My dad and I had dinner here before we saw Alvin Ailey. He had the tuna tartare appetizer, I had the warm olives. My dad had butternut squash (very yummy) pasta and I had the pork chop. I also had the olive oil martini and my dad had the Negroni. The Negroni and the pork chop were out of this world! Had to take some bites before I snapped a pic lol. Will come back here soon! read more

Via del Corso - Perfectly cooked pork chop with caramelized Brussels sprouts - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This review is not about the food because we were not able to eat there. We arrived just as they opened on 5 PM on a Sunday evening. Because we didn't have reservations they wouldn't take us. I understand that. However, the hostess was brusque and dismissive. Had she been the least bit interested in us making reservations for another time she would've suggested that or at least said she was sorry and hoped we would try another time. She basically just rudely turned us away. This kind of "service" is indicative of how they treat their customers, so we will not be trying this restaurant. read more

A new favorite place of mine in the Bay Area. From the moment you enter their restaurant the staff makes you feel like your part of their family, one of the reasons I will return. Literally, every staff member was great and worked so well with the customers. Outstanding food, outstanding service and a fun bar tender! Thank you for the great experience, we'll be back soon! read more

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Group of six for dinner. Excellent choices. Loved the Lamb Chops. Very attentive service in a pleasant setting. Will be back. read more

Always a delight to eat at Corso- great pastas, delicate salads, tasty mains, excellent wines. It's noisy inside but festive. If you'd like a real conversation, the parklet is lovely and warm under the heaters. My only quibble is that portions could be a bit bigger and prices a bit lower. But I always come back! read more

My girlfriend and I went here on a Thursday night with no reservation - did not have to wait, and were offered a drink as soon as we sat. The piatto del giorno was cooked to perfection. The Costata De Maiale was delicious, the sweet and savory fusion was what really tied this dish together. The portion for the tagliatelle al ragu was perfect and did not feel too heavy. Will definitely have to come back! read more

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Awful - do not recommend. Manager is rude and dismissive. Not open to conversation, poor communication

This was our first time here based on a YouTube recommendation. We initially made a reservation on Open Table but it wasn't till 9:30 pm. We decided to go early and hopefully would be able get in earlier and fortunately we were able to get seated pretty quickly. The food here was ok, nothing I would rave about. I did order the burrata and beet salad which was delicious but then I don't think you can mess up a salad with burrata in it. My gnocchi with shrimp was good but the consistency of the gnocchi was more mushy than soft. My husband ordered a bass fish which was also good but the portion was really small for the price of the dish. He also ordered a Diet Coke that cost $5. The drink came in a 6 or 8 oz glass filled to the rim with ice He took two big sip and only the ice was left. There were two things that bothered me more than the overpriced food and drink. First, there was an incident with their vent and the restaurant became extremely smoky at one point. I saw the manager (I assume) went to each table to explain the situation and apologized to the diners which was great. However when he went to the table to the right of us and the the left of us and totally skipped and ignored us that got me a bit annoyed and made me wondered the reason for that. The second thing I saw was one of the waiter bringing bread to a table. Instead of holding the plate by the edge, he had his thumb actually holding the bread itself. I don't think we will be returning any time soon. I LOVE Italian food and unfortunately this place did not live up to my expectations. read more

Exceptional service, but food is just "ok." From making the reservation, to being greeted by the host, to the attentiveness of the servers, I was very impressed with the dedication to service that we experienced throughout our meal. With that being said, the food left me underwhelmed. We started our meal with the Frittelle di Coppa di Testa (Head Cheese Fritters) and a glass of the Barbera D'Asti Superiore and the Grignolino D'Asti (red wine). I appreciated the generous wine selection (both by the bottle and the glass). The fritters, looked and smelled wonderful, however, we had to pick our way around a number of small bones that should not have been present. For the main course, we ordered the Cappeletti Neri (squid ink pasta) and Polpette (meatballs). Both dishes were presented beautifully, but the taste and temperature (luke warm) were average. Portion sizes felt a bit stingy for me - 2 meatballs for $28 is a bit steep. The desert however, helped redeem some of the disappointment with the meal. We ordered the panna cotta and were very impressed with texture, presentation, and the delicacy of flavor combinations. If I return, I would simply order a glass of wine and dessert. read more

