Cafe Mereb

This place is not on the main drag, small neighborhood joint. I had high hopes for this place because of the rave reviews and its proximity to work, but was sorely disappointed.
I didn’t receive the friendly service, even though I was the ONLY customer there. It felt like I burdened her while I was looking at the menu, trying to figure out what I wanted.
The lemon chicken sandwich was skimpy, the bread was really dry.
Falafel wrap was truly the disappointment, as I really like falafel and the pix looked so good on Unilocal.It was premade, reheated, soft falafel! Not the crunchy fresh one I was expecting. thumbs down!
The food wasn’t awful but lackluster. This was my third attempt coming here too! First, they were closed on Weds, shame on me for not looking. Second, it was def NOT a Weds, but they were again, closed, left a note on the door.
Sorry, I pass!

nom nom nom.
I like the shawarma sandwhich. So tasty! And I like the white mocha latte! Perfect foggy day lunch!

I *really* liked my shawerma wrap: the perfect proportional composition of greens (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers with yummy yogurt sauce) accompanying delicate and non-​greasy lamb slices, all wrapped with a very tasty sun-​dried tomato tortilla (other options are whole wheat or spinach).
My BF got the same thing in sandwich form meaning it was in a pita; it was supposed to come with a salad but it didn’t, and he personally prefers his meat portions to come a bit chunkier.
The patroness was sooooo sweet — clearly Eritrean (the other form of fare offered here) and it was a mellow environment — but the cushions, throw pillows… and stuffed animals… gave me a bit of a sketchy feeling that maybe it was a bit too «homey» …and the price was a smidge high for all of that ($ 9/​sandwich w/​o side).
If I was in the ‘hood more often I would, however, probably come back for one of the Eritrean plates — the one at the table next to us did look pretty yummy. And the woman there was super sweet :).

Good: food is very freshly made
Bad: it takes a long time to prepare
We stopped in to this little place thinking it was just a coffee shop, as we where getting ready to leave we hear another table ordering food. What?! There were no signs of food available. But I’m glad we overheard that, because the food was pretty good! It’s a very small place, and not really cozy, but the food is good. Might be a good place to call ahead and order to pick up and take home.

Just moved back to the neighborhood (yay!) And am feet away from Café Mereb and couldnt be happier. I could not pick a better place to live so close to. I’ve tried many of the menu items and have not been disappointed yet!
Chicken cesar wrap, falafel, breakfast burrito, mozarella & pesto sandwich, lemon olive chicken sandwich… I LOVE IT ALL! And of course, the hot chocolate is to die for, and just tried the chai and it’s one of the best ive ever had. The owner is pleasant and friendly, and really bakes love into every delicious item on the menu. Such a hidden gem in San Francisco!

It’s about time I write a review for this place. I come here a good bit because it’s got just about eveything I need/​want in a café.
It’s got fast wifi, which I use because I «work from home» which means I frequent a lot of cafes to stave off the monotony.
It’s got easily the best falafel I’ve had. I’m totally addicted to the falafel wrap. I’m a big, boy and frequently I can only eat ½ of it. I had falafel by CCSF a couple weeks ago and came to the glaring realization about how off the charts good Mereb’s falafel is by the comparison.
It’s got yummy coffee/​espresso.
The lady who runs it and her daughter who sometimes works there are both extremely friendly/​nice/​helpful/​attentive/​everyothergoodadje­ctivethatcoulddescribeapositivecafeworker.
I haven’t gotten around to trying their eritrean food on the weekends but if it’s as good as their falafel I’m really excited.

I like the vibe of the place: very homey
I like the service: super friendly but not in an in your face way.
I like the 3D glasses included World Atlas as reading material.
It’s close to my house.
The falafel sandwich was pretty damn good (though a «half» was plenty of food for me). I’ll be back for that, and maybe sample some other food.
The coffee’s not bad either, but frankly there’s so much tasty coffee around I probably wouldn’t make a point to come grab a cup.

Must get:
* Pesto Chicken Wrap ($ 7.75?)– great flavor and so fresh!
* Falafel Wrap ($ 6.95)– very filling and has a tiny spicy kick
* Great cup of coffee (americano $ 1.95)– smooth
Peaceful and clean place to hang out. I love that they have a corner booth table along with other comfy seats. The owner is really kind and gentle. I spent a leisurely afternoon there with a friend today. I agree with the other Unilocalers that I hope more business rolls in, I’d hate for this place to disappear.
Totally a neighborhood and family-​run small business. While we were there her daughter-​in-​law stopped in with the owners grandson. He ran in and gave her a big hug and asked for a cookie… which he of course did get. What else would you expect from grandma?;)

A surprisingly good falafel sandwich from this unassuming yet really charming neighborhood restaurant. The woman behind the counter was very polite. I assume she was the owner. Admittedly, the service was kind of slow, but that’s because every bite was made with love. It’s true. I tasted it with every mouthful. It was also very filling. My boyfriend had the falafel wrap and a soy latte. He said his soy latte was one of the best he had ever had. It was a little on the hot side, but it was very fresh and tasty.
After visiting their website, I realized that they have a weekend brunch menu, Eritrean food on the weekends, and a whole list of wraps and sandwiches. Who knew? It’s all very affordable too. I can’t wait to try the brunch.

