This Section includes 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.
Usually we hear from at least one reader regarding this Section, but since our last issue that didn’t happen! So, please send us a review — it’s fun, and even if we don’t pay for your meal, you have the great excuse that it’s your civic duty to go out to that place you’ve been wanting to try! Send your review, whether you liked it or not, to bnc50@berkeleyneighborhoodscouncil.com and include your name and contact information which we will not publish. We promise that our reviewers will always be anonymous, unless they absolutely insist that their name be posted.
Looking around for something to fill this space, we reviewed the San Francisco Chronicle’s Top 100 Restaurants 2016 for Berkeley restaurants. We found only four in Berkeley:
- Chez Panisse, 1517 Shattuck Avenue
“This is cooking at its finest, stripped of pretense and showy techniques.”
Downstairs: $75-$125 (fixed price). Cafe $20-$30. Plus 17% service charge at both.
- Comal, 2020 Shattuck Avenue
“Tortillas are made on the premises and familiar items are noticeably elevated, whether it’s vibrant guacamole or crisp tortilla chips that shatter in layers.”
$10-$24.50 plus 20% service charge in lieu of tips.
- Ippuku, 2130 Center StreetThe chef “delves deeply into” Japan’s “love affair with chicken, serving it fried, skewered and even raw, as tartare” perfectly paired with “shochu.”
$6-$20 for small plates plus $7 a person service charge. - Iyasare, 1830 Fourth Street
“The popularity — and quality — of Bay Area Japanese restaurants have skyrocketed in the past few years, but no chef has a more refined and creative approach than Shotaro Kamio who opened his Berkeley restaurant three years ago.”
$18-$24.
These all seemed to be a little high-end, and now energized by lists, we decided to take a look at Berkeleyside’s Nosh Guide. They divide their picks into six different categories: Breakfast and Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Coffee and Tea and Drinks. The Dinner category lists six in Berkeley, eight in Oakland and four “Beyond.” The Berkeley recommendations are:
- Ajanta, 1888 Solano Avenue
“Likely one of the best white-tablecloth Indian restaurants in the East Bay, Ajanta is lauded for its fresh fare, organic produce, sustainable protein and very affordable tasting menu.” ($18.50-$21.50)
- Chez Panisse, 1517 Shattuck Avenue
“…continues to serve up solid, delicious meals at both the cafe and prix-fixe restaurant” and we found out that if you are disabled they will serve you items from the cafe menu upstairs, while you eat downstairs in the restaurant.
- Emilias’s Pizzeria, 2995 Shattuck Avenue
“Toppings are sparse, but well-chosen, and the final result is the best whole pie you can find in the East Bay.” (no prices listed)
- Lyasare, 1830 Fourth Street (Interesting that the Chronicle Guide spells it with an “I” — Berkeleyside spells it with an “L”)
“…artistic ‘tweezer food’ at its best..” (no prices listed)
- La Marcha, 2016 San Pablo Avenue
“The small dining room at the corner of San Pablo and University is a love letter to Spain…..” (no prices listed)
- Royal Rangoon, 2826 Telegraph Avenue
“magnificently tender basil chili lamb”
(no prices listed)
Then, we discovered Berkeleyside’s Reader’s Choice picks. These were compiled from a 600-reader survey they conducted in early 2016. The category of “Dinner” is divided into “Everyday Weeknight” and “Special Occasion.” Note: They don’t provide comments, nor list prices.
Here are the top five from the listing for “Everyday Weeknight.”
- Picante, 1328 Sixth, between Gilman and Camelia
- Comal, 2020 Shattuck Avenue
- Cheese Board Collective, 1512 Shattuck Avenue, at Vine
- Saul’s Delicatessen, 1475 Shattuck Avenue, at Vine
- Paisan, 2514 San Pablo Avenue
Here are the top five from the listing for “Special Occasion”
- Chez Panisse, 1517 Shattuck Avenue
- Rivoli, 1539 Solano, at Neilson
- Corso, 1788 Shattuck Avenue, between Delaware and Francisco
- Comal, 2020 Shattuck Avenue
- LaLimes, 1329 Gilman, between Tevlin and Neilson
And The Winners On All These Lists Are:
For Appearing On Four Of The Five Lists:
Chez Panisse
Comal
For Being The Best Foodie Area in Berkeley:
North Berkeley for having the most restaurants on the five lists
It’s now time to go out to dinner — to these places or to a whole lot of other places not on these lists. Even if BNC reviewed a place in past issues, so again, and tell us how things have changed or maybe you have a different opinion. We really want to hear from you, so send your review to bnc50@berkeleyneighborhoodscouncil.com.