This restaurant has been serving the community of North Berkeley for 23 years, and has a steady presence in the community. They're also open later than any other restaurant in this area, so that, the creative bartenders and the friendly staff makes this a good local find. Check them out before they move, and look for them when they do.
Kathleen C.
Why does this place only have 3.5 stars? I love this place! My partner and I came here for the first time after seeing a show in the City and were super delighted by the service, the drinks, and the food! Its a great place to spend a warm afternoon, especially if you get balcony seating. It's quaint and feels like a cute little bar one might happen upon while traveling. I will definitely keep coming here for years to come!
Tyler M.
Excellent food and great atmosphere! They were able to accommodate our large party at the big table in the middle of the restaurant. My only regret is that we did not try the paella.
Alanna Rhodes
I used to love this restaurant. I heard they were closing down this summer because Chez Panisse is expanding, so I thought I would go again and check it out. It had been quite a while since my last visit.The energy of the place was not good today. There was no music or nice ambience and the patrons didn't seem too happy. It was kind of underwhelming. Just blah! I think this is because the servers and owner were really lackadaisical and kind of lazy. It was disorganized despite very few customers being there. No one came to check on us to ask how the food was, so I didn't have an opportunity to tell them.The tuna Bocadillo (sandwich) used to be so much better. They give you barely any tuna at all the bread isn't toasted so it's overly chewy. However, I must say that the cheese plate was very good, and I would order that again.I will be back for the cheese plate and maybe sandwich but next time I will complain if the food is subpar again. Even if I have to walk up to the manager like Karen. Sometimes the Karen has to come out to play.I honestly am so sad they have gone so downhill. They can totally be what they were again, but they need to try. They're not even trying.Also, today was sunny and nice and there tons of people out but they weren't busy. They could have been packed, but again, they don't seem to care.
Mengshu Z.
Great foods. Ordered the assorted Montaditos and grilled filet mignon on mashed potatoes. All tasted wonderful, although everyone should come with an understanding that Tapas restaurants, by definition, tend to serve dishes on the smaller side. I wasn't particularly hungry so the portion sizes were appropriate, but I suspect others may need to order much more. For sweets, we ordered the almond and caramelized fig ice cream and opted to also add the Sherry. Ice cream had great texture and temperature, and the Sherry provided some additional dimension. Overall, 5/5 -- would love to be back and try more of the pairings with various cheeses, smoked meats, and other hot dishes. The Paella is at the top of the list!
Emily K.
This place is always bustling! The flavors are great and you can tell the owner puts a lot of personal care into making sure everyone is enjoying their meal.
David B.
Some really extraordinary dishes. I always get the ham with fermented red grapes appetizer. Heavenly. Tonight I had it with the zucchini toast with tapenade; never had it before, really interesting. But the grapes with the jamons serrano were only slightly if at all fermented, which deprived it of most of its appeal, despite the excellence of the ham. Some production failure, I presume. In the future, I'll have to ask first to make sure the grapes are sour. If you ask first too, you can look forward to a transformative experience.
Rochelle S.
I really love this place. First I have to start by saying that their paella and tortilla are some of the best I've had outside of Spain. This is such a fun and popular place, and I really hope it won't close. This is a pretty busy place, so you may have to wait, but the workers are fast and hard working, so it's pretty quick. This is more a hang out with friends and family place, so it's loud and may not be the best place for a quiet romantic date. Love this place!
David O.
Kristi our waitress was bubbly and son sweet with a warm sexy smile. Fried oysters and the potatoes were nice Kristi always made sure were had everything we needed with her warm brown eyes and sexy smile
Jezabel D.
Yummy yummy in my tummy! Good wine, good food, great music, lovely space. Sadly, we are about to lose this gem if their lease isn't renewed. But, in the mean time visit. Super all star food! Paella is a must and all the tapas are outstanding.
A treasure, to say the least. Especially the people that work here are lovely, genuinely present and dedicated, and hard working. The menu is divine. The flavors are for the gods' pallet. A go-to place for any occasion with loved ones. It's the full package. That simple, and that complicated. Go check it out. And no, no reservations here. It on first-come first-serve, basis, and if they cannot accommodate you on the spot, they will give a practical timeline when to come back/or how long it will take to clear a table for your particular headcount ... you will understand why the set-up is this way. Just go an try it :) ... the thought of this place alone, makes me smile.
Nora W.
