Alexandria Cafe

I want to give this place four stars just because of the food, but the ambiance is a little bit off-​putting. Major props for opening a great little café with really nice service in a neighborhood that I’m sure it’s difficult to survive as a business in, let alone thrive. And I’m not sure it’s thriving, but they’re trying.
But the blaring Maury Povich in the background and the odd smell throughout made my twenty-​minute visit to this place less than completely pleasant. Was it cumin? I’m not sure. That smell can be overpowering, but I didn’t taste an overabundance of it in the food – which was really good – so I’m not sure that’s what it was.
I’d give the place a second try, but I don’t know when I’ll be in the neighborhood for lunch again.

I love sarah (or sirah?) — the owners wife. She is the cutest!
The boyfriend and I always come here for breakfast.
Lox bagel. Eggs and veggies. Hummus. side of fruit. smoothie and or turkish coffee. Everything is so great and I’ve never had a problem with service.
Outdoor seating is the only way to go. I never had a problem. Love this place!

I like the kofta, chicken, and falafel wraps. Depending on who makes it, they vary in size. Good sauce with them, and salad. Wish there were two pieces of kofta, though, cause they’re skinny.
Unpredictable hours. They used to have hours, then they taped different sets of hours up, now there are none posted.
Place gets clogged up with all the foreign students from the ESL place two doors away, sometimes, who fill the sidewalk smoking, and staring when they think you might be a student and yet you continue walking through and away from the smoke cloud.

I used to stop by in the morning for smoothies using a Buy 6 Get a Free One card, but one day the «new» girl said I couldn’t get anymore free smoothies (I was just getting my 3^rd free smoothie that day). Then she gave me my «free» smoothie and said the cost would come out of her pay. Ok… that wasn’t really necessary. Buh-​bye, they just lost a regular customer and the card is in the recycler. Anyway, they never opened on time in the mornings, and that last smoothie actually wasn’t very good.

After reading many highly rated reviews on falafel I gave it a shot. I was most intrigued by someone who said after Ali Baba left they found this to be just as good. Perhaps I just have high expectations for falafel, but I really don’t think any place that doesn’t make fresh falafel for your order can be higher than 2 stars. You can’t replicate the crispy outside and eternally warm interior of a freshly cooked falafel in a microwave. The difference between this and Alexandria is night and day. I may have to continue to trek out to the Lower Haight, or more daunting even Berkeley for my fresh falafel but it will certainly be well worth it.
Also — bathrooms were out of order.

$ 7.50 for a falafel!!!
The falafel was poor streetcart quality, with mashed up bits of dried falafel rolled up into a large wrap. And then microwaved. Bleh. Two stars because it came with a tiny but fresh side salad and the lady was nice.
Where is San Francisco’s answer to Maoz, or Mamouns?

its not that difficult to make a regular cold latte
but this guys cant do it .
their ice tea sucks too !

I was insanely excited when I saw the Alexandria Café on my way back to my hotel. It’d been a while since I’d had shawarma; I was excited to sample theirs. Unfortunately, it was only okay. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but such is life.
Shawarma aside, the staff were very friendly, and the espresso was good.

A great little cozy coffee shop! I dropped off my car a few blocks away for maintenance and had an awesome eggbagel breakfast there! I LOVE bagels and was very happy to see their vast selection of fresh bagels and good coffee. The owner was very pleasant and helpful at the café, and keeps up a very clean environment at the place. Definitely loved it and will come back!

I’ve had a couple lunches here. I seem to think that this is an OK place to go. It’s a little expensive for what it is I think.
Well first the Chicken Schwarma I got was huge, so that’s probably worth the price. But I wasn’t a huge fan of it personally. It was almost so huge, that it made it hard to eat because the inside is very mushy and full of hummus. Like really wet hummus. So it just got to be a challenge to eat.
I enjoy the vegetarian platter. Good flavors. But again at 8.99 I don’t know if it’s worth it.
Not a bad place by any means. Just also not spectacular.

Shwarma larger than my forearm.
Prepared for engagement with anticipated goodness.
Met with a mouthful of hummus and more hummus.
I tried to rip off the lavash to spread out the hummus, only to be met with more hummus. So much hummus.
Disappointed with soggy shredded chicken and burnt chicken skin.
Have I seriously been spoiled by shwarma I’ve had in Europe? I’ve been skeptical to try shwarma in the states until now… it’s been 3 years, and thank you for fulfilling my skepticism.
Worst shwarma EVAR! Too much hummus.
It was $ 8. Worst $ 8 spent. :(
Thoroughly disappointed. I ate about ¹⁄₈ of that thing and didn’t bother to eat for the next 6 hours. I was THAT disappointed. No more hummus. Yea… there’s probably more hummus in the shwarma than the word «hummus» in my review; however, if you love hummus, THIS is the thing to get!

cute menu, cute area, cute café!
great place to go on that saturday morning, hungover from drinking the night before. their breakfast menu is filled with carbs and meat (bagels, eggs, etc.). they also have a giant smoothie list to choose from in addition to some chilled ice teas, vitamin waters, and juice squeezes in the fridge. Also, the free water available has oranges in it which gives it a light flavor and is extremely refreshing.
i ordered the egg bagel with cheddar cheese which to my surprise came with a side salad with a light dressing. so perfect! the bagel wasnt overly cheesy, runny, or greasy at all. We sat outside and our food was brought to us which is impressive customer service for a café like this. Also, the manager brought us each 2 for 1 breakfast coupons and a frequent buyer’s card.
minus one star for a piece of fabric or string of some sort in the eggs. hopefully next time it will be cleaner.

