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    Fava Restaurant

    4.7 (183 reviews)
    ModerateSalad, Sandwiches
    Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Fava Restaurant Photos

    FAVA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Fava Restaurant

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    Order kiosk
    Jazlene T.

    Healthy, quick, and a convenient option. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a to-go and pick up spot, hole in the wall I found on TikTok.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I surprisingly liked it. The infamous spicy chicken sandwich is really filling, just a bit messy to eat. It came out in 5 minutes but there are online order options. I've also heard their mango lassi and juices are good. My friend and I ordered the spicy chicken sandwiches with hummus on the side. With good quality ingredients, the price is worth it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There aren't many seating options but you can sit outside on a nice day out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'll be back to try their juice and a plate next time.

    Mary V.

    Wow! I had a falafel plate to-go from Fava and it was insanely delicious...and nutritious: *Falafel with Bulgur, Broccoli, Sun Gold Tomato, Cabbage Slaw, Hummus, And Herb Salad. ADD: egg [[HIGHLIGHT]]Someone picked it up for us so I didn't get to experience the cute interior that people mention.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] But my order was packed neatly in a sturdy compostable container. I opened the container to find a rainbow of colors, and a mountain of fresh herbs...a feast for the eyes and nose. They could probably do with fewer herbs and still make the same impact. And then I dug in, and it was certainly a feast for the tastebuds. The portion was generous and everything was perfection: crispy falafel, lightly steamed broccoli, creamy hummus...Dreaming of that hummus now and need to return for more! If I lived closer to Fava, I would frequent this spot and make my way through their menu. Delish!

    This would be 10x better if they removed some of the parsley and mint mountain and replaced with like tomato , cucumber , pickles ....

    Spicy chicken
    Rhiza D.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Such a great wholesome spot to grab lunch![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We stopped here to grab a quick lunch on our road trip. We got the falafel, spicy chicken, and green juice! Prices were reasonable and green juice was amazing! I loved how they used fresh herbs, you can tell their food is high quality. Unfortunately the spicy chicken did not taste spicy to me! I think maybe a spicy sauce on the side would be awesome. I recommended this place and would come again!

    Dominic B.

    Had Fava to go. Someone else picked it up so I didn't get to experience the vibe or anything but the food came in a quality to-go container. Opened up my braised lamb sandwich and was met with a bounty of herbs. Wasn't expecting that but was actually pleasantly surprised, as I love herbs. Very fragrant. Took a bite and it was very flavorful. However, I did have a bit of difficulty discerning the lamb in the sandwich. Actually had to dig through the herbs to find it. While flavorful, I do wish the portion of meat was a big more to balance the wrap and all the herbs as I felt like it was disproportionate.

    falafel sandwich
    Melody L.

    FAVA is an amazing lunch spot located in Berkeley's Northside! They're open 11am-3pm (Tues-Sat) and operate off a window where you order. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The have a few small tables outside where customers can sit but it's definitely more of a grab & go place in my opinion.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I've tried their falafel sandwich which was delicious! Loved the combination of fresh herbs (mint, dill, parsley, + more) and delicious falafels. Service was pretty fast when I went at noon on a Friday, but I heard that you can also order online to skip the wait completely. I'd love to come back and try more items from this charming lunch spot!

    Outdoor seating
    Natalie G.

    I've bee I've been here twice in the last three days for lunch because once I had it, I couldn't stop thinking about it! This is seriously one of the freshest and most delicious spots in Berkeley. I'm a total falafel fanatic, and this is honestly some of the best I've had. I highly recommend the falafel pita sandwich--it's packed with herbs and flavor, and the pita itself is to die for. I've also had the lentil soup, which was amazing. Don't skip the mango lassi--I get it every time because it's so yummy. The food always comes out super fast, too! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Only thing to note is that it's probably not ideal for big groups since the seating is pretty limited (just a few tables outside).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is something beautiful about seeing a crowd gather on a narrow Berkeley sidewalk just to eat food from a window.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] That's the magic of Fava. It's been my favorite lunch spot since 2020 because they do things the right way--focusing on seasonal ingredients, supporting local farmers, and caring deeply about their community and the world at large. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The vibe is quintessentially Berkeley: vibrant, communal, and delicious.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If the line looks confusing, just ask someone where it starts; everyone is friendly because we all know the reward is worth it. [[HIGHLIGHT]]If you have a chance, sit at their orange sidewalk tables to truly soak in the best of Berkeley.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Don't miss on out on trying FAVA!

    Outside of Fava
    Ghazal S.

