Fern Street Cafe

I’ve been in the neighborhood for 20yrs and remember this place as a lil video rental store! Fern Street Café is AWESOME! I’m hoping in the near future that there will be café table and chairs outside. I have to admit, aside from the street sign on the sidewalk, there’s not really any appeal to draw me inside. I happened to check it out because I didnt want to wait in line for a fish taco across the street at the taco truck. The service is great and I love the sandwiches! Simple, easy, good!

WARNING UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT! This is now an Itialian bistro, and a very poor one at that. It took over 20 minutes to get a panini with very few customers in the shop. I asked for my desert FIRST so I could eat something while I was waiting. (From display case to plate, NOT difficult.) They never brought it out, and when I FINALLY got my lunch they STILL forgot to give me my desert which I asked for multiple times. If I could rate 0 stars I would.
When I finally got my panini (smoked salmon with capers) it was so greasy it would drip down my hands. Aweful, aweful, aweful. Do NOT go here.

I love this place. Great food and delicious healthy shakes. The Green Machine is lovely. I like the quiet atmosphere — as it is a good place to study or get work down. I like Rebecca’s a lot, but it gets noisy at times. I’m trying to place an order for a sandwich right now, but their phone keeps ringing. I hope they are open :) The service is friendly and I like their selection of snacks and drinks and art on the walls. I’m routing for this place. A great contribution to this neighborhood!

The location has a relaxed atmosphere; it is vegan friendly and has a ton of drink options. While it does seem to close earlier than most coffee shops in the area, what makes this place stand out for me is that they have the best dirty (espresso shot added) soy chai latte that I have ever had!
The staff is always super nice. The only thing that I might suggest is to change the light bulb in the bathroom. It has to be the most dimly lit public restroom that I’ve ever been in. Otherwise, I really enjoy visiting this location.

Awesome sandwich and smoothie menu. Many veg/​vegan choices. However, many of the sandwiches are just your basic bread with shredded lettuce sort of fare.
There is also a super random mini food stand of kale chips, raw, ayurvedic or gluten free foods, then suddenly nature valley granola bars, kit kats, and those cheap svenhards bakery pastries … Whatever! It’s like the owner is Swedish or something.

I probably won’t be able to describe all the good things about this place, but I’ll give it a try. Fern St. Café excels across multiple dimensions: selection, value, friendly service, responsiveness, décor, and vibe. I feel so comfortable in this place that I often work from here on days I don’t absolutely have to go in to the office. In fact, I am writing this review from the café at this moment.
Fern St. naturally offers a range of coffee drinks and smoothies. They have an ample selection of deli sandwiches and wraps made to order. They also have a deli case with salads and vegan options.
You’ll pay reasonable prices. One thing I have noted with some independents is that their prices are actually higher-​to-​much-​higher than the prices at Starbucks.
Joe, the owner, carefully selects his staff. They are knowledgeable, flexible, responsive, and friendly. There appears to be relatively low turnover — a very good sign as to how the staff is treated.
Décor and vibe — did I mention free WiFi? The place is warm and inviting with a variety of seating options from sofas, to tables, to tall tables with stools.
I have no reservations about recommending this place and giving it the highest of rankings. Part of me would like to keep this jewel a secret and the rest of me wants the business to experience all the success that it rightly deserves.

Shows promise
I went here one time with my girlfriend because it is walking distance and we wanted to try out a new place.
It is a quiet place. It did not look so busy when we went there, but they had some good sandwiches. There are better places like Grants, but this is just as passable.
This place shows promise, but seeing as there are better places just a little but farther from this location I wouldn’t come back anytime soon.

i live in the neighborhood and frequently go to this place. so i can safely say that i have experienced this place from its grand opening to now and it is well worth the trip.
the menu is healthy. and by healthy, i mean legit healthy. the smoothies have a vegan protein powder, where as most smoothie places use awful cheap soy and whey powders. they have gluten free bread options. and they have fresh squeezed juices and wheat grass.
their coffee is from café Calabria (keeping it local). their specialty espresso drinks are delicious.
the sitting area is comfy and has wifi.
the employees are always super nice and willing to please. sometimes it may take a little longer than you would like to get a smoothie or a sandwich but that is because they make every part of it to order, so it takes time.
they have awesome selection of cold drinks like natural sodas (curious cola), and all the popular healthy drinks like coconut water, and kombucha.
and if you want something to go, they have homemade/​premade salads and hummas dips, crackers, and treats. yes some of that stuff is pricey but it is because your getting a quality, gluten free, healthy (and sometimes local) product. its not like getting a box of wheat thins!
i highly suggest you check it out!

An optimistic two-​stars.
Their menu is very healthy, and the sandwiches & smoothies I’ve ordered have all been top notch. They have recently (and wisely) pulled out shelving or their (ridiculously overpriced) grocery section, to expand the dining area, and zjoozjed up the décor.
But they seem to be mostly run by airheads and or potheads:
–regularly out of MANY menu items
–irregular operating hours
–service is spotty: got my grilled sandwich ten minutes BEFORE I got my smoothie, and at another time my smoothie was literally forgotten about, even though it was the ONLY outstanding order in the entire place at the time
–restroom without paper towels on at least two visits

I really like their salads that that they have prepared and their juice drinks are very, very good better than Jamba Juice. They mix some great veggies together into magical, vitamin rich happiness. liquid green! My favorite juice drink is the Kale one. My husband and I have eaten a few sandwiches here.
I wish the owners would do something about the service though. It’s 2 stars at best. The folks are nice enough except for that one girl who always looks like she is «checked-​out» when she waits on you. Glacially slow service, it took 30 minutes to get my favorite juice and other folks who were there before me seemed to waiting forever to get their sando orders. You guys need at least two people behind that counter, one person making drinks maybe the other cranking out the sandwiches.
Bottom line, don’t come here if you have some other place to go OR if you are in a hurry. You will leave frustrated.
I will keep coming back and supporting them since they changed ownership from the last place and I really want them to succeed.

