Love coming here and the coffee is solid. Low key coffee shop without too much happening around it, but the owner is very nice and always prompt with making orders. Pastries are also delicious especially the coffee cake and chocolate cheesecake. read more

I've been a neighborhood regular since Mudrakers opened in 2007. The service is great and a wonderful place to meet people as it is usually very quiet. Stable wireless internet, friendly service as well as great food. Try their turkish coffee! read more

Yummy fresh Mediterranean plate & chai hits the spot on the North Berkeley/Oakland border. And the nicest man greets you at the door with a smile before serving it all up. Great neighborhood find. read more

This cafe has a small town charm. It's comfortable and warm. The barista is very polite and quick to serve. Offers friendly conversation and has a wide variety of baked goods and sweet snacks. Their coffee tastes better than most coffee shops I've been to. Great meet up stop or even a date spot. read more

The man here was super nice and friendly. Greet coffee and food, must visit. I love the location and the indoor seating looks great but sadly still shut down in California. read more

I wanted to like this cafe more than I did. Will try again another day. I went on a rainy day and it was cold and dark and rather dismal inside. There was plenty of seating and they did serve a variety of hot and cold drinks, salads, sandwiches and sweets. I got a pot of tea but skipped the food. There is a restroom but the toilet paper holder has seen better days. It takes jumbo rolls but is broken in a way where you can get a section at a time. Seriously a new fixture can't be that expensive. read more

Free internet, food, ample outlets, open into the evening. Not a busy part of Telegraph so there's usually parking. Nice man at the front who I assumes owns the place. I ordered looseleaf tea in a tea pot and a salad. -Would be great if they could put some covers over the 2 light fixtures in the front because the harsh fluorescent light starts to hurt the eyes. The rest of the place is nicely lit though. read more

I went to here for the first today and I'm never going back. I came in 20 minutes before closing. There were no signs up saying this. I go in to order a coffee and a falafel. As soon as I finish my order he looks at and sceams "you want food?" I was a little put off but I asked if the kitchen was closed. He said no. So I ordered again. He then sceam "to go?" As this point I asked him if there was a problem. He looked me up and down and said "we're closing in 20 minutes." At this point I just gave up and left. The whole time he was rude and clearly just didn't want to help me. Don't go here. read more

I went without internet access at home for nearly nine months last year, and in that time Mudrakers was a lifesaver. Quiet, comfy, and bright, this cafe always had a table for me and an outlet for my computer--with the one exception of a Sunday morning, when it was packed to the gills with evangelicals waiting for their church service to start across the street! I also love their rotating art exhibits; there have been several photographs and paintings that I would have bought if I'd had the money for it. I don't drink coffee, so I can't speak to its quality, but Mudrakers has a good assortment of organic teas (both bag and pot). I never found the croissants to be stale, and I loved the fruit salads, regular salads, and selection of Naked Juice drinks. I've attempted to order a smoothie on several occasions, but they are always out and by now I've given up. The proprietors' openly pro-Palestine stance can be off-putting to some, but I've never felt uncomfortable there as a Jew. Some of my friends were alarmed/vaguely offended when they featured a series of photographs depicting Palestinian life in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, but I found them challenging in a good way. read more

This place is nasty. I got food poisoning and the service was very close to being hostile. There are many better options in the area.

Hey, the bathroom's clean, the guy behind the counter tries to crack jokes, and there's nice comfy love-seat sofa chairs to sit on. Throw in the free wi-fi, the Thanksgiving-esque abundance of outlets, the free 2-hour parking right around the corner and some outdoor seating, the place isn't bad at all. What's not as nice is the coffee, which tastes thin and maybe a little sour, which brings up bad memories of Starbucks. The pastries are average (although the sandwiches aren't bad). But what gets me the most is how warm it is inside, almost unbearable on hot days, and the little fruit flies and gnats buzzing around. Also, the manicure studio next door strikes me as rather poor company. read more

