3rd and U Cafe

i go there often enough for them to remember my name lol. I usually get a sausage breakfast burrito for about 5 $. They have a stamp card for breakfast burritos. My friend also got some chili cheese fries once and they were pretty good. Would recommend to a friend.
They also have specials on drinks and stuff if you are interested in those.

this reveiw is mainly for their breakfast burritos, which are my favorite in town. they’re huge and around $ 5 so what’s not to love. what puts them above the top is that fact that they have french fries in them. the skinny kind so you get the nice crunch to go along with the egg, cheese and meat of your choice. their house salsa is also very tasty. haven’t come here for lunch or dinner but i hear it’s pretty good. i often see people sitting outside drinking pints. the location is close to campus so that’s nice.

I was really disappointed because I heard good news about the breakfast burritos but the one I had was small, and not mixed. I was biting into all eggs at one point. Lol I just think they need to stay consistent, I’ll give it another shot. Second time around was a lot better.

Ordered a Bacon & Sausage breakfast burrito no cheese, and ended up getting a Sausage burrito woth avocado AND cheese! I didn’t feel like dealing with the staff so I just picked out the avocado and ate my burrito, requested Tapatio Hot Sauce and I got this, what the hell! Where’s the cap?

I’ve only had their sliders here during their happy hour, so this review is solely on that. I’ve been here about three times and usually get the regular burger slide, jalapeño slider, and spicy chicken. When you order three sliders you also get a side a fries. This usually comes out to about $ 5 and some change.
The sliders are good, not the best sliders ever but it’s good for the price. The meat is juicy and not dry. I really like the buns they use. The fries are meh. Today I was pretty disappointed because they gave me such a small amount and the fries were so little. On my previous visits I’ve gotten more fries in my basket. But you can’t really complain since it’s so cheap. Also, they charge for ranch which is a bit annoying. It’s 25 cents. Overall, their sliders are good and it’s a filling meal.
I would definitely recommend eating outside versus inside. If the weather is nice, eat outside. The inside is so cold. They blast their air conditioning and there’s so many flies. It’s just not fun to be cold and have to swat flies away.
I want to try their other happy hour stuff and their beers so I’ll be back. The convenience to campus is so nice and the people are friendly. Stop by during happy hour, you’ll be satisfied.

I’ve been here twice for happy hour and both times, the ambiance was really upbeat! It was a great place to get a beer and just watch a game or talk amongst friends.
The happy hour menu is good. I got two sliders and it was just enough to fill me up. Their fries were also good, but they were a bit on the smaller sized portion. Overall, it’s a good deal for some okay American good.
Next time I want to try their breakfast burrito that people rave about!

I can’t believe I’ve walked past this place countless times during my 4 years living in Davis, and not walked in! Boy have I been missing out!
Not only do they have awesome deals (aka Happy Hour from 3 – 6:30pm and $ 5.75 for 2 pints all day), but the food is good too! My friends and I got a total of 2 sliders, pesto garlic fries, garlic fries, chilli cheese fries, buffalo wings, quesadilla, and a taco for under $ 20 during happy hour. And we were more than satisfied with everything.
It’s a chill environment… Nice place to grab a bite and beer after class, or even just relax and study. I’ll be back!

3^rd & U is one of my favorite places for happy hour in Davis! They have a great happy hour menu which includes sliders and a variety of fries. My favorites are the garlic fries and pesto fries.
The best thing about this place is the beer deal. 2 beers for $ 5.75 (this price is all day every day, not just during happy hour!). They have a good selection of beers on draft and they always have my favorite beer, Blue Moon :) Nothing better than an ice cold Blue Moon for an afternoon pick-​me-​up!
If you’re looking to eat something from their regular menu, the bistro salad is so bomb! Most people don’t think to order a salad from here but it’s a must-​try. It comes with fried chicken, bacon bits, egg, and a few other things mixed together with romaine lettuce and dressing. They give you a huge portion too so it’s pretty filling.
* They usually run out of lettuce by dinner time so make sure to come early if you want salad.
They have a great location — right next to campus — perfect for a break between classes or for that much-​needed beer right after a hard test: P I also love how chill and laidback the atmosphere is. Whether it’s with a friend or a big group, 3^rd & U is a great spot for beer and happy hour!

Affordable drinks and an affordable meal. There’s a pretty friendly environment with an outdoor seating option available. Tasty food and drinks to boot. It’s generally the destination of choice when hanging out with friends. There is convenient bike parking available Good Service, Good Company, Cheap meal and drinks. What’s not to love? Unfortunately, this might be the conclusion that many others come upon as well, so be wary of crowded nights.

