Ten Best Places to Brunch in Berkeley

Explore San Francisco

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)

Disclaimer: Always check with the business for pricing and availability of menu items. SinglePlatform is not responsible for menu or pricing changes, but the information is believed to be accurate when posted. Listing of a menu does not mean that there is any affiliation, endorsement or sponsorship between SinglePlatform and the listed business.