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Restaurants in Berkeley

Is this Italy or...Berkeley?!  :) - Berkeley
Is this Italy or...Berkeley?! :)
by VdV
Reviews and photos of Berkeley restaurants posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Berkeley dining.
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Kirala Japanese Restaurant: Best Sushi in the San Francisco Bay Area
  • Satisfaction:
  • mydreamquest
  • Updated By mydreamquest on May 25, 2005
  • Berkeley Page by mydreamquest
  • Kirala's in Berkeley - Berkeley
    Kirala's in Berkeley
    by mydreamquest
    I love Japanese food, especially sashimi and sushi. Of all the Japanese restaurants I've been to in the SF Bay Area (at least 15-20), this is my favorite. First of all, it is Japanese owned unlike many others. Secondly, the fish is very fresh because it is always busy there.

    Do not let the exterior unobtrusiveness of this restaurant turn you off. Inside, it's another world of excellent food, friendly servers, and a comfortable, sociable atmosphere.

    It's a fun crowd, not too quiet but not too loud and there's a social atmosphere about the place. It is busiest on Saturday nights. On weeknights, it's still very much happening. There is a nicely lit bar at the back where you can wait.

    Usually if you get here before 7pm, the wait on any day is about 10-20 minutes. However, it can get very busy after that time from

    Baby Lobster Robata Appetizer (other robata appetizers include mushroom, ***ake mushroom, squid, scallop, and lambl)

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  • Theme: Japanese/Sushi
  • Price: US$31-40    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Address: 2100 Ward Street, Berkeley , CA 94705
  • Phone: 510-549-3486
  • Directions: Exit Ashby turn left on Ward go about 3 blocks, parking lot across the street. By BART, take the Ashby Station and walk up 2 blocks on Ashby, turn left on Ward, about 3 blocks.
  • Website: http://www.themenupage.com/kiralamenu.html
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

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    La Strada: Nice Atmosphere for Coffee
  • Satisfaction:
  • jimkinleung
  • By jimkinleung on September 19, 2007
  • Berkeley Page by jimkinleung
  • Berkeley Restaurants
    by jimkinleung
    This place is about as close to the cool European style of café that Berkeley has to offer. The white hot chocolate here is very tasty! A great place to read a paper in the morning or chat with friends in the evenings.

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  • Theme: Coffeehouse
  • Price: less than US$10    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: least expensive
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Lalime's: Fusion American Kitchen
  • Satisfaction:
  • nomadig
  • By nomadig on April 14, 2005
  • Berkeley Page by nomadig
  • Lalime's Restaurant - Berkeley
    Lalime's Restaurant
    by nomadig
    Lalime's is a small and cozy restaurant in quiet residential neighbourhood in Berkeley. Built in an old residential house and surrounded by half a million dollar small huts, the place is easy to miss.

    The food is fusion between Mediterranean and Hawaiian cuisine. The menu has abundant number of appetizers and a little bit more than five main courses. The dessert list is also extensive. Food is okay, not excellent -- but the place is not a greasepot as many of the US restaurants. The portions are surprisingly small, but still of decent size (at least in European standards).

    The service is very attentive and cheerful. You don't even have to wink the waiter to get his attention.

    As an additional perk, the restaurant has some recipes on it's website.

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  • Theme: American
  • Price: US$41 and up    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Address: 1329 Gilman Street
  • Phone: +1 510 527 9838
  • Website: www.lalimes.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Le Bateau Ivre: Great ambience cafe/restaurant/fireplace;free wifi
  • Satisfaction:
  • By rockynevin on November 4, 2004
  • Berkeley Page by rockynevin
  • photo of Le Bateau Ivre from Telegraph Ave - Berkeley
    photo of Le Bateau Ivre
    from Telegraph Ave
    by rockynevin
    Great breakfast, lovely lunch and dinners, great ambience throughout the old 19th century converted home, free wifi, candles at night, outdoor patios, big fireplace, nice people, super coffee, huge selection of beers, wines & liquors, they do banquets and have several rooms with their own flavor.

    They have a web site: www.LeBateauIvre.net

    The grill uses real mesquite so grilled things like burgers and steaks and salmon are great. The coffee latte's are beautiful and strong, eggs benedict and huevos rancheros are great brunch things, real home-made biscotti, prime rib was amazing.

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  • Theme: Local
  • Price: US$21-30    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
  • Address: 2629 Telegraph Ave at Carleton
  • Phone: 510 849-1100
  • Directions: On Telegraph Ave. 7 blks south of UC campus at Carleton
  • Website: www.LeBateauIvre.net
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Oscar's: Guilty Pleasure
  • Satisfaction:
  • jimkinleung
  • By jimkinleung on September 19, 2007
  • Berkeley Page by jimkinleung
  • Oscar's - Berkeley
    Oscar's
    by jimkinleung
    This burger joint has been around for decades. It is about as healthy and nutritious as you would expect from a big burger and malt. And just as delicious.