My entire office had lunch from Alexandria Café yesterday and it was DELICIOUS!!! Such a small joint that I never entered or noticed despite passing by many times. Will definitely be back for more! The owner is awesome!

Alexandria is a breath of fresh air! Located on Pine, about half a block from Polk, this cute little café serves breakfast, lunch, coffee and smoothies, all with a little Middle Eastern flavor.
The outdoor seating is fabulous on a sunny day. Picture a few little tables, surrounded by hand-​painted flower boxes and umbrellas with palm fronds.
Went here for lunch and ordered the falafel wrap. As other reviewers have noted, the lavash bread was fresh, toasty and delicious. I loved the falafel too. Salad was average. My friend got the club sandwich and reported that it was awesome. They have an extensive list of smoothies and coffee drinks, which I will definitely try next time.
The interior is filled with funky beachy kitsch, and the giant mural on the wall makes you feel like you’re at some seaside café in Egypt or Greece. The young woman and older man working here were very considerate, though a little slow considering we were the only two in the whole place.
Did I mention how cute this place is? Go check this little gem out.

I have only been here for breakfasts and bagels but I really like this little café. If the weather allows you can sit outside or sit inside and eat.
The service is very friendly and personal. I like little places like this where you don’t feel like you’re supporting a big chain but caring individuals who do their job well.
Have yet to try it for lunch.

To be honest, I saw the menu with the seashell outside and I knew I was done for. mostly because, like the rest of alexandria’s décor, it straddles the abyss between kitsch and cute. While for those of you who don’t know me that may sound like a problem, rest assured that I feel very comfortable in that liminal space… even if sometimes i do end up on the kitschy side. Fortunately, alexandria’s is the place to be no matter what. Decoration aside, this place has some amazing food.
It doesn’t take much digging (the staff are really friendly and can make pleasant conversation) to figure out that this place is authentic. They told me the owner was an Egyptian man who comes in the night before to make the food in the deli case. My personal recommendations are the eggplant wrap, eggplant plate, hummus, falafel, etc. Although, if the eggplant starts disappearing too early I may be forced to delete this review :). this is my boyfriend’s favorite breakfast spot. he gets the veggie bagel, and that is also really tasty. (They also have an assortment of pre-​made pastries and goodies, etc… but the real magic is in the food that has been handmade the night before).
Also, I wouldn’t bring big parties here. You will know what I mean as soon as you go. This is more like taking a private yoga class… individualized, spiritual, and satisfying… best enjoyed by a few at a time.

I was a little disappointed with this place. The place is cute but also quirky, because it seems like the art is very hodge podge, with some sea shells and beach theme going on on the walls, as well as egyptian art. I suspect the place was a seafood joint at one time? Who knows.
The service was very nice but extremely slow… Okay, well I do need to admit I took a group of co-​workers (about 9 of us) from a conference here. They are definitely not set up for a bustling lunch crowd and there was no grill to be seen. Microwave and toaster oven are their methods of cooking from what I saw.
I got the Chicken Shawerma wrap which apparently was chicken from a drum stick. Not that tasty in my opinion. The people that ordered the falafel said it was good, but the others said it was average.
Very nice owners, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

FALAFELLLLLLLLL!!!
*new fan*
Strange hours, but I bought a crazy pair of earrings here too for Prom tonight!!! :D
Best lavash bread, best falafel, tabouli, etc. etc.
Stop looking for a good falafel place and memorize their hours here. Thank me later.

Turkish coffee??? Look no more!
I like to think I was one of the first to welcome Alexandria Café into the neighborhood. I remember walking into the place the day it opened. I immediately asked if they served Turkish coffee. The owner looked very surprised that I requested it. She made it… served it… and read it! =) This is the only café in all of San Francisco that stays tried and true to the traditions from the days of old.
Wraps??? Look no more!
After Ali-​Baba moved out of the hood no other wrap has recaptured my taste buds… that is until Alexandria Café moved into the hood!!! All I have to say is… wow. Wow, already. Just — wow. Man, WOW!
Tabbouleh??? Look no more!
I’ve had some strange tasting tabbouleh in my day. Experiences like those send my mouth screaming, «Alexandria’s! A fresh, light almost crispy in texture with well balanced flavors makes this dish, hands down, the best I’ve tasted in the city.

Had a rough day in the city? Stepping into Alexandria Café, a definitely tiny hole-​in-​the-​wall, will instantly make you feel warm and loved. The server (possibly owner) is a wonderful, sunny, and friendly lady who, judging by the kitchsy and ecclectic décor (think seashells and glass rocks glued to the walls), loves the beach. Strike up a conversation with the woman, and you will soon tell that she not only enjoys the beach, but also talking with her customers and making sure they enjoy her food.
This is the best hummus I’ve had in town!