Cafe Roule

All the servers who work here are really nice! The only issue I had was to try connecting to the internet. I asked them to reset the internet couple times and they were being really nice about it. The drinks are delicious! It is a great place to chill/​study with friends! Parking lot is available behind the building.

The food is standard, nothing quite sets it apart from any other sandwich shop. Although it does set them apart from other coffee shops since others only offer small pastries with your coffee. That being said, maybe I’m not being adventurous enough with my coffee selection to identify anything special with what they offer, but again, the coffee they offer is ordinary. Seating is great for individual and pairs, but is not good for groups since it’s a fairly small place. Outdoor seating is pleasant (but faces traffic) and they will bring your food and drink to you.
The issue I have with this place is its unpredictability. Their menu never reflects what they actually have or are able to make, so you end up naming things off the menu until you find something that they can make. There’s a small sign at the cash register stating that prices on the menus do not reflect the recent change in prices, which also adds to the surprise when you visit this place. They consistently have issues with their machines. Something is always broken.
However, if you are looking for a nice quiet place with free wifi, coffee, and food all in one place. This is a decent place to go to. That being said, people tend to flock here early and stay for quite some time.

Nice place, pretty quiet for a boba place, which is good. Liked the pomegranate that everyone recommended, wanted to try some of the pastries and sandwiches but being «cash only» I had limited options. Good parking spots too.

As time goes as owners do, starting this month February 1^st, 2016, cash only starts. No more charge cards. That was one thing I liked when they changed hands. Now the sandwiches aren’t as full as they use to be. I don’t recommend their combo, but if you go into their Unilocal you can get a free ice tea drink with a sandwich.
The servers are still very nice, I miss the ones who have left too.

Dropped in for the first time while driving around the area and needed a pick-​me-​up. The barista behind the counter was awesome. I ended up ordering a turkey sandwich and a choc-​banana smoothie. Both items were very well-​made and yummy. I saw that their seasonal specialty is taro whipped cream as topping. That just landed on my list of «Things I need to try next». I also liked that the WiFi password was printed on the receipt for convenience.

Absolutely love the sandwiches here! I don’t think I have ever had a bad sandwich here! The pesto mayo is heaven and I always ask for extra! The place is small and not too loud! The service is nice and the wait for food is not long! Very easy to locate but parking on las tunas is never ideal so try the back or small street next to it!

I love this place.
This is my go-​to study spot because I love the quiet, laid back atmosphere of this place. It’s not like a trendy coffeeshop where I have to attempt to make an effort on my appearance. I can come in yoga pants before a workout or come straight from work and no one would give a second glance.
However, as much as it kills me to say anything negative about this place… the drinks are terrible :(Every time I order something, it is either too sweet or too thick. I’ve since settled on just getting basic green tea since you really can’t mess that up.
Why still 4 stars? The servers are always really friendly and will turn down the music if you ask. It’s pretty empty 70% of the time I go, which I love. They also have a bunch of safe, snack foods for when you get hungry. This place feels like home and my review probably really doesn’t do this place justice.

Not sure how to describe my experience here– awkward? I came by on a weekday during lunch hours to grab some food to go for my coworkers and I.
Ordering itself took longer than it should have. They had little slips for each individual sandwich ordered, where you would specify what type of bread, cheese and greens to go in the sandwich. The staff member filled it all out for me at the register. This may be more effective if they let the customer have the option of filling in the slip themselves, especially when the customer is ordering more than one or two sandwiches. Ordering alone took maybe 15 minutes.
After ordering, I sat there waiting for four sandwich combos. Each combo comes with a sandwich, your choice of fries or the soup of the day, and a drink (tea/​coffee). The price comes out to be under 8 dollars per combo, which is a good deal for the quality of the food and drinks.
Anyhow, I did not expect to have to wait 40 minutes for the food. The place was not busy at all when I walked in. There were two guys working; both seemed to be somewhat new and inexperienced. It seems like wait time is a common complaint among Unilocal reviewers for this café, though. «When is our food coming out?» a girl asked. There were like 4 people who ordered after me and I’m sure all of us there were wondering the same thing. The guy making the sandwiches was under a lot of pressure. At one point, the music was turned off, and we all sat there waiting in silence as the staff prepared our orders. Felt bad for the staff, but there has to be better management.
When the food finally came out, the guy kinda had difficulty packing it into the bags… it was messy and not presented nicely? And usually, I wouldn’t care, but having to wait 40 minutes, I’d at least want to see my food packaged decently. Staff members also did not say thank you or apologize for the wait time.
As for the FOOD, it was tasty! The sandwich was great. The soup that came with the combo was good (fresh ingredients) but was cold by the time it got to me. I got the green tea latte, which was not hot anymore when it got to me, but was still yummy.
The good: food, drinks, decent price, nice staff
The bad: wait time, unorganized/​ineffective management

Parking is easy on the street, and the service is friendly. I tried a couple pastries, so I don’t have a lot to review. I had a cheese danish, a blueberry danish, and two cookies (chocolate chip and white chocolate chip). The cookies were pretty good, and the danishes were just okay. Decent enough, but nothing mind blowing.
A sign said they are only accepting cash now. So keep that in mind. They seem to have a bunch of sandwiches, and I think it’s more a sandwich lunch place than a bakery. If I try anything else, I’ll be sure to update.

