The one thing that stands out about this place is the service. When my family and I arrived to Rudy's, we were greeted by Rosa, who essentially ran the whole place from seating customers and taking orders to serving food and printing checks. This restaurant is so lucky to have staff members like her. The food itself had a homey feel to it. I ordered the Mediterranean Omelet ($11) which has tomatoes, red onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and goat cheese. The goat cheese was not evenly spread across the omelet and the whole thing was kinda flavorless (even with hot sauce) but it tasted super healthy! We also ordered the Heart Stopper Breakfast ($15) which has french fries, bacon, and cheddar cheese, topped with green onions, sour cream, and burger patty. This is a stoner's dream come true, I swear. It will satisfy every part of your food craving, and I highly recommend it. This is a vegetarian & vegan friendly place, with each available food item marked as such on the menus. Decent early morning breakfast spot.
(3)
Tracy C.
I came here to meet up with some old classmates that I haven't seen in years. I was pleasantly surprised to find the menu selection with various vegetarian options. My girl friend on the other hand is a vegetarian and did not find the menu exciting at all. She felt as if it were standard diner food, not catered to her specific palate. She ended up ordering the veggie chilli, and I ended up with a boca burger in a lettuce wrap. My burger and fries was tasty. I did think the prices were a bit steep for what we ordered, but I guess that comes with the cost of rent in the neighborhood. The service was very nice, attentive, and seemed to want to help us order based on our food preferences. I may not come back, as there are more options in the area to check out.
(2)
#NAME?
I went here for a late night dinner for the first time and was surprised at how absolutely delicious the pulled pork was!! The meat was made just the way I like and bread was soft too. I ordered the hash brown for my side and oh my gosh! It was gigantic!! The inside of the hash brown was cooked perfectly. Not soggy or overly crisp, but just in between and so delish! On top of this, the hot chocolate, a must have! Love. Love, love!!!
(5)
Kim H.
I live in Emeryville, and it's awesome to have a local place that's open late. Food is hit or miss. I've been here for brunch and for burgers, and the quality of the food has been pretty inconsistent. The service staff doesn't check on you either. I'm always able to place my order quickly, but I never see my server after my order so it's frustrating when you need anything or need to get the check. All in all, I like to Uber here to get my late-night after-party burgers since it's super close to my home, but I would skip this place otherwise.
(3)
Jessabelle R.
I love the quirky fun modern diner decor in shades of orange & royal blue & white, the whacked out Barbie & Ken dolls along the wall. But the food leaves you feeling unsatisfied, not because the servings aren't big enough but because the flavor is lacking. Ordered the sesame tofu scramble which was fresh but no flavor & missing the sesame seeds. My girlfriend ordered another tofu brunch dish that was equally as disappointing in flavor.
(2)
Molly R.
Rudy's Rules! Hilarious, quirky decor (hello, random wall of barbies), nice staff, and massive portions of solid diner fare. You have your classics, then stuff with a twist. Hipster diner- you can't go wrong.
(4)
Kristin D.
Vegans beware! They'll serve you eggs and threaten to call the cops on you if you complain!!!! Worst place ever! They have no consideration for their patrons ethics.
(1)
Timm M.
New Year's eve 8:30pm dinner at Rudy's Can't Fail. Then back home before the East Bay gun fire celebrations begin. We love you Richmond, South LA hour nothing on you....
(4)
Vivian D.
Rudy's is your go-to place if you want a typical diner experience. I find that it is more fun to come here late at night. Their food is nothing spectacular, they do have a special everyday so you can try your hand at that. I do have to say that their pies are pretty delicious. I got the boysenberry pie once, with a side of ice cream, yum! All the servers I've had here have been very cool as well!
(3)
Megan Q.
Blandest Mac & Cheese I've ever paid 10+ dollars for. Is it vegan? Because it tasted like water. Also had zero breadcrumbs. Not that veggie friendly, not any more so than anywhere else with such a huge menu. Kind of a bait & switch on the vegetarian thing.
(1)
August R.
Greenday owns this place and it great. This food was awesome and the Oaksdale eggs benedict was amazing. The atmosphere was very hip and I like the art on the walls. Parking is limited. I will be back.
(5)
Cassandra J.
Mmmm delicious. We came in for brunch on Saturday and while it was busy, we were able to get a seat quickly outside on the patio (to take advantage of the awesome weather!) Service was quick initially and we ordered the "Red White and Blue" French Toast (holy yum) and a ham omelet. There was enough food to fill us up without feeling like we overate. Our bill came quick, but there was a definite slowness on taking our payment. We wound up readjusting our cash so we could just leave instead of waiting on change since our waitress wasn't showing up. This is a pretty neat place and definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Megan L.
Get your shit together, Rudy's. Your lack of service is memorable and will cause me to never return. We've been here many many times since we live close by and have never had as terrible of an experience as we did this morning. I had a rare 2 hours free on a Saturday morning to have breakfast with the husband before he left for work. We headed over to Rudy's and much to our delight, it was not super crowded-- just one large party in front of us waiting to be seated. We put our name on the list for 2 and sat outside waiting for our name to be called. Moments later a young lad asked us if we wanted the table outside that was drenched in sun. My super pale sunburn prone skin said no thanks-- but we'll wait for any spot inside. He said it should only be a few minutes. Over the next few minutes we see several people finish eating, pay, and leave-- freeing up quite a bit of space inside. In these few minutes, several parties arrive and put their names on the list below ours. Another 15 minutes pass and we go inside, wondering why we haven't been called yet (as we can see many open tables). We look at the list and notice that our name has been crossed out, as if we have been seated-- and the several parties that arrived much after us are now being seated. We politely bring this to the attention of the girl seating people and she puts our name back on the list and assures us that we will have the next table. When the next table is freed up she looks right at us..... and calls another persons name and seats them. This particular party had been waiting for less than 5 minutes. 45 minutes pass from the time that we first put our name on the waiting list, to when we decide to walk out since we are obviously being ignored. In this time we see 6 separate parties of varying sizes who arrived much after us be seated while we stand and watch. After bringing this to the attention of the staff we were still ignored and walked home, bellies empty. When we are actually ABLE to get seated at Rudy's, the food is pretty meh and the service is fair to middlin (hey-- I get that you are too cool to be serving me eggs, if you want a tip-- at least pretend like you want to be there.) The decor, ambience, and music are always usually great, but you'll be better suited to go someplace where they actually want your business and realize that you are (or wanted to be) a paying customer. All I wanted was some goddamned eggs-- fuck you, Rudy.
(1)
Samantha G.
First of all, the fries are awesome! Can't get enough. This is a great local place in Emeryville and it's the only place open after 10pm on week days so it's great for late dinner. I come here probably once a week for lunch and it's great. Friendly service, good food, what more can you ask for?
(4)
Tim B.
TLDR; Go if your hungover and want breakfast on a weekday. Avoid burgers and drinks at all cost, unless you like dry garbage, and terribly made cocktails.. and if you don't like paying too much for terrible quality meat. As a regular over the past three years, let me give you a quick and dirty scoop on this biz. Service is decent. Only had one bad instance, but they definitely need a bar back, or a dedicated bartender to make drinks come out quicker because they come out slow. AVOID THE BLOODY MARY AT ALL COSTS!! ..I'm not blaming that on the soju. I've drank the cheapest soju from South Korea, imported from a Vet.. So I can say for certain that the issue isn't the cheap liquor, it's that their homemade mix is garbage. The flavor leaves quite a bit to be desired. The ingredients either are of terrible quality or quantity.. it's obvious that some cutting of corners is happening, because they can get away with it, considering the popularity of the location. I've had three burgers at this location. AVOID THE BEEF. IT IS A FAIL. First time I had their heart attack to go, late at night, when I was hammered. The Patty was beyond dry.. I assumed that this was because it was a to go order past the cook's bed time.. However next week I had a standard cheese burger.. this time I wanted it med rare (which I never do, however i cant stand dry burgers.) Once more, it was dry... I'm guessing at this point that they press their burgers, relinquishing all juices to the mighty flame. The third time, I figured: Maybe I just had two bad experiences.. surely a place that charges so much for a burger and is so popular.. maybe they can in fact cook a burger decently... The blu cheese burger was a FAIL. not enough blu cheese, and the bacon was so crispy, you couldn't taste it because it crumbles right away.. The reason to go to Rudys? Breakfast. Tower of power is KILLER. ... ..But its hard to mess up Breakfast. If you have a trendy mustache, and love GI Joe.. Or you ride your kids around in a trailer behind your bike.. Or your hungover on a tuesday.. Or you have some sick monkey fetish.... Go to Rudys.. If you want a decent burger in Emeryville... Go to freakin' Buckhorn. Rudy's Fails 9/10 times.
(2)
H A.
Never fails. If you like french toast, cheesy grits, or burgers, this is your place!
(4)
Mey S.
Solid burger and fries joint. Staff is friendly and service is good. The offerings are good and plenty. Decor is funky and patrons ranges from hipsters to rowdy families.
(4)
John B.
It was a warm Sunday afternoon and I was on the hunt for a chicken fried steak. Unfortunately, this place didn't have it. In turn, I ordered a regular steak with mashed potatoes and broccoli. The mashed potatoes were about as dry as an MRE cracker. The server was nice and brought me some decent enough french fries though. The broccoli was average. Had some good seasoning on it but could have been cooked to be a little softer. That's an opinion thing though. The steak was obviously a lower quality cut of meat. It was filled with uneditables. You know, things like tendons and veins that you cannot chew and when big enough you have to pull out of your mouth or swallow them hole. Either way, I'll try them again someday for their pancakes and french toast someday but this specific meal was not worth the $20 is cost me.
