Café Frida Gallery | 300 S A St, Santa Rosa | (707) 308-4344| Most entrees under $15
5 of 5 Oak Leaves
Signature Dishes
Drinks: lemongrass matcha latte, house coffee, latte
Food: butter croissant, breakfast burrito, avocado toast with side salad, rosemary scone, the Italian
Review
A hidden gem in Santa Rosa’s SOFA Arts District neighborhood, Cafe Frida Gallery is a unique coffee experience with fresh and beautifully crafted food and beverages. You can taste the passion for eccentric detail in each product: a creative blend of Mexican and American staples at affordable prices.
Cafe Frida stands out from other local coffee shops because of its calming atypical experience in every corner of the property. Open for takeout, curbside-pick up and outdoor dining, walking into Cafe Frida is like walking into a secret dimension of Santa Rosa, away from the traffic noises and into a zen and naturesque outdoor seating blanketed by the raying sun and the birds singing with a synchronous melody.
You can order outside, but the creative environment continues inside where you’re welcomed by a huge portrait of Frida Khalo as well as an art gallery of local artists’ work. Vibrant Sonoma County portraits decorate the walls beside bookshelves of art and culture books and tables of intricate plate designs.
For drinks, Cafe Frida offers an unorthodox selection of coffee and tea, like the lemongrass matcha latte. I’ve always been anti-matcha, but this made me a matcha believer. The hints of lemon and sweet vanilla undertones smooth out the usual bitterness. Some matcha haters may comment on its grassy taste, but the fresh exotic grass leaves a refreshing taste on your tongue.
Cafe Frida also offers combo deals for those on a budget. The croissant and latte combo is great for those who like the basics and appreciate the classics. The croissant has a nice soft and flakey texture with a smooth buttery taste, without tasting like overly processed butter. The latte has a beautiful presentation with a strong polished espresso flavor. A key feature of the latte was how the espresso shots did not taste dead at all.
The burrito in the breakfast burrito and house coffee combo is easily the best in Sonoma County. The outside is perfectly crisp while the inside is soft but not soggy, and it’s accompanied by a mild salsa verde and topped with decorative herbs. One bite is an absolute fresh dream, with the perfect ratio of scrambled egg, soft potatoes, tender bell peppers and onions, and melted stringy Mexican cheese. For meat lovers, there is a ham option as well. A big thing when eating breakfast burritos is the feeling after the last bite and this burrito leaves you feeling satisfied not bloated. The house coffee is smooth with fruity undertones and thankfully no burnt acidic taste, so it perfectly compliments the flavorful burrito.
The avocado toast is a crispy delight. Golden sourdough bread, topped with fresh avocado, radishes, herbs, spices and a lemon zest that gives each bite an extra kick of flavor. The portion size is rather small and includes a side salad consisting of only unflavorful baby lettuce. Although it won’t fill you up at the end, the colorful flavors won’t disappoint.
The Italian sandwich has salami, cheese, arugula, cherry tomatoes and aioli on a toasted ciabatta bread. It consists of a creamy sauce with mild spice that balances the sandwich out as well as giving it an extra kick.
With a vast variety of pastry options, their scones are highly recommended as they are made every morning from scratch. The rosemary parmesan scone is soft and savory with every crumb melting in your mouth. Scones have a reputation of being too dry, but this scone is like a soft pillow with hints of cheesy rosemary goodness.
If you’re searching for a new coffee or breakfast go-to place, Cafe Frida is your best bet. You feel at home while eating fresh ingredients or pleasantly surprised when trying new drinks. Cafe Frida will leave you feeling good about yourself for the rest of your day.
The Breakdown
| Category | What were we looking for? | Score out of 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging | Neat? Sustainable? Did they remember cutlery? Napkins? Condiments? | 4 |
| Hygiene | Was clerk wearing gloves? A mask? Both? Neither? What were the pick up and waiting areas like? Clean/neat? | 5 |
| Speed and accuracy | Food was on counter ready for pickup | 5 |
| Portion size | Was it filling or were you left wanting more? | 4 |
| Leftovers | Were there leftovers and, if so, did they reheat well? | 4 |
| Quality of Food | Freshness, quality of ingredients | 5 |
| Tastiness of Food | Flavor, spice and texture | 5 |
| Customer Service | Friendliness, responsiveness | 5 |
| Overall Rating | With 5 being a perfect score, this restaurant rated: | 5 |
