Living down the block for years this is the first time I've been to kitchen story. The weekends…read morewhen I would drive by seems like there's always a lot of people here so I made a reservation reservations online and you have the option to choose if you want to sit outside inside or upstairs. I reserved for three to sit in the main dining room. The next day we arrived right on time for our reservation and still had to wait about 10-15 minutes and was asked if we could sit outside and then we were seated upstairs. I was a little bummed we didn't get to sit in the lower dining room like I booked on our reservations. It was still cute upstairs and good company always makes brunch even better. The servers were quick and helpful. I wanted something light so I just ordered the chicken and waffle bites. My husband got French toast and a side of chicken and my friend got a main entrée of a sandwich with some fries and a little soup. All of the food that came out looked amazing even at other people's tables. For brunch, the price is a little pricey, but I would like to come back to try other entrées when I'm more hungry. We asked one of our servers if he had a light as I brought a little candle to celebrate my friend's birthday, and as he lit it, he also decided to join in with us as we sang happy birthday, which I thought was really sweet. He did not have to do. He even got other tables around us to sing happy birthday as well. It felt like a special moment for my friend, which was a nice surprise. I did really appreciate this part and look forward to coming back.

We visited Kitchen Story for a spontaneous Mother's Day brunch. I will say this is a popular brunch…read morespot, so be prepared for a bit of a wait. We arrived shortly after 10am and our wait was just under 30 minutes. The restaurant is cozy (on the smaller side) but has an interesting layout. There's seating both indoors, outside, and upstairs. You may have to squeeze by a few tables to make your way to the restroom. Customer service was friendly and attentive. Pricing for food & drinks was a bit high. Our total for 2 entrees and 2 drinks was $60 before tip. We ordered two drinks (orange juice and an iced mocha) which were provided promptly. The orange juice was a little too sour and my mom had to add some sugar to improve the taste. The iced mocha was good, not too sweet. One thing to note the wait for our food took much longer than expected, and it may have been due to how busy it was. My mom opted to order the salmon yuzu benedict and I got an egg plate (scrambled eggs) with a side green salad. My mom mentioned the potatoes lacking salt but she enjoyed the salmon benedict. I thought the scrambled eggs were good, but slightly bland & needed salt and pepper. The side green salad was alright, but the vinaigrette had a bitter aftertaste. Overall, the meal was pretty good and timing wasn't the best. I'd likely return for brunch on a non-peak day. Definitely recommend joining the yelp waitlist prior to arriving if you can!

Delicious and flavorful, one of My favorite bowl places. I…read morelove the whole Folds, clean ingredients, low Processed foods. I especially love that they don't use dairy or seed oils in their dressings. I often get all veggie bowls and they are super filling. Much of the menu is also Daniel Fast- friendly

Came here on the rec of a friend who told me she thought I'd like it. It's about a 24 min drive and…read moreI thought about ordering online for pick up, but it showed it'd only take 10 mins online and I wanted it fresh and crispy so I decided to order when I got there. I will say, if you have somewhere to be *ORDER ONLINE*. I got there and was told to order from the self serve tablet (I could have done this on my phone ahead of time), but I put in my order and sat down to wait for it. At the 22 min mark, the two groups of two behind me got their food before I did, so I went up to the worker behind the bar and asked if my order was ready and I was told mine would be next. All in all- took 32 mins. So again, if you have somewhere to be- order ahead! Food was good. Could definitely tell it was made fresh to order - not only because it took some time but because my friend cauliflower came out PIPING hot. Lots of oil drippings, so if that isn't your thing, may not be for you, but I will say that it was my fav bite. This was a good restaurant- I would say 4 stars for the food alone. BUT if you're in a pinch, either order online or maybe save this spot for when you have more time. Also- I know that good quality food is pricey, this place is no exception. But you pay for what you get and the quality is better than that of fast food.

What a local gem! I've gone several times for lunch and dinner and it never disappoints... great…read morefood, fun casual vibe and awesome service!

When I think of a sandwich that has the ability to make my mouth water just thinking of it, few…read morecome to mind, but what the sandwiches they make at Southie is definitely one of them. I've had their Spicy Hog, steak with mushroom, a few Cubans, but the one that I always come back to is "The Balls" sandwich. First off, this sandwich is massive, so be sure that you come here on an empty stomach. These beef meatballs are seasoned to perfection and bursting with flavor. The balls are covered in their red sauce with provolone and Grana Padano, which gives it that nutty and salty flavor that pairs extremely well with the meatballs and baguette. All the juices and cheese just get soaked up to perfection. The baguette bread they use is supplied by La Farine, which is just a few meters away from each other. Just putting out there that La Farine is hands down one of the best bakeries in Oakland, so it makes sense that this sandwich would be so dang good. I'll be honest that I'm not a big fan of the chips or those chips in general and could be fine with just the sandwich. If you are going to have any sandwich to eat here first, I would highly recommend you try "The Balls" because I promise you will not be disappointed. I will always say that the dozen or so times I've been here, the staff are always so friendly, and the atmosphere is very down to earth. The price of their sandwiches is in the $20 range, but the quality and portion make it totally worth it.

