- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Lalime's
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
1329 Gilman St(between Neilson St & Northside Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94706
(510) 527-9838
- Hours:
Mon 5:30 pm - 9 pm
Wed-Thu 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
192 reviews for Lalime's
Review Highlights
"Thanks Chef George Morrone - we will be back."
(in 11 reviews)
"The wine list also nice, very diverse."
(in 14 reviews)
"It's often called the "affordable Chez Panisse."
(in 15 reviews)
Loading...
192 reviews in English
-
Review from Cassandra E.
San Mateo, CA
12/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here with a couple friends to celebrate a small birthday party, We made reservations and once we arrived we were seated immediately.
The waitstaff was prompt and friendly. The wine list was amazing! They had so many great bottles to chose from- and they even had Penley Estates 2007 Shiraz! This year and specific company made an excellent Shiraz!
I ordered the Roasted King Trumpet Mushrooms Dish with Potato Dumplings, red kuri pumpkin, Italian butter beans. It was absolutely decadent and completely vegetarian! The mushrooms tasted like sausage- and the rest of the dish complimented the mushrooms well. My friends had the Salmon special sans gluten and nothing but positive things came from both of their mouths. Overall the main dishes and dessert were to die for!
I love the fact that this restaurant puts an emphasis on used seasonal and local produce.
Lalime's prompt service, extensive wine list, and decadent dishes gets 5 stars all around! -
Review from Kathleen W.
Albany, CA
1/9/2012 Seated via OpenTable
A friend and I came here for a senior citizens dinner and stayed till adult dining hour. Full disclosure: we also drank almost 2 bottles of wine so read with caution.
Here's what I did learn about myself though - if there is a greater than $30 delta between the wine I drink, I will hurt the next day. I should just stick to the cheap stuff.
We both ordered the steak - which was delicious and hearty. We both took large portions home ... hidden underneath potatoes and veggies in order to deter our significant others from eating our leftovers. There is a lot of pleasure in having left overs to look forward to ... and quite disappointing when you get home, realize someone ate your food and now you have to cook. [To be fair, I never cook ... but I can only imagine how frustrating that would be.]
My friend and I are big fans of fries ... they are called French fries on the menu, but don't expect anything long and fry like. They are more like deep fried potato ball wedges.
Skip dessert. I ordered the peach tatin but the crust was stale. Otherwise it was a very lovely meal. -
Review from Leo S.
Berkeley, CA
1/7/2012
We go to Lalimes on average once a year or so. Usually we've liked the place. They have a *very* limited menu, but usually there's at least one thing that we're excited about to order. Tonight we read the menu, found the main courses unappealing, so each ordered a small dish, planning on ordering one of the delicious-looking desserts on the other side of the menu. Appertisers were indeed delicious, but then the waitress brought the dessert menu. No resemblance between any of the 3 desserts on her menu and any of the 6 desserts offered on the back side of the main menu. We had a 6:15 reservation, so there's no way they could have run out of anything; presumably they just hadn't bothered to notice. We might have felt differently about this had the management or waitress seemed to care about this. But they didn't; who cares if we printed the wrong menu, they seemed to be saying. Complete indifference.
Based on the review by Mary V, of Sept 1, this is clearly a pattern. The management couldn't care less. Extremely disappointing. Lalime's in the old days was a wonderful restaurant that took pride in customer service. Now it's part of a conglomerate, multiple restaurants under a bit corporate umbrella, sort of Gourmet AT&T. -
Review from Caroline C.
Albany, CA
1/24/2012
Based on a yelp's review - my sister and I had the fried chicken dinner and it was best fried chicken I've eaten in a long time. The bone-in chicken was hot, juicy and well seasoned. I've had fried chicken at T-Rex, Casa Orinda, Jimmy Bean's, Farmer Brown's, Memphis Barbecue, Hard Knox and many other restaurants. I was pleasantly surprised when I took the first bite. It was simply DELICIOUS.
