Café Etoile

San Francisco has lots of places to grab a sandwich. It's seems I ate at the majority of delis in…read moreSF. Sometimes it's good to try something different and a place with some interesting character and characters. I usually get deli sandwiches which have deli meats but this place has fried chicken sandwiches . So I was craving a sandwich so I headed to Crave Subs in Downtown Berkeley next to BART station. They have lots of sandwiches available on the menu. On a Summer stroll getting some sun in Downtown Berkeley I landed at Crave Subs. Inside it's like you stepped into an ice cream parlor with a comic book shop and arcade and a deli all at the same time. You will see sandwiches on the menu called the Pikachu, Ned Flanders, and Bart Simpson. You will see Chewbacca fries along with the Spider-Man fries and the vegan Sailormoon fries. I got the Captain Boom Halal Fried Chicken, Boom Boom Sauce, Cheddar Cheese and Crave Sauce on a roll. It was tasty and a bit crunchy and had lots of flavor. It's one of the best Halal chicken sandwiches I had. If you crave a fried chicken sandwich then Crave Subs is the spot. It will "cost "you an extra 50 cents if you want to "floss" with extra drip "sauce" to show off on social media and during OSL my social media feed was stuck in the" Land of OZ" If you want great fried chicken sandwich you don't need to visit KFC or meet the chicken"commanders" like the late "Colonel Sanders" just get a Captain Boom with "Halal chicken standards" or grab a Pikachu sandwich or a turkey sandwich called the "Ned Flanders "

I don't really enjoy writing negative reviews of restaurants, especially smaller businesses but…read moretoday's visit to Crave really left a bad taste in my mouth. One of my biggest pet peeves is when restaurants reduce the guality or quantity of their meal to cut costs while charging premium prices. I will say I didn't mind paying a few dollars more for their subs in the past. I went there today for the first time in a couple of years, ordered a regular size basic ruben sandwich (no add-ons) and was ok paying nearly $18 dollars for just the sandwich until they handed it to me. what I got was a small 6" sub. When did their subs shrink?? in this economy we are all struggling. I get it, things cost more but Craves' owner is not doing his patrons a service by charging them premiums while cutting back on the meals. If you're ok paying that much for a shrunken sub, more power to you. I l, however, will not be going back there.

0.5 mi•Gourmet Ghetto, North Berkeley

2 arcade video game

Steak Storm Fries ($16.99- weekend special!)

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Patrick Star ($14.99)

Grégoire

4.1(2.6k reviews)

This joint could work on any corner in any city in the world!…read moreTop notch service, excellent marketing, merchandising, and staff. Mostly a walk-in window, but there is a table outside with maybe a total of 4 to 6 seat seats. They got's it all! Very delicious sandwiches. I had the cauliflower and my buddy had the chicken- off the hook- Bomb Diggity! And the potato puffs are from heaven!! Insane in the membrane. The staff is on point and remarkable . Just left there again today. Great experience as always and delicious food.

Super cute little shop with limited seating. Small selection on their menu but you come for one…read morething and one thing only, Potato Balls! They are decently priced and they give you a lot, they are dense too, so it's worth your money. I tried the Garlic and Parmesan + White Truffle, and it was good. I was expecting more of a crispiness and texture to it. When you bite into it, it loses it shape and crumbles into your mouth. The flavor though, amazing. Definitely give them a try if you're looking for a quick snack in the area!

Menu as of November 2024

French fries

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Chocolate Bread Pudding

Heroic Italian

4.4(165 reviews)

0.4 mi•Downtown Berkeley

Heroic Italian is a fantastic downtown Berkeley spot for a relaxed Italian meal. The food is…read moredelicious, from the elevated sandwiches and fresh pasta to the pizzas, salads, and a great Italian wine selection. The garden patio large and and dog friendly. Service is attentive and kind. We live in Oakland and this is one of favorite sport in Berkeley. My partner doesn't want me to post this review because she's afraid it will get too crowded, ha. Cheers

