I didn't like the college kid vibe. Cashier's hands went from touching my card to the phone to the cash register to making my sandwich, which isn't good kitchen hygiene habits. He was also somewhat more interested in dishing with coworkers than in taking my order. I share only so the owner knows it's leaning in that direction so they can correct if they care. There is no bathroom here since the next door gift shop was closed. I'd been driving for several hours and the hair salon down the street graciously came through. Coffee was hot and strong. I would return for on the go beverage only. read more

Best coffee shop around! I love their Lattes because they are not overly sweetened. Their sandwiches are good too and they can do gluten-free. read more

I always come here for amazing bagels and great service! I usually get the breakfast bagel which is fairly simple but tastes wonderful. I highly recommend. read more

Well Grounded - Bagel menu! - Bagels Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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I was in El Cerrito this weekend and this place was pretty close and convenient. Parking is metered street only unless you park in the residential side streets. It is SMALL inside and can get crowded. I went for a sandwich, it was lunch time. On the outside, it doesn't say anything about sandwiches, just a coffee and tea shop, they should have some signage that indicates sandwiches and other foods. All of the menu looked delicious. I choses the Turkey Pesto Panin. It was warm and very tasty. Will go back again when in the area. read more

Cool to find this unexpected little spot. The staff is very human and friendly and the coffee is great. It's a small place. Seating is a bit limited ( though not a problem during our midweek morning visit). I had a turkey sandwich on a baguette slice, which was quite fresh and good, though it felt slightly overpriced on an ounces-to-dollar scale. Definitely a nice possibility if you're in the neighborhood, though. read more

Absolutely fantastic neighborhood coffee shop. Delicious coffee, sandwiches etc. Very friendly staff. Thank you Well Grounded for keeping El Cerrito caffeinated! I this place. P.S. extra stars for covid safety. They have a protective screen and sanitizer. They've gone the extra mile to keep their staff and customers safe. read more

Sort of mediocre bagels. I got a cinnamon raisin with peanut butter and bacon, yes I know a weird combo but the filing wasn't the problem. The cinnamon raisin had hardly any raisins in it and was sort of wimpy in size. The flavor was good overall. I would go back if I wanted a quick bite but I would search for better bagels. I got an iced chai latte that was pretty good and the woman making them was really nice and asked if I wanted it more sweet or spicy which was a nice touch! read more

Really good coffee and very friendly staff. The E. C. cops refuel here (which is always a sign the food/coffee is good) Since Well Grounded opened, a small business district and "art walks" have sprouted around it. We have always had a running joke about trying to locate "downtown" El Cerrito..........but, hey: maybe this is it. read more

Phenomenal performance! You would never guess that this place was even here. It's nestled with two other shops in an otherwise completely residential area. Seek. It. Out. Things I like about this place: 1.) It's a family shop (as evidenced by the little boy who was helping clean up). 2.) Neither of the two boys (brothers?) gave us any attitude when we walked in 10 minutes before closing. 3.) A few minutes after ordering, the older boy apologetically informed us that our sandwich had been burned. Then he asked if we had time to wait for him to make another one. Who does that? A young man on a Saturday afternoon 2 minutes after he should have been off? What a friggin gentleman! 4.) The sandwich was delicious! And at the right price. Five stars to these boys, their impeccable service and delightful product. If their boss is reading, your staff deserves a bonus. read more

Small little gem of a coffee place in El Cerrito-away from the main stream and used to be down the street from my last place-or up the street from the place I lived before that one. I have been in a few times, most recently today to get a cappuccino for my hairdresser while I was waiting for my appointment. I have tried the coffee before myself and I don't care for it (I am a Peet's girl). It isn't that it is bad or anything, just not strong enough and I have this old school type of admiration for espresso ground in front of me, loaded into a thing-a-magiggy, and brewed like that-this place, you push a button, and out it comes.... What I do like though is the great variety of Numi teas, Semi Freddi pastries, fresh fruit (great peaches over the summer), good bagels from Boogie Woogie Bagel's (fixings available), small sandwiches and juices. No indoor seating, a couple of small tables for outside people watching. Nice customer service is always a winner in my book so even if I don't personally care for the coffee, this place still rocks! read more

I've worked in El Cerrito for almost a year and just tried this little gem today. *hangs head in shame* I could have been having their delicious sandwiches and coffee instead of all the other places in El Cerrito that shall remain nameless. It's rather small inside, but absolutely perfect if you're getting something to go. It's not quick, so make sure you give yourself a few minutes especially if you're ordering lunch. Fresh + local + friendly staff + delicious = happiness. read more

