Absolutely delicious food.The owner Sequoia makes you feel incredibly relaxed and had super good vibes. Delightful indoor space.Vegetarian options: Lots of veggie optionsParking: Easy street parking.Dietary restrictions: Great for gluten free.
Lily B
Was so excited to finally drop by for lunch. The space is really luscious in the converted space: high ceilings, minimalist and well-done. I can see hosting a private party here. Lunch was perfect— as advertised, fresh; no frills in seasoning needed with a classic Niçoise-y menu. The Grilled Polenta with smoked salmon was delicious; creative coffee & tea menu and my lunch mates devoured their sandwiches (great bread). We will be back.
Pardis Esmaeili
Delicious wholesome food combined with a gorgeous interior and warm welcoming staff. Come here pretty regularly and never disappointed.
Sarah Donovan
Super cute spot! Perfect for pre-dinner drink, a light dinner, an afternoon snack & drink etc etc! The interior is gorgeous and feels very European (from a European). Delish natural wines! Can’t wait to bring friends back!
Marc Hedlund
Very friendly people, lovely space, great food & drink. I also appreciated the bike parking right in front.
Gitanjali
Gorgeous spot, delicious food, and friendly service. What a wonderful addition to West Berkeley.
Yuki Burns
New found!! One afternoon~ Perfect Italian tapas from cortado/ capuchino~heron tomato ? salad~Spanish tortilla de patata~Mediterranean breakfast for lunchAmazing new spot in the neighborhood
Nicole Heaney
I came in on a whim and was welcoming by the friendly attentive staff. I had a latte, veggie quiche, kale salad topped with tuna salad (with dill and arugula) it was very flavorful. The ambiance is airy and welcoming. I’m happy I came in! ?great job!
Heather Way
Oh yes! Amazing food, friendly staff & gorgeous digs! I felt like I was vacationing. It looks like they’re applying for a liquor license too! Try the rose latte.
Sequoia Chappellet
I absolutely LOVE the food and the ambiance at Tarocco!! The salads are all fresh and seasonal, and you can add a variety of proteins, and they have the yummiest kombucha and sweet treats to finish off the meal. Super cute place for ladies lunch, or a date!
I just popped in looking for lunch and had the beef chowmein. It is so delicious. I especially how fresh and crisp the veggies are. The beef was tender and not fatty like a lot of restaurants serve in a chowmein. Lastly, I'm a person who is non-binary and I really appreciated that they used the term "friend" rather than sir or ma'am or miss. That goes a long way to make a safe space for me! Thanks!!!
Aaron M.
TL;DR: Westside Organic Cafe is perfect for sitting in a relaxing environment of tibetan music and working on your laptop using free WiFi while you nosh and sip chai tea. It's also an ideal spot to bring a friend and have a quiet space to talk. There are plenty of tables and nooks and corners to hide out in. This is NOT the best choice if you're looking for a cheap lunch, a perfect cappuccino, or if you're in a hurry. Full writeup: For decades, this location was home to the Westside Bakery Cafe. After they closed, it was briefly "9th Street Cafe", and was reborn in late 2019 as Westside Organic Cafe. Along with a new name, they also have a radically new menu of Himalayan/Nepalese dishes. If you're not familiar, I would say the food here is similar to Chinese food, but with more subtlety and nuance and made with the freshest ingredients. According to the nice woman behind the counter, the owners also have a Himalayan Cafe in NYC, making this their second location. My office is around the corner, and I've been here a dozen times since they've opened. What to Order: I recommend the momos (dumplings: chicken, beef, or vege), the Chili Chicken, and the Tibetan Noodle Soup with hand-pulled noodles. My go-to order is the $15 Non-Veg Combo which includes Chili Chicken, Momo Dumplings (Beef or Chicken), Salad of mixed greens, and choice of steam-bread, fried rice, steamed rice, or chow mein noodles. I've had this a dozen times now and I love it every time. The Chili Chicken is described on the menu as "sautéed", but it tastes breaded and fried and covered in a delicious spicy sauce, all of which I love, but fair warning, it's a high-fat dish. The Beef and Chicken Momos are super yummy, but inconsitent. Sometimes they take a half-hour to bring out but they're hot and perfect. Other times they come out right away but are a little older and dry. For the side dish, the steam bread is my favorite selection, as I found the fried-rice tastes more like brown rice, and the chow-mein was too greasy. Recently, wanting to try something healthier, I ordered the Tibetan Noodle Soup. It's delicious, and the Medium portion is more than enough to fill me up. The broth is a hearty and flavorful house-made bone-broth, with lots of hand-pulled wheat noodles (GF rice noodles available), green onion, yellow onion, shredded cabbage, and shredded carrots. The veggies are all cooked perfectly. I got it with beef added, which goes perfectly with the soup. I find the prices to be a little bit higher than I'd expect for lunch in West Berkeley. I was also surprised that they charge for refills of Chai tea with my lunch. I'd rate them as 4.5 stars for quality, 4.5 stars for service, and 2 stars for value. I'm rounding up to 5 stars overall because they're super nice and accommodating, their food is tasty, and I really want them to be successful--Most days they are fairly empty, and I'm nervous they're not bringing in enough customers to stay afloat. Time will tell!
