I work nearby and this is a dependable lunch option with plenty of healthy, fresh choices. I'm vegetarian and really appreciate the variety of salads, sandwiches, and I'm partial to the Buddha bowl as well as the kale and quinoa salad. The food is always a good lunch sized portion, bright and indoor or outdoor seating, and really nice service. read more

Tasty lunch options with plenty of outdoor seating. My favorite is the Californian Sandwich - it's stuffed with yummy veggies that'll fill you up and keep you going all day! read more

Cafe Zeb - Salad and sandwich menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Food here is SO MUCH better here than FIFO, and they're owned by the same company (Cafe Strada). C'mon can't the business students get paninis and better salad options too? ;) They have a self-serve water station. I grabbed waters for the 3 of us in our party and when I sat down, noticed that my cup had lipstick on it..... and I wasn't wearing any. Gross. The husband saved the day and ended up going back through the line to buy bottled water. I'll be inspecting my water cups more closely or just skipping it anytime I eat here. Lots of seating compared to FIFO, better options, same pricing (on the pricey side), and quieter than FIFO. Cafe Zeb will definitely have you pay a bit more for food/coffee that you can get elsewhere, but it's close and convenient. read more

Cafe Zeb - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Berkeley, California

I came here many times prior to the pandemic. Seemed like since the pandemic hit this café food has gone down the drain. I ordered a turkey and swiss panini and I got more bread than anything. One slice of meat. Definitely overpriced and not worth it. read more

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I really want to like the study area outside Cafe Zeb. It's nice and spacious, usually has available outlets (some awkwardly placed on the ground), has comfortable seating, and best of all, sells food! The janitors keep the place almost religiously clean (they came in one time and spent a good 15 minutes cleaning a piece of gum off the floor), the cafe provides free water, and when you've drunk too much coffee there are at least two bathroom locations within easy walking distance in the actual Boalt Hall. But there's a major drawback: obnoxious law students. I'm not saying all law students are obnoxious, but those who are pretty much give them the reputation and spoil the mood in here. Even during the hours when it's open to undergraduates (8AM-5PM M-F), they'll hum and haw loudly near you if they believe you've got better study real estate than they do. Or hold conversations from seats on opposite sides of the room. Or shoot dirty looks and imitate your sniffles when you've actually got a cold. But then there are also the super awesome ones, like the one who held open the door for me one time and said, "Welcome to the party that is the law library." The food I've gotten here is always hot and fresh though and their coffee is strong enough to keep you awake. My favorite: hot pita bread with hummus, artichoke, and roasted bell peppers - perfect snack&study food. read more

My mom and I always grabbed breakfast here when she worked in this building. School for me started later than when she got to work so I would go to zeb and grab a tea and pastry. When I'd walk back from school I'd get a Caesar salad for lunch sometimes. I loved the bread they would give with the salad. I'm going to go again today and update my review because I haven't gone to this cafe in around 4 years. read more

Good lunch destination kept secret by law students. If you want a salad or sandwich for lunch, cafe Zeb is IMO one of the better options on campus. The salads are substantial and tasty, the sandwiches are good and come with a side salad. Everything I have tried has been pretty good and I have never had trouble finding a place to sit down. Check it out. read more

I have only tried the Chipotle, Mediterranean, and Asian Chicken salads. They were all pretty decent, but I still think almost $7 was on the high side for a salad. My favorite is the Asian Chicken salad because of the dressing and crunchy noodles tossed in. Otherwise, the Chipotle and Mediterranean salads seemed more generic. The BBQ chipotle quesadilla was also pretty decent--filled with lots of cheese and had a side of green salad. The coffees are the same as Caffe Strada and FSM. I'll return to this cafe due to its proximity to work and when I'm too rushed to go home and make lunch. read more

This place has the best salads ever! It is at the UC Berkeley Law School and it is where I go for a salad that is really a meal. I usually get the Asian Chicken salad and it has loads of chicken on it and a delightfully light dressing, peanuts and asian noodles. Really delicious and good for you too. Definitely give this a try! read more

That breakfast biscuit tho... It's probably the cure to bar review and makes friday a day worth living.

