Caffe Central
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Ordered a mocha to go and it was well made. There was plenty of street parking out front and seating inside and outside. Staff were friendly and not was clean inside. Everything looks so delicious and well made. I can't wait to go back and try more. Perfect place to start your morning at.
Great breakfast! Delicious French toast, churro pancakes, lox crossiant, and lite-eater. Friendly service, cozy atmosphere.
Lovely brunch option that is opened from morning to quite late at night so you can enjoy brunch items for dinner as well. They have a beautiful display of the menu next to the cash register which is perfect for those who need to visualize their options. You wait in line to order and sit down with a number and they will bring the food out to you. Don't get intimidated by the full restaurant while lining up. People leave pretty quickly and finding a spot before my food arrives has never been a problem. They have a large variety of classic brunch options like toast, bagel, and salad bowls but also a great variety of dessert options as well. Price isn't cheap but standard compared to the other brunch options in the area.
Cute place to have brunch in downtown Burlingame! They have both indoor and outdoor seating. I got one of the steak paninis (tasty!) and my friend got one of their salad bowls (kinda huge tbh). Service was quick -- you order at the counter, they give you a number, and come by later with your food. They had a large selection of coffees, paninis, pastries, and other brunch foods all on display. I was tempted to get one of their pancakes (I heard good things about the lemon ricotta pancakes!) but I knew it would be way too much food. Pastries looked really good but were on the pricey side.
I just wanted to update pictures. I love Café Central every time. I'm in the area. I go there. They have the best desserts the best food best service best ambience just best everything and I love that. They're dog friendly.
Caffe Central is located on the busy street of Burlingame Avenue. You can't miss it as it is on the corner and has a lively spot. Ordering is done at the counter where you will receive a number to be displayed on your table . There are lots of open seating inside and out. On chilly days, patio heaters are used. During this visit I got the chicken BLT. It was good and the chicken was tender. My only complaint is there was too much dressing on it. I recommend getting it on the side for you to drizzle on. It's a crowded ambiance. Service was decent. I would return to try other lunch sandwiches.
6 of us + 1 baby had brunch here on a rainy Sunday. How it works: you order and pay inside first, they'll give you a number, you find a table, and they'll bring out your food to your table. Service: 4/5 Employees were quick, efficient, and friendly although they did not check-in with us throughout the meal. Ambiance: 5/5 Trendy, minimal, and busy. Outdoor seating is perfect for warm and sunny days. Food: 4/5 Tons of options to choose from and yes, items for both food and drinks tend to lean more towards healthy options. I personally think it is a bit pricier for smaller portions but if you're a small eater like me, this would be perfect.
I've been a regular here for brunch with family and friends, so it genuinely pains me to write this. It was 73 degrees in Burlingame and I decided to grab breakfast and sit outside while waiting for my car to be serviced -- ordered the farmhouse breakfast. I stepped inside briefly to grab a to-go box for my unfinished eggs, potatoes, and chicken sausage. When I came back, Valeria had already cleared my plate and told me "there's nothing left." I paid $30 for that meal. When I went inside to address it, I was met with no apology and a dismissive "so what do you want to do?" I let it go and sat back down -- until I overheard Valeria telling her coworkers that I had thrown the to-go box at her. I had my earphones in at the time but wasn't listening to anything, so I heard every word. I calmly approached her and asked if I could clarify something. I explained that I was eating alone, that I had stepped inside only to grab a box, and that I still had food on my plate. I acknowledged it was a misunderstanding on both ends. I wasn't aggressive, I wasn't combative. What I got back was anything but that same energy. $30 for a meal that got thrown away before I finished it, staff who couldn't be bothered to make it right, and an employee fabricating stories about a customer to her coworkers. There are too many good brunch spots in the Bay Area to spend your money somewhere that treats loyal customers like an inconvenience. Do better. I won't be back. Below is the to go box I apparently hit worker, Valeria, with...
