- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Zatar
Categories: Event Planning & Services Caterers Restaurants Greek Restaurants Mediterranean Caterers, Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
1981 Shattuck Ave(between Berkeley Way & University Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Neighborhood: Downtown Berkeley
(510) 841-1981
- Hours:
Wed-Sat 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
About This Business:
Wood Fire Woodie specializes in Italian style wood fired pizzas. Signature pizzas include: The Duke: three cheese blend, fresh tomato sauce & organic… read more »
94 reviews for Zatar
Review Highlights
"We shared their Cardamom Ice Cream with Organic Medjool..."
(in 8 reviews)
"...tasty and the dessert Creme fraiche gelato with figs, honey..."
(in 4 reviews)
"We also sampled lamb dolmas - very good, and lebne with..."
(in 7 reviews)
Loading...
94 reviews in English
-
Review from Princess N.
Berkeley, CA
2/3/2012 3 photos
My husband and I decided to go for dinner to Zatar, for my birthday. We made a reservation for two, confirmed that they were serving halal meat and were off on our way.
It is a small and cozy restaurant in downtown Berkeley with a very Mediterranean feel to it. We were seated immediately and had the whole place to ourselves since it was a Thursday night. The hostess was very friendly and happily answered our questions regarding different food options on the menu. After deciding and ordering our entrees (Grilled Leg of Lamb and Chicken Kebab), we were promptly served complimentary "Zatar" with wheat bread. Zatar is a blend of different herbs and salt, mixed with olive oil.
Our food came in about 15 minutes or so, beautiful decorated with grilled carrots and chillis. The lamb had a wonderful taste and was accompanied by a delicious yogurt sauce. While it was not as tender as expected, I will give it a 4/5.
The chicken, on the other hand, was wonderfully tender and succulent with perfect seasoning and aromatic basmatic rice. Now, this dish was a 5/5.
The hostess surprised us with their famous cardamom icecream (with dates and walnuts) with a little candle in it for me. This was complimentary and needless to say, we left with happy tummies and happy hearts :)
Highly recommended. -
Review from Amy F.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012
I heard about this place on Check Please, Bay Area and was really excited to try it. The wine list is definitely expensive so we were happy to bring our own bottle, with only a $15 corkage fee. Also started with some delicious mint tea.
The food was only so-so (and not worth the trek out to Berkeley). Beet salad and grape leaves were great appetizers, and the hummus had a nice flavor/texture. I honestly don't even remember what we had for entrees because they weren't memorable. Loved the sauces though - great cilantro sauce!
Overall, I would much rather go around the corner and eat Mediterranean Food at Helmand Palace. -
Review from Moana M.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 12/13/2011
It took me almost a year to get back to Zatar after our disappointing Valentine's date. However, when my birthday came around, I decided to give it another try.
My neighbor, who knew the owners (chef and server husband-wife duo), had told me they were mortified when we walked out that night--and after a lovely meal this time, I mentioned our previous experience, which she still remembered and apologized profusely for.
Apparently there were so many people without reservations showing up in the doorway, she could not physically get to us until they were all seated or turned away. This time, we were given our choice of tables (even without knowing who we were), and graciously moved to the back when we were too chilly up front.
The restaurant is beautifully decorated and the food is delicious. They comped our mezze plate after hearing our story, and, because it was my birthday, brought out a complimentary dessert of our choice with a lit birthday candle and home grown tea to boot. Thank you for repairing our impression of your wonderful place!
favorites:
pomegranate sangria
fish tagine
lentil soup
not-so-favorite:
jalab (date syrup with rose water beverage)1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/16/2011
I feel sad because I have wanted to eat here as long as I've lived in Berkeley--over four years… Read more »
-
-
Review from Tony G.
Santa Monica, CA
10/2/2011
Thoughtful. Complex. Perfect. Divine. Only a high power could inspire Zatar's creations. 16 years in business and an instant fave for me.
Highly curated wine list full of funky cool stuff, bracing acid foodie wines, steeped in age. Obscure Burgundy and Spanish producers, all great values.
Strong love: Pom-dip, calamari and white gigante beans, properly sweated and roasted eggplant- firm and sinewy, roasted whitefish, and baklava. Wow.
Tough love- tagine, just not up to pace with everything else.
Go for the wine, come back from the food. Enjoy
Exit stage left in the Bollywood Disco Taxi. http://www.youtube.com... -
Review from John W.
Berkeley, CA
11/12/2011
We have enjoyed incredible meals at Zatar several times over the past couple of years. The middle eastern flavors blend beautifully with Calfornia Cuisine. Most of the produce is grown in the owners organic garden right nearby in Oakland. We love the Meza Plate. The tagin is an unusual (to us) and traditional method of cooking that preserves flavors and spices for heavenly flavored vegetables and/or lamb. There are plenty of possibilities for vegetarians. Ambience is warm and the wait-staff is friendly. Bon Appetit!
-
Review from Jerry J.
