Exploring the Bay Area

Caffe Central  This is one of Mission Bay’s most enticing cafes. With a nice breakfast/brunch/lunch menu plus an assortment of fancy pastries and an espresso bar, it’s a great place to grab a bite or a quick pick-me-up. It has great food and a welcoming atmosphere. The eating area is bright, spacious, and elegant, exuding modernity and cleanliness. You order and pay at the counter, where you can see an assortment of intricate pastries, models of the items on the food menu, and the coffee and tea menu mounted on the wall. Everything looks so good that it is tempting to order too much. The service here is very good; it’s as if the severs/baristas have great respect for the establishment. Famous for irresistible gourmet sandwiches, statement salads, and impressive breakfast menu, Caffe Central draws customers throughout the day. People come alone, in small groups, and in larger groups. The food is high quality and arrives quickly with a smile, but the prices of the main plates remain ...

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,...

The Cheeseboard Pizzeria  The Cheeseboard Pizzeria is perhaps Berkeley’s most coveted pizza shop. With a loyal following and a sterling reputation, the line extends down the sidewalk, sometimes even winding around the corner, at almost every hour this famous pizzeria is open. It’s the kind of place that legend precedes, so you should try it if you’re ever even nearby. Having been a Berkeley staple for decades, it's my experience that it’s not an exaggeration to say it’s pretty much known to everyone who’s ever inhabited Berkeley for any long period of time. The Cheeseboard Pizzeria is not your typical pizza place. It has a large patio with lots of seating, where people of all ages love to gather. Unlike your typical restaurant, it’s a great place to enjoy some live jazz music performed by a selection of talented jazz artists with real instruments in real time; they almost always have a group of musicians performing their hearts out. This creates the fun ambiance that makes it such ...

Sara’s Southern Kitchen Coffee Shop Sara’s Southern Kitchen Coffee Shop is the most indulgent breakfast I’ve ever enjoyed. With bold, sweet, and savory flavors, it will make a trip to Los Gatos feel justified. If you’re nearby, I would stop in because it offers the type of blissfully sweet and buttery Southern breakfast that just needs to be devoured, alongside traditional savory options that bring about a certain type of nostalgia and longing for a faraway place. Owned by Sara Williams, this is a high-end take on a classic Southern breakfast/brunch. The food is uniquely decadent, delicious, and satisfying, making it one of the only places in the Bay Area to truly master the art of a classic Southern meal. Pay no attention to calories or health; this restaurant specializes in traditional, authentic Southern food served in massive portions. This is a culinary adventure that takes you to a different part of the country, and it should not be confused for a simple meal. The food here is ve...

'   Gusto In my opinion, this might be the most exciting new restaurant in Berkeley right now! The stripped-down, casual setup allows the real focus to be on the food and company. It’s the first Algerian restaurant I have tried in the area, and it pulls off a menu of Algerian flavors with real gusto (pun intended)! You order and pay at the counter or kiosk up front. The menu is short and to the point, and the kitchen works relatively fast, churning out beautiful, delicious Mediterranean (Algerian) dishes in a jiffy. While you wait, you might want to sip one of their Algerian sodas from the cooler; my favorite is the carbonated lemonade. After you order, you can take a seat at one of the simple tables or the stripped-down bar that overlooks Downtown Berkeley. You may discover that this new restaurant is so popular that it’s hard to find an empty table. One time, when we came, we had to move some tables and chairs to accommodate our small group. There are some nice tiles and a logo o...

Korean Superette This Korean sit-down restaurant doubles as a Korean market. The walls are lined with packaged Korean snacks, cooking ingredients essential to Korean cuisine, and lots and lots of noodles, especially ramen. They also have a wall lined with refrigerators stocked with kimchi, frozen dumplings, and other items. Plus, there are some beautiful non-food items made in a Korean style that would make cool gifts or decorations. As you eat, you can admire the selection; it’s hard to leave empty-handed because it’s hard to find such a wide assortment of Korean products elsewhere in Berkeley. The eating area, which doubles as a market, is a cozy place to eat. It’s bright and clean looking, with walls lined with fascinating Korean goods and a glass window separating the indoor eating area from the outdoor one, which is a small patio with some greenery that butts up to a few buildings on the other side. The seating is comfortable, and the tables are carefully spaced apart. It’s as if ...