Xavier H.
The best momos I've had. You gotta eat them quick though or they'll hardened. Their chili chicken is also one of their signature dishes here. I haven't dined in the establishment yet but that's my next goal. The place is huge and has plenty of seating space. I usually order in advance as my office is only a block away and the food is always ready when I pick it up. Their rice is fluffy and delicious. I know you're going to say, rice is rice. But it takes an art to make steamed rice and have it come out fluffy and cooked just right. My apologies for not including a pic of the momos....I ate them faster than I could write this review. (I'll post one next time I order them........maybe Friday?) Side note: Their restrooms are the cleanest I've seen. Very spacious and well lit too.
Jp M.
Excellent food. No idea why the place was almost empty for lunch. It should be hopping given the quality of the food and the location amidst so many workers. We had the Chicken Chili lunch special and a salad. The special comes with momos, which were excellent. The Chicken Chili was very good. For my taste it could have used more spice but not for my companion's.
Joe Blow
Not bad food. Offensively bad food. Utterly disgusting. Zero stars.
Absolutely delicious food.The owner Sequoia makes you feel incredibly relaxed and had super good vibes. Delightful indoor space.Vegetarian options: Lots of veggie optionsParking: Easy street parking.Dietary restrictions: Great for gluten free.
Was so excited to finally drop by for lunch. The space is really luscious in the converted space: high ceilings, minimalist and well-done. I can see hosting a private party here. Lunch was perfect— as advertised, fresh; no frills in seasoning needed with a classic Niçoise-y menu. The Grilled Polenta with smoked salmon was delicious; creative coffee & tea menu and my lunch mates devoured their sandwiches (great bread). We will be back.
Delicious wholesome food combined with a gorgeous interior and warm welcoming staff. Come here pretty regularly and never disappointed.
Super cute spot! Perfect for pre-dinner drink, a light dinner, an afternoon snack & drink etc etc! The interior is gorgeous and feels very European (from a European). Delish natural wines! Can’t wait to bring friends back!
Very friendly people, lovely space, great food & drink. I also appreciated the bike parking right in front.
Gorgeous spot, delicious food, and friendly service. What a wonderful addition to West Berkeley.
New found!! One afternoon~ Perfect Italian tapas from cortado/ capuchino~heron tomato ? salad~Spanish tortilla de patata~Mediterranean breakfast for lunchAmazing new spot in the neighborhood
I came in on a whim and was welcoming by the friendly attentive staff. I had a latte, veggie quiche, kale salad topped with tuna salad (with dill and arugula) it was very flavorful. The ambiance is airy and welcoming. I’m happy I came in! ?great job!
Oh yes! Amazing food, friendly staff & gorgeous digs! I felt like I was vacationing. It looks like they’re applying for a liquor license too! Try the rose latte.
I absolutely LOVE the food and the ambiance at Tarocco!! The salads are all fresh and seasonal, and you can add a variety of proteins, and they have the yummiest kombucha and sweet treats to finish off the meal. Super cute place for ladies lunch, or a date!
