Small Talk Family Cafe

Thru my daughters birthday party here this past weekend.
It won’t great!
Working with Carolyn the owner, she mad everything so easy and it was very affordable. More so than anything else I looked at in the area. What you get and what you pay for it beyond worth it. The staff was great, they let you 30 prior with no charge and they even clean up.
What’s not to love? I’ll be doing it again for sure! So should you!

My daughter had a blast here, so it gets 4 stars. :)
Aside from my daughter’s enjoyment, there isn’t much else that is spectacular about this place. The food is decent (3 star worthy), but a bit pricey – especially when you consider the entrance fee. You do get a discount off of the fee when you order food, but still in the mid to high range. The space is very small and it seems to always be SUPER crowded. They limit the amount of people that can come in, which is good in that the kids all have enough space and toys to play with. Though, it can be a bit of a letdown when you arrive with your toddler and have to wait a good 30 – 45 minutes to be allowed in. Not many toddlers are that patient. I’d probably say 2.5 — 3 stars for space issues. The staff are all super friendly – 5 stars for them. All things considered, I’d probably rate this place with 3 stars, except for the fact that my daughter really enjoyed herself and I enjoyed watching her enjoy herself. Those kind of priceless moments would earn McDonalds an extra star, in my book, so 4 stars to this fun little, hole in the wall children’s café it is!
We’ll be back!

Extremely disappointed with the owner specifically. I want to like this place, my daughter enjoys her time there, and the class teachers have always been fabulous. But the way in which the owner does business makes me not want to patron such a place.
The Café requires that you and your kids remove your shoes, which I totally understand and support. Outside shoes are gross. There’s a cubby where you can leave your shoes in the entryway which I did for my and my daughter’s shoes. When we were ready to leave and get our shoes back on, my daughter’s shoes had either been taken or misplaced somewhere that I could not find. So I let the staff know who took my name and phone number to let me know if they are returned. It would be great if they were returned and we got them back which they still might, but I’m not holding my breath and was wondering what happens if they are not returned, and if they have any other policies etc.
I fully did not expect them to pay for my daughter’s shoes. I know it’s not their fault, and we signed a waiver stating that lost items are not their responsibility. However, instead of being met with a sincere apology, the owner was completely rude when I asked what happens if they are not returned. She referred to the waiver again and again and said she wouldn’t expect a restaurant to be responsible if something happened to her belongings. True, not their fault, but then again restaurants will more than often comp a dessert or something minimal for an inconvenience at their facility in good faith and in order to retain business and do something nice for a wronged customer.
I asked if we could possibly get some kind of minimal discount either for a one day of admission or something minimal (even just a free cup of coffee or a cookie would have been nice which obviously is not the equivalent of a pair of shoes, but it’s something generous to do) in good faith as the owner of a business where something went wrong for the customer. I’m not the type of person to take advantage or expect everything to go my way, but I was truly disappointed with the owner’s hasty and snotty response saying she will not offer me anything and that she is too small of a business to do such things. Again, not asking for you to pay for the shoes, but a little effort and a smile goes a long way with a customer, of which she offered neither.
As much as I like some of the classes that they offer, I’m not sure we will be returning. I said so as we were leaving, and the owner rudely retorted with, «Good, I don’t want you coming back here anyway!» Seriously?1?! Is this a good way to conduct business? I don’t think I was asking for too much. Meanwhile my daughter is sobbing asking where her favorite shoes are as we walk out of the café in her socks.
I have seen the owner’s responses to some of the other negative reviews here, and she acts/​sounds like she truly wants to right any wrongdoing at her business for everyone to see, but that is simply not the quality of character she gives off in person.

