I LOVE this place. I almost don't want people to know how amazing it is because then it will change. I always get the same thing.. two over medium eggs with bacon and hash browns, coffee, and a mimosa. Can't speak to any of their other offerings, but for these things, they are the BEST. Eggs are always cooked perfectly, bacon is the perfect thickness (which is to say, not very thick. I like it thin and crispy), and the coffee is strong. But really, the highlight of this place is the mimosas. They are served in 22oz Weizen glasses (HUGE), with fresh squeezed orange juice. And not like half and half ratio either. They are on point. For $7.99. Absolutely unparalleled, couldn't be better. Vault cafe, I love you, please don't change. read more

I just returned to the Vault the other day after not going for several years, and nothing much has changed. The Vault, as it always has been, is a solid if not particularly interesting breakfast place. It's definitely a place to keep in mind on the weekends because the restaurant is massive and you can usually get a seat easily even at busy hours, the people are nice, the crowd is friendly and diverse, and, if all you want is some basic bacon and eggs with a cheap cup of brown-warm, you're not going to be disappointed. If you're looking for mimosas and eggs royale, you're barking up the wrong breakfast tree here. I wish the Armenian owners would add some more Armenian twists to the menu. I have to admit nearly complete ignorance to what Armenian breakfast options might look like, but I'm fairly certain that the one Armenian option on the menu that includes flour tortillas is not exactly authentic. This is Berkeley, we've heard of lavash, you don't need to substitute in tortillas. If not something purely traditional, I'm rooting for a lamb and minted yogurt omelet - maybe I'm alone, but that sounds kinda good to me. Also, they should use the old vault (yes, there is indeed a giant old bank vault still visible in the building) for special purposes - if you make too much noise or spill syrup on the floor, you go sit in the vault with a dunce cap on, or if you finish a stack of 15 pancakes you get a free lunch inside the vault. Okay, really what I want is just to go play with the massive door and fiddle with the big wheel, but somehow I don't think they want you to do that. read more

This mid-sized local standby serves a decent traditional American breakfast. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but there isn't a standout dish either. They do have a good banana frappe. Ask for it with cocoa. The (usually friendly) server will look at you funny, but happily oblige, and it tastes great. The actual, real-life vault, from which the cafe gets its name, now serves as a freezer. It's amusing to watch the wait staff turn the giant wheel lock, crank open the huge door, and retrieve some meats. Indoor and outdoor seating, though Adeline isn't always a pleasant view. read more

High ceilings and spread out seating makes for a relaxing weekend brunch. I ordered a vegetarian omelet and the portions were hearty, but nothing too extraordinary. It's a great place to chill, read the newspaper, write in your journal. read more

Vault Cafe - Entrance and seating area - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Berkeley, California

Despite my SoCal residence, I was put in charge of picking a brunch joint in Berkeley. Found this place on Yelp with good reviews, and it ended up being a perfect choice that everyone in the party liked (right near a BART station too). It has a big open cafeteria-style seating area without feeling sterile and cold. The brick walls and decor give it the feel of a quaint mom-and-pop cafe. Lots to choose from on the menu -so much that I actually had a difficult time deciding. I opted for a "create your own" omelette in the hopes of stealing bites of my friend's pancakes. Both plates were good, and especially liked that the side of fruit (instead of hash browns) was a heaping serving and consisted of ripe, more appealing fruits than the traditional melon and grapes you get at other places. The omelet I had was so-so: I don't like when the cheese and other ingredients are loosely placed in the folded egg instead of warmed a bit longer so the cheese and egg glues everything together. Drink choice was just as appealing. OJ is freshly squeezed and great in a mimosa. I had a caramel latte that came out in an enormous mug with a beautiful crown of foam and cinnamon. It was delicious! I do agree with the other reviewers that service is spotty - our waitress was an interesting character to say the least. Although it's rare that I'll be back up in the area to visit Vault Cafe again, the others in my party are semi-locals and said they'd definitely go back. read more

Yes we were all hungover (slightly grumpy, hungry, and tired), but that does not merit the strange service or quality of food we received. Our server took a long while to come over to our table, and when he did, he said he would be right back to read us the specials and to take our orders (after we had all been there for at least 10-15 minutes.) I had to flag him down after seeing that he was sidetracked with setting up other tables. In the middle of taking our orders, no, wait, actually right before the LAST order, he said he had to run to the kitchen because someone's food was getting cold. Ok...? My order happened to come out last, and I imagined my eggs florentine had been there waiting for a while. Cold hollandaise sauce is one of the least appetizing foods I have seen- and mine was cold. The poached eggs were resting on a few wilted leaves of spinach, and the egg yolks were as hard as hard boiled eggs. They also switched around my friends' steak and eggs order, something they only discovered at the end of the meal. My friend's "medium" steak was definitely well-done, and my other friend's "medium-rare" steak looked like seared ahi tuna (but 1/4 inch thick.) Definitely mediocre food, and not a favorite new find for me. read more

