The 'cream of the crop' when it comes to Solano Ave.'s many Chinese Restaurants - Renee's Place sets the bar, using organic ingredients, Petaluma Poultry, and Niman Ranch meat. The interior is elegantly designed, and service is warm and timely. My favorite dishes are the 'Orange Chicken' and the 'Angel Prawns' (melt in our mouth!!!). They do it right. read more

Renee's used to be my go-to place because it uses organic ingredients and omits evil MSG as a food additive, but on my last two lunch time visits, culinary quality seems to have collapsed. The sauce on the Szechuan shrimp was pasty and greasy. The black bean sauce on the fish was black, period. No flavor layering or nuances in both, perhaps because the dishes were served on the wrong side of warm. I used to see Renee hovering about but not lately. I think she should resume hovering. read more

My review of Renee's is long overdue. I've been going for at least 2 years, and in the beginning it was inexpensive and very very good. And very empty, which was shocking. Bowl'd came later and I don't know why everyone suddenly flocked to it, but never seemed to discover Renee's. The food is still very good... the meat is clean (meaning- no gristle, no nasty fatty pieces hanging out) and organic. I love spicy food, so I would not say it's the *most* flavorful Chinese I've had. It's mild and gentle. Suitable for your Midwestern In-Laws who only know Panda Express. However, I think the prices have gone up, and the quantity down. Last time I went I ordered Lion's Head, which I'd never had before, and there were THREE. Count them. THREE tiny little meat balls. And this is an entree. Maybe that's normal for Lion's Head, I don't know. It was quite tasty, but I felt gipped. So overall, I'm disappointed. I really like the food, but the value has gone down. I'd rather go to other places for Chinese. read more

Very tasty, fresh and healthy dishes. A little expensive, but worth it if you like fresh, organic Chinese food.

Not realizing that this was Chinese food when we walked in, it wouldn't have been very polite to leave at that realization, now would it? So, we sat down, and I proceeded to order what I assumed would be another unfortunate meal. You see, I just don't like Chinese food. But wow, I was impressed. Granted, my expectations were low, but still, this was quite tasty food -- so much so that I'd prefer to call it something else. read more

We come to Renee"s Place. We don't get a table for 20 minutes. Then we sit down and are ready to order and have to wait about 25 minutes for the waiter to come. We order our food, we are all happy. We have to wait 90 minutes for our food to come, and when it did we were all starved. And anyways the food was not that great. The food was not worth the wait. They might as well been cooking the food over a candle. We got mu shu pancakes and thought it was cool that they had already put the mu shu in, but there was a big lack of mu shu. Their chow fun was dripping with sauce, and was floating in a pool of sauce about 1 inch deep . Plus it did not taste that great. I don't plan on going there again at least any time while their open. read more

My wife and I have eaten in dozens of Chinese restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. Renee's is our favorite. Having just eaten there yet again after a one-year break (since we'd moved away from the Albany area), we were delighted to be back and to see that it's as good as ever. Renee's is very much a neighborhood place (in a nice neighborhood), but something more. Fresh (often organic) ingredients, creative cuisine, a pleasant ambiance and a wonderful, friendly atmosphere. Lots of room between tables as well. Definitely a cut above most other good Chinese restaurants.The place is named for its owner/hostess, and Renee makes you feel very welcome. Three of our favorite dishes are the delicious spicy peanut potstickers appetizer (a unique dish that we've never found anywhere else), the best General Tso's Chicken we've ever had, and a very tasty green been dish. They have brown rice as well, for those who are interested. And a considerably better wine and beer selection than many Chinese places. I know it may sound like I'm indulging in a bit of hyperbole here, but it's all true and sincere. Renee's is a great place for couples and families alike. read more

I have had the pleasure of dining at Renee's Place for many years. For me the two most important ingredients that define a good restaurant are consistency and quality. Renee's Place consistently provides excellent food. The main reason her food is so good is that she uses organic meat and produce. You can taste the difference. She uses Prather's, Niman's, and Mary's chicken. To my knowledge she uses locally grown organic produce. I love her Mongolian Beef, Sczechuan Prawns, and juicy dumplings. I regularly go to Renee's for her lunch special which gives the diner a nice choice of entrees, plus soup, salad, choice of several types of rice, and an appetizer......all for $7.95!!! I would eat there every day if I could afford to do so. With the exception of one other restaurant in the Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito area, Renee's is without a doubt my favorite restaurant. Finally, I believe Renee's provides a wonderful dining experience. The decor is lovely, and her staff are caring and attentive. I have read the other reviews for Renee's, and can only say with regard to the negative comments, that I have never experienced the issues mentioned. Nothing on this planet is perfect. I have had some dicey experiences in restaurants that were a great deal more expensive than Renee's, and have a reputation that would suggest nothing short of perfection. I am planning to eat there later today. Helen C read more