Restaurantji Recommends
I just popped in looking for lunch and had the beef chowmein. It is so delicious. I especially how fresh and crisp the veggies are. The beef was tender and not fatty like a lot of restaurants serve in a chowmein. Lastly, I'm a person who is non-binary and I really appreciated that they used the term "friend" rather than sir or ma'am or miss. That goes a long way to make a safe space for me! Thanks!!!
TL;DR: Westside Organic Cafe is perfect for sitting in a relaxing environment of tibetan music and working on your laptop using free WiFi while you nosh and sip chai tea. It's also an ideal spot to bring a friend and have a quiet space to talk. There are plenty of tables and nooks and corners to hide out in. This is NOT the best choice if you're looking for a cheap lunch, a perfect cappuccino, or if you're in a hurry. Full writeup: For decades, this location was home to the Westside Bakery Cafe. After they closed, it was briefly "9th Street Cafe", and was reborn in late 2019 as Westside Organic Cafe. Along with a new name, they also have a radically new menu of Himalayan/Nepalese dishes. If you're not familiar, I would say the food here is similar to Chinese food, but with more subtlety and nuance and made with the freshest ingredients. According to the nice woman behind the counter, the owners also have a Himalayan Cafe in NYC, making this their second location. My office is around the corner, and I've been here a dozen times since they've opened. What to Order: I recommend the momos (dumplings: chicken, beef, or vege), the Chili Chicken, and the Tibetan Noodle Soup with hand-pulled noodles. My go-to order is the $15 Non-Veg Combo which includes Chili Chicken, Momo Dumplings (Beef or Chicken), Salad of mixed greens, and choice of steam-bread, fried rice, steamed rice, or chow mein noodles. I've had this a dozen times now and I love it every time. The Chili Chicken is described on the menu as "sautéed", but it tastes breaded and fried and covered in a delicious spicy sauce, all of which I love, but fair warning, it's a high-fat dish. The Beef and Chicken Momos are super yummy, but inconsitent. Sometimes they take a half-hour to bring out but they're hot and perfect. Other times they come out right away but are a little older and dry. For the side dish, the steam bread is my favorite selection, as I found the fried-rice tastes more like brown rice, and the chow-mein was too greasy. Recently, wanting to try something healthier, I ordered the Tibetan Noodle Soup. It's delicious, and the Medium portion is more than enough to fill me up. The broth is a hearty and flavorful house-made bone-broth, with lots of hand-pulled wheat noodles (GF rice noodles available), green onion, yellow onion, shredded cabbage, and shredded carrots. The veggies are all cooked perfectly. I got it with beef added, which goes perfectly with the soup. I find the prices to be a little bit higher than I'd expect for lunch in West Berkeley. I was also surprised that they charge for refills of Chai tea with my lunch. I'd rate them as 4.5 stars for quality, 4.5 stars for service, and 2 stars for value. I'm rounding up to 5 stars overall because they're super nice and accommodating, their food is tasty, and I really want them to be successful--Most days they are fairly empty, and I'm nervous they're not bringing in enough customers to stay afloat. Time will tell!
The best momos I've had. You gotta eat them quick though or they'll hardened. Their chili chicken is also one of their signature dishes here. I haven't dined in the establishment yet but that's my next goal. The place is huge and has plenty of seating space. I usually order in advance as my office is only a block away and the food is always ready when I pick it up. Their rice is fluffy and delicious. I know you're going to say, rice is rice. But it takes an art to make steamed rice and have it come out fluffy and cooked just right. My apologies for not including a pic of the momos....I ate them faster than I could write this review. (I'll post one next time I order them........maybe Friday?) Side note: Their restrooms are the cleanest I've seen. Very spacious and well lit too.
Excellent food. No idea why the place was almost empty for lunch. It should be hopping given the quality of the food and the location amidst so many workers. We had the Chicken Chili lunch special and a salad. The special comes with momos, which were excellent. The Chicken Chili was very good. For my taste it could have used more spice but not for my companion's.
Not bad food. Offensively bad food. Utterly disgusting. Zero stars.