Hi everyone. We have friends moving to Berkeley and would like to get them a restaurant gift certificate for a nice/unique restaurant there. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Much appreciated,
Robert

Well, there's always Chez Panisse (either the cafe upstairs or the restaurant downstairs). I recently had two great meals at Fonda on Solano Ave.(actually just across the dividing line in Albany); they serve small Latin-style plates, not exactly tapas, but wonderful. They are owned by the same folks who run Lalime's, another Berkeley insitution. Website for both Fonda Solana/Lalime's is http://www.lalimes.com/

Chez Panisse is http://chezpanisse.com/

The following are good pseudo Berkeley restaurants: Bay Wolf on Piedmont Ave, North Oakland near Berkeley, Citron and Oliveto on College Ave (aka Gourmet Ghetto) also N. Oakland near Berkeley.

Chez Panisse is where "California Cuisine" was born and is a perfect experience, although pricey. The service is excellent and the food is a real experience---all fresh and local--lettuce and other veggies organically grown just for the restaurant. They must have a website you could visit. My second choice would be Oliveto.

Agree that Chez Panisse would be the one!

By far the best Italian I've ever eaten in California is in Berkeley.

La Trattoria Siciliana on College Avenue.

I think a dinner at Chez Panisse is the perfect "Welcome to Berkeley" for your friends. It is not only the best restaurant in town, but always listed as one of the top five restaurants in the country.

I must dissent from the posters recommending Chez Panisse. I was there in May, taking my mother for her 60th birthday. I knew that reservations were only taken a day in advance and spent nearly an hour calling exactly a month before, and was thrilled when I got a reservation. I thought this would be the highlight of her birthday!!

To begin, we were not treated kindly by the hostess - had reservations and showed up promptly at the reserved time yet were asked to wait. While we waited, two other parties with the same number of peoppe waked up and were served IMMEDIATELY while we just watched!! No explanation given other than "we must seat people in shifts, you know." I might add that we were dressed very nicely, much nicer, IMO, than the people who were seated before us. Perhaps they were regulars but that simply isn't the way I expect to be treated at a restaurant that prides itself on fine service.

The food was just so-so, in my opinion. The soup course was basically chicken broth with a bulb of roasted garlic in it. The garlic was very strong and we could not be eat it. The main couse was basically a steak, which is fine but I can get steak like that anywhere. Dessert was OK. The best thing was the asparagus bread pudding - that was wonderful!

All in all, we were very, VERY disappointed after spending $220 for two people and getting a mediocre meal with service that made us feel inferior for not liking their soup. We may have had better luck at the cafe upstairs, although I'm sure we would have waited while everyone else off the street was seated. I have eaten at upscale restaurants elsewhere so I do understand what a fine dining experience should be. I DO NOT recommend Chez Panisse!!

That Thai place just down the block from Chez Pannise. I forgot the name. but it is good food, and good service. It is unique. Dougs Bar-b-que, the best barbeque in Oakland, on San Pablo. It is take out only. On Peidmont Avenue in Oakland, I was sad to hear Fenton's Creamery got burned down. It was the best ice cream I ever had, and crab sandwiches.