My hubby and I were in the neighborhood recently and wandered in for lunch. The lunch menu specials seemed really nice. I got the sautéed prawns. It came with hot and sour soup, rice and an appetizer. I loved everything except for the hot and sour soup which had too much of a sour edge. I often do like hot and sour soup, and this was extra sour. I am impressed that they use high quality ingredients and the food was not only tasty, but not too oily. My only complaint is that the prawn entree was too small. I only got 4 or 5 prawns in it. I look forward to any excuse to be in the neighborhood again, as this will be my new "go to" there. read more

Solid Chinese food restaurant with lots of choices you'll likely recognize. My spicy chicken was good and the orange chicken was flavorful if not a bit on the sweet side. Service was decent and the restaurant wasn't overly crowded on a Sunday afternoon. read more

So I went here with 3 other friends after a nice birthday Pedicure and we were starving. It was not the best experience. Sadly the woman was alone with a restaurant packed with people, then we got some of the wrong food, then the portions were SO small we were still hungry. It seemed like an off day. The food we did order, we did get, was good....it was just pretty off. I am all for second chances...so will report back when I do because the other reviews all seem ok! Would have given 2 stars but the poor woman was alone, and was trying! read more

I've confirmed that Renee's is a Chinese restaurant for non-Chinese people, as the menus aren't even in Chinese. They feature Americanized dishes like sweet and sour pork, etc. in their pre-fixe meal options too. Of the dishes we ordered, I liked the eggplant in a sour sauce the best. The lowlight was the "chef's specialty" of Shanghai crispy duck, which turned out to be totally crisped, dry, and tough to eat. At $12-13 per dish, there are cheaper options around. I also don't care much about usage of organic products, so that aspect would not work to entice me to come again. read more

I've been to Renee's twice now and really like it. Last night we had the pot stickers which were hot, crispy and delicious. The hot and sour soup has been great both visits..one of my favorite soups. We had the beef with pepper and onions, a bit lite on the beef for my taste but nevertheless delicious. The eggplant with basil was very good, not greasy at all and spicy, just like I was hoping for. A very nice dinner with good friends made for a sweet evening. read more

A bit more expensive than what you're prob used to, but totally worth it. They have a standard looking menu sure BUT you never feel greasy or groggy afterwards. We love our other fav Chinese restaurants in Berkeley but I swear it feels like lard and MSG are pumping through my veins afterwards. You never get that here. read more

My fiance and I had pre ordered our lunch for a wedding rehersal two weeks in advance. You would think that might be a hint to have the pre-selected lunches ready in a timely fashion but that was not the case. It took about an hour for everyone to receive their plates to eat. I also found it puzzling that the "Chinese" dishes were served in Bento boxes. The service was also a bit lacking as one of the waiters dumped drinks for three tables on my table and just walked away. If your charging ridiculously high prices for food then I expect a minimum of average quality service which wasn't there. Overall it was pretty disapointing. read more

I have been eating here regularly for a few years now, and the quality is always excellent. Very vegetarian-friendly menu, with special dishes in the back made with imitation chicken, meat, etc. Lunch is also very good and well-priced. Never full, you can almost always get a table right away. Dinner is expensive but the ingredients are organic, etc. read more

This may be my favorite restaurant in all of the Bay Area. The food is amazing, the ingredients are all fresh and local (and largely organic), and the atmosphere is calm and friendly. Although I life in SF, I've eaten here a few times, and have yet to encounter any menu item that wasn't delicious. I'm vegetarian, so can't speak to the non-veg options, but all the vegetarian (and vegan -- this place is great for vegans) are delicious and feel healthy. Renée herself is amazingly friendly and sweet. All of the wait staff are similarly welcoming. Food came quickly but not so fast to suggest that there's piles of food premade in the back. If I could give this place 6 stars, I would. My only negative is that it's far from my house. read more

I go here once every several weeks. I love the hot and sour soup, the dry cooked green beans and different spicy chicken dishes.

Their imitation lemon chicken is the most delicious vegetarian meat-like thing you could want. It's sweet, savory, toothsome, and perfect.