Cool place prices are good, only thing I don’t like is I waited around 20 minutes for a turkey sandwich and fries. There was one other order which was a phone order and there was only one girl working!!!

I was thinking of stopping by at another place for breakfast, but I decided to stop by here since several friends have recommended it to me and it was very close to the hair salon I wanted to go to.
I ordered Hot Lemon Green Tea and Hong Kong Waffles. The cashier was very friendly and courteous. She told me it would take 20 – 30 minutes for the Hong Kong waffles to be ready since they had to mix the batter and cook it. I agreed to waiting. I ordered at exactly 9:30.
I sat around sipping my tea and patiently waited for my waffles while playing on my phone. It’s about 10:30 now and there was NO sign of my waffles. No one came up to me and updated me on the status for an hour. I finally went up to the cashier and asked her where my waffles were and she told me «Sorry! It’s almost done!» Then I had to wait another 15 – 20 minutes after that response. When one of the other workers handed it to me, there was no apology/​response given either.
I am so disappointed at the communication at this place. If they had issues with the batter or machine or whatever, they could have at least had the decency to tell me and give me an update (I would be willing to understand). I also came at 9am too, so it was not like I came near their opening time (8am).
In terms of food, everything was okay and I will never come back here again. It’s unbelievable that the waffles took longer than my haircut (and I have long hair!).

This wasn’t a bad café but it wouldn’t be my first choice if I was craving a good drink and sandwich.
The workers were two girls who were very nice, especially to my nieces which I appreciated, but when it came time to pay and I wanted to do cash and card they didn’t know how to do it on their register. It sounded like it was possible but they didn’t know how so I’m going to assume they weren’t trained properly or fully. I just used my card. I ordered a roast beef sandwich on rye, my sister ordered a pastrami on sourdough, and my nieces got french fries and bagel with cream cheese. For drinks, I wanted to get something with boba but they said those drinks were seasonal, intended for summer, and I wish they had that written in the menu. I got a white mocha frappé, sister got a green tea unsweetened, and nieces got mango strawberry smoothies. On the plus side, my sister and I got drinks free as a combo with the sandwiches.
The fries and bagel came pretty quick along with the drinks, but the sandwiches took FOREVER. Literally 20 minutes I think. The café wasn’t even busy, so I don’t know what the holdup was. My drink had some chunks of ice but was good, smoothies were good as well, my sister was a bit upset cause her drink was sweetened, and the food was good. My sandwich was hard to bite into though because the roast beef wouldn’t tear when I bit and my sister said it might be because the slices were thick.
Overall good place, quiet atmosphere, but I know of other places with a little faster service and better drinks. I think the place just needs better training and a little more organization.

I hope management will read this! Your café needs better ventilation. The smoky air from toasting sandwiches in the kitchen stings our eyes. My eyes are red and teary as I type this. Everyone else in the café is rubbing their eyes too. It’s driving all your customers away. Please improve on this! Thank you.

I’m glad this place is still around. Haven’t been there in a while and noticed several changes. I usually the sandwich combo (comes with iced tea or iced coffee), but there was a Unilocal check in deal to get a free iced tea. I thought service was good, plus they give a sample other your drink while making it. But honestly, the drinks were rather average. Finally tried their popular item: pomegranate green tea. Uh, it’s alright.
Also, tried their Frosted milky with caramel, coffee jelly & boba. Skip this! Boba were old (probably from the day before because it has been in the fridge). I understand where they’re coming from. Tossing out leftover boba is quite a waste and costly, but who the hell wants boba that’s not cooked fresh daily?! Coffee jelly was mediocre. Half n Half definitely got the best coffee jelly in the 626 area. Sorry Café Roule, even 85 degree’s coffee jelly taste better.
However, I would still patronize the business, but probably stick to a sandwich combo with plain iced tea or something.
Update: found out they charge me the wrong item after I got home. Paid more than what I need to!