My new neighborhood spot!
This less then a block away from my new apartment, and I love it. It has a cozy feel with great ownership. The food is most defiantly not top notch but none the less delicious. With free WIFI, cuddly stuffed animals and lots of cute books to read, comfy chairs and tables. The portions are big and the price is right. Soothing music playing with great artwork covering the walls and counter. I feel as if I’m walking right into this women’s kitchen. My understanding is that she is also in the process of getting her liquor license.
I do however worry that she does not get enough service.
I highly suggest checking this place out.

In the spirit of Rosh Hashanah (in which you are supposed to try something new on the new year), I stopped by here for lunch today. In short this is the definition of a «Neighborhood Place»; it’s tiny, off the beaten path and serves good, distinctive food.
I ordered the Falafel sandwich and some Lemonade from the owner, who was very friendly, the total was around 10 $ (plus a nice tip). The Falafel was outstanding, freshly made and very large. It was served over a crisp cucumber and tomato salad which was a nice contrast to the mealyness and slight spice of the falafel. The owner included a stuffed grape leaf on the side, which was a nice touch (and didn’t last long).
Ambiance was very nice, with African art on the walls and be-​bop in the background. This would be a very nice place to take a friend or a date.
I’ll be coming back.

The falafel wrap cannot be beat. I could eat it any time – it’s made fresh by the owner, it’s not deep fried and greasy like some falafel I have had, but it’s lightly fried with delicious Eritrean spices!
Their iced-​tea is yummy too – kind of spicy :)

I stumbled upon here after walking up and down Geary looking for a cheap place to eat near the church that wasn’t fast food. Thanks to Unilocal on my iPhone, I found this quaint café on a quiet block on Clement St.
Café Mereb is one of those neighborhood places that I’d imagine I could stop in on a daily basis just to say hi. Azeb, the owner, has decorated the walls of the small café with various pieces of art, tools, and pictures from her home country of Eritrea, a small country in East Africa north of Ethiopia. While classified as Mediterranean on Unilocal,the Eritrean food is the Azeb’s specialty, but she only serves it during the weekends, much to my disappointment.
I settled for the more well-​known falafel wrap. It was extremely tasty, breaded and fried perfectly with the right amount of spice. The wrap also contained a refreshing tomato and cucumber salad, yummy garlic hummus and tzatziki. A couple dolmas accompanied the wrap.
I really wanted to get some kind of taste of Eritrean cuisine, so after a closer look at Café Mereb’s reviews on Unilocal (there’s free WiFi by the way), I found that the iced tea is a homemade specialty. It was very strong and dark, tasting somewhat like Indian chai, but with a stronger taste of cloves and cinnamon. Very refreshing after a long day of work!
Overall, my dinner there was very enjoyable. It was cheap, unique, and tasty, but most of all it was prepared with a great deal of pride and care. This is shown through the Eritrean décor on the walls, which also include Azeb’s personal explanations of each and every piece, as well as her story of coming to America. My only concern is that this café is kind of off the beaten path, even for Clement. The café was empty when I entered, with only a few patrons stepping in to order something to go throughout the duration of my meal. Unilocalers mentioned the same thing, so I hope business picks up because this is definitely a Richmond gem. It’s walking distance to the church for me, so I’ll probably be stopping by here again sometime this summer!

Please go eat here.
I promise I am not affiliated with the restaurant in any way, but I’m worried that it will go out of business. I was here from 6 — 8pm on a Friday evening — which should be prime time for restaurants — and only one other person came in (for takeout).
On to why you should go here: the falafel is stunningly delicious, leaps and bounds ahead of others I’ve had in San Francisco. They don’t skimp on it either — my sandwich was overstuffed with tons of the stuff. The downside was that it was very difficult to eat (I’m glad I was dining solo, it was not a pretty sight). The tzatziki-​ish sauce and humus are great complements. The owner (I think) made it to order; it took a bit of time but it was well worth it.
I can’t wait to go back and try the Eritrean food. Unfortunately Mereb is a bit out of the way for me, but I’ll make the time as often as I can. You other Unilocalers need to do your part to keep this place in business!

The lady that runs this place is nice but very slow at making falafel wraps. Also note: the «wrap» is not lavash bread, but just a tortilla — I was quite disappointed… I will still choose Truly Med in the Mission or Sunrise Deli in the Sunset over this place any day!

What a lovely little café in a quaint residential and light commercial neighborhood. We went on a Monday evening and enjoyed a delicious latte, great jazz music, friendly service, and a fun round of poker/​checkers.
Café Mereb isn’t going to knock your socks off, but it is a cozy little hangout for the Inner Richmond locals and the handful of daytrippers from the East Bay.
One note is that they no longer offer crepes.

