Great food, service and ambiance in a distinctive setting. Menu is a bit limited and does not change frequently, but everything is really delicious. Better to do a smaller number of things consistently well than to do many things and not do them well every single time. read more

Julia's is a secret that people need to learn about. The manager, Maria, works closely with their French chef to serve the most delicious food! I have eaten there 10 times, and enjoyed my wedding dinner there as well! Our guests loved the braised beef. I recently took a friend for her birthday lunch. Our yummy quiche was served with the most delicious, simple salad with the freshest lettuce, perfect dressing and beets! They even added French fries! Neither of us finished our meal. The venue is stunning, the service great, and Maria sets the bar high. The high tea there is exceptional. read more

Appreciated this quiet and classy restaurant at the Berkeley City Club. The menu was great and the French dishes were cooked well. Friendly and attentive waiters. They have the best dinner rolls I have ever had - soft, pillowy, fresh. I would come back just for those rolls!! read more

Julia's Restaurant - Braised short rib - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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. read more

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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 read more

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

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! read more

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It's a beautiful space and the staff was very friendly. I loved that the tables were amply spaced. I wish the food were a bit better. - French onion soup was ok. I've had better. I've made better one at home. We lacked depth of flavor. - Escargot was also fine. It was mushier than I'd like and it could use more salt. It tasted better when spreading it on a toast. - Steak was the winner. That was delicious! Tender. Cooked perfect. It came on a beautiful wooden board. We all wished we had gotten the steak. - Other dishes were all ok. Not bad but not the best or better French food we've had. I should have asked for salt. Even then, there was a certain depth of flavor / umami that lacked in dishes that were supposed to be cooked over a long period of time. The meat was tender, so it must have been cooked for a long time, but flavor just didn't live up to our expectations. We'd come back again. The food was fine but the atmosphere and service were amazing. It's hard to find a pleasant dining space at this price point with such an old world charm these days where you aren't shoulder to shoulder with other tables. Parking was hard to find. There's a lot but it's unclear whether we're allowed to park there as a restaurant guest. read more

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. read more

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A friend & I greatly enjoyed their French Onion Soup on an overcast afternoon. The service was excellent in spite of our arriving close to closing. What better ambiance than one created by Julia Morgan. read more

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! read more

Julia's Restaurant - Halibut Fillet. Pan seared, Mediterranean couscous, fennel & red pepper veloute. - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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. read more

Julia's Restaurant - beef tartare - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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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. read more

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My friends and I went for our annual Christmas dinner, and the food was even better than the last time we were there! Beautiful atmosphere and just the right feel for our Christmas meal and celebration. The service was also excellent! read more

My partner and I came here to celebrate our anniversary, so this was a special occasion for us. Maria was our server, and while I'm usually not someone who likes to complain, we unfortunately felt neglected throughout most of our meal. It took at least 10 minutes for anyone to greet our table or bring us water. Later, after we finished dessert, we were left sitting with our empty plate for another 10 minutes before we finally asked another server about our check. Their response was, "We're not sure where she is," which only added to the awkwardness of the experience. Throughout the meal, the service felt both rushed and inattentive, with very little acknowledgment or care. It was disappointing, especially given that we were there for such a meaningful occasion. The food was really great, but sadly the service made the overall experience feel uncomfortable and unprofessional. As someone who works in the service industry myself, I found it especially disappointing. Because of that, I don't think we would return. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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This is a wonderful quiet restaurant with delicious food and attentive service and a beautiful historical building. The space is so large it could really be a great venue for other restaurants in addition read more

Enjoyed the High Tea here and exploring the second floor of the historic Berkeley City Club. The ambience of the tea room was classic and refined. Full tea service was a delight! The assorted sandwiches, pastries and accompanying teas were all delicious and complimented each other very well for a range of tastes from savory to sweet. There are quite a few choices for the type of tea as well. We tried the blood orange and dragonwell and both were of high quality as was the rest of the food. The portions were generous and more than enough for lunch. Our server (Hanssel) was very professional, attentive, and truly kind when I asked him to take photos which turned out great! I would return. read more

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. read more

Julia's Restaurant - Fireplace in the dining room. - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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

Food is average. Nothing special. Just standard. The atmosphere is nice and the building is absolutely beautiful. Very hard to find and access the restaurant though. Service ruins the whole experience. Took 30 minutes for anyone to a acknowledge us and bring us water! We only ordered one round of drinks because there was no one checking on us. So we just didn't get a chance to order more food or drinks. Overall I wouldn't go back. 3 stars is very generous read more

