Raphael’s Shutter Cafe
10064 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, CA, 94530
Raphael’s Shutter Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in El Cerrito for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in El Cerrito for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in El Cerrito for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
10064 San Pablo Ave
El Cerrito, CA, 94530 - Phone (510) 525-4227
- Website https://raphaelscafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Marcus M.
Great! I had pancakes, eggs, and bacon......excellent!!! It's along a busy San Pablo Avenue, but it's clean, with some contemporary artwork, and some light jazz music in the background. I'm going back next week for the gumbo....yum!
(5)Malika H.
Came here for lunch with a friend on a Sunday and seated ourselves since I guess the one waitress was busy tending a table. It took about five minutes before we received menus. I ordered the salmon salad and a side of vegetables. The somewhat mushy vegetables were a sautéed mix of Italian squash, bell pepper, onion and I believe some mushroom. Not all of my salmon was cooked all the way through but I ate it just the same, atop some wilted mixed greens. My friend ordered the BLT with fries and we were both a bit surprised when her sandwich arrived with what were more like breakfast potatoes. She ate them anyway and half of her small sandwich. This place is more of a small diner style and probably good for simple breakfast food but I wouldn't go too far in terms of entrees.
(3)Myles H.
There food isn't spectacular but for breakfast it's quite good considering the price. The owner is a super nice guy and always treats my dad like an old friend. We go here about twice a year but that's only because we don't eat out much, but we always get our food quickly and its always good
(5)Meena N.
Friendly neighborhood cafe. It seems as if there are always regulars there. They serve beer, as well. I got a run of the mill breakfast- veggie omelette that comes with toast and potatoes. My omelette was good, but I was just kind of taken aback by the veggies that he put in there. there was eggplant, and I just didn't really enjoy that part even though eggplant doesn't bother me. The eggplant was slightly undercooked. I liked the potatoes though. More on the blander side, but that's what I like since I like to douse my stuff with ketchup and hotsauce and sometimes I like to eat bland food. Seriously...us Americans need to enjoy food for it's taste, and not how much salt we add on it. With that said, the omelette was bland as well, but I didn't mind. I mean, the WORST offense is making something too salty. Coffee...was really watery. I didn't even finish my first cup. Cleanliness: pretty good, but then I lifted one hot sauce bottle and the bottom was coated in pancake syrup or honey ...so I left it there because it grossed me out. No hot sauce for me. :( I work really close by and thought this could be a lunch spot that I can come by to enjoy but... I don't know. I'll give it a try again and order something that everybody else really enjoyed.
(3)Tara C.
We've been searching for a good breakfast place in the east bay without having to go to Berkeley or Oakland. This place was not the answer. . . There was only one other table when we got there so we thought we could grab a quick bite to eat. I ordered a simple breakfast of sunny side up eggs, sausage, and potatoes. My boyfriend had pretty much the same thing. It seemed like everything was cooked in the same, dirty iron skillet because it all had this black crust on it. Gross yes. To make matters worse, at least one of the eggs had fibers in it, like fibers from a towel or something. And it wasn't just one... The whole under cooked egg white was covered in it. I'm not sure what in the world they did to the hot sauce bottles on the table, but the tapatio was this weird light pink color. We chose not to use it. And I have no idea what happened, but while we were there a family came in and went to be seated outside. It couldn't have been more than two minutes before the same family stormed out of the restaurant. Either way, it added to the already horrible experience. Everything about this place was underwhelming.
(2)Misael H.
Driving down San Pablo ave all the time, I always pass this place. What always caught my eye was a hamburger and gumbo sign. I also noticed that there was always this older gentlemen sitting outside. So I finally decided to go check it out. The older gentlemen (I'm assuming he's Raphael) sat us down and took our order. They have two tables outside in front so you can see what's happening on San Pablo ave. The inside has several tables and there's also a small makeshift beer garden in the back. I ordered a Apple sausage sandwich with the homefried potatoes although I wanted to try the gumbo but I wasn't in the mood for anything hot. The menu is very small. Just consists of breakfast options, burgers and sandwiches. There's also coffee and lattes and things of that sort. The food was good, the service was ok, could have been better. Overall I'd come back just to try the gumbo but that's about it.
(3)Arthur Y.
Giving a generous 4 stars here. Came in for breakfast on the run before a tax appt around the corner. It was pretty much empty save for 2 ladies. Small, cute decor - lots of random posters and artwork hanging. Seems like they serve various alcohol as well. Got 2 breakfast sandos to go. Egg sausage and cheese on sourdough and egg bacon and cheese on a croissant. Both came with potatoes and pickles. Friendly service and quick turnaround on our sandos. Nothing exceptional, just normal breakfast sandos. Interesting twist was the bathroom. There's only one....and it's HUGE and it seems to double as a storage room. Plus there was about 25 pieces of art hanging on the wall, a bistro table with 2 chairs and plates and jugs on it, baby highchairs and all other assorted glassware and china....not really where I want to see it stored....but the bathroom was HUGE and it was really clean. Odd... I would come back here again though. Just a nice, local eatery. Nothing fussy.
(4)Lisa K.
I don't know what happened. Both of us ordered the gumbo and they looked nothing like some of the Yelp photos. Our bowls each had 3 pieces of small shrimp with the shell on and 4 -5 chunks of chicken. My bowl had half a piece of sausage. My friend's bowl had no sausage whatsoever. There were tons of rice. Very disappointed. Our server was nice, attentive and efficient. That is the only reason this visit review gets two stars vs. one.
