Cafe Etoile -- Berkeley, CA (French and Asian-inspired Brunch spot)

Located at 1930 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, this cafe is not necessarily situated in a quiet neighborhood, but the fast service and tasty food options would excuse any requirement for ambiance. The menu options look to be somewhat French, somewhat American and somewhat Korean. From my perspective, I would say they executed this combination with a menu that is naturally accepted by their patrons and delivers on flavor with all-around, comforting dishes. 



Cafe Etoile


Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.

Cappuccino. This is typically my go-to coffee beverage. This version had a nice blend of beans that were aromatic without too much bitterness. The creamy milk foam art is always a nice touch.  

Peach & Arugula Salad. The last vestiges of the summertime peaches were in this salad. Still juicy and ripe, the sweet fruit paired nicely with the savory prosciutto, peppery arugula and tart dried cranberries. The crunchy sunflower and pumpkin seeds also gave this salad a nice textural contrast. The balsamic drizzle was a nice touch, and added more complexity to this, otherwise, very flavorful salad.  

Bacon & Egg Croffle. Salty bacon and runny egg are a classic combination. The foundation of this, however, was their signature croffle; a fairly dense mashup of a croissant and waffle. The croffle was a nice base, with enough heft to hold all the toppings but still held remnants of buttery flakiness, even after getting a good press between a waffle iron. The extra toasty imprints of the waffle had a nice, extra toasted, buttery flavor and texture. The salad on the side was fresh and helped cleanse the palate between bites of rich and salty bacon and egg.

Chicken & Croffle. A nicely prepared croffle was topped with two pieces of flattened, buttermilk-soaked chicken thighs, breaded and fried until golden and delightfully crunchy. This was a very satisfying rendition of fried chicken, and a large enough portion for two to share. It was juicy, hearty, and the contrast of the sweet and spicy syrup with the creamy sriracha mayo and tangy pickled pepper woke up all the taste buds in my mouth. 

I would happily return for another round of fried chicken and peppery arugula salad. The other sandwich options on the menu also sounded delicious, and I look forward to coming back to try those other items.