet service was weird, overpriced, and they somehow curdled an iced coffee?! I was coincidentally going to be in the neighbourhood after a hike and heard en route on the KQED Forum radio show about Bay Area cafés that this was a good spot, hence my visit. If you're not ordering a meal then you can't sit in their spacious garden out the back. You can only use a card for purchases over $5. They didn't appear to make anything vegan and snacky so I got a brownie and an iced latte which somehow cost $13 before tip, and I don't know how they did it but the plant milk was curdled?! When I took it back to be remade I was told by a teenage barista that plant milk does that. In an iced drink?! Meanwhile the other staff kept brushing past me to move stuff around despite there being plenty of space and some older male owner type kept glaring at me while I awaited my coffee both times. This place has a weird vibe. The garden isn't worth it. Won't be back, and I hope in future Forum recommends better cafés! read more