I JUST (like 10 minutes ago) had coffee and a bagel here and man oh man, have I been missing out. The place is tiny but I guess that's fine for a to-go coffee joint. The coffee was perfect. I got a small and it was a bit smaller than I expected (which I should have known if I had read the sign more carefully) but it was just enough for me since I'm preggo and not supposed to drink lots of coffee anyway. The Humbolt bagel was perfect with tomato, cucumber, avocado and cream cheese. Again, a bit small for my taste but still very very very delicious. The teenage staff were friendly and fast and no hassle. The local police man came to get his joe on... and some local mommies were there with their babies. What a cute place. What great coffee! Will definitely be coming back here loads of times in the future. read more

This is my favorite spot in El Cerrito! It's very small, so I never plan to stay long, but their coffee drinks are delicious and their bagels are very fresh, dense, and chewy - the asiago one is a personal favorite. Seasonal flavors for coffee drinks are a nice touch, service is fast and very friendly, and they have a rewards program for frequent coffee purchases (albeit not very fast-rewarding - it would be great if it rewarded dollars spent on food would count toward rewards too!) Definitely check this spot out! read more

The Bocadillos (sandwiches) are addictive! So tasty I could eat two a day... but seriously, I am daily thankful that Jen opened up such a great place to get my morning jolt. For all you tea lovers out there, Well Grounded serves Numi, which is excellent tea. Definitely kicks Tazo (Starbuck's) bootie! Try the Chinese Breakfast tea but don't put cream or sugar in. Yum! read more

Best little non-starbucks coffee joint in El Cerrito. Friendly, cool staff and good, strong coffee... a big plus in my book! p.s this place is a certified green business... i just found this out!! this quadrupled the points in my book. :) read more

I really wanted to love this place. That was my attitude going in. The service is friendly, the location charming and the bagels and pastries looked wonderful (I didn't eat any). The coffee, though freshly made per cup, really was not strong enough for me. You see, I know there is a line drawn in the sand regarding people and their coffee. Some people like it strong (me) and others like it less than strong, even weak, i.e. water dressed in brown (and you have to wonder what the point of that is, but hey, to each an ice cream cone). The latter group would love this place. I might even try going back, just because it's in my community, is locally owned and serves all organic coffee, tea and milk. Maybe I'll ask if they can brew my cup a little stronger. Make it work, right? Or, I'll just continue hitting Peet's where I am consistently served the rocket fuel I need (you think all this charm comes naturally? sheesh). read more

Oh, my. Where to start? I originally found them on a coupon site, and figured what the heck -- it would be good for a cup of coffee and a pastry. I had no idea what I would find when I went, or that I'd end up so darn fond of the place. First off, street parking has been pretty easy to find, since it's in a semi-residential area. The shop itself is 'charmingly small'...in the same way that my studio apartment was billed as 'charmingly small' in the rental ad. (Translated, this means you can't stretch out your legs without accidentally kicking someone.) If there's more than three people in line, everyone has to do a little side-shuffle-dance when someone wants in or out. The only seating is a small outdoor bistro table. Despite the lack of space, they make good use of what they have....boxes and boxes of NUMI tea, locally roasted coffees (whole and ground), pastries behind glass, T-shirts and eco-mugs. Oh, and artwork! Awesome artwork for sale up on the walls! It's located right next to a kid's store, selling toys and knicknacks. Which MAY be why there was a jump-rope on a peg just outside the coffee-shop door, with a sign exhorting you to 'Use Me!' (I almost did, too....before realizing suddenly that I was: A) Over the age of 12 (in age, if not maturity) B) Neither training as a boxer OR in Berkeley, and C) Would likely end up on Youtube if I tried.) But -- well, if this weren't already enough to keep me coming back, my co-worker has become addicted to the sandwiches. And they ARE good, if a little on the small size. If you are a big, hefty MANLY MAN, they might not be quite enough for you....but otherwise, they're perfect for a quick desk-lunch. My suggestion? Try the Humboldt with turkey...cream cheese, cucumbers, sauce, all on a crunchy baguette wrapped in white paper and neatly divided. Nom, nom, nom.....! read more

The coffee here is AMAZING. They have this swiss machine that brews for each cup of joe!!! I had never seen this before but I am now hooked, it's hard to drink coffee elsewhere. I recommend you go in for a taste. You will love it. The paninis are delicious as well as the Bagels. They really cater to my taste in food here. they serve mostly organic, even fruit cups in the mornings, simple selection of fresh daily pastries from Semifreddi's...(ooo, and did I mention the brownie bites??) I love this place, I want to share it with Every One! I can't get enough of it. read more

