Matthias Z.'s Profile

I really love this new restaurant Kiraku: the food is excellent, the ingredients are fresh and well prepared, and the service is very prompt and friendly.

It's going to be a tough choice for us if we are in the Berkeley area if we go to Ippuku or this place, but we really like the atmosphere and food here. The location is really convenient if you are hanging out in Elmwood or Rockridge, and the prices are more reasonable than other izakaya restaurants.

Really good selection of sakes and great Asahi. Food and service are great.

I have been working with Jon Mills for several years and are very pleased with his work. He is pro-active and makes the filing progress transparent. He was also able to handle complex international tax issues.

The reviews saying these guys have gone downhill are totally accurate.

They do solid work, are reasonably priced, very busy, but can be extremely inconsistent in their hours and completion. They're nice people and I'm willing to be patient and give them a chance.

I just called about a pair of pants and wife's skirt I dropped off over 3 weeks ago to hem and drop the waist. I came in yesterday to pick it up: long after they agreed to finish it.

They didn't even have it in the store: they said they were at home and they were working on it, but weren't even sure they were done.

So they wrote down my order number, and today when I call to see if they brought it in, they say they still forgot the bring in the clothing to their tailor shop, and they want me to come it as late as possible for a second fitting (so it's not done.)

I'm planning on waiting after the holidays to check in on them again and work with them on the second fittings.

Rules:

1) Always, always make sure you call ahead of time and make sure they are actually open when they say they are. They don't leave it on an answering machine if they have an emergency.
2) Always call in advance to make sure they are done with their pieces before you bother to stop by for a pick up.

I'd be happy to up this review once they get better at making commitments to customers and having better communication.

Kristy cuts my hair, my wife's and my son's. She very friendly, and takes her time- about an hour for shampoo, wash, cut, and styling. She does a really nice job consulting you on what your needs are and then does her stying. So far, the whole family is very happy with her.

I haven't yelped in a long time, but this place is worth writing about. I am a Japan fan and read about the denim cult before. Yesterday I finally had a change to visit Self Edge. If you are looking for the ultimate jeans you will find it here. The service was excellent. Karen and I chatted for a while with the owner about Japan, rare sneakers and denim.
I tried a couple of jeans and really like the limited edition (150 pairs) Triple Works ($250) they have right now. Since I want reduce my impulse buying I left the store without them. But I will be back.

I went for the first time today, a Saturday for lunch. The place was fairly empty at 1:00pm and we got seated right away. The lunch menu has great choices for bargain prices. It was hard to decide what to try so I will need to come back many times.
Finally I decided for the mushroom udon and Karen ordered the stuffed eggplant with some additional avocado/shitaki maki. The food was nicely presented and delicious. I had udon in Tokyo and Kyoto, but have to say this one is on par, even so it is not done with fish broth. Full flavored broth with a lot of different mushrooms and solid udon noodles. Karen enjoyed the stuffed eggplant, which was recommended by other Yelpers as well. The maki was very good as well and I definitely will be back to try different types of their sushi as well as the tempura.
Finally the waitress was very friendly, so I am happy to give 5 stars. I wish we had a place like that near my office in San Jose.

This so much more then a grocery. They have a small restaurant on the porch which has great Californian dishes (try the artichokes and the lamb with potatoe gratin). On the weekends they have BBQ. Also a great place to buy snacks to go for a picknick in Santa Ynez valley (a la Sideways).

Went to the Guerilla Cafe on Saturday for a lunch snack. Karen and I had walked by this place a couple of times and decided it is time to go. I like the atmosphere. Laid back, African music and a live drummer. Interesting urban art. The food is great. We had the sandwich special of the day with a lot of fresh and organic veggies and a huge bowl of oatmeal. Definitly will come back (even so the place competes with many other favorites in that area like the Cheeseboard Pizzeria, Gregoire and "Love at First Bite").
Later the day I went to Chez Panisse for dinner. This type of diversity is what I really like about Berkeley.

Chez Panisse deserves a fice star rating but do not expect your typical gourmet restaurant. If you go to Chez Panisse you can expect excellent high-end organic food which tastes like a like reference model for whatever is served. The preparation is often fairly simple and the focus is to highlight the typical flavor of the specific ingredients.
The first time I went to Chez Panisse restaurant about 4 years ago I was disappointed because I expected French gourmet style food and service. I went back a number of times to the Cafe and enjoyed it a lot and just returned from another visit to the restaurant. Do not expect complex food creations, multiple waiters per table, waiters picking up and folding your napkins when you are on the bathroom, cloth towels in the bathroom, etc. This is about the organic food experience... and thats it (if you want the former I suggest French Laundry, Ritz Carlton Dining Room or Masa's). I am not complaining (afterall I give it 5 stars and admire Alice Waters) I just want to ensure you come prepared and with the right expactations.
Todays menu was outstanding. We started with a local halibut tartare with cherry tomatoes,cucumbers, and avocado. The fish was so fresh I would categorize it as high-end sashimi grade. It melted in my mouth and did not taste fishy at all. The main course was duck breast with fresh plum sauce, fried eggplant and dry-cooked beans. I am a big fan of duck and this was exactly how duck should taste. Again focused on very basic but rich flavors.
The wine selection is small (again compared to typical fourmet temples), but well sorted and starts at reasonable price levels. If you consider going to Chez Panisse for the first time I suggest you try the Cafe and if you enjoy it come back and got to the restaurant.

This is the place to go for Northern Indian Vegetarian snacks. Initially an Indian friend of mine took me there and I was amazed by the different Indian dishes I had never heard of. I specifically like the Pani Poori ($3.99) which are hollow pastry balls (I cannot describe it better). Eating them is a whole ritual. First you push a whole into the ball. Then you stuff it with chopped potatos, onions or other vegetables and finally you put a couple of spoons of spicy watery sauce into it. Pretty much eat it like you would drink a shot. Yummy....
The Samosas are a good starter ($2.50). My favorite main courses are the House Thali (the only difference between 1 and 2 is the type of lentils you get , it is a steal for $6.95) and the Baigan Bartha (Spicy eggplant dish, $5.75).
One word of warning. Do not order the Dabeli, the description is misleading. It is spicy mashed potatos in a hamburger bun.
If you have room for dessert try the Gulab Jamin.