I miss living in Berkeley because La Note is hands down my favorite brunch place. French brunch?? Please, where else can I find this? The outdoor and indoor dining areas are both cute, though I'd recommend outside if weather permits because it's so pretty and less claustrophobic than inside. The service is always friendly, although the wait times can get pretty long (it's worth the wait). While you're waiting, there's a cool bookstore next door you can browse around. My go to order is the Cote Nord. The scrambled eggs are soft and buttery and the roasted tomatoes provide a perfect acidity to balance out the creamy eggs and cream cheese/goat cheese it comes with. I want to try their other menu items but I'm so smitten with the Cote Nord, I always get it. My friends have gotten the pancakes and other dishes which have also been really good. read more

La Note - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I've been hearing amazing things about this place and was excited to finally go for brunch. It's located in the heart of Berkeley, fairly close to UC Berkeley. I love how lively it is in the area. We went on a Friday at around 11am. We recommend putting your name down on the waitlist (it is a BUUUUSY place!) It's a walkable area so you'll definitely be able to find something to do nearby as you wait for your table. We finally were given a call that our table was ready and seated towards the front of the establishment. It was truly like a French bistro which we all loved though, when I looked at the floors, it wasn't very clean. It was fairly warm inside as well. To start, I ordered the hot chocolate (kids size), my sister ordered the mocha, and our friend ordered orange juice. We all thoroughly enjoyed our drinks. The hot chocolate was rich and filled with a deep cacao flavor. We all decided to share the creme fraiche pancakes (which was an amazing idea!). The portion was enough to share with more than one person. It was delicious, though slightly dry. 8.1/10 Omelette de Pommes de Terres: I ordered this dish and was disappointed. It lacked in flavor and the potatoes in the omelette were undercooked. The side salad had been overdressed. 4/10 Les Ouefs Lucas: My sister modified the cheese and had gotten Emmenthal instead of goat. She thought it was delicious and had no issues. 8/10 Cote Sud: Our friend loved it! No issues there. Service overall was awesome, our server was attentive and helpful. It's a great place to try, though it's not a place I would consistently go to. Service: 9/10 Ambiance/Cleanliness: 7/10 Food: 6/10 read more

La Note - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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my #1 breakfast spot in berkeley - i love this place so much but def come early or be prepared to wait awhile. their lattes are amazing and so are their potatoes, omelettes, and ORANGE LAVENDER FRENCH TOAST would not recommend this place on doordash bc everything is much better fresh at la note. read more

La Note - Brioche Pain Perdu, Creme Fraiche Pancakes, Omelette de Pommes de Terre - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Wonderful service and the food was divine! I had the ginger pear pancakes. Been trying to replicate at home but have not come close yet. read more

La Note - Ginger pear pancakes. So yummy! - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Checked this place out with my boyfriend during Saturday brunch and signed up for the waitlist at their desk. Even though the wait was estimated 40 minutes, we were seated in about 10 minutes. I would definitely opt to eat in their outdoor space because it was so loud and felt cramped inside. They give you ample time to go over the menu which was nice. This is what we got: Poached pear and gingerbread pancakes (5/5) -- tender, moist, strong ginger flavor. I don't think it goes with maple syrup so I ate it with their house strawberry jam and butter. The poached pears were good, but I didn't get a chance to try a bite of them with the pancake Cote ouest (5/5) -- the best garlic roasted potatoes I have ever had with the super crisp, caramelized skins and creamy interior. Love how they add the garlic cloves, which I smeared all over the bread and ate with the jam and butter. The eggs were good, but the ratatouille stole the show with its deep tomato and eggplant flavor. Omelette de pommes de terre (5/5) -- My boyfriend enjoyed this. The only thing I tried was the tomatoes off his plate and they were delicious I remember we tried ordering a lunch item 10 minutes before their start time and they were firm on waiting until their lunch hours. Portions were generous and fair for the prices, service was average. I would definitely return if I had a day mapped out in the area and wanted brunch. read more

