Exploring the Bay Area

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...

Cafenated Coffee Located on Vine near the corner with Shattuck, Cafenated Coffee has stripped-down modern appearance and in and outdoor seating. It has its own laid back personality that goes well with the simple modern interior and the peaceful music played on the speakers. The space is a great place to work or meet because it’s peaceful, organized, and there is no rush to finish. Walking by Cafenated Coffee, it appears to be a small shop with a little bit of seating I front, but if you enter, you will find it extends a fair distance back. It even has a large patio behind with a more peaceful seating. I consider it to be a hidden oasis in the middle of Berkeley for studying, meeting, working, or just relaxing. When you enter, you can order and pay a cashier at the counter, or you can use the self-service kiosk. The service is good, and your order will be ready shortly. There is also a takeout option, which for some reason costs 25 cents or so more. This coffee shop features most of th...

  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 ...

Roast and Toast This café is decorated in an exotic emerald green with gold and brown highlights, and the design pays tribute to the Islamic world. The Arabic music playing on the speakers adds to the ambiance.  The chairs are comfortable, and the space offers free Wi-Fi and a television for watching Arabic music videos or sports. It’s a nice place to stay and sit for a while. Roast and Toast offers a variety of coffee beverages, refreshers, bagels, toasts, croissants, sandwiches, as well as ice cream and pastries. You can order and pay at the cashier counter or use the electronic kiosk.  The prices align well with the quality of the coffee shop and its pleasant environment; they are only slightly higher than those of similar coffee shops. I think that the prices were very reasonable.  The caramel macchiato latte had a good amount of strong coffee and just enough sweetness to temper the bitterness. The end result is a milky beverage that is complex and deep.  Overal...

Bobby G's Pizzeria  This pizzeria is a real find! I was walking by when I saw an advertisement for inexpensive pizza sold by the slice. Naturally, I decided to stop in.  The restaurant was dimly lit with lots of televisions for airing sporting events. One wall was green like part of the Italian flag, and there was some nice modern art, as well as some nice Cal regalia. The menu hung above the counter on chalkboards.  Looking at the menu, I discovered that they also sold whole pies, salads, pasta dishes, and paninis as well as a variety of alcoholic beverages. But I came to try the individual slice. I ordered and paid at the counter and then I chose a seat and waited for them to bring my pizza slice. When my slice first arrived, I was taken aback by how large it was! The price was so low that I was expecting something smaller. It was very attractive, and the server offered me parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes. It was served hot. The cheese was salty, hot and stretchy....

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...

Way Station Brew Way Station Brew is a dark and mysterious restaurant, cafe, and beer garden. It is decorated in dark colors and dimly lit, with jazzy instrumentals playing in the background. Half the walls are dark red exposed brick; the other half are painted a dark teal that seems to absorb the light, leaving the room with a dark appearance. There are two black leather sofas, a black leather booth running along one wall, and several black leather bar stools, some at the high-top tables and some along the bar. Both of the long walls are adorned with bright, colorful, modern art displayed on them, adding some childish personality to this mysterious den.  The door opens to Dwight Avenue. The storefront has windows that overlook the street. Upon entry, you will see a piano pushed up against one of the walls, and beyond it, a lounge area, and even beyond that,  a small bar.  Behind the bar, you will see an espresso station that extends for the length of the restaurant on t...

  Gold Bean Cafe Gold Bean Cafe is a great environment to sit and work. The wifi is free, fast, and reliable. People tend to talk quietly or sit alone working on their own projects. The speakers play pleasant Latin pop at a medium volume that I found actually helped me focus on my own work on my computer.  The entire cafe has a clean and modern feel. The black and white design is simple yet elegant. It is not a large cafe, but it has an ample amount of seating indoors and outdoors. The outdoor seats have some nice umbrellas to guard them from the sun. When I came in, I studied the menu, which is displayed on the screens above the counter. This cafe serves some interesting breakfast options, like breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and avocado toast. For lunch, they serve a variety of sandwich and panini options. They even had some delicious-looking fruit smoothies, juice, and lemonade, as well as some pastries on display in the glass case on the counter.  But their specialty wa...

Helacio's Deli and Cafe Helacio's is a small cafe and deli on Sacramento Street that serves a wide variety of options. This includes pastries, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, salads, paninis, soup, coffee, fresh juice, smoothies, and ice cream. The entire menu is displayed either on the chalkboards on the wall behind the counter, on signs posted along the counter, or in the glass cases that make up part of the barrier between the kitchen and the rest of the restaurant.  You order and pay at the register at the counter. They accept credit card and contactless pay. Almost as soon as you place your order, they will begin preparing you food or beverage. The service is relatively quick, even when it's crowded. The environment is very comfy. The entire restaurant is painted in soothing shades of brown, ranging from a cute orangish brown to a light tan. They have some cute and funky decorations that add intrigue to their shop, including a Super Mario-themed knick-knack on top of ...

Caffe Chiave Caffe Chiave is a cute and homey Italian cafe overlooking San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley. The interior design has clearly been influenced by Italian style. Its design utilizes warm-colored wood and dark red trim, a color scheme that reminds the visitor that this is an Italian cafe. The cafe is not particularly large; it holds only about twenty small tables. This gives it a cozy feel. The speakers play instrumental music that sounds so Italian that it adds to the ambiance.  When you enter, you order and pay at a long wooden counter that bends slightly to conform to the shape of the room. It turns into a glass case showcasing beautiful cake, pies, and other artistically crafted sweets, and then a counter where you can get condiments and water. Behind that counter, you can see them make your order right then and there. You can hear the food sizzling as it is carefully prepared. Caffe Chiave serves as both a coffee shop and a restaurant. They sell coffee (including house dri...

