New Amsterdam Coffeeshop

The Nitty Gritty

Location: 1952 University Ave

Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am-6:30pm; Sat-Sun 8am-6pm

Java: $1.50 (drip coffee) - $3.25 (double white mocha)

Goodies: $1.95 (giant cookie) - $2.15 (chocolate croissant)

Breakfast: $1.50 (bagel with butter) - $4.75 (breakfast burrito)

Lunch/Dinner: $5.50 (cranberry chicken salad sandwich) - $7.00 (The BIG Salad - yelp reviewers love this thing)

Credit cards: yesh.

WiFi: free, and much faster than many cafes

Power outlets: A bit sparse, but they're here

Bathroom: big, bright orange, with giant photographs of Amsterdam

Seating: At the bar, a couple of cushy stools with backs (nice). Little round tables topped with a collage of pastries! Pastrytopia! You want to eat them all, but you can't because they are actually a table! Also, there are window seats that resemble a plush, purple church pew. I like.
Oh, there are a couple of nice outdoor table/chair sets too, but it's not so scenic here.

Music: Hoppin'. It will keep you going without being distracting, or disrupting your conversation.

Ambient noise: Seems like a chattier place than many cafes I've reviewed. Two people are Skyping someone about a startup business venture (I swear I'm not sitting here stealing all of their ideas). Lots of people come in and chat with the baristas.

Temperature: It's hot today, outside and in.

Parking: Mostly paid, one-hour. You'll have to go a few blocks out of your way to do better.

Bicycle parking: Good luck finding a vacant street sign.

Biggest pro: Specialty Autumn drinks! Pumpkin spice lattes, and eggnog lattes! If you ask for whipped cream, it comes out looking like a snowman took a dump on top! The snowman poo is cold, which makes a really nice contrast to the hot java.

Biggest con: Location. Parking's tricky, and as with anywhere around here, it's potentially sketchy.

Recommended for: A quick snack or meal, a drink with a friend, or a concentrated burst of productivity

Not recommended for: Camping out for a whole day

This has nothing to do with the cafe, but your fave S'mug Bitch needs to broadcast something on a rather somber note. She's been writing this for a while, and wondering whether it belongs on this blog or somewhere else. But finally she realized that it belongs anywhere it might be read.

S’mug Bitch has been following the DADT proceedings. Who am I kidding? I’ve let them get me so upset that they disrupt my life. I have mixed feelings about this particular policy, because I have mixed feelings about our military. But what DADT signifies, I am absolutely opposed to. S’Bitch has no desire to serve in the military, but it makes her sick to think that some individuals who choose to serve are forced to hide who they are in order to do so. They are required to make all the sacrifices that other soldiers make, but additionally have to give up an honest image of themselves. How does this help us? All it accomplishes is to cause some soldiers to suffer even more trauma than they already would.

Those who are in favor of equal rights regardless of sexual orientation saw a huge setback with the passing of Proposition 8. We watched as the rights we had been granted in California were taken away by a simple vote. We watched as people’s marital security crumbled, due to the ignorance and fear of the general public. There have been small victories since then: Prop 8 and DADT have both been successfully challenged in smaller courts. But it’s hard to celebrate these baby steps, knowing there is so much further to go, against so much opposition.

But think. If DADT were struck down, suddenly a whole lot of soldiers could start being honest with themselves and their colleagues. There’s no way to know how many they are, since they’ve been required to hide. S’Bitch doesn’t know, either, how many homophobes there are in the military. But what if just one in ten of them suddenly found out that the soldier who saved her ass in combat, the mechanic who fixed his chopper, or the medic who patched up their buddies were gay? And what if one in ten of those went home and raised a family that, instead of being fearful and hateful, was open and loving?

Imagine.

What if the young people in that family went to school and, instead of bullying suspected homos, chastised kids who use “gay” as a derogatory term.

What if their classmates, by extension, realized that there really was no excuse for arbitrarily disliking an entire segment of the population. And what if they grew up to be voters who are just a little bit better informed?

