Parents in town? Impress them with your cultivated palate by showing them Riva Cucina.
The Italian menu changes from time to time, but you can always count on the pasta and seafood being absolutely delectable. We mean, you can practically taste the salt in the air.
We recommend the antipasto misto (two kinds of bruschetta and salame? we’re so there). If you’ve got a sweet tooth, order the panna cotta to seal the deal.
Location: 800 Heinz Ave., accessible by the 9 bus
Price: $15 to $20 per entree
Notes: Don’t be afraid of ordering lots of antipasti.
Image Source: _e.t. under Creative Commons
Riva Cucina [Website]
Earlier: Local Chocolate for Happy Mouths
If you’re looking to treat yourself after finals or need a last minute gift, try some of the chocolate from the East Bay. It’s delish.
Charles Chocolates
Location: Emeryville, but there are tons of Berkeley shops that carry the chocolates too
Deets: Organic ingredients, small batches, hand made, fresh.
You can even get a tour of their kitchen and facilities.
read more »
While the vast majority of you were indisputably waking up at 2 p.m. earlier this week, the Clog forced ourselves to wake up early enough to work—that is, eat breakfast at Bette’s Oceanview Diner. Because we are* a food blog. Oh, the humanity!
So our first impression was the crowd: Not a whole lot of pre-baby booming types. Signs of the economic impact on eateries? Apparently the place used to be full of read more »
Peet’s Coffee may call Berkeley home, but we gladly shell out for a cup of Blue Bottle’s joe. Blue Bottle Coffee Company is all about freshness, starting with organic beans and ending with a super fresh roast. The creme de la creme of restaurants and eateries across the Bay Area serve only Blue Bottle, because it’s just that good.
We’re only familiar with the Retrofit roast, which is mild with a slight caramel taste, but most of the roasts are robust and pack quite the caffeine punch. Espresso drinks pulled from Blue Bottle beans need no sugar or extra flavoring, and even a black cup of coffee delivers all the sweetness you need. In life after Blue Bottle, you realize that you don’t need to add any mocha or whipped cream or caramel to a good drink.
Location: Tuesday (espresso) and Saturday (coffee) Berkeley Farmers’ Markets
Price: $2 to $4, depending on what you order
Notes: There’s even a list of BB-friendly restaurants and eateries.
Image Source: letouj under Creative Commons
Blue Bottle Coffee Company [Web site]
Earlier: Yogurt Harmony, Sunshine, Butterflies, Etc.
Posted by
Jill Cowan on Sunday, August 31, 2008 01:52 pm
We’ll admit that we didn’t really give Yogurt Harmony a second glance, at first, since the unassuming “pastel minimalist” storefront looks just like every other Pinkberry-esque fro-yo place anywhere. It wasn’t until one of our fellow fro-yo snob friends recommended it that we even gave “Yo-Har” a fighting fro-yo chance.
It was worth it, but–surprisingly–not just for the yogurt. While Yogurt Harmony’s basic tart yogurt was unusually creamy and tasty, we don’t know if the slightly higher prices would make picking Yogurt Harmony over the billion or so other fro-yo places in the vicinity worth it. So what’s so great about Yogurt Harmony, then? read more »
Thai Temple (formally Wat Mongkolratanaram) brunch is pretty much a Berkeley institution. Every Sunday, Berkeley foodies and hipsters alike will line up for flavorful curries and cheap Thai iced teas. On top of it all, the prices are reasonable if you know how to get your money’s worth.
Today, we sampled a chicken drumstick with peppers, stew with egg and fried sweet tofu, and pad Thai. Nothing was exceptionally spicy, but the sweetness of the tofu and our chicken hit the spot.
When you go to the temple, you should bring a friend. Have your friend exchange money for tokens while you wait in the big line for food. Share a plate or two, and don’t forget the mango sticky rice. You won’t be able to finish it all, but that won’t be from lack of trying.
Location: 1911 Russell Street, accessible by F bus
Price: $5 for one entree on a plate, $6 for two, $7 for three
Notes: The Thai iced tea (along with all the other drinks) is only $1.
Image Source: Kenn Christ under Creative Commons
Earlier: Brewskies in Your Own Backyard
Berkeley is home to a handful of breweries, some with their own pubs and others you luck out and find on tap at your local watering hole. Either way, if you’re of age (we’re looking at you, young’uns), you can be sure to enjoy one of the brews made within 10 minutes of your pad.
Trumer Pils Brauerei
Trumer is not a Berkeley native, but it is a welcome transplant in a sexy glass.
Located on 4th Street.
Bison Brewery
How can you say no to chocolate stout? (You can’t). read more »
Need groceries? Need mountains of fruit, glistening piles of veggies, arrays of produce you’ve never even seen before? OK, so maybe you don’t need that much, but Berkeley Bowl Marketplace will have that exact type of ruby grapefruit you’re looking for.
Some swear by Trader Joe’s, but if you’re in the market for fresh fruits and veggies, TJ’s ain’t got nothin’ on the Bowl. Always swamped, always hustling with other food lovers, a visit to Berkeley Bowl could be your newest Sunday ritual.
Besides the produce (which probably takes up as much space as a regular TJ’s), the market also has a selection of freshly baked Semifreddi’s bread and cheap wine at the checkout. No two-buck Chuck, but we managed to pick up a four-dollar Romanian beauty.
Location: 2020 Oregon Street, accessible by F bus
Price: Best deal on produce.
Notes: Definitely do not go hungry!
Image Source: Pete Boyd under Creative Commons
Berkeley Bowl Marketplace [Website]
Earlier: Brazil Cafe for a Sunny Day
If anyone is under the impression that Brazilian food is made up wholly by the combinatorics of different meats and salts, they might want to reconsider. By the nature of its location, it wouldn’t take much to imagine the Brazil Cafe to be in a favela–a view of the street, a constant flow of Brazilian music and cars whizzing by nonstop. read more »
So Yelp.com and ShopinBerkeley.com argue over the exact location of Berkeley Bagels, but we’re pretty sure this counts as a Berkeley gastro-pilgrimage.
Berkeley Bagels puts Noah’s to shame, and yeah, it’s a long way away from campus, but it’s so worth it. (C’mon, you have a bike, right?) Chewy on the inside, lightly toasted if you like, these bagels come fresh and utterly smothered in shmear.
They’ve got just as much selection as the next bagel shop, but they also offer refreshing beverages like Thai iced tea. So choose your variety, get something tasty to wash it down with and don’t forget the lox.
Location: 1281 Gilman Street, accessible by the 9 bus
Price: A few bucks for the whole deal
Notes: So good it won’t even need a toasting.
Image Source: iirraa under Creative Commons
Berkeley Bagels [Yelp]
Earlier: Cheeseboard for a Slice of Jazz, Pizza too
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