Horrible. Unfortunately, I've been here a few times over the last few years. Once in a great while I just think - ok its not that bad and its so close - let's give it another try. It is always a mistake and one I wont make again. Last time I was there, the place was robbed (eat and run type "robbery"). There was a strange vibe in there at first. Then the our server tried to chase down the "guests" who made a break for it, but gave up. As usual the food was terrible, The service was ok (although it has been bad on other occasions). The interior is kind of interesting but doesn't come close to making up for the food. I'll spare you the details and recommend you go hungry instead of eating at the vault cafe. read more

Of all the breakfast spots in all of North Oakland/Berkeley, I had to walk into this place. I suppose if I'd read my Yelp reviews I would have known better. There are some "greasy spoons" that are cannot-miss spots as much for their kitchy appearance and fun staff as the heart-attack-inducing-but-damn-it-is-good food. The Vault is NOT one of those places. The Vault is one of those places that would be great if I were 22 years old and wickedly hung over, except that the giant room was so noisy I think I'd be in tears. As it was, my wife and I were just trying to get brunch. We were sat by one person rushing around the restaurant, ignored for 5 minutes, then asked by 3 different servers what we'd like to drink. Food-wise it was the regular "greasy spoon" fare. Nothing stood out as "world famous" or "our specialty". I got a "tofu scramble" which was really just fried tofu with red onions, mushrooms and broccoli. A scramble it was not, but save for the excessive oil it was not terrible and fairly healthy. My wife got some other scramble that was (again) not terrible but nothing to write home about. Two stars because the food wasn't horrible, but I won't be back. read more

We really enjoyed our Sunday visit to the Vault Cafe. We were actually headed to Easy Creole, but turns out they are closed on Sundays....ooops. Great neighborhood crowd in a relaxed atmo and inexpensive and good breakfast fare. The hash browns were mighty tasty and crispy. Apple sausage a little too sweet for my taste and the waffle on the "cakey" side as opposed to light and fluffy. Absolutely delicious rye toast. I'd go back! read more

Solid place for a classic and decently-priced breakfast. Wait staff is super friendly and the interior provides a nice ambiance. I recommend anything with pesto. read more

The Vault has your neighborhood diner feel. The food, however, was definitely above expected. I had great big fluffy pancakes. My roommate is forever raving about the eggs Benedict that they serve. It is also quiet enough that you can read while you dine. read more

Wish I had stopped to take a picture everything was perfect to Perfection the potatoes was right the eggs were fluffy the bacon was Chris the strawberry smoothie was on here also it was just perfect and the service was magnificent thank you for being here perfect way to end my day after getting off work read more

I came here on an awkward OkCupid date (yeah, I'm all about being big on the internet so whatever) and it was pretty good. I'll probably go back sometime because it was a pretty solid experience. The breakfast -- not the date. I had a Benedict like I usually do when it's on the menu and it's my first time eating somewhere. They gave me your standard Benedict. Which means they gave me a good-ass Benedict, 'cause they're only not good when they're disastrously bad. Big star of the morning at Vault, though, was the perfectly pulpy orange juice. I almost had to chew the deliciously rude brew. Not much else to say. Vault had good service, if you're one of the types that care about service a lot, and had really excellent prices. There's no reason not to try it out if you're in the South Berkeley area. read more

I paid eight dollars for a mimosa. That would be worth it, but it was made with two dollar swill. And i am not a picky person. It was still gross. I spent 25 bucks on a gross mimosa, fruit, and a waffle. Yipee. At least I didn't throw up. And they let us pay with 3 different methods at one table/bill. read more

I could go here just for the coffee, its so GOD DAMN DELICIOUS! This place is pretty spacious and going on a weekday, it is hardly crowded, the food is good but not great and the service is sloooooooooooooow. But the cozy and warm atmosphere makes me want to linger for one more cup of joe anyways so you should just take your time! Pick a morning were you got time to waste and stop by to have a warming breakfast! read more

