Good service and a low key ambiance brunch restaurant. Food was decent but not spectacular- had the farm veggie and corned hash dishes. The corned beef hash was more like cubed ham and was neutral tasting. Overall a decent small brunch/lunch neighborhood spot. read more

Sam's Log Cabin has been here for decades, resembles a log cabin. no inside dining. back patio is open for dining. headlamps available. offerings: breakfast items, sandwiches, extras, salads, daily specials, daily rise & shine, beverages. (no booze) eats: lake trout & eggs (17) -pieces of orange trout grilled just right with minimal batter, orange fennel hash was tasty, small portion, eggs over easy was nice. acme rye toast crunchy with house made apricot jam made with minimal sugar. drink: Xmas coffee (3.50) -one of my fave blends of covfefe, smooth, bold, easy sipping. could pass for either a dark or heavy roast. leftovers: -usual breakfast fare with tasty/artisan upgrades. -street parking -service efficient, courteous, non intrusive, ambience rustic as is the dining area-outdoorsy with repurposed seating-utilitarian not fancy. -checkin at side for table... read more

See all

This place is so lovely! The outdoor seating is spacious and partially covered with heat warmers if needed. The service was friendly and fast. I ordered the special egg scramble and pancakes...so delicious! Absolutely my favorite brunch spot in the East Bay. read more

I have not been to this place in a really long time, and was happy to say it was a great stop for food, service and ambiance. They have opened up the back for seating since the pandemic, and kept it open. It's a beautiful yard space, with heaters and an open canopy, so it's very welcoming. The waitress we had was attentive and very cheerful- what a treat! We had the biscuits and gravy and the Fish sandwich with lentil soup. The order came quick and it was nicely plated. The biscuits were stacked and had gravy poured over the top, which made it look like an iced cake delivered for breakfast! The trout sandwich was crispy on the outside, without being greasy, and had a healthy filet on a brioche bun that was so tender and fresh - it melted in your mouth. The cup of lentil soup was a little weak on lentils, but the flavor was spot on. This place is so much better than it was years ago. Good job in stepping up your menu, environment and food! It will now be a family regular on our breakfast circuit. read more

Sam's Log Cabin - Lake Trout Sandwich was awesome! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Albany, California

See all

Good breakfast, ample seating both inside and in the lovely backyard with heaters as needed. Service is great. Family and dog friendly!! I had the mixed berry pancakes with a scrambled egg and some bacon. That bacon was perfectly cooked. Crispy but not overly done. Egg had that nice buttery flavor with a perfect scramble. What's not to love?! read more

It's always busy here but only waited about 10 minutes for patio seating, which is surprisingly spacious. Ordered the lake trout & eggs, the blueberry lemon scone & latte. The trout was a bit dry but the scone (which is pretty big & sells quickly) satisfied my sweet tooth. Service was good, but since they're busy, can be slow at times. read more

Sam's Log Cabin - Lake trout & eggs, lemon blueberry scone & latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Albany, California

This place has been there forever but when we worked we could never go because it was always so crowded on the weekends. But a weekday lunch was perfect! They have a nice patio in the back and the food was both reasonable and delicious. Service was great. I am definitely going to go back again during the week. This is truly a find even though it's been there a long time. Check it out! read more

I will start this off by saying I should have taken a pic! I had the most delicious veggie sandwich (with a fried egg and grilled onions-as add ons) alongside a delicious house soup (today's special was Cauliflower). The sandwich was delightful. Btw- the Peppercorn hot sauce is a must have staple!!! read more

The corned beef hash is my favorite. The service is top notch these guys take care of you. They have many tables in the back patio. Weekend brunch with friends or family. Definitely the place to go for breakfast. I love this place they're always consistent. read more

Food was delicious! Ambiance was so cute, lots of people bring their dogs. Service was good too, although it's super busy on Sundays so be ready to wait a little bit. read more

Sam's Log Cabin - Sourdough French Toast, bacon, Buttermilk Pancakes, orange juice, hot chocolate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Albany, California

Loveee this place. Good portions; enough to feel full, yet not over stuffed. Even though the menu is small, there are a variety of options. If you're looking for a comfort breakfast meal there's biscuits and gravy. If you're looking for a healthy breakfast there's numerous options. If you've got a sweet tooth, they always have a special scone or pancake of the day. read more

Quaint location for outside dining, great service , and excellent food. The wait staff was efficient and professional.

