Cafe Q

I came with my best friend here for brunch on Easter! Many places were closed that day and it was a rainy Sunday morning! There’s only street parking. Parking was a bit of a hassle especially since I had to park about a block away and it was raining.
I got the corned beef hash with a soy latte and my bestie got the eggs benedict with a chai latte. The corned beef hash was plenty enough for me but it is probably on the smaller portion size. It came with a choice of toast and I chose wheat. No complaints for both of our food. Soy latte was just average, I finished the whole thing but it wasn’t anything to rave about. The chai latte was not sweetened so you have to ask for your own sugar and cream. 3 Stars only just because I expected the expresso to be a tad better if I’m having it with my brunch. However, my brunch craving was definitely satisfied!
Customer service was great. They didn’t mind me waiting for my friend to come to order. They were really nice when taking our order and helped us find a seat as this is a order and take your number to your table type of place.
Ambiance is great with light teal walls that really brighten up the place. Pretty modern but not that spacious. I wouldn’t recommend a group of more than 5. I would recommend coming here for brunch with a date, family or friends. It is a pretty casual place. They do brunch, dinner and everything in between too. I might come back to try dinner!

This is my go-​to restaurant in Alameda. I love coming here for dinner. It’s so comfortable and dependable. This is where I go when I need a pick-​me-​up or want something that’s a step up from the hipster fast food in the area.
I super recommend their daily vegetable (it’s been the shredded brussell sprouts and chard lately, SO GOOD), and their desserts are great too. I get a side of fries too. And their regular entrees are great.
Anyway, I love this place and come often. Haven’t stopped by for breakfast, brunch, or lunch though.

Came here for brunch today. The fresh organic strawberry mimosas were refreshing and were very pretty. The coffee was strong and I ordered soy milk at no extra charge.

The short: Hipster-​like place to get some brunch food.
This is a order at the counter and somebody will bring you the food type place. Though, seating is chosen by the wait staff. Somewhat awkward. They were able to fit our group of 6 just fine. The waiter was friendly and cracked a few jokes. Definitely a good place to sit down with family and enjoy brunch.
I ordered the eggs benedict. The taste was fine (nothing noteworthy), but for a $ 14 meal, I was not full at all. I wasn’t even satisfied. The portion size left me craving my friends’ fries and I left hungry. The couple sitting next to me ordered a breakfast burrito, and even though it looked delicious, it didn’t look filling.
I’d rather save my money and look elsewhere for food with a better value and portion size.

Negative. All bad. Terrible kitchen staff. Bunch of brats who are WANa be chefs. They have no idea how to run a kitchen and how to give service to people who are pretty much the people providing their paycheck. VERY RUDE kitchen staff. Literally fighting with me over making corned beef crispy. Working in the kitchen is not always fun and can get stressful. Gather yourself together, get that pan, stop complaining, stop crying and fry that sh**. We ended up leaving and getting our money back and the Asian lady was crying BEc she didn’t know how to deal wth her staff any longer. I hope she doesn’t lose customers over these young kids who don’t really care about the business but just there to get her money and could care less about her establishment.
If you’re the owner and reading this, feel free to message me.

I really hate writing a bad review for a local establishment; I know Alameda is a hard market to survive in, and I want our town to prosper. But brunch this morning at café Q was pretty miserable. I’ll tolerate bad service for really good food. And sometimes I’ll tolerate mediocre food if the service is wonderful. But this morning we got mediocre food and bad service. First, one of our party was served her eggs benedict 15 minutes before the rest of us. During that time, no one acknowledged the issue and no one apologized. No one refilled our drinks. No one offered coffee. When I went to ask if the rest of us would be served, the server said, oh, sorry about that, we’re a little understaffed. We’ve all been in the weeds before; a sincere apology would have made a difference, but the attitude we got was bored and uncaring.
Then, when the food finally arrived it was pretty bad. The steak sandwich had no flavor. The beets in the salad were mushy they were so overcooked. The salad itself was overly oily, and with very little acid in the dressing. I did not taste my friend’s eggs, but she said they were «meh.» The wings were the only thing that anyone enjoyed. Of the four dishes we ordered, only one was good enough to eat more than 50%of.
The only positives that save it from a one-​star is that the music was fun, and the physical location pleasing with clean décor and nice lighting. So I’ll give it two stars.
But I won’t be going back.

It’s just ok… The French toast was pretty good but the chilaquiles were disappointing.
The service was prompt and courteous. They like to say «no worries» a lot… Like they’re doing you a favor by removing your dirty dishes.
Heads up… This is one of those order/​pay (and tip) first THEN find a seat to eat kind of places. I have a 3 strikes rules… I’ll give it two more tries before I make a final decision.

