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Cioccolata Di Vino
- Hours:
Mon 5 pm - 10 pm
Wed-Thu, Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 12 pm - 11 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
133 reviews for Cioccolata Di Vino
Review Highlights
"All in all my favorite was the molten chocolate lava cake."
(in 20 reviews)
"...we had the Torta al Cioccolato - the perfect dessert for a..."
(in 5 reviews)
"Awesome desserts-- esp their lemon tart."
(in 13 reviews)
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133 reviews in English
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Review from James K.
1/1/2012
Well i'm not much of a dessert person so i'll make this succinct.
My fiancee wanted some dessert post dinner so we dropped by here. It's a very quaint and shall I say screams "romantic first date" type of place.
We split a balsamic vinegar gelato with a cookie in the middle. Initially I was a little confused on the taste of the gelato. I mean how often do you eat something like that? It has a tarty taste at the end of your finish but after awhile, it grew on me. Dipping the cookie into it, helps cut out some of the tartness, which gives off a better finish to your palate.
Service was slow as molasses when getting the bill but we were not in a rush. I can be impatient so if you're in a rush, just be proactive for the bill and your wish will be granted. -
Review from Janet L.
Hercules, CA
Great place for a cheese/nut platter and wine....you can't really go wrong with that.
I admire the owners for investing their soul into this business, but the food was just very disappointing.
The pizza was burnt and flavorless, the beef dish with polenta was very dry.
Maybe come back for their happy hour: wine and cheese/nut platter, but I'll probably head somewhere else for dinner. -
Review from Jasmin L.
San Francisco, CA
DINNER DATE: 01.21.12 @ 7:00 PM
My man and I wanted a luscious and decadent dinner after lounging in our pj's all day. I thought a cozy wine bar aptly named "Cioccolata Di Vino"-- "chocolate wine" --according to Google Translate would be the perfect venue in this cold and rainy evening.
4 STARS FOR DECOR AND AMBIANCE: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
-- Cioccolata Di Vino is a small, warm and cozy wine bar. A live jazz band serenated the diners with soothing music on the background. Rich floor to ceiling velvet tapestry and cozy tealights on every table gave the place a touch of romance.
1 STAR FOR INCONSISTENT PRICING:
-- Tell if I am wrong but Cioccolata Di Vino's website states:
"Three & Four Course Dinner Prix Fixe Special $21/$26 6-10pm NIGHTLY"
http://www.cioccolatad...
When we got to CV, we were given a regular menu and Prix Fixe menu for $45! My man pointed out the $21/26 prix prixe on the the regular menu but our server stated that it was only for SUNDAY TO THURSDAY. She stated that the $45 Prix Fixe was to celebrate their 3rd year anniversary.
I congratulated her and did not think any of it until writing this review. We really did not care one way or the other but one thing I truly hate in this life is dishonesty. If the $21/26 menu is no longer available on weekends, please update your website.
2 STARS FOR SERVICE, PRICES AND PORTIONS:
-- When I called at 6:30 PM to ask "How busy is the place tonight?" The server gave me the impression that it was fairly busy. I asked for a 7:30 PM reservation and she stated 7:45. I felt a little weird "tug of war" going on but I took the 7:45 reservation. When we got to CV at around 7:15 pm, the place was close to empty at about just a quarter full. When we left at past 9pm, people were coming in but the place was still nowhere full.
-- My man who is usually very laid-back said, "I do not like this place already." When I asked why, he pointed out that the couple who came 5 minutes after us got their menu while we were still waiting. We also watched them get their drinks and appetizers before we did. Our server was friendly enough, though.
-- Pricey yet portions were really small.
2.5 STARS TO 3.5 STARS FOR FOOD:
*BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP $8: One of my favorites for its rich taste and fragrant spices, this bowl was watery, runny and bland.
*RICOTTA CROSTINI $6: 3 thin slices of toasted bread with ricotta. Also bland. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
*VERDURE DE POLENTA $11.5: Polenta topped with mushrooms and bell peppers http://www.yelp.com/bi...
*RISOTTO CON POLLO $14.5: Braised chicken and veggies atop risotto
The polenta and risotto were delicious although loaded with butter which makes everything tastes good. They were served in small clay dishes.
*LAVA CAKE ($7) with LAVENDER CARAMEL SAUCE ($1.50): Nice warm and gooey although small. The cake was comped (not the sauce) with the Yelp Check-In. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
3 STARS TO 4 STARS FOR THE WINE:
*MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO LA QUERCIA ABRUZZO 2009 $8: Montepulciano has always been one of my favorite wines. The ones that I had in the past from Sonoma were dry yet silky. My glass at CV had strong tannin and did not have a smooth finish.