Came here to get some work done, and it's perfect for that. Okay, to be fair, the interior is kind of crappy and the food/offerings don't seem super great or diverse (they had looseleaf teas but I couldn't figure out what they were! Nothing Bundt Cakes are also there) BUUUUT, the coffee wasn't bad and my teapot of black tea was nice... (and the sandwiches my friends got looked hearty and nice!) the BEST thing was the wifi, the quiet roomy space and natural light, and the awesome owner. He gave us a warning about time, and then waited patiently for us to finish packing up. He was super good-natured about everything and I just felt that THAT deserved the 5 stars definitely. PS the bathroom was pleasantly a surprise - super clean. Also, parking along the side streets aren't bad, and yeah. I'd definitely come here to work. read more

I think I can summarize: Good wi-fi. Ok food. Mediocre vibe. Bad coffee. Perhaps a place to get some lunchtime work done, but not much else. read more

Great welcoming cafe to hang to chat with friends or a loved one, or just to sit and work on your computer. Either way the owner is always welcoming, great food if you're in a hurry and don't want to spend too much for a nice hearty meal. My favorite is the tuna melt panini. Deliciously savory, and it doesn't warm up the tuna too much. Which, by the way, is much more tuna heavy than mayo heavy. Finish it with a drink or a nice treat and you're set for at least a few hours!! read more

Cool place to grab a seat and surf the net. They offer free wireless and plenty of outlets, which is nice so your battery doesn't run down. Fair trade coffee and teas, which you can get by the cup or pot. Sandwiches and pastries, too. The tiramisu looks great, but I haven't had it yet. Nice decor and a good vibe. Plus, they have opened the back room, so there is additional seating now. Grab a table by the glass storefront and check out the traffic on Telegraph. read more

Location: great (away from the grungy busyness of Bancroft and Telegraph) Food: the panini are tasty, affordable, and hot. but my REAL fave here is the hummus plate - homemade hummus, and topped with olive oil, crushed pepper, and if you're lucky, sometimes they add tiny pickles, olives, and tomatoes. very authentic Mediterranean food, from the looks of it based on some of the people who order it. Decor: nice furniture, art is edgy and controversial sometimes but beats having bare walls. LOTS of space and outlets. Coffee: sometimes it seems the pump-pots have been out a while. but usually I get tea anyway so no biggie for me. Highly recommended. And as for the cleanliness thing...well, we all love Chinatown food don't we? And the only difference is that we can't see what's going on in the Chinese restaurants behind those greasy walls =) I don't have any problem with the food here and the taste is worth it in my opinion. read more

Update: After stopping in here, I have to say: the coffee sucks. There are so many places to get a decent cup of coffee, and this isn't one of them. They need a better bean, and they need to make the coffee stronger. Lower Telegraph Avenue is not exactly a cornucopia of great restuarants. In fact, the area between Adronicos and Whole Foods is pretty much a No Man's Lunch Land. I mean, there's Tai-San, which serves edible, but not-so-great Chinese food in a run down setting. So we welcome Mudrakers, a brand spanking new Coffee hop with some middle eastern type specialties and a few pastries to enliven your day. Nice chairs, decent coffee. Not a destination, unless you live or work in the area, and then its kind of an oasis. read more

I think it's time to stop going here. This morning I got a salmon salad that literally made me feel sick. I've never been 100 percent wowed by Mudrakers, but I think I've gone there for the last time. read more

