Cafe Rouge

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1782 Fourth St (at Between Delaware and Hearst, Around Town)
Berkeley, CA 94710

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(510) 525-1440
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Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Cafe Rouge - Berkeley, CA
Reviews
( 9 )
( 16 )
( 2 )
( 3 )
( 19 )

Best

I'm appalled at some of the nasty reviews given for Cafe Rouge; my husband an I have been going there for years and have always had a lovely experience. The bartenders in particu...

Worst

I found the food to be ok but the services was slow. we waited there for awhile and there nothing to do but drink.maybe they plan it this wa...

WORST PLACE TO BE IN BERKELEY 8/19/2006

I HAVE NEVER LEFT A RESTAURANT BEFORE, AND HAVE NEVER BEEN TREATED THIS BADLY ANYWHERE, NOT EVEN IN PARIS!!!!!!\r WE SAT FOR OVER AN HOUR TO GET OUR FOOD. AFTER 1 HOUR AND 20 MINUTES OF SITTING IN THE RESTAURANT WAITING FOR THE SALAD WE DECIDED TO LEAVE. WE HAD ALREADY SPOKEN TO THE HOSTESS AND THE WAITRESS ABOUT THE LONG WAIT AND LACK OF SERVICE. WHEN WE LEFT (AND PAID FOR THE SODAS AND SOUP WHICH CAME AFTER 35 MINUTES OF HAVING PLACED OUR ORDER) THE ""OWNER/CHEF/MANAGER"" RAN AFTER US IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND SCOLDED US FOR LEAVING! \r WARNING: YOU MAY BE IGNORED AND THEN GET YELLED AT IN FRONT OF YOUR CHILDREN AND FRIENDS. Pros: YOU CAN LEAVE Cons: YOU MAY GET SCOLDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET FOR DOING SO more
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the food was over priced for the quality 7/14/2006

I guess we were lucky on the day we went because the wait staff was friendly but the dish I ordered was bland. The salad was great however. I ended up running next door to Tacubayu \r for a much more delicous and affordable take out meal for my husband waiting at home. Pros: We actually had friendly staff Cons: bland food and over priced for the quality more
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the food was over priced for the quality 7/14/2006

christina83 Provided by Partner
I guess we were lucky on the day we went because the wait staff was friendly but the dish I ordered was bland. The salad was great however. I ended up running next door to Tacubayu for a much more delicous and affordable take out meal for my husband waiting at home. Pros: We actually had friendly staff Cons: bland food and over priced for the quality more
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Stay for the oysters and lemondrops! 5/13/2006

My husband and I have been dining at Cafe Rouge for about 7 years and have always enjoyed it. The selection of fresh oysters is always fantastic and Robbie (the oyster shucker/bartender) is wonderful and very knowledgeable. We like to sit at the bar and watch the action with the oysters and the drinks. The service seems to be better there too. Look for the Tatamagouche oysters from Nova Scotia - they are the best! Pros: Oysters, Robbie, Drinks Cons: Upstairs (hot) more
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Stay for the oysters and lemondrops! 5/12/2006

janisan Provided by Partner
My husband and I have been dining at Cafe Rouge for about 7 years and have always enjoyed it. The selection of fresh oysters is always fantastic and Robbie (the oyster shucker/bartender) is wonderful and very knowledgeable. We like to sit at the bar and watch the action with the oysters and the drinks. The service seems to be better there too. Look for the Tatamagouche oysters from Nova Scotia - they are the best! Pros: Oysters, Robbie, Drinks Cons: Upstairs (hot) more
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Great experience 1/4/2006

On a recent busy saturday night, We walked into Cafe Rouge without reservations and we were greeted by a very pleasant host, who apologized for the wait but seated us only after 10 minutes. We dined on a meal of wonderfully fresh oysters, charcuterie plate and shared a dry aged rib eye. The overall experience was memorable and we will certainly return. Pros: food, reasonable prices, nice ambience Cons: bit noisy more
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His Meat Market Majesty 1/3/2006

