This is a five star breakfast joint, no doubt about it. Just go there and point at something on the menu. It doesnt matter what. It will be good, dont worry. But breakfast is pretty easy to make and places often charge way too much for it. These guys are moderate in that respect. What gives them 5 stars hands down no questions asked is that they give you your own thermos of coffee wirth breakfast. Its perfect for all parties involved: my coffee is always full, and the waitress doesn't have to come around all the time. And its pretty good coffee too, none of that Folger's crap. (Edit: I forgot. Zachary's in Santa Cruz is the only breakfast place worthy of 5 stars and is therefore the cafe by which all others are measured. Homemade comes close though.) read more

Awesome breakfast. I consider myself a regular since I cannot go too long without eating the huevos rancheros. Homefry Heaven! The wait staff is usually very sweet... except for one young lady, but I love that she's so cantankerous.It makes it feel like you're with family and there's always that one grumpy sister. read more

Homemade Cafe - Too good to wait and take a picture... Sorry. - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is one of my staple restaurants that I frequent often during the week with my boyfriend and my dog. They offer The Weekday Card-you get a stamp with every $5 and when you've collected 10 stamps, you can any printed menu item free on your next visit. I love the corned beef and hash and grits with honey and butter and I've loved everything I've tasted. Sometimes they give my dog turkey but they always say hi to him and offer some water. The staff is friendly and pleasant and it's a great local business to support. read more

The food is wholesome, fresh, and no frills. Service is friendly, great neighborhood joint! HOWEVER do not come here on Sunday brunch if you want to hear your companions. It gets so incredibly loud - it's a small space with a lot of hard surfaces - you can't hear anything. On the other hand, if you want to be by youself on Sunday morning reading the newspaper with loud hustle and bustle around you, have at it. read more

We waited 45 minutes for a seat, another 45 minutes after we ordered, and we're overwhelmingly disappointed. The portions were small and we all left feeling just as hungry as when we arrived. Then they added gratuity to our bill for a group of 5 (which is crazy but probably explains the lack of service we received). There are so many cheaper and higher quality places to get breakfast in Berkeley. read more

True to its name, it's a lot like eating at home: the people couldn't be nicer, but the process takes about 2 hours and the food is meh or worse. Bloody mary was straight tomato juice with a splash of soju (though we were able to add our own black pepper and tabasco sauce from the table condiments); orange juice was watery; "Log Cabin" syrup was somehow watery: eggs over easy were barely cooked and missing an egg; fresh fruit bowl wasn't fresh, etc etc. And after waiting 30 min to be seated, it took another 30 to place our order, and another 30 for the food to arrive. Too bad - otherwise a cozy neighborhood vibe. read more

I've been going to this cafe for over 10 years. Prices have gone up and quality has gone down. It's disappointing. Their pancakes are STILL the best around but after our last few visits I'm no longer interested in giving them our money. The pancakes that used to literally cover the entire plate have been reduced to half their original size. And the price has been nearly doubled. Wth. read more

Homemade Cafe - Shrunken pancakes. - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love the food, great pancakes, great potatoes, really just great food, buuut.... the service really not so good, its not horrible, at least for me, but I have never had a great or even good experience with any of the waitresses... also having to get your own coffee when it is super busy ( it is serve yourself) does suck. But great breakfast food. Yummm. read more

A really wonderful place for brunch! My friends and I came here on a Saturday around 10AM and were seated in about 10-15 minutes. The place is small so the service wasn't slow and the employees were down to earth. Their menu comes with the typical breakfast stuff like omelettes, etc. I ordered the combination which came with eggs, lean sausage patties and the most amazing buttermilk pancakes I have ever tasted! The pancakes were definitely my favorite off the menu. They were two large, fluffy pancakes that almost literally melted in my mouth. It came with a choice of log cabin syrup or maple syrup for an additional $1. I honestly didn't even need to the syrup. They were so good that I was already happy with just butter. :) Overall a great place to try at least once, though I will most likely come back! read more