(2)Emma A.
Stopped in for late breakfast on a Monday and were the only people there so we got to choose a place to sit. It's a small place on San Pablo so keep your eyes peeled for it. We parked on the street, not sure if there is parking elsewhere. I ordered a latte that was served in a glass mug which I thought was cute and the one egg plate which came with one egg, home fries and toast (bread of my choice. . . the whole wheat raisin was delish). My significant other ordered the special of the day which came with two pancakes, bacon and eggs. It didn't take long at all for the food to come out and we bought thought it was pretty good. The overall service was pleasant and efficient. I would return to Raphael's again if I was in the area.
(4)Erica W.
Quant setting, delicious food, good customer service! Small cafe with cute outdoor area. Mimosas are great and affordable, brunch was delicious
(4)Vivian D.
I like to get pancakes and the pork patty. Either for breakfast or as a burger. So yummy! A bit pricier than Nations across the street but you will get your food in a quarter of the time!
(4)AnneMarie W.
Yummmmmmm!!!!! I was walking by and saw a sign that they have the best 1/3 burgers in town. So I had to try it out. And guess what? It is true! It tasted magical. I think anything that they cook will be good. So I have to come back to try the gumbo, omelettes, blueberry pancakes and other burgers. Probably not in the same day. ;) Another thing is that the vibe is really really great!! I could have stayed there all day. The owner is definitely doing something right. Apparently starting in June they will be open two nights a week (probably Friday & Saturday).
(5)Grace P.
"Delightfully mediocre" is how my boyfriend put it, but to be honest, "delightful" may be too strong of a word. The service was great and I liked the employees there so I don't wish to be too critical. However, to begin with, the coffee was pretty bad (even for diner coffee standards). Simply making the coffee stronger would make a huge difference. I ordered the vegetarian omelette (eggplant, onion, and squash) which turned out... Okay. The eggs were a bit runny for my taste, but overall better than any omelette you could get at a Denny's. The home fries were cold, burned, and hard as a rock. To be fair, the potatoes that were used are difficult to cook thoroughly without burning. I would suggest different potatoes or different cooking technique. One last thing, that isn't a huge deal, but the plates the food was served one were very large plates. It wouldn't have been so much of an issue but the tables were small which made it very awkward for two people to eat at one table. Overall, it had a small, homey atmosphere so there is a lot of potential there. I don't think I'll return here though, at least not for breakfast.
(2)Ben O.
3 1/2 stars for food, 4 for pleasure.This is a modest, good, comforting place to eat. One of my half-dozen Go-To breakfast places in Berkeley (and that includes Bette's, Gilman Grill, 'M', Meal Ticket, Lama Bean's, & Guerrilla). Peach pancakes are great. It's not gourmet, or even gormand, but it's good, & satisfying. Nice jazz influence. Otis is a bonus.
(4)Rebekah T.
On our way to Portland, my incredibly thoughtful guy decided to take me to breakfast at this little spot that he had been telling me about for months. Having a solid breakfast before traveling is important to him and I love trying new places. We were welcomed in by the owner who poured us two cups of coffee and took our order. While my guy is a creature of habit and always orders the same (two eggs, bacon, potatoes and english muffin), I ordered something a little different and had the Vegetable Omelette. The food came out quickly for a one man show and I got a omelette filled with sauteed zuchini and onions, amongst other seasonal veggies. Although it was more than I could eat, it was delicious and filled us up before our trip.
(4)David A.
Had a delicious breakfast/brunch for the first time at this local establishment. The food was tasty--I had the gumbo and my girlfriend had a hotlink breakfast plate. Service was good and very friendly. The owner, Otis, is very personable. Bonus: college football was on (it was a Saturday) and they serve beer and mimosas.
(4)Stephanie S.
We took our two sons there one who is 8 and another who is 1.5. They do not have high chairs so don't take a baby! Also, the food was just OK... the potatoes tasted like they were from days ago, we had to ask for ice and they didn't have basics like sugar free syrup and Splenda for my coffee. The coffee also tasted like Folgers. We should have gone to IHOP!
(2)steve k.
Walked in and went to the counter and the two people working there were talking about some music they were listening to. Stood there for awhile and finally walked out. Drove across the street and went to Nations.
(1)Kayser N.
Love this place! Had a great time with friends and family and the food was great! I would recommend this place to my worst enemy!
(5)Nir Y.
Great burgers, great service, great price. I am pleasantly surprised. Will definitely be back
(5)Jana C.
2.8 breakfast. The proprietor is this great, quality gentle soul. loved the chat. pancakes were the best thing I ordered...and I got a lot of food.... including an espresso drink (flavor was not deep enuf for me). The other items I tried were just ..ehh.. to be frank, nothing was memorable... save those pancakes. Nice fam-run business.
(3)Clovo S.
I been here twice with my husband and once with my son. My husband had the gumbo and it was delicious. It tasted home made. The eggs breakfast are lacking, but the pancakes are great. Both times the owner/cook and server took our order. He is friendly and the food is served fast. Pleasant and sunny place to sit.
(4)Jasmine M.
Awe! I hate to update this but I was so disappointed on my last visit. I took a friend who had been living in El Cerrito for several years and never heard of this place. The day I take her, the food was terrible. Potatoes were pre-cooked and old tasting and everything else sub-par. Perhaps he has done this work for so long, he has become complacent and the thrill is gone!
