I absolutely love The Annex. Now that I live in the neighborhood I walk there nearly daily for my lunch or dinner and a juice. I appreciate that the food is healthy, delicious, and filling. The service is good and the restaurant generally a friendly environment. I particularly like what's available at prepared food section, the hot bar, bakery, salad bar, juice bar and ice cream parlor. They sort of thought though of everything. read more

A real juice bar in 2025? In El Cerrito? Pinch me. Fresh, non-pasteurized, whole-food goodness that actually tastes alive. Prices are fair, flavors are fire, and I keep coming back like it's my new religion. read more

The Annex - Juiiicceeeee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - El Cerrito, California

This has been a great place to eat. The smoothies, juices, salmon, burritos and vegetarian collard greens and other culinary items. The desserts are great also. The vegetarian collard greens seem different though, like possibly a different brand as the taste is a lot different than it used to be as they don't taste as good as they used to. They are also not as soft.. read more

I love this place. Folks are always friendly, the coffee is good, and it is nice to have a place that prioritizes organic options. Things are more expensive because organic food costs more money. I don't know about all of you, but I much rather spend a little extra money here than somewhere like Safeway or Whole Foods. Grateful to live down the way from the Annex and the grocery store. We are truly blessed in California to have such great produce options read more

My Green juice was too salty and my sisters tasted better. The attendant seemed unsure. Just about all the tables had crumbs as well as the floor. Gentleman came to bus the dish bin and made no attempt to look over in the same area to wipe the tables. The overall walk in looks nice but I would not return for a sit down or maybe if they make an effort to wipe, sweep and straighten the chairs read more

The Annex - This was at our table as we sat down to enjoy Green Juice. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Got food poisoning so bad from their pre-made egg salad sandwich on 9/30/25. I was so sick, I ended up in the ER. When I called to report it, they treated me like a liar, grilling me about when I ate it, if I had "proof" I was sick and then offered me another sandwich like that would fix it. This place clearly doesn't care about food safety or its customers. If you value your health, stay far away. They should be ashamed to serve food this unsafe , I'll be reporting them to the health department. Not only did I get sick, but now I'm stuck with emergency medical bills, I became severely dehydrated that the er blew out multiple veins in my arms because they couldn't find them. The manager did not care and told me to go ahead and report them to the health department! Do not get the premade sandwiched by the coffee station! read more

I get a kind of wellness high whenever I go to the Annex. It is a serene and unique environment to meet with a friend or spend quality alone time. They have WiFi and I've seen people sit for work or pleasure to enjoy the space. In the late afternoon and evening, the ambience is uplifting with good jazz. Fresh food: order from the glass counter and they heat your food and serve you at the table. Everything I've tried has been "clean" and delicious! Shout out to the ginger miso tofu. Cooked Mary's chicken is the best cooked chicken one can find. Highest standards of organic and sustainability, flavorful and perfectly cooked. The soups and prepared hot bar don't disappoint. The fresh hot burritos are clean and straightforward. cold prepared salads and such are delicious. very fresh, and have high quality ingredients. Gelato bar, coffee bat and pastries are excellent. I had a yummy oat milk latte with honey today and it touched all the right notes. They have a smoothie menu if you're into that. The flower department is exquisite! If you park in the lot and enter from the back, you're surrounded by the aroma and visual beauty of flowers that are picture perfect and often breathtaking. If you appreciate thoughtful and artistic note cards, the collection is bar none. I always have to stop myself from looking at them because I can easily drop $50 on just cards. They have a small but eclectic wine area tendered by a wine expert. The Annex is understated and special!! read more

My husband and I have been coming to Annex for over a year now, and it's always such a wonderful experience. The staff are consistently friendly and welcoming, which makes every visit enjoyable. Their breakfast bar is filled with delicious organic options, and the blueberry muffins are an absolute must-try -- soft, flavorful, and simply the best! I also love their super creamy and tasty lattes, along with many other treats we've enjoyed here over time. Annex has become one of our favorite spots to relax, enjoy great food and coffee, and feel at home in a warm atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

Good vegetarian options in a cheerful atmosphere. Healthy options abounded too. Prices were reasonable.

