Adorable place. Lots of options--mostly crepes (sweet and savory) as well as wraps and bagel sandwiches. I opted for the Nutella and strawberry crepe. It was delicious! Chock full of strawberries, yum. Served in a very pretty manner as well. :) I'd like to add that although I was here in the middle of a rainy weekday, there was a steady stream of people coming in. Plenty of seating room when I was here but I bet it gets busy other times. Other bonuses: very nice staff, free tap water, free wifi. Would definitely return! read more

Cafenation - Nutella and strawberry crepe. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

Our favorite coffee spot in the area (Athans Bakery) was closed for a Greek Holiday, so my wife and I were forced to go across the street to this place. I got a coffee. My wife got a tea and a breakfast sandwich type thing. Most coffees all taste the same to me, and this was no different - not bad. My wife's tea was served in a small, individual tea pot, which she enjoyed. I didn't like that too much though, because I had brought my work with me, and her tea pot was taking up space on our table. I don't like to work with just a small laptop or one of those tablet things the kids are always using. I like the feeling of a pencil and paper under my hands. So I had a lot of things sprawled across our table, and then there's my wife, sitting there with her tea pot, taking up way more space than she should have, acting like it's no big deal... Other than that, it's a pretty standard cafe-type place. Very cramped, and a bit noisy, which wasn't great, as I was trying to concentrate on my work. It's also littered with all of these little handwritten, passive-aggressive post-it notes. Everywhere you turn, there's a post-it note telling you what to do like you're living with an annoying roommate. It feels like you're being treated like a child. "Please only take 1 napkin" "Please shut the door behind you" "Please no cell phones" etc... I felt on-edge the entire time I was there. Will likely just stay home and drink from my kurig next time there's a Greek holiday and Athans is closed... read more

Love this place. Every time I come in I feel very comfortable and taken care of by the staff. My go-to is the rooibus latte with almond milk-- delish! Great breakfast all day as well. Ps: nothing about this neighborhood is "scuzzi" (sic) as one other recent review mentioned. read more

I've tried a wide variety of lunch and breakfast sandwiches on their menu and each one is always made to order, super fresh and tasty. Their coffee is consistently strong and bold. Cafenation isn't super cheap, but high quality, fresh ingredients should cost more, and the prices are reasonable. I love the dressing that comes with the side salads on their lunch sandwiches, it's a house-made tangy and sweet balsamic. read more

Have to agree with another reviewer, Matt H. on impressive rudeness that permeates this joint in the form of obnoxious and self-aggrandizing baristas. This used to be a nice local coffee shop where you could get your tea, coffee, breakfast, whatever, and eat and sip your drink with relative peace and quiet, surrounded by good atmosphere. Not anymore, while Matt pointed out the rudeness of brunette barista, I have to say that both baristas were rather rude, but the brunette one did go out of her way to spoil the experience after the order has been placed. Never mind the "not so subtle rudeness" during the ordering process; when asked about a certain item, it was rudely suggested to us to read the menu... Yeah, well whatever happened to friendly service? But, it was the truly obnoxious yelling of drink names that someone else has ordered -- yelling in the voice that was so obnoxiously-loud and attention-seeking (as in look at me, I am so cool) that it would interrupt any and all conversations between people at the café! It was that (having already been treated to the rude barista during the ordering process) which prompted me to write this review. Why in the world, would a barista need to YELL OUT the name of the drink (which she did twice and it was more obnoxious than you could ever imagine) in her annoying dinosaur-like voice, when it's sufficient to simply call it like they do at Starbucks and other busy coffee shops. I left the place thinking the place has become the "Dicks" of coffee places. Unfortunately, at that point I have already left a tip, which was totally undeserved, but that little detail aside, I have to wonder -- why are locals willing to put up with the surprising amount of rudeness in this subjectively-mediocre joint? Yeah, the tea and coffee was good, but that's besides the point. No refills on ice-tea, going to the evil Starbucks next time. :) read more

So, I wanted to use this space to talk about a small yet meaningful interaction with a barista. I was waiting in a long line on a hot Saturday with a very fussy toddler. A barista named Chris offered my daughter a cup of water while we waited. I thought that was wicked thoughtful! It was super busy yet Chris took the time to give my daughter something occupied. Great staff, cafe nation! read more

