When I lived in Berkeley (1959-1966) the Med was my home away from home. It was a unique and happening place suitable for procrastinating and doing homework.
I only frequented the Cafe Mediterraneum a handful of times while at Cal, usually because of the stifling smell of bleach, etc. Now Wall Berlin, or Cafe Intermezzo, on the other hand, was much more my jam.
Wall Berlin was indeed lovely! I believe they called their house brew “rocket fuel.” As I recall there was also an unholy drink involving milk, sprite, and melon Torani syrup?
And the people at the tables outside were a key part of the Berkeley scenery there on Durant!
I also was big into Caffe Strada.
Similarly, I never really felt strongly about Cafe Med, even when I lived near Dwight (Unit 2 and environs) and it was nominally on my way to/from campus.
I worked there for a short time in college, mainly so that I could get unlimited free drinks, and rocket fuel was actually brewed twice...some folks ordered it with a shot added. Oye.
The people that sat outside were always entertaining. There was a young man with a foot fetish that would constantly be asking women if he could see there feet. Unlike Oakland, Berkeley also had some of the most interesting bums.
Since comments are enumerating other Berkeley cafe choices, I recall Brewed Awakening was a common choice among CS/engineering folks on the north side of campus. Much more your basic coffee house meets study hall.