(2)Laura M.
Reading these reviews really makes me feel bad because in so many of them, the winning component seems to be the service from the owner, who was the only one there on our visit. Owner. Waiter. Chef. Well, I don't know what we did wrong that day but he was openly hostile to us while demonstrative to another table. It really felt shitty. Maybe we reminded him of a bad memory but he was brutal and the food was nothing special. Burger buns were awesome . . single leaf of lettuce, tomato and generic pickles underwhelming, meat itself did not taste great, the burger was not accompanied by mayo or mustard - let alone a little touch of thousand island. The potatoes were yucky. But if he'd been cool with us . . I probably only would've had eyes for that beautiful burger bun. Sadly, I haven't been subjected to such inexplicable meanness for a long, long time.
(1)Hillary J.
I went here despite the poor reviews because it's very close to my new home. I thought the service was great. Warm greeting by both the chef and the server. Attentive server throughout the meal: she returned often to refill our coffee, asked to make sure everything was okay, and gladly accepted my substitution of rice instead of toast. While the food wasn't anything spectacular I'm sure I will return.
(4)Chris K.
We've been to this place a few times now and I could definitely see why some people might find this place charming. My wife thinks the owner/cook/server is just a sweet teddy bear of a man (in terms of appearance and demeanor). The food is decent. However, my last two visits have been less than satisfactory. Both times, we were there in non-peak hour for a meal with perhaps only one or two other customers at the counter, who already had been served. I think the problem was that because it was actually not busy, the gentleman just took his sweet time after taking our orders. Most of the wait was because he ended up talking to the customer at the counter for what seemed like at least 5 minutes before he started to prepare the food. What's 5 mins, you say? Well, if you are hungry and in a bit of hurry, it can be a bit frustrating when you are the only customer he has to serve. And after bringing out our order, he went back to talking with the customer at the counter and was lacking in his attention to our table. Perhaps due to his divided attention, he forgot to bring out some of the extra stuff we had ordered. We kept thinking that he would stop talking to the guy and bring the extra pancake and the can of coke eventually but soon, we were done with our meal and he finally realized that he forgot the coke (he still didn't remember that my wife had ordered a single pancake) and asked us if I still wanted the coke. The 5 mins is minor. If we weren't in a rush, perhaps I would not have even noticed it. However, I did find the incomplete service somewhat annoying.
(3)Meghan F.
Meh. Despite all these reviews about the friendly owner, he never said one word to me, we were helped by another woman. Overall service was good and food was average. My step-daughter did say the pancakes were good (she's 11 and not hard to please though). My salmon Parmesan omelette did have a good amount of salmon but was lacking in cheese and thus flavor (I had to put salt on it which I don't usually do with my food). I am reluctant to eat out for breakfast to begin with (it can be expensive for something that is easy to make at home) otherwise I'd probably give this place another go since it's walking distance from my house.
(3)Sara L.
My Mom & I walked to Raphael's and found the most scrumptous hearty pancakes & sweet french toast, after missing our flight to Bali. It was like we took a stroll into a small Southern cafe in Louisana, jazz playin on the radio as we sipped strong coffee. Was a spontaneous delight.
(5)Amicus S.
Judgmental Hospitality Student Quick Analysis: They need to train their staff in service. Food was relative to all of Berkeley/ El Cerrito cusine: 1 level below mediocre. They get 3 stars because they have red beans and rice on the menu. Although I did not taste it, I imagined what it would taste like.
(3)Cali F.
Upon walking in to Raphael's Shutter Cafe, I was immediately transported to a slower paced time and place as classic smooth jazz filled the air and a friendly face greeted me with a very warm welcome. The place is very clean, airy and looks to have a recent updating of urban elements intermixed with classic cafe tiles and chairs, making it an inviting place to slow down and relax. So don't come here if you're in a hurry. It's basically (and amazingly) a one man show and Otis will take care of you just fine as long as chill out and take it easy, as were most of the guys there reading their papers or books over cups of coffee and eggs. Other guys would sidle up to the classic counter to sip and chat. It had the feeling of a true neighborhood place. Five stars for the stylish but not pretentious decor with plants and art on the walls and the uncommonly rare customer appreciation. What amazed me was that even though Otis was a one man show with 9 people to serve, he was never flustered and deftly brought menus, water, poured coffee, cooked, brought out orders, bused plates and brought the bill in a well rehearsed and choreographed manner with knowing skill and ease. Not once did he neglect to raise his head to give a heartfelt greeting to each and every person that entered his place and then a few friendly words to his customers as they left. It's a lost art/regard and I guess since Otis has been running this place for 30 years, he knows what it takes to keep a place going for so long. There are so few restaurants that I felt so personally welcomed and appreciated in and that is paramount to my dining experience. Minus one star for old lipstick stains on my tea mug and a curious pancake interchange. When Otis brought three plates of pancakes for two different tables, he forgot which one was the plain, peach and blueberry ones for each table. He used his fingers to lift up on of the pancakes to check, after he placed the plate right in front of the customer. I realize that he has touched our food while prepping in the kitchen, but it's NOT good form to handle a customer's food with your bare fingers while it's on their plate in front of them! After our table received our own pancakes, which were suppose to be blueberry and the plain ones, the other customer looked across to us and I knew HE ordered the plain, so we just merely switched plates. We were all cool with that. The food is simple, three stars = A okay, home style nothing fancy or gourmet at all and is priced accordingly. We had the #4 with two huge plate sized fluffy pancakes, 2 eggs, bacon, homefries. What's nice is that he brings the pancakes out to your table hot off the griddle so you can enjoy them in their optimum condition, and then follows it up with your eggs, etc. on a separate plate. Raphael's gets 5 stars for hot tea that's actually HOT. I HATE tepid tea, and it always seems like an after thought at most restaurants, but the tea here was piping hot in its own large stainless steel pot, so I was quite happy with this uncommon detail. I use to go to Fatapple's for breakfast, but after receiving fried eggs that were ridiculously cold...on two separate visits, I gave up. My order there was obviously sitting out for way too long and when I pointed that out to them, all I got was a blank face...the usual from overworked staff who really don't care about what they're doing. Raphael's will now be my go to neighborhood breakfast place because I like that it has a feeling to it with a pleasant decor and just isn't a utilitarian place to fill your face or worse, a soul-less chain. We need restaurants like this with more personality and heart in El Cerrito.
