Exploring the Bay Area

  Lox Stock and Bagel Lox Stock and Bagel is a commonly overlooked cafe in Berkeley that deserves more attention. Open Monday through Friday from 8 to 3, this small cafe is just off the beaten path and has been around for more than 30 years, serving breakfast, coffee, brunch, and lunch. From bagels to waffles to sandwiches, this cafe has many affordable, delicious options. The menu with prices is mounted on the wall. There’s plenty of variety and no surprises when it comes to price. It’s not a large cafe, but it still has that spacious feel, and the tables aren’t too close together. It appears bright and sunny on the inside, and although the prices are low, the service is surprisingly enthusiastic and quick. Customers circulate in and out of this pleasant dining area, but I still think the high quality and low prices could draw an even bigger crowd if more people knew about it. It’s not all about bagels and lox, although you can find them on the menu. It’s also a great place to get...

Tipsy Yeti Tipsy Yeti, located along San Pablo in Berkeley, is the kind of place I could recommend to anyone. Still, I especially recommend it to those who are seeking something interestingly tasty and relaxingly comfortable. It’s a semi-formal restaurant appropriate for almost all types of groups, with a menu that’s really fun to explore.  The prices aren’t bad, and they even have a happy hour from 4 to 6 pm. With exposed brick and warm-colored wooden trim, Tipsy Yeti has that old-fashioned tavern kind of feel. You can instantly recognize it as the kind of place you can kick back and socialize—whether you’re bringing families with children or are there to grab a drink with your 21+ friend group. There’s a good amount of space between the tables, and it’s orderly and not too loud, meaning that it can simultaneously be a kid-friendly restaurant and a classy bar. The service is respectful, and the slow pace is actually welcome because it prolongs the time for pleasant conversation an...

  Habit Burger and Grill There is something very soothing and satisfying about eating at Habit Burger and Grill. It’s not just your standard fast food; it’s more of a specialized, tasty old-fashioned American comfort food. Known for great burgers, fries, and shakes, plus delicious sauces like ranch and barbecue, this fast-food chain commands respect among fast-food restaurants for serving food people love. I’ll start by saying I am a real fan of good French fries, and the fries at Habit Burger and Grill are among my favorite fast-food fries. I was blown away by how much I liked them when I first tried them, and I will admit, I have stopped in just for a small serving of these incredible fries before. Both the sweet potato and regular fries are salted and deep-fried to perfection; you can choose which one you want, or you can order both with the “half and half” option. Ordering these fries could result in you devouring soft, salty, and enticing fries faster than you realize. They’re...

  Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shop Mr. Pickle's is known for affordable, quality sandwiches packed with lots of great ingredients, ready in a jiffy. They have a variety of meats, sauces, and toppings, and it’s hard to go wrong. They make your order in front of you behind the counter, carefully but quickly producing premium sandwiches that you can eat in the casual dining room or take to go. The sandwiches are all yummy and affordable—a perfect quick bite. You can choose from a wide assortment of chips and drinks as well. Choosing can be a lot of fun. Personally, I don’t like to miss a chance to enjoy a Mr. Pickle's sandwich; I come by whenever I am in the area to study the menu. I usually favor the chicken sandwiches, but again, it’s hard to go wrong. From the bread to the toppings, everything is high quality and certainly not something you worry about putting in your mouth. The menu is long, and it’s hard to pick favorites. That said, they have a new menu item that you’ve got t...

  Al's Big Burger Al’s Big Burger looks like little more than a rundown shack in Albany with a charcoal grill and some casual seating. The entire building is small and weathered, and you can hear the sizzle of the grill in the kitchen and other customers talking throughout the small restaurant. Taking one look at this place, you wonder if you’ve stepped back in time. And you wonder how such a humble shack has made it this long. But before the appearance turns you away, you will notice that the smell is thick, savory, and heavenly, and you can see the flames jumping off the charcoal grill in the kitchen through a window as they help finish cooking the patties. And you will likely feel, as I did, the desire to try the food at this place. The menu features several variations on the classic notion of a small, old-style burger stand; the most popular items appear to be the burgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and fries. The prices are relatively low—so low, in fact, that you might worry ab...

