Fertile Grounds - Berkeley
Fertile Grounds
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A complete menu of Fertile Grounds from Berkeley featuring all 33 dishes and drinks can be found here on the menu.
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Was Jay Lee at Fertile Grounds a mag?
Came in to do a some work for an hour, seemed welcoming for people to lounge around. I got a small coffee and breakfast sandwich, which were both tastey. Coffee tasted fresh and I always appreciate when cafes have glass cups/mugs for those who choose to have it there. View all feedback.
What Victoria W dislikes about Fertile Grounds:
Service here was subpar I asked for Iced Coffee in my thermos may as well since I brought it out), got piping hot coffee instead. I feel that my order wasn't too difficult, but I guess this will be the first and last time I come here. Also the coffee was crudely dumped into my thermos, spilling over on the sides so that was fun cleaning up on top of messing up the order. I do admit, the price was fairly decent $2.15)... View all feedback.
My favorite mocha of Berkeley is Fertile Grounds' Mexican Mocha. I think they're one of the few coffee shops that doesn't just toss chocolate powder/syrup into coffee and call it a mocha. There are also power outlets! And free wi-fi! *ecstatic moaning* If it weren't for the mildly cramped seating, I would have studied here a ton, but this was my go-to for coffee. Go go go.
Now that Philz has closed its door for good in the Gourmet Ghetto, options for appropriate caffeination have dwindled to a precious few. OK, that was an overstatement, but it does increase my likelihood of coming here as I take frequent constitutionals on Shattuck Avenue. It's a Berkeley lite cafe with a local art gallery and a loft floor for the talkative types who don't know when to leave a party. The laptoppers appear to take over the main floor leaving the tiny side tables for two for the rest of us. No surprise that I prefer this cafe when it's empty on a weekday afternoon. That way I can nurse a becalming $2.50 cup of Mighty Leaf Vanilla Bean Tea in true leisure (photo: [hidden link] . Most recently, while waiting for Cha Ya to open, Jamie W. and I came in on a rainy Saturday when it was abuzz with customers looking for an excuse to fold their umbrellas. The staff looked challenged to keep up with the traffic as responsibilities appeared misallocated. Jamie ordered the $5 Mexican Mocha which added espresso spiced chocolate to the steamed milk (photo: [hidden link] . He felt there was an unappealing bitter aftertaste. I went for the $2.95 Cafe au Lait which I wished was amped up a level more than lukewarm (photo: [hidden link] . Alas, it was crowded, and let's face it, there is no Philz to run to for salvation. COFFEE/TEA 3 stars...a bit on the middling side amid the chaos AMBIANCE 3 stars...pleasant when empty, less so when it's not SERVICE 3.5 stars...true effort here but still harried TOTAL 3 stars...a Philz back up is now in the Shattuck spotlight RELATED Hanging around in Berkeley? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: bit.ly/2N4anQA
I ate at this little place when I was in Berkeley and I was so pleasantly surprised. The owner hand-crafted my egg and cheese bagel to perfection, and suggested some hot sauces to add. The coffee was good, and the space was comfy and cozy. I was able to unwind with some wifi for a bit, hang out and chat with a friend, and even pet some dogs as they came in for a visit with their owners. This place is A+. Thank you, Fertile Grounds Thank you, Berkeley!
Top notch cafe. Seating? Check. Wifi? Check. Coffee smells and chill vibes? Check. Outlets? VERY check. Food-wise, a 4/5. I got a turkey pesto sandwich and hooo'mama, that was a good sandwich. Only thing is that it was a pretty pricey $10). Service-wise, a solid 4/5. Great barista. Ambiance-wise, a stellar 5/5. From the local art on the walls, to the surprisingly aerated bathroom, this cafe has got it. I could sit here for hours... and I do.
This place is actually quite a nice place to study at! It's relatively quiet and located in North Berkeley where most students don't really venture out towards. The tables downstairs are all terribly small, but upstairs is the JACKPOT! There are nice spacious tables and it really is outlet heaven as other reviews have mentioned. I would definitely recommend this place for studying. As for the food and drinks, I ordered an egg cheese croissant and an iced vanilla latte. The portion of the iced vanilla latte was huge and was actually really strong! The food and drinks were both pretty solid. I see this place as a potential cafe to go back to grab a snack/drink and get on my study grind!
Menu
This restaurant offers dishes containing these ingredients
Coffee
Salads And Side Orders
Toast
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