My boss has been bringing quiches from here for years and I always wondered where those amazing quiches came from and now I have found it! I have tried both the spinach and mushroom quiche and the bacon and swiss quiche and both were delicious. The crust was perfectly cooked and the quiche was well-seasoned, fluffy, and light. I have also tried their cookies -- the chocolate chip was a delicious staple, chocolate chip walnut was also delicious with a nice crunch from the walnut, and another pumpkin pastry/ cinnamon pastry. Everything I have tried so far has been so good and I cant wait to go and try the rest of their menu and pastries! read more

service was Good. food was horrible chicken pot pie - vegs were not cooked. there were No mushrooms. very little chicken. it was terrible bread pudding - no bread in it. just a souffle like pudding very disppointed read more

Getting pie for 3.14 day! Ordered the Raspberry Rhubarb pie online and it was a seamless experience from ordering to pick up. Lemon meringue was great! The Raspberry Rhubarb pie was tangy (not my cup of tea!), Chocolate and apple pie were okay. I would recommend the cheese puffs (give it a try if you haven't tried it!) I haven't tried the breakfast, so I don't have an opinion on their food. read more

Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery - Raspberry rhubarb - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Only the bakery side is currently open. Restaurant side remains closed. They say their plans are to reopen the restaurant sometime next year. I came for the cheese puffs, and apple pie, but they were sold out of both. I got the lemon poppyseed cakes and apple turnover. Definitely doesn't come close to being as good as their cheese puffs, but OK. Of the two, I preferred the lemon poppyseed cake. They were a bit on the dryer side, but maybe because it was towards the end of the day? Staff were nice and helpful. Bakery is strictly to go, so no real ambience to speak of. No seating available. I really do hope they reopen the restaurant, because I have good memories of the homey vibes and good comfort food. read more

Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery - A classic cheeseburger! - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've been going to Fat Apples in EC for decades, and it's a great place for good solid foot, and especially for pies. The problem is that it's super crowded, and therefore very loud. God help you if you have hearing aids! Since 2020 they've had a nice outdoor seating area that's quiet, pleasant, and friendly. You can actually have a conversation without screaming. Today however, to my great unhappiness, I discovered that they have removed the outdoor seating! This seems to allow only two (2) more vehicles to park in their lot. So they removed a wonderfully quiet eating area for two cars. Can you say "carbrain"? This will impact my visits. I can't say that I'll stop my visits (as their pies are too good), but it will certainly decrease them. If anyone at FAs actually reads these reviews, please reconsider your decision! read more

This place executes superbly. Especially a fan of their cheese puffs, their cake made with sour cherries (kirschkuchen or it comes in pie form), and their olallieberry pie. For Pi Day, they cut the letter Pi into the upper crust of their pie, a charming touch (my photo doesn't do it justice). The folks who work there are always capable and friendly. I liked reading a bit about their history: https://www.berkeleyside.org/2021/03/11/fatapples-berkeley-el-cerrito-history read more

Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is a consistent local favorite for soup, salads, and pastries/pies. Never disappointed. The service has been strong over the decades. Ambience is quite comfortable. read more

Dissapointed. I've been going to Fat Apples since it opened and I was a kid. My parents took me there quite often. Grew up moved away, but had a chance to stop by this last weekend. Restaurant was closed (don't know why) but the bakery was open. Rembering their apple pies, I bought one (whole) to bring home since I couldn't get the burger I so craved. Well, had a piece for dessert that evening. Sorry to say, it did not live up to my memories. The apples were way too soft and mushy and the bottom crust stuck to the pan making it impossible to get a nice slice out of the pan. Overcooked. Even the flavor seemed "off". Not the rich tangy apples you'd expect. Somewhat bland, even a little gritty. Anyway, I do hope to get back there for a burger sometime but I doubt that I'll be buying a whole pie again given this dissapointing experience. read more

Delicious food and many excellent choices! The service was outstanding! The waiting staff were very friendly and family oriented. The ambiance was outstanding and very open and beautiful surroundings. read more

From where I was visiting in San Francisco, it was a good size drive to Berkeley. We came here to have brunch at Fat Apple's restaurant and bakery. Though the selection of bakery items were limited, there was plenty of mouth watering choices. We ordered separate pocket pies of chicken, spinach and blueberry. Each one was flaky on the outside, flavorful on the inside and bursting with taste. Then a slice of apple pie. It was another hit. This was followed by a slice of bacon and Swiss quiche. Lovely crust, nice body, soft filling of eggs, cheese and bacon that hit the spot with each bite. Staff was super friendly. Was it worth the drive there? You bet. read more

See all

Food great, old school and prepared perfectly. Service was excellent and delivered with a smile. Ambiance is a diner. Waffles!! read more

The Food was very good, the service was great. I'll be back. The Ambiance was very pleasant.

