Put simply, La Note was incredible! Maybe the best brunch I've ever had. The food was absolutely incredible. Just whole foods that are cooked beautifully and flavorfully. Our waiter was sweet and helpful. The inside was cute and while busy it had a fun, upbeat atmosphere full of great energy. It also has a nice patio out back. read more

La Note - Cappuccino, creme fraiche pancake, omelette au fromage, cote nord - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love La Note it is in my top 2 breakfast spots in Berkeley. It is such a cute place to visit and the food is excellent. The coffees are okay but nothing the food doesn't cover for. I have brought all my friends to try this place. It was also the first spot I brought my boyfriend who visited my from LA too. read more

La Note - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This place gets packed so make a reservation or get here early. I love the coziness of the place. The small touches that make it stand out. I ordered the cinnamon French toast and scrambled eggs. Didn't have to use the syrup for the toast it was perfect. I'm definitely planning to come back for more. read more

La Note - French Toasted Cinnamon Brioche - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Amazing breakfast on a Saturday morning at Berkeley! It was delicious, the service was phenomenal, and the atmosphere was lovely. I'm excited to visit again and order my same order! read more

La Note - Cote Est Creme Fraiche Pancakes Orange juice - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

La Note is one of my favorite brunch spots. The lemon ginger pancake is fluffy and lightly spiced--so good! I've also had eggs with spicy sausage and the ham & cheese sandwich, all solid picks. The vibe is cozy and charming, but the wait can be brutal--up to an hour even for two people. Worth it if you're not in a rush! read more

Run, don't walk! Do you make a reservation. I felt so smart when I walked up on the line and I had a reservation. This place is phenomenal . I had a beautiful salad and the brie sandwich and a mimosa, and I can't stop thinking about it. read more

La Note - Patio - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Yesterday, I met a friend at La Note for brunch. It was my first time but my friend had been there several times previously. I arrived first and let the hostess know I was waiting for a friend who was parking her car. The hostess said to let her know when my friend arrived and she would seat us. I sat down right behind the hostess stand to wait. My friend arrived a few minutes later and told the hostess she was meeting me and pointed to where I was sitting. As my friend and I were catching up, we noticed that the hostess sat at least 2 separate parties of 2 before us and we were certain they arrived after us. We caught her attention to remind her that we were still waiting to be seated and then she sat us about a minute or 2 later. Normally, I wouldn't pay much attention to the attitude of the hostess as I understand it's a busy job but her aloofness towards my friend and I seemed directed and intentional. My friend and I are both women of color and the situation was beginning to feel like there was a bias happening against us. However, we shook it off. Once seated, we noticed that several minutes passed and no one had come by to take our order. Now at this point I'm beginning to get a little more than annoyed. The hostess comes by and fills our water and I mention that we're ready to order. She lets us know she will send our server order. The server was lovely and the food was good. Once we finished our meal and paid, my friend and I were chatting and the hostess comes over and says in a nice nasty tone; there is no rush but there is a reservation coming for our table and the one next to ours. Now, I totally understand if you need the table but also, maybe let us know that when you sat us so we could also be mindful of the time. Overall, I enjoyed the food, coffee and company but the service (primarily the hostess) left me feeling unwelcome. So, I have no desire to return. read more

La Note - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Would have been a five star review, had one issue not been pretty prominent. We were sat immediately, but we then proceeded to sit at a table for 20 minutes, no waiter check-ins, no water, no nothing. Not only that, but people who were sat AFTER US got water and waiter attention before us. We had to flag down a waiter to help us. That being said, our waiter, once he was made aware of our presence, was incredibly attentive, super kind, and provided a wonderful experience. The food itself was wonderful. It was my first time having French food, and I was not disappointed. read more

La Note - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Most recommended: cheese ham omelette (I replaced homefries with salad and it was a great match with the hams) Great service and vibe in patio read more

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Perfect incredible brunch spot. Combos are so worth it, great portions for the price. Service was friendly and silly, making jokes so we didn't feel the wait (which was a little bit.) Seating was a bit cramped and we had to squeeze onto a small table, but worth it for the food. read more

