'halfway' between Berkeley and Sacramento??
I have a friend who's visiting CA on a business trip and is 'stuck' in Sacramento. I live in Berkeley. We're trying to see if we can arrange to meet up for dinner somewhere roughly in between, on Sunday. I'm not at all familiar with ANY place to eat North of Albany, really! If my friend drives most of the way down here, I'd at least like to shorten his driving time a little. Can anyone recommend a decent place to eat, near either side of the Carquinez bridge, say? Or just as far from Berkeley going North as you can go and still get decent food :)
I'm hoping for somewhere definitely NOT a chain restaurant, and preferably not in a mall (stop laughing!). A more-elegant-than-storefront setting would be nice. Cuisines : "Cal-med", Italian, good seafood, Thai maybe... would be good choices for us. Steakhouses or Mexican - no not our thing.
I know it's a bit of a tall order, but, any advice?
Thanks so much!
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Pear Street Bistro in Pinole is north of Albany, but not halfway in between.. If you ever get the chance, check it out.
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michele_corum
Apr 4, 2007 12:13 PM
Please keep in mind that this Sunday, April 8, is Easter Sunday. This may impact your choice(s).
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re: michele_corum
Robert Lauriston
Apr 4, 2007 12:21 PM
Good point, better call to confirm anyplace you want to go is open.
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Robert Lauriston
Apr 4, 2007 09:27 AM
Re the Delta, I know someone who lives in Rio Vista (Solano County) and visits Berkeley regularly, and she doesn't have much good to say about the food in RV.
The moderators moved the Locke / Walnut Grove (Sacramento County) posts off to the California board:
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Carrie 218
Apr 3, 2007 07:22 PM
I'm surprised no one here has mentioned Suisun or Fairfield. While Vacaville is technically the half-way point, a few miles west (maybe 5 or 10?) produces a handful of really decent eating establishments that I think are far superior to what is found in Vacaville.
Immediately to mind is Coyote Sam's BBQ (amazing), Yo Sushi, Bab's Delta Diner, Mankas Corner, Omodaka Japanese, etc...
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re: Carrie 218
Melanie Wong
Apr 3, 2007 07:32 PM
Carrie, we haven't had a report on Bab's Delta Diner for a while, please tell us about it.
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re: Melanie Wong
Carrie 218
Apr 3, 2007 08:01 PM
Well, the whole thing about Bab's is that they close at 2:00 and are a huge breakfast/lunch spot. I've actually only eaten their breakfast and adore their scrambles.
My sister also recommends the Greek restaurant that is in the same area and advised that the only local high-end restaurant (695 Main) is being taken over by the guys who own Vacaville's Old Post Office, so she's encouraged and excited that something really good will go into that space.
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Melanie Wong
Apr 3, 2007 01:12 PM
depending on where he is in Greater Sacramento, Napa's not really half-way, but close enough, about 55 miles from Sacto and 40 miles from berkeley. It's closer than driving to Vallejo or Benicia from Sacto. That's where I meet my friend who lives in Davis. You have many, many options in Downtown Napa and he'll get a chance to see one of our prime tourist destinations.
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re: Melanie Wong
Robert Lauriston
Apr 3, 2007 01:20 PM
Great suggestion. You can eat about as well in Napa as in Berkeley or SF.
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Robert Lauriston
Apr 3, 2007 12:56 PM
Vacaville's the halfway point.
There are some old reports on the California board, even though Vacaville's in Solano County and thus belongs on this board.
While you're there you might check out Pure Grain German Bakery. http://www.puregrainbakery.com
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re: Robert Lauriston
rworange
Apr 3, 2007 01:06 PM
Yeah, but Murillo's is Mexican which the OP wasn't interested in. Haven't eaten there ... just finally stepped inside ... ok-ish, but didn't feel compelled to eat there. However an actual review beats my non-eating impression .. still ... Mexican.
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re: rworange
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re: dinnerout
Robert Lauriston
Apr 5, 2007 08:38 AM
There are branches of Mary's Pizza Shack in Dixon, Fairfield, and Vacaville, but they're in malls and not more elegant than a storefront.
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re: Robert Lauriston
Understood - I've been to the one in Sonoma many times as it is a favorite of my very picky goddaughter. My post wasn't really intended as an endorsement, merely tossing out a name as I am clueless on where else one could go between Berkeley & Sacto. I'm happy so many others had good suggestions.
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re: ML8000
rworange
Apr 3, 2007 12:52 PM
Eh ... I'd say that for fish itself, Nantucket has the edge. It is a divy sort of place and decent, sort of, if not amazing. Do NOT order the cioppino. Different view closer to the water.
Benicia .... yeah ... do a search ... or post a fresh query. It is nice enough though I haven't found greatness there food-wise yet ... goodness, but not greatness.The fact that I would have to check my notes to see what I ate there might say something.
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Glencora
Apr 3, 2007 12:43 PM
Have you tried looking for places in Benicia? I'm not all that famliar with the town, but at least it's not a mall and you're less likely to find chains. If your friend coming down from Sac. cuts over to the Benicia road--I think it's around Fairfield--the drive is faster and prettier than staying on 5.
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rworange
Apr 3, 2007 12:39 PM
Though this is a long-ago report, The Old Post Office in Vacaville might fit the bill.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/23335I do keep hearing good things about them.
Yeah, yeah, yeah ... it is a sort of local chain and not amazing, but you might consider Dead Fish in Rodeo with a GREAT view and at the foot of the bridge. Skip the dead fish, stick to the mussels and I hear the prime rib is decent.
If you want, I'll dredge up a restaurant in Vallejo that is on the water that serves 'continental cuisine'. I wasn't amazed on my one visit, but they just opened at the time ... though I would doubt it got any better.
Sort of more in the Berkeley area ... so it is a push for your friend ... but Pear Street Bistro in Pinole is as good as most Berkeley restaurants and better than many.
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