I'm so glad to add to the glowing reviews of Creekwood; it's a bright, friendly, cheerful cafe, with an inventive menu and the right personality for an up and coming neighborhood. Sacramento is a quiet wide street, and then you see the bright and inviting light coming from the Creekwood an you know that you are going to have a nice time! The interior is modern and stylish without being pretentious; it's a neighborhood place that is so much more than a diner! The centerpiece for me is the counter at the open kitchen, where three chefs are working at a breakneck pace to make flavorful appetizers, pizzas and pastas, and a few main courses. We had the grilled squid appetizer, the speck pizza, and a large bowl of spaghetti. We got to see each being made right there across from our seats at the counter! My favorite was the pizza, thin, hot, and bubbling; the hit was the two eggs barely cooked which oozed golden yoke with each bite. The squid was barely, but perfectly tender, slightly smoky, with nice garnish; I was misled by the fingerling potatoes, which I thought were extra tubes! the aioli was great with the bread. The pasta needed a little salt, and I couldn't really taste the speck, but I enjoyed the veggies which gave it extra bite. The thick spaghetti was firm and perfectly cooked. We also sampled a big meatball with a bright red marinara sauce... wow! I need to have that next time! The service was friendly and thoughtful, but it seemed that there could be a little better coordination between the kitchen and the servers: every seat was taken and the chefs were buzzing around the the kitchen, but we could tell there were a few lulls here and there when servers were waiting for food to come out. With a little more time, the coordination will improve, and Creekwood will only get better with time: all the elements of success are there!!! The five stars are in anticipation of the next visit!!! read more

This place has the best homemade Gnocchi around. Please keep ordering it so that they never take it off the menu. All around very good, but the Gnocchi is read more

The usual: noisy, cramped, overheated, semi-obnoxious service. I dislike a waiter reading out the entire menu to me, word for word and line by line - loudly. He did give some helpful descriptions of how some dishes were prepped, but overall I find this type of "service" annoying and pretentious. So not a good start at all. Grilled Monterey Squid: a creative take and very good. Would order this again. Braised Lamb Shank: We love lamb and eat a lot of lamb shanks/kebabs all over Northern CA. This was tender but a HUGE chunk of fat was nestled inside the meat, an unpleasant surprise. Polenta was good altho this isn't Anson Mills or Falls Mills quality. Green olive relish was vinegary, chopped fine and dumped on top of the shank. DH was okay with it, I thought it was ick (not a big vinegar fan). He said overall it was average. Rib-eye: Do not order this, do not pass Go; instead drive a mile down San Pablo to get a much bigger, thicker, better quality, cheaper steak at Long Branch Saloon. Creekwood's rib-eye was thin, 1" thick, which is a breakfast steak where I come from. I ordered med-rare; it came purple so I had to send it back to be recooked. When it came back I found it full of excess fat and gristle, to the point there was very little actual steak. The accompaniments were good, although the vegetables were all oversalted. We finished with a cappuccino which came disguised as a latte (alas, common these days from too many people drinking Starbucks carp). Overall, similar in style and format to Juanita & Maude/Albany. We were so-so on J&M, but we'd rate them higher than Creekwood. YMMV! read more

We set up a reservation and showed up for an early dinner seating on a rain-soaked evening. Our party of 4 was sat in a nice corner and after a minute or two of looking at the menu, decided to just let the staff bring out what they thought was best on the agreement we would let them know to slow down, speed up, or just keep bringing more! There were several favorites around the table but the meatballs were an instant favorite, the gnocchi reminded us of the shockingly good place that we had it in Tuscany, the chicken was excellent as well. All in all I think we had maybe 7 or 8 dishes... tried the pizza but most of that came home as leftovers. We were a little gun-shy to tell them to slow down as everything was incredibly tasty and we rolled back into the mode of wanting to try more stuff with the understanding that we'd likely be bringing more portions home. The staff was excellent, the decor was warm and comfortable and the food was flavorful, tasty and well prepared. All in all a really good experience that we're eager to go back to! read more

