Cafe Bernardo

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bar_bernardo.jpgThe bar portion of the Cafe, known as Bar Bernardo.

Location
234 D Street, in the Best Western Palm Court Hotel, near Newsbeat
Hours
Friday - Saturday: 7:00 am - 11:00 pm
Sunday - Thursday: 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

(Closes at 9:00 pm on weekends)

Sat breakfast stops at 13:00!
Sun breakfast stops at 14:00!
Phone
(530)750-5101
Owner
Randy Paragary
Website
[WWW]http://www.paragarys.com ([WWW]direct link to menus)

Cafe Bernardo is really two restaurants in-one: full-service on one side, and an order-at-the-counter "eatery" on the other. The full service restaurant is good if you're looking for a decent place to take a date. It's not as fancy or expensive as Seasons but still a good restaurant. The atmosphere is fairly relaxed. A sticker in the window states the restaurant is a wifi hotspot.

They use some local and seasonal ingredients as well as free-range meat. Their coffee is not fair trade.

The eatery typically features a "no-wait" sandwich that is pre-made, and is excellent if you are in a hurry. They've got good tea and quiche, and an excellent grilled salmon BLT. Vegetarians have several good options, including the quiche, salads, portobello mushroom sandwich, spaghettini, grilled polenta triangles, quesadilla, cherry tomato pizzetta, and calzone. The quality of the food drastically varies depending on the chef.

The bar, officially called Bar Bernardo, is on the full-service side of the restaurant. The bar's hours are: Mon-Wed: until 11:00 pm; Thur-Sat: until 1:00 am; Sun: until 10:00 pm. The WikiWackyWoo (no relation to the Wiki!) is particularly excellent.

For a review of local burgers, see [WWW]Davis Life Magazine.

Bernardo's restaurant in Davis is only one of three area Bernardo's locations, the sacramentoothers are in sacramentomidtown Sacramento. Bernardo's is owned by the Paragary family, who also owns some of Sacramento's best bars and restaurants: sacramentoMonkey Bar, sacramentoParagary's Oven, sacramentoBlue Cue, sacramentoK-Bar, sacramentoCentro, sacramentoEsquire Grill and sacramentoR15.

Comments:

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The bar aside, I've never liked this place. The atmosphere is unwelcoming and feels like yuppie fast food— you have to stand on line to order, the food comes very quickly, and they clear your plate from the table as soon as you finish, regardless of whether others are even close to being finished. CraigBrozinsky


2005-11-17 01:01:51   They charged me $3.50 for a glass of tomato juice that came out of a can. Also, I came in for some soup and had to pay $1.08 for a quarter of a loaf of bread...what place makes you pay for bread?!?!?! —DinaDobkin


2005-11-19 11:47:03   We went last night and the bartender misheard my man's drink order: somehow "1 mojito" sounded like "2 Wiki's" (??). After realizing and correcting the error, the bartender proceeded to chew my boyfriend out for "misordering". It was so rude and inappropriate, by far the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, and I've been a server for over three years! The guy on Saturday afternoons is awesome though!! Apparently this guy is rude a lot, so watch out for a squirrly (sp?) dude with shaggy brown hair. —VanessaHadick


2005-11-30 22:23:24   I like the food, but the service often sucks and $4.50 for a double mocha (which wasn't even any good) is just a tad silly. —GrahamFreeman


2005-12-23 11:51:10   The food here sucks and is overpriced. By the time you order a basic breakfast and coffee, you're up to about 10 bucks. Instead you can go to Crepeville and get an awesome breakfast with coffee for about 6 bucks. I paid 9 bucks for the most horrible bland Caesar salad there the other day. No flavor at all. I won't be going back. —DavisLurker


2006-01-07 22:42:23   I was offended by how expensive this place was and how tiny the portions were. I ordered the portabella mushroom sandwich ($7.00) with cheese ($1.50 EXTRA!). When it came I just about fell off my chair. It was about the size of my fist and the "cheese" I was charged for was thinner than paper. I took it back up to the manager and got my money back. What a joke! The worst part was I asked before ordering what the portion sizes were like and was told by the barista "Oh they're huge!" I replied, "They better be with those prices." For two items, a side of potatoes and no drinks our bill came to $21.08. I can eat better at Cheesecake Factory. We got 3 beers and two appetizers at Bistro 33 with way better ambiance! I gave them a second chance after having a disappointing experience before. Needless to say, we're not going back to Bernado's again. —DebWestergaard