Piccino Piccino coffee bar sits in the Dogpatch next to a proper restaurant by the same name, which I have not yet tried. It’s merely a small room with a refrigerator holding sandwiches and cookie dough and a counter in front of their espresso equipment and kitchen, displaying some yummy pastries. It has no seating, but it is always well-staffed, so the service is rather prompt. The menu has a variety of coffee, espresso, and tea beverages; they proudly serve caffeinated and non-caffeinated options, and everything is carefully prepared for quality assurance. For example, they have lattes, including vanilla lattes, mochas, chai tea, and hot chocolate, among others, and everything tastes professionally made. Prices are what you’d expect from a San Francisco coffee shop, and the bitterness of the coffee or tea flavor tends to be mild, and the temperature and the consistency of the milk always hit the spot. All these things make it a great spot for a little pick-me-up. In my opinion, thoug...

Araki Sushi Araki Sushi brings affordable, authentic Japanese flavor to downtown Palo Alto. Despite its small size, it is a powerhouse that cranks out delicious meals for a surprisingly large crowd of loyal patrons. But despite its apparent popularity, it maintains a humble, customer-focused attitude. The service here is good, and the prices are a good deal for the product provided. Every last detail is considered here. From the nice pieces of Japanese artwork on the walls that give the restaurant character, to the attractive plating of the food, to the reasonably priced combos on the menu, to the balance of savory flavors in the food, everything here is done deliberately and with care to create the ultimate cozy Japanese comfort food feel. As soon as I tasted the warm miso soup, I was hooked. The crispy, meaty fried gyoza here are to die for, but the fresh, soft, and buttery sashimi was as impressive. Meanwhile, the teriyaki chicken was cooked perfectly and smothered in a delightful t...

Qahwa Time Qahwa Time is the relatively new coffee shop in Berkeley that takes a unique spin on the traditional notion of a coffee shop. While it serves up quality espresso and coffee drinks and a selection of pastries, like many cafes, it takes the idea of a coffee shop to the next level with its beautiful and serene lobby and its delicious, Yemeni-inspired menu. It’s not just your standard coffee stop; it’s a chance to truly experience something that will move you, satiate you, and inspire you with its exotic and impressive flavor and decor. It’s a quiet and relaxing place to work, meet, or simply savor. I like to come here for the lovely mugs of hot coffee, particularly the lattes, which come in an attractive mug, steaming hot with carefully done latte art. My favorites are the Biscoff latte and the salted chocolate latte. There’s something about this Yemeni blend of coffee that is both mild and powerful. And the milk and sweetness balance this subtle strength to create a pleasant d...

The Station Smashburgers The Station Burger is one of Berkeley’s most popular burger destinations. It is a lively, energetic, outdoor destination with a small, to-the-point menu featuring beef smash burgers, ground chicken patty burgers, impossible burgers, rice bowls, fries, and loaded fries, as well as ice cream, milkshakes, and alcoholic beverages. From the second I arrived, I could smell the heavenly scent of the burgers, fries, and other dishes. I looked at what everyone else was eating and became very excited to try my own. The whole outdoor eating area is always abuzz with people, particularly young people and new parents, having a good time in Berkeley’s sunny weather. Some of the seats are protected by a cheap roof, but many of the others are not. The music is loud, and the tables turn over relatively quickly. The point here is instant gratification: a quick, easy fix for your cravings. The kitchen, which is the only indoor part of the restaurant besides the restroom, churns o...

