Cafe Rack — Restaurant in Emeryville

Oh, is this a pool hall? Oh yeh. now I get the name, broken rack. I've been to a bunch of crusty smokey old pool halls and been to some hoity-toity ones -- this is neither -- the Broken Rack is a neighborhood place fit for anyone over 21.

Nice bar, laid-back atmosphere, classy but not pretentious. I think they may have WiFi but not sure, I always see people on their laptops, so you get a signal from somewhere...

Anyway, good spot for lunch under a protected atrium so you can get all the sun but none of the wind that blows through the breezeway.

This is a nice clean place, plenty of pool tables, but really it's close to my work so I go there for lunch and drinks. They have a nice selection of beers on tap. Guinness, RedHook ESB, NewCastle, Sam Addams, Pyramid, Stella, Bear Republic, FatTire, etc. What, that's not enough? They have lots of beers in bottles too, bud select, bud light, Anchor Steam, and all that..

Decent prices and yeah, it opens at 11:30 so no breakfast or early starters, but c'mon let's not forget its a pool hall.

Atmosphere? Oh yeaaah! There's a bunch of old jazz types hanging out, man it reminds me of what the good ol days must have been like back in the '40s and '50s but I am not that old.

The barmaid/waitress is cute, excellent service and speaking of racks.. oops no never mind.. the other guys that work there are totally cool too. It's got much the rapport of a English pub and the bartenders are your mates that have known you for years.

Go to Broken Rack, eat food, drink stuff, play pool. Worth...

Just about everytime I've been here they don't have alcohol you ask for. They have empty alcohol bottles on display, so when you ask for a shot of something you're told "we're out of that". What type of bar has empty bottles on display like it's ready to be poured? They don't have experienced bartenders. One guy that served me and a friend was reading instructions to make our drinks. The drinks are too pricey and not good. Stopped ordering $20 drink that taste like watered down OJ, started ordering just beer and a shot(if they have the shot you want)Security from the dispensary next door was pouring drinks which is crazy. Have also had problems with my debit card having holds on it the next day everytime I paid my bill with it. Had to start paying cash only. Food is ok, music is not so good, staff is usually friendly, Felicia and Lei were great, the times they were working. Did get ignored that one time by the guy reading instructions to make our drinks and security when my friend and I were trying to order another round, and we were the only 2 people on that side of the bar, so we left. Will not...

Bad experience! Could be coincidence as fraud can happen anywhere, but hear me out. Went twice last week and yesterday. First 2 times used my ATM and this past Sunday received notice about 3 transactions posted using my ATM for TMobile, Gilroy outlets and gift cards totaling almost 400$. Yesterday used my credit card and as I left got another text from bank about $122 at Walmart. All transactions never approved by me. They keep your ID and credit card until you leave and they charge you so I'm thinking the young lady working goes online and uses it at her convenience. Yes, probably my fault for not asking why they keep that but at the same time now I know why. I don't think it's coincidence as I never use my credit card for anything and this time I did use it as a test and yupp it was used. Probably only happened to me but I don't think it's coincidence that in on week and on both cards transactions were made online (ID, Card # and security code) all in her hands to use. Never going back again. Won't give girls name either. I got my money back but just beware you all. Pay...