We walked into this Fat Apple's Bakery because we were in a bit of a rush. We all ordered the chicken pocket pies which were delicious and well balanced between savory butteriness and saltiness. My mom ordered the cheese puff and said it was "REEEALLY GOOOOD!" We sat for a while and Carlos and Fatima offered us some samples or the strawberry pocket pies--absolutely delicious! Overall great experience! Will definitely come again next time we're in Berkeley! :) read more

Ordered both a pumpkin and harvest pie for Thanksgiving from fat apples and picked it up this morning at 9 AM. There were two lines, one for online orders, and the other for walkins and phone orders. The line moved quickly, and the staff was sweet enough to provide complementary coffee for the patrons. I ordered a pumpkin pie and a harvest pie. The harvest pie is a combination of apple and cranberry. Can't wait to try them out tonight. read more

Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery - Harvest and pumpkin pies - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Still closed after 4 years of Covid? They don't say that anywhere in their contact info and then you drive there find parking--near impossible--and the only thing there is an over-rated bakery that only sells to-go. read more

It doesn't get more classic old school diner in the East Bay than Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery located on a rather innocuous business strip on MLK Way near downtown Berkeley. This is one of two locations in the northwestern area of the East Bay, the other being located on Fairmont Avenue in El Cerrito. While that location could be considered more modern and light and airy, this location in Berkeley is more down home and traditional thanks to their wood finished interior and open-air diner-like kitchen. I came on a Saturday evening with a friend who has lived in the area for what seems like forever and loves going to Fat Apple's for breakfast and lunch but rarely ventured out there for dinner so we decided to take a chance and see the crowd that they generate at this time of day. As it turns out, it's not that crowded, at least at roughly 7:30 p.m. when we arrived with plenty of ample street parking out front as well. The menu is quite large even for dinner, which is surprising since Fat Apple's bread and butter is more breakfast, lunch and desserts. As expected, they still serve hamburgers, sandwiches and big salads for dinner but they have dinner plates like Grilled Salmon, Rainbow Trout, and Meatloaf. Think of it as a localized and slightly elevated version of Marie Callendar's, if that conjures any memories for you out there. Since I was here for just the classics and wasn't super famished, I decided to go with their Fried Chicken Sandwich, which was made with batter-fried chicken breast served on a white bun topped with spicy mayonnaise, housemade bread & butter pickles and iceberg lettuce slaw and two slices of tomatoes. For roughly 12 dollars, don't expect much beyond that includes side orders, which have to be ordered separately. So I went with an order of Onion Rings, expecting a basket filled with deep-fried breaded onion rings, I received three on my plate, the same plate that featured my Fried Chicken Sandwich entree. Needless to say, I was very disappointed due to the lack of food on my plate, but the Fried Chicken Sandwich was decent and flavorful nonetheless. Of course, what everyone comes to Fat Apple's is for one of their signature sweets, namely their desserts. I knew I had to order a slice of their pies and went with their Chocolate Cream Pie for about $5.50. At least with this order, it met my expectations, as it was as silky smooth as possible. Would I return for a meal at Fat Apple's in the future? Well, that's depending on the occasion. But rest assured, I would always return for one of their signature sweets, from their pastries like their eclairs to slices of pie, you can't go wrong and will always feel at home when you sample a classic dessert at Fat Apple's. read more

See all

I have been coming to fat apples since 1997. I picked up an Olallieberry Pie for thanksgiving This has been my go to pie and a constant hit at family gatherings. I was disappointed to find it had changed, it seemed like a store bought pie with a filling that represented berries. It had no magical taste upon eating both cold and heated up it didn't provide the flavors as it once had. For $36.00 there were no fresh berries present only pie filling. Wanted to add that the cheese puff still is the most delicious since first eating many years ago ...nothing has changed still a savory treat! So please note my 1 star is for the whole pie not the cheese puffs. read more

