LA hound visiting Berkeley--quiet, moderate-priced, birthday restaurant for this Saturday?

[ThatPat]

I'm visiting Berkeley all this month (from Santa Monica) and am trying to find a somewhat festive place for my birthday this Saturday for 6 people. Two of the guests are very elderly (and one is deaf), so quiet (not necessarily sedate) is better. I'm treating, so price will need to be moderate. Somewhere on Solano might work because the old couple live fairly nearby. Having looked at various reviews, I was wondering about Vanessa's Bistro? (I tend to enjoy small plates places in LA like Orris, Musha, AOC). Is Rivoli awfully pricey? I've been to China Village several times recently, otherwise that would be a great choice pricewise and location.

Thanks SFO board--this is my first post up here (and my first chowhound post in quite a while actually).

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Vanessa's Bistro
1715 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707

Rivoli Restaurant
1539 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707

[ThatPat]

Wanted to thank everybody for their kind replies as I am leaving Berkeley after my rainy but wonderful month here tomorrow. Our group ended up at Lalime's which was really the perfect choice I thought--cozy and warm (in decor and service) and very pleasant if not spectacular food (several of us had a seafood stew that was a special that night). The prices were at least $10 less than the entree prices posted on their website, which was quite a nice surprise--ended up costing about $100 less than I had imagined. I would certainly go back there. Bye-bye Berkeley--may come back to live here later in the year after 30 years in LA!

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Lalime's
1329 Gilman, Berkeley, CA 94706

[nicedragonboy]

Solano Grill & Bar might work too.

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Solano Grill
1133 Solano Ave, Albany, CA 94706

[Prabhakar Ragde]

Rivoli is a great "take the parents" place; the menu isn't scary but isn't dull, and the room is not loud. But it's more expensive than China Village.

Seating six at Vanessa's Bistro could get tricky, as the space is awkward. And the food is better at Rivoli.

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Vanessa's Bistro
1715 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707

Rivoli Restaurant
1539 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707

[Robert Lauriston]

Nizza la Bella, Ajanta, and Britt-Marie's are good, moderately priced, and relatively festive.

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Ajanta Restaurant
1888 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707

Britt-Marie's
1369 Solano Ave, Albany, CA 94706

Nizza La Bella
827 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706

[BigWoodenSpoon]

+1 on Ajanta. Great food, really nice people and it usually doesn't get too loud.
Ahhh, tandoori scallops, duck curry, Navarro wine, now that's what I call a birthday dinner ; )

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Ajanta Restaurant
1888 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707

[ML8000]

Rivoli entrees average in the $20/per range. If you use the rough estimate of doubling entrees + tax/tip, you can get the ballpark for price per person...about $50/per.

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Rivoli Restaurant
1539 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707