(4)Jonathan G.
A group of us came here one morning for breakfast sandwiches. It was a pretty cool experience. Raphael's is small inside but I'm happy it has more of a personal feel to it, not the corporate cookie-cutter feel. They do live jazz here on some evening or the other. I may come back just to see how they squeeze musicians and customers in this lil joint, must be a sight. Anyhow back to the visit. I thought $8 was well on the high side for a breakfast sandwich but it was very tasty, not a small sandwich, and it came with a good portion of home fried potatoes too so that made some difference. We'll probably come back for more or to try something else at Raphael's Shutter Cafe. Oh yeah, be prepared that you may have to hunt for street parking or cross busy San Pablo Ave.
(3)Hollis X.
Nope, not good at all. Coffee was awful. Like it had been sitting in the pot at an AA meeting for 8 hours. Gross. Bacon and 2 small hash browns tasted like last weeks leftovers. Over priced for such small crappy servings. I will not ever be going back.
(2)Lorien S.
I just got back from my first visit to Raphael's. We were drawn in by the music, and really enjoyed our evening there. There was an amazing duo of guitar and upright bass, and the sound was perfectly mixed; very enjoyable. I forgot to ask how often they have music; we were there on a Friday evening. We sat down, and were immediately brought menus and ice water. I took one star away because my vegan husband couldn't find that many dishes, but the waiter and chef were immediately attentive and made sure the gorgozola for the (spinach, cherry tomato and toasted pine nut) salad we ordered was on the side (I'm not vegan and I love gorgonzola), and they made sure we knew the peach cobbler was completely vegan. We also had sauteed mushrooms that were really yummy, and I had a very nice, excellently priced merlot. The cornbread was mine all mine because it had milk and butter in it, and it was sweet and moist and totally yummy. The cornbread came with the salad and the mushrooms came with sliced baguette that may have had butter on it and was toasted but not hard like some toasted baguette is. I wonder how they did that? It was nice too. We snacked on our food and drank our refreshing water and I had my wine and we chatted - the music was the perfect volume. Between sets the band had some dinner and they said they really enjoyed what they ate. So, there you go. If you want to have some good food and hear some live music in a pleasant atmosphere in El Cerrito, try Raphael's. It's a relaxing, friendly place.
(4)Chris M.
lunch is better than their breakfast. breakfast was "meh" and their lunch (burger) was good. i'd be back if i wanted a burger and was in the neighborhood.
(3)Katrina A.
The atmosphere is warm and inviting and the reason for the 2 stars. I wondered why we were the only ones there on Sunday for breakfast. Now I know. The breakfast was horrible. For a $7 French toast dish, it was undercooked, had no flavor, and served with margarine! I did, however, taste the last dish that was prepared on their griddle. Yuck! My son had peach pancakes. The pancakes looked good, but the flavor wasn't there. It tasted like it was made from a box mix and had canned cling peaches mixed it. He loved it, but what 5 year old doesn't like pancakes and canned peaches?! My daughter had a cheese omelet with home fries and toast. No complaints, she devoured her omelet but left her flavorless home fries untouched. My husband had a bowl of their gumbo over rice and a slice of cornbread. He said it was pretty good. The coffee is terrible! I took 1 sip and couldn't stomach the rest of the stale and bitter taste. In my opinion, don't waste your money here on breakfast. Nations across the street does it better and won't cost you $49 after tip!
(2)Calvin S.
Nice staff, but food was without effort. The coffee was very watered down/brewed light, and frankly tasted like robusto beans instead of the now standard arabica beans. In a small town with many coffee shops, you wonder why a restaurant would skimp on decent coffee. I ordered the hot link omelette which was good - but the homefries were literally re-heated. I saw the nice young girl pull a pan off of a shelf over the griddle, pull off a lid, and re-heat them. Some were still cold, none of them were impressive, and the skins were rubbery. Just so many other places worthy of your $13 for breakfast.
(2)D. R.
We really liked this place, our first time here. The salmon/parmesan omelet was terrific (big chunks of salmon, not small bits and pieces), with yummy raisin toast and home fries. We also had delicious peach pancakes. Mimosas served in Margarita glasses and good lattes, too. Apparently a new feature is the outdoor garden area we sat in, which was very pleasant. Lots of beautiful potted flowers, obviously well cared for. Found this on a coupon deal and can't believe we never knew it was right here in El Cerrito for so many years. Raphael seems very nice. Definitely going back and bringing others.
