Nefeli Caffe

Really wonderful atmosphere. It has a really nice European café sort of feel. They play very good music to do work to: inspiring, not distracting, puts you in a good mood. I am a coffee snob, and I really enjoyed my black coffee. The staff are really nice. And my Greek yoghurt breakfast was good!

The Fantasia panini with smoked turkey and avocado is great! I like its homey environment and fast service:) tried cappuccino as well as Americano and both are good. Would love to try their unique fruit yogurt smoothie next time.

$ 4.00 Nefeli nonfat latte double shot. Delicious espresso flavor. Well rounded and complex. Similar to Kai coffee in Hawaii. Milk could use a bit more steaming time to make it a bit hotter and creamier. Overall excellent latte but a little light on strength. Should have purchased the extra shot for $ 0.50 to make it perfect.
Update — 2015₁₁_​05
That extra shot made it perfect.

After a long study session, my friend and I decided to give this place a try since she lived across the street, and it seemed pretty cheap. My friend got the Croque Monsieur and I got the Mousaka. I had a bite of my friend’s Croque Monsieur, which was delicious! The bread was nicely toasted and the mustard added a nice kick to it. I also appreciated that it wasn’t overflowing with sauce. I was very happy with my decision because the Mousaka was absolutely delectable. It also came with a mixed greens salad and bread. The greens were lightly tossed in a vinaigrette. The Mousaka was a casserole with ground beef, potato, and eggplant, and was topped with a tomato sauce and cheese. The amount of cheese was perfect, and what I liked most was that the tomato sauce was nicely seasoned and not sour. The potatoes and eggplant were cooked thoroughly and their difference in textures complemented each other very well. The portions are generous for the price, and the worker was extremely friendly and did not try to subtly rush us out even though we were the last ones in the restaurant as it was approaching closing time.

I had a small coffee and my wife had a Café Au Lait.
This is good coffee! I wish I ordered a bigger cup.
The place is decent, a bit run down or maybe just worn down, being right beside a university.
Next time we go to a concert in the Greek Theater, we are dropping by for more coffee!

Great study environment, many hours put away in natural-​lighted back area or street side tables. Northside gains it’s mature and homely vibes from a ace like this… Saw my German philosophy professor here once sipping bubbly water and drinking espresso.

This place is terrible. The prices are about average ($ 7-​$ 9) for sandwiches. However, the quality of the food and the overall cleanliness of the café is way below average. The sandwiches appear to have been manufactured elsewhere and heated to order and consequently, lack any real flavor. The pasta salad that came with our sandwiches was a bland mixture that looked like slices of soggy intestines. My wife asked for mustard and received a weird grayish paste that did not taste like mustard. The water cups were dirty and had scraps of dry food stuck to them and the tables were not cleaned after each meal.
On top of all this, my poor wife felt sick after eating her sandwich.
We’re never coming back here.

If this place is the best on that block in Berkeley, that frightens me a bit.
I came in here one morning with a PhD friend. We were both commuting from Fremont when I was suddenly famished. We ducked in here so she could answer some emails while I could get something to eat.
I got the breakfast quesadilla and an iced coffee. The quesadilla was not bed! Eggs were fluffy and light, was a decent size.
But the coffee was bitter and stale. Like really bitter and stale. Could not drink more than two sips. And I’m a coffee fiend.
All in all, I’ll just try to bring my own coffee next time. Wasn’t into it here.

I honestly don’t know where all of the stars are coming from for the other places on Euclid and Hearst. My friend and I struggled to find a place that was clean and decent enough for a meal before a concert at the Greek. We aren’t 19 year and college students, so possibly that’s the misconnect.
Give these guys a try. Friendly service, lighter fare but well prepared, good music, and atmosphere.

I’m a fan of the Alpino! Although it’s called a ‘panini,’ it comes in a rocket baguette roll rather than grill-​pressed flat bread. The combination of prosciutto, fontina cheese, walnuts, pears, and arugula is divine. It’s a very simple warm sandwich with delicate sweet + savory flavors. I just wish the sandwich was larger!

I popped by really quickly to get the Polenta (from the appetizer menu) and it was great. I didnt think I would get such a good portion for five dollars :)

I stopped by here on Friday morning to grab a quick chai tea latte while I was waiting for a meeting. It was very creamy and rich; I’m pretty sure it was house made powder.
It’s a very mom and pop kind of café, with lots of tables where you can have casual conversations with friends, read the newspaper, or study by yourself. Worth a visit if you’re looking for a cozy café super close to north Berkeley campus!

Very good sandwich for the lunch. They also gave lasagna and very good pies ! Very close from campus so it is good for students !

