385072 Mon Mar 26 10:21:36 -0700 2007 38 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 2421678 I'm looking for a place to hold my graduation party. There will be 12-15 people and I don't want anything too fancy or loud. Just good, casual food (preferably homestyle or Italian, nothing too ethnic as my family loves good food, but are not necessarily all that adventurous) in an environment suitable for visiting since I will not have seen many of these people in awhile. The graduation ceremony is in early May and lasts from 9:45am-noon, so we'll most likely want a place with lunch possibly with outdoor seating (in case the weather is nice). Thanks for all your help. Mon Mar 26 10:21:36 -0700 2007 25012 chemchef 1 2421980 900 Grayson, Adagia, Cesar and Eccolo all come to mind. 15 People would be tight for the big table at Grayson (it seats 12), but the outdoor patio would work well if weather is nice. Adagia is conveniently located near campus, and has tons of space indoors and outdoors, but make a res soon because they will fill up for graduation. Cesar's big table will fit 15, and the place wont be too hectic or loud in the afternoon. Cesar is good if your family likes to drink. Eccolo is the spendiest of the set, but they have some nice, semi-private space and several large tables. Good food at all four. www.900grayson.com www.adagiarestaurant.com www.barcesar.com www.eccolo.com Mon Mar 26 11:32:33 -0700 2007 2421678 10793 Morton the Mousse 2 2422282 Thanks Morton. I forgot to mention that people will be driving, so parking is a huge plus. Of your list, I think that my first choice would probably be Eccolo except for price. Second choice Adagia except for parking. I think that 900Grayson and Cesar are lovely, but a little too adventurous for this crowd. I also had Rick and Ann's in mind. Its probably more the right "speed" for this group. Any other ideas? Mon Mar 26 12:44:58 -0700 2007 2421980 25012 chemchef 3 2422712 II wouldn't call 900 Grayson "adventerous." I've taken some pretty picky eaters there, and they have plenty to enjoy - hamburger & fries, fresh fish of the day, turkey pot pie, etc. Cesar might be a bit much, though. If your graduation ceremony is on the UC campus, your group could just walk to Adagida. It's just off Bancroft and Collefe. Mon Mar 26 14:21:26 -0700 2007 2422282 10793 Morton the Mousse 1 2422393 Well, I realize the food wouldn't be the highlight here, but people from out of town usually love Skates (at the foot of University). There's lots of parking, it's pretty easy to drive to, they're used to large parties, and they have a full bar. It would be easy to socialize. You can do ok with the food if you order more simple meat or fish dishes. The marina area is interesting, too. Try for a big table in the dining area, since IIRC, the "banquet" room doesn't have a view. Mon Mar 26 13:08:35 -0700 2007 2421678 42457 meemster 2 2422741 Topic on Skates: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/39317 Mon Mar 26 14:30:37 -0700 2007 2422393 11369 Robert Lauriston 3 2426756 My graduation dinner when I got my B.A. was at Skate's. We really enjoyed it. As I mention in the link Robert provided, the prime rib is excellent. My parents are similarly unadventurous, and they loved it. So do the boyfriend's parents. Tue Mar 27 16:00:10 -0700 2007 2422741 10992 katya 2 2422778 Skates could be okay for you if you order carefully and get simply prepared things-- nothing that might be cheesy or oily, because they really go heavy on the fats. Out of towners would like the view and the food would be familiar and safe. The toddlers could go outside and run around if they get antsy. (I speak from experience.) And parking, as meemster said, is a plus. However, if you can walk, Adagia is obviously better. Mon Mar 26 14:40:34 -0700 2007 2422393 11231 Glencora 1 2422843 Well, I've never been to Skates, and according to what I've heard and read, I never want to go. My graduation is at Mills College in Oakland, not UCB, so walking's not an option. There won't be any children, so that's not a problem. Looks like I'm back to Rick and Ann's. I haven't ruled out 900 Grayson, but I don't want people to be stuck with hamburger's etc, if they don't want to be adventurous. Considering we live in the food mecca of California (in my opinion), this shouldn't have to be an either/or type of decision. Also, by "non-adventurous" I do not me that they don't appreciate good food. I have a culinary degree and have worked in the industry (in my past life) for many years, so my family has had their fair share of exposure to good food. Also, my step-father is Italian and an excellent cook, so that's a factor as well. What do all you CH's think of Bucci's? I've never been, but it just dawned on me that it might be a viable option as well (if the food is decent). Mon Mar 26 14:56:49 -0700 2007 2421678 25012 chemchef 2 2422864 Bucci's back room is great for large parties, the food's better than decent, and they have a