They make an excellent cappuccino, which rivals with those of Bearfoot, in Santa Clara. The atmosphere of the place is also quite enjoyable, right one the Arcata plaza, with seating both inside and outside. Highly recommended. read more

eee. after coming back here for dinner, had an awful experience. I'm hoping it was an off-night, but it seems to be a trend. Each additional time I've been here since my first review, things have been in a decline. More than once they've run out of 90% of their menu items (which they only have 5 or 6 of to begin with.) More than once we or diners next to us have been served the wrong item. Their kitchen is consistently overwhelmed for a very mild dinner rush of diners. There is no reason after being open for over a year that these "growing pains" should still be felt. There is no reason for soup to have an hour and a half wait, unless it's being made from scratch to order. (Even then, it shouldn't be served to me at room temp.) The wait/counter staff is excellent, and seems to be at odds with management who puts them in the awkward position of having to deal with upset customers. (ie- owner/manager sitting down to a glass of wine with friends instead of pitching in to help the single waitress tend to several tables and run food/ refill water... doesn't send the right message to a customer.) Oy. I want to love you, Brio, so I think I'll just stick to breakfast. Not saying it's a break-up, but maybe a separation till you get your sh*t in order for dinner. Then I'll take you back with open arms. read more

Was totally not impressed with this restaurant. I was disappointed. I ordered the garden quiche and it was lukewarm (after they "heated" it) and blah. The coffee was bitter. The one person making coffee was rude. Seems like the "regulars" may get better service. The place looks nice but that is about it. Oh, and no WiFi that I could see. Might be good for sweets. I noticed that most people eating there had sweets. Expensive for what it was. read more

I had eaten breakfast at Cafe Brio a few months back & wasn't wowed. I came back for lunch at a friend's request and was so impressed. I had the Chevre salad which came with fresh baked bread. It was absolutely perfect as was the hibiscus iced tea. My friends' meals were equally exquisite. The space and acoustics are a little strange- kind of difficult to visit but really fresh and yummy. The location can't be beat and they have a large array of gorgeous baked goods. read more

Great coffee, yummy bread & AMAZING pastries! Definitely a must try place! The people working are always kind and friendly.

How this place has gotten the reviews it has it befuddling. First of all, "no changes, additions or deletions" from any menu item...that's customer service? We went there because urbanspoon said it was GF friendly...NOT. It is basically a bakery, that has food. We decided to chance it so my husband (the celiac) spent a few minutes ordering something he and the person behind the counter thought he could eat. I ordered a quiche that they were out of so settled on mac n cheese, my son ordered a cold pre-made sandwich. Prior to paying the counter person checked with the "chef" to make sure they could accommodate my husband...No was the answer. My order arrived, but time ticked by and my son's never appeared. I went to the counter to inquire and they just handed me a sandwich, no plate, not napkin, just the sandwich. I will say, the desserts looked good, but we did not try any of them. The best thing about this place is it made us seek out someplace for my husband to eat and we landed at Luke's Joint (1 block away)...much better option. read more

I won't ever come into this establishment ever again! Not only is service so horribly very slow but the place is not pet friendly. I work in Arcata and talk to a lot of people about good places to eat. This is a place that I won't ever recommend eating at. read more

Overpriced and always too busy. The homemade orange juice is delicious but everything else is disappointing for the price. Noisy and crowded is the two words I use to describe the inside of the place. The outdoor seating is good for people watching or even just sit in the plaza and watch the people who sit outside of Cafe Brio. read more

Slow service. Bad coffee. I waited 5-10 min for a regular coffee, took 5 sips, and then threw it out. It was very bitter and warm (not hot). There was another person waiting for their coffee at the window and was surprised it was taking so long. read more

I'm adding my stars back. Brio is my place of choice for coffee and lunch. Best days are sitting in the sun (even when it is foggy or drippy). Baked goods and desserts and coffee are the finest. The best place to meet old friends and connect with new ones. Best buy are the little artful and tasty cakes which are great surprise gifts. Oh, and I love the salads. read more

I love love Cafe Brio. The line is almost always long, but if you're craving a delicious pastry or savory meal, it's worth it. Brio has a great little patio outside to enjoy a house drink, people watch or enjoy a conversation. They staff politeness is mixed, I've had really lovely experiences and sometimes not so lovely, but I can say that it is my favorite coffee place on the plaza. read more

Delicious coffee prepared French press style. Cafe brio only serves blue bottle coffee this way. Love the attention to detail. They also have pastries and breakfast items. This is a cute little cafe that I could spend some time at. They have Indoor and outdoor seating to enjoy. read more

Best breakfast in Humboldt county so far...period. I would suggest this place to anyone. I would suggest NOT coming here on a Saturday with the farmers market going on. read more

I loved Cafe Brio. The service was outstanding. I went in there two times on my trip to Arcata, both times, two different cashiers, both totally went out of their way to make a connection, be friendly and be helpful. The food was all really fresh. Quality ingredients and also made for each individual order. When I am back in Arcata I will make sure to make a run to Brio again. read more

