Cafe La Renaissance

I love this place! Why the low average? They are nice, have fast wifi and comfy seats. They are also in an area where coffee shops are kind of precious (around the Ashby Bart). I thought the coffee was just fine (not amazing or anything, but good). It’s true I didn’t try any of the snacks, but they also seem as good as your standard coffee house.

If you’re looking for good coffee or a snack, this is not the spot. The location is great (close to Ashby Bart), the ambience is wonderful, but their coffee, pastries, and service seem to be very disappointing.
I went in on a Saturday at around 10am, and it was dead. My boyfriend and I waited several minutes for the woman behind the counter to acknowledge us. I asked for a latte with almond flavor, and she said she didn’t have almond flavor. When I asked what flavors they had, she pointed (with a bit of an attitude) toward a shelf and told me I could look at the flavors myself. We ordered regular lattes and a croissant, and honestly, I’m not sure if I’ve ever tasted a more disgusting pasty.
Our dear friends live close by, and we actually had a discussion last night about how horrible the coffee and croissants are. However, our friends did say that their sandwiches are not half bad. Maybe worth another try, but with so many other cute cafes in the area, I’d go elsewhere.

RUDE to patrons & neighbors, RACIST to Blacks and RUTHLESS to employees!!! Speaking strictly about the OWNER. If only I could give a Zero I would. The owner cursed me out waging her finger in my face screaming at the top of her lungs for partially blocking her drive way. I politely told her I would move my car, but she blocked my car with a van and said she was calling the tow truck. I managed to move my car anyway, and as I was driving away, she started banging on my car with her hand and yelling at me. On that note, I got out of my car and let her know that physically attacking my car was not okay.
I am a Berkeley native and grow up in this community. One of my tenants worked at the café last year had to quit because the owner regularly cheated her paychecks by not paying hours that she worked. What a cheapskate! I haven’t patronized her establishment since.
Before you take one sip or bite of food from this café, read the review of former employee Dream C. (1÷24÷14) who writes about slim, mold and unsanitary conditions that could adversely affect your health.
Once again beware of the owner– Christina Sun is rude, racist and ruthless.
If you know someone who works here tell them to double check their paychecks. If you accidently block the driveway be prepared to have your car beaten and towed… and if you still decided you want to eat there– good luck! :)

Stopped in here hoping for a delightful lunch with my daughter. Was surprised to walk in at lunch and see no other patrons and such a limited menu but we thought we would give it a try, What a disappointment. The food was ok but overpriced and the service was bad. The woman taking our order seemed very unhappy with her job or that she had to take our order and that we asked her to bring it to us outside when it was finished. Our ice tea tasted like watered down coffee (maybe used the same pot to boil it?). Overall, we were not impressed. Such a nice location and setting, too bad the food and service do not match!

One star only for the décor and atmosphere. Nice place to chill, sadly is a business. The service is so slow and seem lying no reason for this. A number of people compiling about lost orders. Sadly I had to after 15 min and no tea. I don’t recommend the bakes goods or chai. Just don’t go there.

I had a wonderful experience! There are a lot of bad reviews, but I decided to try the place out anyway. The place was great! The coffee was wonderful and the service was prompt. I experienced none of the negative things stated in the other reviews. I do wish there was a few more outlets t plug in my laptop.
I did see a creepy experience occur by a customer while sitting here. A man walked in and asked for the owner. The barista said they were not in and asked if she could help him. He said no and then just stood there. After a few minutes the barista asked if she could help him again and he again asked if she was the owner. She again said no and again asked if there was something she could help with. He said he was looking for Kristina and then asked what the business hours were. The barista told him and again asked if he needed anything. The guy said no again. This time as the barista turned around, the guy started taking pictures of her. VERY CREEPY! She asked him not to take pictures, which he then responded and said I got what I came for. This gentleman was very creepy and I feel awful for the barista. That experience coupled with all the negative reviews, leads me to believe someone is just out for this place.
I recommend giving it a shot! It’s a small local café, if you are looking for a more structured, traditional experience go to Starbucks.

