Cafe Leila is a place that if a friend who didn't tell me to go there, I'd wouldn't. I went here for lunch for a co-worker outing. Being on a vegetable detox, I was limited to what I could eat. Good to see on the menu a grilled shrimp salad. With the dressing on the side, was still able to keep to the vegetable detox. The shrimp was seasoned with a chipotle seasoning, so it did have flavor. My dish though did look unappetizing compared to the other dishes ordered. The lamb burger and the African burger looked damn delicious. I will be coming back to try both, darn the vegetable detox. Only minus of this place is that the service was a little slow and confused. Several of our party's dishes got mixed up, arrived at a latter time from the party, or did not arrive and the server had to be reminded. Not really a bad thing, since we did have 10 people. But being a small place, I can see how confusion may happen during the peak lunch period. read more

Visited at noon on a sunny Saturday. There was a bit of a wait to order food (with just one staff at a single register and another filling drink orders) but plenty of seating in the lovely outdoor space and our food came out pretty quickly. Friendly service. The food hit the spot after a morning hike! The banana pancakes were fluffy and delicious. Also enjoyed a very tasty omelet (the Leila) with home fries. I'd go again to enjoy the food and the outdoor seating! read more

They have incredible food gotten a little pricey but thats true for many restaurants. They have Mediterranean food but plenty of other options breakfast. Burgers salad pastries the food is great. Large portions. Good coffee. Large lovely outdoor patio. I love coming here. On weekends line out the door. BTW. You order your food at the front counter get a table # and they bring your order to you read more

Yeah, I think it's safe to say that this place has become one of my favorite brunch spots. Fred likes it too. The outdoor patio is wonderful - big, clean, spacious and I've even sat outside when it's been much too cold to sit outside. Breakfast here is always dependable but their daily specials have also been delightful the numerous times I've visited. But be warned that they do run out of stuff so don't expect there be a skirt steak sandwich if you're rolling in at 2:30 pm. Parking is easy on the street and they also have a small lot next to the café. Great crowd of patrons from students to families to friends catching up. A perfect place to come for a good meal but without feeling the rush of table service. Come for brunch, stay for a game of Catan. read more

Smoothies are pretty good, as are the teas. Food is usually local and organic. It's reflected in the price, but you can tell it's high quality. Features a full breakfast and lunch menu including burgers, omelets, sandwiches, and salads. Service can be on the slow side, and on weekends there can be long lines backed up to the door just to order. But even at its peak hours, you'll have no problem finding a seat. I only came on the weekends and parking was fine, but I have a feeling it's a lot harder to come by on the weekdays. Then again, it's Berkeley. Can't wait to try its new sister café, Leila By The Bay in Hercules, when I come home. It's even closer to me than this place! : ) read more

Great local cafe with amazing healthy options. Cozy outdoor patio. The New Chai is spicy and delicious (no caffeine). Homestyle potatoes are amazing. read more

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Very nice calm atmosphere loved the food and coffee and the lavender lemonade was bomb ‼ read more

Café Leila - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Employer that work was being very lazy I ask for a coffe it was very cold not hot or warm and the half and half milk was expired lazy workers seriously!!! read more

I went to a MeetUp at Cafe Leila yesterday, and was glad to discover a wonderful spot in west Berkeley. The front look does not offer any indication of the size of the place, or it's pleasantness. When you walk in and pass the registry into the sitting area, you see the open up into a very spacious and beautifully landscaped outdoor patio. This is the best feature of Cafe Leila, for I love outdoor cafes. And what's more, I noticed that the tables are generously spaced from each other, so people won't feel crowded in or eavesdropped on. I tried the Leila Burger with fries and a salad. At $10.95, I thought it was a great value. The burger is made to order from good ground beef, and I could see herbs mixed into the patty itself. I liked that touch. It's served on a long roll, as you can see from pictures, so this is no small burger. I had to eat in stages to get it all in. The fries were alright. I'm not a big fan of french fries, so I'm not very picky. The salad was your standard California spring mix, tossed with a good homemade dressing. I was very satisfied with the food, overall, at this price point. I also got a soy chai and enjoyed it very much. I spent the afternoon drawing with new friends from the portrait drawing MeetUp. We drew each others faces and got to know each other a little. Cafe Leila was an ideal place to hang out, draw, and converse under warm, bright afternoon sunlight. read more

