When figuring out where I was to stay for a graduate school visit to the University of California, Berkeley (in March 2015), this was the 2nd pick of the professor who brought me out for interviewing. He had contacted students and post-docs in his group/department to see if they would host me. However, as I was his 6th prospective student the people he asked were tired of hosting so he signed me up to stay here at the Women's Faculty Club, located on-campus. The building was rustic and on a not so busy road. There were grassy area(s) to the west/north that the campus squirrels enjoyed. At one point, the male professor was walking me one-on-one to the building. When we walked over a small stream on a bridge together he made a comment about water flow in the stream. I felt uncomfortable. Then I spotted it. My knights in shining armour. Squirrels. They were foraging in the grass and were on the larger side. I made note out loud of this. The male human said nothing. He did not share my love of the furry cuties. After living in South Africa where we had vervet monkeys instead of squirrels and Hawai'i where we had mongeese instead of squirrels, the squirrels were a reminder of wildlife in my hometown of Seattle. Sometimes wildlife helps make a place special and feel like home. Breakfast in the women's faculty club could be ordered and I dined alone during my stay. As the rest of my meals were with other people, I enjoyed the tranquility of dining here. There was no loud music and during my visit the dining hall did not reach crowded levels while I ate. Check-in was in a convenient location, my room was up the stairs and had window(s) looking out towards the area(s) the squirrels liked. The floor was more towards the creaky side, in a homely kind of way. The bathroom had signage about water usage as California was in a multi-year draught (no rain). The bed was large and comfy. It was cool to be able to sleep diagonally. Workers in the dining hall and when I came and went were friendly. read more

Women's Faculty Club - Room where I stayed on a graduate school visit (Wednesday 18 March 2015). - Social Clubs Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Enjoying the Sun while seated on the outside deck, I was at a business lunch again at the WFC. This time, after two helpings of the salad bar (I'm telling you, the Egg-Fu-Yung is a favorite), I was going for the desert I missed out on the last time I was there, the Neapolitan. Our Asian Sister, who gave us excellent service, brought out the tray. No Neapolitan, sold out (very sad trombone). But, what's that? Fresh Cherry Flan w/Almonds! The sweetest pitted cherries on a cheese flan, crowned with toasted Almonds. Simple, but oh so good. My colleague, Karen, devoured the same thing. Our guest enjoyed a dark chocolate tart. Next time, I'm ordering the Neo first! read more

Satisfying lunch, good desserts. I have come to have lunch at the Women's Faculty Club too many times to remember. I was originally tempted to keep going to the all-you-can-eat "salad" bar, but eventually I realized that the à la carte items were not bad. I call it a "salad" bar because there really are all kinds of items available, like noodles, turkey croquettes, and hummus. I generally order the soup of the day and the daily special, though the sandwiches and salads are not bad. For the specials you get to choose a sauce and a protein, which does not sound particularly exciting, but with the accompanying veggies and starch it usually ends up being a solid dish. You can tell that they try to use good, local, seasonal ingredients. My favorite thing at the Club is probably the desserts. I have had some really good ones and usually I wish I could get more than one because several of the ones offered on a given day sound exciting. I've had an awesome key lime pie, a great apple mousse, and more. The only disappointing one was a cheesecake that was still a bit frozen. Service is friendly and the atmosphere is bright and laid back The membership fees are not bad and the prices for the entrees are almost a bargain. If you are not a member try to tag along with one for a nice on campus lunch! read more

There are two faculty clubs on the Berkeley campus: The Faculty Club (TFC) and the Women's Faculty Club (WFC). The first of these is referred to occasionally as the "men's" faculty club, though of course both now have members of all possible genders. They're independent of each other (and operate as private clubs) but maintain a reciprocity agreement that allows members of each club to charge at the other. One significant difference between the two is that the Faculty Club welcomes anyone who carries a wallet (especially if the wallet contains cash -- as opposed to credit cards), while the Women's Faculty Club requires diners to charge meals to an account. Both clubs have hotel rooms. While only campus departments and club members can book rooms for guests in the WFC hotel, I'm pretty sure that hotel charges can be settled with credit cards in the WFC (as well as at TFC). From my perspective, the WFC is much more buttoned down than the other club. Entering the Women's Faculty Club, I feel as if I'm in an East Coast establishment. The Faculty Club is only a hundred meters to the west of the WFC, but nevertheless feels much more raucous (like the Wild West) than the WFC. At the WFC, raising your voice is a great sin; at TFC, paying retail is the corresponding problem. (I'm channeling the script of "Annie Hall" -- sorry.) Another take on this: if the Women's Club is iOS, then the Faculty Club is Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. You can sort of get the point. When a visitor comes to campus, I tend to recommend the WFC if the person likes quiet and TFC if the visitor likes parading. Both are very convenient places to stay if one is attending a conference or coming for a fall football weekend. In fact, the hotel portions of both clubs have high occupancy rates, so many visitors don't get their first choice. Though I have lunch in TFC quite often, I have lunch in WFC relatively rarely. The Faculty Club has a "buffet line" at which diners grab a tray and serve themselves. At the WFC, you enter, wait to be seated by a host, and then order your lunch from a server. The lunch menu at WFC includes an "all you can eat" buffet table option, but I haven't much liked what I've seen on the table. (I've tried the buffet a few times.) The printed menu has salads and sandwiches, and there are a couple of daily specials as well. I've been happy enough with the WFC club sandwich and with the niçoise salad. The WFC lunch room has a very nice feel; it's great for "business lunches" of various kinds. read more