2006-02-14 21:54:34   I've eaten here twice, and both times the food (ameretto french toast for breakfast and salmon BLT for lunch) was excellent. I find that when ordering from the counter, the service usually isn't a big factor, and my food has always come quickly. —BridgetMcCollam

3/5/2006   This place is always packed for Sunday brunch. I always take guests here for breakfast because they use really fresh eggs. The yolk is bright orange and they taste really fine. Eggs Bernardo and Amaretto French Toast are two items I recommend. They also serve LaVazza coffee which is a nice brand of Italian coffee. My roommate bought a package after drinking it here. Their butternut squash soup and grilled polenta triangles are also good. My friend had one of the regular sandwiches once and thought it was just okay. I always go for something that sounds interesting on the menu. —JoannNguyen


2006-03-21 17:57:56   Yeah! What's up with this place? The food is mediocre and the service lousy at best. Last time I was there they served my capuccino with a bunch of grinds at the bottom. Blech! —LookyLoo


2006-03-25 19:48:27   Here's how you make a Wicky Wacky Woo — half ounce each of: vodka, gin, tequila, triple sec, and rum; one ounce of amaretto; one ounce each of cranberry, orange, and pineapple juice, and 151 rum in the straw. Enjoy. —DavisLurker


2006-04-03 11:38:27   Bernardo's is one of the best restaurants in Davis at this price level, and it has a cool brasserie-style atmosphere. Not to say that service or the food is always perfect, but it's consistently very good.—TomHinds


2006-04-15 13:13:55   The buckwheat pancakes and Amaretto french toast were delicious, but way overpriced. For those prices, I should not have had to get my own water a la Crepeville. The staff was nice and I loved the ambience. —JennaChan


2006-07-04 00:14:04   This place has the best lemonade in town (next to In-n-Out) that's made with honey instead of straight sugar. I highly recommend it. —ElisaHough


2006-07-31 21:30:01   I love the cornmeal waffle, but the size of it doesn't match up with the price. The rest of the food is the same- good, but not enough for what you pay for. —ChristyMarsden


2006-10-14 17:57:01   The turkey burger I had there was ehh and way too overpriced. I want to try the breakfast but don't want to spend enormous amounts to do so. —AnnieSirrah


2006-10-21 19:33:37   I will still eat here but, I do not go to the bar anymore. The bartender described as "squirrly (sp?) dude with shaggy brown hair" ruined the bar for me. I ordered drinks and did not pay for them. When I was ready to leave I asked for the bill and tried to give him my bank card. He said he was busy and that I would have to wait...I was offering to pay when I could have left and he gave me the cold shoulder. I don't know how he still has a job there if he does... —DaveBanister


2006-12-11 22:41:53   This used to be my favorite restaurant..we ate at the bar. No more. Last time we were there, we waited for 45 minutes for our food when the waiter brought us our bill. He's forgotten to place our order. The manager apologized and said he would comp our meal. The food arrived —they forgot half of my husband's order and my salmon was dry and next to inedible. It really saddened us as Cafe Bernardo used to be one of those places where you could always depend on a good meal. —DavisWheeler


2006-12-12 12:43:42   I have never tried to eat in the bar, but the Cafe has always been a great experience for me. Yes, they are not the cheapest place in town. But the food is among the best in town and the atmosphere is great (our now 21 month old daughter loves it there). My favorite meals there are the scrambled eggs and chicken apple sausage breakfast, and the paninis. Some of the salads are a little strange, but overall, all of them have been really good. I have never tried their dinners but plan to sometime. —JonathanEisen


2007-02-09 01:49:44   IHOP>Cafe Bernardo (pancakes) but im sure everything else is great —GregWebb


2007-02-24 16:32:24   I like breakfast here and their pizzettas are good. The bar is a good place for a quiet drink, but everything seems to be broken. Lights, chairs, tables. Looks pretty shabby. And don't believe the hype: the Wiki Wacky Woo = Grossest thing ever. —BriannaBetancourt