Their pastries and sandwiches are the real European thing and it reminds me of home. Amazing! I don't mind paying the price for quality food. Coffee is very good too. read more

Pretty good food. But... They charged to heat up my ham and cheese croissant ... Huh ? Then charged me to get it to go!! You have to be kidding me . Same for my friend and her pastry. Not into places that literally charge you for everything . A croissant with meat and cheese shoutout be heated no charge read more

Absolutely AWESOME ! Great location, great inside and outside seating, espresso, bakery, food, vibes, always busy and crowded. My favorite is egg bennedict croissant and cappuccino.....My goal is get a Job in Bank of America across the street and come here 3 times a day, i'm not kidding, it's so good....well, come and see for yourself. Will come back, will recommend to a friend. Thank you. read more

I love to go to Brio on the weekends for the delicious Brio Benedict ($12, no sides) and the "Gibraltar" coffee drink (Cortado). While a meal can be quite expensive (about $20+/person with a breakfast and coffee), I don't mind, because what isn't expensive the days? But there are a few things that have been developing there, that they should really pay some attention to: -For such expensive food, there should be actual table service. The cashiers don't have time to walk around, and look for the customer's table, to deliver the food, while the line continues grow out of the door. - The cashier will bring you food, but not silverware to go with the food. If you forgot to grab silverware, your food will be left to the elements (and plazoids), while you go inside to get it. -You have to bus your own dishes. This isn't a big issue, but for the expense, and presumed quality, it would be nice to not have to juggle armfuls of dishes, through the line, through the crowded cafe, into an overflowing bus tub. These are the usual pet-peeves that I, personally, find to be annoying, and has caused friends and family to avoid the place, but I go anyway, because I don't mind all that much. Today, however, was exceptional. Brunch for three ran $50 with an omelette breakfast (omelette and toast), Brio breakfast (two eggs, bacon, and croissant), braised greens with two eggs, three coffee drinks (iced New Orleans and two espressos), a sticky bun (okay), a loaf of bread to go, and an orange juice. The bacon was cold, the eggs were overcooked, the cashiers weren't sure if the (incredibly tiny selection for a bakery cafe...) bread was fresh, and the espresso was disgusting, strong and bitter. The best part was the $5 small orange juice (sweet, and fresh-squeezed). The barista was nice enough to remake our espressos, but they turned-out just the same (i.e. not doing it right) Perhaps I'm being a little biased. I just got back from France, and I might be comparing my Brio experience to some of the basic, standard cafés that I experienced on my trip. That being said, is it really unfair to compare an Arcata cafe to a Paris café? Should I lower my expectations and standards, because it's "just Arcata"? I really don't think so. I have lived in Humboldt for fifteen years, and I am constantly disappointed with my dining experiences in the area. So many places' service and food is just "good enough for Arcata", or, "good enough for Humboldt". That approach is pathetic and depressing. This area is beautiful and exotic (to most of the world), and an aire of pride should be reflected in the service that people pay so much for. I used to lump Brio in among the best places in the area to go to eat. Now, due to continuous disappointments, I'm not sure if I want to go there anymore, or recommend it to anyone else. I'll keep dropping by, though, to see if anything changes. I hope it does. Renata's (wonderful,btw) can't be the only GOOD place to go to breakfast (okay, the Trinidad Eatery, and Eureka's AA weekend menu are pretty good, too). read more

This is one of my favorite places to eat in Arcata. Their breakfast tortes are scrumptous and the sandwiches at lunchtime are devine. The coffee is the best in the area. They prepare each cup individually. It takes awhile to get the coffee, but well worth the wait. Located right on the Plaza, this is a great place to meet friends. Some evenings, they serve dinner. I've not had a chance to go there for dinner, yet., but the menu looks pretty good. read more

Best cup of coffee in Humboldt County. The food is excellent and delicious. I recommend the eggs Benedict. Only critique is that the places is small and almost always packed so be prepared to wait. read more

I love brio bread and pastries, but even when they don't have a line out the door it still takes just as long to get your coffee (Arcata mentality I guess). My boyfriend couldn't believe that at the prices we paid for a breakfast that we had to bus our own tables, but then he realized we tip before we ever get food or coffee and decided that the whole system must be flawed. I guess brio gets 5-stars for quality, but only 2-stars for service style... My advice is to have a really relaxing time sitting at brio all morning, or get your stuff to-go. read more

Cute little place & amazing King Salmon BLT, they had a great menu, this was the special at lunch, it sounded as good as it was... Great presentation & charming place made for a really great lunch! It's small & busy but they are efficient! I'd go back for sure! Casual... read more

Delicious lemon risotto and salad with strawberries, blue cheese crumbles and walnuts!

I have loved everything I've had here. Their herb cheese omelette is perfection. Their espresso drinks are excellent, and all of their baked goods are divine. I especially love the almond croissant, and their macaroons. The outdoor seating is a nice bonus, overlooking the plaza. I make it a priority to come here whenever I'm in town. read more

Best coffee in Humboldt county by far!! Wonderful food too. So worth the wait. And good customer service. Love the outdoor seating.