This cafe always looks busy. Decided to finally try it. They have a display of the food which is really helpful and everything looks so good! They have a lot drink options, coffee, tea, smoothies, juices etc. a lot pastries too. Everything was delicious and tasted really healthy. I enjoyed my chorizo wrap. It came with a side of fruit. My friend got the Irish breakfast. Said it was good but needed more salt. the toast comes in a heart shape , so cute. Presentation was spot on.
Our new favorite brunch spot! Caffé Central is fantastic. The food and the coffee are tremendous and the portions are huge! I had the breakfast bowl, trying to be healthy and it was amazing. I feel you can tell a fair bit about a place when they can perfectly poach an egg. This bowl combined with a squeeze of lemon was incredibly good. I would have added some hot sauce to it but it was just about perfect without it. The masala spiced chai was great. The foam was thick and creamy and the spice stayed on top so you had a bit of spice in every sip. We will be back again and again. Just be aware that it is open seating so you may have some trouble finding a spot to sit on a busy day.
We stopped by Caffe Central on a very busy Sunday, and even with the crowd, the team worked impressively fast. We ordered a mix of dishes -- the Pastrami Sandwich, Fajita Bowl, the Burlingame dish, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, and Avocado Toast -- plus the Detox and Vitamin C juices. Despite the rush, everything came out quickly and was fresh and flavorful. The portions were generous, and each dish had its own standout moment: the pastrami was savory and satisfying, the fajita bowl was hearty, the pancakes were light and bright with lemon, and the avocado toast was beautifully prepared. The juices were refreshing and a great complement to the meal. Overall, Caffe Central handled the Sunday crowd with ease, delivering great food and fast service. A solid spot in Burlingame for a relaxed weekend brunch or breakfast! They have indoor and outdoor sidewalk seating, which is perfect if your dog tags along.
I like this place a lot. Good food. Lots of options, healthy options. We plan to stop by when we are driving through. Today was one of those days. Always a favorite. We shared a so-Cal omelette which was enough for two of us. Will be back!
We dropped by this morning for a quick breakfast & coffee in this rainy weather. Service was great, everyone was very attentive, helpful and efficient. They were pretty busy with a constant flow of customers. Overall a cute cafe to hangout and catch up with friends. And the dishes are very aesthetically pleasing. We ordered the Cuban latte (one hot & one iced), a dirty bird salad and the central pancakes. I really enjoyed the dirty bird salad because the vinaigrette wasn't too overpowering. The salad was super filling and had tons of cherry tomatoes. The central pancakes had plenty of fruits and the pancakes itself were very fluffy. read more
3 years ago
My dad recommended that I tried this place since he used to go to the one in SF all the time. For being a cafe, they had a lot of yummy options to choose from. I was in the mood for a sandwich so I chose the the turkey and avocado BLT & subbed the mayo-pesto for just regular mayo. The sandwich came with a side salad that had this refreshing citrus vinaigrette that was really good. The sandwich was so good and hit the spot, would def come back again! read more
6 months ago
3 years ago
We ordered a savory and sweet dish! The presentation of this place is lovely ! Along with the latte and latte art ~ this place is awesome for lunch or breakfast and catching up with a cup of coffee. We ordered the gluten free banana pancake ! It's super puffy and nice not sweet at all, and not too dense ~ the syrup was nice and sweet on the side. The savory, we chose the avocado with egg toast, had a side of salad and tasted awesome/ the avacado was fresh and plentiful ~ eggs nicely placed on top. The salad has a nice vinegrette hint which made it very appetizing. The coffee was a great hit and not overly hot or good. You order from the counter and take your number to a table. The server was quick to bring our food, we sat outside and had our meals. It's nice they had the heater on even when it is during the day~ I liked the breeze but didn't feel too cold wi the the heater read more
