Cafe Mad

Best mocha latte I have ever had! Not overly sweet. I got a nice seat by the window, and enjoyed the hell out of it.

If I’m ever in search for a good cup of coffee or maybe a bite to eat, I find myself coming here. The small dessert salon/​café is located in the middle of 500 block on 14^th street, just past the very popular Burrito Express on the corner. On countless occasions i have rolled through on an empty stomach looking to grab a snack and a cup of coffee only to be welcomed with open arms by the friendly baristas. The service is on point and their food speaks for itself. If you ever find yourself in the neighborhood I recommend stopping by, they’ll take care of you.

I am SO stoked after stopping in at Café Mad for a coffee meeting this morning! To begin with, the concept («dessert salon») is most welcome in this corner of Oakland. Eclectic décor, fabulous coffee and tea drinks — made to your preference — ambience and enthusiastic baristas all juxtapose to result in the ideal relaxing atmosphere for coffee and dessert. As for the food: wow! The beignets are, in fact, better than some I had on a recent NOLA trip: light, not too sweet, lightly crisp outside, fluffy, airy inside, smothered in fresh powdered sugar. I shared mine, and will go back for more. Mine was accompanied by a tea latte, made to perfection, with the perfect foam milk topping.
I can’t wait to introduce my colleagues and friends to Café Mad, right around from the office in Preservation Park. (Again, perfectly situated.) I wanna try «Pure Bliss» hot chocolate, «Scald» Café Au Lait, and a Southern Biscuit with seasonal spreads. Maybe I’ll even plan it around ‘Food for Thought’ …the «conversation café» featuring local poets, artists and musicians … AND community activists. Café Mad has all this to offer, and more. If you’re looking for something a little different, and some really great drinks and snacks, in the vicinity of Oakland City Center, get Café Mad onto your radar screen. You won’t regret it!

What a great place! I called last minute asking them to make me 80 beignets for my Husband’s 40^th. We were having a brass band New Orleans style and the beignets sealed the deal. They even came and brought them to us at an open beer garden (that I thought was only a couple blocks away, my bad) fresh and hot! Thanks guys! They were a great hit and went fast.

I never ‘got’ beignets until I tried the ones here! Unlike the huge ones found everywhere else, these are a few bites each, pillowy, and delicious. The guys who work here are SO sweet and generous.

I stumbled on this place on my way to Subway so I popped in. Once I saw Po Boy on the menu I knew I had to have one. I miss the fattening food from the south that is so wonderful when you visit New Orleans & Mississippi. While waiting for my order, I was given a small dessert to try. It was like a cake with cream and fresh fruit on the top — so wonderful!
I took my Po Boy back to the office. It came with a bag of bbq potato chips & the sandwich itself was inside of a bag, then both bags inside a bigger bag.
I can’t say it’s the best sandwich I’ve had because I make my own and to my liking. But it filled the void for the shrimp Po Boy I’ve been craving for about a month.
I’ve already decided to allow myself to gain a few pounds in the near future because I’m definitely going back to try the Muffaletta and other beautiful baked goods they make.

Stumbled on this place while I was in Oakland taking my real estate exam… the croissants were great and my husband said the coffee was very tasty… he is a big coffee drinker and talked about how good the coffee was… the owner is terrific and he was so personable… I went back after I took my test and he even opened the door after he was closed to let me in and made me a delicious Arnold Palmer for the ride home… the pastries were all fresh and good… give this place a try… you will love it…

I am enjoying a black forest dessert, attempting not to have a When Harry Met Sally moment. AMAZING food, reasonable pricing and friendly staff. I will be back!

Me and a buddy stopped in this café one day for a coffee and there were no regrets. Chef Robert is a character! The pastries were simply amazing as well as the coffee! Great prices for amazing food and coffee. I highly suggest heading there and trying all the great creations they have going on.

Wow! The quaint atmosphere is enhanced by real people, who are incredibly nice and customer service-​oriented! The salami sandwich was made to order, with yummy slices of brie added; while the chocolate truffle, provided as a thank you for coming, was so delicious it yielded a more than healthy tip! I was going to steal the rest of my daughter’s, but I didn’t have enough room. The owner is obviously a well-​trained chef! Thanks guys! I can still taste it!

Delicious coffee served in beautiful ceramic mugs and dishes; had a super tasty cinnamon roll. Local new little café that deserves a try!

I was pretty excited when my coworker suggested we try this place on our lunch break. Being from New Orleans myself I feel I can appreciate this type of cooking. I was surprised how bland the food turned out and how it did not really resemble the food I know from New Orleans. So I’ll pass.

Small coffee and croissant almost $ 6. The croissant was so small. It literally was 3 bites and gone. So I really can’t tell you what it tasted like. The coffee was ok. I don’t see this place being open long due to their pricing and quality/​quantity of food.

