Yes, yes, triple yes. I can't believe East Bay Spice Company is back! If you didn't know, know ya…read moreknow...located essentially across the way from CAL in Berkeley, East Bay Spice to me is a hidden gem filled with such nostalgic memories shared with friends over the years. They closed for a time, and now seem to be thriving again! Heading to the Greek for a weekend show, we wanted to pop in somewhere close-by. We cozied up to bar seating, and enjoy a couple of martinis featuring local gin and vodka, and ordered some food to share: the Original Tikka Masala Flatbread (we had to finally try it!), and the Sev Puri Chaat (first time trying this ever!). Service was amazing, and if I could write this review purely on the originality and creativity of the menus, I would (see pics!) The menus were CD cases (remember those, ha) with a fun take on 'Spice Girls', titled 'East Bay Spice Company'. For Spice Girls fans, you will recognize what album this was derived from. Each page of the cd book was a different part of the menu, including drinks, happy hour (from 2-6pm), and food. So fun, and unlike anything I've ever seen before. The food was so fresh and delicious. Loved the pomegranate seeds and lightness from the Sev Puri Chaat, bite size garbanzo bean/potato goodness! And standing O for that flatbread..pro-tip: get a side of the Tikka Masala sauce to pour on top. Absolutely amazing. I'm a huge fan of Tikka Masala, and having that sauce be a base for a pizza...come on!! We did chicken as the protein. Overall, so happy to return and have East Bay Spice back apart of the Berkeley rotation again. Small, dimly-lit, cool digs. Also check out their sister spots: Tap in Lounge and Tipsea in Berk, Blue Rabbit Bar off San Pablo, and Lemon Drop in Alameda.

I saw someone post a photo of the chicken tikka masala here and immediately made plans to visit…read morethat same week. I ordered the same dish, and it absolutely did not disappoint. The presentation was impeccable, and the sauce was rich, creamy, and full of flavor. The chicken seemed like a leaner cut, possibly breast, but it was still tender and not overcooked. I thoroughly enjoyed this plate and would 100% come back to order it again. My husband ordered the flatbread, though I can't remember the exact name, and it was surprisingly delicious as well. It tasted almost like a pizza version of the chicken tikka masala, making it a great shareable option if you're looking to snack, chat, and enjoy cocktails. Speaking of cocktails, the bartenders seemed very knowledgeable and helped me choose a drink based on my preferred spirit and cocktail style. I ended up with the Skeleton Key, which was strong, but still paired well with the meal. I'd happily come back to try more cocktails and, of course, order that chicken tikka masala again.

An amazing cocktail bar tucked away in Emeryville! Its a great vibe - dim lights, boxing theme,…read moregood service, variety of cocktails and a wonderful outside patio space. I always look forward to coming back here when I'm in the area.

Save water, drink tequila…read more We tried finding a nearby cafe to kill time but every one of them was busy with no seating. So here I am, sipping on Fortaleza Blanco ($19).... *Cheers* to the Sunday scaries and Monday hangxiety! O T H E R I N F O * HH Specials: Tuesday - Friday, 4 pm - 6 pm and all day Sunday. * Bring your own food. They also have chips and tamales for purchase. * They have a bottle shop next door where you can find small-batch, hard to find spirits. * Hip, industrial vibes with indoor seating and a covered patio. * Well-behaved, leashed dogs allowed in the patio. * There's a spacious lounge area inside that's perfect for large parties and available to reserve. * Plentiful of street parking.

The food & drinks were good here... was so thrown off by all of the extra fees when the bill came…read more. close to $15 in fees for two people?? Like what is a health care fee??

The food is pretty good for the price (I had three tacos for $24, but they were fresh grilled Mahi…read moremahi). And they have at least a couple of nonalcoholic drinks (I had an NA beer). Service was minimal - we got our food, but later we had to chase them down for our bill. Ambiance - we came to hear the Hogan Brothers play on Thursday night out on the rooftop deck. It would be best to make a reservation - some of the seating has couches and gas fireplace style heating, but not all. And it's not in the shade, so wear your sunblock and/or hat, and if it's windy, you'll want a jacket and scarf. If you sit along the side, there are nice views of the Bay.

I'm not sure whether it was the bartender who assisted me that evening, but unfortunately the…read morecustomer service I experienced was very disappointing. I tried to start a friendly conversation and ask a few questions about the drinks, however the responses I received were very brief and limited to only the drink names, which made the interaction feel unwelcoming. I also noticed that we were the only Latino guests there at the time, and throughout our visit we felt largely ignored. As a result, the overall atmosphere did not feel comfortable or inclusive to us. Based on this experience, I did not feel welcomed at this bar in Berkeley and would not recommend it. Even though we live only a few minutes away, it didn't feel like a place worth returning to or spending our time and money at.

Question: Is Acme a bourbon bar or a whiskey bar? I have an unconventional answer because I like…read morethe vibes here and have discovered it's actually an "everything good" bar. I love the outstanding Mezcal list. On Tuesdays (some? all? I dunno) they have a martini and caviar menu. Ten bucks get you an excellent house martinis and a healthy mound of caviar on a potato chip. Happy hour feature $6 well drinks (1 mixer) or $10 cocktails (multi-mixer shaken or stirred). Great bartenders here, especially Anaís!

