“It's just simply well done pizza with great ratio of topping to bread to cheese to sauce and everything just tastes fresh. This is the type of pizza you can eat a couple times in a week and it never feels too heavy. I feel lucky to have this place randomly in Lamorinda area. So consistently delicious. I have nothing I can knock them down a star on.“
“This was a celebration of International Women's Day for a group of close neighbors, some of whom had not experienced Corso before. The hostess greeting was perfection, as was Vito, our server, Michael our expeditor, and the food was superb❣️ The perfect evening for gratitude to our Women!“
“My partner and I love Humbowl! It's one of the few places around here where I can go out to eat and don't have to change anything on the menu to meet my dietary needs! We love that they use fresh and seasonal ingredients and that they're open later than other places (9 PM).“
“Quite literally the best Mediterranean food in the Bay Area!! If you're lucky enough to enjoy some Fava, you're quite lucky indeed. The falafel is crispy and all the ingredients are sourced carefully and the resulting quality is phenomenal!Jeremy and his wife are amazing and the kindest business owners I have come across in Berkeley - they really put the love into the food they serve.My go to's are the Falafel Flatbread Sandwich, Escarole Salad With Blood Oranges, and the Mango Lassi to wash it down. The perfect lunch on Saturday 10/10 would recommend to a friend!Thank you FAVA for bringing such an amazing food staple to Berkeley“
“Just the best taco place in the area. Creative, unique, and incredibly flavored tacos. The charred broccoli taco and all their seasonal vegetarian tacos are always incredible. I’d strongly recommend this place to people like myself who love a traditional Al pastor/carne asada taco, they have fantastic meat options and you will be very impressed the veggie options - and you absolutely must come if you are vegetarian/vegan. My only complaint is that they aren’t open enough for how much I crave their food.“
“I absolutely adore Arzimendi! I've been to this location and the Valencia st location in SF and everytime I go, I am reminded of how much I love it. The baked goods are delicious and affordable. The pizza is divine and it's so fun to see what new slice comes out each day. Arizmendi is also a co-op so I'm happy to support them with my service as much as possible!“
“The alma mater of my favorite bakery in SF Arizmendi Bakery. The pizza is fresh and tasty. The pastries here are also a steal. Everything is good. X-Bread is a signature bread that I've never seen elsewhere so you should try one. Another cool thing about this shop is that there is a live band! Come enjoy all the senses.“
“The polenta and blueberry muffins are out of this world. That being said, one day they made polenta and raspberry muffins. I don't know if it was a fluke or not, but I actually like those better. Either way, you have to try them!! Every Friday my coworkers and I treat ourselves. The best ever!!“
“I hosted an end of the year party and retirement celebration for my school colleagues. We went with the BIY option and guests really enjoyed making and baking their own pizzas!The pizzas themselves received rave reviews from guests…some went back for seconds! The pizza was delicious and cooked so quickly and to perfection in the pizza ovens which were super simple to use. Everyone had a great time and expressed how much fun they had and what a unique idea it was to have for the party.Kellie Joe was so easy and pleasant to work with. Throughout the entire process she was easy to get in touch with and clearly explained all the steps necessary to ensure the event was a success.Would definitely work with Kellie Joe again and plan another pizza party!“
“GC gets docked a star for two reasons: 1) limited access because the line is so long (reservations are only taken for parties of 6+) and 2) the kung pao chicken is disappointing. As an institution, GC has been the best Chinese food in the area for decades. It was once so small you could shoot an arrow from the front door to the back wall. Its corner spot now on Oxford & Bancroft is massive in comparison, so now more people can wait to get in. The space is modern and bright, but the food is thankfully not fusion or fanciful. The food is exactly what it says on the door: Great China. From the plump (but crisped-skin) potstickers to the mu shu pork to the spicy green beans to the Peking duck, it is deliciously predictable. When I order ma po tofu, I know I'm going to get silken cubes of tofu in a thickened shiny spicy red sauce with ground pork in perfect proportion. Service is as friendly as Chinese gets and effortlessly efficient and fast. Parking sucks; it's downtown Berkeley, people. But if my San Fran friends long to come here, you know it's worth the hassle.“