Café Leila - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The plus? Their garden. It's a nice place to work and relax. Minus? It's a hit or miss service based on who you get. My first time there it was at the end of the day, so there was only one person on duty beyond the kitchen staff. She was great and went above and beyond in terms of service. I went back the next day and ordered the same thing: a glass of their berry iced tea. The man who filled my glass didn't fill it to the top. This is fine if I'd requested it, but I'm paying $3.25 for a glass of tea. Fill it to the top, please. After I paid, I asked the cashier for some fresh lemon and to top the glass off. She acted like she didn't understand and asked if I'd asked for sugar. I said no and requested that she top the glass off. Once she understood what I was asking I actually got a little side eye, which isn't necessary when the markup on what I'm paying for is quite high. I've been there a couple more times. Last time I left my hoodie behind, and they were great. Again, it's the garden along the food and beverage that make th is place worth checking out. read more

Wonderful food ! Excellent coffee and teas .. lovely ambiance .. Moses the owner is so personable and caring for his customers and staff . A oasis to Drop into Frequently.. read more

Walked in today surprised to see a man sitting the front (indoor) area without a mask. Turned out to be one of the owners- so I guess that makes it okay read more

Nice setting and even has it's own parking area. The food is just never consistent. The wait staff is nice for the most part. You just never know how the food will be. One time I went with my sister. My food came out and she sat there for 30 minutes waiting for hers. We asked the waitstaff where her's was, they said they knew all about her order. 20 minutes later I went back to the counter and her order had never been put in. I ordered fruit in the morning, and before I did I asked if the melon would be hard and not ripe. They said it was ripe. When it came all the melon was hard as a rock. They also are not consistent with the portions they give. Sometimes enough for breakfast, sometimes not. I hope they can improve this, because most of the staff is nice, the backyard is cute and they have live free music on the weekend. Come on Leila! You can raise the bar and with stronger management training and maintenance systems in place. read more

I had this a while back and really enjoyed the food. But $25 for some spaghetti and meat sauce is way too expensive. I'd come here again if I didn't have to pay an arm and a leg. read more

This is a really nice space and when it isn't so busy can be a great place to work or grade papers. However there is NO WIFI ON SATURDAY. They say this is for family day. It's pretty silly given that the families at tables are still all on their phones. If you are not there with family because maybe you are a college student far away from family or if a family member recently died and you just want to focus on work, it might really suck to have the family thing thrown in your face to remind you how alone you are. Awesome. Food is average. Line is long. Wait for food varies. A little over priced. read more

Can't believe I only just discovered this place. It looks small from the street, but the reason to come is the beautiful and eclectic garden in the backyard. Had a simple sandwich and salad and a pot of tea. So many teas to choose from, and the desserts looked good too. Very social distanced, so can understand why ordering a meal is required to sit in the garden. You could easily hang out all day, but totally get that they need to have that restriction at the moment, at least. The food was fine, fresh and came quickly, not gourmet. Really enjoyed being there and would definitely recommend as a nice place to meet friends for a sandwich and a pot of tea in the garden. read more

They do magic with simple potatoes. Vegan breakfast burrito is fantastic, tons of flavor! Also - they have an amazing mocha selection. Everything is super hot. Love the back garden. Truly - a gem! read more

We strolled in to grab a coffee -- I never had been there before. Just a medium sized drip coffee in the travel mug I provided. I wasn't paying attention as I drank it. I didn't finish it that moring and came across my cup late that afternoon. I drank it lukewarm. Then I realized that it was THE BEST TASTING, SMOOTHEST, RICHEST COFFEE ever. I am going back next time I am in town and will find out what that stuff is and buy 20 pounds! read more

One of my fave cafes in Berkeley! They have a myriad of cool teas with endless healthy ingredients. As for food, the burger is my go to but I also love their breakfast burrito or veggie scramble read more

Just had a delicious lunch here at Cafe Leilas. They have a beautiful and very spacious outdoor patio. We were able to sit very distanced from other patrons. This is a fantastic option for a sit down meal. The Mediterranean Platter came with lamb and a great selection of salads and sides. read more

