You get one star from me simply for the discrimination. I wish I could give less, honestly. Berkeley is a melting pot of diversity and to be treated like we were today is outright wrong. We were the only people asked for proof of vaccination and she rudely added that they would be checking IDs/to match the cards as well. Like, ma'am... really?! Mind you, this was not said to the white couple in front of us or behind us. We are absolutely vaccinated but after that experience, who'd want to prove they have the right to spend THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY with you. You literally looked at our skin color and assumed we weren't vaccinated. I'll never return and I recommend others skip this restaurant as well. By the way, vaccinated people contract and spread covid just like unvaccinated people. read more

The system of taking your order before sitting down to breakfast is a fail. We waited 15 minutes to try and place our order as there was a large group of 12+ ahead of us. Though the dining room was fairly empty. Once it was our turn to order we were asked to wait 5 min. After waiting they told us there were no large enough tables for our party of 3, because the large group wanted to move and it would take 15 min to clear a table and we still weren't allowed to order. Sadly, done with Rick and Ann's after 3 decades. read more

5 stars for the food and ambience; 1 star for the new barriers to entry - their very off-putting new ordering/payment procedure. I've been a solid Rick & Ann's fan since they opened. This new system spoils the experience. You have to stand in the entry with the people or person you came with, order and pay first - you can't relax at the table to decide, or possibly add items. It's like ordering takeout at a fast food joint. I won't use Rick & Ann's for business meetings anymore. read more

Rick & Ann's. Our Sunday was off to a late start and as our appetite grew, my bf suggested we come here. Nestled on a quiet block next to a coffee shop and bakery, this quaint mom and pop shop brings a sense of comfort, a timeless experience you want to grow with. We were seated by the window where we stared off to people walking by and the Claremont Hotel at a distance reminiscing the time we once had dinner and gazed at the sunset from afar. The Down South was a simple dish with all the basics, exactly what I needed. Our recent food tour for hashbrowns have failed us and we were hoping to change that here. No hashbrowns, however, they can prepare shredded potatoes fried to a crisp with cheese..... Yes, we'll take it. With disregard for time, we slowly enjoyed our meal and coffee. I smiled while watching the elderly couple in front of us and whispered to him, "It's like they're Rick & Ann. I want to be like them at age 90, visiting my local diner, greeted by the servers with hi, the usual? And smiling and laughing with my partner. How sweet is that". As he responds, "I think they are both males". Well, Rick & Morty always seem to enjoy each others company *side eye*. Overall, service was great, would definitely come back for the not hashbrowns, but cheesy shredded potatoes that look like hashbrowns. read more

Surprise Surprise, what a cool spot in Berkeley! Thanks to yelp reviews we tried the North East which has beets, potatoes, bacon,eggs and some other stuff? It's worth getting and I'd totally order it again. I was a bit squee-mish b/c I was scared I wasn't going to like it but it was pretty darn good and why I'm thankful for Yelp b/c it forces me to eat things I normally wouldn't try. My significant other had the mid west-ern? What a unique blend of lamb chop applesauce and hash browns. A huge plate and I wouldn't mind had I ordered this as well. This place gets pretty busy, put your name on the list, once they call your name you place your order and pay. Then proceed to take your seat and they bring the food out to you. Great spot will definitely visit again! If you like my reviews, consider "following" my profile for reviews all across the SF Bay Area . Why "follow" someone? It causes the person you follow's reviews to tier to top when you pull up a business. I find this very handy when researching venues. Rod's Review grading scale explained. Essentially I personally base it on the likelihood of a return visit and I try to be stingy with 5 star reviews since they should be "special" in my eyes. Price/Value also play a role obviously but there are $ and $$$$ littered across my grading scale. 5 stars - "I'll go out of my way" (approx 6 % of my reviews) 4 stars- "If I was in the area I'd go here and would recommend", (approx 38% of my reviews) 3 stars "Maybe if was nearby", (approx 37% of my reviews) 2 stars -"Would likely not return, Only if you want to go", (approx 16% of my reviews) 1 star -"No thanks, even if I was hungry", (approx. 3 % of my reviews) read more

