After our trip to the zoo was sadly and unexpectedly cut short, my friends and I tried to make the…read morebest of our unfortunate situation by stopping by Java Beach At The Zoo for a quick lunch. As fans of Java Beach Cafe, all of us had been aware of this sister location yet, somehow, none of us had actually stopped in before. So, even though we hadn't actually planned on it, we were all more than happy to finally stop in!
Inside, the decor and vibe of this place looks so much like their original spot on Judah - wood-laden interior with some counter seats and dated posters and decorations that give it a warm and cozy vibe. Plus, it's awesome how they have a fair amount of seating inside and about a half dozen patio tables outside, which is perfect for those sunny and breezy days out here by the beach. Similarly, the menu here is nearly identical, with the same collection of espressos, coffees, teas, pastries, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and beers, but with the addition of soft serve, shakes, and floats, which I don't recall seeing at their spot on Judah/La Playa.
-- TSUNAMI HOT SUB with Ham, Salami, Mortadella, Choice of Cheese (Swiss), Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Mayo, Mustard, and Special Sauce on Choice of Roll (French Roll)...$18.75
Not quite as good as how I remember it, but still pretty solid. The mix of meats was still just as delicious and they didn't skimp on the portion nor their "special sauce" (Italian dressing?). That said, I didn't like this French roll as much, as it was a lot thicker and harder.
-- ARNOLD PALMER...$7.25 (16oz)
I liked this so much at their original location, I couldn't resist getting it here and, thankfully, it was just as good. Not only was there an even ratio of iced tea to lemonade, but the taste of this was so well balanced - not overly sweet nor tart or bitter.
As far as service goes, just like at their sister location, all of the workers here are so nice and friendly. They warmly greeted everyone that came in and got our orders out relatively fast. What's more, the vibes here feel a bit more chill and relaxed by comparison. Maybe it's because you don't have the N-Judah line right outside, but it seemed a bit more peaceful with a nice mix of customers - from folks quietly working and reading to families stopping in for a bite on their way to/from the zoo.
Overall, as much as I enjoyed my visit to this Java Beach, I feel like I'd be remiss not to acknowledge that the prices here do trend higher than what you might expect to find elsewhere. Nothing egregious or anything, but I can't say I expected my lunch was going to cost $26 (before tip) either. Given that, despite how much I genuinely like Java Beach, I'd probably be more inclined to come back when I'm looking to post up to do some work rather than strictly just to get a bite. Unless it's to check out their soft serve floats, shakes, or one of their specialty coffees, which all looked so interesting!
All in all, THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now.