(2)
Mary J.
BEWARE of upcharges that are not disclosed when you order! Let me say, I had a positive feeling about this charming, vintage diner looking place as soon as we drove up. It was fairly crowded (always a good sign for a restaurant), and not being on a main, main drag is the kind of place locals go to. Also, a good sign. We were seated outside, as requested. I was somewhat shocked at the prices. Still positive, I ordered the patty melt. At $14.75, I expected a patty freaking awesome melt. It was good, but not great. The food quality is good, but seriously, $14.75? That was just the beginning. You are informed that you could upgrade to sweet potato fries as a side. I didn't, but requested raw onion on the side instead of grilled onions on the sandwich. Those raw onions showed up as a dollar upcharge on the bill. I asked our waitress if the grilled onions had been deducted from the bill, and she failed to see my point, saying that they had not. I guess raw onions cost more than grilled onions. Other upcharges included $2.00 for jalapeno peppers that were substituted on my daughter's chicken sandwich in place of bacon, which I am sure is way more expensive than jalapeños. Our friend ordered the steak. From what I could see, this was the best deal on the menu. Not cheap, but at $17.95, a bargain compared to the patty melt! It was tasty, but he requested fruit instead of the veggies that came with it, and ended up with neither. Considering their upcharge policy, probably a good thing! Ordering the salad as a side was also a disappointment. A handful of organic greens with just some shredded carrots on the top, and a balsamic dressing that was thick like thousand island. I'm mostly bugged that these upcharges were not disclosed when we were ordering, not so much the few extra dollars. We were only told about the upgrades we could make to our sides. Our waitress, and the rest of the staff was pleasant, as was the general atmosphere, but we left just a 10% tip instead of our usual 20 because we had to ask for ice tea refills every time, and although we realize this upcharge policy is not hers, she should have told us when we were ordering. My bottom line, is that there are too many good places to eat in Berkeley and unless the rest of the group wants to go there, I won't be back.
(1)
Bradford G.
Rudy's is always good. It's consistent and reliable. The service is always friendly and I usually get to sit where I want. Breakfast can get busy, and I get dinner to go most times cause I hate to wait. The burgers are good especially the breakfast burger. The sandwiches are also good particularly the (cold) tuna. Overall I know what to expect and am not disappointed.
(3)
Jay Z.
Low key, easy going atmosphere with delicious food and generous portions. We love this place.
(4)
Phil B.
I've been a devout fan of Rudy's, having eaten there every month or so for years, but after my latest experience I sadly won't be going back there again. After waiting in line for for 20 minutes my girlfriend joked about just going to Denny's. I wish we had. The "Monday Meatloaf Special" I had tonight was not just a travesty, but also a borderline health hazard. Cold and cooked medium rare it had the same goopy textural consistency of the otherwise decent mashed potatoes placed alongside it. This loaf was pure sin. For all I know Hitler's being forced fed this filth right now in his own private level of hell, eternally complaining about it between mouthfuls with vengeful and penetrating Germanic screams... I, however, wasn't about to take it back. It would be too embarrassing and rude, so I decided to eat around the road kill. That mind state quickly dissolved when I noticed that the broccoli was of the frozen bagged variety, soggy and flavorless, and that I was effectively paying $14 to eat shit, which is something I could definitely do for free. That thought pushed me over the edge, and I politely asked the waitress to take it back, telling her that I've never requested that before, anywhere. She returns, 5 minutes later, to inform me that the meat loaf was precooked that morning and there was nothing they could do... She asks me if I want to order something else, but after seeing the disappointed look on my girlfriends face as she was trying to consume her cold and under cooked breakfast I had to tell the waitress "no I'm fine, thanks". You have to actively go out of your way to make breakfast bad, to somehow fuck up toast even... At this point I could have trained a mentally disabled monkey to make better toast than what I'm witnessing here, but am I then going to pay him $10 to try and fix me a burger? I don't mind diners mass producing the daily special beforehand and keeping it in the fridge all day, but at least cook the batch properly in the morning and serve it hot. Meat loaf is not, under any circumstance, to be cooked medium rare... Why couldn't they just reheat the meatloaf in the oven, to an edible standard you ask? It's due to the fact that Rudy's has fallen victim to the microwave=cooking plague that's been hitting overpriced diners everywhere. But only at Rudy's will they forget the crucial part that most of these restaurants casually playoff: Remembering to microwave your precooked food, and having the mental acuity to make sure you actually cooked it in the first place. Rudy's, poor Rudy's, this is starting to sound like a break up letter, but you have truly inspired me to start cooking all my meals at home. I've been disappointed with a lot of restaurants lately, but you were the final nail in the coffin. You ruined my appetite, and ate 2 hours out of a precious night off, but at least my last experience with you will be beneficial to my wallet.
(1)
Chris M.
Horrible service, waited for 30 min to be seated while the place was emptying as if it was on fire. When we came up on the list a larger party was seated ahead of us. Someone should open a place in Emeryville that has brunch and is willing to serve customers.
(1)
Maia D.
This place was pretty good. The waiter was really nice and patient. He took good care of us! Food was pretty good too. Cuban sandwich was yuuuum with a side of onion rings. Great suggestion.
(4)
Nicole N.
My family and I live in Atlanta, Georgia. We were visiting the Oakland area this past weekend and wanted to find a place to meet some friends for breakfast on Saturday, August 22nd. I looked up Diners, Drive Ins and Dives and saw this restaurant. My husband is a vegetarian and I noticed that there were quite a few vegetarian options on the menu. We met there on Saturday at about 10:30am. There were 4 adults and 3 children in our party. Initially everything was great. Our server (Jazmin)seemed a tad bit distracted but I attributed that to it being a busy Saturday morning. As we got our meals and began eating we realized that she hadn't come back since she took our orders. My husband had to send his tofu scramble back twice because he requested that it be well done and brown but for some reason it kept coming out white. Our server never brought us or offered us refills on our drinks. We soon realized that since she knew she was guaranteed gratuity due to the size of her party she basically decided she didn't need to treat us well. Then we got the bill...apparently everything you requests costs extra money. I wanted an egg white omelet and this apparently costs an extra $2.25 plus every topping on my omelet other than cheese has a $1.00 charge. We were charged because my kids wanted their fruit and whipped topping for their pancakes on the side rather than on the pancakes themselves. We were charged for things that we definitely thought came with the meal we were ordering. The crazy thing is she NEVER said we would be charged for any of this. Had she told us we definitely would have re-evaluated our orders. The bill was quite high due to all of these extra charges for our meals. I was very disappointed. The food was good but I definitely didn't plan on paying $90 for just my family to have breakfast. We visit California often but we will not be visiting your restaurant again. Please advise Jazmin that in the future she should let customers know if they are being charged extra for asking for items that come with their meal to be put on the side.
(2)
Abe M.
Instead of fighting with the traffic last night in downtown San Francisco, we stayed in Emeryville. Woke up this a.m. and was starving. So we found this lite building that from our angle on the street, didn't look like much. But inside, classic little diner. They have enough parking for approx 12 cars, so no problem. As we walked inside, the rock music welcomed you all the way inside. You can really just relax here. Very interestingly decorated, as you can see in pics. At 9am on a Monday, not too busy. (FYI, at this early time, restroom is very clean). Cup of joe was pretty good, strong enough to get your adrenaline going. My wifey ordered the French toast w side of crispy bacon and I the chilaquiles. The french toast was very good, topped w sliced almonds. My chilaquiles were tasty, spicy w green salsa. Maybe a bit over in the melted cheese covering it. But the flavor was better than many Mexican restaurants I've been to. The hash browns were barely warm, so not too excited about those. But seriously, how much can you really spruce hash browns up? Anyways, when it's all said and down, very good here. Good music, good coffee and delish food. Will definitely come back up.a
(4)
Marti L.
Laidback and fun. Rudy's has become our go-to brunch spot. Popular and fast. Always a line but we've been there at least 4 times now and never waited more than 10 minutes for a table. Extensive menu. We've ordered a different item each time, and so many more to try. Top favorites: Southwestern Omelet ( yelp.com/biz_photos/eQfl… ). Chorizo, avocado, and gooey pepper jack drenched in salsa verde. Delicioso! Rudy's Heartache ( yelp.com/biz_photos/eQfl… ). Homemade corned beef hash topped with 2 poached eggs and hollandaise. So bad yet so good! Also tried: Steak & Eggs ( yelp.com/biz_photos/eQfl… ), Tower of Power ( yelp.com/biz_photos/eQfl… ), Mushroom Swiss Burger and ??? Benedict from the Special Menu ( yelp.com/biz_photos/eQfl… )
(4)
Jose C.
I love this spot, its my to go breakfast joint in Emeryville! The staff is friendly, the food is on point and the choices are enough to keep you coming back, but not too many where you can't make up your mind. When you walk in to Rudy's, you feel like it's a secret hang out place and you just discovered it! Treat yourself next time you are in Emeryville and you're looking for a good place to eat, they also serve Lunch and Dinner, but have not tried their dinner menu yet. Enjoy!