I love this place! It is a small, but bustling little coffee shop in Brighton. Every person I have interacted with has been delightful. It is cozy and you feel right at home. The food is amazing. Those cookies are made fresh and heated up for your order. The coffee selection is vast and simple. There is something for everyone. The brunch menu is also great. They serve lunch and breakfast until 6pm which lets you brunch whenever you feel like it. read more

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First of all, they are not closed - they have reopened with new ownership! The iced tea is still great. The egg sandwiches are different - the eggs are more diner-style than the prior omelette style. The bbq sauce is really good. I'm so glad they are open again. read more

This place is AMAZING! When i lived in boston I came everyday. Now I drive half hour just to come back! Weekly cream cheese's are my favorite. All have been so good! LOVE LOVE LOVE! Tomato Soup - EXCELLENT! read more

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I love the breakfast sandwiches and coffee but it's not worth dealing with the unbelievably rude brunette girl. The skinny one with the weird listhp thing going on who seems to somehow be the manager. She'll correct you when you pronounce something on the menu incorrectly like it really matters. If you know what item someone is asking for there is no need to correct their pronunciation, its social common sense. I bought a breakfast sandwich and coffee today and when I got home and took a few bites I realized there was no egg on my egg sandwich. Not that big of a deal, people make mistakes but I'm not looking forward to walking back. I walked all the way back and waited in line again to politely tell them there was no egg on it and that I'd like a new one and a second one on top of that. I decided I should get one for my gf who'd be home soon. I tried getting the 2nd for free for my time wasted traveling back to fix their mistake. Is that so unreasonable? Another employee asked me if she can charge me for the second one and I mentioned it wouldn't be fair to charge me since I had to come back to get what I wanted. Manager came back with the new sandwich and told me she couldn't give me a free 2nd sandwich but she refunded me for the 1st sandwich and coffee. huh? Wouldn't it be easier and save the business more money by giving me a free sandwich? She mutters this under her breath without eye contact as she's walking away from me as if the transaction is over. Excuse me? Face me like an adult/manager and finish this transaction. I still want the 2nd sandwich. You gave me a refund? great, i appreciate that but I'm still willing to pay for the 2nd sandwich now that a refund was given. I understand your business has to make money. She tells me I have to go to the back of the 8 person line to buy the 2nd sandwich otherwise I'd be cutting everyone else. Huh!? I just waited in line a second time and I'm still in line in the middle of the current transaction that has not been completed. After going back and forth it was clear she wouldn't serve me the 2nd unless I got back into the end of the line. I already beat those people to the register, how am I cheating them? If this fool would have just given me a free sandwich, instead of refunding me for the first transaction, she would have saved the business money (since there was a coffee with that order ), there would have been no confrontation at the register, and I wouldn't be pissed off writing a bad review. Why choose the more difficult path and cause more irritation? Was she upset I asked for a free sandwich? She could have politely just said no and allowed me to pay for it. read more

Entitled hipster scum. Smart asses. Disenfranchised. Over complicated menu. One person sitting at a four seater x 5. Tasty. Fair prices. Decent music. Acceptable decor. Fast service. 4/5 read more

I have been coming to Cafe'nation for 7 years and it never disappoints. I love the Mediterranean Scramble with a side salad for lunch. I'm a sell out and switch out feta for Swiss. read more

Cute little coffee shop. Delicious hazelnut mocha lattes. Nice workers. I mean that's all I ask for. read more

Cafenation - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

Best coffee in the neighborhood! My favorite is the mint chip iced latte. Their breakfast sandwiches are also 10/10. Very good customer service and atmosphere! read more

Great coffee. Got it iced. Good taste and better than cafe Nero in my opinion. Full of flavor.

Disclaimer *Extra star rewarded solely for the fact they have vegan cream cheese* That aside, I'm not really a fan of condescending coffee jockeys sarcastically/indirectly speaking to me when I'm asking about their menu. Pretty uncalled for considering I used to be a frequent customer but have held back once their coffee got worse (as well as their staffs attitudes). read more

