Strolling through Solano Ave, our group stopped here for a drink and to chill. Located at the…read morecorner of Solano Ave and San Pablo, Best Friends is a cozy wine bar where you can have a drink at the bar or at one of the bar tables and tables. Their logo on their sign is a dog drinking from wine glass. Yes, they are a dog friendly shop and several customers had their dogs including our friend. Their wine offerings consist of international wines and wines from local small wineries. They also had two craft beers and some light bites. The wine pourer was helpful and answered questions about the wines and gave samples for you to try before ordering. We also ordered marinated olives and Marcona almonds to have with our drinks. Nice place to relax and to have a glass of wine, beer or non-alcoholic offerings where you an bring man's best friend.

Don't ever go to a pop up here…read more While customers, (who paid a lot of money) waited HOURS for food, the staff and owners stuffed themselves. If customers are waiting an hour for a course, the staff/ owners should not eat that course RIGHT IN FRONT of them. Other staff were also seen eating in the back while customers sat there with nothing. Outrageous disregard for customers.

Fabulous neighborhood wine bar! Great food options and they usually feature pop-up restaurants too!…read moreService is friendly and attentive. Ambiance is casual but you can dress up if you want to. They have pinball in the back and I believe they offer trivia night. The wine selections are always fabulous. Come here on a date or with a group! Highly recommend!

Overall 4.5 Food /…read moreWine 5 Service 4 Ambiance 5 I was looking for a cozy wine bar north of Berkeley and Yelp did not disappoint. Banter sits alongside the main road, close to a market and record store. They have a nice selection of natural wines, including some local ones that I wasn't familiar with. Food / Wine: I did a flight ($24 for 3 half-pours). I went with a sparkling rose, a springy white, and finished with a gamay. All were delicious, especially the sparkling rose. I also ordered the anchovy plate. The bread, butter, and pepper spread were great. I imagine their larger charcuterie board would be perfect for a party of 2 or more. Service: There was one person working and four customers at the bar. I was greeted and everything came out quick enough. My only knock is that in a place called Banter you'd think the staff would have a bit of banter, at least an introduction in an effort to create some regulars. Ambiance: This was my favorite part of the experience. There's a nice collection of vinyl along with VHS tapes. The combination of the Psychedelic Furs on vinyl while Mannequin was playing on some very small old TVs was definitely a delightful throwback... and yes, I recognized Andrew McCarthy and named the movie in less than 3-minutes Clean restroom, great actually vintage decor, and a pinball machine that will get some attention from me next time!

Came here on my own after being in the area for something else…read more Good: - There is a large selection of books - it's beautiful inside too! - The staff are super friendly and attentive. - A good place to rest after a lot of walking all day - I liked the non alcoholic sparkling water and having a drink while reading books Bad: - The place is a bit smaller than expected and can get a bit noisy when too many parties are inside Overall this was a super unique concept! I liked how it was a safe haven but differentiated from a library and more upscale

This place is so cute! This is like a dream spot and I wish I lived closer so I could visit more…read moreoften. We went for Halloween as they had some themed activities/books out. There were cozy seating options but since it was fairly packed, we sat at the bar. Loved to see such a big turnout but this place feels like it only has space for ~20 people comfortably. We got the popcorn and I tried out some of the wine tasting on the wall. They give you a tap card so you can control how many tastes you want. They offer 1 oz, half glass, or full glass pours for each of the wine on tap. The wine on tap is mostly their wine pairings for the month. I love the concept and definitely tried a couple wines to decide which book I should read! Overall pretty cozy and intimate. The book selection is pretty small and curated. The shelves are tall and they have the moving ladder! Very beauty and the beast library-like! Would be good to come with one other person or solo to have some cozy reading time. I could only imagine this place would be a dream for a small book club! I know they have a couple events like that every month and would love to come check one out someday.

