Ten Best Places to Brunch in Berkeley

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Fonda

Item: Fonda
Author: Tom Molanphy

Cuisine: European, Latin, Mexican, Spanish

Price Range: $

10Best Says

Another trendy tapas place, Fonda has the distinction of being owned by the same folks who brought us Jimmy Bean's and Lalime's. The festive two-story restaurant is roomy and fun, with a mixture of furniture styles and colorful accents. Menu stars include a dish of toasted peanuts and pumpkin seeds with garlic and lime, duck and pomegranate tacos with arbol salsa, grilled skirt steak with blue cheese, and tiradito, a tuna carpaccio with minced Serrano chiles and wedges of lime. Be prepared for a (worthwhile) wait dudring peak hours, because reservations are only taken for groups of six or more.

Address:

1501 Solano Ave
Albany, CA 94706
510-559-9006

Hours:

Mon-Thu: 5:30pm-12:30am
Fri: 3pm-12:30am
Sat: 11am-12:30am
Sun: 11:30am-12:30am

Website:

fondasolana.com

EXPERT TIPS BY: Tom Molanphy
San Francisco Local Expert

Berkeley's Best Brunch: "Fonda is one of the more reasonably priced buffets in the East Bay."

Best for Berkeley's Best Brunch Because: Fonda is believed by locals and offers a warm, hospitable brunch experience.

Main Menu
- Starters
  
  Daily oysters
  
  ($2.00)
  
  Guacamole, chips, salsa
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Flautas
  
  with chicken and salsa de molcajete ($8.00)
  
  Fonda caesar
  
  romaine, parmesan, croutons ($9.00)
  
  Kale salad
  
  lemon, pecorino, apples, pumkin seeds ($8.00)
  
  Cucumber salad
  
  jicama, lime, chili arbo ($6.00)
  
  Mixed green salad
  
  walnuts, goat cheese, beets, shallots, sherry vinagrette ($9.00)
  
  Beet salad
  
  orange segments, goats cheese ($9.00)
  
  Nachos
  
  cheese, refritos, guacamole ($9.00)
  
  Tortilla soup
  
  chicken, guajillo chilies, cheese, avocado ($9.00)
- Meat / Poultry
  
  Chile Relleno
  
  with chicken, oaxaca cheese, tomato salsa ($8.00)
  
  Tostaditas (3)
  
  with carnitas, guacamole and chipotle salsa ($10.00)
  
  Grilled skirt steak
  
  with manchego rings and mojo colorado ($14.00)
  
  Grilled rack of lamb
  
  with churrasco chimichurri ($16.00)
- Vegetables / Sides
  
  Winter Squash Enchiladas
  
  poblano & corn creama (3) ($12.00)
  
  Quesadillas
  
  with mushrooms, epazote and salsa cruda (3) ($11.00)
  
  Broccoli
  
  sauteed with garlic and chili flakes ($8.00)
  
  Patatas bravas
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Fried plantains
  
  with tomato, black beans, crema ($7.00)
  
  Oaxacan
  
  style black bean refritos, cotija cheese ($5.00)
  
  Sautéed kale
  
  with a chili vinaigrette, queso, almonds ($7.00)
  
  Brussels sprouts
  
  butter, red onion ($7.00)
- Tacos
  
  Fish (2) or Duck (2)
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Platter
  
  with 2 carne asada and 2 al pastor ($13.00)
- Tamales
  
  Sweet corn, tomato salsa, queso fresco
  
  ($9.00)
- Seafood
  
  Rock Cod Ceviche
  
  serrano, onion, bell pepper, avocado, lime ($12.00)
  
  Calamari grilled
  
  sikil pak ($10.00)
  
  Tuna tartare
  
  with avocado, serrano, cilantro, lime ($14.00)
  
  Scallops
  
  seared, saffron - aji aioli ($16.00)
  
  Prawns
  
  sautéed with garlic and lime ($13.00)
  
