quiet restaurants in Berkeley or Piedmont for lunch and dinner

[phoenikia]

What restaurants would you suggest?

Interested in "ethnic" (for lack of a better term), contemporary and/or fresh market cuisine, and looking for restaurants where 30-70somethings wouldn't feel out of place.

Have enjoyed O Chame on 4th St, but am not familiar with other quiet options.

Thanks for any recommendations.

[phoenikia]

Had a nice, quiet lunch on Adagia's patio in Berkeley yesterday.

Liked the rockfish banh mi (nothing like at traditional banh mi), and the sweet potato fries. Had low expectations due to the various posts over the last few years, but I thought the lunch was pretty good.

[phoenikia]

Thanks for all your comments. This really helps us out.

We'll be having several dinners and lunches, sometimes with more people (10-15), sometimes with less (3-5).

Out of the restaurants mentioned that are located on College Ave or Piedmont Ave, which would you think is best for a group of 8-10? There will be 2 conservative eaters among us, so fresh market, Italian, Mediterranean or contemporary might work best for this dinner. So far, I've got Adesso, Zatis, Dopo and Marica on the shortlist. Bay Wolf is probably a little pricey for this group, but might also consider that.

[JasmineG]

I'm not sure if any of those places will work for a group of 8-10, maybe Zatis. Adesso isn't big enough (they could maybe push tables together, but it would take waiting and planning), Dopo might work but it's pretty small (and not all that quiet), and Marica is also pretty small, though they may have enough seating, I'm not sure.

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Dopo
4293 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

Zatis
4029 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

Adesso
4395 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA

[Glencora]

Zatis is a great idea. They have a quiet backroom. I've been to family dinners there. Worked really well.

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Zatis
4029 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

[Ruth Lafler]

One restaurant on Piedmont Ave. that hasn't been mentioned is Xyclo. Although it feels sort of upscale/Westernized, I've found the food there to be fresh and delicious, and my 70-something parents like it.

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Xyclo Restaurant
4218 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

[abstractpoet]

I wouldn't do Adesso or Dopo with that big a group, especially since they don't take reservations. I do like Marica a lot, and they take reservations--I bet they'd be willing to push together a couple of tables to accommodate you. That would be my first choice on your short list. They have great happy hour specials (available all night) and prix-fixe deals, and 10% off if you pay cash. I would just call up the restaurant and see what they say.

I haven't been to Zatis.

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Dopo
4293 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

Zatis
4029 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

Adesso
4395 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA

[JasmineG]

Dopo does take reservations for big groups, and I've seen groups of 6-8 there. It wouldn't be my ideal spot, though, especially since it's still a pretty little restaurant.

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Dopo
4293 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

[lexdevil]

I can can confirm that Dopo takes reservations for groups of 6 or more. At prime time it can be a bit loud. If you're considering it for a late weeknight (like the 9:00 PM mentioned elsewhere), it would be an excellent choice.

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Dopo
4293 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

[phoenikia]

Dopo was loud for our group, but the food was great, and the service was attentive. I had made a reservation in the afternoon.

So there kitchen wasn't overwhelmed, we did a family style order, with antipasti and veggie platters, and various pizzas and pastas as they were ready. I thought the prices were incredibly reasonable, esp. considering how tasty the food was. Really liked the chittara w sand dabs, antipasti platter, pizzas.

Thanks to everyone who recommended it.

[lexdevil]

What time did you go? Just interested to know if it was late evening, or if this was the usual dinner hour noise level. During the usual dinner hour I find it on the very edge of my father's noise tolerance. We go anyway because the food is so good. Glad you're group enjoyed the food.

[phoenikia]

We got there at 9 pm, and left around 10:45 pm. It was energetic when we got there, and quieted down a little by 9:30, but it was still on the loud side.

[Robert Lauriston]

The front room at Ohgane (Korean) is usually quiet. If they try to seat you in the back, insist on the front.

Uzen (sushi), Ajanta (Indian).

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Ohgane
3915 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611

Uzen Japanese Cuisine
5415 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

Ajanta
1237 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027

[kc72]

Front room on weekdays is the lunch buffet crowd, so can be a little loud w/ people moving around.