*CHARDONNAY VINCENT GIARDIN MACONNAIS MACON 2009 $14: This was the suggested pairing for my polenta and was very nice. I detected citrus and was very refreshing. It was well-balanced and had a very smooth finish. I really enjoyed this wine.
VERDICT:
A cozy warm place for drinks and dessert in Berkeley. Nice wine selections and generous pours. With so many misses in reception, service and portions, sadly we did not have a decadent evening that its namesake promised--Cioccolata di Vino or Chocolate Wine.
RECOMMEND:
Come here for the wine and extensive list of desserts. Go somewhere else in Berkeley for dinner unless you do not mind spending $$ on small dishes.
CHECK: $85 including tip and Pellegrino waterListed in: Dos Estrellas Only, 2012 Edition Date Nights
Comment from Rebecca B. of Cioccolata Di Vino 1/25/2012
Hello Jasmin, Thank you very much for coming in and for… More » -
Review from Alice L.
Berkeley, CA
12/22/2011 2 photos
This is one of the few spots in Berkeley where you can get classy late-night dessert. My friend and I came here for girl talk. Since I'm a big fan of savory risotto, I decided to try their sweet risotto pudding. It was super refreshing and sweetened by brandied figs. It is served beautifully in a martini glass and one of the more unique desserts I've had for awhile. We also shared the ricotta tart, which tasted like Italian cheesecake with a crust. The cornmeal crust was my favorite part - I wanted more of it! The ricotta cheese is homemade according to our waitress who checked up on us several times.
The ambiance is super intimate - dim lightning and red curtains, not the place for a rambunctious drunk. Good thing the flight of dessert wines we ordered did not make us too tipsy. They have a decent selection of champagnes and stickies as well. -
Review from Lisa W.
Sacramento, CA
12/19/2011 1 photo
We just came in for late night desserts and I must say, they have thee best cookies and gelato ever!
cookies n' cream
1. caramel balsamic vinegar gelato, paired with a chocolate chip pecan cookie-- I know it sounds odd, but it was strangely good. A mix of sweet and light sour hints.
2. vanilla gelato, paired with a chocolate chip pecan cookies-- YUM! The vanilla gelato was so creamy and not overly sweet. It also had bits of vanilla bean!
3. Amaretti Classiche-- These were so soft and not overly sweet with hint of almond flavor and bits of almond for texture!
4. Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie-- These cookies were so soft with a slight crunch of the edges, my fav! They weren't overly sweet either!
5. Biscotti del Giorno-- I typically hate biscottis because they're so hard and flavorless, but these biscottis are AMAZING!!! They had huge pieces of nuts and chocolate! I didn't need to dip them in coffee!
I'm coming back for you Cioccolata Di Vino for your desserts! -
Review from Paige D.
Berkeley, CA
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
I think the 4-star review of this place is a bit misleading. The chocolate lava cake was really, really good. Sadly, it was leagues above anything else we ate there. The portions were very small and the quality very average. If you come here, come for the cioccolata and vino, and get dinner somewhere else.
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Review from Precilla M.
Albany, CA
12/21/2011
The cookies n' cream is delicious! The vanilla gelato is so good and am now addicted. The hot chocolate is also very good, not too sweet. I will be going again.
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Review from Petra S.
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
We dropped by here on a Sunday and mind you this review is strictly for the dessert.
The place does have live (jazz) music on weekend during dinner.
I love that they are open late night.
A little pricey for desserts but if you do come here, do NOT leave without having the Molten lava cake! Be sure to add the scoop of Vanilla bean ice cream and you're set!
TIP: Not big enough to split, so make the hubby get his own dessert! ;) -
Review from Juju H.
Livermore, CA
Updated - 10/12/2011
Ok, this review is the two person format because the food here is 2 good and it takes 2 to review it.
So I was thinking to my self, Oh man, I really want some of that amazing food that CDV has to offer! What I said casually to my boyfriend was, " Hey, do you want to go to CDV? We have sunday off and they have that amazing prix fixe for $22?" He agreed and we took bart down there (which was super convenient).
