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GOURMET GHETTO. Favored by a diverse cross section of the bay area population, Barney's serves dozens of burgers, including beef, chicken, turkey, and vegetarian versions. The choice of toppings is amazing, and that's the worst thing about this place – what to order. Among the fruits and vegetables are pineapple, artichoke hearts, spinach, mushrooms, sprouts, and traditional lettuce and tomato. Which sauce sounds best – sour cream, teriyaki, barbecue, pesto? And what type of cheese – jack, American, feta? Luckily, choosing a side isn't nearly as difficult: big baskets of onion rings or curly fries.
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Bel Forno
1400 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709 · 510-644-1601
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GOURMET GHETTO. Breakfast at Bel Forno is always a relaxing experience, with a good choice of breads, pastries, and omelets served all day. Lunch might be gourmet pizza, salad, or creative sandwiches on freshly baked bread – try the turkey and avocado or the roasted eggplant. There are a few tables outside where dogs are welcome, too.
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GOURMET GHETTO. Although it was founded as a private business, the Cheese Board philosophy has always been that of a collectively owned and operated enterprise. Each member owns an equal share of the business, contributes an equal number of hours, and has a position on the board of directors. Perhaps since everyone has so much of themselves invested, the shop and café have been amazingly popular and successful. Along with an astounding variety of artisan cheeses, the shop specializes in out of this world homemade breads and pastries. There are a few tables out front where you can enjoy a fresh cup of coffee or tea, along with a muffin, scone, or tasty sandwich.
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GOURMET GHETTO. They may serve only one variety of pizza each day, always vegetarian, but you can be sure that it will be excellent. Your main decisions will be whether to get a slice or a whole pie, and whether to eat it there or take it somewhere else. You may not actually have to make that second choice though, because there are only a handful of tables. The collective rotates about 20 different gourmet pies, which might include combinations of roasted peppers, tapenade, fresh herbs, garlic, feta, Roma tomatoes, and artichoke hearts. Call ahead to see what's on the menu.
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ELMWOOD. This casual eatery is perfect for lunch on the run. Quick service ensures that your lunch hour won't stretch to an hour and a half, and the reasonable prices allow you to fill up without emptying your wallet. The baked four different fillo pastries are all highly recommended, especially the chicken cilicia with chick peas, almonds, currants, and spices, and the spinach and feta variety. Hummus and baba ghanoush are first rate, too. If the weather is nice, try to snag a table outside, where you can do a bit of people watching while you eat.
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GOURMET GHETTO. Although it's been around for decades, the popularity of this Sicilian eatery hasn't dwindled a bit, in part because of the colorful personalities of the owners. Menu highlights include cheese cannelloni in a flavorful light tomato sauce, and a variety of seafood, sautéed with olive oil or broiled. Sicilian style pizza, with medium-thick, chewy crust, makes up a good portion of the menu, with about 20 topping combinations. Don't skip dessert – the house-made cannoli is perfectly crunchy and creamy.
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GOURMET GHETTO. Breakfast is served until 2pm at Saul's, so if you find yourself craving an omelet at noon, this is a great option. Try an open face deli omelet with pastrami, corned beef and salami, potato latkes with apple sauce and sour cream, or even kippers and eggs. Grilled deli sandwiches are also good, especially the Reuben and the Mega Mushroom, and they make a mean tuna melt. If you're watching your carbs, there are several big salads available, too. Smoked fish platters and daily specials are the way to go at dinner time.
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GOURMET GHETTO. It's just been one of those days: you slept through the alarm and were late to work, you've been on the phone or in meetings all morning, you've got a ton of errands to run, and it's already 2pm and you haven't even thought about lunch yet. You need something quick, healthy, and satisfying, and Truly Mediterranean fits the bill. Kabobs and shawerma are reliably good, but for something a little different, try the Mansaf, lamb cooked in yogurt sauce, sprinkled with pine nuts and almonds. There are many vegetarian options, too, including tangy dolmas, Mojaddara, and a vegan treat of seasoned lentils and bulgur with caramelized onions.
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SOLANO AVENUE. They don't take reservations, so at peak mealtimes a wait is next to impossible to avoid, but Zachary's deep-dish pizzas are so incredible that you won't mind. They start with a layer of dough, followed by heaps of cheese and your choice of 19 toppings. Then another layer of dough is placed on top, sealing in all the goodies. Chunky tomato sauce is ladled over that, and the whole thing is baked to a perfect golden brown. The result is a super moist, chewy and flavorful pizza unlike any other you'll find in the bay area. If you have access to an oven, get a half-baked pie that you finish cooking yourself.
Looking for light and tasty dishes with a quick turn-around time? Or perhaps a power lunch to close the deal? Here, you’ll find the right setting for either! An assortment of decors from casual and sporty to sophisticated and businesslike. You may also find the option of ordering take-out food.
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