Our experience here was disappointing. We had high expectations for Sam's Log cabin, we've heard about this breakfast joint for some time now and we're so excited to try it this morning! We ordered Lattes, neither of us found them to be good. I got the biscuits and gravy, with poached eggs. One of the eggs was very undercooked, while the other was hard all the way through. Both me and my partners potatoes were undercooked as well- hard as rocks lol. Needless to say I couldn't finish my meal and I was very hungry this morning:( I will add the pancakes were good! read more

I just went to this place for the first time, and I love it! It has a lovely patio area, and you sign up for seating with an automated waiting list at the front. We got in very promptly. The food was excellent (a pancake and a scrambled egg for me), and you can serve yourself more coffee anytime. I will definitely be coming back! read more

From the skepticism of the host, questioning me about whether all my party was there (my husbsnd had to walk slowly), to the mediocre food, to the spotty service, where you must continually request things that should be provided and where you have to get up to get water and coffee from a communal table, yet they want a 20% tip, this place is completely worth passing by. The only good thing was the excellent, though overpriced, orange juice. read more

Love Sam's cabin! One of our favorite breakfast spots, it's only got outdoor seating in the back. The daily specials are written on the chalkboard. The staff is always helpful and friendly, and the ambiance is always great especially early in the morning. We were able to bring our dog to enjoy breakfast here! The food is always on point - coffee is always hot and served in a variety of eclectic mugs, scones are always hot and delicious, and the entrees are substantial size too. Generally, it's one of our go-to spots on weekend mornings. read more

See all

I have always wanted to eat here and finally did today. I am not disappointed at all - delicious food - (I had a scramble, potatoes and toast) and the latte was smooth and nicely done. I also got orange juice (tasted fresh squeezed). They have a really efficient system for getting people in the door - an ipad at the street to sign up on and the wait was not long (5-10 mins) and we got a table right away. The service is excellent and everything great here. Love this place and will come here again. read more

Sam's has been on my bookmark list for 5+ years, and it took me having my days free while on maternity leave to get here. I came close to closing on a weekday and there was no wait, but that charming backyard was full. (At the time I was dining it was only outdoor seating). The backyard is rustic charming - with small mismatched tables and chairs spread out. We went with savory and sweet - the pancakes, egg breakfast combo and the chilaquiles. The chilaquiles were tomato based and good and nice sized, I wasn't super impressed mainly due to the fact that I prefer a pepper based sauce vs tomato. However, the breakfast combo with scrambled eggs and the incredible blueberry vanilla pancakes (a special that day, which they let you choose as part of the combo) was the move. I'd go pancakes the whole way next time. Service was quick and the price was super reasonable for the Bay. Would I wait multiple hours for brunch? Doubtful, but a nice leisurely mid-week breakfast is a no brainer. No booze - so mimosas another time. read more

Sam's Log Cabin - Chilaquiles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Albany, California

See all

Good food, nice setting, quick turnaround of orders. Extremely rude hostess, who was sarcastic and dismissive toward us. Kind of ruined the whole thing before we even got started. read more

Was excited to finally try Sam's Log Cabin, having driven by many times. Quality of the food was meh. Tried the braised pork with greens. The corn cake in the pork was soggy. Meh. Corncake and fried egg was ok. Would not order those again. The grits and cheese was pretty good. Good texture & flavor. I'd order that again. Street parking only. Service was ok. Seating outside was ok. read more

Went here twice in one week! Once with a friend and two kids and once with my husband and friend. Delicious food, fresh ingredients, scratch made food in a wonderful setting on their patio. Twice I have ordered the collard greens with pork, two poached eggs and a piece of cornbread. The kids loved the OJ and apple juice. The other items were deliciously prepared and the scone for a 1.00 up charge is worth every penny. The coffee is served in mugs from everywhere and the vibe is nice. Check out the specials board. You won't be disappointed. One of the kids with us said the egg salad sandwich and home made squash soup was the best soup and sandwich he ever had. He picked the bowl clean. read more

See all

I've never been here before! My heart is drawn to expansive secret patios with fierce heat lamps, and hearty bfasts. The service was overwhelmed by a very full customer base with tummies beckoning to be filled. Don't let the unassuming front fool you (which it did me for a decade). Not the most innovative menu, but it is solid fare--- similar to the Sconehenge menu. Breakfasts run about $12-16. Would come back. Street parking on SP Ave only-- one drawback. read more

See all

Over all pretty good. Service is a little .... Odd? Would really like someone to bring me things as supposed to having to get up and get them when you're paying as much as you're paying . But everyone is friendly in the food is good. read more