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  • Theme: Diner
  • Price: less than US$10    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: least expensive
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

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    Powers - UC University Cafe: Not So Good Breakfast
  • Satisfaction:
  • mojoey
  • By mojoey on May 16, 2004
  • Berkeley Page by mojoey
  • University Cafe - Berkeley
    University Cafe
    by mojoey
    It had been a year since I had last dined at this restaurant and time has not been kind. The restaurant has converted from a typical Korean owned dinner to a awkward counter service setup, with an extremely limited menu. This place takes horizontal integration to an extreme, customers do everything in this establishment except cook the food. I had a cheese omelet with Chili (that’s right, they don’t have a chili cheese omelet), served with hash browns and toast with a soda for about $7. It was not worth the money. Avoid this place unless you are looking for a cheep piece of pie. For some reason they have a wide pie selection, it really makes no sense. Oh, did I mention the counter service is extremely slow?

    No Favorites - the food was marginal.

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  • Theme: Fast Food
  • Price: less than US$10    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: less expensive than average
  • Address: 1800 University
  • Directions: University and Grant
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Cafe at Chez Panisse: I can't describe how good this food is.
  • Satisfaction:
  • Namazu
  • By Namazu on February 20, 2004
  • Berkeley Page by Namazu
  • Berkeley Restaurants
    by Namazu
    The Cafe at Chez Panisse is the home of California Cuisine, the fusion of Eastern and Western. The menu changes daily but they always serve one Vegetarian, Chicken, Fish Meat and Other main dish. Also several Starters and Desserts. The food here is expensive but totally worth the price. I come here when I can afford it (rarely). The food is always amazing, I can't convey in hand gestures or word just how good it is.... really really good.
    Heaven, ground zero.
    make reservations

    I had a goat cheese, mushroom, rocket starter which still makes me drool.

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  • Theme: Other
  • Price: US$31-40    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: most expensive
  • Address: 1517 Shattuck Avenue, Berkely
  • Phone: (510) 548-5049
  • Directions: On Shattuck across from the Andronico's. Behind the big ol' monkey puzzle tree.
  • Website: http://www.chezpanisse.com/
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Cheese Board/ Cheese Board Pizza: Super Cheese/ Super Pizza
  • Satisfaction:
  • Namazu
  • By Namazu on February 20, 2004
  • Berkeley Page by Namazu
  • Berkeley Restaurants
    by Namazu
    On the right is the pizza, different everyday, always vegetarian, always delicious.
    On the left is the bakery/ cheese shop, free tastes and heaping piles of cheese!
    Cheese Board Pizza: They bake only one kind of pizza every day, they use seasonal, organic veggies whenever possible. Recently they seem to be open 11:00-2:00 and 4:30-7:00. There's a piano, but not many seats.
    The Cheese Board: They're happy to let you try and compare various cheese. Ask lot's of questions about cheese.

    The pizzas vary daily but all seem to qualify as being good combinations of veggie vs cheese. Thicker than NY style.... California style pizza.
    The Cheese Board. The Zampanos (salty, spicy, cheesey, oily, mini loaves) are beautiful (not to be confused with zanpan, Japanese for table scraps).
    Amazing selection of cheese, just choose a genre and ask lots of questions... start with blue.

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  • Theme: Other
  • Price: less than US$10    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: less expensive than average
  • Address: 1512 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
  • Phone: (510) 549-3055
  • Directions: like all my food on Shattuck past the Andrionico's (from downtown Berkeley)
  • Website: http://CheeseBoardCollective.coop/
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Cheeseboard: Great Place to Watch the Locals
  • Satisfaction:
  • jimkinleung
  • By jimkinleung on September 19, 2007
  • Berkeley Page by jimkinleung
  • Berkeley Restaurants
    by jimkinleung
    This doesn't look like much from the outside, but it is a very popular place in Berkeley called the Chesseboard where the locals hang out and enjoy baked goods outside. There is also a Cheeseboard pizza place two doors down that has live local jazz music and great gourmet pizza.

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  • Theme: Local
  • Price: less than US$10    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: least expensive
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Phoenix Pastificio: Pasta and free wine
  • Satisfaction:
  • Namazu
  • By Namazu on February 20, 2004
  • Berkeley Page by Namazu
  • open kitchen - Berkeley
    open kitchen
    by Namazu
    Specializing in fresh organic pasta. I've always had great food here. Really friendly folks, good service. They don't have a liquor licence, so they offer you wine for free with your tasty lunch.

    Only open from 11:30 to 2:30

    mmmm... raviolli is always a big favorite. Meat sauce with lamb is tasty too.

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  • Theme: Italian
  • Price: US$11-20    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
  • Address: 1786 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
  • Phone: (510) 883-0783
  • Website: http://www.phoenixpastificio.com/
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
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