La Note - Creme Fraiche Pancakes Orange juice Omelette Au Fromage - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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What a cute place. Very busy on a Sunday morning. But very kind and friendly host. Besides the busy part it has inside and outside sitting. Everyone is very friendly and seems happy to be there.. which is difficult to see now days. Our waiter was a fall gentleman and was so nice and patient with us ordering. We first order our drinks and he came back super nice to give them to us. Then we order our food and I asked for the spicy sausage (not spicy, I was bummed about that) There are two restrooms inside, very clean!! But very busy but very clean!! everything else was great! The coffee late was on point! Great service and very well kept clean and neat! Thank you for a great experience! read more

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Did not make the clean plate club. If disappointment had a brunch menu, this would be it. Whoever hyped this place on TikTok deserves to stub their toe once a month as a karmic justice. The lamb sausage was aggressively game-y. The pacakes were somehow bland, which I thought was physically impossible. The only thing with any seasoning was the homefries so shoutout to them for showing up to work. As for timing, we were told 30-45 mins but ended up waiting an hour and half and another 40 mins for our food. The only saving grace? My gf liked her cinnamon toasted brioche. So if that's your vibe, go for it. Also, no air conditioning which isn't too crazy for Berkeley but don't expect to be cool while eating indoors. read more

La Note - Cote Est Creme Fraiche Pancakes Brioche Pain Perdu Rosemary-Garlic Homefries - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Our Friday morning in Berkeley started with the perfect choice: brunch at La Note. This charming cafe radiates cozy vibes and immediately set the tone for a relaxed and delicious start to the day. We were seated about 15 min after our reservation, coffee in hand within minutes, and ready to dive into one of the most satisfying brunch spreads we've had in a long time. We couldn't resist the lemon gingerbread pancakes, which were warmly spiced, and had the perfect citrus zing -- easily a standout dish. Paired with eggs and crispy bacon, it hit every savory-sweet craving. We also shared a pastry basket (because how could we not?) -- filled with buttery, flaky bites that paired perfectly with the strong coffee and fresh orange juice. The ham omelette was another highlight: light yet rich, packed with flavor, and served with wonderful blueberry oatmeal, toast and jam that felt like it came straight out of a French countryside kitchen. La Note delivered everything we love in a brunch spot -- comforting food, lovely ambiance, and a menu full of heart. Whether you're a local or just passing through Berkeley, it's an absolute must-visit. read more

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Came here for an early lunch / brunch with our baby on a Wednesday morning. We were hoping to sit outside but at 10:40, we were too early - the patio opens at 11. This was a bit of a shame because the inside is relatively tight (European even), which was tough with our cruiser of a stroller! I ordered a ham and cheese omelette with Provencales tomatoes - and four slices of toast. Everything was cooked to perfection and that's not forgetting the whipped butter, which, unlike our butter at home, didn't rip my toast to shreds. My wife had the French toast (I'm surprised it wasn't just called toast at this French restaurant) with a chocolate sauce (Nutella?) - which was a delicious mountain of carbs. read more

La Note - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

I'm almost embarrassed to admit I had never been here before. I say 'almost' because it was always packed when I walked by, and let's face it, I don't really crave French bistro fare like I do for other types of food. However, I finally decided to rectify 25 years of ignorance and got Jamie W to come here on an early Saturday afternoon for brunch. As I expected, there was a 45-minute wait, so we did a few laps around the block. What the hell? We needed the steps anyway. Once we were seated, I was torn between the omelettes and French toast and surprised myself by ordering the $25 bowl of Ratatouille Madame, a healthy-tasty vegetable stew that provided instant comfort. It featured eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes mixed with fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese topped with two poached eggs, all of it over rosemary couscous (photo: https://yelp.to/UM0jPmCLCO). What a delight and the extra egg was a nice treat. Jamie kept it very low-key and ordered the $3.75 Croissant aux Amandes, a more buttery version of the regular with almond cream and icing sugar (photo: https://yelp.to/ZDCbgLsjxU) and the $10 Irish Coffee (photo: https://yelp.to/WUpCOpAQ0-). It was like I was on a Provençal farm, and he was at a sidewalk cafe on the Champs-Elysees. The place was bustling all the way through their 3PM closing, but the young French waiter was attentive throughout. FOOD - 4 stars...the ratatouille was just right with the eggs AMBIANCE - 4 stars...captures the French countryside vibe SERVICE - 4.5 stars...the server was on the ball TOTAL - 4 stars...I guess I like French bistro fare RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u read more