Not necessarily a destination breakfast spot, but decent enough for those in the neighborhood. I like the look of the place, like a cafeteria for the artsy fartsy. The cinnamon french toast was pretty good, but the bacon was cold. Service was interesting. We had a leaky teapot, the waitress checked it out, and told us we were wrong, that it was not leaky but that we weren't pouring correctly. It just felt a little strange to be scolded by your server. read more

This place is fuckin bomb. You're all out of your damned minds. I've had some good food, and great service here. Breakfast and lunch, and the mimosas are hella good too. read more

Everytime they get my order wrong.this most recent time was the most mind boggling.i ordered a double cheeseburger and never had this happen before any where else but when I got there instead of a double cheeseburger they gave me a burger with double cheese read more

Today is the second time I've experenced the Vault and my opinion hasn't changed much. It's ok, but there's better. The service was ok and the food was plenty but well.. simply "ok". I've had much better "cinnamon french toast" before, that for example tastes like cinnamon. my boyfriend had "eggs benedict" which were great. The fruit plate was a mix of big chunks of a cantaloupe-melon, strawberries and an orange. For simply "eating food" it's ok, but I think the guys in the kitchen need more motivation. The plates can tell. ;) read more

I really wanted to like the Vault. But alas-- Highlight: The food. I had the Belgian Waffle which was great--crispy smelled great. Hash browns were shredded potato and perfectly crisp. Came with fruit--which a guy was preparing per order--so it was fresh. Lowlight: The service. One woman sat us (after we stood in the middle of the restaurant for a bit) and I asked her for decaf. She said. . . "Well, it will take me 5 minutes to brew a pot." I said Great! She brewed the pot and forgot about me. The waitress brought me a cup. She disappeared, so I went up to the counter and asked another waitress, "Can I get more decaf?" She said, "Sure! It's right there!" And pointed to the pot. I topped myself off. Clearly waitress service is not their forte. I would probably give them a chance as their food is good--Sit in my section and I'll top off your coffee. read more

The food is average. The setting is not rushed, which I enjoy. Do not sit in the back or you smell the bathroom. The mother is awesome, friendly and fast. They could benefit from a new cook. I can always tell when the cook does not care about what he sends out the kitchen, here he's consistently disappointing. read more

I agree with the other reviewers about the ambiance - pleasant for a city diner type place: spacious feel with high ceiling, huge windows and comfortable table spacing. Menu selection is also nicely varied, portions good (3-4 strips of not too thick, not too thin bacon) and food is ok quality (fruit is pretty fresh) though all on the bland tasting side. We've had several things from their breakfast menu and everything has been consistent - portions and prices good, everything tasting just ok including the coffee (don't order the chai - it's from a mix and just gross). My gripe and reason for 2 instead of 3 stars, is the cleanliness and the owner, who brought us a 1/3 full ketchup bottle with a crusty, gross cap and then regaled us with the woes and hardships of the restaurant business. His complaining definitely left us with a bad taste. Too bad - the place has potential, but right now just misses the mark. With a better quality coffee, a cook who knows something about proper seasoning, and a happier person at the helm, this place would rock. read more

I ate here a few weeks back and was far from satisfied. I went on a weekday, the place was next to empty. Service wasn't terrible, just a bit uncomfortable and awkward. I can't explain it. My friend and I, however, felt that we might have been on candid camera. The food should have been impossible to screw up, but they managed. I ordered the BLT with potato salad. It was served on bread that tasted and felt as if it had been toasted in the windowsill, and was completely dry. Not even a dollop of mayo. To top it off, the bacon wasn't freshly cooked and was broken into small segments. Apparently the mayo that didn't make it on the sandwich ended up in the potato salad. Very wet. I've had better salad from the deli section of Safeway. I live about 4 blocks from this place, so I was hoping for a good neighborhood spot to frequent. Needless to say I won't be going back. read more

Nice little spot with a good menu options and great prices, however, I was bit disappointed with how bland the food and service was in relation to all of the exciting reviews I read before making the decision to have some breakfast there the other weekend. The woman who brought us water and menus didn't even look at us, just put stuff down, and didn't respond to our "hello's" and "thank yous". A smile would be nice, especially since it wasn't that busy yet in there. Our server was pleasant but not too much of a smiler either, lol. She did make some good recommendations to us though. I decided to get something pretty basic for once since I just wanted some good scrambled eggs, hash-browns, and sausage, and even that wasn't really that exciting. Everything was overly oily, the hash-browns weren't fully cooked, and the turkey sausage was a sad flavorless meat patty disc. I feel bad giving a review like this, but I have to be honest. My hubby got the pancake combo and he said that was delightfully mediocre. The coffee was very light, but that was fine since we weren't in the mood for a bold coffee that morning anyways. I do like how spacious it is and that there is indoor and some outdoor seating. Love that for a sunny day. I would try this place again and give it another chance, just hope to get a smile from a staff member and less oily eggs and hash-browns next time. Fear not Vault Cafe, I will return again. read more