[sydthekyd]

Lunch Buffet at Indus?

[wolfe]

"The front room at Ohgane" see RL one upthread.

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Ohgane
3915 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611

[lexdevil]

No "ethnic" worth going out of your way for on Piedmont, unless you consider Italian to be "ethnic." For Cal Med, however, Bay Wolf is a good bet for this type of group.

In Berkeley, Riva Cucina is great for Italian. Weeknights tend to be quiet.

Outside of your area, but convenient to both, A Cote in Rockridge works if you ask for the back room. The front is, however, really loud.

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A Cote
5478 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

Riva Cucina
800 Heinz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94710

Bay Wolf Restaurant
3853 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611

[phoenikia]

Thanks lexdevil.

All 3 of the restaurants you recommended look like good options for us.

[skwid]

Piedmont the City has no restaurants. Piedmont the avenue (which is not at all in the city of Piedmont) has plenty of restaurant. As to no ethnic, is Dopo not a good restaurant?

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Dopo
4293 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

[phoenikia]

Thanks for the correction ;-) I should have written Piedmont Avenue, not Piedmont.

Thanks for mentioning Dopo. What do you like best on their menu?

I like "ethnic" food- usually not so interested in American/Continental, unless its preparation or quality ingredients give it a wow factor ;-)

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Dopo
4293 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

[skwid]

I like pretty much the entire menu at Dopo. Haven't found anything I don't like. The pastas and Salumi (all house made) are fantastic. If there are two of you get the Pate and Salumi plate for two (or three if there are more than two). The Agnilotti with lamb is good and if they have a pork dish on the menu by all means don't hesitate to get it.

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Dopo
4293 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

[phoenikia]

thanks! it's on the top of my list.

[abstractpoet]

I like Dopo the best, by far, of all the places mentioned so far. The menu changes quite often (daily, I believe), but you can't really go wrong with any of the pizzas and pastas. If you're with a group, it's also great to get a platter of all the vegetable sides to share. The menu is definitely Italian-Italian (with a California local ingredients approach), not Americanized red sauce Italian. Keep in mind, however, that it's a small restaurant and they don't take reservations, Depending on the size of your group and the time/day of the week, that may or may not work for you.

Is there any particular reason you're excluding the rest of Oakland from your search? Most of the best restaurants are NOT on Piedmont Ave. A couple others that you might consider are Marica (in Rockridge), especially if you like seafood, or one of the many excellent Korean restaurants on Telegraph Ave. in Oakland--my favorite all-purpose spot is Sura. It's always been fairly quiet when I've eaten there.

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Sura
4869 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Marica Seafood Restaurant
5301 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

[phoenikia]

Thanks for your comments abstractpoet.

I asked about Piedmont Avenue because I'll be in that part of the city several times during my stay, and I won't have time to travel any significant distance for food.

Yest, I realize that many of the better restaurants in Oakland are not located on Piedmont Ave. I had a nice meal at Garibaldi's on College Ave a couple years ago.

Thanks for also mentioning Marica and Sura. Have also added them to the list.

[abstractpoet]

If you're going to be on Piedmont Ave. a lot, make sure that at some point you check out Lush Gelato--hands down (in my opinion) the best gelatos and sorbettos in the Bay Area.

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Lush Gelato
4184 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA

Lush Gelato
1511 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709

[phoenikia]

thanks for the rec for Lush.

[JasmineG]

I love Dopo, but it is not quiet. It's not super loud for lunch, but if I was looking for quiet at dinner, I wouldn't go to Dopo (except for maybe sitting at one of the outside tables, but what with the weather that we've been having, that wouldn't be so comfortable).

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Dopo
4293 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

[lexdevil]

Agreed, which is why I didn't list it (though I love it). It is at the outside edge of my 70+ year old father's tolerance (in terms of noise). Do-able, but a challenge.

Interestingly, I had great luck with my father at the usually super loud Adesso. We went quite early, but I think that the real key is that the high 6-tops are very narrow. Folks on one side are quite close to those on the other. Another key may be that we sat in one of the areas with a drop ceiling.

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Adesso
4395 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA

[phoenikia]

Does it quiet down at Adesso after 9 pm on a Thu, or stay pretty loud until close?