Awesome place (often overlooked) because it's in the Boalt school on the bottom floor. Great food - definitely beats Haas cafe or any of the dorm cafes. The food is awesome, would recommend the warm sandwiches. Service isn't THAT fast but it's not slow either. Awesome seating with glass doors (so you can really enjoy it on a sunny day, sitting indoor with a good book and some coffee) Also the sofa seating and chair seating have outlets! They sure know the way to a student's heart... read more

I haven't tried anything else on the menu but the one item that I have tried makes this place the #1 cafe in Boalt Hall (doesn't matter that its the only one). The California Veggie Sandwich!!! It's a must have with the whole wheat bread. They put in ample amounts of avocado, sprouts, tomatoes, lettuce, pickled onions (makes it infinitely better), and top it off w/ a chipotle mayo. I could literally eat this sandwich every single day until I graduate and not get sick of it. It's also great because they have cups and water available so you can serve yourself endless cups of water (it's important to stay hydrated). read more

I've been to Cafe Zeb quite a few times in my life, mostly to hang out (sometimes with a coffee, often with a friend) and occasionally for lunch. The lunches are pretty solid, especially if you stick to salads with meat on top, though once I found part of a cardboard box in my salad. This is a beautiful place; I like the open room on the west side more than the main room where the food and drink is ordered and dispensed. There are many worse places on campus to spend one's time. Although the nearby Ramona's has not been an attractive spot, a new business in its place will offer competition not long from now. (See http://www.dailycal.org/2016/02/17/new-cafe-to-replace-ramonas-in-wurster-hall/ .) I stopped in this morning for a small cappuccino and thought that it was alright. (Because I didn't break out in hives, the cappuccino met the low bar that has often been set by my friend Philippe S. from Caen -- "ça ne donne pas de boutons".) You can do better at Babette in the art museum or the soon-to-be-opened Blue Bottle Coffee Company a bit further west, on University. read more

I enjoyed my meal at Cafe Zeb today! Some of the menu items are pretty pricy, but I thought my turkey&avocado sandwich + mixed greens meal was pretty cheap at about $6-$7. It filled me up and it was really tasty. My boyfriend got the Californian sandwich without realizing it didn't have meat in it. We're both carnivores so we thought it'd be disappointing, but it was actually really tasty! They were generous with the avocado so it was pretty delicious. I have meal points so this won't be my go-to spot on campus, but it's a nice change from Ramona's&GBC. I definitely want to come back to try the Nicoise salad because that looked delicious. read more

Did not answer their phone. Their phone line gives that ghetto modem sound. I am a hasty college student who needs to save time by calling restaurants in advance so I don't have to wait for them to make the food. So I don't care how good the food is; this is unacceptable. I have also never been to this restaurant. read more

I really enjoy Cafe Zeb. Located inside Boalt Law School here at UC Berkeley, Cafe Zeb has proven that school owned cafe food does not have to be completely disgusting (though a little over priced). Pros: -Great Atmosphere. Zeb is the perfect place to come and get some studying done if you need a place to help you concentrate. There is a lot of comfortable seating (booth and tables) and has many outlets for you laptop. -Have a good deal of options that could be considered healthy. Unlike many other school run cafe's in the area (aka FIFO), Zeb has food that you can eat and not feel disgusting about yourself afterwards. Food Recommendations: The steak salad with the ice tea lemonade. -The steak is cooked very well and seasoned well. In my experience, they cook the steak pretty rare which I like but for those who do not like their meat pink, you can always ask them to cook it a little extra longer. -The ice tea lemonade is not too sour or too bland so it was a good mix of tea and lemonade mix. Super fast service too. -Their soup of the day is good too. Changes daily (obviously) but you usually cannot go wrong with their soups. Comes with a nice fat piece of foccacia too. Cons: -Lots of crowds. I feel like more and more people discover this gem every day, try it, and the never want to leave. These people come early and take the good spots so you might have to look around for prime seating. I have never had a problem finding a seat, but not the best booth seating. -The food is a little on the pricey side. Compared to the other cafe's in the area, the food is on the pricier side for what you are getting. However, I guess you are paying for the convenience and the atmosphere. -Door lock after 7pm and the only way to get in is if you are a law student. Most of the time nice people will open the door for you, but just remember that if you are not a law student you have a chance of not being able to get back in after this curfew. Overall I love coming here to get some work done. The food is good and the atmosphere always puts me in a studying mood. read more

