DeLuxe

T-Rex BBQ in West Berkeley makes some mean BBQ. Opened by the same people who operate Sea Salt, LaLimes, and Jimmy Bean’s cafe, the industrial chic lets in a lot of light. The upstairs has couch style seating and big screen TVs — it’d be a good place to watch a football game with friends. The food is delicious. The pulled pork and cheeseburgers are particularly good as are all their side dishes. The corn bread is made in a crock with honey. The fries are served with a nice chipotle flavored ketchup. There’s some outdoor seating next to the parking lot which they’ve screened in with some nice bamboo plantings. Berkeley’s got more vegetarian people than any place I know but T-Rex seems to have no trouble attracting those who enjoy a good piece of smoked meat.

T-Rex BBQ
1300 10th Street (at Gilman), Berkeley, CA 94710
510.527.0099

Tamarindo in Oakland’s Old Oakland neighborhood has some of the best Mexican food around. It’s not a tacqueria, although they do serve tacos. Try the chilaquiles, the queso fundido, or the delicious mulitas. Everything here is prepared with care and the freshest of ingredients. It’s like going out to dinner at an upscale restaurant in Mexico City. Leave some room for dessert or their fantastic Mexican hot chocolate! They don’t take reservations so show up early or order a drink from the bar while you wait. It’s worth it.

Tamarindo Antojeria Mexicana
468 8th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
510.444.1944

The House of Chicken & Waffles in Oakland’s Jack London Square neighborhood serves up some mean soul food. Until you try it don’t knock the combination of the waffles with maple syrup paired with the crispy fried chicken pieces. It’s really good. They also make great collard greens and grits. The place is modeled after Southern California’s famous Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles. They’re open ’til something like 4am on Friday and Saturday nights so bleary eyed club and party goers can eat a late meal or perhaps an “early” breakfast since most people up that late don’t wake up until lunchtime the next day.

Home of Chicken and Waffles
444 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA 94607
510.836.4446

In the 20 years I’ve lived in the East Bay, I’ve never found a BBQ place I liked better than Everett and Jones. It’s a family owned business with outlets around the Bay Area. The downtown Oakland one is the most upscale with table service, patio seating, and live music. I go for the food and the #2 store in Berkeley is still the best. The links/brisket combo is delicious. Be careful to get the medium sauce — the hot sauce is more like “watch out” sauce. Expect your clothing will smell like smoke when you get home. It’s worth the price.

Everett and Jones #2
1955 San Pablo, Berkeley , CA 94702
510.548.8261

Gioia Pizza is the most New York like pizza I’ve had in the Bay Area and I’ve been looking for 20 years. Arinell’s in downtown Berkeley is NY-like but the pizza at Gioia is the real deal. Few people outside of Berkeley know this place since it’s tucked in a nidden neighborhood in North Berkeley. If you’re looking for good pizza you’ve got to try Gioia — the Bay Area’s best!

Gioia Pizzeria
1586 Hopkins Street, Berkeley, CA 94707
510.528.4692

We might not have gone to Em Le’s had it not been for the coupons. This is a famous breakfast place in Carmel that doesn’t have the usual outdoor seating that allows you to bring your dog. We’re glad we got a chance to try this place. They make the most amazing french toast. They dip your bread in batter and then fry the whole thing. The little bits of batter that become separated from the toast are then put on top of your toast and the whole thing is covered with powdered sugar and warm syrup. They can only cook one of these at a time so expect to wait a bit for your food to arrive. It’s worth the wait.

Em Le’s Old Carmel Restaurant
Dolores & 5th Ave, Carmel, CA 93923
831.625.6780

We first went to Le Coq D’or more than 10 years ago when we were last in Carmel. Like other Carmel restaurants they have outdoor seating and we were able to bring Duchess with us. By the end of our meal at least 3 tables outside had dogs. The owner brought Duchess her own little hamburger too. The food here is incredible. It’s a French/German place that specializes in the cuisine of Alsace-Lorraine. Every bite of the meal here was great.

Le Coq D’or
Mission St & 5th Ave, Carmel, CA 93923
831.626.9319

Our first stop in Carmel this July was The Tuck Box. It’s one of Carmel’s oldest restaurants. It’s not super fancy but if you’re looking for a great late lunch this is the place to go. The best part about being here was the English tea and scones. The scones and jams are made on site and are super incredo good.

Tuck Box
Dolores St & 7th Ave, Carmel, CA 93923
831.624.6365

Cafe Madrid in Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood is a gem. Housed in what used to be the ground floor of the I.Magnin department stores (just a couple doors down from the Paramount), this cafe serves incredible authentic Spanish sandwiches called bocadillos. Only these are giant sized. For $7 you get about 2 meals worth of the freshest ingredients and you customize each sandwich to your liking. You can choose which meats you want (jamon serrano or soria for example), pick a cheese (I like the yound manchego), and an alilloli to spread on your bread. I bet this place does well at lunch — I always go there on Saturday when it’s pretty empty.

Cafe Madrid
2001 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
510.271.0001

We lived in a little apartment in North Oakland on the Berkeley border for 10 years while saving up money for our first house. Our apartment was 1/2 of the upstairs flat in an old craftsman house. Our landlord lived in Southern California but once lived in our house. At the time she live there she used the local plumber from down the street in the Temescal neighborhood. 20 years later that plumber was still in business but, frankly, didn’t do a good job. What goes around comes around because the hardware store the plumber used to operate out of became a fine restaurant called Pizzaiolo. The owner, Charlie, worked a Chez Pannisse for a few years before striking out on his own. I love this restaurant because it’s casual but has really fine food. You get to see a cross section from all walks of life in North Oakland. Not to mention, they make a great pizza, and also have great pasta dishes, appetizers, and affordable prices.

And, they were thoughtful enough to leave the old G&G hardware sign up. And don’t believe what anyone says — they do take reservations now.

Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
512.652.4888