I like visiting the town of berkeley..I'm older now...eventually ...nice here..sunny...nice town...walkable...Bart...u pay for transportation and library card..taxes...it's nice and drink soda and snacks...fun place near the college...for me an asian girl..I'm older though read more

If you're looking for something nearly akin to a bodega this is worth checking out, wide assortment of drinks in the fridge and a tasty sandwich selection. The owner is always super sweet and quick with orders! I love the croissant sandwiches!! read more

Food: 6./10 Bagel is not memorable but what carried was the EGG. It was so fluffy, flavorful, tender, and not dry at all and very delicious and wholesome. Unfortunately, the cucumber was not fresh at all and seemed like it had been frozen. It also did not feel the most sanitary as everything was placed on a thin parchment paper that was soaking through with liquid Im assuming from the egg? Ambience/service: 8/10 Very cozy and vintage vibe. There is a big selection of drinks and even an ice cream selection! The man who helped me that day was very kind as well, although I was very confused by the high price of the bagel and felt the menus prices did not match it.. read more

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The service at Cafe Rio is so warm and welcoming. The owners are friendly locals and very nice to us every time we visit. I would recommend the espresso selection, the doppio, and machiato if you're in for caffeine. These are just two choices in a cafe with lots of options. read more

Cafe Rio - a cup of coffee, a bottle of coffee, and a drink on a table - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I stopped by cafe rio for a smoothie. I got their cafe rio special and placed my order through snackpass. The order was ready really fast. This was my first time visiting this establishment and Im glad I made the choice to stop by. The inside is very clean and has seating. The family who works the place is super sweet. The smoothie was also incredible! You can really taste the flavors of the different fruits that go into the smoothie (which isn't always the case with smoothies as some fruits tend to overpower). They got the ratios down well! I will definitely be coming back here for smoothies. I hope to try some of their food items in the future as well. Oh! And it was really affordable! Win! read more

Cafe Rio - a hand holding a cup of coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I am staying across the street at the residence Inn and pleased to find café Rio for breakfast and a latte at a convenience. read more

Cafe Rio - Latte and Everything Bagel with Ham, egg, and cheese - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I come here quite often to study, it's cozy, has good coffee and a wide variety of food options too. Definitely worth a visit if you are looking for a chill place to get some work done. Friendly service. read more

they messed up our order and charged us 75$ for a 40$ meal. i am very understanding but this was difficult. they were rude and demanded we paid extra for something we didn't order. there was hair in our food and it wasn't any of ours. disappointed. read more

The guy took my card and ran it through his scanner. He didn't present me with a tip option, so I threw some cash in the jar. Only later, when I looked at my email receipt, did I find out he'd rounded up the total a few bucks and then given himself a 30% tip. And the food? Perfectly fine. I just didn't like being tricked with the money stuff read more

I liked the atmosphere, and as a Hispanic it was a bit comforting being around my culture. Wanted to try a coffee to see how it was. Ordered a latte and this is when I started disliking the place. I looked at the price of my order which was 4.75 and dude looks up at the menu to see the price and mistakes it for the mocha latte for 5 bucks. I know it's a literal quarter but still, dawg you litterally work there get the pricing right. Then I didn't hear him when he pointed at the sugars to put in my coffee and thought he was just pointing at the tip jar. I left, tried the coffee and it was bitter. I must be spoiled or something, guess I got to used to Starbucks making my lattes with sugar. But dude charged me 5 bucks for a small milk and coffee. Like dude fr, least you could do is put some sugar in my drink. read more

This was one of my favorites places to eat a small meal for two years, but now it is closed due to the new building on Center Street. I hope it opens in a new location. read more

We stopped by because my nephew was hungry. He read a sign in the café that said "Good food" and he continued by saying, "That's true!" Haha! The sausage egg and cheese sandwich was pretty good, reminded me of a breakfast sandwich in nyc. The owner was delightful and helpful. Thank you for making our Saturday morning even better. read more

This place was very low quality. I ordered a 7 dollar soup, and got half a can of off-brand chicken soup, heated up in the microwave. I also ordered a BLT, and the bacon was burned. Also way too much mayo. The only good point is that its pretty cheap, but the reason is that they don't actually make the food, they just heat up off brand instant foods. The staff is also rude. read more