    Our favorite lunch spot in Berkeley and we come over and over and over. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It feels like you are in a European country, eating the best food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is superb, fresh and high quality ingredients, great service. I would come everyday, if I could. It's a true gem. This is a business I feel great supporting.

    Gina G.

    This place is so cute! Fava you stole my heart and your falafel sandwich stole the show! Located on Vine Street in Berkeley, Fava is a vibrant hole in the wall and hidden gem to this area. There is what seems to be a new(er) cupcake shop next door and a spot called the Filling Station to refill your own bottles of personal and household products. With limited hours (Tuesday-Saturday) from 11a-3p, Fava serves amazingly fresh "lunch from a window" with some outdoor seating if you can't wait to indulge. Two former Chez Panisse chefs started Fava and quite honestly, we're so happy they did! Handmade flatbreads, incredibly fresh ingredients with protein choices including steelhead, braised lamb, spicy chicken, and falafel. Also on the menu you can find fresh soups and sides, juices, and my personal favorite, Tahini chocolate chip cookies. To note, you can preorder your lunch ahead online for the next day if you want to just grab & go without waiting in line. It was such a seamless process and honestly quite the vibe picking up! As soon as they opened their doors, funky music was illuminated the street and I could literally have hung out there for a while listening to the tunes and enjoying the ambiance. Great service, clean food, can't wait to come back!

    2/14/2024 menu

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    8 months ago

    Delicious food! I just wish the hours were better. Parking can be tough in that area and not a broad menu but great flavors.

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    1 year ago

    Delicious! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Amazing sandwiches and an upbeat crowd.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I loved all the fresh herbs thrown on top of my sandwich!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Amazing ingredients, very fresh vegetables . Both their falafel and lamb wraps are awesome .

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    Page 2 of 5

    Ask the Community - Fava Restaurant

    Hours of business?

    Open Mon-Saturday for lunch from 11-3pm

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    Crave Subs

    Crave Subs

    4.3
    (284 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    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.

    Expensive for a small sandwich and was made to the taste of cartoon character's taste instead of my…read moretaste which is weird. The veggie meat was ultra salty and the Beast sandwich had sweet strawberry jam. Did not see that on the menu and didn't correlate the names of the sandwiches to the tv characters my kids watched when they were younger until I opened up the sandwich and saw the red jam. I prefer peanut butter and jam instead of meat and jam. Only veggie was chopped lettuce and barely saw anything else. Overwhelming flavor was the jam which was squeezing out of the sandwich. Disappointed- was hoping for an impressive sandwich at this price point.

    Photos
    Chips
    Chips
    Steak Storm Fries ($16.99- weekend special!)
    Steak Storm Fries ($16.99- weekend special!)
    Patrick Star ($14.99)

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    Patrick Star ($14.99)
    Heroic Italian

    Heroic Italian

    4.4
    (163 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    I've been here before love this place. It has indoor outdoor seating. Service is friendly. The food…read moreis great and we love the pizza here!

    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.

    Photos
    Inside counter
    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.
    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.
    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
    Star Meats

    Star Meats

    4.1
    (299 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    This review isn't based off of one interaction that I've had, but several in which I felt Star…read moreMeats customer service was non existent. Awhile back, I tried to bring as much business to Star Meat as I could because 1. it's a small business and 2. it's inside Star Grocery (which I LOVE, so it's convenient). When I would go there, there would often be 2 or 3 people behind the counter and oftentimes I would be the only customer. I felt like I had to stand there forever before anyone even acknowledged I existed. Each person would be busy doing something, but there was no "I'll be with you in 2 minutes." Finally, I went one day and there were 3 workers behind the counter chatting with each other. I was the only customer and was standing around 6 feet away from them, looking right at them. They went on with there conversation (not doing any other work) for a full 5 minutes. Finally I thought, "OK, they really don't seem to want my business, so I can go to any one of 4 other places and get what I want." That was a year or two ago. So, today I thought, why not give it another try, it's certainly convenient. Again, I'm the only customer at the counter. One guy is washing equipment and two guys are making sandwiches. I know that they know that I'm there, there are mirrors all along the back wall exactly for the purpose of seeing the customers. After around 4 minutes I think, who knows how long I'm going to be standing here. Maybe they have to make 20 sandwiches and I'll be here for a half hour. So, I left. I don't have anything like this experience at the 4 other meat counters I go to in the area. I'm totally fine waiting if I have some sense that I'm waiting for a purpose and that the worker will get to me as soon as they can. But at Star Meat, it feels like I'm more of an inconvenience than a customer. "Hi, I'll be with you as soon as I can," goes a long way.

