A Gourmand’s Delight

For my last column of the semester, I decided to give my own take on the best of Berkeley. Disclaimer: I have not been paid off by any food tycoons. Really. You can check out my parking space. That’s right. I don’t have one.

Best Coffee: Cole Coffee (Honorable Mention: Peet’s at the Gourmet Ghetto)

Coffee connoisseurs are as feisty as intoxicated wine-tasters, so I’m stepping on dangerous ground. But while I’m no coffee expert, Cole Coffee makes some pretty amazing brew. The baristas never overrun their espressos, resulting in a strong shot without bitterness. They also have drip coffees! Keep in mind that the location’s smaller than a Honda Civic trunk, so go there for coffee, not study time.

Best Coffee Shop: Espresso Roma

(Honorable Mention: Brewed Awakening)

When it comes time to acquaint yourself with Foucault or O-chem backside attacks, consider curling up with your textbook in a cafe while everyone else takes cover at the Main Stacks in Blitz-like fashion. Espresso Roma is a well-established coffee spot. Yes, it’s owned by a corporation, but it’s the Hillary Clinton of cafes. Want drip coffee, espresso, red wine, a hot sandwich, pastries, salads or biscotti? Need plenty of tables and wall sockets because you’re a laptop-wielding poli-sci major? They’ve got all the bases covered, even if the quality isn’t the best. What about the family-owned Brewed Awakening? Think Obama.

Best Produce: Tie between Berkeley Bowl and Yasai Market (Honorable Mention: Berkeley Farmers Market)

Berkeley Bowl and Yasai Market are awesome for completely different reasons. Berkeley Bowl is the ultimate mecca for produce retailing, hands down. Visit this store at least once before you graduate. Yasai Market is a charming, Japanese-owned grocer with a broad array of produce at reasonable prices, including hard-to-find Asian goods. Most customers are locals, as students would rather trot across the street to Safeway. Sigh.

Best meal when you have $4: Little Mandarin (Honorable Mention: Cheese ’n’ Stuff)

Why go to Mickey D’s when you can purchase the following: A two-item combo with fried rice or noodles for $3.50. Moreover, a hardworking Chinese family is preparing your food. They don’t skimp on portions, and the servers are super polite. I’m vouching for every item on the menu except the walnut shrimp. Don’t do it.

Best Chinese food within one block of campus: Chang Luong Restaurant

(Honorable Mention: Lotus House)

When I found out that Mandarin House received the Best of Berkeley honors last year, I almost transferred to UC Irvine. Is the state of Chinese food here that terminal? Unfortunately, yes. I’d recommend heading to either San Francisco or Oakland Chinatown for culturally on-the-spot food. But around here, there is Chang Luong, the fine establishment that requires you to step up a rickety staircase with graffiti on the walls. They’ll whip up some decent dim sum as well as tasty dishes. Order three dishes and they’ll drop a discount.

Best sandwich: Sufficient Grounds (Honorable Mention: Cheese ’n’ Stuff, when you spend more than $4)

Forget Subway and Quiznos. I’ll take Sufficient Grounds’ fresh sandwiches over the chain-store fare any day. Yes, baking bread on-site is standard operation these days, but their bread actually smells and tastes heavenly. Just walk by that alleyway and take in a whiff of the aroma. They also have decent coffee and a study area with free wi-fi. Awesome.

Best roach coach: Brazil Cafe

(Honorable mention: Desi Dog)

So Brazil Cafe isn’t really a roach coach given their new, second location in a real building. However, their tri-tip with the mystery white cilantro sauce has some sort of addictive substance that’s more effective than hashish. If they ever lose the parking lot location, though, they’re coming right off this venerable A-list. The shack’s where it’s at. Everyone knows that.

And with that, I hope you have a superb winter break! Be sure to leave Santa some carrot sticks and Red Bull.

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