Make your next lunch reservation here! We wanted to celebrate our second wedding anniversary here at Berkeley City Club, where we got married. Hans provided us with the best service to make it such beautiful experience to be back here. Don't skip out on the onion soup as an appetizer and get the duck as your entree. Thank you Hans so much again - you made it the best anniversary celebration for us. read more

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Cute little restaurant and bar right off of Berkeley campus. It's inside some club building so you need to ring a bell and ask them to let you in, then go upstairs. Quite interesting setup. The building has a classic feel and it was really nice walking around the ornaments and decorations. They have a separate section for a bar but you can order drinks and cocktails in the dining area too. Food was very delicious and presented in a beautiful way. Server seemed a bit inexperienced but he was the sweetest guy! Definitely going back to this place. Highly recommend! (Gotta do street parking but there were plenty of spots when we went on a Wednesday around dinner time) read more

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Located on the 2nd floor of a beautiful historic building/hotel that you have to ring the bell to get in. It was not busy at all and the servers were very friendly and attentive. The food was beautifully presented, delicious, and filling. I also had the French onion soup which I highly recommend. I came here because I got a coupon for a free dessert. Elevated, quiet ambiance, would be ideal for a date night. read more

Julia's Restaurant - Vegetable Risotto - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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First to note - the restaurant is housed in a special building, transporting you to a vintage era of elegance. The building is now a quaint hotel and a club by UC Berkeley campus. Julia Morgan originally designed this structure for then a women's club /YWCA. This restaurant is named after the first woman architect in California. It is located on the second floor of Berkeley's City Club. With woodsy details, high ceilings and lighting from the big windows, the ambience is inviting and beautiful. Service- our waiter was friendly and prompt. He was polite and not overbearing in making his recommendations and suggestions. Ultimately he won our hearts by remembering what I said at the onset when taking our orders - that I was taking my GF for her birthday lunch. He offered to make her dessert special without even being asked. We have not tried their dinner so this rating is based only on their lunch experiences. Their lunch menu though not large in selection covers an approachable range where everyone's taste is bound to find one's favorite. My GF had the Nicoise salad she said she's been craving and loved it. It was a generous portion with additional avocados and grilled tuna practically spilling off the plate. It's definitely a meal at $27. She insisted on plating some of the tuna on my bread plate so I sampled. Tuna was delectable, seared on the outside covered with toasted black and white sesame seeds. Tuna was seared just enough to leave the mouth watering inside sashimi perfect. Loved that my quiche had lots of vibrant "green" not-overcooked spinach in a richly flavored but light textured custard egg filling. Baked and served in a flaky pastry shell, it was one of the best quiches I ever had in a recent memory at $19.00. The salad greens were dressed just right and the fries were addictive. It's a lovely place, away from the surrounding hustle and bustle, where we can thoroughly enjoy our lunch without being rushed. We intend to return for special occasions. read more

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I attended a drug presentation at this restaurant and was very surprised this place exist in the middle of the UC Berkeley campus. I believe you will likely need some type of reservation to eat here as the front door is locked and you will have to ring a bell to be let in. It's inside the Berkeley city club with an attached parking lot next door which you probably need to pay to park. You can find street parking but depending on the time of day and day of week, that might be difficult and prices for metered parking is $3.50 per hour. I didn't get a chance to explore the entire place since the presentation was located inside one of the rooms. The room we were in looked like it needed some updating. The service was attentive for our event. We didn't have to wait long for the next course to arrive. When the staff was bringing out the salad, I was missed but a nice gentleman saw and kindly asked why I decline it. I told him I actually wanted a salad but prefer to have no cheese. He immediately went back to the kitchen and got me a salad without cheese and provided me with the Champaign vinaigrette instead of the original dressing as that contained cheese as well. That was very attentive of him. For the main course, I picked the steak. It was mediocre, cooked medium rare and some parts of the steak was quite chewy. The size of the steak was enough to fill me up but maybe a little small for male customers. Dessert was cheesecake with some type of tart syrup and powdered sugar. It was the best tasting dish out of the night. It wasn't too heavy and the cake just melts in your mouth with every bite. A suggestion would be to have a tiny menu on top of each plate in the future for these presentations to allow guests to know what food will be served. Water, coffee and tea was also provided. If I ever come back here for another drug presentation, I will try the fish next time as that looked a bit better than the steak. read more

