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Berkeley’s Arts District happens to be located in the center of the city’s hot downtown culinary scene. Whenever you’re catching a show — including the buzzy musical “Paradise Square,” playing through Feb. 17 at Berkeley Rep — remember this: There are a slew of fabulous restaurants where you can grab dinner, and many take reservations. Here are five of our favorites.
Revival Bar + Kitchen
Just around the block from Berkeley Rep, Amy Murray’s farm-to-table venue is open for happy hour, dinner, weekend brunch and late night bites (weekends only). According to our critic: “Food-wise, Murray has taken her signature organic, seasonal spin and added her own tail-to-snout, artisanal sensibility to delicious, stylish effect.” Look for tasty veg-forward appetizers, like butternut squash arancini ($12), and dazzling entrees, including a tasty duck leg confit ($24). And a great burger ($14) on the bar menu.
Details: Hours vary. Reservations accepted. 2102 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley; www.revivalbarandkitchen.com
Comal
A few doors down is this exceptional regional Mexican restaurant done up in warehouse chic, with impressive hand-crafted cocktails and Matt Grandin’s memorable Oaxacan cuisine. Share a plato fuerte of spit-roasted whole chicken with fire-roasted fingerling potatoes ($42) or nibble on delectable appetizers, including grilled octopus with fried garbanzo beans ($18). Wash it all down with juicy margaritas with orange-scented agave. Bonus: The casual Comal Next Door, which is, er, next door at 2024 Shattuck Ave., serves tasty tacos, bowls and tortas, too.
Details: Comal is open from 5:30 p.m. daily at 2020 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley; https://comalberkeley.com
Ippuku
Come hungry for some of the best izakaya-inspired eats outside of Tokyo. This wood-clad eatery with its Japanese-style decor specializes in masterful white-charocoal grilled yakitori paired with a large array of shochus and sake. Go for the smoky chicken thighs (from Hoffman Farms in Manteca), Dungeness crab croquettes, Kurobuta pork belly or squid ink-fried rice. Bottom line: Ippuku will transport you for far less than the price of a plane ticket.
Details: Reservations accepted. Open from 5 p.m. at 2130 Center St., Berkeley; www.ippukuberkeley.com
Gather
Located inside the greenest building in the East Bay, this farm-to-table, California-centric staple sources its ingredients from local, sustainable ranches focused on heritage breeds. Fans say the veggie-forward dishes are as satisfying to omnivores as they are to vegans. Whether you’re feasting on a wood-fired house sausage pizza ($23) or Monterey black cod with whipped cauliflower ($28), you’ll be enchanted. Don’t miss the cocktails.
Details: Open from 5 p.m. nightly for dinner and brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends at 2200 Oxford St., Berkeley; www.gatherrestaurant.com
Saha
This stylish Arabic-inspired restaurant from chef-owner Mohamed Aboghanem offers a great value: Three-course prix fixe for $40-$45, and there are many vegan and vegetarian choices, including a tabbouleh-stuffed fried avocado ($13), wild mushroom pate ($15) with Morrocan spices, and Saha red curry with butternut squash ($24). Meat eater? You’ll want the kofta lamb meatballs ($15) with Yemeni salsa or the honey-marinated Saha sage duck ($27).
Details: Reservations accepted. Open from 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday at 2451 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley; http://sahaberkeley.com