A lousy too-sweet mocha, stale Croissant, and honorific music summarize my first Mudrakers experience. Chuckle I will; return I will not. Here is how it all went down: 8:05AM: I'm in trouble! I'm writing this review from Mudrakers on Telegraph and just moments ago I requested a music change away from the blaring drivel of LeAnn Rimes and Co. Apparently guy working the counter this morning is a bit of a fan of LeAnn and Celine because he seemed rather bent when I asked if it was possible to listen to something a bit mellower (i.e. NOT AWFUL) at 8AM. So now I'm rushing to finish my ok-tasting Croissant and too-sweet mocha... ... 5 minutes pass ... 8:10AM: After several tense minutes of silence and awkwardness, the guy behind the counter put on Bob Marley. Now we're talking, we're working our way up past 2 stars. I can focus again! Good-riddance LeAnn - I hope it is a long time before you and your inbred contemporaries blow your chunks of disgusting "music" my way again. 8:20AM: What the hell happened to this CD!? Here's how it sounds: "Could you be loved and be loved? Could you be -SKIP- ... them fool ya, -SKIP- ... red, red, wine -SKIP- !" 8:40AM: "If I had to live without you, What kind of life would that be? Oh, I need.... I need you in my arms, need you to hold, You're my world, my heart, my soul, If you ever leave, Baby you would take away everything good in my life, And tell me now How do I live without you?" 8:41AM: Screw you LeAnn! I'm OUT! read more

This place is awesome for studying. It is super quiet! It is almost like you are in a library, I was scared I was going to get yelled at by one of the other people who were studying when I talked on my cell phone, which is why I whispered. The coffee wasn't very good, but their salads are pretty large and full of stuff. Lots of outlets and very reliable free wireless. The workers are very quiet and kind of awkward to approach, but friendly at the same time. Overall a very quiet and serious place to study. But I like it for that. read more

Everything just seemed so mediocre here. The food was meh, the coffee was ho-hum and the ambience was - well - i don't really remember it. Also, Styrofoam cups? In Berkeley? C'mon ... read more

Bland and small portions. Not very fresh. Quite slow service. Way too expensive for what it is. Next!

Poor service. Serving caffeinated beverages while parading around maskless AND denying use of the bathroom because of the "pandemic" seems ridiculous. read more

Basically, don't come here for the food or drinks. My chips were stale, and my iced-mocha was like some chocolate powder mixed with water. I'm not even confident if there was expresso in there. However, you if you need a low-maintenance cafe, and want to get away from the student crowds, come here. Free wi-fi too! Usually, the two window tables by the street are free and offer great people watching. Let's be real, that's the real reason I go. read more

I've been here twice, with mixed results. The first time a cappuccino. Too much milk, below average beans, below average temperature. Very drinkable with some extra Splendas! :) The second time a berry smoothie. Not sure if a smoothie is the right word. I didnt want him make it, but it tasted like blueberries tossed into milk with a hint of sweetener. After a few sips it hit the trash can. Ambiance, service, and value are all on par with what you'd expect from a neighborhood coffee spot. Unfortunately I don't see the quality in their drinks. read more

Great coffee shop on Telegraph. Design is modern and they have a decent selection of sandwiches. A bit away from the campus so you won't have to fight for a table. read more

ok, since you're curious. I think this cafe is a mixed bag & looking at the reviews already here, it seems like that's borne out by other opinions. What I like: bright and open, lots of light and windows, cozy chairs, regular dining chairs, a little booth, a back room when you're in it for the long haul. Plenty outlets & free wireless. Food is pretty good- it's not consistent, which means to me that sometimes it's great, sometimes not so great. I usually DON'T get it here- if I'm gonna go for a while between meals, I want my last one to be good. What I'm not thrilled about: Service is spotty, not the most eager and often downright indifferent. I don't expect buttkissing, but the servers are not that warm (and I've been served by a few here), and sometimes give off the vibe that asking questions about the fare is an imposition. I prefer the cafes where I'm greeted and helped out. I notice I tend to spend more when I enjoy interacting with the barista, so their friendly behavior may be to their advantage. And I'm worried about the wiring - the fuses behind the counter seem to blow every so often, which scares me for pluggin' in my laptop. Oh and the dusty junk they store behind the booth bench in the back room puts me off a bit. Part of why I go to work outside my place is to get away from crap that needs cleaning up! Music is also an afterthought - I've been there when the boom box is only loosely tuned and there's MOR KOIT-type music (Anita Baker circa 1988, anyone?) belting out full of static because the channel isn't set well. That kind of thing drives me ke-razy! I make sure to bring my headphones and turn my own sounds up high. I don't use a cell phone, so no worries that it will go off and startle anyone else while I can't hear it. And probably appear a freak myself because I laugh aloud when my fave BBC R2 djs say funny things in my ear. My verdict: I only come here when my study buddy wants to. Otherwise, I have my own faves where I feel more at home. I've found cafes where it feels like a bit of a community, with the tone set by the staff, and that's what I likes. See you there? read more