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This is not about the restaurant experience, but the reservation experience. I never thought La Note was open for dinner, but some friends got a reservation for 7:45 pm for last night, and later asked us to join. I thought they must have made a mistake, but the La Note voicemail does say something about offering dinner on certain nights. It appeared you could make dinner reservations through Yelp for that evening, although the restaurant website only gives breakfast/lunch/brunch hours, and there is no dinner menu posted online. That evening was fully booked, it appeared, so I tried to get on the waitlist, which was a complicated mess, and didn't work out. But then one of the friends' kids got sick and we had to cancel the whole meetup, so I stopped working on it. I walked by La Note last night, the night my friends had the reservation to dine there, and it was completely closed and locked up. So somehow the Yelp system allowed my friends to make a dinner reservation even though the restaurant wouldn't have been open. This is all very confusing. I don't know if La Note ever offers dinners or not, but I wish their voice message, website and Yelp page had consistent information. read more

It was raining in the early morning when I passed La Note and decided to head inside for a quick breakfast before class. At once, I was greeted by not only the friendliest waiter, but also the pleasant coziness of the restaurant, like a warm blanket inviting you in from the cold to take a break and relax. There were several tables of adorable elderly customers chatting over coffee as I walked by, and even some munching on toast while they filled out the daily crossword. It was a pity that I was on a tight schedule, otherwise I would've spent my entire morning to properly relish my time there too! When they sat me down to order, I opted for the Les Oeufs Maison because I wanted some warm eggs and toast after being out in the cold. I also tried the cafe au lait, which was served in a large bowl -- very proper, I liked that a lot. The food was ready in about ten minutes and it came with lovely presentation, and I immediately dug in after taking pictures. The Les Oeufs Maison comes with potatoes that are seasoned the perfect amount and is filling for the stomach. On the other side, you've got a set of perfectly crunchy toast accompanied by a swatch of aromatic butter, and cushioned in between are eggs that they tailor make to your liking. I opted for over easy, but they can do sunny side, scrambled -- literally anything you want! If all that still isn't enough for you, you can even ask for a side of meat, though that'll be an extra charge on top of the original order. Besides that, I've nothing else to say! I really enjoyed my visit today as prices were reasonable for delicious food, on top of the high quality customer service. Really, watching the waiters interact so organically with their customers was refreshing and wholesome to see. They recall faces of regulars and evidently try to establish friendly relationships with the people they serve. When it comes to serving the waking world, La Note seems to know best. read more

La Note - Les Oeufs Maison, Cafe Au Lait - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

The wait wasn't horrible, however there was an odd issue with my table's seating reservation and it just skipped over us, then was reassured that we would get seated, 20 minutes go by and then nothing, we ask again and get seated shortly after. I'd say their breakfast food was slightly above average but the main attraction was the pastries and coffee, which I enjoyed. I recommend the coffee cake and a hot mocha. read more

Best breakfast place. Very cool atmosphere and wonderful service. Definitely a please to look forward to for the ambiance and food and service! read more

Ambiance: It was beautifully designed and gave of a traditional feel. We did think the tables were a bit too close and a little tight but that didn't subtract anything from our experience. Service: Amazing. Fast. Nothing more needs to be said. Food: We got the oatmeal raspberry pancakes and baguette jambon-gruyere. The pancakes were delicious, it was so light and fluffy which can sometimes be hard to do well. The raspberry syrup was tart and tangy. The sandwich was equally as good while being very simple. The baguette was nice and fluffy while being crunchy. Also the fillings perfectly balanced each other. We added the cheese and believe that it is must. We love this place and HIGHLY recommend it. read more

La Note - Oatmeal Raspberry Pancakes and Baguette Jamon-Gruyere - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Locally popular French restaurant primarily for lunch. Seems very popular with students as well. So quite a young and sometimes noisy crowd. I seldom hear French spoken. And the staff isn't French to my eyes read more

I really love this place , I have brought my kids, my granny and I love to order pick up. The food is great the atmosphere is so cute and quint. My kids love the pancakes and home fries the best, and the French toast soaked in orange my god so good. It's a must go But get there early like 10 mins before they open on the weekend because there will be a line forming. It's pricey but worth it hands down. read more

La Note - Lavender vanilla latte - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

If I could 10 stars, I definitely would. Was introduced to this restaurant by a friend who was in grad school at UC Berkeley. Every time I have been ever since, there has always been a wait but that's telling of how delicious the food is here. The interior and exterior of the restaurant are extremely welcoming and interesting to look at while waiting for your table or food. Having seated inside and out, there isn't a bad seat or table. Now to talk about the most important part, the food here has truly never disappointed. Orders for me and or my friends have always revolved around the Corbeille de pain (Bread Basket), Les Oeufs Lucas, and Cote Nord. Service itself also has always been incredible even when it's slammed. Looking forward to the next time I'm in Berkeley to wait in the line for breakfast. read more

