As we all know, Isla Vista’s limited food and drink options are a pain. Most of us don’t want to drive into Goleta for a coffee before class, but let’s face it: IV would benefit from adding a few more cafè options to their selection. Instead, coffee drinkers are left choosing between the few available options: IV Drip, Starbucks, IV Bagel Cafe, Cajè, and a 7/11 big gulp.
Cajè has a reputation as the ultimate cafe-esque location in IV, but I personally believe Cajè is overrated. Allow me to explain why it doesn’t receive my admiration.
Cajè Exists in a Constant State of Congestion
The Cajè in Isla Vista features plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, yet the tables are always packed. The comfy red indoor seating corresponds with their overall “vibe,” and diligent studiers frequent it. However, these students occupy their tables for hours. Kudos to them. If you’re planning on hunkering down to study all day or hoping to have a coffee date, try to miss the rush and head over in the early morning or late afternoon. Otherwise, you might find yourself out of luck. Admittedly, such crowding is not an IV anomaly, but I consistently have better luck finding a seat at Starbucks.
Cajè Costs an Arm and a Leg
The biggest deterrent, for me at least, is the cost of Cajè’s food and drink items. A small smoothie costs nearly $8, and a latte is around $6, which is even more expensive than Starbucks. UCSB Sophomore Emily Dinh said, “It’s really expensive and Starbucks is a safer bet. [Also,] the Arbor coffee is so much better.” The high prices may drive away some potential customers, but others swallow the cost. The products aren’t worth it when you can get a similar product from a cheaper cafe. UCSB Sophomore Fiona Diskin said, “I believe that they are insanely overpriced, and coming as an out-of-stater not used to California prices, this was not a nice introduction.”
Cajè Won’t Rock Your Taste Buds
As I mentioned, Cajè’s menu items don’t justify their hefty prices. For example, their smoothies are just like countless smoothies I have made before: not exceptionally delicious and certainly not worth the price tag. On a similar note, Cajè’s coffee is subpar and can’t beat its competitors in terms of taste. Some of their items receive my approval, but coffee is a cafe staple and should be one of the best items on the menu. The menu items might be worth it with lower prices, but for now, they’re not.
So, What at Cajè is Worth it?
Here are some options that are worth the hype. Cajè’s acai bowls are extremely popular and are offered in a variety of flavors—some include the P.nutty bowl and the Little Blue Bowl, which come complete with a variety of fruit, nut butter, and a host of other flavors. Their acai bowls are a great size, so depending on your will to spend money, they may be worth it! “It’s definitely not the best acai bowl I’ve ever had but I much prefer it to the bowls of Blenders which don’t taste like real fruit. Also, the Cajè granola that is on top is absolutely divine,” Diskin said. The acai bowl game is one place where Cajè reigns supreme.
I will also credit the bagels and smoothies for their out-of-the-box flavor options. But be warned: Cajè’s supply of bagels runs dry often. Is there a bagel shortage, or are they really that good? Its competitor, IV Bagel Cafe, rarely runs out of product and even gives away extra bagels at closing.
In Conclusion
Overall, it’s up to you if you’re willing to sacrifice some big bucks to enjoy a warm coffee or acai bowl. The few extra dollars you’re paying by skipping out on Starbucks might not matter to some, but if you’re looking for a cheap drink, I would look elsewhere. I encourage readers to decide for themselves, and maybe you’ll discover a new favorite.