Three One Four Pizzeria

The Hotsy has provided me with years of great memories, laughter, and good times. It is one of…read morethose places that has more character and charm than many bars twice its size. The menu changes regularly, which keeps things interesting, but one thing that never changes is the consistently excellent service. One of my favorite things about this spot is how dog-friendly it is. The owner's dog is practically the co-owner of the bar and is often lounging around, adding even more personality to the experience. If you are lucky enough to meet him, just know the dog has standards. The dog only accepts meat, so do not bother offering him the tortilla from your taco. Trust me, you will be judged. Another major perk is that they allow outside food. Conveniently, there is a taco truck right next door serving some of the best carnitas tacos around, making it easy to pair great food with great drinks. Also, keep an eye on the TVs. They always seem to be playing some delightfully over-the-top late-night movie programming that inevitably sparks random conversations and plenty of laughter among the crowd. Overall, this is a fantastic neighborhood bar with a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and a ton of personality. It can get crowded, so try to grab a spot early if you can. You'll notice plenty of regulars who come back again and again, and to me, that is always one of the best signs that a place is doing something right.

female bartender with bangs was really rude…read more our group wasnt drunk or belligerent and the bar wasn't super busy so not sure what her deal was. awkward...

Interior of the building

Inside the bar

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Lively scene. It gradually got more crowded as the night went on.

Club Mallard

4.0(487 reviews)

1.0 mi

You are driving down San Pablo Avenue in Albany, not going anywhere in particular -- San Pablo is…read morethe kind of road you take when the freeway feels like too much commitment, four lanes of auto body shops and taquerias and nail salons stretching from Richmond to Oakland, the East Bay's long commercial backbone -- and somewhere around Solano Avenue you see a sign that says Club Mallard. You take your foot off the gas. Club Mallard. You need to know. The interior is dark and warm and full of dead birds. Mounted, taxidermied, presiding over the room with the glassy authority of creatures who didn't expect to end up in a bar in Albany but have made their peace with it. The effect is somewhere between hunting lodge and natural history museum after hours, and it shouldn't work on San Pablo Avenue but it does, completely, the way any sufficiently committed aesthetic decision will eventually override its context. I've been once. Midweek happy hour. This is the most honest way to evaluate a bar -- no weekend crowd to inflate the energy, no event to justify the turnout, just the place and whoever shows up on a Tuesday because they want to be there. The happy hour is good. The bartender was gregarious and present and seemed to actually like the job, which sounds like a low bar until you've spent enough time on the other side of it. The regulars were friendly in the East Bay way, which is to say they talked to us without needing anything from us, offered opinions on what to drink, and went back to their conversations. There's an outdoor space for when you want sky. I've driven past since and seen it packed. I was glad. You root for a place like Club Mallard the way you root for any small enterprise that decided to be something specific in a landscape of sameness, and then just held the line.

I've been coming here since about 2019. Not sure how I stumbled upon it, but it was with friends…read moreand it's been our go to bar ever since. It also happens to be somewhat of a meeting point when I'm in Oakland and another friend is in Berkeley. When I was in downtown Oakland it was only 14 minutes away. What a time. I like this bar because the drinks are good, it's affordable, all ages come here and the vibe is nice. There is a pool table downstairs and about two or three upstairs along with a mini bar. The fire place is currently keeping the bar cozy downstairs. So, I've liked Cosmopolitans for some time now and Mallard's has a Mandarin Cosmo. It is so good - it reminds me of an Orange Hi-C.

Chic!?

The place has a unique motif! A tiki Cabin in the woods!?

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Yonsei Handrolls

4.5(96 reviews)

Love the presentation of different varieties of sushi hand rolls.. Delicious and look forward to…read moregoing back again.

I went for lunch with a friend who loves this place, and it did not disappoint! I tried the OG set…read moreand devoured each of the 5 hand rolls. My favorite was the Negihama (yellowtail and green onions) but I appreciated how each one was different from the last. Perfect amount of food for lunch. The yuzu lemonade was well-prepared, flavorful and refreshing. Service and ambiance were both excellent. Parking was easy on a weekday; we found a spot on the street a block away. Eager to return to try some of the starters. I appreciated the care and quality that went into what was served - everything tasted fresh and the nori was nice and crunchy. No notes!

