Guy was more focused on trying to put the mac down on some customer vs making sales. This isn’t your center stage moment. Distracting your barista with videos, until she burns shot ain’t the move either. Big ups for having a La Marzocco as the workhorse.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Kimiko Hosono
I wanted to like this place, but it was just a coffee shop with pre-made food. I ordered an ice matcha latte which wasn't very good. I thought the food was freshly made, but was extremely disappointed. The food was expensive for what you get. The service was lackluster at best. For 3 of us, it cost over $60. What?? I'd rather go to Starbucks over this place, sadly. I want to support local, but it just wasn't good. :(
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
john plutino
Good food, constantly changing beer menu, good service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Megan Thomas
Was a bit underwhelmed by this place. I had to repeat myself several times to the cashier and they didn’t know what types of bagels they had. The food was bland.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Steven M.
just had the oddest experience. I was in here once before on my way back from Point Reyes and decided to stop here again after doing a hike. I remember the mtn biking vibe seemed pretty cool from before. I walked in around 5:45pm 1/14/24 and proceeded to stand at the register for like 3 minutes. I was like...is anyone working the register?? There seemed to be two guys making food and one of them finally broke away to get someone to take my order. It was a female that took my order. I just got a latte. pretty simple....right?? I then proceeded over to the pick up area where i kind of watched her just stand around and look at her phone and talk to another female employee. I thought....maybe one of the two guys busy making the food is going to do my order. After about 5 minutes the female that took my order FINALLY decided to make the latte. As she was making the latte she saw me standing there and asked me what i was waiting for. I thought to myself "is this a trick question??". I said i was waiting for the latte. This baffled me cause there was literally no one else that came after me and the front part of the establishment was empty. And on top of that.....SHE IS THE ONE THAT TOOK MY ORDER!!! I ended up leaving the establishment sipping a mediocre luke-warm latte that i just paid over $6 for. I was completely perplexed by the experience and felt like i just entered the twilight zone of customer service. Anyway....can't recommend this place after that and won't be returning.
Lance V.
Decent overall spot. This place is a good spot to get something to eat and grab a couple pints. The food was okay and the service was expected. I would say this isn't a top tier place but it is a great little addition to novato and I would recommend.
Al Z.
Went to Trailhead last nite for their "Smashburger". Saw it advertised as the Monday special. Was not disappointed as it not your typical fast food or restaurant burger. Cooked just outside the front door, it was as though it was cooked on your backyard BBQ. Generously served with fresh onions, tomato and lettuce and a side of Tailhead's home made potato chips. We paired our burgers with a well poured glass of Walt Sonoma Coast 2020 Chardonnay. So nice to have a friendly neighborhood and locally run restaurant available for the North Novato families.
Jacob S
Trailhead is great! They recently added a larger space towards the back that is perfect for parties and gatherings. 4 TV's with live sports when we were there for a soccer party. Food was delicious and of course the beverages of all sorts don't disappoint!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Erica R.
When I researched cozy coffee shops, I found Trailhead in Novato. I was so impressed! Its's the biggest and coziest coffee shop I've ever been to. It was cool to explore and see so many nooks and crannies to sit. The only thing was that the cool looking couch in the front entrance area was surrounded by flies. I sat there for 5 minutes and got tired of swatting. Could be that the trash bins by the front door were the cause of a bad time. Other than that, I loved the half moon booths in the back seating area. The OG salad was so filling and exactly what I expected from a typical delicious cobb salad. I did ask for some foam on the chai latte but the staff didn't seem to know what I was talking about and so I enjoyed a regular chai latte as it comes -- don't expect above and beyond here. Overall, it was a nice chill day and the art up on the walls was awesome!
Cutest little coffee shop. Great looking pastres. I had an apple strudel muffin. It was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Krissy M.
I go back and forth but ultimately decided it's a 2 star. Living up the street I want to love it. I've been 3 times... 1st time I met a friend for a beer and the kids a milkshake and it was great. Great beer selection, amazing Oreo milkshake big enough for my kids to share... definitely made us want to go back again. 2nd time I grabbed a beer with a friend and my kids wanted sprinkle donuts. It was 5pm, I figured the donuts would be gone but there were some. The ones that are cake donuts with chocolate and rainbow sprinkles... nothing special. It was $9For 2 dry 5pm donut?!? That's outrageous. That's a no go in the future. Beer again was yum. 3rd time I went for an iced vanilla latte- it was good. Nothing special. My kid wanted a bagel and cream cheese... it took forever to get. The staff prioritized about 5 coffee orders but nobody cared to make our bagel. After 10 mins we got our bagel. By the time we got to where we were going the bagel was so hard? I guess we should have eaten it instantly but after just 10 mins it was so hard and chewy... my kids couldn't eat it with their little teeth. I threw it away. Also $6 for a bagel and cream cheese that's tiny, smaller than the palm of my hand and actually inedible. Disappointing. I guess if I go back I'll stick to beer. The food is a bust.
Liz Vargas
Great cappuccinos and lattes. The espresso has a punch ! Love my cappuccino woth Halloween art flair. New back room for sports fans and plenty of spirits. It’s the former Starbucks in San marin location. I’m hoping for ,ore quick breakfast options but it is more. Lunch and dinner place. Owners are from Novato so it has the hometown feel,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
JC Solis
Great atmosphere and customer service. My only suggestion for the tri-tip sandwich is to add more chimichurri and don’t over toast the bread.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Molly Livingston
Nearly everything we bought was inedible. Overly microwaved breakfast sandwich with a brick of Styrofoam egg. Terrible (and tiny) microwaved breakfast burrito. The yogurt parfait said it was made today but it tasted like the strawberries were cut days ago, and the granola was totally soggy. It was disgusting. My daughter's bagel with cream cheese was fine. I would have complained but we were already started on our road trip. Will not come here again.
