There are many cafes in Berkeley where you can relax and study. But most of them are so crowded that you (almost) feel like running back to the tiny library cubicle you came from. Julie’s Cafe, on the other hand, is a spacious and vibrant cafe that serves some of the best study foods available on Southside.

Located on Bancroft Way, right next to Copy Central, Julie’s is equipped with almost everything a college student needs to study: good food, a spacious area, friendly staff, lots of tables and free Wi-Fi. The menu at Julie’s caters to a wide variety of taste buds. It includes American, Mediterranean, Mexican and Asian food and specializes in breakfast and hearty main dishes.

Its two-egg cheese omelettes, for example, are one of the best components of its breakfast selection. It’s accompanied with toast and a selection between hash browns (which are fairly large) and fruit. The omelette is well cooked and the cheese is well spread out within it so that every bite you take achieves a perfect balance of eggs and cheese. The breakfast menu also includes “mini breakfasts,” such as a “muffin n egg” and a breakfast burrito. As the name indicates, they’re nowhere as large as the regular two-egg omelette breakfast, but they’re just as delicious.

Julie’s main-dish selection is also something worth exploring. For vegetarians, the veggie burger is a great find on the menu. The bun is homemade, and the burger comes with a choice of cheddar or jack cheese as well as a choice of fries on the side. The patty is slightly spicy, but it’s accompanied by a tangy sauce that neutralizes the spice. In addition, the patty and bun are larger than your regular Crossroads-sized veggie burger, so it’s much more filling.

The menu also boasts several other American staples, such as the tuna salad sandwich, which is served on either whole wheat or sourdough bread, with jack or cheddar cheese, accompanied by a bag of chips. The sandwich contains mayonnaise, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and sprouts.

In addition, dishes from various other cuisines such as lentil soup (served with sourdough bread), shawarma (chicken, falafel or beef and lamb) served with salad, rice, hummus and pita bread, and kebab platters decorate the menu, waiting to cater to whatever food cravings you may have. Julie’s is a gem on Southside. It’s got a variety of delicious food, it’s cozy, and it’s cheap. It’s also close to campus and is the perfect place to grab a bite and get some work done.