I have eaten two times in 6 months the Tres Leches Cake that The Annex sells. It is the best I have ever eaten. It's fluffy, not too sweet, silky; it just feels you with pleasure. I bought the first one for a large party. Every person that tasted it loved it; it seemed to be the best they had all ever eaten! My intention when I bought that cake was to get a chocolate cake. The lady who was serving me told me (in Spanish); get the Tres Leches, trust me. I did. I also love the curry lentil soup that The Annex makes. The atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant. read more

I absolutely adored their selection of bulk items and natural health/beauty section. Found a few items here that I wasn't expecting to find in person anywhere! The one thing that I wasn't able to find was white vinegar for cleaning unfortunately, but that can be found at most other large grocers so not a big deal. The staff and atmosphere were also very friendly :) read more

Holy smokes! Two pieces of spinach lasagne was $40! Sorry, but no matter how nice and sustainable your food is, there is no way some noodles, cheese, spinach and sauce costs close to that, even with a reasonable retail mark up. I guess the Annex is exclusively for the entitled Tesla crowd. Too bad. read more

The space is very nice, floral department is great, but prepared food SOOO lousy. It is consistently mediocre. One example: apple pie by the slice. They could have gone to Costco and served that pie (or any baked good sold at Costco) and it would be 50x better. read more

Great staff. Wonderful drinks and food. PLEASE GIVE THEM A TIP JAR. they work way too hard to not be able to accept gratuity

Abysmal service at the bakery today. I placed our order after waiting a long time even though there were no other customers. She took out a piece of cake and put it on the counter. Then she asked if I wanted anything else. I repeated the order for two other items and told her that we were going to eat there because the cake was in a plastic container instead of in a plate. Then she said ok to the additional orders and just walked away. I asked her if she had gotten my order. She said yes but continued to help someone else instead at the register. Another lady saw that we weren't being helped and said she'd take our order. Again, we waited several minutes for her to actually take our order. She was also putting things in a plastic container so I said that we were eating there. She still put our food in plastic containers. At the checkout, I asked for plates and a tray. She took a long time to move our food to plates. It took close to 10-15 min to place our order and get the baked goods even though there was no one else waiting to place an order. My pecan chocolate cheese cake was delicious which is why I'm giving them a 2 star instead of 1 for the horrible service. read more

The Annex continues to be a great place to meet friends. There are so few cafes since so many closed during covid. I'm grateful to the Annex for offering a variety of good foods and desserts and a relaxing environment. read more

This company has done a lot of good for healthy food awareness and ecology awareness far beyond its local customer base. 5 stars for that. Combining the Annex ratings with the store is problematic. Convenience, recyclable containers, interesting prepared foods, no complaints. Prices are what you'd expect in this sphere. Topic: Groceries and produce. We've never had fruit rot more quickly than it has from this store. And the Acme baguette was stale on day of purchase and hard as a rock the next day. Canned goods, packaged goods, no complaints. Butcher guys are very helpful and proteins are very high quality. Check the dates on dairy. Cashiers and staff overall are communicative and excellent. Eat the produce same day as purchase 'cause they are not spending money on keeping those fruits, herbs, salad greens etc. cool anywhere in that building. Berries? Forget about it. Eat them on your bicycle on your way home. read more

Apparently there's a lot of "health food" stores around here but there really isn't. This is nothing like what I'm used to. It looked like something like Whole Foods from the outside but inside is not it. Sometimes they have a random loud ass band in there. For the boomers! Lol I also thought it was a specialty store but no. I went in there hopefully to get a good dessert but they didn't look good or fresh. But apparently they have good vegan options which is good. Maybe it's a timing thing as well. They had a lot of wine/presecco options but not a lot of pastries or cake. Well when I went there wasn't any I wanted to buy. read more