Yesterday was my first time at café Q. I’m actually disappointed that I never gave this restaurant a shot earlier. Brunch was delicious and they serve beer and wine! The menu is quite extensive with great options that I couldn’t decide what I wanted. So many delicious options to choose from. I must come back to try everything I want!
My friend (Anna) and I met inside the restaurant and the first stop was to order and pay at the register. We both agreed we wanted a mimosa. I ordered the corn beef hash and Anna ordered the ham and cheese Benedict. We were handed a number and seated ourselves in the back. Our waitress poured our water into our glasses and left the bottle on our table. Then our organic fresh squeezed mimosas arrived. Shortly after our dishes arrived. Everything happened so quickly!
I loved my cornbeef hash. It was served piping hot too! It was a good amount of food and came with a buttery toasted baguette. The cornbeef, potatoes, and scallions were in perfect harmony with one another. I also took a bite of Anna’s Benedict and it was rich, creamy and very satisfying.
Other tips:
— There’s free parking near the residential area
— brunch dishes average about $ 11 a plate

I can’t believe it took me so long to try Café Q! I almost always go to Jim’s or venture out of Alameda for brunch, but every time I walked by Café Q, their food looked delicious so I finally gave it a try. Turns out, this place is owned by one of my childhood friend’s family (small world) and I think they also own Sidestreet Phở right next door — both are equally excellent!
I had the eggs benedict, which is quite possibly the best eggs benedict I’ve ever had! The sauce had a bit of a spicy kick to it, which I loved, but others might not like it if they’re extremely sensitive to spicy things. I also got a side of home fries (aka roasted potatoes), which were nothing spectacular. Servers were friendly and attentive. The décor is nice and modern — a beautiful well lit space. They also have outdoor seating for you to enjoy your meal on a bright sunny day.
It might be on the pricier side for an order-​at-​the-​counter establishment, but I think the quality is better than the other sit down brunch places in Alameda. Olé’s and Jim’s have been raising their prices recently, with the quality of food going down, so I think I’ve found my new breakfast/​brunch go-​to place at Café Q :)
Can’t wait to come back and try their dinner menu!

Wow, I had no clue this place was located right next to Sidestreet Phở!
I was in Alameda with my boyfriend and he told me that he was craving comfort food. So, I typed in «comfort food» on Unilocal and this was one of the first search results to pop up. It also helped that I already had it bookmarked.
I scrolled through some pictures and he said, «Oh man, let’s go!»
When we got there, the first thing we noticed was Sidestreet Phở next door. The second thing we noticed was the line at the cashier.
So, here’s what to expect. Once you walk in, you’ll see a cashier to your right that takes your order. He does a great job at communicating with the waitresses to make sure he doesn’t send too many people back in the dining room (because after he takes your order, you get a number and seat yourself). We were one of the customers he tried to delay on because it was filling up quick. But we didn’t mind. It gave us a chance to really look at the menu and decide what we wanted to eat/​drink.
When the waitresses were able to tell him that they were good back there, he asked us what we would like to order. I ordered the corn beef hash that comes with two poached organic eggs and toast (~$ 13). My boyfriend ordered a breakfast burrito (~$ 9) that comes with scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, avocado, and your choice of meat with an additional charge (~$ 2). It also comes with homefries or grilled tomatoes. I got water and my boyfriend ordered a Coke.
We decided to sit outside because it was such a beautiful day. There were also a lot of families that were in the dining room area, which made it kind of loud. So sitting outside seemed more peaceful and intimate.
Our waitress brought out some water and Coke. And after a few minutes, my order came out. My boyfriend encouraged me to eat right away because he didn’t want my food to get cold so I did. And he definitely had a few bites while he waited for his food.
It was a while before his food came out. But thankfully, our waitress came out and apologized to us and tried to explain that the kitchen was backed up. We didn’t mind. We were both enjoying my food. Not long after, his burrito came out piping hot.
Overall, we enjoyed our meal very much. My boyfriend loved his burrito and he kept raving about how juicy the tomatoes were. I loved how my eggs were perfectly poached. And at the end of our meal, he washed it all down with the delicious Coke he ordered.

