As we have previously indicated, this Section will include not only reviews of neighborhood food businesses throughout Berkeley, but also news about food products or services that our reviewers find interesting. On occasion, we might even offer a recipe or two. Reviews in this Section will always be written by someone who is anonymous. The post for this eNEWS edition is about a restaurant in the South Campus area located in a very special Berkeley Historic Landmark building designed by internationally acclaimed architect, Julia Morgan. The building houses the Berkeley Women’s City Club, and many people don’t really know or expect that it also houses a public restaurant by the name of…
Julia’s at the Berkeley City Club
2315 Durant Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
510-848-7800
Julia’s opened in December 2012 and offers food that begins with the bounty of seasonal produce and artisan products available in the Bay Area and highlights those products with classic and modern techniques. The food combined with the beautiful atmosphere of the building, and refined service creates a memorable dining experience. As of July 2013, it has received Open Table Diners’ Choice Awards for “Best Ambience” (4.7 stars out of 5) and “Food” (4.5 stars out of 5).
Julia’s at the Berkeley City Club is located on the second floor of the building. (There is an elevator inside the lobby that takes patrons up to the second floor.) They are open for lunch, Tuesday thru Friday from 11:30am — 2:00pm and for dinner, Tuesday thru Saturday from 5:00pm — 9:30pm. Reservations are required. The cocktail lounge is open from 4:30pm — 8pm in the Julia Morgan Room. Enjoy beer, wine, cocktails, and small plates.
We were promptly escorted to our table. The restaurant was busy but not overly crowded. The atmosphere was quiet and actually conducive to having a conversation with our friends as we shared our time together.
The menu was large enough to fit a variety of tastes, but not overwhelming.
We started with Organic Baby Lettuces $10, spring radishes, sherry vinaigrette. Next was organic Gem lettuce Caesar $10, anchovy dressing, sourdough croutons, parmigiano reggiano salads.
For the main courses:
Two of us ordered Halibut with lemon sauce $29 — a special for that evening, one ordered Roast Lamb Rack $29, with red chard with preserved lemon, artichokes, mint picada, and the fourth dish was Grilled Beef Filet $29 with white polenta, savory spinach, red wine sauce.
Dessert was shared by everyone — the Chocolate Ganache Bar $9, a dark chocolate torte with spiced almonds and lavender ice cream.
The food was exceptional, especially the halibut which was very fresh and served with a wonderful sauce. The lamb was declared to be the best our taster had ever had.
Executive Chef Alaun Grimaud is a Bay Area native and graduate of the California Culinary Academy. He began his career at the Pan Pacific Hotel in San Francisco, then moved on to become Sous Chef of Jordan’s Restaurant at the Claremont Resort in Berkeley. Chef Grimaud was Chef de Cuisine of the Veranda Restaurant at the Rancho Bernardo Inn Resort in San Diego, where he worked alongside James Beard award winning Chef Gavin Kaysen. Moving back to the Bay Area in 2007, he spent time in the kitchens of two Michelin star Manresa in Los Gatos and famed Michelin starred Boulevard restaurant in San Francisco.
Alaun returned to San Diego in 2008 to become the Executive Sous Chef of the Rancho Bernardo Inn resort. During his tenure there, the resort’s fine dining restaurant El Bizcocho became the only restaurant in San Diego to receive a perfect five star review from late food critic Naomi Wise. In 2011, he returned to San Francisco as Executive Sous Chef of the W Hotel in San Francisco, where he created the menus for the hotel’s new farm to table restaurant, Trace. Alaun joined the Berkeley City Club in 2012 as the Executive Chef where he draws from the Bay Area’s bountiful produce and his French and Spanish Heritage to create European inspired cuisine.