We went here for brunch. Good, unique food! Service was good, staff was very nice, consistent with a chill Berkeley vibe. I tried the southern style breakfast, which was a nice healthier take on southern classics. Good flavor. The baked egg was perfect, and in a cute shape. Loved the greens and the yam, and the black-eyed peas were lovely. The cornbread could've been a bit more moist I thought, but overall enjoyed it!
John R.
My Birthday meal was amazing, the atmosphere peaceful and the service was top notch. I had the Potatoes Ranchero w/ Cartinas and it was so damn good. It was cheesy with a fried egg on top, and the meat was so flavorful. Reservations might be needed, but it's worth it. Sit in the back and enjoy the sunshine! I'll be back for sure!
René A.
Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. But it was the only thing on the menu that even sounded appetizing.. I paid twice as much for a carnitas taco that was half as good as other nearby places can make. Way too much salt.. and who puts sweet potato mush in a carnitas taco. Nice patio but so not worth it.
Jim W
-good drinks-good music playlist inside-heaters in the outside area-great live music outside-pretty cool and modern aesthetic-very nice wall art-Great lighting-Reservations are allowed-The carnitas are slow cooked and GOODT!!!-beautiful plating-fresh and flavorful black eyed peas!!!!-they did extremely well with balancing and layering flavors.-the greens are great!-the food tastes local-all the staff was extremely nice and attentive-the chefs thanked us as we left-if you want to eat outside include it in your reservations-team not on one accord-sold out of items about an hour after opening-limited menu, 2 page menu (back and front)-some menu items weren't available-18% gratuity automatically added-team members scratching in their hair while handling drinks-pastries are exposed; why aren't they covered?!?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
JaneL
When we got there, there was no one to greet us. I had to go to the back to get someone and it still took about ten minutes after that for someone to come and seat us. The patio is lovely, but the food was truly terrible. We ordered the house Eggs Benedict. The English Muffins were untoasted and soggy. There was almost no smoked fish. The spinach hummus was the consistency and taste of baby food. The eggs were very overdone, and the sauce was unappetizing. Babette charges a mandatory 18% service charge and then asks for a tip on top of that. In addition, the restaurant charges 3% to use a credit card. The coffee was good and our wait person was nice, but that didn't make up for the fact that a simple one dish breakfast for two people came to $100. Won't be going back for the bad overpriced food.
Jim S.
good drinks -good music playlist inside -heaters in the outside area -great live music outside -pretty cool and modern aesthetic -very nice wall art -Great lighting -Reservations are allowed -The carnitas are slow cooked and GOODT!!! -beautiful plating -fresh and flavorful black eyed peas!!!! -they did extremely well with balancing and layering flavors. -the greens are great! -the food tastes local -all the staff was extremely nice and attentive -the chefs thanked us as we left -if you want to eat outside include it in your reservations -team not on one accord -sold out of items about an hour after opening -limited menu, 2 page menu (back and front) -some menu items weren't available -18% gratuity automatically added -team members scratching in their hair while handling drinks -pastries are exposed; why aren't they covered?!?
From the incredibly attentive service to the quality and creativity of the menu, everything was flawless. The patio provided a warm and inviting backdrop for what was a fabulous meal. We totally enjoyed the soju cocktails, especially the kumquat and ginger drink. The desserts were out of this world - don't miss the pistachio cake and the pot de crème if they are on the menu! We will be back and can't wait to try everything they offer! What a gem of a place!
Jennifer Black
What a great find! We went for brunch and shared two dishes - one was a twist on eggs Benedict and the other was a version of shrimp tacos with shells made out of mozzarella cheese. We loved the completely different way that the dishes were prepared from your typical brunch fare. The flavors and textures were totally surprising and delicious! Also experienced excellent and enthusiastic service and had a nice chat with one of the owners. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ahmad Hassan
My girlfriend and I had an amazing dinner date and this restaurant was fabulous!The lighting was awesomeFood was delicious and service was wonderful.I highly recommend Babette!
AnMe
Food was ok but not wonderful particularly for the price point and hype. we found the food somewhat bland. Had to wait a very long time for waiter to take order and to receive drinks and food. Looks like they don't have sufficient wait staff.