-
Review from Bruce K.
Point Richmond, CA
11/29/2011 Seated via OpenTable
My elder parents wanted to take me out for my birthday, and I wanted a place that they would be comfortable. Service was perfect, food was excellent. Though the menu was small, everyone enjoyed their meal and found something they liked. I had the fried chicken, which elevated that dish to a whole new level. The mash potatoes and spinach were slightly underwhelming, but the biscuit was great. My dad had the hamburger, and said it was the best he's ever had. My wife had a vegetarian dumplingish thing with accompanying roasted/smoked winterish vegetables, and it was savory and satisfying. Cocktails were good, original, not too weak, not too strong and not too expensive.
We ordered two desserts, and they were both excellent.
I am only deducting a star a) because the menu was somewhat limited and b) the restaurant is more like an old friend than the hot new kid on the block. i.e., though completely reliable it had only moderate Wow factor. Is that fair? Maybe not. -
Review from Michelle L.
El Cerrito, CA
1/30/2012
We finally made reservations here after seeing it featured on Bay Area Check, Please. Everything was top-notch--the service, the food, the ambiance. It's always a thrill to eat a flavor combination never tasted before--the smoked sesame soup rocked my world. And the oysters, salad, entrees, and dessert were sublime, as well. We will definitely be back when we're up for breaking the bank again.
-
Review from Jodi B.
Berkeley, CA
12/8/2011
A comfortable, quiet, tasteful place for a nice dinner. A small but well put together menu. This was our first time, the host and staff provide warm greetings and leave you in peace while you enjoy your meal. Our server had excellent advice (we asked, he wasn't pushy). Found the mushroom potato dumplings to be lovely and my husband was in the mood for a burger, which he found to be very very good. We enjoyed 2 different desserts, both very well done.
Overall we loved it, we'll go back and continue to try new things. -
Review from Gerry C.
Oakland, CA
1/1/2012
We enjoyed New Years Eve dinner at Lalime's. This was a return visit for us after several years. We enjoyed the price fixed menu, beet salad, pasta, entree, cheese plate, and dessert were all very good. Service was solid and attentive. It was nice to see a lively crowd. Job well done!
-
Review from Holla F.
Oakland, CA
For my birthday :0) The service was excellent, even though I had to kill a spider crossing our table, the waiter brought over a linen napkin to cover my destruction. My friend ordered the black linguini lobster..it was quite small, like an appetizer. I felt bad so I gave her some of my mash. I would have given her my buttermilk fried chicken but she's a pescatarian. My entree was pretty good and did not seem fried at all. My other friend had the pork chop which was super flavorful with a some pieces of pork belly. The bread pudding was soooo good. I would go back for just that.
-
Review from Nerd G.
Berkeley, CA
10/1/2011
Some of the best food & service I have had since moving to Berkeley. And I'm a horrible snob.
We've been to Lalime's twice, and although both visits were long enough ago for my absent-minded brain to forget the details of everything we ate, the food was excellent, the wine was excellent, and the service was excellent. They had no problems fitting us in although we hadn't made reservations very far in advance (like, maybe 20 minutes in advance) and the restaurant was pretty crowded both times.
I do recall some small but amazing rack of lamb.
The restaurant is beautiful and although street parking can be iffy, we didn't have too much trouble either time.
Lalime's is very high on my short list of "nice places to eat" in Berkeley. -
Review from Lynette S.
Berkeley, CA
12/16/2011
Excellent meal! I just went for my birthday dinner and everyone was extremely impressed. Everything was delicious but the pork chop dish, collard greens, & sweetbreads were exquisite. This is the perfect place for a special gathering.
-
Review from Federico F.
Redwood City, CA
10/17/2011
A very nice meal in a quiet neighborhood in north Berkeley. We started with the summer lettuces and butter beans. For the main we shared the skirt steak and salmon. The food tasted very good but i think the bottle of wine was the best. It was a pinot noir from carneros in the $50 range.