(5)Bob E.
I been here twice so far. Once with a buddy on one of my day's off and another time with my mother; who likes these type of establishments (my treat). I enjoyed this place alot. My mother loved it. Raphael's is a nice, calm, appears to be clean, hidden little spot in the heart of El cerrito. Free Wi-FI, alcohol - i.e. wine, beer, etc. served daily! Flat screen TV to watch news....oh did i also forget to mention the food? The grub is good here indeed. yes sir. The old man that was running the joint, was either the owner or cook. Either way he gave us great service and an extra dessert dish free of charge. He was really cool and easy going. I respected that alot. It's not everyday you find a cool little spot to surf, eat, and drink and relax. Here, i did. Definitely check Raphael's out if you have not had the opportunity to. I'm sure most will like it. I love the each title beneath the name of the cafe - "Breakfast, Lunch and Stuff". 4 out of 5 stars for me yo. =)
(4)Di P.
I gave it two stars because the service was good. The owner who goes by Otis, was eager to please, approachable, and created a relaxed environment for me and my friend. It felt very much like being in someone's home. And it was very fast. No longer than 2 minutes from the time we arrived were we offered coffee. But aside from that, I wished that my friend and I had gone to Denny's as originally planned. We wanted to support an independent business and try something different. But not only was the food bland, it wasn't fresh. My friend's french toast was obviously dipped in pancake batter. My pancakes were cold and thick but undercooked. I ordered a special with home fries, bacon, and eggs, but never got the home fries. From reading other reviews here maybe I should be glad. I was put off because I ordered my pancakes with no butter. They came with a heap of gooey butter which he poured onto my friend's plate of french toast, and he attempted to blot the rest off with a napkin. And he placed it in front of me saying, "No butter." I couldn't finish my food because it just tasted funny and the coffee was nasty also. I'm not even a coffee enthusiast, but I can tell the difference between good coffee and dirt water. I won't be returning, unless it is to hear live music there for free.
(2)D L.
Yikes. I really wanted to like this place because i believe in supporting small, locally owned businesses. But on a Sunday morning (prime brunch time ~ 10:30), there were only 3 other parties, and in the hour or so that we were there, no other customers arrived... now i know why. I ordered the Piperade - potatoes were dry; veggies were too salty; jam in the Bonne Maman jar was clearly not Bonne Maman (the label had partially been taped over with a hand-written, undecipherable word). My friend had the french toast, but they'd made it with sourdough bread which made for a tart french toast that required a lot of syrup, and even then it was hard for him to eat it. The coffee was good. The guy who was cooking was genial and friendly... i only wish he had prepared better food. I may give this place a second try, maybe during the week, to see if another person cooking makes a difference. Updated: I went back on a weekday... same cook... same impression of the food.
(1)M C.
3.5 stars Redeemed a $24 groupon for breakfast on a Sunday morning. We were the 1st patrons. We ordered pancakes, eggs, potatoes, bacon, omelet, english muffin, orange juice & coffee. We joked that our table looked like what Celie made on "The Color Purple" :) Overall it was a filling meal, but I didn't care for my omelet. It was more of a folded-over fried egg. I prefer fluffy omelets. 4 more tables were filled, after we were served. And there was only 1 person working. I imagine those people waited a while for their meals. And the positioning of the large mirror inside the restroom is odd. Just saying...it's odd.
(3)John E.
Went here for breakfast and the food was practically inedible (in fact my wife just stopped eating hers). The pancakes were just not good at all, the bacon was cold, and the coffee should not have been called coffee at all. I really wanted to like this place since it's in the neighborhood small joint and with all the great reviews of the proprietor. We didn't interact with him at all while there. Sadly, it was so bad there's no chance of us going back.
(1)Joe H.
I've been to this place in the past and it was usually a pleasant dining experience. This time it was a FAIL. We went there, hungry for a birthday brunch. As a party of two, we were told we could sit any that we liked. A party of 7 had ordered before us and a party of 3 ordered 10 minutes after us. After seeing the party of 7 and 3 get their dishes first, I asked what was the delay was and the server replied "I don't know." Apparently if you order a salmon and Parmesan omelet along with the # 4 Raphael special it takes FOREVER. We walked out and ate at another favorite restaurant, and were served within minutes after ordering. If you have a valid reason for a delay PLEASE let the customer now. I realize some things are easier/faster to make than others. When an entire table gets their order and you have ordered before they even arrived, then you FAIL, FAIL, FAIL in my book. Thanks for NOTHING (T_T).
(1)Amanda C.
I love this place! My boyfriend's father took us here one weekend and we had a really enjoyable experience. Raphael is really friendly and warm; the rest of the staff is too. If you order coffee, they constantly come back to fill it back up (awesome!) and their blueberry pancakes are amazing. Not just a little amazing but really, really, really amazing! The place has a calm, laid back feel, and is located in a nice little spot with good street parking. I hear there is jazz music on the evenings. I may have to come back and check it out!
(5)Jennifer W.
