Absolutely everything here is great, no hyperbole! For some reason, this place fell off my radar, mostly likely the pandemic, but having to meet a friend in the area, I was reminded of this place and I was delighted to eat such good food, basically, it's Chez Panisse of takeout! So good I came back the next day and the menu changed and I devoured another delicious sandwich and the most interesting and delicious scone, yes, a scone, it had cocoa nibs in it, usually not my favorite thing to bite into but it just worked! They're brilliant here, get over there now! read more

Standard Fare - The best sandwiches and the best everything is here! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place is rock solid and never disappoints. I love their salads and sandwiches. The entrees are a little small for me but still delicious. The service is friendly and fast. I love the cute exterior to the building. The only thing I would change is their coffee. The food is way too good to be serving Ruby's Roast. Overall, Keep up the good work! This place is amazing and very reasonably priced. Happy to be working in the same neighborhood as Standard Fare. read more

The hype for this location is deserved! I came here for a weekday lunch and the food was great - it's definitely pricey for what it seems like, but I left realllly full and very happy. I had a half sandwich + soup of the day, which was a beet frittata sandwich (that also had pesto, hummus, kale, caramelized onions, and slaw) along with a tomato soup, and both were so so so so delicious. The staff is friendly + works in an open kitchen, and there's decent seating inside and outside the restaurant. But yea. I was definitely iffy about the price given what I expected the portions to be, but I was actually really full for most of the day after lunch. Worth a visit! read more

Standard Fare - Beet frittata Half Sandwich and Soup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I think about eating at Standard Fare multiple times a week. Amazing food, especially the sandwiches and baked goods.

Been coming here for years because the food is super fresh and amazing and the owner and staff are helpful with navigating food sensitivities. BUT, the protein serving sizes have gotten ridiculously small (about 1-2 oz) on the Sandwich Salad Sandwich option (a salad instead of a sandwich), which, by the way, is $17 with tip and not enough to be satisfying. read more

Standard Fare - Sandwich Salad Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Curiosity brought me here and all the other yelp reviews hasn't been very helpful on informing me about what Standard Fare is. Let's put it this way - it's an open kitchen concept that has pre made sandwiches, soup, breads, and coffee. However, don't let the idea of 'pre made' sandwiches get the best of you. I ordered a Biscuit sandwich: herbed butter, roasted tomatoes, soft boiled egg, greens, and bacon with a Butternut Squash Soup. So let's make that the introductory of my meal. It was the best I've ever had. It's nothing like boxed or canned Butternut Squash Soup. It's like silky, flavorful, and bold tasting. I loved every bit of it and the thought of it just reassures myself that I'll be going back next week for another cup of soup. So, to the sandwich, Biscuit sandwich: herbed butter, roasted tomatoes, soft boiled egg, greens with bacon ... I broke my diet's NUMBER ONE cardinal rule on this one: no breads. But this sin was worth it. The flavors were so delicious, I swear I thought I was a food critic. I actually SAVORED the biscuit sandwich... Who the hell does that??!! You guys, that sandwich was amazing. Let's not forget that there is only one table that may seat up to four in the whole kitchen. As an introvert, feeling like I'm in the way of something is the bane of my existence. Fortunately, the owner told me that they planned on adding a larger table). I felt like a nuisance being so close to the kitchen and being the only one at that large table while others walked in and made their orders to go. So here's the hard part... not telling my coworkers about this place. lol jk I already told them and we're stopping by next Wednesday. read more

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Great food every time. Obsessed with their chai and desserts. But the sandwiches are also amazing.

