Hey Everyone!
Happy Friday! Hope you had a great week and are stoked about the weekend – I know I am. I'm all about traditions and this brings me to one of my favorites – Friday night date night.
Whether it's with Ittai or my closest friends, I love to go out to dinner, relax and welcome the weekend with a cocktail (or two).
Often times I go to my usual haunts in the city and never really steer too far away from the uncomfortable. But when I had the opportunity to go to Berkeley last weekend to check out FIVE, well, I couldn't pass it up.
A lot of people make the Manhattan/Brooklyn comparison when it comes to Berkeley, but if you've been to the East Bay, you know it's pretty effortless.
Nestled in the heart of North Berkeley, FIVE is located inside Hotel Shattuck and right off Shattuck Street. The interior is super modern and inviting and the food follows suit.
Executive Chef Stephane Tonnelier brings his expertise to each dish with subtle hints of his background as a chef in France. We started off with the Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits (nom!) and the Baby Beet Salad that were the perfect gateway into the entrees. Pro Tip: The salads are huge so splitting is a great way to go! I suggest the Baby Beet Salad for it's delicious watermelon and Humboldt goat cheese.
For my main entree I had the Spring Nettle Ravioli that was filled with the most delicious english pea & cauliflower mascarpone and Ittai had the Grilled Porkchop with eggplant puree.
Finished off with a trio of delectable desserts, we left stuffed and oh so happy. And while the food was excellent, the service was even more so. Will, our waiter was one of the nicest servers (and people!) I have ever met. He's an East Bay native and has worked at FIVE for several years – a testament to how special the place truly is.
So, what are you waiting for? Be a little adventurous. Catch BART, head to the East Bay and get yourself to FIVE.
Cheers!