Green Fast Food

Mention the words "healthy fast food" and you're likely to be met with plenty of skepticism. You probably would have reacted the same way before discovering Amanda's. Even if it's not completely fat-free, it's about as wholesome as a quick meal can get. The specialty burgers are made from fresh, organic, all-natural ingredients, with vegetarians also accommodated with a mushroom and walnut burger and a few delicious salads. And the fries are in fact baked, but still taste great despite not having been saturated in oil. Or, you can try Amanda's fresh raw organic apple "fries" or warm almonds as an alternative. Items can be ordered individually, or go for one of the combos, none of which can be supersized. There's no Coca-cola or Sprite to be found on the menu either--all sodas are freshly made. And to make this place even better, the restaurant is kind to our bodies and the environment--all utensils and food packaging is compostable and the facilities are built from sustainable materials.

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Restaurants • Berkeley (East)

Fast, Healthy, and In Control

Vegetarians, here's a place just for you where even your fiercest carnivore friends wouldn't mind tagging along to. There's no way they can turn down a place that serves seven varieties of specialty fries in addition to its healthy organic meat-free sandwiches and salads. At Chick-O-Pea's, ordering the falafel pita gets you a trip to the salad bar, where you can stuff your sandwich with an assortment of fresh vegetables and beans. Even the tofu burger can't be too bland when it's topped with pomegranate or spicy zhug sauce. If you've got room for dessert, there's house-made baklava, including vegan-friendly and apple versions. For those who thought that fast food always involved meat and grease, this place proves otherwise.

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Restaurants • Berkeley (East)

Downtown Dessert

I really loved the minimalist decor of this place when it was Gelato Milano. It had hands-down the best authentic Italian gelato I'd been able to find outside Italy. Then after the management changed, obtaining a new name in the process, I was hesitant to go back, sure it just wouldn't be the same. When I finally got around to visiting the shop under its new name, I discovered that some Americanized flavors like peanut butter had entered the mix, bucking its former trend of producing only traditional tastes like panna cotta and strawberry. I skipped the new flavors and stuck with my old favorites, enjoying the Italian music playing in the background, just like old times. Though distracted by the bright red walls, the experience was more or less still the same, with the ice cream's texture staying true to its roots. If you're looking for a cheap dessert after a meal in downtown Berkeley, you can't go wrong with gelato.

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Restaurants • Berkeley (East)

Save Our Bookstores!

Recently, I've been dismayed by the demise of so many businesses around the Bay Area, in particular independent bookstores. So when I passed by Black Oak Books' flagship location in Berkeley and saw an empty shop, I assumed that it had become yet another victim of the recession and feared that there was just no longer a place for its kind in a world dominated by Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. Turns out that Black Oak Books only lost its lease, and has thus is in the process of forging a new identity. It promises to remain in business even without a retail outlet, temporarily moving online and continuing to purchase books for cash. For customers looking for the old-fashioned bookstore experience, a weekend retail location will soon open. Of all the local used bookstores, I'd say that this one has the best chance of survival.

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Bookstores • Berkeley (East)

Summer = Beer

I'm really not much of a beer drinker, so I don't care how many varieties of house brews Jupiter has on tap on any given night. But that doesn't make it any less of an all-around great place for me to catch up with friends and chill out to live jazz. The brick oven-fired pizzas are creative and delicious, as are the salads. If beer's not your thing, try the cider, which come in tasty choices like pear and pomegranate. And now that it's late spring, you can also enjoy the "Americana Unplugged Sundays" summer bluegrass series, which will run through October. Another reason to look forward to the imminent arrival of summer.