We ordered via DoorDash, and I wouldn't call our experience "heroic."…read more The pinsa was very good. We got the Calabrian shrimp. We found it very tasty, but paying over $25 for this on DoorDash--certainly not worth the price even though we really enjoyed it. The spicy chicken parm sandwiches were not good. The chicken breast was flabby, and came across like it was one of those frozen cooked Tyson jobs. I would be very surprised if they actually breaded chicken breast, fried it, and made the sandwich with that. It was mushy, and the breading was like paste on the chicken. Pretty awful. They charge extra for sauce, which is a little much, given that we paid $21 for each sandwich. But we figured out pretty quickly why they do this: there was hardly any sauce on the sandwiches. And precious little cheese. We each ate half of our sandwich and figured we doctor the leftovers up the next day with a jar of Rao's and a bag of shredded Italian cheese. That helped, but nothing could save that chicken. The meatballs. We paid $15 for four, and we had high hopes, but they were so mushy that they fell apart in the sauce, and I couldn't tell what was sauce and what was meatballs. The only flavor that came across was fennel. Why any meatball should be so fennel-forward strikes me as bizarre. We got what we thought were pretty basic things, and they were fails. If an Italian place can't make a decent chicken parm sandwich nor a decent meatball, that says something. If you go, try the pinsa.

Inside counter

Come enjoy an OMG on the patio in the sun before the next storm hits! An organic Italian soda pairs nicely as does a glass of wine.

Heroic Italian - Calabrian Shrimp! Wild Gulf of Mexico shrimp roasted with brown butter sage, garlic, lemon juice & Calabrian Chilies ..Comes with crostini

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Calabrian Shrimp! Wild Gulf of Mexico shrimp roasted with brown butter sage, garlic, lemon juice & Calabrian Chilies ..Comes with crostini

Mezzo

4.2(1.1k reviews)

0.9 mi•Telegraph Ave

Long time customer since my college days here. I was here the first week after they rebuilt after…read morethe fire, and so I've seen the quality start high and remain after all these years. Came for a dinner pickup to-go on a weekday evening. Things I love: - HUGE portions: all other considerations aside, I'd always default to splitting a meal or counting on leftovers. Their salads and sandwiches both are served in generous portions, which helps justify the cost, which itself is not that unreasonable to begin with. - Seating: nice areas inside, as well as an outdoor space that's shared with the neighboring bar. During the daytime when the bar is not open, the back space is a great area to spread out in, and even work in with a small group. - Staff: I read a few negative reviews about the staff here, but I have had nothing but positive experiences, especially given the high customizability of the meals here, they do a great job accommodating requests and making sure you have the meal that you're expecting. - Breakfast burritos: gotta shoutout my favorite breakfast burritos. These things literally sustained me all of junior year, and are a great value for what you're paying.

Like the other reviews state--portions are sizable! The Chef Salad is hefty and I love it. I…read moreespecially enjoyed the beans (garbanzo + kidney) and sprouts they add. Lots of fiber and protein. LOVED the thick side of sliced bread!! Lightly sweet and very earthy tasting. The menu isn't very intuitive--the "salad" menu sign doesn't show the protein options; the proteins are under the "sandwiches" sign. I admittedly stepped into the line underprepared, but the staff here could be so much kinder lol. Latte was alright. A tad too bitter for my taste. They have extensive indoor and patio seating. Great place to meet up with a friend or two and grab a quick/easy food.

Entrance

Veggie delight salad

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Combination (Half Sandwich and Cup of Soup)

Star Meats

4.1(301 reviews)

1.8 mi•Claremont

this sandwich was amazing; so fresh and delicious. the meat was thinly sliced and same with the…read morecheese, perfection. we opted no mayo no tomato, they added oil to the arugula and it was top tier! service was quick and friendly and bread was amazing.

I ordered The Classic. It was amazingly good. My sandwiches must start with good quality bread…read more Check! Then the meats, cheese and the toppings. Check! This sandwich was the perfect blend of all. I will be back. Probably today for a second day in a row. It was that good!

0.3 mi•Gourmet Ghetto, North Berkeley

Brian Allen 18$ yes.

Brian Allen on the Beach

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Brian Allen Sandwich

Roast & Toast Cafe

4.7(153 reviews)

FADI'S SPECIAL You…read morewon't find it on the menu. Fadi's Special isn't just another coffee -- it's a secret signature drink, made only for those who ask for it. A unique taste. A special experience. The kind of coffee that makes you say: "I've never had anything like this before." Not on the menu. Not for everyone. Only for Special Customers. Just ask for "Fadi's Special." Your secret cup is waiting.

Perfect brunch place for a group, many menu options and seats! My party got a caramel macchiato,…read morehot chocolate, green tea and a chai latte, all turned out great. Everyone loved what they got, croissant sandwich, egg/avocado toast, bagel sandwich (pictured). So nice to see they have gluten-free toast available! Service was quick especially for the amount we ordered. Everyone was nice, especially the worker that hand scooped our Booza icecream at the end. Didn't even get a picture because we were too excited to try it!