2007-02-25 18:23:49   Me and a friend ate here today as Crepeville was packed. His sandwich came promptly, however, my Eggs Bernardo took roughly 20-25 minutes to arrive. Very annoying. The food was good, however, nothing besides the bread was memorable. For the price they charge, I see little reason to return. —JosephBleckman


2007-04-17 20:57:28   I like the "cafe" (counter service) side better than the "restaurant" (wait service) side. The entrees on the restaurant side just seem uninspired to me. But the cafe side makes a nice breakfast (good toast!) and is a little less claustrophobic. —CovertProfessor


2007-04-24 10:54:27   I usually enjoy Bernardo's food and drinks alike, however I went in for a salad to go, and it was the most disgusting (by far) food I have ever been served. I complained to the manager and was asked if I had ever eaten a caesar salad before, did I know there were anchovies in the sauce, and several other rude things of the sort. To sum it up I am boycotting their AWFUL service, and DISGUSTING food —Weezington


2007-05-02 12:43:26   Cafe Bernardo has nice indoor/outdoor seating but their service can be quite bad. the first and last time i went there, we were the only party present and the food took really long to prepare and the waiter left us sitting there without service. the food is decent to good, but can be overcharged. —trambajuice


2007-06-07 18:07:14   I had Oatmeal at the Cafe. It had pecans and bananas in it and was delicious for $4. My friend's Two Egg breakfast came with lots of bread and sides for around $5. I really liked the food, and the atmosphere, and had no service problems. —KernHaug


2007-06-14 19:48:05   Wiki's are a blessing, if you havent tried them you must. great way to start a major bender —MikeJones


2007-06-29 21:30:00   I do love the chopped salad and since they don't have it all year, I try to enjoy it often during the summer. It is kind of pricey but I still like it. My one complaint is that I once asked what was in the salad dressing and they refused to tell me. It is just a simple blue cheese vinaigrette and I will not stop eating there, but talk about paranoia. Does anyone know what is in the dressing on the chopped salad? —RAB


2007-07-05 14:45:57   STOP PUTTING THE WIKI'S IN FREAKING COORS LIGHT PLASTIC CUPS. JEEZ, WHAT DOES $6 + tip GET YOU THESE DAYS??? Because of the plastic cups, I got a mojito here a couple weeks back, I think it may possibly have had SOME alcohol but I don't think so. The wiki's (on average) suck a lot more than they did a year or two ago. I'm never going here again. —UncleBob


2007-07-17 22:01:51   to much bad service and basically sucks. —dickjones


2007-08-03 14:34:19   we eat there about once a year i like the hamburger thats about it very good beef well cooked it is a great place for once in while type thing just my opinion i will be back! —Brians


2007-08-04 23:43:44   I love Bernardo. I eat here multiple times a week after I get off work and the service in the bar is always exceptionally good and the food is always up to par. It is inexpensive and fairly flavorful. But the reason I keep coming back is the staff: from cocktails, Erin especially, to the bartenders: Adel, Tom (the squirelly, shaggy haired guy), Brian, and Matt, to management, everyone is friendly and helpful. People just need to stop complaining so much about EVERYTHING. If someone came to Davis and decided to use the Wiki to find a place to go out and eat, he would have to make his own meal because according to this site, EVERY restaurant in town is complete garbage. This is a college town people. The majority of the staff at every restaurant in town is a college student, not a professional server versed in fine dining. Give everyone a break! —RussellAnderson


2007-08-11 02:06:56   Anyone know if this is related to the sacramentoCafe Bernardo in sacramentoSacramento? —GeoffJohnson


2007-09-12 13:18:55   The service is really bad here. Only 1 person to ring up people during the busiest time of the day: LUNCH. The cashier lied about not having French Fries. The couple behind us received fries so we had to call the cashier out on that. I'm glad a lot of people were around to hear. —rchiteck

-I have been working at Café Bernardo for a little over a year now and like to frequent the Davis Wiki. Usually I sit back and take the comments good or bad as many peoples complaints have validity. However I feel it necessary to respond to this particular one.

