The whirring hiss of the espresso machine is likely the first sound you’ll hear at Café Pascal. More than just a byproduct of the cafe’s operations, the sound is part of the European ambiance at the spacious Marina Bay spot. The café is best known for its loaded omelets and flavorful sandwiches, which — along with macarons, rich coffee, and decor — all work to make the place feel authentically French. 

Café Pascal is often busiest during lunch, but their breakfast menu is where many of the French-inspired dishes really make themselves known. The Omelet Toulon is a great place to start. The hearty meal is comprised of three eggs whipped up, cooked in plenty of butter, stuffed with eggplant, zucchini, peppers, melty swiss cheese, and topped with a generous dollop of basil pesto. Served with your choice of bread and a couple slices of orange, it feels at once decadent in its complex flavors, but remains entirely accessible to the everyday patron.  

If you do happen to find yourself at Café Pascal during a lunch hour, prepare yourself for a line, but know that it will be worth it. Notable is the Parisian, which is a delicious combination of ham, swiss, lettuce, tomato, dijon, and mayonnaise on ciabatta. It’s a mouthful of a sandwich that will keep you full the rest of the day — especially if you pair it with a cup of their soup, which changes daily.

There is a lot of variety in the sandwiches at Café Pascal, with the Parisian being one of the best, but others could use a little refinement. While the Mediterranean is on point with its fresh tomato and tasty mozzarella, the bread that holds the ingredients is a little too big and ends up drying out the sandwich. Each bite ends up being about 50 percent bread, and the ingredients get lost in the mix.  

Café Pascal does breakfast and lunch well, but that’s not all they have to offer. The diner on the run could grab a warm croissant and a latte and be back on the road in a matter of minutes.  

Alternatively, if you’re looking to relax in the evening, the French café also hosts regular live acoustic performances. The array of comfortable seating scattered across the café make it easy to sit back and enjoy the music with a glass of wine in hand, or you could easily cozy up with a date at one of the small marble tables available. The open floor plan, comfortable seating, and warm-hued decor at Café Pascal make it a welcoming environment.

The diversity and quality of what’s offered at Café Pascal, from the live music, to their breakfast and lunch menus, make the Marina Bay spot one of the best high quality, quick meals in town.  

Café Pascal
2181 Meeker Avenue, Richmond
Tel. (510) 233-9600 

Business Hours
Monday - Friday: 6 am to 6 pm
Saturday: 7 am to 6 pm
Sunday: 8 am to 3 pm 

View their Yelp page here.