As Kneaded Café, 300 Estudillo Ave, San Leandro, CA 94577
Fresh baked goods and coffee inside the library? Yes, please. I’ve seen some cafes at libraries but As Kneaded Café seems better because they bake their own bread and pastries (not on site but a mile away). They don’t have a kitchen on site.
Choose from a case of pastries (croissants, muffins, scones, cookies, teacake, quiche). You can also order a salad or sandwich. The sandwiches are premade and sitting in the refrigerated case. Drinks include your usual espresso drinks, drip coffee, tea, lemonade, and hot chocolate. They use Counter Culture coffee beans.
The Sorbonne Salami sandwich with stoneground mustard and cornichons ($14): They baked the demi baguette, so that’s a plus. However, it was very firm and very chewy because it had been sitting in the refrigerator. The ingredients were simple and complementary, but I could have easily made that sandwich at home. The mixed green salad was too salty to eat. Wish they could make the sandwich to order.
The entrance is outside the library with different hours from the library. There’s a nice outdoor patio and also seating inside. They also sell loaves of bread, Counter Culture coffee beans, Wild & Tea, local honey, and snacks. There’s free wi-fi and easy free parking for three hours.
They just opened and are very friendly. Hope they do well.
