Cesar

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1515 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709-1516
Berkeley, CA 94709

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(510) 883-0222
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Cesar - Berkeley, CA
Cesar - Berkeley, CA
Reviews
( 6 )
( 14 )
( 1 )
( 3 )
( 2 )

Best

Yes, this place gets crowded and maybe the seating isn't as quick as one would hope, but the the food was amazing. The ingredients are SO fresh. The steak was cooked perfectly. Th...

Worst

I went to Cesar on new years eve on a good recommendation from a colleague. The service and ambience were actually very good (I had read/heard horror stories about terrible servi...

Hands down the best sangria 5/27/2008

The drink menu here is ridiculously large and the food menu is scarce but let's face it. We come here for drinks, not cause we're hungry. They have good noshings to share and nibble on but the drinks are what's happening. If you haven't the sangria here, you must put it on the list to try. I've had lots of sangria in my life and they make it the best here. Perfect drink for a sunny day. Crowded on the weekends and dinner time but if u have the patience to wait, the drinks and tapas and fun atmosphere are worth it. Be warned, it gets loud! more
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Phenomenal 3/25/2008

Yes, this place gets crowded and maybe the seating isn't as quick as one would hope, but the the food was amazing. The ingredients are SO fresh. The steak was cooked perfectly. The rose whipped cream was heavenly. The portions are small, but really tasty. I remember the Sangria being pretty good, not great but nothing to complain about. I love this place. Pros: Great food Cons: Seating may take a while more
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Nice food, small selection 2/17/2008

Menu is a bit sparse as are the portions but this place does deliver good food. We had the tilapia (very nice and tender perfectly battered) and the pork skewers. Fries were a nice portion! (understatement) and wine selection was great. Service is good and the place sat us immediately however was hoping to get a bit more flavor out of it. Would like to try again an write an update more
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Every dish we ordered happened to be super... 10/6/2007

BonnieNg Provided by Partner
Every dish we ordered happened to be super delicious! Best tasting sangria. Way better than La Bodega which used to be my favorite Spanish Tapas ... more
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Oh, those sea-salt herb fries! 5/13/2007

Sure, Cesar has tasty tapas and bocadillos, featuring top-notch charcuterie, anchovies, cheeses, and other delectable morsels. It is also true that Cesar makes a mean cocktail (french apple sour = yum and not too sweet). However, in all honesty, what keeps me coming back are the fried potatoes with herbs and sea salt: a glorious mountain of thin, crispy fries sprinkled with toasted fresh sage and other herbs. Seriously yum. Pros: herb sea-salt fries; cocktails; hommade sodas Cons: expensive; noisy more
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watch out for hair 4/24/2007

i went on a monday evening (5pm) and it was somewhat busy. the drink i ordered came with hair floating in it, the waiter replaced it. then our food came and it was good. we had almost finished the plate of potatoes when we noticed a very long curly blonde hair ALL MIXED UP IN THE FOOD. it was gross. hair in 2 separate items prepared by 2 different people. Pros: none Cons: hair in food and drinks, very busy waiters more
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nice sweets 11/14/2006

If you're looking for something thats tasty after dinner, and you don't want to go to chez penisse, stop by here. Very good. more
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Chic place. Food could be better. 10/31/2006

The place is pretty hip with nice designs and a nice bar. Unfortunately, we didn't really like that many of the dishes. The potato straw thing that they keep bragging about was not that great. It's pretty much like greasy potato chips. One item we liked was this shrimp dish with a nice sauce. Everything else was a little greasy and not that refreshing. They have a good Spanish wine selection. The place is pretty cramped, and pretty loud. It's basically a concrete box with 75 people stuffed into it. The service was decent. I actually can't remember if it was good or bad so it must have been acceptable. :p more
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Nice cocktails, expensive food and drink 9/22/2006

Too expensive for the small portions. The food is good, cocktails are great but expect to pay a lot for little. There definately better choices. Pros: goos food, good cocktails, fun to meet friends and share a meal Cons: way too expensive for what you get more
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I don't get it 8/29/2006

I wish someone would say the emperor has no clothes. Cesar is overrated. Why do people want to wait in line for overpriced mediocre food? Especially when there are so many choices for good food, good atmosphere, good service and good prices. Cesar is not worth the crowd or the money! The patatas bravas are all wrong. Go to most any other Spanish restaurant for "real" patatas bravas like they serve them in Spain. Pros: Nice setting Cons: Too crowded and noisy and expensive more
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Great Night Out 6/19/2006

