Food is delicious. Freshly made. High quality ingredients. Love coming here. Feels like a neighborhood place and not like a chain restaurant.

Everything was really tasty. Pricey but worthwhile. The music inside was too loud to hear each other comfortably, but the patio seating was plentiful on a weekday morning. Would highly recommend!

Great Coffee Shop. Plenty of choice and the coffee was great. A Saturday afternoon visit in June 22. Sat outside and watched the world go by in Burlingame main street although good seating inside also.

Awesome vibe and atmosphere at this small and modern cafe. They have one gluten free almond lemon cake option, as well as delicious salad options and amazing-looking terrine options. I definitely want to try a gluten free bread tart one on my next trip here, but this time around, I decided to try the dirty bird salad with chicken and avocado. And they have a wide variety of interesting drinks like iced chai and dirty chai. We tried the iced ginger peach tea, which was unsweetened, yet perfectly delicious.

+2

An amazing and tasty place. A great selection of healthy, no sugar, no gluten dishes. We had our breakfast for a few days in a row at Caffe Central

I had an amazing gluten-free almond cake. Made my day! The service was also excellent! Thank you guys for caring so much. 🌺

Great place for brunch/lunch. Pretty food, friendly staff, pretty outdoor seating. Can get crowded on weekends and results in longer wait for food so plan accordingly.

I was fortunate enough to have a pastrami sandwich on gluten-free bread made for me this past Sunday, and I have to say—it was absolutely delicious. Every bite was packed with flavor, and the combination of tender, savory pastrami with the gluten-free bread delighful. I truly appreciated the care that went into preparing it, especially considering how hard it can be to find gluten-free options that don’t compromise on taste or texture. This sandwich didn’t just meet expectations—it exceeded them. A big thank you to James for recommending it! Your suggestion was spot on. I’m already looking forward to coming back and trying more from the menu. Highly recommended!

I have been coming to this location for years and realized I've never left a review. This restaurant is top-notch. It is always my stop after I drop people off at the airport in the morning. Lots of tasty and healthy options, great coffee, clean. Great service as well.

Lots of healthy food options with some tasty baked goods as well. Great coffee. Indoor and outdoor options. Never too noisy.

I love this spot! Good food, desserts & pastries and nice ambience. They have food displays so you can visually know how your dish will look like. You order first then seat yourself, and usually have quick service but seating can be hard to get on weekends around noon if the weather is nice for the outdoor section, but I've always managed to find a spot. Their Dirty Bird salad, Breakfast Bowl, bruschetta and fresh pastries and Central latte are amazing! A bit pricy for breakfast overall but I think its normal for Burlingame/California prices. For parking, there are several lots and street parking, all meter parking for this part of town.

Everything here looked so good, I almost didn't even know what to do with myself. When you walk in, you are greeted with a beautiful food display of every item on the menu. That's what I'm talking about when I say we eat with our eyes! Total bullseye! You order inside and they will give you a number sign, you then pick any seat you want either indoors or Outdoors. We picked Outdoors farthest away from the sidewalk. The bruschetta was the most beautiful thing I've seen, and oh man the flavor... the flavor was heavenly! It was the perfect combination of savory, sweet, with acidity from the tomatoes... and whatever kind of aioli they had spread, it all came together so well. I'm excited to go back again to try something new, but I have a feeling I'm going to get the bruschetta again. Maybe I'll just take a second item home LOL and not lie to myself.

+3

I like cafe places, especially this one. Ive been to many locations around Bay Area. They have plenty of options, chill vibe, easy to grab seats, great dessert! It’s crowded but easy to grab seat quickly.

This is my goto place for coffee and bakery items. One of the reasons is its open until 7pm so I can satisfy my after work coffee cravings and the place itself is very lively to go visit. The food options are also very good. The almond cake, marjolaine and the tarts have been my favorite and the cuban latte is also amazing

+1

This cafe is my favorite, lots of healthy options the price is worth it been here several times and never disappoints. Warning the line gets long Friday and weekends. Dessert is also good but tad pricey

I just love it ! I drive from SF just to enjoy this always amazing brunch! *Service it’s great! Could be a bit confusing since you have to order everything and get your own water before sitting down. So if you want more coffee you prob have to stay on line again. *menu it’s amazing! They most variety that you could find in the Bay Area!! They have all their menu ready for you to see in real plates. So awesome! Ingredients are the BEST and fresh! Time waiting it’s fairly fast Location & place its small and efficient Just love it! Thank you for keeping the quality

That was an awesome experience. I literally liked everything plus the service. Nice people, good atmosphere, great food and great coffee. The bread stuff is so delicious and the pastry incredible. A must in Burlingame.

