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    Julia's Restaurant

    4.2 (176 reviews)
    PriceyFrench
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 7:45 PM

    Julia's Restaurant Photos

    JULIA'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale
    Quiet

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    Recommended Reviews - Julia's Restaurant

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    Spinach Tomato Quiche
    Audrey I.

    Julia's Restaurant, perched on the Berkeley City Clubs second floor, is an upscale gem rich with flavor and history. Named after none other than Julia Morgan, the legendary architect behind Hearst Castle, the restaurant wears her legacy proudly. From the vintage millwork to old-world ambiance, my visit felt like a time capsule that transported me back into the early 20th century. It's distinctly Hearst-Castle-adjacent in mood minus the zebra fountains and a wonderful place to dine. The waitress started us out with a generous basket of ciabatta rolls and butter pats. This might've been some of the best free bread I've had in ages (dare I say, rivaled only by the cinnamon carb dreams at Texas Roadhouse; don't judge). And, the spinach and tomato quiche arrive with a bounty of salad and fries (who says you have to choose just one?). The fries were enough to feed three with leftovers and the quiche was rich, savory, and fresh, bursting with oven-roasted tomato juice in every morsel. Sitting at just $19, this is Berkeley's best-kept culinary secret. We visited during grad season and the sea of caps and stoles draped over chairs is a testament to how special this restaurant is. Though, I'd say it might be almost too fancy given how affordable the prices were. Anyway, I'd absolutely return. From the attentive service to charming atmosphere and well-priced food, Julia's hits it out of the park. I'd imagine Julian Morgan herself would be proud to have her name on the door.

    Escargot on a French baguette
    Emanuel L.

    We were attending a show nearby and dinner was left up to me... She'd mentioned something about eggplant earlier in the week soooo. We had a nice stroll from the parking garage to the restaurant which is inside the Berkeley City Club Hotel. It's an historic building and the architecture is beautiful. We were politely and quickly seated. Our server was really sweet. The meal... Raspberry Lemon drop -5outta5 The best. I wish I'd asked the mixologist for their secret. Baked Escargot 3outta5 There wasn't enough flavor. It was there but just too mild. We did enjoy dipping the baguettes in the sauce. Beef tartare 3outta5 I'd never had it & always wanted to try it. It'd been a while since I'd had beef. It'll be a while again. I don't know what I was expecting but it was ok. The caperberries' floral saltiness added a nice flavor. Eggplant 4outta5 She loved it & it tasted pretty good to me. We wished there'd been some seasoning on the crispy tofu but I guess that's what the sauce was there for. Duck 3outta5 I was intently waiting on crispy duck skin but was let down entirely. I ordered medium. The fat wasn't rendered enough, making for a couple of tough chews. The potatoes and leeks were delicious. The orange sauce had a really nice flavor and complemented the dish perfectly. The duck just didn't deliver. Orange cake -3outta5 Don't get me wrong, it was tasty. It was rich & tasty but we didn't care for the crème fraîche. To us, it just didn't go well w/the orange & caramel. We enjoyed ourselves. Although seated in the center of the room, it still felt intimate. GoTaste&See

