Bookmark Cafe

Just had a quick bite to eat here. I ordered the turkey wrap which comes with a small salad. After I ordered, I told the woman I would be back shortly. I returned and she was making my wrap without using gloves. There were a few people in line so she helped them, taking their cash and cards and then returning to make my wrap. Being that it was a touch busy and I was starving I didn’t want to mention it, causing a lil scene ya know?
I returned after studying and spoke to the lady who made my wrap, she acknowledged that she did in fact not rewash her hands after touching money and went as far as to say she herself is allergic/​sensitive to touching money?! (Weird I know)
I asked why she didn’t use gloves, she stated she has them and just preferred not to wear them. It’s unfortunate bc I’ll be studying for my bar exam at this library for the next 8 weeks but I’ll just pack my lunch instead.!!

Such a cute little café! I stopped by there for the first time today while I was checking out some books and I fell in love with it! I should definitely go there more often.
BEST panini I’ve had in ages! ¹⁰⁄₁₀ would definitely recommend this palce for people looking for a quite place to study.
I use the library quite often and I always go here after I’m done studying. Getting the Espresso here is one of the best parts of my day. I recommend everyone to go check it out.

I tried not to get my hopes up do to there only being 21 reviews, but that they were uniformly good made it difficult.
The service was friendly.
I got a turkey, pesto and provolone panini. It was warm and the cheese was melted, but the pesto was bland, and the turkey was even moreso (like I don’t know what brand this was, Oscar Meyer maybe?). The turkey, while tasteless, was also tiny. It was literally one layer of thinly cut (by a machine I assume) turkey. One slice of provolone. A thin layer of pesto. For like $ 8. I get that it’s Lafayette, but come on.
The salad was pathetic. Just a tiny handful of spring mix with I guess balsamic vinegar and that’s it. No olive oil that I could taste.
I also got tomato soup. It tasted like Campbells but much, much sweeter. Like they drained Spaghettios or something and gave me the run off. $ 5.
The brownie (Hey, don’t judge I was… and still am, hungry), was bad. Dry, crusty, flaky, and like a dozen other synonyms that mean the same thing. Beyond it’s woeful lack of moistness it also didn’t have much of a chocolate flavor at all. It was like a school brownie except I loved school brownies. $ 2.75.
I came here because of a number of positive reviews on their paninis, and left sorely disappointed and $ 17 cheaper. I was gonna give it 2 stars but the brownie has this awful aftertaste. Also even the candy they had in there was crazy overpriced (I guess lots of kids spend time at the library next door so they’re taking advantage of those dumb nerds). 1 star it is.

We ordered takeout at this place. They forgot my order and took about 15 mins to get my bf’s order ready. It seemed that they were unaware of my missing order until my bf asked about my grilled cheese sandwich after receiving his. The lack of organization did not impress me at all and I didn’t want to bother waiting for them to make it.
We went to McDonald’s afterwards to find an alternative for my dinner (a min or 2 walk from this place). Not only was it 3x faster, they also didn’t mess up or forget my order.
It was definitely a disappointing experience at the bookmark café. Perhaps the other people who gave this place a high rating had a much better experience and that I was just an unlucky customer. My advice would be to be prepared to wait for your food for at least 10 – 15 mins and check on your order to make sure they don’t forget it. That way, you won’t be disappointed like I was.

Perfectly grilled delicious paninis. Service is friendly and superfast. I had to hurry for a class and I had my order ready and finished eating in 15mins.
I had the tuna panini and my mom had the phantom of the opera veg panini. Hers was simply superb while mine was only really good :-)
My only gripe is that for some reason it felt a bit light. Maybe it’s just so yummy I wanted more… Prices are reasonable though so if you have a big appetite maybe take 3 sandwiches for 2 people.
I live in Berkeley but would be completely willing to make the trip to Lafayette just to eat there. It’s also right outside the Public Library and that’s a nice place to hang out too. And they have nice sidewalk seating.