Could do better in working with disabled/older people. Order: ricotta toast with soft egg and an extra hot latte. Got a hard boiled egg with a soggy bread? Y'all............requested they warm up my drink because It was cold. She said no she has to make the drink all over again, made the drink with no foam the second time around, didn't ask if it was better. I get it there's a crowd people to serve...AND it's quite the journey for some folks to venture outside. I mask up, tip, make my order clear and polite. Hoping to give it another shot and have a more positive experience read more

The breakfast pastries, biscuits, breads, oatmeal and all else I may add that I've had over the past 2 years have been the best! Great staff and the location is walkable from so many places in west Berkeley . With all the culinary competition in this town, foodies must try this place as it is fabulous . read more

Kelsey and crew are now offering fresh produce boxes from their purveyor Star Route Farms (along with meals). It is an amazing array...this is what I got last week. All for $30!! You have to order online before Tuesday and pickup is Tuesday after 3:30pm. It is a great way to help out the restaurant and the farms that supply her!! 1 bunch of carrots with tops 5 green or red little gem lettuces 2 hearts of Romaine 1 head of frisée 1 bunch of chard 1 bunch Spinach 1/2 lb bag of medjool dates 1 bag of wild arugula 1 bag of spring mix 1 bunch of thyme Each week changes a little...this week I still received pretty much the same lettuce content but instead of dates, I got fresh favs beans. It's like a surprise gift each week!! Please give them a try!! read more

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Coldest, thinnest breakfast biscuit I've ever had. They didn't offer to warm it up. Front counter person was nice, the barista pretty snooty. The open kitchen atmosphere stressed me out, everyone seems tense. read more

Nina and I had lunch here today. We found a parking spot a block or so away on an adjacent street. You order at the counter and find a place to sit, either inside, outside or in the hallway. Utensils are gathered next to the cash register. Nina ordered half a cumin sausage and sweet potato sandwich w/ green salad and Wellness tea to drink. I ordered the lunch special, rice porridge w/ yuzu sausage and soy soaked egg and black tea to drink. Milk and half and half and sugar are on a table by the front window. There are no artificial sweeteners or stevia, just sugar and simple syrup. Nina brought the teas to a table in the hall while I used the bathroom, an immaculate all gender facility shared by the building's tenants, I assume. There are probably others elsewhere in the building. Our lunches were brought to us and I fetched the utensils. My porridge came w/ long-cooked brown rice, house sausage, a halved egg, miso roasted kabocha squash, purple daikon radish pickles, roasted spring onions, frilly red mustard greens and crispy shallots. It was an interesting combination of tastes and textures, w/ the mustard greens being bitter, the pickles adding a note of sour, etc. I wouldn't have known the rice was brown, as it lacked nuttiness, but that may be the result of the long cooking. I enjoyed the dish and the tea was good. Nina enjoyed both her half sandwich, the salad and her tea. It was a generous enough portion that she left some salad. We'd return. read more

The staff here are lovely and charming! It is the owner who is the issue... brusk, rude, pushy & snobby to both customers and her own employees. I have been here half a dozen times, and almost every time, I witness the owner snarking at her workers. One particularly memorable occasion she berrated me for eating my scone out of a pastry bag while still inside the restaurant. Changing my mind about whether I want to drink my coffee inside or outside shouldn't be prohibited inside the very establishment where I purchased the food item.. nor should it warrant scornful remarks from the proprietor. Nothing disrupts otherwise good, timely breakfast food & kind service like someone in a position of authority verbally chastizing their underlings to excess for all the world to hear. Truly, it makes me sad! I want to support local businesses owned by women, but I hate to see anyone abusing their authority like this. Yelling at your employees in front of customers leaves a bad taste in my mouth! Yuck! Could not ask me to come back! read more

Holy moly the ricotta mushroom toast! So flavorful and a hefty portion. The waffles topped with apples and the chicory cold brew latte were also yummy! :) read more

This place is my go to place. I love all their food, but the pan fried chicken on Mondays is amazing. All of their sandwiches and salads are amazing. The quality and imagination and thoughtfulness that goes into this food makes it a fave. read more

Wowwwww amazing muffin and excellent biscuit breakfast sandwich. Plus they open earlier than lots of other places!