Loved this place. Not a log cabin but a great place with heated patio. The food was divine and items had a Southern flair: delicious eggs with grits, collard greens with pork, brunchy stuff. Not crowded during week but this place is right on San Pablo Ave near Solano Ave so parking is terrible. Last, they have this egg salad sandwich which is ruined by pickle relish. The best egg salad is just mayo and a little dill. Servers were fabulous, wonderful women. I loved this place! read more

Some rough edges but could be a good choice depending what you want Food: corn beef hash is great. Not the best in the bay, but really good. Chillaquilles were a good rendition and the guacamole with it nice and lime-flavored. They have interesting omelet and other specials each day. The pancakes are just pancakes. Even the corn ones were fine but not fab. The orange hash sounded amazing-- I love hash, and sweet potatoes. The flavor and texture combo was only ok. The service: is friendly but some odd things which could be management or could be waitstaff. We ordered pots of tea and got a mug only. " we don't do pots anymore but I'd be glad to get you more hot water". Fair enough. I asked for a dish to put my tea bag so it wouldn't over steep. She came back with two napkins. " actually, can I have a dish or cup so the table doesn't get wet?" " They said we just give napkins now". Ok, IDK who " they" is or why there is a weird resistance to providing a dish or cup. We settled on her bringing another cup of hot water; apparently this somehow works when an empty one wouldn't.? Order came with eggs not cooked as requested. Waitstaff should be checking against the order. However, the fix was made pleasantly and quickly The outdoor space is a good one with almost enough heaters-- like 1 for every 2 tables--so if you run cold you should bring an extra layer. Bathroom grade: C+. Single serve gender neutral and ADA accessible. Doesn't smell bad. And the "+" here is for recently added and good auto soap, towel dispenser, and foot-operated garbage can. The rest is quite worn. Every wall has multiple problems like holes patched with tape, bubbling of surface, streaks of grime/ dirt. So the overall feel is not pleasant but it is serviceable. read more

Sam's Log Cabin - Chillaquilles with good lime flavor in the guacamole - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Albany, California

See all

Friendly and efficient staff. Food was yummy and proportioned well! Excellent decaf coffee. Beautiful friend date. There was also outside seating in a sweet garden with heaters. I had the yummy trout scramble with corn tortillas cause I'm GF. read more

I have always loved this spot but service has changed drastically. Now customers have to get up and walk to a rear table to get coffee refills, sugar, water, ketchup, hot sauce, etc. It doesn't feel like service, it feels like I work here. I miss the charming, caring staff who gave great service Suggested tipping starts at 20% which I was happy to give before, but now it seems like I'm doing half the job. read more

Sam's Log Cabin - The Wait on Yourself bar - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Albany, California

See all

I went this place with my husband and my 2 years old toddler. We loved this place. We tried so many breakfast places before. This one is my go to place now. The food is so organic and less oily. Service was so friendly. I definitely recommend this place my loved ones. read more