A very comfortable neighborhood bar/tapas restaurant with "Cheers"-like vibe at the bar. Many customers clearly had long-standing relationships with the manager, bartenders, mixologists, and wait staff catching up on family news. How refreshing that relationships between the restaurant staff and customers matter as much as the food experience in this digital age. Speaking of food, everything we ordered was excellent and fresh. We started with Assorted Montaditos which showcased three Acme bread toasts topped with-sautéed spinach with onion, garlic aioli; smoked salmon anchovy with bell pepper carrot relish; and pork pate sobrasada. They were balanced, crisp and had the right amount of aioli. The patatas bravas were crisp and smoky, napped with aioli and the addictive sauce. I had the sweet briny miyagi oysters which were presented on a chilled bed of salt. Exquisite. The lamb chops were grilled, smoky and medium rare. The bed of lentils de puy were al dente and dressed well with romesco. We enjoyed the fresh shrimp, calamari, and spicy bites of chorizo in the paella. Unfortunately, the chicken was overcharred and dry. The cream de chocolate with our espresso capped off the meal elegantly. Even at the bar, we had attentive service. It was great to see the dedication and professionalism of the mixologists up close. Our drinks were expertly prepared and complimented our meal. Give a neighborhood institution a try and be enchanted by the sophistication and atmosphere.
yvette c.
Excellent, as usual. Everything is good, the tapas, the little chicken soup, the drinks, the ambiance, the service. In addition, it is open late, which is so rare in the area. We hope it will not be swallowed by its neighbor!!!!
Iain T.
We've been coming here for over a decade and were heartbroken to discover it may close down for good in July. Cesar is an absolute classic and it's important that a restaurant that serves such good food, and stays open late, is kept going. It's your classic tapas place, small and well-flavoured portions, some interesting ideas, and a superb drink selection. Service is second to none and the space has a friendly atmosphere that works really well - that central table has seen some epic parties. This time when for the traditional potatoes, shaved with a mandolin and with a delicious glob of aioli on top. The wedges are good but the slivers of potato are a favourite. As to is the tuna bocadillos, an absolute must have. Juicy fish, so many other flavours and good bread make this something really worth tasting. The Brussels sprouts were as tasty as ever but the real surprise was the fish montadito. Amazing bread and flavour, the anchovy was superb, and we have to eat this again while the chance is still there. We've had the paella in the past and while it's OK there's a long wait and the tapas food is better. It's that kind of place. While I recognise the Alice Waters franchise needs to expand I fear we're going to lose a real gem in Cesar. Go while you can and hopefully they can either change locations or keep the current place.
Melissa A.
I came here on a whim and was pleasantly surprised! They have daily happy hour and their sangria is great!
This restaurant has been serving the community of North Berkeley for 23 years, and has a steady presence in the community. They're also open later than any other restaurant in this area, so that, the creative bartenders and the friendly staff makes this a good local find. Check them out before they move, and look for them when they do.
Why does this place only have 3.5 stars? I love this place! My partner and I came here for the first time after seeing a show in the City and were super delighted by the service, the drinks, and the food! Its a great place to spend a warm afternoon, especially if you get balcony seating. It's quaint and feels like a cute little bar one might happen upon while traveling. I will definitely keep coming here for years to come!
Excellent food and great atmosphere! They were able to accommodate our large party at the big table in the middle of the restaurant. My only regret is that we did not try the paella.
I used to love this restaurant. I heard they were closing down this summer because Chez Panisse is expanding, so I thought I would go again and check it out. It had been quite a while since my last visit.The energy of the place was not good today. There was no music or nice ambience and the patrons didn't seem too happy. It was kind of underwhelming. Just blah! I think this is because the servers and owner were really lackadaisical and kind of lazy. It was disorganized despite very few customers being there. No one came to check on us to ask how the food was, so I didn't have an opportunity to tell them.The tuna Bocadillo (sandwich) used to be so much better. They give you barely any tuna at all the bread isn't toasted so it's overly chewy. However, I must say that the cheese plate was very good, and I would order that again.I will be back for the cheese plate and maybe sandwich but next time I will complain if the food is subpar again. Even if I have to walk up to the manager like Karen. Sometimes the Karen has to come out to play.I honestly am so sad they have gone so downhill. They can totally be what they were again, but they need to try. They're not even trying.Also, today was sunny and nice and there tons of people out but they weren't busy. They could have been packed, but again, they don't seem to care.
Great foods. Ordered the assorted Montaditos and grilled filet mignon on mashed potatoes. All tasted wonderful, although everyone should come with an understanding that Tapas restaurants, by definition, tend to serve dishes on the smaller side. I wasn't particularly hungry so the portion sizes were appropriate, but I suspect others may need to order much more. For sweets, we ordered the almond and caramelized fig ice cream and opted to also add the Sherry. Ice cream had great texture and temperature, and the Sherry provided some additional dimension. Overall, 5/5 -- would love to be back and try more of the pairings with various cheeses, smoked meats, and other hot dishes. The Paella is at the top of the list!