I hope that eventually this cafe prospers and is able to afford a larger space with indoor seating. What they have now is great for to-go, and if it's nice outside you can sit at one of the 3 tables w/ chairs they have, but the people and food and drinks are so good that you want to stick around awhile. We tried the Caputo bagel sandwich-- smoked salmon, capers, onion, cucumbers, cream cheese on an everything bagel Very yummy. The coffee is organic, freshly roasted (mmm, creme on the top!) and brewed by the cup. The owner was really nice. I'm super excited to find a great little cafe a stone's throw from my house. read more

So this is an $8.20 sandwich... Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of Lilliputian sandwich, or what? No matter how delicious it is, I definitely would not go to this place again. read more

Well Grounded - So this is an $8.20 sandwich... Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of Lilliputian sandwich, or what? - Bagels Near Me - El Cerrito, California

The cafe makes do with what they have, but unfortunately what they have isn't much. The people are really nice and it was a good latte, but everything was just a tad off. There isn't much space, but also not much ventilation so it gets stuffy quickly. The WiFi was painfully slow. Even the small cup is a tad smaller than most smalls. People seem to enjoy the sandwiches though so maybe that's the true selling point. read more

3.5 stars. I'm trying really hard to like this place but my experience has been "uneven" to say the least. The food was delicious but the soy latte left a lot to be desired. I ordered the Humboldt Bagel which was a bagel with cream cheese, avocado, tomato, cucumber and larrupin sauce (no idea what that is). Great combination of ingredients and my only wish is that I can add some type of meat to it. But that's my own problem and preference... The soy latte was overly bitter and had a slightly burnt taste to it. Didn't like it at all. Oh well... Well Grounded is very small and only has a few tables inside. It's more a grab and go type of place. read more

-Needed a coffee -Got a coffee -It was better than expected read more

Amazing coffee, food, staff etc... Between the owner's son throwing impromptu Star wars Jedi party's and the awesome El Cerrito T-shirt they sell, what's not to love?! I'm there 4-7 days a week. It might take you a bit to figure out who's in line and who's not but seeing all of your neighbors and friends @ the same spot makes the wait worth it. It's places like this that make you never want to move. Coffee is off the hizzle...they grind the beans fresh for every cup! read more

We are usually here in the morning but today we went looking for birthday preens nets around noon and needed up getting lunch. Turkey Pesto Panini is so yummy. Grab one with your choice of Italian soda, can't go wrong. read more

Well Grounded - Turkey Pesto is winner - Bagels Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Love the bagel breakfast selection here! Just moved to the area and was looking for a local spot for a quick breakfast. This place has a couple little nooks to hang out with friends and play board games or just to sit and enjoy the bay weather with delicious coffee and bagel sandwiches. read more

Loved the yelp deal offer where I bought a pastry and they also gave me a small coffee (12oz). I definitely came here specifically for that as I waited for my car to get some repairs done on it at a local shop. The sitting area could definitely be improved, it seemed kind of old and very minimalist. read more

Great coffee! Today was my first time visiting Well Grounded. I live and jog in this area and for some reason never knew the placed existed. Shame on me! Its a quaint little coffee joint with a small seating area in front. The prices are reasonable and parking is easy, no meters. The staff was friendly. Its a great place to get a nice cup of coffee, a bagel and jet. *My own update* I've been here every day for the past week (with the exception of weekends) and I absolutely love.this.place! read more

Always grateful for gluten free bread and bagels. Coffee is always right! Staff is cool and there's a gift shop next store with the best cards! read more

Never coming back again. Tried to give them another chance but I regretted it at once. I was called "Sir" while standing in line, even though I'm clearly a woman (apparently my gender is defined by my haircut). Paid over $2.00 for a gluten-free pastry (Udi's chocolate muffin). Went outside to sit and eat it but saw the pastry was covered in mold! I went in, told them I wasn't going to eat that and left in total disgust. I'll go anywhere but here. read more