Both my friend and I were so excited to try out Sam's for the first time after hearing so many great things from long-time residents. The place has an overall cute ambiance, and it was an ok lunch with ok prices, but things were shaky from the start and reading some of the negative reviews now, I'm sad to say they resonate with me. - Getting seated. I put my name with my party, as I waited for my friend to arrive, indicating that we were not all there yet. When my friend (she) arrived, I left to change my parking spot, and while I was away, our name was called. The host told my friend to let them know when I came back. When I came back, we were the only guests waiting, and there was no host at the stand for about a couple minutes, so we decided to go look for the host to let them know we were ready to be seated. When we went to the patio to look for the host and approached a staff member saying that we were all here and shared that we were instructed to let them know, we were met with what appeared to be some irritation with, "Who told you that?" and she looked into the matter and told us to go back to waiting outside since another party was ahead of us (they actually came after us and that was not what was communicated to my friend before, but okay) -- and that they had to clean a table for us. Eventually we were seated with a short wait. Not too bad an experience, but it didn't leave me with a warm feeling. - Finding us a table. When we were getting seated, the staff gave us two options: one table right by the door in a shady, dingy area that looked like it doubled as storage space for extra chairs stored upside down in the corner, and another table further out of the patio that got some sun. We chose the latter. When we got closer to the table, we realized that it wasn't sheltered at all and directly in the sun, but saw there were two umbrellas around, and asked if one of the umbrellas could be opened. The staff member said, "No, the umbrellas don't work." Oh, I see. "You can take one of these tables though" - pointing to another table nearby that was partially shaded. We said, "Yes, thank you." The staff member kindly cleaned off that table, but just as she finished wiping, we realized that it still would be too much in the sun, and asked if we could go with option #1 of the table in the dingy storage area. The staff member was chill and nice about that and took us to the table in the dingy area. - The table. The floor around the table we were seated at was dirty (as my friend said, it looked like someone had vomited there and it was sloppily cleaned up and the rest dried up). The table was right by the door, so I actually shifted the table just slightly away from the door. When I did that, I got water on my hands - the edge of the table and underneath was wet. I felt like it was not sanitary getting my hands wet with what may have been dirty water, and I reluctantly put my dog carrier (for my dog to go inside) on the gross floor. Again, not too bad an experience, but it kind of put a damper on the experience. - Ordering food. My friend asked for a recommendation between two choices. The staff answered my friend's question which she found really helpful; they asked how I wanted my eggs. - The food was beautiful in presentation and looked thoughtfully made, but a lot of it tasted meh. I got the braised pork in collard greens and corned bread and it tasted both bland and bitter, with overcooked meat. The cornbread was good. My friend got the Cobb salad and said it was "okay." Neither of us finished our plates. The one dish we got that we both thought was really good was the Almond raspberry pancakes (that actually may have been a wrong order of blueberry pancakes, but if it was, I didn't mind since it tasted so good!). - The timing of the food was inconsistent. I got my dishes (braised pork and pancakes) really quickly - I suspect that maybe they were maybe pre-made(?), while my friend's Cobb salad took at least 10-15 minutes longer than it did to get my dishes. We checked on the salad two times. Again, not the end of the world, but it would've been nice to get a "The salad is coming soon and it'll be another x minutes" or getting our dishes at the same time, as we wanted to start eating at the same time, and the braised pork was getting cold as we waited for the salad. - Dog. My dog barked at the servers walking by the door, twice. We got a warning that if he continued to bark we would have to leave. At that point, I put my dog inside his carrier where he would be less distracted by the foot traffic, and less likely to bark. I thought this was fair and don't have an issue with this, and share this only for folks who are curious about the wait staff's tolerance with dogs barking at the restaurant. - Payment. The staff who took care of our payment was pleasant and smiled. I would come again for the breakfast food like pancakes, but would brace myself for the lackluster service. read more

Cozy popular brunch place. My sister and brother in law invited me celebrate the lunar new years. Since it was President's Day in SF with full city celebration of the NBA All Star game, Chinatown street fair and general holiday traffic, we decided to stay local. Sam's is one their many favorites so off we went. Despite their popularity, table wait was short. Dining was held under tented backyard setting with heating lamps all about. Quite cozy and warm. Daily specials are posted on a couple of blackboards. I forgot to take my usual photo of my meal, my apologies I had their daily scramble that consist of scrambled eggs, linguicia sausage, potatoes, sour dough toast. Like all Scramble, it looked like a mess but it was lovely together with a splash of hot sauce and ketsup. I guess that's the old guard American in me. A cup of the drop coffee was nice with no bitterness. All in all a pleasant meal in a cozy environment with great company. My first time and would recommend a visit. read more

Due to covid finding a good breakfast place has been a challenge. with the disappearing landscape of solid breakfast spots, Sams hangs in there as once a solid alternative and now a go to spot for breakfast/ brunch in the area. That back yard terrace and ample seating is what helps this stand out. That and of course the diverse fare from vegetarian selections to ample carnivorous Choices. Kids from 2 to 90 will find great selection of classics and a few "sounds interesting gotta try it"dishes. It's often difficult to get a seat without a wait and weekend.... Fogedaboudit! But if you are patient and can stand the smells of sizzling bacon cooking and waffles browning then you will soon be rewarded with a great meal at a reasonable price with friendly efficient staff to cater to your every whim. We just came during the weekday, frankly that's the only times I've come here. Not yet willing to brave the extensive lines and lack of parking on weekends. Fortunately this time park ring car-ma in effect I found a spot after circling a couple of times. Definitely every time we've been here it's been on point. read more

Sam's Log Cabin - Chilaquiles are very solid - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Albany, California

Food is hearty homemade, patio seating is inviting, Berkeley Bohemian, don't expect exceptional service, waitress with centipede eyelashes is surly, no amenities on the tables and self serve water. Reasonable prices. read more

