"Can I get something started for you?" Avoid that familiar…read morephrase from the corporate coffee giant and step into the whale. Wonderful single origin coffees available -pour over style as well as a variety of various espresso drinks, and tea. In the back is the master roaster machinery, and a nice lounge with pinball machines to hang out in and create conversation with other patrons. The staff is real knowledgeable and real personable and frequently make me laugh, and they know their product very well and will share information with the consumer. It's OK to ask a question and they won't yell at you if you want cream in your coffee. They do keep it behind the counter in the refrigerator, by request only. For some reason, coffee always taste better to me on site than at home. Maybe it's the temperature of the water, maybe it's just the ambience and the brief conversation? I don't know but I prefer to have my cup outside of the home. I'm a rather social being. The owner has a knack for hiring, competent, talented and friendly staff! Truly the BEST coffee anywhere, seriously...... maybe that's why they won so many awards?! Beans are available daily and frequently with half-price sale on your second bag. A great gift to send somebody in a different city, throw in a T-shirt or other swag while you're at it. I found that relatives and friends really dig stuff from the Bay Area. There are a variety of "at home barista"accoutrements available for sale to include the lovely Chemex glass coffee maker. Grinders, scales, etc. A coffee paraphernalia shop- "legal speed". Check out the pastry case with some local favorite bakeries representing. In closing, five stars throughout*****! Now get over there, I hope I got something started for you......

This was my first visit to Red Whale Coffee, and I was really looking forward to it. I loved the…read moreatmosphere, especially the pinball machines, and I was excited to recommend this place to my friends. Unfortunately, my experience was disappointing. I ordered an iced mocha with oat milk during a busy time and waited about 20-30 minutes. While I was waiting, I noticed several customers who ordered after me received their drinks. I went up to the counter to ask about my order, and the cashier seemed confused. The barista remembered making my drink and believed someone may have accidentally taken it since there had been a drink sitting on the pickup counter for a while. The barista told me he would remake my drink and even offered the drink to another customer instead of discarding it. However, he continued making other orders before remaking mine. Just as I was about to ask for a refund, I finally received my coffee. I understand that mistakes happen, especially during busy periods, but better communication and order tracking would have made a big difference. Unfortunately, my first experience left a bad impression. As much as I liked the atmosphere, I won't be returning, and I can't recommend this coffee shop based on the service I received.

This coffee shop is amazing! The coffee is so good, bold yet smooth. The lattes are exactly the…read moresame each time, excellent. Staff is extremely friendly. I love that it's the neighborhood hang out. People come for the coffee and stay for the conversation! The pastries looked really good, but I did not try any of them. I live in Southern California and wish Marin Coffee Roasters was here!

Came here to meet some family for a chat over a cup of coffee, and I ended up getting the white…read morechocolate mocha, and the ancho frittata from the display case.\ The white chocolate mocha was good, different than a store chain one, and very tasty. The frittata was warmed nicely, and served in a little box. It was a bit denser than I expected, but not in a bad way, just not as fluffy as I imagined. The egg texture was creamy. The taste was very nice. A nice visit for good food and a decent value. Oh yeah, and some family time!

Solid coffee and food menu, with cute backyard patio…read more Met a friend for breakfast on a Sunday and there was a line out the door. We queued up before ordering two lattes, a bacon burrito and a mango protein smoothie. Grabbed a table in their back patio (yey for dog-friendly dining!) to enjoy our breakfast. The lattes were solid and the breakfast burrito was definitely repeatable. Basic patio space, but it does have trees and is semi-sheltered from street noise. A great spot to meet up for a weekend catch-up!

Heidi and Andrew made my mango smoothie and cinnamon latte. I also bought rugelach and a chocolate…read morechip scuffin. Opening near 5:45am and closing at 5pm, I made it in a little before closing time. I love this family owned business and will definitely be back soon. Beautifully decorated interior too.

Great place to sit outside (weather permitting) and enjoy some fresh bakery items, or savory items…read moreand refreshments. I love their half soup and half sandwich combo. I get the egg sandwich. Iced tea etc. Service is kind and quick.

We recently stopped by and tried a few items, and overall it was a bit of a mixed experience…read more The iced vanilla latte was pretty good--smooth and enjoyable--but it's also a drink that's hard to get wrong, so it didn't really stand out. We also ordered the almond croissant, and this is where things fell short for me. It was much heavier than expected and not at all the light, flaky texture you typically want in a croissant. The inside was very dense and almost custard-like rather than airy. If that's the style you prefer, you might enjoy it, but it wasn't what I was hoping for. My husband had the ham and cheese croissant, which we asked to be heated. Unfortunately, it ended up soggy throughout, which took away from the experience. On top of that, the selection of bakery items felt pretty limited, which was a bit surprising. Overall, I'm not quite sure what the hype is about. It might just not have been the right fit for our preferences, but it didn't quite live up to expectations for us.