  Swordfish, arugula, cannelini, lemon, salsa
  
  ($15.00)
- Desserts
  Mango slices
  with lime
  
  $8.00
  
  Add Zaya Rum: $11.00
  Warm chocolate cake
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Key lime pie
  
  mango and raspberry sauce, whipped cream ($8.00)
  
  Ice cream sundae
  
  vanilla, strawberry, walnuts, rasberry, whipped cream ($5.00)
Beer & Wine Menu
- Sparkling
  
  NV Jeaunaux - Robin, Champagne
  
  ($15.00)
  
  2011, Suriol 'Brut Natural' Cava
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2012, Marchione Moscato d Asti
  
  ($9.00)
  
  NV Tilted Shed Apple Cider
  
  ($9.00)
  
  NV Jeaunaux - Robin 'Extra Brut', Champagne
  
  ($60.00)
  
  2011, Suriol 'Brut Natural' Cava, Spain
  
  ($36.00)
  
  2012, Marchione Moscato d Asti, Italy
  
  ($30.00)
  
  NV Tilted Shed 'Barred Rock' Apple Cider, Sonoma
  
  ($30.00)
- White / Rose
  
  2013, Wind Gap Nebbiolo Rose
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2012, Knebel Riesling
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2013, Dom. de la Pepiere Muscadet
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2013, Dom.Vieux Pruniers Sauv Blanc
  
  ($11.00)
  
  2013, Josef Ehmoser Gruner Veltliner
  
  ($9.00)
  
  2013, Francois Pinon Chenin Blanc
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2012, Alta Maria Chardonnay
  
  ($12.00)
  
  2013, Alfredo Maestro 'Amanda' Rosado, Spain
  
  ($44.00)
  
  2013, Wind Gap Nebbiolo Rose, North Coast
  
  ($39.00)
  
  2013, Dom. de la Pépière 'Les Gras Moutons', Muscadet
  
  ($36.00)
  
  2012, Bengoetx Hondarrabi Zuri, Getariako Txakolina
  
  ($37.00)
  
  2013, Dom. Des Viex Pruniers Sauv Blanc, Sancerre
  
  ($42.00)
  
  2013, Pedralonga 'Terra de Godos' Albariño, Spain
  
  ($33.00)
  
  2012, Alberto Nanclares 'Coccinella' Albarino, Spain
  
  ($67.00)
  
  2012, Brezo Godello, Bierzo-Spain
  
  ($36.00)
  
  2013, Ressò Garnacha blanca, Catalunya
  
  ($25.00)
  
  2012, Knebel 'Von Den Terrassen' Riesling, Germany
  
  ($40.00)
  
  2013, Josef Ehmoser Gruner Veltliner, Austria
  
  ($36.00)
  
  2013, Francois Pinon Chenin Blanc, Vouvray
  
  ($45.00)
  
  2012, Alta Maria Vineyards Chardonnay, Santa Maria
  
  ($42.00)
  
  2012, Eric Kent Chardonnay, Russian River
  
  ($55.00)
- Red
  
  2011, Dominque Piron Gamay
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2012, Banshee Pinot Noir
  
  ($12.00)
  
  2012, Dashe Zinfandel
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2011, Cielo Y Tierra 'Celador' Malbec
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2011, Geografico Chianti Classico
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2012, Brea Cabernet Sauvignon
  
  ($11.00)
  
  2012, Edmunds St. John Syrah
  
  ($14.00)
  
  2011, Dominique Piron Gamay, Morgon
  
  ($44.00)
  
  2012, Banshee Pinot Noir, Sonoma
  
  ($42.00)
  
  2012, St Innocent 'Temperance Hill Vineyard' Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley - Oregon
  
  ($63.00)
  
  2013, Dashe 'Enfant Terrible' Zinfandel, Heart Arrow Ranch
  
  ($38.00)
  
  2012, Martian Ranch Grenache, Los Alamos
  
  ($43.00)
  
  2011, Alandra Rouge Moreto, Portugal
  
  ($25.00)
  
  2010, Schola Sarmenti Negroamaro, Puglia
  
  ($27.00)
  
  2011, Cielo y Tierra 'Celador' Malbec, Argentina
  
  ($42.00)
  