ZMOG! The olive sandwich is to die for! I will be coming here with my laptop a few times a week to hang our because the atmosphere rocks! The food is slow, but it is worth the wait!

The Juices are good, but they say they have air condoning, well it feels like a fan not cool at all! And sometimes you cant order certain sandwiches, no one made the main ingredients so its not available! Well i don’t feel like eating something i did not want!

Another little hidden SD treasure! Stop by Fern Street Café to fuel up… or refuel… with some raw juice, liquid grass, or a meaty sandwich. Great coffee AND yummy chocolate. The portions are GENEROUS!
Service is super friendly. As an interior design picky pants, I see lots of improvement in the décor area… but, really it’s an adorable neighborhood café. Free wifi… woo hoo!
Don’t forget to grab a uniquely Euro candy bar on your way out.

This is primarily a review of the acai bowl I had about a month ago.
There was way too much acai juice in the Acai Bowl so it was more like acai soup! There was barely any fruit in comparison which was a big disappointment since that’s the best part. Furthermore, the presentation was awful! I was dining there but they still served it in a plastic bowl, with a lid snug on top. I couldn’t even remove the lid! It was filled to the brim so the closer I got to removing the top the messier it got! Eventually I brought it up to the counter so it could be transferred. While staff was accommodating, it took awhile to convey the message. I think they might have just started making acai bowls and not quite sure how its supposed to go.
On the other hand.
My friend ordered the urban gormet sandwich and it was excellent! She really enjoyed it and when I tried it I had to order it too (since I was so disappointed in the acai bowl).
I think that the acai bowl is really the exception because everything else is really lovely. The café is decorated with local art, there are artisan chocolates and various condiments including those of the ayurvedic variety! The drink selection makes you feel like your in a drink museum. really the top of the top in terms of bottled products.
I will be back, but probably just for a beverage and a little snack-​a-​lama.

Awesome selection of sandwiches, smoothies, juices, coffee, AND chocolate! My girlfriend and I have officially made this a usual spot to walk to for a really tasty breakfast sandwich or cup of coffee.
A very hidden gem, but definitely worthwhile. The guy who helped us the other day suggested some really awesome swiss and belgian chocolates. We walked out as very happy girls.

Walked a mile to check this place out and am unfortunately not impressed. Ordered a couple breakfast sandwiches… plain bread not toasted, liquid egg not well done as asked and unmelted cheese. The entire thing was just blah. The wife’s wasn’t much better. The only thing this place has going for them looks like their lunch sandwiches — but after their breakfast I’m not sure we’ll be trying any.

This place is impressive. Totally slept on place. Nice, comfortable and lots of great things to try. The Hawthorn sandwich is delicious. It’s frickin’ huge with so much good stuff in it. They just need to replace the shredded lettuce with regular and it will be perfect.
Pasta salad that comes with it has some heat in it. Just right. Got the liver cleanse because I beat the hell out of mine last night. So fresh and delicious. I could drink it all day long. Need to come back and try the coffee. Would love to see them brew some fresh specialty iced teas. Looks like they make their own hummus too! Great find and location.

Nice small corner café with sandwiches, smoothies, fresh juices, and various other foods.
I love the South Park Joy blended drink — coconut milk, chocolate, and banana. I also like their kale salad, which has a delicious homemade dressing made of braggs amino acids and other deliciousness.
Also free wifi, so that’s cool.

I came here to try a juice after seeing their menu on Unilocal.There were many different options, some unusual ones that I’ve never seen at other juice bars. I had the apple pie which was apple, carrot, cinnamon and nutmeg. It was SO good. It tasted juice like cinnamon sugar apples but a lot healthier!
They have a lot of yummy smoothies and sandwhiches I will have to try another time. Their prepared foods section had lots of delicious looking hummus, and salads. They had a asparagus and artichoke salad which looked amazing! They have every health drink you could want from kombucha to ginger beer to coconut water.
The inside looks very clean, spacious and well organized. They have lots of seating indoors for eating your lunch treats, and a few couches to play dominos on. A few outdoor tables as well.
Cute spot to come have lunch or coffee with friends. Employees are super friendly and helpful! OH AND THEY HAVE AMAZING BAKLAVAH!!!

I stopped by here to get a nice cup of coffee, something sweet to eat and get some reading done. I am happy to announced that a got all three with flying colors!
In addition to the exceptional friendly service, I was bought a cup of their 12oz Calabria Coffee for a $ 1.79. The coffee was excellent. It was smooth and rich and I enjoyed it very much.
I also ordered, what I think was a cinnamon cake or coffee cake, which I had heated to enjoy with my coffee. (
) Well, it was very good and tasty. It went very well with my coffee. My only disappointment was that it was not entirely heated towards the center which was no biggie because by the time I got to that part, I was already getting full.
The place is a little misleading because it is a lot larger on the inside than it appears from the outside. They have plenty of seating inside and a few tables outside. They also make breakfast and regular sandwiches. They also make healthy smoothies and other drinks.
This a very nice place and worth a visit.