I'm afraid I won't be allowed back here. Because of the many available delicious crepe options, I took an extra long time making up my fickle mind, which, at first, was patiently tolerated by the be-bandana'd pretty girl at the counter. But I really cinched it in when I said, "Are the lemon butter crepes just like in Paris?" "I don't know, snobby loser, I have never been to Paris, and this is AMERICA!" was the air of her expression, and I don't blame her. What she said was, "I don't know, but it's good." Open mouth, switch feet. Awkward Sasha R. strikes again. Drop two bucks in the tip jar to appease and prevent saliva in my crepe. But seriously. The crepe was ALMOST like Paris, and that's pretty good this side of the puddle. The cappucchino was perfect, and, how endearing, the barista actually asked if I'd like it dry. um YES, thank you for asking!! There is also fresh squeezed OJ in the fridge. The only minus is, there is free wifi - and why is this a minus? Because scholarly campers take up tables for hours while they write their memoirs. Lemon butter crepe was the first experiment, crepe wise, to test out their ability on the basic. Next, I might dip into some nutella smeared action. IF... I'm allowed back , that is. read more

The usual story. Owner opens coffee shop. He works day in day out. His family works there. Things are awesome, food is great, service is amazing. He makes a bit more money takes a well deserved break and balances his life but food quality starts dropping and service is subpar. I used to go to cafenation every weekend and love it. Lately it's been weird. The service is questionable and the sandwiches don't taste as good. read more

Before I get into my review for Cafenation, we need to have story time. Please bear with me, or, if you don't feel like being entertained, skip down to the part below the dotted line for my four-sentence review of Cafenation. I went to school in the land of Beantown for 4 years. It was amazing. The only things I don't miss are the B Line, most students, the subway, sports fans, and the way people shamelessly stare at you, especially if you're wearing skinny jeans.* (So basically I only miss my school, food, and other things I can do without running into the aforementioned things.) What I do miss is the MESSY MCMESSERSONS. Let me tell you a tale of my Friday night. I went to a fierce event hosted by The Second Glass (support them!) called Wine Riot. Over 250 wines at my disposal to taste. Did I get drunkies? You bet. Did other people get drunkies? Oh, did they. Her name was Rebecca, and she was a random who joined our group at the end of the night. Apparently her boyfriend brought her to the event...and then ditched her when it was time to leave. Classy! I turned my head for a second and there she was, glazed eyes and dance moves galore. At first we thought she was funny: Who doesn't love the drunkest girl in the room, stumbling over her speech and steps? Oh, oops, then we forgot how the drunkest girl in the room NEVER stays fun for long. At the next bar, she puked behind the hostess stand. (We can see now why her boyfriend ditched her.) Narsty. We put her in a cab and, well, she wouldn't tell us where she lived. So, I would say I hope she got home okay, but actually I just hope she's alive. What followed was a lot of whiskey so that I could forget good ol' Becki.** When I woke up, I was not feeling so hot, and papa had a wedding to get to on Cape Cod. So where did we go for our fix? Cafenation! . . . . . . . . . . . Cafenation is good, and everyone knows it--that's why it's so crowded. But wait it out and you will pat yourself on the back for it, and your hangover will dissolve. A simple everything bagel with veggie cream cheese and a large iced coffee will do the trick. Thank you, Cafenation, for making me laugh over Becki, rather than vom over her. __________ * I mean, this is an urban area. As if you've never seen skinny jeans. And PLEASE don't grab my crotch in Park Street, random girl with her gang of friends. I'm to be respected. ** How she will be referred to from now on, as Becki-with-an-i because it's just more fitting. read more

This is the ideal neighborhood coffee shop. Better lattes then the Diesel, super friendly and gay servers, free wi-fi and they allow dogs. I haven't tried any food yet, but they have fresh squeezed OJ so i know their heads are in the right place. read more

As a Californian (sort of, it's my home state in the US, lived there 8+ years), this is the kind of place that would get a 3.5 star rating if it was in say, Santa or San Anywhere. But since it's in Brighton, it gets a full 5 stars. Food- healthy. They have heard of this thing called "sprouts". The hummus tastes like it was once chickpeas. It's my favorite cafe in all of Bostonland for these two facts and this third one: Nutelle crepes. Service- slow. This is not a fast food place. This is where you bring the next great American novel you've been pecking away at for editing and coffee. Lunch will arrive when it arrives. Do not be impatient. Do not go here if you have to be somewhere afterward. Amenities- Wi-fi is reliable and cheap. I'm location independent and I've come here to work several times. This means you don't have to worry about it going down while you update your tumblr or whatever you kids do these days. (Just kidding, I'm also a kid. A big, lumbering, 26 year old kid.) Coffee- pretty good. Better than that Dunkin crap you all swear by, at least. Pricing- very affordable for what you get. Atmosphere- you saw the part up there where I talked about your next great American novel, right? Right. read more