OMG THIS PLACE IS AMAZING (sorry to yell). The frittata was so healthy and delicious. The bacon was really good and the cappuccino was top notch. Everything is served in very cute cups bowls and plates. I had the pudding with Tcho chocolate and whipped cream. The waffles are AMAZING read more

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I thought the food was going to be outstanding.. it is just good and all or our toast were burnt and hard. The serving size is decent, not large. The prices are expensive but it's worth it for organic ingredients, which I'm not sure how much of it they use. There is hardly any seating there and it's crowded and in a light industrial area of Berkeley. Lots of bench seating and some counter seating inside with stools. You stand in line and order and they bring it out to you. No service otherwise. They had no condiments like salsa or tabasco for my eggs.. that was a deal kiiller for me. If you prioritize healthier fare, which I do, and don't mind no service, limited seating, limited menu and waiting in line to order, I would go here. I came from afar since I love finding great organic restaurants but this is one that I won't revisit. read more

Standard Fare offers sammies, pastries, coffee & tea. came here just as they are closing. took quick glance at menu. didn't want to delay them since sammies listed didn't pop up appealing to me. eats: pastries (3) -chocolate tasting cookies, delicious brew: coffee (2.5) -medium dark roast with bold tones. probably a name brand, didn't ask. *yummy, news on the net: "Leaked documents reveal counterterrorism tactics used at standing rock to 'defeat pipeline insurgencies'" (the intercept,5/27/17) -a shadowy internaional mercenary and security firm known as 'Tiger Swan" targeted the movement opposed to the Dakota Pipeline,with military-style counterterrorism measures, working closely with police in at least 5 states, according to (leaked) internal documents......." read more

I just had the best omelette in my entire life. Standard Fare's cheese omelette with herbs may sound kinda plain but its taste is anything but that. Usually omelettes I've had are either too dry or too oily. But Standard Fare's omelette was just perfect. The omelette sat on top of a bit of soup, soaking its moisture giving the omelette a tender and soft texture without making it too oily. The herbs and cheese inside the omelette were bursting with flavor. If you had covered my eyes during this meal I would've thought I was eating at a fancy restaurant like Chez Panisse. Their service was amazing too. I'm an obnoxiously picky eater so I was worried the okra and beans on the side would ruin my appetite for the omelette but the chef plated them in a separate bowl so it wouldn't touch my omelette and my bf could eat it. My bf got a sandwich and soup which he really liked. We shared a very yummy cheese bun thingy as well as a sourdough waffle. I'm not as into sourdough as the average San Franciscan so I thought it was just ok. I'd definitely come back (maybe every weekend) for the amazing omelette! read more

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Feeling very lucky to work walking distance from this place. I come about twice a month and enjoy the fact they rotate their ingredients based on what is seasonal. I usually get half sandwich and half soup but got a "sandwich salad" last visit which I think is my new go to! All the fixing of a sandwich on a bed of lettuce. A pretty sizable portion! Mostly outdoor seating. Indoor seating is one long row of chairs facing the window. I recommend coming in a small group. read more

absolutely love this gem! kelsie kerr the chef-owner is amazing and always so friendly and remembers regulars...the spot is really special both because you can basically sit in the kitchen for a "chef-to-table"experience and because the food is so good. the ceramics are also from jered's which makes for a nice fancy design vibe. I really like the soups and sandwiches here (the pork sausage is amazing imho but a bit heavy so better as a 1/2 sandwich). they also have great desserts and baked goods. the cinnamon rolls are absolutely amazing and a must-have if you only get one thing for brunch. the bacon is also always a great bet as a side and coffee is from Ruby's + always delicious as a budget bite in the morning. although this place is super casual it is expensive so just be aware so you don't get sticker shock. as someone who basically can't cook well (and certainly not from Alice Water's cookbooks which is what Kerr is famous for), I think it's well worth the splurge. more culinary minded folks would likely also enjoy it for the experience of watching how the kitchen operates...actually even I've been able to pick up things here and there esp with clever tricks on how to multipurpose stuff like mason jars, yogurt cups etc. read more

Standard Fare - orange olive oil cake + cup of Ruby's roast coffee! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ludicrously underwhelming and horrifically overpriced! My coworkers warned me that this place is pretty meh, so we never went there. On my return to the bay, my girlfriend wanted to try it once since she heard conflicting reviews. Ordered a breakfast biscuit and it was super small, dry and flavorless. I am pretty sure the biscuit is equivalent to hard tack they would give to union soldiers during the civi war, but at least they had the prospect of fighting a just cause and all I got was a crummy breakfast. I decided that filling up (or at least trying to fill up) on a mediocre sandwich was not worth it and let my girlfriend finish my supposed meal. read more