Pacific Catch Pacific Catch is a chain active in the San Francisco Bay Area that focuses on providing a semi-formal dining experience in an attractive, spacious setting. You can sit indoors in the modernly designed dining room or outdoors on the heated patio. You will find your table is sleek and modern and a good distance from the other tables either way. This allows for privacy and a peaceful atmosphere. Pacific Catch is an ideal place to bring a group of colleagues because it’s elegant and private. It has a menu full of a combination of comfortable American fare staples (like burgers) and Pacific Catch specialties (like the fish dishes). This restaurant has a respectably long menu full of unobjectionable items with varying prices, so there should be something for everyone in your group, even if you hardly know one another. Everything is plated beautifully and served politely; it’s a very professional type of service and presentation that places emphasis on being respectful and delib...

Stacks Stacks is a spacious and welcoming restaurant in Menlo Park with an incredible breakfast and lunch menu that draws crowds of people who want to spend quality time with friends and family. It’s a comfortable place for people of all ages, including senior citizens and young children. Everyone fits in and can find something good to eat on the extensive menu. With so many savory and sweet breakfasts and typical American lunch fare, the possibilities of this breakfast/lunch destination seem to be nearly endless. There are so many spin-offs on classic omelets, waffles, pancakes, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and salads that it’s pretty crazy! It even has a complete gluten-free menu available on request.    The extensive menu means you can decide how healthily you want to eat that meal. You can choose between salads and egg white omelets or decadent pancakes, French toast, and waffles, and they have everything in between in terms of healthiness! That’s what makes it so appea...

  The Ramp The history of this simple, laid back restaurant/bar on the shore dates all the way back to the 1960’s, when the very first version of The Ramp was born out of a humble bait shop. For decades people have come to The Ramp for classic American fare, a uniquely appealing view of the waterfront, and perhaps an alcoholic drink or two. The Ramp offers a small shack-like interior and outdoor seating on a large patio along the water, which is a perfect place to enjoy a beautiful day in the Bay Area. This old-fashioned, stripped-down American restaurant tends to have a healthy flow of customers coming and going, and this makes for its signature lively environment to kick back with your pals. The experience isn’t just relaxing and fun; it engages all five senses. You can see boats on the choppy, glistening water. You can smell the salty waters and the good food. You can feel the air and the breeze on your face. You can hear the laughter and chatter of the other cu...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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...

Burgerim Burgerim is a small upscale fast food place in downtown Berkeley on University. Although I would classify it as fast food, I feel a duty to acknowledge that it puts a gourmet twist on your everyday fast food experience.   Like your typical fast food restaurant, you place your order up front from an attendant or on their kiosk. The kitchen will whip up your order in about ten minutes if they’re not too busy. You can eat your food in their small but clean dining area, or you can carry them out to go.  It is a fantastic place to get a burger, or a chicken, turkey, or falafel sandwich with regular or sweet potato fries, or onion rings. Also available are chicken wings and side salads. In terms of beverages, they serve soft drinks and milkshakes.  As for dietary restrictions, there are gluten-free buns and several vegetarian and vegan options as well. Many of the sandwiches are even halal. In my experience, I ordered the angus beef b...

  The Melt The Melt is a fast-food chain with multiple locations across California and Arizona. It takes a high-quality spin on the classic notion of an American fast food joint. As the name suggests, they take some pride in their melted cheese. It's fast food, but they take care to provide a uniquely tasty product. When I first walked in, I was mesmerized by the salty smell, and then I became baffled by all the possibilities on the menu.   The menu features cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheesy chicken sandwiches, and mac and cheese for all the cheese-lovers out there. They also have a selection of soups, salads, drinks, and desserts (including some delicious hand-spun shakes).  The menu denotes several items that are vegetarian. It has a selection of add-ons, extras ($0.99), and premium extras ($1.99), which, for a small price, can be used to personalize the menu items. You can opt for an impossible burger patty for an additional $3.00 as well. I opted f...

