Gregoire's Takeout

City: Berkeley, CA

Address: 2109 Cedar Street, Berkeley, CA. 94709

Website: http://www.gregoirerestaurant.com/

Food type: French

Price range/person: $10/lunch

Wait time: 5 mins to order; 10-20 mins for food

Service: Friendly, fun.

Ambiance: Quaint, cheerful.

Dish Focus On:

Smoked shrimp salad with mango & mint in pantofolina. $7.50








Smoked shrimp has distinct and delicious flavor. Mango and veges keep the sandwich chilled - very refreshing. Colors are gorgeous together.

Olive oil poached English sole with avocado & tomato salad on toasted white deli bread. $7.25










Incredibly tasty sandwich - combo of fish and avocados is sensational. A nice upgrade from the typical tuna sandwich.

Crispy potato puffs. $4.50











Freshly deep-fried balls of mashed potatoes. Served HOT and with a delicious dipping sauce - which changes periodically (keeps things exciting).

Other delectable sandwiches from past visits.







































Yummmy Factor: 5/5

Yummmy Rambles: A favorite lunch spot of mine in Berkeley. Have not visited the new Oakland location yet. Menu changes monthly to keep you coming back. Side salads (always tasty), served with all sandwiches, change often as well – appears to be weekly, but not sure. Restaurant is tucked away on a small street in a busy town, but place manages to stay busy with loyal customers. Portions are perfect and leave you happily satisfied. Potato items are tasty and fun (love the roasted fingerling potato & onions) and desserts are prepared/baked fresh. The banana chocolate fold is amazing! Food served in cute brown boxes - you save $0.25 each time you re-use the box (didn't learn that until I had been there over a dozen times). Very limited seating area and parking can be difficult, but the food makes everything better! You can find Gregoire himself there at times.

Rick and Ann's Restaurant

City: Berkeley, CA

Address: 2922 Domingo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705

Website: http://www.rickandanns.com/

Food type: American (breakast, lunch, dinner)

Price range/person: $10-15/breakfast

Wait time: 5 mins for seating, 15-20 mins for food

Service: Variable - may be snobby or very sweet, careless sometimes.

Ambiance: Casual, homey, soothing.

Dish Focus On:

1st visit:::

Down South: two cornmeal pancakes with Rick & Ann's spicy turkey sausage, salsa and two eggs scrambled with cheese.













Sausage is nicely seasoned and has good consistency - very tasty! Pancakes are superb - grainy cornmeal texture evident.

Yukon Gold Plate: vegetarian hash with sweet & white potatoes, sweet bell peppers, corn and apples, served with two eggs any style and your choice of toast, muffin or scone. (Wheat Free!)














Creative mix for hash - perfect blend of potatoes & veges (corn appears fresh). Muffin was fresh and yummmy - banana pecan. Eggs aren't bad either.

2nd visit:::

Midwest: two potato-cheese pancakes with two eggs any style, grilled tomatoes, and our house-smoked pork chop. (Need 15 minutes to prepare)


Potato pancake is tasty and very cheesy - similar to hash browns. Pork slightly dry, but applesauce side adds a nice touch. Grilled tomatoes are fresh and hot.

Grilled Portobello Mushroom Sandwich: with roasted eggplant, baby spinach, tomato, pesto and provolone cheese. on a roll.














Surprisingly filling sandwich. Fresh and YUMMM! Potato salad is nice. Side of pickles: crunchy with a hint of sweetness - I normally don't even like pickles, but these were good!

Cupcakes: Chocolate peanut butter & Carrot


Chocolate and peanut butter cupcake was fantastic! However, the carrot cupcake was not made that morning - we saw them there on our 1st visit (fresh that day), but they were still being served on our 2nd visit (2 days later). Regardless, both still hit the spot.