Healthiness, selections of savory entrees for a meal and fresh juicing shop at its finest for the win here! Grocery next door and readily cooked up food connected! Entering, it makes me go for being green and healthy! Stay local and fresh! read more

The Annex - Beet combo customized with ginger added ($2) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Quick Summary: - Parking is found behind the two El Cerrito Natural Grocery Store buildings, the path is between the two stores - Grocery store is on the left; cafeteria styled place is on the right - Smoothie is good and at an affordable price - Food theme is American style such as salads and casseroles - Plenty of seats to sit down and eat We came here after a long walk under the sun. It was a warm day, so we decided to come here and order something to drink. There was a fridge near the end of the cafeteria, but most of them were kombucha, which I wasn't craving for at the time. For this time, I ordered my first smoothie here. I ordered a medium sized banana strawberry. It arrived in less than 10 minutes while we were walking around, observing the dishes they served. Despite the hot weather, the dishes consisted of warm comfort dishes like casseroles and cooked vegetables. I might try it on another day. We tried the smoothie and it was very good! The drink was thick but the flavors popped with fruit. The strawberry flavor stood out the brightest, and I tasted more lemon. I didn't taste so much of the banana, but it helped sweeten and mellowed up the drink. read more

The Annex - Medium sized strawberry and banana smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - El Cerrito, California

How's the food? obviously overpriced, but i was willing UNTIL i waited in a line to check out for 10+ minutes with pitifully unqualified person trying to operate cash and card payments, then she helped to train someone, and still no acknowledgement of growing line. I left the food behind and do not plan to return. read more

The grocery store is pretty good for "natural" foods, but the "Annex" is a bad joke. Their food and drink was over priced, not good, and the woman taking my order had to ask 4 times and point, because her accent was so thick i couldn't understand what she was saying. I blame the manager, as you don't put someone who can barely speak English as a order taking cashier, this is like hiring a doctor to be your mechanic, stupid. Also, these prices and they don't even give you WIFI in the Annex, WTF? read more

Important: 5 stars for wine and beer section. Very good local and international selection. The passion is there! Food annex: Selection is very good with a vegetarian hot food section and a separate one for meat dishes. I like the coffee, salad bar, and prepared dishes such as pizza very much. 4 stars overall, but could become 5 stars in the future... I'm very sensitive to dirty plates and tables and lately (the last six months) I have sometimes had to clean a table before I've been able to sit down and I've watched other tables remain unclean. I know it is the fault of the patrons, but please keep tables consistently clean and I'll be 5 stars all around! read more

The Annex - Wine and beer section - 5 stars for selection and knowledge, just awesome. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Prepared food is such a dicey proposition because you're letting someone else cook food the way they think you want it without getting your input. A couple of years ago, I wouldn't have cared much because everything would have looked so good, but lately I've been trying to be more accountable for my calorie intake. The annex offers a lot of delectable-looking comfort food like pizza, pork spare ribs, upscale deli fare, and even strawberry shortcakes, a bargain at $6 a pop (photo: http://bit.ly/2oz7gFs). I don't doubt the quality of any of it, but it's a short road to gluttony, isn't it? Still, the coffee comes from Equal Exchange, a fair trade coop, and it was quite good when I've come in on a brisk morning. I've successfully averted my eyes from the organic ice cream and baked goods because the temptations came at too high a price, and I don't mean the actual cost. On the other end of the spectrum, I've taken advantage of their robust and organic salad bar. At $9.49 per pound, it's not the cheapest deal in town, but the result can be quite fresh and tasty (photo: http://bit.ly/2Co9C3n). On my last visit, I indulged myself and bought a whole Mary's Free Range Lemon Herb Chicken (photo: http://bit.ly/2BRzNhI), and it was a delicious treat over several meals that week. There's also a wine shop and florist stand in the annex. Be forewarned that parking in the lot is limited and can be a navigational nightmare during the pre-dinner period. FOOD - 4 stars...the salad bar is the draw for me, but sneak me a rotisserie chicken anytime AMBIANCE - 4 stars...spacious with plenty of tables SERVICE - 3.5 stars...attentive at the counter TOTAL - 4 stars...if you refuse to cook, come here and make smart choices read more