Decent food, just super slow. Literally saw a guy type his whole essay on his macbook before i had my bagel ready. First and last time here.

Came here in the early morning few months ago. Decided to walk to work instead of my usual drive. I ordered a latte and a macaroon. Note: owner does not know how to fix up a proper latte. I didn’t pay 4 something dollars for you to give me a flat horrid tasting latte. Please aerate that milk properly! Barista 101! Also, I bake macaroons for showers and parties and that one has been sitting in the case too long. I will never be back as that was just waste of time.

Never again. The owner’s behavior was so out of line that the cashier repeatedly whispered to me «I’m so sorry» before I walked out.
Other people in the neighborhood say they’ve experienced similar manic, rude service from the owner here, and we all have the same thing in common. So I’ll just say it: The owner of this café doesn’t like Black people.

Are you looking for an adorable place to sip on coffee and snack? This is the place for you!
Every time I come here I thoroughly enjoy it. The workers are always so nice. Carrie is so lovely and kind and brightens the day. Ella is a sweet soul. Both these ladies are beautiful people.
I am always so impressed by the workers. There is only one person on shift and they handle the whole café by themselves.
I’ve read the other reviews and I had a completely different experience. I think maybe other reviews from this café are from people that may have had an initial bad experience and may not know what this café is all about.
Go and enjoy!

Take your business elsewhere. Rude and bad service. Several of the people in front of me left given the horrible service. Mind you we were the only ones there at 8am on a Saturday.
I will never go back

Definitely a quaint café to enjoy a latte on a Saturday morning. On the corner of Essex and Shattuck, there’s a lot of traffic zooming back and forth on the street. But walking into Café La Renaissance however, you wouldn’t exactly get that feeling.
At about 11:30AM, the café is quiet, with about 10 patrons, and one person behind the counter (wished the staff that day had a bit more help though, she was rushing around quite a bit to take orders, make coffee and breakfast). There is a lot of seating inside and outside of the café. You’ll find people hanging out chatting and working on their laptops. Ordered a latte and a breakfast sandwich, which were quite standard in my book.
A relaxing Saturday latte in a this neighborhood is definitely to be repeated

I have never revisited but my friend moved into the area and stopped by and said things have gotten worse, if anything. He said the service was insanely slow and prices have gone up.
This place just needs to close — it’s unsanitary, overpriced and illegally run. Look up Christina Sun and the lawsuit against her by the community. She is a seriously shady owner and I would never trust food produced by her.

Zero stars isn’t an option?
I came here shortly after the place opened, and it was terrible. I thought, «Ok, they’re new. Maybe they just need some time, although I think they should open with a bang, but whatever.»
I hadn’t visited since then, and decided to go back today. The place was still relatively empty, which is strange for 10:30 a.m. on a weekend. I ordered a sticky bun and a latte. While they made my latte, I decided I wanted caramel in it and paid the extra buck (a fucking dollar for a splash of caramel??).
The bun was dry and stale. Not in the it-​was-​made-​poorly way, but more like this-​shit-​has-​been-​sitting-​there-​for-​a-​month kinda way. I mustered all the inner strength I could not to vomit it out.
The latte had no caramel in it whatsoever, so I was annoyed that I had to shell out extra cash for something I didn’t get.
I will never go back.
(There are also accusations that the restaurant is hooking up its regulars and tenants above for good Unilocal reviews.)