What a wonderful place that exists! The concept is simple and brilliant – a place that babies and tots can roam around safely with great developmental toys while moms and dads enjoy their coffees or meals at ease. These toys are very educational. You won’t find any noisy, obnoxious flashing lights kind of toys here. It’s all about pretend, motor skills, and seeing how things work. It’s also a good place to meet other moms and their babies to socialize with.
There are nice adequate areas to nurse and change your little ones. Totally a comfortable place almost like an airy living room and play room with a bonus café!
I had a vanilla latte and my niece had a cookie. They were both delicious. I’m not exaggerating. So they’re a little pricey on the menu for others, but I don’t mind paying for quality and convenience. The caffeine kick was nice and not lacking – so FYI it’s legit. Love the fact that it’s fair trade and organic goodness.
The staff are all friendly and informative. That matters to me a lot. Also they are always cleaning up, so you don’t have to worry about little ones picking up random crumbs on the floor and putting it in their mouths. There are rules about no shoes and where you can eat so it’s not gross.
Parking was limited and I ended up parking in a one-​hour spot in front. The café gave us a parking pass to «override» the limit so it wasn’t even an issue at all.
My family and I were here today for a drop-​in Monday art class. Your payment for the class also gets you admission for the whole day. I loved that although my daughter was only nearly 10 months, she was able to be in a safe and social environment. The teacher sang songs, explained the projects, and all was fun and engaging. My only hesitation with making this five stars was that the class was publicized as a 30-​minute class involving hand painting and play dough. Maybe I misread the website and it was «or.» We only had the brush painting and «magic» fizzle part which lasted for less than 20 minutes. Maybe the ten minutes included getting the babies in their smocks? I was just a little sad it ended so abruptly having driven 30 minutes from home.
Definitely will be returning as it is a win-​win for baby and I.

Cute idea but if your baby isn’t past crawling and putting toying in their mouth this isn’t the best spot. The toys were dirty and dusty, the mats were gross and my kid’s hands were filthy when he was done playing. Super expensive for a dirty play place.

My two little girls LOVE this place. If you are looking for something like Superfranks or Chuck E Cheese– then you are in the wrong place. Small Talk caters towards the younger kids (babies-​5yo). You are not going to find any arcade games or bounce houses here.
PROS:
1. This is the only indoor play place/​café in the area.
2. There is a separate area for infants.
3. Spacious kid-​friendly bathroom (step stool, toddler seat…)
4. Great events! We’ve been to their NYE bash (with champagne for the adults, and apple cider for the kids… And even a countdown to the new year!) & to their Frozen night (with a special appearance from Queen Elsa).
5. Different types of toys/​play sets.
6. CLEAN
7. Nice healthy menu in the café.
My only CON would be that the place is kind of small (so it gets full pretty easily, especially on those rainy days).

Nice place for kids to play and ours had fun, but two major cons:
The food is awful and expensive. Worst than airport food yet more expensive. And, we had to wait 42 minutes to get our stale turkey sandwiches. Our poor child was hungry and really can’t blame the poor girl who was taking all the orders and making all the food all by herself.
Also, way too busy during the times we were here.
Overall, very disappointing. Time to find us a new kid’s café!

This place is heaven for toddlers and their parents. It is a small business and the owner Carolyn (sp?) is usually there working hard and manning the counter.
It was the first time I was able to sit down and comfortably chat with fellow Moms while sipping on a latte and not having to worry about my 2 year old running off somewhere or jumping from something as tall as 5x her height at the playground.
They charge $ 10/​child to enter (or $ 7.50 when you buy it as part of a membership/​bundle), require you (and your kids) to take off your shoes, and will not allow any outside food into their premises. At all. It doesn’t matter if they run out of essential ingredients or if your toddler is suuuuuper picky and would rather starve than eat something prepared exactly the way they like it, the folks at Small Talk just won’t make any exceptions. (It’s a good policy however because hey, 1. they need to make money and 2. they don’t want parents bringing in things that other kids might have a reaction to.)
Parking is easy and free. The lot is shared with other businesses and there are signs that say there is a time limit for parking there, but you can obtain a pass from Small Talk to place on your dashboard to prevent tickets/​towing. (I have never seen anyone there given a ticket, but why risk it?)
I host regular group meetups here, and they’ve forgotten we were coming and forgotten to set up tables for us twice. It’s definitely an inconvenience because then we are forced to sit on the floor sometimes, but whatever. We’re Moms. We’ve dealt with worse. Plus, it does get pretty busy in the mornings so they often seem like they’re juggling a lot. Its also suuuuuper empty by nap time/​1pm onwards.
They are very strict about not being able to attend additional/​paid classes that you might register to. I made the mistake of paying $ 18 in advance for a toddler art class that my daughter just couldn’t make it to (because of a long story I won’t break down for you) and even though I tried calling from the night before (and nobody picked up), they wouldn’t make an exception or allow me to apply the amount towards another class/​food/​anything else. So be careful with booking classes there if you have an unpredictable toddler (a normal toddler). Plus, many other places offer arts and crafts for free.
Their lattes are pretty good along with their pumpkin bread.
I will probably be back at least 2x a month for playdates and meet-​ups, even when the weather improves.
Happy babies, happy Moms.