Julia's Restaurant - Steak - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Tea and lunch with the family was a highlight of our trip to the Bay Area. The building is gorgeous and the lunch setting made me feel like we were in Europe. Tea service so well done. Portions were large and a very nice variety. Highly recommend read more

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Enouraged to try Julia's again, my partner & I had a great experience. My pate appetizer and entree steak & vegetable platter were great and generous. My partner's beet salad & halibut delighted her. read more

The atmosphere and buildings architectural design are excellent. Julia's is housed in the Berkeley City Club. You ring a doorbell for admission to the 2nd floor restaurant location. Service exceeds expectations. The wait staff is welcoming and friendly while professional in their service. The main dining room is quiet and of visual interest as you wait for a delicious meal. We dined to celebrate our daughter in law's birthday and before Cal Performances Drum Tao show. We enjoyed the escargot with a warm Crusty baguettes. The entrees were delicious, lamb chops, prok chops and a delicious duck presentation. Everything was on point in flavor, presentation and aroma. Our server was spot on refilling our glasses and removing empty plates after we ate every scrumptious mouthful. I look forward to returning to try their other dishes. read more

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The service, ambiance and food are all excellent! Couldn't be more happy to go to Berkeley City Club, Julia's Restaurant. I regularly go to lunch, or brunch and the food is quality in ingredients and taste. The service is always excellent and of course the ambiance is relaxing, unhurrried and comfortable. My friends want to come back and bring their friends! read more

Celebrated our anniversary here and it was truly a hidden gem! The food was delicious! The duck breast entree was exceptional and the chocolate lava cake was the best way to end the meal. It's a very traditional and classic atmosphere, almost like dining in a cozy house. Service was very attentive and nice. If you're looking for a fine meal with a cozy and family atmosphere, Julia's is the place! read more

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5-star! Ambiance with architecture of Julia Morgan (Hearst Castle fame), mouth tantalizing French cuisine, and impeccable and friendly service. This place is a gem. Plan to return for the brunch. read more

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My daughter and I call Julia our little secret spot--we adore it here! The setting is elegant yet welcoming, and every visit feels special. I especially love their Le Croque Monsieur--perfectly prepared and absolutely delicious. This place is a true gem, and one we'll keep coming back to! read more

Wonderful Experience Excellent drinks, dinners and desserts. Service was impeccable and cheerful. The building is amazing and we wandered around the first two floors. The library is magnificent! read more

The last two times I've been to Julia's I've been disappointed. Last time (last week) it took 15 minutes before anyone came to our table. Today, our lunch (croque monsieur) was only half cooked. They then took it back in the kitchen and recooked the partially eaten sandwich, which was a bit yucky. I generally love Julia's, but the last two times have given me pause about meeting friends and colleagues there for lunch or dinner. I hope that they will give a little attention to both their food and service in the future. It is usually a wonderful place. read more

Worth a visit for the architecture. The building is a gem designed by the early 20th century architect Julia Morgan. The service is very attentive and helpful. The food can be great, and when they get it right it's a five star experience. But I knocked off star after the duck confit was falling apart, as if it had been on a steam table for too long. There is a bar next door to the restaurant and you can check out the location while sipping a very-well-made cocktail. read more

Julia's welcoming, tasteful decor and friendly greeting started our evening off well. Our meal was timed perfectly beginning with drinks and delicious burrata appetizer. Toasty French bread was fragrant and steamy, as you'd expect. My risotto and peas was divine. My son's half roasted chicken and vegetables was done to absolute perfection and Demi glacé- divine. We opted to skip dessert in favor of local hand made ice cream. Our server was charming, efficient, and knowledgeable. My only criticism is choices are limited. After, make sure you check out the beautiful spaces at the Berkeley. Julia Morgan had it down! Our whole dinner experience was really fun. read more

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The restaurant is in a very large room with very high ceilings giving a very high end ambiance. The food was excellent, cooked to perfection! The service staff were very friendly and helpful. The restaurant was very quiet; east to converse with your fellow diners. read more

I visited Julias for the first time last week, and I was extremely satisfied with the service and food. The ambiance is outstanding (the historical Berkely City Club designed by Julia Morgan as Berkeley Women's City Club). All the food was amazing, and I especially recommend the short ribs or rack of lamb. The orange rice pudding was outstanding. This is a great place to come after an event at UC Berkeley. read more