    Wow, the high tea here is GOOD. It's in the Berkeley City Women's Club on the second floor. You have to be buzzed in, and there's plenty of street parking. I came here on January 2nd, right at the start of the New Year, so it still had its holiday charm. Note that high tea is served every Tuesday from 12 PM to 2 PM. Definitely worth taking a day off work to visit. Details to follow. Since it was the beginning of the New Year, Christmas trees and menorahs were aglow! Such warm decor. The woman at the front desk was so lovely, and the staff cheered me on as I explored the venue itself (literally "enjoy exploring!!") before entering the restaurant. My reservation was for 2 PM with my bestie Abby, and we were seated by the window. I entered and waited by the counter for some time before finally scooting myself forward into the near center of the restaurant and stood there until I was noticed, LOL. That is a recurring theme service-wise. You really need to put yourself out there to get what you need. After my friend and I were seated, we waited another 25 minutes for our order to be taken, after waving down a waitress. Phew! We were starving!!! Abby was getting visibly heated and wanted to leave (major hanger pangs). Anyways, our order was finally taken, thank goodness. Our English breakfast and Earl Grey teas, and stacked food arrived promptly. And... frankly I couldn't even be mad! We both thought this and laughed because the high tea itself was so darn good. Cinnamon scones, delicious classic sandwiches, cucumber, chicken cranberry, donut hole, lemon bar, delicious biscuit. And I have heard this is Pillsbury Dough Boy biscuits, but hey, so be it. I left satisfied and more than satiated. A steal for $35, and affordable for everyone. I really appreciated the gorgeous ambiance, the wooden high beam ceilings combined with the old building missionary aesthetic. Such a lovely place to take photos. Beautiful light comes in, and the restaurant was completely booked with good reason. I recommend!

    Duck
    Margarita L.

    We had a very good experience at Julia's. The dining room, in the second floor of the Berkeley City Club, is beautiful. Designed in a medieval style by Julia Morgan herself, it still manages to feel welcoming. The food was pretty good, we really liked the pork paté. My husband's veal was very good, but my duck a la orange fell short - thus the loss of a star. It had little flavor and the sides didn't help at all. Dessert was what I wanted: something not too sweet (the orange cake). Full review at https://www.marga.org/foodblog/2025/04/munching-around-the-bay-julias/ In all, I'd go back but avoid the duck.

    Halibut Fillet.  Pan seared, Mediterranean couscous, fennel & red pepper veloute.

    We had another wonderful dinner at Julia's Restaurant last night. We had Adrian as our waiter again, which was a really nice coincidence. Like our last visit, Adrian was a friendly, nice, excellent waiter. There were three of us. We all got different entrees and everyone loved their dinner. My wife took a picture of her halibut dinner. She isn't usually a couscous fan, but she raved about it and was glad she ordered the halibut. I had the ribeye steak, medium rare, grilled to perfection. It was presented superbly on a wooden plank and everything was delicious. Our good friend had the braised short rib....another beautifully presented dish that was thoroughly enjoyed. We were very happy to go back to Julia's and look forward to going again soon. Highly recommend!

    beef tartare
    Natalia L.

    The food there was phenomonal. The french onion soup was very rich and the pappardelle pasta was good. The waiters and service were very polite and helpful. Additionally, the dim-lit ambiance was romantic.

    Breakfast spread. Quiche was excellent.
    Anna W.

    Chicken sandwich was amazing. I took it to go and ate it in the garden. Literally my favorite now. Service was great. The restaurant and hotel is absolutely gorgeous. A nice quiet, intimate place to visit. The quiche during breakfast was also flavorful. I would definitely visit again.

    Tablescape
    Steph G.

    Unbelievable experience. We were fortunate enough to dine during graduation weekend. I planned ahead to make a reservation and it was well worth it. Since this is a members only location you can dine in their restaurant. It is a beautiful building and an even stunning dining room. I think it's one of those places that you should just try once especially if your student or visiting. They were rather busy this night and service was a tad bit slow, but we let it slide. We opted for the halibut, duck, and the short ribs. All of it was outstanding. The bread was also delicious. We also started with a salad and escargot to share. There is street parking. I'm not sure if there's a dedicated lot for the public. We dressed in semi formal/business attire meaning khaki pants and a jacket, dress shirt. I wore dress pants and a blouse. Some people were a little more casual than that. I would absolutely return and recommend to others and not just save this for a special occasion.

    Escargot
    Stephanie Y.