The barista seemed to have a good relationship with other customers who were regulars. That’s why I gave it so many stars — I can definitely see this as a neighborhood café where people come back to. While I was ordering, the barista was prepping both my latte and an americano for the lady behind me without her having even ordered because she was a regular. It was sweet and definitely lends a personal touch.
The latte I got was also good — not amazing but solid.

Get the Alpino! It’s a panini with prosciutto, fontina cheese, anjou pears, roasted walnuts, and arugula, served with a side salad. I was a bit hesitant to order a sandwich with pears, but the flavors blended together perfectly and I really liked it.
Took off a star because the food is quite expensive for the portion size. For $ 6.75 + tax, I was expecting a bigger sandwich. Regardless, I’d still order it again.

³⁄₅ stars
Aspired to be a nerd. I decided to come sit here and do some work.
Overall, great service, but not the cleanest venue. My table was sticky, but free wifi (assuming you order a drink/​food).
Ordered:
Nefeli Mocha: ²⁄₅ (eh, it was okay and bland)
Greek yogurt: ³⁄₅

Just because you throw some ingredients into a tortilla and put some cheese on it, does not a quesadilla make.
I came here for lunch a few months ago. I ordered the vegetable quesadilla with a side salad. Knowing that it was a Greek influenced restaurant, I expected it to be a little different. However, what I got only looked like a quesadilla from the outside, and more importantly, just didn’t taste good.
I’ve had veggie quesadillas with bell peppers, onions, peppers, etc. before, and all have been very good. However, this quesadilla had carrots, eggplant, and zucchini in it, none of which worked with the tortilla or cheese. Also, there was no salsa or any kind of sauce in it to add some flavor to it. It was just a poorly conceived dish.
The side salad was pretty good. My friend that I had lunch with didn’t like it and thought the greens were too bitter. I definitely like bitter tastes though, so it was just fine for me.
The ambiance of Nefeli was nice and inviting. The staff was friendly too. However, given the wide array of dining options around it, I can’t see myself ever going back there.

It’s alright – nothing super impressive to rave about on Unilocal,but nothing to complain about either.
A lot of people love the paninis, but I felt like treating myself so I got one of the specials, the baked salmon with grilled asparagus and couscous, ~$ 14. A lot of food and I liked the unique sides, but the salmon itself was a little bland. Sad that farm-​raised salmon is really never as good as wild salmon.
Also got a single shot latte (because it was actually cheaper than a double shot), and it was standard but lacking the aroma of good coffee. I don’t think they specify anything special about their coffee, and it did taste quite generic.
The ambiance is like a lazy afternoon in Greece – plain colored walls with framed photos, no hustle and bustle, marble café tables, a small skylight in the back. I brought a book to read but for me it just wasn’t the type of café I’d spend hours at. For a study café, I prefer something more open, spacious, and stimulating. This is more of a place to stop by for lunch or to catch up.
In conclusion: this is a short review for my standards, but I think I’ve mentioned everything. Good place to check out if you’re in the area, but otherwise I’d rather explore other places or cook similar food myself at home.

Tips:
$ 3 minimum for card (Any coffee should be over $ 3)
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Nefeli is a nice café to sit and chat with some friends. I haven’t tried any of the food yet so that’s something that I still have to experience. I’ve had the Caffe Latte and the Nefeli Latte. (There is no difference between the two, it’s just that the Nefeli Latte is bigger in size) I always get it with hazelnut flavoring which gives it a really nice aroma. These latte’s are more on the milkier side for those that prefer a milkier coffee.
I’ve also had a couple sips of my friend’s Chai Latte and it is very yummy! It has a very heavy spice flavor to it along with the chai which is what makes it special.
There are a lot of small tables at Nefeli so it shouldn’t be too hard to find somewhere to sit, but the tables are positioned pretty close to each other so it can get a bit crowded if all the tables are taken.

Food:
Blue Cheese, Pear, Pecan salad: Pretty fresh ingredients but a little heavy on the dressing. I liked how all the ingredients came together and the presentation of the dish was very nice! But overall, it’s not a super spectacular salad, just average.
Ambiance:
VERY SMALL and cramped inside. When you sit at the table, you could probably elbow the person on the next table if you get too excited during a conversation and start using too many arm gestures. But it gives a very intellectual, «I’m a college student» type of feel inside. Seems like a nice place to just enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend for a LONG, lazy afternoon chat.
Service:
Very friendly cashier with friendly staff
Price:
Reasonable for north side and the quality.
Overall:
I don’t know if I could come again to dine here because this is not my cup of tea, but I would perhaps come here for a cup of coffee.