If you're looking for great food and equally great drinks, Cesars is the place. Yes, they are small dishes, but this is what tapas are! All are excellently prepared and very flavorful. The service has always been great and the servers are well informed. Fantastic wine list, something for everyone. It's a good place to begin your evening for appetizers and drinks. I haven't been disappointed yet. more
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Casual-yet-sleek 2/28/2006

The place itself is small but not too intimate, (but who knows, I went during lunchtime). Daytime is pretty casual but I hear at night the place really kicks up. The portions are small: I would recommend a sandwich to fill yourself up in addition to any tapas. The tapas are very good. I think you can get them To Go.. Pros: waiters:, attitude and attire Cons: portions more
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Fine, authentic tapas 12/13/2005

This gem of a restaurant in Berkeley has the feel of a modern treatment to a classic tapas approach. The selections are eclectic, unique, and delicious. Reccomend the bacon and scallop tapa. Balanced against an excellent wine list and olive appetizers, the decor is perfect for a cozy intellectual discussion without the chatter of laptops around you. My wife and I love this place and will continue to reccomend it. Pros: ambience , decor , tasty tapas Cons: none more
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All hail Cersar! 5/29/2005

Right next door to the venerable Chez Panisse is this tapas wine bar. With a wine list as thick as a phone book, this restaurant is a destination for those looking for small bites to accompany a great bottle of wine. There's also a full bar for those less wine inclined. A must see experience in Berkeley. more
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So bad, Not enough words 9/5/2004

As many reviewers have already stated, this place is horrible, although it seems swank and can come highly recommended. Chances are, the person doing the recommending is a regular. Whoever the maitre de knew, whoever was in a female-only group, or whoever was dressed in a certain manner was seated. My husband and I waited over an hour only to be overlooked again and again -- seemingly on purpose. Plus, as a Spanish ex-pat, I can vow that the tapas are nothing but UNAUTHENTIC. Pros: None, The bar may be good, we didn't partake Cons: , Unfair seating method, Horribly unauthentic more
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Good food, too noisy... 10/27/2003

Although the food is delish, though a bit overpriced, it is hard to have a conversation in sucha small and overcrowded space. Its a place to avoid on weekends if you want to have an actual conversation. more
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Not Worthy to be Chez Panisse's Neighbor 8/18/2003

If their lunch service is any indication, Cesar needs work on its timing. Like us, there were other guests waiting for menus or for plates to be cleared. The food is good, but I was surprised that these were your run-of-the-mill tapas. I found the pickled anchovies to be the most authentic and flavorful of our selections. Roasted potatoes with aioli, smoked salmon with caper berries, and tomato-avocado salad are nice, but ho-hum. Where are the lemon-scented almonds, salt cod cazuela, and the flavors of a real tapas bar? Pros: Wine list Cons: Service, Timing more
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too little, too late 5/16/2003

My husband and I went here after having a wonderful evening at Chez Panisse. We wanted to extend an already wonderful date. We should have gone to bed early. We were treated in a rude manner, are drinks took forever to arrive, and our bill was wrong. Everything but the rudeness I could excuse. The contrast between ourt experience at Chez Panisse and Cesars was stark. more
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By far The Best 2/1/2003

This is by far the best tapas restaurant I have been to in the states. The preparations are creative while still remaining true to the Spanish tapas tradition. Flavors are fresh and the dishes are never overwrought. The wine / liquor list is a pleasure to order from. (Try one of the liquor flights to get some experience tasting new stuff). The service is friendly -- I don't know what some of these other reviewers are talking about. Everybody always treats me great there. In short, I love it and if you have any taste you will too. more
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SOUR IS RIGHT! 1/27/2003

I really wish I didn't have to write this. I am an avid fan of eating out. I have lived in San Francisco for 10 years, and before that in New York. I am used to good food, good service, and in return, I am used to leaving a great tip. Unfortunetly, at this establishment, my expectations fell dramticly short. I'll keep it short but not sweet- Service: rude and incompetent; food: decent, not great; ambiance: attempting coolness, unoriginal; Wine: decent. more
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Menu for Cesar


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Editorial

  • In Short
    An open patio, a long, glass-tiled bar and communal table are a welcome encouragement for conversation and camaraderie at this Berkeley favorite. Tapas use organic, local ingredients, but are influenced by Spanish and Mediterranean flavors. While bocadillos are typically small, the Spanish sandwiches of tuna and egg, ham and cheese, grilled eggplant or dry-cured pork loin are more than enough for an afternoon meal. A healthy wine and spirits list changes weekly.

  • 12/11/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: North Berkeley
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