Good vibe

Turkish kunafeh

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Arabic booza with pistachio/phyllo dough & rose petals topping

Picnic

4.5(80 reviews)

1.9 mi

Best roasted potatoes ever! Especially good with roasted chicken. Really lovely service too.read more

I really wanted to love this place. Very small and quirky, limited menu. I'm not really a "salad is…read morea meal" person, although my two best friends are. They were very happy with their arugula salads. I ordered the mac n cheese which was okay. Even though I grew up in El Cerrito, I sometimes feel like my NorCal green card has expired. I've lost touch with my small batch, organic self. (Although I have never liked arugula) This store is adorable and just the kind of independent neighborhood place that should be frequented and appreciated. Unfortunately I also had to use the bathroom and they don't have one for customers. So they recommended walking a block away to the BevMo. So I guess that added some negative feelings.

Interior

Braised Italian beef panini on Feb 17th

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Holiday Makers Market

Hidden Spot - Emeryville

4.5(445 reviews)

2.8 mi•Longfellow

Found this spot on tiktok and decided to try it out with my favorite cousin. The rating was decent…read moreand the food looked good so we made our way over. We sat inside originally, but then decided to go sit outside because it was a beautiful day. The inside was clean and very quiet, the patio was full of people. Ambiance gets a 4/5. We were immediately met by a pleasant waitress, and when we moved she just came and found us. She was very informative, engaging, and knowledgeable, great service all around 4.8/5. I ordered the strength & my cousin the garlic wings and a margarita. The wings were some of the best I've ever had, fried to perfection and seasoned just right. A huge punch of garlic, which I really enjoy, so wings were 4.9/5. The vegetarian sandwich I ordered was so delicious, the pesto and garlic aioli really added flavor and the fresh warm bread really set it apart 4.8/9, only because the jalapeño was more spicy than pickled. Overall; I rate this place a 4.7/5

Love the patio on a nice day Doors open, games on - service…read moreand attitude are better than average. Been here a couple of times during my getaways to OAKLAND. No food today but have before. Basic bar food menu

Buffalo Sauce (Spicy) OTS

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Other Guys

IB’s - Philly with mushrooms and peppers

IB’s

3.9(813 reviews)

0.9 mi•Telegraph Ave

Consistency! This place has been slanging sandwiches since I was thigh high to a bread box and it's…read morealways tasted just like I remember it. Staff always friendly and line moves quick. Theres a few tables out front but if you get lucky enough to get a parking spot close, just bust that ho open and throw down on the trunk. Menu is halal and options are extensive. Fried Chicken Sandwiches are good as are the wings but my go to is the Beast Mode cheesesteak or the Prince Of Berkeley, can't go wrong either way. 4/5 always good especially late night Bonus: if your here late night you might as well check kingpin up the block and see if they've got hot donuts. You are welcome

I came back to IB's with friends and ordered the chili cheese fries…read more It was piping hot, salty but the chili part of it tasted good. The fries did get soft and more soggy because of the liquid in the chili and cheese, although it wasn't to the point that it was unpleasant texturally, but just wanted to note this probably isn't the best item to get if you like your fries crispy.

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Menu as of September 2026

Eunice Gourmet Cafe

4.4(196 reviews)

1.8 mi

•$

10/10 customer service and food fresh deli sandwiches! I…read morelove that you're able to customize your sandwich exactly how you want it. Everything always tastes so fresh, juicy, and delicious. The shop is also always super clean and welcoming. They have amazing coffee too--I sometimes stop by just for a coffee! Definitely a great spot for both sandwiches and coffee.

Great coffee, great pastries, great atmosphere, great service. Definitely recommend them if you are…read morein Albany!

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Outside

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7 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Lance R.

2 months ago

I had an uncomfortable experience at this coffee shop. I sat down intending to order food, but I had sushi with me, and a manager sent another employee over to confront me about the outside-food policy. I understand that businesses can have policies regarding outside food, but the way the situation was handled made me uncomfortable. There were also multiple people staring at me, which made the environment feel unnecessarily hostile and awkward. If outside food isn't permitted, I would have preferred a simple, direct explanation of the policy and an opportunity to comply without the situation becoming uncomfortable. Overall, the experience left a negative impression, and I hope management can handle similar situations more professionally and respectfully in the future. read more

Anya A.

