Every time I come here, I feel grateful they exist. I can taste every Ingredient fresh, even a single leaf has robust taste. Thank you everyone at this amazing little place!
Food: 5
Service: 5
hanif sadr
Delicious Food! Perfect spot for lunch in Berkeley!
Food: 5
Service: 4
Kathy Wang
The food at Fava is fresh, flavorful, and genuinely good. They do a great job offering quality at a price that feels fair. So food is 5-star
But the customer experience is another story. The ordering area has zero clarity about where the line starts, which created unnecessary tension. On my last visit, I had been waiting for 15 min when another customer who happened to be a regular walked up and started ordering ahead of me. When I spoke up, he responded with immediate aggression and insisted I was standing in the wrong place to begin with and shouted “how many times have you been to this place? Is this your first time?” Odd this is there was absolutely no signs or markers explaining the system (and while waiting for food I saw other customers confused if the line started on the left side or the right side).
The staff member at the register watched the entire thing and did nothing. No clarification, no “there’s a line,” no attempt to de-escalate. Just a stare and silence. That silence sends a message that this kind of behavior is tolerated, and that some customers feel entitled to push past others without being checked.
I left feeling frustrated and unwelcome despite all your typical Berkeley performative liberalism of “BLM” and “ICE not welcomed” posters plastered all over the place. Sadly, I cannot help to think I was treated that way because of the color of my skin because to be honest it is a very common occurrence for me and my BIPOC friends specific in Berkeley. And honestly, a simple sign and staff willing to step in or even just an acknowledgement would fix most of this.
Sadly, this was another place with good food but marred with privilege and fragility. I won’t be coming back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
ZBRE
I make it a point to come and visit Fava about once a month, traveling from out of town each time, and I have to say, it's always such a genuinely lovely experience. It's a combination of the wonderful people who work there, the delicious food they prepare, the inviting atmosphere of the restaurant, and the incredible freshness of everything. It really does make my day so much more delightful. The staff is consistently very kind and cheerful, which definitely shines through in the quality of the food they serve.The vibe outside the music. Everything about this establishment is just how businesses should be run, especially in the food industry and I commute about an hour and a half each way this stop makes my drive so much better. Here's to the Fava team. Keep up the good work!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Erik Marinovich
If you want the absolute best lunch in Berkeley, look no further than Fava. This small business is a cornerstone of the North Berkeley food corridor for a reason. Their one-of-a-kind menu is crafted with high-quality ingredients and a whole lot of love.
Don't let the line intimidate you—it’s a testament to how good the food is. If you’re confused about where to queue on the narrow sidewalk, just ask a neighbor; it's all part of the charm! I’ve been a patron since 2020 and can attest that they care deeply about the entire ecosystem, from the farmers they source from to the community they serve. Grab a seat at their iconic orange tables and soak in the best of Berkeley.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Max Phelps
Got a little sprig of parsley while I waited (fast wait!). Soso delicious and SUPER FRESH
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa Dalton
Excellent sidewalk falafel sandwich filled with fresh and bright ingredients.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eliot Reiner
Amazing! Fresh food Tasty Great prices Incredible
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Emma Bates
Reliably delicious across the board
J V
First time in the area and hadn’t eaten lunch yet. The spicy chicken sandwich is beyond delicious. I asked for the chilis on the side. Everything taste incredible. The ingredients tastes as fresh as that home cooked meal that only your family knew how to make, but you could never replicate.
Super yummy and fresh!!! I loved the fresh homemade bread/pita. The falafel was flavorful and delicious. Everything was very herb forward. The cookie was very yummy as well!
I would probably pay 15% more to have 15% more food, but I think basically I just learned that I need a side next time I come here.
They seem to do a lot of take out.
The only downside for me was that dining there didn't include any real dishes. I would have preferred this on like an enamel plate or bowl or something with a parchment paper.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fatima Aliyeva
Very delicious food, very efficient and friendly service
Nice lunch spot! We tried the lamb sandwich and the salmon plate — the sandwich was excellent, and the salmon, served with a nice creamy hummus, was very good too. There was a short line, but it moved quickly. Seating was limited, with only a few curbside tables that were mostly occupied, so we opted for takeout instead — which worked out well. We’ll definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Barbara Schmidt
I ordered a falafel sandwich. At home my mouth was watering as I opened up my box. I took a bite and no falafel. Another bite and ……..chicken. The bag , at Fava, had my name on it, but they gave me a chicken sandwich. Am I ever disappointed. 😢. My home is too far to go back. 😞😢
Glory
Amazing cookies! And the owner is such a fantastic person!!!