I went here for a date night with my boyfriend. It has a very romantic ambiance, dim lighting, rustic decorations. We ordered the prosciutto as an appetizer and two pastas. I felt like the pastas were a bit overpriced for what we got but I also recognize that we're paying for the ambiance and location as well. For dessert we ordered the chocolate budino and it was AMAZING 10/10. Service was friendly and welcoming, we ordered this bottle of wine as well which paired perfectly with the experience! Overall very enjoyable dinner. read more

Via del Corso - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Oh wow what an absurdly yummy meal! We shared the panzanella salad. Yummm! My mom had the pork chop. Said she couldn't imagine ordering anything else again. I had a half tagliatelle and half sea bass, though it came as a whole fish so I don't see how it could be considered a half dish and we were in such a hurry to leave (theater tix) I didn't check the bill. Either way, both were fantastic. I generally don't order pasta but I'll definitely get that again. The homemade egg noodles was verrrry tasty. The service....wow. It was by far some of the best I've had. It really makes for an enjoyable evening. The food wouldn't have even needed to be as good as it was for me to go back. That's how important good service is. I don't remember our waiter's name but we sat outside and he was the only one out there. We'll definitely request his tables again. We also had ppl checking in. Not disturbing us but u could see they were on top of their game, making sure customers were happy. Pretty sure it was the front of the house mgr (or maybe owner?) that was always checking on things but he wasn't the only one. I really appreciate that and it shows they really care. The bill was $160 (incl 2 glasses of wine, 1 ginger beer). A little pricier than my regular go to's in Oakland (Almond & Oak, The Wolf) but it could also be because I got 1 1/2 main courses. ‍ Either way I'll definitely head over from Oakland again. Very much looking forward to it. read more

I took myself to dinner here a few weeks ago, and though the place was packed the service was excellent and the atmosphere was lively and fun. I had a pre-dinner cocktail and starter of olives, and had the ribeye as an entree. I get anxious ordering steak because it's so expensive and can feel like a risk. What if it's bland? What if it's tough? The ribeye I had at Via del Corso was perfect. It's a lovely place for a date (I sat next to a couple celebrating their 60th anniversary) and next time I take myself out on one...it'll probably be at this restaurant. read more

My family of four dined at Via Del Corso last Saturday evening to celebrate my bonus son's birthday. The entire experience was excellent. Our Waitress, Emma, was a major sweetheart and really made it a night to remember with great conversation and a lot of laughs. We will definitely be back and will be requesting Emma's section. read more

Excellent food. The lugata was basically a Caesar with a lite vinaigrette instead of the usual egg and oil mix. Very tasty and light. The taglione and meat sauce (not tomato) was superb and savory. The squash ravioli was perfect. The tiramisu was the best I've ever had. Great service. Loud. read more

Reopened summer 2021. Had high hopes but was a bit disappointed after our meal. My friend's family have been loyal customers since 2018; he agreed it didn't hit the spot like it did before (though I know they changed owners!). Overall, pasta texture good but pairings of items just didn't hit the spot for me. The table next to me also had 5-6 people approach them (and the owner too!) to make convo & serve them, which made me feel like our service was subpar since it was such a stark contrast. We were the only young table (most looked ~40-60). 2 out of 3 of us were the only non-white at the time we dined so at times didn't feel too comfortable. OCTOPUS APPETIZER - 2/5 -We might have ordered the wrong dish because I was hoping for slices of octopus & not dressed up -Refreshing but pairing it with potato was just odd AFFETATO (tray of salami and other cold cut meats) - 3/5 -Average, nothing special -Friend said it used to come with grapes and other items to make the flavors pop more so $20 for this plate wasn't worth it LINGUINI SQUID INK - 3/5 -Fresh house made pasta was great I really loved the texture -Sauce and pairing with tuna (?) really took away the dish's main star - the pasta -Pairing with seafood is necessary for this dish otherwise I really don't think with tuna was good TAGLIATELLE PASTA - 4.5/5 -This was good! We all agreed this was the only dish that was exceptional -Texture was just as great and flavors also on point read more