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Came here for my sisters birthday, cool little French spot with patio seating. We started with the bread basket which was really good. An assortment of breads like a croissant and French bread, slightly toasted and flakey with an amazing in house jam. I had the French toast which was good, had a hint of orange. Wasn't a fan of the potatoes. And the spicy sausage was ok, not enough flavor for my liking, my son loved it though. My family overall enjoyed their meals. Service was ok. read more

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Every UC Berkeley student has gone here at least once and will either brave the long wait or try again next time. I've rarely seen this restaurant without a group of people waiting outside and I can somewhat understand why... Let me explain. Inside it felt cramped and stuffy... I genuinely couldn't breathe and you can't eat without touching the person next to you. But luckily they asked if we wanted to sit outside in the back and it was perfect. If the weather is right, I definitely recommend this option. It's a rustic countryside feel that really harnesses France. The servers are incredibly attentive, as well. My friend and I happened to get a table that wobbled and someone noticed us trying to balance it, who immediately came over with a piece of cardboard. The food was perfect for the price. I think a lot of places have overpowering flavors that just don't work, here you get simple and elegantly well put together. read more

La Note - Oatmeal Raspberry Pancakes Cafe Au Lait - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

My partner and i love coming here for brunch. This spot is popular! Do NOT come the last hour and expect to sit outside (there's usually a nice wait to sit outside). Indoors is more intimate and a bit closer together to one another (sometimes can be stuff on a hot day). Overall, we have no complaints on service or food, only endless complements! The staff here is killer. They have brunch on lock and work very hard to get everyone on the waitlist seated. Every time we come here it's never a disappointment. The food is absolutely delicious and the most authentic french style i've found for breakfast/brunch. Bring friends, a partner, or whoever... it's perfect for conversation on a nice day. read more

La Note - Coffee come in large bowls instead of mugs. Two hands required. Very cozy vibe - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Over priced, noisy, bush league filter coffee, tiny tables placed very close to one another

So, in 27 years of patronizing this GEM of a French-inspired cafe, have we ever had a sub-par meal or sub-par service? A resounding NEVER!!! This is the real deal in terms of culinary and service perfection. Have literally had everything on the menu!, but we especially adore the Omelets w roasted home fries & toast, Gingerbread pancakes w pears, Scrambled eggs w cheese and chives and roasted tomatoes, Cobb salad, specials of the day, espresso coffees, etc, etc. Thank you La Note, for your spectacular food and gorgeous outdoor garden eating area!! We love you read more

Absolutely cute patio. Very crowded, dark and loud on the inside, always request the patio. That's more of a recommendation to others since I won't be back. Service was subpar, utensils were old and hopefully clean. They couldn't even provide proper utensils, like how were we supposed to cut the baguette in half? It took forever to get hot water and they charged $1.50 for it too! There was one guy that was nice and attentive who wiped up my spilled coffee for me. Thnx, buddy! But our server was nowhere to be found and when she was around, she was too busy snapping pictures of her coworker. Food was good and creative, really liked the baguette with goat cheese and roasted peppers, and the soft boiled dipping egg - reminded me of a trip to Italy. Was excited to try the pancake, glad we only ordered 1 bc it wasn't spectacular. read more

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Great place for breakfast with a very lively atmosphere. I always bring my family here when I'm in town.

Between the French-inspired menu and the cute back patio, it's clear why La Note is a Berkeley brunch favorite. I attended a brunch with a large group (~10 people), and due to the size of our group, we were instructed to order off a prix fixe menu. The first course consisted of a bread basket with croissants, brioche, and baguettes, which we all helped ourselves to while perusing the brunch options - a variety of pancakes, eggs, and sandwiches. Since our brunch skewed more towards lunchtime, I ordered the baguette jambon-buerre. Despite the size of our group, our food came out quickly. The baguette jambon-buerre was delicious - the bread tasted fresh from the bakery, and the cornichons added a nice crunch. The side salad was dressed with a tangy vinaigrette, which was very refreshing alongside all of the rich, buttery ingredients. I wish the prix fixe menu included some lighter options (e.g., soups, green salads), but overall, the breakfast options were solid. read more