I have barely cracked the full menu yet (though I was admiring the omelet skills of one of the cooks today), so this review is almost purely based on the coffee, bagels, and (above all) service. This place rules. I've started buying their beans (Brighton French roast) and grinding them at home, but if I'm short on time I'll stop in for a good strong cup to go. The staff seems genuinely cheerful and good natured and I've never had even a lukewarm experience there. It's not that Hole Foods-eque "I'm-smiling-because-I'll-lose-my-job-if-I-don't" friendliness either. The staff just has a good vibe to it. Au Bon Pain (and other soulless chains) take note: there was a time when you could order a bagel with cream cheese and you'd get just that: a bagel with cream cheese actually on it. Maybe even toasted. CafeNation puts the cream cheese on. They make stuff to order. It is awesome. While this might sound like a minor or insignificant detail, it is something that has all but gone by the wayside in the franchise-ation of this world, so the first time I saw CafeNation staff actually applying cream cheese to my toasted bagel, I was actually taken aback by it. Cram the chains and their portion-controlled, micromanaged-margins-at-the-expense-of-everything; I'm moving to CafeNation. read more

After finally assembling my IKEA desk and chair together, I realized that I did NOT want to study in my room. So then where to? The campus library? On a rainy Saturday? That would've been miserable. I decided to brave it and explore Brighton Center in search of Cafenation, a famed cafe where I could sit, read, use free wifi, AND get a good sandwich and coffee. Mind you, I've recently moved to Brighton from NYC, capital of overcrowded cafes with aggressively territorial espresso sipping "writers," so when I found Cafenation and realized that even on a busy Saturday early afternoon, there were a few empty tables near electrical outlets where I could unload my Macbook and my heavy duty Property Law textbook, I almost burst into tears of joy. I promptly ordered a hot pressed sandwich (with brie and alfalfa sprouts!) and a large iced coffee and I happily ate my sandwich, sipped at my iced coffee, and completed all of my Property reading assignment, with random wifi-induced distractions in between. I should also mention that all of the above was set to the background music of hit 90s songs. How awesome is that? The plan is to come to this place every Saturday or Sunday to get some reading done...we'll see how that goes. The reading part, I mean. A big shout-out and thanks to Lauren V, Mary M, Richard D, Chris B, and Christopher M who all recommended this place! read more

Crepes are a bit of a rarity in Boston so it's always exciting to find a place that specializes in crepes. I've seen a creperie truck floating around owned by some place in Coolidge Corner. And that's about it. Seriously? Street food is not classy! Half the fun of French food is feeling classy, so I'll pass on the crepe trucks. Thanks. Cafenation is a little dinky place in little dinky Brighton Center. I always feel like an ass when I un-ironically describe places as nondescript but that's pretty much what it is. It looks like every other cafe in existence and ostensibly it's not trying to be more than that. I probably would have never come here if a friend hadn't recommended it to me. The coffee is pretty good. They use Counter Culture. There's not much else to say about the coffee. Feeling crepey, I decided to order a mushroom and caramelized onion crepe. I really don't know why I was almost surprised that the hipster behind the counter knew how to make a pretty legitimate crepe. Part of me kind of expected him to give me a dumbfound look like, "what did you just order?" and stick a Hot Pocket in the microwave. When I think crepes I think frechmen with mustaches. I had a hipster with a mustache. Close enough? He poured the galette batter onto the hot plate and made my crepe in perfect form. Bravo! It came out pretty good! I can now add "hipsters making delicious crepes" onto my personal list of unorthodox kitchen juxtapositions, along with "Columbians making delicious Chinese food" and "that take-out place in South Boston that makes sushi, pizza, and Mexican food." I do have but one complaint with my meal: the side salad. The mixed greens was just really mediocre baby arugula and couple red romaine leaves. Not a bit of baby spinach, endive, green romaine, frisee, the kinds of things you expect when people say "mix greens." And the arugula wasn't all that great, it had a horribly stemmy texture and not all that leafy. The balsamic stuff they drizzle on it is horribly sticky and mediocre. Is it so hard to make a decent balsamic vinaigrette? Oil, balsamic, dijon. Whisk. Boom. Using shitty balsamic? Add sugar and reduce on the stovetop. There's really no excuse for that side salad. read more