Service was excellent. Our server carried a bright smile and gave us just the right amount of attention. -
Review from Mary V.
Richmond, CA
9/1/2011
What a disappointment! 3 people - 6pm reservation. Extremely slow service. When we finally got our food it was different then on the menu. The seafood salad stated that it included uni(sea urchin roe) but where was the uni? Never to be seen or tasted. We were told that it was in the vinagrette. I was delivered not at all what I had ordered which was Trumpet Mushrooms with hand made pappardelli. I was serviced spaghettini with one quarter Trumpet Mushroom and peas but no
pappardelle. When I conplained I was told that they had run out of the pappardelli (at 6 pm?). So they whipped me up a new dish not on the menu and served it to me without informing me. Then they seemed amazed that I noticed the difference. We will not be back___ever! -
Review from Philippusis C.
Albany, CA
8/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Lalime's has become our favorite place in Berkeley. The kitchen under chefs Brian White and Amanda Joost has really hit its stride these past few months: the cuisine is inventive, consistent, attentive to what is fresh at the farmers market, upscale but not pretentious, and above all delicious.
We've found the service to be informed and attentive--they are willing to give great suggestions for pairings and menu choices!
The last time we went in we especially enjoyed the Spicy Frenchman cocktail, the heirloom tomato fondue, and the fried chicken.
This is a homey yet elegant place, and our favorite spot for date nights. -
Review from Michael v.
Oakland, CA
12/6/2011
This used to be our favorite restaurant- went there every third week. Not anymore
The menu has become seriously limited: very few choices and never anything new. The chicken was the last addition (months ago).
What happened to the exellent rack of lamb and duck?
If they shrink the menu again what is the point? The priceyThursday Specials don't make up for pedestrian choices on Saturday&Sunday -
Review from Mutant O.
Berkeley, CA
6/12/2011
The Sunday we dined with friends, an 8 pm dinner, must have been one of Lalime's very off nights.
I should have known better -- don't order seafood on Sunday, but I figured, a well-known Bay Area restaurant surely wouldn't plate old seafood? I had two clams in my seafood pasta and the first one was a surprise -- what is this terribly off flavor and can I discreetly spit out? I opted to swallow it, and then remembered, this was supposed to be a clam. The second clam was just as bad.
The wildly touted 'last lobster' was tiny. My dining companion made no comment on its flavor or presentation. Another dining companion had a salad.
The only entree which proved to be a winner was the burger. -
Review from Sandra L.
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lalime's was a nice place for date night. Although my boyfriend at the time was too cheap to buy his own glass of red wine he sipped away on mine, But with all that, it still did not take away from the ambiance and food.
I was very happy with heirloom tomato salad, steamed mussels, yellowtail entree.
The rack of lamb with brocolli rabe was DELICIOUS!
Next time I will definitely try the hanger steak. -
Review from Wendy H.
Berkeley, CA
6/27/2011
What a great dining experience. Everything from the food to the warm service to the thoughtful decor made Lalime's a wonderful place to go on a date without breaking the bank. I loved how it was an old home converted into a restaurant. It has the hip Craftsman charm that is so Berkeley.
The hangar steak was so tender and delicious.
The seafood bouillabase had a very tasty (read 'fatty') broth.
The xocolate sampler was good; enjoy the spiciness of mexican chocolate.
The spicy frenchman was a great drink infused with pear flavors.
I wouldn't say the food itself should win any international awards, but it is all very satisfying. -
Review from Alice C.
8/1/2011
Lalime's is an interesting dinning experience. When my gf and I stepped in. My mind went: "Holly cow, the people here are at least twice of the age of me, and I am no spring chicken!"
Last min reservation since gf wanted to try the soft shell crab special.
We got seated 10 mins pass our reservation time, no biggie, it was packed that night.
When our waiter came by, we gasped, no more soft shell crab?! But, we came here just for that!