a BIG MEH for this experience. there are lots of tables & free wifi if you want to do work, but not the cutest café to catch a drink with a friend
came in looking forward to relax & grab a snack and drink but it was stuffy inside on this HOT summer day! also their selection of pastries looked very mediocre so i passed
—mocha frappé: it took more than 10 minutes to make this drink! i had to ask the worker about my drink, thinking she forgot, but apparently she was trying to make creamer in the back and didn’t inform me of the longer wait time! when i got to the bottom of my drink, i found HUGE chunks of unblended ice
they also offer sandwiches & snacks if you’re looking for something a bit more substantial

This café roules! (lol)
My boyfriend and I came here on a Saturday morning to get some work done and found that Café Roule:
–Smelled like cigarettes when we first walked in, but we quickly got used to it
–Has a unisex bathroom
–Has super fast Wifi, at least in relation to other coffee shops
–Has the BEST hot green tea I’ve ever had. I don’t know what they put it in, some sort of natural sweetner?
–Is quite small, but has enough space for 20 – 30 people

Sadly disappointed :(went here on my 1-​hour lunch break.
Quick tips:
— parking is on the street, it isn’t usually too crowded so shouldn’t be too hard
— really small café on a busy street so keep an eye out
— really good service but unfortunately I was not pleased with the quality of the food
There was only about one other person in the café when I arrived. I ordered a lunch special that came with a sandwich and tea. I ordered the house special sandwich and to be honest it was nothing special. It was just a normal sandwich and the tea was a bit watery. The lunch special is about $ 8 so it’s a good deal.
I was also really bothered by how long it took for my food to be ready. I was waiting for around 15 – 20 minutes which is almost half my lunch break. I would not recommend this place if you’re in a rush.
The café itself is cute, it’s small and seems like a good place to study but the food and drinks aren’t anything special. It’s okay, but I don’t think I’ll be coming here again.

I’ve been here since like 2010 but I sporadically come in so I see new workers everyday. Here’s the thing… no one was ever worth writing a Unilocal review for except when I went in tonight for only 30 minutes total.
I went in there and was greeted nicely by a worker named Hail. I hope I am spelling it correctly. She’s only been working there for a month since I asked but she made me a MEAN house special sammich!!! I asked her what’s her favorite drink and although it might not be her favorite, she made me a pomegrante yogurt green tea. It. Was. BOMB. I loved everything she made for me, she’s super friendly, easy-​going, chill, I can sense her honesty, and just. GAHH! I hope Café Roule keeps her because she can definitely bring in the customers. She’s pretty too!!! I hope to come back soon! :)

Not a great study place since the ownership change, but then again, I haven’t been here in about 4 years. It is now Hot Space and serves hot pot … so it’s not that quiet at all since people come here expecting hot pot and it takes a while to get their food.
Otherwise, I had a good experience to begin with– the girl up front was super friendly and made my green tea quickly and made a great House Tuna Sandwich. She was probably the coolest part of the place.
Obviously, I didn’t get much studying done there as I had intended to. Firstly, it’s quite hot in there and their AC is either set up high or not that effective. There was also the noise issue. I’m cool with the Friday KIIS Mix, but it was pretty loud and coupled with two really long and loud conversations (it’s a small place) from a girl who was way over studying, it was really difficult to concentrate. If you really need a quiet place to study, this is probably not the best place for you unless you’re doing some work that can allow for loud music and flaunting prattle.
After all that, I don’t think it was worth it paying about $ 9 – 10 for a sandwich and drink. Not saying my server didn’t do a good job on the sandwich, but for what it was with not even a side, it really isn’t worth going to. I’ll end this on a good note, however, and say that their Wifi was pretty strong. Too bad I didn’t get to maximize its usage…

More of a boba study place than a nice café. It was smaller than I expected inside and the food items were pretty pricey. I ordered a tuna sandwich and my boyfriend ordered the pastrami sandwich plain. It took pretty long to get our order, as there was only one girl working.
The water we asked for had black specks that sunk to the bottom, like those you see associated with water pitcher filters, which concerned me a little. The cashier was nice enough and my sandwich was delicious, although I couldn’t taste the sour at all in the sourdough bread of my sandwich. The mixture of all the ingredients worked well. Their TV was always blinking off due to bad connection; most customers are studying or on laptops.
I heard the cashier say the sushi cook left at 2pm when someone asked. The sushi, by the way, looked very expensive according to the menu posted near the counter. It was nice to try, but I don’t think I’ll be coming back again.