(5)
Ryan G.
Service was really good, but prices are a bit high for the quality of food. I would possibly come back if I was in the area and needed a quick bite, but not my go to place.
(2)
Donna D.
The breakfast was just ok. Nothing to brag about to anyone. Mediocre at best... my steak was overlooked which made me sad. They were quite busy so food was not hot. Prices were also high for breakfast, but it was a nice day to sit out in the patio and enjoy the scenery.
(3)
Stephanie L.
This place is hard to miss. I've seen it many times and also heard some talk about it, and finally got to try it last week. The place is a small, cozy diner with eclectic decorations around the room. It's also quite lively inside considering the quiet location it's in. The menu is impressive; I believe breakfast is served all day, and they also have things ranging from burgers to sandwiches to mac n cheese. Classic fare but with many options. I didn't enjoy the food much. It was very ordinary to me, that being said, the people I was with seemed to like it. FOOD: Tofu Buffalo Wings--Sounds weird but it totally works. Fried strips of tofu smothered with buffalo sauce. BLAT--BLT with avocado. I was unimpressed. The side salad was enormous but very bland. May come in handy in the future, since they open late. But I don't plan to return.
(3)
Marc F.
Waited 20 minutes before I could get water or coffee, waited another 45 minutes for my food to come out. I ordered grits, and they came out soupy and undercooked. How hard is it to cook grits? It's literally the cheapest and easiest thing to cook right next to instant oatmeal and Kraft Mac & Cheese. A small child couldn't even screw up grits. I ended up eating just a few bites before I gave up on it, and the server asked me if everything was OK. I said, "These grits are soupy," and I tilted the dish to show the slab of congealed cheese and bits of bacon floating in the sea of undercooked sorrow. She kinda laughed at it, gave me my check and walked away. If you're waiting an hour for food and paying $18 for your meal and coffee, you'd expect something better than a miniature trough of slop.
(1)
Wendee K.
Never eating here again. They raised their prices the food is terrible. Some of the staff is nice most are just wasting your time. Can't fail, you failed. Lame
(1)
Issa B.
Cant get any better than rudys cant fail diner ! Food amazing Service very attentive to your needs even if its crazy busy If its packed and you have to wait for a seat Trust me u wont have to wait no more than 15-20min Love love loveeee this place
(5)
Cara R.
Went in for breakfast on a Sunday around 9:30 am and everything from the service to the food was great! I got the deuces wild with french toast, eggs, and veggie sausage. The french toast serving I got was about half the size as the other ones coming out of the kitchen (I must have gotten the butt-end of the bread, which was not cool), but otherwise everything tasted delicious and it was more than enough food. Bf got the Monte Cristo, which he loved -- said everything was grilled to perfection! The service was bery fast amd friendly, too!
(4)
Christina J.
After shopping at IKEA as being too hungry to wait in the long line at their cafe, we decided to come here. We'd driven by it and picked it because parking seemed accessible. We walked in and the sign said "please wait to be seated" but required me to sign in as if I were being paid to be a hostess. There was confusion on someone else's part and they cut in front of me saying they were here first but didn't know they had to sign in, not the restaurants fault but certainly avoidable. Then when our name was called (hardly audibly) from a girl behind the bar, she just pointed at a table without stepping out to properly greet us. The waitress took our drink, then food order. While we waited for our food I noticed every staff member running around like it was way better than it actually was and the restaurant was dirty. Everything was overpriced but I ordered the Rudy's heartache, and was ultimately disappointed. The hollandaise was watery, and of the two poached eggs, one had a hard yolk. I wasn't offered a refill of coffee. Our waitress wasn't the one who cashed us out or cleared our plates, but once we paid she came up to us to apologize that it was too busy for her to bring us refills. I don't think I'll be back, nor will I be likely to recommend this place.
(2)
John S.
If you don't get the reference in the name, I feel very sorry for you. Please spend the next four hours of your life familiarizing yourself with everything related to good music beginning around 1950. If you don't know what good music is, I feel even sorrier for you. Please spend the next four years of your life improving your taste. I had a very good dinner here. The food was pretty good, but what made it memorable was the company, the conversation, and the strange slew of mixed emotions I had upon learning that someone I had taught and eventually worked with had died. I wasn't close to her, and although she was annoying in many ways--and I feel really bad for having felt that way--I always liked and admired her resilience. I wish I had told her about this when she was alive, but how would I know that someone born in the same year as I was would die in 2011? Back to the food. It's a mess, in every sense. There are lots of options, and that's what I love about it. If I lived in the East Bay, I would definitely come here a lot. The service is very good, and the decor is weird and wacky and perfect for a place whose name is also perfect. But you need to understand the reference, and if you don't, well, I don't know what to tell you. Study. RIP, Nikki. You were a fighter and a devoted mom.
(4)
Bryan K.
Rudy's is really good but the staff can be somewhat rude or their service can be slow. The food can also be somewhat inconsistent with their portion sizes. I ordered two different Eggs Benedict dishes and the Benedict w/Corn Beef has was huge but the Benedict with Ham and Hash Browns was small. Other than that, Rudy's can get very busy for brunch on the weekends and there is usually a 15-20 minute wait.
(4)
Priscilla M.
Love the atmosphere, the food and especially the friendly service. Lots of great vegan and vegetarian options too!
(4)
Amy H.
First time here. Ordered the Rudy's Heartache. My plate seemed like a small portion. There were barely any hollandaise sauce. The two poached eggs were hard boiled. Ugh. The yolks weren't running at all. Felt ripped off. Does Rudy really cook their poached eggs like that? If that's their signature poached eggs, then do not get it! Asked for sunny side eggs instead. Corn beef hash is similar to the store bought Libby cans. I can easily boiled some potatoes and whipped it up with the store cans of corn beef hash. I can make it crispy too. I should've just bought some at the store and cook at home. Will never order the corn beef hash again.
(2)
C B.
Chupracabra is my fave burger. Always yummy. Service is hit or miss. Sometimes you get a badass tattooed hipster server who tosses your food at you with aggression. Sometimes you get better. Love that they stay open late at night. I like the ambiance. They're consistent. They get the basics right but it's definitely hipster attitude and not the friendliest place in the world to be but they aren't indifferent to the point of being ema
(4)
Hilda Z.
My only question is......what happened to their (once) yummy fries!!?? I can get mediocre fries at the golden arches. Bring back the crispy seasoned fries! Please! Thank you.
(3)
C T.
It pains me to write this review, but I feel compelled to after another excruciatingly lackluster meal today. I've been going to Rudy's on a pretty regular basis for the last 7 years, and it's always been pretty reliable. Menu was good. Service was good (and fast). Food was good - never amazing but you could order almost anything and you could be pretty damn sure it'd be good. I don't know what's been happening over there for the last year or so, but whatever they're doing, it's wrong. First of all, many menu favorites are now gone. The salad selection has dwindle to a measly list of three, all of which are horrible (the ham on the chef's salad today, for example, was completely inedible). Had a burger for the millionth time today and it was dry, bland, overcooked. Meanwhile the bacon was completely undercooked and the rest of the toppings were strewn about the plate like someone was purposefully making a mess of things. Who puts chopped red onions all over a burger plate? Even the fries have fallen to mediocre. And to top it off, the service was the worst I've ever had there - slow and very unfriendly. I hate to say it, but the last several times we've been by here, it's gotten steadily worse in every aspect. I probably won't be back anymore.
(2)
Ray R.
always great place to get some diner food. Only thing Im going to say service is great but slow. Too slow for the size of the location.
(3)
Adam C.
Love this place. Guinness on tap in a diner with great food. Even if veggies are your preference. Fries are badass too.
Rudy's actually can fail. Pretty miserably. This is the second time I've been here. The first time was with an ex and some friends about 5 years ago, and the experience was pretty mediocre. I've since ditched the ex, but this place sure hasn't ditched its mediocrity. Came for breakfast, asked for the Deuces Wild pancakes, with scrambled eggs (with a little cheese) and some bacon. The cakes were forgettable, the eggs came out with a big gloop of cheese on top of them (that tasted like nothing) and the bacon was ... so-so. It'd be fine if the prices were also so-so, but when you're paying north of $35 for a meal for two for breakfast, there are a lot more - and better - choices to spend your money.
(2)
Den Y.
I enjoy coming here for breakfast. They do their sunny side up eggs right! And the location is nice too - you can see the Pixar building on the other side of the intersection.
(4)
angelika b.
It's a great local spot! I'm a big fan of their breakfast. Nothing like sitting at the bar to enjoy a hot greasy plate go eggs, bacon and hash browns. Lunch portions are huge! No dinner required. Check out their daily specials. My boyfriend lives for Meatloaf Monday. This place can be packed, so plan ahead. :)
(4)
Kabby W.
We have been waiting at least 30 minutes for dessert (a pie and some ice cream) and there are empty tables around us. The service appears quite lack-luster, although the food has been moderately decent in the past.
(2)
Mayana P.