The meat market at Cafe Rouge is excellent and even more so now that a new butcher has arrived. I was treated so graciously by a gentleman named Karl that I thought I had returned to the days when everyone knew your name and said hello and meant it. Pros: Meat Market more
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Great experience 1/3/2006

br47ian Provided by Partner
On a recent busy saturday night, We walked into Cafe Rouge without reservations and we were greeted by a very pleasant host, who apologized for the wait but seated us only after 10 minutes. We dined on a meal of wonderfully fresh oysters, charcuterie plate and shared a dry aged rib eye. The overall experience was memorable and we will certainly return. Pros: food, reasonable prices, nice ambience Cons: bit noisy more
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His Meat Market Majesty 1/3/2006

claudiamodele Provided by Partner
The meat market at Cafe Rouge is excellent and even more so now that a new butcher has arrived. I was treated so graciously by a gentleman named Karl that I thought I had returned to the days when everyone knew your name and said hello and meant it. Pros: Meat Market more
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Unbelievably rude service!!!!!! 10/4/2005

xphilerdan Provided by Partner
I'm in the hospitality industry and eat out 3-4 times a week, and work with restaurants as a consultant. I had a birthday dinner there recently and by the time the whole wretched experience was over with, my blood pressure had gone up several points. I wasn't shocked by all the bad reviews on the service, and I'm sort of glad it's not only me and my guests. We had a party of 10, and were treated extremely poorly. One of the top 10 worst in my experience. The food was just average and not worth the expense. Avoid at all costs. Pros: Ok design, Spacious Cons: Rude, Indifferent, Slow more
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Unbelievably rude service!!!!!! 10/4/2005

I'm in the hospitality industry and eat out 3-4 times a week, and work with restaurants as a consultant. I had a birthday dinner there recently and by the time the whole wretched experience was over with, my blood pressure had gone up several points. I wasn't shocked by all the bad reviews on the service, and I'm sort of glad it's not only me and my guests. We had a party of 10, and were treated extremely poorly. One of the top 10 worst in my experience. The food was just average and not worth the expense. Avoid at all costs. Pros: Ok design, Spacious Cons: Rude, Indifferent, Slow more
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TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE, RUDE SERVICE 6/15/2005

This place is unbelievable. They got the order wrong, and then complained to us about it. They made snide remarks. They were pushy. At these HIGH prices this is not what one normally expects. Pros: meat Cons: jerk more
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TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE, RUDE SERVICE 6/14/2005

v_b Provided by Partner
This place is unbelievable. They got the order wrong, and then complained to us about it. They made snide remarks. They were pushy. At these HIGH prices this is not what one normally expects. Pros: meat Cons: jerk more
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Very RUDE Service! 11/1/2004

I had lunch here recently with a friend and her mother. My friend wanted to order Steak Frites, and asked whether it came as a sandwich. Since the answer was no, she requested a roll of some kind, offering to pay extra, and, to utter surprise of all of us, the waiter said flatly, ""No."" Things went downhill from there! When my friend's mother sent her absolutely unappetizing looking risotto back to the kitchen, the waiter took it away, but came back later saying the chef had tasted the risotto and presumed it to be ""just fine."" Whatever! Terrible attitude was the problem. Mistakes happen, but his unbelievable attitude was inexcusable. The manager tried to make amends, but frankly it was too late. Food is fine, and if you got a better waiter than this guy, you might have a pleasant lunch. Pros: Approachable menu, good location, yummy fries Cons: , slow to get going more
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Very RUDE Service! 10/31/2004

choelter Provided by Partner
I had lunch here recently with a friend and her mother. My friend wanted to order Steak Frites, and asked whether it came as a sandwich. Since the answer was no, she requested a roll of some kind, offering to pay extra, and, to utter surprise of all of us, the waiter said flatly, "No." Things went downhill from there! When my friend's mother sent her absolutely unappetizing looking risotto back to the kitchen, the waiter took it away, but came back later saying the chef had tasted the risotto and presumed it to be "just fine." Whatever! Terrible attitude was the problem. Mistakes happen, but his unbelievable attitude was inexcusable. The manager tried to make amends, but frankly it was too late. Food is fine, and if you got a better waiter than this guy, you might have a pleasant lunch. Pros: Approachable menu, good location, yummy fries Cons: , slow to get going more
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Yes on Rouge 8/16/2003

