Walnut Tavern is a neighborhood gem. They embraced having a Valkyries watch party ---Berkeley was…read morein need of a festive spot with 3 screens, a full bar and really fabulous food. The staff are so nice and it is right near Peet's and our favorite pet food store on Walnut. We are so thankful they are here and encourage everyone to come for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just drinks. The best!!!!

Location is cute and in a walkable area. You get thrown off that it's in a residential neighborhood…read morebut it's near the corner so not as odd. Clean. Staff was kind. Fish & chips, burger, BLT, fries, mango gelato and lava cake all solid.

$26 Brunch Pizza: surprisingly not oily. Liked the flavors…read more Corn soup should have been roasted first. It was too sweet for us (very low sugar family). Shakshuka: a traditional dish spread by the Ottomans. Very good.

We hosted our wedding reception at Gather this weekend and it was fabulous!…read more Jodi, Chef Matt, Kurt, and their team are so exceptionally kind and attentive. We were lucky enough to work closed with Mika and Ivan who were so attentive, responsive and helpful with everything. Gather accommodated every food allergy request and gave us generous creativity to customize the drinks and food menu. Our top favorite recommendations on the menu: spicy tomato pizza with cashew puree, harvest bowl, corn soup, and of course all the perfectly roasted veggies!!!! The indoor space has a delightful balance of natural light, greenery, and wood and the outside garden is fabulous in the summer. We can't wait for future celebrations at Gather and feel so grateful for the kind service and delicious memories we shared there.

A Last-Minute Yelp Find That Delivered! Heading home from…read moreSan Francisco, we decided to stop for pasta. A last minute Yelp search led us to Creekwood in Berkeley, and luckily, I was able to secure a reservation inside. What a great find! Creekwood is in a residential neighborhood, which I love, although parking can definitely be a challenge. The exterior is architecturally pleasing, with clean lines and a fresh, modern look. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by the hostess with a huge welcome and an equally huge smile. The restaurant has a cozy bar area, outside seating, and an estimated seating capacity of 50 guests. Inside, there is a combination of banquettes and tables that can be configured to accommodate different party sizes. The interior was extremely clean, visually appealing, comfortable and inviting. The bathroom was also extremely clean. Our server Malia was personable and offered great suggestions, as did several other staff members. Everyone we encountered was genuinely friendly and welcoming. We started with the corn chowder and burrata. The chowder arrived a little under-temperature for my liking, but the flavor was excellent. The burrata was plentiful, paired with tomatoes that were absolutely bursting with flavor. The burrata and tomatoes complemented each other beautifully, and there was just the right amount of dressing. My tablemate ordered the Margherita pizza, which arrived at the perfect temperature. Thin crust, fresh basil and great flavor it was exactly what a Margherita pizza should be. I was craving a meat based pasta with red sauce, but that wasn't on the menu. So I ordered the pappardelle with mushrooms and asked if they could prepare it with a red sauce. They were happy to accommodate me. It arrived at the perfect temperature, with beautifully cooked pasta and an orchestra of flavors. The depth and texture of the mushrooms gave me the satisfying, meaty texture I was craving. I would absolutely order this dish again! One of the highlights of our visit was meeting Greg, the owner, who was circulating throughout the restaurant and talking with his guests. We were first-timers, but clearly, many of his diners were what I like to call "repeat offenders." in the best way. Greg shared some of the history of Creekwood and explained that his goal was to create a true neighborhood restaurant and gathering place. I would say he has definitely accomplished that. He also mentioned that he is considering adding a happy hour, which would be a wonderful addition. They do have Coctails, beer and wine although I did not partake this time. Greg told us about one couple who has visited for brunch more than 149 times! Now THAT is a referral! If I lived in the neighborhood, I have no doubt I would become a repeat offender myself. Sometimes the best restaurant discoveries are the ones you make at the last minute. Creekwood was definitely a successful Yelp selection, and one I'm happy to recommend. Bravo Greg, Chef and Creekwood Family well done and we shall see you soon. GIve Creekwood a try you won't be disappointed.