A favorite breakfast, or breakfast-food-for-lunch spot. I like the corned-beef hash, as well as the LEO (lox, eggs and onion). Friends claim the Homefry Heaven is good hangover food.Good sized portions without ridiculous super-sizing everything. A little while back they started giving you the option of one slice of toast or two. No extra charge for two, they just didn't like throwing away all of the uneaten bread when 2 was the custom. My earlier recollections were always of surly service, which we enjoyed. It was never rude, just a touch of attitude. For the past couple of years, the service (which has always been great) seems a bit more friendly. read more

I've only been here twice, but I love it. Both times I ordered the French Toast with a side of bacon. The toast is the perfect thickness. The coffee is addictive..It's always busy, but the service never suffers. All the servers are super friendly and efficient. There's something very relaxing about this place. Can't wait to go on a Saturday and have a mimosa (or 2). Parking can be tricky, but SO worth it. read more

Homemade Cafe - The perfect French Toast with side of bacon. - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Homemade Cafe is a really cute "home"-y place to get some NOM breakfast. Let me just say that the HOME FRY HEAVEN is ACTUALLY HEAVEN. Though you might be sent to heaven from the heart attack you'll get after eating it. Not kidding, this thing is so filling and calorie-filled, it's almost alarming. But I must say, it is worth it. Much cheese, so guacamole, many nomz. The only complaint I had was how slow our service was. They were really friendly, but it took a bit longer than I would have liked (almost 30 minutes minutes after we had ordered) for our food to come out than I would have liked. But not tragic, just inconvenient. Overall, a yummy addition to my breakfast favorites! read more

We didn't have to wait like everybody else but that's probably because we came quite late - half an hour before they close. My water arrived with a kind of gross looking chunk of something floating on top and honestly if not for this I might give them 4/5. But it was really obvious and the waitress didn't notice it at all. I think the food was pretty good but nothing amazing. Regular ol' breakfast food. I had eggs with potatoes and toast and frankly I have nothing to say about it. Potatoes were alright, toast was fine, and eggs were cooked properly. This is the kind of breakfast I have had many times in my life for like $5 (thank you early bird specials) at the greasy diner near my university. This isn't posh hipster food that is worth $10+. Next time I want totally a totally average breakfast I probably won't return. read more

Want to feel like Harrison Bergeron? If you do, grab a seat in a booth at the Homemade cafe. I'm not usually that reviewer who suggests that this or that restaurant is made or broken by the ambiance, however, in this case I feel it is necessary. The benches in the booths have perfectly straight 90 degree backs, which isn't usually a problem, except that that tables is overly close. You could probably deal with it, but the table is also a foot narrower than booth tables traditionally are. You lean forward to rest on your arms and discover you're well within kissing distance of the person across from you which is a really awkward double date if the protocol of sharing a bench with your significant other is followed. But wait there's more! The sole source of ventilation is a fan that must be original equipment on the building (pre-1950) which makes a rather awful noise. It's not a fan noise, nor can it be factored into 'white noise' which, while not always my preference I can get down with. The noise is much more mechanical and resonant. It's not as though there's a fan in the room, it's as thought there's a motor in your head. On the upside, leaving post-meal is salvation. Walking out that door, I am Harrison Bergeron casting off the bags of shot wearing me down and pulling out the implant in my ears that shrieks to interrupt any train of cogent thought. Casting off the weight as I cross the threshold to the street I am free. I find no faults with the food or the service. It's a neighborhoody joint with quite the loyal following, although I've stuck entirely to the breakfast. read more