I had such an amazing experience! Alfred and the entire staff were so welcoming and personable. Visiting from Atlanta and we will definitely be back. Thank you for the amazing service and great food ! read more

This old standard has been consistently good for so many years. It's a great breakfast spot and if you like standards for dinner, like meatloaf, this has it They have the best red flannel hash anywhere. It's fantastic with beets, bacon, potatoes. Has a touch of cream in it as well Potato pancakes: my adult child ordered this on our last visit and it was great it was crispy outside but slightly soft inside. Served with sour cream and applesauce and-- less traditional-- cheese melted on top. So good. The only reason I can't order this on our next visit is I love the red flannel hash and having potatoes with a side of potatoes would be unwise Sausage: the turkey Pattie's and chicken apple links are both good Corn cakes were pretty good, as was the waffle. Eggs are as expected Scones: are moist so I think they are better than most scones. Flavors of scone and muffin change frequently Post Covid they require all party members be present, then you order, then you are seated as availability allows. To expedite your seating, have everyone look at the menu online before arrival. Bathroom: C. It's shared with other businesses in the complex and is not always super clean. You get a key from the restaurant to access across the way ( near peets) read more

Worth skipping. Went here and it was D-. I have been many times over the years as the business fell apart. New rule: order and pay first. But no sign or menu outside for the line of guests. This creates a crowded entry of confused folks who lose their place in line because THERE IS NO MENU OR SIGN OUTSIDE. Food soggy, not made to order. Ordered "well done" bacon and was delivered soggy, slimy strips, that maybe, maybe were microwaved. This food used to be edible. Not sure when they began RUSHING everything but it ruined my patronage. Looks can be deceiving. My photo may look good but the food IS terrible. read more

Rick & Ann's Restaurant - Foul - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is a fantastic restaurant, I've been eating there since the 90s. In recent years my favorite thing to do is order pickup of breakfast or lunch on the weekends. I am a huge poached eggs fan and they do a fantastic job with these, I love the hint of vinegar flavor they have and they are super affordable for the quality provided. The staff is fabulous and service in house or for pickup is punctual and friendly. It's a super cute place to eat in or pick up. I love the covered outdoor seating area, it's perfect even on a rainy day. 10/10 and don't forget to check their daily specials! read more

Great food, service, and atmosphere. It can be a long wait though and they don't take reservations. It is worth the drive though and you won't be disappointed. The staff is friendly and I have been going here for a long time. The food remains consistently good! They have not lessened their portions or sacrificed taste and quality because of the "pandemic" like so many places. Go and enjoy the restaurant but hang around and visit some of the other great shops on the block. Maybe even get a massage at the Claremont!! read more