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They have vegan options! I recommend the "thai vegetable curry & chana tiki masala" there very good in my opinion! read more

The Annex - Thai vegetable curry & chana tiki masala - Coffee & Tea Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Immediately welcomed by a gracious gentleman named Daniel. Quick coffee stop Not to interested in the food. Maybe return for lunch Restroom 3/5, needed to be washed of the nasty smells and cleaned but has potential to be clean Nice floral section unique collection and cards Quick onsite free parking read more

‍ Last minute nite family request for butter mochi and NO vanilla extract. I ran to the store and the cashier directed me. This was first time in the store as I usually go to the Berkeley Bowl I'll try again to see but the assistance in mt "emergency " gives this rating read more

It's ironic, but I love their simple sandwich; it's perfect. I also enjoyed their fried rice. Their lemon dessert is fantastic. I can't remember the exact type, but if I see it on the menu, I'll order it. Regarding customer service, I found the girls more approachable than the guys. It's okay, but it does make me question their overall customer service. Even though I don't live in the Bay Area, the ambiance looks nice. I've eaten both inside and outside. The only downside is that I wish they delivered to my job so I wouldn't have to drive or take an Uber and better chips . Not a big deal! Ha ha. read more

Well, I quite liked this place! (5/5 green stars) I can definitely see how business owners become frustrated (enraged, even) by certain online reviews. El Cerrito Natural Grocery seems to receive more than its fair share of unreasonably whingey reviews. Wah, there are nuts in some pastries! Wah, there's gluten in the thing I bought without looking at the ingredients list! Wah, regular parkers park in the electric car spot! If there's a regular car parked at the charging station you would think it's more reasonable to blame that driver rather than give the store one star. Anyhoo, I dropped in for just a coffee and pastry and found it to be a fairly pleasant spot to do some writing - there's no WiFi by the way. Good mix of people inside, having coffee, lunch or a beer. It's not a place that I would have ever considered coming for a beer but they have an interesting selection in their fridge and will provide glasses. My latte was better than I had expected - the foam was dense, almost like a flat white, and considering that they use organic milk it was not expensive at $3.25 for a medium. Similarly, my hot cross bun was $2 even though it was made from organic ingredients. So I'm not sure that the complaints about prices are warranted. Wah! I'm giving them 5/5 "green stars" for social and environmental impact, based on these reasons: * The Natural Grocery Co. uses 100% green power and does a good job at waste minimization. * They are employee-owned and if you look them up on Glassdoor it looks like employees are pretty happy. E.g., they are offered good health benefits after working there for 60 days and after 5 years they get stock in their company. * They use local organic butter, milk, cream and eggs in their bakery. * Their mission is to use local, organic / sustainable ingredients and they have partnerships with the Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (MESA) and FishWise, amongst others. * Their beer selection is heavily represented by local brewers such as Fort Point and the East Brother Beer Co. * Their coffee is from Equal Exchange, pioneers of the direct trade movement and a great cooperative company. The majority of their coffee is shade-grown and some is certified organic. Interested in writing green star reviews? If so, contact me! (greenstarsproject) read more

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This is specifically about the roasted chickens at the Food Annex. I like the Food Annex, but their roasted chickens, while seasoned nicely, never seem cooked enough. I like my meat falling off the bone. I get roasted chickens from a lot of different markets and farmers markets, and the meat is always falling off the bone from all the other places. But at El Cerrito Natural Food Annex the thighs and legs are harder to pull of the bone, and always slightly pink at the base. The breast meat seems okay. But overall the meat is a little bit chewy, which tells me they need to cook their chickens longer. Why prepare them "just done"? Is it a trend? But the worst was the last chicken I got. It was an extra large one, so the "just cooked" method did not turn out well on the larger chicken. It was more pink at the base of the thigh with pink juice running out. Not OKAY! I had to put it in the oven and cook it for 30 minutes. read more