Food is decent and folks are friendly. I’ve only eaten their twice and food is OK. Today I had the Buffalo Wing salad. Portions are huge, but with the blue cheese dressing, it’s just hot and salty. Noise level was too high for my taste. I’ve heard a shop vac used twice while eating. It added to the constant hum of the big screen TVs. I think it’s perfect for the college crowd. It’s close to campus and food is very affordable. To be fair, I’m not a college kid anymore and my taste have matured. My digestive system can’t handle college food anymore.

Really enjoyed the friendly service and the food this time around! Went during happy hour and ordered the sliders. If you order 3, you get a complimentary side of fries. I had buffalo chicken, jalapeño burger, and now pulled pork sliders. Good deal; totaled to around $ 5 – 6, and you’re able to mix-​n-​match different sliders. They were all so yummy and scrumptious. The buffalo and jalapeño had the perfect spicy kick to them, and the pulled pork had a nice smoky flavor. The side fries were lightly seasoned, and the chili fries were just as awesome as the last time (and about $ 1 less than normal price).
Only downside for me was the annoying swarm of flies in and out the restaurant.
I would return for the happy hour deals!

I’ve been here many more times after my previous review and I haven’t had another mishap since. The people working there are always very friendly and up beat. Honestly, coming here for a reliable, satisfying lunch has become a staple for me at least one day out of the week.

Pretty cool environment with a bar setup and wide screen TVs for watching games — which was exactly why we came. It was the Warriors Finals Game 5 and this place was packed, but in a friendly way. Everyone was cheering on the Warriors while enjoying finger foods and sandwiches (which most selections ran out by the time I ordered).
We tried their BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato) and it was surprisingly delicious! There was a generous amount of bacon and avocado. The bread was toasted crispy too! As for the side we got their potatoes which was pretty good; however, for $ 9 total it was a little steep since the scoop of potatoes was rather tiny.
I’d return for future games and gatherings, but it’s not likely somewhere I’d choose regularly (especially since I no longer live in Davis).

3^rd and U is a staple of mine and for good reason. The location of this café right across from the UC Davis campus and main quad allows me to grab a quick bite to eat for breakfast, a place to chill and catch up with friends for lunch, and a bar to grab some beers while watching the Warriors or Giants game. The servers are very nice and attentive and are able to recognize regulars.
The food at 3/​U is a great deal but their happy hour is when they become stupidly affordable. For 15 bucks I can get 2 beers, a burger and fries. The beer selection at 3/​U varies but you can always get a Lagunitas IPA, Blue Moon or a Pacifico. They rotate beers seasonally and generally have Angry Orchard for the non beer drinkers in the group.
The breakfast burritos (veggie, bacon, sausage, chorizo, hot links) are amazing as well, with a squirt bottle full of salsa to add on to it if you like some more spice in your life. The only downside to 3/​U is that since it is so close to campus, it gets rather crowded in the afternoon and food takes a while to get to you.
Pros: Great food, Outdoor Seating, Cheap Beer, Large TVs, lots of bike parking
Cons: Wait time is a little long for both ordering and getting food, car parking is a hassle

Loud.
Busy.
Crowded.
Cool!
Store Front —
There is no doubt, 3^rd & U is a popular local spot with the college crowd and it shows.
Photo —
I’ve been temporarily working in the area for a few weeks and a number of people have continually been directing me to, «3^rd & U.»
Originally, there was a bit of confusion on its actual name —
D: I really like the burgers at 3^rd & U. Well, I’m biased, I also work there.
Me: So, what’s the place called?
D: 3^rd & U…
Me: So, it’s located at the corner of 3^rd Street and U… What is the «actual» name of the place. (I was getting a tad perturbed.)
D: It’s called the «3^rd and U Café,» located at the corner of 3^rd and U.
Me: (Insert «Ding!» sfx) AHHH! ‘Got it!
«3^rd & U» — It’s a cute name, none too original but it works… I’m sure this wasn’t the first nor will it be the last time this sort’ve conversation takes place.
So, here I was! I had just finished work and thought… A good burger sounded good. (Again, another friend/​coworker, Michelle, pointed me here.) When I was told it was a «café,» I imagined a deli shop/​bistro, small, quaint… ‘Sort’ve like «Zias Delicatessen,» another popular, local sandwich spot. (I thought Zia’s was just «Okay.» It didn’t live up to the hype that some had made it out to be.)
Boy, my preconceived idea of this place was obliterated when I drove up.
Did I mention…
Loud. Busy. Crowded. Cool!
Photo —
Sh*t, this place is the antithesis of quaint. IMO, the only thing that gives one the impression of a café was the sign above the door, «Café.»
First impression — This is one of the hotspots for the local university students to come, talk story, have a couple of pints, grab a bite, and all at very fair prices. Win, win. Most of the tables inside were taken, as well as the outside patio seating… ‘But there was plenty of seating @ the bar. The wait staff and bartenders were all very friendly and attentive. (At least from what I saw from my bar stool.
One of my friend’s, Daniela, works here. (sp?) One of the hardest working, young ladies I know. «Go, go, go.!» (*Tip my hat; keep up the hard work!)
Daniela —
Daniela, like Michelle, also recommended the California Burger, one of, if not, the most popular burger on the menu… ‘And it was goooooood. TASTY!
The Order —
Pint 1: Blue Moon w/​orange slice (It’s Blue Moon, can’t go wrong.)
Photo —
California Burger (Very good; tasty; flavorful)
Photo —
Pint 2: Macadamia Nut Porter (Wow! Dessert is served…)
Photo —
Total: $ 14.05 (+ tip)
Daniela mentioned to me that another crowd favorite was their Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. Well, as of yesterday, 06/​05, the project I was assigned to in town is completed. So I’m unsure when I’ll be returning to try the chicken sandwich… I may have to make more trips out here. I’ve also heard good things about the local dog park which may make a fun outing for HAPA Boy, my bully-​pit.
Overall, fun place with good service. However, as a number of people have mentioned, 3^rd & U can get a bit crazy-​busy and wait times may vary.
Note: Please tip accordingly, these folks work hard to accommodate your drunken outings and stupid people tricks… I know, I know, $$ is tight, especially while going to a university but with 3^rd & U’s drink special prices, you could afford to tip a couple of bucks. (Otherwise, you may find a piece of gum instead of an orange slice in your next pint… I’m kidding! Most people prefer to use spit.)
— Big Aloha!
Food: 4
Ambiance: 3+
Service: 4
Value: 4