At least 30 minute wait for two. Seriously, two servers, 1 hostess, 2 busboys, 1 bar drink staff on a busy Saturday at brunch time? Wow. Not only has the quality gone way down hill but the staff were understandably stressed and absolutely not smiling at all. No greeting. No manners. Overworked and not appreciated. Ordered the special Veggie hash, friend ordered the veggie sandwich (dry and only ate 1/2. Why is one half cheddar cheese and the other half swiss?) The "hash" was disgusting. I don'[t even know wtf I ate. The fries and the toasted sour dough bread was their only good thing they made. They didn't burn my toast so that was a plus. Shrug. They don't honor restaurant.com gift certificate vouchers anymore. This place is so gross. I don't get why it was so busy. I guess it's the "cool" thing to do is go here. I'll skip this joint from here on out, thank you. I'll no longer come here so all of you loyal customers can thank me for not making you all wait longer for a table. Yes, you're welcome.
(1)
Karen R.
Small hole-in-the-wall place near Pixar which made it even more exciting. The wait was maybe 10 mins during Sunday brunch (around 1045am). The booths are small and uncomfortable as they don't have cushions but the food is very delicious and the portions are huge! One of us ordered the chorizo plate which he found tasty and a tad spicy. The kids ordered the French toast which they devoured and my kid said it tasted like cinnamon which she loved. The side of bacon looked tasty and the pieces were nice and thick. I had the Denver omellette and actually left some because I couldn't eat anymore. I think my favorite was the hash browns though because they were just perfectly cooked. I would love to come back to try their lunch during the week. They have great items on the menu. The place isn't very big so if you come when it's super busy you might be waiting for a while.
(5)
Ni N.
Went here yesterday to get some food with my friend for a picnic. I ordered a tuna sandwich (with fries), a side of jalapeño peppers and ginger Ale . My friend ordered the breakfast burrito 'plate'. We were both extremely disappointed with the food and service. They forgot to give me my ginger ale which was 3.5, I did not even get my side order of jalapeño peppers which was direly needed because the sandwich was drenched in mayonnaise. I picked apart the sandwich and only ate the tuna and vegetables. The fries were old, it tasted like it had been left out for hours, it was cold, rubbery, and did not taste like potato. We did not get any napkins, condiments, or plastic ware. My friend's order was even worse, he basically got scrambled eggs wrapped in a white tortilla, with beans tossed aside. They didn't even put in the effort to put the beans inside the burrito. Or wait, is it an attempt at serving a 'plate' dish at a 'plate' dish price? We ate with our hands and used the grass as napkins. Drank some water at a nearby spigot. My hands smelled like tuna. I'm never going back to this can fail miserably cafe.
(1)
Patricia G.
Up early and looking forward to starting the day with some breakfast..... We arrived, parked and since we had the 16 week old puppy with us, we decided we'd just order take out. Easy enough right? Looked over the menu and requested to order for take out. They mentioned they don't take "takeout" orders until after 3pm. What the? What's the difference between 830am and 3pm. I mean, you're just putting it in a to-go container instead of plating it? Is that brain surgery? Since there was outdoor seating and again, we had the puppy with us... let's just sit outside. "Oh, we also aren't seating outside right now...." Really???? Get the hell outta here. I can't help but feel a bit discriminated but at the same time, it's fairly mixed urban community so why today at 8am would they give me so much grief?? I mean, unless it's normally this much of a hassle to get breakfast. Customer service is pretty much unaccommodating here. Unfortunately won't be coming back and you bet that I won't have such encouraging words for others who want to try out your establishment.
(1)
Christina S.
I love your tuna sandwich. I love your day-of-the-week specials. Breakfast everythings. All your soups. I love the barbies in lil waitress outfits with a few other dolls thrown it. I love the mod podge deco tables at the front of the shop. I love the graffiti and bumper sticker bathroom. I love the monkeys in a basket room that I've never sat in. I love the black coffee mugs with the skull and logo that you serve me my delicious coffee in. I ordered a Reuben everyday from you until I got so sick of Reubens, but I don't blame you. I blame myself for ruining what is arguably the best Reuben I've ever had. This is our go to celebration spot. Vday. Birthdays. Brothers graduation. Thanks. *sheds tear*
(5)
Monelle A.
Contrary to the name, I've been to Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe before and it failed me the first time I went. It's not that the food wasn't good, but it was standard diner fare, nothing memorable. Came back last week for a second time, ordered the right things, and Rudy's finally lived up to the name! Instead of getting a scamble, which had disappointed me last time, I decided to get Hollandazed with the Rude n' Reckless: crispy hash brown base, a layer of thin-sliced ham, two poached eggs, all drenched in house-made hollandaise sauce. How appropriate the name was because it was so good it made me wanna slap yo mama. A small bite of each layer made for a perfect mouthful: crisp hashbrowns + sweet ham + creamy poached egg + luscious hollandaise sauce. The hollandaise sauce was ideal: not too thick with a subtle lemon essence that offsets the heaviness of the sauce. My bf ordered the French Toast: 3 thick pieces of Challah bread, topped with powdered sugar and toasted almonds. Rudy's prepares french toast the way I like it: thick pieces of bread that aren't drenched in sauce or syrup to the point that they are soggy. The challah bread is the perfect foundation to customize toppings to your preference. Since I like my french toast on the dryer side, all it needed was a little syrup and butter. Solid breakfast/brunch food, easy parking, accessible to freeways, fast service, quick seating, lively atmosphere = Like its name, Rudy's Can't Fail.
(4)
Clare S.
We were starving and severely craving some starchy, hearty American food one night and we decided to trust our fellow Yelpers and try this place. We were not disappointed! We called in to order to-go since we were in a rush, and by the time we got there 10-15 minutes later, our food was all ready to go in a bag. Unfortunately, they messed up our order but they did offer to make it right. But we were so hungry that it didn't matter much and we were on our way! We got the cajun catfish sandwich and the pulled BBQ pork sandwich. The catfish sandwich wasn't very flavorful and it definitely wasn't spicy at all. I wish they would have added more cajun seasoning. The pulled BBQ pork sandwich was the spicier of the two, and it was dripping in BBQ sauce, which I enjoyed. I think next time we will try the pulled BBQ chicken sandwich like we had originally intended. The fries, however, are DELIGHTFUL. I would have given this place a measly 3 stars, but their fries saved the day. They remind me of Wingstop fries, with paprika seasoning aplenty and very flavorful. I'd come again just for fries and a shake or something.
(4)
Rochelle S.
I really like this place, particularly their Guinness milkshake. Try it if you want something sweet & a little naughty too.
(4)
Lea M.
So I've given this place another chance, well four chances to change my mind about this place and obviously since I keep coming back there's has to be an update to my previous review. I came back with one of my closest girlfriend in hopes to run away from our small town problems and enjoy a new scene. We sat at the diner and was immediately greeted by the guy behind the bar. He was friendly and extremely funny. He was in and out of our conversations from time to time and it was great to just joke around with someone that we didn't have to watch our language around. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and man was that thing delicious! They also sell PBR which is another plus! I really like the atmosphere, especially at the late hour that we came in on. There wasn't too many people and none of the trendy, rude "hipsters" that looked at others funny because they felt more inclined of dinning there than others that were just visiting there. I enjoyed this place so much that I even refereed this place to a few of my colleagues and made them fans!
(4)
Charles A.
Food was nothing special. The waitress was horrible Emliy I think. We asked what she recommends on the menu and she had nothing to say. I mean she just went silent. The next time we saw her was for the bill. She didn't bring the food or water just the check and a bad attitude.
(1)
Rinky N.
After dropping off a friend at the Emyv Amtrak station Mr Rinky and I thought that since it was "only" 8am we might be able to beat the crowds. Yuip--we did. We were seated right away. There menu seems to have expanded since our last visits...sometime after our original visit in 2009. I ordered the Crispy Crunchy French Toast----it was insanely delicious. Two pieces of Challah bread covered with corn flakes and served with toasted almonds, butter, syrup and caramel sauce and covered in sliced strawberries with a dusting of powdered sugar! It was quite filling even though I only orderd the short stack! I also ordered a side of hash browns--no breakfast out is complete unless I have some form of potato! These hash browns were perfect---crispy on the outside and soft in the inside! Yum! Mr Rinky ordered the Vegan Tofu chilaquiles Crumbled Tofu Scrambled with Green Onions, Tomatoes, Crispy Tortilla Strips and Jalapenos. Topped with Salsa Verde and Served with Black Beans. He liked it but thought the green salsa was too spicy and overpowered the dish---he usually likes spicy food. The service was friendly and quick. By the time we left at 8:45 there was a line; so glad we didn't have to wait.
(4)
Denis B.
I got a message from the owner, who expressed concern about my experience and was very apologetic and offered to make thing s right. I appreciated that and it shows good intentions.
(3)
Michael B.
Consistently my favorite breakfast joint. Their hash browns are perfection - crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and they are one of the few places that understands what I mean when I order "Bacon - crisp as hell".
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Stefanie C.
The one thing that stands out about this place is the service. When my family and I arrived to Rudy's, we were greeted by Rosa, who essentially ran the whole place from seating customers and taking orders to serving food and printing checks. This restaurant is so lucky to have staff members like her. The food itself had a homey feel to it. I ordered the Mediterranean Omelet ($11) which has tomatoes, red onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and goat cheese. The goat cheese was not evenly spread across the omelet and the whole thing was kinda flavorless (even with hot sauce) but it tasted super healthy! We also ordered the Heart Stopper Breakfast ($15) which has french fries, bacon, and cheddar cheese, topped with green onions, sour cream, and burger patty. This is a stoner's dream come true, I swear. It will satisfy every part of your food craving, and I highly recommend it. This is a vegetarian & vegan friendly place, with each available food item marked as such on the menus. Decent early morning breakfast spot.