What an incredibly cute place with cheap prices and what's this, live music, I hear? They have just about everything including an adorable patio area and excellent service, though I may not agree with some of the decor. Still, it's quaint and it's homey. I had the ratatouille with some bread and while it was good, it was a bit drier than I had hoped. The blueberry peach pancakes were good too. They were big and fluffy, though I think they used canned fruit. Still, the prices are great for the hearty meals you get here.
(3)Madam L.
I'm glad I found this sweet little spot! I had planned on going to Costco for my monthly overload of supplies, only to find I had arrived 30 min before they opened, so I headed out to find some morning grub. So glad I stummbled accross this place. I knew I could go to Nations, but as i entered their parkinglot, I noticed this sweet cafe accross the street. At Raphael's I had a veggie omlette, and it was very tasty, but what blew me away were the potatoes. Sooo good! Better than any breakfst spuds Ive had in a long time. Over all had a very pleasant vist. I was in and out in 30 min (just in time to get to costco before the crowds)- but i would have liked to hang arround and enjoy the quality coffee, pleasant company, and relaxing atmosphere. I'll be going back to try some of the Gumbo Special!
(4)Jessica H.
I Love Raphael's! A mom and pop cafe I would love to support... Great for morning pancakes with my son. The owner named the store after his son and seems to really enjoy interacting with customers. He has traveled all over the world and has some really interesting stories. I really appreciate the customer service. If you are looking for a down home big ol' home cooked breakfast, brunch etc. Raphael's is the place to be! Oh Yes! and Live Jazz on some evenings!!!
(5)David Y.
This would be a review about ONLY their espresso drinks, which is the only thing I've had from them. I walked in on a whim (and being too lazy to walk down to Peet's further down the street) after getting some banh mi down the street. Basically, I observed a grossly dirty portafilter, a grossly dirty frother pitcher into which my espresso was pulled, and not nearly enough ground beans that went into a similarly dirty basket. Unsurprisingly, I observed tan water being pulled from the machine... which went into building an Americano which really was nothing more than dirty water. It is pretty much the worst espresso drink I've ever had. I don't know about their food, and the guy who served me (presumably Raphael) was very warm and pleasant. I hope they get their act together on the espresso.
(1)J P.
Great gumbo, cute Asian waitress
(5)Adam S.
I wish the menu were more vegan friendly, and I'm being harsh about that and taking off two stars. But everything else was great. I'd have tried lots of things on the menu if I ate that stuff. But I didn't go there for the food. It just seemed like a chill scene in there, and it was. Friendly staff. Live music. I very much enjoyed hanging out there, and I will again.
(3)Mary C.
Nice little neighborhood breakfast joint/cafe. Had brunch with the hubs and baby here today. The big t.v. with basketball playing was a hit with the boy.. and the waiter/owner's son didn't mind when the boy kept throwing the ball everywhere. heh. Nice sunny atmosphere. Home fries were excellent with generous dashes of paprika. Omelettes can be bigger but the whole wheat bread was great. Coffee was nice and strong with prompt refills. Homemade jam would be sooooooooooooo awesome.
(4)Jared L.
For the price, friendly service, and atmosphere Rafael's is tough to beat. I had a burger which was fine but nothing special, and the fried potatoes which were damn good. And if you're not exclusively into the bay area sludge-coffee (ala Peet's), you'll appreciate the solid diner coffee and numerous refills the way I did. Yep, not Peet's but I don't always need a coffee that can eat a spoon. My buddy tells me this is one of the few places that serves over-medium eggs perfectly. While fried eggs aren't super challenging or anything, it always surprises me how many restaurants can't serve them over-medium either because they can't cook them or just don't know what that is. So points for that (I did see these allegedly perfect OM eggs but didn't try one).
(4)Linda K.
This place is disgusting. First cup of water had some weird black piece of leftover food stuck to the side. Second cup had pink lipstick on the rim. YUCK. They use pancake batter on the french toast which is a little weird and I asked for my eggs scrambled but they came out over easy and runny. Food isn't terrible but it's not great. nothing special. Go to Nibs down the street instead. It's clean, fast, and food is tasty.
(1)Ira S.
I really like this neighborhood restaurant. Good food and music, and Raphael is an artist when he slices bread for French toast
(4)Steph G.
The boyfriend and I stopped in here for a quick brunch this morning. They have a great location right next to the Cerrito Rialto (formerly the Cerrito Speakeasy). We walk in and Louis Armstrong is playing on the speakers and although we are the only patrons there at the moment, I still feel like we've walked into someone's kitchen. The decor is fun, all the artwork is done is some form of red and black, and there are quite a few French-themed pieces on the walls. Loves it. Our server/cook/man in charge (owner?) was prompt with the coffee, and very nice. Extremely friendly. He took our order quickly and our food was served hot and smelling delicious. I had the French toast w Bacon and the boy had the Spanish Omlette - eggs/cheese/chili and tomatoes. Both were very good. Towards the end of our meal, a lady walked in, whom I can only assume is the fruit supplier for the cafe, and delivered tons of oranges. She said she had been picking them up off of the ground - harvest time! Before we had even paid our check, the owner (?) came over to our table and gave us a bag of oranges. "you guys gotta help me out" he said. SO NICE. Overall, the food was pretty darn good (+1) The service was great (+2) and the decor/atmosphere was fun and pleasant (+1) $20 for breakfast and drinks. not a bad deal. We will definitely be back! **Also - we did see signs that they are now going to be open on weekend nights and have jazz playing? this could be a very fun hangout spot now that 33 revolutions is gone**
(4)I M.