I ordered the special salad: shrimp, avocado and feta. I guess I should've known better. The place is super dirty with very few customers. The waitstaff is nice, but very slow. My salad consisted of slimy shrimp, unripe refrigerated tomatoes, no feta, sliced black olives, approximately half of a red onion, and what tasted like Paul Newman's vinaigrette. I will say that they weren't stingy with the avocado. I do appreciate that. The decor reminds me of Mexican restaurant circa 1996. Do not come here. read more

There are cheaper places to go for breakfast, but Vault Cafe is more spacious than many other cafes near campus. Service isn't great; I've had to flag down the server for the check, water, etc. The chicken apple sausages are not nearly as appetizing as they sound. The pancakes are damn delectable though. That and the homefries, and I'm set for half the day. read more

So, we went with two friends for a weekend brunch, a number of weeks after the promising lunch. I don't particularly have a problem with relaxing meals, but it was well over an hour from sitting down to getting food. We couldn't even get our coffee refilled. Since we were being purposefully ignored by the waitstaff (you know when they not only don't come to your table, but avoid eye contact?), I went to the kitchen door to inquire about our order and experienced the previously mentioned surly attitude of the owner. There aren't a lot of places to eat in my 'hood, but I won't be settling for the Vault again any time soon. PS - no mention of the food, you may notice. I was so irritated by the blase attitude, I just shoveled my meal down to get out of there. I don't remember it at all. read more

They had me at "caramelized onions." The onion didn't actually SAY caramelized onions. That would be too uptown for the Vault. The crispy home fries with caramelized onions, a nice slab of scrambled eggs, two slices of wheat toast for $4.95. The perfect olde skool Berkeley breakfast. My friend ordered an omelet with lox, creamc heese, and onions. We both imagined chopped red onions. But know -- they were caramelized, simply delectable. The waitress (is that too un PC?) was super friendly and gave us the attention of an olde tyme diner or a 5 star restaurant. Between great hearty food, excellent prices ($6 for a 1/2 lb hamburger and fries) and outdoor tables so you can not only enjoy the weather but guess if the people talking to themselves are on the phone or chatting wtih their imaginary pals - it's a great place for an everyday or weekend breakfast. read more

Ive heard great things... but the previous reviews are split. Half seem to think its the greatest spot ever, while others would rather eat canned dog food. Im leaning towards dog food unfortunately. Though I do appreciate an non-invasive server whos over my shoulder every 7 seconds, I also appreciate someone refilling my coffee mug. A co diner of mine reqested a refill and the server said something to the effect of ok Ill get it right after I serve another table. Whether that is your plan of action or not sir, please dont share that with the table. 'Ok Ill be right back' would have been perfectly acceptable. The food... definitely left something to be desired. My hashbrowns were cold, not cooked long enough and not salted. The omelette was ok ( I created my own). I had bacon in it which was thick and not delightfully crispy as hangover bacon should be. My toast tasted... weird. I cant put my finger on it but it almost had a metallic taste to it. It too, was cold. Overall it was a meh experience. I will go back to give it another chance. I hear the croissant french toast is where its at, so Ill try it. I hear great things about the mimosas, but at this point Im skeptical to throw down $8 for one. read more

First and foremost, the house burger is no joke. Really the best one I have had since moving to the Bay. It is going to be difficult to order something else the next time I dine here. Request some salsa on the side and you got yourself a dream! Lots of seating and large tables are perfect for eating with a medium to large size crew. If you have a party of over 4 people good luck finding a brunch spot to accomodate you, but Vault Cafe will fit you perfectly. Outside of the house burger, the menu is very straight forward. Don't expect any culinary surprises. This does not take away from the exceptionally well executed brunch favorites: omelets, pancakes, burgers, and sandwiches. They earn a fifth star from me if they add another standout aside from the burger and ensure the waffle mix is always fresh. read more

Very good breakfast! Great service and a cool atmosphere. Easy parking, too. The fresh squeezed orange juice is delicious!