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Adesso
4395 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA

[abstractpoet]

The thing to note about Adesso is that they have a spread of free food (w/ purchase of a drink) from 5-7 and again from 10:30 until 11:30 or midnight. It's usually a bit of a madhouse during those times--certainly during the 5 to 7--but you might be OK at 9.

It's a pretty small restaurant, too, so I don't think I'd go with too big a group.

(The free buffet-style spread is an awesome deal, though, if you're going with a smaller, less noise-averse group.)

[phoenikia]

Thanks for the heads up, abstractpoet.

Sounds like a neat place.

[JasmineG]

Yeah, the last time I was at Adesso it was super busy during the free food period, and quieted down pretty quickly afterward. We were sitting by a window and definitely could easily have conversation.

By the way, the free times are now from 5-6, I think, instead of 5-7.

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Adesso
4395 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA

[lexdevil]

Free food is only 5-6 and again at 10:30 or so now. The noise is directly related to two factors, number of diners and musical selection. After 9:00 on a Thursday can definitely be quieter, but sometimes the late night music is pretty loud. You might want to try Adesso as your first choice, but have a back up plan just in case. Maybe Dopo just a few doors down, as it should be quieter than usual by 9:00 on a weeknight.

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Dopo
4293 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

Adesso
4395 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA

[bbulkow]

I half-agree....

1) Zatis is much overlooked, quiet, and directly on piedmont ave. The food might not be up to O Chame standards, but is pretty good. I think it's med-turkish, although my understanding of all the medeteranian subareas is limited. (Too bad about ol' JoJo in the now-commis spot, that would be perfect)

2) Baywolf is quiet and nice, but is neither ethnic nor cheap enough to recommend heartily.

3) Oghane is 3 short blocks off of Piedmont ave, has very easy parking, and fun for groups. Recent review pointed out how much fun a group had there, with the panchan and all. The front room is the quiet one there, but I would call the place normal.

5) A cote, the back room I would call normal-loud and the front is very-loud. If you're looking for *quiet*, I'd be on the fence about A Cote. Similar to Soi 4 across the street - lunch is pretty quiet, dinner can get bustling.

4) If you're used to O Chame, what about Cafe Rouge? It's moderately quiet, doesn't bustle at lunch, and the food's not bad at all. French isn't ethnic, but it would be an easy choice.

Now, regarding all of berkeley ---

Indus Village is quiet, ethnic, and good, but I think you want something fancier - more birthday grade. The chairs there are very uncomfortable.

Is Corso quiet enough?

What about Locanda de Eva?

China Village is very good at birthdays, because you can take an entire table in the "extra part" of the restaurant. If no one else is there, which is common, it'll be like a private party. Of course, they're not in berkeley.

Ajanta is quiet, almost subdued, ethnic, and birthday-grade. I personally am not a great fan because their spice use is muted (aka subtle), but the concept of having 3 dishes you've never, ever had before is pretty fly. You can drag me there but I won't drag others there.

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A Cote
5478 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

Cafe Rouge
1782 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

O Chame
1830 4th St, Berkeley, CA 94710

Indus Village Restaurant
1920 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702

Zatis
4029 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

[lexdevil]

I'm under no illusion that Bay Wolf is "ethnic." I do think it fit's the OP's description of "contemporary and/or fresh market cuisine." I read this as another option on the list, rather than a request for food that was both "ethnic" and "contemporary and/or fresh market cuisine."

Great call on Ajanta! I take my father there frequently. Quiet, good service, and great food.

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Ajanta Restaurant
1888 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707

Bay Wolf Restaurant
3853 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611

[bbulkow]

Good point. The patio at baywolf is very pleasant in the afternoon. Duck fat fries!

[phoenikia]

Hi lexdevil, yes, that is what I meant to write. Contemporary or fresh market or ethnic cuisine.

[abstractpoet]

The uncomfortable chairs at Indus Village have been replaced: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/718149

I can confirm that the new chairs are much more comfortable, if less attractive, and the food is consistently very good. Definitely not fancy though.

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Indus Village Restaurant
1920 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702

[phoenikia]

Not sure if Corso or Locanda de Eva would be quiet enough ;-) Have not been to either. Not from these parts.