Full disclosure - I'm a gigging musician who plays here frequently. But I wanted to provide my 0.02 as a customer as well. I always eat here before or after I play, and first of all the espresso here is very good. As noted in another review I'm a bit of a coffee geek (roast my own beans at home) - I've found most (but not every) times the espresso has depth, a vibe not unlike most Latin American varietals and a clean finish. Admittedly there have been a few pulls that have been a little lifeless and pedestrian, but those are not frequent. My go-to entree item is typically the fish tacos. They are hearty, the fish is cooked just right (I don't like over-cooked fish in a taco), the salsa is agreeable without being overly wet or too demanding, portion size is good and price is economical. Salmon pasta and burgers are also well-sized, tasty and filling. Lots of deserts and tidbit choices - I rarely partake of those so can't comment intelligently. They also have some interesting lemonade and tea choices (basil or lavender lemonade anyone?), which I've sampled from time to time and enjoyed. The place also sports a very large outdoor patio with a ton of very quiet tables. Can't speak to the quality of the wifi (never used it) but whenever I've been there, lots of patrons are glued to their laptop screens and quietly working away. Overall a nice vibe - and live music on Friday nights. read more

This is a charming Berkeley cafe with a casual atmosphere. The food is fresh, organic and delicious. You would never imagine from just driving by how cute this place is inside, and large with two rooms and an outdoor space. The patio is a terrific area to relax on a warm day under one of their colorful umbrellas by the bubbling fountain. They have daily specials, the homemade mushroom soup is really yummy. The have a large drink menu with healthy sugar and caffeine-free options such at the hot Moroccan tea which is made just with fresh ginger, lemon and honey. Beware - service is on the slow side. read more

Café Leila - Mediterranean plate with salmon, yummy! - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is my local go-to place for dependable and fast service, good matcha latte and espresso. The seating, both indoor and outdoor, is ample. I love the owners, and people who work here are always friendly. It's simply a joy to be here. There is wifi on the weekdays, a water fountain and greenery on the patio, and I can even hear the sounds of delighted birds chirping as I sip my beverage of choice (usually the matcha latte). My favorite meal here is the Greek omelette, and their smoothies are always good. Options abound on the menu, for vegetarians and meat eaters alike, though I do tend to stick to my favorites. I will continue to return here again and again. read more

Café Leila - Love is everywhere. Look for it. - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The big pluses for Leila is parking and it's garden. The middle eastern is ok. The staff is friendly.

A terrible excuse for a bagel with lox, cream cheese and veggies. Only plain bagels. 1 slice of lox. Skimpy cream cheese. Lettuce?!?! No cucumbers. Really poor. And it was like $13. Never again. read more

Café Leila - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here last week, met a friend for lunch and we both enjoyed our sandwiches with fries and greens. I've been here several times, it is consistently good, fresh ingredients. This time I had a grilled chicken breast with pesto, on a good ciabatta roll, fries were crisp and did not have a frozen flavor. Greens, maybe a little over dressed with simple oil/vinegar. Friend had the lamb burger, also tasty. Nicest part was sitting outside in the garden, spacious, no pressure to leave, we caught up and hung out for a couple hours. Overall, good value, fresh ingredients, comfy casual ambiance, inside or out. Lots of choices. They even have a parking lot. read more

What I ate: Currant scone, peach smoothie Visit date: October 16, 2011 First time? Yes, I'm intrigued. I was suppose to meet some friends for a birthday brunch but I was a wee bit late so instead of ordering something from the kitchen so everyone could watch me eat (last), I grabbed something from the baked goods case and a fresh smoothie. The scone was delicious! Next time though, I'd ask for it to be warmed up. The peach smoothie -- YUM! Just like homemade. It was fresh, cold and not too sweet. It's definitely a contender for the best smoothie I've had outside of my home. I'm only giving Leila 3 stars because I haven't gotten to the meat of their menu yet. Next time!! Lesson of the day: Raisins are to grapes as currants are to currants. read more

Lots of drink choices Lots of drink options Friendly informative service only drawback is the price point...$6.50 for a hot lattee is robbery even if it's made with almond milk. Get Out!!! Won't be patronizing again at these dumb prices. Unfortunate when you come upon a cafe that feels cozy but seems to leave your wallet shortchanged:/- read more

Cafe Leila is a charming place with fun-funky seating and decor. I've always liked their food, though it's a little on the expensive side. Most of the outdoor seating in the delightful patio is umbrella-shaded. It's very popular, and you have to stand in line to order, and that part is slow; but then you can find yourself a table and relax. I was disappointed my last visit when I discovered my salad had many slimy leaves. I plucked them out and put them on the edge of my plate, and when I was done, the rim was festooned with about half the lettuce from the salad. Given their food has been excellent every time before, I hope this is a one-off. read more

I stayed at the inn next door, so going to Leila's for the morning coffee was a no-brainer. Right away the space felt great, and I was sorry that I got no time for a sit-down meal. The almond pastry that I got with my coffee was absolutely deliscious, I hadn't had anything like that for a looong time!. read more