San Rafael, CA
11/2/2011
A small place that makes a big deal out of reservations. When we arrived there were 3 parties in the place and it never got busy. Reservations? (HUH). Very high prices, cash only, miniscule portions of well prepared, a little bland, Mediterranean regional food. Bring a small appetite and a loaded wallet.
-
Review from T W.
Berkeley, CA
3/13/2011
Two revelations about this place:
1. Why don't we don't come here more often it's just down the street form us.
2. Boo- it's going soon. :-(
The other night on the mezza platter (mix of appetizers) the shredded beet+yogurt was great, as was the mohamara (walnut paste with pomegranate), and homemade labneh (strained yogurt with olive oil and spices). The fish was really fabulous- cooked just right- flaky, tender, moist.
Lotsa restaurants can't do fish if their life depended on it. Way, way overcooked and oversauced... I'm like, don't serve fish if you don't want to taste it.
It came with roasted veggies, including sweet potato- white- so you didn't expect a nice taste of sweetness. Very delish.
The kebab for two was also tasty- including great sauces and cardamon spiked basmati.
Cardamon ice cream with dates was great to finish it off. And the baklava wasn't too sweet- also much appreciated.
That part of the block is being torn down and being rebuilt. The owners who pour their heart into this place don't know where they'll be next, and are thinking of going more into catering to get out of the restaurant lifestyle (w/2 kids 'n' all). It will have been a wonderful project for as long as it lasted.
And yes, they did take our reservations (4-5). -
Review from Cody P.
El Cerrito, CA
6/6/2011
Not sure what all the fuss was bout. This place is really nothing special. Very expensive for the portions and what you get. Recently was there with some friends - they recommended it. The service was GREAT. The food, uh, no so much. Very boring actually. I guess "hot" olives are unique, or mediteranean.
We had the Asparagus appetizer - 5 small spear of frilled asparagus with some shaved cheese on top - for $7 !!! Definitely one you can't share. Then we shared the Kabob thing for 2 - beef, chicken, lamb patties on a very boring white rice with no sauce or anything over it. A small bowl of Yogurt for the lamb ... for $50 !!! give me a break. The olive oil & bread they give you is pretty bland as well.. The live oil with pepper (of whatever it was) was very tasteless - and even had an "old" taste to it. Not much of a fan of that.
Sorry, the place really wasn't a great eating experience. And the decor is really dumpy. A very small room like 15 feet wide by about 40 feet long. No wonder people have to wait so long to get in -- although our Saturday night visit was definitely not crowded. -
Review from Sarah N.
Royal Oak, MI
6/16/2011
My dad and I found this place when I was home last winter and were very pleasantly surprised by the GREAT food. The flavors were all perfected. We shared a citrus salad first, then a vegetable tagine and lamb with minty rice. I am usually pretty finicky about meats, so I ordered the vegetable tagine expecting my dad to eat most of the lamb. Too my delight, this lamb was INCREDIBLE. My dad ended up loving the flavors of the tagine dish and I ate up most of the lamb and rice.
But the best was yet to come. Oh lordy, the desert was AMAZING. We shared their Cardamom Ice Cream with Organic Medjool Dates and Caramelized Walnuts. We were both pretty full when it came, but it was too good not to finish it. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Oakland, CA
8/10/2011
I had an exceptional romantic meal here. The salad with lemon cucumber and mint, as well as the vegetable tagine were outstanding. A choosy little wine list has many worthy accompaniments. It's a tiny family restaurant, cash only and a bit expensive. An worth it.
-
Review from Tempe M.
Richmond, CA
6/27/2011
Other than having strange hours and not accepting credit cards, this place is a home run. Loved the sampler with the different dips! Definitely would go back.
-
Review from david h.
Berkeley, CA
7/30/2011
Got an appetizer and the kebab feast for two. All-in-all both the food and service were good. (There appear to be some dissatisfied yelpers on the service front, but at least the night I was there, they had their act in order.) Generally, I'm a lamb man, but I have to say the chicken and the vegetables were the best item on the plate. If I had just gotten the lamb, I don't know if I'd have been as impressed.
The price was probably the least impressive part: you're paying bistro prices for bistro size portions at a Moroccan restaurant that's been jazzed up with a few non-traditional flavors and organic and locally sourced ingredients. And the price... The price.... It was just a hair short of being not justifiable. The bottom-line here is that this is a good place to go if you're willing to throw some cash down to try something new. (And remember they only take cash and not credit cards, even if you throw those down.) If you're on a tight budget though, you might want to save that money for another day. -
Review from Krystal H.
Berkeley, CA
8/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
The vegetable tangine was incredible, but I can't justify the prices for the portions.
-
Review from Steve B.
Sausalito, CA
This place just makes you feel warm and cozy on a cool rainy evening.
Great food, and great staff. They have flavors that range from sweet to savory, and just a little bit for everyone. We told the server what types of flavors we liked and she gave us several really good dishes which really complimented what we were looking for. Our server really knew about all of what they served which was a plesant experience
Pros: Good food, reasonable prices, great decor, location
Cons: parking
Make sure you bring cash, they do not take credit cards, I really like this, a little more planning before dinner, but there is an ATM just down the street. -
Review from Lynn P.