Cute cafe that's always popular with nice indoor and patio seating. They serve it all -- brunch, salads, sandwiches, coffee, desserts! I had their salads -- they're huge and satisfying. If you want to add a protein, it's on the expensive side (~$20) but it's Burlingame. Harvest Salad was probably my favorite salad so far!! The butternut squash with the feta cheese and pomegranate was perfect. The cinnamon dressing was really unique and tasted like fall. I took out bacon but substitution costed extra ($5 for smoke salmon, but I'm pretty happy with the portion!). Wish there was more feta cheese and I could have no bacon discount haha. Charcoal latte was good, and there are so many beautiful desserts (wish there were prices written! Eclair was like ~$7 I think). They have wifi, but it's slow on the patio. read more
4 years ago
There is a day and night difference to the location. Morning time = perfect. Afternoon time = filled with Gen-Z workers who don't know what they're doing and have attitude. Morning time: Our jaws dropped when we entered because photos online don't do this place justice. There are a plethora of options for breakfast savory, pastries and drinks. They have the items on display which is super helpful because our eyes eat first. I really appreciate the effort to have the food on display like that. I got the Brekkie Sandwhich which was on brioche slices. The sandwhich is what I expect to have when I'm in California! It was also nutritionally dense. The Nola drink wasn't my personal favorite, I am just not a fan of cold brew. The drink was made perfectly fine though. Afternoon time: Came back for an almond croissant in which they were sold out and the server aimlessly pointed to the pastry window stating there are other croissants but there weren't any... As a South Asian, I reluctantly ordered the chai. I thought my name was called and went to grab my drink but Natalie barked. Honesg mistake on my end? The chai was just BROWN WATER. The tea was not steeped at all, there was just sprinkles of overpowering cinnamon on top. Nina or Natalie really messed up. Never going to order chai again in a non-South Asian establishment. read more
We met up with the in-laws on a sunny Sunday in early November 2022 for a brunch at Cafe Central in Burlingame. We were very fortunate to get a parking space a few feet from the resturant. We secured a table for five outside with the assistance of a very friendly staff who moved the umbrella and move two small tables together. Cafe Central has amble outside seating and typically you would order at the counter grab a number stand and seek out seating. Because we had a scooter the staff was very hospitalable in helping us as we settled in before ordering. The display of all the spectacular looking sandwiches, salads and bowls provides the customer a great service in showing the offerings. I was hard pressed to make a choice between a sandwich vs salad or bowl. We ordered our entrees which included a tuna melt for my wife, a smoked salmon on a delicious looking bread, tomatoes, avocado and lettuce for my father-in-law who loved it! My mother-in-law choose the egg salad, our son a hamburger and I got an amazingly fresh "King bowl" with included grill salmon, carrots, saute pickled onions, lettuce and avocad. All the selections were tasty, fresh and yummy! The staff was very attentive and kind with their service and helpfulness throughout our comfortable afternoon. Next time you are in Burlingame make it a point to dine at Cafe Central, you will enjoy it! read more
Beautiful cafe with a lot of great options, including many coffee options. The only issue is that our food took a while to come - definitely not a quick experience. The goddess bowl made me feel like one! Super delicious. read more
8 months ago
2 years ago
First time here at Caffe Central and I was amazed with how good the food was. It's a place where you place your order and then you just get a number and grab your seat. I was having lunch with a girlfriend and we got a table right away, but for some reason our Buddah Bowl that we ordered took a long time so I checked in with the cashier and they told me it was coming, then we waited for another 5-10 mins and I checked again. This time, the Manager got involved and apologized for the delay and mishap. Somehow there was some sort of miscommunication with the kitchen and server. She made it better by offering us their keylime pie which was amazing. This is why I couldn't give it a 5, but I am sure the next time I go back it will be 5 stars. read more
I love this cafe! There's indoor seating and outdoor seating. Very clean and well kept, an enjoyable place to sit down and grab brunch at, or if you want to do a quick stop by and grab a coffee. They have quite a large selection of drinks, my go to is an Iced Central Latte. The food is quite good too - tastes good and well presented. Their ingredients tastes quite fresh. The service has always been great. Very nice. Sat out on a nice sunny day, and they opened the outdoor umbrella for us. I asked for a macchiato, thinking it would be similar to Starbucks - in that it would be a regular size drink, but the girl at the counter explained to me that it was a small drink - shot sized. I didn't want that. So I yrappreciated her additional efforts to ensure that I knew what I was getting. read more
