"Can I get something started for you?" Avoid that familiar…read morephrase from the corporate coffee giant and step into the whale. Wonderful single origin coffees available -pour over style as well as a variety of various espresso drinks, and tea. In the back is the master roaster machinery, and a nice lounge with pinball machines to hang out in and create conversation with other patrons. The staff is real knowledgeable and real personable and frequently make me laugh, and they know their product very well and will share information with the consumer. It's OK to ask a question and they won't yell at you if you want cream in your coffee. They do keep it behind the counter in the refrigerator, by request only. For some reason, coffee always taste better to me on site than at home. Maybe it's the temperature of the water, maybe it's just the ambience and the brief conversation? I don't know but I prefer to have my cup outside of the home. I'm a rather social being. The owner has a knack for hiring, competent, talented and friendly staff! Truly the BEST coffee anywhere, seriously...... maybe that's why they won so many awards?! Beans are available daily and frequently with half-price sale on your second bag. A great gift to send somebody in a different city, throw in a T-shirt or other swag while you're at it. I found that relatives and friends really dig stuff from the Bay Area. There are a variety of "at home barista"accoutrements available for sale to include the lovely Chemex glass coffee maker. Grinders, scales, etc. A coffee paraphernalia shop- "legal speed". Check out the pastry case with some local favorite bakeries representing. In closing, five stars throughout*****! Now get over there, I hope I got something started for you......

This was my first visit to Red Whale Coffee, and I was really looking forward to it. I loved the…read moreatmosphere, especially the pinball machines, and I was excited to recommend this place to my friends. Unfortunately, my experience was disappointing. I ordered an iced mocha with oat milk during a busy time and waited about 20-30 minutes. While I was waiting, I noticed several customers who ordered after me received their drinks. I went up to the counter to ask about my order, and the cashier seemed confused. The barista remembered making my drink and believed someone may have accidentally taken it since there had been a drink sitting on the pickup counter for a while. The barista told me he would remake my drink and even offered the drink to another customer instead of discarding it. However, he continued making other orders before remaking mine. Just as I was about to ask for a refund, I finally received my coffee. I understand that mistakes happen, especially during busy periods, but better communication and order tracking would have made a big difference. Unfortunately, my first experience left a bad impression. As much as I liked the atmosphere, I won't be returning, and I can't recommend this coffee shop based on the service I received.

Came here to meet some family for a chat over a cup of coffee, and I ended up getting the white…read morechocolate mocha, and the ancho frittata from the display case.\ The white chocolate mocha was good, different than a store chain one, and very tasty. The frittata was warmed nicely, and served in a little box. It was a bit denser than I expected, but not in a bad way, just not as fluffy as I imagined. The egg texture was creamy. The taste was very nice. A nice visit for good food and a decent value. Oh yeah, and some family time!

Cute walkable coffee spot with a great indoor/outdoor vibe on warm days -- they open the walls and…read moreadd extra seating outside. Pastries and menu are solid, but the seasonal syrups are the real draw. Got the macadamia nut half sweet and it was delicious. Friendly service, easy parking. Will be back for whatever seasonal flavor comes next!

Solid coffee and food menu, with cute backyard patio…read more Met a friend for breakfast on a Sunday and there was a line out the door. We queued up before ordering two lattes, a bacon burrito and a mango protein smoothie. Grabbed a table in their back patio (yey for dog-friendly dining!) to enjoy our breakfast. The lattes were solid and the breakfast burrito was definitely repeatable. Basic patio space, but it does have trees and is semi-sheltered from street noise. A great spot to meet up for a weekend catch-up!

Heidi and Andrew made my mango smoothie and cinnamon latte. I also bought rugelach and a chocolate…read morechip scuffin. Opening near 5:45am and closing at 5pm, I made it in a little before closing time. I love this family owned business and will definitely be back soon. Beautifully decorated interior too.

Great place to sit outside (weather permitting) and enjoy some fresh bakery items, or savory items…read moreand refreshments. I love their half soup and half sandwich combo. I get the egg sandwich. Iced tea etc. Service is kind and quick.

We recently stopped by and tried a few items, and overall it was a bit of a mixed experience…read more The iced vanilla latte was pretty good--smooth and enjoyable--but it's also a drink that's hard to get wrong, so it didn't really stand out. We also ordered the almond croissant, and this is where things fell short for me. It was much heavier than expected and not at all the light, flaky texture you typically want in a croissant. The inside was very dense and almost custard-like rather than airy. If that's the style you prefer, you might enjoy it, but it wasn't what I was hoping for. My husband had the ham and cheese croissant, which we asked to be heated. Unfortunately, it ended up soggy throughout, which took away from the experience. On top of that, the selection of bakery items felt pretty limited, which was a bit surprising. Overall, I'm not quite sure what the hype is about. It might just not have been the right fit for our preferences, but it didn't quite live up to expectations for us.