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Restaurants • Berkeley (East)

Cafe of Choice

It's hard for me to be in the neighborhood near Cafe Clem and not be tempted to stop in for a cafe au lait and pastry. This little cafe is a bit off-the-beaten path on Berkeley's south side, but it is well worth a trip to sample the delectable baked goods, savory egg dishes, and gourmet sandwiches. Inspired by the cafes of France and sister to Berkeley's well-loved La Note restaurant, Cafe Clem is a cozy place to sip your coffee slowly and linger over a newspaper and perhaps an almond croissant. On sunny days, grab a sidewalk table and hope you get there just when the chocolate chip cookies come out of the oven. Or order a toasted baguette with brie and a fresh fruit tartlet with a glass of French wine, and any old afternoon turns simply delightful.

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Coffee • Berkeley (West)

Barrel O' Monkey Beer

A real brewpub for serious pub goers, Triple Rock Brewery is said to be the oldest original brewpub in the United States and the fifth brewpub to open in the country. It's the only brewpub to still be owned and operated by its founders. Located in Berkeley's downtown district, Triple Rock is not a hidden gem. It's well loved and can get very crowded, especially on Thursdays--the only day when the pub serves its beloved Monkey Head Arboreal Ale. Other days there is no lack of good beer, however. In fact, this is my favorite locally brewed beer. I put up with the crowds, the always-on-sports flat-panel TV screens, and the spotty service just to drink the beer. Triple Rock does not bottle and sell its beer elsewhere, although you can buy a box o' beer to take home with you and drink at your leisure. The food here is typical salty, greasy pub fare. It does the job, but this place is really about the brew.

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Nightlife • Berkeley (East)

Cakes of Paradise

I rarely have the pleasure of enjoying a proper American breakfast. I'm always too lazy or not hungry enough, to whip it up at home. And eating out for the first meal of the day seems so unnatural, especially when you have to wait. Ideally, I'd like to roll out of bed and have my morning meal within minutes. So it might seem odd that I was willing to wait 40 minutes for brunch at Rick & Anne's, but my friend assured me it was worth it so we sat with our empty stomachs, choosing not to pick anything up from Peet's to save room for what was to come. When our food arrived, I devoured my fresh-pressed apple juice and buttery ricotta orange pancakes and housemade turkey sausage. Sometimes, it really is worth the wait.

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Restaurants • Berkeley (East)

The Big Tasty

I have yet to make a trip to Louisiana, and I'll never know what New Orleans was like in its pre-Katrina days. For now, an evening at Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen will suffice. Food and music are what The Big Easy is known for, and the restaurant succeeds in presenting both in an intimate setting. The menu boasts all of the traditional Cajun and Southern favorites like gumbo, jambalaya, po' boys, and catfish. As a starter, my friend (whose family hails from Louisiana) and I ordered hush puppies, served crisp and golden with honey butter. My crawfish etoufee had the right amount of Cajun kick, and we topped off the night with beignets, covered in powdered sugar. All the while, a New Orleans soundtrack serenaded us with the likes of "When the Saints Go Marching In." That night, I was able to pretend for the duration of your meal, that New Orleans will never change.

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Restaurants • Berkeley (East)

Peacemongering Curdled Milk

Berkeley doesn't lack many culinary institutions. Whatever it is you're craving, there's someplace in town that serves it. But one thing that has yet to arrive here is a Pinkberry. If LA and New York can have that sour frozen yogurt with fresh, all-natural toppings, why can't we? But fortunately, there are independent fro-yo joints popping up, including Yogurt Harmony. The eco-friendly place provides more or less the same goods as the more famous franchise. The (relatively) guilt-free treat doesn't come cheap, even for a small portion with one topping. To get more bang for your buck, gather a few friends and order the shaved ice--the huge serving provides enough yogurt, shaved ice, and toppings to satisfy all.