My friend and I went on a Thursday for dinner. We arrived early, a little before 5 pm. We were…read moregreeted immediately and shown to a booth. It is a small restaurant with tables and several booths by the window. They also have outdoor patio service. We ordered a half dozen Point Reyes oysters on the half shell. They were very fresh. The crispy Brussels sprouts were nicely cooked. My friend ordered the black cod and I ordered the crab with pasta in white sauce. We also ordered a glass of Chardonnay and a glass of Sancerre. The black cod was delicious. I found my pasta dish a bit bland. We shared a piece of carrot cake. It was very good, moist, just sweet enough with a perfect frosting. The service was attentive. It is a very noisy restaurant. The staff was moving furniture around at the beginning. I asked to have the music lowered in volume. The room may benefit from more acoustic tiling since the noise bounced around the floor and walls.

Wood Tavern has been my favorite restaurant in Oakland since I first visited nearly twenty years…read moreago. In all that time, it has remained remarkably consistent. I've been here for date nights, holiday dinners, business dinners, and countless meals with friends visiting from out of town. It's one of those rare restaurants that seems to work for just about any occasion. The service is always great, the College Avenue location is hard to beat, and I've always had good luck finding street parking nearby. The ribeye is my personal favorite and what I order more often than not. If you're coming with a group, the cheese and charcuterie plates are a great way to start. The menu is varied enough that there's always something for everyone, and I've never had a bad meal here. I was genuinely sad to hear that they'll be closing at the end of the year. Restaurants with this kind of quality, consistency, and character are increasingly rare. If you've never been, make a point of going while you still can. I'll certainly miss it once they're gone.

$25 Pastrami Sandwich: pretty darn good but there is an excellent pastrami that I just tried…read moreelsewhere which dampens my enthusiasm. This one had some crispy edges and well prepared which was lovely though. $14 warm chocolate buckwheat pudding cake: definitely house made. Definitely very good but definitely a safe choice. I think I should have been more adventurous. As good as this is, I'm not convinced I got my $'s worth.

Absolutely delicious and such a beautiful experience my favorite spot for Korean Fried Chicken The…read morecreative fusion flavors like the millionaires bacon are truly a must try and the attentive service paired with the chic swanky atmosphere makes this place easily one of my top picks in Berkeley

Our first choice for Sunday brunch had such a long line that we reserved a table at Berkeley Social…read moreClub as we walked over. We were seated immediately. Lucky for our second choice! Berkeley Social Club fits right into Berkeley with its industrial but modern chic ambiance. High ceilings, various small tables as well as communal ones add to the laid back, social collegiate atmosphere. The breakfast and brunch menu includes a variety of selections with Korean and American influences. My Bulgogi Benedict was delicious with marinated ribeye, zucchini, mushrooms, and a unique Meyer lemon hollandaise. Aaron G really enjoyed his Morning Pizza which is doughless and looks nothing like a pizza. We were stuffed. Of course their morning drinks hit the spot. Aaron G had a BSC Sangria. I loved the Millionaire Mary, and should've ordered a second. The Millionaire's Bacon® was so bloody divine! I'm glad it was in my Bloody Mary and also got a side of it. Brown sugar, cayenne, red & black pepper...wow! Even with a full house and outdoor line waiting, service was friendly and we didn't feel rushed.

My wife and I had an excellent dinner at Brezo! The service was welcoming and the perfect amount…read moreof attentive. The dishes we ordered were thoughtfully conceived, well-prepared, fresh, and delicious. For dessert, we shared the flan, which featured some special touches and was out of this world. This was our first visit but will not be our last!

Yum! I remember going to Brezo back when they were located at Point Richmond, and I've heard about…read moretheir move to Solano Ave for quite some time. Most recently I finally was able to give them a try. So glad we did! We came around lunch time and sat at a booth. There were other worker bees grabbing a quick lunch. The service was quick, efficient and friendly, and we ordered the French onion soup to start, and split the fried chicken sandwich and Philly cheesesteak sandwich. The sandwiches come with a side, so one plate we did fries with a house-made aioli and the other plate, their quinoa kale salad. Delicious. Such hearty portions! The bread is so fresh, the meat juicy and ample, and flavors just right. We also ordered beer on tap, shoutout to Oakland United, and tried their house-made hot sauce that they also sell by the bottle. Would love to come back to try brunch here too. I also saw a patron ordering the quinoa kale salad with fried chicken, and yes, that's the vibe! Pricing is fair for the quality and quantity, and street parking available (although the restaurant is located at the bottom of Solano where it tends to be a bit more busy). Women-owned biz, and they also were on Check Please! Bay Area.