As far as French bakeries go, this place stands out quite a bit. The brunch/breakfast items looked outstanding but wound up having coffee and a couple of dessert items (only one vegan offering, a cookie, fyi). I can't imagine anything here not being worth the cost-- which I found to be quite modest considering the sizes and quality. Sitting outside on a nice day would certainly be a cherry on top! It's a great place to read the paper if you can snag a table on a busy morning. read more

Best croissant I have had since living in Italy. So many different pastries and desserts of high quality. A must see and try!

The BEST chocolate chip cookie I have ever had. It was gooey to perfection and the 70% cacao chocolate chips were amazing. I could eat them all day, every day. The blue bottle coffee was also delicious. The chicken pot pie was tasty and perfect for the cloudy day. Would definitely come here again! read more

I really miss this place when I leave the west coast. good coffee and delicious food. great place to chill on a rainy day.

Nice place, grumpy service. I asked about the rosemary tart and the young woman working the counter said they're still in the oven, so I thought great, they're fresh. How long will that take? "Well, I can ask..." and then the pause as if I don't really expect her to walk 10 feet and ask the baker. And the place was not busy at all when I came in. I said I could wait the five minutes and she didn't ask to take my order so I sat down for a few minutes. Frustrated, I returned to order something else. Again, grumpy and rude. The food is ok , but the experience sucked. Too bad because it's a nice spot with a cool atmosphere. The service ruined the meal. read more

This place is what you imagine a french bakery in the middle of Paris would be like! Very quaint and bustling with peppy, good energy! The pastries are displayed artfully on the side counter so you don't have to hold up the line deciding what you want! So helpful! The staff is super friendly and quick, too! Highly recommend it! read more

This place is super pretentious. We walked in, the girl at the counter didn't smile, welcome us, nothing. Wasn't helpful explaining the menu, essentially she had that "I've got better places to be" attitude. We ordered breakfast and a pastry and no one offered to heat the pastry. We ordered coffee and no one asked if we wanted it to go so it came in a mug. The coffee was strong and bitter. The food came out fast but the eggs were over poached. Skip it and go somewhere that appreciates your business. read more

The order taker asked me if I wanted the pastry heated and then forgot the order. Lady that bus the table was rushing and dropped a coffee cup on a customer. I had better experience from this place. read more

Although we live in Sonoma County, we have family in Arcata, so we get to Brio several times a year. It's consistently outstanding in it's quality and service. My husband is a coffee snob, and he dreams of Brio macchiato shots on the day before we know we are going to stop in. The hot chocolate (my favorite) is also excellent, because it is not too sweet or so rich that it gives me a stomachache. It's just right. :) The tea is high quality also (I particularly like the sencha). The pastries are to die for: croissants, quiche, cupcakes, giant cookies, tarts, macaroons...whatever you get will be delicious. Their breakfast and lunch menus are wonderful also. My husband digs the muesli. I recently tried their "Eggs and Greens" (two poached eggs over perfectly cooked kale) and it was tasty and filling. Yes, the prices reflect the quality of the food, but are more than fair and we are always happy to pay. The service has always been excellent, with the cashiers friendly and helpful. The vibe of the restaurant is laid back-- a perfect reflection of the best of Arcata, which is what this place is. read more

See all

Great spot in the heart of Arcata. Stop in for a delicious sweet treat and a coffee. If you're like me, you judge all coffee spots by how they make a Cortado or Gibraltar and Cafe Brio makes a solid Gibraltar worth stopping in for. Great corner spot in the town square. Lots of artists, hippies, and hipsters. Also a record store next door. read more

I've been here three times, on different trips to Arcata to visit my son. Each time, I've experienced the same: indifferent, near-rude service from behind the counter, and overpriced food that tastes frozen-to-microwave. Really wanted to like this place due to its location and cuteness, but have now found a superb breakfast place on the plaza so won't be coming back to Brio. read more

Strong coffee. Fine caramel salt bar. Sloweeeww sseeerrrvviice

This place is okay. I've grown up in the area and recently moved home. I just tried this place out and it wasn't my favorite. Don't get me wrong, they have good espresso and excellent coffee, but it's a little pricy for the area and quality of service I got here. Having lived in Portland, OR I have no problem playing expensive prices on a place like this, but I just couldn't seem to justify the expensive prices for a shop in Arcata, CA. Also, the staff seemed a little unprofessional and didn't match the ambiance the shop is trying to project. I get it's Arcata and it's a very casual city, but if you're going to a fancier bistro in this town the least that you can do to help justify the prices is have the staff match the ambiance and seem a little more put together. read more

Best poached eggs! Food and service was great-the food really did remind me of Paris-They do a great job! I will say that I received my food before I received my coffee...I actually had to go and ask about my coffee and still had to wait for it, I was about finished with my breakfast before it made it's way to my table. Other than the coffee-great experience and great food. read more

Yummy! Got the caprase(sp) sandwich. Very good, love their homemade bread! Husband always get ham and Swiss sandwich. Their pastries are delicious and they seem to always use fresh (local maybe?) produce. Employees could be a little friendlier, but I came in towards the end of the shift I believe on Saturday farmers market, so I'm sure they were ready to be done! read more