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Food and service were excellent. We've been here previously for our anniversary with mixed results. Two downers: the chairs are horribly uncomfortable they have cushions available if you ask ao they must be aware of this and we had mussels but there were no shellfish forks. I can figure the forks, but the seating is unforgivable in a fine dining restaurant. read more

My first time eating here tonight and it definitely won't be my last. From the time I walked in, the hostess greeted me with a huge smile and she was able to accommodated me with a table even though I didn't have a reservation. Then after my friend and I were seated, another worker greeted us while pouring our water. And then comes our waiter Veetor (sp?). He was amazing! I appreciated his service, his recommendations and his humor. Everything we ordered from the two appetizers (grilled bread with sliced peaches, zucchini and pine nuts), the two entrees (grilled lamb and pork chops) and finally the two desserts (flourish chocolate pudding, pistachio and cherry gelatos) were ALL AMAZING! The presentation and taste for each dish was simply beautiful! The head chef and crew did a fabulous job!! 5 stars all around read more

I'll try to keep my review short, but I have much to say about my First visit at this wonderful Italian Trattoria. Pros: *Authentic Regional Italian Cuisine with a Menu created by an Italian Classically Trained chef. *The Modest Menu features & supports Local Small Businesses, Farms etc., plus menu items strive to be Super Fresh, Sustainable & Seasonal *Vibe is Energetic and Welcoming, to All. *Friendly & Diverse Staff *Outside Patio, Coming Soon! *GREAT FOOD & DRINKS Con: *It's so busy, Reservations are necessary. *I live in Martinez, wish I lived closer to frequent this gem. *Seating for Small Groups Only ***** Tip: MAKE A RESERVATION NOW! Salute read more

Via del Corso - Via del Corso Spritz - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

So if I'm not mistaken the Chef from Prima's in Walnut Creek & another Chef from Massimo Ristorante got together & created this gastric tasting adventure. It was packed. We had made reservations for my hubby's birthday, they sent an email 2 days before confirming, followed by a text the day before & lastly a phone call the day of confirming we'd all be showing ... at first I thought a little over kill, but in hindsight sight, these days there's no room for empty tables; and there was a line waiting to get in. There's seating all along the bar area & part of the kitchen, prime seating which would have been a fun spot if there hadn't been 5 of us. I betting the menu is going to be fluid, so if I write about something scrumptious & you can't find it later, you've been warned. We started with a meat platter of sorts, something you'd find on a charcutería but with the cheese, nuts, dried fruit & or jams missing, hint, hint ... I state this because if someone at the table is vegetarian they can't partake in any of the sampling, just a thought. There were 2 orders of the little gem lettuce with lemon, anchovies & parmigiana, a little on the lemony side, yet okay. Onto the mains: we had the raviolis, the linguine with clams, risotto - which is not what they called it, & one pork rib chop ... Hubby had the pork rib chop, he was absolutely thrilled stating that is was so tender, well seasoned, melts in your mouth which is usually not the norm for a pork chop, maybe because it was a pork rib chop? Either way he loved the dish. Michael & I both had the linguine with clams; so Michael found it lovely & found it a bit soupy; enjoyed the overall flavors. Kay had the risotto = Arborio Rice with a variety of mushrooms, artichoke, fennel, saffron & tomato, she must have enjoyed the dish as it disappeared, didn't even get a bite. Her words "divine'. Lastly, Lani had the ravioli with potato & cheese filling & an asparagus sauce, this was the pleaser to all, melts in your mouth, more please. Was my first choice, lesson learned go with your 1st choice!! Onto dessert: we had the biscotti, the chocolate flourless cake & a serving of the orange olive oil cake, capuchinos & americanos all around - all screaming goodness! Yum ! There's so much to go back for & taste. We loved the Chef when he was at Prima's in Walnut Creek & we'll gladly follow to Berkeley. read more