The sweet waiter then went to the back, and make sure the last two crabs saved for us. Thank you!
My favorite were the grilled/smoked artichoke with mice mint. So refreshing and tasty.
The set menu was decently priced, and we were very happy when we left.
The waiter made good recommendation on wine.
The crowd is bit older, what else would you expect at a fancy schmancy place in North Berkeley. -
Review from Melanie C.
San Francisco, CA
10/20/2011
Been years since I'd had dinner here. Still quaint, still great seasonal food, still nice mix of foodie diners. Service was really nice but sometimes a little off, but a nice dinner all in all.
-
Review from Candice L.
Berkeley, CA
5/15/2011
I'm not sure what it is with the negative nancies when it comes to this place. As my party and I had an excellent time last night.
We called last-minute [friends popped over! surprise!] and were able to secure 8 PM reservations for 4 people at 4:30 PM that day.
When we arrived, the place was absolutely buzzing. I run by this restaurant often and have never seen it lit up [hello, don't run at night]. It's beautiful inside with two levels, soft lighting, linens, etc]. It's a bit crowded, and smaller so probably not the best for groups over 6, unless you arrange a prix fixe menu ahead of time.
Anyway, it did take a while to seat us but then we were given a corner table with a view of the street. This was probably why I couldn't complain about the noise level as others have before, as we weren't in the middle of it all. Once seated, it's true, things can be a little slow, but our server was great [sweet, funny, attentive, knowledgeable] and updated us often on status [drinks are on the way, appetizers are almost here, etc]. Really nice guy.
On to the food. Excellent proportions. We started with the risotto balls with veal, sweetbreads, and the mussels. All were delicious. The sweetbreads especially but maybe because I wasn't expecting it. Also, deep frying balls of risotto with tender veal tucked in the middle? Generally a great idea. Here, lovingly executed. The mussels were all on the small side but still good.
Our table ordered the fried chicken, seafood stew, strip steak, and lamp chops for entrees. All were excellent. The seafood stew was spicy and smoky from what the table mates said and very good. The strip steak was perfectly done and not huge, but like I said--excellent proportions. I wouldn't know about the lamb as I don't eat lamb but it was well reviewed too. But the fried chicken. Oh sweet mother, the friend chicken was $%#$% GOOD. Prepared sous vide first [is that what molecular gastronomists would say?] and then fried, it was tender and delicious. I would definitely go back for that.
Corkage was $20. We brought our own so I can't say anything about the wine list except that it's extensive. Cocktails are good too.
The dessert was great! [pudding cake, last one of the house as we ordered it at almost 11 PM]
All in all, a great experience. A small neighborhood gem of a restaurant, great service though not the fastest [but who wants to rush through a nice meal???], and AMAZING fried chicken.
Please order the fried chicken, friends. -
Review from Alice M.
3/24/2011 2 photos
My friend and I planned an 18-person birthday dinner at Lalime's for a good friend of ours. I had never been there before but the reviews were good, and they provided us with a well-priced prix-fixe menu (with choices!) so we opted for this place.
Firstly, when we walked into the restaurant, and the space was gorgeous. They had set up our tables (2 long tables) in the downstairs space facing the street and because of how the area was set up, it was pretty much like we had our own private dining area! Very nice.
Our prix-fixe came with an appetizer, entree, and unlimited nonalcoholic drinks. For my appetizer, I got the fresh rigatoni, which everyone was crazy about. People who didn't get this appetizer were jealous and stole a lot off our plates. Rigatoni was indeed fresh and large, had a mushroom/meat sauce, and I don't know if I can have non-fresh rigatoni again after having this!! Great dish. One of the others I tried were the salt cod croquettes which were well-crisped and good (but I was still glad to have gotten myself the rigatoni).