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Menu is difficult to comprehend since it's in French, you must go down & read every option to determine if it's what you desire, pictures would help No real pick up options; You must call in advance the employees them to ask lower level management if they can accommodate pick ups read more

We came to La Note, as my aunt wanted to treat my twin brother and me to a lovely "French" restaurant, as she lives in France, and called ahead and got a gift certificate. We decided to wait until our late mother's birthday, a month after ours, to go. The food was delicious, and they were careful with dietary restrictions; however, the icing on the cake is that the waitress came out at the very end to bring a warm slice of coffee cake out, on the house, as she heard we were celebrating my other's birthday somehow. The gesture brought my brother and me to tears, as this is her second birthday since she passed. As my brother said, she was a very on-point and present waitress, and we were grateful to have her and will forever appreciate such a loving gesture. read more

We were seated in the lovely garden area in back. It was meant to be a celebration. Our waiter was not interested at all in serving us. He got into an argument with a coworker within earshot. Called her crazy. After gruffly taking our order and commenting that we were not ordering enough food, he didn't bother to check on us. Not once. And then tried to pull a fast one by adding a gratuity for six when we were clearly a party of five. The food was overpriced. A ridiculous baguette with one small slice of smoked salmon. An overdressed salad. Awful. A task to get them to bring ice water. Instead lukewarm dishwater in these dirty small pitchers. Sorry this is a waste of time and money. We did get this waiter to subtract the imposed tip to a voluntary one and we tipped him generously. Never want to go back. Awful. Just so disappointing. One of the poorest customer service examples maybe ever. read more

Water was out the tap. So you had to get the paid water . It wqs packed but got fitted. I didnt really get a French restaurant vibe. Food sounded different but was the same like any another restaurant. Parking sucks. Staff was nice. It was cool but a one and done for me.my friend said they salmon sandwich was really good tho. read more

Went here on a Friday morning. Reservations recommended The seating is only ok. First our party of 3 was seated in a window. It was really cramped and hard for my chair to face the table due to the curved space. The seats also hit the back of my legs uncomfortably ( I'm 5'7"). We asked if there was another option and were moved ( thank you). I was on a bench and my eating companions in chairs. The chairs were more comfy. The bench was comfy but the person next to me kept bouncing his legs which shook the whole bench. Then 3 tables town that person on the bench banged against the back. This bench is the length of the whole restaurant So if I return I would request a table in the middle of the room ? Now for the food: eggs good, toast sourdough good fruit garnish good. Chicken apple sausage good. Home fries with garlic and rosemary good but some chunks were big and some small, and the big ones then lack the perfect amount of crisp. Coffee fine read more

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Lunch on a Friday afternoon with old friends starts with a reservation. The restaurant was loud and busy when we arrived so I asked for a table on the patio. It was delightful outside. Even though the patio was full, noise was not an issue. We each chose different dishes and all of us were happy with our meals. read more

Le Nôtre is one of my absolute favorite spots in downtown Berkeley. I always get the baguette with cream cheese, smoked salmon, and tomatoes--it's seriously the best thing ever. Fresh, flavorful, and so satisfying every time. Their coffee is also top-notch, smooth and rich without being too bitter. It's always busy, full of people, and I absolutely love the vibe--lively, cozy, and full of energy. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or sitting down to enjoy the atmosphere, this place never disappoints. I definitely recommend arriving 20 to 30 minutes earlier, especially on a weekend to put your name down and get a table on time :) read more