Before I dive into the food (all of which was exceptional) I want to take a minute to recognize the awesome staff. We were checked on regularly throughout the meal. This was my first time visiting Creekwood and the staff was able to provide strong recommendations. We had a large party of 7 yet the service was fast. The food itself was all excellent. I started with the Little Gem salad. I highly recommend ordering this as your starter. I shared a few bites of it with my mom who also admitted it was one of the better salads she has sampled. I then was served the gnocchi for my main course. The texture, which can be hard to perfect, was something out of a movie! I would give this dish 5 stars. It was plated beautifully and its appearance was matched with its flavor. I sampled the steak which someone else had ordered. It was cooked to medium-rare perfection. I would consider ordering this next time. I was also fortunate enough to sample a meatball. Everyone should get this to start! Creekwood is set to be a great neighborhood spot. I highly recommend visiting it as soon as you can! read more

What a surprise. Didn't look like much but what a wonderful selection of items. The crab ravioli and braised short ribs were absolutely delicious. A bit noisy because it is a small place and tables are close to each other. Wonderful waiters/service. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

Excellent food, excellent service, friendly atmosphere. We're fans of shareable plates with food that feels nourishing and has tons of seasonal ingredients. Highly recommend. read more

Okay. So I get off work, I'm driving home in some crushing rain + traffic and I talk the wife into meeting me at Creekwood. Bottle of wine. Cool insanely upgrades mozzarella stick things. Brussel sprouts. Then someone comes up (owner?) and says they accidentally made me gnocchi when I had ordered the rigatoni. He offers to leave it while we wait for the rigatoni. I gingerly take a bite and my world is changed. WHO tf makes this gnocchi and HOW? Everything else was A+ when it came out, but holy smokes. I can't even describe how divine that gnocchi was. It's difficult. Hats off to y'all. Also, as Kris from Night + Market would say: never do dinner here without a bottle of wine. Ciao! read more

Creekwood is more than a restaurant it is a dream that has become a reality! (Ask the owners) Ambience warm and welcoming Service excellent and the food delicious! read more

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Great new place with some fantastic food. We had the winter roots pizza, the rigatoni, and the brussels sprouts and all were excellent. I first heard about this restaurant 5 years ago when they first started working on it, and it was so cool to see that dream become a reality. Definitely come check it out, it was worth the wait! Oh and the carrot cake and gelato were also a great dessert! read more

So the food was amazing, very rich, fresh, and filling. That being said, the service was off. There is such a thing as too attentive. And feeling rushed, especially on my birthday was not appreciated. It was like servers were constantly hovering, one sip of water, here they come to refill, it was overkill! It is more obvious because the space is open and relatively small. The sound is also not ideal, but great for feeling private, or if your kids are loud, it will blend into the ambient noise. Food was either very seasoned or under seasoned, so at least it balanced out. We had the Gnudi, Farro, Brussel Sprouts, Gnocchi, Agnolotti, and Risotto with short rib. For dessert the carrot cake with Cardamom custard gelato. The gelato was awesome! I think since this restaurant is new, they will find their groove, and relax a little on service. I would try Creekwood again. Plan ahead and make a reservation. I waited until 4 days before my birthday and got stuck with a 5pm reservation. read more

Just had an early light dinner here with my family (including 3yr old) and enjoyed everything; top notch fried chicken sandwich, margarita pizza, mussles and beet salad. Wish I'd checked this place out sooner, definitely will be back. read more

So glad that this cute place opened up in the neighborhood, as we've been sorely lacking a nice restaurant within walking distance. My friend and I decided to stop here after meeting up for an early happy hour and were surprised that even at 5pm, all the tables were booked for reservations. We got nice seats at the bar but it's good to know you should DEFINITELY make reservations. The food was all great (we shared meatballs, gnocchi, and a side of brussels sprouts), and this might be a weird thing to single out but we agreed that the butter they serve with their bread is absurdly delicious. As a final FYI, if you've got kids, I'd say this is not a child friendly atmosphere. While I'm sure they'd be welcome, my friend said several times how she couldn't imagine bringing her young kids here. Save it for a date night or night out with friends. read more