The Women's Faculty Club is lighter, brighter, more layed back, and perhaps more civilized than its brother next door and without the 100 wedding minimum. It's also architecturally distinctive, with attractive interiors and a nice garden. However, membership does have its privileges. read more

What a lovely event at the WFC: I had a wonderful time working with the entire staff to build a productive, comfortable, delicious experience for my group. I look forward to my next visit. read more

This is exactly what you want and expect by eating at the women's faculty club. The food is excellent, and definitely has a low key feel. I'm not a member, but I love tagging along with faculty who are. (oh, and you don't have to be a female faculty to join) I dock the extra stars because the servers aren't always knowledgeable about what in the buffet is vegetarian. Last time I was there they said something was, but it looked so much like meat that I avoided it. 10 min later they came to my table and said it was!! It was nice that they told me, but the damage is done -- I'll be sticking my nose in every dish now before I put it on my plate. read more

I've always been to the Faculty Club, but never to the Women's Faculty Club until a friend invited me for lunch here. We walked into a cute house that had a classy interior and made our way into the dining area for lunch. Overall the dining area was very pleasant and enjoyable. There are some outdoor seating which makes it great for the days with nice weather. During lunch you have the option of eating from a salad bar or ordering from the menu. The salad bar had a variety of salads - everything from leafy greens to pasta and fruit. I opted for a Cobb salad and was satisfied. I enjoyed the friendly service and would be delighted to come back. read more

Lunching at the "women's" is different from lunching at the "faculty club." For starters, you don't have to make yourself heard above the venture capitalists, tech-startups, and ill-mannered EECSers next door. For seconds, it's laid back and its buffet is just the most fascinating and slightly insane combination of retro and california-modern. Where else can you find grilled-tofu salds and polenta next to jello molds and "chili bake." You do need to be a member, and your money is no good here otherwise. So ensure that your host treats you to your meal. read more

In addition to a dining room, the WFC has a dozen or so guest rooms. We stayed there for a couple of nights and all I can say is, I hope you don't have to do the same. There is a thin line between WASPy shabbiness cum elegance and just a dump and the WFC crossed the line towards dumpiness a long time ago. The hallways are dingy, the rooms musty, and everything could use a face lift. The WFC should be commended for helping out with the drought - their hot water is a tepid warm and thus showers are short - saves water, but not what I want from a hotel. The room has one 45 watt bulb. This is not so bad as the Venetian blinds don't really close so the lights from outside stream into the room - day and night. The staff is less than helpful. They seem to have the same attitude towards guests that the person has towards people submitting thesis - you are there to serve her and follow her rules. The one bright side is that the continental breakfast is reasonable, the coffee is good, and the waitress was warm and friendly. read more

Very good food in a classy atmosphere. My co-worker and friend, Kathy, was a member (a requirement for eating there) and took me there several times. Back in the 1980s, a bitter, dumped faculty wife was the hostess, and she would give me this scrutinizing look up and down as though I wasn't good enough to be eating there! It was half amusing and half annoying. I never felt quite comfortable there, but sure enjoyed the food. read more

Really disappointing two might stay here. Old fashioned rooms, lamps and TVs that didn't work, loud construction noise. I had a very quick bite at the lunch buffet one day and found the food to be well above average. So I was hugely disappointed to come down for the breakfast included in my room rate to find a limited boring spread. There were fruit cups, Cheerios, rolls, granola, hard boiled eggs, and muffins. No yogurt, no protein besides the eggs. Hello, people, have you read the medical research on how bad carbs are for our health?? Why work so hard at lunch and then take a nap with the breakfast? I was never so happy to leave someplace. read more