Berkeley Public Library
I love libraries...I dream of one day owning my own. The Berkeley Public Library is pretty to look at...but doesn't have much content. Books are hard to find and they don't have a lot of books to begin with. The other annoying thing is that their books have to be divided up into several locations...so you have to bus or drive around berkeley to get what you need...sometimes it can be fun...like a little adventure...but usually it just sucks.
Fondue Fred
I have only ever had fondue at home or with friends...So I thought it would be fun to go somewhere that does it professionally. The cheese fondues just has a very bitter taste. I don't know if that's normal, but when my friends make it, it's delicious. The service was also very very slow. My friend and I went hoping that we could grab a quick bite and ended up staying there for 1 & 1/2 hours. The server also forgot what we ordered several times. I never want to go back there.
PROS:
CONS: Bad Service, Bad Food
Nanayiro Restaurant
I had gone to Nanayiro before with a friend and the food was great...but I went this past friday to grab a quick lunch and was a bit dissapointed. The food wasn pretty good but they are also a bit pricey. There isn't too much food either. Their service is great though and they do a great job at preparing your food to go.
PROS: Friendly and Fast Service
CONS: Pricey and Small Portions
Canto Do Brazil
This was my first brazilian food experience so I don't really have anything to compare it to. But I loved the fact that they keep bringing food directly to you at your table. The meat was very delicious, but there were some cuts of beef that were not very tender. The table arrangement that they gave us was also very crowded. And although they said the meat was all you can eat, they started to not bring us food after about an hour and we had to keep bugging them to bring out more food. But all in all a fun and tasty experience.
PROS: Good Food
CONS: Slow Service
La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
Mario's La Fiesta is Located right next to Cafe Intermezzo in Berkeley. I discovered the place back in my freshman year. They have GIGANTIC burritos...They're too big to even hold. You either have to cut them in half or eat it with a knife and fork. The place is kind of small and cramped. But that doesn't matter too much to me because the food is so good! The service is also very friendly
PROS: Huge Burritos
CONS: Cramped Spaces
Ann's Kitchen
This is one of the best places to get breakfast if you're in Berkeley. The place is owned by a nice Korean couple but they specialize in American breakfast foods. The servings are HUGE, the service is friendly and there is plenty of seats (a rare thing in Berkeley). The price range is about $4-$8, and you definately get your money's worth.
PROS: Large Portions, Lots of Seats, GOOD FOOD
CONS:
Sierra Vista Junior High Schl
I never attended SV Jr High, but going SVHS, I got to see a lot of what the student life was like in the Jr High. They do offer a lot of programs not offered in other junior highs, but it sounds like they also have a lot of problems. They don't have much space and the students also don't have much motivation to work. The students are disrespectful and the teachers retaliate by being just as immature.
Narcissus Beauty Supply & Sln
I really enjoyed getting my hair done at Narcissus. They did a really great job cutting my hair, but it cost a great bit (a haircut is about $30) The service is really nice. The lady who cut my hair kept up a very intereting conversation. And they also have tons of hair and beauty supplies so its great if you're the kind of person who needs a lot of accessories.
Tang Eye Center
The Tang Eye Center is the perfect place to go if you are in need of new glasses or contacts. The eye center is run by the students at the Berkeley Optometry School. The students are all kind and thorough (probably because they're nervous). They are all more than willing to make you comfortable. They do however, really like dialating your eyes and may do it a couple of times (i guess they need to practice) but other than that its a great place. The prices are good and students with insurance get 10% off.
University Press
I had a few choices between colleges but I'm so glad that I ended up in Cal. Berkeley is an amazing school in an amazing area. The school itself is so diverse. I myself am a Math major with a Russian Literature minor...and weird combos like this isn't uncommon here. The professors are all in the top echelon of their fields. The administration is pretty bad...it is unorganized and not very helpful. They lose a lot of paperwork and I've often had to fill things out twice. The city is also a great college town: fast and cheap food on every block.