Insider Pages Reviews for Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe

4 Stars: Great quick breakfast!Example: great place for good bread (by kt352)

kt352 — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT

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!

2 Stars: Bring your earplugs! (by Diana B.)

Diana B. — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 11:29:00 GMT

Rudy's has a hip look and 100% hard surfaces: the roar of noise is like putting your head by an airplane engine. Enjoy the decibels with some extra-bitter, peel-the-skin-off-your-tongue Peet's coffee. Toast comes pre-moistened with liquid fat. Scrambled tofu is okay, nothing special. Portions are small.

5 Stars: Owned by Mike Dirnt. (by Rory O.)

Rory O. — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:44:00 GMT

I love Rudy's so much. I always get their calamari, and their chili is so good as well. This place is a staple of the East Bay, and the atmosphere is great for the young rocker. Open late and pretty cheap beer!

4 Stars: Good atmosphere, decent fare (by Teresa L.)

Teresa L. — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:37:00 GMT

Rudy's is a great place to go for a good meal in an enjoyable environment. I like the funky and the fresh attitude in the place, and there are some yummy items on the menu too.

5 Stars: Great diner! (by Chiara F.)

Chiara F. — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Rudy's is great, especially for brunch on the weekends. They serve breakfast all day (though the selection is larger on the weekends) and they are very vegetarian friendly -- you can get veggie sausage with just about everything.

The decor is fun and punky. Most of the wait staff have the most wonderful tattoos. It's a nice combination of local folks, college crowd and those passing through. Worth the trip to Emeryville!

1 Stars: Overpriced and well overrated (by MartinDenny777)

MartinDenny777 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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!!

5 Stars: Great place for a late bite (by emerygal)

emerygal — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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."

5 Stars: Best Breakfast in a while (by stephbbq)

stephbbq — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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

4 Stars: All-around good eats (by curli_q)

curli_q — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: Good selection of food, friendly staff, fun environment (by keekster317)

keekster317 — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: Pretty good, a little busy (by Brandon K.)

Brandon K. — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 14:00:00 GMT

This place is right next to the Pixar campus. They have really good American diner fare with a slight twist. I think you need to have at least 10 tattoos to work there, which adds to the eclectic vibe. Service is always friendly and fast. Good burgers. You can't go wrong.

5 Stars: Always good (by _cory_)

___cory___ — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Must go if in the East Bay (by gdstarchylde)

gdstarchylde — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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!

3 Stars: Getting too popular for weekend breakfast - service suffers (by awilkins)

awilkins — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: The name says it all. (by ckyelland)

ckyelland — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: eure mutter klauen bei kick (by timbart)

timbart — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Awesome food, great music, good service (by vestarose)

vestarose — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Rudy's Rocks! (by tsoulsby)

tsoulsby — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Great food, wonderful service and a joyous experience overall (by 80_adie_80)

80_adie_80 — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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

5 Stars: Great breakfast spot! (by drenalin)

drenalin — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Yummy in my Tummy with no 'Tude (by sassypants76)

sassypants76 — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 09:00:00 GMT

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.

5 Stars: Well worth the trip.. (by shoestringkid)

shoestringkid — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 09:00:00 GMT

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.

4 Stars: Rudy's Doesn't Fail You (by Jay D.)

Jay D. — Fri, 15 Jul 2005 14:59:00 GMT

Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe is living up to its name with crowds spilling out the doors on weekends and lunch hours. Decor is retro hip/arty. Serves: breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks, with breakfasts being particularly good. Now open until 1AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Bonus points for doing a play on words with their ska-themed specials: Rudy's "A Message toYou: Specials!"

5 Stars: This place is great! (by phonenix)

phonenix — Thu, 19 May 2005 09:00:00 GMT

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!

5 Stars: Can't Go Wrong (by Megu W.)

Megu W. — Tue, 17 May 2005 11:46:00 GMT

I absolutely love Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe - they've got really tasty comfort food to soothe away any bad day - and award-winning french fries (not sure which award, but try them, you'll see.)

Their burgers are my favorite in the East Bay - and their breakfast/brunch offerings are top-notch. The have beer and wine, so you'll have to try a pint of Guinness with an espresso shot.

The downside is you'll have to wait amongst Emeryville denizens, the hipsters, and the hungry on weekends...

PROS: Best Burgers in the Bay Area
CONS: wait, wait, wait

5 Stars: HOME COOKIN' WITH AN EDGE! (by chulita)

chulita — Thu, 11 Dec 2003 09:00:00 GMT

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!