update on old review, adding some recommendations. this is our favorite Richmond stop before hitting the road. highly endorse the following: getting a coffee (or any of their fresh drinks if caffeine isn't your thing), scoop of gelato, and any of the bake goods -from the scones to the carrot cake, we haven't been disappointed. yes, get as much as you can, fill every cup holder and floor space ...nothing worse feeling of want for the cupcake and cookie that was left behind, when you are an hour into the drive up north. this place is awesomely delicious, it is filled wall to wall with prepared organic food. so, it is a perfect place to get some healthy eating in when time is short. you can make a simple salad or create a meal from the hot counter. there is tasty crab cakes and fully cooked favorites like salmon in the cold deli case for a later meal. their dessert counter! it's one of the best place to get seasonal muffins, fresh pastries, and other tasty treats to go with a cup of coffee or tea. on my first visit, their selection blew me away; I was delighted by my choice of a carrot cake and a cup of organic coffee (from a single origin). the coffee had a deep flavor with a fruity note; it was drip brewed and kept in a coffee dispenser so I was surprised by the quality and taste. extra note: there is a corner in the store dedicated to wines, beer, and other giftty stuff; so, it's a great place to go shopping for a special occasion. read more

Blown away by my stop-by early afternoon here... it's super spacious, with wonderful offerings of soup, gelato, artisanal cheeses, org salad for $8 and change/lb, bakery, and Omnivore sandwiches has yet to arrive, but there is a sign present. A delightful, light-filled, almost too-airy space for eating. As nice as some Napa or Sf outfits for lunch choices. Saw that the cafe portion opens at 6AM. Oh yeah.... lucky El Cerrito. Enter the rear parking lot by way of driving in between this and their well-established market there. read more

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I love this store and have been going here for many years. The only gripe is that they are expensive. Now, it's a rather small operation and are a collective. I feel good when I purchase from them because I feel like I'm supporting a local business that pays it's employees well. I love the annex and the beer/wine section. And the meat counter. They had an amazing cheesemonger and she introduced me to some new cheeses. Some of which they get regularly. They have some other deals on cheese that are quite good. I like their prepared foods and desserts. Their coffees are on the pricey side, but their cardamon coffee was a game changer for me. I won't pay so much, but I got some good ideas. I love coming here and will continue to do so when I can. read more

The Annex - Art show flyer! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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This is my new favorite quick service restaurant in the Bay Area! They have: 1) A wonderful coffee bar with delicious espresso drinks, tons of pastries (including lots of wheat/gluten-free items), but no wifi. 2) An EXPANSIVE organic salad bar with almost every topping imaginable for a great price. 3) A massage parlor that has a minimum time of 10 min, great for a quick refresher. 4) A good selection of fresh flowers. 5) Tons of comfortable seating that's especially good for getting work done. 6) An ice cream bar with three twins. 7) Yummy soups and fresh entrees. 8) A great staff. read more

The Annex - Huge organic salad, less than $4! Yum! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - El Cerrito, California

I have driven by this place for many years. I have tried to go into the place but there isn't ever any parking. I have had the luck of being able to go in now on 2 different occasions. I like the amount of options that their are. The ingredients are all displayed so you don't have to ask too many questions. This is good for those of us who have food sensitivities or allergies. I love Pozole but don't really eat it too often because I am so picky. I tried their Pozole and loved it, nice flavor, big pieces of hominy, it was delicious. I also tried the Snicker Doodles which I thought they would be horrible but they ended up being really good. Because I have so many food sensitivities I am always ready to try something new but I am usually disappointed because substitutions don't usually pan out. I have not been disappointed by any other of their foods. I will definitely come back for more. read more