Berkeley, CA
11/3/2010
Loved this place. Walked in on a Friday night around 8-ish. No crowds. Scooched into one of the two cozy windows booths. Was served home made zatar, which I had no idea what it was. Delicious spices with fresh olive oil and warm wholewheat flat bread.
Appetizer of grilled fava beans, delicious and totally fresh out of the garden. Husband's not into vegetables, so I scarfed them all.
Then grilled ono for dinner in a delicious sauce.
Best part was dessert... their own family specialty of cardamom ice cream with dates and carmelized walnuts together with some decaf turkish coffee.
Oh my gosh, it was amazing. I can still taste it.
Co-owner Kelly was sweet, stood and chatted with us about life in Berkeley and Oakland. We stayed a comfortable time. Would definitely go back and try more of the menu. -
Review from lahni d.
Santa Rosa, CA
11/5/2011
So very much is right about this restaurant. It is one of a very few restaurants in the entire Bay Area that uses all organic fruits and vegetables, pasture-raised meat, and organic milk products. And they even grow their own veggies on their Oakland farm. Although the decor gets mixed reviews, I very much liked it. We don't live in Berkeley, but we do eat out a lot. We eat in Berkeley around once a month. After seeing all they are doing right, I was hopeful that we could make this one of our "go-to" places whenever we are there.
Not every dish we had was wonderful, but several were. On the mezza plater, the Mohamara (pomegranate, roasted red pepper and walnut spread), was superb; the rest of the mezza plate was fine. We very much wished that the portions of each appetizer had been bigger, though. The lentil soup was perhaps the best I've ever tasted, and it was a good sized serving. And the infused tea was also wonderful.
The only dish we didn't like was the vegetable tagine, which we've never had before. I've heard about these morrocan stews and have long wanted to taste one. I beieve this one was just cooked too long. Our waitress told me it had been slow-cooking all day. It had basically turned to mush. Perhaps they could make several batches over the course of the day. I asked to have it served over rice. I think the amount of rice was perhaps, truly 3-6 tablespoons. At $18, it was absolutely over-priced for some over-cooked veggies and a smidgen of rice. If it had been great, we would have been ok with the price.
But the real problem was the service. I (medically) need to be done eating dinner by 7:30 ideally; I can stretch it somewhat. When I came in I was running late. It was 7:00. But there were only 2 other tables taken, and one was already served. It seemed like it would be fine. The first thing i asked the owner-waitress was if the veggie tagine would take a long time to make. She assured me that it had been slow cooking all day, and was one of the fastest items on the menu. So I ordered it. I also told her that the friend who was eating with me did NOT need fast service, but I did. After about 15 minutes, I peeked into the area of the restaurant where the food "comes up." My tagine was sitting there, but she was busy dealing with what my friend had ordered, and motioned me away. When it arrived, she had forgotten about the rice I asked to be under the veggies. More time went by. Next, she was busy conversing and loudly laughing with another table, for really quite a while. I again peeked into the area where the food waits to be taken to the table. The tagine was again sitting there. I waited 35 minutes to get a dish that just needed to be spooned out of a pot. I believe she has some kind of attitude. Maybe it is that they are doing so many things right, and they have such a loyal following because of this, that she feels she just doesn't need to take the time to bother, to really listen to a new customer or work to give him responsive or fast service. Perhaps we are supposed to be so grateful for all they are doing right, that we just can't impose an expectation of good service on her. And perhaps she regards the restaurant as her salon for her enjoyment. A restaurant's value is, to me, based on three things, in approximately this proportion: food (60%), decor (15%), and service (25%). If the restaurant hits on all three, it can demand a somewhat higher price point. Zatar to me is 50% on food, 10% on decor, and 0% on service. 60% - and their somewhat high prices - is not a match. On a 5-star system, this equals 3 stars.
If you are happy to wait for your food, and not on a tight budget, overall the food and atmosphere are excellent. If you are searching for organic restaurants in the East Bay, there are two others that I know of: Razam's and Shangri-La. Neither gives such date-night ambiance though. And for superb Mediterranean food and fantastic service, priced fairly, try Mazzat in San Francisco on Fell St. -
Review from Salonje R.
Walnut Creek, CA
5/27/2011
I came to this place and first of all loved the decor. The waitress was attentive and service sufficient. The food was good. My leg of lamb had huge salt crystals at the bottom which was hard to mask but overall it was delicious. Would definitely recommend this place for people who are into business/ someone you enjoy conversing with.
-
Review from Frank C.
Walnut Creek, CA
11/1/2011
Fantastic Food. Cozy comfortable setting. Greatly enjoyed the ambiance and the food was wonderful. I highly recommend and will be back again.
-
Review from Nish N.
8/25/2006 1 photo
Zatar is one of those restaurants that should be on every foodie's list to try at least once. It's Mediterranean in theme, but just as importantly all about organic foods and sustainability. The husband and wife team behind the place pour their heart into the restaurant, and it shows.