"You telling me that wine is better than Pepsi? Huh, no way wine is better than Pepsi." - George…read moreCostanza, Seinfeld da Scene: Yelped them for pre-dinner spot. Kinda hidden on a corner right off University & 5th; make the right onto 6th & scoot around to park on 5th or University. They buzz you in, best to make a res., but seems like walk-ins are ok. Very modern, yet welcoming feel, tables spaced well for intimate encounters and a bar with Hightop seating. da Grub & Libation: I had res. for a buddy & I and belly up to the bar; they offered a table, but we're bar flies by nature. Very diverse wines by the glass & bottle so we had 4 different glasses w/ a modest charcuterie plate. da Service: Excellent, warm, friendly and genuinely so. I look forward to my next visit, whether it's for a contemplative glass in solitude or with the wife on a pre-dinner excursion. Hidden Gem, find them and enjoy!

Hidden almost behind the freeway entrance , is a magical small intimate space. A classy wine lounge…read moreof sorts with attentive and knowledgeable staff and amazing ambiance. Their selections of wine is incredible (and all delicious). Definitely a date night spot!

We went on fine Sunday evening with little to no people around. At first glance, the place had the…read moremiddle-east charm. Started with my favorite Labneh and multi-wheat pitas/Zaatar which was absolutely amazing. Experimented with Grape leaves mezze which was little on sour side and mild. Then main course of perfectly seasoned grilled lamb chops, scallops kebabs and lamb kebabs. Out of all the tender lamp chops are must try. Roasted potatoes and basmati rice on the side plays well. Ended up with another favorite Baklava (unexpectedly had right sweetness) and tea.

We went to Chez Mansour expecting to eat because, well, it says "RESTAURANT" in large letters right…read moreoutside the window. Apparently, this was our first mistake. We sat down and the server who is also the chef's wife, a fact she made sure we understood throughout the evening, asked what we wanted to order. We asked how many lamb chops came with the lamb chop plate. She explained that they were priced by weight and that, because it was dinner, they could only serve us a large plate. Fine. We ordered the large plate. She then began repeatedly reminding us that they are not a restaurant. Despite the giant "RESTAURANT" sign behind her. According to her, it is a wine bar. This distinction became particularly important because we had five people in our party, including a two kids. We tried to order an item off of the kids menu and were told they don't serve it at dinner because, again, this is a wine bar, not a restaurant. Okay. We ordered beef, lamb and chicken shawarma, a chicken kebab plate, and the large plate of lamb chops. Then things got weird. The chef, the husband, came out with a plate of 3 small lamb chops. I had read a previous review mentioning that someone felt they'd been shorted on the portion size by the wife, so I very specifically asked him whether the plate was the small or large portion. Without hesitation, he said small. I told him we had ordered the large. He looked confused and said, "I can get you whatever you want." At this point, the wife came storming outside and insisted that it was a large portion. She then proceeded to show me photographs of the raw lamb chops placed on a cutting board on her phone as visual evidence of the weight of the meat. All while I was eating. I suggested she speak with the chef about it, at which point she very aggressively said: "HE'S MY HUSBAND!" And I said, "Well, I never denied that fact." I was no longer sure if I was at dinner, witnessing a marital dispute, or participating in an episode of reality television. The food, unfortunately, did not redeem the experience. It was terrible, even for a wine bar that insists it is not a restaurant. The vibes were completely unhinged. And, as if the evening hadn't already provided enough entertainment, at one point a baby fell down at the bar. Five stars for the experience if you enjoy chaos and confusion. One star for the food and hospitality. I still have no idea whether we ate at a restaurant or a wine bar. One thing is for sure, I'm not going back!

Knowledgeable team. Well curated selection. Fun rotation of classes and events. Great wine bar…read morespace in the evenings. LOVE THIS SHOP!

They have a great selection and a knowledgeable, engaged staff. They're my go-to in the east bay.read more

3of us arrived at 8:45pm. Dolly graciously invited us in and we ordered 2 Caesar salad es 2…read morespaghetti & meatballs & one shrimp & crab ravioli, soft drinks and a mascarpone. The food, hospitality, ambiance and service was excellent. There were 3 other jovial couples that ended up staying past closing with us. We ended up closing at 10!! Our only regret was that the place can only accommodate tables for 2 and seats at the bar. Dolly is a do

Made a recent visit here as I was looking to try cheese wheel pasta and I must say they did not…read moredisappoint. Inside is small, but fortunately we were able to be seated at the bar right away. The gentleman at the bar (Dolly's husband) couldn't have been a more gracious host. He immediately gave us menus and allowed us to sample the various wines before making our selection. We struck up conversation with him since it wasn't too busy and he told us how him and his wife met and got together, honestly a great story. As for the food itself, it was all amazing. We ordered a variety of things including the meatball and cheese wheel pasta and it was all very good. Dolly herself came out, who was also very friendly, and we were able to speak with her and meet their beautiful daughter. It was a great experience and I would definitely comeback and recommend to others.