sean916


2007-09-12 13:34:41   I went on a date there once late at night and i think we were the only two eating dinner and actually getting drunk off Wikis at night at the bar....it was awkward.... like who orders food at the bar that late? Anyway the salad i had was soooo good! Not as good as a Wiki tho - Oh yea and i refuse to drink a Wiki out of a plastic cup....lame.... i don't pay him unless i get a glass =D —WeMo


2007-09-25 20:32:42   Among the american food places in Davis, I'd rank Cafe Bernardo has part of the "better half". Although I can't say all the food I've had there are "must haves", their food is above average. +Outdoor seating that allows dogs +Close to school and farmers market —atwong


2007-10-28 12:39:25   I agree with what Sean said. People complain about everything without knowing what they are talking about because they don't know the situation. Well, if people still complain about food, etc—just tell them to make their own food at home or tell them to ask their mom to make it. LOL. Their mom probably can make their meal as fast as a rocket....... People are so SPOILED..... —Patricia


2007-11-15 08:53:33   wicky = amazing. —amber722


2007-12-05 13:35:09   Some of the best food in town, great bar staff, nice atmosphere! —NinasStudio


2007-12-07 18:51:10   I got married and the DMV punched a whole in my license when I changed my name. I went to Bernardo's with 1)the holey license 2)Temporary license issued by DMV 3)Passport 4)Copy of Marriage license (things I was carrying at all times while waiting for the new license). The bar tender refused to serve me even with all my paperwork as it was "restaurant policy". No other bar in Davis gave me trouble about it. In fact Sofia's staff congratulated me on my marriage. —HeatherClaire


2007-12-26 08:52:13   On of the best places in Davis, especially for the price. Everything I've had is delicious and well made. Especially the desserts, which are some of the best around. —Pattie


2008-01-05 12:09:20   This place has really good Huevos Rancheros for breakfast, and they also have a pretty interesting whole wheat waffle. Mmmm... waffle. —JeremyOgul


2008-01-28 02:33:49   I've only been to the "bar" side, Bar Bernardo. The Thai Noodles (minus the chicken) were very tasty. I paid $10.75 for the noodles & a Bloody Mary—not too shabby! —AprilAries


2008-03-01 18:37:56   this place is for yuppies. only go here if you like paying a lot for little food and like hanging out with the white folk —brosef123


2008-03-29 01:56:15   I don't know about everybody else, but I like to eat lunch before 1 pm on Saturday and before 2 pm on Sunday. Some of the items are expensive enough to merit the inclusion of a side. —stevie13


2008-03-30 00:46:02   I love the bernardo burrito here and frequently dine here for breakfast. Yum —LizMelack


2008-04-06 14:19:42   I love this place. Their breakfasts are awesome, but I normally eat dinner in the bar. I used to eat here several times a week with my buddy. We would order the salmon and the steak. Never had a bad meal here. My favorite part though is sitting and socializing in the bar. Their cocktails are usually very well made, but the Wiki is awesome and I suggest you all try it. —CurlyGirl26


2008-04-20 11:40:34   Bernardo's was recommended to us because of the Asian Salad and Salmon BLT,so on Picnic Day my family and I decided to go try them, to our surprise we were told we had to pay a $2 cover charge, I never heard of paying to go in a cafe. So we really wanted to try the food so we decided to pay the cover, then the bouncer told us we had to have the exact amount, he became very rude and verbal and threaten my son. We will never attempt to go there again. —Arneda


2008-04-21 18:25:35   I've noticed this place go downhill lately. Recently I went in, the cashier was really rude & short with me. I ran into another a busser/server and asked If I could sit in the bar to meet someone, after staring at me like i was a moron, he snapped "I'd rather you not do that..." and walked quickly around me. After all that, they came around and asked me if three dishes were mine before they brought my burnt sandwich. I'd really like to see this place a friendlier staff, and maybe look/feel more like a Bernardos or Paragarys in Sac.