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LOVE this place. I was so excited to hear that the group taking over this restaurant is keeping it alive with a similar menu. Menu is shorter now but food and service is just as good. We sat at the open kitchen side of the bar and watched the chefs cook. To be honest you can't go wrong won't anything here. They have bread and butter on the house. Our order: -Calamari: Tender and flavourful. The legs were a little more crispy than the body which I loved. Dip that bread in the leftover olive oil and seasoning! -Cannelloni: Super cheesy. Felt like it was melting in my mouth. -Salmon: Skin was crispy and meat was juicy and tender. Probably some of the best I've had. Loved the addition of tomatoes. Bf wasn't a big fan of the nuts and thyme because he though it was making the flavour of the salmon. -Panna Cotta: Didn't like the addition of the chocolate because it made it a bit too sweet. But the panna cotta itself was AMAZING. Creamy, smooth and the perfect amount of sweetness. The acidity of the strawberries helped cut through some of the heaviness. Portions are on the smaller side for what you're paying so expect to pay ~$50+ if you're going in hungry. They were super busy but still attentive. Our plates were changed every course and waiter asked our thoughts at timely situations. read more

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What a lovely dining experience! From the service to the actual food, definitely a five-star dinner. I enjoyed the bread + butter, lattuga salad, chicken (which I don't normally eat, but this was well worth the exception!), broccoli (too delicious!!) and chocolate cake (which inspired me to make a whole song impromptu - that's how you know it's good). I definitely got the feels of a family restaurant in Italy which seems to be what they are going for. Delicious food + excellent customer service = all around dining experience worth raving about! Via del Corso is a special place. read more

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I had my issues with Corso, but on balance I liked it a lot. I was sad when I learned that Rivoli had decided to close it at the end of 2020 and elated when the news broke that a group of restaurant professionals (led by Peter Chastain) had taken it upon themselves to revive Corso as Via del Corso. As soon as reservations opened for the new Via, we snagged a late-evening slot for a group of six. I was quite excited! A philosophical question is whether Via is a new restaurant or the second coming of Corso. The inside looks the same as before, and in fact the walls are decorated with "good luck Wendy and Roscoe" welcome messages that were there since Day One. The front window has Michelin and similar stickers from glory years gone by. The new group would like us to feel that the baton has been passed. The new menu looked familiar, but seemed a lot shorter than Corso menus. Specifically, one of my favorite Corso dishes was the bowl of tripe, which is not to be found on the current menu. We ordered from the abbreviated menu (not that we had a choice!) and liked everything that we were served. Especially, I shared a Bistecca alla Fiorentina with the diner next to me and loved it. I had never ordered the steak in the old Corso because it seemed like a crazy extravagance to me; this time, I had a meat-loving co-conspirator, and we went for it. Our table was not ready when we showed up for our reservation. The host person apologized profusely and invited us to get drinks at the bar. Such invitations are frequently a coded version of "Hey, we screwed up and we're going to comp you some drinks." Not this time, however: the drinks were good, but they weren't comped. We weren't seated until 20 minutes after our reservation time. I wasn't especially pleased. A crazy element of the experience is that a diner came over from an adjacent table to ask me to serve as a witness for the signature on his will. I'm not making this up--it really happened. (OK, I know the guy, but still....) My witness service stands along with the Bistecca alla Fiorentina among the highlights of the evening. I wish the new owners well and hope that they get everything sorted out. Berkeley loved Corso and is poised to embrace the new edition. ____ Appendix: In case you're wondering what kind of issues I had with the old Corso, I'll spill the beans. In early 2020, I was in the process of organizing a series of large campus-related dinners on Thursday evenings. Very early in 2020, during a dinner at Corso with friends, I went up to the host station and booked a prime time Thursday dinner for a group of eight or 10. When I phoned to confirm later on, I was told that a Corso manager had unilaterally changed the reservation time to maximize the number of people they could serve that evening. Not cool! I canceled my reservation and moved the dinner to Lalime's, which was delighted to get our business. The Lalime's dinner took place; it was my last visit ever to Lalime's and one of my last restaurant dinners in 2020. read more

Via del Corso - Calamari appetizer, recommended by server and quite delicious - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