Homemade Cafe will always have a special place in my heart. When my husband and I first started dating we would walk here from his place to have breakfast after sleepovers. We probably never had an issue being seated or having our needs met because this happened, largely, during weekday mornings. No Sunday brunch waits for us! The food is consistently good, the atmosphere is homey, the employees are warm and welcoming. I like it here! I don't mind refilling my own water and coffee (who can refill my own cup faster than myself? No one, I tell you!) and my husband and I usually order a slice of coffee cake to go after we're finished because it's just that good. Even if I'm stuffed to the gills I'm still getting that coffee cake. Believe that. If you find yourself here, get the breakfast burger on french toast (with a side of potatoes since they don't come with!) You will NOT be disappointed :) My only "complaint" is that they got rid of their old punch card system where every five bucks got you a bit closer to a free meal with them. For those of us who fairly regularly eat here, that's a pretty sweet deal! Maybe too sweet a deal as now they use an electronic service that accrues points and payoffs much slower and is kind of a bummer. I still plan on eating here, of course, but I'm sad to see my little punch card go. My husband and I had many a Homefry Heaven thanks to those little dudes. read more

Great selection of brunch items, from pecan waffles to eggs benedict to club sandwiches. Food is simple, no nonsense. You get exactly what you order. If you want a reliable, affordable brunch spot, Homemade is your place! read more

I've been coming here with my (now) teenaged son for the last seven or eight years. The food is consistently good - slightly elevated diner fare, and we are especially big fans of the seasonal dishes and the coffee cake. The only downside is the seating, which is very limited and means that sometimes, you may end up having quite a wait, and/or a disrupted meal if you're at a shared table. You'll have to decide for yourself whether your priority is to be seated sooner, or to have a less than enjoyable meal due to your table neighbors. I would suggest to the wait staff that if they see that other customers have been seated at shared tables with unintentionally disruptive patrons (ie; crying babies, active toddlers, developmentally disabled people with loud tic-like outbursts) that they take steps to acknowledge the less-than-ideal dining experience for the neighboring, non-disruptive diner: complimentary coffee, muffin, something, to simply acknowledge that the experience was atypical and not especially enjoyable. read more

I loved it. I was in the area and wanted a comfortable good place to get eat by myself. Service was great and food very tasteful and well priced. My wait was. It long, but for a weekday, it was busy. read more

Homemade Cafe - It is a nice place to have a quick and delicious breakfast or lunch. Friendly and comfortable place - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

It was packed on a Saturday morning with all sorts of people. We sat at the counter because no seats were available. This place has a definite diner atmosphere--nothing fancy here, and you can see exactly how your food is prepared if you sat where we did, bringing back memories of being a diner waitress in my teens. My food was good and arrived quickly. They had a great fruit bowl! Servers were friendly but ... you know, diner employees. Jeans, stained t-shirts, somewhat brusque. That's just the way most of these places are. If any Iowa City refugees are in the vicinity, this will remind you of the Hamburg Inn. read more

Great food at a great price, and wonderful friendly staff!! The waffles and sweet tea are proper, the chili pull apart, and the fried chicken and 2 gravies with grits were outstanding. Will be back! read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE. Can I be any clearer? I love breakfast, I love lunch... and I wish they made dinner but, I can't have my cake and eat it, too. Speaking of cake: the coffee cake is awesome! The Huevos Rancheros...oh man! The BLT...a classic done right! I'm not a pancake person but, theirs are just so damned good! And the soup.... Oh, I love a good soup. But, the self serve coffee counter...perfect. The staff is awesome, to say the least (and a cute chef or two!). They have this weekday lunch thing where if you earn enough stamps, you get a free entree. Also, there's counter seating. I used to go to Rudy's Can't Fail (that place sucks now) then I discovered Homemade and haven't been to Rudy's since... it was like leaving a crappy relationship for a quality love affair. Thanks Homemade for making some of my worst mornings better! Yum yum yum... yum yum yum yum! read more

this is such a quaint place. Definatly will cure a hangover hahha I'm definately digging the Berkeley-vibe at this place. The mom n pop feel of this place seem to relax my senses. esp from a hard party last night. The morning sun lit the place elequently. and i loVED the paintings on the wall The food was good. I really liked the side condiments like the sour cream on the hash browns and (home made?) salsa. Definately coming back here!! read more