This place is always bustling! The flavors are great and you can tell the owner puts a lot of personal care into making sure everyone is enjoying their meal.
Some really extraordinary dishes. I always get the ham with fermented red grapes appetizer. Heavenly. Tonight I had it with the zucchini toast with tapenade; never had it before, really interesting. But the grapes with the jamons serrano were only slightly if at all fermented, which deprived it of most of its appeal, despite the excellence of the ham. Some production failure, I presume. In the future, I'll have to ask first to make sure the grapes are sour. If you ask first too, you can look forward to a transformative experience.
I really love this place. First I have to start by saying that their paella and tortilla are some of the best I've had outside of Spain. This is such a fun and popular place, and I really hope it won't close. This is a pretty busy place, so you may have to wait, but the workers are fast and hard working, so it's pretty quick. This is more a hang out with friends and family place, so it's loud and may not be the best place for a quiet romantic date. Love this place!
Kristi our waitress was bubbly and son sweet with a warm sexy smile. Fried oysters and the potatoes were nice Kristi always made sure were had everything we needed with her warm brown eyes and sexy smile
Yummy yummy in my tummy! Good wine, good food, great music, lovely space. Sadly, we are about to lose this gem if their lease isn't renewed. But, in the mean time visit. Super all star food! Paella is a must and all the tapas are outstanding.
Restaurantji Recommends
A treasure, to say the least. Especially the people that work here are lovely, genuinely present and dedicated, and hard working. The menu is divine. The flavors are for the gods' pallet. A go-to place for any occasion with loved ones. It's the full package. That simple, and that complicated. Go check it out. And no, no reservations here. It on first-come first-serve, basis, and if they cannot accommodate you on the spot, they will give a practical timeline when to come back/or how long it will take to clear a table for your particular headcount ... you will understand why the set-up is this way. Just go an try it :) ... the thought of this place alone, makes me smile.
A very comfortable neighborhood bar/tapas restaurant with "Cheers"-like vibe at the bar. Many customers clearly had long-standing relationships with the manager, bartenders, mixologists, and wait staff catching up on family news. How refreshing that relationships between the restaurant staff and customers matter as much as the food experience in this digital age. Speaking of food, everything we ordered was excellent and fresh. We started with Assorted Montaditos which showcased three Acme bread toasts topped with-sautéed spinach with onion, garlic aioli; smoked salmon anchovy with bell pepper carrot relish; and pork pate sobrasada. They were balanced, crisp and had the right amount of aioli. The patatas bravas were crisp and smoky, napped with aioli and the addictive sauce. I had the sweet briny miyagi oysters which were presented on a chilled bed of salt. Exquisite. The lamb chops were grilled, smoky and medium rare. The bed of lentils de puy were al dente and dressed well with romesco. We enjoyed the fresh shrimp, calamari, and spicy bites of chorizo in the paella. Unfortunately, the chicken was overcharred and dry. The cream de chocolate with our espresso capped off the meal elegantly. Even at the bar, we had attentive service. It was great to see the dedication and professionalism of the mixologists up close. Our drinks were expertly prepared and complimented our meal. Give a neighborhood institution a try and be enchanted by the sophistication and atmosphere.
Excellent, as usual. Everything is good, the tapas, the little chicken soup, the drinks, the ambiance, the service. In addition, it is open late, which is so rare in the area. We hope it will not be swallowed by its neighbor!!!!
We've been coming here for over a decade and were heartbroken to discover it may close down for good in July. Cesar is an absolute classic and it's important that a restaurant that serves such good food, and stays open late, is kept going. It's your classic tapas place, small and well-flavoured portions, some interesting ideas, and a superb drink selection. Service is second to none and the space has a friendly atmosphere that works really well - that central table has seen some epic parties. This time when for the traditional potatoes, shaved with a mandolin and with a delicious glob of aioli on top. The wedges are good but the slivers of potato are a favourite. As to is the tuna bocadillos, an absolute must have. Juicy fish, so many other flavours and good bread make this something really worth tasting. The Brussels sprouts were as tasty as ever but the real surprise was the fish montadito. Amazing bread and flavour, the anchovy was superb, and we have to eat this again while the chance is still there. We've had the paella in the past and while it's OK there's a long wait and the tapas food is better. It's that kind of place. While I recognise the Alice Waters franchise needs to expand I fear we're going to lose a real gem in Cesar. Go while you can and hopefully they can either change locations or keep the current place.
I came here on a whim and was pleasantly surprised! They have daily happy hour and their sangria is great!