We had a wonderful meal at Babette with our two adult children. The service was excellent, as was the food (especially the cheesy garlic pizza, but, really, we ate so many dishes and it was hard to pick a favorite). Best of all was the ambiance in the back patio -- it was warm and festive while also still plenty private. We will definitely be back again soon!!
Christian V.
One of the most unique brunch spots I've been to! After looking for new places to try in the area, this place caught my friends' & I's attention. The ambiance gives off somewhat of a vintage yet homey feeling, but still feels like a modern & updated space. The menu can be described as eclectic and we were trying to figure out what cuisine this restaurant specializes in. They have a fair variety of options to choose from -- we ended up ordering the cheesy shrimp tacos, tandoori fish benedict, potatoes ranchero, and the burrata/fennel salad. Our group each had our favorites, but the winner for me was the tandoori fish benedict! It had a curry hollandaise that I've never had before, but was really delicious. The fish had great flavor and the poached eggs were cooked perfectly. My least favorite dish was probably the potatoes ranchero. The potatoes were nice & cheesy, but the "ranchero" sauce to me just tasted like a canned tomato sauce from the store with little to no flavor. My group & I also ordered a mimosa pitcher and our waitress suggested to mix orange, passionfruit, and mango flavors if I recall correctly and it was so good! Our server was also super friendly and helpful with giving us recommendations, her personal favorites, and sharing some laughs with us as well. Overall, a pretty solid brunch spot in Berkeley that I would for sure go back to!
HelenI
Babette's is a great place to hold a special occasion, a birthday or anniversary party. There is always something on the menu that suits everyone of your guests and the entire staff is so welcoming and efficient. It is also a lovely venue for meeting a friend. The noise level is never too high for intimate conversations. I recommend especially this restaurant for people who wish to avoid indoor seating. Their beautifully restored back area is an inviting place to sit.
Emily M.
We had a birthday brunch for my 80+ year old mom who had me changing the number in my party a few times. Whenever I called they were SO understanding and accommodating. It was a beautiful day for her brunch, and there was a fabulous jazz band playing on the back patio where our party was seated. The food was amazing and the ambience was just right. This is a new favorite for sure.
David A R.
Lovely environment. Friendly servers. And an interesting menu. The salmon and waffles were Quite good. As we're the cheesy shrimp tacos. I'd definitely return for brunch and also to try out some of the pizzas on their regular menu.
We went here for brunch. Good, unique food! Service was good, staff was very nice, consistent with a chill Berkeley vibe. I tried the southern style breakfast, which was a nice healthier take on southern classics. Good flavor. The baked egg was perfect, and in a cute shape. Loved the greens and the yam, and the black-eyed peas were lovely. The cornbread could've been a bit more moist I thought, but overall enjoyed it!
My Birthday meal was amazing, the atmosphere peaceful and the service was top notch. I had the Potatoes Ranchero w/ Cartinas and it was so damn good. It was cheesy with a fried egg on top, and the meat was so flavorful. Reservations might be needed, but it's worth it. Sit in the back and enjoy the sunshine! I'll be back for sure!
Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. But it was the only thing on the menu that even sounded appetizing.. I paid twice as much for a carnitas taco that was half as good as other nearby places can make. Way too much salt.. and who puts sweet potato mush in a carnitas taco. Nice patio but so not worth it.
-good drinks-good music playlist inside-heaters in the outside area-great live music outside-pretty cool and modern aesthetic-very nice wall art-Great lighting-Reservations are allowed-The carnitas are slow cooked and GOODT!!!-beautiful plating-fresh and flavorful black eyed peas!!!!-they did extremely well with balancing and layering flavors.-the greens are great!-the food tastes local-all the staff was extremely nice and attentive-the chefs thanked us as we left-if you want to eat outside include it in your reservations-team not on one accord-sold out of items about an hour after opening-limited menu, 2 page menu (back and front)-some menu items weren't available-18% gratuity automatically added-team members scratching in their hair while handling drinks-pastries are exposed; why aren't they covered?!?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
When we got there, there was no one to greet us. I had to go to the back to get someone and it still took about ten minutes after that for someone to come and seat us. The patio is lovely, but the food was truly terrible. We ordered the house Eggs Benedict. The English Muffins were untoasted and soggy. There was almost no smoked fish. The spinach hummus was the consistency and taste of baby food. The eggs were very overdone, and the sauce was unappetizing. Babette charges a mandatory 18% service charge and then asks for a tip on top of that. In addition, the restaurant charges 3% to use a credit card. The coffee was good and our wait person was nice, but that didn't make up for the fact that a simple one dish breakfast for two people came to $100. Won't be going back for the bad overpriced food.