View of the bar area inside the restaurant

Salmon toro

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Asahi on tap

Zaytoon Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar

4.3(833 reviews)

Always delicious food, and lovely quiet place to be at. We like Zaytoon for their service and…read moreambience. Mezze is a great starter, and humus with your choice of meat is a really good option for picky eaters like us. We will be back. Thanks

It was my first time at Zaytoon's and loved all the dishes we ordered! Delicious, rich and…read moreflavorful Mediterranean food that will leave you feeling full and satisfied. I ordered their gambri and scallop kababs and was highly impressed with the quality of the seafood. Appetizers were a very good portion as well as they absolutely do not skimp out on their pita bread or hummus. In terms of dessert, I wasn't the biggest fan of their baklava! It was dry and stale however the chocolate lava cake was an absolute yes for me. Onto service, our server was super friendly but didn't check up on us as much towards the end of our meal as we waited to order desserts and boxes for almost 30 mins after we were done with entrees which was a bummer but not necessarily a deal breaker. Maybe she went on a break, but not too sure. Will definitely come back and try more of their dishes and desserts! During this visit we didn't get any cocktails so I'd love to try one next time as well.

Dining room

Eggplants salata: yum and good portion

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Beet salad with pomegranate dressing : superb

5 Tacos and Beers

3.7(447 reviews)

Family-owned & operated

Live music

5 Tacos & Beers is such a gem! We grabbed dinner here recently and had an awesome experience from…read morestart to finish. The outdoor patio is great--dog-friendly, spacious, and equipped with heaters, which made it super comfortable even as the evening cooled down. The service was fantastic: friendly, attentive, and quick without feeling rushed. Now... the beer selection. WOW. I couldn't believe how many taps they had! I was honestly overwhelmed by the options (in the best way), so I went with the choose-your-own beer flight and tried five different brews. Highly recommend if you're indecisive like me or just want to explore. Food-wise, they've got plenty of vegetarian and meat options, which makes it easy for anyone to find something they'll love. I had a quesabirria and a carne asada taco, and both were absolutely delicious. We also split the fresh guacamole and chips, which tasted super fresh. My wife had an empanada and a taco, and she loved hers as well. Overall, it was a great dinner--laid-back vibe, awesome food, amazing beer, and great service. I can't wait to come back and try even more tacos (and more beers!).

My experience here was okay. I always hear positive things about 5 tacos, but I never tried. I came…read morein for happy hour and had a couple of drinks, the ceviche and fish tacos. The drinks were good, came out fairly quick. The food took a little longer, but still within a decent time range. They were a little bit busy when I ordered too. The service was okay; I felt that either the staff was having a bad day or they didn't want to work. I felt rushed by the staff and I felt that there was some annoyance lingering. I tried to not let it ruin my experience though. The ceviche was good. Had many flavors and there was a lot of it, but they only gave 3 large chips to eat with it, so I requested more. It was also spicier than expected, so if you can't handle spicy, let them know before ordering. It was perfect for me though. The tacos were good. The fish was thoroughly cooked and melted in your mouth, and it wasn't overpowering with any of the flavors and the toppings were great as well. I had an okay experience here because of the vibes I felt from the staff. The restaurant is also on the pricier side, so keep that in mind too if you plan to try more entrees!

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Ivy Room

4.1(98 reviews)

0.9 mi

Ivy Room is happening Planet Booty is having Booty Camp for…read more4 nights Lani owner, is very wise

I continue to love the Ivy room. Bartenders make the best drinks and they aren't overpriced…read more Doorman is always really accommodating and friendly, and the bands are fantastic.

The huge selection at the bar

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Tipsea

4.4(179 reviews)

1.5 mi•Downtown Berkeley

My friend and I came here for some late night eats because they closed at 2am…read more We had a drink each. I didn't really know what I wanted to drink so I asked the service whatever is pink and pretty. she brought out a pretty pink tequila drink for it which I enjoyed a lot! I had the B.L.A.T burger and it was good. I like how the fries were small and crunchy. They didn't have honey mustard or ranch though so that was a little disappointing. The venue was pretty. It's not that big but they make do of the space and it's very cute in there.

Shattuck is full of fun bars to slip into, Tipsea being one of them. I've been here twice, and this…read morewas the first time trying snacks while here besides cocktails. Looking for an in-between spot (a sip and bite before dinner), we cozied up to the bar here for a quick cocktail and bar food snack. We ordered onion rings that came with the choice of a variety of sauces including Tikka Sauce, Siracha Mango, Sweet Chili, Korean BBQ, Hot Honey, and more. Both the cocktails and snacks came timely, and we enjoyed conversation and community chatting with other locals/tourists visiting Berkeley for a short time. The vibes are right in Tipsea and I dig the nautical ambiance/theme/play on words. Worthy of a stop through; street parking on Shattuck/paid garages nearby, but ride-share sometimes easiest for these locations. NA options available and full menu including burgers, a fried chicken sando, seafood options, other bar snacks including Navi's and loaded tots, and dessert.