First time at this restaurant. We went early and was able to choose an outdoor table. The indoor area seemed a little hot and it was a nice evening. I appreciated that the outdoor tables had heat lamps. Staff was great and attentive. Loved the recommendations and was able to have a leisurely dinner without being rushed. We started with the Grilled Calamari and the Salmon Rolls. Both were nice as a small appetizer. I probably would order the calamari again but the salmon rolls had a lot of ricotta. I definitely recommend the Ravioli with a nice pesto sauce. My companion ordered the pork chop. It was cooked well, but a little cold in the center. It was a mystery to us as to why as we figured it would take longer to cook the pork chop than the ravioli, which was a great temperature. We ended with dessert of Crema alla Caramello. This was okay. The caramel was nicely soaking the cake from the bottom. Lots of shredded coconut too. I had also had the Cordo Spritz which was lovely. Definitely recommend as a light refresher prior to the meal. If I lived in the neighborhood I would probably go back for another meal. But since I don't and there are a lot of other restaurants in the area, I will pass. It isn't a must go to place, but if you're looking for a friendly place with good food, this is where to go at least once. read more

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Had a wonderful dinner while seated at the bar with my friend. The menu was great and appreciated our bartender's ability to read the bar seated crowd on who wanted conversation and who did not. The drinks and food came fast. My only complaint is the air coming from right above the bar. It was either blasting arctic cold or high heat. Food: Had the pate as the appetizer. Lots of pate, little bread, lovely but filling. Enough for two guests. For the main course, I recommend the vegetarian mushroom lasagna. I am not a lasagna fan but this one stole my heart. So damn good. The handcrafted cocktails were well made - you are getting your money's worth. Desert: had the ice cream with expresso poured on it. Delicious. My friend had the mini sundae. The crowd: a mix of high end neighborhood folks - age range anywhere from the young professionals to the retired. While there is no dress code people tend to wear nicer than casual styles. Parking can be a pain but not horrible - street spots only. Will come back. Liked the vibe and the food. read more

Via del Corso - The vegetarian mushroom lasagna. Despite me not being a vegetarians and not loving lasagna this dish was amazing and ate every crumb. - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This was simply the very best pork chop I have ever eaten. And that's saying a lot...

Came for date night recently and the starter (shaved zucchini) was delicious but quite small; my pasta was good but my partner for the duck and it was pretty underwhelming. Staff was lovely and nice atmosphere, but felt overpriced for the quality of our meal. read more

Came here for my second time after a stroll in San Francisco's Pier 39. It wasn't too far away and I like eating in Berkeley because parking is everywhere haha. This time around I ordered the pork shank which was juicy and tender, but the meat itself lacked flavor. I wish the meat was marinated or seasoned with something to make me say "wow!" but unfortunately they put seasoning on top which for me didn't really do much but it looked pretty. The baked polenta was soft and yummy added a nice pairing for my main meal. And I would say order this side. Dessert was a great affogato with a strong shot of espresso a nice end to my meal. Definitely going to be back for some pasta dishes. read more

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Another delicious meal at Via del Corso! Perfect Caesar salad, olive appetizers. And the branzino is back on the menu (yay) and was superb. Service was excellent, as usual. Thank you, Via del Corso! read more

I wanted to love this place. Management: even tho there was a 2-top table available they routed me to the bar and basically dictated where I sat. They had just opened and that should have been my option. Service: they must get large numbers of tourists and not want them cuz the bartender serving me spent the whole time looking down his nose at me, assuming (incorrectly) that I was a tourist because I had a canvas UCBerkeley store shopping bag. The regulars clearly loved him. I was blown away by his attitude. What he doesn't know is that because of the pandemic I tip 30%. Not him. Operations: he didn't have a cash register. I had to wait while a manager took my $100 and walked off for 10 minutes, broke it, and brought it back. Meanwhile I had told the bartender serving me at the outset that I had 55 minutes to eat and be done. We had discussed when to put my entree in so timing would work etc. Then, when the change finally came back they didn't give me small enough denominations to have tip options. This is rookie stuff people. Food: it was really good. Not incredible, but admittedly I travel and get to eat at some really exceptional places. Conclusion: if you are a tourist I suggest you pass. If you are a local perhaps eat at a table and you may have a much better experience. read more

Bellisima!! Warm cozy vibes, amazing food and wine, great energy. Brava!! First time here and will definitely come back!