Had an amazing experience at Tallboy!…read more Sat at the bar on a sunny weekend and immediately loved the vibes. Bartenders were friendly and seemed to know a lot of the regulars. Can't quite describe it but it didn't feel like an SF bar, felt more open and like a community watering whole. On to the food and drinks. I'm vegetarian so was so excited to try the dogs - which are vegan. And I may be biased but you cannot tell that you're missing out on anything with all the flavor packed combos. The bun was fluffy and soft and you have multiple fun themed options to choose from. My partner and I ended up getting the deli dog and truffle meltdown. Deli was perfect - classic mix of spice and crunch with the spicy brown mustard and giardiniera peppers. And the truffle meltdown was so savory and decadent - totally different flavor profiles from each dog! We were only going to grab one drink but the menu was so inventive we ended up getting two. I ordered the banana hammock (which comes with a fire show) and espresso martini slushee which was is up there with the frozen Irish coffees I've had in New Orleans. Man writing this has my mouth watering... definitely coming back for more dogs, drinks, and vibes!

I've heard all the hype about Tallboy, so I had to check it out myself…read more I do think it lived up to some of the hype, but I think they could've used their space better. It is a unique layout to a bar, and probably better concept for earlier hours, when it isn't as crowded during the night. It can fill up really quickly, since the area to order a drink, dance, and mingle is narrow, since the bar is literally in the middle of the room. Some of the staff can be extremely nice and kind, and there are some who you can tell are fed up, upset, and don't have the best attitude. I get it, though. It's a cool bar to check out or be the first stop of the night. The djs they have always turn up. Good luck getting a drink under 15 minutes though!

This was a great find! Made reservations for 4 to celebrate a birthday. Parking can be a little…read moretough in this area, so leave extra time. It's a nice, earthy, hip vibe. Both the drink and food menus are well thought out. We asked for some advice when ordering and the server (owner?) was very kind, honest, and helpful. Everything we had was excellent! We tried some standard choices and unusual ones and it was all amazing. Best veggie pakora (flavor, texture, and sauce) in the area. The spices across the board were artfully dimensional and delicious, not just hot or overwhelming. The cocktails and mocktails were really nice- a little unusual (distinctive, but not weird). They were well balanced and beautifully served. This is our new favorite Indian spot and we'll definitely be back!

I was so happy to hear Tigerlily on Shattuck is still open! I hadn't been a patron there for…read moreyears..so much has changed (in a great way) in this sweet area of Berkeley. I can't wait to come back and order food, but the drinks and ambiance remain just lovely, and the family that runs this spot are also just the most kind. We came ironically during their happy hour and ordered Espresso Martinis and watched the end of a big college basketball game. We started to see Shattuck 'wake back up' if you will, as most places close and reopen around 4:30-5:00pm. Service was quick, and if we weren't on our own food tour de Berkeley, would have ordered a couple of happy hour snacks or just stayed for dinner. We heard the Tikka Masala Fried Chicken and the Indian fusion brunch are something to def make our way back to try. Other unique menu items: Tumeric Mashed Potatoes, Sesame Avocado Fry Bread, Tigerlily Nachos & Tacos, and the North Indian Style Meatballs. Oh, and the brunch cocktails :) If you're looking for a date night spot in the month of love, grab some friends on the weekend, or just saddle up solo to catch a game, Tigerlily checks all these boxes.

Tried the Wild Thing cocktail. Tastes just like an Al pastor taco in the best way possible. HIGHLY…read morerecommend for mezcal lovers. Also, great vibe and great service. Full bar!!!

Ok...so...the website says they're open for all the fifa games. Husband and I drove down to…read moreBerkekey to watch the game. Nope! Not open. Waited outside for a few minutes but still nope. Highly disappointed...left and went to Dog Haus!

Beta Lounge on Durant Ave Berkeley, been around since 2009 and just relaunched as 3.0 in 2025 with…read morea new tapas menu, wine flights, spirit flights, and fresh herb cocktails. Happy hour runs 3 to 5:30 with $8 wine and cocktails which is genuinely hard to beat in Berkeley. Wednesday wine night is 50% off bottles including reserve, so that one is worth planning around. Spring rolls and hummus plate are the go-to snacks, light menu that works well with the drinks. Comfortable couches, good music, dog friendly, bartenders that actually remember you. 5 stars, solid neighborhood spot that keeps getting better, Wednesday wine night alone earns it

I had no idea Beta Lounge existed off of Durant Ave. and what a cool space and place off-the-beaten…read morepath! We heard this building has been many different iterations over the years, but happy to have found this spot in Berkeley for a fun happy hour with friends. We enjoyed the wine flight (choice of 4 wines), each with a nice pour, and shared the spinach dip with chips. We also enjoyed an espresso martini to cap off the evening. The staff were super friendly, and the lounge was filled with what seemed like regulars. The lounge couches were super comfy and it was an overall very relaxing yet intimate experience. I would definitely come back again with a group, or even stop by for a date night. Parking is a bit tough in this area, but there is street parking (if lucky enough to find it) and garages nearby.