“I had the best red lentils I've ever tasted here. The vegetable wot is especially good, well seasoned greens, cabbage, corn, etc. on injera. And the parking's good, especially for Berkeley. My companion and I each got parking spots right in front of the restaurant.“
“What a wonderful finding. The service is extraordinarily friendly, and the caramel latte is amazing. The ratio of milk to caramel to coffee is ideal, the flavors are all completely harmonious and fresh, and the sweetness is outstanding. Not my favorite coffee I've ever had, but the flavor combination more than makes up for it. Strongly advised!“
“This has been the BEST experience dining in! When I came in I was deciding what meal I wanted, and after communicating that to the cashier, he helped me combine the best of both worlds (of which I was debating) and created an amazing meal. Thank you so much! I look forward to my next visit!“
“Don’t be fooled by the outside of this place. It’s in a strip mall, but the food is DELICIOUS. Super fresh ingredients and loved the flavors. I had the Chicken Tikka Sandwich and my wife had the Reuben Sandwich, both were super delicious. Pasta salad had blueberries, beets and other yummy ingredients and was great too. Super friendly staff.“
“I can honestly say if you go here you will not at all regret it! The atmosphere is super nice, the staff is amazing, and the food! The food was absolutely amazing and between the 3 of us we ordered way too much but everything was delicious, definitely worth the trip!“
“This mac and cheese is perfect- PERFECT. When I'm not in the area, I cry. I got the cookbook for Christmas a couple of years ago and that can tide me over but of course, I'd rather it come from the OG. My absolute favorites are the pesto mac or pizza mac - both of which will rotate on and off the menu. A crunchy top is a necessity. I prefer the breadcrumbs but they have other options like hot Cheetos or chips too. Thank you for existing, Homeroom. ILY.“
“I ordered a birthday cake for my 3 year old from here and I wish I had known about this place sooner. The design was SPOT on, executed perfectly, the cake itself was maybe the best cake I’ve ever had (and I do not like cake), the frosting was not too sweet, and the service was great.I have never seen my family and friends eat cake like this before. I’ve spent hundreds on beautiful but inedible cakes. Never again.I cannot recommend this place enough and will use them exclusively for all my baked good needs!!“
“Delicious bowls that make me feel so satisfied and energized. The poke bowl was maybe the highest quality most yummy poke bowl I’ve had, it was perfectly balanced; the rice to fish ratio, the crunch of the veggies and the soft rice and fish.You can sample their extensive and DELICIOUS kombucha menu, melon rose was my fave.All the staff are so friendly and welcoming. I had lovely conversation with Ari and Sam (I think??) about language and culture.Lovely clean bathrooms and a beautiful space with lots of light, high ceilings, and plants.I love it what can I say! Can’t wait to bring my mom here who is on a low-fat whole food diet. She can’t eat at most restaurants but I saw so many options for her here!!!I spent the afternoon here working remotely after a dank lunch ?“
“My 8 year daughter and I were referred here from a social worker at Oakland Children's Hospital. My daughter was diagnosed with Celiac 8months ago. To say she was absolutely pleased with their selections and overall delicious subs is an understatement. She said "Mom if my belly could dance, it would definitely be dancing " Needless to say we are very pleased and would recommend 1000%. We hope to visit again soon when we are in the area. In the meantime I will be ordering online. Thank You for absolute amazing Gluten Free options!!!!“
“Our lunches, both Mango salads, were vibrant & fresh, packed with flavor, three plump shrimp and beautifully presented with a gorgeous purple flower. Will be getting cravings for this again very soon and all summer long. We are so looking forward to trying all of their dishes, they all looked incredible as we were making our way out of this elegant restaurant. Be sure to put enough money in your meter before entering the restaurant ($2.50 per hour). The fine (it is a private lot) is hefty.“