My favorite East Bay cafes for working during lockdown - #4, Rick and Ann's One of my favorite places to work during lockdown is the seating area outside Rick and Ann's. I usually pretend that I've just had an expensive game of tennis at the Claremont Hotel and am doing some Important Work before I hop into my hybrid SUV (sometimes it's an imaginary Tesla). Other times, I put on a blond wig, baseball cap and shades and pretend that I'm Taylor Swift on a low profile retreat at the Claremont. I might sing or hum a little bit of Invisible String as a finishing touch to that completely plausible scenario. Seriously though, it's a great place to hang out and there's a very peaceful vibe - so please don't all turn up at once! I originally used to get a coffee from Rick and Ann's and a pastry and slice of pizza from Fournée. After a while I realized that Rick and Ann's pastries are pretty darn good too! Plus, they have a different selection every day, providing a nice change from the (admittedly awesome but 6000 calorie) chocolate almond croissants from Fournée. I recommend R&A's scones and muffins and also items like the pecan bar if you have an especially sweet tooth. Then I discovered the vegan burrito - it's $7.50 for one of the healthiest and tastiest burritos that I've ever had - packed with zucchini, potatoes, black beans and spinach. I've also been to several work events that were catered by Rick and Ann's and can vouch for their other dishes - it's hearty comfort food made with good ingredients. There's a lot of seating in that area - both shady and sunny - and free Wi-Fi from Peet's if you need it. I'm also giving the Rick and Ann's 4/5 "green stars" for social and environmental impact, based on this: · R&A's have spent more than three decades making healthy food using local ingredients. · Reasonably good selection of vegetarian and vegan options (try the vegan burrito!) · They're doing a good job at minimizing waste during lockdown. Cardboard containers and compostable utensils, if you need them (although you should be bringing your own utensils at this point, one year into lockdown). · When we've had R&A catering, there's also a good effort made to avoid unnecessary waste. · They really seem to treat the staff like family - you can look up a story on Berkeleyside (Oct 2020) that describes R&A's financial troubles - like many businesses, it's under serious financial strain during lockdown. Though it all, Ann has stood by her staff. Support them if you can - get the pancakes if you've never had them or stop by for a pastry. The pantry and pastry counter is open even outside of their regular mealtimes. If you're still not convinced, consider that Steph and Ayesha Curry were regulars! Interested in writing green star reviews? If so, please check out the Green Stars Project. read more

See all

The lackluster greeting from a young female rubbing her eyes , as if she just woke up, and the impersonal male food server indicates how the whole experience was: no energy, no personality,not customer focused. When I asked the young woman about the flavors of muffins, all she did was point to the handwritten sign, obviously uninformed of the current days variety, like any pedestrian walking by the restaurant. The $16 curry tofu scramble was more of a tofu stir fry, but the dry Indian curry spices were not allowed enough time to hydrate, even though there was ample enough liquid to run into the half cooked home fries. The strawberry muffin was the size of a Chinese tea cup and tasted stale, cold, and bland. They need to do a daily Costco run to improve on the size, freshness, and taste. The area definitely felt elitist, as it has always been since the 80's in the shadow of the Claremont Hotel and Tennis club. read more

There have some irritating changes at Rick & Ann's in the past couple of years. For instance, pay and tip before eating or receiving service. BTW: The service was very attentive. However, I am writing because my favorite dish - The Midwest- now features a smoked pork chop that is over smoked, blackened and dry. I sent it back only to have the kitchen send out its slightly less dry and less dark brother. Please go back to the original pork chop that was lightly smoked, tender and real meat. The one being served now tasted processed and not natural. read more

Rick & Ann's is a great quaint restaurant that I love for breakfast. The food is great. Cleanliness is pleasing. Ambiance is perfect, and service is just right. We enjoyed the excellent service of, Celeste, who was very knowledgeable and gracious. Hopefully you can get her service. Today, I enjoyed the Salmon Plate which was fabulous. The salmon was cooked just right, toast was perfectly browned, and over hard egg was exactly how I like it. My friend says their Manhattan Plate was tasty and lox bagel was great! We enjoyed good service although there was an unpleasant noise coming from a hollering baby (lol), that wasn't the fault of the restaurant. Plus, we were paying our bill when baby revved their vocal engine, so we made it out in time. It's all good. Cry on, baby. Nevertheless, Rick & Ann's is the bomb. read more

Rick & Ann's Restaurant - Iced tea and table setting - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Berkeley, California

Rick & Ann's was an old favorite of ours for years. After a long absence, we arrived today to find out they now require guests to order at the front desk and PAY IN FULL BEFORE YOU'RE EVEN SEATED. That's fine for a takeout joint, but this is a restaurant. What a crappy way to run a business. Shameful and insulting. The food was fine, but we won't be going back. read more