Every time I come here, I feel grateful they exist. I can taste every Ingredient fresh, even a single leaf has robust taste. Thank you everyone at this amazing little place!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious Food! Perfect spot for lunch in Berkeley!
Food: 5
Service: 4
The food at Fava is fresh, flavorful, and genuinely good. They do a great job offering quality at a price that feels fair. So food is 5-star
But the customer experience is another story. The ordering area has zero clarity about where the line starts, which created unnecessary tension. On my last visit, I had been waiting for 15 min when another customer who happened to be a regular walked up and started ordering ahead of me. When I spoke up, he responded with immediate aggression and insisted I was standing in the wrong place to begin with and shouted “how many times have you been to this place? Is this your first time?” Odd this is there was absolutely no signs or markers explaining the system (and while waiting for food I saw other customers confused if the line started on the left side or the right side).
The staff member at the register watched the entire thing and did nothing. No clarification, no “there’s a line,” no attempt to de-escalate. Just a stare and silence. That silence sends a message that this kind of behavior is tolerated, and that some customers feel entitled to push past others without being checked.
I left feeling frustrated and unwelcome despite all your typical Berkeley performative liberalism of “BLM” and “ICE not welcomed” posters plastered all over the place. Sadly, I cannot help to think I was treated that way because of the color of my skin because to be honest it is a very common occurrence for me and my BIPOC friends specific in Berkeley. And honestly, a simple sign and staff willing to step in or even just an acknowledgement would fix most of this.
Sadly, this was another place with good food but marred with privilege and fragility. I won’t be coming back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
I make it a point to come and visit Fava about once a month, traveling from out of town each time, and I have to say, it's always such a genuinely lovely experience. It's a combination of the wonderful people who work there, the delicious food they prepare, the inviting atmosphere of the restaurant, and the incredible freshness of everything. It really does make my day so much more delightful. The staff is consistently very kind and cheerful, which definitely shines through in the quality of the food they serve.The vibe outside the music. Everything about this establishment is just how businesses should be run, especially in the food industry and I commute about an hour and a half each way this stop makes my drive so much better. Here's to the Fava team. Keep up the good work!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you want the absolute best lunch in Berkeley, look no further than Fava. This small business is a cornerstone of the North Berkeley food corridor for a reason. Their one-of-a-kind menu is crafted with high-quality ingredients and a whole lot of love.
Don't let the line intimidate you—it’s a testament to how good the food is. If you’re confused about where to queue on the narrow sidewalk, just ask a neighbor; it's all part of the charm! I’ve been a patron since 2020 and can attest that they care deeply about the entire ecosystem, from the farmers they source from to the community they serve. Grab a seat at their iconic orange tables and soak in the best of Berkeley.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Got a little sprig of parsley while I waited (fast wait!). Soso delicious and SUPER FRESH
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent sidewalk falafel sandwich filled with fresh and bright ingredients.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing!
Fresh food
Tasty
Great prices
Incredible
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Reliably delicious across the board
First time in the area and hadn’t eaten lunch yet. The spicy chicken sandwich is beyond delicious. I asked for the chilis on the side. Everything taste incredible. The ingredients tastes as fresh as that home cooked meal that only your family knew how to make, but you could never replicate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Super yummy and fresh!!! I loved the fresh homemade bread/pita. The falafel was flavorful and delicious. Everything was very herb forward. The cookie was very yummy as well!
I would probably pay 15% more to have 15% more food, but I think basically I just learned that I need a side next time I come here.
They seem to do a lot of take out.
The only downside for me was that dining there didn't include any real dishes. I would have preferred this on like an enamel plate or bowl or something with a parchment paper.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very delicious food, very efficient and friendly service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Salmon Plate
Nice lunch spot! We tried the lamb sandwich and the salmon plate — the sandwich was excellent, and the salmon, served with a nice creamy hummus, was very good too. There was a short line, but it moved quickly. Seating was limited, with only a few curbside tables that were mostly occupied, so we opted for takeout instead — which worked out well. We’ll definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I ordered a falafel sandwich. At home my mouth was watering as I opened up my box. I took a bite and no falafel. Another bite and ……..chicken. The bag , at Fava, had my name on it, but they gave me a chicken sandwich. Am I ever disappointed. 😢. My home is too far to go back. 😞😢
Amazing cookies! And the owner is such a fantastic person!!!
Food: 5
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