My favorite go-to place for delicious bowls, salads, sandwiches & brunch. I've had a number of their entrees. The Buddha bowl and salmon bowls are my favorites. I like all the fresh vegetables and quality ingredients used here. They also have beautiful desserts and a big variety of beverages ranging from coffees to ice teas. There is indoor as well as a nice outdoor dining area. Order at the counter, pay, take a number and a server brings your food to you. They will bus and clean your table when you are done. This is indeed a popular place and they deserve their well-earned reputation. I will keep coming back. read more
Came in a busy Saturday morning and was pretty happy with this place. Order at the counter and grab a seat. Serve yourself water but everything else is brought to you. We went with the fruit and yogurt bowl with granola and the Irish Breakfast. The Irish Breakfast was huge! The bacon and sausage together put this dish over the top. They forgot butter for the toast, but was not a big deal. I also had a matcha latte, which was good. The line is a little confusing because it runs a short distance the width of the restaurant and people waiting for food or drinks have no to stand unless they crowd the line area. Might have helped to get some ropes in place, at least for the weekend. read more
2 years ago
This spot is perfect for coffee, breakfast, or brunch. It's a vibrant fast-casual place that focuses on healthy, flavorful options. The menu offers creative breakfast dishes, fresh salads, a hearty 1/2-pound burger, and a selection of coffee and teas. I tried the Winter Bliss Salad, which was absolutely satisfying, and paired it with their Green Detox fresh-pressed juice--a refreshing choice. Friendly service, high recommend. read more
This place is the cutest!! Indoor and outdoor seating to accommodate parties of 2-6 people. They make out really easy to pick what you want to eat as they have every single dish on display for your viewing pleasure. You order your food at the cashier first & they'll give you a number to take with you to your seat. Easily identifiable vegan, vegetarian, & gluten free options. Buddha bowl is super yummy with well flavored tofu, fresh avocado, cucumber, & radishes over a bed of quinoa. Drinks are plentiful with iced and warm teas, lattes, & juices. An entire bakery section as well if you're in a rush and need go grab something to go. Ambiance is simplistic, very much a cafe style environment. Multiple locations as well. This one is super close to the airport. read more
This cafe has so many options and a great variety on their menu, alongside a ton of pastries. I'll definitely be returning to try out more, but for my first time I went with: -Irish Breakfast 10/10: The sausage on this plate was very good and cooked perfectly, bacon was great, potatoes were thick and soft, a really good pairing overall. -Pastries 9/10: The one on the right was nice and light, on the left was very dense and hard to swallow. My best recommendation, if possible, is to go on a weekday. I went on a Saturday for brunch and it was chaotic and finding a seat is a struggle. But the staff was very helpful and service was good. read more
4 years ago
Popular lunch spot with specialty coffees, pastries and a variety of food options. They have a good amount of both indoor and outdoor seating. You order inside and they bring your food to you when it's ready. Buddha bowl - The honey-garlic seasoned tofu gives it an Asian inspired taste. Otherwise, flavors are what you expect from the quinoa, carrots, cucumbers, avocado, organic microgreens. Green Brekkie - The brioche was nicely toasted, but it was a bit heavy on the onions and couldn't really taste the arugula. Fried egg was nice and runny. Creamy scrambled - The cream cheese was very noticeable in the scrambled eggs and I'm glad there was bread to help provide a vehicle for the flavors. Overall, flavors were fine, but freshness was hit or miss (quite a bit of the arugula was yellow). read more
1 year ago
Probably the most consistent espresso I've had. I order a latte with honey and oat milk and Caffe Central is my gold standard. They sell some incredible beans that I exclusively buy and use at my at home set up. Also, their location is beautiful. read more
9 months ago