Very friendly staff! I paid $8.99 for an Iced Vanilla Latte & Avocado Toast. Everything was yummy, thank you! read more

Cafe Rio - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

TL;DR super nice mom and pop shop PLUSES: + friendly staff + latte (3/5)- not burnt, but bitter + huge variety of drinks + free wifi + lightning fast service read more

It's okay. Looks cool on the outside but food and atmosphere are mediocre. Like everything in the area, pricy. Only go if you know Spanish or ordering will be impossible. read more

I almost don't want people to know about this hidden gem! This is the place for a reasonably priced and yummy coffee or sandwich in Berkeley. They have amazing vegan options with no sugar added to the soy/almond/oat milks. They sell real food and it's family run. Much love! read more

Came into this place as we wanted a change from Peet's and immediately regretted it. I ordered the house blend which was admittedly the cheapest coffee on the menu but was saddened to see it come from a ready made, coffee dispenser. The coffee came out quite cold and I considered asking them to microwave it for me. This should not be the case. That being said, there was a nice, quaint ambiance to the cafe and I appreciated it's simplicity. The service was very quick also. They would benefit from making the front desk a lot simpler by losing all of the tacky shit like the confectionary and chewing gum. If they are a cafe as they claim to be, why does it look like a 7-11? Could not recommend until these faults are amended. read more

Cafe Rio - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Try and avoid this place at all costs. Just got served a cold latte (if you could even call it that) in a dirty cup for $4.65. Basically consisted of watered down cold coffee with slightly warm milk. Really disappointing and the whole place seems really dirty. I don't usually post bad reviews but sometimes people need to be informed so they dont make the same mistake by entering this establishment. read more

Cafe Rio - This is apparently a latte!!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cafe Rio has moved one door to the west; its address is now 2146 Center Street. The new location is more open and generally much nicer than its old iteration, and whereas I never saw anyone sitting at the old Cafe Rio's tables, both times I've stopped by here I've seen people actually sitting down--and enjoying themselves? So why am I knocking them down a star? It's nothing personal, really, but $2 for a twenty-ounce soda is a ripoff. I'm not saying I refuse to be ripped off, but I refuse to be ripped off by a five-star entity. The drink selection at the old location was better (they had more coolers), but I get the impression they're still getting used to their new space. The owners were also less friendly than normal both times I came, but maybe they're nervous about having spent all this money to upgrade. UPDATE: 11/26/10 =============== I'm bumping Cafe Rio back up to five stars because they've slightly lowered their soda prices--and because everyone else has raised their soda prices. The owners have also settled down nicely in their new digs. Unfortunately, a new breakfast place has opened up next door in their old location, but for some reason, I have faith that Cafe Rio will survive. Oh, and if you buy something, even just a soda, they'll let you sit at one of the tables and work on crossword puzzles until it's late enough that you're not too early for work. read more

Cafe Rio.. I wish the title would stand up to it's name. Am not saying I will never go back here but it's shame that the really sweet husband and wife haven't figured out why they aren't busier. Maybe the should read their Yelp reviews..{wink wink} The place is huge and they have a variety of breakfast and lunch sandwiches to your hearts content. Although the prices are quite high for a Mom & Pop cafe, they do have great service. They offer free WiFi and really comfortable chairs to relax in. And they have the most beverages I have ever seen. You name- they got it! I ordered an egg salad sandwich. By the time I grabbed a bag of chips and decided upon a drink, my lunch was ready. That's great and all, but do I get to pick my bread or let you know which condiments am allergic too? Guess not.. I should of been more specific when I placed my order.. Not sure how I ended up spending $9.75 but I did enjoy the chair I parked my butt in as I write this Yelp review! read more

Cafe Rio - Egg Salad Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cafe Rio is a modern looking cafe with average food/drink/snack offerings. eats: lunch special (smoked ham sandwich w/coffee, 5.99) -or chips, water, soda, other options too -ham didn't taste smoked, just 3 thin slices -regular mayo, lettuce, tomato , dressing on cold bread. -coffee average. -just ok, filling. \ crumbs" -smiling service -ok value, ala carte would be pricey. -snacks, sodas, expresso also available. read more