(3)Tracy C.
I came here to meet up with some old classmates that I haven't seen in years. I was pleasantly surprised to find the menu selection with various vegetarian options. My girl friend on the other hand is a vegetarian and did not find the menu exciting at all. She felt as if it were standard diner food, not catered to her specific palate. She ended up ordering the veggie chilli, and I ended up with a boca burger in a lettuce wrap. My burger and fries was tasty. I did think the prices were a bit steep for what we ordered, but I guess that comes with the cost of rent in the neighborhood. The service was very nice, attentive, and seemed to want to help us order based on our food preferences. I may not come back, as there are more options in the area to check out.
(2)#NAME?
I went here for a late night dinner for the first time and was surprised at how absolutely delicious the pulled pork was!! The meat was made just the way I like and bread was soft too. I ordered the hash brown for my side and oh my gosh! It was gigantic!! The inside of the hash brown was cooked perfectly. Not soggy or overly crisp, but just in between and so delish! On top of this, the hot chocolate, a must have! Love. Love, love!!!
(5)Kim H.
I live in Emeryville, and it's awesome to have a local place that's open late. Food is hit or miss. I've been here for brunch and for burgers, and the quality of the food has been pretty inconsistent. The service staff doesn't check on you either. I'm always able to place my order quickly, but I never see my server after my order so it's frustrating when you need anything or need to get the check. All in all, I like to Uber here to get my late-night after-party burgers since it's super close to my home, but I would skip this place otherwise.
(3)Jessabelle R.
I love the quirky fun modern diner decor in shades of orange & royal blue & white, the whacked out Barbie & Ken dolls along the wall. But the food leaves you feeling unsatisfied, not because the servings aren't big enough but because the flavor is lacking. Ordered the sesame tofu scramble which was fresh but no flavor & missing the sesame seeds. My girlfriend ordered another tofu brunch dish that was equally as disappointing in flavor.
(2)Molly R.
Rudy's Rules! Hilarious, quirky decor (hello, random wall of barbies), nice staff, and massive portions of solid diner fare. You have your classics, then stuff with a twist. Hipster diner- you can't go wrong.
(4)Kristin D.
Vegans beware! They'll serve you eggs and threaten to call the cops on you if you complain!!!! Worst place ever! They have no consideration for their patrons ethics.
(1)Timm M.
New Year's eve 8:30pm dinner at Rudy's Can't Fail. Then back home before the East Bay gun fire celebrations begin. We love you Richmond, South LA hour nothing on you....
(4)Vivian D.
Rudy's is your go-to place if you want a typical diner experience. I find that it is more fun to come here late at night. Their food is nothing spectacular, they do have a special everyday so you can try your hand at that. I do have to say that their pies are pretty delicious. I got the boysenberry pie once, with a side of ice cream, yum! All the servers I've had here have been very cool as well!
(3)Megan Q.
Blandest Mac & Cheese I've ever paid 10+ dollars for. Is it vegan? Because it tasted like water. Also had zero breadcrumbs. Not that veggie friendly, not any more so than anywhere else with such a huge menu. Kind of a bait & switch on the vegetarian thing.
(1)August R.
Greenday owns this place and it great. This food was awesome and the Oaksdale eggs benedict was amazing. The atmosphere was very hip and I like the art on the walls. Parking is limited. I will be back.
(5)Cassandra J.
Mmmm delicious. We came in for brunch on Saturday and while it was busy, we were able to get a seat quickly outside on the patio (to take advantage of the awesome weather!) Service was quick initially and we ordered the "Red White and Blue" French Toast (holy yum) and a ham omelet. There was enough food to fill us up without feeling like we overate. Our bill came quick, but there was a definite slowness on taking our payment. We wound up readjusting our cash so we could just leave instead of waiting on change since our waitress wasn't showing up. This is a pretty neat place and definitely worth checking out.
(4)Megan L.
Get your shit together, Rudy's. Your lack of service is memorable and will cause me to never return. We've been here many many times since we live close by and have never had as terrible of an experience as we did this morning. I had a rare 2 hours free on a Saturday morning to have breakfast with the husband before he left for work. We headed over to Rudy's and much to our delight, it was not super crowded-- just one large party in front of us waiting to be seated. We put our name on the list for 2 and sat outside waiting for our name to be called. Moments later a young lad asked us if we wanted the table outside that was drenched in sun. My super pale sunburn prone skin said no thanks-- but we'll wait for any spot inside. He said it should only be a few minutes. Over the next few minutes we see several people finish eating, pay, and leave-- freeing up quite a bit of space inside. In these few minutes, several parties arrive and put their names on the list below ours. Another 15 minutes pass and we go inside, wondering why we haven't been called yet (as we can see many open tables). We look at the list and notice that our name has been crossed out, as if we have been seated-- and the several parties that arrived much after us are now being seated. We politely bring this to the attention of the girl seating people and she puts our name back on the list and assures us that we will have the next table. When the next table is freed up she looks right at us..... and calls another persons name and seats them. This particular party had been waiting for less than 5 minutes. 45 minutes pass from the time that we first put our name on the waiting list, to when we decide to walk out since we are obviously being ignored. In this time we see 6 separate parties of varying sizes who arrived much after us be seated while we stand and watch. After bringing this to the attention of the staff we were still ignored and walked home, bellies empty. When we are actually ABLE to get seated at Rudy's, the food is pretty meh and the service is fair to middlin (hey-- I get that you are too cool to be serving me eggs, if you want a tip-- at least pretend like you want to be there.) The decor, ambience, and music are always usually great, but you'll be better suited to go someplace where they actually want your business and realize that you are (or wanted to be) a paying customer. All I wanted was some goddamned eggs-- fuck you, Rudy.
(1)Samantha G.
First of all, the fries are awesome! Can't get enough. This is a great local place in Emeryville and it's the only place open after 10pm on week days so it's great for late dinner. I come here probably once a week for lunch and it's great. Friendly service, good food, what more can you ask for?
(4)Tim B.
TLDR; Go if your hungover and want breakfast on a weekday. Avoid burgers and drinks at all cost, unless you like dry garbage, and terribly made cocktails.. and if you don't like paying too much for terrible quality meat. As a regular over the past three years, let me give you a quick and dirty scoop on this biz. Service is decent. Only had one bad instance, but they definitely need a bar back, or a dedicated bartender to make drinks come out quicker because they come out slow. AVOID THE BLOODY MARY AT ALL COSTS!! ..I'm not blaming that on the soju. I've drank the cheapest soju from South Korea, imported from a Vet.. So I can say for certain that the issue isn't the cheap liquor, it's that their homemade mix is garbage. The flavor leaves quite a bit to be desired. The ingredients either are of terrible quality or quantity.. it's obvious that some cutting of corners is happening, because they can get away with it, considering the popularity of the location. I've had three burgers at this location. AVOID THE BEEF. IT IS A FAIL. First time I had their heart attack to go, late at night, when I was hammered. The Patty was beyond dry.. I assumed that this was because it was a to go order past the cook's bed time.. However next week I had a standard cheese burger.. this time I wanted it med rare (which I never do, however i cant stand dry burgers.) Once more, it was dry... I'm guessing at this point that they press their burgers, relinquishing all juices to the mighty flame. The third time, I figured: Maybe I just had two bad experiences.. surely a place that charges so much for a burger and is so popular.. maybe they can in fact cook a burger decently... The blu cheese burger was a FAIL. not enough blu cheese, and the bacon was so crispy, you couldn't taste it because it crumbles right away.. The reason to go to Rudys? Breakfast. Tower of power is KILLER. ... ..But its hard to mess up Breakfast. If you have a trendy mustache, and love GI Joe.. Or you ride your kids around in a trailer behind your bike.. Or your hungover on a tuesday.. Or you have some sick monkey fetish.... Go to Rudys.. If you want a decent burger in Emeryville... Go to freakin' Buckhorn. Rudy's Fails 9/10 times.
(2)H A.
Never fails. If you like french toast, cheesy grits, or burgers, this is your place!
(4)Mey S.
Solid burger and fries joint. Staff is friendly and service is good. The offerings are good and plenty. Decor is funky and patrons ranges from hipsters to rowdy families.
(4)John B.
It was a warm Sunday afternoon and I was on the hunt for a chicken fried steak. Unfortunately, this place didn't have it. In turn, I ordered a regular steak with mashed potatoes and broccoli. The mashed potatoes were about as dry as an MRE cracker. The server was nice and brought me some decent enough french fries though. The broccoli was average. Had some good seasoning on it but could have been cooked to be a little softer. That's an opinion thing though. The steak was obviously a lower quality cut of meat. It was filled with uneditables. You know, things like tendons and veins that you cannot chew and when big enough you have to pull out of your mouth or swallow them hole. Either way, I'll try them again someday for their pancakes and french toast someday but this specific meal was not worth the $20 is cost me.
(2)Mary J.