Wow! Homemade Cafe is fantastic their atmosphere: service,prices and the food was bomb.com! Everything my friends and I ordered was hot and fresh. I ordered a waffle which was super big, soft, golden brown and bursting with flavors of cinnamon. It came with some butter on it. I honestly was enjoying the waffle so much I got through half of it without adding syrup. It came with one egg and home style potatoes with garlic and onions, sooo freaking good! My friends ordered delish food too: Eggs with guacamole, salsa and tortillas. It came with a side of Black beans...OMG amazing, they were cooked perfectly and had a nice kick of spicy to them. My other friend ordered: breakfast sandwich with a breakfast sausage patty, egg and cheese she got French toast as the bread! You order coffee unlimited refills, they even have it out for you to walk up and serve yourself. I really enjoyed my experience here, I will be back for sure. read more

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The waitresses are awful, the coffee is bad, and most of the food looks/tastes like crap... So why three stars? Because their pancakes, fluffy and moist, are the best ever. read more

I have been to this cafe many times and a quote from the couple sitting next to us explains it all. "I can make a better omelette. You can make a better omelette. People think this is good?!?!" It is walking distance to us and each time I am less and less impressed by it. It is overpriced. The food is often bland. The seating is not all that comfortable and there is often a wait because there is nothing else around. I take back my previous review. read more

DISGUSTING FOOD!!!! Stale biscuits, greasy potatoes... GROSS!!! To top it off, they automatically charge a tip to your bill without notice. Can't say enough of how bad it is.... read more

The food was average to below average and there is a pretty long wait (got there at 10:45, waited awhile to get in, ordered quickly and got out at 12:30) read more

Pretty good for a small cafe in a neighborhood! The food is pretty simple and cheap, so it does what it should. I wouldn't say anything is spectacular, but it is great for a small quaint place for some eggs and toast. My sister said their pancakes were pretty good, not too sweet. read more

One of my favorite spots to stop in for a quick bit of french toast- I'm something of a french toast connoisseur and this is one of few places that makes the cut. there is definitely better french toast spots in berkeley but homemade cafe is one of the most convenient. No wait usually, and food is served quick at a reasonable price. Staff is also nice and efficient. read more

I came here for a Sunday brunch. I only ordered chocolate chip pancakes, sausage and hot chocolate. The hot chocolate came right away. After an hour someone came up to me and asked, "Ma'am, did you order any food? " I told her I ordered an hour ago. She asked who I ordered from. I pointed out the waiter. She walked up to him and said there's no ticket for that table. After some discussion they said the order was ready. I asked for the check and a to go box. I was half way across the street when I realized they did not give me the sausage. I came back in and the waiter looked at me like, "what do you want?" I told him I wanted my sausage. I heard the cook say it would be another 4 minutes. The waiter told me to have a seat. I told him I didn't expect to wait this long and had him give me a refund. No apologies or anything. Don't go here unless you enjoy wasting time. There's a built in 20% tip so I guess the wait staff doesn't give a f%@k about service. The pancakes were good though. read more

My most favorite breakfast place in the whole entire bay. Period. I am a sucker for downright simple and rich American food and homemade has it! Their waffles with pecans added are so so yummy with some house home fries on the side and you will surely want a nap afterwards from joyousness. Their weekday card is actually a great incentive as well. I have already received two free meals as a result of coming by during a weekday. I really like to go there on the weekdays because the weekends are understandably busy. Check it out. They won't let you down. And eye the local art on the walls as well. read more

I had a BLT for lunch today that could have been the poster child for bright colors and delicious flavor. The bacon was crisp, the lettuce fresh and the tomatoes bursting with red, tomato-y taste. I've read in other reviews that things can get a bit crazy on weekends, but today (Friday) at lunchtime the place was great, like those old Visa commercials where everything moves like clockwork. read more

