“We kind of ended up here on a fluke and with empty stomachs. We weren't into the experience just wanted the food. Our server, Toni, was accommodating about all of our reasonable ( and less reasonable) requests. We sat in a corner quite close to our neighbors but it wasn't too bad. The sound quality in their space makes it so you don't get bombarded but a lot of loud clanging. It's pretty upscale and the food is Michelin level amazing but also has a chill vibe.Goes without saying, we will certainly be back.Vegetarian options: The veggie options are just as amazing as the non. They are also good about accommodating veggie diets in any part of the menu.We got the peshe- Chilean Sea Bass which was so on point. As we are pescaterian“
“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!“
“Yes!! Tarocco is the restaurant that we all needed but didn’t know! So fresh and healthy and delicious. Upscale enough for a nice work lunch but you can also show up as you are. Bravo!Dietary restrictions: Gluten-free and dairy-free friendly.“
“My family and I visited the Bump Bar this week for a private experience. What we had was incredible. Deborah, John, and Ellen were amazing hosts. They gave us an education, and presented us with some incredible memories that I won't forget. Thank you so much for a beautiful Tuesday afternoon.“
“This wonderful place is my other office. It's cute and cozy, has strong wifi, the staff is super friendly, and the food is delicious. It's not cheap, but they use lots of fresh, healthy ingredients and it's beautifully presented. I've recently had the winter lentil salad, the French grilled cheese, and the tomato bisque. Yum.“
“Amidst the bustling traffic in El Cerrito, there's a hidden gem and a recent addition to the area. Blink and you'll miss it. Even during a brief pause at a stop light when there's a chance to look around, it's highly probable that you'll still miss it. There's no signage on the building itself, so look for the wine barrels sitting on the sidewalk as your clue, or perhaps you'll spot their small sandwich board just outside their front door. Find parking somewhere near 10368 San Pablo Avenue, the address to Banter, a wine bar with a warm atmosphere, welcoming decor, and communal tables. Offering a curated selection of old and new world wines, Banter focuses on small producers who prioritize minimal intervention from vineyard to bottle. On location, you can purchase a bottle from the shelves to enjoy at home or savor a glass (or bottle) in-house. If you need something to eat while you're there, choose from various delicious snacks including cheese, charcuterie, and other tasty treats. During the pandemic, while drinking wine and eating cheese in their backyard, owners Claire and Devin were inspired to open a wine bar, but they wanted their wine bar to feel like "home," - comfy, casual, no frills, just...chill. A collection of cozy couches in the back creates an ambiance reminiscent of enjoying a drink in the living room of your most stylish friend. Classic VHS tapes and 80's knick-knacks are precariously stacked high next to small vintage TVs playing films that will take you back in time. When I was last there the original Flash Gordon was playing. You probably won't get to hear any of the movie dialogue because the bar is spinning LPs from an ever-expanding vinyl collection, fueled by contributions from patrons. A pinball machine in the back room adds to the decor's nostalgic charm and provides an entertaining distraction between pours. With a partial kitchen, Banter partners with local talent and the community to create new opportunities by featuring "pop-ups" - temporary restaurants that allow chefs and restaurateurs to try out a new neighborhood, experiment with their menu, generate a following, or just get some great experience for their staff. During my most recent visit, I got a front-row seat at the bar to witness Chef Emmanual from the restaurant Bolita work his magic with fresh masa, a must-have ingredient at the center of all his signature dishes. Most notable was the Tamal de Calabaza which featured squash masa, mole negro tamal, roasted kabocha, and cashew crema. A nice compliment was the Papas Rositazadas, simple roasted potatoes with black garlic aioli. Both were deliciously elevated and beautifully plated for such a casual environment. Unfortunately by the time you read this Bolita would have moved on to their next location but you can track them down on their website at www.bolitamasa.com. Banter will continue to feature pop-ups and to find out what's in store next visit their location or follow their Instagram @banter_winebar. As temporary as the pop-up food concept is, Banter is hopefully here for good as they focus on what's most important, which is most fittingly stated by the intentionally sloppy, hand-painted sign in front, "Bad Signs, Good Wigns!"“
“We had the best evening at Dita's! We were warmly welcomed by the lovely owner! The restaurant is modern and chic, the view is the best in the Bay Area, and the entire ambience is joyful and uplifting. We had delicious food : the ceviche was amazing .. little gems salad ... so many delicious choices on the menu ..it will be a place to return to to try others .. and then the music by Freddy Clark was beyond fabulous! This place is a new favorite!!!“