We started with a flat bread sampler, which is the best way to try all the spreads. I really like the Mohamara one, which is made up of pomegranate and roasted peppers. The crostini was also worth trying, but I believe the menu changes from time to time.
For the main course, I'd highly recommend the Kabob Feast For Two. You get some chicken and Niman Ranch kefta kabobs, the boneless leg of lamb too. It's served with basmati rice and vegetables that are grown in the owners' own garden!
The wine list is somewhat eclectic, but that's to be expected when all the selections are organic.
If I had to point out one flaw in this cozy and intimate restaurant, it's that dinner for two (which included one bottle of wine, plus another two glasses, but no dessert), was $140 for two people, including tax and tip.
I noticed that some of the other reviews pointed to some issues with customer service. Last night it turns out that the regular waitress was sick, so the wife/owner served us. Very cool and very friendly, made us really feel at home. Maybe we lucked out, I guess I'll have to go back again to find out!Listed in: Nish on Check, Please!
-
Review from Kara R.
12/23/2008
Zatar is a very very small family-owned restaurant in Berkeley. When I say family, I'm not kidding, someone even had their baby sitting in the kitchen while they cooked. Despite occasional crying from the back of the restaurant, it was still a very enjoyable meal.
They focus on providing fresh, organic food with sustainably raised meat and vegetables. There are rumors that all of their vegetables are grown in the family's garden ("or just a really high quality purveyor and they let the rumors run wild" --Margaret). Zatar is continually busy as they are only open Wednesday through Saturday.
Since we got there right at 5:30, there wasn't a wait, but by the time we finished our meal, there was a rather large group waiting outside. Margaret said that they only take reservations for parties of six or more, so our strategy was to just show up early. Plus we were hungry.
One nice thing about showing up early was that we were able to get one of the best tables in the entire restaurant. In the front, there are two tiny booths that only fit two people. They are well cushioned with pillows everywhere. Also, since the restaurant is family-owned and family-run, the service seemed like it could be a bit slow when it gets busy. I never saw more than two waitresses the entire night, so just for the purpose of getting good service, I'd recommend showing up as early as possible.
Every meal starts out with their signature dish, which is also called "Zatar." We were served a basket of warm whole wheat pita bread along with a plate with a pinch of herbs in the middle of it. After putting it on our table, the waitress poured olive oil over the herbs and explained that we were to use it as a dip. The pita was great, the seasoning mild but it definitely got my appetite going.
Margaret ordered a mint lemonade to start, which was absolutely delicious. As I sit here writing this, I am reminded of how much I regret not getting one. It was icy, refreshing, and not too sweet. We also split a calamari appetizer.
For the first time in a long time, we ordered calamari and it was not battered and fried! A miracle! Fresh squid was served on top of a bed of peppery arugula with huge white beans, and drizzled with a vinaigrette dressing.
Next came our entree. Originally we were drooling over all of the meat dishes and eventually decided to try everything by getting the "Kebab Feast for Two." We were served a huge dish of rice that had a slight lavender flavor to it. On top of that was an array of grilled vegetables, including cauliflower, squash, green beans, and carrots. Surrounding the rice were hunks of grilled chicken, steak, and lamb patties. There was a yogurt-dill sauce on the side for dipping.
My favorite meat was probably the lamb patties, although every single piece of meat that I ate was perfectly cooked. The lamb was ground up, and then put into a patty with fennel seeds, which really enhanced the flavor. I liked that they used ground meat as well because it made the meat leaner without losing much flavor. Even the chicken, which has a tendency to dry out, was beautifully cooked and still moist.
Next was Margaret's favorite part of the meal. Unfortunately they were out of creme fraiche gelato that night, so we had to change our choices ("You're on your own for this one, I'm getting an entire dessert to myself." --Margaret).
I ended up going with a date and toasted walnut ice cream. Unfortunately, the ice cream was already really sweet, so the added sugar from the date made it overpoweringly so. Margaret fared much, much better. She had an apricot tart made from phyllo dough with mascarpone cheese on the bottom. As scared as I was to try the cheese, it was delicious.
To top things off, we had hot water infused with mint and lemon. It wasn't too sweet or overpowering, so it was a nice way to finish off our meal.
I learned a few things at Zatar: 1) Chicken breast does not always have to be dry; 2) I have the capability of liking cheese in a dessert, but no that does not mean I'm going to try cheesecake anytime soon; 3) It's a great idea to have Margaret owe you money--she pays back in the most wondrous ways. -
Review from Suzanne F.
Portland, OR
12/10/2008
This review is from the perspective of an overall experience, not nit picking about service, location, ambiance, etc., so please keep this in mind as you read. Stuart set up quite a surprise for me this past weekend and boy! was I surprised! My birthday was coming up & I am fairly certain he had no idea what to do or what to get for me. Fortunately, he is a crafty individual and, best of all, he listens! He's been hearing all along about how much I love Portland, but I really, really miss my friends. So, he secretly got all their phone numbers & arranged a surprise party/dinner at Zatar!