A stylish decor featuring photographs of Chinese monuments and glass-encased reproductions of ancient Chinese bronzes is the backdrop for hit-or-miss preparations of Szechuan-Hunan cuisine. Petaluma Poultry and Niman Ranch meats are used exclusively with organic local produce in the various stir-fries and vegetable entrees. Avoid less-than-successful deep-fried dishes, like greasy, chewy calamari, and the meat on salt-and-pepper spare ribs was spare indeed, with an oddly-textured batter. But chicken in garlic sauce had a nice kick from chiles, and Mongolian beef, served with barely cooked onions and crispy rice noodles, was so tender it melted in the mouth. A small wine selection lists what characteristics make a particular choice suited to Chinese food. read more

Six of us went to Renee's last night and can definitely recommend the Pea Spouts and Eggplant with Basil. Nice decor and setting for a friendly dinner. read more

Great Chinese food, good service, Renee was there to great and seat. She was very nice. This is to date one of the better Chinese places I have sat down to eat at in the Bay Area, I defiantly recommend it. read more

My lady and I enjoy walking along Solano Ave and trying new places to eat. Solano Ave is still the hidden jewel of the East Bay for places to eat. Anyway, tonight we were walking along the Ave and stepped in to Renee's Place. After waiting for a table to be prepared we were ready for a new experience. We weren't disappointed. We started with 6 pork dumplings. They were perfect size and very tasty. Then our main courses were served. We had Garlic Shrimp, Kung Pao and Chicken Chow Mein. All were fresh and tasted great. Then we got the bill. With tip it was $75.00 for 2 people. That is a bit high for Chinese food. But it was so darn good, we will go again. Renee came to our table which was nice. read more

It's rare that I enjoy Chinese food, however Renee's Place was delicious! We ordered vegetarian moo shu, asparagus chicken and vegetarian chow mein. All were well balanced and flavorful. Friendly service too! read more

We love Renees! The food is very high-quality -- all organic. The vegetables are crisp, the noodles are great and each piece of meat is perfect, even in the soup. We also love the fact that most of the dishes taste different from each other, but they'll let you know if you've ordered some that are in the same family of sauces. Renee and her staff are wonderfully warm with kids. In fact, this has been our son's favorite restaurant for many, many years. So, as extreme regulars, Renee has given us new items for our vegetarian son to try, in the interests of expanding his horizons . . . This is also a very neighborhood place, where we see our friends and teachers, a place where we celebrate birthdays. read more

I grew up in Berkeley and I think they changed owners. We went on a Saturday night. Restaurant was half full, we waited thirty minutes for even drink orders. We had to ask repetitively for water. They don't include rice. Luis Litchen and other Chinese restaurants are much better on Solano read more

Quiet civilized ambience. Excellent flavors. Carefully selected meats from small local farms. Succulent smoked sirloin pork with cabbage was a highlight, as was the tea smoked duck. Way beyond your average Chinese restaurant. A great and memorable dinner for four. read more

I was pretty disappointed at Renee's Place. I am very picky about what meat I eat, which means I mostly eat vegetarian at Chinese restaurants, so I was really excited to try Renee's Place. When we walked in, I was shocked at the disgusting carpet. It is the dingiest, grossest stained, used to be cream colored carpeting. Since I wasn't planning on eating off the floor, fine, I could get over that if the food was good. Unfortunately, that was a mixed bag. Potstickers - bland, very small Shanghai Juicy Steamed Buns - no juice at all and the skin was thick. If you didn't know what these were supposed to taste like, you probably would think they were ok dumplings, but they don't come close to what Shanghai soup dumplings are supposed to taste like. Green Onion pancake - tiny, greasy, not flavorful. You can get better ones at Ranch 99! Shanghai crispy duck - pretty good, but very salty Fish fillet with black bean sauce - I would order this again, but I don't think I'd come back to Renee's to get it. It wasn't amazing, but compared to the appetizers, I was relieved it wasn't horrible. Dried Sauteed string beans - good, but didn't taste like the dried version with preserved vegetables, just sauteed string beans I could make myself. Combination pan fried noodles - these were good, but similar to the fish, not good enough to make me come back to Renee's. Marco Polo prawns - good, not too much mayonaise, honey was good quality The service was really bizarre. We would ask questions and be met by blank, dumb stares. We tried Chinese and English. It's like our waitresses was daydreaming or really, really dumb. For example, they asked us 3 times how many people we had. We said 6 each time and we were all standing there. Later, we asked for water. We didn't get any. We asked the same waitress again 15 minutes later and she acted like it was the first time we were asking. They automatically added tip, which is fine, but they did it wrong, obviously in their favor. When we asked about it, the waitress said they add 18% and we tried to explain 1. that more than 18% was added and 2.that the 18% is supposed to be calculated pre-tax. Suddenly, she understood no English or Chinese and kept saying it's in the menu. Here's some help with the math. Food total: $95.05 Tax: $9.03 18% tip on food total: $17.11 Total should have been: 121.19 We were charged $126. $5 is not a big deal, but don't be dishonest about it and then pretend like you don't understand what we're saying. Actually, maybe she really was that dumb b/c she had a lot of trouble with how many people we were and getting water. In any case, the way Renee's calculates tip is dishonest and also on the receipt, they list the amount as pretip, which I suspect is to gain some type of tax advantage, so I will be staying away from Renee's. The food wasn't good enough to compensate for the bizarre and sketchy service and filthy carpet. read more