Very much in an unassuming location, but don't let the location and store front deter you! This…read morewholesale bakery is packed with amazing flavor! Selling beautiful quiches, pies, piroshki, and cookies ready to take home. The pies are frozen, but the cookies are perfect for instant snacking. And wow, buttery caramellic with a hint of saltiness to balance - perfection. The portions and quality of these goods are well worth every penny (please be ready with cash or Venmo). Please call in if picking up a large order. This is a small but mighty business. Picked up a beef piroshki, chicken pie, and a linzer. Noting they are known for quiche but will have to try when I have more friends to eat with. Thank you Raisa for a fun afternoon visit :)

Delicious quiches. Served the quiche at a luncheon last weekend and everyone gave rave reviews…read more Highly recommend. Need to call and preorder.

My sister and I stopped by to get a quick caffeine boost before hitting the road. The place was…read moreclean and quiet as they prepared to close for the evening. The staff were helpful and patient while we made our decisions. The drinks came quickly and tasted great. I got the iced matcha latte which was perfect.

We went with my family to San Francisco and we decided to stop at this Peet's coffe because was…read morenear to the freeway. It was my first time trying Peet's coffe and I was surprise with the quality of the coffe. I really like the place. It was clean and the music was great. The service was not so amazing I think the staff was tired or I just don't like to go somewhere and the staff are not to nice with the customer. We order with my husband... - Cardamom mocha frappe. I really love it and I was surprise with the citrus flavor. - Ice vanilla latte with ice and 1 extra shop of expresso. We were happy with our order and the flavor of the coffe.

Birthday cake? Well I would like to have a variety of flavors so .... My…read moreDaughter-in-law introduced me to this gluten free bakery!! Love their creation of flavor !!! I got 5 of the 3" tortes and it was so practical instead of just one flavor cake ! My favorite was the Lemon Coconut ! Other Purchased tortes are Carrot, Linzer, Pure Chocolate and the Rapture!!!! Friendly service with a smile!!!

First parking stinks trying to go anywhere downtown Second…read morethe food was weird tasting . The cinnamon rolls were strange tasting Carrot cupcake too The fake tuna was good and the bread it was with, nice and heated up all grain Not cheap but I always like to support the locals Prob not returning unfortunately

This quickly became my favorite place in town once I discovered it. It's hard to find fresh,…read morehealthy food in Novato (especially in South Novato) and this checks all the boxes. Great options for vegetarians and carnivores alike! The Acai bowls are yummy (some of the better ones in Marin) but I personally love their Bay Bowl (pictured here) because it's the perfect balance of sweet and savory. I order it almost once a week. I was also hooked on their smoothies while I was pregnant! The staff is super friendly and the food is ready quickly. They also offer curbside pickup through the app!! It's a great spot to hang outside when the weather is nice. We bring many friends and visitors here, and they are always impressed. Truly something for everyone on the menu. They offer local deals a few times a month through their newsletter or text!

I was craving frozen yogurt so I thought I would give active culture a whirl. It's on my way home…read moreand convenient. The cashier was friendly and the place was clean-both pluses. I was shocked when he said that would be $12.01 for a cup of yogurt, but like I said I was in the mood so I acquiesced. Once I got home and had two bites much to my surprise the entire middle core was yogurtless and you could see the bottom of a clean cup. Whether they were trained to fill it like this or it was inadvertent- either way is unacceptable. Ordinarily I wouldn't leave a Yelp review over this, but with the entire middle part of my yogurt missing and for $12 it was a rip off.

I forget this hidden gem. Pastries are fresh, good quality and beautiful. The food is great and…read morecolorful. Totally reconnected.

It's a quaint little place tucked in at Hanger Number 6 at Hamilton Landing in Novato, we lucked…read moreout as it was a beautiful day with perfect weather and scored an outside table. You order inside, pay and they give you a number and bring the food out to you. We ordered a croissant sandwich and avocado toast. The food came out quickly and was presented beautifully,

Definitly worth checking out. I grabbed an almond croisant and a cinnamon roll on day 1 in town…read more The almond croisant was so good that I went back on day 2 for another. My FIL loved the cinnamon. Coffee was pretty good as well. I would rate this place a 5, but when I was there on day 2 they had people who had called in orders early that were not done ontime. While it didnt really affect me, I did notice as both seemed a bit upset by it.

Haven't been here in a while but decided to order a sandwich and salad to go today. Order process…read moreonline was easy, and my order was ready shortly after. There's lots of street parking available, and seating both inside and out if you choose to dine in. The Asian chicken salad was as good as I remember, a good portion size and very tasty. The tuna salad sandwich was disappointing. It lacked flavor and the bread didn't seem fresh. Based on today, I don't think I'll be back any time soon.