I think if Starbucks wasn't so jam-packed, I wouldn't have ended up at this cafe. The pros would be that this place was super empty with a decent amount of outlets. The owners are pretty friendly. The bathroom is not nasty considering it's unisex. Oh they sell lotto tickets and scratchers here, not many but a few. Onward to the cons? They do have wi-fi here for free, but very weak and spotty. Drinks here are not exactly worthy of their prices, Americano for $2.50 tasting like a regular house coffee. If I'm using Starbucks as minimum,then their coffee here is worse than Starbucks for the same price. Food here is overpriced considering how it's deli ham or turkey with Kraft American singles, unchopped veggies, canned soup heated up, etc. That's one hell of a premium to pay someone to serve me food out of a package. Bathroom is constantly out of seat covers, so learn how to make your toilet paper temp covers. read more

Stopped in this little cafe while on the way to my brothers Berkeley graduation and found it to be a wonderful pit stop! We ordered 3 mochas, 1 latte, and 3 breakfast sandwiches with a bagel and cream cheese. We had a tall order but the older woman who helped us was sweet and got all of our order in and prepared perfectly completely by herself. The mochas were rich and indulgent while the breakfast sandwiches had perfect flaky croissants, my only wish is that I had ordered cheese on mine! Overall, great spot to stop in, but be ready to wait a little for your food if you have a big order or have a line ahead of you. read more

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For the modern age foodie, this place probably wouldn't satisfy your cravings. I ordered the sausage egg croissant: the egg was a microwaved scramble; the sausage was generic, prepackaged, frozen and reheated; the croissant was toasted. My overall impression of the breakfast croissant was maybe a little bit under-seasoned but not disappointing. What I expected for the price point. The ambiance of the restaurant I am a fan of! It has the mom and pa vibe and the owner seems very nice and sweet. They have wifi and outlets and comfortable seating, it is also close to campus so I can definitely seeing myself grabbing a seat here; Starbucks is too crowded. read more

Cafe Rio - Egg and sausage croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love this family-run cafe so much. Been here many times, get the hot pastrami sandwich or BLT. Both are amazing. super clean & decent prices. Always good service when I go! read more

This place is super underrated. Food is delicious but also the cafe owners are the nicest people in Berkeley. They deserve more love and much more customers. read more

The Honest Truth: Small sandwiches, more bread than meat, bread is dry, price is decent ($6) The Details: I needed a quick bite to eat before heading to class and I decided to stop here since it was on the way. I got my sandwich and headed off to class. When I decided to eat it, I was a little disappointed. There were only 3 flat slices of pastrami and the bread was pretty thick. The bread was also pretty dry, so the combination didn't make it very good. The price was decent (6 dollars including tax), but if you're near shattuck, there are a number of places that would give you better sandwiches... Sorry Cafe Rio! read more

Cafe Rio - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Owner is very nice, their mochas are great and there's plenty of seating! I got a mushroom spinach & cheese egg sandwich which was very good and he even substituted caramel instead of chocolate into my mocha read more

Such a great place to read, study, hang out or even come for a quick snack. It's now my go to! Has been for almost a year now. I love the owners, such a sweet couple! Love the hot food and drinks here. Also such a vast selection of cold beverages, candies and snacks. About time I posted a review! :) read more

Really nice mom and pop place. Got a breakfast sandwich and enjoyed it. Happy to support a local food place!