We arrived and shoved our way over to 2 choice seats at the bar. ( we just sat down at the bar)
The server promptly offered us menus, but we had already commandeered a few that we wrestled from other patrons waiting to order. ( thats how we roll)
Whaaaat, they now have a four course menu option?!?! (Ok, we already knew that because we saw it on the sandwich board out front)
"Yo yo yo! We want everything!" we shouted at the waitress as she approached to take our order. ( We ordered one of each from the prix fixe menu)
We would have gobbled down the soup, but it was hot, so we kept our cool and our concentration for the salad: it was like a salad double dutch battle!! We both asked for an extra fork and it was ON! We were both dipping our forks at intervals, shoving deliciousness into our mouths while the the salad danced its way about the plate in a perilous search for safety. ( I grabbed the soup and then went in for half of the salad. Then my BF had less than half of the salad and didn't realize it! I was thinking, yes! he has no idea that he already had half of this amazing salad, so it looked like I split up what was remaining, but what I actually did was to give HIS side of the plate a few more lettuce leaves and MY side of the plate, more of the cheese, almonds and dried cranberries! )
We had another glass of wine each and did not fight over the next two courses. ( He can't eat pork and we were both fully satisfied by that time)
"OH HOLD EVERYTHING!" my man shouted. "We HAVE to have 2 of those chocolate lava cakes!" ( Um, excuse me ma'am, is it too late to switch to 2 lava cakes," I enquired)
It was worth it,'cause as we were enjoying those chocolate gooey goodness cakes, a drunk wanders in and enquires, " Do you have any left over chocolate desserts for me?" (and you know what? They DO NOT. It turns out that restaurants DO NOT just have left over chocolate desserts that they can give to people! )Listed in: yummers
1 Previous Review:
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2/10/2010
Delicious!
conveniently located!
Yummy!
pretty!
MMMMMM.........me want more!
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Review from Rebecca W.
San Francisco, CA
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent food, excellent service, and great wines by the glass. The food is relatively inexpensive considering the quality and ambiance. The pasta dishes are somehow both rich and light. Yum!
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Review from Khrystal L.
Hercules, CA
12/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place was great!! Very intimate environment! Casual enough. Lava cake is toooo die for! Most definitely be back here sooooon!! Great choices of dessert wines to pair with.
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Review from HeartBeat Radio F. M.
Berkeley, CA
9/1/2011
Cioccolata Di Vino is a miniature masterpiece hidden away on an oft-overlooked stretch of Shattuck, where downtown Berkeley creeps into Gourmet Ghetto territory. What an unsung hero! I had walked past this incredibly cozy little restaurant/wine bar several times late at night while walking home from studying, and was instantly drawn to the dim lighting, intimate seating, and simple decor of this modern-yet-classic hole-in-the-wall. I knew just by peering in longingly from outdoors that this would be the perfect venue for my next guest entertainment or "fancy dinner".
Finally, my moment came, and last night I had the most pleasurable experience dining here with family members visiting from out-of-town. We arrived on the earlier side (6:30 on a weeknight), so it was quiet, but the humble interior prevented us from feeling awkward or isolated. Our server was nothing special, but sweet, non-controversial, and accommodating to our needs and requests.
Given the slightly haute atmosphere of Cioccolata, I was surprised to see that their prices are nothing short of a steal: $7-10 for appetizers (primi) and $9-17 for entrees (secondi). The menu is simple and short, and features Mediterranean flavors that err on the side of Tuscan/Northern Italian fare. Even so, there is something for everyone--even our party's wide variety of palates found satisfaction in both vegan and carnivorous dishes alike. Each dish was clearly crafted with the utmost care and intention.
What we had:
-Simple house Chianti: excellent.
-Large spinach salad with marinated mushrooms, cranberries, and slivered almonds: WOWOWOWOW!!! So delicious, and the portion was huge! They did not skimp on the fixin's either: perfectly crisp, roasted slivered almonds sat like a hefty snow pile atop a bed of fresh, flavorful spinach and plump, tart cranberries. MAJOR WIN!
-Marinated olives appetizer: succulent, rich, buttery, olive perfection.
-Pizza of the day: thin crust with prosciutto di parma and a spicy red sauce. Deeee-lish! This may not be your jam if you're a Zachary's fan, but I couldn't get over the delicacy of the crust and the simple robustness of the sauce.
-Pasta of the day: spaghetti with lemon-herb butter sauce and fennel sausage. The eater of this dish simply stated, "This pasta is perfection."
Not only that, but the head chef came out to speak with us to make sure everything was to our liking. She was very amicable and a great conversationalist. Icing on the cake!
...speaking of cake, I have heard wonders about their desserts, after-dinner drinks, and wines. While we did not indulge in these vices, I am sure I can trust that Cioccolata Di Vino delivers in this category. After all, it's in the name.
Next time you're looking for a cozy, warm, and romantic night out in Berkeley, check out Cioccolata Di Vino. Trust. -
Review from Brian K.
8/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I ate here last night and I already can't wait to come back. Their desserts are nothing short of inpiring, creative, and mind-blowing. You know when you have a dessert that is so good it doesn't matter how full you are, how many calories are in, or if you really need it? That's Cioccolata Di Vino.