Cafe Zeb is located in the heart of Boalt Law School, and is quietly tucked away despite being next to Bancroft, one of the busiest streets on South Side. Cafe Zeb is great for just doing some work in a cute cafe, or for food. Most of the menu is the typical coffee, salad and sandwich offering. But I must say, the sandwiches here are VERY GOOD. I've tried sandwiches at almost every cafe on South Side, from Milano to Babette, and the steak sandwich I tried at Zeb is my absolute favorite. So much good flavor packed with some caramelized onions and mayo. The bread itself is nice and crunchy, and goes well with the tender steak. I like the side salad too because it's dressed with vinaigrette. I've also tried the tuna salad sandwich - also very good. The tuna is very fresh and diced to the right size. There are also a lot of law students, so if you find those types of people attractive, then Zeb is the ideal place for some eye candy. read more

I love studying at Cafe Zeb! It's located inside of Boalt Law School, so I sometimes stop by before my classes at Haas. I really don't enjoy the food or drinks at FIFO inside Haas, but Zeb sells great food and drinks! Ambiance: Lots of places to sit and study! It's also not too rowdy or loud even when it's crowded so you can easily be productive when you want to be or just have a coffee with a friend. Service: Food and drinks come out pretty quickly, so nothing to complain about. Food: I've gotten the caprese sandwich, which is just bread with melted cheese and tomatoes with basil. It comes with a salad and definitely fills you up but unfortunately lacks flavor. I added some hot sauce which did the trick, but I wish it had something in it already. The bread was soft and so fresh, so overall the sandwich was enjoyable. They have the same snacks as Cafe Strada and FIFO, like the parfaits, muffins, etc. but they have a much larger variety in food. Huge variety of sandwiches and salads and soups that you can't go wrong with! Drink: I always get a half iced tea-half lemonade here! FIFO unfortunately doesn't sell lemonade, so I love coming here when I don't have cash to get it at Cafe Strada. They give it to you in the bigger cup which is nice and it's always so tasty! Their coffees and other drinks are pretty identical to the other two cafes. Verdict: I will be returning! The slightly higher prices are definitely worth the ambiance of the cafe! read more

I mean really, what do you expect from on-campus food? Zeb's salads are huge and delicious. I recommend the southwest. Their sandwiches have sprouts and fresh produce--what more can you ask for? I recommend the Californian and the Chicken. Great, healthy, quick, and inexpensive lunch. Yes, there is a line at lunchtime. That's because people get out of class and want food at lunchtime. But wait a few minutes, and especially for the price, you won't be dissatisfied. read more

Love their White Mocha, which is basically the Bianca Mocha at Strada. Love their two seating areas--especially the one on the West side since it's basically a giant study spot with bar stools along the windows, booths and cushy seating. AND HUGE TABLES. They have pretty quick service and it's just a lovely place because the windows are huge and you can enjoy the sun. Also, they take that new Cafe card that Strada, Fifo and FSM take. Woohoo! TIP: -Load $20 onto the Cafe card right now and you get a $5 reload coupon! read more

The portions are huge and at a reasonable price too! The chicken salad is good, and the ambiance is nice. It's a great studying place in comparison to some of the other cafes on campus. It's clean and the seats are comfortable. It is also upstairs from the Law Library, which is also incredibly clean and nice to study in. Overall a great alternative to other farther study spots. read more

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I always come here to study during the week because the ambiance is amazing (lots of windows and seating, usually populated by law students working or having quiet conversations). They have pre-made sushi that I usually get (7/10 but fine if you're craving sushi, which I usually am), and their hot food is really good. I like the turkey pesto sandwich. It comes with salad and is fairly priced. The wait time is ~5-10 mins. read more

Special place in my heart forever and always. I may be bias, and I also may have not been to any other campus cafes, but it's the best on campus. Yep. read more

Bleh. Zeb doesn't actually cook anything on the premises. They heat food and assemble sandwiches and salads. The food is fine if you're hungry and don't have time to walk across the street to I-House. My favs are the BBQ chicken quesadillas and the chinese chicken salad. Service is hit or miss here. The menu hasn't changed in years and they don't do a very good job of managing the long line that piles up during lunchtime. read more

Delicious ice cold water (free)! Warm pesto turkey avocado focaccia panini that screams California. Hungry law students. Red bull. read more