10 months ago

This restaurant was so good and nice setting. I came back again for breakfast, been coming there many times and the food didn't disappoint me at all. The Chicken Croffle Benedict which taste really great and it was nicely seasoned. The croissant was tasty with balance flavor. The ingredients were great quality. The juices were so cool and refreshing. The staff was so nice and friendly. read more

Ken You Talk

4 years ago

Not good. Coffee taste like water yet pricey. Will not go again. The one across the street is better. ..............................;..;............././/./$;())))$2& why review needs 85 chars????? read more

Shelley C.

4 years ago

Absolutely delicious. I wanted to order another meal on way out to have later. Going back again for sure!

Hermilo Q.

4 years ago

Toast in the avocado toast was not toasted. The toppings was good. The chicken croffle was excellent.

Eric W.

164

4 years ago

Great coffee and great breakfast! Also nice staff. I am sure they will be very famous later. read more

Sveta L.

4 years ago

Nice please, good atmosphere , l like please like this ) many options for breakfast)

Café Etoile - french - Updated October 2026

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The absolute best breakfast burrito I ever had!!! At first glance, it looks simple, but when you…read morebite into it, it is bursting with flavor and love. I highly recommend adding sausage to it, and if you can, get their chipotle aioli on the side! Their chia seed overnight oats was incredible as well. Healthy and hearty! I love the stewed apples that comes with it, it complements the flavor layout so well. The place is cozy and service is thoughtful and warm. Cannot wait to come back!!

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The food here was incredible!!…read more We initially planned a short pitstop on the way to a coffee shop. The ambience was great and the WiFi was strong, so we decided to stay a while. We arrived before their 11am lunch menu opened, so we opted for items from their breakfast offerings. We ordered at the counter and seated ourselves at a table in the dining area. The food arrived promptly and looked beautiful! We were incredibly happy with both dishes! The UQBAR Breakfast Platter is great for those whole enjoy grazing/sampling multiple items. I personally loved the eggs and potatoes with hummus! The buckwheat flatbread arrived warmed and paired perfectly with both dishes. We look forward to returning in the future to try their lunch items!

The excellent fresh food and the choice of a relaxing indoor and sunny outdoor patio…read more Looking for a new lunch space on a busy sunny Berkeley Saturday. My usual haunts would be busy I knew. Found UQBAR on Yelp. It was bustling but tables opened up outside after I ordered. I did have to wait for a minute or two until the tables were bussed & wiped clean. I ordered the half soup and half sandwich which cost about $15. A surprisingly reasonable price. The mushroom soup was thick and the best I've had in a while. The lamb sandwich was succulent and melted in my mouth. I also ordered their milkshake which is made with coconut milk and a berry which name I don't remember right now. The shake was a nice chilling treat on a sunny day after a week of overcast days. Of course, I enjoyed sunbathing over my leisurely lunch. The only glitch was somehow my order got misplaced. After a long wait, I brought it to the attention of Benjamin the owner and order taker. It turned out that my order somehow got lost on a bustling morning. But Benjamin made good by offering me a full sandwich. It was the best lamb sandwich I've had in Berkeley for a while. Benjamin is a very nice person and didn't try to disguise or excuse the glitch. As I told him, the lamb sandwich was well worth the wait, especially since I was hungry when I first ordered and much much more hungrier because of the wait! To be fair, even in Berkeley venues I've frequented for a long time, this does happen once in a while when things are busy. But from what I can see the staff of UQBAR are typically OTJ. I'll be back to my new fave Berkeley lunch spot. Oh, it was easy parking on a Saturday.

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Great coffee, service staff are great…read more Try the Egg Sandwich or one of the scones You'll thank me later

I saw a segment on the news from the co-owner that these are the best scones in the bay according…read moreto yelpers. I came by around 9 am on a Saturday before a hike. They have 3 scones: sour cherry-apricot sweet scone, green onion- cheddar savory scone and lemon blueberry poppy seed scone. I got the sour cherry-apricot scone and it was good. The outside was crispy but not hard as a brick like other bakeries. The inside was nice and soft. I wouldn't say they're the best but good. I got 5 scones and the young lady asked if can just put them in a paper bag? Maybe better packaging would be better as it was a huge bag just for 5 scones. Also, don't bother calling because they don't pick up the phone. There is a recording. Tiny parking lot and street parking.

Anja’s

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Anja's has delicious German food prepared with Chez Panisse level ingredients at prices for…read moreordinary diners. Extra plus, you can eat in their rose garden. I had the Fisherman's Salad - lots of fresh briny Bay shrimp from Oregon served atop a salad of mixed greens with a lovely light creamy dressing. Had the roll and butter on the side. Roll was just dense enough and reminded me of the great bakeries in Germany. We ate in a gazebo in the rose garden at the back of the restaurant which made it feel like a special lunch even though the price of less than $20 is not much more than what a sandwich in Berkeley costs. Will definitely be back.

