What a unique unique experience that fills one’s tummy and heart alike ❤️! Gosh, would never barter this one with anything else in life.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
elena b
Such an incredible experience, and amazing good.
violet
yummy food
laurel
yummy food
Kim Pham, Pharm.D.
What a gem! In the courtyard of the Anthropology Museum, you’ll find this charming oasis. Everything from the furniture, landscape, menu, and soundtrack are all thoughtfully procured. Afternoon tea consisted of 3 refreshing flavors of tea and 3 sweet dishes. The chia seed porridge was a generous portion with a delicious flavor profile as well as texture. The toasted hazelnuts added a tasty crunch. Blackberries and gooseberries were a nice palate cleanser, and the chia seed flour brownie bites were addictive! The black walnuts and coarse East Bay salt were a perfect combination! I’m thankful they don’t sell these individually otherwise I would be eating them daily. In bulk.Not only was the meal unique and delicious, we also learned some Ohlone history and words as well as heard some lovely songs and spoken word that were pre-recorded. It’s such a nice experience and so much more than just food and drinks!
Theresa N.
Although their physical location has closed (they plan to re-open at the courtyard of the Hearst Museum in November), they are doing monthly to-go Sunday Suppers which are phenomenal. We did one this past weekend for our anniversary. Eight courses of locally-foraged and grown foods, lovingly crafted into dishes from traditional recipes or inspired by Ohlone cuisine. The instructions for preparation were very well done, and it was an extremely fun dinner for the two of us. The care of the packaging was evident (most of the dinner comes in a handmade wooden crate), the portions were generous, and we loved trying some completely new flavors, and even techniques. I've never slow-roasted mushrooms before, they were amazing. The Chia biscuits were delicious. The fresh King salmon tasted like it was just from the sea (it was caught 36 hours before). The chocolate brownies and hand pies were a delicious ending. A real star was the salad - I would get this over and over. The dinner came with links to a fun playlist and an inspiring video of the founders conversing with an Ohlone elder. Highly, highly recommend this.
Go Review G.
Cafe Ohlone is closed in their physical location, but they are offering outstanding meal kits until the pandemic subsides and they can re-open in a new location. I have both eaten at the cafe before it temporarily closed, and had a Sunday dinner kit they prepared. I can safely say that Cafe Ohlone takes such exceptional care and skill and consideration in the preparation of their meals that it is easily one of the best experiences I've ever had. The meal kit includes exposure to Ohlone traditions and culture, extremely fresh and locally sourced ingredients, and beautiful added touches (beeswax candle, dried fragrant flowers, a playlist, accompanying video, detailed menu and instructions) to provide a whole ambiance in your home that elevates the experience to ceremonial levels. The wild, fresh, complex and delicious combination of flavors alight the palete and bring the vivid sensations to life with a renewed appreciation of the vital Ohlone culture that is vibrant and continues on in the East Bay today. I highly, highly recommend this experience to everyone who is serious about food and interested in culture.
K E
Can’t wait tell it open back up it will be my first time there
Dash Arnold
One of my favorite spots to grab some food. excellent location, neat, and excellent service. A must try!
Betty Salter
Every detail was addressed with 5 star quality. Dishes were amazing. Service was fast and perfect. Highly recommend Cafe Ohlone!!
I really enjoyed their dishes. I always get awesome customer service here. The place is clean and the staff members are always welcoming. Highly recommended.
Corrina H.
Cafe Ohlone is so thoughtful and detail-oriented. We live on occupied Ohlone land. Come learn about Ohlone cuisine. It's a very special experience!!
Stan S.