Absolutely perfect apple pie couldn't have baked a better one myself and I've done my fare share of baking including many years working at a culinary school for fun. Thank you Fat Apple Restaurant & Bakery for a delicious alternative to birthday cake for my husband's birthday. We we're on a quest for the perfect apple pie and well, happily and luckily we found it:) read more

Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery - Apple Pie - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

The counter people are always so nice and friendly here. The baked goods are so yummy and hearty and comforting. It really only works to grab something in the morning when everything is (hopefully) the freshest. I love the cherry cake. They unfortunately only do takeout right now though. read more

Second time ordering pies. Ordered a pumpkin pie Christmas Eve. Walk-in. Pecan and pumpkin pies were available. The quality is great. I was buying pies in Albany and Oakland before. I will try the harvest pie for new years weekend. read more

There's a side bakery where you can pick up orders to go as well as pies. For this visit, I just picked up pies to go. Unfortunately they were out of banana cream pie so I decided to go with the chocolate pie and the apple pie a la mode...the ice cream comes in its own container. The chocolate pie was ok, but the apple pie was the star. When it was heated and combined with the cold ice cream, it was delicious. Service was friendly and fast. I'll come back to try the food here, as well as the banana cream pie read more

Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery - Desserts - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

I cant believe I haven't written a Review until now! I've been going to FA since the late 80s. For 3 years I lived about 4 blocks away. My Rating of 3 Stars is in comparison of what FA used to be. No doubt it has suffered the effects of the Pandemic, as most businesses have. Nonetheless, I'm disappointed by some of the choices they've made. We recently visited on 2/18/23, and discovered that the MLK location only had takeout, with limited options. So went over to El Cerrito, my first visit to that location. Their set up made a lot of sense given the open-ended nature of the Virus, we ordered at the counter, payed, & sat down at a table by the window. We picked up napkins & utensils at a station on the way, also grabbed some condiments. Workers were friendly and helpful, no complaints there. They brought our food pretty quickly, it was still hot. Fries were delish. Unfortunately, my brother was unhappy with his burger. He said they've obviously changed suppliers or quality of meat; burgers used to be juicy and really outstanding. Now they are no better than every other burger joint. My chicken breast sandwich wasn't bad, I would go again for that, but I really missed the green salsa they used to have on the side, which made it tastier and unique from other places. The chocolate milkshake used to be delicious, made with real ice cream and so thick you had to wait a few minutes for it to melt a bit. Now they use waaaay too much milk, it was thin and unsatisfying. I can make a good one at home, it isn't rocket science, but it always made the meal into perfection. On our next visit to Berkeley, we'll probably try Barneys to see if they have done a better job of maintaining the quality of their burgers & shakes. I do hope they're able to improve their burgers & shakes. I always had a special place in my heart for Fat Apple's, but now it feels like nostalgia from a bygone era. read more

Just ate dinner at Fat Apples, the first time since the pandemic. My cheeseburger, ordered rare but delivered on the crisp side. The thin,flat burger seemed more like the Macdonald's variety, a thin, tasteless mass occupying much less of the bun than the generous amount of lettuce, i.e. where's the beef? Gone the juicy high quality hamburger, the shredded longhorn cheddar and the idea of quality. One thing that has increased, the grotesque, higher prices. Should you want the real deal, go to Eureka Burger in downtown Berkekey. read more

This place is so cute and right by my house! I finally stopped by today and very glad I did :) The pizza is super tasty and their pastries taste just how you'd want them. I'm excited to stop by more and try all the other things they have because it all looks so good!!! read more

Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery - Pizza of the Day - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Best ollaliberry (sp?) pie ever! I take it to potlucks and it is always a huge success.