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We've been coming here for years but the recent visits have significantly deteriorated compared to previous experiences. I understand that some restaurants want to keep it old school and go without online waitlist. However, considering how bad the lines get on weekends and how poorly they predict/manage the wait, this restaurant can definitely benefit from utilizing an online waitlist. During the 1 hr+ wait for brunch (we were told 40), we often have to go somewhere nearby to get a coffee or snack to hold ourselves through; but if you do not finish the beverage you had to get while waiting, they will force you to throw it out once you're seated, even if you could just hold on to it for after the meal - harsh and wasteful. The FOH staff were also quite condescending on our last couple visits. Once we were seated and ordered, it took another 35 mins to get our food. Then another 15 to get our check. Frankly I am just over having to spend three hours on breakfast at this point. And as mentioned in my previous review, they are inflexible with substitution that are well within reason (bread choice from menu offering, would not allow even when we are ok with any extra charge) and servers provide inconsistent information on whether they can swap something or not. No longer my preferred brunch spot and will likely not return frequently unless someone else really wants to go. read more

La Note - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

My grandson invited me for brunch. I liked the atmosphere and service. Good coffee in a huge mug and omelettes. Different kinds. A nice place for brunch. read more

Spread pics via IPhone + digicam! We were seated outside by Noe, super sweet and helpful!! The exterior was so cute and we loved the vibes for our girliepop-breakfast. First of all, hot chocolate in bowls with whipped cream - Dream come true. 5/5. The three of us got omelettes + french toast to share, quickly realizing it was a mistake because of the portion sizes - Super generous, and we all had leftovers! Omelettes - 4/5. The tomatoes were seasoned and really good with the rest of the dish, and there was an influx of potatoes I got to munch on after. French toast - 3.5/5. Nothing crazy, a teeny bit dry, and honestly wish I had ordered the Brioche Pain Perdu for the flavor profile of that instead. Overall satisfied with the meal, but I do want to stop by for brunch/lunch next time instead. read more

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I thought La Note was a just OK brunch experience even though it seems to be pretty popular. The decor and aesthetics are definitely nice but it can be a little squishy inside since they try to fit many people in the space. Supposedly there is a nice outdoor area too which perhaps may be less squished but I have not been there before. As for the food, it was also just OK. The rosemary garlic "homefries" are more so just rosemary garlic potatoes so they are not as crispy and more on the soft side. They do have a very heavy garlic flavor and they also give you bulbs of garlic as well from the cooking. The creme fraiche pancakes did not taste like much and just tasted like normal pancakes. They were a mix of slightly dense and heavy but also still a bit fluffy which was nice. The eggs were just eggs. My friend got the yogurt and the yogurt seemed very nice and thick. They are busy so service was a little on the slow side on the weekend but otherwise it was fine. read more

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you guys!! so good! i haven't had breakfast this good in a while. the place is super cute and their outdoor patio is adorable. inside seating is insanely crowded so if you can, ask to sit outside. we were told our table would be ready in 20 minutes and then 5 minutes later our table was ready. andy and i weren't there yet, just my friend and so they gave our table away and said they would give us the next table to open up outside. 40 minutes goes by and still we weren't seated and all the other people waiting had been seated at that point. they forgot about us. by this point we were starving. after ordering, they bring out everyone's food except mine. they had forgot to make it. they generously ended up comping my meal. our server was very friendly and food came out pretty quickly despite the bumps, the food was so good it makes up for the mess ups. now let's dive into each dish: the crème fraiche pancakes. i was so excited for these because i love crème fraiche usually. the pancakes themselves were good, but the crème fraiche was so disgusting. it wasn't as sweet as crème fraiche usually is and was sour and bitter. after tasting the crème fraiche i was turned off from them, but andy and leanna said they were fine with syrup. overall, i'd personally give these a 3/10. i didn't try them with syrup. spicy sausage, whole wheat toast, sunny side up eggs, and potatoes. the toast was delish and perfectly toasted. the eggs were insanely buttery and soooo good. i couldn't get enough of them. the eggs were just eggs, nothing too special, but i enjoyed dipping my bread in the yolk. the sausage i was not a fan of. it was supposed to be spicy, but wasn't spicy at all. the first bite was good and then i kept chewing and got the weirdest aftertaste. wasn't a fan of the sausage. scrambled eggs with cream cheese on toast, potatoes, and tomatoes. once again the potatoes were fire. the eggs were cooking perfectly and the egg + cream cheese toast combos was . the tomatoes were slightly charred and a great addition to the meal. ham omelette, sourdough toast, and potatoes. i'm going to emphasize one more time how great the potatoes were. the sourdough toast was amazing and had such good flavor. the omelette was also so good. andy couldn't stop say "wow. this is so good". cappuccino. yum and delish. nice and creamy and perfect amount of foam. read more