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Shopping • Berkeley (East)

A Welcome Reprieve, Victuals

Aside from night clubs, ice cream, new video game systems, concert tickets, public executions, the DMV and first run movies, breakfast is one thing that I refuse to wait in line for. As seems to be the trend these days in the East Bay, if you serve eggs and bacon on weekends--no matter how mundane the fare or how poor the service--mobs of hung-over individuals will line the sidewalk, willing to wait all morning for whatever hyped-up hash you're slinging. Thats why I've been finding myself at La Mediterrannee on weekend mornings. I wouldn't call it dead by any means but it's certainly a mellow scene (of course, this little treatise will probably remedy that), probably because they're best known for lunch, dinner and catering at their two SF locations, but brunch here is a welcome respite from crowds and lines as well as standard calorie-choked breakfast offerings. The brunch menu is a healthy smattering of traditional Mediterranean day-starters from house made sausage to steamed eggs to hummus and mammounia, an oatmeal-like concoction covered in cinnamon that they occasionally sell out of, mellow crowds and all.

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Restaurants • Berkeley (East)

Theatre of the Absurd

One of the more looked-over independent cinema houses in the Bay Area sits tucked away amid the high-end retail nooks of the Elmwood strip in Berkeley on College Ave. In praise of the little theatre that could: quaint surroundings, stylish throw-back interior design, great popcorn, and, despite the lack of the latest Lucas film brand X-9000 ear-splitters, a solid sound and projection system. But my faves about the Elmwood is the selection of films that rotates through. I picture the staff getting together every other week, each of them writing down a dozen contemporary, classic, foreign, independent and even big studio films, putting them all together in a hat, and picking at random the three or four that will share the marquis in the coming days. And as far as special events, the Elmwood plays host to numerous events and screenings, most notably of late the Elmwood is hosting "Frameline 32," the annual San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival for four nights later this month, June 23-26.

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Movie Theaters • Berkeley (East)

They Don't Want to Abuse You

I was walking down College Ave. the other day when the most interesting music stopped me in my tracks. Emanating from this curious shop was unmistakably Radiohead, but a version of Radiohead that was totally inconsistent with the band's original music. Seeking further knowledge I set foot inside Sweet Dreams, a cavernous toy store for most certainly all ages. There, the staff of 30-something dude-types turned me on to the world of lullabye covers. Radiohead aside, these dudes were literally and figuratively rocking their little ones to sleep with lullabye renditions of such children's favorites as Tool, Led Zeppelin, and Metallica. Aside from the tunes, Sweet Dreams is brilliantly set up, with semi-themed rooms packed with eclectic toys that cater to young (and old) folk's age range and gender preferences. I hadn't been in a toy store in years, but I sure didn't want to leave.

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Shopping • Berkeley (East)

Go/Spend Green

I was a bit skeptical when I heard that a shop selling recycled gifts was coming to town. I was afraid that everything would look as if it might as well be collecting dust in a flea market. But I was pleasantly surprised that for the most part, Treehouse Green Gifts carried products so chic and stylish I could hardly believe that they were made from recycled materials. In fact, I got some ideas for what I could do with some of the junk lying around the house. Even if the table decorations (made from fruit scraps) were a little weird, I would gladly snatch up most of the jewelry, handbags, and clutches. And if you’ve got kids to shop for, but don’t want to get something generic and mass-produced, there are even some unique hand-made toys and other children’s products made with love. With all the talk about being green these days, this place is just what we need.

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Shopping • Berkeley (East)

Secret Sauce. Free Miso.

Whoever said that sushi is supposed to be eaten in a single bite has obviously never eaten at Joshu-ya. Barely half of the gargantuan rolls fit into your mouth in one bite, and you won’t have to order many of them to fill you up. And with plenty of unique rolls (like the Zoolander and the Marilyn Monroe), some drenched in secret sauces, you will have to keep coming back to sample more. I’ve complained before about the difficulty of finding good, cheap sushi places. And while the rolls here may seem pricey, all diners receive complementary miso soup and salad with their meals. It’s easy to miss (just off of Telegraph) but definitely worth stopping by.