My wife and I shared the risotto pudding and the gelato. The risotto pudding was an elegant variation of a classic bread pudding, served in a martini glass. The gelato (vanilla/caramel balsamic) was one of the best I have ever had (not that crap they sell in Vegas everywhere!).
When the chef has passion you can taste it in everything they do. Her variations on classic desserts were amazing. Her skills show how much artistry goes into pastries and food in general. -
Review from Felicia C.
Berkeley, CA
6/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was instantly intrigued by an establishment with "cioccolata" in the name. My husband and I decided to try this place for dinner and desserts, but found it to be a mixed experience.
Savory:
Cannellini en Cazuela
- Warm cannellini beans with rosemary and garlic: I didn't like this at all. There was no real "savory" flavor; it just tasted like bean and rosemary.
Tre Formaggi
- 3 cheeses with figs, apricots in liqueur, herbed almonds, millefiori honey & quince paste: This was my favorite dish. The cheeses were pretty good, the figs were ripe, herbed almonds were fragrant, and the honey/quince paste was sooo yummy.
Polenta Bolognese
- Creamy polenta layered with basil, tomatoes, provolone, marinara and sausage: This was just okay - yummy, but nothing special.
Sweet:
- Torta sampler: chocolate potenta, chocolate/almond tart, honey ricotta tart with orange zest, and lemon tart: The pieces were so tiny! They were all good, though not outstanding. Surprisingly, I liked the honey ricotta and lemon tarts more than the chocolate ones.
Portions are small and prices are high. Food is between good and average. This isn't a great place for dinner - maybe just for desserts, drinks, and/or a late snack. -
Review from Andi C.
Los Angeles, CA
7/3/2011
I've gone here for several girls' nights. Great every time. I'm not a big wine drinker but their desert wines are like ambrosia. They have award-winning cookies. They're not vegan but one of my friends ordered them and said that the claims were true.
They also serve food and the well-chosen decor and intimate setting make this place perfect for dates. The staff is superb as well. -
Review from K. N.
Emeryville, CA
7/16/2011 3 photos
How I didn't know about this place sooner is a wonder to be, just looking at their dessert menu makes me sad to think I have been missing out on it all this time I have been living in the Bay Area. Needless to say that wasted time is over.
I had three of the desserts from their fabulous dessert menu, all of which were simply to die for. The Crostata di Miele e Pignole (honey and pine nut tart) was definitely the choice for those with a big sweet tooth - a great twist on the traditional pecan tart, and with a sweetness that is distinctly from honey and not sugar, it was truly a delight! The Tortina di Ricotta, however, has to be my favourite, being a huge cheese lover. While the orange zest and overall creaminess were simply luscious, the cornmeal crust was what really put it over the edge for me! Lastly, we had the Torta al Cioccolato - the perfect dessert for a true chocolate lover. It was still warm when it arrived and perfectly "lava"-like on the inside.
At first we went with a few of the dessert wine pairings, but then moved into their ports, which were a real treat. When my friend I are were trying to decide what to try next, the waitress actually offered to bring us a taste of the options we were considering so that we could decide, great service if you ask me!
Unfortunately I have not tried their dinner menu, but definitely wouldn't hesitate to go back for that reason, or simply to have more dessert! -
Review from Sree C.
Berkeley, CA
7/17/2011
My friends and I wanted to try out this place after trying their AMAZING desserts, with their Chocolate Lava Cake being my all time favorite :)
However, the actual food we were served was not only tasteless and pricey but also very amateur. I tried their Margherita Pizza, which was very mediocre and took around 40 minutes to be served. While my friends ordered a vegetarian version of their daily pasta dish, which all they did was sprinkle in some peas and very little mushrooms in some poorly made alfredo. It was overall a big disaster.
Their Bruschetta di Caprino, however is decent and my friend also raves about their Fruit & Cheese plate. But all in all, their Chocolate Lava Cake and the pleasant atmosphere is what makes me give it at least a 2. But other than that, I won't be going back here for another full meal. -
Review from Nina Y.
4/4/2011
I had bought one of those Livingsocial deals. $15 for $30 worth of food and drink. Since we went to an event that had drinking before coming here, we had already eaten - quite a bit. By the time we got here, we just wanted some dessert. We got there around 7pm on a Sunday and there weren't too many people there.
I got a glass of sparking wine - delicious. My date had a double latte as he had to drive back to SF that night.
We got a lava cake and a chocolate almond tart slice. The lava cake was amazing - loved the richness of it, but by the end, it was just a bit too much. The tart was a bit too dry, but with the latte, it was nice and delicious. The actual food looks pretty decent so I may have to come back and try it.