Decided to try them out since I pass by here everyday and wanted to support local businesses. For this place… Meh…Not worth the return.
Ordered a regular pomegranate ice green tea and a Chocolate chip cookie that cost me $ 5.01 total.
Chocolate chip and Iced Pomergrante Green tea (fragrant, light and refreshing) was great, but service sucked. Natalie the girl who tooked my order, forgot my ice tea altogether the moment she talked to her blonde haired pierced face coworker. I got my cookie, but 15mins had elapsed and had I not asked her, I would have ended up buying one expensive ass cookie!
Even the guy who ordered a milk green tea after me got his drink and had already finished it. She finally made my drink, and was apologetic. Could’ve at least upgraded my drink to a large. It’s not even busy at 5pm. There was only four customers in here, who already got their items –_​–
This is why I adore Starbucks.

4.1 815 125 222 125 Stars
One of the last places I went with Shenny before she left.
One of the benefits of the SGV is finding spots that are comfy, cozy, quiet, relaxing and near trees and mountains, awesome job of Shenny for finding this place.
Highights
–So quiet and calm, people have head phones on, laptops and books
–Wall-​Charging, someone had multiple outlets, I even borrowed someones micro-​usb charging plug. Plenty of wall outlets here
–Coffee and sweets to enjoy while you study, do homework, work on business, get organized, etc
–Parking on street or available lot was not too difficult (PLEASE watch for parking signs to avoid getting towed or ticketed)
–Cash payment last time, not sure why, I think something was down, but this place is near banks and gas stations
–It can get crowded at times, sometimes all the seats are filled
I was not blown away by the snacks or coffee, I was reeled in by the total experience, a place to get lots of work done in peace.
Song parody of Toni Braxton’s 1994 song «You Mean The World To Me»
If you would visit Temple City
Here is one good reason
Believe in all the things Shenny tells
I would sure like some caffeine too
My heart will always feel you
The Café is so calm and sincere
You know I love a chocolate cookie
And maybe a hot coffee
They give me everything that I ask for
And if you give your very best
To bring me happiness
I’ll review just to show I adore you
Cause you bring me sweet caffeine
And you give everything
And something that for many matters
Place to study
Oh baby, baby, baby, baby,
Baby, cause you mean so much
To me
Now its time for some reviewing
Cause I believe you’re worth it
Coffee, quiet, tables and some food, it’s good
There is just one way to show it
Consistency, you know it
In reviews, I will love you like I could
You know how I discuss you
And just how much I love you
But is my Unilocal review really enough?
And I love your more than bacon
And my thoughts are not mistaken
Just tell me that you’ll always stay true
Cause you bring me sweet caffeine
And you give everything
And something that for many matters
Place to study
Oh baby, baby, baby, baby,
Baby, cause you mean so much
To me
There’s a feeling in my heart
And with you I will escape
From Spring time to the fall
I’m glad you’re open late
There’s a time when words are good
But the quiet is so great
And caffeine I can feel
Unilocal loving for real
Oh, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
Cause you bring me sweet caffeine
And you give everything
And something that for many matters
Place to study
Oh baby, baby, baby, baby,
Baby, cause you mean so much
To me

Upon entering this little café, my first thought was «oh great, yet another Asian dominated place with an European name in the San Gabriel Valley» but it was nice to see they actually serve more than just boba drinks and sweet pastries. In fact, they have many different types of tea & coffee drinks and they seem to be known for their sandwiches. I actually don’t recall seeing boba on their menu.
Being hungry, we ordered 2 combos: sandwich & a drink. We chose the turkey on wheat & a pastrami on rye (ran out of roast beef). Both were toasted on a panini press, making the bread crispy and warm, and both had a pile of lettuce to balance off the saltiness of the meats. Both were good, but can’t compare to a true Italian or Jewish deli.
For drinks: a passionfruit green tea and a lychee green tea. We can actually taste the green tea w/​o having the sweet syrup dominate the entire drink, so they were both very satisfying.
The dessert case was nearly empty, with only some muffins and criossants. No cheesecakes or cookies as I saw on Unilocal pics. Being a weekend, they should have stocked up to anticipate the crowd.
The service by the 2 young guys were on point. Smiled, courteous and professional. Well trained! The prices are very reasonable, avg. about $ 6 & change for a drink & sandwich combo.
But like many other Asian food establishments, they offer free wifi, which brings a crowd of young people & their laptops who seem to take over tables for hours. Though there were signs stating you need to purchase at least one item to use their wifi, and no outside food or drinks, I saw a couple of girls with Starbucks cups and nothing else. Few other tables only had a drink. This just takes seating away from customers who actually come in to order food items, drinks and maybe desserts. It reminds me of my experience at Night Owl Café

Overall, the place isn’t bad, the food isn’t bad, the service is good but not the best place for everyone. Perhaps Café Roule is more suited for students who want to hang out and work on their laptops. Like Night owl, the logistics needs some fine tuning: properly stock items for weekends, keep an eye on who’s been there for hours hogging up tables w/​only 1 drink order. Perhaps offer more options of cheese other than just American or Swiss.