You can sit and veg for hours and hours and the wifi is darn fast. The green ice tea is cheap and refreshing and if you find yourself needing to piss like a racehorse, you can head to their spotless bathroom. Neigh! The pastries look pretty good, but I don't go there to eat - just to pass the time and pretend I'm finally going to tackle that big project. read more

I used to come here all the time waaaayyyy back when it was Grace Baking, and for the record, I should say that I loved and miss Grace Baking so much that any review I write for its replacement is likely to be inherently unfair. That said, I've been in here a few times and it's been pretty good each time. I'm not a great one for sticky breakfast pastries but the coffee has been fresh and strong every time, and the strawberry rhubarb pie was pretty durn tasty, providing you're not comparing it to homemade. The location is great if you're walking or taking the 18 or 71; not so great if you're driving and need a place to park. One bonus is that this place is right next door to a mani/pedi salon, so you can get that coffee to go and bring it with you while you get your nails done. Or, even better, you could wear your pedicure sandals, get your coffee and treats afterwards and sit outside at a table while you let your pretty toes bask in the sun. Ahhhh! I just pine for Grace Baking every time I walk through the door. Sigh. FIVE STARS: For the location and the coffee MINUS THREE STARS: For having boring food in general and 'cause I can't get bread here anymore BONUS STAR: for being next to a pedicure salon read more

Very nice cafe. Free wifi is a plus. I love all the food they have, they offer healthy choices. read more

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Nice place to work at. They have WiFi and power connections. Most importantly, it's only 3-minute away from my home. Also a good place to meet friends. Staff are nice. Great bakeries. It would be a nice place to check out if you are in the neighborhood. read more

Closing doors half an hour before your posted closing time is not a good business practice.

Good coffee. But I found that this place lacks clean spots. I visited it today and had difficulties finding a clean table to sit down.

I LOVE this place. Great coffee. Very quality food. My favorite is their tuna sandwich which comes on a croissant and with fresh veggies. Bakery items also yummy read more

I ordered a medium chai. They asked, do I want spiced chai or sweet? Do I want regular, low fat, or non fat milk? I don't remember how many questions I had to answer before I got my mediocre chai. What is this, Starbucks?!?! read more

Nice people. Really good coffee that doesn't burn a hole in your stomach, unlike Peet's. I used to live a block away from Peet's in Berkeley and my girlfriend (now ex-girlfriend after she went into her "Hey! I just discovered I'm a lesbian I hate you I love you, and I'd like you better if you were a woman, whoops now I'm hetero again but I'm living with a transsexual , sorry I moved to Hawaii for ten years now I'm back but I don't have a place to live, can I move in with you ?--- Yes, you can, but now I'm glad you've got your own place after living with me for 9 months---" phase, but she's still my best friend, yeah, how Berkeley can you get, though now she's into relationships with marsupials and some forms of blue-green algae), and I would go there every day, and we both ended up with stomach ulcers, and gave up coffee for several years. But this coffee is really stomach-friendly and very tasty. Nice local atmosphere and delicious pastries, cookies and quiches, especially the chicken mushroom quiche. But ask them to heat the quiche a little longer than usual, as, for my taste, anyway, it cools off too quickly, and I like to have stuff which contains eggs to be thoroughly cooked. Also, they have a nice card which you get stamped so your tenth cup of coffee is free. A comfortable place to hang out and read the paper or a book and have a tasty snack or lunch. And they have a very clean bathroom, when you feel the urge to dispose of the coffee you have consumed. Everything above is absolutely true and accurate except the stuff about marsupials and certain forms of blue-green algae. As far as I know.... ALL the stuff about the relationship is true.... read more

Every time I come to this place around 3pm, it's quiet, has not too many people, and provides good atmosphere. Most of the tables have outlet so it's good to work here too. Nothing to complain about coffee and foods, and staffs are always friendly. I don't know if it's affiliated to the one on Shattuck, but I prefer this place. read more

Good drinks, I like how they have the old fashion espresso machine. Good quiches for when you're starving and nothing else on the street is open. A nice place for to stop by, chill and get a drink. read more

The prices are good, the coffee is very good, but the people who work there are not very friendly. The bathroom is clean.

Excellent coffee and a lot of options to have a quick breakfast. They also have plenty of pastries, cookies and healthy options. The owner is friendly and the staff speak Spanish:). I get my mocha almost every day here! read more

I'm cool with RGC in Albany. The owner is pleasant, there's free wi-fi and the location offers sunny outdoor seating (when there's sun, of course). If I had one gripe, I'd say the prices are a bit steep. I don't mind paying them though, all things considered. read more

I miss Grace Baking but this place seemed okay. I'm only rating the ambience since I didn't try anything and only went there to meet someone. read more

I like this café, but I think they should say they close at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. because they start sweeping and mopping around you in the last hour, which is very unpleasant. You smell the chemically water all around you... yuck. read more

Very nice local spot, much more relaxed atmosphere than a Starbucks. Also their pastries, cakes, breads, and the like are much nicer than the 'bucks. Coffee is good but not the best around - for that I like LaFarine at the top of Solano. Just a well run, comfy local spot with nice staff and good selection. read more

Awesome latte and strawberry scone, nice to sit inside and watch the rain. Cool little place, nothing fancy, far preferable to the corporate chains. read more

The lady makes delicious latte... i like the nutty flavors.. no particularly strong heart stopping inclinations to a major buzz. So are we after major buzz at a cafe? I think so.. maybe its time they consider an option in Roast... Royal Ground.. you need to have a stronger coffee. There I said it. read more

I like small cafe compare to Starbucks . Since that one on my way to work I like to grab cup of coffee here . Parking is really easy here .