What a gem! My wife and I were looking for a quick lunch and this was exactly what the doctor ordered. We got the ‘Phantom of the Opera’ sandwich and the ‘Green House’ wrap. The sandwich was great; and the wrap was one of a kind (walnuts!).
It is a small place so indoor seating is a little cramped but there are plenty of seats (with umbrellas for shade) outside. Reckon its perfect for a quick bite!

My sister and I had a mid-​morning business appointment in Lafayette and decided to find a place nearby for lunch. What better source than
?
SO GLAD I found the BOOKMARK CAFE and its glowing reviews. Not being familiar with Lafayette, I «innocently» parked in the 3700 block on Mt. Diablo Blvd, thinking we’d only have 2 blocks max, to walk. NOT. We walked, and walked and WALKED. It helped to know that the café was somewhat tucked in from the street, making it a bit harder to find. We took a reviewer’s advice and headed out to locate the Library.
When we finally arrived at the Bookmark, we were not disappointed. Tiny, quaint, but ever so-​well stocked and WELCOMING. The Menu was surprisingly varied. It took a while to decide on our order, since all their offerings were enticing.
My sister ordered the DaVinci Code Wrap and I ordered the God Father Sandwich. WOW. Both were very fresh, flavorful, generous servings and beautifully presented – including garnishes of mini fresh pineapple and orange slices. SCRUMPTIOUS, indeed. I polished my sandwich off with a Strawberry Bomb smoothie — simply delicious. We sat at one of the two tables in the miniscule café and enjoyed our lunch in the sunshine.
Food was OUTSTANDING and Service was GRACIOUS.
I’m definitely driving out from Fremont again, to enjoy another Fab Lunch at the Bookmark Café!

Really friendly and the sandwich that I got was filling, came with salad and fruit and was delicious. Bigger portion than I expected. The mocha tasted more like a straight coffee though, so I wouldn’t recommend it, but the coffee tasted great.

This café has some seriously amazing and fresh sandwiches! It’s hidden right next to the library, but do yourself a favor and treat yourself to an amazing lunch here. Also, the coffee is incredible!

Great café: Good coffee, friendly staff, great outdoor seating atmosphere due to the modern/​chic library architecture.
Only drawback: Terribly slow WiFi.

I am so glad I found Bookmark. I was taking a shortcut through the library and saw this charming café so I ventured in and am so happy I did. The coffee is fantastic and that alone would make Bookmark worth the visit. A friendly staff is also very important to me and both Mona and Sarayah are fantastic! My first time there they treated me like family and I felt as if I had known them both as old friends. The coffee and the food got me to come in, but the staff will keep me coming back.

I am an espresso regular with Mona and Sarayah. They always make me the most delicious espresso, and brighten my day with their sweet smiles and nice conversation. They also make a mean wrap. I can’t wait to try all of their sandwiches!

Go nowhere elsewhere when in Lafayette. The Panninis are delicious!
… And you cannot find this high quality food in a small café for miles.
Run. Don’t walk to The Bookmark!

This place is wonderful… friendly service, comfortable seating inside/​outside and the food was delicious!
Definitely worth stopping by and trying for yourself!

I’m a café connoisseur. Whenever I’m visiting someplace new and need a bite to eat I always look for a recommendation on Unilocal.Bookmark Café did not disappoint. It’s small, like my master bath small, but you can take your food/​drink into the AMAZING library next door if the tables are full in the café.
The wraps we had were very flavorful and not overly dry considering they weren’t dripping mayo and mustard. The salad and fruit was even better! Best thing about the place is the kind and generous service. The sugar cookies dipped in chocolate: BEWARE! One is simply not enough for any full bodied spirit.
Will be going back next time we’re in Lafayette.