Yummmy Factor: 4.25/5

Yummmy Rambles: Food was so good that we came back for the 2nd time within 2 days. Waitress on 1st visit was slightly snobby and rude - she forgot the salsa with one of our dishes too; waiter on 2nd visit was much nicer, more helpful - however, he charged us twice for extra salsa. Our seating at the counter enabled us to watch all food preparation – chefs are super friendly! Delicious cupcakes made daily ($3.50 each). Location in quaint area near elegant Claremont Resort in Berkeley. Street parking may be difficult. Can't wait to try more items on lunch and dinner menu. This place has GREAT catering options - the sandwiches are fabulous and delivered in meticulous packaging (boxes, served with a side, cookie, chocolate piece, and plasticware).

Saul's Restaurant and Deli

City: Berkeley

Food type: New York Style/ Jewish Deli

Restaurant link: http://www.saulsdeli.com/

Price range/person: $10-15/lunch

Wait time: 10-20 mins

Service: Rushed, casual, rugged.

Ambiance: Lively, jovial, colorful.

Dish Focus on:

Mega Mushroom - pile of sauteed mushrooms grilled with cheese

A mightly triple decker. Mushrooms and cheese are perfectly blended and melted together on toasted bread. Sandwich is served hot - watch your fingers! However, sandwich was slightly too salty for my taste and left me thirsty after the meal. Potato salad is flavorful and unique.

Yummmy factor: 3.75/5

YummmyRambles: A popular and crowded eatery tucked along a side street in Berkeley. Deli and To-go section is available in the restaurant for those in a hurry. Decent selection of side salads, pastas, dips, and special desserts/cookies available. Chocolate dipped macaroons are DE-licious! Fun candies are also available near the hostess counter. Fresh and crunchy pickles are served before each meal, in place of your usual bread. Slightly on the expensive side for sandwiches. Overall a great experience!

Another sandwich option - The Maven.

















Not sure why the bread is hot pink on the edges.

Sushi Solano

City: Berkeley

Food type: Japanese

Restaurant link: http://www.sushisolano.com/Welcome.html
No information available on site yet.

Price range/person: $15-25/dinner

Wait time: None

Service: Prompt, friendly.

Ambiance: Modern, asian influence, warm.

Dish Focus on:

Combined platter with various sushi types: Eel & Avocado Roll, Hamachi (Yellow Tail) Nigiri, Spicy Dynamite Roll (Yellow tail, tuna, and salmon?)


























Upon first bite, it was instantly noted that rice was not fully cooked or prepared properly - individual hard grains could be distinguised. While fish was of good quality, the rice ruined it.

LION KING Baked salmon on top of california rolls.













Hot salmon fillets tightly wrap california rolls below. Fish slightly overcooked. Sauce on top is tasty and spicy. Seen this roll prepared better at other Japanese restaurants.

Yummmy Factor: 2.5/5

YummmyRambles: Overpriced sushi with small portions. Restaurant was clean and comfortable, food was plated nicely, service was good, HOWEVER, food was not impressive at all.

Zachary's Pizza

City: Berkeley

Food type: Italian

Restaurant link: http://www.zacharys.com/

Price range/person: $10-15

Wait time: 20 mins - 1 hour+

Service: Friendly, professional

Ambiance: Casual, fun, relaxed. Walls are covered with colorful posters uniquely designed by Zachary pizza lovers.

Dish Focus on: SPINACH & MUSHROOM - Zachary's "Pride and Joy"A blend of cheeses, special spices, fresh spinach and mushrooms.














This is not your average pizza. With a crispy yet hearty crust, lined with mushrooms, spinach and chesse, and all topped off with a thick layer of fresh tomatoes, this Chicago style pizza will be sure to satisfy a hungry stomach. Not only are your tables set with the typical chili flake and parmesan cheese toppings, but a glass jar of oregano is also present for those who want to add a unique flavor to the sprinkle fest. Classic red lollipops for dessert are delivered with the bill.

Yummmy factor: 4.5/5















YummmyRambles: This would be a great place for a first date or weekend outing. While the wait may be long, the atmosphere makes it enjoyable. Street parking may be difficult, so carpool if your party is large. Leftovers make a great next day meal.