Prices are too high, I was afraid they would spit in my food simply because I was there. —KearnyLang


2008-04-25 08:27:59   A simple cup of coffee will set you back over $2 and you might have to get up to ask for refills. Also, watch for additional charges ($2+ for turkey sausage in the two egg breakfast). My two-egg breakfast, with turkey sausage and coffee came out to $11! Eeeeek! At this price I was hoping for unique flavors, but it was nothing special. The toast was a slice of "artisan" type bread, but it wasn't great and it certainly does not make up for the price. Cafe Bernardo definitely caters to the more affluent population and the hotel guest (in the same building) looking for a convenient bite to eat. —YupYup


2008-04-26 13:24:48   I've been here several times and normally only ever had breakfast here, but always for business meetings. Because of this its hard for me to talk about price. I didn't pick up the bill since its a write-off. However, I did not have the bad experiences that I seem to hear about. I was served the coffee I ordered on the spot when I ordered it with the food and OJ. The OJ was then brought to me fairly quickly before I even had time to get some sugar for my coffee and stir it in. By the time I had finished the OJ and started in on the coffee (which of course took a while since there was a lot of conversation happening), the food was then brought in. I didn't even notice how long it took, so it is again hard to say if it was too long or perfect. The food though was good. In the past, I have ordered the eggs benedict, the bernardo burrito, and the amaretto french toast. The eggs benedict was great. The eggs were exactly done right and the sauce was how I expected it. The burrito was more than filling, I ended up having to take home leftovers. It was nothing special, but was satisfying (if I was looking for a bang-for-my-buck deal, I'd have gone to Guadalajara). And then the amaretto french toast: well, I'm not an almond fan though I do enjoy them. I felt as if it was too overpowering. I really liked the french toast, but it was nothing special aside from the fact that they used a really thick bread. The bread definately seperated it from something you'd find at other places, but again, nothing that great. The thing that did make it altogether nice was the fact that they would only ask if I wanted more coffee when I was 3/4 of the way down; they refilled my water constantly without being pushy or obtrusive. They only asked to clear the table once they saw that everyone (there were four of us) were finished. I think the place is definately nice, but it is still pricey. If you have the money to toss around, the morning and early afternoon seems to be the best times to go. I've never heard of people having a bad time then. —SunjeetBaadkar


2008-05-29 15:01:30   Good food, good quality ingredients, cramped atmosphere, and hit or miss service. I've been going to Cafe Bernardo for lunch for the past few years about once a week. I enjoy the food but it does get crowded and the service is sometimes mediocre. One gripe, the price of the Grilled Salmon BLT is posted as $8.75 but it's really $8.95. I spoke to the staff about this on several occasions, nothing was done. So today while I was there, I asked to see the manager and I complained that they were charging more than the advertised price. They refunded me the $.20 but didn't change the price after they claimed their prices often change. But the price has been the same since I started eating there, before this particular manager even started working there. My other gripe is they can be slow about moving customers through the ordering line. Decent value for the money but probably not great for students and those on a tight budget. —AdamShiffman


2008-06-04 21:08:30   They have a surprisingly miserable wine list . . . . —DavidRobinson


2008-06-05 10:42:51   This place has, without a doubt, the most RUDE staff in town. On top of that their coffee is upwards of $2 and the food is mediocre on a good day, regardless of the overpricing. I stopped going here to drink last year when the $6.75 Wiki's started being served in a tiny plastic Coors Light cup. Much happier now that I have decided to never go here again. If you're anorexic, you'll love this place. —GarrettGallegos


2008-06-05 11:23:25   When my mom comes to town this is our favorite place to have breakfast. —PeteWillits


2008-06-10 10:54:25   I'm somewhat surprised by the number of negative comments; I've been to Cafe Bernardo about eight times (though only for breakfast) and have always had a pleasant experience. In fact, I went to study and have breakfast before a final, and while I wasn't sure whether I'd be welcome (as we all know how some Davis restaurants feel about studious students), my server actually came by frequently to fill up my coffee and water and was quite friendly. And don't knock all of the portion sizes; the buckwheat pancakes are as big as your face. —AmelieDoisneau