I'm all about QUALITY when eating out and this spot more than delivers! You can taste the freshness and natural flavor of it all. It has a cute country vibe and service is always great. One of my East Bay favs for sure. read more

Been coming here for years. Very disappointed this time around. Not sure if we will be back. No more hostess, you add your self to an iPad in the front. Server forgot scone after offering it and telling us they where out of the banana and chocolate, didn't come back to check on us till she brought the bill. 3 servers today. 3 tables empty the whole time there. Now you stand up to serve your own water and coffee. It's like everyone got lazier after Covid. Not sure what's the norm now. But they sure do 20,22 and 25% tip at the end when paying. read more

Sam's Log Cabin - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Albany, California

A friend recommended this place as a local gem, while I was back home in the Bay Area, so we met here for breakfast. Parking was a bit difficult, but I was able to find street parking about a block away and just walk back. There were plenty of people waiting outside, which heightened my expectations even more for the meal. The wait was only about 5 minutes (I was late, my friend had been waiting 10 minutes when I got there), and the restaurant seemed to keep the waitlist moving. Even though it's kind of an outdoor eating area, there are plenty of heat lamps to keep it warm, which was especially appreciated in this unusually colder winter we're having in California. There are daily specials, if you're feeling adventurous, but for my first time, I stuck with the Basic Breakfast, which comes with two eggs, potatoes, and toast for $11. Portions are very generous, and service was pretty quick. The entire staff was friendly, and the food was tasty. For me, it's your run of the mill breakfast spot, but what makes it better than most is that the price point matches what's being offered. We all know that inflation is kicking everyone's butt (including small businesses), but some seem to be taking advantage, and hiking prices far beyond what's reasonable for what's being offered. Sam's Log Cabin hasn't taken this approach, and as a consumer, I appreciate it. I'd come back. read more

After a mid-morning hike, a good hearty brunch with friends is a MUST, and after a nice walk at Tilden, Sam's Log Cabin was just the place. The restaurant offers only outdoor seating, so if it's a bit brisk, I do suggest layering with a jacket or two. Their outdoor setup was homey, pleasant, and reminiscent of your mother's typical garden. On to the food: I ordered the French toast and coffee which was decent but nothing to write home about. The baked goods -specifically, the scones- are a MUST GET. I'm a huge fan of scones that are both not too dense and not too crumbly (think Berkeley's Sconehenge), and Sam's Log Cabin delivers. My friend and I split a blueberry lemon scone which was phenomenal. The acidity of the lemon offset the sweet, vibrant blueberries making for a delicious, decadent bite. Next time, I'll definitely be trying their other flavors. Overall, I'd say Uncle Sam gets a 4 in my book. It's not the best brunch I've had but regardless, a solid brunch (minus the cocktails unfortunately). read more

Sam's Log Cabin - Blueberry-Lemon Scone - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Albany, California

See all

Stopped in for the first time , nice attentive staff , cozy outdoor seating with heaters . The food was tasty , we enjoyed the Basic Breakfast with Bacon . We will visit again . read more

See all

Lovely people serving a first-rate breakfast. Corncakes are excellent. Coffee is not the ordinary diner coffee - it's a very nice dark roast obviously prepared with care. read more

I went here on a rainy Saturday morning and was seated right away. The staff is very friendly. I was seated in the back patio area (I am not sure if you can even sit inside). They had a cute pergola with twinkle lights on. I do want to mention everything was covered and safe from the rain. They had outdoor heaters blasting too which was nice. I ordered the daily special scramble which consisted of Turkey, broccolini and mozzarella. I wasn't a huge fan of the huge chunks of broccolini but overall it had great flavor. I ordered a lemon blueberry scone instead of toast. It was very light and fluffy and super lemony and blueberry-e! read more

Sam's Log Cabin - Daily special scramble (Turkey, broccolini and mozzarella) with a lemon and blueberry scone. Corn cakes and bacon in the background. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Albany, California

I had been here a few times. The first time was a great experience. The last two times were okay. I went there on Sunday with my family to have breakfast. We were seated quickly which was great. We were told that if we wanted water and coffee (after we got our first cup of coffee), we would have to get it ourselves. That's fine. We placed our order and when our food came I was very disappointed because there was a hair in the sauce. I let the server know this and they apologized and brought out a difference sauce. What was disappointing is that no one checked in with us afterwards or even asked if we enjoyed the food. They just came by when they saw we were done eating and brought us our check. We will not be going back. read more