Next, the entree. I got the grilled hangar steak which came atop your standard spinach and mashed potatoes with a gravy type sauce drizzled over everything. My slices of steak were cooked wonderfully and overall, it was a good dish (although I must admit, I've had better and it became a bit salty after awhile even with the spinach and potatoes). I also tried the Berkshire pork, which seemed and tasted like a huge slab of chasu ramen pork. I tasted two different people's and I would say it was a bit inconsistent. Some was overcooked and too salty and some was really fatty and juicy and good. I also tried the salmon entree which was moist and delicious. If I were a bigger fan of salmon, this would have hit the spot.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the dinner, and the service was fantastic. Friendly and attentive, but also let us enjoy our dinner. They also cut the birthday cake wonderfully for all 18 of us (and included the cake-slicing fee in the prix-fixe so it wasn't pricey!).
I would definitely recommend Lalime's for a large group dinner -- the food, service, and atmosphere were pleasing to everyone, and we had a great time!! Arrangements were pretty easy to make and they gave us options for prix-fixes as well as little touches like personalized menus that made the evening special. Thank you Lalime's! -
Review from georges m.
Albany, CA
6/28/2011
I have been coming here for years and have always loved the food. This time around the service started off well enough, but then we ended up waiting 20 minutes for our burgers to arrive. It was as though our food server forgot about us. Once the food did arrive, the burgers were all well done when we asked for medium. Thankfully, they were so delicious that it didn't matter. But come on people...why bother asking us how we want it cooked if you're not going to follow through?
Perhaps it was just an off night. Perhaps our server stopped caring because we weren't a 'big ticket' table. Who knows. Next time I'll let them know my thoughts instead of bitching about it on Yelp. I want this restaurant to be great. -
Review from Bill P.
Oakland, CA
12/19/2011 Seated via OpenTable
We have dined at LaLime's for years. This is the second year we have gone to celebrate the holidays with our friend. The food and service is consistently good with attentive service. If you like ginger try the Fred & Ginger cocktail it warms on a cool evening. Our friend is very wine savvy and he liked the wine choices and the chardonnay he selected.
-
Review from Bridget L.
Oakland, CA
10/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here for my birthday for the first time and it was a great place for such an occasion. I think they are reservation only, we felt comfortable getting dressier than we would do for other restaurants in the general area (being that the East Bay can sometimes be more casual as we all know). The ambiance in the restaurant was superb, I loved the brown tones and I think the servers were even wearing tan instead of the traditional white shirts although I could have been wrong. I thought that was a nice touch though, more trendier than just white table cloth. I went gaga over the flatware.
The wine list was good, I had a Pinot Blanc which was delicious, The food was great of course, all of it. The portions are smaller so the server does try to hint at picking more than one item, and I would of course recommend asking questions as they try to get you to do.
I had the summer salad and the scallops with a side of polenta. The summer salad had strawberries and a delicious cheese with it. The strawberries were so aromatic I could smell them when the plate was set in front of me. The scallops were excellently prepared over a bed of panzanella salad with roasted tomatoes and red peppers. I had a great meal but was not overly stuffed.
Although I was not aware of the server having been told it was a birthday at the table she did catch on and put a candle in my delicious desert of chocolate flourless cake and blackberry sauce. It was the perfect ending to a great birthday meal.
I can't wait for another occasion to go back here! -
Review from Beverly R.
Fremont, CA
5/7/2011
Absolutely lovely little neighborhood restaurant. White linens, delectable cuisine, great wines, and impeccable service, this comfy yet dressy jewel of a restaurant was the perfect place to celebrate my 1 year anniversary.
My boyfriend chose this restaurant based on the yelp reviews and what a great choice he made. He even arranged for a beautiful rose arrangement to be sent and placed to decorate our table prior to our arrival along with a little note he had written before. The staff had it on our table which overlooked the main dining area to delightfully surprise me when I sat down. Okay enough about the 'mood' that was set by the man in my life and the staff...the cuisine was amay-ZING! -
Review from Jin C.