It's really nice to find a business where people are honest, nice, and trustworthy. I went in yesterday to grab a snack with a friend before going to an event nearby. I don't carry a purse often, and therefore forgot it under my seat, which was right by the window. It was only at the end of the event, when I reached to grab my purse that I realized that it was missing! Total panic ensued, but I had a little sliver of hope because the guy who worked behind the counter had been really friendly when we were ordering our drinks... could it be still there? could he have kept it for me?? YES! The next morning when I called, he said he had it. He remembered me, and where I sat, and when I came to pick it up, he was really nice about it. He'd checked the bag and noted that there was a wallet inside, so he knew I must have paniced. Everything was as I left it. So relieved for his nice deed. It's nice to be in a community where people look out for one another. read more

Let's not beat around the bush: the coffee and food here is pretty bad (insipid bean water, tired pastries, cookies in Saran Wrap, etc.). This isn't a place to go if you're looking for "flavor" or an "experience". However, if you need a place to wait around for your next yoga class, or if you're a teacher at the nearby middle school in desperate need of a lunch break caffeine boost, I'm sure this place is a godsend. read more

Great place to get some work done, have some good food and enjoy a laidback atmosphere surrounding by lots of natural light. There is always plenty of seating, it's usually pretty quiet, and the wi-fi is free. I always enjoy the food I order here and the owner is very friendly. This is not a see and be seen destination where you have to fight for a seat and access to an electrical outlet and be subjected to pre-made refrigerated sandwiches. If you want one of those, you know where to go. read more

I like the service. No frills, straight up coffee, get-in, get-out service. But of course if you want to stay there's plenty of space in the back room which is well lit with natural lighting. Plenty if small tables to snuggle up to next to a wall and thankfully, a power outlet. It also feels like a friendly mom and pop shop. A lot of the neighborhood kids also trickle in to buy ice cream. The prices are reasonable too. $2.75 for a latte! come here to avoid the student crowd from the cafés closer to campus. read more

The vibe of this place is off. I should have trusted my instinct upon stepping foot inside. Prices are ok. Coffee is ok. Cookie is stale as ever. There is a dying plant in the bathroom. The younger guy behind the counter is a little intimidating. The older guy seems sweet, cracks silly jokes. I didn't try any menu food but the options seemed cool. The state of the cookie made me decide not to try anything. They need some redirection is all. Good Luck Mudrakers. read more

Quiet, friendly atmosphere. and there is good food that is affordable. The shop owner is very kind and seems like a very good person. I highly recommend. :) read more

As usual, let me first explain my rating criteria. As a officeless power wifi user, I need to take a break from home and find a place that offers a bit of ditraction when I'm trying to get motivated to do some work. That being said... Yay! 1. Lots of places to sit.. the front may be a bit more crowded but it has a few nice lounge chairs. In the back there are more tables and it is a bit more quiet with lots of power outlets all over the place. 2. Cheap food available... there are a bunch of sandwiches and salads on the menu - plus a very reasonably priced mediterranean plate. 3. Good wifi connectivity Boo! 1. Seems a bit understaffed... only one dude was serving everything. However I did go on a Sunday afternoon when there is less traffic. Overall I liked the place - there were lots of people there working which provides a good environment. The coffee was okay - I'm no expert but I have tasted better. Overall, a pretty good place to work from read more