Very much in an unassuming location, but don't let the location and store front deter you! This…read morewholesale bakery is packed with amazing flavor! Selling beautiful quiches, pies, piroshki, and cookies ready to take home. The pies are frozen, but the cookies are perfect for instant snacking. And wow, buttery caramellic with a hint of saltiness to balance - perfection. The portions and quality of these goods are well worth every penny (please be ready with cash or Venmo). Please call in if picking up a large order. This is a small but mighty business. Picked up a beef piroshki, chicken pie, and a linzer. Noting they are known for quiche but will have to try when I have more friends to eat with. Thank you Raisa for a fun afternoon visit :)

Delicious quiches. Served the quiche at a luncheon last weekend and everyone gave rave reviews…read more Highly recommend. Need to call and preorder.

We went with my family to San Francisco and we decided to stop at this Peet's coffe because was…read morenear to the freeway. It was my first time trying Peet's coffe and I was surprise with the quality of the coffe. I really like the place. It was clean and the music was great. The service was not so amazing I think the staff was tired or I just don't like to go somewhere and the staff are not to nice with the customer. We order with my husband... - Cardamom mocha frappe. I really love it and I was surprise with the citrus flavor. - Ice vanilla latte with ice and 1 extra shop of expresso. We were happy with our order and the flavor of the coffe.

Employees were pleasant. However, the most tasteless matcha…read moreI've had and the bathrooms need a SERIOUS update & deep cleaning. Shocked to see a Peet's bathroom in those conditions.

Birthday cake? Well I would like to have a variety of flavors so .... My…read moreDaughter-in-law introduced me to this gluten free bakery!! Love their creation of flavor !!! I got 5 of the 3" tortes and it was so practical instead of just one flavor cake ! My favorite was the Lemon Coconut ! Other Purchased tortes are Carrot, Linzer, Pure Chocolate and the Rapture!!!! Friendly service with a smile!!!

This was my second time at Flour Chylde. First I'm thankful for any business that provides gluten…read morefree, & dairy free products. I checked their website first to avoid disappointments. Im super impressed that the ingredients were listed on each of the baked goods. As someone with multiple food sensitivities this is SO appreciated. I tried multiple items since I don't live close by. The shortbread / iced heart cookie was beautiful in presentation & taste. Crispy and delicious. I also ordered the meatloaf Sami. Very tasty & the bread was very moist. My family enjoyed sharing the chocolate stout cup cake. Wow! So moist and delicious. Lastly the coffee cake. I'm saving that one for later- and hope it's as good as I remembered. Clean & neat establishment, and helpful staff. They were able to answer each of my questions to help me avoid certain ingredients. It also helped they have items marked vegan, nut free options etc. highly recommend. Note: I arrived after the lunch hour so a lot of things were sold out- but still epic choices.

This quickly became my favorite place in town once I discovered it. It's hard to find fresh,…read morehealthy food in Novato (especially in South Novato) and this checks all the boxes. Great options for vegetarians and carnivores alike! The Acai bowls are yummy (some of the better ones in Marin) but I personally love their Bay Bowl (pictured here) because it's the perfect balance of sweet and savory. I order it almost once a week. I was also hooked on their smoothies while I was pregnant! The staff is super friendly and the food is ready quickly. They also offer curbside pickup through the app!! It's a great spot to hang outside when the weather is nice. We bring many friends and visitors here, and they are always impressed. Truly something for everyone on the menu. They offer local deals a few times a month through their newsletter or text!

I was craving frozen yogurt so I thought I would give active culture a whirl. It's on my way home…read moreand convenient. The cashier was friendly and the place was clean-both pluses. I was shocked when he said that would be $12.01 for a cup of yogurt, but like I said I was in the mood so I acquiesced. Once I got home and had two bites much to my surprise the entire middle core was yogurtless and you could see the bottom of a clean cup. Whether they were trained to fill it like this or it was inadvertent- either way is unacceptable. Ordinarily I wouldn't leave a Yelp review over this, but with the entire middle part of my yogurt missing and for $12 it was a rip off.

Yes! Food is yummy presented beautifully and with a staff that makes you feel most welcome! Go!read more

It's a quaint little place tucked in at Hanger Number 6 at Hamilton Landing in Novato, we lucked…read moreout as it was a beautiful day with perfect weather and scored an outside table. You order inside, pay and they give you a number and bring the food out to you. We ordered a croissant sandwich and avocado toast. The food came out quickly and was presented beautifully,

Ample street parking with not much of a crowd. Could have been off peak hours. A weekday perhaps…read more Had one thing in mind, a gift for family overseas. Not just any gift, but "locally" tied to Northern California. Unfortunately left empty handed but their online site did not disappoint. "Cookie Lovers Crate" included a variety with excellent presentation. "Ginger Snap" was a favorite of theirs. Given the positive feedback, there's no hesitation on future gifting.

There's something special I feel when I walk into Rustic Bakery. Perhaps part of it is its classic…read moreCalifornia breakfast cafe vibe. While it seems as if the menu is limited, when I review it to make a decision for that visit, it's actually kind of challenging--so many options sound appealing! This visit I chose Avocado Toast; I'm grateful that gluten-free bread is an option. I also chose the chai with almond milk. The other non-dairy option is oat milk. We found a quiet table in the back. The metal chairs are hard on one's backside, and I imagine it's so there's quicker turnover since it's a smaller-sized cafe. You bus your own table into the plastic bins as you exit.