It was great! Everyone met and we were seated at a comfortable table, menus were presented & I let Stuart take care of things. We had samples of everything! The hummus with crackers was delicious! Next came a salad with goat cheese & pomegranates, and a light, refreshing dressing. Bread was plentiful along with some very good quality olive oil and tasty olives, too! I might also mention we had terrific wine as we went along on our courses. Did I mention yet how much I love that man of mine??!
ANYWAY, from the salad course we proceeded to entrees & we tried many! We sampled a butter fish which was divine, some lamb chops, some marinated chicken, couscous, a vegetable terrine, and oh gosh! I am certain I am forgetting something...The point is, everything was so good, so fresh, filled with that elusive te amo factor! We were all very happy!
Then came dessert! We opted for an apple & quince crisp served with scrumptious cardamom ice cream (oh how much I could go on & on about this...) and a bittersweet chocolate flour-less cake with creme fraiche ice cream! The recent dental diagnosis did not sway me away from any of this (see review for Mint Dental in Portland, OR)...Oh this meal just swooped me away to my Happy Place like nobody's business!! I have no idea what this set The Big Man back (I think that's part of the gift-giving experience...), all I can say is that it sure was worth every penny and I am one lucky individual! May you all receive pleasant surprises at least once in awhile! I like this restaurant quite a lot. It IS small, it is somewhat cramped, parking is not terrific. HOWEVER, it is so worthwhile to check it out. Please give this lovely place your business if you are so inclined. I'm a fan! -
Review from Aivy C.
4/12/2008
Cash only!
This place has barely enough room for two people to do the Kid n' Play, so I wouldn't recommend it to large groups - but for a party of two to four people, it's great. I would call ahead to make sure it's not packed, though.
On to the food!
We split two appetizers - the Mazza Platter (Lebna Bil Zatar - a yogurt cheese, Mohamara - pomegranate / red pepper / walnuts, & Hummus) and Boreka, which is phyllo dough stuffed with feta cheese and herbs and comes 4 pieces to a plate, and got a pot of the Moroccan Mint Tea. Mind you this was split amongst 3 hungry ass moms - we really should have stopped here, because this was truly the perfect amount of food. I'm not really gonna talk about the main courses because I didn't really enjoy them as much as I did the appetizers, but for dessert we also split the Creme Fraiche Gelato w/ Rosewater Syrup & Candied Almonds and the Flourless Chocolate Cake with chile powder, and that was the perfect ending note for tonight's dinner.
The wait staff definitely knows how to pace themselves - it didn't feel like all the food was coming out to us at once (good thing too because the tables are super small). This is definitely not a place to eat if you're in a rush to get somewhere, but it's perfect for a leisurely dinner with good conversation and good company.
Next time, just appetizers and dessert. -
Review from Irene D.
San Mateo, CA
5/22/2007
I decided at the last minute to take one of my dearest friends here for her birthday. She's not a picky eater so I figured hey let's try a new place?
We arrived at Zatar only to realize it was RESERVATION ONLY....Dang it! What now? I calmly went outside after the hostess confirmed it was Reservation only, and decided to give them a call....it couldn't hurt?
The conversation takes place on their bench right outside the restaurant...
Me: Hi! I was wondering if I could make a reservation for two?
Hostess: I'm sorry we're full right now but I can put you on the list for 8:30pm sometimes people don't show up.
Me: That's great!
Hostess: How quickly can you be here? It's 8pm now and I can add your name to the list. It looks like we might have a few tables opening up soon.
Me: OH I don't know, maybe 5 minutes (I'm sitting outside their front door)
Hostess: Great, just come by in around 20 minutes....
She added me to a list, we lucked out, and the 20 minutes gave me enough time to hit an ATM near by...since the place CASH ONLY. (Why she didn't add my name to the list when I first asked still baffles me. Oh well.) The place is TINY and although we ended up sharing a large table with two other patrons. It wasn't bad at all.
Drinks:
1 Jalab (Rose Water with Date Syrup)
1 Mint Lemonade (House-Made Lemonade Blended with Fresh Spearmint Leaves)
The Food:
Mezza Sampler - (Lebna Bil Zatar, Mohamara & Hummus Served with Zatar Lavash & Flat Bread) WOW!!! dipping heaven it was sooo good I ended up almost completely stuffing myself before the entrees came.
Chicken Kuzi: (Fillo Pastry stuffed with Chicken, Sun-Dried Cherries, Basmati Rice,Toasted Almonds, Spices) Chicken in a box as my friend called it...it wasn't bad. I liked my dish better.
Grilled leg of lamb: I'm not a big lamb fan but this lamb, that night converted me, no funky gamey aftertaste, just tender, flavorful meat.
I found out later that this place uses fresh, organic food, and the owner was making the rounds checking up on orders making sure customers were satisfied. This place has a cozy, comfortable feel to it. Great experience. I would definitely go back and try some of their other entrees. -
Review from Jaimie B.