Updating my review of this restaurant with my review of their holiday meal - I got their New Year's eve menu selections of the following - -stuffed mushrooms -beef stew -bread pudding with caramel sauce Not cheap but totally worth it to have really good food on NYE. I did my pick up at 4:00 pm and it was contactless - they brought it to my car and it was all set up for me to heat up at home, complete with easy to follow instructions. All of the food was very tasty and I have leftovers to eat this weekend as the portions are very generous. Really enjoying this food. Thanks so much! read more

The day before thanksgiving , I decided to come here and have brunch/ lunch with my friend. It was very busy for a weekday but at least there no line and we got seated immediately. Warm and cozy inside, we got a corner table by the window which was perfect. I ordered the egg frittata special and my friend ordered the potato pancake. The pancake was very good but my dish was just so so. I ha e had better frittatas somewhere and bigger too. Wasn't very impressed with my order but I do like my friend's dish. Will probably skip this and just go next door :) Trust!!! read more

Rick & Ann's Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Good food and they have a nice market where you can buy chicken salad and other goods to take home

Good food and service and reasonably priced. You order and pay first and THEN you go onto a waitlist for a table so by the time you sit down your food is ready. read more

I love you guys! Please don't go! I've been coming for years but not enough apparently. When you opened you bought a red and white book cabinet at Porch Light on Telegraph, and I'd had it on hold but didn't get it fast enough. So I found you guys in a strange way and used to visit my cabinet till you remodeled. But to the point, everything you make is really really good... I wasn't always in the neighborhood but would come there when I got the chance. I also loved sitting at your community table, especially as a single woman back in the day. Your place felt like visiting a friend, because of that table and the homey atmosphere. I love the Claremont area, and my daughter works there now. So sweet of a vibe in general. Love it! During the crazy time, I would go and buy certain staples from your market: the couscous with veggies, my go to, so so good! The nuts and apricots, the pickled onions, your pork verde, your chicken salad, your cookie dough... this is a random list but all of it so memorable, quality food, made with heart. Never a disappointment. Can't someone take this place on and keep it going? Berkeley needs you!! read more

Rick & Ann's continues to delight in every way! Our dishes were the same quality and flavor as always (for years!) which always makes me so relieved and grateful. And the staff are long time employees so I enjoy seeing familiar friendly faces even if it's been awhile since we've been in. Thank you for maintaining such great service and meals, our family will always love our R&A's Sunday traditions. Bonus for a great woman owner, I've witnessed her handle some wild guests who recently, were way out of line with "service animals" with such grace and firmness I really appreciated and support. read more

My wife and I used to enjoy Rick and Anns for breakfast but the new ordering system has ruined it. It's no longer dining out - it's a cafe where you pick up food. We won't be going back. read more

Super disappointed. Downhill, perhaps due to pandemic. You have to order your food before you're seated. Half the fun of eating out gone. Then our orders were mixed up. Wrong side, eggs when not ordered. Quality and presentation of food mediocre. Really missing the old Rick and Ann's. Don't think we'll go back. read more

Haven't been here in a long while and was craving a cornmeal waffle. Aside from the waffle, everything else was super disappointing. Service kinda sucked. No one checked on us the whole time we were here, just dropped our food and cut out. Had to hunt someone down for our forgotten toast and then get up to ask for a box. One girl in the front had attitude. What the hell did we PRE tip 20% for exactly? read more

Awful service, pretentious staff, and food was average. Not worth the dime! Save yourself a trip to Ann's this place was sub-par. read more

I'm always looking for new places to try and here's one of them ! I'm giving them 5 stars for many reasons ! First I never judge storefronts when they are a little small or tight in space because it's really about how it feels inside and how they make you feel . Rick and Ann's is a cute little homey restaurant inside . It was packed but service was still nice . Secondly : my food was bomb ! I ordered lox scrambled eggs w/ cheese and green onions , house fries and cream cheese bagel . This plate is called the manhattan plate . ( I ordered side of avocado myself I add it to everything ) I also ordered a side of lox because for some reason when I read the description I ASSUMED I was getting loxs for my bagel and it clearly says lox scrambled eggs! They had no problem bringing extra ! It's actually already an add-on on the menu ! Third ! I met the owner and her husband ! They are so sweet ! The husband was also a key factor to the warmth in the room ! He was sitting next to me and my friend and he heard me say something about the waitress taking someone's order before me and my friends ( we got to the table first lol ) he got us our waitress ! He also told me a cool fun fact that everyone in their family has something on the menu named after them ! So cute ! I'll be back soon ! Definitely a go to for breakfast ! read more

