Known for its fish and chips, this local pub is the go-to restaurant in town for families with small children. Owner Graham Barclay Simpson hails from England but now resides in El Cerrito. There is a play area in one corner of the restaurant for children to entertain themselves while their parents enjoy entrees such as shepherd's pie and sticky toffee pudding. Drinks are available on tap and the television is tuned to the latest football (of the European tradition) or current favorite sports channels.
Triple Rock Brewery & Ale House is a popular hangout for college students and locals alike. Rich with a history of firsts, the bar was established in 1985 by a pair of twenty-somethings homebrewers, brothers John and Reid Martin. Triple Rock was one of the first brewpubs in the country, founded by two of the first original United States microbrewers.
Lanesplitter is a pizzeria known throughout the city for its delicious food. You can make your own small or large pizza with toppings like pepperoni, mushrooms, fresh tomato, roasted garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. It also has house special combos like the Carnivore, Chicane and Heartstopper. Other items on the menu include traditional cheese calzones, mixed green salads and garlic bread sticks. Lanesplitter also has a full bar with many popular beers on tap.
Bobby G's Pizzeria uses organic, house-made dough for their pizza. The menu includes New York Style Pizza, Sicilian Pizza, Pan Fried Pizza, and Bobby G's Signature Pizzas. If you don't want a whole pizza, you can order it by the slice. It also serves fresh pasta, paninis, sandwiches, salads, and breadsticks. In addition, there is a 10% student discount, and they have free wireless internet at the restaurant. They are also part of the Bay Area Green Business program, and won 'Best Overall Restaurant - 2009' from the Daily Californian.
The family-owned Mitama serves Japanese food at reasonable prices. Its full sushi bar has options like the Red & White roll, California rolls and tempura rolls; the restaurant also has fresh sashimi, including Hamachi, Maguro and Toro. Mitama's lunch combos come with a rice bowl (such as chicken or beef teriyaki) and either udon or soba with a special topping.
Fonda Solana is a Latin American tapas restaurant owned by K-2 Restaurant Group. These owners also operate the well-known Lalime's, Jimmy Bean's, T-Rex and Sea Salt restaurants. Fonda is stylish and relaxed and offers several different seating arrangements on the lower floor, including a fun bar scene, as well as a mezzanine section that overlooks the action below.
Acme Bar is a dive bar known for its great selection of beer and hard liquor. It has $2 Miller Highlife Drafts and special beers like 'Death and Taxes' in stock. There is also a pool table, a jukebox with Rockabilly tunes, and a DJ who spins on a regular basis. Acme Bar is also one of the few bars in the area that allows indoor smoking, including cigars. It is open late every night, so don't hesitate to stop by if you're out with friends.
Nick's Lounge provides a casual, laid-back atmosphere for an after work drink or a late-night get together with friends. The family-run bar has stood strong in South Berkeley for almost two decades, relying on a devoted base of regulars during the day and a mixed crowd in the evenings. Stop in for live jazz every Sunday night from 6pm to 9pm.
Beta Lounge is a wine bar with an Asian twist located on Durant in Berkeley. On the menu are wine and sake by the glass or bottle, beer and specialty cocktails, and you can also snack on sandwiches and light plates. On the weekend Beta Lounge has DJs to keep the party moving late. So if you're looking for an upscale lounge with a cool vibe where you can sip wine, enjoy a light meal and listen to someone spin, stop by Beta Lounge.
The oldest pub in Berkeley, the Albatross Pub offers more than 50 bottled beers and 13 draft beers on tap, as well as premium spirits like scotch, bourbon and Irish whiskey.
In addition to a pool table and six dartboards, the pub also has plenty of board games for patrons to enjoy, including Apples to Apples, Scattergories, Trivial Pursuit and Balderdash. Head over every Sunday night at 8:30 for 'The Brainstormer' trivia pub quiz.
Solano Cellars is a hidden gem, providing great selections of California and international wines, as well as an elevated wine bar in the back of the shop that offers tastings paired with artisanal cheeses and charcuterie. It also hosts regular wine classes, wine and food pairing dinners, and visits from winemakers from all over the world. The staff are oenological enthusiasts and will go out of their way to recommend or even locate a wine for you.
Jazz Cafe opened in 2002 with the original intention of serving students of the Jazzschool. Because of its great location, Jazz Cafe is an ideal place for students and non-students alike to grab a sandwich or enjoy a beverage inside its vibrant and colorful location. The cafe is conveniently located adjacent to the Jazzschool in downtown Berkeley, one block away from the Bart station. Jazz Cafe also serves a small selection of beer and wine.
Located near the point where University intersects with Shattuck, this local restaurant has an old-west saloon feel. The atmosphere inside is lounge-meets-cowboy-western with a bit of taxidermy flair to push you out of your comfort zone. Drinks range from Midori sours to coffee liquor and plain old whiskey. Menu items include soups, salads, pasta and chicken dishes.