Came here with my friend to study. The space is inviting and comfortable and I was so happy to be out of the hectic Berkeley coffee shops and escape the crowds
Service: the staff is incredibly friendly but service was a bit slow. However it was nothing out of the ordinary considering how fresh everything was.
Food: I had the egg and tomato sandwich which for a sandwich that just had eggs and tomato was surprisingly tasty. The bread was amazing, reminded me of the European sandwiches I eat while visiting my family in Spain. I originally ordered he chicken wrap but couldn’t get it since they were out of hummus. When I come back I think I’ll forego it and stick with egg sandwich.
Coffee: I got a plain brewed coffee. Since I like my coffee black I appreciated how flavorful their brew is. It’s super nutty and I really enjoyed it.
I’ll definitely be back, la Renaissance just became one of my go to study spots!

Overpriced. The food options are terrible, pastry selection uninformed, and the coffee tastes like dirt. The tables are hap-​hazardly placed around the space, and most of them are wobbly.
Take a look at the pictures of the egg sandwiches. Does that look normal to you? The only thing saving this place for someone wanting to get some work done is that it’s nearly empty all the time.
I wonder why.

I like to come here early on saturday mornings to read and write. I really like La Ren because the staff are really nice, and a lot of folks come here to study to make a nice environment to get some work done. The egg sandwiches with bagels are the best. I like to get mine with egg, cheddar, and mayo. It’s always prepared great and fast. They sell products from Acme Bread, so you’re getting some great food. Coffee is great too! Definitely reccomend coming here if you want to get some work done on the weekend, or if you want to have a nice meeting with someone over coffee and a bagel!

Update from my first review, c. ⁹⁄₂₀₁₃:
Came to Café La Renaissance this morning with my partner on our way to The Dry Garden. I remember from a year ago this place having wonderful ambiance and friendly service. Both those things are still true! The outdoor seating was relaxing and the coffee was delicious.
That said, –1 star for getting orders mixed up. My egg sandwich came out with the wrong veggie (but free cheese?). Then my girlfriend’s drink never materialized. But then I got a free coffee refill after we reminded them about her’s? We really appreciated the kindness, but I just hope they pay a little more attention next time, especially since it was a slow Sunday afternoon. It’s such a great place otherwise!

This place is a stone’s throw way from me so I had to try it. I was instantly surprised by the ‘home’ feel the café had. There are benches with cushions lining the windows. A great selection of sandwiches, pastries and beverages. A little pricey for what you get but tasty nonetheless.
I like the vibe and there is always ample seating. and the deck seating is great! This is going to be my new go-​to office out of the office.
My only complaints are that the sweet cushion benches are too low in comparison to the table so I end up putting my laptop on my lap and sometimes busing tables is not their top priority.
Doesn’t stop me from spending hours here though. I’m all about this place!

I paid 8 dollars for a paltry bowl of granola and sugary yogurt with a cup of very watery chai.
The barista was nice, the service was quick, but they could work on the food quality rather than on the café décor.

Let’s just say I come for the vacinity to my home/​ambience and not the drinks/​food.
Great décor, great atmosphere, good music, decent pastries, friendly service.
However, the sandwiches and coffee are nothing to write home about.
so…a 4-​star average. I reall hope they stay in business though, it’s quite a cozy place to work.

NOTE: I recently read a review written by a former employee reporting that the kitchen is unsanitary, the food contaminated, and that the owner is violating health codes. Be forewarned!
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(review below)
It’s bright! And spacious! And there are couches, and tables outdoor for warm days. There are power strips for computers (a basic consideration other establishments with free WiFi don’t think of) and the bathroom is so big it even has a table and a live orchid. It’s nicer than my house.
Coffee is either pour-​over or French press; a medium single drip will run you about $ 2.75 (not cheap). There’s a limited menu, which is served all day; it includes smoothies, egg sandwiches, one salad option, and meat or veggie sandwiches for lunch. (Although I will admittedly not eat here due to reports of uncleanliness & other unsanitary conditions… as long as I can drink my coffee & read, I’ll go get a sandwich from Berkeley Bowl!!). They have stash of Acme breads to munch on while you read or to cart home with you (the candied-​walnut cinnamon loaf is tops, thank you Acme). The café is walled with windows so it gets a ton of light and is a great place to read. New study spot!!!