+3

What an awesome place to have a great meal sitting outside enjoying the nice weather! Super friendly and the food tasted as good as it looks! You won't be disappointed!

My friends took me to Caffe Central for my birthday brunch. It was so good!! We loved everything, minus coffee was too strong, even with cream.( I'm a light weight coffee drinker) The Irish breakfast was absolutely delicious! It was quite a generous portion. We also ordered buttermilk pancakes with fresh berries, so good! Why did I go inside? I wanted all of their pastries & cakes! My friend bought me a raspberry macaron with a raspberry, or blackberry mouse filling. I didn't share with anyone. It was that good! They were packed and yet service was great! I highly recommend!

The food, drinks and pastries are delicious here. The place has many options for all kind of people. Gluten free, caffeine free, vegan, and people with non dietary restrictions. The place is very clean and has indoor and outdoor dining(you have to order before sitting) I recommend coming here to try all the delicious food.

Easily one of my favorite bunch/lunch places nearby home. They have a various range of options for food and desserts. Whatever is displayed in the glass display stand does NOT INCLUDE items on the regular menu. Be sure to read the menu if you want additional choices. The service is excellent, and they are fast with the orders. You must order, pay and then find a table. Try to AVOID coming here after 12pm; it gets so packed that the wait can be over 30 mins. The perfect time to come is in the morning up to 1145am. This place is worth the wait anyway!

The food and pastries were really good, I’d definitely recommend. There are many options to choose from, I am sure everyone will find something they like. My only complaint is that the place is too popular, therefore crowded. Too many people are waiting in line, all tables are occupied, the place is loud and not cosy at all

This is a perfect little place for brunch. They have a great variety of salads and sandwiches. There is always a wait time on the food but this place is always busy. Cute little cafe at downtown and this place is perfect for weekend brunch with family and friends. Great vibe and the location is a plus.

We were looking for a place to grab a meal and we came across this cafe. The food came fairly quick. I ordered the Buddha Bowl ($14.95) which was so. good. The tofu was perfectly seasoned with honey, garlic, and sesame seeds. The ingredients were super fresh.. perfect place for a light, healthy meal. However, I did have friends say that they would have liked more sauce in their bowls (Chipotle Bowl). Recommend the Buddha Bowl 10/10. Also, the sandwiches and toasts come with a side salad which is really nice. ⭐️⭐️

+1

Luchie Ruiz

We had to come back since the line was so long. The second time, the line was moving. We got a table and the food finally came maybe after 20 minutes. It was worth the wait. Presentation, freshness & flavor did not disappoint. My daughter & her husband live in SF. They took me out for lunch with her girlfriends

Tracy Crouthamel

Food is lovely, omelettes cooked perfectly and tender, French toast is sweet but not overly, lox bagel delicious. Friendly staff, clean, always full though but somehow I always find a seat, group of more than 2 could be difficult at prime brunch hour, but worth it.

+2

Loved this place! The omelet and lox on a croissant was very well made, filling and tasty. The coffees are delicious!! Got the Cuban latte and Dirty Chai. The mini pumpkin cheesecake was light sweet and perfect snack.

+1

Caffe Central in Burlingame is a delightful brunch spot with a focus on egg dishes. Their eggs benedict and fluffy omelets are both delicious and generously portioned. The cozy atmosphere and friendly staff make it a perfect place to relax and enjoy a satisfying meal.

+6

This place is the cutest!! Indoor and outdoor seating to accommodate parties of 2-6 people. They make out really easy to pick what you want to eat as they have every single dish on display for your viewing pleasure. You order your food at the cashier first & they’ll give you a number to take with you to your seat. Easily identifiable vegan, vegetarian, & gluten free options. Buddha bowl is super yummy with well flavored tofu, fresh avocado, cucumber, & radishes over a bed of quinoa. Drinks are plentiful with iced and warm teas, lattes, & juices. An entire bakery section as well if you’re in a rush and need go grab something to go. Ambiance is simplistic, very much a cafe style environment. Multiple locations as well. This one is super close to the airport.

Courtney Tai

Super cute place for brunch. THE BEST quiches, a must try when you visit. Easy ordering method and you pay beforehand so you can leave at your leisure. Self serve water near the back in cute mason jars. I would rate the food about average brunch food, french toast is pretty good and the sandwiches are too. Only thing is some of the sandwiches are stuffed with a lot so it’s hard to bite through. The place can get crowded near lunch time.