“(March 2024) First time trying the Caprice. Food was good, views of Golden Gate Bridge were fantastic! I wouldn't go there just for the food. Pretty pricey. You're not paying for the quality of the meal, your paying for the ambience and the views.“
“Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious, though expect small portions. The service was exceptional too, but I especially wanted to write a review because the bathroom was so amazing! At the end of the night it was still sparkling clean, and it has a bidet (!), free sanitary products (!!), and a hilarious & adorable toilet paper dispenser that made me laugh out loud. If you're a foodie or you want a fun, quirky place to share a drink and snack with a friend, definitely add Snail Bar to your list.“
“Uber hip but unpretentious; crisp execution on everything silenced my usual grumbling about "SaaS-like gross margins" on hip Bay eats. Also they seem to treat the staff well, giving back some of those margins on OpEx, including gratuity and covering health care, etc. The cutely lo-fi menu even reminds you to use they/them pronouns with the Zoomer staff, so bring your conservative parents to trigger them and have a laugh. Deeply appreciated the lack of choices on the wine list, cutting my cognitive load, and the curation did not disappoint. After I praised the place to the skies, the server even closed the deal by inviting me to leave this review, which made me wonder if the staff gets equity or just has mad hustle. Either way, respect. Go here.“
“We had the Doro Tibs, Beg Alicha, Azifa, and Vegetarian sampler. The injera fermented bread was amazing!! The food was excellent, service was great, and the servers were very friendly and fast. Multiple spice levels are available (the normal options are not very spicy for those with lower tolerance). Indoor and outdoor seating is available. Highly recommend to anyone!“
“Regularly used to order their to-go paella for treats during the grim pandemic days. Now they are back to normal service the food has got even better. Particular;y loved the crab balls in inky aioli. The wines by the glass, tho not cheap, are lovely. We ordered 5 starters/tapas which was plenty for 2 people and very good value. Will go again soon. Thank you!“
“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!“
“Wine So Cru has been on our list to check out for quite some time, and we were finally able to go a few weeks ago. Overall, it was a good experience, not without its cons (see below), but generally, Wine So Cru offers an elegant and intimate environment to enjoy wine. The staff in particular are extremely knowledgeable about wine and very attentive.What I really liked about Wine So Cru is that they offer not only some very high end wines (to drink or take away - more about this later), they also have very affordable options, including some geekier (for wine nerds) options like lesser known varietals or wines from lesser known regions. All this is to say that whether you know what you like and you like what you know or if you're a bit more adventurous and open to learning, Wine So Cru has options for you. Bottle prices ranged from as low as $20-30 to well beyond $200-300+. They seem to be reasonably well stocked up on champagne if that's your jam! They also have some interesting flight options if you're in the mood for sampling a few different wines.While browsing the selection, the staff was extremely helpful and knowledgeable and I truly get the sense that they want to help you find something you're going to really enjoy, rather than being hyper-focused on upselling you on more expensive offerings. Don't be shy and tell them your price range.The bottle prices are retail prices, i.e. for you to take the wine home. If you want to enjoy the wine on premise, there's a $20 corkage fee, which I feel is quite reasonable since they'll be providing the stemware, ambiance, service, etc.There are so many positives about Wine So Cru, but it comes with some negatives as well. First and foremost, of the few wines I was familiar with, their retail price is quite a bit higher than you can find elsewhere. For example, the 2019 Louis Latour "En Chevret" Volnay 1er Cru sells for under $150 retail, even from places like wine.com, which is not necessarily known for offering the best prices. In the shop, the retail price was over $200. Let's say you were in the mood for a Napa cab and chose the 2018 Groth Reserve CS - it'll set you back $180 (retail) vs. $120-140 from other retailers. So although there's "only" a $20 corkage fee to drink in the shop, chances are you're going to be paying 20-30% more for the wine to begin with.Lastly, the location leaves something to be desired. It's on University very close to the 80 overpass, under which there are frequently unhoused members of our community. The juxtaposition of sitting in the wine bar enjoying $200 bottles of wine while meters away, people aren't even able to meet their basic needs - it's not lost on me. Now of course, none of this is the fault of Wine So Cru and I only mention it because you may feel unsafe walking around the area at night. After all, there's a reason the front door remains locked during business hours and you have to be let in by a member of the staff.“