Regardless of S’Bitch’s personal take (or yours) on the conflicts the US military is currently engaged in, the fact is that there are uncounted gay and lesbian soldiers who are risking their lives to make our country a safer place to live. What are WE doing to make this country a safer place for THEM?

Royal Ground Coffee

The Nitty Gritty

Location:1127 Solano Ave

Hours: I have failed you...I forgot to write this down :-/

Java: $1.60 (espresso) - $3.95 (double fancy drinks)

Goodies: $2.00- $3.50 everything looked SO good. There was a cheesecake with EVERY KIND OF FRUIT on top, with that shiny glaze that you'd see on top of a fruit tart. I resisted the temptation, but only just.

Fud: There were also tasty looking sandwiches, pasties, etc.

Credit cards:yep

WiFi: yes, but it took FOREVER to get connected. And it's slow.

Power outlets: Next to almost every table.

Seating: Small tables, against the walls of this very narrow space

Music: Very backgroundy. It was quiet enough that we couldn't really hear it, but S'mug Bastard and I both left with vague bits of it stuck in our heads.

Ambient noise: Very quiet.

Temperature:A bit chilly, but it was cold out and we were sitting near the door. And I was drinking a Thai iced tea (which was very delicious).

Parking: Easy to find on side streets.

Bicycle parking: Use a signpost.

Biggest pro: The desserts, I imagine.

Biggest con: Feels a bit cramped and characterless.

Recommended for: A quick break or fuel-up, but only if you're already in the area.

Not recommended for: much of anything else.

It was fine, but a very 'meh' experience. Nothing to write home about.

S'Bastard and I drove down Solano thinking "Solano is so cute! It must be full of cute cafes, so we don't even need to do a google maps search before we leave! We'll just be driving along, and dozens of cafes will throw themselves in front of the car, screaming 'I'm cuuuuuute! Pick me! You will looooove me!' And we'll be so overwhelmed that we'll have to come back here time and time again!"

We were wrong. There were NO OTHER CAFES on the street, apart from restaurants/diners with 'cafe' in the name. And at least two cafes that were closed (as in, closed for good). What's up with that, Solano? Where is Albany hiding its good cafes? If you, S'mug Reader, know the answer to this very important question, please tell me! I'll take you there and buy you a beverage.

E-22 Cafe

The Nitty Gritty
E-22 Cafe

Location:1366 Powell (near Doyle)

Hours: Mon-Tues 8am-4:30pm; Wed-Thurs 8am-7pm; Fri 8am-9:30pm

Java: $1.75 (espresso) - $3.00 (mocha)

Goodies: $2-2.50 (croissants with chocolate, fig, strawberry...

Lunch/Dinner: $6.50 (caprese salad) - $13.00 (Caesar salad with anchovies and grilled shrimp)

Credit cards: Claro!

WiFi: Should be, but they've been having problems with it. They recommend you call ahead and see if it's working on a given day.

Power outlets: Very few, and inconveniently placed.

Bathroom:There's a mosaic-ed bistro table in there. It's pretty, but I have no idea why it's there.

Seating:Very limited indoor seating, with high tables and chairs along one wall. The whole place is windows. Lots of outdoor seating on a brick patio area. It's pretty cute, if you can ignore the corporate/industrial looking buildings all around.

Music: BAD jazz. Bad.

Ambient noise: It was just us. So quiet that all you could hear was the bad jazz.

Temperature: Nice when we were there--it was a sunny day and everything was open. It might get chilly when it's cool out, since all the walls are windows.

Parking: Street parking. You might have to circle the block a couple of times to find something.

Bicycle parking: You might have to walk a little way.

Biggest pro: None of us tried the food, but someone ordered a panino and it smelled incredible. We were drooling on each other.

Biggest con: The jazz ohpleasemakeitstop.

Recommended for: Afternoon drinks/late lunch. The place is trying extremely hard to be authentically Italian, and while it's not convincing me, it's still very charming. I could definitely see spending an afternoon with a couple of friends on the patio, enjoying paninis, beers, or some of that juicy-looking sangria.