Happy to have come here after a few failures of destinations tonight! From the hostess to the awesome gal who bussed and cleaned up the table-- Zoe to the wonderful waiter-- "Vito?" God where do I start. So basically, I'm coming back lol I didnt expect much but I arrived so hopeful and left very happy, perhaps the 2 glasses of wine? Anyways thank you for the bomb ny/filet steak it was deeeee-lish. The spinach salad was fire af. To my dessert... I mean I was mad. Cheers to the owner for hiring a non-judgemental staff that helped me tonight! The hostess knew when the baby was crying to let me know that family was just about to leave! I mean, thank you! I was laughing-- seriously! At how real the staff was/is! F%*^! Thank you owner! I will be back! B-town is it. G-Eazy is it. read more

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Just tried this last night - very friendly and welcoming place - the menu is not huge but what they do is fabulous! I especially liked that there is a good price range - so the dinner doesn't need to break the bank! Two of our group had the pork chop - worth it - One had the steak - it is enough to feed the four of us!! You will need to share! Perfectly cooked and so good! Appetizers we shared the tuna and the one with blood orange and shaved fennel. Service is exceptional - we will be back!!! read more

I had been wanting to try this intimate trattoria for a while as Jamie W. and I pass by it all the time as we stroll Shattuck. Since we've been focused on maintaining our cumulative weight loss, we haven't made pasta a high priority on our diet, even though we heard chef Scott Eastman made appetizing plates of it as house specials.Well, we decided my birthday would be a good excuse for us to go indulge and give it a try. Apparently we weren't the only ones as we were surrounded by tables of people who were receiving candles on their desserts. Since we waited almost until the last minute to make our reservation, the best we could secure was 9PM on a busy Saturday evening, so we had to be European and dine a lot later than we normally do. That didn't dampen our appetites though or our need for libation. We started our celebratory evening with a sparkling red wine, a $29 bottle of Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro (photo: http://bit.ly/2O5R895). It was full-bodied and tannic, which was a bit at odds with the effervescence. Still it was a refreshing complement to the food we ordered which started with a small loaf of crusty rustic bread with an ice-cold block of butter (photo: http://bit.ly/2EMvBD0). Unfortunately our starters were somewhat disappointing from the outset. We tried the $6 Funghi Antipasto where we found the mushrooms overly marinated with the coriander and orange zest a bit too strong (photo: http://bit.ly/2JiH4Jh). Normally we would have devoured them in short order, but they lingered in the table for quite a while. We also tried the $13 Crostini di Fergato which was way too rich for our unsophisticated palates. The Tuscan chicken liver pate was full of olive oil along with sage, capers, and anchovy on two pieces of grilled bread (photo: http://bit.ly/2PXgBDB). The flavor and texture just had a lot of muchness for us. Luckily a major rebound occurred with our entrees, both of which were excellent. Jamie ordered the $20 Pappardelle with lamb sugo, sofrito, red wine, and goat cheese, and it was a classic with the lamb and pasta both luscious in taste and texture (photo: http://bit.ly/2SjhiZp). I went whole hog, sort of speak, and got the $35 Brasato di Manzo, which was a huge slow-cooked beef short rib, incredibly tender accompanied by traditional sides, potato purée and glazed carrots (photo: http://bit.ly/2yyUQ6k). I rarely have red meat these days, but it was honestly like having my mom's pot roast if she was frankly a much better American cook. She was a lot better at Japanese home-style cuisine. Finally dessert, and Corso delivered the goods on both. Jamie went with the $10 Amarena Cherry Sundae, an old-fashioned confection with amarena cherries and chocolate & caramel sauces ladled over scoops of vanilla gelato with the requisite whipped cream and toasted nuts (photo: http://bit.ly/2q9UX3o). How can that not be yummy? I stayed Italian and had the $10 Panna Cotta with vanilla-infused cream, strawberries, hazelnuts, and honey (photo: http://bit.ly/2Sh6nQ1). It was the perfect ending to my hearty birthday dinner after a variable start. The service was cordial and attentive throughout our evening, and we'd be happy to come back for another special occasion. FOOD - 4 stars...bumpy starters led the way to superb entrees and desserts AMBIANCE - 4 stars...comfortable, a bit dark but not too crowded SERVICE - 4.5 stars...we were treated quite well TOTAL - 4 stars...if you want well considered and expertly executed Italian dishes, this is a viable option RELATED - If you're looking for other dining options in Berkeley, here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: bit.ly/2N4anQA read more