patio if the weather's nice. Mon Mar 26 15:03:11 -0700 2007 2422843 11369 Robert Lauriston 3 2422874 Great... thanks, Robert. If anybody'd slam them, I thought it'd be you. Its good to know that they're ok. Mon Mar 26 15:05:45 -0700 2007 2422864 25012 chemchef 4 2422897 The dessert was the highlight of my ok meal at Bucci's last winter. Mon Mar 26 15:09:06 -0700 2007 2422874 14606 sailorbuoys 3 2424223 Bucci's was going to be my suggestion as well. I have hosted a few nice birthday parties there (it was my daughter's favorite for a while...). Easy Parking, full bar, reasonable prices. Mon Mar 26 23:22:03 -0700 2007 2422864 10158 susancinsf 2 2422888 Graysons, while very good, is kind of the opposite of adventurous to me. It's just American classics, dressed up a little in a Bay Area kind of way. I think it would be good food for your party, however the atmosphere isn't all that celebratory, it's very casual in there. If seafood is good for your guests, Sea Salt would be fun, and they have outside seating. Closer to your graduation, what about Luka's? Mon Mar 26 15:07:09 -0700 2007 2422843 13525 JasmineG 3 2422930 Sorry, my fault. I guess that adventurous was the wrong word. I'm certain that some people in my family (maybe the older crowd) would not "go for" things that are "dressed up in a Bay Area kind of way." Sometimes things like that are perceived as odd by people who are not hip to the food scene or just aren't very adventurous. I was mainly looking for a place that did "regular" dishes w/o the fusion or Bay Area spin on them, but that did them well and with good quality fresh, if not local, ingredients. Now that I looked at Grayson's menu again, it doesn't look as "bad" as my initial glance, but I'm going to check out some of the other Berkeley institutions' menus as well. Thanks everyone for all the feedback, this is helping a lot! Mon Mar 26 15:16:12 -0700 2007 2422888 25012 chemchef 2 2422889 I haven't been to Bucci's in years, but I used to like it and my MIL's very Italian boyfriend loves it. I must've been thinking of some other thread with toddlers... Hmmm. Sorry. No reason to go to Skates if you don't have to. Mon Mar 26 15:07:37 -0700 2007 2422843 11231 Glencora 1 2422901 900 grayson recently lost thir chef, so the food could very well be a lot different now. Perhaps this is off the beatn track, but I had a lovely meal at Lalime's last night, in North Berkeley. And that restaurant group also has Sea Salt and T Rex, both larger in capacity. Mon Mar 26 15:10:58 -0700 2007 2421678 14606 sailorbuoys 2 2422965 Lalime's doesn't serve lunch. Mon Mar 26 15:25:41 -0700 2007 2422901 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 2423019 Sea Salt is an excellent idea. Lots of parking, space for a big group, the only possible problem is if a person in their party doesn't like seafood, there's not a whole lot else to eat there. If anything, the food at Grayson has improved since they lost their "chef." I put "chef" in quotation marks, because I never actually saw her working in the kitchen. Mon Mar 26 15:41:11 -0700 2007 2422901 10793 Morton the Mousse 1 2423034 DIdn't realize you were in Oakland. If it's a weekday, Dopo serves a mean lunch, very simple but good salads, panini, and pizza. Impeccable ingredient sourcing. You can make a res for a group that large (though you'll take up half the restaurant). No outdoor seating for large parties. Mon Mar 26 15:46:27 -0700 2007 2421678 10793 Morton the Mousse 2 2423054 Will be in Oakland, but my husband and I live in Berkeley, so either works. However, I don't know my way around Oakland very well. Does Dopo have a website? I get the impression that its a somewhat small place. Is it suitable for having a leisurely lunch and visit? Mon Mar 26 15:51:18 -0700 2007 2423034 25012 chemchef 3 2423088 Dopo is great (it's on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland), but it is pretty small -- you could call them to check to see how they would accomodate a larger party. From what you said about your guests' preferences, though, you might want to check on the menu first -- it may be a little too California for them, depending on the day. Housemade pastas and lots of pizzas, but no entrees. Lasagna is just about always on the menu, though, so that could be good for the unadventourous ones. Mon Mar 26 16:03:28 -0700 2007 2423054 13525 JasmineG 4 2423167 Dopo is great, and I imagine they could push tables together for your large party. You'll be limited to street parking, which can be tough in the area (though no problem at lunch if you're okay w/ walking a couple of blocks into residential areas from Piedmont Avenue. If Cesar is attractive at all, you could do the Piedmont Ave. location. There's a big metered lot right behind it. Parking is okay at lunch (but crazy after work). Larger than the Berkeley location, which is good, If you'd like something a bit more upscale feeling, but still at a decent price, you might also consider Bay Wolf on Piedmont. Similar