Not recommended for: A cozy-up-with-a-book sort of cafe experience.

Spasso

The Nitty Gritty

Spasso
Location: 6014 College, near Claremont
Hours: every day 7am-7:30pm


Java: $1.75 (house coffee, organic, fair-trade) - $4.25 (large honey vanilla latte)
Goodies: $1.50 (Russian tea cake) - $2.75 (giant fudge brownie)
Breakfast: $1.25 (plain bagel) - $5.50 (egg and sausage bagel)
Lunch/Dinner: $0.60 (falafel) - $5.95 (specialty sandwiches)

Credit cards: yup yup ($5 minimum)

WiFi: Ask and you shall receive. For free!
Power outlets: Bountiful. Surge strips and everything!
Bathroom: Exists!


Seating: The gamut. Authentically vintage, shabby, variously-orange-colored chairs by a bright yellow wall with gorgeous sunset photographs. IKEA-esque neo-Victorian easy chairs by a charming brick wall. A sort of church pew with small marble and iron tables. In the back, your usual run-of-the-mill cafe tables and chairs.


Music: A full Zoe Deschanel album, followed by some Bob Marley. The continuity of hearing whole albums was good for the productivity vibe. The fact that it was all feel-good music didn't hurt either.


Ambient noise: Everyone here seemed to be on a solo work-mission. I honestly didn't hear anyone talk except when they were ordering.


Temperature: It was 90 degrees outside today, so it was a bit warm inside, but not nearly as bad as at the Beanery the other day. Front and back doors were propped open, and there are a couple of ceiling fans in the back.


Parking: Paid parking on College, or the usual side-street-except-on-cleaning-days situation.


Bicycle parking: Plenty--there's even a full bike rack at the bike shop across the street.


Biggest pro: I don't know if I can choose just one! I really dig the ambiance. I feel like I'm sitting in a friend's living room.


Biggest con: It could almost be *too* comfy, if I were trying to do really intense work.


Recommended for:Working, a snack or lunch, meeting a friend


Not recommended for:Writing a paper--you'll enjoy sitting here, the free WiFi will provide ample distraction, and it will therefore take you forever to accomplish anything.


I walked in here and decided instantly that it is my new favorite place. From there, Spasso continued convincing me that it is my favorite place. Looking at the menu, S'mug Bastard and I were temporarily stunned. Eventually S'Bastard broke the silence to say "I think we should keep coming back here until we've tried everything."


There's a modest (but tasty) selection of baked goodies, lots of Mediterranean food, smoothies, and a few other specialty drinks. On this uncharacteristically hot day, their fresh iced teas looked wonderful and didn't disappoint. The raspberry variety was sharply fruity, without tasting sweet. Perfect. The rose water quencher lived up to its name, with wonderfully delicate color and flavor. There are even neon-colored straws to enhance your sipping experience.


For lunch I ordered a babaganouch sandwich, which was good, but not stellar. Thin, unmemorable wheat bread, with delicious purple olives, fresh and flavorful avocado slices, and mildly garlicky babaganouch. It would have worked better as a wrap, mostly for logistical reasons. S'Bastard opted for a curried chicken turnover. "It was actually a giant, oversized pirozhok." Survey says that it was tasty, but it was nuked in the microwave, so the bottom got a bit soggy.


The photos in the link make Spasso look sleeker than it is. It's far more charming than all that. Like S'Bitch told 'ya, the front half is like chilling in your very stylish (but thrifty) friend's living room. The back is trying very hard to make you feel like you're in some tropical location, with bright yellows and oranges, skylights in a raftered ceiling, foliage real and fake, and one giant wall mural. Also, a glass display case full of variously exotic tea pots, textiles, and anything else they felt like throwing in there. Quite possibly trying a little bit too hard, but it's cute.


