Close Icon
Gear IconImportant Reminder:The Foursquare City Guide app officially sunset on December 15, 2024, with the web version following in early 2025. However, your check-in journey doesn’t end here! Join us on Swarm, where new adventures await.
Learn more

Planning a trip to San Francisco?

Foursquare can help you find the best places to go to.

La Note

La Note

Breakfast Spot and French Restaurant$$$$
Downtown Berkeley, Berkeley
Save
Share
8.8/10
548
ratings
  • Stars
  • Tips
    Frank K.
    "Try the Ratatouille With Lamb Sausage"(4 Tips)
    Paul O.
    "Their pancakes are wonderful, everything is great though and fresh."(24 Tips)
    ScottySauce
    "This is one of the best versions of a french toast I have ever had."(13 Tips)
    Prathyusha G.
    "The cinnamon brioche Pain perdu is amazing a must try !"(2 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon139 Tips and reviews
Filter:
  • breakfast food
  • brunch food
  • pancakes
  • French toast
  • lively
User icon
Log in to leave a tip here.

Sort:
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • Kathleen O.
    Kathleen O'HoraSeptember 19, 2017
    Great spot for Brunch! Brioche Pain Perdu with honey was fantastic. However, there was a surcharge added to the bill which made paying the check a little confusing, but the delicious food was worth it
  • Bommyheart icon on user image
    BommySeptember 21, 2014
    Fabulous brunch spot and everyone knows it. Get here early or wait forever. Try goat cheese scrambled eggs with a side of spicy merguez sausages. Skip the gingerbread pancakes; too dense and doughy.
  • Anissa S.heart icon on user image
    Anissa SalesMarch 7, 2019
    OMG! Spur of the moment breakfast with my son. He absolutely loved the french toast! I really enjoyed the ham and cheese omelette with potatoes. The food and atmosphere were amazing!
  • Shayan S.
    Shayan SanyalJuly 28, 2018
    Great spot for brunch. I’d give the bread basket/viennoiseries a pass tbh. Pretty dry. The goat cheese scramble is to die for however. The coffee is pretty good. Pancakes were dry.
  • Katherine M.
    Katherine M.July 16, 2014
    Lovely French breakfast; good to pair with a day trip to Berkeley, but not quite worth the trip on its own. Go when it's warm to sit in the courtyard out back. Get there early or wait for hours.
  • Paul O.heart icon on user image
    Paul OtisFebruary 27, 2016
    La Note has great pancakes with le creme, everything there is amazing. Hard to believe that no one has reviewed this restaurant. It's in DT Berkeley and is packed every morning! Garden eating in back.
  • ScottySauce
    ScottySauceAugust 15, 2011
    Get the BRIOCHE PAIN PERDU- Three generous slices of cinnamon brioche soaked in orange water batter sprinkled with lavender honey. This is one of the best versions of a french toast I have ever had.
  • Megan Allisonheart icon on user image
    Megan AllisonOctober 1, 2018
    I've not been particularly impressed with the food at brunch/lunch, but the back patio is a lovely place to sit a while.
  • Paul O.heart icon on user image
    Paul OtisFebruary 27, 2016
    Their pancakes are wonderful, everything is great though and fresh. Creme Fraische pancakes. Yummy. Omelets and sausage good as well. Not your typical breakfast place. It's an experience.
  • Reuben P.
    Reuben PrichardSeptember 21, 2014
    Atmosphere, service, and food are great! Serving pancakes with corn syrup makes them non-descript. Would recommend adding a bit of real maple syrup to the corn syrup or just use pure maple syrup.
  • Katyheart icon on user image
    KatyMarch 28, 2015
    One of my favorite restaurants in Berkeley! Bring your close friends for quintessential European ambiance, music from the heart of Paris, and amazing food!
  • Garric S.heart icon on user image
    Garric SullivanSeptember 22, 2016
    Wow this place is fantastic. Great French atmosphere. Try the French toast with chocolate hazelnut spread. Wonderfully sweet.
  • The Taste Sheriffheart icon on user image
    The Taste SheriffAugust 11, 2017
    Excellent. Authentic French fares, reasonable prices. Sandwiches are fantastic but never pass on their specials, they're really good. Portions are European!
  • Sritej A.heart icon on user image
    Sritej AttaluriMay 5, 2019
    The food is good but I tried to pronounce an item on the menu with a French accent and the waitress hit me on the head with a large wooden spoon and said "NO OMELETTE DU FROMAGE FOR YOU"
  • Ryan L.heart icon on user image
    Ryan LeggettFebruary 14, 2018
    Woah. Great food and huge portions. Sharing is caring here. Get something with bread and something with eggs and revel in all the deliciousness.
  • Ryan L.heart icon on user image
    Ryan LandryAugust 6, 2014
    Put up with the wait time to get a seat in the back garden. Beautiful!
  • Danny T.heart icon on user image
    Danny TrejoApril 2, 2017
    Be sure to get here early, this is a very popular brunch spot. Worth the wait. Checkout the book store next door while you wait.
  • Anne M.heart icon on user image
    Anne MMarch 17, 2017
    Cute spot, great service, delicious coffee. Not sure it's worth the massive lines outside, but a pretty good place if you can time it right
  • Jordan M.heart icon on user image
