I gotta balance my chi after that other thread.

I lived in Berkeley/Oakland a good 6 years after I graduated. After that I lived in the city and then settled onto the peninsula.

People in the city like to make fun of bridge-and-tunnel types but I really missed the East Bay having lived there so long and knowing a bunch of great restaurants.

In Berkeley, I miss Cesar's which has a tapas menu that changes daily. La Trattoria Siciliana is a place I found randomly with a friend back in 2000 and am glad to have stumbled upon it. Family restaurant with a nice vibe and excellent Italian food. Down college is Garibaldi's which is just excellent food, including the desserts.

Oh and let me tell you about this place named Zachary's pizza.... ;p

freshfunk;842083300 said:

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I gotta balance my chi after that other thread.

I lived in Berkeley/Oakland a good 6 years after I graduated. After that I lived in the city and then settled onto the peninsula.

People in the city like to make fun of bridge-and-tunnel types but I really missed the East Bay having lived there so long and knowing a bunch of great restaurants.

In Berkeley, I miss Cesar's which has a tapas menu that changes daily. La Trattoria Siciliana is a place I found randomly with a friend back in 2000 and am glad to have stumbled upon it. Family restaurant with a nice vibe and excellent Italian food. Down college is Garibaldi's which is just excellent food, including the desserts.

Oh and let me tell you about this place named Zachary's pizza.... ;p

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My favorites in my neighborhood (downtown Berkeley):
Ippuku
Comal
Gather
Jupiter
Cancun
Razan's
Slow
Jayakarta
Angeline's
Alborz
Venus
Rivival
Udupi Palace
Chaat
Brasa
Platano
Phil's Sliders
Belli Osteria
Top Dog
Zatar

calumnus;842083315 said:

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My favorites in my neighborhood (downtown Berkeley):
Ippuku
Comal
Gather
Jupiter
Cancun
Razan's
Slow
Jayakarta
Angeline's
Alborz
Venus
Rivival
Udupi Palace
Chaat
Brasa
Platano
Phil's Sliders
Belli Osteria
Top Dog
Zatar

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My NY magazine thread mentions Gather, which I hear about in the national press every once in a while (I've never been. Not my scene.) Plus, it's like Natalie Coughlin's 2nd home.

I've meaning to eat at Phil's Sliders one of these days. I still remember going to that $1 Chinese place that used to occupy that location in my college days. How is it? And how many sliders do you get?

I've been going to O Chame on 4th street for over 15 years. Not really a 'student eats' but good food and reasonably priced considering the quality. And I've always been a fan of Zachary's despite the haters.

I like all the one word restaurants in Oakland - dopo (and sister adesso), commis, camino, plum, haven, pican, homeroom and mua. I'm sure there are great restaurants with multiple words for names but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

I wouldn't call it great, but Fat Apples makes a damn good breakfast.. Located on MLK in North Berkeley. I think they have another location in El Cerrito or Albany but I could be wrong. Never had a bad meal there.

Love the vibe at Jupiter. The red spot ale is really good and the pizza is pretty good too. Love that place in the summer time.

Phil's is kinda pricey but the sliders are delicious and I dig their tater tots. Just don't get the homemade root beer soda or arnold palmer.

StillNoStanfurdium;842083367 said:

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Phil's is kinda pricey but the sliders are delicious and I dig their tater tots. Just don't get the homemade root beer soda or arnold palmer.

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I thought their sliders were $2. How many sliders is equal to a decent burger?

(I've never had a slider in my life, not counting the frozen White Castles they have at Safeway.)

Sportivo was my favorite restaurant in Berkeley. Was crushed that they closed after new years.

hanky1;842083348 said:

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I've been going to O Chame on 4th street for over 15 years. Not really a 'student eats' but good food and reasonably priced considering the quality. And I've always been a fan of Zachary's despite the haters.

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My favorite place for a steak, when it's on the menu. I usually get the salmon soba....not usually on the menu and it's cheaper than the entree. They'll give you rice for free and you'll save about $10.

I live a block from Camino.....limited menu but the food is fresh and excellently prepared.

I think Garibaldi's is a place called Hudson now

okaydo;842083369 said:

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I thought their sliders were $2. How many sliders is equal to a decent burger?

(I've never had a slider in my life, not counting the frozen White Castles they have at Safeway.)

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Sliders are $2.50. 75 cents more for bacon. This is the Berkeley gourmet version of White Castle. Grass fed beef from Marin, tator tots made from scratch (organic potatoes). Homemade (organic) ice cream for the shakes. I'd say 3 sliders probably equals a burger, but as I am no longer young and no longer eat burgers regularly, I am actually usually good with two (with a beer or a glass of red wine)--but that is eating light. Sometimes when looking for a late night after drinking nosh, I'll just get one, just for the taste.



Phil's Sliders

tim94501;842083397 said:

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Sportivo was my favorite restaurant in Berkeley. Was crushed that they closed after new years.