La Note - Baguette Jambon-Beurre - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Enjoyed an early summer Sunday brunch with a girlfriend here in La Note's lovely courtyard. Arrived at 10:30 and although there were a few people waiting on the bench outside, they had both indoor & outdoor seating available (no wait) for our party of two. It was initially a little chilly outdoor, but they have heat lamps around, and weather was nice out. Food- we got a Cafe Noisette (cappuccino), Cafe Creme (latte), 1 Lemon Gingerbread pancake, 1 Creme Fraiche pancake, Les Oeuff Lucas (eggs lightly scrambled with goat cheese), Omelette au Fromage (cheese omelet), and also a La Note Pain Perdu (with their semolina French bread). Regarding their popular Pain Perdu, I couldn't find many reviews to distinguish how their La Note version using semolina French bread was like, as many reviews praise the brioche version, so since I already know how brioche tastes like, wanted to try the other. Was curious if the semolina would make the bread taste different. Turns out I couldn't decipher a difference from regular French bread, but it was soft & fresh, slightly chewy, and nevertheless a lovely dish as the bread is soaked in the orange blossom water butter & lavender honey (I didn't really detect the lavender but still good). Next time I will try the brioche version. Everything else, our coffees & food, was good. Price is as expected for the area & average for the times (unfortunately costly most places). Portion sizes were pretty good. Service was friendly. I was going to order the Cafe au Lait, and I appreciate that the server explained this was a regular black coffee with milk, asking if I wanted a latte which was the Cafe Creme. read more

La Note - L-R, T-B: Oeuff La Lucas, cappuccino, Lemon Gingerbread pancake, Creme Fraiche pancake, French bread Pain Perdu, Omelette au Fromage, latte. - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

This was really cozy place. With quite a few tables indoor. We here for brunch on a weekend , and as a table of two we were seated pretty quickly. As vegetarians we tried the following : Ratatouille: 3/5. This was simple and decent. Pancakes : 3/5. These were just okay. They seemed to be a little floury. Freshly squeezed orange juice: 4/5. Overall , the food was okay. But service was good. read more

La Note - La Ratatouille Borghetti - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here for lunch on a Thursday and it was quite busy! Fortunately we had a reservation for our party of 5 and the host quickly showed us to the table they had waiting. Very Berkeley vibe which I love. Staff was friendly and very attentive. Everything we had was delicious and generous portion sizes. In the future I may just split a baguette because of how large they are. The baguette is also delicious and fresh. read more

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The food was great, and it's super cute!! But, the service was terrible. The server ignored our table multiple times despite checking in on every other table in his section. read more

High quality food and a VERY LONG wait to eat. I would return with better planning. Also they don't take reservations and you can't call ahead. read more

Better options out there. We've been coming here for years and every time the food is a little bit worse. Had the crème fraiche pancakes and they were thick, cold and dry. Omelette dish was very nice. Service was slow. Had to ask for the coffee I'd ordered and then get up to get my own cream. Ambiance is always pretty nice if you can get the back patio. read more

La Note - Creme Fraiche Pancakes - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ambiance of patio- felt like Europe Food- delicious and different Service-fast, attentive read more

I have been going here for many years. I love the ambience, the food, and the service is always excellent.

Berkeley is love and La Note definitely was lovely. The place has a lively vibe, like most places in Berkeley. I liked their pancakes and lattes. The service was quite fast as well given the crowd they had. Getting in can be quite a bit of a wait because of its popularity. read more

I don't get to come here very often but am delighted every visit! Each breakfast dish is delicious, whether it's the fluffy eggs or pancakes. There's a reason for the absurdly long waits on weekends. Thankfully you're able to put your name down, give a phone number, and wander around a bit with a coffee before you're texted for a table. It's a bit chaotic in there always and the tables inside are very close to one another. That being said, it's all part of the experience/charm. They do have a rule now about not being able to bring outside beverages (why?) but usually if you go for coffee right away you'll be able to finish before your table is ready. read more

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They don't know what customer service means. Very pricey, and seats and tables are small and wobbly. Though I like their food & overall menu, the portions are too small. read more