Being a regular Rouger, I have to admit the staff can be indifferent, but service has never been poor or rude. And anyway, I don't like hovering wait staff. At CR, the staff is very knowledgeable about the food and wines offered. The food is very good, though after three years of eating there, I'd like to see a brand new, fresh menu, not another recycled one. There are better places to eat, but CR is comfortable, the food is reliably good, the meats and charcuterie are top notch, and hey, the service has never been poor, just aloof. I must admit that there has been a noticeable, though slight, decline in food quality which I can't quite pinpoint and I'm not going there as frequently anymore. Still, it's a good place to take out of towners who want a little taste of the East Bay. Pros: not too loud, good ambiance, reasonable prices Cons: can be hard to park, tables close together, need new menus more
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Yes on Rouge 8/15/2003

heatherheather Provided by Partner
Being a regular Rouger, I have to admit the staff can be indifferent, but service has never been poor or rude. And anyway, I don't like hovering wait staff. At CR, the staff is very knowledgeable about the food and wines offered. The food is very good, though after three years of eating there, I'd like to see a brand new, fresh menu, not another recycled one. There are better places to eat, but CR is comfortable, the food is reliably good, the meats and charcuterie are top notch, and hey, the service has never been poor, just aloof. I must admit that there has been a noticeable, though slight, decline in food quality which I can't quite pinpoint and I'm not going there as frequently anymore. Still, it's a good place to take out of towners who want a little taste of the East Bay. Pros: not too loud, good ambiance, reasonable prices Cons: can be hard to park, tables close together, need new menus more
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awesome food, nice place 5/14/2003

not sure why reviewers say the service is poor. at worst it's indifferent, but i almost always eat at the bar where the service is awesome. bartenders are more than willing to let you taste anything by the glass. the food is exceptional. i've never had a bad, or even mediocre, meal. the menu is imaginative. desserts lack something, however. the butcher shop rocks! if you've ever wondered why a restaurant pork chop tastes way better than yours at home the reason is: brining. at at CR you can by brined pork chops that will have your friends saying ""wow, that's the best pork chop i've ever had!"" of course, it's easy to brine at home, too. but why bother when you can pop down to CR at the last minute? more
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awesome food, nice place 5/13/2003

murphtron Provided by Partner
not sure why reviewers say the service is poor. at worst it's indifferent, but i almost always eat at the bar where the service is awesome. bartenders are more than willing to let you taste anything by the glass. the food is exceptional. i've never had a bad, or even mediocre, meal. the menu is imaginative. desserts lack something, however. the butcher shop rocks! if you've ever wondered why a restaurant pork chop tastes way better than yours at home the reason is: brining. at at CR you can by brined pork chops that will have your friends saying "wow, that's the best pork chop i've ever had!" of course, it's easy to brine at home, too. but why bother when you can pop down to CR at the last minute? more
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rouge is great 5/2/2003

I am puzzled by the bad reviews. While some servers may be indifferent at best, we have been eating at Cafe Rouge for years and have never had a bad experience. The bartenders in particular are quite nice and attentive whetheer you are just having drinks or having a full dinner. The food on the whole kicks ass. Especially all the meat. more
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Menu for Cafe Rouge


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Editorial

  • In Short
    On a trendy, upscale stretch of 4th Street, this darling spot fits right in. Pates and sausages are made in-house, and they dry age the meats, all of which are antibiotic- and...

  • 10/16/2007 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon - Sat: 11:30am - 3pm, Interim Menu Tue- Sat 3pm - 4:30 : Tue - Thu: 5:30pm - 9:30, Fri - Sat: 5:30pm - 10 Sun 5:00pm - 9:30 : Sun 10am - 2:30pm, Interim Menu 2:30pm - 4
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Northwest Berkeley
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