The atmosphere does make it feel all romantic; it's quite dark and lit with just candles and some soft mood lighting. It's not bad, but I would have hated to try to take pictures in that light. The waitress was nice; she was the only one working that night, so with a couple of tables coming in at around the same time, she had to juggle our orders. I feel like we had to wait a while before we could get our order taken, but it wasn't too bad.
I had a good time sitting there with my sweetie and talking. It was a good end to our busy day. I had a good time just sitting there and enjoying my time. That's all that really counts right? -
Review from Hunter W.
Dacula, GA
10/5/2011
They could do with a little better signage, but once you find it you will enjoy an eloquent desert and the great atmosphere. We had a good but standard cheese plate with figs, almonds and some other goodies. But the item that bought my eye was chocolate polenta cake. I enjoy my grits, and have had cheese, garlic, fried, and ultra creamy but never as chocolate. It was an interesting but favorable combination.
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Review from Krystie M.
4/11/2011
Ironically I came here for Yelp Drinks Week but ended up not even getting wine-- the desserts stole my heart!
I've been wanting to try this place for a while now and I'm so glad I finally ventured out there because it's a nice classy escape from Berkeley.
ATMOSPHERE
Located under nice apartments, Cioccolata Di Vino is very small, but it doesn't feel that small. It's oddly shaped, so I can't imagine how it must be to host an event there.
Upon walking in, you're greeted by lush red interior, dark wooden tables and chairs, dim lighting, and an overall classy ambiance that whispers romance. It's definitely great for dates with your significant other or group of girl friends.
The only negative thing about the interior is the awkward booth/benches in the back left of the restaurant. The booth seats are elevated significantly higher than the chairs, so those who sit in the booth end up looking down at their friends who are sitting across from them in the chairs...
The crowd is pretty diverse and ranges from young college students on dates to working professionals who are enjoying flights of wine after work.
The SERVICE was fast, but they weren't that attentive. I was turned off by the fact that our server brought out the check before we were done eating. That always comes across as rude and makes me want to tip less.
FOOD
We came primarily for the dessert...
1) Lava cake with whipped cream
2) Chocolate almond tart
3) Vanilla bean gelato
The LAVA CAKE was the star of the show. It was almost as good as the chocolate souffle at Roy's Hawaiian Fusion. It was so hot and delicious! The chocolate lava literally oozed out of the cake, which had a great consistency to it and it was also very rich. The powered sugar wasn't overpowering and the whipped cream melted perfectly alongside the cake. The only negative is that it was a really small cake and left the 3 of us wanting more...
The CHOCOLATE ALMOND TART was a disappointment. It wasn't very rich and it was very dry.
The VANILLA BEAN GELATO was mediocre-- nothing special. However, it was the biggest dish we got and it complemented the cake perfectly. We were hoping for hazelnut gelato but the choices were limited.
Overall, great place! I definitely want to come back for their special flight nights-- I can't wait to try their different wines and bubblies! Although it's a little pricy, it's affordable for date nights and other special occasions. It's a classy oasis for romantics and friends alike.Listed in: Best Berkeley Bites
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Review from Jenny T.
3/27/2011 3 photos
This is one of those places I would come to regularly and often if it wasn't such a drive away.
Love their flights of wine, desserts and pasta. Also love the fact that it's dimly lit and I can choose between a dining area and lounge area to unwind. Basically, I love everything about it except that it's in Berkeley.Listed in: Date Nights
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Review from Sam H.
Ross, CA
10/9/2011
Stopped in here while looking for a quick bite on our way to a concert at the Greek. It wasn't that crowded at 645 on a Saturday night, which made me nervous, but I am glad we stayed. It was the perfect stop. Had a delicious mista salad and a really tasty thin crust pizza with red peppers and mushrooms. The staff was very friendly and made an effort to get us out of there quickly so we could get to the concert. Would definitely come back again.
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Review from diana s.
Berkeley, CA
2/7/2011
Ok, look: I freaking love sweets and cheese and port. And sometimes I just want to go out for sweets and cheese and port. Fortunately, Cioccolata di Vino has me covered! My husband and I checked it out Friday night around 8pm--not terribly busy, nice and quiet (the jazz thing isn't EVERY Friday), and excellent service. We split 3 ports (the tawny was my favorite), the cheese plate, and the dessert sampler.
Holy smokes, the ricotta cheesecake thing is DELICIOUS. I already knew I'd love the lemon tart (I have a weakness for lemony baked goods), but the pine nut tart blew me AWAY. The chocolate polenta cake was also delicious, but I think the ricotta cake was my favorite. The cheese plate, with honey, crostata, apricots, figs, almonds, and quince paste was the perfect complement. Over all, a perfect amount of food for 2 people to split after dinner at home.