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The beverages are delightful! We had our breakfast faves and branched out some too. The gluten free…read moreblue corn pancakes, eggs, and other yummy breakfast items were enjoyed by our family. Yum!

We were in the area and I was looking for a breakfast place to eat…read more I am so glad I stop by Doyle Cafe. The service was nice and fast paced. The atmosphere was great too busy and delightful. I ordered the classic eggs Benedict, it was absolutely delicious. The potatoes were something I never had before. Absolutely delicious. Definitely recommend this place. Thank you. Carla

Cafe Parisien

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La présentation est magnifique /superbe. Que/Comme c'est…read morebeau. Que/Comme la présentation est belle. C'est vraiment appétissant. J'en ai l'eau à la bouche. ‍‍---------------------- The lovely, gorgeous, succulent, divine pastries are showcased behind glass as if displayed in a museum or fine jewelry retailer. Flour, water, and fruit jewels painstakingly prepared and crafted like sculpture. It should almost be a crime to stick your fork in them! The shop is always very clean and has the whole French vibe going on with the decorations, etc. Café Parisian is run by a pair of twins from Paris: HOCINE and AHCE. "Les rois de la boulangerie" I believe they share duties at their other shoppe in Paris and rotate locations from time to time. Even if you're not hungry, it's worth a trip to stop in to say bonjour and of course grab a box of pastries to go! It is indeed a joy to speak with them and today Hocine was attending the front counter. He genuinely is a very friendly man with a quick wit and a humorous personality. The service is second to none and a rarity in many places these days. Like a Traiteur HOCINE is catering to your every need and explaining anything that you need to know. If you ask what ingredients are in something he will lay it all out in a succinct manner. I was just taking a peek to see what was new because I haven't been in there for a minute and I just had a lousy empanada (from a tree that bears fruit) down the street that was close to being inedible! I was thinking about having a burrito up the road a bit until we started chatting and I just couldn't leave without having lunch. I opted for this "round sandwich" or savory pastry stuffed with many vegetables including mushrooms, brussel sprouts, and more. A large portion and truly magnificent. It was cut into to four pieces, served with some nice hot sauce packets and could've been shared. My lunch partner had a similar sandwich, but his was with chicken. His assessment? "SUBLIME". Well, Mr. HOCINE lives up to the origin of his name, which can translate to pride and identity. Also, somewhere not really lost in translation is also "good" and "handsome", but I wouldn't say that because it might go to his head! ------------------------------ Merci pour ce délicieux repas, votre excellent service, vos connaissances, la présentation soignée et votre personnalité remarquable.

Café Parisien has a casual and welcoming atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating. Staff was…read morefriendly and welcoming. I tried a savory pastry (dailty special) filled with mushrooms, veggies and melted cheese inside a flaky golden crust with egg-washed top. Perfect for lunch

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Whatever you do, do not book an event here. Customer Service is entitled, condescending and rude…read more My daughter was planning a baby shower so we called a number of venues to get a quote. We had been to Tarocco for lunch and figured we would ask them for a quote, too. My daughter warned me that the owner is trying to be an "influencer" on Instagram and posts photos of herself in crop Tops so I should beware, but that's fine by me. We called to get a quote and had a discussion. After we gave the owner all of our information, she told us she wouldn't give us a quote unless we came in person (?!) Which is weird because this isn't how restaurants work. Typically for events restaurants will give you a quote via phone or email for the sake of convenience. We had gotten 3 quotes already from other restaurants via phone. Making us drive 45 mins just to get a quote is a total waste of time. Especially if we can't afford it. So my daughter called again, left a VM explaining we couldn't come in person due to time constraints, and again asked for a quote. No reply. We waited a few days and called again. No reply. Finally we got a voicemail from the owner saying that she didn't like my daughter's attitude ?!!! Apparently you're not allowed to ask this restaurant how much they charge for events unless you're face to face. This lady has absolutely no idea how to run a restaurant. We took our business elsewhere and recommend that you do, too.

5 stars $27.26 for a…read more2 "salad" lunch plus Spanish omelette. Grilled purple cabbage was warm, beautifully charred and seasoned. Potato and radish salad was light, flavorful and really focused on bringing out the ingredients flavors Spanish patata was a hell of a potato omelette creation. Is it a little expensive? Sure. But is every $ on the plate? Yes.

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