Dropped in here for a lunchtime 'Pear and Blue Cheese Salad'. While the salad was made to order, it tasted like a bagged salad from Safeway. The lettuce was cold and lack-luster, the pears were soggy, and the flavors simply so-so. The best part of the salad was the Focaccia bread on the side. Ultimately, Mudrakers has friendly service and an inexpensive price point. It's a simple cafe with little seating and a casual interior. That being said, go somewhere else for your foodie indulgences. read more

I was in a great mood when I walked in here this morning: I had just escaped a possible root canal (see previous review). What better way to celebrate than to have a double macchiato and a pastry in a cafe that I had never visited before? I was underwhelmed by the pastries, which seem all to have come from the wholesale arm of Semifreddi's. I had a macaroon, and thought it was merely OK. The coffee comes from Taylor Maid Farms of Sebastopol (see http://www.taylormaidfarms.com/wholesale.html). OK, their coffee is organic, fair trade, and shade grown, and it comes from small farms. But are these good beans, and were they roasted well? Not if Bluebottle is your standard. Was the espresso thin and over-extracted? It was; the barista is no world champion. On the other hand, people seemed to be happy with their WiFi, and the ambiance is really a plus. In a less competitive market, this cafe would be a regional highlight. [Added July, 2008: Awaken Cafe in Oakland also uses Taylor Maid Farms beans, but their coffee is *good*!] Amusing anecdote: there was a customer in there, typing into his laptop, with huge noise-canceling headphones on his head. His cell phone went off, with the ring set to the max. It was really loud -- people out on the street were reaching for their pockets to see if the call was for them. This guy never heard the phone; his headphones put him in another world. read more

This is the third time I've been here - twice in college, once (now) post-college. I'm enjoying Mediterranean platter right now for about $7. It comes with 2 whole falafels, 3 dolmas, hummus, baba ganoush, and a make-shift tabollei. Falafels aren't fresh (seems like the've been sitting out cuz they're certainly not warm and crunchy as fresh falafels should be) and my pita isn't warm either. Boo =( However, the flavor of the hummus, baba g, and dolmas are on key. So, w00t to that. All in all, I'd say this Med. plate is "average". Cashier guy wasn't very smiley, but attempted to crack some jokes...which I laughed along with out of courtesy. Highlights of this place: - Free wi-fi - Lots of outlets - 2 hour residential parking all around - Opened until 9pm every day - $2.50 for a Latte OR a Mocha (+ organic beans!) - Not full of lots of college kids crammin for stuff exams and chatterin away (peace when needed). read more

Plenty of seats, some cushy, and lots of outlets. Also a wide selection of teas. Decent restroom too (a must when you're going to camp out and drink tea all day :). But the place is also a bit loud for working with someone else, and doesn't have much of a vibe. It's no Nomad or Fertile Grounds. But I'll try it again sometime. read more

Perfect place to study! Lots of tables + outlets and a decent cappuccino. Wifi isn't super fast but good enough for me to do work. Friendly owner too :) read more

This is such a sweet spot in Berkeley. I wanted to try their hot cocoa after reading on here that it was good. It didn't disappoint! It was just what I needed on a chilly afternoon. There's plenty of seating too. It's hard to find a good spot sometimes when you have a group or a family, but this definitely provides a good amount of space. Being on a corner, there's a ton of windows and natural light and the whole atmosphere is pleasant. The man working was just as kind as can be and when I left, I knew I'd found a spot that I'll be returning to regularly. Don't let the humble appearance from the outside fool you. This place, like many people I know, has so much more to offer on the inside than you would think if you only saw it's exterior. It's like a little pocket of small town charm set in the middle of a bigger city, and I'm looking forward to my next cup of cocoa. read more