+5

Sofia Salim

I’m obsessed with this place. The food is so so amazing. I love that they have a display of the food so you can see what you order. I’ve tried salads, omelettes and pancakes all 10/10. The iced coffee is really good and the fresh juices you can taste the real ingredients. The staff is young and friendly. Best vibe sitting outside by the sun. I look forward to coming back here when i’m in the area

Yunkyeong Lee

Caffe central is a cozy and nice place for brunch. We tried Smoked Salmon Toast with Avocado and Salmon Eggbenedict. Foods were so good and coffee is also good! I love Cuban Latte. I will try a variety of desserts next time.

+2

Judy Margaret Chen

Passed by this place for a quick brunch on our road trip. The store is lovely with good atmosphere. The staff are friendly, but the dine-in service is a little slow. Probably too many orders. We ordered 2 drinks and 1 breakfast dish: CENTRAL only. The coffee was already out, but our breakfast dish took such a long time to be served. The drinks and the food were good though, so I won’t leave any bad review. EDIT 1: we came back for another brunch in the area. This time, we order 1 Dirty Chai, 1 Latte, 1 Central Pancakes and 1 Lox Croissant. They were very good.

+5

Duy Le Legends - WFG

This place is amazing! It has an Italian touch and feel. It is very busy so it can he hard to get seats even though there are plenty of table inside and outside. The food is as amazing as the setting. In the heart of Burlingame, which is a beautiful gem of a city in the Bay Area. If you have not been here, it is a must visit. And if you happen to get a table on the sidewalk, stay a while, it is worth it.

+6

Victoria S

I originally was going to visit Joe&Juice, but it was closed, so I strolled over here, and I am SO glad it worked out that way because I loved this place! I got the tofu buddha bowl, and it was exactly what I was in the mood for— light, fresh, and flavorful. Their menu had a balanced variety with lots of healthy options and everything I saw on nearby tables looked just as good. They also had an array of decaffeinated teas— which was great as I visited in the evening. I opted for the hibiscus tea, and it was light and not overly sweet, which was perfect. Lastly, I really enjoyed the vibe! I visited to study/work, and it wasn’t necessarily quiet, but it wasn’t overstimulating either. It is slightly more suited for dining and/or having a coffee/tea with friends specifically, but it can also do OK for a little study/reading sesh depending on the table you pick (and having headphones). Overall, such a lovely little spot and I am keen on revisiting!

Shandiz Montazeri

Caffe Central is a fantastic spot for breakfast or brunch! They offer a wide variety of options, so you're sure to find something that satisfies your cravings. Whether you're looking for something healthy or a hearty indulgence, they have it all. The food quality is excellent, and the coffee is no afterthought. They clearly use fresh ingredients and care about crafting delicious meals. Another big plus is the seating area. They have a lovely outdoor patio that's perfect for enjoying a sunny day, and the indoor space is comfortable and inviting as well. Overall, I highly recommend Caffe Central! It's a great place to relax, enjoy a delicious meal, and soak up the atmosphere.

The menu is varied and delicious. You can enjoy a variety of delicious dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

+4

Gabby

I always come here for brunch with my friends because of their wide selcetion of food and drinks. Although my drink gets lost thriugh the crowd sometimes, I understand becauase there are way too many people inside ordering. The workers are incredibly nice and positive.

Felicia Asuncion

Nice cafe with authentic desserts and fluffy, sweet pancakes that really stands out. Definitely worth trying. The only downside is that it gets so busy. So expect a wait and bring extra patience.

Jasmen Tucker

What a lovely experience! The kind and respectful people that watch over your stuff while you use the bathroom to the hospitality from the employees. Definitely my new spot!

+3

Anastasiya Jakhovets

I absolutely love this place! Their breakfasts and coffee are always amazing — everything is fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. I often feature Caffè Central’s dishes in my Instagram stories and reviews, and so many of my followers have already visited after seeing my posts — every single one of them loved it just as much as I do. Such a cozy, welcoming spot — definitely one of my favorite cafés in the Bay Area!

Anchal Sikka

Must try 🍽️ Berry French Toast ( Best ) 🍓 It had a chocolate filling ( tastes like Cadbury dairy milk), perfectly cooked, not too sweet and covered w strawberries. Tomato mozzarella sandwich Fresh , the bread was a little hard but the flavor made up for it!! Comes with a side salad!! Overall, the place was chill and cute. Perfect spot for a brunch. The food is a win. Totally recommend it to anyone who loves healthy drinks and yum food.