This place made me happy. Definitely small business love here, and the customer benefits. Organic coffee carefully prepared -- even just decaf coffee (regarded as worthless by snobs) was smooth, tasty, and had their characteristic foamy white crema of well-pulled coffee. They say they use some Swiss method and it's really noticeably different. I also got a the Humboldt sandwich topping on a garlic bagel (no prob) and swapped out cream cheese for hummus. Deeelicious. Only reason I knocked off a star is because they forgot my sprouts. I didn't notice til near the end though, so that is partly my bad for not saying something. And they were already out of some bagel types before noon. But hey, maybe I missed a rush. Building is a lil awkwardly shaped bc you have to go up stairs for sugar and cream, but they make up for it by having cute seating outside and...wait for it...COMFY CUSHIONED RECLINER SEATS OUTSIDE yesssss I'm definitely returning for the coffee. They know what they're doing here and it is worth going a lil out of my way. read more

This place is cute and close but absolutely every time they will screw up a part of your order. Once I had them give my food away to someone else. It's never a matter of them being understaffed or wildly busy, this happens at all times of day with a variety of staff members. Check your food before you leave because the staff here is consistently making mistakes. I'd go anywhere else but bagels are not very common in this area. read more

First time coming and its my new favorite local spot 100%. Very good customer service, and the decaf cafe latte was the best I've ever had, it filled all my cravings for coffee (I can't have caffeine) and wasn't sweet just how I like it! Also bagels are very good but order light cream cheese if you don't like a ton of cream cheese read more

We've loved this coffee shop ever since it opened--everything tastes great there! The coffee & tea are delicious, and they make a kid-friendly hot cocoa (ie, not too hot) that both my sons gobble up. Earlier this summer we went on a long vacation traveling through 7 states, and we weren't able to find a single place that served better coffee. Yeah, they've ruined us; we'll only drink coffee from there. The one thing I would love is if they had some indoor seating so I wouldn't have to chase my sons running down the street. read more

I found Well Grounded via Yelp for my group of friends. We needed a quick bite before hiking Muir Woods but were looking for something local and not fast food. It's a very tiny establishment seemingly run by a mother and her son (at least the morning we went). The young man was in charge of taking orders and making beverages while the mother was making sandwiches. It was pretty busy for such a small place, with the seats full and the line 3-5 people long. I ordered a custom bagel - poppy seed with spring greens, avocado, and ham. I love that they didn't skimp on the vegetables with me! It was fresh and filling. However, I can't say my friends had the same positive experience as me. The vanilla lattes were alright - nothing special. One of my friends ordered ham but it was missing from his sandwich. My other friend ordered a bagel WITHOUT cheese. It took a long time to made (so long we though they forgot to make the order) and it turned up WITH cheese....Not the happiest moment for a person who can't handle their lactose very well. All in all a cute neighborhood place. Delicious and well-priced items but mistakes are common and the wait can be long. read more

Awesome lil neighborhood cafe.. Well grounded serves up a piping hot cup a joe and a mean bagel. I love the coffee, but come back for the bagel-wiches. They have everything from the healthy hummus and veg, to the egg cheese and bacon. Delicious bagels and happy people always greet me when I walk in the door. Local peeps and an ideal location! read more

Quality coffee, AWESOME bagel breakfast sandwich, courteous, witty, well-informed and respectful staff. I will definitely return when I work in the area. read more

Looking for a unique breakfast sandwich before Costco opened, I jammed over to Well Grounded to check it out. Not far up the hill, I drove right past this tiny place the first time. Parked easily across the street, I walked in right to the counter. The place is very small with only a few seats available. A few inside and a few outside. I ordered my stuff and got it in a reasonable amount of time. Coffee was good and the baguette sandwich I had was real good. The bread was fresh and the ingredients were high quality. It hit the spot. My only gripe is that it was a bit on the pricey side but for the flavor quality, it's about average I guess. Parking is easy on nearby streets. read more

Hooray! Great food, delicious coffee, free (and fast) wifi and an easy-going atmosphere. I am about to become a serious regular at this place near my new gig at Mira Vista UCC church. I lived in Spain for a summer when I was in high school and have not had a proper bocadillo since. Delicious! Of course, when in Spain you wash it down with great red wine, but still . . . yum! read more

Great Little, and I do mean little, Coffee shop. The coffee is Lapert's, which outside of Peet's is a dam good bean. The coffee is good, and a little something extra with the crema on the top. The bagels are good (Boogie Woogie) and they have a variety of options, yet I get the same bagel almost every time i order one (Asiago with cream cheese, onion, and tomato), but you should try the grilled bagel! The service is personal, friendly and mostly effective (sometimes it takes a little longer than you might want). Both of the Owners are local, down to earth, cool people, who you will find there almost every day. But the real reason why I got hooked on this place was because they serve Bocadillos ( little spanishsandwiches). The traditional (with jamon serrano) definitely takes me back to Madrid. They got something good going on here. read more