“Hal's Office Coffee is an absolute gem nestled in Albany, California. From the moment you step in, you're enveloped in the warm, inviting vibes that make it the perfect spot to unwind or catch up on work. The cappuccino here is a true work of art, crafted with precision and care, boasting a rich, velvety texture and a bold espresso kick that's simply divine. But what truly sets this place apart is the exceptional service provided by the friendly and knowledgeable baristas who always go above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience. Whether you're a coffee aficionado or just looking for a cozy spot to relax, this is your place to come visit!“
“This review is for the dinner service, which is lovely, full of charm, and has a serious appreciation for food as art. Each dish was incredibly flavorful, curated, and came with fresh ingredients. Overall, the dishes had quality ingredients that were thoughtfully put together, and well worth the value. The vibe and ambiance was fit for both a playful date and an evening with friends. The person behind the counter was also very kind and took his time to suggest wine pairings and dishes. So grateful for this place -- it definitely is a spot for good dining in Berkeley.“
“My family and I visited the Bump Bar this week for a private experience. What we had was incredible. Deborah, John, and Ellen were amazing hosts. They gave us an education, and presented us with some incredible memories that I won't forget. Thank you so much for a beautiful Tuesday afternoon.“
“great place. friendly staff, great and quality drinks, and great and quality food. only downsides, not the biggest place and easy to miss if you're driving by. also, small place so you may leave smelling of fried food. guac and chips, nice. avocados super fresh queso and chips, fire. haven't had queso this good in I dunno how long shrimp with asparagus with rice, bold flavors. very savory dish, recommended if you want garlic, saucy, and shrimp. overall, highly recommended and would frequent often if I'm in the area.“
“Squalo Vino is more than a wine bar. It's a place to enjoy wine of course but it's the ambience and attention, particularly from Kelly that really sets it apart. Not to say that everyone who works there isn't great! If Cheers could be reincarnated as an upscale wine bar, it would be called Squalo Vino...Love them!“
“This is our first time at this place.The place has a good number of tables and clean.Servers are very friendly and attentive.Food is great! Especially love the Organic Special I had with brown rice. My partner's dish Khao Soi (beef curry noodles) was also tasty with enough spice to it.Will definitely return again.“
“I really dig Prima Materia wines -- particularly the cab and Grenache. I also like buying the variety pack cases, which brings the cost per bottle down to about $22. And it's fun to learn about varietals with which I'm unfamiliar, like agalianico.“
“Vegetarian options: I had the Mount Etna salad and it was one of the best salads I've ever had! Really colourful with interesting textures and flavours, and warm ingredients were welcome on a cold rainy day! There were lots of other vegetarian options that looked tempting too.“
“The Study is in an odd place, but it was a cool vibe. We showed up for a temari pop up. Sat outside with friends and our puppy. The music was flowing and so was the natural wine. Most of my group enjoyed the red wine, but I was a fan of the strawberry sparkling white wine. Once the temari sampler came out, we were all happy. It came with 9 pieces per person. I didn't think I would get full, but it was very tasty. Every bite was well thought out with fresh ingredients. All in all I would come back to check out future pop ups.“
“I am a local wine tour guide and very familiar with the caliber of wines AND the off-the-charts expertise wine knowledge of the staff at Bacchus and Venus. (If you're extra lucky Eva will be serving you :) Was recently reminded of the gem that this place is when I popped by. Minutes from San Francisco, but carrying those legendary and desirable wines from the famous wine regions several hours drive from here. Sonoma, Napa, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara- all in here in this gorgeous wine room. (If you don't have the time to go there, go HERE.) I have also seen how well they take care of those who may not consider themselves major connoisseurs, but simply have the requisite curiosity. Those folks seem to leave with a smile- likely not just because the wines taste so good- I suspect also due to feeling a bit further enlightened in the finer things...“
“I absolutely love La Starda! This bar is a hidden gem in the city, with a cozy atmosphere and fantastic drinks. The staff is friendly and attentive, always making sure that my experience is top-notch. The cocktails are expertly crafted and delicious, and the food menu is also impressive. Whether I'm looking for a chill spot to relax after work or a fun night out with friends, La Starda never disappoints. I highly recommend this bar to anyone looking for a great night out.“