Another plus (my tangent for the day) is that directly across the road, you find TranSports, an running/swimming store where you can buy these:




I am very excited about these. It's like being barefoot at all times, only you can still get service as long as you keep your shirt on! (Note to self: do an experiment. Find out if I can get service while wearing nothing but these and a shirt.) TranSports has a whole bunch of different Five Fingers shoes. These ones are leather, and will from now on be my dress-shoes. But there are sporty-lookin' ones in all colors! Some have cushioning kinda like a running shoe, and some genuinely try to make you feel like you have naked feet. And anything that makes one feel a little bit more naked is a good thing in S'Bitch's book.

Hudson Bay Cafe

The Nitty Gritty

Hudson Bay Cafe

Location: College and Manila

Hours: Mon-Fri  6am-8pm; Sat-Sun 7am-7pm

Java: $1.56 (drip coffee) - $4.10 (double mocha, double caramel latte)

Goodies: $1.85 (various kinds of large, delicious looking cookies) - $2.00 (big, crumbly scones)

Breakfast: $2.25 (bagel with hummus) - $4.25 (bacon, egg and cheese bagel)

Lunch/Dinner: $3.75 (cup of soup du jour) - $6.95 (veggie lasagna)

Credit cards: It really *is* everywhere you want to be.

WiFi: Just ask for the key when you order. You get one hour per $3 purchase. *UPDATE* This is what they tell you, but it's on-your-honor. You don't get booted after an hour.

Power outlets: Requires a bit of tactical maneuvering, but there are plenty.

Bathroom: Clean, odor/fragrance free, and adorably asymmetrical.

Seating: Sofa and easy chairs with excellent window lighting, if you can nab them before someone else does. For the rest of us, there’s a counter facing out toward college (this is where the outlets are), and lots of tables and chairs big enough for 2 or 4 people. There are also a couple of bar seats.

Music: Radio, so I can’t guarantee what you’ll get. Today it was primarily early folk rock, but thrown into the mix were some newer bands that try for the same sort of vibe. And, inexplicably, a Chuck Barry cover artist. The volume was unobtrusive, but loud enough that your headphones would require an uncomfortable number of Hertz (Haha, get it? Uncomfortable because it HERTZ?! Damn I am one funny S’Bitch) if you wanted to drown it out. [note: I realize that Hz is not actually a measure of amplitude. BUT higher frequencies - more Hz - do lead to an increase in our perception of loudness. So there.]

Ambient noise: Almost everyone here is dutifully typing away. There’s a minimum of quiet chatter, and the charming squeak of hinges on the front and bathroom doors.

Temperature: I was here on a chilly day, and the temperature inside was just right, even though I was sitting near the door and folks were going in and out a lot.

Parking: The side-streets here have free FOUR hour parking. Bonus!

Bicycle parking: You’ll have to go around the corner and make a hitchin’-post of a street sign, but I wouldn’t hesitate to park even my nice bike around here (locked up, of course).

Biggest pro: Really conducive to work. Nice, but not comfy enough to make you want to stay all day and check your email just one more time.

Biggest con: Need for outlets limits seating options.

Recommended for: Working at the counter, cozying up on the couch with a good book

Not recommended for: Conversations that you wouldn't like everyone present to hear

I wish I had an awesome story to tell you, but really we just sat and worked. Like, we were ridiculously productive. I rewarded myself with a slice of the pumpkin bread, which was amaaaazing. As S'mug Bastard pointed out, it actually tasted like pumpkin. It still had all your classic pumpkin spices, but not so much of them as to overwhelm the pumpkiny goodness. I think there might have even been cream cheese in it. Such a good plan.

As far as cafe atmosphere goes, I'm not super excited about this place. I am excited about the imbibables and prices thereof, and Hudson's feasibility as a workplace. I will definitely be back.

The Elmwood Café/ Ozzie’s Soda Fountain

S’mug Bitch here, coming atcha from sunny Elmwood for the inaugural café-judgin’ S’MUG entry. Today I’m roaming around with my partner in culinary/caffeinated crime, S’mug Bastard. Because it’s a beautiful day, our first stop is not only a café, but also a soda fountain. Before I go on, here are the basics.

