Big Apple Cafe

I have never eaten in before but order out for large catering at my office about a dozen times now. Khalil is always pleasant with me and the food is always really fresh, tasty and exactly what I ordered. I would recommend for catering services.

The potato salad was so delicious. I hate the salads that have a ton of mayo and onion is the only flavor. This one is so good, I just had to have seconds. The turkey sandwich was average. Another plus-​the deliver.

I absolutely LOVE this spot, the owner is friendly and personable, the food is deliscious especially the sandwiches and oversized cookies. The New Yorker is the best triple decker bar none on this side of the bay.

Khalil, the owner is a great guy! He does great business with the local businesses. His food is good and I don’t ever have to question the quality.
I enjoy ordering with Big Apple whether it’s just my lunch or a group catering order.

I’ve gone through Big Apple Café to order catering for as many as 80 people for breakfast AND lunch, and as many as 3 days in a row. I think we’ve gone through their entire menu, and then some! Khalil, the owner, is awesome. He’s totally accommodating, and has even made food for us that’s not on the menu! My personal favorites are their crusted/​breaded tilapia, Mediterranean salad, dolmas, veggie pita sandwich (I can’t remember the name), and guacamole (YUM!!). Definitely one of my faves.

Rip off café and dirty.
Hungry and needed a break from the rain.
After walking in and against my better judgement, ordered a half sandwich and small soup from the big menu board on the wall — $ 5.60
$ 7.90 when time to pay. Why?
Apparently you have to pay for the washing up and sitting at the table!
Obviously no discount for the table not wiped down of crumbs and good spills. The floors are dirty (like when you smear it around with a mop) and when leaving, saw one employee handle raw food, the cash register and used dishes all without gloves or washing hands. Pewk!

Pastrami on rye was great and for a decent price. The next day I tried the veggie, while it was good it was more of a mess than the pastrami.

Time: 1:07pm
Purpose: Pass by here many of times going to print shop next door. Today I had to wait for my project presentation. Didn’t want to come back and was near lunchtime for me.
Ambiance: Feels like a college cafeteria with plenty of seating inside. It’s cold and chilly front doors are wide open for business. So unless you’re standing behind the steam counter you will be chilling your hands and nose off eating there.
Staff: 3 – 4 late 20’s Hispanic workers owners man and woman seems like middle eastern. They acknowledge me within 5 seconds of entering told them I wasn’t ready just yet as I have to look it over first.
Cleanliness: It’s pretty messy in terms of paperwork and bills pile all over near cashier there are more certificates of appreciation+awards plaster all over more than menu offerings. I don’t know what they’re trying to tell us but I didn’t want to know that part was here for the food not awards ceremony.
Eats: Egg salad sandwich with all the fixings $ 4.95 and a piece of baklava $ 1.75 ea had my own drink at the time so didn’t bother going over to fridge. Sandwich is ok nothing stands out I could’ve made it myself at home with better quality ingredients fraction of cost. Baklava tasted like the one from restaurant depot the ones in box available from 6−36pcs assorted. They have salad combos which you pick any 3 of their offerings for $ 6.95 next time I will certainly have it.
Products: Soups, salad, desserts, chips, cold and hot beverages, combo meals, sandwiches, a lA cartes and catering.
Expectations: It’s a nice little shop off the beaten path of Broadway which I hate to walk around day or night time. Lunch time is not too crowded unlike café espresso next door which I think is overprice a little. Here you will have no one that will bother or talk to loud everyone here is the working professional crowd. Every now and then you get a transient yelling inside for change.
Final Thoughts: I’ve always thought the cheapest sandwich place was subway nearby until today it took me by surprise. Here the ingredients are fresher and more healthier fare a good indication why they have 3 – 4 people working compare to 1 – 2 at subway. I mean sandwiches averages about $ 4.95 with $ 6.95 as the premium ones some places are even basic for that price. It’s a good find in downtown area if you’re on a budget this place might fare well for you.