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Restaurants • Berkeley (East)

Local Everything Photography

In my book, there's only one place to go for photography supplies—digital or film—in the Bay Area, and that is Looking Glass Photo in Berkeley. They have cameras (new and used), paper, film, chemicals, bags and all the accessories you need to take excellent photos on your digital or film camera. They even have a pay-per-hour darkroom. Looking to have film developed? They send it out to the best labs that far surpass the quality of Wolf or Ritz Photo. The staff are extremely knowledgeable, friendly and won't think twice about spending 5-10 minutes explaining how something works. This is a local, non-chain store with prices and services that make it the best place for any amateur or professional photographer in the Bay Area. I've gone there to ask about photo scanners, to consult with them about my Holga and to buy a LOT of film. Their camera bag section contains awesome alternative-looking Crumpler bags where you can disguise the fact that you're a tourist with a huge SLR.

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Shopping • Berkeley (East)

Brazophiles Rejoice!

My Brazilophile friend introduced me to the Brazil Café when it was a mere stand with a few plastic tables and chairs in a parking lot on University Avenue near the Berkeley campus. For her, it was a great place to sharpen her Portuguese before she embarked on a 7-month stint in Bahia and Rio. Now, a similar establishment in restaurant form exists just around the corner on Shattuck. The colorful restaurant, adorned with paintings from Brazil, serves all of the favorites from the original stand, including the signature tri-tip sandwich drenched in garlic-cilantro sauce, delicious mango and acai berry shakes, Guarana, as well as daily specials, including Brazil’s national dish, feijoada on Saturdays, while the same samba and bossa nova music blares from the speakers. All that’s missing from this Brazilian experience is a view of the Copacabana.

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Restaurants • Berkeley (East)

La Cascada

The burrito wars in the Bay Area can spark some fiery debate; loyalties run deeply, hatreds fervently. The anti-La Cascada contingent has some good arguments: gringo-pleasing burritos (The Mediterraneo? Yikes!) and wraps (A pesto wrap? Horrors!). Despite these aberrations, La Cascada makes a killer house salsa that buys them back some burrito cred. The Salsa La Cascada, available at the condiment bar, is some of the best around. Chunky, fire-roasted, and fresh, this flavor-packed but not-too-spicy salsa is great for slathering on the chicken burrito (which, despite being in the company of that mediterranean burrito, is really very good). Of course it’s also great on chips, but most often I just (unapologetically) eat it alone with a spoon. Look for this lip-smacking salsa in retail pint-sized tubs at the Saturday Grand Lake Farmer’s Market and ladle it down your gullet in the privacy of your own home. You can thank me for the idea later.

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Restaurants • Berkeley (East)

Manpuku

Sushi is a luxury I rarely enjoy, not because of a lack of joints—quite the contrary—but because one must search for the right place. When it comes to fish, especially the raw variety, quality matters. And it’s rarely cheap. So I was initially skeptical when I came across Manpuku—the prices were dirt-cheap and the offerings were fairly modest and standard, but a friend highly recommended it so I decided to give it a try. I was in for a pleasant surprise—the sushi was pretty good and even the donburi bowls and udon noodle soups were nicely done. The majority of dishes are under $10, with sushi rolls hovering between $6-7. The place may be short on ambience, but if it means I can afford to eat sushi more often, I can’t complain.

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Restaurants • Berkeley (East)

Lululemon Athletica

Get ready to see a lot of red bags around the Bay Area. Now that San Francisco has banned plastic bags, Lululemon has come out with its own line of reusable, sustainable bags, à la Whole Foods. Not that the kitschy red bags are all I have to say about the place. Lululemon is also my new favorite store, and I don’t say that often about new stores. The Vancouver-based store promotes just what we need more of—the enjoyment of a healthy and active way of life. If you ever need advice on how to live life, just check out its manifesto. If it doesn’t help boost your mood or self-worth, I don’t know what will. Their line of yoga wear is so soft and snug that you just want to live in them forever. And to top it off, they offer free yoga classes once a month. With two new locations in the Bay Area, including a newly-opened store in Union Square, there’s no excuse to not to go out and be a part of the red tote craze.

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Shopping • Berkeley (East)