“We have been to Millennium several times and have never been disappointed. Their 4 course fixed price meals on Friday and Saturday are incredible. You have a large selection of each course. At $70 per head this is expensive but it is well worth it! It is important to make reservations. They also have a pizza night on Mondays and we celebrated a going away party their for the Rancho Compasion Sanctuary manager that was wonderful!“
“Absolutely love this bakery cupcakes galore!!! The service and music always on point. So friendly and helpful with details, ingredients and decision making lol. My favorite is the key lime cupcake!!! So freaking delicious and fresh tasting. I always order cupcakes from here or the other location in Walnut Creek for celebrations. Such variety and flavors!! You will never regret from ordering cupcakes from here! So delicious!! Go try them out“
“Best bakery in Berkeley. They are so underrated and I wish more people know about their great food. I’m obsessed with their focaccia breads (marinara is out of the world), their pizzas are personally my favourite in berkeley and the chocolate croissant is to die for. I visit them atleast thrice a week. Encourage everyone to try this small business.“
“Overall a really nice, cozy, but dimly lit neighborhood restaurant. With uniquely organized small plate meals. They've stood the test of time. There is a lot of variation on seating; from a community table, to small 2 and 4 tops in the 2 window front, to a patio and then to a front covid style patio on the street front. Why a 4? Possibly the dim lighting, combined with the excess noise inside.“
“This is authentic Eastern European grocery shop with self made cuisine. I absolutely love cottage cheese - sirniki here. They are one of a kind and do not contain much flower.Plov is also something I recommend to try if you eat lamb meet. As to the salads like: olivie, shuba, vinegrette and beets salad still cannot compete with my Babushka (grandmother). However, I would give them a better than average credit.Overall, warm service and clean place, I enjoy coming here to get tea, honey, coffee and cakes.Average bill groceries +food $100-150, again depends on your aim.Enjoy, ?“
“I've tried a few different meal delivery services in the Bay Area and Alab is by far my favorite. The meals are consistently very high quality and I haven't seen a repeat item on the menu since I signed up a few months ago. The meals can be personalized for you based on your dietary preferences as well. My coworkers are jealous of the meals that I bring to work every day. I would highly recommend checking out Alab SF if you are looking for a local meal delivery service!“
“The food here is fantastic. Everything is always so fresh, comforting, and I can eat it without regretting eating out. The portion is really generous for the price, which feels very reasonable. I usually get the chicken or pork shoulder mixed bowl because I like the mix of greens and grains in the bowl. Honestly this is my go to place when I'm craving something comforting but healthy (or at least on the healthier side). The green smoothie is also super refreshing!“
“My family stumbled upon this little cupcake shop in Berkeley while on a day trip. There is a good assortment of decadent cupcakes to be had. We tried two (cookies and cream and the red velvet )and they were magnificent! I highly recommend! The shop is small with no sit down options so you must take your treats to go.“
“I'm a proud torta snob and my BF and I have been on the hunt for a good one for ~6/7 years. On a whim we found this pace and love their tortas so much we don't order anything else for fear of missing the torta experience too much. We get the carne asada specifically and it's perfection. The bread is soft but slightly grilled so there's a nice crunch. The meat is ALWAYS cooked well, sliced thin, and flavorful. The veggies are fresh and the pickled jalapeño adds a kick. The bonus is the homemade chips with the salsa - just so good. I've eaten at least 7 of them and the quality and taste is consistent. I think it's the bread, honestly, that takes this next level. I wish I could buy their bread in bulk. Also, we've eaten in the restaurant only twice and the main woman who runs the show is the nicest person with the biggest smile. She is lovely. The whole staff is great and always smiling when I see them, too. Overall just a great place with tasty tortas (and I'm sure great food in general) and kind people.“
“This my favorite pizza. I am a little bummed that they seem to have changed the quality of their toppings though. The veggie pizza used to have large chunks of veggies and now they are more like the other pizza joints. But the customer service is really good, and they have a great vibe/ambience.“
Coffee Roasteries • $