Oakland, CA
2/16/2007
I just went to Zatar this evening after hearing rave reviews on Check Please. I have to say that for an $85 dollar dinner, including tip, this was certainly not worth it. We had the $45 kabob platter for two (which could have included a few more vegetables and rice--only two slim baby carrots, two brussel sprouts and three slices of zucchini were included--and the $12.50 mezza appetizer, two drinks (sangria & mint lemonade). The drinks didn't come out together, water didn't come for 15 minutes in to sitting down, bread for the mezza plate did not get refilled until we waited about ten minutes after finishing the first basket, the yogurt sauce that was served with the kabob plate did not come out until I was half way done my plate--I didn't even know I should be enjoying it w/my meal as it came out so late!
With all that said, the food is tasty, but due to the very high cost and the poor service by the owner/waitress, I would not return or recommend this restaurant. -
Review from Ines T.
San Leandro, CA
2/8/2008
2 stars for:
-SUPER small space. The place only seats about 25 ppl
-SLOW, SLOW food
-mediocre food
-No Credit Card
-super overpriced (17-27 bucks a plate)
We went before catching a show at the Berkeley Rep. The 4 of us arrived at 6 and told the waitress we had a show at 8. She didn't seem to think that would be a problem. However, we didn't get our food until 7:30-- WTF is up with that? The waitresses were not apologetic, so I assume it is standard policy here. People were waiting for a super long time. When we got our food, it wasn't anything special. I HIGHLY recommend Cafe La Med on College over this place. We got our food at 7:30 scarfed it down and made it to the theater by 7:45. Impressive on our part if you ask me... -
Review from Quyen T.
Berkeley, CA
12/26/2009
We've been trying to get into this joint forever. First, there are no reservations unless you have a ginormous party, so everytime we want to eat here, it's always crowded. But, we've been wanting to take my father in law here for his bday, and did so not too long ago.
Everything is very well-seasoned. The portions are not ginormous, but the flavoring is amazing and everything seems very authentic. We ordered the sampler plate, along with the shish kabob plate for two ($50, so it was pricey). We also ordered a side of potatoes (delicious, but came out a bit COLD!). We topped it off with two desserts -- poached pears and some baklava. We also ordered two pots of tea. For three people, the meal came out to a whopping $120 or something like that. Not cheap. But the food was admittedly very good.
The downside is that it's CASH ONLY (cash only? What?!!!), the service is lackluster, and it's damn cold in there. I wore my wool jacket throughout dinner. It's family run or something like that, but honestly, just because your food is good doesn't mean that you shouldn't have attentive wait staff. I felt like the one woman who was working the room just wasn't enough. It was also kinda expensive--$5 for a small pot of tea is not cheap. Finally, skip the dessert. Totally not worth it. Take a drive up the block to Cioccalote da vino instead!Listed in: My 'Hood: The Gourmet Ghetto
-
Review from Terika B.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2006
+Organic to an obnoxious degree.
+Sustainable (all scraplings are feed to chickens or composted).
+Good food.
+Excellent atmosphere (try to get a seat with your sweetie in the window).
-This place is PRICEY. I don't think that the food that my boyfriend, Joe, and I ordered (a sangria, an iced tea, Chicken Suzi, and Pomegranate Salmon) was worth $80. We were talked out of ordering the Kebab Feast for two due to time constraints (we went to see The Fountain, review to come). Joe claims this to be in his top ten favorite restaurants. Meh is what I say.
Overpriced. But next time I go (because I believe in second chances and Joe pays when we go there), I will order the Feast (lamb, lamb, baby sheep, ground baby sheep). -
Review from Angela B.
San Francisco, CA
5/30/2007
I was looking for Mediterranean food and wanted something other then La Med. The hubs and I were heading over to Berkeley to meet up with some friends a bit later in the evening, so we found this place on Shattuck to eat at before hand, which happened to be right across the street from Triple Rock, where we were meeting friends. Any who.
We got seated right away at a cute little corner table, the service was a bit slow; it took them about 10/15 min to bring out our water and bread. But they did bring us a bottle of water for re-fills and the bread and spice dipping olive oil was yum. We decided to split everything so we ordered:
1. Warm Lamb Dolmas
2. Orange, Date & Almond Salad - Very Yum!
3. Lentil Soup with Leeks, Lemon, Turnips & Greens
4. Grilled leg of lamb
5. Crme Fraiche Gelato, Strawberries & Lavender Honey
I enjoyed all the food and found it very flavorful and fresh, a little pricey, and they don't take credit cards, what? I think if you are going to charge $20+ dollars for a main course you should take credit cards. I'm still giving it 4 stars, but I'm more at 3.5. -
Review from Seth S.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2011
We ate at Zatar and the food was delicious and we had them cater our wedding. Kelly was a pleasure to work with -- even more so considering that we had a very tight timeline (about three weeks!). She worked with us to achieve what we wanted and made suggestions to keep us within budget. She also decorated the tables to make them beautiful.
What attracted us to Zatar in the first place was that it had a sustainable orientation to the food (they even grow some of the vegetables in their own garden), so that was a plus for us.
