Berkeley

A temple to gastronomy and sustainability, and refreshed and reopened after a 2013 fire, this casual, upscale Berkeley restaurant is thought to have inspired a culinary revolution. — Gayot

Berkeley's best mixologists. — Not For Tourists

Well known for its homemade sodas and enormous sandwiches, the Saul's of today also uses sustainably sourced seafood, grass-fed beef, and organic eggs. — Fodor's

Recycled cork wainscoting and parchment lanterns lend an earthy, Japanese vibe to Rivoli, which backs up to a lush "secret" garden framed by dramatic windows. — Michelin Guide

We're not in Aix-en-Provence circa 1950, but at La Note Restaurant Provencal on prosaic auto-row Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley. — San Francisco Chronicle

Just "bring plenty of yen", as the fare and the "interesting" shochus and sakes that "go with them" can "add up quickly". — Zagat

"First", and fans say "still the best", of the K2 restaurant group's ventures, this Berkeley Cal-Med is "a neighborhood gem if there ever was one". — Zagat

No views but this popular joint serves up great breakfasts and lunches. Queues at weekends can take up to an hour. — Rough Guide

Tiny storefront selling top-notch "designer pizza" at very reasonable prices: around $3 a slice,with a different topping every day. Great deli just down the road at no. 1504 too. — Rough Guide

The promised land of pancakes. — Not For Tourists

Corso remains true to an Italian vision. If the tonnarelli ($14) is any indication, the pasta cooker is doing its job superbly. — San Francisco Chronicle

Live music Thursday nights. Late-night bites on weekends. Daily happy hours, and a so-called reverse happy hour on Sunday from 8 p.m. to close. — San Francisco Chronicle

Fresh ingredients lure Berkeley locals for northern Chinese cuisine. — Gayot

This is our favorite Berkeley cheap-eats, with all-fresh-made Indian classics (no tikka masala here) ordered at the counter. — Lonely Planet

Many argue that Kirala serves the best sushi in the Bay Area. Others claim that it's the best in the world. Moderate pricing, too- expect to pay littie over $20 to get your fill. — Rough Guide

Chef Shotaro Kamio heads up the kitchen of this “real”-deal Japanese on Berkeley’s Fourth Street, crafting “sublime” sushi and “artful”, “adventurous” izakaya items. — Zagat

Fancy French-Vietnamese tapas sans exorbitant price. — Not For Tourists

Regional Indian dishes in elegant space. — BlackBook

Fine and very reasonably priced tacos, plus live jazz on weekends. Nicely decorated with an outdoor patio for fine weather. — Rough Guide

The 44-seat restaurant showcases an eclectic menu full of heartfelt touches. The menu is seasonal, and most of the produce comes from the farmers' market. — San Francisco Chronicle