Great service and open air environment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Saus Burrito
Guy was more focused on trying to put the mac down on some customer vs making sales. This isn’t your center stage moment. Distracting your barista with videos, until she burns shot ain’t the move either. Big ups for having a La Marzocco as the workhorse.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
I wanted to like this place, but it was just a coffee shop with pre-made food. I ordered an ice matcha latte which wasn't very good. I thought the food was freshly made, but was extremely disappointed. The food was expensive for what you get. The service was lackluster at best. For 3 of us, it cost over $60. What?? I'd rather go to Starbucks over this place, sadly. I want to support local, but it just wasn't good. :(
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Good food, constantly changing beer menu, good service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Was a bit underwhelmed by this place. I had to repeat myself several times to the cashier and they didn’t know what types of bagels they had. The food was bland.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
just had the oddest experience. I was in here once before on my way back from Point Reyes and decided to stop here again after doing a hike. I remember the mtn biking vibe seemed pretty cool from before. I walked in around 5:45pm 1/14/24 and proceeded to stand at the register for like 3 minutes. I was like...is anyone working the register?? There seemed to be two guys making food and one of them finally broke away to get someone to take my order. It was a female that took my order. I just got a latte. pretty simple....right?? I then proceeded over to the pick up area where i kind of watched her just stand around and look at her phone and talk to another female employee. I thought....maybe one of the two guys busy making the food is going to do my order. After about 5 minutes the female that took my order FINALLY decided to make the latte. As she was making the latte she saw me standing there and asked me what i was waiting for. I thought to myself "is this a trick question??". I said i was waiting for the latte. This baffled me cause there was literally no one else that came after me and the front part of the establishment was empty. And on top of that.....SHE IS THE ONE THAT TOOK MY ORDER!!! I ended up leaving the establishment sipping a mediocre luke-warm latte that i just paid over $6 for. I was completely perplexed by the experience and felt like i just entered the twilight zone of customer service. Anyway....can't recommend this place after that and won't be returning.
Decent overall spot. This place is a good spot to get something to eat and grab a couple pints. The food was okay and the service was expected. I would say this isn't a top tier place but it is a great little addition to novato and I would recommend.
Went to Trailhead last nite for their "Smashburger". Saw it advertised as the Monday special. Was not disappointed as it not your typical fast food or restaurant burger. Cooked just outside the front door, it was as though it was cooked on your backyard BBQ. Generously served with fresh onions, tomato and lettuce and a side of Tailhead's home made potato chips. We paired our burgers with a well poured glass of Walt Sonoma Coast 2020 Chardonnay. So nice to have a friendly neighborhood and locally run restaurant available for the North Novato families.
Trailhead is great! They recently added a larger space towards the back that is perfect for parties and gatherings. 4 TV's with live sports when we were there for a soccer party. Food was delicious and of course the beverages of all sorts don't disappoint!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
When I researched cozy coffee shops, I found Trailhead in Novato. I was so impressed! Its's the biggest and coziest coffee shop I've ever been to. It was cool to explore and see so many nooks and crannies to sit. The only thing was that the cool looking couch in the front entrance area was surrounded by flies. I sat there for 5 minutes and got tired of swatting. Could be that the trash bins by the front door were the cause of a bad time. Other than that, I loved the half moon booths in the back seating area. The OG salad was so filling and exactly what I expected from a typical delicious cobb salad. I did ask for some foam on the chai latte but the staff didn't seem to know what I was talking about and so I enjoyed a regular chai latte as it comes -- don't expect above and beyond here. Overall, it was a nice chill day and the art up on the walls was awesome!
Restaurantji Recommends
Cutest little coffee shop. Great looking pastres. I had an apple strudel muffin. It was great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I go back and forth but ultimately decided it's a 2 star. Living up the street I want to love it. I've been 3 times... 1st time I met a friend for a beer and the kids a milkshake and it was great. Great beer selection, amazing Oreo milkshake big enough for my kids to share... definitely made us want to go back again. 2nd time I grabbed a beer with a friend and my kids wanted sprinkle donuts. It was 5pm, I figured the donuts would be gone but there were some. The ones that are cake donuts with chocolate and rainbow sprinkles... nothing special. It was $9For 2 dry 5pm donut?!? That's outrageous. That's a no go in the future. Beer again was yum. 3rd time I went for an iced vanilla latte- it was good. Nothing special. My kid wanted a bagel and cream cheese... it took forever to get. The staff prioritized about 5 coffee orders but nobody cared to make our bagel. After 10 mins we got our bagel. By the time we got to where we were going the bagel was so hard? I guess we should have eaten it instantly but after just 10 mins it was so hard and chewy... my kids couldn't eat it with their little teeth. I threw it away. Also $6 for a bagel and cream cheese that's tiny, smaller than the palm of my hand and actually inedible. Disappointing. I guess if I go back I'll stick to beer. The food is a bust.
Great cappuccinos and lattes. The espresso has a punch ! Love my cappuccino woth Halloween art flair. New back room for sports fans and plenty of spirits. It’s the former Starbucks in San marin location. I’m hoping for ,ore quick breakfast options but it is more. Lunch and dinner place. Owners are from Novato so it has the hometown feel,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great atmosphere and customer service. My only suggestion for the tri-tip sandwich is to add more chimichurri and don’t over toast the bread.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Nearly everything we bought was inedible. Overly microwaved breakfast sandwich with a brick of Styrofoam egg. Terrible (and tiny) microwaved breakfast burrito. The yogurt parfait said it was made today but it tasted like the strawberries were cut days ago, and the granola was totally soggy. It was disgusting. My daughter's bagel with cream cheese was fine. I would have complained but we were already started on our road trip. Will not come here again.