+4

The food for brunch and the drinks are perfect! The only downside is that it’s always packed, and the seating is a bit uncomfortable. 🥹

I ordered the turkey BLT minus the turkey. It had one piece of bacon in the entire baguette sandwich. Overall, the sandwich was delicious, but clearly I wanted a BLT and barely got one.

Had an assortment of dessert cakes to take away: Moro blood orange, opera cake, mango mousse, chocolate toffee. It’s nice to get a wide assortment of flavors to try. Seems like they have an inefficient service model where you have to remember the names of what you want and tell it to the cashier.

I’ve been to cafe central a couple of times and the food is consistently delicious, service is good sometimes it can take a bit long to get your food because they do get busy, there’s seating area inside and outside which I like.

+2

Cute place for brunch! Everything was good but nothing exceptional and quite similar to some other places (like Foreigner in San Mateo). I enjoyed the salmon Benedict :) will likely try one of their breakfast bowls next time.

Caffe Central?? Wasn't it located in downtown San Francisco? Anyway, this place has become our go-to every Sunday morning!! Coffee, salad, and pie... nothing particularly wow, but it's just a place where we can relax and hang out for a bit, simply and casually!

Long line, but move fast. Service is quick breakfast was good. Great place for breakfast with a lots of variety

Great place for brunch! Breakfast cocktail: Bellini, is a must-try, along with iced cafe-latte (well, seperately, of course!). Egg Benedict with salmon was great, along with other egg dishes. "Burlingamer" was unfortunately a little disappointing, maybe because of greasy eggs and dry slices of bread. Lemon ricotta pancakes are ideal to end the brunch on a sweet note. Enough about delish food! The service here is good, water is self-served. I would recommend someone from the party should be on the lookout for the table (especially during busy times), while others lineup at the counter to order and pay. And, there are so many coffee and pastry options that are not on the menu. So, is recommend checking out their lovely selection while you lineup for the order.

Came for some coffee & snack so ordered cappuccino & gluten free flour less cake. Coffee was good and the cake was just full of dark chocolate or mousse type. They could have mentioned straight dark chocolate than just naming it has gluten free flour less cake which was a disappointment for me. Or else it’s a cool place and very friendly staff.

+2

A friend brought us here before our flight, a nice place for a coffee/tea and a snack or brunch. Close by to the airport with bunch of cute shops along the strip.

+4

Busy cafe in downtown Burlingame. We stopped on our way to San Francisco because we were just too hungry and couldn't wait to get to the city, but probably spent about as much time looking for parking on a busy Saturday. We didn't try their coffee drinks as we had already had ours, just tried two brunch plates. The farmhouse breakfast was appeasing and I liked a good butter and jam toast next to my scrambled eggs. The sausage pieces were big and not the best. Our other dish was the chorizo wrap which was very average. The service was good for a semi self-serve cafe like this and I appreciated the manager checking on a table next to us who had apparently had a mixup in their order.

Almost everything about this place is a five star I just had to give them one less star because unfortunately, the espresso coffee they serve is of the lighter roasted types, which, for some people that might be what they're looking for but for me it produces an acidic and fruity coffee... And I just do not like that kind of coffee. Enough about me.... They have a lot of great options for small meals such as salads and sandwiches, and the desserts and pastries are definitely my favorite thing to order here. In the picture you will see the gluten-free almond lemon cake, awesome! So when you feel like having an afternoon coffee or tea and a pastry to go with, this is pretty much the number one option in the whole area! (Note the very light blonde color of roast of the coffee, the lighter the roast the more acidic in general the coffee will be)

This place is fantastic! Really loved their cappuccino, creme brûlée cheesecake and chocolate cake (really decadent!). Prices are a little on the higher side but it is justified. Keen to try other things like the sandwiches etc.

They are great people. It looks like they love what they are doing. I tried their bunch of lunch sandwiches never had breakfast options. Today I tried like my breakfast fried egg sandwich. I prefer thick and toasted bread but it was great anyway

Great place. My boyfriend and I got a cold brew and an iced central latte to drink. And then to eat he got a chicken club pesto sandwich and I got the chicken Swiss on focaccia bread. Both were very good, a tad greasy but other than that great. We came around 4:30 so it was not busy it was very nice and the workers are sweet

Really great cafe, I was impressed by the salad options, it can often be hard to find a good and unique salad. I got the peachy summer salad, but several others looked delicious too! For a weekday, the restaurant was pretty packed, with a line out the door. Food took a little longer than I’d hoped, but totally worth the wait, just something to consider if you only have a short time to eat. I ordered the vanilla caramel latte and thought it was ok, but not something I would order again.