A café and meeting place for mom, a safe play area for children, plus additional, daily activities such as art projects, storytime, and even massages? Sign me up! My 14 month old loved it here. Despite being filled with tables and toys, I feel Small Talk Family Café is organized quite well. They have doors that create separate play areas for babies versus todders/​small children. They have a large selection of baby toys, as well as kitchens, puzzles, a small train table, a slide, and dress up clothes for toddlers. They serve numerous lattes, teas, and snacks, too. And they are a nut free facility, which is appreciated. If you are ordering food and/​or drink, you can play for 20 minutes, free of charge. Staying longer? The standard cost is $ 10, unless you plan to join in on the daily activity, which costs extra. Also, grab a parking pass if you plan on staying for longer than an hour.
We participated in the tiny tot art (10 – 20 month olds), and found it to be well organized. The teacher kept the babies interests with singing and movement, as well as picked a fun sensory project that was just the right length of time for wee ones.
They also have babysitters for 16 months plus once a month. Drop off the kid (s), and go out on a date… or even just stare at the wall in silence, if that’s your thing. I CANNOT WAIT for a date with my hubby!

This place is a godsend for prego moms with a crazy toddler in tow. Grab yourself a drink, maybe a snack (haven’t tried the lunch type offerings), sit back and let your kid play. But I hate it when I have to run over and say, «Share the toys please!»
I prefer the afternoons when admission is 25% off after 1 pm and there are presumably less people. Sounds like the morning activities are fun though.
I dislike the parking… there’s no shade so the car gets super hot after a couple of hours.

Why are there not more of these? This place is awesome! The perfect place for a play date. Kids love it and so will you! You feel relief knowing your little one is playing in a safe environment while you can take a breather, drink some coffee and have some snacks.
It’s perfect for a rainy day or a hot day where you wanna take the kid out but a day at the park is out of the question.
If we lived closer I would definitely enroll in a membership but as of right now it’s just the perfect place to meet up with mommy friends in the 925.

I was hoping to find a place like this!
Pros: great coffee
Good food
Awesome toys
Separate area just for babies
Books and resources just for mom
Gluten free bread
Parking lot
Cons: kinda expensive ish with paying for play. Parking is time limited and you have to take your shoes off.
Now. Pros waaaaaaayyy out rank the cons so five stars!

I absolutely love this place!
First, the staff is very sweet and friendly! I have had some wonderful conversations with some of them when it has been slower for business. The owner is around quite a bit and she is a very sweet lady! You can tell she really loves her business and respects the people who come in. They have good service and the food is pretty tasty! They have always been really quick to get food out when I order and the grown up grill cheese sandwich ($ 9.25 with a side of chips or salad) is possibly the best thing ever! They have a good selection of stuff for kids as well! They do not allow you to bring in outside food unless it is a bottle or pre-​packaged baby food but that is totally understandable considering they have a business to run!
Second, this place is very clean. Considering the amount of children that come through here I am really surprised they are able to keep it so clean. I saw a review below saying that it was dirty and I am thinking that person must be obsessively super clean to say that it was so horribly dirty. I am always seeing the staff walking around picking up toys and straightening things up. They also have a bin for toys that have gone in the mouth so they can sanitize them before they put them back out. I have seen them wiping down and cleaning the place with child safe cleaners. The play structures are adorable and I love that they have a special area for little babies.
Third, my daughter love this place. She runs around and plays like crazy. For the most part all the parents and kids are great too! I have ran into a couple parents who just ignore their child while they are there and the kid was doing naughty stuff but it doesn’t happen too often. It’s usually the kid who’s parent is sitting in the back, completely engrossed in their phone, who is acting up. What is great is the owner or person working will totally step in and say something to the parent of there is a problem.
Lastly, they have a membership option, classes and summer movie nights! There is a lot to do at this place. I enjoy bringing my daughter to play with her and socialize with other mommies or daddies!
I would recommend this place to anyone with a young child and mommies with new borns who want to get out of the house and be around people! It’s a lot of fun and a good way to get a little bit of mommy time!