El Cerrito, CA
4/20/2011
Mary received a $100 gift certificate to this restaurant and so we made a night of it. Great ambience and great food. A little on the expensive side, so good for special occasions.
We ordered a mussles appetizer and it was the best I've ever had. Their white wine, garlic sauce was so good, after we ate all the mussels we asked for bread so we could sop up all the sauce.
I ordered a steak dish and she ordered a black ink pasta dish. Steak was good, nothing spectacular about it, Mary's pasta dish wasn't to my liking. Portions were too small.
Overall would like to go back and try it again someday, but not dying to go back. -
Review from ceci b.
Alameda, CA
4/19/2011
Dined here last night with my family and party of 6, including two extremely lovable children. I was pleased to see they offer a sustainable and partly organic menu, although no vegan and hardly no vegetarian options. Everything was delicious and drinks from the bar and desserts were superb (although service became slow and dirty dishes piled up a bit). We had the lavender creme brule and the coffee crunch cake =). They also kindly accommodated a special request for plain butter noodles for the kids. Be sure to try the fried potatoes and aioli sauce!
Thanks Lalime's! -
Review from Mary C.
CA
4/21/2011
I had a $100 gift certificate to this place so decided to try it out. While the mussels were AWESOME, the rest of the dishes were just OK. The pasta was too salty, as well as the steak.
Service was great but at this price, I expect every dish to be spot on... sorry Lalime's but you didn't live up to the hype. I am very grateful for the free meal though! -
Review from Jane H.
Berkeley, CA
4/24/2011
Lalimes is a neighborhood gem. Dinner last night was excellent, as always, and our waiter could not have been nicer or more professional. Sweetbreads are always on the appetizer menu, and they are done really well. The owners are usually visible - it is so nice to support this family run operation.
A gift certificate to Lalimes for $100 is a favorite present. The wine list is reasonably priced, and $100 buys a very nice dinner for two, with wine. We will come back many more times. -
Review from tiffany m.
Albany, CA
9/28/2011
So, I have lived in the neighborhood for over 15 years and have been to Lalime's several times. Food ranged from great to ok but the service generally left a bad taste in my mouth. The final straw was an unpleasant interaction with Cindy Lalime personally. So, generally speaking- I know there are better places to spend my money on great food here in Berkeley and to feel appreciated. Don't bother.
-
Review from Finula O.
Berkeley, CA
3/15/2011
After two wonderful meals - replete with sweet breads (omg - I do love me some sweet breads) I'm thrilled to give Lalime's a GREAT review.
I took a long lost friend for dinner a few weeks back and we yacked and yacked, laughed and cried - cuz, it's been too long and we love each other. The place was packed, but they got us a seated at a terrific, intimate table with just enough privacy, but with a good view of the action.
I had lamb, my friend doesn't eat anything with a face, and the butternut squash ravioli with browned sage butter would make me join that team too. But then, there's the sweet breads. Oh, good lawd in heaven above - I love sweet breads.
The owner saw how much fun we were havin' (what, with all the gigglin' and all), and decided to ply us with his private stash of brandy (he noticed with we were sippin' a fine grappa). Before long, the foodie stories were flowing, and this tiny world got a bit smaller.
Walking distance from my crib - awesome service, outstanding food, I go once a month just to remind myself how good food and good friends make my life so very perfect. -
Review from California S.
Berkeley, CA
2/5/2011
I had to leave a review of this place after an extraordinary dinner here tonight. We ate at 5pm, it's now 11, and the meal is still resonating very nicely.
Our server (Erin) was incredibly understanding and helpful when we discussed our dietary restrictions (non-dairy), and she offered many substitutions and specific items to help us. I can't express just how much her positive attitude and her impeccable knowledge of each item truly made our experience here a delight, from the moment we walked in until the moment we left. I can't speak more highly of Erin as a server, I would go so far to say that tonight was the best service I've ever had at any restaurant.