Funny how it's the small things you remember when you come back to a place you used to frequent decades ago. The bit of trompe l'oeil on the back wall that gives the illusion of old-school library book shelves (photo: http://bit.ly/2JpuEOj). The carved wooden apple on the swinging saloon doors (photo: http://bit.ly/2qY72Zu). And oh yes, the mile-high apple pie. A la mode, of course. Jamie W. and I were taking a weekend walk on MLK Way from downtown Berkeley when I suggested we stop here for old time's sake. It was the middle of the afternoon, so the place was quite empty with the staff a bit non-committal at that time of the day. There was no pie in our future nor even the cheeseburger I used to get all the time. Jamie went for the $4.75 Mixed Green Salad with the dressing on the side (photo: http://bit.ly/2HRCgMo) and paired it with a $3.90 cup of Vegetarian Black Bean Chili which was definitely full of beans though it fell short on real seasoning (photo: http://bit.ly/2HQ4uqV). I had marginally better luck with the $13.40 Apple Salad, which was s full plate of mixed greens covered in grilled chicken, apple slices, bacon bits, crumbled blue cheese, avocado, gold beets, and tomato slices (photo: http://bit.ly/2qYdfpj). It was certainly filling enough for me, but we were seething with jealousy over the huge olallieberry pie slices the young couple were having at the next table to go with their platter of fries. Ah, youth is wasted on the young. FOOD - 3 stars...going healthy doesn't bring out the best eats here AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...same decor all these years...hey hey hey, it's Fat Apple's...too soon for Cosby references? SERVICE - 2.5 stars...just not that into it TOTAL - 3 stars...nostalgia ain't what it used to be read more

See all

They are currently only available for pick up or delivery. Their pastries are delicious and I hope they can reopen. They are worth standing in line to enjoy their treats. read more

People sleep on how good Fat Apple's pastries are. Cheese puffs. Hella good. Danish. Hella good. Turnovers. Hella good. And obviously the olallieberry pie is incredible. Good coffee to go with whatever you want. It's the morning pastry spot. Delicious unpretentious pastries. The restaurant is good too but don't expect some fancy nonsense. It's good diner fare. read more

Best pie crust in the Bay Area! Always flakey, light, and buttery. Love the savory had pies as well as the double crusted fruit pies. You can count on their pie crust quality every time you go! read more

What a fun and delicious experience we had here today! After our sandwich at Saul's we were craving a stand-out cup of coffee, and a pastry. As soon as we arrived we were greeted happily by Jessica and Fatima; they were genuinely welcoming and upbeat! They were fun to deal with, recommending lots of good things to eat. We settled on a tall cup of coffee each, such wonderfully rich coffee, and a sweet treat for each of us (thank goodness Jenny Craigs was nowhere around!). The two women worked so cheerfully that they made us feel like regulars on our first visit! We took our coffee out front and sat on that bench like two old friends from a Simon and Garfunkel song. I loved the NY Style Crumb Cake, with Pecans (not traditionally NY, but somehow actually better!) My buddy had a Berry Pie, and made short work of it. I can only tell you from my observation that his pie was a slice of heaven.... rich, and sweet, and satisfying (No!, he didn't share....but then neither did I). What a great treat is Fat Apples, they made me wish I lived nearby. Whenever we are in the neighborhood, we will stop by, get a pie, and some pastries to take home. Then we'll sit outside, savor a cup of coffee and watch the world go by. read more

A Berkeley "Go To" and comfort food and pie Icon for sure: consistent and reliable high quality and menu. Pies are wonderful!!! And some go there , not just for the cheese puffs ( a signature treat) but the kirschkuchen ( cherry cake) is to die for! And their coffee can stand up to the Peetniks. Looking forward to the resumption of indoor dining- never a disappointment and a great place for " comfort food"! Grateful customer since the 70's. read more

Fat Apples used to be an absolute gem tucked in a tightly packed, typical Berkeley neighborhood...Sadly, times have changed and Fat Apples is no longer that special place with fat, flaky cheese puffs, delicious fresh pies, and deep roasted Peet's coffee. After over 30 years of digging the food and especially the pies, I won't be making the trip back to the Fat Apple neighborhood again; my last couple visits were so underwhelming. What happened? I miss the old Fat Apples. read more