Nice coffee shop at Burlingame downtown. This is the first first visit. I was looking to visit the coffee shop, which I had never been before. When we arrived, it was pretty full. It has indoor and outdoor tables. They are many customers who seem to use it for meeting as we can see many are on video call. I just can't feel the privacy of using coffee shops for meetings unless it is the only choice. About the food, there are many dishes to choose from. You can see the samples. For me, most of them are for brunch or lunch since portions are considered huge. They also have pastries. You still can order a light breakfast option like we did, which is burlingamer. It is egg, bread, and avocado. It has many options of coffee. You can see the coffee options on the wall. Your order is at the cashier, and you will get a number. They will bring your order to your table. Our breakfast was good, and the latte was good, too. One thing may be they can do is to provide a dirty dish container and let customer clean their own table. It is the norm in many coffee shops.

+1

Good outdoor seating. It's a great place for brunch or a quick coffee. We ordered Breakfast Bagel and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, both were very enjoyable.

1/29/22 first time here. We were on a 26hr layover & our friend brought us here for brunch. It was a nice spot and the food was really good. Good service and nice outdoor seating. I would certainly return if I'm in the SFO area.

We got a cappuccino and a Cuban latte and an almond croissant. The hot drinks were ok, however the time was Saturday noon, so everybody wanted to eat the lunch, not so much have coffee. It was a bit crowded and noisy, but you can imaging the place during the other time of the day than the rush hour and that could be a pleasant place for drinking coffee and chatting the life.

I tried it for the first time. I like the simplicity of their menu and what the food looks like. Curious to know if you are related to the Pacifica coffee brunch restaurant. I will go back again....

We got an almond croissant (7/10), a latte (8.5/10) and a california bagel (7.5/10). The food was good, only complain about my bagel is that it came with some fruit on the side but it was pretty sour. The place is cute but the tables outside don’t have such a pleasing sight. The service was quick and nice. The food choices are wide and there’s a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. You can have a full meal or a food break there, it’s perfect for any occasion. The place was a little dirty, I would recommend keeping up the cleanliness more. Overall I liked it. Thank you byeee :)

+1

G Lee

Kind of a trendy, popular breakfast and code place. I love the outdoor seating area and the air, high ceiling indoor seating. Order at the counter, receive a number and wait for your food to come. For first timers, choosing food can be intimidating. There are food display counters, menu on the wall, and paper menus. So much input. But I think it turns out they all say the same thing. I do thing the food display is great as you see exactly what you’ll get. Anyway, the California omelette was fantastic. Really well cooked. Some places overcook omelette but not these. And it comes with a couple slices of delicious toasted baguette. Eggs Benedict are another high recommendation. Someone else got a sandwich also on the Baguette which looked good. Note it’s the hard type of Baguette, not the soft. And lastly, I don’t have any but the pastries and desserts looked delicious. Maybe next time. Really good restaurant.

+6

It is an excellent place if you want fresh foods with lots of vegetables and choices. If you are a picky eater, this is not the place for you. They have a weekend brunch menu as well. That's very eclectic.

regis kwong

Found this spot since it was right near our hotel, and it clearly draws a crowd! We stopped by for breakfast and the place was absolutely packed, which is usually a good sign. The Food The menu is huge—they have everything from quick pastries to full sit-down meals like Eggs Benedict and French toast. Here’s the breakdown of what we tried: • Eggs Benedict: Awesome! Perfectly cooked and really hit the spot. • Chocolate French Toast: Fantastic. If you have a sweet tooth, this is a must-order. • Strawberry Croissant: This was the only slight letdown. While it looked beautiful, it was a bit stale and lacked that fresh, buttery crispiness you want in a croissant. The Experience The system here is order and pay at the counter first, then they bring the food out to your table. They also have water carafes already on the tables for self-service, which I always appreciate. Even though it was busy, the service remained solid and friendly. Parking & Tips Since it’s right in the heart of downtown Burlingame, parking is all street parking. You might have to circle the block once or twice during peak morning hours, but it's worth it for the vibe.

Nancylee Spitzer

Busy neighborhood bistro with really tasty salads, sanwiches, breakfast, pastries amd coffee. All made with really fresh ingredients.