Wow wow wow!!! I first had Cafe Ohlone's food while volunteering at UC Berkeley's Students of Color Conference in February of 2019. It was the official caterer for the event, and I was able to have a plate of the food for lunch. It was an extremely wholesome, filling, and refreshing meal. To the best of my memory, it had Ohlone salad, chia seed pudding, blackberry, nuts, acorn soup, and other items. It was an extremely memorable meal, so much so that when I got home from the conference I looked Cafe Ohlone up on the Internet so I could dine with them again. I realized during this search that Cafe Ohlone is not akin to most restaurants. It isn't always "open" and isn't in its own "building". Instead, Cafe Ohlone is open a few times a month offering tastings, tea-hours, and (less frequently) full dinners and brunches. As for locating them, that was a bit of a struggle. I still had it in my mind that I was looking for an actual storefront despite having living in the area for four years. It was only after ten minutes of going into Musical Offerings, standing outside University Press Books (UPB) and asking the book store employee at UPB for help did I realize that Cafe Ohlone is situated at the back of the lot in a covered patio area. In other words, just walk to the back of UPB and go out the door. As other reviewers have touched on, Cafe Ohlone is a unique experience where indigenous people share with you not just a small tasting of their food, but also their culture and history. At the tawwa-sii/tea hour I went to, we were given small plates of food, some like the one I had at SCEC and some new ones I did not have before. They included: quail eggs, a muffin with mushrooms in it, and some prepared plants that I can't quite remember (it was more than a year ago!). After the meal, Vincent (the host) instructed us in a game played by the Ohlone people involving sticks. He taught us how to say some numbers in his native tongue. I greatly enjoyed the experience. The space itself is long and narrow. It is at the back of a book store and Musical Offerings. A long picnic table runs the length of the space, with a little food prep area bookending one end. I believe there was a DJ playing some music at the other end. Only a part of the table is covered by a roof structure while the remaining length of the table is uncovered. It can be a bit chilly in the evening, so be sure to wear a warm jacket if you are signed up for a tea hour or full dinner. The tea hour in February 2019 was $15, but it appears to be $20 now for spring 2020. Please do note that, unless you attend the full dinner/brunch, you will be having a tasting that may not completely quell your hunger. I could only find photos of Cafe Ohlone's food being served at the SCEC Convention, but I will be returning to Cafe Ohlone again in the future and will be sure to capture some more photos from its home base. All in all, Cafe Ohlone offers you an opportunity to learn more about the indigenous people through its food, which serves as a stepping stone to the culture and history of a people who have long inhabited the space that is the Bay Area. Although the space is narrow and at times difficult to move around in, it makes for a cozy and intimate experience as you learn and eat side-by-side other interested attendees. I highly recommend Cafe Ohlone, and hope you can make it out to one of their meals!
Kay S.
A friend of mine suggested this place for her birthday lunch. I had never heard of it before and was eager to try Ohlone cuisine. You'll be surprised to find this café at the back of a bookstore. Don't be confused, just walk to the very back where you'll find a large square table where people will be waiting for the Café to open. They are open for lunch on Thursdays and dinner on every other Saturday. I believe they are also open every other Sunday for brunch, and there may be one more meal. In any case check their website but this is not your average cafe experience. Lunch is from 1 to 3 and that's what we decided to go to. Do you want to come a little bit early so that you can be the first to decide where you want to sit as some of the tables are a little bit more sunny and summer more shaded. My group got there pretty early so we got to sit right in the middle, which for us was perfect. Café Ohlone isn't just the food experience, it's a holistic experience and educational. The founder, Vincent Medina, Will first speak to you about the history of the ohlone people in this area and then explain what the food is. The food is foraged as much as possible, and when I asked him he told me the things they are not able to forge they try to get from other tribes or at least a sustainable as possible. My understanding is that they forge the food for this meal for the entire week before that. They will be able to tell you exactly where everything came from, which is really neat. In addition they let us in a prayer before eating. Overall this was a very special experience. One of their biggest goals is to make sure people know the ohlone people still exist in this area. I will admit that I am guilty of not having known that, so this was very eye-opening and educational and I'm really glad I came. The meals are seasonal so when you come you might not exactly get what we did. But I loved our meal! The salad was delicious - so many flavors and textures! I personally really liked the oyster mushrooms and the potatoes. And the brownies were amazing! Everyone needs to know about this place!
Lenore Sanborn de Asis
We were thrilled to see that Cafe Ohlone was open for tawwa-sii/(evening tea) the evening we were driving in from the South Bay to see a band at the freight & salvage. We were a large party (8 of us) and we got stuck on traffic, so we showed up a little late. Luckily 1 of us was there when they were starting and was told we could all still come in even though we were 15-minutes late. We are so glad they did! Everyone in our group so appreciated the experience and all that we learned.