    So, I kind of love this place and it's a complete hidden gem. It's in an old, historic Julia Morgan Women's Club that has seen speakers from Amelia Earhart to Hilary Clinton. It's current use is that of a hotel, but also an event space, restaurant, theater and more. There's an indoor pool, reminscent of the Hearst Castle. The small dining room is that of an old French chateaux that has an adjoining wood/leathery bar area. We kind of stuck in the '50's here and I love every part of it. The food is classic French and it's solid. The escargots were well done, with that sizzling buttery sauce. The salads were simple, but fresh and ample for the price. The entree's were adequate. The short ribs were hearty, the vegetarian rice dish was solid. Are they pushing food boundaries here? Nope, but it's all about the vibes. You are coming here for more of this unique experience. The service was also so charming and delightful. Overall, I'm a fan of this unique, quintessential old-school Berkeley restaurant: no pretension, no IG virality, no "crazy" ingredients. Just some good old fashioned French food, at reasonable-ish prices in a nostalgic setting. Not an often visit for me, but an annual one, most likely. Excited to one day check out the bar and its events.

    Fireplace in the dining room.

    The old world elegance architecture set the tone for the evening. Iconic architect Julia Morgan designed this building. The service was impeccable. My wife decided on the vegetable pasta dish, Papardelle Pasta and I had the Braised Short Rib. We started with the Julia's Salad with green goddess dressing. This salad was very fresh, tomatoes, small cut cucumbers, white raisin were standouts. I haven't had a green goddess dressing in years. This did not disappoint! My wife thought the Papardelle pasta and sauce were delicious. The fresh buratta cheese was perfect. My braised short rib, was tender and cooked just right. The mashed potatoes had Rouquert cheese that gave a great contrast flavor to the sautéed spinach and mushrooms. The braised sauce was spectacular. I want more with the bread. For dessert we split a Vanilla Creme Brulee. Perfection! A whole one would have too much.

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    21 days ago

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    8 days ago

    Food, service, ambience all were wonderful. 5 stars. A few vegetarian options. Good serving size. Yummy. Pretty.

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    Michelle C.

    Thank you for your review, Cleo! We greatly appreciate it.

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    3 months ago

    The escargots need garlic.... The duck was well cooked, although a tad too rich in fat. And the tea, Twinnings bag, could be better.

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    Julia's Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Julia's Restaurant

    Does the service charge cover any of the wait staff's tips?

    Of course it does. Why would you pay twice for service?

    Is there any way to make a reservation online?

    Hello Diane, Great question! We do have online reservations available on OpenTable.… Read more

    Is there still afternoon tea? If so, how would you rate it?

    Hi Kathy, We are delighted to say that afternoon tea is still available on Tuesdays from 12-2pm! Our… Read more

    Are you guys opened for outdoor dining? With things getting better do you anticipate opening indoor dining at a percentage soon?

    They are open for indoor dining, and we have found the room to be well ventilated with tables not too close together.

    Do they have pakring?

    Good Afternoon Melody, While Julia's Restaurant inside the Berkeley City Club does not have… Read more

    View All 6 Questions

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    I had such a beautiful experience here on a rainy evening. From the moment I walked in, the cozy…read moreatmosphere set the tone -- even the thoughtful detail of an awning outside and a bucket for umbrellas at the host stand made it feel warm and welcoming. I started with the Insalata di Arancia, and it completely exceeded my expectations. The citrus, fennel, olive oil, and delicate anchovy (which melted perfectly into the dressing) created one of the most balanced and flavorful salads I've had in a long time. It was bright, fresh, and perfectly seasoned -- I didn't even reach for the salt and pepper. For my main course, I had the Tagliolini al Granchio. The pasta was beautifully fresh and cooked perfectly al dente. The crab was sweet and generous, and the buttery lemon sauce was rich yet light enough to let the seafood shine. Every bite felt intentional and well-executed. The wine pairings were also spot on -- the Verdicchio with the salad and the Chardonnay blend with the pasta complemented each course perfectly. I finished with the olive oil cake and Vin Santo, which was the perfect way to end the evening -- subtle, layered, and not overly sweet. This was one of those meals where you feel taken care of without feeling rushed. A wonderful experience from start to finish.

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