Prompted by “the Bauer”‘s praise for Wood Tavern, reader Ira Serkes has his suggestions for restaurants that help give their neighborhoods “soul” and make for happy locals. Here’s his list — some of which stray slightly out of Berkeley proper, but who’s on border patrol?:
- Cugini and Rivoli on Solano in Thousand Oaks/Albany
- Inn Kensington on The Arlington in Kensington
- Kensington Circus Pub on Colusa in Kensington
- Mama Lan’s and Lalime’s on Gilman in Westbrae
- Breads of India on Sacramento in Central Berkeley
- Gioia Pizzeria (pictured above) on Hopkins in Northbrae – the best Pizza west of Lexington Avenue
Send us your favorite local haunts and we’ll compile a list. (To add to our forthcoming, possibly rather short, round-up of Berkeley restaurants that deliver.)