If restaurants were powered by dreams, this one could soar through the sky in the talons of the Hawk of Profits. Regrettably, I sense that vultures might be waiting to sweep this one up instead. I mean, I would dedicate many dreams to power this place. I have been going here for food long past the point where I knew the food wasn't worth it. The people who work here are friendlier than the people at the too-cool-for-school places (*cough*refuge*cough*) and the atmosphere is laid-back and inviting. Unfortunately, they seem to be in a bit of an hours crunch, and everything seems to cost about $2 more than it should - not good signs. I know a $6-$7 sammy from a $9-$10 sammy and look, this place doesn't have $10 sammies. Hell, it's hard to come in under $9 for just a coffee and an eggamuffin. And look, it would be one thing if there were like, huge portions or something, but the value's just not there. And let's face it - maybe the Cafe Nation is stuck between a couple emblems of the national small-coffee-shop predicament. It's got a Starbucks on one side and a place with $4.95 Burrito Wednesdays on the other. I like the Nation's lox-n-avocado-n-aoili type quirkiness, but it's just not good enough to sell me - I can never remember what I actually ate here. It all sorta seems the same. I think the coffee's fine, but damn, I was raised on Maxwell Instant, so I'm not gonna award or dock points for that. I couldn't tell the difference if you gave me the coffee from the bakery across the street...which is ALSO probably not helping the Nation's business. Maybe the Nation can raise enough money to tweak it's own recipe and generate more of a following - but if not, they might lose out in such a high-competition market. read more

I'm giving the food 5 stars and knocking two off for the business. Go here. Get food. Get out of there like a bat out of hell. Find somewhere nice, like a park bench, and enjoy your orgasmic breakfast sandwich. Seriously. The cowboy is mind blowing, possibly the best breakfast sandwich I've ever tasted. Bacon, a perfectly toasted bun, fresh egg, caramelized onions and a great sauce... My mouth is watering at the thought of it. Speaking of watering, they really know how to ruin coffee. Sure, hipster places like this have their own vaguely defined "sustainable, micro-economic, whatever" coffee but that doesn't help when you mess up the ratios of an Americano, and your espresso itself tastes sour. The establishment itself is tiny, giving the impression that is busy, but the eclectic and narrow setup has no "Feng shue" to it, it's claustrophobic, uncomfortable and the forced seating arrangements only really accommodate parties of two or six. I guess on a slow, rainy day, it may be a good place to relax over the glow of your manuscript you've been neglecting, with your laptop, in the back corner of this shop, but I'm sure those ideal situations are few and far between (maybe they are more attentive to their beverages when they are less pressed to rush). I like the food, and I intend to revisit this place and try a few different items, at a different time of day and possibly season. read more

CafeNation is a hip cafe in the heart of Brighton Center. The walls are decorated with a rotating collection of pieces from local artists and the background music is typically upbeat to spur on those productive juices. The coffee is expertly handled and prepared but if you prefer something else, there is a wide variety of truly choice and tasty beverages. CafeNation truly shines when it come to their food. From crepes to sandwiches to their signature salad dressing, this small business has remained a breakfast and brunch hot spot despite all the local competition. The fare is fantasticly consistent whether it's a yawny Monday morning or amped Saturday brunch service. read more

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Cafenation! This is probably the first place that I've ever reviewed where I can't even muster an area in which they could improve. These hipster angels are perfect in every way. Every 'Soy Chai Latte,' every 'Mushroom Onion Bagel,' and every delicious morsel of those big ass 'Vegan Cookies' have been caressed by the hands of mother nature. And that my friend, deserves five stars. read more

Cafenation - They must be feeding dinosaurs at Cafenation because this pic was taken after I finished half of my breakfast. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

Such a great place for one of my last eats in Boston. Has a bit of a hipster feel. We enjoyed some breakfast sandwiches and a strawberry nutella mini crepe. My spinach, egg, and hollandaise sandwich could have used a little more sauce and salt but was still very satisfying. They had a variety of ice teas and real fruit smoothies! Minimum credit card use of $5 which is good enough for me since I can certainly eat more than that. read more