good drinks -good music playlist inside -heaters in the outside area -great live music outside -pretty cool and modern aesthetic -very nice wall art -Great lighting -Reservations are allowed -The carnitas are slow cooked and GOODT!!! -beautiful plating -fresh and flavorful black eyed peas!!!! -they did extremely well with balancing and layering flavors. -the greens are great! -the food tastes local -all the staff was extremely nice and attentive -the chefs thanked us as we left -if you want to eat outside include it in your reservations -team not on one accord -sold out of items about an hour after opening -limited menu, 2 page menu (back and front) -some menu items weren't available -18% gratuity automatically added -team members scratching in their hair while handling drinks -pastries are exposed; why aren't they covered?!?
From the incredibly attentive service to the quality and creativity of the menu, everything was flawless. The patio provided a warm and inviting backdrop for what was a fabulous meal. We totally enjoyed the soju cocktails, especially the kumquat and ginger drink. The desserts were out of this world - don't miss the pistachio cake and the pot de crème if they are on the menu! We will be back and can't wait to try everything they offer! What a gem of a place!
What a great find! We went for brunch and shared two dishes - one was a twist on eggs Benedict and the other was a version of shrimp tacos with shells made out of mozzarella cheese. We loved the completely different way that the dishes were prepared from your typical brunch fare. The flavors and textures were totally surprising and delicious! Also experienced excellent and enthusiastic service and had a nice chat with one of the owners. We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My girlfriend and I had an amazing dinner date and this restaurant was fabulous!The lighting was awesomeFood was delicious and service was wonderful.I highly recommend Babette!
Food was ok but not wonderful particularly for the price point and hype. we found the food somewhat bland. Had to wait a very long time for waiter to take order and to receive drinks and food. Looks like they don't have sufficient wait staff.
Restaurantji Recommends
We had a wonderful meal at Babette with our two adult children. The service was excellent, as was the food (especially the cheesy garlic pizza, but, really, we ate so many dishes and it was hard to pick a favorite). Best of all was the ambiance in the back patio -- it was warm and festive while also still plenty private. We will definitely be back again soon!!
One of the most unique brunch spots I've been to! After looking for new places to try in the area, this place caught my friends' & I's attention. The ambiance gives off somewhat of a vintage yet homey feeling, but still feels like a modern & updated space. The menu can be described as eclectic and we were trying to figure out what cuisine this restaurant specializes in. They have a fair variety of options to choose from -- we ended up ordering the cheesy shrimp tacos, tandoori fish benedict, potatoes ranchero, and the burrata/fennel salad. Our group each had our favorites, but the winner for me was the tandoori fish benedict! It had a curry hollandaise that I've never had before, but was really delicious. The fish had great flavor and the poached eggs were cooked perfectly. My least favorite dish was probably the potatoes ranchero. The potatoes were nice & cheesy, but the "ranchero" sauce to me just tasted like a canned tomato sauce from the store with little to no flavor. My group & I also ordered a mimosa pitcher and our waitress suggested to mix orange, passionfruit, and mango flavors if I recall correctly and it was so good! Our server was also super friendly and helpful with giving us recommendations, her personal favorites, and sharing some laughs with us as well. Overall, a pretty solid brunch spot in Berkeley that I would for sure go back to!
Babette's is a great place to hold a special occasion, a birthday or anniversary party. There is always something on the menu that suits everyone of your guests and the entire staff is so welcoming and efficient. It is also a lovely venue for meeting a friend. The noise level is never too high for intimate conversations. I recommend especially this restaurant for people who wish to avoid indoor seating. Their beautifully restored back area is an inviting place to sit.
We had a birthday brunch for my 80+ year old mom who had me changing the number in my party a few times. Whenever I called they were SO understanding and accommodating. It was a beautiful day for her brunch, and there was a fabulous jazz band playing on the back patio where our party was seated. The food was amazing and the ambience was just right. This is a new favorite for sure.
Lovely environment. Friendly servers. And an interesting menu. The salmon and waffles were Quite good. As we're the cheesy shrimp tacos. I'd definitely return for brunch and also to try out some of the pizzas on their regular menu.