DeLuxe

For my birthday this year, I decided I wanted to dine at Eccolo on 4th Street in Berkeley. I’ve always liked the italian food served here and the decor inside but I’d only eaten lunch here in the past. The pork belly with beans appetizer was great as are all the salads which are made with locally sourced ingredients when possible. One special thing they make that I love are the Tuscan fries which are like little potato sticks instead of the usual fry cut. They also cure their own salumi so be sure to order some of that to start your meal. We took my parents here for lunch when they visited and it was a memorable meal for everyone. Dinner didn’t disappoint either and I look forward to my next meal here — it’s a great combination of food and atmosphere with lots of class.

Eccolo
1820 4th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
510.644.0444

I discovered the Slow Club when my office used to be in the Potrero Hill/Design Center part of San Francisco. It’s on the ground floor of the same building that houses the SF Bay Guardian. For a little place that’s out of the way they sure have good food. Though they do serve dinner I’ve never been there for anything but lunch and, on the weekends, brunch. They serve a variety of sandwiches and salads that are always made with fresh seasonal ingredients. Also, I really like the music they play — since I seem to have the same CDs in my own collection.

Slow Club
2510 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
415.241.9390

The Kilohana Grill is in Emeryville is the best place I can think of (outside of Hawaii) to get a delicious ‘plate lunch.’ They make awesome Kalua pork (as well as chicken and BBQ beef) served with scoops of rice, sauce, and macaroni salad. On the weekends you can go there for breakfast to satisfy your Spam and egg desires. Sometimes they also make malasadas — the Portugese version of a donut covered in sugar. It’s too bad you can only get them on the weekend. Often, I see workers from the nearby Oaks Card Club stopping in for a quick bite to go. This little slice of Hawaii is great to have around. Mahalo.

Kilohana Grill
4115 San Pablo Avenue, Emeryville, CA 94608
510.654.1144

Tiny little Restaurant Furenzu is a hidden gem in Emeryville. Situated on the last little piece of Adeline Street, Furenzu is housed in the same space that for many years was Moon’s Chinese Kitchen. Furenzu is a small plates Asian restaurant with no more than 15 seats. Try their rib dish which has been on the menu from day one. The owner, Cynthia, is always trying out different combinations of flavors, textures, and ingredients. Order up a bunch of stuff for the table and fill up on your favorites.

Restaurant Furenzu
3986 Adeline Street, Emeryville, CA 94608
510.601.1882

Townhouse Bar & Grill looks like a shack from the outside. And at some point the entire neighborhood did too. But the neighborhood’s been renovated over the past twenty years and the inside of this hidden gem has been too. The Townhouse is a great place to eat as well. Serving a continental menu, there’s something there for everyone.

Townhouse Bar & Grill
5862 Doyle Street, Emeryville, CA 94608
510.652.6151

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