Everyone knows that the first thing you do when you have a big presentation at work is get a large, good luck latte. This morning I decided to try Cafenation as it was conveniently located on the way to Watertown. There was no line (at 8:45 AM, kind of surprising), and once it was clear I was ready to order, I was asked what I would like. My large, extra hot, 2% latte was $3.87 with tax, which is less than it would have been at Starbucks. The espresso was tasty - roasted, not burnt or bitter. The milk was not actually extra hot... but that's ok. The foam on top was delicious. Two complaints - service was a little slow - in the middle of making the latte, she rang up another customer even though there was another barista standing right there. The second was more of a usability comment - it looked like there was a lot of great food and drinks, but the menu on the chalkboards was hard to read... so I stuck with just the lucky latte, rather than adding a serendipitous sandwich. All this being said, when I need a caffeine fix and allow myself the luxury of purchasing a cup o joe, I'll certainly visit Cafenation again. read more

I was just at Cafenation this morning and was reminded of all there is to like about it - cozy atmosphere, interesting people, tasty beverages and food, and a great space to work. Also, the WiFi is free! Cafenation's food focus is crepes. They have both sweet and savory crepes, as well as breakfast crepes. Their coffee drinks, as well as cider, hot chocolate, and teas, are all good. Staff are friendly. There is a "frequent buyer" card for both coffee and entrees. As someone who works from home but is always looking for a place to break up the monotony for a couple of hours, I will be a regular at Cafenation. read more

I have said this before and I will say it again, Absolute best Iced Mocha I have ever had! It is always consistant too... tastes the same everytime and that makes me happy. I have tried their muffins which are also yummy and large. They have a lot of interesting/different cream cheese flavors. I haven't tried them yet but they sound good. Great coffee shop for people who like real coffee read more

When I lived around the corner, this was my go-to morning spot! It may look like a run-of-the-mill indie coffee shop, but they have the holy trinity: reasonable prices, good coffee, and an expansive food menu. I will say that I found their espresso to be a bit bitter, but it wasn't totally off-putting. They shine in the omelette, bagel, and sandwich department (my favorite had turkey and a ton of brie.) I also enjoyed their assortment of pastries from the case (and Taza chocolate -- just because.) When in town, my parents always opted for black coffee or tea and they both still reminisce about their mornings here. The seasonal drink menu can be fun, too. They have an assortment of tables up front and in the back, so it's easy to snag one -- even if you're just waiting for your to-go order (as I often was.) My one wish is that they opened at 7 AM on the weekends, too, since I'm such an early riser. Maybe one day! read more

Bar none, the best place to get my caffeination is CaféNation. One of the baristas (I think her name is KeeKee or Kelsee) loved to make my non-fat sugar-free soy extra dry pumpkin spice latte and used to top it with extra love aka a dash of cinnamon and a HUGE smile. Unfortunately I had to move and have to try to find someone who understands my need for this drink, especially after an intense workout. They sell these great nuts too. The spicy ones are feisty but they're the only ones I go for. They sell a lot of local products, from the nuts to the bread to the pastries, which I'm also a fan of (Team Local!). While the food is exceptional, I'm a bigger fan of the service/staff. Yes, there are times when there is a line and it takes time to get food, but that's because the line causes the cook staff to have to prepare more food, hence the wait. (You would think people would understand the concept of food service and waiting but patience is hard when you get everything you want in life, am I right millennials?). Anyways, thanks Cafénation. You've basically been a second home to me and kept my heart and soul warmed and I'm thankful for your cozy company during those bitter days. PUNtil we reunite again I'll try to cope with a bit less CaféNation. read more

Cafenation - #PSL - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

Amazing ambiance. Friendly staff. Lots of options. Earl grey latté was excellent. As was the regular latte. Sugar free options which is great. Food also excellent. Spinach walnut salad has an amazing vinaigrette and is large for the price. Comfy chairs. FAST WIFI THAT IS EASY TO CONNECT TO!!! mid range prices- worth it. Crepes are delicious and wide array of sweet/savory options. read more

Good coffee in a simple, but comfortable storefront. The beans they use seem decent and the baristas know what they're doing. It's exactly the kind of local, reasonably priced spot this neighborhood needs to hang on to. read more