The food was exquisite. For our starters, she pointed us in the direction of the Nero (squid ink pasta with Crab and Lobster) that was sublime. I've never had anything quite like it (including squid ink pasta, which I've always wanted to try). We also tested out the Ahi Tartare, which was quite good, the homemade potato chips were light and fluffy, a perfect compliment.
Our entrees were a nice size, quite tasty. I had initially come in hoping for the Lamb Chop special, but to my surprise they had switched it for a Lamb Shank, which I settled for. I was happy with the Lamb, even though the shank isn't my favorite cut it was cooked absolutely perfectly, and garnished with some oversized white beans that (believe it or not) were so beautifully prepared you could swear they were the most delicate potatoes (my plate was totally clean *except for the shank bone* by the end of the meal). My wife ordered the seafood stew which smelled lovely, came with potatoes/clams/mussels, she said that it was exactly what she wanted.
Last, but not least, my wife had the Porcupine dessert (Raspberry Chocolate topped with Meringue), I didn't try any of it due to my dietary restrictions but she said it was lovely and well worth the money.
Everything was timed perfectly, bread was served promptly (with the option of a wonderful olive oil in place of butter), drinks were served with good timing, starters and entrees had a nice downtime in between (long enough for conversation but not so long that you go hungry).
It's so rare that I have a meal which I can truly give 10/10 in every single category, I would absolutely award this to Lalime's, and will definitely be back soon. I cannot recommend this establishment highly enough, truly one of Berkeley's hidden gems.
Oh, and when you go, ask for a seat near the window, the sunset was stunning! -
Review from Sandia O.
Berkeley, CA
11/26/2010
Been twice with my family. I do remember a great waitstaff. I don't remember the food being bad, but I also don't remember anything that really stood out to me.
Eh. -
Review from Caroline C.
Berkeley, CA
1/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Came upon this restaurant on a business Friday night with no reservations, but were graciously seated by one of the owners (who was manning the front desk) within 5 minutes. The proprietors of the restaurant are very much a part of its operation, at the front and also on the floor.
The food was good -- fresh ingredients with bold flavors. We ordered the mushroom bisque (which was average), steamed mussels with onion rings (delicious but the mussels were on the small side), the BBQ pork belly burger (which my husband loved), and the shellfish stew (very hearty and great flavors). And we thought the prices were all very reasonable for the quality of food.
Overall, we had a great dining experience and will definitely be back. -
Review from Sherilyn T.
Oakland, CA
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
went here for a friend's early bday dinner. enjoyed the overall experience. the place is not really small, but some of the tables are positioned quite close together so it feels a bit cramp walking through the restaurant. with regards to the food, i ordered the black linguini lobster for $18, which i thought was a decent price for lobster. however, i guess that was more of a intermediary plate (not an appetizer, yet not an entree). it was pretty small - i was a bit taken aback when the plate came out, especially since the other two orders (the fried chicken and pork chops were quite generous portions). my friends both enjoyed their meals. mine didn't taste bad - it was quite good - just wish there was more on the plate. for dessert we had the chocolate cake and bread pudding - both yum! i'd come back again if there were more seafood/veggie options for me that was heartier portions. for those who eat all types of meats, i'd recommend this place for sure.
-
Review from Koichi N.
Oakland, CA
7/3/2011
Took Lisa for her birthday to Lalime's and we were very impressed. Pleasant upscale restaurant with wonderful and delicately flavored dishes.
We started with the King of Salmon Tartare not knowing what it was and finding out it was delicious! Small raw salmon pieces mixed in with avocado and lemon juice, nicely molded with 4 crisps on the side and two mini radishes that were salted. Flavor bomb!
The mixed green salad was good, but up against the tartare, it was no match. Shaved radishes, greens, goat cheese, baby carrots, with a delicate dressing. I was impressed that they did not drown the greens in dressing.
Followed by the main dish: rack of lamb served with a beet green pesto and white beans with chopped brocolini. Great combination of flavors put together by the pesto.