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Has reopened as Sliver, the pizza place, which seems to be doing very well.

calumnus;842083406 said:

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Sliders are $2.50. 75 cents more for bacon. This is the Berkeley gourmet version of White Castle. Grass fed beef from Marin, tator tots made from scratch (organic potatoes). Homemade (organic) ice cream for the shakes. I'd say 3 sliders probably equals a burger, but as I am no longer young and no longer eat burgers regularly, I am actually usually good with two (with a beer or a glass of red wine)--but that is eating light. Sometimes when looking for a late night after drinking nosh, I'll just get one, just for the taste.



Phil's Sliders

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I have to check out Phil's the next time I'm back. I've been on a slider kick lately. As Calumnus probably knows from his NYC days, sliders are pretty much a North East thing (New Jersey specifically). Even here in manhattan it's difficult to find authentic ones.

I've just started really appreciating them and have found a few places that are very good and am enjoying the heck outta them. They are more than just smaller hamburgers. Instead of being just fried hamburger, a real slider is steamed on a bed of grilled onions. It imparts a different flavor. Yummmm! I'm so glad to hear of Phil's.

kc1121;842083404 said:

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I think Garibaldi's is a place called Hudson now

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Not anymore. Soon to be A16.

wallyball2003;842083422 said:

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Not anymore. Soon to be A16.

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As in the same one in the Marina???? I liked Garibaldi's, Hudson, not so much

kc1121;842083404 said:

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I think Garibaldi's is a place called Hudson now

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Hudson is now closed......will soon be A16 Oakland

davetdds;842083445 said:

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As in the same one in the Marina???? I liked Garibaldi's, Hudson, not so much

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Yes, same as Marina A16. There is actually a Tokyo, Japan location as well.

Was always a fan of Lo Cocos in North Berkeley. Vik's Chaat was good too.

NYCGOBEARS;842083414 said:

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I have to check out Phil's the next time I'm back. I've been on a slider kick lately. As Calumnus probably knows from his NYC days, sliders are pretty much a North East thing (New Jersey specifically). Even here in manhattan it's difficult to find authentic ones.

I've just started really appreciating them and have found a few places that are very good and am enjoying the heck outta them. They are more than just smaller hamburgers. Instead of being just fried hamburger, a real slider is steamed on a bed of grilled onions. It imparts a different flavor. Yummmm! I'm so glad to hear of Phil's.

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It would appear sliders have become a big trend the last couple years. Lots of restaurants and food trucks have them now. The definition has also expanded to include just about every kind of meat and larger (as in regular) sizes.

Speaking of trucks, there are a bunch of good ones based in the East Bay. Ebbett's and Doc's are a couple of them.

Where else to do get to share tables with all sorts and eat really good home made fare. As a bonus, you get to hear a soon to be NFL player's mother (her son was a well known Furd at the time) announce to the table that Jim Harbaugh was on his own planet.

You should go to Phil's on Monday. They do a fried chicken with bacon and ranch "slider" which is darn good.

Manka's , Comal

Trattoria Siciliana is terrible

GB54;842083586 said:

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Manka's , Comal

Trattoria Siciliana is terrible

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Isn't Manka's in Inverness? Different one perhaps?

I love Phil's sliders. The guy who owns the place, Hugh Groman, is an excellent caterer as well. Never had better food at a wedding than what he did.

NYCGOBEARS;842083593 said:

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Isn't Manka's in Inverness? Different one perhaps?

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Oops Marica on college

GB54;842083634 said:

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Oops Marica on college

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BTW, my wife and I celebrated our engagement at Manka's and had one of the most memorable meals of our life there and had an incredibly great and unique experience staying there also. Shame that the main cabin burned down. I wonder what it's like now? I hope that it has been returned to its previous rustic glory. Anyone know?

NYCGOBEARS;842083637 said:

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BTW, my wife and I celebrated our engagement at Manka's and had one of the most memorable meals of our life there and had an incredibly great and unique experience staying there also. Shame that the main cabin burned down. I wonder what it's like now? I hope that it has been returned to its previous rustic glory. Anyone know?

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Great duck

You can ask, but I'm not telling......
I like to be able to eat when I want and not wait for you folk.
I will share one though.....
Enoteca Molinari, College Ave next to Acote. The owner, Joe Madison, has the balls to suggest that why they wait, they can get a drink at Acote and he'll come get them when their table is ready. Excellent Italian food paired with an excellent selection of Italian wine.

Vik's Chaat

Crepes a Go Go

Vik's Vik's Vik's Vik's

Gathers write up sounds like something from a skit from an earlier season of "Portlandia".

Unit2Sucks;842083358 said:

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I like all the one word restaurants in Oakland - dopo (and sister adesso), commis, camino, plum, haven, pican, homeroom and mua. I'm sure there are great restaurants with multiple words for names but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

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Other good ones in my area are Bellanico, Mijori, and Marzano's. Duende, Flora, and Hopscotch in Uptown area also good.

59bear;842083737 said:

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Gathers write up sounds like something from a skit from an earlier season of "Portlandia".

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Is that the one where they go to visit the farm so they can see where the chicken they are going to eat was raised? A classic episode.

I ate at Commis in December and it was one of the better meals I've ever had. We sat at the counter and were able to watch them prepare all the dishes. It's a relative bargain compared to similar restaurants.