I hated to give this place two stars, but I just had to. It wasn't even "okay". [update--- though I haven't had time to revisit, the customer service alone makes my rating improve dramatically] What we ordered: Panini:Hummus & Avocado. "hummus, avocado slices, cucumbers & tomatoes with red onions & cilantro one of our most popular paninis" is how the menu described this sandwich. I'd really name it Tomato & Cucumber Panini since those were the two most present ingredients, not the hummus or avocado. I'd also say it was merely garnished with onion and cilantro. It was a wonderful concept and a wonderful description, but the reality fell flat. The panini bread was tasty, but squishy, white and not golden brown at all. I would order this again, and ask for more onions and cilantro and for it to be cooked more. Additionally I basically pepped up the mild flavors by adding the mixed greens (for a bit of bitterness) and the delicious balsamic glaze. Since I was super hungry I wolfed it down anyway, and after adding the greens and the glaze and some pepper it was pretty good. It alone would receive 3.5 stars. 5 if it was made with thinner slices of tomatoes & cucumbers, and included more onion and cilantro... or even a cilantro based sauce drizzled over it, and if the panini had been crisp and cooked more. Seriously, lots of potential there. [Update It was relayed to me that this was definitely made incorrectly. I'm truly excited to try this again.] But alas we come to the other 2/3rds of the order. The omelets in crepes. The two we ordered were: Florentine and Scallion Scramble w/ Prosciutto. The latter was pretty awful. The eggs needed seasoning of some kind. They were really dull. And unfortunately though we asked for it to be made well done, my boyfriend bit into a few really wet egg bites. Flavor wise it was lots and lots of onion flavor and nothing else. The swiss was really weak and mild as well. The prosciutto was stringy, soggy and dry all at the same time and all the flavor seemed to have been steamed out of it. We actually had to pull it off entirely. This definitely needed something to pick up the flavors. The crepe was also very dull and seemed to possibly suck the flavor out of the rest of the food. The poached egg florentine seemed more like fried eggs in texture and layout. The baby spinach was pretty basic, just one layer of single leaves of spinach. It could have stood a bit more hollandaise sauce and ... something else. The fresh fruit they both came with was just... absurd. About 1/3 of a navel orange. The orange was soggy, average and dreadful. For the price, knowing how much eggs and crepe ingredients, prosciutto and scallions cost (let alone at bulk prices) I felt like they owed the customer more than what seemed like immature orange slices. Melon? Some assorted berries? Tropical fruit salad? I donno. Not orange slices that's for sure. [update- The fruit from our visit doesn't seem to match up with the standards set for this establishment. I got the impression that this was just a strange off-day for the entire meal] I can't reiterate enough how much potential this place seems to have. I'm told the coffee beverages are quite delicious, so with just a bit more work and perhaps more adequate training of the staff (to achieve more consistency of quality) ... it could be spectacular. [Update- Once we return to sample the food I'll post a new review to reflect the new visit] read more

As I sit here writing this very review, I find this place quaint, but not over the top. The staff here is friendly and can definitely make a great cup of coffee and chai. Though I do have to complain that it is pricey, music is a bit loud, and it only has ONE couch?! Okay, so it is by definition a cafe, but something a bit more comfy would be nice. I must admit they have displays of local art on its walls which is certainly captivating. This place is more of a sophisticated, modern, artsy schmartsy kinda place. If you're looking for a quick in and out lunch/coffee, then yes this is the spot. If you're looking for a place to sit and do work, relax, etc. - maybe not really the spot? I don't think I'm gonna go out of my way to get here, but if I'm ever in the area I'd stop by again. read more

I went to Cafe Nation a number of times when I lived close by last year. I am just now wondering why I haven't been back since because it is the best little cafe in the area. It is usually pretty busy on the weekends but if you're lucky you can score a window seat and people watch. I usually get the crepes....my favorite is the grilled chicken pesto one. It is soo delicious. It comes with a small side of greens with this really great sweet balsamic dressing. I think my other favorite crepe was one with nutella in it...yum!! Cafe Nation also has really good iced coffee. Coming from a loyal sbucks drinker...that means it must be pretty good! read more

I have gotten so much work done here. Easily one of the best cafes in the neighborhood (although it's not like the competition is fierce), with a hip vibe, very cool staff, and surprisingly good food--the turkey club is very strong, for example. Only thing is that their espresso drinks are inconsistent, depending on who's making it for you; sometimes they achieve that perfect fullness of flavor, sometimes it is weak and bland (I'd argue that Fuel has the more consistent drinks, but I'll still usually choose CafeNation for the above other reasons). Nevertheless, it's a gem for mental concentration and general awesomeness. read more