LOVE this place. It's not perfect in every capacity but the majority of the menu options are quite good. The chicken salad is a MUST! I order it every time. The mustard vinaigrette is made with real seed mustard not that gross yellow stuff and it's not a honey mustard ether - it's just delicious, perfect texture and they always put the right amount on. The salad comes with shredded chicken that's fantastically moist, dried cranberries (a great addition in any salad), feta cheese (which just melts right in) and walnuts (which I always order it without since I'm not a fan of nuts in salads). I've been here quite a few times and I just can't help but order this salad every time. I've gone with friends though who have enjoyed their quesadillas, sandwiches and other salads. If you go to Berkeley and haven't been here yet you're missing out! The reason it's not a 5 - the seating is quite limited given the crowded nature of the law school. There are quite a few tables around the corner past the library but those are typically full of law students who are studying. You can ALMOST always find a seat though so it's not too bad - especially if you're willing to sit outside, their patio is quite nice. read more

There's a new and improved Zeb in town thanks to the recent completion of the Boalt School facelift + construction project. Their menu looks great on paper, though I am forlorn about the departure of the southwest chicken salad with the tortilla strips. The flank steak sandwich sounded really appealing, but the way that it sat on the sourdough bread was not. The caesar salad was okay. There are a number of other items that I'd go back and order though, so this review is in pending status until further notice. read more

Decent choices, convenient location, good study space, friendly and courteous staff--

Best cafe ON CAMPUS for sure. I'm happy we have a decent place to eat around Southeast corner of campus. I've had the veggie California sandwich, grilled turkey sandwich, they 're both really good. And roasted chicken sandwich is divine!! A little expensive, but I'm sure I will still visit really often. read more

They charge extra to add a little soy milk to your coffee. The manager is super rude and its horrible that a cafe that has a monopoly on the law school doesn't accomidate individual who are lactose intolerant. Also soy milk is cheaper then milk when you buy in bulk so its essentially a tax on those that can't digest milk. read more

This was one of my favorite spots on UC Berkeley campus. I love their turkey panini with lots of avocado! And they open quite early everyday, so every time when I had class at 8, I always ran into Cafe Zeb and grabbed a cup of coffee before class. The staff there are very friendly and you always can see lots of students hanging out, at outside patio tables. Definitely a good place for lunch. read more

If you can get past the occasional obnoxious law student, Cafe Zeb is a solid place to study/eat. The food is definitely some of the best you can get on campus - the California sandwich is great for vegetarians. The lattes range from average to great, and there's a wide variety of pastries/snacks to select from as well. The cafe itself allows for a lot of natural lighting which is really nice, and the ambiance always motivates me to be productive. read more

It has solid salads, reasonable coffees, and some good sandwiches (I recommend Californian). Many places to sit inside the law school. The service is friendly. You will always feel welcome. read more

This place is awesome. Since Fifo closed, I've been over here nearly every day, and it's way better. So far I've tried the turkey & avocado panini and the Asian chicken salad and both are very good. read more

Cafe Zeb - Asian chicken salad (very good and large) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great location in the Law School. This cafe is partners with Caffe Strada and FSM Cafe so their food is decent. Service: cafe style Ambience: lots of seating and a great place to study. Indoor and outdoors available! Food: average cafe fare with sandwiches, pastries, salads and coffees. read more

I just had to downgrade the star rating when I remembered that they charge you extra for decaf coffee and for skim milk. Wha? Those items shouldn't be costing them any more so why are they charging a dime more for each. Very annoying. read more

I love to study at Cafe Zeb! Their menu is a little pricey, however this place don't mind if you bring your own food or drinks! If the cafe gets too crowded, you can always go downstairs and study at their library. Law library is directly underneath the Cafe. They do impose restricted hours for undergraduate access! read more

I'll have to admit that I've never eaten the food here. This is just one of my favorite places to study when I'm on campus. There's a variety of tables, booths, and even comfy sofas to claim as your study area. Plenty of outlets and lots of natural light flooding in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. The booths have signs reserving for groups of 3 or more, but people ignore them and take up a whole booth just for 1 person. I'm one of the guilty ones. read more

Why the heck not? The salads (chicken, cobb, nicoise and the like) are pretty good and the selection of sandwiches and pastries more than adequate. The coffee isn't exactly textbook third wave, but still plenty good to win a statewide contest in Arizona or Iowa or some other lesser jurisdiction. Seating in the airy remodeled space is ample and affords good opportunities to check out (and chat with) the law student talent as they get their legal geek on. Employees are pleasant and work pretty hard, especially when the place is busy. In sum, you could do a lot worse on campus and it isn't at all clear that you could do better. read more

Cafe Zeb is good enough if you don't want to walk down to Telegraph area etc. But, at one point when I ate here, I found something in my food -- still not quite sure what it was. It was really nasty and I refused to eat the rest of my meal. I guess I really should have brought it to someone's attention... read more