I struggle to understand the hype. The place is cute, the food looks good, the bakery smells wonderful. BUT.... I ordered the breakfast biscuit sandwich with bacon. They pulled it out of their fridge preassembled and said they would call me. There were only a few people there, but I had to wait at least 10 minutes and when I got it, the entire thing was ice cold. I am not sure what exactly I was waiting for if it was pre-made and they didn't even heat it up. Taste wise, everything was okay.... biscuit was not fresh tasting, but flaky and good otherwise. Bacon solid. beets a nice touch. Egg freezing cold, not soft like it should be. and frisée unnecessary. Maybe what i got was not their strength, but I will struggle to want to go back and try something else. read more

Have you ever had a spiritual experience while enjoying a meal!? There is something truly magical about the ethically sourced, carefully crafted fare at Standard Fare. Eating here just drops me into pure presence. I highly recommend the rotating lunch special--it never disappoints! But go early because sometimes they run out. The staff is attentive, friendly, and always efficient. Remember to tip them well! They work so hard for us to enjoy this delectable deliciousness. read more

Excellent place to grab coffee and snack or lunch. The staff are super friendly and the food was fresh and delicious. I knocked off 1 star because the parking is a challenge in the area. Make sure to grab a Tcho brownie for the ride home. read more

While this place is so cute and I want to try everything, there is not much seating at all. It's a tiny space where you can watch the cooks do their magic but there is only one bench on the side with maybe 6 chairs. I would advise you get your order to-go. The breakfast biscuit sandwich is really great. The pickled beets and egg is perfect. I added bacon to my sandwich. We also shared a poached apple olive oil cake which was good but not my favorite. More on the drier side of the olive oil cakes I've tried. Parking is fairly easy so that's a plus. I cannot wait to try everything else on their menu. Looks fantastic! read more

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(3.5/5) A cute and charming cafe. It is on the more expensive side but all of the ingredients are locally sourced and organic. I tried the biscuit sandwich. It was delicious, but also pretty small. Because of the small food portions, I would only come here if I wanted a small bite to eat and a nice place to hang out. There's no parking, but plenty of street parking. Bonus: Third Culture Bakery is right next door. Check it out! read more

The oat milk latte gives me life! Hyperbole yes, but I was stunned by how delicious it was. Oat milk can be grainy/cardboard tasting sometimes, but this was velvety and delicious. The roast on the coffee isn't too dark, either. I am eager to come back for one of the salads, which looked fresh and bountiful. There's some table seating, or there's concrete benches -- be sure to bring a sun hat, in that case, since it's exposed. read more

Highest quality healthy organic food, wonderful conscious people with deep integrity. I can not say enough good things about Standard Fare. I've been eating here consistently for three years - I am a VERY picky eater and exceptionally aware of the quality of ingredients and presentation; it takes a lot for me to come back over and over as I usually cook for myself. The sandwiches, specials, and salads here are wonderful and there's always a vegetarian and an omnivore choice. They bake their own bread EVERY day! The frittata is off the hook! their breakfasts wonderful (especially on Saturdays), and the variety of choices changes daily. The owner Kelsey is really amazing (IMO works way too much) and I often see her shopping at the local farmers market for the highest quality organic ingredients. There are so few establishments that walk their talk but Standard Fare clearly do. You might think I have some kind of affiliation by the way I am raving, but I don't, I am a local business owner of Apple & Mac Solutions and keep a stack of their cards on our counter to recommend clients to eat here while we repair their iPhones. Give it a try and you'll never wonder, 'where can I grab a healthy lunch' again! Thank you everyone at Standard Fare for feeding me so well for the past three years. read more

Honestly I don't know how this place has a high star rating...oh wait, gentrification. The food was bland and definitely overpriced for the quality and portions. Another overpriced hipster spot with meh food. I recommend eating elsewhere and supporting a more authentic local business. read more

So, fresh, great flavors, super friendly staff. Highly recommended. I order the GF sandwich, which is basically a beautiful, super delicious salad. read more

Pros: friendly service Good food Good yogurt Cons: food can be a bit salty but that might be just me read more