What a unique unique experience that fills one’s tummy and heart alike ❤️! Gosh, would never barter this one with anything else in life.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Such an incredible experience, and amazing good.
yummy food
yummy food
What a gem! In the courtyard of the Anthropology Museum, you’ll find this charming oasis. Everything from the furniture, landscape, menu, and soundtrack are all thoughtfully procured. Afternoon tea consisted of 3 refreshing flavors of tea and 3 sweet dishes. The chia seed porridge was a generous portion with a delicious flavor profile as well as texture. The toasted hazelnuts added a tasty crunch. Blackberries and gooseberries were a nice palate cleanser, and the chia seed flour brownie bites were addictive! The black walnuts and coarse East Bay salt were a perfect combination! I’m thankful they don’t sell these individually otherwise I would be eating them daily. In bulk.Not only was the meal unique and delicious, we also learned some Ohlone history and words as well as heard some lovely songs and spoken word that were pre-recorded. It’s such a nice experience and so much more than just food and drinks!
Although their physical location has closed (they plan to re-open at the courtyard of the Hearst Museum in November), they are doing monthly to-go Sunday Suppers which are phenomenal. We did one this past weekend for our anniversary. Eight courses of locally-foraged and grown foods, lovingly crafted into dishes from traditional recipes or inspired by Ohlone cuisine. The instructions for preparation were very well done, and it was an extremely fun dinner for the two of us. The care of the packaging was evident (most of the dinner comes in a handmade wooden crate), the portions were generous, and we loved trying some completely new flavors, and even techniques. I've never slow-roasted mushrooms before, they were amazing. The Chia biscuits were delicious. The fresh King salmon tasted like it was just from the sea (it was caught 36 hours before). The chocolate brownies and hand pies were a delicious ending. A real star was the salad - I would get this over and over. The dinner came with links to a fun playlist and an inspiring video of the founders conversing with an Ohlone elder. Highly, highly recommend this.
Cafe Ohlone is closed in their physical location, but they are offering outstanding meal kits until the pandemic subsides and they can re-open in a new location. I have both eaten at the cafe before it temporarily closed, and had a Sunday dinner kit they prepared. I can safely say that Cafe Ohlone takes such exceptional care and skill and consideration in the preparation of their meals that it is easily one of the best experiences I've ever had. The meal kit includes exposure to Ohlone traditions and culture, extremely fresh and locally sourced ingredients, and beautiful added touches (beeswax candle, dried fragrant flowers, a playlist, accompanying video, detailed menu and instructions) to provide a whole ambiance in your home that elevates the experience to ceremonial levels. The wild, fresh, complex and delicious combination of flavors alight the palete and bring the vivid sensations to life with a renewed appreciation of the vital Ohlone culture that is vibrant and continues on in the East Bay today. I highly, highly recommend this experience to everyone who is serious about food and interested in culture.
Can’t wait tell it open back up it will be my first time there
One of my favorite spots to grab some food. excellent location, neat, and excellent service. A must try!
Every detail was addressed with 5 star quality. Dishes were amazing. Service was fast and perfect. Highly recommend Cafe Ohlone!!
Restaurantji Recommends
I really enjoyed their dishes. I always get awesome customer service here. The place is clean and the staff members are always welcoming. Highly recommended.
Cafe Ohlone is so thoughtful and detail-oriented. We live on occupied Ohlone land. Come learn about Ohlone cuisine. It's a very special experience!!