+2

I've noticed how popular this cafe was and decided to stop by. It was great to see many popular items on actual display: it was easier to make a decision. Just like others, I attempted to get nutritional value information but it was not available. The goddess bowl 🥗 was ok; i focused on the greens like kale and broccoli and quinoa. The pumpkin or sweet potatoes were extremely sweet. I also felt an extreme thirst, so I think they added msg. Overall, it's an ok experience, and I don't think I will return.

It was ok, the sandwich gave me heartburn 😂 but the side salad was nice. Very busy. Nice place to have a coffee

+1

It’s a decent place to have brunch, but the service could be slow when crowded(took about 20 mins to get our food). I went here just to get the latte :) (It could have been hotter). They gave me boiled egg when I asked for scrambled eggs but they corrected the order after pointing out. Our server was great though!

My wife and I had dinner here last week. The food was good, we've eaten here a couple of times and though a bit expensive it is still good. However, my mocha was an absolute dumpster fire that unfortunately also killed the trash panda. The espresso was so burnt that it overwhelmed everything else. I could taste any chocolate or enjoy any of the creaminess of the frothed milk. In short, go for the food and avoid the coffee.

Very friendly staff and my second time coming here. The food looks beautiful and well prepared on the plate. But for the most part, the taste has never fully met my expectations here. I’ve tried their brownies, cakes and coffee and each time they look beautiful but never gives it the right finish taste. At least from my experience it tastes dry and not moist enough. The lox bagel is an excellent choice but very standard across other cafes. The avocado toast has a very ok rating. It’s overloaded with arugula and the avocados are cold and not seasoned well and the egg doesn’t help. You taste everything as it is but not as a artful combination.

Can you guess from this photo what I ordered? Not easily. This is supposed to be avocado toast, but it’s so covered in greens you can’t even tell. There are not one, but two layers of the greens on this one tiny little piece of bread, and the avocado is so thinly sliced you can’t even taste it. I actually thought the left side was a piece of toast too, but it was just salad. And this is $15. I know times are tough, but this ridiculous. Give me avocado on my avocado toast! I also ordered a carrot cake tart, which was overpriced and tasted like it had been frozen.

If not for the service this place will be getting a 4 star from me. Great flavor and selection of salads, sandwiches and coffee. Presentation is very delicately done and serving sizes were just right. A little bit pricey especially if you are not getting any meats. Got a free slice of cake because of the bad service we got.

+6

The decent, albeit a bit on the pricey side. The biggest issue is the free for all seating. Morning brunch house is busy here and it's "seat yourself." This just leads to single people taking 4 tops and waiting for 15 minutes while their friends park/arrive. I really dislike having to fight for seating, watching all the diners so I can swoop into a table as soon as they begin to stand. If this place just hired a hostess who seated people, it would be a much more enjoyable experience. Much nicer than having people eyeball you, hungrily awaiting your table before you've even taken your last bite. People even come up and ask you when your leaving, while you are still eating/drinking. It's just less enjoyable.

Looks great, place is beautiful, outside seating is great, but nothing counts more to me than the quality of the food. It was okay, not that good. Créme of some kind on eggs should sound great, but I couldn't really palate it without taking a piece of toast with every bite. The bread, too, was very tough. I'd read the reviews saying this is the "tough kind of bread, not the soft kind", but still, it was sliced toast and very tough. Latte was okay, a little less bitter than some.

Hans Goertz

Decent food, horrible drinks. We had the carrot cake, which was quite nice and had the Spanish iced Matcha and the pistachio iced Matcha, which were both absolutely watery and disgusting. The pistachio Macha tasted, especially artificial and weird. It almost tasted like rubbing alcohol.

Jean Tsou

Food was ok. There were many different selections. Outdoor seating was comfortable.

+2

I always loved their food and have come here multiple times. Today I was having a brunch with my friends and it was super busy on a Sunday afternoon. We somehow got a nice table outside, waited for our food and drinks to come for about 15-20 minues, then 20 miners later a lady working there comes up to us saying "you take your time but I need this table in 10 minutes". And places a reserved card on our table, then the other servers were eager to grab our plates and cups to make us leave ASAP by all means. We felt super rushed and unwelcomed. Unacceptable.

Beautiful cafe but customer service is very bad and feels like only for us. We waited 40 min in line and finally got the table. The server went every table except ours. Then he came to us and said he remembered something to finish so he will do that and will come back to us but when I saw he was taking orders from other customers. Then he came to us and took order. I asked him about eggless pastry he told me to go at front and look for it. They only have 1 pastry which was eggless so he could easily told us about it. I went and looked and came back waiting for him to take the order. He didn't come back at all. But I was watching him going to each table except ours. Finally when we were ready to leave he came and asked me do you want berry pastry so that means he knew about it but didn't tell me before. I told him no and we are ready to leave. He told me he is very busy I realized that was only for US. Everyone else was getting what they want. It seems he did it purposely. My husband got apple strudel and it was very bad taste and seemed very not fresh. He couldn't finish it It's beautiful looking cafe but that's it. Wanted to get good experience but.