We ordered a side of collard greens with delicious salty cubes of bacon. Yummy! Bacon is indeed the heroin of meats.
Ended with a wonderfully light and chocolcaty dessert, the floating chocolate island.
Definitely worth the price! -
Review from Andrew C.
5/11/2010
We came for my g/f's birthday. Waited a few minutes for our table to be set up and when we got seated we noticed some little Happy Birthday confetti on the table (http://images.buycostu...). It was pretty cute.
We were sitting for a few minutes when our waitress came by and saw we didn't have menus. After getting them, the hostess came by and apologized profusely for forgetting them. It was not really needed, but nice of her.
We ordered a half dozen Hog Island Oysters ($14) and the Dungeness Crab Cake (singular. $16) for apps. The oysters came with a Meyer lemon migonette sauce and were fresh and delicious. The crab cake was moist and stuffed with plenty of crab and not too much fillers. There was a curry aoili and a small mandarin and fennel salad on the plate, but the single cake looked rather lonely on the long plate it was served on.
My g/f got the scallop dish ($14) from their small plates section and they were cooked beautifully with a nice sear and not overdone. There were two slightly larger than quarter sized scallops to the dish so I didn't try any. She said they were "awesome"
I ordered the Steak Frites ($26) which came on a bed of creamed chard and topped with chimmichurri. I wasn't familiar with the Bavette cut, but it reminded me of a hanger steak. It was perfectly rare as requested and the rub went well with the chimmichurri.
The fries, on the other hand, weren't too good. There was only a couple pieces longer than 3/4" and many of them were super salty. I think I got the end of a batch from bottom of the mixing bowl.
We shared a chocolate cake with a candle on top and a glass of Muscat. Thankfully they didn't bring the entire staff over to sing! The cake was dense and delicous with a cream and fruit sauce surrounding it to slather your bites around in.
Afterwards, the hostess returned to again apologize for the menu snaffu and said they were comping the dessert because of it! OK, I'll take free food!!
Great food and service. 4.5 stars. I'm rounding down for the slightly skimpy portion sizes. -
Review from Stitch H.
San Francisco, CA
6/1/2010
While composing this review the first word that came to mind was: disappointment.
It had been several years since my last visit to Lalime's and thought that during one our infrequent tours of the east bay I would introduce my honey to what had been one of my favorite restaurants.
From the moment we walked in the overly officious maitre d' who sniffed at our reservation to the bar that ran out of alcohol to the improperly made drinks screamed out to run away at the first opportunity. But no, soldier through it we would.
Many of the specials sounded good, but unfortunately they had gone the way of the call drinks in the bar. The salmon was uninspired and generally tasteless. The Caesar salad was made with wilted lettuce and the dressing tasted bottled. The steak was a steak with some unidentified sauce ladled over the top. Desert managed to outdo a Hostess cupcake, but only slightly.
Perhaps residents of the east bay are used to be presented with average food, but really the reputation that had been built here demanded far more than was actually presented. -
Review from Ryan D.
Los Altos, CA
12/28/2011
Not a good place at all. We went here for my Mom's birthday, and may I tell you, it was not a good experience at all! The food there was awful. First, let's talk about the appetizers! I ordered the tomato soup, which did not taste good at all. It didn't even taste like tomato soup! It literally had a layer of oil on it, which some oil is good on soup, but this actually had a whole layer of it! It came with a "little sandwich", and it was so tiny, only like two-bites worth if even that! My Mom's was actually burnt, and they had actually flipped it over so you couldn't see it! For the main courses, I ordered the fried chicken, and I love fried chicken, but not this! It was mainly bone, crust, and some fat, and barely even meat at all, followed by dry biscuits, bland and cold mashed potatoes, and cold and tasteless gravy! I don't think that this place should have the "People Love Us On Yelp" sticker! Stay away from this place, even if it's convenient. Will never be returning to this place again, or at least I hope not!