Nola Located in the heart of downtown Palo Alto, Nola is a cozy Cajun-style restaurant with a thoughtfully curated menu of interesting food, drink, and dessert options that appeal to a wide variety of people. Sit inside the brick-lined dining room or outside on the sunny patio, and choose from New Orleans specialties like Cajun pasta, Southern comfort food like fried chicken and waffles, or common dishes like tacos, salads, and burgers. The food comes out looking beautiful. Each dish is masterfully crafted to embody sophistication, style, and taste. The result is a meal that is not only satisfying but also memorable. The dining area is dimly lit, giving off den-like vibes. The outdoor seating feels like downtown Palo Alto, California, in all its glory; it’s sunny and pleasant, surrounded by Californian businesses with Californian customers. But stepping inside, you find yourself feeling as though you’ve travelled far, far away. It’s a dim and cozy place with brick trimming and a firepl...

All Star Donuts Located near El Cerrito Plaza BART station, All Star Donuts sells fresh doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches, coffee, and other pastries at a good price. It’s an ideal place to charge up for the day because it offers variety, quality, and affordability. It’s clean and neat, yet still informal, serving products that are delicious but simple and giving off that traditional doughnut shop vibe. They have a breakfast sandwich menu on one wall and a coffee/doughnut/pastry menu behind the counter. But beneath the clear case, you can view the main attraction: the nice assortment of freshly baked sweets. The smell  is heavenly, and the display is extremely enticing. The doughnuts and other pastries are lined up neatly like mouthwatering jewelry on display. The variety of these gorgeous, edible items is impressive. They have pretty much every type of round doughnut, including old-fashioned, cake, and self-rising ones, as well as bars and doughnut holes. When it comes to toppings, ...

Berkeley Social Club Berkeley Social Club, located near downtown Berkeley and UC Berkeley’s campus, is a beloved gathering place for many, especially young people and students. It tends to draw a large crowd of enthusiastic patrons, especially on weekends, for brunch. They also serve lunch and dinner, but Berkeley Social Club serves a legendary breakfast. On many weekend mornings, each table is filled, and a crowd of eager customers waits outside patiently for another table to open. It’s not that there aren’t countless restaurants nearby; it’s just that these people have their hearts set on Berkeley Social Club’s menu, which seems to have something for everyone. The morning menu includes a variety of items, like avocado toast, egg dishes such as poached or scrambled eggs, griddle favorites, like pancakes and French toast, Korean-fusion dishes like bugolgi, bimimbap, pajun pancake, and curry, and their famous millionaire’s bacon. People who care about breakfast tend to love this place f...

Hella Bagels Hella Bagels is a small cafe in Albany that rolls, boils, and bakes fresh bagels in-house each day they’re open. You can taste the freshness in the chewy, buttery bite of the bagel. The bagels are buttery on the outside, dense and chewy on the inside, and very appetizing as a whole. The entire cafe smells like fresh-baked bagels! Like other cafes, they also serve coffee, espresso beverages, and salads. However, this shop specializes in fresh bagels, fresh bagels with spreads, and fresh bagel sandwiches. They offer seven types of bagels, including plain, everything, onion, garlic, salt, sesame, and poppy, as well as eleven types of spread, such as butter, berries and cream, spicy mango peach, veggie, Nova Lox, garlic confit, jalapeño cilantro, chili crisp, and horseradish lemon dill.  They are not skimpy with the amount of spread! A fresh-baked bagel is only $3, and a fresh-baked bagel with spread is only $5 here! They have smoked fish, vegetable, fruit, and egg sandwic...

Scoop N Chill In downtown Berkeley, a delightful coffee, ice cream, and sweets stand is hidden inside Crave Subs , the cartoon-themed sandwich shop that I’ve also written about. It’s called Scoop N Chill, and it serves some of Berkeley’s best ice cream! It's a little-known hidden gem, especially because it is so hard to find. The counter Scoop N Chill occupies inside Crave Subs looks adorable, with waffle-cone like lattice and ice cream scoops on the ceiling to look as if they were thrown there. It's bright white and clearly immaculately clean. Reading the menu, you will see that they proudly serve crepes, croffles, and sushi crepes, in addition to espresso/coffee beverages, milkshakes, and gelato, all at competitive prices. I tried the Biscoff gelato and fell in love. Every detail was thought of and perfected. Everything here (not just the Biscoff gelato) is expertly and lovingly made. (The product comes out looking professional, beautiful, and anything but sloppy every time.)...