Punk Rock Cafe - Highly Recommend
Written: Sep 07 '03 (Updated Nov 14 '03)
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Pros: best burger in the east bay
Cons: there's usually a wait at the bathroom
The Bottom Line: Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe won't. The food and atmosphere are tops.
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| megugrrrl's Full Review: Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe |
I really like the Can't Fail Cafe (think Clash's "Rudy Can't Fail") because it's so punk rock, yet family friendly, clean, and it has the best burgers in the East Bay - the burger I had today was so good, it was like I was stoned - but I wasn't. I swear. I savored every bite, deliberately chewing to enjoy every moment. I even had a conversation with our server about the burgers - Neiman Ranch beef. No wonder. So juicy and truly flavorful. (The kids in the back usually get it right, but one night they confused "medium rare" with "well done". I could only eat one bite and had to be somewhere lickety split, and they never even offered anything off.)
Anyhow, my friends and I call it the punk rock cafe because:
#1 they play punk rock and '80's tunes (the volume is perfect - loud enough to identify a song you know, but soft enough for you not to even notice it when you're engaged in food or conversation)
#2 the decor is kitschy - but not too much. They have these really cool epoxy resin tables with all kinds of plastic treasures trapped inside, and there's a long row of Barbies and other "action figures" dressed in foodserver uniforms on the back wall, some large Barrel of Monkeys monkeys dancing on the walls of the back room. It's very kooky yet sophisticated...
#3 every server has tattoos - many of them - and on some days, every person eating there has tattoos - many of them. But you'll never feel weird there if you don't have tattoos - there's no snotty "I'm too cool for you" attitude - it's professional and friendly.
#4 It's partly owned by some guy in Green Day and some other punk guy who's picture is by the bathroom, but I don't know much about poppy punk to help you out. Someone once mentioned Fat Wreck Chord's Mike, but I really can't remember.
Even though it's been dubbed the punk rock cafe by my friends and me, the Can't Fail Cafe attracts everyone in the Oakland/Berkeley/Emeryville area because, well, the food's good.
The menu is American - a huge breakfast offering - omlettes, pancakes, and specials like sh#t on a shingle or huevos rancheros. My friend had the chorizo omlette, which she really enjoyed until she got some chorizo up her nose and complained that it was spicy. They have the usual suspects for omlettes (Denver, cheese) and some interesting ones (vegan, Meditteranean - with goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes). Omlettes are around $8.
I usually get simple pancakes (no frills here - just nice, hot 'n fluffy pancakes) and when I'm feeling naughty I'll get My Own Private Idaho - and egg over hashbrowns (are there grated carrots in them?), topped with a big bunch of melted cheddar. $5.
There are also salads and blue plate style entrees - but other than the breakfasts, the burgers are really good. No wait, after today, I think the burgers are the best thing about Rudy's Can't Fail. Around $8. Tasty and moist. Perfect. Lightly grilled buns. Perfect. Quality cheese. Perfect. They come with either fries, or a salad - not one of those sad iceberg lettuce salads, but a proper green salad with a tangy vinigrette. They also serve salads and other lunch sandwiches like tuna melts and such.
The Can't Fail Cafe has recently opened for dinner - though I've yet to try any of their southern touched specials (fried chicken, chicken pie). They've got good coffee, a kid's menu, a couple of beers, patio seating, and the sexiest servers.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
megugrrrl
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: Oakland
Reviews written: 147
Trusted by: 321 members
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