Amazing turkey sandwich, like the kind you’d have on a leftover sandwich… not that slimey deli meat or over-​stewed chunk meat other places serve. Very reasonably priced and super fast too!

The staff is always super friendly, which makes a big difference in the morning! I ordered one of their turkey avo sandwiches and it was pretty good, decent price. Great lunch selection: baked chicken, pasta, etc.

This place is very busy preparing catering orders, but if you slip in when there’s a lull you can get yourself a delicious sandwich or plate of hot food.
I really like their talapia with green and greek salad.
They have tasty enchiladas on Fridays.

OMG PASTRAMI!!!
The pickles aren’t great, the place is not fancy, but OH BOY, the Pastrami is delicious.
First time, got the regular pastrami on rye, fresh lettuce and tomato, and friendly and helpful staff.
Second time, I asked her what to get, she said New York Pastrami, they add coleslaw and bake that shiiiiiiiii*. It was also amaaaazing. I don’t think I’ll be able to get sandwiches anywhere else anytime soon.
Prices are good too, you can get a half sandwich with choice of salad, (greek salad with feta, tomato and cucumbers is a good counterpart to the hot pastrami) for less than $ 6.
Hmmm, perhaps I will return today.

Love this place for retreats, meetings or any catering event when you need to feed 10 or 200 people. Always high on my list when I need a vendor. Their sandwiches (boxed lunches) are good and you have a lot of choices, even vegetarian. Their hot selections or dishes are also great.
Make the the right choice and select them, their cookies are AWESOME!

The sandwiches are excellent. The ingredients are fresh, the meat is real meat… chunks of turkey and chicken, and the roast beef is tasty! The potato salad is fantastic. The prices are very reasonable… you’ll be quite full for $ 8. The only minus is very slow service.

This is a 4.5 star review. You’re not going to have a fine dining experience because the place looks like its heyday was yesteryear, maybe in the 70s. But you’re not going to get a cheerier host than the man behind the counter, and you’re not going to get a better pastrami sandwich than this place for the price. Excellent, and plenty of pastrami in your sandwich. They’ll make it the way you like it, and the bread is alright (not fabulous, but passable), but I was just impressed by the $ 4.50 price for a loaded pastrami sandwich.
About the only other place I would say is better is Saul’s up in Berkeley, but you’re paying top dollar over there.
They throw in 2 big pickles. Recommend you get the deli mustard. I went with a friend who ordered a pastrami w/​just mayo, lettuce, and tomato. The host said, «New Yorkers wouldn’t let you do stuff like that, but over here, okay…» Ha. There’s some Big Apple dignity.

Our office is so close by so if I need a soda, quick lunch, or something sweet. The Big Apple is there to accommodate those fixes.
Their lemon slice & baklova is absolutely amazing!
The space can do a little work, but oh well for me its just a good take out.

I truly despise ordering lunches for large meetings, however Big Apple makes it more than tolerable. Every month Big Apple caters a meeting for me held at the Harris Building. Khalil, the owner, is so nice he even remembers my name when I call to place the order. He always has suggestions for how we can make the process more efficient and he is more than willing to work with our funky State payment process. The food is excellent as all participants in our meetings agree.
Thank you Khalil!

Bagel sandies with cream cheese and veggies for a buck 75. Better than the place around the corner too. Need I say more?
Yes, and it was pretty dank.

Definitely a change of pace place for me when it comes to my Oakland Lunches.
An old style Deli that really does kinda make me feel like I am in the Big Apple. So in terms of authenticity, this place certainly has it. However, I have certainly had better sandwiches so it’s not a place I would go to all the time because I am craving it.
But with all those Chinese Food Joints I check out, I have to change it up once in a while and this is one in the rotation…

I thought it was pretty good when I went!
Sandwiches were tasty and soups were warm. Everything tastes very fresh.
It’s convenient to where I use to work so that’s why I went here. Now that I don’t work down the street, I probably wouldn’t make a trip out to this place. It’s good if you’re in the area and need a casual bite to eat!