I don't know very many good Italian restaurants in the east bay that's not just pizza (suggestions welcome). I had a tough time picking between a pizza or pasta but went with pasta based on the waitresses' recommendation so I got the rigatoni. First, I asked for a glass of wine and got barely a sip but that's neither here no there. It took awhile to get my food maybe 30-45 minutes while the folks next to me got there's in about 20-30. Ok fine. Food came out and it was really good. The broccoli rabe added a good crunch to the soft rigatoni. It also had a kick to it with the just enough parmesan on it. Could have had more pork ragu but it wasn't a dealbreaker. Last thing it took a awhile to get someone to take the check but not annoying enough to go back and probably try the za. read more

Creekwood - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

We arrived here with my family (6 of us + dog) on a Sunday for a late lunch. It wasn't busy and the waiters immediately put two tables together for us and gave my dog a bowl of water. The service was excellent: everyone had a positive attitude and was very friendly. Our food arrived promptly but I didn't get my ordered hash browns and we didn't receive one drink. I was going to ask about the hash browns but then my huevos rancheros was such a big portion I'm glad it never arrived. I was charged for a lemonade we didn't get but the waiter took it off the bill (they were out of it but the waitress never told us). So, a few small hiccups with the service but overall we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. One suggestion for improvement would be to have the wait staff write down orders even if they think they can memorize everything. read more

I first tried creekwood about a month before the covid shutdown shelter in place fiasco of March 2020. Since then I've been at least 8 times! The brunch is awesome and so is the pizza! read more

This a great new place. The food was absolutely delicious. The service was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was wonderful. We will be returning, but with friends next time. We ordered the Monterey squid, the gnocchi, and the lamb shank. Everything was wonderful. I can't remember having a better lamb shank anywhere, ever. The gnocchi was soft and not too oily. The flavors of all 3 dishes were just perfect. The only minor drawback is that they only serve beer and wine. The beer and wine selections are accommodating though. Wonderful restaurant! read more

Consistently yummy food and good, friendly service. We love this place, it's our go-to. Shout out to Kayleigh (sp?) for great service.

Went there for Saturday brunch on a first date. I was incredibly surprised with everything we ordered as it was beyond my expectations. Especially the meatballs as I am a very picky person when it comes to those. These were amazing, and the sugo they were submerged in was incredible as well. Nonna would be proud! In addition to the meatballs, we had the Little Gem Salad which was phenominal with the balsamic vinaigrette. To round off those spectacular dishes, had the French toast. Hands down the best French toast I have ever had. So impressive, made the date start off well, and would highly recommend this place, and we will go back for dinner some night. read more

Great restaurant in Berkeley. Had a late breakfast. Cinnamon sugar bignettes were awesome. Had the creekwood breakfast. Eggs were delicious. Really enjoyed the chicken sausage. Will definitely go back. We went back to Creekwood this morning before our flight back to Phoenix. Honey beignets were even better than the cinnamon sugar. Had the biscuit breakfast. Delicious. My wife was impressed with quality of the ingredients in the meals. read more

The food was great. For a starter we shared the Brussel Sprouts. They were delicious and plenty for two people to share. We both had the Crab Ravioli for an entree which was amazing. We'd get the appetizer and the entree again. The service was great and very friendly. The ambience was very nice. A casual but nice vibe with a clean atmosphere. It was our first time going and we'd definitely go back. It was a charming, small, neighborhood restaurant. read more

You just have to try this new restaurant. Casual and delicious! Try the Tempranillo Wine if you like red-wine. It was smooth and scrumptious. The rigatoni was out of this world fantastic. And my date enjoyed the steak with the twice baked potato, wonderful! A fantastic staff to meet all your culinary dreams of the day. We will definitely be back. read more

We LOVE this place & have already spread the word to about 10 of our 'foodie friends', as well as brought local friends here for dinner a couple times. Now we are devotees The atmosphere is clean stylish & inviting (great lighting), intimate without feeling cramped & although NOISY on a Saturday night, one of the owners acknowledged they will embark on some sound-proofing-which is very necessary. The food is SUPERB. We have shared dishes each time to rave reviews from our 'guests'. There is a great selection of salads, apps, meat & non-meat dishes. Everyone can find something they will love. The service is over the top attentive, which is so rare these days. The owners are local guys who deserve a devoted following as they are adding such a great destination to the neighborhood. (Parking has been surprisingly smooth each time) BRAVO Creekwood team!! read more