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Came here for dinner one weekend. Place was absolutely packed and although there's a high ceiling, there isn't much ventilation, so I wouldn't call this a very safe place for avoiding COVID-19. We started with the tuna tartare and the beet salad. Both very good. I had the pork chop which was also very good, despite not being brined. We had to run off the the Berkeley Rep, so we just finished with the chocolate pudding cake which was also tasty. Service was just fine. We parked in the parking structure across from the Berkeley Rep and walked the few blocks to Via del Corso. Pricey but good. I'd eat here again. read more

Dinner for four at 5:30 on a Thursday before a show at the Berkeley Rep. Inside was full of the over 65 crowd, outside was deserted on this cool evening. The room was quite loud and buzzy, if there is any acoustic work done, it isn't working. The service was 12 on a 10 scale. Just excellent. I believe management was circulating about keeping an eye on the proceedings. This spot is the gold standard. Our server was upbeat, smiling, welcoming, and a real pro. Cocktails were great: The Ruse ($15) is a fine whiskey based assemblage, much better than a simple Old Fashioned. The EVOO martini ($17) was interesting, different and redolent of olive. The tuna on toast ($12) was very nice - house preserved tuna was a taste treat. Warm olives ($9) were eminently satisfactory. This restaurant is bucking the dining trend of having the large plate with a dismayingly small portion, as if it were jewelry. The portion size was neither huge nor minuscule, it was perfect. The Butternut Squash Ravioli ($28) was quite a disappointment. Little flavor and significantly undercooked, it was not worth eating. The swordfish ($38) was magnificent. I think this is the best swordfish I have ever eaten. Rich, toothy, juicy, flavorful - clearly the product of an expert staff. The Pork Chop ($37) was excellent, just as our server claimed. The pasta with little bits of crab ($38) was a very fine dish: balanced, complex, and satisfying. The desserts were fine, but the Sicilian Cannoli ($8) was odd. It was not sweet, much more about the pureed nuts. I was in Sicily recently, and the cannoli I had there was not like this. It wasn't wrong, it was just different than I anticipated. Dinner for four was $399 plus $80 tip, money very well spent, in my view. It's such a pleasure to see a restaurant that is this good at what they do. My wife and I were in Cotogna in the city last month, and sorry, Via del Corso is better. read more

-food- 1. fettucine: 4.5/5 I enjoyed this pasta dish! The sauce was flavorful, and the noodles were also great. There were small pieces of beef in it, and these were all very soft and tasty. 2. pollo al burro alla sostanza + a side of spinach: 5/5 OMG THIS WAS AMAZING. The chicken was suuuuuper soft, and was absolutely delicious. I would order this again for sure if I come back. It's quite buttery, so the spinach that the waiter recommended us to get alongside it paired well with it. I haven't been this impressed by a chicken dish in a long time. -service- They give you free bread, and refill it when it runs out! I think my friend and I went through like 2 or 3 servings of the free bread. The wait staff is attentive and provided helpful recommendations for our first time here! read more

Via del Corso - pollo al burro alla sostanza + spinach side - Italian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Dropped in for dessert, we snagged two seats at the bar and got to see the chefs at work which was great. Our tiramisu was fabulous, the crème brûlée was kinda deconstructed but good. Only draw back our server called us kids, I am 39 and was on a date not mood setting. read more

Simply the best. Best food. Best vibe. Best service. Corso makes Berkeley a better place to live. Fresh and seasonal.

Amazing food and Vito was the best waiter ever... So happy to find this little Ray of sunshine read more

Came here for a group dinner and were sadly disappointed. It's ironic how this restaurant is called "Via Del Corso" - one of the main streets of Rome, when there is nothing remotely Roman about the food served. Pork chop was undercooked and sea bass had an unusual metallic taste to it, but even then I would have given it at least two stars because the ambience was well put-together. What solidified this as a one star review is how rude the staff was after one of my party members had clearly been served something other than what they'd actually ordered. The staff provided poor service in broken English, yet we received our bill with the "Tip:" box circled in pen. No matter the occasion you have planned, I would highly recommend going elsewhere. read more