“I've been frequenting this establishment, in one incarnation or another, pretty much since Market Hall was built. It is a wonderful centralized neighborhood hangout, good coffee, friendly service, a good place to catch up with your neighbors or grab a cup before or after heading off on BART or bus. It's not particularly a food place. They have a small selection of pastries, but it is in Market Hall, next to a bakery and many other gastronomic delights“
“Thad a fantastic experience at Alma Bar Cocina in Oakland. Their tacos are packed with fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the service is consistently warm and welcoming. The owner makes you feel like a regular. Definitely try the fish tacos and the soup both were incredibly flavorful!“
“Great pizza and very hospitable staff. It's a nice spot with plenty of clean seating. Would love to go back there. They were super accommodating to let us pick it up even well after they had closed. We ordered ahead of time and they prepared the pizza accordingly so it was nice and hot when we got there. Thank you!“
“I've lived in the neighborhood for 5 years and ate at Southie for the 1st time on 2/27. It is incredibly good and a good value. The service is fine dining standard where bottles are presented and napkins folded when a guest is away from the table.The food is prepared with a dedication to quality as well, oysters were shucked perfectly, dishes all were extremely flavorful and tastefully presented.I will definitely be back, it's the type of restaurant that you can stop in for a satisfying snack or a whole meal.Thank you Southie employees for the memorable experience.“
“Great place to grab a bite and get some work done. The Vietnamese iced coffee is good. As is the bahn mi. The place is pretty tiny, so I felt bad camping out on the WiFi, but I got both breakfast and lunch there, and they didn't seem to mind.“
“Calming, humble space. The owner was attentive and served us cookies she made earlier in celebration of Lunar New Year. :) Would certainly return.We enjoyed the wood-ear noodles and Jasha-shedre (a chicken curry soup) with madagascar pink rice. More than enough for two people! We finished off with Dresy, which is a sweetened rice dessert that is traditionally used in ceremonies. Delicious!“
“Loved this dockside pub, specializing in German fare. Good selection of drinks, solid menu and what were some of the best fish and chips that I've seen in the area. Dress warm, as the bay can get breezy. Not on the cheap side, but not hoity-toity prices either.Kid-friendliness: Family style bench seating or outdoors, so feels comfy for kids to come along. There is an inside seating area close to the bar, but I don't think there's many seating at the bar proper.“
“I needed a Caterer for my mothers memorial service. The one my mom had chosen went out of business. It was back to the drawing board when timing was tight. I looked on line, and chose three Caterer's to inquire. When Brittany responded, I knew I needed to look no further. She came back quickly with a proposal that included a sample menu, floral arrangements, and service. Communication was quick, concise and flexible as details on attendance, food allergies and preferences emerged. The day of the event, her team were on time, quietly arranging and decorating tables, preparing the food, bar and service area. The staff were friendly, and professional! The food was prepared on site, fresh, beautifully displayed, delicious and plentiful. The clean up was immaculate. "Like it never even happened." Brittany took a huge load of of my family's shoulders that day so that I could focus on the service, and our guests. It was a pleasure to work with Brittany and her staff. Thank you Brittany!“
“I have been eating at this amazing bakery since 2006. I am so happy it exists because it is simply the best. I recently started ordering pies and other baked goods for holidays after not going here as much and I realize how much I missed it. I love the pies and anything with a flakey crust. The chocolate pave is also really good and the cakes. You really can't go wrong with anything from Crixa.“
“A cute cafe and bakery where you can swing by to get some freshly baked pastries or coffee. Service is friendly and the prices are really affordable for freshly baked food. I really enjoyed the banana bread. It was a thick slice of moist and not-too-sweet goodness. Would come back!“
“This place is amazing! The pastries are so good, the bread has a perfect balance and crumb. I love that the sugar level in the breads is lower than store bought. I buy all my bread there now. Everyday of the week is a different bread feature. The Tuesday bread is perfect for sandwiches and the Sunday bread is perfect for French toast!! The servers are always polite and don’t mind my mispronunciation of the pastries every time. Thank you so much for being here in Castro Valley!!“
