Café NOSTOS

My favorite East Bay cafes for working during lockdown - #6, Café Nostos
Nostos is fully open for normal business! That means ceramic plates and cups, outdoor AND indoor dining (and there’s a lot of space indoors so it doesn’t feel crowded) and Wi-Fi, bathroom, etc. All the luxuries that we took for granted before lockdown. Last time I was there I had a latte, caprese sandwich with a Greek side-salad, and baklava. The owners are kind folk who are happy when people enjoy their food. The food is very good – the Semifreddi’s ciabatta used for sandwiches is delicious and goes well with the Mediterranean-style fillings. The Greek side-salad was totes delicious and pretty substantial. The homemade baklava is also really well done – the pastry is light and crispy and the filling has lots of walnuts and is not too sweet. I think I ended up skipping dinner after that late lunch :-)

I’m also giving café Nostos 4 out of 5 “Green Stars” for social and environmental impact, based on this:

• Nostos is using ceramic cups and plates for in-house dining, avoiding plastic waste.
• Most of the menu is vegetarian, although choices are more limited for vegans.
• Overall, the menu follows the Mediterranean diet, which is accepted to be more sustainable (and healthier!) than most diets (except for a completely plant-based diet).
• Coffee is from Illy and tea is from Dammann Frères. These are both old-school European companies that do their own thing when it comes to ethics & I think they are both mediocre as far as trade and agriculture policies go. Probably a little above average for Illy Coffee.
• My baklava was made in-house and the ciabatta for my sandwich was made by Semifreddi’s bakery.

Interested in writing green star reviews? If so, please check out the Green Stars Project.

One of the few places that I have found in the East Bay that serves Illy coffee. This family owned business serves savory and sweet Italian and Greek pastries, salads and sandwiches. Tea and other beverages are also available. I especially appreciate the warm and friendly service. This is a cafe where the owners take time to visit you at the table or speak with you while you are waiting for your order if they are not busy. Cafe Nostos typically has comfortable indoor seating however, during Covid 19 they are only allowed several outdoor tables w/chairs. They offer take out and I am not sure about curbside pickup. If you're looking for the type of that remembers who you are and truly cares about their customers as well as getting great food to eat in a nice environment then this is a place for you.

It’s been a couple months since I came back from living in Greece and I felt a sudden longing to relive my days of drinking a freddo cappuccino and nomming on a savory treat. Google freddo cappuccino and this is the only result you get in the Bay Area. I drove an hour to visit this cafe with 0 expectations, and I’m happy to say it was amaaaazing. If you haven’t tried or heard of the freddo I highly recommend it (greek style cold coffee). In addition I tried the spinach and feta pie and the ham and cheese pie (Zambonotiropita), both with perfect flaky pastry and yummy fillings. I wish I lived closer 😭

Flawless.

Sandwich, salad, pastry, coffee, and hot cocoa were all phenomenal and of high quality. Service was great. An absolute gem -- will stop by again!

Charming place, excellent food, and clear wifi are all positives. What sets this apart is that the family owned and operated Greek cafe offers personal warmth and culinary delights a chain could never match. From sharp clean salads to lucious little donuts with coffee for people who love coffee, not slushies.

I love this place! Great service, the employees are so sweet. I ordered a Spanakopita and he said it would be 2 minutes. It was delicious, and the staff checked in to see if it was okay. Definitely recommend it here! I love that they put on classical music as well, very peaceful and good for studying. Table space can be tight, but that's to be expected.

Love this place. Delicious pastries and healthy salads, amazing coffee, one of the better iced teas in the area. The owners are super friendly and personable -- it's the kind of cozy, homegrown, local cafe spot everyone would want in their neighborhood. Only issue I can find is that sometimes the wifi can be spotty -- I just use my phone's hotspot if I need it. Highly recommend!

Great breakfast and lunch place - european style. Their pitas and sandwiches are super tasty and good in size. Coffee is as it should be :). Friendly staff, dog friendly and has outdoor seating.

Good coffee, nice place to quietly work. Owners are friendly and place is clean and tidy.

The best coffee shop in Berkeley. It has the right amount of tables to be spacious but cozy. The owners are friendly. The Greek pastries are excellent and very fresh. Must try!

I live a block away and this is my go to Saturday morning coffee spot! It's a solid option with an unexpected but definitely welcome dessert selection. Their coffee tables have cookbooks on them and my partner and I found a great recipe for avgolemono soup. This place just keeps on giving!

Yesterday I posted a review of a different Greek restaurant (on University) that was meant to be posted for Cafe Nostos! No harm, no fowl. All I can say is I LOVE CAFE NOSTOS! Great food, lovely atmosphere, wonderful people. I'd give it 10 stars if I could! Cafe Nostos, you are now my "go to" for delish salads, sandwiches, and baked goods!

I've posted in regards to this place before, but I'd like to update my review to reflect that any issues with the wifi have since been resolved! Also, I've started trying the sandwiches and their side greek salads and they are all phenomenal. Best cafe in Berkeley, in my opinion!!!

Super quiet. Perfect for studying and working. My internet went down for a week, so I had to work at a Cafe, and I found this place. Love their pastries and drinks. I love how staff there are older adults!!

Nice place, lots of electrical outlets to plug in, a long table meant for work so that others can enjoy the place as a coffee shop. Good wifi, excellent tea selection, and the beignets are to die for!

A latte so good I could cry. I never write reviews but this place deserves it. The staff are great, the food is even better. If an atomic bomb dropped I’d spend my last moments here.

Came here because reviews were great and this definitely lived up to the expectation! Food is flavorful and the desserts are always perfect in taste and quantity. You always leave satisfied!

New fav cafe! Delicious pastry, sweet staff, nice atmosphere of friendly regulars, plus they have Greek espresso fredo — so good!

Love their scudetto chicken sandwich (halal chicken), one of the best sandwiches in the bay. Their Greek savory pastries are very good, and I always get their mini beignets

Decent coffee drinks and nice atmosphere. Plenty of seating with space between the tables and a selection of uniquely savory Greek pastries!