Mama's Royal Cafe
16 ratings since posting on Wednesday, October 6, 2004|
in Oakland Piedmont / Montclair
(submitted by
Marcy
)
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Overall Rating   based on 16 ratings |
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If a breakfast restaurant can make a tender, meltingly soft omelet, not runny, it deserves to be feted. I don't know any other restaurant which so consistently passes the omelet test. Plus, you can hear your orange juice being squeezed. And the toast is Acme, with a lovely slathering of butter. And the coffee is strong and rich. And the atmosphere is incomparable. This is where I take all my out of town guests for morning joy. - Marion , posted 12/01/08 |
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Unsu...
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Ate there once and would do so again if I was in the neighborhood, but not worth traveling to visit. A good local spot. - Unsubscribed , posted 01/27/08 |
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Not as great as it's cracked up to be, but not bad either. Though they make an effort to have lots of veggie options, the results are a little dissapointing. - daxle , posted 05/29/06 |
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It can be a wait to even get a table, and, unless you're inclined to stand in everyone's way in the narrow entry, most of your time standing around will be out on the street. The food is above decent, and their weekly specials are great (the blueberry pancakes are wonderful), though service can go either way. Some members of the staff simply make the joint, while a few others act like you're ruining their day by making them bring your order. Despite this, I still treck to Mama's, and don't regret it. They only take cash, and breakfast for two can generally run around twenty bucks. Street parking, with meters. - Quin la Exploradora , posted 02/03/06 |
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this place has pretty good food relative to the other options in this area of oakland, but the service really stinks. - leanne , posted 12/21/05 |
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Mama's is good, but not the amazing wonderland that you'd expect from the way that some people hype it. I love going there myself; it's got great food, good vegan options, and is not too expensive. Be prepared to wait though, and it's cash only. - Jenni , posted 06/12/05 |
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My mom used to work there as a chef and she said after working a week in the kitchen she would never go in there as a customer to eat. Very dirty and unkempt. - Sarah , posted 04/17/05 |
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I love this place. If you're up for interacting with servers on a real, human to human level and you don't mind taking a slow morning for a FABULOUS brunch, Mama's is the place. A slight retro feel with a great edgy uniqueness. - Caitlin , posted 02/01/05 |
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I have really tried to go to Mama's and enjoy myself. It always turns out in some kind of disaster. I don't mind waiting for a table. I do mind not getting decent service or good food. I really want to like this place--it's got a retro feel and has real potential. Too many frustrated breakfasts has soured me to Mama's. - Rusty , posted 10/11/04 |
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Mama's is the best breakfast around. All the food is good - the eggs are fluffier, the potatoes are actually homemade and great, the meat is thicker, you get free coffee while you wait - and the crowd is fun and casual. I don't recommend it for Sunday brunch, as everyone seems to go there and the wait is long, but during the week it's the best. - J , posted 10/08/04 |
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Need a place that addresses all of the 6 senses? This is the place. The moment you step into Mama's you are entering a place of enchantment. Visually stunning with murals courtesy of local visionary artists (my fave: the "nun-Smoking Corner"). Try their crepes! Stay for the piano man! - Darriel , posted 10/07/04 |
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Never really understood the allure of this place. Great for hipsters bunching together and having beers for breakfast, but I must say the service is far tooo cooly aloof for me. May not matter, though, they certainly have no shortage of customers. - Justin , posted 10/07/04 |
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You always have to wait for brunch here, but it's worth it. Plus, you can sip coffee while you wait. I've never had anything bad here...sometimes the service can be a little gruff, but the food is awesome, with HUGE portions. - Alix , posted 10/07/04 |
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Unsu...
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Mama's seems to be a hangout for hipsters in oakland. Most probably, the growing downtown loft-dwelling population are gravitating to one of the few neighborhood joints. They have good food, good variety, vegetarian choices, and a daily special for each meal. The service leaves a little to be desired, can be slow but not rude. The wait for breakfast on weekends can be up to an hour, so hit this one on a weekday if you can. - Unsubscribed , posted 10/06/04 |
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First off, a friend introduced me to Mama's years ago. I was charmed by the cups and saucers glued to the walls and the remnants of the late 1940's Chinese restaurant decor. The breakfasts are excellent although you will wait for a long time to be seated and then another long stretch of time for your breakfast to be served. It will always be served by someone younger, cuter, and much much hipper than you. This used to be my favorite breakfast place to take others to, until I discovered Venus cafe. Located at 40th and Broadway in Oakland. - Marcy , posted 10/06/04 |
