It was one of the East Bay’s best kept secrets. I would bring pastries from them on occasion for my office and would always get the same inquiries “Wow, where did you get these?”. Their blueberry pin-wheel and Cinnamon Rolls are among my favorites. Lately, you have to get there a bit early to have a shot at these as word has gotten out.
On one of my recent breakfast visits, I encountered an atypical forty-five minute wait and couldn’t help but inquire about the sudden spike in business. Aquarius’ owner Patrick Feehan (probably the nicest guy you’ll ever meet) explained that his restaurant had been featured on Check, Please! and every time they reran it, a busy day was predictable. Watch the first ten minutes of the segment if you haven’t already seen it. It’s entertaining watching the patrons gush (mostly) over the quality of the food.
In addition to pastries, breakfast, lunch, and brunch services, Cafe Aquarius offers a wonderful selection of desserts and bread, all baked on site. Beverage offerings include Palio brand coffee and espresso, Mighty Leaf tea, beer and wine, and other assorted drinks. Cafe Aquarius also satisfies the growing demand for dog-friendly places in Emeryville with ample backyard patio seating in addition to some shaded sidewalk tables. Patrick will almost always pop by with a specially baked dog treat and chat for a moment. They’ve experimented with opening for Dinner with their summertime “Paper Plate BBQ” series but have not quite established a consistent demand.
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