I don't know why but I have a soft spot for this place. They usually don't get much business and sure their menu items are so random and diverse that you get the sense they'll sell pretty much anything you can think of. So why do I continue to eat here? The owner. He always delivers the food to you with all the possible condiments you could ever want. He'll also ask you if you need anything and once in a while ask if the food was good. Also, if he sees you have a smart phone or a laptop he'll run over to give you the WiFi password. That's what I call quality service. They also have bottled drinks, packaged snacks, Costco muffins! It's kind of a convenience store merged with a small cafe. I recommend: -bagel with cream cheese (simple. classic. delicious) -veggie burger (surprisingly flavorful) I would avoid: -blended drinks or basically any of their drinks on the menu (overpriced and when you realize that Purple Kow and Starbucks are right next door you'll regret it) -pastries (you don't know how long it's been there) Other than that everything is decent tasting but it's their warm friendly service that has me returning for more! read more

Cafe Rio - Veggie sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here on a Saturday afternoon to drink some tea and do some reading. What a great place. The owners were really nice. I was the only person, so they changed the radio station to my liking. It does have several fridges with soft drinks and one with icecream which screws up the decor, but... there's wifi, wall plugs, a large menu of hot & cold sandwiches, hot & cold drinks, and both indoor and outdoor tables + a couch. read more

Quick service, decent coffee (and soy milk is available!). I came here on a Sunday morning, when almost everything else nearby was closed. All I ordered was a coffee, but the coffee was good, and they had soy milk. I'd rather spend my money at a small mom-and-pop store than the Starbucks that's just down the block from Cafe Rio. read more

This is my favorite to go place to work. The place is nice and quiet, and the owners are a cute couple that are very friendly. The wifi here is super fast, and the espressos are like a triple shot that get me going in the morning. If you need a place to hang out and do some work, not like the slow wifi at Starbucks, I highly recommend the place! read more

This cafe is SO overpriced! For less the the cost of a water, small bag of chips, and a donut you can go 15 feet down the street and get a huge slice of pizza! Also, one time I stopped by just to buy a small bag of Chex mix, and it was $3.00!!! The clerk there is never friendly anyway. Or perhaps I should be taking it personally? Perhaps he's only unfriendly toward ME? Doubtful. read more

What they sell is basically identical to any other cafe in the area, including People's Cafe, which I went to earlier in the month. However, the layout is more modern and clean. I generally liked the atmosphere, especially the pull-out chairs and table. The price is decent. I ordered a fruit shake (which was not that good) and a muffin (pretty good.) read more

Sweetest man working the counter! I ordered a veggie burger tonight on my way home from working in SF all weekend and wanted to split the payment between my card and the $10 bill I gave to him. After checking my bank statement after I got settled into my apartment, I saw that he charged me the total price instead of it without the $10. I was a little annoyed at first but I called the cafe to ask if I could have my dollar bill back and before I could even ask he said "I just noticed that you left it here, I owe you ten dollars, you can come pick it up whenever you like" because I guess he works there every day. A lot of negativity in the reviews, but maybe I'm just stoked that he didn't try to pocket it or accuse me of lying. I'll be back for another veggie burger (which hit the spot!!) and my ten dollars, lol. read more

Cafe Rio is cute and conveniently located, right on Center St. It's a great place for me to stop by for a quick breakfast especially since it's on the way from my bus stop to campus. I haven't tried anything on their menu aside from the spinach pie. It's huge - bigger than my face and only about $4 or $5...I don't remember the price. It's not the best spinach pie but it's cheap, satisfying, and filling, which is the perfect combination for a breakfast for someone who is on-the-go. read more

Cafe Rio - Spinach pie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I'm kind of shocked that this place hasn't been reviewed yet. It's right on the path that everyone takes from BART to campus. I've only been there once, so the four star rating is the result of optimism and one really good experience. My day was off to a not-so-great start. I needed coffee and something substantial for breakfast. A lot of places near my office don't open till 8 AM, which is when I need to be at work. This place was on the way, so I ducked in, disoriented, hungry, and dying for coffee. I ordered egg and cheese on a bagel and a cup of coffee. I can't remember what I paid, but I think it was pretty cheap and the coffee came in a huge cup. It was also delicious - strong, but not bitter. My egg and cheese on wheat bagel was tasty and the man who made it seemed nice, friendly, and understanding of how hard it is to think when you need coffee. I definitely want to go back: they have lots of muffins, bagels, patries, etc. A surprising variety of options available and you can even dine in if you so desire. I wasn't paying attention when I went that morning but, according to Yelp, the place is also a deli. Don't know what their lunch is like yet, but breakfast is worth trying IMO. UPDATE: they have veg-friendly lunch options, always a plus. read more