My friend and I got the breakfast burrito from here one Saturday morning for takeout. The breakfast burrito was HUGE and delicious because how can a breakfast burrito with sausage, egg, cheese and potatoes be bad?! The reason why I’m knocking a star off is for the speed of service. Our breakfast burritos took about 20 – 30 minutes to make and we were just standing there waiting for them.

To clarify: THIS REVIEW IS FOR BREAKFAST BURRITOS ONLY, I haven’t tried anything else yet.
I come here way too often in the mornings with my friend and I get the bacon/​egg/​cheese breakfast burrito. (There are french fries in there too) BEST breakfast in in Davis. It’s 4.50 plus tax (and put a dollar in the tip jar if you’re a decent person). Probably the best breakfast burrito I’ve ever had in my life.
There is some serious flavor going on in that burrito. The eggs are NOT microwaved. The salsa is made FRESH in house (it’s DELICIOUS)
and the burrito is way too big for life. I eat one of those at like 10:30 am and I’m good until like 5 or 6.
Also there is a burrito card so if you buy 8 you get one free. I’m almost at my second free one. There is a vegetarian option (mushroom and spinach) if you can’t do bacon, but I don’t know how you couldn’t, bacon is the gate-​way meat. When I stopped being a vegetarian, the first thing I ate was bacon. But I digress.
The lady/​owner is very very sweet too.
I would come here every morning if I didn’t have the sense enough to know I’m probably going to give myself a heart-​attack. I mean I love bacon, but ya can’t eat a 2lb burrito everyday, I mean come on.

Perfect spot to grab drinks and hang out with friends during your breaks in between classes. Their happy hour is a good deal 2 for $ 6 especially with their on tap variety. Their happy hour menu is a steal as well. Cheap sliders, wings, fries are good snacks for beer.
Super friendly service and welcoming to students!
Overall, I love coming here to relax and having some beers with a couple of friends.

After that one visit to 3^rd and U Café, I actually never went back again. Why go back to a mediocre place, when all around downtown, there are so many awesome alternatives?
I had the philly cheese steak and it really was nothing special. It was kinda soggy and sad looking. I mean, I got what I paid for –the prices were pretty cheap. I guess, if you’re really on a budget, then this place might be an option. Anywho, their sandwiches might be better than the philly cheese steak, but from my experience, this place is a pass.

Happiest three words I saw on their menu were CHILI CHEESE FRIES. Living in Davis, I had forgotten about those words as the only decent ones you can get on an any day basis is at a local Wienerschnitzel and bum bum buuuum, Davis has none. So when I found them here, I was esssited!
Their bean mix is the perfect combo of beans and meat that leaves fries scrumptious man. Being a cheese lover, I always ask for extra cheese on mine.
I like that they are fast here since the chili is made in a slow cooker so you are really just waiting on the fryer. The service is always nice! I really like Eli who always manages to make me laugh and isn’t caught off guard by my inability to decide whether I want a small or large size meal. Smalls go for ~3 and a large is ~5. They have a card fee if you are paying less than $ 5.
I recommend the small for one and a large for two. I recently went with a friend and we decide to not share and ended up having left overs (fries aren’t prime left overs).
This place is good for groups and has inside and outside seating with TVs inside and nice selection of beers.