Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe

Not a lot of atmosphere here but for breakfast, the food is more important, I think! Great vegetarian omelet, quick Pete's coffee, nice hash brown and toast. Nice booths - great for business discussion!

Posted 03/22/09

commodified, overblown punk theme not true to punk spirit. No matter how many tattooed, blue-haired waitresses there are or how much self-consciously hip decor is stuffed onto shelves, a $12 cheeseburger will NEVER have any punk credibility. Self-centered soccer moms and their irritating children can have Rudy's, I'm happy to give my weekend morning meal business to Full House Cafe in the Laurel. Green Day Mike should be ashamed of himself for creating such a blighted travesty--Rudy's CAN Fail!!

Pros: $2 PBR is about the ONLY pro I can think of

Cons: overpriced, overrated, not true to punk roots or spirit, too many self-important customers

Posted 03/19/08

When Rudy's opened down the street, we were happy to have any place in the hood that was open on Sunday. Now it's hard to get a table, because it's become a place for locals, hipsters and people who want to grab dinner before seeing a movie at Bay Street.

Top picks: the salads are *huge* (I'm full after the small size) and the fries are amazing...crisp, hot and with an edge of spicy.

The unique diner-gone-modern decor is a treat. I bring everyone here: family (it's surprisingly kid-friendly,) friends who want to experience the flavor of Emeryville, and neighbors (who are regulars themselves.) And I've noticed a very low turnover in wait staff, so that's a good sign.

They were right when they named it "Can't Fail Cafe."

Posted 02/04/08

Very good service and no wait when you sit at tha counter... recommended for anyone in east bay to check it out!

Posted 01/04/08

We eat here regularly. Prices are reasonable, the selection is good and they have things like a Guiness milkshake with a shot of espresso on the menu. Late night eats--especially since there is not so much open late. Great coffee=high marks in my book. Service is usually on it, although I've had to leave twice when the servers forgot they sat us or they never came by. I can forgive these transgressions because they've got the best burgers around. Weekends are busy for brunch, expect a long wait. You can get yourself a cup of Pete's while you're waiting and still waking up.

Pros: Badass burger and fries

Cons: Service needs to improve

Posted 12/23/07

The selection of food was great, the chilaquiles were very good. There is also a great selection of vegetarian food that actually tastes great. I tried the Pressure Drop, a Guiness with a shot of espresso dropped in, and was pleasantly surprised. Just give this place a try, there will be something you'll really like.

Posted 10/21/07

My family and I have been to Can't Fail a few times. Food has ALWAYS been good. If you go on Wednesdays, you HAVE to try the meatloaf special (if you're not a veggie, of course). It's better than mom's. Always a good time and great food. I'm a little older than the average visitor, but eating there always makes me feel at home and nostalgic. Great for people watching, too.

Posted 08/18/07

I was planning on 3 birthday parties to be held together for a group of friends that met online. From the first time I contacted Rudy's through the day of the party I had completely wonderful service. Doug the manager went so far as to offer to order a specialty cake for me. The food was incredible and brought to us in a very timely manner considering there was 11 people in our group!! Music, casual atmosphere, amazing food, great staff..Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe has everything you could possibly want!! Affordable and filling..the portions are HUGE!!
Thanks again to the staff for making our party a huge success! We're still bragging about it!

Pros: affordability and portion sizes

Cons: slightly hard to find if you aren't familiar with the area

Posted 07/27/07

I've only eaten breakfast at Rudy's after reading great reviews at this site. Have dined at the restaurant five times in the past six months and unfortunately have noticed a decline in service and food. Perhaps Rudy's has just gotten too popular with the weekend breakfast crowd. My last wait was 35 minutes and then another 35 minutes to finally get our breakfast. The special eggs Benedict came with poached eggs over cooked to medium rock hard. Next time I will know to ask for soft poached eggs. French Toast is truly excellent and quite filling. It is a cool fun atmosphere and the service is pleasant and outside dining is nice, however, there are several other good breakfast establishments with better food. I will probably go back because i like the outside dining, but this is certainly not a number one rated breakfast place in the East Bay.