St. Stephen's Green St. Stephen's Green is an Irish restaurant and bar in downtown Mountain View that features many televisions for watching sports and a full-service bar. It resembles an old-style tavern and has all the sounds and smells of a traditional Irish pub. It has a very private and intimate feel because you have to wander back into its eating and drinking area that is away from the entrance and any windows. This feeling helps you feel safe as you kick back and enjoy a sports game and maybe a drink or two. Despite being lit only by electric light with no sunlight streaming in, it is a lively environment. You can hear the sounds of the popular music on the speakers, the televisions, and the cheering sports fans.  On local game days, the St. Stephen's Green is packed full of cheering fans. For those who are from out of town or follow teams from around the country, there are plenty of televisions to air your game as well. In fact, St. Stephen's Green subscribes to...

Royal Ground Coffee Royal Ground Coffee is a chain that operates in the San Francisco Bay Area. They sell a variety of pastries, coffee, tea, espresso, and hot chocolate drinks as well as a menu of twenty sandwiches, some that appear to be breakfast sandwiches (like #1, bacon, egg, cheese, and sausage or ham, which I tried), and some that you would think of more as lunch sandwiches (like the #16 the BLT or #19 turkey pastrami).  The inside of the shop has a spacious feel. The tables are spaced out and big enough to eat at. You order and pay at the counter, and then you sit and wait at your table for them to complete making your order. Meanwhile, you can talk with the people you came with (the spaciousness of the restaurant makes all the conversations feel very private), or you can log in to their free wifi.  There were lots of options when it came to coffee, but I eventually opted for an iced vanilla latte. They used a good amount of milk, and it was very sweet, but not overp...

La Mission La Mission is a popular small restaurant in Berkeley that sticks to authentic and delicious Mexican cooking. La Mission keeps the food affordable without sacrificing authenticity or quality. This restaurant is no secret. Crowds come back again and again to dine in or get takeout.  The menu is made up of elaborate, traditional Mexican recipes that they can whip up in a jiffy. They serve a variety of appetizers, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, sandwiches, other entrees, soups, salads, and desserts.  We have been here more than once and have sampled several of the items. Below, I will describe some of our favorites, but honestly, it's hard to go wrong.  First of all, the spicy chile colorado burrito with chicken is a real hit. It is very spicy but very good! The spices from the chile de arbol and the chile colorado mix beautifully to make an intriguing flavor of their own. It makes for a satisfying and filling meal. Next, the ceviche is always light and summery. It ...

Crave Subs Crave Subs is a fun, pop culture themed sub sandwich shop! It enjoyable to walk into because it is bright, colorful, and lively. On the walls, you will see old comic books, and on the menu, you will see that the sandwiches are named after pop culture icons like Bart Simpson, SpongeBob, Shrek, and Tom & Jerry. In the background, you can hear the speakers playing upbeat music. It really comes off as a cute place to grab a bite! When you walk in, the first thing you see is their extensive ice cream, gelato, waffle, and crepe bar to the side. On the other side, you will see a row of silver metal tables with red chairs that give off a somewhat festive vibe. Finally, you will reach the counter where you can place your customized order and pay with contactless payment. The menu offers a variety of meat subs, veggie subs, and vegan subs, all with fun pop culture names. All the subs are served with their delectable crave sauce, lettuce and tomato. The subs are made of yummy brea...

Purple Onion Cafe If you are ever in Los Gatos and are looking to grab a quick but satisfying bite, this is a great place to stop! Open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, this cute little cafe has something on its menu for almost everyone. This shop has an impressive coffee menu that includes espresso, americano, macchiatos, cappuccinos, lattes, cafe au laits, mochas, drip coffees, matcha lattes, chai lattes, and hot chocolates. You can add oat milk, almond milk, half and half, and a variety of simple syrups/flavors. Their coffee is masterfully handcrafted with lots of care and love.  I tried their mocha and was blown away by the superbness! The drink was warm with a thick, velvety texture. It was sweet, but not too sweet; it had a subtle but noticeable chocolate flavor. There also an enticing selection of sweets in their glass case. These baked goods include cookies, croissants, coffee cakes, muffins, and brownies. These sweets are not just your basic sweets; they have a sophisticate...

Cafe Etoile Cafe Etoile is a charmingly small cafe that takes a fascinating spin on French and Korean cuisine. It is a hidden gem that you will find if you explore Berkeley carefully enough.  It is both a coffee shop and a sit-down restaurant; they serve coffee and pastries but also full-on meals. You order and pay at the counter and then sit down and wait. You can watch them create your order in their small kitchen, or your can turn your attention to your laptop, the people you came with, or one of their televisions.  The coffee at Cafe Etoile is very good. They have hot and iced brewed options, mochas, lattes, and even affogatos with a choice of different flavored syrups. In my opinion, their lattes and mochas have a very good amount of milk and sweetness, and the bitterness of the coffee cuts the sweetness of the flavoring perfectly.  The pastries are fantastic! They make wonderful small snacks, side dishes, and/or desserts. They have lovely croissants, muffins, and sc...