Caffe Central is one of my favorite brunch spots in downtown Burlingame. I love that there's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. You order at the counter, grab a number, and can sit anywhere you like. The servers bring the food to your table and typically the service is pretty fast. I like to get the Chipotle chicken bowl and substitute the arugula for mixed greens. The cilantro-lime dressing is light and delicious. I also like how they have a display case of the food so you know exactly what you'll be getting. I haven't tried their pastries but everything looks amazing and I'll have to give it to a try next time! read more
9 months ago
4 years ago
I've always passed by this cafe but didn't come in to really sit down and enjoy a latte until now. I always love the bright and sunny Burlingame weather and appreciated their plentiful outdoor seating. (doggies welcome!) Sitting indoors would be nice as well, as their tall windows allow plenty of sunlight. My family and I shared a fruit tart and marble cake. Both were tasty. I just think the fruit on the tart was a little too ironically (tart). Could benefit from a nice glaze. Chipotle wrap is flavorful and spicy. As for our Cali Baja salad, could've used a little dressing and more corn and beans but still a plentiful portion. For drinks we ordered a pour-over coffee, hot matcha latte, and an iced mocha. All drinks were brewed well but I think the baristas made the pour-over coffee first before the other 2 drinks that may have taken longer to make, making the cup of pour-over cold when it arrived with the rest of the drinks. Aside from that, it was a strong and flavorful brew. We can taste the matcha flavors, and the mocha uses TCHO chocolate which is nice. I will definitely come back during lunch time to try their salads and sandwiches. It seems like a nice place to study or work during the week. I can see on weekends it can get pretty crowded, especially around 3-4 pm. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Wow this place is popular among the locals. Great location stroll down the shopping area among many other mouthwatering restaurants. Was here with a friend who highly recommend we have lunch here. Nice that they have displays for the food selection. However, to not waste the food displays, maybe use what the Japanese restaurants use to model the food Shokuhin sampuru. Overall, good drinks and salads. A little pricey but it is comparable to other food establishments in this area. read more
2 years ago
I went back and had the Farm House breakfast. The eggs were well made, sausage was delicious and the artisan bread was a nice touch. This time I ordered the espresso and enjoyed the bold flavor! The place was packed as usual but lucky for me I found a nice spot to sit outside. I can't wait to go back and try something new! You can also order pastries if you have a sweet tooth. read more
3 years ago
Came here on a beautiful Saturday morning earlier this month and saw the line of folks looking at the menu as well as those folks who were eating in their sidewalk parklet. I ordered the smoked salmon eggs benedict which came with a side of arugula - it was super yummy and hit the spot. Note: their drip coffee which is a locally roasted brew is really strong so beware. read more
Amazing desserts and coffee. The raspberry macaron was mind-blowing -- fresh berries, a melting soufflé, and a crispy cookie shell. The pastries are always crisp and fresh. The place is usually crowded, but that's because of the high-quality food and creative coffee selection. It is lively and very welcoming atmosphere! read more
9 months ago
2 years ago
Quick service and plenty of tasty food options. Had one of the bowls and it was both delicious and filling. Places gets full but we were lucky to find an outside table on a weekend morning. read more
5 years ago
Arrived at around 12:30 on Thursday and it was busy. Tables both indoors and out. We were lucky to snag a table for 2. Order and pay first, and they bring the food to you. Other than that, wouldn't necessarily say there was any service. Pretty big list of coffee and tea drinks. We ordered the Nola and an iced Chai. Both were good, but we mixed them together and they were even better. We also shared the Romana - Caesar salad with chicken and bacon. It was a really good salad. Lettuce was cold, warm chicken and lots of bacon. Also ordered the Creamy Eggs. The eggs were fluffy, could taste the chives, and the goat cheese (?) made them very tasty. Liked the salad and baguette as well. It was a good meal to share and I'd return to try other items. read more
3 years ago
