Red Bay Coffee Ferry Building — Restaurant in San Francisco

This is a review from their new location in the Ferry Building. I had my qualms with the old location and was hoping the rebrand and downsizing would help. It did not. Today's experience: after I ordered my coffee and pastry and was asked to pay, the barista was literally bent over the POS system to make sure I tipped before they even began to pour my drip coffee. I tipped $1 because the time before I ate at the new location, my total was $9.75. Paying with cash, I just gave them the remaining quarter for tip and the barista "forgot" to give me my drip coffee, and I had to wait 5 minutes before asking someone to pour it for me.

Back to today's experience. Once getting my coffee and pastry, I went over to add sugar and put on the lid. They were out of both, and scrawled on a piece of tape on the caddy was "if you don't see it, we don't have it". Okay, I guess... I had to go over to another business and ask them for a lid. Still no sugar, so I had to walk over to the overpriced Blue Bottle and use their sugar. Finally, I can sit down and enjoy this, right? No. The coffee is cold. Straight out of Curb Your Enthusiasm. I can even stick my nose in it no problem. Five thumbs...

This used to be my go-to in the Ferry Building, but not anymore. TLDR; They got my name and order wrong and asked if the incorrect drink was ok, but it would've caused an allergic reaction for my colleague.

I ordered this morning with the girl behind the counter for a matcha latte with oat milk for me and my colleague. She asked me for my name, and I thought I was good. I timed it perfectly so we have more than enough time for her to get to the office.

Tell me why they got my name and order wrong. Two matcha lattes with almond milk for Fernando. My name is Andrew. I was waiting, and they kept calling for this guy, so after a while I concluded it was for me. When I told the guy behind the counter that I asked for oat, not almond milk, he said it was almond milk and if that's fine. It was not.

My colleague is literally allergic to nuts and would have a severe reaction if she drank that. They made us new drinks, but we were now running late and I will never...

Made it out to Red Bay Coffee to attend a Yelp Elite event. It was my first special event, and also the first in-person one Yelp has done since Covid, so didn’t know what to expect. Left leaving with a cool experience and a dope swag bag.

Firstly, that charcoal latte was good, like that first sip was exactly what I needed that I didn’t know I needed good. Secondly, the space is great, from the high ceiling to the views of the Bay, to the table of merch, books, and snacks (some vegan), all the way to the shelves of coffee with their inspired names.

Got super excited when I found out the swag bag had the Coltrane, East Fourteenth, and Slow Burn. Can’t wait to brew some at home. Red Bay is based in Oakland and has made a new home at the Ferry Building. More than a coffee shop, this is a community space and I’m...