BEWARE of upcharges that are not disclosed when you order! Let me say, I had a positive feeling about this charming, vintage diner looking place as soon as we drove up. It was fairly crowded (always a good sign for a restaurant), and not being on a main, main drag is the kind of place locals go to. Also, a good sign. We were seated outside, as requested. I was somewhat shocked at the prices. Still positive, I ordered the patty melt. At $14.75, I expected a patty freaking awesome melt. It was good, but not great. The food quality is good, but seriously, $14.75? That was just the beginning. You are informed that you could upgrade to sweet potato fries as a side. I didn't, but requested raw onion on the side instead of grilled onions on the sandwich. Those raw onions showed up as a dollar upcharge on the bill. I asked our waitress if the grilled onions had been deducted from the bill, and she failed to see my point, saying that they had not. I guess raw onions cost more than grilled onions. Other upcharges included $2.00 for jalapeno peppers that were substituted on my daughter's chicken sandwich in place of bacon, which I am sure is way more expensive than jalapeños. Our friend ordered the steak. From what I could see, this was the best deal on the menu. Not cheap, but at $17.95, a bargain compared to the patty melt! It was tasty, but he requested fruit instead of the veggies that came with it, and ended up with neither. Considering their upcharge policy, probably a good thing! Ordering the salad as a side was also a disappointment. A handful of organic greens with just some shredded carrots on the top, and a balsamic dressing that was thick like thousand island. I'm mostly bugged that these upcharges were not disclosed when we were ordering, not so much the few extra dollars. We were only told about the upgrades we could make to our sides. Our waitress, and the rest of the staff was pleasant, as was the general atmosphere, but we left just a 10% tip instead of our usual 20 because we had to ask for ice tea refills every time, and although we realize this upcharge policy is not hers, she should have told us when we were ordering. My bottom line, is that there are too many good places to eat in Berkeley and unless the rest of the group wants to go there, I won't be back.
(1)Bradford G.
Rudy's is always good. It's consistent and reliable. The service is always friendly and I usually get to sit where I want. Breakfast can get busy, and I get dinner to go most times cause I hate to wait. The burgers are good especially the breakfast burger. The sandwiches are also good particularly the (cold) tuna. Overall I know what to expect and am not disappointed.
(3)Jay Z.
Low key, easy going atmosphere with delicious food and generous portions. We love this place.
(4)Phil B.
I've been a devout fan of Rudy's, having eaten there every month or so for years, but after my latest experience I sadly won't be going back there again. After waiting in line for for 20 minutes my girlfriend joked about just going to Denny's. I wish we had. The "Monday Meatloaf Special" I had tonight was not just a travesty, but also a borderline health hazard. Cold and cooked medium rare it had the same goopy textural consistency of the otherwise decent mashed potatoes placed alongside it. This loaf was pure sin. For all I know Hitler's being forced fed this filth right now in his own private level of hell, eternally complaining about it between mouthfuls with vengeful and penetrating Germanic screams... I, however, wasn't about to take it back. It would be too embarrassing and rude, so I decided to eat around the road kill. That mind state quickly dissolved when I noticed that the broccoli was of the frozen bagged variety, soggy and flavorless, and that I was effectively paying $14 to eat shit, which is something I could definitely do for free. That thought pushed me over the edge, and I politely asked the waitress to take it back, telling her that I've never requested that before, anywhere. She returns, 5 minutes later, to inform me that the meat loaf was precooked that morning and there was nothing they could do... She asks me if I want to order something else, but after seeing the disappointed look on my girlfriends face as she was trying to consume her cold and under cooked breakfast I had to tell the waitress "no I'm fine, thanks". You have to actively go out of your way to make breakfast bad, to somehow fuck up toast even... At this point I could have trained a mentally disabled monkey to make better toast than what I'm witnessing here, but am I then going to pay him $10 to try and fix me a burger? I don't mind diners mass producing the daily special beforehand and keeping it in the fridge all day, but at least cook the batch properly in the morning and serve it hot. Meat loaf is not, under any circumstance, to be cooked medium rare... Why couldn't they just reheat the meatloaf in the oven, to an edible standard you ask? It's due to the fact that Rudy's has fallen victim to the microwave=cooking plague that's been hitting overpriced diners everywhere. But only at Rudy's will they forget the crucial part that most of these restaurants casually playoff: Remembering to microwave your precooked food, and having the mental acuity to make sure you actually cooked it in the first place. Rudy's, poor Rudy's, this is starting to sound like a break up letter, but you have truly inspired me to start cooking all my meals at home. I've been disappointed with a lot of restaurants lately, but you were the final nail in the coffin. You ruined my appetite, and ate 2 hours out of a precious night off, but at least my last experience with you will be beneficial to my wallet.
(1)Chris M.
Horrible service, waited for 30 min to be seated while the place was emptying as if it was on fire. When we came up on the list a larger party was seated ahead of us. Someone should open a place in Emeryville that has brunch and is willing to serve customers.
(1)Maia D.
This place was pretty good. The waiter was really nice and patient. He took good care of us! Food was pretty good too. Cuban sandwich was yuuuum with a side of onion rings. Great suggestion.
(4)Nicole N.
My family and I live in Atlanta, Georgia. We were visiting the Oakland area this past weekend and wanted to find a place to meet some friends for breakfast on Saturday, August 22nd. I looked up Diners, Drive Ins and Dives and saw this restaurant. My husband is a vegetarian and I noticed that there were quite a few vegetarian options on the menu. We met there on Saturday at about 10:30am. There were 4 adults and 3 children in our party. Initially everything was great. Our server (Jazmin)seemed a tad bit distracted but I attributed that to it being a busy Saturday morning. As we got our meals and began eating we realized that she hadn't come back since she took our orders. My husband had to send his tofu scramble back twice because he requested that it be well done and brown but for some reason it kept coming out white. Our server never brought us or offered us refills on our drinks. We soon realized that since she knew she was guaranteed gratuity due to the size of her party she basically decided she didn't need to treat us well. Then we got the bill...apparently everything you requests costs extra money. I wanted an egg white omelet and this apparently costs an extra $2.25 plus every topping on my omelet other than cheese has a $1.00 charge. We were charged because my kids wanted their fruit and whipped topping for their pancakes on the side rather than on the pancakes themselves. We were charged for things that we definitely thought came with the meal we were ordering. The crazy thing is she NEVER said we would be charged for any of this. Had she told us we definitely would have re-evaluated our orders. The bill was quite high due to all of these extra charges for our meals. I was very disappointed. The food was good but I definitely didn't plan on paying $90 for just my family to have breakfast. We visit California often but we will not be visiting your restaurant again. Please advise Jazmin that in the future she should let customers know if they are being charged extra for asking for items that come with their meal to be put on the side.
(2)Abe M.
Instead of fighting with the traffic last night in downtown San Francisco, we stayed in Emeryville. Woke up this a.m. and was starving. So we found this lite building that from our angle on the street, didn't look like much. But inside, classic little diner. They have enough parking for approx 12 cars, so no problem. As we walked inside, the rock music welcomed you all the way inside. You can really just relax here. Very interestingly decorated, as you can see in pics. At 9am on a Monday, not too busy. (FYI, at this early time, restroom is very clean). Cup of joe was pretty good, strong enough to get your adrenaline going. My wifey ordered the French toast w side of crispy bacon and I the chilaquiles. The french toast was very good, topped w sliced almonds. My chilaquiles were tasty, spicy w green salsa. Maybe a bit over in the melted cheese covering it. But the flavor was better than many Mexican restaurants I've been to. The hash browns were barely warm, so not too excited about those. But seriously, how much can you really spruce hash browns up? Anyways, when it's all said and down, very good here. Good music, good coffee and delish food. Will definitely come back up.a
(4)Marti L.
Laidback and fun. Rudy's has become our go-to brunch spot. Popular and fast. Always a line but we've been there at least 4 times now and never waited more than 10 minutes for a table. Extensive menu. We've ordered a different item each time, and so many more to try. Top favorites: Southwestern Omelet ( yelp.com/biz_photos/eQfl… ). Chorizo, avocado, and gooey pepper jack drenched in salsa verde. Delicioso! Rudy's Heartache ( yelp.com/biz_photos/eQfl… ). Homemade corned beef hash topped with 2 poached eggs and hollandaise. So bad yet so good! Also tried: Steak & Eggs ( yelp.com/biz_photos/eQfl… ), Tower of Power ( yelp.com/biz_photos/eQfl… ), Mushroom Swiss Burger and ??? Benedict from the Special Menu ( yelp.com/biz_photos/eQfl… )
(4)Jose C.
I love this spot, its my to go breakfast joint in Emeryville! The staff is friendly, the food is on point and the choices are enough to keep you coming back, but not too many where you can't make up your mind. When you walk in to Rudy's, you feel like it's a secret hang out place and you just discovered it! Treat yourself next time you are in Emeryville and you're looking for a good place to eat, they also serve Lunch and Dinner, but have not tried their dinner menu yet. Enjoy!
(5)Ryan G.
Service was really good, but prices are a bit high for the quality of food. I would possibly come back if I was in the area and needed a quick bite, but not my go to place.
(2)Donna D.
The breakfast was just ok. Nothing to brag about to anyone. Mediocre at best... my steak was overlooked which made me sad. They were quite busy so food was not hot. Prices were also high for breakfast, but it was a nice day to sit out in the patio and enjoy the scenery.
(3)Stephanie L.