Sfizio serves up incredible homemade pasta with a wonderfully straightforward menu. It has been…read morepopular since day one, and luckily, we live close by! The Wait and Drinks: We arrived around 6:30 PM on a Friday evening and joined the line. Even with 4 to 5 small groups ahead of us, the queue moved quickly thanks to the incredibly efficient staff working hard to get tables ready. To pass the time, we each ordered a low-alcohol cocktail while waiting: SFIZIO: Made with amaro, mazzura, and tonic lime. It was surprisingly flavorful! NEGRONI SBAGLIATO: A delicious blend of mazzura, vermouth, and prosecco. SONOMA ROSÉ: A refreshing mix of rosé aperitif, strawberry, soda, and mint. When we reached the front, we placed our order for appetizers and pastas right before being led to our table. The food arrived the fast. The Appetizers: GRILLED SUMMER SQUASH (cherry tomatoes, yogurt, za'atar oil) - The flavors were perfectly balanced. The herby notes combined with the sweet summer veggies made this very enjoyable. GRILLED SHRIMP + MELON (adobo, cucumber, mint) - A standout dish! I absolutely loved the adobo sauce with the shrimp, and the sweet, ripe melon paired beautifully with it. The Pastas: (Full disclosure: I forgot to take photos for pasta dishes because we dove right in, but they tasted amazing!) SPAGHETTI (tomato sauce, basil, grana, and meatballs) - This is a staple on their permanent menu for a reason. Always reliable, always good. TAGLIATELLE (morel mushrooms, fresh corn, crème fraîche) - Absolutely sublime. The seasonal ingredients really shined here. CASARECCE (basil-walnut pesto, green beans) - Divine. The pasta had a perfect, chewy texture, and the subtle pesto flavor wasn't overwhelming. Pro-Tips for Customers: Keep coming back: Their menu changes every 2 to 4 weeks, so there is always something new and seasonal to try alongside their staple dishes! Don't fear the queue: Don't let a line outside scare you off. Their ordering system and staff are so efficient that you'll be sitting down with hot food in no time.

It Was Great! I would…read morego back again! I loved the cucumber dish and the service was Good

Just eat here. Review to come later. Look @ my photos. We inhaled everything…read more Review to come later. Review to come later. Review to come later. Review to come later. ** needed to reach 85 characters.

Girlfriends decided to brunch and we did it at The Sunday on a Friday at 11a. With separate dietary…read moreneeds, we were each able to find something on the menu to satisfy our palettes. The Sunday was busy and packed, we were first on the waiting list. The first available table for us was inside. Tables are spacious, made of wood, identical to the bench seating. The service was friendly, patient, attentive and thorough - reciting each order back to us to ensure accuracy. We were even asked if we had food allergies they should be aware of - incredibly thoughtful. Our coffee ($4) and hibiscus tea were refilled without ask, the wait for food was minimal. I ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes ($15) with a side of eggs. Classic 2 Eggs ($18) comes with two eggs your way, English muffin or sour dough toast with home fries, rice or tater tots. We each really enjoyed our meals and conversation. Would we return, most certainly. Parking can be a pain depending on the time. It is street parking on a fairly frequented street. The entrance is directly off the street and the eatery can be easily missed.

Very good bagels. Beyond amazing customer service, I am very satisfied with how welcoming the…read moreemployee by the name "Maria" is. Will order again soon!

Boichik Bagels makes a darn good bagel. I don't think it's perfect. I'm not sure if it's even the…read more best one in the area. Poppy's is nearby and I haven't yet endured the line there. The lines here aren't as bad as they used to be so I was able to drop in around 10 AM on a Friday morning with no wait. Today I had a sesame seed bagel toasted with plain cream cheese. It was delicious, with a nice texture and not crazy expensive at $6.25. There's not a ton of seating, but there are four stools inside and two tables out front. Overall, I can highly recommend this place. Boichik Bagels, they're consistently satisfying.

Gluten free friends rejoice! You can have char sui!…read more Reunited after 10 long years! That's how long it's been since I've had char sui! I did attempt to make it from scratch once, but that's a story for another time. The chef just recently accommodated their menu so the barbecue items with rice can now be made gluten-free! It was the most succulent pork I've ever had! Both the chicken and the char sui were Michelin level, nice presentation (yes yogurt plate swoosh), in a humble setting, with super nice staff, and so delicious! Be sure to get the green beans too!

KAOKAO Grill is a cozy, casual spot off College Ave serving up Chinese classics with a bit of a BBQ…read moretwist. I ordered a couple of their popular dishes, the KAOKAO Char Siu Set and the Chong Qing Noodles, and both were fantastic. The char siu was so tasty, nicely cooked with most of the fat rendered (a big plus since unrendered fat especially on BBQ is a pet peeve of mine). It had that satisfying chew, a subtle smoky char, and a sweet-savory black bean glaze that tied everything together. The rice and pickled cucumbers on the side were a great balance to the in your face flavors of the pork. The Chong Qing Noodles were another highlight. You can tell the noodles are handmade as they are springy, chewy, and full of texture. The staff actually recommended that I get them uncooked since I was ordering to go, so I could boil them at home for a few minutes to keep the perfect bite and they were totally right. The broth was rich and balanced, with nutty sesame paste, a gentle kick from chili oil, a bit of crunch from peanuts, and some fresh bok choy for contrast. Everything was packed thoughtfully for takeout and still tasted amazing even after a longer drive. Overall, a really pleasant experience with great food, great service, and a place I'll definitely return to next time I find myself around Berkeley!

Fun Friday with Mahjong tables and good food with friends and family…read more Try it out meet your friends and enjoy the food and games.

Happy hour at a dumpling place? Loveeee that. Wish they had more food items on the happy hour menu…read morethough. Restaurant was bigger than I thought it would be. Server was quick and efficient. Got the calamari and happy family cucumber from the happy hour. Then Szechuan dumplings and green beans as well. The calamari needed more flavor. But the sauce it came with tasted hella good. Cucumbers were nice and crunchy. Lacked flavor though. Green beans flavorful and dry. Dumplings were decent. The bathroom had an industrial sink as well. Kind of unappealing tbh.