Posted 07/15/07

Rudy?s is a meticulously crafted establishment, from its name (taken from a song title by The Clash) to its menu (a plethora of consistently delicious items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner) to its decor (kitchy resin-coated tables, and an army of wall-mounted barbies dressed in Rudy?s uniforms). This is the perfect last stop for a weekend night out, or the perfect hangover remedy (after a weekend night out). The hash browns are heavenly, the cornmeal waffle is delicious, and the ?deuces wild? is the grown-up sister of the classic diner breakfast. Aside from the traditional fare is a handful of ?bay area?-esque alternative options like vegan hot cereal, 2 kinds of vegetarian sausage, and my favorite, the ?soyrizo scramble? (vegetarian chorizo scrambled with eggs, corn, and black beans ? topped off with sour cream and guacamole?awesome!). During peak hours the waits can get long, but the self-serve Peets coffee station helps pass the time. When the weather is nice, you can sit outside on their patio and enjoy the sunshine. Don?t let the colorful rock and roll atmosphere fool you into thinking that Rudy?s is all style and no substance ? they?re the real deal.

Pros: Food, ambiance, service.

Posted 03/17/07

hallo erstmal.ich wollte ja nur mal sagen,dass ihr alle popoliebe praktiziert und bei kick klaut.euer essen hat so schei?e geschmeckt wie es aussah.ich schicke mal das gesundheitsamt ruber.ihr habt au?erdem alle kein orakel am kinn,was ja mal wohl gar net geht und zudem habt ihr blo? einen hauptschulabschluss.was ja auch erklart,warum ihr in so 'nem schabbigen restaurant arbeitet.ach ja,ihr habt alle kleine schwanze und enge muschis.ich werde eure nippel mit einem glatteeisen traktieren.
liebe gru?e euer timbart
post scriptum: ihr stinkt im intimbereich!

Posted 02/27/07

Diner food done right! Rudy's is open late (with $1 beer specials) Friday & Saturday nights. Don't miss the weekend brunch, though the crowds can be intimidating. Weekday specials are also great (their fried chicken gets a big, big thumbs up) plus the spicy tofu salad is one of the best I've had. Servers are friendly and fun, and the music is always worth sticking around for. Check it out!

Pros: tasty food, fun atmosphere, Shakin' Jesse!

Cons: crowded

Posted 10/17/06

I've only been here for breakfast, but it is really great, hearty food. I like the way they make their hashbrowns - they're shredded so thin that they are almost mashed consistency with a crisby golden top. I usually get the corned beef hash, two eggs and potatoes. Not too salty at all. Usually friendly service and they are busy on the weekend. We've never had to wait more than 15-20 minutes though, and you can pour yourself a cup of Peet's coffee as you wait.

Pros: Food

Posted 10/04/06

Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe was amazing. I've only gone once since I live in los Angeles, but the food is magnificent.

Posted 08/13/06

We've eaten here several times - and always been very happy. Many others have also figured this out, but we've never had to wait more than 10-20 minutes, even during peak time on Sunday. If you haven't been by, check this place out.

Posted 04/16/06

Great food for a sleepy Sunday, but this is also an idea shared by many, so get there early, or be prepared for a bit of a line. What's fantastic is that they offer coffee to you while you wait. Awesome food, service is great and friendly. Laid back atmosphere with a touch of gourmet thrown in--the food quality is great. Added touches like the Wall O' Barbie and the imbedded games in the tables make this one of the reasons I'm proud to be an East Bayer.

Pros: Lots of Parking, Great Food

Cons: Can be crowded

Posted 02/01/06

The pancakes are "met in your mouth" as advertised and the warm maple syrup is a nice touch. Try the chicken apple sausage as well. Nice, clean, and hidden little gem in Emeryville. Seems as though the local professionals all know of this place.

Posted 09/23/05

Rudy's has the best burgers I've had in the East Bay. Their fries are crispy and delicious. They serve "melt in your mouth" pancakes, french toast and really cool brunch specials. They offer a nice selection of lunch salads and sandwiches. The place has a really cool feel to it, probably because Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt is the rockstar owner. The staff is young,hip and friendly. Plus they have Fat Tire on draft!

Pros: Great food!, Friendly service, Open late Fri/Sat

Cons: They don't deliver

Posted 05/18/05

I am so addicted to the huevos rancheros...smothered in salsa verde...aaahh.Rudy's in a nutshell...yummy food, good music/atmoshere, oh and yes STRONG COFFEE!

Pros: Inexpensive, good parking

Cons: not 24 hours

Posted 12/10/03