Somewhat bland, definitely greasy Americanized Chinese food. So slow to get seated even though tables available, but service fine after that. read more

Some of the best Chinese food in Albany. It is worth a couple more dollars because the quality is so high; always fresh and delicious, yet maintains authentic flavor. Great for take-out too. read more

I really love this place. The food tastes fresh, not greasy and healthy. Pretty flavorable!!!!

This place is pretty good, four and a half stars. The food was actually delicious and the portions were just about the right amount, but the dish I got was different than described. The water chestnuts and celery were replaced with chives and onions. The celery I could do without, but where were my precious water chestnuts? Even so it tasted incredible, they'll let you substitute anything on the poultry menu with fake chicken, even though they don't include all of those dishes in the vegetarian section. I ordered the Chicken with Garlic Sauce w/fake chicken and Vegetable Pot Stickers. Super yummy and BEAUTIFUL decor (They have decorative moving fans on the ceiling! And their menus are covered in woven bamboo :]), but I wish I'd known I was getting onions, so I could have asked for no onions. read more

I just love this place. The food is awesome. The imitation meat dishes are great. The portions are large. And Renee is very sweet. A great place for Chinese food. read more

The food was yummy. We got sweet and sour chicken and lemon chicken. My party loved everything but the lemon chicken and spinach was our favorite. Stop bye and say hi to ivy our waitress was so nice and made sure we loved our food :) 5 stars baby read more

Today, my boyfriend and I had tea-soaked duck on the specials menu. It was to die for! The customer service was also amazing. If I knew someone was going to Albany, I would recommend they try Renee's for sure! And I don't even really like Chinese food! This was great! read more

The best Chinese food in my book! It truly makes a difference when the ingredients are organic. I have tried many Chinese restaurants and hands down, this is my favorite and my kids too! Our family go to from the menu ~ orange chicken, beef broccoli, pan fried combo noodles and honey walnut prawns. When I am under the weather, I usually go for their chicken & vegetable won ton soup. It's delish and again super healthy! read more

We used to eat here and liked it but haven't been there in a long time. We were invited to a birthday dinner and were looking forward to eating there again. WHAT a MISTAKE! Several friends ordered the chicken-lettuce cups. Those near us complained of stale and nasty tastes. I order the orange chicken, which I used to really like. The sauce and breading were good enough, However, there was NOT one piece of chicken in the entire order. Oops! My wife ordered Mu Shu shrimp, which is usually a large dish with a lot of veggies. This dish was so tiny, she could have snorted it instead of eating it. I could say more but, you should SKIP this restaurant! read more

Just got an order of potstickers - the tiniest potstickers I've ever seen, and they cost $13! What a ripoff!

I love that it's organic, and they are soo nice. I just got the shanghai dumplings and the dough was thick and gummy. Maybe I just ordered wrong. read more

Updating my review from 3 years ago. We continue to find this our go-to Chinese Restaurant---appreciating the locally sourced meat provided here. I love the atmosphere---quiet, peaceful, and soothing design. Sound and noise doesn't reverberate off the walls. The cooking has always been consistent, flavorful and fresh! ( I'm mystified by some critical reviews here....). Favorites include tea smoked duck ( I order that every time I'm there), the various eggplant dishes, pea shoots, scallion pancakes. Renee is a gracious host and presence-----attending to her diners with care. read more