2008-08-23 18:50:50   I like Bernardo's, it's fast, you walk in, give your order, pay, sit down and they bring it to you. My husband and I come here often, the location is convenient and the food is good, I love the polenta, salmon sandwich, chop salad, eggs bernardo, quesadillas, whatever, depends on the time of day and my mood. They serve wine and you can order cocktails from the bar. It's comfortable and casual, sometimes we'll just call and order take-out. Although the staff is young, I have noticed that there are a lot of people my age (50's)and I often run into friends there. I am very comfortable there. —christinecipperly


2008-08-26 18:08:09   Salmon BLT and the mashed potatoes are soooooooooo good. —JenniferGiang


2008-08-26 18:59:21   I like Bernardo's, they offer a fantastic breakfast and everything is tasty, however there is one thing that bumps me. They don't serve many lunch items before 2pm on Sundays. I wanted some fries with my sandwich the other day (it was about 1pm), but was informed of the breakfast/lunch policy. I could do without that. —CurlyGirl26


2008-10-23 19:45:29   One of my favorite places in Davis - the food is fresh and local; I've had some really lovely meals here. —Stina


2008-10-29 19:26:23   I AM SOOOO NOT GOING THERE ANYMORE. LAST TIME I ASKED A ORANGE JUICE AND THEY SERVED FROM THOSE GALLONS THAT COST 1 DOLLAR IN SAFEWAY! THEY CHARGED ME 3.5 FOR A LITTLE CUP. COME ON!!! —eipp


2008-11-14 14:01:42   WORST PLACE TO EAT!!!!!!!!!! The servers and the Manager know nothing about customer service and are the rudest group of people I have ever encountered. The food isnt even that good either!!!!!!! DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! —LaurenL


2008-11-16 20:38:40   people actually go here? —Chrissapher


2009-01-24 19:49:25   I go here frequently, and as I veteran Davis foodie I love Bernardos! —AndrewBianchi


2009-01-28 20:58:28   I love the food and eat at Bernardo's all the time, but when I showed up just after 8:30 this evening to order take-out, the cashier said they were closed even though she admitted they close at 9 pm (???). . . Not a good business practice. —britti


2009-03-29 13:20:24   Really bad and unfriendly service. A waitress pretty threw a hissy fit at me and my friends when our order wasnt sent out right. Over priced for what you get too. That plus attitude should = pass it by and walk on over to Crepe Ville, Burgers & Brew or Sophie's Thai. All much better choices! —poggle


2009-04-12 23:35:54   Very disappointed in this cafe. Not only do they charge $2.25 for a regular coffee, but they charged me $3.75 for a glass of orange juice, the cheap kind from a gallon jug nonetheless, when I can go to the grocery store and actually buy at least a quart of high quality juice for less than $3. Also, the food was minimal at best. I ordered french toast, and that was all I got, 2 pieces of french toast with hardly any flavor.

The staff was preoccupied in conversations between themselves to care about customer service, and one waitress wanted to take my plate before I was even finished eating.

I will not return here, for the cost of the minimal food, I can get 2-3 times more food at Crepeville or Little Prague. Definitely out of touch with quality implies being able to charge higher prices. —BrandonBarrette


2009-04-13 10:41:24   A couple of quick comments. You can eat in the bar and it's much quieter. The service isn't much faster, but the servers are friendly and competent. I had the huevos rancheros yesterday. If you're expecting stand-up Mexican cooking, you'll be disappointed. I was. —JimStewart


2009-04-26 21:30:54   I have breakfast here at least twice a week and like their oatmeal, egg dishes, and French toast. The service is great and the food arrives quickly. There are also one or more newspapers on the shelf near the water that you can read while eating. I enjoy chatting with the staff: Mary, Amber, Paul, and the others. —nowhereman


2009-06-14 15:36:11   The "2 eggs, herbed potatos and turkey sausage" makes a great non-pork carnivore breakfast, something that's a bit hard to find. —JimStewart


2009-11-08 20:22:38   The french toast with fruit on top is to die for! so delicious, I go there just to order it. BUT the bad thing is that they only serve it until 11 am on the weekdays, 1 pm on Saturday, and 2 pm on Sunday...They really need to extend the breakfast hours!

besides that, it is generally overpriced. Although the food is good, it comes in small quantities for big bucks. The heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad is DELISH, but whos going to pay 8.50 for a tomato and some cheese? —mrandmrs

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