See all

One of my favorite breakfast places in the east bay. They also do a great lunch. They survived the COVID shut downs with a reduction in their hours but their food is comfortably familiar. read more

Great food! The banana pancakes are amazing. The service was great I did pick up and it only took 15-20 minutes

Best French toast I've ever had! Warm friendly environment. The waiters & hosts were friendly and inviting!

So glad I finally made it to Rick & Ann's, because it's in the running for my favorite casual breakfast spot (weekday review). Nestled at the base of the Claremont Hotel, can this street get anymore quaint? No line when I went, making the experience probably that much better, but I really am diggin' the scene here. It's cozy, it's homey, it's inviting. It's like a regular's spot, but everyone is invited. A great menu of options, I couldn't decide, so I went with the California featuring the most perfect scrambled eggs, delicious pancakes and a side of fresh, ripe fruit. I licked the plate clean and it was just a simple, but perfect breakfast. The coffee was dece, although I wish I had a second cup since it was $3. I'm not quite sure I'd be willing to wait hours for brunch, and not sure if that's the case, but def worth a 20 minute wait, for sure! I look forward to returning and trying more options before seeing if this spot deserves the bright lights of a 5 star review, but until then, Rick & Ann's deserving of its notoriety as one damn good breakfast. read more

Rick & Ann's Restaurant - California breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Berkeley, California

Excellent catering service. Food is always well served. There are always lots of options and they are very accommodating in their catering service. read more

The food was really good and I really loved the ambiance of the place. The people there were really friendly and helped serve us quickly and where just all around really helpful. read more

It's been a few years since I've eaten at Rick and Ann's. Today was a big disappointment! Having to order at the front door was like going to a fast food restaurant. Being asked to tip before even laying eyes on the meal seemed presumptuous and rude. The service was terrible! The food was mediocre. Will not be back! read more

I have been going here ever since Lois and Johnny were part owners. I came by Thursday afternoon to get take-out for dinner. I asked the (new) girl working there if the Caesar had olives in it. She said she didn't know. I finally asked her to please ask the chef. (She hadn't offered up finding out.) Then I asked what all was in the pasta salad. Again, no clue, but no "Sorry let me ask the chef for you." I asked her if she could ask the chef. He came out and said what was there, including red and yellow peppers, but no mention of SPICY peppers. It was so hot that I couldn't eat it. Then I asked the girl if they had peanut butter cookies. She said no. Then I saw a sign that listed them. Seriously? I will think twice about stopping here again. And when I had breakfast there a few weeks ago I had to get up and track down a waiter for water, for salt, for my bill. This place has really gone downhill. Too bad. read more

The food is consistently good. I choose Rick and Ann's often to impress out-of-town guests. The love how they prepare the scrambled eggs. I think they are whipped. The pastries are excellent. Also I make an annual visit with my good friend on Mother's Day. That's saying something. read more