I love Cafe Leila. Especially their Garden seating. So eclectic and sunny and unpretentious and just perfect. I'm not even sure all of the things I've eaten here, but they were all great. I can't ever think of being disappointed. And there is lots of tea. How can you go wrong? It's such a comfortable, calm, friendly atmosphere I try to make a point of coming whenever I'm in the East Bay. read more

A very comfortable and unique place to meet and socialize. You order at the counter and they bring your food over. There is a fairly good selection of food for a cafe - all kinds of warm and cold drinks, sandwiches, salads, egg dishes. I hung around her for many hours with a friend - had a bagel and then later a salad. We were both drawing and found lots of stuff and people to sketch. It was a cold day but for warmer times the outdoor patio is quite nice. read more

This place is so cute! I really enjoy the outdoor patio area -- great for reading and hanging out on a sunny day in Berkeley. As a person who works frequently in coffee shops, I also appreciate that it's open until 9 o'clock (most places close at 5!). I ordered the sweet rooibos latte and baguette sandwich, both of which are unfortunately overpriced but tasted good. That's my one con of this place: it's expensive. In the future, I'll definitely stick to a cheaper cafe au lait as opposed to $6 sugar milk. That being said, I will definitely come back here! Atmosphere, service, hours, food and drink are all good. read more

I haven't even been served food yet and am pretty annoyed. The wifi for Cafe Leila is clearly visible, but the proprietor says "no wifi on Saturday. Family day." Well, that's lovely for people who have family in Berkeley, but I don't. Paying $18 for veggie scramble and coffee is one thing, but being told I basically can't do what I came here to do because the proprietor would rather I wasn't there if I don't have family is insulting. If I wanted to be insulted by the cafe owner I could have stayed in SF. I also have a slight disability, it wasn't easy to walk back up to the counter after ordering only to be told to basically, suck it. The food has arrived. Nice use of spice, but no jam for the toast. No catsup for the potatoes. A very small serving of scramble. Which is fortunate because something in it hit my stomach hard and I can't eat it. Fruit is good, toast barely has any butter on it. And is of course cold. I wish I'd stuck it out at 900 Grayson. read more

I was pleasantly surprised with this random find! I meant to go to a spot nearby but had found it was closed. - Large portions - Well-cooked salmon - Very friendly staff - Super cute back patio read more

Well, one can not overestimate the ambiance of the patio, its fountain, and numerous shrubbery. Spacious and inviting, Indeed. The coffee, scalding hot, a latte. Undrinkable for 30 minutes. Maybe it was an off morning . . . hmmm? the breakfast, numerous healthy and a few somewhat unhealthy items. All cooked adequately but not great. Nice romantic or good morning hang with a friend. read more

Café Leila - Lovely fountain in al fresco setting - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

I wasn't here for too long and actually didn't order anything. (I know, weird) But I'll be back! This place has a darling patio and garden in the back of it. You walk in and it's a tiny bar counter area where you order but keep walking and you'll find plenty of indoor seating available and then keep going from there and there is the patio. Lots of tables with umbrellas for shade- a really cute place. Looking forward to coming back- I'll update my review when I do! =) read more

Warning: staff can be unnecessarily hostile. After buying coffee and using my laptop outside during a non-busy time (Tuesday morning), a male employee approached me and said there was a $8 minimum purchase to use the WiFi. About 20-30 minutes later, he came back over to me, and told me the least I could do if I was going to stay there all day was move my car out of the parking lot and onto the street. Of course he couldn't have known where my car was, or if I had driven at all...not to mention that it was a Tuesday afternoon. I left after the second interaction, and don't plan to return. Even with a very large outdoor space, some staff apparently feel comfortable harassing guests. read more

I love Café Leila! I can't believe I lived in Berkeley for so many years before discovering it! The food is so good and healthy! I love the breakfasts and salads especially. I am celiac and they are very conscious. There is a lovely back area which is so nice to sit and enjoy the day. I highly recommend it! read more

I have heard good things about this spot so decided to have lunch there today. I was sorely disappointed. While the back area was pretty and the menu looked good, the food was quite unsatisfactory. The caesar salad dressing was boring without much taste and the chicken on it was overdone. My vegetarian plate was large but both the hummus and baba ganoush were bland. The grilled vegetable dish, tho quite plentiful, had so much sauce that it was overwhelming though the veggies were nicely cooked. I rarely write a review or complain to the staff but felt compelled in this case. All I got was that next time I should say something sooner. This is probably true but I felt she could've offered something more, even a cookie! read more