Great place for awesome food and just to hang out to! I notice people who are there bring their laptops having a relaxing day for themselves..drinking coffee and other things too! :)) My honey and I drive all the way there from SF coz it's our fun day to go to! The workers there are very nice and service is always on point! Mind you the lines could get very loooong but it's worth the wait because it's that good of a place! We appreciate the kind workers we tend to bump into..great job to Miss Nina who always brings an inviting beautiful smile..very sweet and patient when she takes our order! Then we have Miss Judette..always pleasant..greeting us a warm hello..saying Welcome back and good to see us! :)) Also..Miss Valeria..her awesomeness who's very honest opinion about what's good on the menu! We All appreciate everyone there! Their great in their own way..all works hard! Thank you so much! As for the food we normally get is their sandwiches! Super huge with their signature vinaigrette salad! Soo yummy! I'll post pictures of it! Love all their wonderful pastries and desserts! Which by the way..I buy extras to take home and share with my friends! Overall..go and support this Cafe Central in Burlingame! Love them! You won't get disappointed! Everything there is very good! Enjoy..Bon Appetite All! :)) read more
I really enjoyed this place! It was very cute inside and had nice shaded outdoor seating. Great location because you can do some shopping after. I asked for the cream cheese on the side. Ingredients were really fresh, but the bagel was a little too crisp for me because it made it harder to eat. Overall super yummy though!! read more
5 years ago
Came with a friend on a Saturday in the afternoon around 4 pm. I've been to downtown Burlingame so many times and never noticed this place, but the food looked good on Yelp so we decided to give it a try. I got the prosciutto pesto panini ($13.50) and a slice of chocolate cake ($7.50). The panini was just okay. It comes with arugula, tomatoes, and mozzarella on focaccia bread, and a side salad. The amount of arugula they put in the sandwich was disproportionate to the other ingredients, which made the prevailing taste in my mouth bitter and unappealing. The layer of prosciutto was so thin that I couldn't even taste it, the mozzarella had no taste, and I could barely taste the pesto. Basically, just don't get this sandwich unless you love arugula. But at that point, you might just be better served grabbing arugula from the supermarket. The side salad for this dish, though, was the saving grace of the meal. The dressing had a nice acidity to it that was light, refreshing, and delicious. The chocolate cake was mediocre. The layers of cake tasted kind of stale and old, and the cake as a whole didn't have the rich, deep chocolate taste that I was looking for. I'd skip this too. My friend got the carrot cake, though, and really enjoyed it. So maybe I just happened to choose all the things that weren't good. The service was straightforward. You order at the front counter, find a table inside or on the outdoor patio, and they bring you your food. Based on the food I had, I wouldn't come back. It's too expensive for the quality that you get, and the flavors aren't that good or appealing. Maybe their brunch options are better, and a lot of reviews talk about their pastries being good, so maybe try those options if you feel inclined to dine here. read more
This is a cute little spot for brunch or lunch. They display the dishes they have to offer in a glass case which is a great way to see what looks good and what you may want to order. All the dishes look fabulous in the case and in real life, they actually really look as displayed. There are a number of healthy options like salad with tofu or salmon, plus sweet dishes like waffles with berries and whipped cream. The Central Salad with Salmon was delicious. My husband liked his Chipotle Salad. They don't drench their salads with dressing. My son really enjoyed his waffles. The service is really friendly and they're very efficient. Things get cleared off your table. Once you leave, they spray it down. I'm happy to find another spot in Burlingame. read more
More info about Caffe Central
1380 Burlingame Ave
Burlingame, CA 94010
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(650) 315-2511
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http://www.caffecentral.com
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Ask the Community - Caffe Central
Do they accept reservations?
No they don't as it's just a place you order at the counter then find a seat, type of restaurant.
Do they allow dogs in their Caffe while we eat there?
They have seating outside. I saw many diners enjoy meals with their baby"dog" outside 👍🏻(I don't see any inside the cafe).
Does this location have a phone number? Looking for lost and found?
650-315-2511 is the phone number for the Burlingame location
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