Right around the corner from Cheeseboard Collective, this is the perfect spot to grab a glass--or a…read morecouple glasses--of wine and enjoy their cute outdoor patio. Inside, you'll find a fun selection of unique wines and a super laid-back vibe. The staff were incredibly helpful and even let us sample what they had for the day before making our final choice. I also had to take a few photos because the whole spot is so Instagrammable. Highly recommend, and I'd definitely come back!

If you are looking for exquisitely curated wines from around the world, with special attention paid…read moreto affordability (huge selection of great wines under $30) then this is your place. I've been a patron of Vintage for years, and what's not to like? The location is gorgeous (a former pumping plant thats been transformed into a cozy, intimate space with a garden out front that changes with the seasons). And the shop is nestled right in the heart of Berkeley's Gourmet District with Peets, Saul's Deli, Cheeseboard Coop and Pizza, Andronico's, and Chez Panisse as next door neighbors. Inside you will find wines by color, grape, and region. It's not an enormous collection, but a lot of thought and experience has gone into presenting customers with something new and surprising. If I can't find myself making an easy decision, the staff have always been patient and helpful in finding the right bottle for my needs. Vintage also offers several different wine clubs for people who like a monthly or bimonthly grab bag of adult grape juice (including the occasional bubbles!). This is the wine store I wish I had as a neighborhood shop. For now, it's a well deserved destination (along with Kermit Lynch Wine Shop) that has yet to disappoint. Give it a try!

If you've ever been to Les Deux Magots in St. Germain, this is the spot to check out, hang out,…read moresip, while snacking on something freshly made in front of you. The ambiance will get you first, the attention to detail say's a lot about the love put into La Loulou. The service is fabulous, they will remember your last drink. I'm a quirky 'orderer' and they remembered the nuance of how I like my drink. Also, don't forget to checkout the bathroom. Merci!!!

I visited La Loulou several months ago and wanted to give it some time before writing a review…read more After recently having a wonderful experience at another wine bar, I realized the difference in hospitality was too significant not to mention. I really wanted to like this place. I'd walked by several times and loved the interior design, and the videos on Instagram made it seem like such a great spot. I stopped in one evening by myself, ordered a glass of wine and the warm olives (which were delicious), and was looking forward to a relaxing night. Unfortunately, the service was the biggest disappointment. The restaurant was packed, and the atmosphere felt more concerned with maintaining an image than making guests feel welcome. I understand some restaurants embrace a more reserved European style of service, but this came across as cold and pretentious rather than intentional hospitality. As a solo diner especially, I didn't feel acknowledged or valued as a guest. It also didn't help that the dining room had a noticeable body odor smell that took away from the experience. On a positive note, the bathroom was clean and beautifully designed. I originally thought this would become my go-to place to grab a glass of wine while waiting for a table at the ramen spot next door, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Reading through other reviews, it seems I'm not the only one who had this impression. Oakland's charm has always been its people. You can open a French-inspired wine bar, but hospitality translates into every language. If you're going to bring a Parisian aesthetic to Oakland, don't mistake indifference for sophistication. Guests should leave feeling welcomed, not judged.

Love their organic wine, and so many options!! I stopped by here after seeing them on Instagram,…read moreand 1 wine tasting later- instantly sighed up for their wine club!

Very nice staff, fun location with a really nice outdoor seating area, interesting wines!…read more We didn't try any of the snacks, but they had some that we might try next time. We did teo flights of wine and they were very light and crisp. The staff was super nice and walked us through the wine selections and helped us to an outside seating area where we got to enjoy the sunshine. The outdoor seating area looks to be great for groups as it's large and covered!