ID Cafe

-
Mango lassi and cheese dosa from ID Cafe

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, which is a real bargain at $7, or you opt for a more substantial option (which will only put you back about twice that), you will find that the exterior of the dosa, the doughy creation that wraps the meal, incredible as it is, is only half the story. When you try the sauces or the curry that comes with the dosa and experience the exotic yet not unexpected fillings, you will be amazed. Depending on your spice tolerance, you can find different intensities of heat. They also have vegan options.
The other specialty is the idlis, which are made from the same dough as the dosas, but instead have been shaped into small cakes. Served with similar sauces and soups, the idlis also make an excellent choice for an inexpensive, healthy Indian meal in Berkeley.
ID Cafe also serves some nice beverages, including sodas and lassis. They come in cute little cups with a small red heart to cover the opening on the lid. I tried the mango lassi and found it was sweet and tangy, tasting strongly of mango.
I think this place is a real find! Like every place I review, it’s yummy and affordable, but I am particularly struck by how well this place embraces Indian cuisine without sacrificing health concerns, compromising on standards, or raising prices. It’s hard to go wrong while exploring the menu here.

Dosa from ID Cafe
Location: 2177 Kittredge St, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Noodle

-
Image
The Noodle The Noodle is one of Berkeley's hidden gems nestled into the downtown area serving lunch and dinner every day of the week except for Monday. A small, casual and down-to-earth Thai eatery that make flavor-packed food at a snappy pace, this is the place to go when you are hungry and craving an exotic yet still homey and comforting plate of Thai food. The lunch and dinner menu is extensive; you will find a variety of salads, soups, stir-fries, appetizers, and noodle dishes, all created in their signature authentic Thai style. You can customize the spiciness of the dishes to your own spice tolerance. The freshly prepared food will be served hot in an aesthetically pleasing style.  Because of the welcoming environment and quality of the food, it's a great place to branch out and try new dishes. I am always finding new favorites. For example, my long-time favorites at this restaurant were the larb and the Pad Thai, but then I tried the Pad See Ew and fell in love. My favor...
Read more

Dessert N Spice

-
Image
Dessert N Spice This cute little bakery can be found along University Avenue in Berkeley. The bakery is not large, so there are only about three tables and a few more stools along the bar against the wall. It's a nice place to stop for or pick up a sweet treat. Entering the bakery, you will see sunlight streaming through the big windows and three big glass cases illuminated by bright lights. Inside these cases are premium pastries like specialty cakes, muffins, baklava, croissants, cookies, and macaroons. Each one looks like a work of art.  They also serve caffeinated beverages. They have an americano, a caramel macchiato, a latte, a caramel latte, a dark mocha, a white chocolate mocha, steamed milk, hot chocolate, and chai tea. They also have a selection of canned sodas.  When you have decided which of the pastries you want from behind the glass, you can order and pay at the counter, where they accept contactless payment. The service is very good; the people are polite, and ...
Read more

Caffe Chiave

-
Image
Caffe Chiave Caffe Chiave is a cute and homey Italian cafe overlooking San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley. It’s the kind of place you go to when you’re hungry and leave feeling satisfied.  The interior design, like the menu, has clearly been influenced by Italian style and culture. Its design utilizes warm-colored wood and dark red trim, a color scheme that reminds the visitor that this is an Italian cafe. The speakers play instrumental music that goes with the Italian-inspired theme. The cafe is not particularly large, nor is it jam-packed. It holds about twenty small tables that are spaced apart enough to give each table some distance and privacy. This creates a cozy and comfortable feel. With the nice Italian music to help drown out conversations between other guests, it’s a very nice place to have an intimate conversation with friends or colleagues over food or coffee. Caffe Chiave serves the public as both a coffee shop and a restaurant. The baristas sell coffee (including house dri...
Read more