You will see me there again, hoarding the ricotta cheesecake! -
Review from M C.
Richmond, CA
9/21/2011
(late review)
Was a 1st stop on a birthday celebration night. They took a reservations for 8 and we ordered appetizers, drinks & desserts.
The place is small, but accomodating. Though the seating was a bit odd. One side had a bench that was higher than the chairs on the other side.
We enjoyed the food and I had a red wine sampler.
The service was good.
The atmosphere was calm. Nice way to start the evening, before it got louder :-) -
Review from Deb M.
Berkeley, CA
12/1/2011
I notice that the good reviews all ate dessert. We went after a matinee and had to have something more solid than sweets. The place was almost empty - a pre-review I agreed with. The food was worse than just mediocre. The only reason to eat there was that Liason was not yet open.
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Review from J S.
Richmond, CA
1/22/2011
Ok, I'm really not sure what the lackluster reviews are about at all. My husband and I have been here twice now - once for dessert only and this time for dinner. Both experiences were great. The music was not too loud and was in fact quiet pleasant. The ambiance is great, and there have been just the right number of people there both times. The place smells fantastic, and we've loved almost everything we've ordered. Also the owner and chef, Rebecca, came and chatted with us this time and was really friendly and cool. The waitstaff is really friendly too.
Here's what we ordered:
First time:
Two different ports (OMG the Banyuls Coume del Mas Quintessence Rousillon 2004 is worth the $15, seriously)
Honey ricotta tart - which is amazing IMO
Chocolate lava cake - which is a good version of the classic
Second time:
Ricotta crostini - the housemade ricotta is the perfect blend of creamy and light
Stuffed eggplant - the mint really elevates a normal eggplant roll to amazing - probably my favorite selection of the evening
Insalata mista - quite good
Polenta Bolognese - interesting, creamy, and delicious
Dessert sampler - ok, so I wasn't a huge fan of the two chocolate tortes, but the lemon was amazing, as was the honey ricotta, which is still my favorite
Banyuls Coume del Mas Quintessence Rousillon 2004 port (of course!) -
Review from Ashlee J.
11/4/2010
Great place to go with a small group or a date. I love the intimate setting--the ambiance reminds me of a little cafe in Europe. There are cushy benches against the wall inside to relax w/ your pinot or bubbly & company. However, most of the seating is on wooden chairs that hurt my bum after an hour (& I was there for 2). The bathroom was dimly lit (thank God I didn't need to rummage thro my purse for a tampon--I don't think I would have found it in there).
The service was decent. Our waitress was polite, attentive, not rude but not overly friendly either. She did explain the 3 menus that we each received (it was a little confusing at first). However we did feel pressure to place an order. I do know it can be tough with a group of chatty women & she was trying to make sure we had what we needed so I can't hold it against her. Some of the gals ordered pizza which they said was delicious (it was all eaten so it must have been good). The chocolate molten lava cake was divine. One gal said it was too sweet, another thought it was pure perfection so I think it just depends on one's tastes.
I do plan on bringing my sweetie here for their Prix Fix menu (which looked incredible).
**We went on friendly Wednesday & took advantage of $2 off full glasses of wine & 10% off food.Listed in: Girl's Night!, Date Night!
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Review from Olivia W.
10/21/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I don't know what's with all the 2 stars reviews for this place. Maybe they just ordered the wrong thing?..
BUT I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!
I am a total pasta snob and one night the bf and I came to try their preset menu. I loved every bite of it. My favorite was the pasta. I still think about the pasta after months of eating it. I rarely ever like pastas from restaurants. The only pasta dishes I like are the ones my family makes. My dad is also a chef so I guess I'm more picky with foods. So anyway, I enjoyed every bite of the pasta but I was sad because it isn't a regular entrée on the menu. The pasta changes every day so I guess that's a good thing that they have new entrées every day.
We had the molten lava cake for dessert and I love chocolate so this hit the spot. Warm and gooey and not too sweet.
The service was friendly and attentive and the decor is lovely. Very intimate. Well it is a small restaurant... -
Review from Bill H.
8/29/2010
Don't over-think this place, just get to the bar, order a dessert and pair it with a wine. Just split a glass and a dish with a friend, so that if you don't like what you're served, you don't take the full hit on your wallet.
My last trip here was excellent. My date and I split the chocolate polenta cake and the recommended pairing with a glass of Madeira. Delicious -- and more so with the dessert wine pairing.