    Discovered their sandwiches when we were having coffee next door and kept seeing ppl walk by with…read morebutcher paper pink sandwiches in their hands. Glad we were able to track them down cause their sandwiches look so basic in pics but are so darn good. The market is cool too but I'm always gonna start by bee lining it to the deli in back of the shop to order one of their daily sandwiches. They make 3 flavors each day. 18$ a pop. Delicious.

    Photos
    Brian Allen 18$ yes.
    Brian Allen 18$ yes.
    Brian Allen on the Beach
    Brian Allen on the Beach
    Brian Allen Sandwich

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    Brian Allen Sandwich
    Roast & Toast Cafe

    Roast & Toast Cafe

    4.7
    (138 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Boutique

    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!

    I've become a regular at Roasted and Toasted because it's a great place to grab a coffee, get some…read morework done, or just relax. They have plenty of seating, and one of the biggest advantages is their excellent Wi-Fi speed, which makes it a reliable spot for remote work or studying. The atmosphere is enjoyable as well. There's usually music playing or a sports game on the TV, creating a comfortable, laid-back environment without being distracting. Their food selection is also better than you'd expect from a coffee shop. In addition to coffee and pastries, they offer cakes, breakfast items, and a variety of other snacks and treats, so there's always something to pair with your drink. Their hours are convenient, making it easy to stop by throughout the day. The only area where I think there's room for improvement is cleanliness. I've noticed on several occasions that when I arrive shortly after opening--sometimes within 30 minutes to an hour--there are still crumbs on the chairs, tables, and floor, even when there haven't been many customers yet. First impressions matter, and the café should be fully cleaned and ready for guests before the doors open. Customers shouldn't have to wipe down their own tables before sitting. Overall, I really enjoy coming here and would absolutely recommend it for the atmosphere, Wi-Fi, seating, and food options. With a little more attention to cleanliness before opening each day, it would be an even better experience.

    Photos
    Original Knafeh Nabulsiyeh
    Original Knafeh Nabulsiyeh
    Arabic booza with pistachio/phyllo dough & rose petals topping
    Arabic booza with pistachio/phyllo dough & rose petals topping
    Arabic booza witb pistacho topping

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    Arabic booza witb pistacho topping
    Picnic

    Picnic

    4.5
    (77 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    A true hidden gem right at the bottom of Solano Ave in Albany!…read more I'm embarrassed to admit that Picnic has been around for about 5 years in the east bay and I've just tried it for the first time this week. But I'm so glad I was finally introduced to it. The staff greet you promptly when you enter and you can even watch them work effortlessly together in the open prep-station behind the counter. They have a gorgeous display of deli items, wines, cheeses, cold sides, and even some cute candles & house made croutons. They've got everything you would need for an elevated picnic or even a barbecue with the family. They have an intriguing selection of house made sausages-- the Chicken Tikka Masala sausage caught my eye and I can't wait to try it. They also sell whole smoked quail that are seasoned heavily yet each bite has just the right amount of smokiness, spices, and salt. Their hot food items and sandwiches are perfect for a quick lunch during your break from work or on your way home. There are also a few counter seats if you want to enjoy your meal there. So far I've tried the smoked quail, the Muffaletta sandwich, and their green lentil soup with chicken + veg. The sandwich was filled to the brim and each bite was a flavor bomb. The lentil soup was very comforting & paired well with the smoked quail. I'm looking forward to trying everything they have to offer.

    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.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Braised Italian beef panini on Feb 17th
    Braised Italian beef panini on Feb 17th
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    Holiday Makers Market
    Hidden Spot - Emeryville

    Hidden Spot - Emeryville

    4.5
    (435 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    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

    A hidden secret is the Hidden Spot. Right on the corner with easy ramp up walkway or stairs. It has…read moreoutside eating or inside with big screen tv's and a bar. All the food sounded good on the menu. I had the sapphire which was supposed to be hot but it wasn't at all for me. The gem was almost like a Philly cheese steak. Both were really good. The fries seasoning is really good and the onion rings were good as well. I got a mango lemonade drink that I really enjoyed. Cool place to watch sports and grab a good bite to eat. Now go and enjoy, you can thank me later.

    Photos
    Hidden Spot - Emeryville
    Buffalo Sauce (Spicy) OTS
    Buffalo Sauce (Spicy) OTS
    The hills sandwich - provolone, pesto, veggies, shredded chicken, grilled mushroom on Dutch crunch

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    The hills sandwich - provolone, pesto, veggies, shredded chicken, grilled mushroom on Dutch crunch

    Fava Restaurant - salad - Updated August 2026

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