I walked to Fat Apples today from the No Berkeley Library to get what I always got these years ago (when I had my practice in No Berkeley)- an amazing bran muffin. But, they no longer make those! What????! How is this possible? Most fortunately, I chose the Morning Glory muffin, which turned out to be huge, absolutely delish and satisfied my muffin craving while I ate it on Solano Ave at Peet's with their delectable Golden Chai Latte (made with turmeric & honey). Berkeley foodie heaven... read more

one of my go to brunch place. Kind of hidden in the woods but still good food. I love their apple pancake which is essentially a sweet dutch baby with apples baked into it and their Corned beef hash. The best part about this place is that you get to sub the normal toast with a scone or other baked goods of they day they might have. I love it when it's between march and april because then they have their hot cross buns! Yummmm I've always had a pleasant dinning experience here. it's nice and friendly, parking isn't too bad if you're will to walk a little bit (i mean like a block little bit) and service is always quick. read more

Be warned the Berkeley location is carry out only. The eat In location is closed permanently. Take out look less than stellar. Pies were not as large. They don't make their own apple butter for sale anymore. I had fond memories of this cafe, but they are long gone. read more

** special place in my heart** This has been my family stomping grounds since '8&. Seriously - my grandmother loved this restaurant and I have fond memories growing up here. We ordered the same 3 items but my favorite shall always be the waffle : 1) waffle special with egg whites and turkey apple sausage: the best syrup you've ever had ! The waffle is large but so thin & and crispy! I hate thick Belgian waffles 2) pancake special: my uncles fave . So thick and well seasoned . Again ...this place has the best syrup 3) oatmeal: can't go wrong with this hardy breakfast option. Comes with brown sugar, nuts., multicolored raisins read more

Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery - Waffle special ! The best syrup you've ever had is at this place ! - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

I saw that Ed U, one of my favorite Yelpers, gave Fat Apples 4 stars for their cheeseburger and pie (http://www.yelp.com/biz/fat-apples-restaurant-and-bakery-berkeley#hrid:eZW0sNVKYysCn-LoudknNw) so decided to check it out. Things didn't go my way before I got there. I punched the address into my Google Maps Navigation and it said "Your destination is 900 feet ahead on your right" just as I saw a parking spot. OK, I thought, I can walk 300 yards, and parked, unsure of how the parking would be ahead. Marching forward, I reached the next street and looked at the house numbers which were going in the wrong direction?!? I doubled back and found Fat Apples 15 feet BEHIND my car on the LEFT!! Damn you Google Maps!! Anyway, finally got to this brightly lit restaurant in the boondocks of Berkeley. A neighborhood joint on a tree lined corner. Not much to look at really, but who cares if the food is good. Ed gave 4 stars to the cheeseburger so naturally I ordered the Reuben (?? - $9) . . . and then subbed out the fries for onion rings. The plate came out with 4 rings, a dill pickle spear, and 2 slices of tomato (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/iWSUwZ0YD_PZFoMbLmnkeg?select=SaknOrlPi4OY1TvQyWfcEA). The onion rings were overcooked and somewhat burned. The Reuben looked better (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/iWSUwZ0YD_PZFoMbLmnkeg?select=qNWtZW1DMcIKmSZ4OsHHEg) than it tasted. It was put together well with a nice amount of kraut & dressing, but the thinly sliced corned beef was really dry. It was a chore to swallow even with swigs from my Pale Ale. Sounds like burgers or brunch are the way to go here. read more

Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery - Reuben plate. Subbed out Fries for Onion Rings - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

One of my favorite Berkeley lunch spots! The Detroit pizza is great, and while all the sweets are fantastic, I'm huge fan of the kirschkuchen. The folks who work there are also super friendly! read more

Their cutesy cheese puff pyramids SOOO remind me of Porto's Cuban cheese rolls--'cept I prefer FA's: less sweet and adore the many many layers of puff pastry.... Good little teaser read more

Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Berkeley, California

Hungry after the yelp event. Came over and ordered a cookie, 3 cheese puff pastry and a slice of quiche. My daughter polished off the cheese puff pastry while we were still waiting on my quiche to warm up. I ended up ordering another dozen to take home. The cheese puff is a mini 3 or 4 bites pastry, sprinkled with powdered sugar, the buttery and flakiness of the pastry was oh so delicious! The cheese is nice and soft and creamy... maybe I was just starving but it was delightful. The contrast of the sweet and savory went well together. We polished off the quiche, my kids who are very picky about what they eat, I had to fend them off my quiche! Definitely need to come back soon to try other things on the menu. That blueberry pie look divine but I have no room in my fridge for it, maybe next time! read more

See all