Doug D. wrote: > I'm a '92 Cal grad who will be heading up to Berkeley for an extended > weekend next month; > If it's any help, some of my old favorites in Berkeley/North Oakland > were: Zachary's, Fourth Street Grill, Betty's, Santa Fe, Barney's, > Plearn, Saul's, Viva!, Creme de la Creme, and Oliveto, among many > others ... Fourth Street has been replaced, I believe, by Ginger Island. I haven't heard anything good about Santa Fe since you left town. Zachary's, Bette's, Plearn, Saul's and Creme de la Creme are still in business. To my taste, of the places you've mentioned, Oliveto's is the most improved. My other favorites in the area are LaLime's (on Gilman), Rivoli (on Solano), and of course Chez Panisse. Bill Rohwer
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Need: Info on Berkeley restaurants
Doug D. wrote: > I'm a '92 Cal grad who will be heading up to Berkeley for > an extended weekend next month; it will be my first time > back (that's longer than a few hours) since graduation. > Three years is something like an entire geological age in > the Berkeley restaurant scene, *LOL* you got that right !!! > so what I'd like to know is... > A) What old favorites are still good? > B) What old favorites have closed up or gone downhill big-time? > C) What's new and noteworthy? I can help ya mainly with category A. > If it's any help, some of my old favorites in Berkeley/North > Oakland were: Zachary's [Pizza], It's still there on Solano and hasn't changed - great deep-dish pizza and more, still packed to the rafters many nights of the week. > Fourth Street Grill, Betty's, Betty's is still happening, so far as I know, and is doing a roaring business with quickbread mixes in Andronico's Markets - speaking of Vasilio's (inside Andronico's), it's better than ever - the branch at the corner of Cedar & Shattuck is the best, if you ask me. > Santa Fe [Bar and Grill], On University, still fine, still beautiful - bread baked on the sides of that great old open oven, served with feta and mixed fresh herbs, will still start you off nicely for any entree (as you may remember if you've dined there in the company of Persians or got the essential insider's tip when you were there before.) > Barney's, On Solano - hasn't changed, same ol' huge drippy burgers etc. - sentimentalists in East Bay Express polls are still voting Barney's the home of the best burger in the Bay Area, year in, year out. There may be a reason for this ... > Plearn, Saul's [Delicatessen] , ... On Shattuck, a door or two from Black Oak Books at Vine Street, kitty-corner from The Cheese Board - still one of the all-time greats among traditional deli-restaurants, with pickles on every table and the five-inch-plus-high sandwiches of yore. > Viva!, Creme de la Creme, and Oliveto, among many others ... > Thanks in advance, > Doug > P.S.: Life in L.A. has improved considerably now that Noah's > has opened THREE locations down here in one month! Mmmmmm! > Now if only Zachary's would do the same .... Hey, Noah's Bagels in LA? THREE locations? Life's lookin' up there :) |~ |~ |~ o| o| ('< o| ,',) ''<< ---""--- ^Glory^ on IRC and #1099012 in Fort Worth
Congress W. wrote: > >Doug D. wrote: > >> I'm a '92 Cal grad who will be heading up to Berkeley for >> an extended weekend next month; it will be my first time >> back (that's longer than a few hours) since graduation. > >> Three years is something like an entire geological age in >> the Berkeley restaurant scene, > I would also add Upstairs (the cafe) at Chez Panisse... not expensive. And, if you have a few bucks, since Paul Bertoli joined the fray, "Oliveto" next to Rockridge Bart... Just great! Also, if you have some sort of yuppie defense mechanism with you... Go to "Fanny's," Alice Water's coffee bar/rest. next to Acme Bread and Kermit Lynch's wine on San Pablo at Cedar. Great latte (Cafe Au Lait?) and pizzettas, no-wait sandwiches, eggs, etc. Pricy, but Chez Panisse quality... Josh the Nosh (is what Murph and Schamberg used to call me in Jenkintown, PA)