OK, so Raphael's has been around forever, even before when it was called Shutter's. So it's a bit of an institution in the area. There is a relaxed atmosphere around it, some jazz playing in the background and overall OK. BUT: Can't you do just a bit better? Seriously, worst filter coffee in town, breakfast potatoes are consistently not that great (I guess the owner likes it that way). Too much stuff stored all over the place in the back, the whole place could look more tidy and cleaner. Perhaps some people think that's charming. Decor wants to be artsy, but it could use some real art. I mean, it looks horrible, like someone just put graffiti all over. So, I am really sorry to say, this place needs a new manager and a new vibe. It's right in the heart of El Cerrito, and I think we deserve better. When I go, it's most often empty (well I don't go anymore lol). With the right decor, management and a better menu, this place will be packed. Someone bring back Shutter's!
(2)Carol M.
I went with four other people, four of us ordered omelets...and every one of them was completely disgusting...the veggies inside were overcooked and nasty...and the eggs were only partly mixed and mostly raw...the potatoes were bland and tasteless, though the toast was ok. The pancakes appeared to be ok though.
(1)Crystal M.
They opened 30 mins. early for us! Awesome breakfast sandwich. Grilled Croissant with eggs, bacon, and cheese (Cheddar, Jack or American) and served with potatoes for about 7 bucks. They have free wii fi, an espresso bar and a few alcoholic beverage options. The hours are different than what is posted here. Monday-Friday they open at 8am.
(5)J C.
Nice atmosphere, good service, everyone was very nice and attentive. The food wasn't that great. Very little flavor, nothing special about it. Wasn't expensive either, though.
(3)Rachel L.
It got bumped up about 5/8 of a star because it's in a neighborhood that has NOTHING else brunch-wise and, well, I gotta cut an art-on-the-walls, struggling-small-business some slack. The service was fast and super-friendly, even though it was a one-man-show. The chicken salad was homemade and tasty. The spinach-feta omelet was done right. Nothing was burnt. The country potatoes were good, not great. The soup tasted like Campbell's, except with some extra grease and gristle. We'll give it another shot when we don't want to drive to Berkeley, but I'm not going to wake up dreaming of it on a Sunday morning.
(4)Jim C.
I've been hitting the Shutter Cafe sporadically for over a decade now. I don't even live in the East Bay, and stop by less than once a year, but the waitress and dude in the tiny kitchen act like they remember me, and I feel like a neighborhood regular. The service is also fast, and the breakfasts tasty. One of the many reasons I miss California.
(5)Gabriel P.
This is just a small, local, home-style breakfast place that no one seems to know about or go to. I think that the Nation's and Burger King across San Pablo take the business before anyone even sees this little spot. The owner is a nice man, somewhat reserved but cordial. He makes a nice soft, fluffy and satisfying omelette. It is always enjoyable to eat. As for his other dishes, I haven't tried them. I just want people to support this small, local, breakfast place and give him some business rather than giving it all to Nation's across the street. Give him a try, it is a small location that was renovated a few years ago and it is well-lit with a small square skylight and he usually has jazz or classical music playing. It has the small feel of a "Sam's Log Cabin" but not the central and visible location. I'm sure he doesn't have the money to do even small local advertising. When you are thinking Nation's in El Cerrito, try Raphael's Shutter Cafe instead, as it is right next door to the "Cerrito Theater." Thanks.
(5)Julie P.
Raphael's serves home style cooked food for reasonable prices with a warm personal touch. Otis, the owner, is such a nice guy. A few weeks ago I was in just for a cup of coffee and we ended up chatting for quite a while. Today my husband and I were starving. We ordered two cheeseburgers with side salads. Delicious! The burgers were like something you'd grill up in your backyard, but better because you don't have to scrub the grill afterwards! I have always been a bit envious of Alameda because of the small town sort of 'Mayberry' feel I get there. Raphael's makes me feel like we have a bit of that right here in El Cerrito. Thanks Otis!
(5)Ajira D.
My husband and I have been here twice. We live in the neighborhood and have struggled to find a local cafe that we really like... there's loads of chains like Denny's, Nation's etc but we are big on supporting local, small businesses. Both visits to Raphael's were fantastic. The owner chatted to each customer and made them feel at ease, then cooked and served the food himself. The service was top-notch and very personable, and the food was delicious with a strong home-made feel that we appreciated very much. We plan to go back for sure!
(4)Duder X.
Cool neighborhood joint. Solid breakfasts, lots to look at.
(4)Aric W.
I just ate there today. I got the pork burger. I got one for someone else at my work also. I liked it a lot. The bun was great and the tomatoes and lettuce were so fresh and natural tasting. It was a great burger and i felt good after eating it. A lot of places seem to have food that is over seasoned or just really heavy. This was great. The Homefries as a side was unusual but you could taste the potato. I mean, it tasted good to me, but i could see how my friend thought it was bland. The person i brought the food for didnt like it that much but he is basically retarded, but i had to take off a star for that. Anyway, not a bad little diner.
(4)Shaunte L.
My husband and I came here for breakfast based on yelp reviews. Bad decision. I had the salmon and parmesan omelette. The salmon was over cooked and dry, the potatoes were nearly flavorless and tasted reheated. My toast, which I could usually care less about, was cold. Our waitress brought us lukewarm tap water and I had to ask for ice in a separate cup. Can't even remember what my husband had, another strange point because we always remember good meals. Don't waste your time.