The mid-morning meet up began with an SUV that wouldn't start. There had been an impromptu meet up at the rooftop bar at Jones in SF a week prior, but I didn't really know much about him except the limited information gleaned from a very cursory profile placed on an online dating application. Our first date had gone rather well, he seemed nice enough, well educated and being another transplant (or "implant" as a friend recently called me) from the South, I felt a bit of a connection. He talked about his profession (college professor) and we had a discussion about our hobbies, travels and our life-paths. It was a promising start, which earned a 2nd date. So, I was feeling adventurous (as demonstrated by my willingness to cross the bridge...) and maybe, a little hopeful (or desperate, if you want to judge by online dating galore at that point in time...) and made a leap, which was promptly met with a broken down SUV. My knight and shining armor finally arrived and whisked me away on his trusty stead (aka. motorcycle missing a rear view mirror b/c someone had knocked down his bike in the City the night before when he had been hanging out with friends...don't ask). So.... we ended up at this restaurant for brunch to share and philosophize about family, where we were from, yoga and interconnection. Where is this leading? Well, the restaurant was actually pretty hopping. Locals and college students seem to frequent this location. The brunch choices were abundant and moderately priced for portion size. I believe that I had a veggie, egg-white scramble (health-conscious). The server was really friendly and kept my coffee re-filled without prompting. The food was very straight forward (as mentioned in other reviews and by my particularly unexciting choice). Perhaps, like the guy that I was spending my time with, there were really good points that I always look for, but something was lacking and it was just an a-ok experience (3 stars). No bells, no whistles and no fire-works. As for the guy and I...well, we were alas not a match. Very nice guy, but just for me. Therefore, the search continues... read more

Inexpensive food and the staff makes an extra effort to know you. One of the servers starts my order as soon as she sees my face. The manager I'm some of the serving staff always come by to chat. I know it's difficult, but if they could just keep the bathroom clean it would go a long way. read more

Vault Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Berkeley, California

So. Freaking. Good. Awesome staff, delicious food, tasty mimosas. I love this place with my whole heart. read more

Great country fries! Excellent omelets with lots of ingredient choices. Nice whole grain bread. We'd love to see the menu updated with fresh herbs in the egg dishes, fresh salsa instead of ketchup, and a good side dish of fresh mixed vegetables. Inexpensive. Friendly service. Slow pace, conducive to conversation. The other diners often include ethnically diverse extended-family groups with well behaved kids and visiting conservative relatives. It's wonderfully in the middle: very Berkeley! Absence of wi-fi preserves the classic un-trendy atmosphere. Convenient parking. Despite the slow pace, when we were en route the the airport, we told them when we ordered and they came through for us. read more

Really great value and delicious food! I ordered the croissant French toast and it was yummy. Turkey sausage also good. My friend's cinnamon French toast w/bananas stole the show. Huge portion! Another friend ordered the cheese croissant and said it could have used some butter. Sadly, the service was pretty bad. One waiter came out to give us drinks but didn't take our order because he was "leaving." He was definitely still there when you got the check. His replacement took a while to take our order, never refilled my water glass, and forgot an order of bacon. We had to flag someone else down get our check b/c waitress #2 was nowhere to be found. Cool atmosphere, great food, and really reasonably priced but service was pretty bad :/ read more

I like the Vault because it is very close to me ( I can see whether it is crowded or not from my window) Convenience is the only super great thing about this cafe, the food isn't exceptional--its not bad either, service is okay but not memorable, the prices are okay. All and all, the Vault is just O.K., it aint bad and it aint great. read more

Decent food, but the service is WAY too slow. Don't go here to eat if you have a set schedule and plan on going somewhere afterwards, you'll be late. The fresh squeezed orange juice is worth the slow service as it makes a great addition to their mimosas. read more

I had a wonderful time here! I was recovering from the office holiday party and craving some diner food in a neighborhood spot - every other place I looked at had a line out the door, so I decided to give Vault a try. I went by myself, fully expecting to be ignored for awhile but I was asked if I needed something within 5 minutes of sitting down. The tofu scramble was delicious, vegetables weren't overcooked, garlic was just right and the french fries - get off my back, I deserve a cheat every now and again! - were perfect! Each one of the servers I interacted with were pleasant, professional and prompt! I felt comfortable eating by myself and reading my Kindle, it's my new diner spot! read more

The ambience is chill, the decor is rustic and joint-y, the customer service is on point, and the food is home-y and delicious. Thus far, I've tried their Walnut Chicken Salad and Jambalaya (a tad salty but it's jambalaya). Great place to have breakfast and lunch since they have a great variety of dishes that will fit into anytime of the day. read more