Paying less than $20 for the experience, after tax and tip, is a reasonable price to pay for a good dessert experience. -
Review from Kitty B.
San Leandro, CA
9/28/2010
Six of us met up for drinks and dessert last Friday around 8 pm. It was our pre-high school reunion meet up and had been years since we'd all seen each other, so we're expecting a lot of chit chat. Right when we started in on the updates, the jazz trio took the floor. "Take the A Train" cranked to 11. Ouch. I have no idea how the customers sitting close to the trio were able to communicate because for the six of us in the back, it was all pantomiming and gestures. We sat in the very back of the restaurant--maybe this amplified the acoustics? Instead, of a relaxing evening, we spent most of the night rushing to get in our conversations in when the trio took their breaks. Yes, we almost sent them drinks to encourage non-playing. They weren't bad, just not volume appropriate. At all. In their wildest dreams.
I actually started to lose my voice. I've seen some other complaints about noise in these reviews--please heed your customers! Your waitstaff are all going to claim workmans' comp if you don't do something about the volume.
The desserts? I had gelato, which was fine. As for their second namesake, "vino", it was way too warm. I realize Friday was an unusually warm evening, but it seemed like a bad indicator that the server didn't realize the wine was the same temperature as, um, her hand.
Clearly a few folks were there to see the trio. However, if we'd known the aural trauma in store, we would have gone to Triple Rock to enjoy the relative quiet. -
Review from Jessica W.
Berkeley, CA
8/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Great desserts and wine selection. The staff is so friendly and warm. I highly recommend this place. To be fair, I haven't tried their dinner menu yet but the desserts menu rocked. It's huge! They probably have 15 or more different options. My friend, who's wheat allergic even found 2 things she could eat (and really enjoy). Another huge plus is that they're open until 11pm. Nice to be able to find wonderful late night dessert.
Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Eloi P.
Berkeley, CA
11/20/2011
This is probably my favorite restaurant at Berkeley. It is the perfect place to go with a special person :). The food is delicious. Sometimes they make this menus where you choose a starter, an entree, and a desert from a limited list for little more than $20. Considering the quality of the food, it is actually not expensive. Recently I discovered their Polenta a la Bolognese. It is DELICIOUS!! If you are a chocolate fan, try the chocolate lava cake. Speaking of which, Cioccolata di Vino is also a great place to go for deserts and chill-out with a nice glass of wine. They actually give suggestions of which wine would go well with each desert. Sometimes they have a small jazz band playing live.
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Review from Lana N.
8/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
TIP: pass on the torta&tortinas dessert sampler; it was the biggest waste of $16 I've ever spent -- and I had the GroupOn $20 for $10 coupon too! The sampler included 4 of 5 torta and tortinas on their dessert menu; the chocolate polenta cake, chocolate and almond tart, lemon tart, and honey ricotta tart -- it was missing their most popular chocolate lava cake. The 4 slices were the most dinky pieces of cake/tarts I've ever seen AND none of them were mind blowingly good.. the chocolate and almond tart was hard to eat, the chocolate polenta was extremely rich but also very dry, the honey ricotta was reminiscent of any other slice of cheesecake, and the lemon tart was beyond tart. These so called deSSerts did not leave me asking for seconds...
HOWEVER, saving them from a 1-star review is their chocolate pecan cookies, 3 for $5. Pricey, I know.. but so very good! Winner of Best Cookie in the East Bay, and rightfully so! Dip them in a warm glass of milk and your worries will all wash away!
Next time.. go for the cookies! or maybe some cheese&wine? -
Review from Yoko K.
Oakland, CA
7/13/2011
The review is just for dessert. After dinner, we looked for a place that has good dessert and we were pleasantly surprised. They had a live jazz music going on and the dessert was so good. I don't eat Italian so much, but I'd try their food as well.
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Review from Eric C.
8/14/2010
Came here multiple times. Desserts are awesome. It's a nice place to come with friends for dessert and/or drinks. And they serve yummy food too!
I always walk by this restaurant on the way to campus and they often advertise prix fixe menus. So I came here on a Friday afternoon and ordered their $11 prix fixe lunch menu (valid from 1-3pm on Fri and Sat). Two course meal with a main dish (pizza, panini, or pasta) and a small soup/salad.
Soup: Broccoli soup. Tasty but a bit too thin for me.
Pizza: Thin crust tomato, basil, mushroom, provolone (i think) pizza. Tasty!
Panini: I liked this better than the pizza, which was already really good. The provolone, yummy! I wish they heated even more cheese.
Next time I'll come back and try some of their recommended wines to pair with food. -
Review from Quan P.