    Jordan MAugust 9, 2018
    Prime window seating + omelette + grapefruit = perfect power breakfast
  • Matthew S.heart icon on user image
    Matthew SeifeMarch 26, 2017
    Try the burger- great flavor, with huge tomatoes, onions and cheese. Also recommend starting with one of the cheese appetizers
  • Staff Picks
    Staff PicksJuly 9, 2014
    Enjoy the summer weather at lunch today at La Note's outside garden patio with a cappuccino and their delicious lemon gingerbread pancakes. Read more
  • Amir B.heart icon on user image
    Amir BaharlouFebruary 15, 2016
    The pain perdu was awesome and the lattes come in bowl. So adorable.
  • Ally M.heart icon on user image
    Ally MJuly 22, 2015
    The best place to get breakfast or brunch in Berkeley. Wonderful atmosphere. Be ready to wait in line on the weekends.
  • Namitta S.
    Namitta ShankarJune 9, 2012
    Get a reservation. Lovely French cafe,unlimited coffee refills,OJ not freshly squeezed,batard w/goat cheese/basil/tomatoes was a home-run. S/W's awesome.Outdoor seating… (3 of 4 petals via Fondu) Read more
  • Allen H.heart icon on user image
    Allen HammockJune 9, 2013
    Been here 5+ times
    The chicken apple sausage is spot on. The semolina pain perdu is fantastic. Wish I could get a side of ratatouille on any order.
  • Paul M.heart icon on user image
    Paul MederosApril 16, 2017
    Weekend brunch is fabulous. Loved the Cote Sud w/ roasted tomatoes.
  • Jennifer O.heart icon on user image
    Jennifer OrrJanuary 30, 2015
    Been here 5+ times
    Be ready to wait, but so worth it. Order the Lucas eggs, super fluffy and creamy! Big latte bowls.
  • Shahram Sean Y.
    Shahram Sean YousefiSeptember 30, 2018
    Back patio has a small village I. Provence feel. Amazing cote items from West to east and North to South. :)
  • Niki G.heart icon on user image
    Niki GJanuary 19, 2015
    The flavored steamed milk, pastries, and any of the pan purdu things are amazing!
  • Rachelle C.heart icon on user image
    Rachelle CDecember 2, 2018
    Amazing pastries and egg dishes. Can’t go wrong.
  • Reem A.heart icon on user image
    Reem ASeptember 14, 2014
    Great place to get French brunch in the Bay Area. Good for groups. Make sure you sit in the back patio.
  • Shirley L.
    Shirley LauJanuary 16, 2014
    Have always enjoyed their dinner more than the brunch food here. Flat iron steak!
  • Nabeel H.heart icon on user image
    Nabeel HyattAugust 7, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    Sit outdoors, get a latte in a bowl like it's supposed to be served and escape for an hour. All the food is good, except gingerbread pancakes which were too sweet for me.
  • Prathyusha G.heart icon on user image
    Prathyusha GogineniNovember 2, 2015
    The cinnamon brioche Pain perdu is amazing a must try !
  • Brian S.heart icon on user image
    Brian StraussMay 10, 2015
    Your lengthy wait at brunch will be rewarded with perfect scrambled eggs. Get the merguez sausage to go with.
  • Go Find Aliceheart icon on user image
    Go Find AliceJune 16, 2018
    The bouillabaisse was good. Great date spot! ;)
  • Sushrut P.heart icon on user image
    Sushrut PavanaskarFebruary 16, 2015
    Best brunch in Berkeley which already is, u know, Berkeley!!! Bread basket is a must with any order on any table.
  • Emma H.
    Emma HackerJune 21, 2014
    La Note is small and very busy, which does lead to slow service. The tea was not strong enough for my taste but otherwise everything was excellent. I would come back for the french toast.
  • J T.heart icon on user image
    J TOctober 5, 2016
    Famous for brunch, but there's dinner three days a week, and it's very good. Try the vegetarian ravioli.
  • Melissa Z.heart icon on user image
    Melissa ZhangMay 11, 2014
    Raspberry oatmeal pancakes, caramelized potato and onion omelette, and strawberry steamed milk. Period.
  • Stephanie L.heart icon on user image
    Stephanie LocknerOctober 25, 2015
    Anything is amazing here from the Brioche to the Omelette Fromage et Jambun
  • Aneilia M.
    Aneilia McDermottMarch 25, 2016
    Great food! Cute interior. Long wait- get there before you are hungry :)
  • Sarah S.heart icon on user image
    Sarah StrehlerMarch 2, 2016
    This brunch was sooooo good, and a cute little eclectic building. Pancakes FTW!
  • Cathy C.heart icon on user image
    Cathy CooperDecember 8, 2018
    Good country French food. Great service.
  • heathr g.
    heathr goldAugust 11, 2014
    The oatmeal is the one thing here I really don't like. Heads up that it will be like a loose soup infused with fruit.
  • Avery P.
    Avery PursellJune 15, 2012
    The Ratatouille Madame is awesome and the Corque Madame damn good also!
  • Sara A.heart icon on user image
    Sara AlShakerFebruary 16, 2015
    Out-of-this-world scrambled eggs with goat cheese and a side of roasted tomatoes!
  • Matt M.heart icon on user image
    Matt MayoApril 27, 2018
    Great for brunch. Has a beautiful outdoor patio space in the rear.
  • Ally M.heart icon on user image
    Ally MSeptember 12, 2015
    The pancakes and waffles are divine. Very nice atmosphere too.
  • Jibong K.heart icon on user image
    Jibong KooNovember 11, 2016
    awesome place to have rich breakfast or brunch!
Photos498 Photos