Great place to grab a good cup of coffee. There's plenty to choose from food wise if you want to grab a quick bite for breakfast. Usually you see a lot of people working, catching up, or just enjoying the paper. The staff is welcoming and the drinks are consistently good. read more

The thing about having a smart phone is that you can review a place while the experience is still fresh. The attitude here & lack of customer service is disappointing. Their baked goods & coffee are just fine but is it so hard to smile or even acknowledge a person? Lame! I don't required perkiness in the morning with my coffee but I am already bitch enough in the morning for the both of us & even I can muster niceties. read more

This isn't a macchiato, it's a really terrible cappuccino. Maybe just take it off your menu if you don't know how to make them?

Drip Coffee tastes like burnt cigarettes, and the croissant breakfast sandwich tastes like watery eggs, but the service was nice, and the price was only 650 for sandwich and coffee. Funny how the best drip coffee is at a well run gas station. Nothing fails the French press at home and fresh ground beans from trader Joe's, (the Colombia) though. I just ran out this morning, and if you are in the same predicament I recommend a latte macchiato. Don't go to Starbucks, they are the reason coffee sucks now. Oh wait, it's just Americans. Coffee in Europe is incredible and affordable. read more

I make this place a ritual after my appointment on the weekends. The breakfast burritos are great with a nice strong cup of coffee! I completely support this business. They helped me out when I was a doofus and forgot my wallet and let me come back to cover my bill. Not a usual habit I am sure but they took my embarrassing moment and made it an opportunity for sale and customer service. Well done guys. See you again! read more

Great place. The mocha is awesome, and strong free wifi. Plenty of seating inside and out also

I went here this morning for the first time and it was really nice! Good selection of coffee and other beverages, and I had a super tasty lemon blueberry muffin. All their baked goods looked very good, actually. They have free wi-fi too, and very friendly staff. :) read more

This is a great neighborhood coffee place. The coffee is good, usually much better than higher priced chains. My favorite breakfast there is 1/2 bagel with peanut butter. The people who work there are friendly. Handy for meeting friends. read more

I have used this coffee shop for about 2 years and always received the best of service and coffee. Furthermore, the people who run it are super friendly. read more

Mike, Louis, Saul, and Anna all great people. They give great service as well. Rich smooth coffee. Love the ambience!!!!!!

neighborhood coffee shop that offers a fresh selection of pastries and such. good place to go if you're in a rush and just need your caffeine fix, or if you're in the area. i usually go for the ham & cheese, or the almond croissant, both being fresh and perfectly flaky. the espresso is ok, but i don't have high standards anymore when it comes to coffee. i'm just grateful if its not burned. read more

There aren't many independent-ish coffeeshops in the Albany/El Cerrito area, but I've enjoyed this place for years. Mostly locals hang out here, not so many Cal students (since you have to pay for wi-fi.) This cafe became my dissertation writing haven, partially because I was too cheap to pay for wi-fi procrastination. Also, the cafe practices Green policies, but they aren't so in-your-face about it. If you bring your own commuter mug, coffee is only a buck. read more

Clearly, the owner of this coffee shop does not care about the place or the staff. They only have one employee at a time constantly running around trying to do everything. So, if you are in a hurry or want pleasant customer service, don't expect them to be quick or happy. Plus, (when they have time) they try to clean this really dirty cafe -- often sweeping or mopping under patrons feet or closing early (and kicking out patrons) so they can clean the place. Hire a cleaning service and hire more help. read more

I admit that when it comes to coffee my taste is more juicyjuice than vintage Bordeaux. My roommate drinks her french roast black. I like my target brand vanilla flavored roast with a gallon of milk and two tons of sugar. So interpret this how you will, but I dream about the coffee here. Not an overpowering or bitter flavor, doesn't give me the jitters, and an excellent vehicle for the aforementioned milk and sugar. There is definitely a loyal crowd and I assume it has to do with the friendly cast of distinct personalities who work here. Whenever I brought in a to go mug they would fill it to the top for the price of a small. ( Awwwww, thanks guys) In addition to their deliciously inoffensive coffee and friendly ways, I miss their almost obscene abundance of tasty baked goods. read more

Had an excellent double espresso and macaroon just now, waiting as new tires were installed down the street. It's a good alternative to Peet's. read more

Not the best coffee but pretty good. It's a good neighborhood place with friendly staff and decent prices. But what makes it work for me is that when they see my son and I walk in the front door, or past the window, they start preparing our regular orders. read more

I am very picky about my coffee and try my best to stay away from Starbucks and other chains. Fernando, Viro, Jak and Nak all make a mean latte, but when I walk in and one of them are not around it can be hit or miss. Those 4 know not to burn the milk and are always joking, smiling and taking personal interest in me and the other customers. My only complaint: I wish they had free WiFi. Hopefully my wish will be granted someday soon. For now I'm still a happy customer. read more

I like this place, and it has a distinct small-town Albany energy to it. The owner -- who is usually behind the counter -- is friendly, and he makes a great cup of joe. (The other two dudes who work there are definitely less friendly, but efficient...) It's not Local 1-2-3 or Philz as far as hipster cred and pricey organic fare -- nor is it Starbucks or Peet's as anonymized corporate blandness -- it's just a down-home decent place for a conversation with a friend. read more

Great place to get a coffee or snack on Solano in Albany. Mike the owner is always good to talk to.

We love these guys and not just cause they're right across the street from T324! Royal Ground is clean, comfortable and quiet- perfect for meetings and to grab a quick coffee or pastry. They always remember what you order! read more