(1)William K.
Shutter Cafe is a regular weekend breakfast spot of mine. It is nothing to go out of your way for, but the food is good and the service is always friendly if sometimes a little bit slow. The breakfast menu offers a typical selection of pancakes, eggs and French toast. You can choose to sit at the small counter or one of the tables inside, or on nicer days at a table outside and watch the traffic go by. I really like the cozy feel of this small cafe.
(3)Amy J.
So sad that this place is so awful. Lipstick stains on your coffee mug, French toast made with bread dipped in pancake batter, dingy and unappetizing food- we gave it a few tries, but now just grab a pastry at Peet's. Super nice people run this cafe, though, so maybe when traffic picks up due to theater opening next door, things will improve.
(1)Alamandine B.
Better food in prison....never been there, but it cannot be worse than this place. I understand the concept, or lack of, but are you serious? Ikea cups with the cheapest coffee around...? The coffee actually got better as the food got worse. Breakfast potatoes tasted as if they were heated up from the previous day, almost a metallic flavor....mmmm..! Toast was burnt, not over toasted, but burnt. I actually used my fork to scrape off the burnt particles..mmmmmmm! Ordered the omellete, it arrived with little black resin grill pieces attached all over, as if to say the past weeks, or months of cooking and never cleaning the griddle has added that homestyle flavor that we all love to taste..mmmmmm! Slap the cook, slap the owner, slap the waitstaff, and especially slap the people who feel this little joint servers up somewhat edible food.
(1)Tina C.
One of the best home-style breakfasts I have ever had! And the price is right. Friendly, quaint atmosphere. And, even better, there's jazz on in the background! I've walked by several evenings and see that they have live jazz as well. I think this is going to become a regular spot for me!
(5)Rei M.
My family has been eating at the Shutter for over 10 years. My pancakes and bacon are alway cook to perfection (never burnt), all for a reasonable price. Service is always friendly and good. Good home cooking without having to do dishes. ^_^
(5)Cynthia E.
Just a sweet little "hole in the wall, " diner style cafe with about 9 tables and a counter. But the BEST cornbread I've ever had in my life . . . and terrific gumbo. Don't miss it! They play great jazz here too. An El Cerrito treasure for sure!
(4)Ruth S.
Ok, but nothing remarkable...I'm surprised they are still open
(3)Chiquita y.
Aw, c'mon! They deserve more than one star, IMHO. They are exceedingly nice people, who are probably losing business to the big new restaurant/cafe that just opened on the corner. For many years the Shutter Cafe was the only halfway decent place in that corner of the East Bay...years of service have to count for something, right? I'm hoping that the new El Cerrito theater going in next door (run by the same folks who run the Parkway Speakeasy) will bring the Shutter Cafe the revenue to continue.
(3)Bella a.
This place is really small and cozy. Not good for groups of more than 4. Menu has a great breakfast selection, but quality of taste is nothing special. Anybody can make it the same or better at home. For toast, the bread is just your normal type of bread avail at any grocery store or even 7-11. The potatoes looked flavorful, but it wasn't. It tasted dry and old. My sister ordered a cup of cappuccino and though it looked tasty with the smiley foamed face, it tasted like it came from the very bottom of the pot. They should've asked why her cup was untouched at the end of the meal but they didn't. Service was good. There was one server and then the guy in the kitchen. Both are nice people. The prices are decent, but I wouldn't go back.
(2)E. F.
My family and I popped into Raphael's hoping for a nice breakfast and at the same time support local business. I was sadly disappointed. The food was mediocre (at best) and the service, although friendly, was quite slow. We should have known when we saw our meal ticket being put in, but noticed that our cook was too busy talking to his counter customers. I'm all for mingling with the customers, but please notice that you have other customers trying to support you and at a pretty generous price! The food was pretty pricey for a Denny's quality breakfast. I really wanted to like this place, but left it paying too much money ($30+ for two adults and a child) for okay food, so we won't be returning for breakfast.
(1)Roger G.
I hate kicking small businesses to the ground, but really. If you can't compete with the cans of StarKist and Campbell's in my cupboard, you're not trying hard enough.
(2)Daniel C.
Raphaels is a very personable little local cafe. I go there a couple few times a month for breakfast. Its always the owner (Otis) serving and making the food. He'll get to know you a bit and he's always got a smile. Food is acceptional and the vibe is chill...
(5)Chris C.
I go here on Sundays for breakfast. Nice staff, pretty quick service. Price is good. I usually get #3, Rafael's special: 2 giant pancakes, 2 pieces of bacon, and two eggs. Very filling.
(4)M Y.
Good location for an early dinner before a movie at the Cerrito Theater, however the food lacks both creativity and quality. Atmosphere is at best OK. Recently I noticed they had a jazz band on a Saturday evening. I hope they fix the food and decor in this place. It could easily become one of El Cerrito's best
(2)J-cup J.
We should have had a clue when we walked in Sunday at Noon and there was only one person in the place but liking to patronize local businesses we gave it a shot anyway. "Rubberish" burnt pancakes , greasy burnt eggs and flaccid homefries, do yourself a favor and skip this place. It's too bad because the location is great and the people were nice. Tjey probably will survive on "one-time victims" looking for a place to eat when going to the movies.
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