La Note is one of my favorite brunch spots and always the first place I suggest to friends visiting or where to go on any given day where one is craving some good brunch! This classic Berkeley establishment serves consistently delicious food, from the fluffy scrambled eggs, to the decadent and beautifully plated pancakes, you really can't go wrong with their whole menu! Two of my favorite things to order from the breakfast menu are the Cote Nord or the Cote Est, where you kinda get a little bit of everything. For lunch I love the ham & Gruyère baguette or the ratatouille. Can't forget about their glorious lattes too. The dining room inside gives a classic, French feel and their back patio is so beautiful and inviting, especially on a sunny day. read more

La Note - Cote Est - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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La Note is a special place, especially during breakfast. It has the charm to whisk you away to France during a quick meal... This was our first time coming here as we had a little time to kill and glad we did! We sat down and ordered up a couple rounds of coffee while we looked over the menu. Everything sounded good, but Eggs seemed like the main ingredient used, so we figured an egg dish each should be ordered. My wife ordered the Les Ouefs Lucas and I went for the Cote Nord. My wife really enjoyed her dish commenting how perfect her rags were cooked. The Cote Nord though was amazing, especially ordered with the goat cheese! It is nearly the perfect egg dish, if not perfection! The goat cheese was a great suggestion by the waiter! The staff are very friendly and the restaurant itself offers so much charm! This will NOT be our only time here and I plan on trying everything on the menu! read more

La Note - Les Ouefs Lucas - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

This was a great stop and hidden gem in Berkeley. Great twist on French cuisine. Setting was great, staff was great, patio was very European, and overall experience was great. Will definitely be back to try some other items. read more

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Very good food. Enjoyed everything that i got there, will definitely go back again. Great experience.

Of all the French style brunch places in the Bay Area, La Note is the best! I love that they go beyond the traditional brunch fare and have dishes you cannot find anywhere else. I always come here with a friend and split: - œufs Lucas (scrambled eggs with super melty goat cheese and chives served with the most umami roasted tomatoes on a bite of crunchy sourdough toast) - brioche pain perdu (french toast made from cinnamon swirl brioche topped with lavender honey). Whatever you do, upgrade to the brioche! It is worth it! Pro tip: order a side of lavender honey. They put a little on the French toast already but using the honey instead of the syrup really takes it to the next level. There is usually a long wait on the weekends, but the crowd dies down around 1pm, so you will be seated faster. The only downside is that the service is pretty hit or miss. We spent 10 minutes trying to make eye contact with every waiter in the restaurant, while it was not very busy, just to find out who our server was, and they didn't remember to bring us water. True to the spirit of a French cafe then haha. The food and atmosphere are definitely worth it though! read more

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Never heard of this place but I'm glad I found it because the food was incredible! It's a cute little spot hidden in the streets of downtown Berkeley. The service was great and the food was some of the best I had in a while. The hazelnut latte and mocha were very rich and not too sweet. I also normally don't care for breakfast potatoes but these were probably the best breakfast potatoes I've had. There was a nice garlic taste to it and it complimented the salmon dish I had very well. The cinnamon brioche was also very tasty. I would definitely be coming back when I'm in the area next time! read more

La Note - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The restaurant is hidden amongst the several stores and restaurants along Shattuck, but once you get in side, the atmosphere quickly changes to warm and cozy with rustic and antique decorations including a stand-up piano and several little knick knacks that adorn the walls. The food was amazing! And I do not say that with exaggeration. Normally, we don't eat French style foods or at brunch time restaurants, but this place has perfected their menu items. The Cote Nord with cream cheese was light and fluffy and lightly seasoned. The omelette de pomme de Terre was also perfectly cooks, the onions caramelized and the roasted tomatoes were perfectly done. The side of merguez sausage was unbelievable as well. The lamb flavor came through without being too strong or salty and was our favorite. I would 100% suggest getting the side of merguez sausage on your visit if you are a fan of lamb. You will not be disappointed. The service was very quick and the waitstaff was friendly. The food came out within 10 minutes of ordering. No complaints. We will definitely stop by there again next time we're in that area. The only complaint I can think of is the prices being a little on the higher side, but I would excuse that for the quality of the food. It's well worth the price read more

La Note - Cote Nord with cream cheese - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The perfect cafe in Berkeley! Came in on a Wednesday for lunch and it was packed but no wait for a table. Service was quick! The inside was cute and cozy. I loved the little dogs in the corner too. We ordered the ham & cheese, eggs with tomatoes (the tomatoes are what they're known for!), and the croque madame. Everything was so simple, fresh, and executed well! The bread was crispy and still chewy! Will always come back when in Berkeley! read more

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