Don’t be intimated by the café’s small size, the food and service are amazing! While the lunch menu is on the small size (there is a wider variety of pastries), the cheese sandwiches we ordered were delicious. We also ordered an éclair, beignets, and a berry scone, all of which were soft and tasted fresh. The chef/​owner was very friendly and attentive as well.
While I do not live in the area, I definitely look forward to returning here, hopefully to find a larger selection of lunch items on the menu.

I have kept a curious eye on MAD Confections & Café for some time now, as I work across the street. I noticed the new signage a few weeks ago and happened upon some of the Mardi Gras reveling. Though located in a fairly busy commercial and residential area (14^th near Clay), the restaurants that have set up shop there over the past few years have not been long lived.
I finally ventured over this morning to satisfy my curiosity. It is a cozy, cutely decorated space, with seats for about 10, including three tables and a small counter. Upon setting foot in the door, I was warmly greeting by Robert, the enthusiastic, lively and loquacious owner and chef, as he was filling up the front display with fresh, warm pastries. I requested the (made-​to-​order) beignets ($ 3.50 for three), which came with a complimentary cup of tea.
While waiting, I learned more about Robert and his business. Originally hailing from New Orleans, Robert training at the CCA and worked at elite restaurants both locally and in Louisiana. Though familiar with the back of the house, this is his first effort to go out on his own and run a business. For now, Robert is carrying most of the weight of the cooking and business operations, as he is still staffing up.
Robert aligned MAD Confections & Café’s key dates with New Orleans traditions: the unofficial opening was on Twelfth Night, 6 January; after an extended soft opening, the official grand opening was on Mardi Gras, 17 February.
Since I stayed to eat, I observed the comings and goings of a few other customers; each was treated with the same level of interest and care. My trio of hot beignets was lovely and a happy way to begin the day.
Talented Chef Robert and his MAD Confections & Café bring a certain flair and unique character to this strip of 14^th. Long live MAD Confections & Café!
A parting tip: Many of Robert’s lovely baked treats come out of the oven between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., so that is a premier time to stop by.

If you’re looking for a unique and memorable gastronomic experience in a friendly and lively café and, above all, food that is TO DIE FOR, then look no further — MAD is the place for you. The New Orleans influence sets this café apart, such as the chicory coffee, fresh beignets, and Po’Boy sandwiches. But if there is one reason to go to MAD, it’s the pastries, hand crafted by owner and culinary artist Chef Robert, whose skill and passion is evident in each delectable creation. With flavors like this, MAD is sure to make a name for itself in the Bay Area and is not to be missed.

I had a small strawberry danish and 2 orange-​vanilla madelines. The danish was a little too crispy around the edges and the danish itself was tart. The madelines were nice and fluffy but difficult to taste much of the orange-​vanilla flavors.
They didn’t have a huge assortment of pastries so I wanted a small sample size to try out. I’ll come back after a month or so when they get in the full swing of things.
I’d give this place a 3.5 rating as of now.

When I like a place, I want them to succeed. Therefore when I saw it still closed a full 40 min after the opening time on the window, I was perturbed. Either change your hours on the window or be on time… no one will leave and come back if they had to leave the first time.
Now the coffee… admittedly I would come back for the coffee, but thats because I work practically next door. The sticky buns (with bacon) was not sticky. But supposedly had good flavor according to my coworker. I got a tiny croissant that honestly tasted like it came out of a Pillsbury tube. And it was burnt. Will I go back? Yes because I work close by and I like the coffee. But unfortunately unless they change their business tactics… I see another quirky cute place doomed to fail.
Pros: coffee, location, people seem nice
Cons: Not open at listed hours, burnt pastries, menu is in a place where people cant see it immediately, credit card system not reliable, sketch people outside watching you.
Suggestion: maybe tweet your daily offerings and use social media to draw people to the store, more visibility is needed.
I will edit my review as I make more visits, hopefully in a positive direction.

Headsup! posted Unilocal hours are WRONG! went there post 5. they were already closed. went there next day 10ish. not open yet *update below
people still behind the counter though. probably startled them when i pushed the door. my bad.
1 pm.
–looks open. lights on. no «open» sign seen.
drips: new orleans chicory coffee (m2.50)
–only one size offered, tasted bitter.
–other coffee choice was california blonde.
–courteous service, didn’t see any patrons in store.
–hours not posted.
*Note: owner inbox notes changes made in operating proceedures/​staffing. will set standard hours. «official» grand opening Feb. 17^th.

Just had my first cup of coffee and pastry at MAD and all I’m going to say is that I’m really happy that I work in Downtown Oakland and get to experience the culinary and artistic renaissance that’s sweeping across the East Bay.
I’ll get right to the point: my capuccino was competitively priced and was well worth it for the value. Lots of coffee for cheaper than Awaken and Modern a few blocks away.
I also tried MAD’s sticky bun/​cinnamon roll with walnuts and bacon and shared it with my coworkers. They were impressed with its sweet and savoriness and the fact that it wasn’t overly flaky and perfectly buttery yet not too sweet either.
I’m digging their concept (young urban pastry professionals) and I’m glad their experimenting in this part of the woods. Worth another drop in. Might even become my new java go-​to place!