Bakery • $
“The shop is very quaint and has a wide variety of baked goods + farmer's market quality condiments. This is a Berkeley staple! The apple cider was very tasty and warm. It seemed like they poured it from a premade container that was sourced from a local farm and then warmed it up. Both baked goods were fantastic and baked fresh that morning. The Rosemary puff is lovingly described by my friend as a "savory donut" - and for good reason! It has a sourdough base that is both fragrant and flavorful, but not overpowering. It has the perfect amount of sea salt seasoning and rosemary flavor, and just enough oil to make it soft and slightly juicy in the best way possible. It tastes great on its own or with one of the sauces sold at the collective! The pear ginger muffin was also very yummy and fresh with a distinctly citrusy flavor. It was fluffy and not too sweet. 10/10 experience!“
“Alfajores! These are delicious and great with tea. They have a nice variety of alfajores but other cookies as well. The young gentlemen that helped me was very kind. A bit tricky to find and get into the location, but appreciate the safety precautions.“
“came across this coffee shop. I like to support small businesses and this place was packed. It took a long time for me to find a food frappe. This was it. It was delicious and I'm glad I randomly found this place. Also, a lot of sitting area for you and your group of friends.“
“5 stars are not enough for this bakery! A friend brought me two slices (princess and marzipan) as I had been getting inquiries about good wedding cake references. The flavor was delicious and they were beautiful. Let’s just say I am kind of a cake snob, so I am so excited to have found a new favorite bakery! They were excellent and fresh, even though I didn’t get a chance to eat them the night she brought them. I will be ordering my next celebratory cake from Le Gateau Elegant!“
“I cannot express how much I love a dedicated gluten free facility. It makes it so easy for my celiac husband to find tasty treats and drinks. The desserts, particularly the cookies and cupcakes are so good you would never know the difference between non-gluten free items (I say this as someone who eats non gluten free items all the time). We love the desserts so much we ordered our wedding cake from here and it turned out beautifully! We could not recommend this place enough. It's a little pricey but that's to be expected with the pricer ingredients and in being in an expensive area.“
“Best tasting pizza places in the bay area. My experience at mountain Mike's San Leandro Marina was delicious. I highly recommend this place. I've been here 3 times already and pizza came out fantastic 3 times. The buffet is definitely worth it ? and tasty including the salad. I will be coming again often. ?“
“Great drip coffee! I wish I had asked what beans they used. My stomach is sensitive so I don’t drink coffee often but this 12 oz drip I got was so flavorful! Also some very tasty pastries, my friend and I got the caramelized onion and mushroom croissant and I definitely want to try the guava one the next time I go. Friendly service and a cute neighborhood spot. Not really a sit down space, but they do have outdoor seating for people to use while they wait or if it’s just two of you. Great place to grab coffee and a bite and then take a little walk by the lake.“
“We tried this bakery for the first time last week. The owner was really nice and friendly. We have a daughter and son in law that are vegan. We purchased vegan rice crispie treats and brownies. My son in law said the brownies were the best he has ever had and everyone loved the vegan rice crispie treats. I also purchased a few non vegan Oatmeal raisin cookies which I just loved. We also purchased raspberry jammies MAJOR YUMMY.... they had other fruit but we love raspberry. We had everything to go so I did not eat anything there. The bakery was very clean and well managed. I now have a great go to place for vegan and non vegan pastries and cookies.“
“I was in the area and started craving some sweets. This was the only bakery open at 7:30PM on a Saturday, and I'm so glad it was! I had their Basque cheesecake and it's one of the best cheesecakes I've ever had. It's not super sweet which was super refreshing because I usually go for super sweet desserts.I'm looking forward to coming back earlier in the day so I'll have time to sit down and try their lunch menu.“