Exploring the Bay Area

Peasant Pies Peasant Pies keeps it simple, sticking to what they do best: specializing in savory pies, sweet pies, soup, salad and coffee. The food gives off those homey, traditional vibes that give way to nostalgia and fantasies about the distant past. Customers circulate through the earthy toned eating area that has lots of sunlight and seating, devouring this delightfully old-fashioned menu and enjoying the shop's quaint personality. It’s a very relaxed and tasty place to stop and eat. You will find yourself enchanted by the simplicity and humble elegance of this small, very specialized business.  The menu is short and posted on the wall, and the pies are on display under a glass case. After you read through it, you order and pay at the counter. The pies and the coffee/espresso/tea drinks cost about an affordable $6 each. The staff will choose from the cute pies under the glass case to fulfill your order. You take a seat, and they will bring you your food once it's been heat...

See's Candy When writing about the best places to grab a bite in the Bay Area, perhaps you should not neglect to consider See’s Candy, as their stores command a large and loyal following. See’s Candy is a luxury California chocolate brand that offers premium treats by the box or individually, sold by weight, which can be made into custom boxes according to your preference. Freshly made here in the Bay Area at a factory in South San Francisco, it’s perfect for gifts and for treating yourself. The chocolates here are rich and creamy, and they encase pretty much every type of filling you can think of. The store has white, milk, and dark chocolate, and they are all sweet and soft to the bite, even if they are stuffed with salty nuts or crispy pralines. The dark chocolate here is great; it’s not too bitter, and it pairs nicely with the fillings. The milk chocolate is even better, as it’s sweeter and milkier. But I have a real weakness for the white chocolate, which is as sweet and also ...

Dera Cafe There’s a new coffee shop in downtown Berkeley that has been winning hearts. It’s called Dera, and it is a place that many people are starting to discover. Dera is a new, aesthetically pleasing, and impeccably clean cafe that brings an unparalleled Pakistani flair to your classic local coffee shop. Offering chai, matcha, lattes, coffee, lassis, plus pastries, waffles, and cakes, as well as savory options, including fries,omelets, samosas, and chaat, this menu has something for everyone, whether you are a picky or adventuresome eater. The interior has clean white marble tiles with deep brown wooden and leather accents that exude simplicity, cleanliness, and elegance. Soft instrumental music offers a soothing touch, and the chairs are soft and comfortable. It’s a place you will want to stay for a while. The tables are spaced just far enough apart for privacy, making it a great place to come with friends, colleagues, or family. It’s an appetizing and inviting ambiance. The servi...

Sumo Roll I think I may have just stumbled on another great affordable sushi place that can accommodate my need for low prices without making me miss out on my Japanese favorites! Sumo Roll is a place that does it all, proudly serving Japanese and Japanese-inspired cuisine for prices you can afford in an environment that embraces a Japanese aesthetic. It embraces both coziness and curiosity, frugality and quality, and best of all, traditional recipes and modern tastes. The result is a uniquely enjoyable dining experience that reminds you of Japanese culture. The ambiance here alone makes it a great place to grab a bite alone or chill with friends.  The decor, complete with some tastefully chosen Japanese artwork, pairs nicely with the soft Japanese music to give off an old-fashioned Japanese vibe. The service is friendly and goes at a nice, leisurely pace. Consider your time here and abbreviated trip to Japan that will allow you to escape the daily grind back in California. And the...

Gather If you’re looking for a well-liked, full-service, sit-down restaurant in Berkeley that’s near the downtown and close to UC Berkeley’s campus and provides a consistently good product for a reasonable fee, Gather is a pretty safe bet. Because of its popularity, you might find it helpful to make a reservation in advance. Although it is not exactly inexpensive, it also is not particularly expensive; it’s more of a mid-range price in exchange for a top-notch business-casual meal you won’t regret. Gather has plenty of seating split between a large, spacious, and attractive eating area with lots of tables and a bar and a nice patio decorated with plants and colorful glass. It can accommodate large parties and even hosts events from time to time. True to its name, it is an excellent place to gather. It has just enough options on the menu that you can bring a large group and expect there will be something for everyone. The menu takes a unique spin on many classic, popular American dishes...

ID Cafe ID Cafe is a chain with a small, cute, inexpensive, and healthy Indian restaurant near the UC Berkeley Campus. The inside is sunny and clean, and you can order and pay at the counter, using a kiosk or with the help of a cashier. Don’t be fooled by the casual, laid-back demeanor; this cafe takes its recipes and customer experiences seriously. It’s the kind of place that will introduce you to new food without taking you out of your comfort zone. The specialty here is the dosa, which, for lack of a better word, resembles crepes or pancakes stuffed with delightfully savory fillings. Here, they have mastered the art of the healthy, delicious dosa, which it appears they prepare in their kitchen from fresh dough. The dosas have crispy edges but soft interiors, which makes some of the bites a little crunchy and others softer, adding to the interesting texture of the dish. They are served warm, and they have a savory but comfortingly homey feel. Whether you get the handheld cheese dosa,...