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!

We partnered with Tipsy Yeti for our recent conference for 100+ women entrepreneurs and they were…read moresuch a phenomenal team to work with! We were in need of last-minute catering support, and they scrambled to make something happen for us. They were generous, on top of their communication, and incredibly flexible. Plus, they had menus printed out for us which I wasn't expecting, but was so nice to have for our guests! I would absolutely recommend ordering from them for all your catering needs.

Had a wonderful experience at Tipsy Yeti! I'm vegetarian , and I really appreciated having…read moredelicious vegetarian options to choose from. The food was flavorful, fresh, and well prepared. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the staff were friendly and attentive. I especially enjoyed the vegan momos--they were so tasty! It's great to find a place where I can enjoy Nepali food with good vegetarian choices. All the staffs were really exceptional. Definitely recommend checking out Tipsy Yeti with friends and family. I'll definitely be coming back!

My boyfriend and I came here for dinner, obvi it's an iconic restaurant and being a Chef he was…read morevery excited to eat here. First off the restaurant itself was super cute. Very homey and comfortable. They gave us an amazing corner table and it almost even felt private. Very cute for a date night. The service was impeccable and everyone was beyond friendly. Now the real star of the show was the food. Everything dish we ate was delicious. I really don't know what else I can say tbh. The menu changes daily so I posted a pic so you can see what we ate. No notes, no comments. My boyfriend had the wine pairing as well and enjoyed everything. Definitley a little pricey but the food was amazing so it's a great place for a special occasion.

Chez Panisse, a restaurant I've always grown up hearing about, yet never dared to dine at. Growing…read moreup in Berkeley, most people are well aware of the infamous restaurant that focuses on farm-to-table dishes and sustainable ingredients. When friends or classmates would tell me they dined here, I was like, " Wow, so boujee. Fast forward to today, and I had the opportunity to go for my Mom's birthday! My family made reservations, which are hard to come by. They need to be made well in advance. We arrived before our 8:30pm reservation and, unfortunately, weren't seated until after 9:00pm. Once inside the dining area, it was lively and loud, intimate, and somewhat more formal compared to their upstairs cafe. Service from all staff was kind; the host occasionally stopped by; our food was delivered, and we were checked on throughout. It was also lovely to peek inside the open-air kitchen. If you dine in their dining area, it's prix-fixe. On my Mom's birthday, they had a salad, pasta, steak, and ice cream. The salad was good--I don't eat mushrooms, but found it tasty and a bit over-dressed. My favorite was the pasta, a little spice. Warm from the noodles but cold from the cheese--the shrimp was nicely cooked. For our entrée, we had a rib-eye. I don't eat steak, but for this occasion I did--it was good, but because I rarely eat beef, I couldn't compare it to other rib-eyes I'd had. The vegetables were good and quite fresh. I gave the ice cream to my family since I don't have dairy, but the fruit was great! Overall I enjoyed more dishes than others. The bread and drinks were also good. I'd be curious to come back for a different prix-fixe. Chez Panisse is a must visit once restaurant in my opinion--whether you're local to the area or live in the Bay Area. Alice Waters is famous and has won a multitude of awards for a reason. I'm happy to have finally dined here and celebrated my Mom's birthday. The restaurant is off Shattuck Ave. with street parking around.

Angel was great! Super friendly and amazing service!! He is definitely a five star server. Thank…read moreyou, Angel!

Came here for a date night with my bf and this spot was so good! We were looking for a chill place…read morewhere we could get some drinks and good food. Our server was really attentive and recommended drinks as well. My drink of the night was the lychee martini w/ strawberry and it was sooo good. I had three and good buzz going on. For my entree, I had the salmon with potatoes and subbed the green beans for a side ceasar. My bf got the fried chicken sandwich and he really liked it as well. Everything paired well and we would def come back!