Such a cute place!
Always in search of new café’s, I decided to check out this place on my way to an appointment in Lafayette.
I had a slight hard time finding it, however, it was not too bad.
This place is like smack dab off Mt Diablo Blvd, right next to the Library. Trying to find it off of Mt. Diablo st may be difficult, its close to Cafino’s though, you would be better off finding it if going to the Library.
This place is small, though as quaint and endearing as a little secret garden cove, tucked within a mountain side. The service upon entering, was extremely warm and welcoming as well as the comfy yet classy little environment.
I was only in need of coffee so, I ordered a small coffee for $ 1.70. Provide small, medium and large sizes as well as menu with selections of sandwiches, salads, fruit yogurt parfait a and a handful of other little items all presented temptatiously Well. I also could not help but fall in to the temptation of a getting one of there little mini red velvet cupcakes for.75 cents.
I was given my cup of coffee on a little white serving tray arranged with a little cup filled with cream and stirring sticks. I thought it was such a nice touch and absolutely endearing.
I got a nice little corner table by the window (mind you the place is quite small with only a handful of seating) my coffee was excellent tasting and my little red velvet cake was quite the perfect companion tasting sweet, moist and nice with having a tiny dollop of cream cheese in the middle :)
Overall, I find this place extremely charming and well presented. The staff was extremely welcoming and friendly and feel there items are of a good quality at decent price.
I shall return :)

Bookmark Café is to the left of the Lafaryette library entrance. being small, most of the café’s goodies are displayed on the counter and in a referigator.
sammies, smoothies, expressos are made to order.
eats: «lost paradise» (.95)
–tasty chocolate covered shortcake
drink (l. 1.95)
–smooth, medium roast brew,
–better than starbux’s pike’s
drips:
–cheerful, helpful lady behind the counter.
–seating inside and outside. (outside better so one can leisurely
drink while enjoying the parade of library goers-​absent a drink, this
would be called voyeurism.)

I wish I could give this place 4.5 stars because of the size of the overall café but since I can’t I’ve opted for the higher number.
Anyway, overall this place is pretty great. The food is fresh, the place is clean, and the owners are very accommodating to all your needs. You want gluten free? Dairy Free? No worries, they will alter the menu for your dietary needs. Not only are the owners accommodating, but they are also very friendly.
The location of the café is pretty great because there is outside seating for those great sunny days, or you can sit inside or just go into the library. Even though this place seems quiet at first, beware. Once school is out, the place is swarming with kids and it doesn’t die down for a few hours. So if you want a quiet spot, go in during school hours :).
Tip: Park in the library parking lot if you will be staying for a while, and don’t worry about internet access. There is free wifi.

I work in Lafayette and its nice to be able to grab a sandwich and a drink for under $ 10 and have it be delicious! A definite must, quick bite type of place to go during festivals like the Art and Wine in September and the Taste of Lafayette coming up in May. Duck in, grab a bite and some coffee to settle the stomach or stir up the nerves and head back out.
I ordered the «Hercules» which was a delicous, not too salty corned beef roll but the BEST part was the bread. It was crunchy, perfectly toasted and moist just under the crunch as your teeth sink into the meat; the Aoili was a bit much for me but I forgot to ask to not have it, so once I patted it off, I was treated with something that makes my mouth water as I type this.
The owners and waitstaff are extremely nice and accommodating and their employees are friendly as well which gives the place a very positive vibe which is very inviting. I will definitely be back!

Three words: Friendly, healthy, accommodating.
I walked into the café this morning to grab some food before heading into the library to work. I was looking for some Paleo-​friendly foods like eggs, meat, etc.
Their menu only had bagels and carby items. But from quickly chatting with the owner who is super friendly. She came up with an idea — to make me some eggs with avocado, cucumber and tomatoes. They brought the food over to my table in a moment’s time and brought me utensils, salt and pepper.
Eggs were perfect and they gave me a very healthy portion of avocado and veggies. Coffee is also excellent here, very smooth tasting to my palate and not watered down at all.
«Service with a smile» should be their tagline here, because that’s how they really operated.
I will definitely be coming back and giving them more business.
One small issue is that they are using green folding chairs for one of their tables. It’s really uncomfortable to sit in for long periods while typing on a laptop.