The food was pretty tasty but the service was poor. We ordered a beet salad and mushroom pizza to share. The salad was good. The pizza was delicious, though the center was a little soggy. But that could have been easily forgiven but for the service. Everyone was perfectly nice and polite. The real problem was speed. We sat and waited for the salad for 40 minutes. They brought the pizza with the salad, I'm assuming because it was all so delayed. We ate happily. When we finished, the bus-person brought a to-go box. To get the check, we waited another 20 minutes and I finally had to flag the waiter. Meanwhile, a family next to us, whose kids were eating when we arrived, didn't get served until we were leaving. I'd recommend this place if you've got time kill. read more

I think you have to know what to order here. My friend​ and I ordered your basic "go-to's at an italian restaraunt; Meatball, Pizza. But I wasnt impressed. It was good, but not amazing. However,​ the people next to us were raving on the dishes they ordered. Perhaps I would need to revisit to make a better judgment​. The ambiance​ is very cool, dim light, modern. Service was amazing. Parking can be found in the residential area side streets. ​The place was clean, restrooms as well. read more

Found this hidden gem while looking for a new Saturday date night place. The food was fantastic and the service was just as good. Just the right amount of attentive without hovering. I had the Agnolotti which was amazing. Little pockets of savory/spicy goodness. Since they keep their menu pretty seasonal I'm happy to come back every month for a new twist on this dish. My husband had the Merguez pizza which was just the right amount of spicy sausage and slightly sweet from the onions. Truly delicious, simple restaurant that's doing everything right! read more

We were in Berkeley for an event and afterwards were tired and starving. Yelped and found Creekwood. I called for a reservation on our way there and we got the *last* available table for two at that time slot. Good start. There is an array of mouth-watering choices and we spent a long time discussing our options. We finally decided on a mushroom pizza to start (mushroom​s, tomato​,​ white truffle oil, chives, pecorino). Chili oil, chili flakes and parmesan was offered and came in little sauce cups with tiny spoons to serve. The SO accompanied this with a delicious Magnolia Kolsch recommended by our excellent server; Michaela. For an entree we both chose the grilled ribeye bone-in, medium rare. It came with fingerling potatoes (roasted?) on a bed of mustard greens and a green garlic sauce in a separate sauce cup to use as desired. I was impressed with the fact that the meat had been rested enough to cut out the bone and slice the remainder of the steak without losing any of the juice. It is really a stunning presentation. (Besides being delicious!) All the food was absolutely amazing, with large portions and affordable prices. The ambiance was quiet, but not subdued, perfect for enjoying our meal. It is a little crowded, but the SO is 6X and he brought his tenor 'ukulele in, which had to fit in between us under the table, so we are probably an exception. Service was attentive without being annoying and the friendly owners were on the floor helping out and engaging with customers. (Shout out to Mark and Greg!) Parking is an issue, it's just street and neighborhood, but the walk is worth it. We'll definitely be back next time we're nearby! read more

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I was so excited when this spot finally opened up a couple blocks from our house. We drove by every time peering in to see when it would open. When we came in to eat the very first time, the place didn't disappoint. The decor / ambiance was beautiful, the service top notch, and the food was incredibly fresh and tasty. Now, we're the "regulars of the regulars" -- we've probably been 5 or 6 times since Creekwood opened. And each time is incredible. Some of my fave dishes: - Beet salad (so fresh, and love the pickled veggies that are a part of it) - Meatballs (probably some of the best I've tasted) - Monterey grilled squid - Agnolotti - Gnocchi - Speck pizza - Ribeye - Tarjarin pasta with Dungeness crab, uni, and caviar (my absolute heaven. This was special for Valentine's Day but I think they're going to keep it on the menu for awhile. Mark and Greg - please do!!) read more

This is definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in Berkeley. The texture of the seasonal gnocchi was PHENOMENAL. It was light and almost fluffy and just melted in your mouth - seriously unlike any other gnocchi I've ever had. The fried gnudi was delicious, plated beautifully and seasoned really well with tomato sauce, olive oil and a spice blend. We were pleased but less impressed with the pizza, which had a very smoky flavor, and the brussel sprouts, which were not crispy at all but were served with a tasty aioli sauce and lemon. We were greeted warmly when we arrived and didn't have to wait for a table. Their dessert menu was very enticing but we were too full to try anything this time. The flavor combinations looked great! read more

A great Southside Berkeley restaurant option!!! Wonderful, comfortable inside and outside seating. Delicious food... Great staff!