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Highly recommend this place!! Had the Cote Ouest, which was an omelet topped with ratatouille and served with potatoes and toast- and it was phenomenal. Fresh ingredients and wonderful ambiance. Everything on their menu looked delicious and I can't wait to come back. read more

what a great place, especially a nice weather on the patio with the wisteria blooming. The food was interesting and flavorful. Lucas, our , was charming, responsive and attentive. Great place to go. read more

Came her for a birthday celebration and at the recommendation of a friend. The wait was about 25 minutes on a Saturday for 4 people, not bad. It's a small on the inside but the patio is much bigger. They have heaters for when it's cold. Our server was the nicest and answered all our questions. I ordered coffee - very nice cup of coffee with a little cream and sugar. For food I got the ham omelette with cheese, potatoes, and upgraded to a baguette. The omelette was so-so, nothing amazing but still very good. Potatoes were excellent. The baguette with butter was demolished! read more

We were seated immediately and the food came out pretty quick. Absolutely loved everything. It was so yummy. I didn't even know they had a backyard area but highly recommend to check it out. They do have space heaters in the back too. Ambience is great perfect for hanging out or a date. I recommend getting their spicy sausage. It's so yummy. The eggs were also cooked perfectly House potatoes very well seasoned too. I also tried a mimosa, which was the perfect mix of champagne and juice. I tried the raspberry one very late and very yummy. read more

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La Note is my boyfriend's and my favorite brunch spot! We live in San Francisco, but we would occasionally drive across the Bay Bridge just to dine here. Wait time: We usually come here on the weekends when they don't accept reservations. We have been seated faster than the estimated wait time every time we went, but I would recommend joining the waitlist on the Yelp app in advance if you can. However, sometimes, they just close the waitlist on the app, so you may have to join at the reception desk at the front. Seating: This time, we were seated in their outside space, which we enjoyed a lot. The table is a lot bigger than the inside one and we did not feel cramped like we did inside before. There are heaters, but extra jackets and blankets might come in handy on chilly days. Food: Definitely order the pastry basket! It comes with 4 different pastries (plain croissant, almond croissant, pain au chocolat, and morning bun) and is perfect for starting out the brunch with a cup of coffee. I ordered les oeufs lucas (scrambled eggs with goat cheese and chives served with roasted tomatoes), and my boyfriend ordered omelette fromage et jambon (Emmenthal cheese and ham omelet). Both were cooked to perfection. I really enjoyed having my eggs with tomatoes on sourdough bread toast. Service: It is an extremely busy place and the service is on the slower side. Sometimes, our request was forgotten, and we had to ask again a couple of times. We also had to wait for the coffee refill with our empty cups for a while. read more

La Note - Pastry basket - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Fresh, yummy and the healthiest tasting pancakes I've had at restaurant . Love the levain and sourdough and the roasted side tomatoes are really good ! read more

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The minute you walk in the door, you feel like you have walked into a lovely French cafe. The warm feel of the space, the music, and the welcoming staff take you away from the outside world. The food was wonderful, and they even have gluten-free toast! read more