Tustin, CA
7/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very small and quaint restaurant. We only had desserts (lava cake, affogato) and coffee which are all good. Very nice and courteous service - it was a very slow night due to the holiday weekend but nevertheless, the owner and staff were very warm and friendly. This spot would be perfect for a date.
Listed in: Favorite spots
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Review from Michelle W.
Union City, CA
4/8/2010 ROTD 4/5/2011
After a long, rough day at work, I usually look forward to kicking off my heels, throwing on some comfy sweats, and curling up on the couch with a good DVD and a glass of vino in hand. But, I'm no hermit, ya know. Going out is fun too. And I don't mean "going out" as in "partying excessively until my toes bleed alky". My style of going out is exactly what Cioccolata provides - a simple, yet relaxing evening with a small group of friends chatting the night away with some delicious bites and soothing glasses of wine all around.
Walking into a dimly lit dining room with a plush lounge to the left curtained off by velvet drapes, I admired the sheer elegance of its ambiance and felt an instant jolt of relaxation. Swaying to light jazz tunes playing in the background, I knew this was going to be a good night. Sadly, a minor upset stomach prevented me from tasting a full flight, so I decided on sipping a half glass of orange muscat instead. My first thought, "oh my, what a LARGE half glass this is!". I thank our server for the rather generous pour. The wine itself was superb, though I wish I was able to stomach more than just dessert wine that night. I was sad to hear they had run out of the tortina di ricotto by the time we had arrived. Would've gone perfectly with my muscat. Ah well, this gives me a reason to come back in the near future.
There's something on the menu for everyone. With such a large selection of wines, it's a struggle trying to figure out where to start. Flights are available at a decent price for those who enjoy sampling different flavors. They even serve a 3-course prix-fixed meal for lunch & dinner along with daily special pizzas and pastas.
My suggestion: don't hesitate to ask the server what her recommendations are. She's very knowledgeable and will do the best she can for you to fully enjoy your visit to CDV. I know I did!
PS: The french vanilla gelato was an absolute treat! Super rich, super creamy. All sorts of goodness in my tummy!Listed in: First Impressions Always Count
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Review from Kris B.
9/29/2010
This place was really classy to look at, but their live music was WAY TOO LOUD for normal conversation. We met high school friends here to catch up and felt like we were yelling at the top of our lungs. We anxiously waited for the band to take a break so we could quickly get a few sentences in before the next set.
As far as the drinks, the prices were too high for what you get. I read the menu wrong and thought I was ordering glasses of wine for $5.75. No, wine by the glass was $11.50 (up to $14.00), the $5.75 price was a "taste" - Holy Crap that's expensive! Maybe they're trying to discourage college kids and rowdy drinking by making their prices sky high? Trying to maintain the classy ambience....with the deafening sounds of their jazz band? -
Review from Joe B.
4/8/2010 2 Check-ins Here
We stopped by during Yelp Drinks Week and found it to be a bit quiet on a weekday night, in a North-Berkeley-non-undergrad-hangout sort of way, if you catch my drift, but it was a nice relaxing place to have a sip of red and share a dessert. We had the chocolate almond tart and it was dense, rich, and very satisfying.
A fine place for a romantic rendezvous in north berkeley! -
Review from Amiee H.
4/16/2010
My friend suggested to come here just for dessert and I thought it was kinda weird to go into a restaurant just for dessert without ordering an entree but I guess it's pretty common at this place. I was so surprised to find that when you open the menu, the entire RIGHT side was all for desserts! About 1/3 of the menu was for cookies, there was one sorbet option, one gelato option and the rest were cakes. My friend and I decided to order a chocolate almond polenta cake AND a lemon tart.
Food:
-chocolate almond polenta cake: Interesting texture because it was like a mix between a brownie and corn bread. Not too sweet and not too soft. Very chewy and chocolately. I liked it!
-lemon tart: So I'm super obsessed with lemon bars, so when I tasted this and realized it's a lemon bar in disguise...I was jumping with JOY! I really liked this lemon tart! The crust was thin and not overpowering and the lemon filling was PERFECTLY sweet and tangy with just the right amount of lemon tart filling texture. DELICIOUS!
Service: SOO Super friendly and welcoming! The waitress gave great recommendations for the dessert items and the chef came out to say hi and check up on us to make sure the food was good for that evening! Loved it!
Ambiance: Super cute and cozy restaurant! I really liked the feel of it. It's got this classy, upscale, laid back, romantic charm to it. Great place to bring for a date!!! *wink wink*
Price: ~$7 for the cake and another ~$7 for the tart. Really worth it!
Overall: I LOVE this place! I really wanna come back for some DINNER! If it's anything like dessert then I'm going to have to start making this place a regular hang out joint!