Let the kids play while you relax and even drink a beer… in an inside atmosphere. I’m here wirh am 18 month old and a 3.5 year old and they both are having a blast. The menu is great. There are some great options of salads and sandwiches. I’m getting a prosciutto, brie and fig sandwich along with a great anchor steam

I don’t think I would come back as it is far from where I live but I can see why this is well visited and loved by mommies who live in this area. Once you enter you can see their café area. The menu is on the left as you enter. You are not allowed to bring your own food (might be annoying for some but totally understandable as it is a small business and won’t get as much as visitors as other larger indoor play area.
The space itself is very small considering if 5 – 10 children running/​walking around tables/​chairs with some pushing toys it can get very crowded and the noise level with playing or sometimes crying children can make it very noisy. So that would be the worst part of this place overall.
The good part: They utilized their small space very well by dividing it into area and using high quality toys that can survive some banging and dropping. They also have a cute little infant area but older children can go in there too as long as they are supervised and don’t run over infants.
They also do some craft project (I believe). Today they had some papers and crayons/​dot paint out.
I believe this one is one of the best in this area as I know there are better places with the same concept in South Bay.
Again great place for children under age of 4!

This place is adorable. Perfect for my 2 and 1 year old. Staff is always friendly, place is always clean, and coffee is to DIE for.
The business owners are great and down to earth people that truly want you to have a great experience and do whatever in order to make sure of it. One reviewer blames the Café for getting their kids sick, are you serious? All the toys are new, and always so clean when I’m there. I’ve been to a different play café in Oakland that definitely didn’t sanitize their toys or update them and they ended up going out of business. This place is doing it right. The entry fee is a little pricey but as a business owner myself, I couldn’t imagine them being able to make any decent money for themselves if they charged any less. And like others mentioned, it’s a comparable fee to other play spaces in the Bay Area (especially when buying a package deal). I’m happy to pay it as they are a great addition to the area.
Did I mention the coffee is friggin to die for?

LOVE LOVE LOVE the concept. I went there with the wifey and our little of their Halloween party, and we had a blast.
They had a photographer onsite, which I thought it was a really good way to capture the amazing costumes that walked in that day.
They have a small section for the smaller babies, an indoor slide, and tons of toys for the little ones to choose from. Not very «daddy» friendly, but dif. Mommy friendly.
So why not 5-​starts? The food. it’s really way overpriced for what it is, and I believe they could do better in prep’ing some of the most basic sandwiches.
The staff on the other hand is very nice, and very kid friendly.

This place is heaven sent! I thought it would be café with a play corner, AT MOST, but was pleasantly surprised.
First off, its reasonably priced. You can easily think of stopping by, sitting down for a coffee or snack, and not have to reconsider your finances.
The kid stuff: The play area is set up throughtout one side ofthe café, with a big kids/​little kids segregation. The staff is friendly, respectful, and tolerant of kids. Its clean and the bathrooms are equipped with all your kiddy needs.
Food: I ordered a Mocha abd Caprese sandwich. Both were on point, and came with a complimentary salad!
Verdict: Got kids? In the area? Go check it out!

It’s a great concept: a café to fuel up on caffeine and food for parents while the kids get a place to run around and have fun.
Got crawling babies? Great: they have a section for that too.
There’s a semi-​complex pricing structure for using the play facility which even the (new?) staff struggles with… But it does make sense (so don’t worry). Something like… If you buy something over some amount, then kids can play x time. If you pay 10 bucks, kids can play all day. If you pay 15 for a class, then play time is included. If you get a pack of 8 classes, then the class drops to 10 bucks (a deal). If you pay for «membership», then some other stuff… Anyway, That’s what my limited brain was able to understand.
I’m giving 5 stars for great concept and great service to customers and community. When we went, they were having a garage sale where moms could sell their previously used items (a Saturday). I wanted a bagel, but they only had 1 and it was a day old/​hard… That’s not okay… They also don’t serve any kind of warm «traditional» breakfast at all (not even egg/​cheese/​ham sandwich!). I guess that’s okay but it blew my mind. I was tempted to drop down to 4 stars for these reasons, but the place is so great otherwise, that it deserves all 5.
You should come here!

Small Talk Family Café is obviously geared for a younger clientele. dining room looked like a playhouse or romper room of sorts. was empty 2ish in the afternoon.
brew: organic coffee (L. 3)
–smooth, easy drinking, non acidic,
3.5 stars
drips:
–energetic, courteous fast service.
–menu not displayed. it’s in cardholder on front desk.