We ate at the restaurant prior to our wedding to taste the food and I highly recommend it too. The ambiance is cozy and attractive, the service was attentive, and the food was, of course, delicious.
I highly recommend it! -
Review from Ana B.
San Francisco, CA
2/17/2008
The popularity of this Mediterranean hole in the wall has soared since it was featured on "Check, Please! Bay Area." It's funny how us foodies treat that show like it's the ultimate authority on the Bay Area dining experience, and every restaurant featured ends up on everyone's "must try" list.
Yes, Zatar does have a few quirks like not accepting credit cards or only being open for lunch on Fridays. Because of these quirky qualities and the fact that it's a hole in the wall, it's a little difficult for me to rank it as a fine dining establishment. However, their prices reflect otherwise.
I finally had a chance to go to Zatar for lunch last Friday, and had an excellent meal. A friend and I started off with the Mezza appetizer, which consists of Mohamara (pomegranate, roasted red pepper and walnut spread), hummus, feta (which was very light in flavor), whole wheat flat bread, and a crostini/cracker with zatar. It was a good sampler, but I can't say that I was dazzled by it. We also both ordered the grilled lamb combo plate, which includes grilled Niman Ranch lamb marinated in Moroccan spices, basmati rice with cardamom, organic lettuce salad, Jajeek (homemade yogurt, cucumber, mint, dill and garlic), hummus and flat bread. The lamb was cooked perfectly. It was very moist and fresh. The cardamom infused rice was a nice compliment, and not too overwhelmed by the cardamom. Our bill was about $42, not including tip or any drinks.
Overall, this was one of the better lunches I've had in Downtown Berkeley. I give Zatar kudos for serving organic produce that they grow themselves, free-range meat, and being a sustainable, green business. It's a shame that more restaurants don't employ the same practices. However, I hesitate to give them a fifth star only because they are very pricey, and I think they could be a little more heavy-handed with their use of herbs and spices. I expect much stronger flavors to dance on my palate when it comes to Mediterranean food.Listed in: I'm going Berzerkeley!
-
Review from ananda z.
Augusta, GA
1/8/2006
Overated! And this place looks and sounds so promising, too! .
The food was okay, but not great. I think its fabulous that they use organic ingredients, but I can buy organic ingredients and serve them plainly at home. When I eat out, I want something stand-out and flavorful... this just wasn't it.
Also, our waitress was condescending from the very start. We could never catch her eye to ask for another glass of drink, or desert menus, (hard to avoid given the small restaurant!) and otherwise felt as if we were treated very rudely. The prices are cheap for Shattuck maybe, but not really cheap... $20 entrees, $7 glasses of wine, $8 soup, etc. Not worth it! -
Review from Tee n Em K.
Dublin, CA
12/26/2009
3.5 stars. Avg. to slightly above avg. middle eastern food.
Lamb is the main dish as you can see from the reviews. We had the kabob meal for two. Both ground lamb and roast lamb were very good. The chicken was moist and flavorful. Nothing was exciting, but all was pretty good.
Very small place and not the most private. Desert was soso and the turkish coffee was terrible, is it not supposed to be filtered, ecchhh. The mint tea was nums though!
Good food, crappy lay out, too small. -
Review from Martin G.
San Pablo, CA
2/12/2009
Two nights ago I ate at Zatar for the second time (last time was some years before). The experience was similar on both occasions: High prices, acceptable but not great food, excreably bad service from cheerful, personable wait-persons (long long waits between courses, despite a nearly empty restaurant and not remotely related to food prep time) and mediocre ambiance.
We had the Kebab Feast for two ($50) as our main course. Serviceable, but nothing special. Lean on vegetables (a small carrot and two sticks of asparagus each). Adeqaute and decent, if not exciting, rice. Lamb chunk, ground lamp, and chicken pieces were also decent, tasty, and lean but not exceptional. Chicken was not too dry, to its credit.
We also had the pear walnut salad (acceptable, but nothing special). The Lentil Soup was perhaps the high point of the meal... quite distinctive and tasty.
The dates stuffed with walnuts on the desert menue were surprisingly unsweet, and I was not impressed by them, but the cardomin ice cream was delicious.
We each had a glass of red wine, and dinner came to $133 with a 20% tip. THAT is not a good value for what we received.
It was a cold rainy night, and the waitress said "the window booths are insulated". They are not. It was uncomfortably cold sitting in the restaurant. Single pane glass. The nearby door to the restaurant has NO weatherstripping AT ALL, and there is a very substantial and palpable cold air breeze coming in along its edges when it's shut. The proprietors DID NOT care to warm the place up more, despite the fact we were uncomfortable AND despite the fact that at times we were the only ones in it (Wednesday night, 6:30 PM). They wouldn't even move their on, pitiful electric heater, warming an empty table at the end of the resturant, nearer us.
You can do a lot better for $133 in Berkeley, or the Bay Area generally. For food more or less of this sort, not too far from here, I recommend Pomegranate on University Ave. Check reviews here. It's not perfect, either, but I think overall superior. And may be less expensive.
