Saul's Restaurant & Deli
(510) 848-3354
1475 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley,
CA
94709
37.8806
-122.2695
Neighborhood: North Berkeley
What People Are Saying About Saul's Restaurant & Deli
User Reviews
marionjr
January 02, 2009
Saul's is in many ways, and to many in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay area, is "home away from home." It is so homey and friendly that I once walked out and forgot to pay. They were very nice and phoned me, and I rushed down to correct this. People from all walks of life, all ethnic origins, all food tastes can enjoy Saul's. Sure, it is sort of a New York style deli and restaurant, but although the food is kosher, organic, natural, no one forces anything on one.. The sky is the limit and the menu includes traditional foods and dishes and also a range of Eastern Mediterranean foods as well. The coffee is real; the half and half is real; the tea is real, and the beef is divine, as is the fish. And the new manager is a true host; his name is Kelan. The service is excellent, and if, heaven forbid, one might be dissatisfied, a replacement is offered without cost! Saul's is my favorite restaurant in the entire San Francisco Bay Area. Not if you want Thai food, but otherwise just superb. The deserts are good, and there is a bakery and a huge pickle barrel. What more could one ask? I specifically recommend the Salmon on the special dinner menu and the Organic Chicken as well, and there is always that old one from childhood: Liver, with mashed potatoes, and all the vegetables are beautifully cooked. They even offer fresh, cut fruit, and will rescue the diabetic in low glucose crisis! Marion Rojas
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owlivia
June 18, 2008
I've been here countless times, and lately, every time I leave, I wonder why I bothered. The "hostess" is almost invariably unpleasant -- sometimes downright hostile. The waitstaff are competent, generally, and most are pleasant. The food is just OK, and the prices continue to climb. Really, I don't remember the last good meal I had there. At my most recent visit, the Daily Special supposedly included ricotta cheese and a cherry and apricot compote. The cheese was a 1/2 tsp that had melted into the pancakes, and the "compote" was composed of a couple of "fruit cocktail" style cherries and GRAPEFRUIT. The concoction was so sour I couldn't eat it. Ick. Come on, you guys, I *know* you can do better! For the same price and MUCH better food, I recommend Cafe Gratitude, just a little bit south on Shattuck.
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jiltedjohn
May 25, 2008
Having met the owner some 24 years ago, it was something of an ambition to see her restaurant and possibly get a surrepticious glance at the old girl. She was nowhere to be seen, so I sat down and was quickly served my Espresso, which was so 'right' it was almost salty. Superb. This was followed by my order for Falafel, an order I was helped on; I'm used to conjuring up something with a bit of Hummous and some pickled Jalapenos as served back in Leeds(home to a large Jewish community-and their restaurants don't open Saturday), but was told they don't do Jalapenos. Not being bigoted about my food choices I took the guys advice and ordered the standard job off the menu. While I was waiting, I was offered iced water, which I turned down for a beer. The Falafel arrived quickly. Everybody was scrupulously polite and efficient, which is much better than dollar-chasing obsequiousness; this is why I gave a reasonable tip. The plateful was beautifully presented, with rich, golden hummous, fresh pitta and three, large Falafel pieces. These were of such size and superlative quality that they were easily enough for lunch. I ate the lot, smothered in the Hummous, down to the last piece of fresh, colourful and delicious salad. The beer was refreshing, and to top it all the old lady came down and said hello, by which time I was trying to hide behind my credit card. Needn't have been that scared however, because the owner is equally polite, even friendly, which goes above and beyond the call of duty where rapscallious geezers such as me are concerned. I've been things and seen places, but few of them put as big a smile on my face as this one, and frankly I'll go back every time I'm over, if they'll have me. To the people who are complaining, I say with all politeness, you don't know you're born.
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