We loved coming here for breakfast/lunch. It's a nice drive for us to chitchat and look forward to the charming little area. If you're not here early, be prepared to wait for a table. We lucked out that someone pulled away and we were able to park in front. ( Street parking with meters ) Again, we got lucky there was a table for two available!! We were seated immediately and our waiter walked right up! We ordered our drinks, but wanted to take a peak at the menu. Our waiter came with the drinks quickly and asked if we were ready. ( Not yet! Normally we're pretty quick, but where our table were situated...people walked around my chair to step out. The purses/bags kept smacking me! Bad spot!! ) Now we're ready but I asked our waiter if any menu items stood out more than others?!?! He said, "no, everything is great!" I asked if there's a popular dish? He said, all is popular! Hmmmm....to me, most people would give one or two dishes that they liked! My friend ordered the Red Flannel Hash. It's red beets, sweet potatoes, new potatoes, red onions, and bacon. It must be popular because I saw LOTS of it passing our table!! Ooooh! An order of buttermilk waffles. She LOVED that Red Flannel Hash!! I had the "Down South" which is the cornmeal pancakes with turkey sausages and salsa, and scrambled eggs with cheese. Everything was good, but the eggs were cold from the start. Oooooh! The waiter never asked if we wanted another drink! This is a cute place! Small, but efficient. Very well decorated and kept up. The bathroom is outside in another small building. The day we were there, there was a guy smoking and pacing and talking to himself. Harmless, but when he's trying to turn ( pacing ) and you're trying to get to the bathroom...it's awkward!! They need to monitor this area!! Overall, I truly want to give this place 4 stars +, but our waiter wasn't very impressive and the bathroom situation is another conversation!! We've been here several times over the past 5 years. Most times everything was good and the staff were great. read more

See all

I finally made it to Rick & Ann's! After hearing from my girlfriend an Oakland and East Bay resident for over 10 years rant and rave about this place I had to try it. It is located in a very cute part of Berkeley right next to the Peets coffee on Domingo. We started with their strawberry scone which was perfectly fluffy and moist. Along with a cup of coffee it is a perfect start to brunch. We followed it up with an order of their spicy turkey sausage with scrambled eggs and cheese alongside two cornmeal pancakes. Cornmeal being the key word! As a pancake fanatic that loves the likes of Stacks banana macadamia nut pancakes, buttermilk pancakes at diners and homemade pancakes on the weekends, I loved the texture of the cornmeal pancakes. It is a must try for any pancake lover. We also had their kale salad with sprouts and watermelon which was also perfectly balanced in terms of dressing. The restaurant itself is quite large and there is even outside seating. The service was excellent and above average for sure. Prices are where most diners are these days meaning higher than before but the reality is rising commercial rents and new higher wage laws in the area make it necessary for establishments to raise the price of their food. At least at Rick and Ann's it's worth it as their food is delicious and their service is outstanding. Pros: Excellent service, delicious food and great location. Cons: Likely busy on weekends but that's a sign of good food. Bottom line: Delicious food and great service in Berkeley. read more

Ono food, awesome service, friendly staff. Great location, safe area. Love the menu choices. Delicious w!

Really big portions, which is good considering the bigger dishes do come with a bigger price tag. It's a tight space but it gives it a more cozy feel; although the community table is a bit tight, it's kind of nice to just be friendly seat neighbors w someone new. I like that they don't serve traditional, same ole breakfast dishes. I got the Chili Verde which is a weekend brunch special and it was really good! The pork shoulder wasn't as soft as I wanted but it was all filled with flavor. And nothing beats quick service! read more

Rick & Ann's Restaurant - Chili verde - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Berkeley, California

Rick & Ann's was such a good idea. Tucked away in an urban oasis, Rick & Ann's is a fantastic café serving home style brunch. I came on a Sunday afternoon with a friend, and we waited about 20-30 mins for a table. There's a Peets and a few cute shops nearby so the time went by quickly! When I walked in, I pretty much wanted to order everything on everyone's plate... everything looked amazing. I decided on the Fun Guy Omelete, whose name I finally understood and laughed at later after realizing it was an omelette full of mushrooms. My friend got a plate with the Red Flannel hash (beets, potato, bacon) -- totally unique and delicious. And we got 2 iced coffees to complete our order! We left full and with leftovers. Thanks Rick & Ann's! read more

Rick & Ann's Restaurant - Fun Guy Omelete - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all