This place is hard to miss. I've seen it many times and also heard some talk about it, and finally got to try it last week. The place is a small, cozy diner with eclectic decorations around the room. It's also quite lively inside considering the quiet location it's in. The menu is impressive; I believe breakfast is served all day, and they also have things ranging from burgers to sandwiches to mac n cheese. Classic fare but with many options. I didn't enjoy the food much. It was very ordinary to me, that being said, the people I was with seemed to like it. FOOD: Tofu Buffalo Wings--Sounds weird but it totally works. Fried strips of tofu smothered with buffalo sauce. BLAT--BLT with avocado. I was unimpressed. The side salad was enormous but very bland. May come in handy in the future, since they open late. But I don't plan to return.
(3)Marc F.
Waited 20 minutes before I could get water or coffee, waited another 45 minutes for my food to come out. I ordered grits, and they came out soupy and undercooked. How hard is it to cook grits? It's literally the cheapest and easiest thing to cook right next to instant oatmeal and Kraft Mac & Cheese. A small child couldn't even screw up grits. I ended up eating just a few bites before I gave up on it, and the server asked me if everything was OK. I said, "These grits are soupy," and I tilted the dish to show the slab of congealed cheese and bits of bacon floating in the sea of undercooked sorrow. She kinda laughed at it, gave me my check and walked away. If you're waiting an hour for food and paying $18 for your meal and coffee, you'd expect something better than a miniature trough of slop.
(1)Wendee K.
Never eating here again. They raised their prices the food is terrible. Some of the staff is nice most are just wasting your time. Can't fail, you failed. Lame
(1)Issa B.
Cant get any better than rudys cant fail diner ! Food amazing Service very attentive to your needs even if its crazy busy If its packed and you have to wait for a seat Trust me u wont have to wait no more than 15-20min Love love loveeee this place
(5)Cara R.
Went in for breakfast on a Sunday around 9:30 am and everything from the service to the food was great! I got the deuces wild with french toast, eggs, and veggie sausage. The french toast serving I got was about half the size as the other ones coming out of the kitchen (I must have gotten the butt-end of the bread, which was not cool), but otherwise everything tasted delicious and it was more than enough food. Bf got the Monte Cristo, which he loved -- said everything was grilled to perfection! The service was bery fast amd friendly, too!
(4)Christina J.
After shopping at IKEA as being too hungry to wait in the long line at their cafe, we decided to come here. We'd driven by it and picked it because parking seemed accessible. We walked in and the sign said "please wait to be seated" but required me to sign in as if I were being paid to be a hostess. There was confusion on someone else's part and they cut in front of me saying they were here first but didn't know they had to sign in, not the restaurants fault but certainly avoidable. Then when our name was called (hardly audibly) from a girl behind the bar, she just pointed at a table without stepping out to properly greet us. The waitress took our drink, then food order. While we waited for our food I noticed every staff member running around like it was way better than it actually was and the restaurant was dirty. Everything was overpriced but I ordered the Rudy's heartache, and was ultimately disappointed. The hollandaise was watery, and of the two poached eggs, one had a hard yolk. I wasn't offered a refill of coffee. Our waitress wasn't the one who cashed us out or cleared our plates, but once we paid she came up to us to apologize that it was too busy for her to bring us refills. I don't think I'll be back, nor will I be likely to recommend this place.
(2)John S.
If you don't get the reference in the name, I feel very sorry for you. Please spend the next four hours of your life familiarizing yourself with everything related to good music beginning around 1950. If you don't know what good music is, I feel even sorrier for you. Please spend the next four years of your life improving your taste. I had a very good dinner here. The food was pretty good, but what made it memorable was the company, the conversation, and the strange slew of mixed emotions I had upon learning that someone I had taught and eventually worked with had died. I wasn't close to her, and although she was annoying in many ways--and I feel really bad for having felt that way--I always liked and admired her resilience. I wish I had told her about this when she was alive, but how would I know that someone born in the same year as I was would die in 2011? Back to the food. It's a mess, in every sense. There are lots of options, and that's what I love about it. If I lived in the East Bay, I would definitely come here a lot. The service is very good, and the decor is weird and wacky and perfect for a place whose name is also perfect. But you need to understand the reference, and if you don't, well, I don't know what to tell you. Study. RIP, Nikki. You were a fighter and a devoted mom.
(4)Bryan K.
Rudy's is really good but the staff can be somewhat rude or their service can be slow. The food can also be somewhat inconsistent with their portion sizes. I ordered two different Eggs Benedict dishes and the Benedict w/Corn Beef has was huge but the Benedict with Ham and Hash Browns was small. Other than that, Rudy's can get very busy for brunch on the weekends and there is usually a 15-20 minute wait.
(4)Priscilla M.
Love the atmosphere, the food and especially the friendly service. Lots of great vegan and vegetarian options too!
(4)Amy H.
First time here. Ordered the Rudy's Heartache. My plate seemed like a small portion. There were barely any hollandaise sauce. The two poached eggs were hard boiled. Ugh. The yolks weren't running at all. Felt ripped off. Does Rudy really cook their poached eggs like that? If that's their signature poached eggs, then do not get it! Asked for sunny side eggs instead. Corn beef hash is similar to the store bought Libby cans. I can easily boiled some potatoes and whipped it up with the store cans of corn beef hash. I can make it crispy too. I should've just bought some at the store and cook at home. Will never order the corn beef hash again.
(2)C B.
Chupracabra is my fave burger. Always yummy. Service is hit or miss. Sometimes you get a badass tattooed hipster server who tosses your food at you with aggression. Sometimes you get better. Love that they stay open late at night. I like the ambiance. They're consistent. They get the basics right but it's definitely hipster attitude and not the friendliest place in the world to be but they aren't indifferent to the point of being ema
(4)Hilda Z.
My only question is......what happened to their (once) yummy fries!!?? I can get mediocre fries at the golden arches. Bring back the crispy seasoned fries! Please! Thank you.
(3)C T.
It pains me to write this review, but I feel compelled to after another excruciatingly lackluster meal today. I've been going to Rudy's on a pretty regular basis for the last 7 years, and it's always been pretty reliable. Menu was good. Service was good (and fast). Food was good - never amazing but you could order almost anything and you could be pretty damn sure it'd be good. I don't know what's been happening over there for the last year or so, but whatever they're doing, it's wrong. First of all, many menu favorites are now gone. The salad selection has dwindle to a measly list of three, all of which are horrible (the ham on the chef's salad today, for example, was completely inedible). Had a burger for the millionth time today and it was dry, bland, overcooked. Meanwhile the bacon was completely undercooked and the rest of the toppings were strewn about the plate like someone was purposefully making a mess of things. Who puts chopped red onions all over a burger plate? Even the fries have fallen to mediocre. And to top it off, the service was the worst I've ever had there - slow and very unfriendly. I hate to say it, but the last several times we've been by here, it's gotten steadily worse in every aspect. I probably won't be back anymore.
(2)Ray R.
always great place to get some diner food. Only thing Im going to say service is great but slow. Too slow for the size of the location.
(3)Adam C.
Love this place. Guinness on tap in a diner with great food. Even if veggies are your preference. Fries are badass too.
(5)John M.
OK, forgive me for indulging myself by using the obvious line, but the name of this place begs for it... Can't fail? Oh yes it can. & it did. Twice. It's been over 2 1/2 years since trying & Yelping this place. I was unimpressed enough the 1st time that I never felt the need to go again. Out of the blue, after running some errands nearby, the girlfriend suggested we should give Rudy's Can't Fail Café another shot. Sure, why not? I believe in 2nd chances. The verdict? I was even less impressed than the 1st time. The food was, again, mediocre at best. Service, though admirable last time, was lackadaisical this time. But, hey, Rudy's Can't Fail Café sure is a really, really cool looking joint. On a whim, I got the Buffalo Tofu as a starter. I also got a burger again (Chupacabra this time) & a Shakin' Jesse again. The Buffalo Tofu was just plain wrong. It was a hot, liquefied tofu mess slathered in Buffalo Sauce. The blue cheese dipping sauce it was served with lacked flavor. The rest wasn't much better. The Chupacabra burger's beef patty was undercooked (again) & flavorless (again). I'm guessing it's frozen, unseasoned & only gets a quick char on the grill. The Shakin' Jesse didn't taste like much (again). Surprising, for a shake that's supposed to have the big flavors of chocolate, espresso & Guinness. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a fan of Green Day. I own a respectable assortment of their music (that I even paid for) & I've seen them perform live. It's just that when it comes to restaurants, I prefer good food & good service over pretense. But, hey, Rudy's Can't Fail Café sure is a really, really cool looking joint. So if that's important to you, then this place surely can't fail. Me, I'm sticking with the places where the food has flavor & tastes good.
(2)Malcolm M.
Rudy's actually can fail. Pretty miserably. This is the second time I've been here. The first time was with an ex and some friends about 5 years ago, and the experience was pretty mediocre. I've since ditched the ex, but this place sure hasn't ditched its mediocrity. Came for breakfast, asked for the Deuces Wild pancakes, with scrambled eggs (with a little cheese) and some bacon. The cakes were forgettable, the eggs came out with a big gloop of cheese on top of them (that tasted like nothing) and the bacon was ... so-so. It'd be fine if the prices were also so-so, but when you're paying north of $35 for a meal for two for breakfast, there are a lot more - and better - choices to spend your money.
(2)Den Y.
I enjoy coming here for breakfast. They do their sunny side up eggs right! And the location is nice too - you can see the Pixar building on the other side of the intersection.
(4)angelika b.