Huge, huge portions! I ordered their french toast and apples and I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head when my plate arrived at the table. I ended up only able to eat half — it was delicious, but so sweet and filling that I couldn’t finish.
They use huge, thick slices of brioche bread (the only bread that should be used for french toast in my honest opinion), and slathered it with slices of cooked apples, cinnamon and powdered sugar. I was in sugar-​loaded heaven.
Boyfriend’s yam and cheese sandwich was a bit of a trip. It was essentially a grilled cheese with yams tucked inside for good measure. Also delicious, but also ridiculously filling. Boyfriend could only eat half.
Their drinks were pretty on par, too. I got their seasonal peppermint mocha and liked that it wasn’t overly sweet (not that it really helped since my food was so sweet). Boyfriend seemed to enjoy his latte as well.
Parking, as always, in Alameda is a pain in the butt, so that alone might keep me from coming more often, but the parking garage isn’t too far away. I could see myself hanging out here with a good book and a coffee in the near future!

Mashed potatoes are yummy!
Roasted veggies are always dam good!
You really can’t miss on the menu! Make sure to come for breakfast.
They have board games for the family!

Alameda has so many good restaurants. Café Q is one of them. The place is not that large so you may be in for a wait if you go during peak times.
This is what I have tried so far:
1. Yam and Cheese sandwich. I had never tried a yam sandwich til I tried it here. Got to say that it was different, but tasted good with the side of potato salad I had with it. (3 stars)
2. Napa Chicken salad. They include «free-​range» chicken in this puppy along with other organic goodies. A very healthy and tasty treat! (4 stars)
3. Crunchy Chicken Club sandwich. The fried chicken breast tastes so good inside this yummy treat. The bacon, avocado, tomato, chicken, and sourdough bread make for a good club sandwich. (4 stars)
4. Caramel Bacon Bread Pudding is the bomb! OMG! Top 2 on my list of best bread puddings ever! Simply delicious! (5 stars)
I look forward to trying more items from their menu. Of course, I will always save room for the Caramel Bacon Bread Pudding!

This my friends is a hopping brunch spot on the Isle of Alameda. First off I’m grateful we found rockstar parking in a small lot that serves the row of restaurants in the same building as the Q, that’s always big in Alameda! Secondly I am quite surprised that this place was an order at the counter then we’ll bring you food to you kind of place. I think that aspect may have turned some of my family off but it didn’t bother me too much.
After ordering we found our table and it seemed to suit us and the DN ok. The whole place was cute with simplicity and farm-​like décor while trying to keep a modern edge with their dishes. I ordered the corned beef hash which comes with two poached eggs on the top and two others in my party followed suit. I believe the BIL went for the breakfast burrito but missed the added meat part so he ordered a side of bacon to go with it. The dishes came and we all did some comparing and contrasting. One odd thing about the three corned beef hash platters is that two were heaping and one was lacking. Being the good son that I am, I equalized my mom’s plate so she didn’t feel so jipped however the kitchen should’ve been equal to begin with.
Overall this place was good with super fast service and they kept my water glass full. I’d like to come back sometime!

Great little brunch place in Alameda. Found them on Unilocal!
The owner greeted us and saved us a table in the back.
Ordered:
–Chilaquiles Rojos with egg whites
+$ 1 for egg whites. This dish was great. Their red salsa was delicious!
–French toast with strawberries
Piled with strawberries and included 3 halves. Eggy and freshly made.
–Side of home-​made chicken breakfast sausage
This was just OK. It had a unique taste and a spice my kids did not enjoy.
–Crunch chicken club
Very good!!! The sandwich was huge. Salad was nice and light with their homemade dressing.
I would go back if I were ever in the area!

Alameda has really surprised me when it comes to my lunch experiences. I drive around one day liking for a random café to eat at. I was working an event in Oakland that night, plus I was 7 month pregnant, I needed sustenance.
The reason I came here was because there was a perfect parking spot for me right in the lot next to it.
You come in and order at the counter then go find your seat. I sat in the very back. It’s so cute inside here. It’s quaint and comfortable and bright. Thee were a few people with laptops out doing whatever.
They brought me water and I ordered an Grapefruit Izzy Soda. It was so good. The best grapefruit soda I’ve yet to have.
I ordered the Crunchy Chicken Club. Their menu is great. There’s a lot of fresh different options. Unfortunately for me their potato order didn’t come in and I couldn’t get fries.
My sandwich was fresh and crunchy just like it should be. I was totally satiated to be at my event that night. The guy taking the orders was also the waiter and was pretty quick and efficient for being the only person fielding customers.
I really enjoyed my solitary lunch here. I’m definitely coming back while working in this area.