A modest-sized but varied take-out food offerings, with limited table and counter seating. Parking lot is small. Entering from S.Pablo Ave., LH side has the coffee, pastry/breakfast goods, some green and some meat salads, with a display case of pre-made sandwich/roast chkn. The fresh flower vendor is just beyond. RH side has an L-shaped buffet-style setup with the cashier at the intersection. Custom/fresh sandwiches, made to order, and the hot soups, are only on one side of the "L" case. Get a number from the paper dispenser unit in the center as you walk in. There are sandwich order forms there as well; fill one out with your order; PUT YOUR NAME ON THE BOTTOM. The sandwich makers are just past the dispenser; wait till they call your # to order your sandwich. If you want the steamtable hot food instead of a sammy, both wings of the "L" case offer the same selection which changes daily. There are beverage displays at both ends of the "L" cases. Everybody pays the cashier; they call your name and you pick up your food. Once you know the system, it's easy to navigate. Sandwiches are on Acme bread, very tasty. Light on the meat, aiming towards healthy portions rather than Jewish deli overload. Both a lentil curry and (on another day) a ground lamb curry were very tasty. Egg salad, bought as a pre-pkged addition, was very good. Also prepak yellow beets with fennel salad (no greens) was a lovely change to pick up as a veggie side.Coffee is acidic, best with cream and sugar. A nice healthy, quick alternative for the area. With so many restaurants now closed between lunch and dinner, it's convenient to know a place where a very late lunch or a very early dinner, is possible and affordable. read more

Can't believe I have not reviewed this place with 68 check ins under my belt! #1, after YEARS of standing empty, I am SO GLAD this building is being used! And that EC Nat has moved into the prepared food biz. Because I am hella lazy & my kid has to eat. #2, I AM ADDICTED TO THEIR SWEET GREEN SMOOTHIE! I am not a green juice kinda gal. I love fruit. I love ice cream. I love cookies. Not smoothies made with kale. BUT THIS SMOOTHIE HAS CHANGED MY LIFE. So so good. Their other prepared foods are also good. They have a 100% veg section, which I appreciate. There is always a vegan pizza option, though it always looks sad/old. Their vegan soups & chili are delish. Hot bar can look a bit tired, but it's tasty. Salad bar is small but solid. They have 2-3 tasty vegan made to order sandwich options. They usually have a few vegan baked goods, but most of the time the use the dreaded WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR (why why why). Their vegan chocolate cake is DENSE & tasty- almost makes me forgive them for the aforementioned WW flour used in other baked goods. They also have 2 vegan ice cream choices, as well as vegan ice cream sandwiches. I like their little beer & wine area- the folks that work in there are super helpful & friendly. Flower selection is lovely. A bit pricy, but the flowers come from local farms (& keep in mind I usually get cheap bouquets at Trader Joe's... so they are probably not actually expensive here) One day I will try the little over the clothes back massage kiosk that I constantly get coupons for... The only downside for this vegan: always smells like rotisserie chicken when you walk in. Coffee is strong. My kid loves the chai lattes. read more

15 minutes waiting to pay for a prepared sandwich a buy a coffee. Delay due to cashier chatting with two other employees, one buy a cola drink. Sandwich itself was not that fresh or fulfilling. Would not recommend. read more

This review is for the organic salad bar only.... Yes, you read correctly...organic salad bar! I'm very impressed with the variety of vegetables offered here. It is not your typical salad bar since 1) everything is organic 2) they had usual and not-so-usual additions such as cooked beats, kimchi, roasted vegetables and a delicious tamari cilantro dressing. Everything tasted fresh and the quality of the food was obvious. For food so green and local, I was expecting that it would be expensive, but when my finace and I checked out, surprisingly, both of our plates (which were very heavy) came out to less than $13.00 TOTAL. That's two, very big organic salads for roughly $6.50 each. So for offering a quality, green, organic salad bar I give this place more than 5 stars. The salads are delicious and surprisingly affordable. read more

The woman working at the coffee bar is rude and surly. Seriously. How she is allowed to work with the public boggles my mind. The coffee is excellent but I prefer mine without a side of snark. read more