OK. That’s all I feel about the place. I’ll stop by for a coffee if they’re open, but I walk to work and pass by their place every morning between 8:45 — 9:30am and the amount of times they’ve been open for a morning cup over the last 3 months? Zero. I passed by her place at lunch and asked Azeb what’s up with the posted hours and she said sometimes she doesn’t open until 11 and she has very few customers and waved her hands in the air and made it seem like she doesn’t feel like being there. Which is what I feel every time I walk in the place. When she first opened it she actually smiled, but I haven’t seen her do that in a very long time.
I’ve eaten the Eritrean special Saturday night dinner (spicy but good with a spongy crepey thing) but I thought their sandwiches and salads were nothing to Unilocal about. The coffee is so-​so, Peet’s is a block away.
I live a block away and wish it was better than it is so I could have some neighborhood hangout to wifi in and have breakfast at 9am on the way to work.

A free Friday paired with a little persuasion led to a Zoo day adventure with Margit H. Needless to say we thought it would be best to start off with a hearty lunch and then spend the day with the animals.
Café Mereb was suggested and we rolled with it. I was pretty excited because I have not tried too many of the little cafes that sprinkle the streets of the Inner and Outer Richmond. Mereb is tiny, and I mean quaint, cute and cozy tiny establishment.
They had breakfast and lunch items available since we arrived early at around 11:30am. I ordered a Greek salad and a hummus platter that came with dolma, tabbouleh, hummus and pita bread. It was good and the hummus was thick and garlicky. Margit had a chicken wrap that looked very fresh and healthy. The portions were great and there were many things I still wanted to try on the menu like their Eritrean specialties and their veggie wrap.
Mereb is solid in my opinion because their food was good, their prices were really good and the lady who was running the place was super nice.
You can grab coffee and surf the net for free, brunch, lunch, snack, or lounge and be very comfortable at Mereb.

It’s a one woman show at Café Mereb and when you walk inside you feel like you’re in her kitchen. Before I entered the café, I could smell spices and good home cooking. Azeb takes your order, cooks the food, cleans up and rings you up. She immigrated from Eritrea though you can’t really tell that from the menu.
The menu features crepes, bagels, salads, breakfast items and Mediterranean items (falafel, hummus). Breakfast (French toast, pancakes, eggs, breakfast burrito) is served all day (yay). For drinks, choose from espresso drinks, smoothies, and other hot drinks. Cookies and brownie bites can satisfy your sweet tooth.
Since she cooks to order and has to do everything, you should call in your order if you’re in a hurry. I had the frittata crêpe ($ 6.75) with a side salad (you can choose potatoes if you prefer) and a single latte ($ 2.50). The prices are quite reasonable.
The large, soft crêpe was generously stuffed with tender scrambled eggs, bell peppers, onions, tomato and garlic. The crêpe itself was interesting — not as eggy, buttery and thin as I’m used to — it was white, thicker and spongier, mild in flavor, almost like the eggs and butter were left out? I didn’t mind though. It tasted good especially when I used the Tapatio hot sauce on the table.
The side salad was very simple — mixed organic greens, chopped tomatoes, oil & vinegar. The latte barely had any foam and it was bitter.
It’s a nice place — comfy. The décor is warm and cozy, with Eritrean instruments on warm colored walls, small tables, a bench with thick padding (comfy) and two plush looking chairs. There’s one computer with free internet access and free wi-​fi (with some power outlets). The connection was spotty during my visit. The windows don’t have shades, so it can get sunny inside.

Clement = gastronomic adventure
I love where I live because it is quaint, safe and offers lots of free parking. What I miss in my little slice of suburbia are the numerous shops, eateries, and cafes that flank Geary and what the Richmond is known for: gastronomica. The fantastic variety of places to check out, even if I had a schedule to follow, were clamoring for my attention as I drove down Geary. My plan for this rainy Sunday afternoon was a movie marathon with a very nice fellow I’ve been seeing.
Parking here is easy, quick and painless (unlike Church and 24^th) when I noticed the cute little sign and bench out front. I was unable to avoid it, especially since the rain was being hurled at me from every angle imaginable and I had yet to savor my latte for the day.
Warm, cozy and uplifting from the grey gloom outside with splashes of neutral hues padding the walls. In addition, there were some savory Mediterranean smells wafting from the hot foods area such as hot falafel and pita wraps. The seating area is small but is inevitable for the person next to you to make up a quick conversation, in addition to targeting the occasional patron to rest, take off the coat, lounge and read a book. My breve latte came exactly as ordered: extra hot, smooth and inexpensive.
I sipped as I opened my umbrella and stepped out into the onslaught of the rain. I would not mind coming back and trying the falafel fare next time. In addition, WiFi exists so be prepared with a laptop if you are intent on spending time here.