Wednesday, February 1, 2012

ABC Wednesday: C is for Can't Fail Café

(Rudy's) Can't Fail Cafe is located in Uptown on Telegraph Avenue next to the renovated Fox Theater.  It is easily distinguished by its blue neon sign and giant palm tree in front.  Even just ordering a coffee guarantees you a warm welcome and friendly chit-chat.  The decor is kitschy and fun.  Along one wall is a 20 foot case filled with Barbie and Ken dolls wearing a blue and black uniform and a button saying "I am Rudy."  Closer inspection reveals that many of the dolls have been "modified" to include masks, C3PO heads, Wonder Woman lariats, feathers, and other amusing details.
The tables on the other side of the cafe are essentially shadow boxes with themes including Star Wars, rock and roll, and children's game pieces.  In the rear of the cafe is the back end of an Air Stream trailer that has been hollowed out to house a private booth.
I didn't order anything to eat, but in the brief time I was there several more parties came in for a late lunch.  So the food must be good and the Yelp crowd generally approves.  I hear it's a hipster scene at night which is both bad and good depending on your point of view.
 For more takes on the letter "C" be sure and visit ABC Wednesday.

18 comments:

  1. That looks like a fun place to hang out!

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  2. Is this in Oakland near San Francisco? It looks like a really cool place and I'd love to drop in sometime.

    Leslie
    abcw team

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  3. Wonderful find ! A place for the families !!!!

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  4. This is a cool, classy place, and I would go next visit to the Bay area.
    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  5. Anyone who wanted to start up a new food business like this should could learn a lot from this cafe with its decor. Then just serve good food and it Can't Fail. Neat place, thanks for showing it.

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  6. Now, this is the kind of place I would not miss. So very cool! Fantastic sign and decoration.

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  7. If I get to Oakland again, I will meet you there and we can be hipsters for lunch! I absolutely love the decor starting with the red sign out front... What a clever display of "altered" Barbies and Kens!

    Bises,
    Genie

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  8. What a fun and eclectic place. I think I would like to try it sometime. Great choice for C.

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  9. I am sooooo checking this place out, just love it. You keep this up, you are going to have to start a whole other blog just about restaurants in Oakland.

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  10. You are probably aware that this is their second café, the original being at Hollis and Park Streets, Emeryville, where most of the same decor ideas (but no Airstream) are also used. «Louis» hasn't tried the new one. He has eaten at the original some three times. His experience is the food promises more than it delivers... (sigh)

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  11. Looks like fun. The Barbie / Ken display is a hoot! I also like the building architecture on the outside... looks like a nice old building, well preserved.

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  12. What a cool place, Carolyn. You need to go back when you have more time, so you can give us a review.

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  13. Very original name and decor/styling for a cafe; seems very quirky and fun. A perfect place for a casual hangout with friends. I'll have to sop by there some time soon!

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  14. I love this place! You did a fantastic job photographing it. The dolls really wow'd me. I've been toying with an idea of an art project with dolls...not quite formed yet...in an audio book (Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult) I recently finished, there is character - a Native American woman who creates custom-made Barbie's (PMS Barbie, etc.) - very funny, and very clever.

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