I would normally give Caffe Central at least three stars for a review. But this time I want their management to notice this review and get a handle on training their employees. Why does Caffe Central train their employees to serve their Apple And Almond Tart on top of a napkin? The question above is asked partially as a sarcastic question. It is my hope that the normal training routine for all Caffe Central employees would have their employees place the ordered food items directly onto the plate. Not on top of a napkin that they would expect their customers to wipe their fingers with. In any case, brown paper napkin is not an appropriate replacement for paper doilies when presenting food on a plate, or inside of a to-go container. On a positive note, the Caffe Central Cappuccino was made in an excellent fashion. If you didn't know it already, Caffe Central has a sister location in Pacifica with a different name. It's called, Soul Grind Coffee Roasters. As far as I know, their sister location also supplies all of the coffee for all of the Caffe Central locations. And I think it is the reason all of the Caffe Central locations have excellent coffees. One of the things their sister location is allowed to do differently is in the choice of their chai mix that they use to make their chai lattes. In that case they have replaced the liquid carton of over-sweet chai mix with the brand of chai called 'Soul Chai". The flavor comes out more robust and less sweet than the Oregon chai mix used at all of the Caffe Central locations. I wish Cafe Central would switch up using the same mix that Soul Grind Coffee Roasters use. Namely "Soul Chai" brand. For the rest of the experience in the Burlingame location I have to say it's great. All of the tables that I noticed when I came in at 7:30 p.m. were clean. Since it's December 26th, Holiday decorations are still up both inside and outside. The window is still painted with a holiday scene. Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Dog water bowl out front is clean and filled. Bathroom is clean and neat. Internet is fast and free. Overall vibe positive, bright, warm, and friendly. For anyone reading this review, I recommend a stop at Caffe Central. 99% of the time my experience here has been positive and problem free.

+6

Will Sripakdeevong

I usually come here for my morning routine and have a good time. Today, the café was fairly quiet when I arrived. I opened my laptop while finishing my breakfast (soup), and I was still drinking my tea — I can’t drink hot tea and hot soup at the same time. The whole thing took about 30 minutes. When the café started getting busier, a lady asked if I was done and tried to rush me out. I actually wanted to make space for others too, so I told her I was almost done and just needed a few minutes, even though I was maybe 10% into my tea. I was also finishing up work with a tight deadline, so I needed a moment to wrap up my thoughts and save my file properly. Within the next 30 seconds, she came back and scolded me three times: “You need to leave!,” “We cannot have you here!” while tapping aggressively on my table, to the point I had to tell her that I’m a customer too and I wasn’t done with my drink. She didn’t believe me until I literally had to open my drink lid to show her my unfinished cup. Then she questioned whether I even bought the drink, because I brought my own mug. I had to show her my receipt, which she took to check. I didn’t expect to be interrogated over breakfast. I even pointed out that she was the one who served me, and she insisted pretty steadfastly she didn’t. I just let it go at that point. Ironically, all of this took more time than if she had simply let me finish packing up and leave normally. I understand they’re busy but not being allowed even a few minutes to finish my drink and pack up is unreasonable. Some basic courtesy toward customers would make a big difference.

The WiFi does not work!! Don't plan to sit here without trying to connect your device first. The staff shows their devices that are connected, and will not restart the router. I should have gone to my regular cafe with better customer service and Wi-Fi connection.