NOTE that while the experience of feeling chilled while eating didn't help my attitude this time, the last time I was here the weather was warm, I was not physically uncomfortably cold in the restaurant, but otherwise the experience... especially the long waits between portions... was similar.
---marty -
Review from Heather B.
East Bay, CA
11/16/2009 1 photo
Oh my goodness, this place was an incredible and compete sensory experience! To avoid waiting in line, we arrived when it opened at 5:30pm, which worked well with our theatre tickets.
The main reason for five stars is that the food was simply outstanding. Every element was fresh, well-balanced, and so great you didn't want it to end.
On top of that, the service was very good and the atmosphere/decor is delightful, elegant, and cozy all at once.
It's really important to know that THEY DON'T TAKE CREDIT CARDS, as the pricing is not cheap (though it *is* worth every penny). -
Review from jessie h.
Emeryville, CA
8/13/2008
The kindest people own and run this beautiful, eco-friendly restaurant. The food is superb, the service is outstanding, and a warmth exudes from everyone here.
If you are vegetarian, there are plenty of delicious choices for you. And the wine is also superb.
It may be small, and sometimes slow, but it is well worth the wait for a meal made with great love and attention. -
Review from Nemr E.
Berkeley, CA
4/7/2010
Wana be's elegant restaurant. But the problem is they do easily made home food with non organic ingredients and costs like chez pannisse!!
The food is tasteless i am of a mediterranean and middle eastern origin. This place is a nice place for a glass of wine more than this NULL.
Cash only!! un ethical because it is an over priced fraud! i had to pay for two plates and a soda 100 dollars and they dont even accomodate payment on credit... Why do they charge tax then on the check if they dont pay it!!
I left there and passed the street to my car i swear i found this turkish dinner that has amazing food great service.. And yes this take credit cards! -
Review from Meredith O.
Menlo Park, CA
3/8/2006
We Got IN - We Got In, we finally got in. We have tried to go here a few times to say the least. It is very small and quite a popular place - therefore the wait can be 2+ hours, or without a reservation they may just turn you away.
Zatar is a completely green organic restaurant... and I like that.... The hummus not as smooth as I prefer, but the falafels were very tasty ,and the zatar and wheat pita excellent. My entree' was a bit bland... I had a vegetable seafood soup/stew, with a name I cannot spell. The Arabic tea was quite yummy, though.
They are CASH ONLY.... so before you eat everything you want and go crazy...hit the ATM across the street.
OMG, Ananda, we thought the waitress was condescending too.... but she did warm up by the end and then we thought maybe just cold and cramped in there.... Bottom line: we got in and won't go back. -
Review from Ayelet B.
Danville, CA
8/29/2008 1 Check-in Here
This was a wonderful find. Friends who come here regularly invited me to join them and it was fantastic. Everything was fresh and wonderful. The service was great and friendly.
We had the sampler, the arugula and fig salad and a special falafel plate with leeks. It was so good. Just writing about it makes me want to go back. We also shared the lamb special and the kebabs were amazing.
I loved the pistachio baklava and we had a birthday cake. The only aspect that impacted the evening was that a big, noisy group came in so we decided to leave. I had read that it was cash only so we were prepared. -
Review from heather g.
San Francisco, CA
11/20/2008
My husband and I had a two hour dinner here last weekend. It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a meal this much.
The service was excellent, particularly impressive as the restaurant is small, crowded, and relatively inexpensive.
We started with the best muhammara I've ever had. It was tangy, nutty, with a perfect texture. The flatbread served with it was warm and crispy. We also sampled lamb dolmas - very good, and lebne with zatar. The real standout of the first courses, however, was the sunchoke and leek soup, which was creamy, perfectly balanced, and served with the most amazing bread I have ever tasted.
We followed with a braised lamb shank with figs and caramelized onions and vegetables. No vegetable is overlooked here, and every one is given proper attention. The lamb is the star, and was perfect in every detail. However, unlike some more notable and more expensive restaurants, Zatar does not treat vegetables as an afterthought. My green beans were uber-green beans.
I was not drinking with my meal, and rather than being frowned upon for my decision - which I have found all to common in some establishments - our server suggested a delicious tamarind-rose beverage which I cannot say enough nice things about.
The one thing I would warn potential diners about is, strange as it may seem, potential other diners. Its a great place, but a small one. If you are seated between a couple of attention grabbing annoyances, as my husband and I were, you pretty much have to suck it up. The food is worth it. I'll listen to political diatribes all day if I can eat like this. And if I had been able to drink that night, maybe I wouldn't have even noticed! -
Review from Linh N.
Menlo Park, CA
4/24/2008
The quality of the food here is outstanding. Everything tastes farm-fresh (probably because it is). I loved their lamb dish. Their appetizers are really filling. I regretted ordering an entree after I finished the lebni/muhamarra appetizer. I was so full, I couldn't finish all of the delicious lamb!
Zatar is kind of an inconvenient place to eat at since it has weird hours and only takes cash. But whatevs, the food more than makes up for it.