I've missed my lunches outside in front of the restaurant on a repurposed section of 8th street, but during Covid it's been a godsend to still get take out dinners. They're consistently so delicious that I think of Sf as on a par with Chez Panisse (and indeed Kelsey, SF's founder and head chef, is a Chez Panisse alumni). But on like restaurants anywhere near this quality, Standard Fare is a bargain. Tonite we feasted on pork, white beans and some member of the cabbage family that just amazing. Standard Fare is a Berkeley treasure. read more

I like that there are several food / bakeries spots next door to each other at this location. The menu looked great and the service was good. I had the braised pork shoulder sandwich and really enjoyed the fresh and delicious flavor. It was take out window only and there are places to stand and eat. Not the most comfortable, but do-able. Wish they could have put out a couple of tables with chairs. I will be back to try other foods! read more

Today lunch special Pork Adobo was too salty, incl the veggie on the dish. Look around and will definitely choose salad and carrot soup next time! read more

Standard Fare - Pork adobo too too salty but chickpea hummus yummy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

We have been here many times - the vegetarian sandwich is insanely amazing, no matter what the daily combo is. I don't bother reading the description of this sandwich anymore because I know whatever they put together is a well balanced and taste filled. We have also had some really tasty daily specials. read more

I'm creating a list of the best lunches in West Berkeley for the sole purpose of putting Standard Fare at the top of the list. Standard Fare is anything but "standard". Hidden away on a sunny corner in what was not-so-long-ago a warehouse neighborhood, lies the best little-known lunch spot in the East Bay. I feel like I'm part of a secret club of folks that love the freshest, healthiest, and ripest ingredients, prepared simply--and in discovering Standard Fare I have gained access to a higher level of lunch. Every time I come in and pick up a lovingly and carefully prepared and wrapped sandwich, salad, or soup, I know that my tastebuds and my body will rejoice. Every single visit I've experienced exceptional ingredients, perfectly spiced and seasoned, and prepared in the most mmmm-inducing manner possible. I've also been introduced to some ingredients I've never tried, like muffins with perfect crunchy millet pearls, or nduja sausage that is spicy and spreadable, or even a baked Feta that is better than any feta I've ever known. Standard Fare need not be a secret. Owner and Chef Kelsey Kerr has clearly earned her pedigree. The cookbook she co-authored with Alice Waters is available for sale in the corner next to the good olive oil. Her mastery in all things delicious is evident in every single thing that this little kitchen pumps out. Standard Fare deserves wild success, and I can't wait to see what will come next. I expect big things in the coming year. Thank you so much Kelsie! I'm sorry it took me so long to post this. Your food took my breath away. read more

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It's amazing! At the blink of eye when you finally see the light. Why do people in Berkeley care so much about good food? It's not that people in Sacramento don't. It's just usually comes from one or two people in a restaurant, then they hire help. It seems at standard fare everyone cares about the food. Almost a dozen people are working hard in the open kitchen. It's pays off. The ingredients are the highest quality and the final product is superb. We had frittatas and uncured bacon... and the coffee!! So good read more

This is actually a catering company, so I guess this review might not be entirely representative since we just stopped in for a quick bite. It's a quick stop-in kind of place where you place an order at the cashier and there's only one table to eat. We actually decided to eat here after encountering a seemingly never-ending line at 900 Grayson. We tried three items: 1) Butternut squash biscuit sandwich - bacon, soft boiled egg, roasted squash, onion marmalade, arugula salad and a roasted red pepper sauce -- practically foodgasmic! 2) Bacon-beet sandwich with a chicory salad on focaccia. Good, but not as good as the sandwich of the day! 3) Persimmon muffin: may be one of the best muffins I've ever had, and I don't even like muffins all that much. This muffin wasn't that buttery, and almost healthy tasting, but it had a great crunch from the millet sprinkled throughout. The best part was the chunks of persimmon in the muffin -- I'm talking big, moist chunks! I don't know how they managed to keep the persimmon so moist and fresh in the muffin that was relatively dry. The combination was just SO good though! And I didn't feel heavy with oily hands after eating it. Just what a muffin should be. read more

Standard Fare - Biscuit sandwich! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California