It's cute for brunch if you like crowded places and small restaurants. The food is good and filling - but like previous posts have stated, nothing special. Otherwise, it's typical Berkeley - crowded with random array of customers (families, hipsters, loners), grimy, very to-the-point waiters/waitresses. Will probably go again since I love brunch on weekends, but it's nothing to love. read more

My ex and I loved to come here...granted I kinda get one thing but its soo damn yummy. My ex tried a couple of different things (though I don't remember what) and was never disappointed. So my favorite this is there effin waffles and gotta pay the extra for pecans or some kinda nut coz it is so darn tasty! mmm best waffles ever. And I love the taters...some complained of them being too salty but my ex and I thought they were fantastic and just right. We both do like salt but I cook so I believe in proportion for everything :). All in All I'm disappointed this place doesn't have more stars! read more

This is a sweet breakfast spot! We tried to go to 900 Grayson, but alas, they are closed on Sunday (on a side note...wtf, who serves breakfast and closes on Sundays? Lame!) Anyway, this was our backup destination, and I was not disappointed. Even though the restaurant was very crowded, we were seated almost immediately. I ordered the two egg breakfast with bacon and "heavenly" home fries ($2 extra, if memory serves). My bf ordered scrambled eggs and lox. We both had juice and coffee. BF raved about his meal...I dunno, warm lox isn't my thing. But I thought it was an interesting combination. My breakfast, on the other hand...woooooooooow. They aren't kidding about the heavenly homefries--sour cream, cheese, and guacamole. Yes please!! I also really liked the unpretentious vibe. All in all, a cool place. I'll be back! read more

Just finished dinner at the reopened Homemade. It was great! We had fried chicken for two, with sides of mashed potatoes, gravy and coleslaw. The dinner came with a nice, large salad and cornbread (or a biscuit). Four pieces of fried chicken were delicious, and so was the coleslaw. Mashed potatoes and gravy aren't my thing, but the person I ate with thought they were good too. Oh, and you can get breakfast for dinner! Good idea if you want to bring kids-get 'em a pancake. read more

I totally heart this place. I randomly found it on citysearch.com and went there one hungover morning. So far everything that I have gotten is amazing. Although there is a wait...I don't mind it at all. Fast service and hungover curing food is all I need. UPDATE: I wasn't hungover this time - but my boyfriend was. it was the right meal for him to have. my italian eggs were filling, i couldn't even get through all the bread and homefries they gave me. this place rules. read more

My friends and I went there, and I paired up w/ my buddy. He got a stack of blueberry pancakes and I got an omelette. We split so we could get the best of both worlds. That's the way to go. I guess I'm greedy when I go to restaurants: want to try each dish but forced to commit to the one I order for myself. The blueberry pancakes were delicious. Fluffy and airy, but with nicely warmed (plump) fresh blueberries. Then there was the omelette, and the homefries with sour cream on top. The place is good, although one might argue it's hard to go wrong with American breakfast. The service is friendly. Our waiter was topped with a nice plume of silvered hair, big smile and loud voice that carried well over the buzz and din of the restaurant. He reminded me of a Happy Days character, and like he'd fit in with Ralph and the Fonz. My one complaint was the time it took for our food (for 6) to arrive at the table. Yeah, it was a Saturday morning and that's a busy time, but it took about 45 minutes between the order and the first plate. read more

Very reasonably priced breakfast dishes. Had the corned beef hash and it was just OK. Very small pieces of meat and lots of potatoes. read more

This place is 3 blocks away from my apartment, so naturally I've been here twice in the last two weeks. I'm determined to learn to love it, since it's the perfect roll-out-of-bed-post-hangover brunch location. First visit was underwhelming...slow service and messy ordering process, and my huevos rancheros were not very flavorful. Second visit was a definite improvement, since I got the absolutely DELICIOUS "B.A.B.E." breakfast sandwich (heaps of bacon, arugula, egg and tomato!). I'm hoping to bump this up to four stars on my next visit, which I'm sure will happen very soon. read more