I used to love this place and the food was always really good. So I decided to come here on a Sunday just to get a drink with my family. I wanted the pistachio match but unfortunately they were out of syrup. So the cashier recommended me to try there spanish matcha. It was absolutely disgusting and tasted nothing like matcha. You could tell also how bad it was from the pale green color. I met a nice lady waiting who encouraged me to ask and switch it out because they recommended me to try it because she does it all the time. At first I was gonna purchase a new drink but trusted that this regular knew how understanding there staff could be. I waited in line and asked to exchange the matcha and the cashier was super kind about it. Then after there manager found out, she stopped the exchange and was extremely rude. Instead of allowing me to exchange the drink she said that it wasn’t there fault you didn’t like it. I offered to pay the difference for the new drink and continued saying that the matcha had not matcha taste, and that I was prompted to try the drink from the cashier. We left a large tip (over 20%) when purchasing the drinks, and I still offered to pay the difference. After going back and forth about exchanging the drink, she finally let me and started doing math on paper to calculate how much I owed. It was 1 dollar for the exchange. During this whole process she was being extremely rude most likely because I was a Black young adult sticking up for myself because I know she would never treat anyone else this way. After saying that I would no longer be coming here she annoying said that’s fine and told me that I no longer had to pay the difference. After receiving my drink we let her know that we were still missing a lemon tart. She tried to make us show our receipt or proof of purchase. Another worker out originally cashier was so annoyed by her actioned he ended up just bringing it. All this to say, if you are a Black person, do not expect to be treated equally when you come here. The manager of this establishment when I visited Sunday morning (an Asian America women) was extremely rude and treated my family with disrespect. It got to the point where another customer heard our situation, and spoke to the manger about how poorly she was treating us. We as people should be treated equally just because we are human. The color of my skin should not determine my value as a customer in an establishment.

Poor customer service!!! 1) Have gone in person about 30 minutes before they close and employees are clearly annoyed that you’re there. Instead of welcoming you and kindly say the time you have to place an order, they don’t even say ‘hi’ and just tell you that they are closing the kitchen. 2) Placed a pick up order online, the restaurant didn’t get it for whatever reason (ok, things like that happen with systems but it’s the way that the situation is handled what matters at that point). Both, the cashier and the manager were VERY RUDE and CARELESS, like if the inconvenience was for them a not the customer (who had a receipt). Cashier left the person picking up the order standing there with no update on what they were going to do, she kept receiving orders from people in the line ignoring the issue, when he asked what was going on, the cashier -without talking- just pointed out her manager, who also has ZERO customer service etiquette and interest in doing a good job. After a while she comes back to the front area with the order like nothing happened. I wish we could have canceled the online order (which included a tip that they don’t deserve!). The quality of the food is just fine, not special. Nothing justifies the bad service that we’re paying for!

Ordered a cesar to go. When I got home I found a worm in the salad. Attempted to call the restaurant and let them know, but they hung up on me. Beware lettuce products!!

Very disappointing went for breakfast the bacon and the sausage the potatoes were cold I ordered the Irish breakfast. 😞we where a party of 3. We also ordered coffee which came out 30 minutes after. I asked for some Half & half and that was a problem too! Waitress gave us a tiny little mini cup of cream and upset I asked for half & half. I also spoke with the manager. She was unapologetic about the breakfast and brought out more bacon that was over cooked and cold with potatoes that again were cold. This place went down hill !! Over priced and food was horrible!!! There are so many other places to consider for Breakfast & definitely drop this one !!

Our family have been long time customers of this cafe for many years, and we used to like this place a lot. But our most recent visit this Sunday was very unpleasant. We arrived around noon time, and yes it was peak time and there was a long line to wait for ordering at the counter. We have a small child and my husband was trying to secure a table and chair as our little one was really tired after finishing a hike in the morning while they wait for me to place an order at the counter. That was when the waitress was preventing them from seating and my husband was pretty sure the waitress didn’t do the same to any other customers even when other customer were also trying to secure a table while their order is being placed by one member of their party. After our dishes arrived, we didn’t even spend more than 30min to finish our lunch and our little one was still trying to finish her food, we were interrupted very abruptly by the owner saying she really needs the table to be cleared. Again, they didn’t do the same to any other table. On the contrary, there were two white gentlemen seated in a nearby table and they were only drinking coffee and could sit much longer time without being rushed at all. They were not even ordering any food. We were apparently targeted as an Asian family and the cafe employees were kind of picking on us and they thought we were easier to be bullied as Asian customers just because we look nice and kind and wouldn’t feel offended. And they provided much politer service to white customers. We’re definitely not interested in visiting this place again. What a shame on providing such rude and racist service of Caffe Central to long time loyal customers. Tips were even paid upfront at ordering. This kind of service really only deserves negative tips.

I tried their iced Charcoal Latte and unfortunately, it was the worst latte I've ever had. I was genuinely excited to try something new, but the flavor was overwhelmingly smoky in a way that masked any hint of coffee. The milk also had a burnt aftertaste, which made it even harder to enjoy. Maybe the hot version tastes different, but based on my experience, I’m not trying their drinks again. I haven’t had a chance to try their food or pastries, so I can’t comment on those. The service felt rushed—understandably, it was close to closing time, but it still left a less-than-welcoming impression :c