It's a great local spot! I'm a big fan of their breakfast. Nothing like sitting at the bar to enjoy a hot greasy plate go eggs, bacon and hash browns. Lunch portions are huge! No dinner required. Check out their daily specials. My boyfriend lives for Meatloaf Monday. This place can be packed, so plan ahead. :)
(4)Kabby W.
We have been waiting at least 30 minutes for dessert (a pie and some ice cream) and there are empty tables around us. The service appears quite lack-luster, although the food has been moderately decent in the past.
(2)Mayana P.
At least 30 minute wait for two. Seriously, two servers, 1 hostess, 2 busboys, 1 bar drink staff on a busy Saturday at brunch time? Wow. Not only has the quality gone way down hill but the staff were understandably stressed and absolutely not smiling at all. No greeting. No manners. Overworked and not appreciated. Ordered the special Veggie hash, friend ordered the veggie sandwich (dry and only ate 1/2. Why is one half cheddar cheese and the other half swiss?) The "hash" was disgusting. I don'[t even know wtf I ate. The fries and the toasted sour dough bread was their only good thing they made. They didn't burn my toast so that was a plus. Shrug. They don't honor restaurant.com gift certificate vouchers anymore. This place is so gross. I don't get why it was so busy. I guess it's the "cool" thing to do is go here. I'll skip this joint from here on out, thank you. I'll no longer come here so all of you loyal customers can thank me for not making you all wait longer for a table. Yes, you're welcome.
(1)Karen R.
Small hole-in-the-wall place near Pixar which made it even more exciting. The wait was maybe 10 mins during Sunday brunch (around 1045am). The booths are small and uncomfortable as they don't have cushions but the food is very delicious and the portions are huge! One of us ordered the chorizo plate which he found tasty and a tad spicy. The kids ordered the French toast which they devoured and my kid said it tasted like cinnamon which she loved. The side of bacon looked tasty and the pieces were nice and thick. I had the Denver omellette and actually left some because I couldn't eat anymore. I think my favorite was the hash browns though because they were just perfectly cooked. I would love to come back to try their lunch during the week. They have great items on the menu. The place isn't very big so if you come when it's super busy you might be waiting for a while.
(5)Ni N.
Went here yesterday to get some food with my friend for a picnic. I ordered a tuna sandwich (with fries), a side of jalapeño peppers and ginger Ale . My friend ordered the breakfast burrito 'plate'. We were both extremely disappointed with the food and service. They forgot to give me my ginger ale which was 3.5, I did not even get my side order of jalapeño peppers which was direly needed because the sandwich was drenched in mayonnaise. I picked apart the sandwich and only ate the tuna and vegetables. The fries were old, it tasted like it had been left out for hours, it was cold, rubbery, and did not taste like potato. We did not get any napkins, condiments, or plastic ware. My friend's order was even worse, he basically got scrambled eggs wrapped in a white tortilla, with beans tossed aside. They didn't even put in the effort to put the beans inside the burrito. Or wait, is it an attempt at serving a 'plate' dish at a 'plate' dish price? We ate with our hands and used the grass as napkins. Drank some water at a nearby spigot. My hands smelled like tuna. I'm never going back to this can fail miserably cafe.
(1)Patricia G.
Up early and looking forward to starting the day with some breakfast..... We arrived, parked and since we had the 16 week old puppy with us, we decided we'd just order take out. Easy enough right? Looked over the menu and requested to order for take out. They mentioned they don't take "takeout" orders until after 3pm. What the? What's the difference between 830am and 3pm. I mean, you're just putting it in a to-go container instead of plating it? Is that brain surgery? Since there was outdoor seating and again, we had the puppy with us... let's just sit outside. "Oh, we also aren't seating outside right now...." Really???? Get the hell outta here. I can't help but feel a bit discriminated but at the same time, it's fairly mixed urban community so why today at 8am would they give me so much grief?? I mean, unless it's normally this much of a hassle to get breakfast. Customer service is pretty much unaccommodating here. Unfortunately won't be coming back and you bet that I won't have such encouraging words for others who want to try out your establishment.
(1)Christina S.
I love your tuna sandwich. I love your day-of-the-week specials. Breakfast everythings. All your soups. I love the barbies in lil waitress outfits with a few other dolls thrown it. I love the mod podge deco tables at the front of the shop. I love the graffiti and bumper sticker bathroom. I love the monkeys in a basket room that I've never sat in. I love the black coffee mugs with the skull and logo that you serve me my delicious coffee in. I ordered a Reuben everyday from you until I got so sick of Reubens, but I don't blame you. I blame myself for ruining what is arguably the best Reuben I've ever had. This is our go to celebration spot. Vday. Birthdays. Brothers graduation. Thanks. *sheds tear*
(5)Monelle A.
Contrary to the name, I've been to Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe before and it failed me the first time I went. It's not that the food wasn't good, but it was standard diner fare, nothing memorable. Came back last week for a second time, ordered the right things, and Rudy's finally lived up to the name! Instead of getting a scamble, which had disappointed me last time, I decided to get Hollandazed with the Rude n' Reckless: crispy hash brown base, a layer of thin-sliced ham, two poached eggs, all drenched in house-made hollandaise sauce. How appropriate the name was because it was so good it made me wanna slap yo mama. A small bite of each layer made for a perfect mouthful: crisp hashbrowns + sweet ham + creamy poached egg + luscious hollandaise sauce. The hollandaise sauce was ideal: not too thick with a subtle lemon essence that offsets the heaviness of the sauce. My bf ordered the French Toast: 3 thick pieces of Challah bread, topped with powdered sugar and toasted almonds. Rudy's prepares french toast the way I like it: thick pieces of bread that aren't drenched in sauce or syrup to the point that they are soggy. The challah bread is the perfect foundation to customize toppings to your preference. Since I like my french toast on the dryer side, all it needed was a little syrup and butter. Solid breakfast/brunch food, easy parking, accessible to freeways, fast service, quick seating, lively atmosphere = Like its name, Rudy's Can't Fail.
(4)Clare S.
We were starving and severely craving some starchy, hearty American food one night and we decided to trust our fellow Yelpers and try this place. We were not disappointed! We called in to order to-go since we were in a rush, and by the time we got there 10-15 minutes later, our food was all ready to go in a bag. Unfortunately, they messed up our order but they did offer to make it right. But we were so hungry that it didn't matter much and we were on our way! We got the cajun catfish sandwich and the pulled BBQ pork sandwich. The catfish sandwich wasn't very flavorful and it definitely wasn't spicy at all. I wish they would have added more cajun seasoning. The pulled BBQ pork sandwich was the spicier of the two, and it was dripping in BBQ sauce, which I enjoyed. I think next time we will try the pulled BBQ chicken sandwich like we had originally intended. The fries, however, are DELIGHTFUL. I would have given this place a measly 3 stars, but their fries saved the day. They remind me of Wingstop fries, with paprika seasoning aplenty and very flavorful. I'd come again just for fries and a shake or something.
(4)Rochelle S.
I really like this place, particularly their Guinness milkshake. Try it if you want something sweet & a little naughty too.
(4)Lea M.
So I've given this place another chance, well four chances to change my mind about this place and obviously since I keep coming back there's has to be an update to my previous review. I came back with one of my closest girlfriend in hopes to run away from our small town problems and enjoy a new scene. We sat at the diner and was immediately greeted by the guy behind the bar. He was friendly and extremely funny. He was in and out of our conversations from time to time and it was great to just joke around with someone that we didn't have to watch our language around. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and man was that thing delicious! They also sell PBR which is another plus! I really like the atmosphere, especially at the late hour that we came in on. There wasn't too many people and none of the trendy, rude "hipsters" that looked at others funny because they felt more inclined of dinning there than others that were just visiting there. I enjoyed this place so much that I even refereed this place to a few of my colleagues and made them fans!
(4)Charles A.
Food was nothing special. The waitress was horrible Emliy I think. We asked what she recommends on the menu and she had nothing to say. I mean she just went silent. The next time we saw her was for the bill. She didn't bring the food or water just the check and a bad attitude.
(1)Rinky N.
After dropping off a friend at the Emyv Amtrak station Mr Rinky and I thought that since it was "only" 8am we might be able to beat the crowds. Yuip--we did. We were seated right away. There menu seems to have expanded since our last visits...sometime after our original visit in 2009. I ordered the Crispy Crunchy French Toast----it was insanely delicious. Two pieces of Challah bread covered with corn flakes and served with toasted almonds, butter, syrup and caramel sauce and covered in sliced strawberries with a dusting of powdered sugar! It was quite filling even though I only orderd the short stack! I also ordered a side of hash browns--no breakfast out is complete unless I have some form of potato! These hash browns were perfect---crispy on the outside and soft in the inside! Yum! Mr Rinky ordered the Vegan Tofu chilaquiles Crumbled Tofu Scrambled with Green Onions, Tomatoes, Crispy Tortilla Strips and Jalapenos. Topped with Salsa Verde and Served with Black Beans. He liked it but thought the green salsa was too spicy and overpowered the dish---he usually likes spicy food. The service was friendly and quick. By the time we left at 8:45 there was a line; so glad we didn't have to wait.
(4)Denis B.
I got a message from the owner, who expressed concern about my experience and was very apologetic and offered to make thing s right. I appreciated that and it shows good intentions.
(3)Michael B.
Consistently my favorite breakfast joint. Their hash browns are perfection - crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, and they are one of the few places that understands what I mean when I order "Bacon - crisp as hell".
(5)