A casual quaint place to enjoy a quiet and tasty breakfast. Ordered one of the omelette options (ham, tomato & Swiss) with potatoes and sourdough toast ($ 12.) Hubs ordered the egg, bacon and cheese breakfast sandwich ($ 8.) at the front, took our number and found a table in the back.
About 15 minutes later our food arrived. Portions were generous. The omelette and potatoes were fresh and prepared perfectly.
Hubs liked his sando and potatoes. I like that they serve SemiFreddie’s bread. The jam is delicious, I thought about eating all of the toast just to have more of the sweet jam goodness.
The staff was friendly and periodically checked on us and the other patrons refilling beverages and bringing condiments.
Décor is interesting with white doors hung on the ceiling and art pieces available for purchase. Mellow music was played and board games are there to keep people entertained.
Prices are average. Our total with tax was almost $ 22.00.
It’s a nice place, a bit of «the beaten path» so parking and getting served in a timely matter wasn’t an issue.

Dropped by Café Q today for a late brunch. The protocol is to order up front, receive a number, then have your food delivered to you. We found available seats in the back where it was spacious enough to have conversations amongst yourselves without worrying about others eavesdropping.
A friend recommended this place for the chilaquiles ($ 11) so I had to give it a try. The tortilla had an interesting flavor that convinced me to take a few bites. It wasn’t an absolute favorite, though. The eggs were tasteless and I didn’t bother to finish the plate. Could’ve used something more like a salsa or just plain veggies.
My friend ordered the eggs benedict ($ 13). When she was asked about sides, my friend chose the roasted tomatoes. Okay, honestly, we couldn’t believe what we saw when her plate arrived: two slices of tomatoes (about ¼ of a whole tomato) that really looked like garnish. See pic for yourself. Do those measly tomato slices justify as a side? We had the audacity to ask the waiter and he indeed confirmed to us that it was a side. Luckily, the waiter sensed that we weren’t satisfied and offered a side of potatoes on the house. +1 for service. The eggs benedict wasn’t amazing enough to let go of this issue.

The strawberry shortcake my coworkers and I had on Tuesday afternoon we are still talking about on Friday heading to the airport… you know that’s good stuff! We followed up our lunch up with the strawberry shortcake– and really it was amazing. I’m not sure if it was a cookie slightly under cooked, a sweet bread freshly baked or a cake made with heavy flower BUT what I do know that what was on top of the strawberries and cream was warm, chewy, subtly sweet and you just had to keep eating it. The hint of orange zest and vanilla ice cream took that dessert over the top.
Okay so about the café, it is super cute, bright, modern, comfy and a bonus for me island tunes playing in the background! Its one of those order & pay at the counter then they bring the food to the table when its ready. I came for lunch and had the smoked turkey sandwich with pasta salad– it was good and not one of those super jumbo sandwiches where you can’t move after. The service was quick and really if we were working closer to the airport for the remainder of the week we would’ve returned again.

Dining with a party with seven, two of which were kids, our first option had a waiting line of 30+ minutes. Then someone mentioned Café Q and off we went. Peering into the window, we noticed seating was available and Café Q it was.
Expecting a sit-​down full-​service restaurant, you order and pay at the counter and the food will be brought to you. The menu is simple with five soup/​salads choices, seven sandwiches/burgers/fish&chips items and seven dinner selections. After checking out the menu and ordering, we looked for seating. There are some tables with a long bar counter against the wall in the main room and a quaint dining room in the back. We were able to push a couple of tables together for our party of seven. With utensils and napkins on table, a server brought us water and glasses. The room was spacious with artwork from local artists displayed on the walls.
The worker came back and asked if I would like to choose another beer since they were out of the one I had ordered. Not remembering what else was on their selection of about ten choices, I went back to the counter to check out the list to make another selection, which they had in stock.
Our order:
Pulled Pork Sandwich: pork confit, avocado, cabbage and orange pickled jalapeño slaw with a choice of potato salad, coleslaw or pasta salad. A large amount of pork on an artisan bun and it was tasty though the slaw on it made it a bit messy to eat. The side of pasta salad was a bit disappointing. Very plain looking and bland tasting. Opt for the $ 1 extra for the fries. (
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Q-​Burger with cheddar & Fries: Ordered it medium, but the burger didn’t have a hint of pink in it. But the quality and freshness of the meat was evident since the burger was still juicy and it was well seasoned. They used a nice artisan bun for the burger. A large amount of shoestring fries came with order and they were freshly cut and were not greasy. (
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Side notes — one in our party ordered the Fish-​n-​Chips. At $ 11, this was a large portion with three large pieces of fish and large side of fries. He was happy with this dish.
They have a $ 5 kids menu. Our kids selected the mac-​n-​cheese and the chicken nuggets and each came with a large chocolate chip cookie.
Overall, based on the selections we had, the food was good. Service was friendly and accommodating. They came by several times to check-​up on us and brought us water refills. Would like to come back to check out their breakfast/​brunch in the future.