La Note - Lavender cappuccino - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Busy spot, was quickly seated and got to eat some good food that was a tad pricey. Got the La note pain perdu which was French toast. It had a light and lovely flavor but felt under soaked and kinda tough for a French toast? I'm used to french toast being a bit moister, but given the thick slice and the way it was toasted it really didn't retain much moisture with the middle looking like regular bread and having some bite/chew to it. Maybe this is the style, I'm not sure! Either way it was different, but my group didn't mind and all thought it was good overall. We also got the side of compote for the toast which was expensive for such a small amount but so good I have conflicting emotions! For the house eggs, my grandpa like the plate. He said the bread was good, eggs were made to his liking and the potatoes were amazinggg. The potatoes/fries are definitely A MUST TRY if you stop by with whole cloves of garlic and strong flavors! I got the "baguette a la merguez" since I wanted to try a lamb sausage! came out on a baguette with a single sausage, smaller than a normal hotdog I'd say similar in width to a breakfast sausage. Looked cheap and skimpy, two sausages would've looked better and should be a minimum imo, since the sandwich could have fit three and it costs $20. Regardless the sausage that was present had great flavor and was delicious, the baguette was perfect in crust, chew and freshness. It also had a fragrant tomato sauce which really tied the whole sandwich together. Also got a slice of Hungarian coffee cake (not pictured) and it was moist, soft and packed with nuts which I like. A little different than typical coffee cake but still fantastic. Highly recommend, but you definitely need a coffee tea or milk to cut the sweetness as it is a decadent desert ! We had a good server who checked in on us and gave recommendations, he forgot to tell us that one of the desert we ordered was sold out until we got the check, but it happens! Overall very cute space got to sit outside it was a lovely area with beautiful greenery and bright florals! Inside was cute as well with the decor and a packed wall of award plaques for the restaurant. Recommend sitting outside when the weather is nice for a more relaxing experience as the inside seemed busy, tight and louder given the smaller space. read more

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This is a classic brunch place in Berkeley, the interior is really cute and cozy and they have a lot of great options. We really love their cinnamon pear pancakes as it is a unique flavor. Expect a wait on the weekends as it gets quite busy. read more

La Note - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Been here a few times but this time we had an unwelcoming experience due to our dog. The male manager with the flat cap hat was absolutely not dog friendly. We wanted to share the pancakes with our dog but the manager said "it's not appropriate to share the plate with the dog" and so he didn't let us. However we did not let the dog lick or touch the plates, we did want to use their fork to give our dog large pieces of the pancakes. Maybe he could have offered us some plastic utensils or togo boxes instead of just yelling at us and walking away. We ending up asking for a togo box and dumped the pancakes inside it and used our fingers to share the pancakes with our dog. Overall we wouldn't recommend bringing your dog to this restaurant although they say it's a dog friendly restaurant, but they actually are very unwelcoming and unaccommodating to dogs. They served coffee in a small bowl with no handle, so the person handing me the coffee bowl had his thumb touching the coffee. We didn't say anything, but the owner should consider switching the drink bowls without handles to those with handles, especially when it comes to hot drinks. The restaurant is not wheelchair accessible since the space is very crammed and there is not even space for service dog to lay down. read more

No wait on a Tuesday for brunch! We sat outside in their garden which has shade via patio umbrellas. It is tight, but all Berkeley spaces are! I ordered the egg and potato omelette with grilled tomatoes and 1 gingerbread pancake with poached pears. The omelette was solid but nothing extra. The pancake was interesting and I thought it was too much to add a few blueberries and poached pears and lemon. It was almost on the dry side. I think keeping it to two things makes more sense like the pears. My friend ordered the creme fraiche pancakes and she appeared to be really impressed. read more

La Note - Lemon Gingerbread Pancakes and Poached Pears - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

La Note is always a winner in my book!! Excellent food and service. Can't go wrong with the Cote Nord with a side of sausage and we ALWAYS share the Brioche Pain Per Du French toast!! Still my happy place, even with the $.50 surcharge per egg! read more

La Note - French Toast, Cote Notd, and side sausage - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Really cute outdoor seating area! Perfect for a brunch or birthday! Staff were super nice and honest with recommendations Lots of options on the menu but all of them were a little bit underwhelming for me. Lacked depth in flavor but were accurate to the descriptions. Overall, flavor wise I was disappointed but ambiance and options wise I was happy read more

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