Wow wow wow!!! I first had Cafe Ohlone's food while volunteering at UC Berkeley's Students of Color Conference in February of 2019. It was the official caterer for the event, and I was able to have a plate of the food for lunch. It was an extremely wholesome, filling, and refreshing meal. To the best of my memory, it had Ohlone salad, chia seed pudding, blackberry, nuts, acorn soup, and other items. It was an extremely memorable meal, so much so that when I got home from the conference I looked Cafe Ohlone up on the Internet so I could dine with them again. I realized during this search that Cafe Ohlone is not akin to most restaurants. It isn't always "open" and isn't in its own "building". Instead, Cafe Ohlone is open a few times a month offering tastings, tea-hours, and (less frequently) full dinners and brunches. As for locating them, that was a bit of a struggle. I still had it in my mind that I was looking for an actual storefront despite having living in the area for four years. It was only after ten minutes of going into Musical Offerings, standing outside University Press Books (UPB) and asking the book store employee at UPB for help did I realize that Cafe Ohlone is situated at the back of the lot in a covered patio area. In other words, just walk to the back of UPB and go out the door. As other reviewers have touched on, Cafe Ohlone is a unique experience where indigenous people share with you not just a small tasting of their food, but also their culture and history. At the tawwa-sii/tea hour I went to, we were given small plates of food, some like the one I had at SCEC and some new ones I did not have before. They included: quail eggs, a muffin with mushrooms in it, and some prepared plants that I can't quite remember (it was more than a year ago!). After the meal, Vincent (the host) instructed us in a game played by the Ohlone people involving sticks. He taught us how to say some numbers in his native tongue. I greatly enjoyed the experience. The space itself is long and narrow. It is at the back of a book store and Musical Offerings. A long picnic table runs the length of the space, with a little food prep area bookending one end. I believe there was a DJ playing some music at the other end. Only a part of the table is covered by a roof structure while the remaining length of the table is uncovered. It can be a bit chilly in the evening, so be sure to wear a warm jacket if you are signed up for a tea hour or full dinner. The tea hour in February 2019 was $15, but it appears to be $20 now for spring 2020. Please do note that, unless you attend the full dinner/brunch, you will be having a tasting that may not completely quell your hunger. I could only find photos of Cafe Ohlone's food being served at the SCEC Convention, but I will be returning to Cafe Ohlone again in the future and will be sure to capture some more photos from its home base. All in all, Cafe Ohlone offers you an opportunity to learn more about the indigenous people through its food, which serves as a stepping stone to the culture and history of a people who have long inhabited the space that is the Bay Area. Although the space is narrow and at times difficult to move around in, it makes for a cozy and intimate experience as you learn and eat side-by-side other interested attendees. I highly recommend Cafe Ohlone, and hope you can make it out to one of their meals!
A friend of mine suggested this place for her birthday lunch. I had never heard of it before and was eager to try Ohlone cuisine. You'll be surprised to find this café at the back of a bookstore. Don't be confused, just walk to the very back where you'll find a large square table where people will be waiting for the Café to open. They are open for lunch on Thursdays and dinner on every other Saturday. I believe they are also open every other Sunday for brunch, and there may be one more meal. In any case check their website but this is not your average cafe experience. Lunch is from 1 to 3 and that's what we decided to go to. Do you want to come a little bit early so that you can be the first to decide where you want to sit as some of the tables are a little bit more sunny and summer more shaded. My group got there pretty early so we got to sit right in the middle, which for us was perfect. Café Ohlone isn't just the food experience, it's a holistic experience and educational. The founder, Vincent Medina, Will first speak to you about the history of the ohlone people in this area and then explain what the food is. The food is foraged as much as possible, and when I asked him he told me the things they are not able to forge they try to get from other tribes or at least a sustainable as possible. My understanding is that they forge the food for this meal for the entire week before that. They will be able to tell you exactly where everything came from, which is really neat. In addition they let us in a prayer before eating. Overall this was a very special experience. One of their biggest goals is to make sure people know the ohlone people still exist in this area. I will admit that I am guilty of not having known that, so this was very eye-opening and educational and I'm really glad I came. The meals are seasonal so when you come you might not exactly get what we did. But I loved our meal! The salad was delicious - so many flavors and textures! I personally really liked the oyster mushrooms and the potatoes. And the brownies were amazing! Everyone needs to know about this place!
We were thrilled to see that Cafe Ohlone was open for tawwa-sii/(evening tea) the evening we were driving in from the South Bay to see a band at the freight & salvage. We were a large party (8 of us) and we got stuck on traffic, so we showed up a little late. Luckily 1 of us was there when they were starting and was told we could all still come in even though we were 15-minutes late. We are so glad they did! Everyone in our group so appreciated the experience and all that we learned.