Good restaurants in Berkeley?

<p>Can anyone recommend a good restaurant in Berkeley to take your family out for lunch?</p>

<p>Cafe Rouge is great. Saul's Deli, while very casual, is a good Jewish deli. Rick and Ann's (great for breakfast so I assume they are good for lunch), Venus, and Sconehenge. Cafe Rouge is the "nicest" of these choices, the rest are more casual. Shen Wa(?) on college is good, too, if you like Chinese. If Tratorria Siciliana is open for lunch, they make good Italian food, but they do not accept credit cards or checks so bring cash. If I think of any more, I will post them.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=restaurant&address=&city=Berkeley&state=CA&zipcode=%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&formtype=address&popflag=0&latitude=&longitude=&name=&phone=&level=&cat=restaurant&address=&city=Berkeley&state=CA&zipcode=&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>(It'd be easier to make a list of bad restaurants in Berkeley.)</p>

<p>One of my favorites restaurants is Skates on the Bay. It is located at the Piers at the end of University. It has great views of SF and the bay, along with pretty good food for reasonable prices. They should have a website.</p>

<p>I'm going to second Skates -- we found that place by happenstance while taking our son to Berkeley for welcome week and were sort of tooling around trying to find the Berkeley Marina. The happy hour is awesome and they make a fairly mean mojito for those who drink. It's one of those places that work as a romantic dinner and also as a kid friendly place -- a bit of a dichotomy, yes, but really good food, great view.</p>

<p>If you don't have a car (is it possible to get the bus there?) -- Raleigh's on Telegraph is excellent. BIG salads!</p>

<p>Skates has some interesting menu choices, too -- like Lobster Mac 'n Cheese.</p>

<p>Good food, great desserts, decent prices (though a little higher than casual eating) -- I third the rec for it.</p>

<p>I enjoy going to Spenger's on 4th, though their lunch service can be spotty some days. I've also heard great things about Eccolo, near Cafe Rouge.</p>

<p>If you like Indian food, there's a fantastic (and very popular) place called Vik's on 4th and Allston. (It's 724 Allston Way to be precise.) Best if you have a car, because it's a bit far from the campus area, but the food is great, as are the prices. I should tell you though that it's quite busy on weekends, so you should get there early if you plan on going. Have fun!</p>

<p>Among the best restaurants in Berkeley for lunch or dinner: Chez Panisse upstairs, Cesar's (both on Shattuck in North Berkeley); Ecolo, Cafe Rouge, Bette's Diner (on 4th Street); Picante (on 6th near Gilman). For Indian food: Ajanta is good for dinner (Solano); Vik's is pretty funky -- if you like Chaat, it is a good choice for lunch. The best ice cream is on College near Ashby (Ici) and there are also a number of lively restaurants on the same street. In nearby Rockridge, Oliveto's is one of the best restaurants. In Oakland, on Piedmont, there is Bay Wolf. The best bakeries in town are Acme (Hopkins and San Pablo) for bread and La Farine (Solano) for pastries; the Cheese Board is also a popular favorite for breads, pizza, and, of course, cheese, at good prices and unbeatable selection (on Shattuck in North Berkeley). Best markets for fruits and vegetables for selection and price: Monterey Market (Hopkins and Monterey) and Berkeley Bowl (Shattuck).</p>

<p>wow, thanks so much guys!</p>