  2012, Brea Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles
  
  ($42.00)
  
  2011, Edmunds St. John Syrah, Fenaughty Vineyard 50
  
  ($50.00)
  
  2009, Scholium Project 'Bricco Babelico' Petite Sirah, Suisun Valley
  
  ($60.00)
- Draft Beer
  
  Modelo Especial
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Ale Industries Rye'd Piper Red Ale
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Blue Star Wheat
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Mirror Pond Pale Ale
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Fresh Squeezed IPA
  
  ($6.00)
  
  E.J. Phair Canary In A Coal Mine Porter
  
  ($6.00)
- Dessert
  
  2012, Marchione Moscato d Asti
  
  ($9.00)
  
  Quinta Novo Ruby Port
  
  ($6.00)
  
  2009, Quinta Nova LBV Port
  
  ($8.00)
  
  Quinta De La Rosa Tawny Port
  
  ($7.00)
  
  Remy Martin VSOP
  
  ($16.00)
  
  Hennessy VS
  
  ($13.00)
- Natural Wine
  
  2012, Salinia Wine Co. Pinot Gris, Sonoma Co (Orange Wine)
  
  ($49.00)
  
  2010, Salinia Wine Co. Sauv Blanc, Sonoma Co (1.5L)
  
  ($76.00)
  
  2012, Cruchon 'Coteax de Trumao' Pinot Noir, Chile
  
  ($56.00)
  
  2013, Louis-Antoine Luyt Cinsault, Chile
  
  ($38.00)
  
  2012, Alfredo Maestro 'Castrillo de Duero' Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero
  
  ($51.00)
Cocktails
- Originals
  
  Las Barras
  
  Tequila, Falernum, Cilantro, Jalapeno, Lime ($10.00)
  
  La Pasión
  
  Vodka, Passion Fruit, Agave Nectar, Lime, Arbol Chile ($10.00)
  
  Ciudad
  
  Myers's Platinum Rum, Jamaica, Lime ($10.00)
  
  Little Gypsy
  
  Gin, Rhubarb, Grapefruit, Sage ($10.00)
  
  Las Varras
  
  Tequila, Falernum, Jalepeno, Cilantro, Lime ($10.00)
  
  Tree Hugger
  
  House Infused Pineapple Mezcal, Citrus, Basil ($10.00)
  
  Gone Daddy
  
  Rye, Gran Classico Bitters, Black Walnut, Lemon Zest ($10.00)
  
  Old Oaxacan
  
  Mezcal, Grapefruit Bitters, Rosemary, Orange Oil ($10.00)
  
  Trifecta
  
  Bourbon, Elderberry, Chartreuse, Mint ($10.00)
  
  Ginger Paloma
  
  Chinaco Silver Tequila, Grapefruit, Ginger ($10.00)
  
  Sangria
  
  Ruby Port, Torres Brandy, Citrus, Moscato ($10.00)
  
  Fonda
  
  Chinaco Silver, Cointreau, Lime, Hibiscus ($10.00)
- Classics
  
  Old Cuban
  
  Aged Rum, Sparkling Wine, Lime, Mint, Bitters, Sugar ($10.00)
  
  Old Fashioned
  
  Bourbon, Bitters, Sugar ($10.00)
  
  Manhattan
  
  Bourbon, Carpano Antica, Bitters ($10.00)
  
  Sazerac
  
  Rye Whiskey, Absinthe, Bitters, Sugar ($10.00)
  
  Boulevardier
  
  Rye Whiskey, Carpano Antica, Campari ($10.00)
  
  Daiquiri
  
  Light Rum, Lime, Sugar ($10.00)
  
  Aviation
  
  Gin, Maraschino, Lemon, Crème de violette ($10.00)
  
  Last Word
  
  Gin Maraschino, Chartreuse, Lime ($10.00)
  
  Negroni
  
  Gin, Carpano Antica, Campari ($10.00)
  
  Corpse Reviver 2
  
  Gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, Absinthe, Lemon ($10.00)

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