Full bar

Pina colada(flower) lemon drop and a ocean breeze(so good!) all amazing drinks

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Lemon drop

Schmidt's Pub

4.4(238 reviews)

0.6 mi•Berkeley Hills

•$

A must-visit place for anyone living in the area (4/5 Green Stars)…read moreBring cash! That's the first rule of Schmidt's Pub. Maybe it's the only rule! I've been coming here a bit more regularly, lately - more visits in the last year compared to the previous decade, in fact. Now I wonder what I was waiting for. According to the East Bay Express, Schmidt's Pub is "basically your living room, but better" - that does sum it up, except that very few of us have living rooms anything like this, with a cozy fireplace surrounded by comfy armchairs and rustic tables beside sunny windows. Not many of us have living rooms with Old Speckled Hen on tap, or populated with an entertaining parade of quirky folk and friendly dogs. If the people and dogs are not entertaining enough then pick up a copy of Calvin and Hobbes or A History of Clay Pipes (okay, I made that one up) and have a little retreat with a pint. 4/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact, based on these factors: * Beer on tap (transported in reusable kegs) has a much lower footprint compared to bottles or cans. * Allows you to bring your own food, which is good for folk like vegans who are often more comfortable with BYO. * The snacks available at the counter could be a bit more Berkeley (or Albany)! They were mostly from big corps - Lays chips (PepsiCo) and chocolate bars from Mars. Would be nice to see a more imaginative/ethical selection. * A great community space with an inclusive atmosphere. Schmidt's is home to many groups (e.g., knitting) and provides a second family for many, some who send postcards from their trips! * Finally, we shouldn't underestimate the importance of having a place to slow down, reflect and connect with each other a little. In that respect, Schmidt's Pub is worth its weight in gold.

Met here for a date, and it is so cozy! It was a wonderful spot to grab a drink when everything…read moreelse is shut for the evening. Parking was easy. The indoor seating by the fire was perfect for a cold evening, and the outdoor seating is great for those hot nights.

02.2023 fieldwork blueberry parfait

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Little Hill Lounge

4.5(120 reviews)

2.5 mi

I love and miss this place. It's small, cozy, and homey. The bar is a very nice wooden square that…read moremakes for a comfortable environment where you can sit around the square and chat. It has free video games. (Miss PacMan.) The drinks are great and it's a great place to chill while Firestone takes forever to fix your car.

Little Hill is what's you get when you cross a dive bar with a community center. People of all…read morestripes gathering for drinks, meeting friends, chatting up someone sitting next to you, people watching, and listening to local musicians or DJs. Bartenders are friendly and drinks are great. The place is plastered with posters of upcoming events. The interior is classic dive bar with red lights, beer signs, circle booths, wooden bar and jukebox. I love being able to slide into a booth and watch everyone else stroll in to the bar. I try to support the occasional pop-up food booth outside to keep them coming back.

Tonight's headliner, Slow Motion Cowboys!

A packed house! Pre-headliner band showtime.

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Conservatory. Pre-show milling about.

Little Star Pizza

4.0(1.1k reviews)

I've been to The Star on Park before, so when my wife and I were craving pizza, Little Star Pizza…read morewas an easy choice--especially since they have deep dish around and gluten-free options for her. We stopped in early on a Friday evening and were seated right away. The space has a great, casual vibe with plenty of indoor seating and some outdoor tables for nicer weather. Our server was friendly and checked in to see if we had any questions (we didn't), and we got drinks started right away--a local beer from Faction and a Black Basil cocktail. Both came out quickly and were solid. For food, I went with one of their signature pies--the All-Star deep dish. It's loaded with bacon, meatballs, sausage, pepperoni, and cheese... and it's massive. I always go for the 12" because it easily turns into 4-5 meals (no regrets there). My wife built her own gluten-free pizza with a thin crust and really enjoyed it. One thing I appreciated: even though deep dish takes longer to cook, both pizzas came out at the same time, which isn't always easy to do. They also offer a good variety of salads, starters, and sandwiches, which all sounded great--but I was here for the pizza. Overall, great service, excellent food, and a relaxed atmosphere. Definitely a go-to spot for a casual pizza night.

I was visiting family out by Albany and was planning on getting sandwiches from Zara. Sadly Zara's…read moreclosed after a car drive into the Delicatessen. I was in a mood for a sandwich and by brother-in-law suggested Little Star Pizza. He recommended the East Coast Sandwich (combination). My sister and brother-in-law ordered the East Coast Sandwich which they both loved. I ordered a Meatball sandwich which was pretty good. It tasted liked meatballs in a grilled garlic roll. The meatball is sliced so the sandwich is on the thin side. Overall, the nice gooey cheese, grilled garlic roll and meatball created a pretty good sandwich. They have a good menu with pizzas, sandwiches and salads. I plan to drop in again but will try the pizza and see if it is as good as the sandwiches. If you order take-out, you need to walk down the side of the building to the take-out sign and enter that door. The take-out counter is right inside the side door.