  

The Nitty Gritty

The Elmwood Café/ Ozzie’s Soda Fountain

Location: 2900 College Ave, Berkeley

Hours: 7am - 10pm daily

Credit cards: Approved!

WiFi: Negative.

Power outlets: Nyet.

Bathroom: Yes.

Parking: Slightly hard to find on this lovely strip of College Ave, but it’s easy enough to find a spot on a residential side street (non-metered!).

Bicycle parking: Bike rack right out front.

Java: $1.50 (espresso) - $5.00 (double mocha) 

Goodies: $1.50 (snickerdoodle) - $5.25 (tart) 

Food: $3.50 (arugala, summer squash and parmesan frittata) - $9.00 (smoked salmon with cucumber, peppered crème fraiche, red onion and lemon zest on acme levain)

Seating: Small square tables that can be pushed together to form mega-tables! Facing out to College Ave is a long wooden bench, so it’s great for people watching. On nice days, there are small outdoor tables as well.

Music: Mostly light jazz, but not the kind that’s actually a ridiculous cover of a pop tune, masquerading as jazz by dressing itself up with a saxophone. Low volume, unobtrusive, just enough to distract you from the conversations of the people next to you. You could easily listen to something else with headphones, without cranking the volume.

Ambient noise: Pretty quiet. There’s not room for many people, so the baristas aren’t constantly calling out names. All the patrons tend to keep their voices down.

Temperature: On a nice day, the doors are open and it’s pleasantly warm inside. On hot days, the AC is blasting and you might want a jacket.

 
Biggest pro: House-made sodas. Every day they have at least two flavors of fresh syrups (mint, lime, vanilla, cranberry, and kumquat are just a few examples) that they blend with soda water for a really refreshing treat. 

Biggest con: Lack of WiFi and outlets rule this one out for those with techie umbilical cords.

Recommended for: Whetting your whistle, reading, writing (by hand), daydreaming, people watching

Not recommended for: Computer work, groups of more than four people

The Elmwood Café is not particularly big, but the high ceilings and enormous windows make it feel very spacious. On a Sunday morning, it’s a perfect spot to sit outside and eat a delicious breakfast while happy people hike up toward the Claremont Hotel. The savory bread pudding is to die for, and may inspire you to try making your own (which I highly recommend). 

Before I forget, I should add that this cafe has its own special blend and roast of coffee beans, which I have never tried. I hear good things, but I never think to go here when I need a coffee--I'm always drawn by the sodas.

Baked goodies are reasonably priced, but not especially exciting. Today, my mango bread pudding was delicious on its crispy, crumbly top, but the moist bottom half inexplicably smacked of dried seaweed. Not strongly, but I couldn’t shake the association, and S'bastard agreed with me. Definitely not the best thing I’ve tried here, but it seems to be an anomaly. S’bastard also had a biscuit that came with lovely strawberry jam, and was SO FLUFFY I’M GONNA DIE!

 screenshots from Despicable Me

In both cases, inexplicable fishy taste aside, the food was better than various things we had eaten in the last 24 hours. S'bastard was trying to decided whether he wanted more to eat, and one of his considerations was the fact that he'd had a small and not especially satisfying breakfast. A bowl of oatmeal with various good things on top sounds satisfying enough, until you account for the fact that it was a small bowl, and upon eating his way past the various good things, he realized they were masking the fact that there were CRAWLIES in the oatmeal. The ones he was eating were dead from being boiled, but the ones in the oatmeal container were still wriggling.

Now, here's where things get weird. Last night, the same thing happened to me, only it was some dried lentil soup that I purchased from the bulk bins at Berkeley Bowl...er...I don't remember how long ago. 

::shameface:: 

I downed almost an entire bowl of it before noticing the tiny white intruders. Effing imperialists, colonizing my dinner.

Ultimately our stay here was short, because we actually did need WiFi. And tacos. But that's a story for another time.