parking situation to Dopo. Food should please the older generation. If the weather is nice, they have tables on the porch that I like. Lunch M-F. Lunch menu is here: http://www.baywolf.com/home.html Mon Mar 26 16:25:32 -0700 2007 2423088 17723 lexdevil 5 2423226 What about Pescatore in Jack London Square?http://www.ilpescatoreristorante.com/menu2.html Not the most exciting but good food and Italian. Parking is easy and it can be beautiful down by the water. Of course, you could also go to Scotts next door. Another more casual option is Crogans in Montclair. They have pretty good sandwiches, salads, burgers, and pasta. They have a room on the side that you could reserve. http://www.crogansmontclair.com/menumain.html I'm going for decent food,convenient parking, and closer to Mills. Congrats! Mon Mar 26 16:44:43 -0700 2007 2423167 13962 Cheesy Oysters 5 2424225 The OP had eliminated Eccolo as too pricy, Bay Wolf is in that same price range. (and I am not a fan of the food anyway). Similar parking situation to Dopo means that parking isn't that easy. Mon Mar 26 23:24:26 -0700 2007 2423167 10158 susancinsf 4 2423233 Lunch is a bit more approachable than dinner. The menu is mostly salads, sandwiches and pizza. Mon Mar 26 16:47:04 -0700 2007 2423088 10793 Morton the Mousse 3 2423229 No website. It's small, but no longer tiny after the remodel. Lunch can be slow there, so call them and find out what they can do for you. 510-652-3676 Mon Mar 26 16:46:21 -0700 2007 2423054 10793 Morton the Mousse 4 2423745 A place you might consider is Cafe Zeste. It is tucked away off a pretty park. They put tables outside in good weather, but even if it isn't nice out, there are big windows that overlook the park. http://www.zestecatering.com/cafezeste.html http://www.chowhound.com/topics/369612 You could arrange to have some of those amazing loaves of Phoenix Pastifico olive bread hot from the oven. They don't have a liquor license so that might be a deal breaker. Along the Sea Salt lines, maybe T-Rex? Ok, a little California, but enough basics and lots of parking. I haven't been, but the good reports on the board for Caffe Venezia seem to stick in my mind, but for some reason there seems there is negative stuff, IIRC ... anyone? Parking is available though. http://cafevenezia.com/ Does anyone thing either LoCocco's would be a good idea? Not strictly Berkeley, but Kennsington Bistro might be a thought. Mon Mar 26 19:26:05 -0700 2007 2423229 10264 rworange 3 2424221 Dopo used to be small. They took over the storefront next door and are fairly normal-sized now. Mon Mar 26 23:21:17 -0700 2007 2423054 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 2423872 The graduation is on a Saturday... does Dopo also do lunch on the weekends? Mon Mar 26 20:18:51 -0700 2007 2423034 25012 chemchef 3 2424099 No. M-F only. Mon Mar 26 22:02:59 -0700 2007 2423872 10793 Morton the Mousse 1 2426031 Well let me add another spot off the beaten path. I'm going for proximity to Mills and ease for the guests. Quinn's Lighthouse off the Embarcadero from 880. Seems like it would be a nice spot for lunch. With all the places, you'll need to call ahead and see how they accomodate the group. Here is the website: http://www.quinnslighthouse.com/aboutus.html Tue Mar 27 12:45:24 -0700 2007 2421678 13962 Cheesy Oysters 2 2426096 Speaking of that neighborhood, how about C'Era Una Volta in Alameda? http://www.ceraunavolta.us Tue Mar 27 12:56:11 -0700 2007 2426031 11369 Robert Lauriston 3 2426136 Can you tell me anything about that place? I've never heard of it, but from the website it looks great. Tue Mar 27 13:05:47 -0700 2007 2426096 25012 chemchef 4 2426308 Food's great for the price though a notch down from Dopo, Pizzaiolo, or Oliveto. Very welcoming and friendly place. Tue Mar 27 13:52:03 -0700 2007 2426136 11369 Robert Lauriston 5 2426368 Thanks! I would've picked either Pizzaiolo or Dopo if they had lunch on Saturdays. Oliveto would be good to, but the lunch menu seems a little limited. Tue Mar 27 14:09:47 -0700 2007 2426308 25012 chemchef 1 2444603 After an excellent lunch last Sunday, I'll add Wood Tavern in Oakland (College Ave) to your list. Delicious, casual, Italian food. Soup, salad, panini, charcut, cheese and some heartier dishes. Simple concepts, stellar execution. Very reasonable prices, most of the lunch menu is $10 and under, and portions are fair. Full bar. I would elevate it above my previous recs of Adagia, Eccolo and Cesar and put it neck and neck with 900 Grayson. Check it out. Parking is difficult. No outdoor seating. (I will do a full write up after a few more visits.) Mon Apr 02 18:42:29 -0700 2007 2421678 10793 Morton the Mousse 2 2444894 What about Jupiter (pizza, salads, etc) on Shattuck or Venus? Mon Apr 02 20:48:06 -0700 2007 2444603 88119 schemsy 3 2447903 Jupiter's food is OK, particularly by brewpub standards, but not great. I would NOT go to Venus with a large party. Tue Apr 03 17:31:14 -0700 2007 2444894 11369 Robert Lauriston