Food too salty. The ribeye steak was almost inedible because of the amount of salt. The greens and potatoes were even more salty. If you added half as much salt, it would still be too much, making it impossible to appreciate the meat or veggies. Nice venue. Disappointed. read more

Creekwood - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Delicious from start to finish: heirloom salad, pork chop, salmon, gnocchi, and carrot cake. The salad was fresh and plentiful to share among three people. The flavors melded beautifully and the burrata cheese complimented it nicely. The pork chop was cooked perfectly moist and the meat near the bone was delicate and melted like butter in my mouth. The sauce complemented the meat so well, I ordered a little extra to smother it. The side dishes paired perfectly on the plate and to my palette. I can only review the pork chop (since that is what I had) but was told that the gnocchi, salmon, and carrot cake were all excellent as well. The carrot cake, I'm told was perfectly spiced and the icing just the right amount of sweet. Service, cleanliness, and ambiance were all top notch. I'd return again in a heartbeat. read more

I'm still in the restaurant - the food and service were so good that I wanted to put in a review before leaving. Thank goodness the owner went over the menu - he recommended some great options. We went with the gem salad, squid, and pasta. All were delicious and I wouldnt change a thing. Looking forward to coming back for more!! read more

We had the opportunity to go to Creekwood in their first few weeks of service and they were very good. The marinera that was with the fried gnudi was one of the most flavorful marineras that we've ever had. We will definitely go back. read more

They catered my daughter's small backyard wedding and it was spectacular! We enjoyed unique passed appetizers, a raw oyster bar, a gorgeous buffet with plenty of delightful vegetarian options and friendly staff. The owner was present the entire time, and he even saved the day when we realized our rental company had failed to deliver plates! He made a quick run to his storage unit and returned with plenty of brand new plates in time for the food to be served. Highly recommend! read more

Just dined at Creekwood tonight. We ordered the 2 glasses of wine, beet salad, pork meatballs, a pasta dish, and the Cioppino. We got about two meatballs in before we realized that the meatballs were completely raw in the middle. RAW PORK. When we brought this to our servers attention, he took them away and said he would tell the manager. Five minutes pass and the server tells us the manager was going to come out to speak with us. Another 15 minutes pass before the server comes out again and asks us if the manager had come out. We say no. Another 10 minutes pass and we decide to just ask the check. Finally, 30 minutes after informing the manager that his restaurant had served us RAW PORK, the "manager" came out with two cookies on a plate. He apologized saying that there was an "error in the preparation process", that the meatballs had been removed from the menu for the night, and that the meatballs had been removed from our check. He then offered us the two cookies on the plate but didn't comp anything else from the meal that we had ordered. Disappointing to say the least. Given the price point and service quality, I would recommend taking your business, and your health, elsewhere. read more

An enjoyable dining experience overall. The food was good, the portion size was great, and the service was solid. We were specifically looking for a restaurant where there was a dedicated, big heat lamp for each outdoor table, and Creekwood was it. Minus one star for food and flavors that weren't unique ie we enjoyed the food but nothing wowed us. read more

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Terrific. Pleasant atmosphere. Cozy, yet chic. Professional service. A relatively simple menu, but thoughtful and with something for every taste. My companion and I each had a different pasta dish and they were both excellent. I saw the pizza and if it tasted as good as it looked, I'm sure it was good. A place to which you'll want to return over and over. I'm a big fan. read more

This place is ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! The lamb shank is to die for and the little gem salad is hands down the best salad I have EVERhad. This place is a MUST try ! read more

Creekwood - Little gem salad - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Awesome new restaurant brings fresh elegance to South Berkeley Sacramento Street. Owners and staff are very gracious and the food is delicious. Nice price point on the carafes of good wine. Gnocchi and Panna cotta were great ! Looking forward to making it back to try the brick oven pizza's and more. read more