Ike's Ike's Love and Sandwiches is a chain with many locations in California, including the Bay Area. Its restaurants make the sandwiches fresh behind a long counter with all the sandwich-making ingredients sitting out. You order and pay at a register along the long counter, and they will assemble your order freshly for you. Ike's specializes in hefty, thick sandwiches that have to be devoured in big, satisfying bites. The sandwiches, which all have creative and funny names, all have layers and layers of different ingredients that give complexity to the final taste and flavor of the sandwich. These thick sandwiches are each packed with a carefully curated set of ingredients to create an edible masterpiece.  There are many options at Ike's. The menu has both meat, vegetarian, and vegan options. There is also a kid's menu and a gluten free option. The sandwiches can all be customized. In total, Ike's lengthy menu includes about 800 options. I very much enjoyed my ...

In the Wood In The Wood is a relatively informal sit-down restaurant with mid-range prices. The menu features a variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, entrees, and sides. They also have a bar that serves a variety of alcoholic beverages. Like many restaurants, you come in and wait to be seated. Then, you study the menu, and a polite server takes your order. After that, you wait for them to make your food, which, in my experience, takes ten to fifteen minutes or so, if they aren't too busy. The food is tasty and easy to eat. When you're done, they will bring a bill to your table, so you can pay and tip. The vibe is laid back, the food is simple but hearty, and the service is good. The prices are moderate for a casual full-service restaurant. When I visit In The Wood, I usually order the classic burger because I know it is a good bet. The classic burger from In the Wood has a patty that is nicely seasoned and has a great char. It has a lot of flavor from the patty an...

Beach Chalet This restaurant is another example of fine dining available in the Bay Area. This top-tier restaurant has a beautiful view overlooking the beach. Sometimes, a live pianist will play background music; other times, the speakers play some pleasant hits. Everything comes at a relaxing leisurely pace as you enjoy the view and the background music. It is a sit-down restaurant (one where you order from a server at your table) that takes reservations. Beach Chalet is on the second story of a beautiful building whose downstairs has a lovely mural and a small museum.  The menu has plenty of options, so there's likely to be something for everyone in your party. They have an assortment of starters including warm sourdough bread, lemon ricotta beignets, tuna poke, and truffle parmesan fries. They serve two types of soup: Pacific chowder and corn soup. As for salads, they have a classic Caesar Salad, a Nicoise salad, Organic greens, and an heirloom tomato salad. In the way of sandw...

iniBurger I enjoyed my trip to iniBurger, the Halal burger chain that has several locations around Northern California. It was my first time trying this place, and I was very impressed. It is a brightly colored restaurant where you can order and pay either at the counter or on one of their kiosks. They serve burgers, chicken sandwiches, wings, and fries. The prices are not displayed on the menus on display behind the counter, but they stay in a reasonable range, for the most part between $10 and $20.  There is room to sit in their brightly colored restaurant or outside. The music is relatively loud inside, and the atmosphere is lively and fun.   I ordered the Americano burger and had to admit it was a succulent and enticing creation. It was a juicy burger with a special sauce that tasted like pepper. I could taste the charred edges of the patty and the salty, savory seasonings on it. The cheese was gooey, salty, and sweet while the lettuce and pickles were slightly crunch...

Mel's Express First established in San Francisco in 1947, Mel's Express now is a chain that has 22 locations in northern Nevada and northern California, including one 2014 Kala Bagai Way in Berkeley, California, which I recently visited. (The hours of the Berkeley location are 11:00 am to 9:00 pm daily.) I decided from the music on the radio, the items on the menu, and the decorations on the wall that it was a relatively authentic mid-twentieth-century fast-food diner.  I had fun studying the retro decorations on the walls. What really stood out to me was what a cool collection of classic rock memorabilia they had. They had Elvis, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Chuck Berry, and other early classic rock superstar photos, posters, and even vinyl records. I noticed an old movie poster or two from films I was not familiar with, a nice Muhammed Ali poster, and a black and white photo of Bill Clinton. They had some old soda and ketchup logos, some nice antique vending ...