East Bay Coffee Co. — Restaurant in Pinole

Want to read an honest review. Stick around. I have been a patron of East Bay Coffee since 2021 but unfortunately, I feel the need to spend my money elsewhere. Why?

First off, the lack of outlet access is primary as to why I can no longer work there for more that 20 minutes. The new layout did not consider consumers and honestly is an awkward walkthrough. Brightness would be great considering the dark erie art on the walls. Recessed Light, lighter paint, or some alternative.

Second, The AM food quality is very poor. I can't speak to the evening service, but the quality of the brekky has dwindled while going up in price. They used to have a fly and dog hair problem on the pastries but that got better after they enclosed the food. Now some of these changes are most likely due to inflation, I get it. BUT!!!!!!! I had HAIR on my food a number of times before & (today) , bread has been STALE (today included) and is basically a burger bun, sausage has been COLD (today included) as if it were sitting on the back of the griddle, and I also had a hair inside my to-go coffee cup (today).

Third, The service is very scattered and changes often. The front of house staff "turnover" prevents consistency. AND you can feel the stress that they feel by the way the staff services you, from time to time.

In today's world I desire for my money to be valued by having decent and clean food, and neutral if not kind service. I am rooting for East Bay, especially bc they are one of the main non-chain coffee shops...

Sometimes you only have to go a place once to know how great it is and Easy Bay Coffee Co meets those exceptions. Located on a quiet corner in Pinole, East Bay Coffee is more than a coffee shop but also a place which holds weekly events: Open Mic on Thursday, Board Game Wednesdays, and Worship on Sundays.

There is not a lot of parking provided from the shop, however there is plenty of parking nearby and across the street. As I walked into the place you immediately get a relax and friendly vibe. There is plenty of seating and limited outlets. It's a great place to study or have a quiet chat with a friend.

As for the coffee (I.E. vanilla latte) it was refreshing and packed with caffeine because I was wired the rest of the night and the cheesecake was mind-blowing delicious; the price for all of this was $10. The pricing is a little high, I think it's worth it. The service is also great, very friendly. I understand why this place gets so many visitors and is beloved by the locals. East Bay Coffee Co is your go-to alternative coffee shop when you want to experience coffee in a...

Paid through Square, waited an hour — no one bothered to make it

I ordered ahead through Google Maps / Square Pay and got the confirmation text. I showed up, waited nearly an hour past my pickup time, and finally went to ask what happened. The barista looked at me and said, “Oh, it’s right here. Do you want me to make it?”

Excuse me? The drink was “right there” but never made? I had already paid. This isn’t a favor — it’s basic service.

If a café chooses to use Square for online orders, it should at least monitor the tablet and fulfill them. Customers shouldn’t have to chase down their paid items or feel invisible while the staff socializes.

This experience was embarrassing for the business and frustrating for me. I won’t be back unless management decides to treat online customers with the same attention as walk-ins.

That kind of dismissive treatment is unacceptable. I live in the area and am well connected with lodges and organizations in Pinole and Hercules (Elks, Lions, etc.). I will be sharing my experience locally so others know how I...