Picante Restaurant

07/09/09

The ultimate kid friendly restaurant

by jenniferg at Citysearch

Simply the easiest place to go in Berkeley for lunch with the under 5 set. The chips if you are lucky to get 'em warm are heavenly. Everything is tasty and the kids actually eat! The tortilla making is very fun too. The staff is very friendly and will always get us an extra tortilla at no extra charge.

• Pros: watch them make tortillas
• Cons: long line sometimes

05/19/08

Rather disappointed

by stam54 at Citysearch

Tried Picante just this past Saturday after reading many positive reviews from citysearch as well as Check Please, Bay Area, and unfortunately, was pretty disappointed. We ordered two entrees (the chicken mole enchiladas and carne asada plate) and an appetizer (chips and salsa fresca). the appetizer came after we got the entrees. both entrees lacked flavor and was rather bland. the carne asada was dry. the salsa fresca had no spice whatsoever. out of all the food, the only items that were decent were the rice, complimentary salsa, and chips.

• Pros: Wait in Line is short
• Cons: Food lacks flavor

11/17/07

Best Bland mexican food

by chichaflores at Citysearch

I went to Picante because CITYSEARCH rated it #2 out of ten best Mexican restaurants.. I've tried Dona Tomas already..good for California style Mexican... I wanted authentic and this was rated the highest.

I cant understand why!!!?????

I ordered green enchiladas...Lousy, lousy lousy...no flavor

it came with the worst tasting refried beans... which is hard to mess up

the only thing that was good and with authentic flavor was the rice

we also ordered super nachos and honestly remember the nachos bellgrande from Taco Bell tasting better than Picante's nachos

my husband order the carne asada he said it was ok if you like cold meat..flavor was alright

I was not surprised that not one Latino was dining there...fresh should not equal to no flavor

Picante's only authenticity is the Latino waitstaff

If anyone wants real good authentic Mexican food go to Jay n Bee Bar/Martha's Kitchen in SF on 20th and York...everything is made from scratch...including the chips that they fry themselves.

Honestly , Picante is no comparison

• Pros: the rice
• Cons: the flavorless food

06/26/07

Awesome food

by dickinst at Citysearch

So good all the time, I've never had a bad dish at Picante. And, they make margaritas from scratch (fresh lime juice), not from a margarita mix -- so awesome!!

• Pros: super food, great value
• Cons: at early-ish dinner time, crowded with families and small children

03/05/07

Tostada Heaven!

by ckyelland at Citysearch

Picante is some of the freshest Mexican food you can get in the bay area, hands down. Their chips are made from scratch as they make their tortillas, their guacamole is the perfect balance of chunky and silky, and their tostadas (loaded with greens, jicama, carrots, beans, and whatever meat you desire...or not) are to die for. While I like Cactus Taqueria in Oakland quite a bit, they're not even close to being in the same league with Picante. That being said, this is NOT a place you should frequent (at least during peak hours) if the presence and noise of many, many small children isn?t your cup of tea - Picante has found it?s niche with every little league, soccer team, birthday party, and frazzled parent of infants and toddlers throughout the northern east bay. But even if you?re not into the kid scene, I would highly recommend Picante for it?s fresh, delicious food, electric agua frescas, and some of the best flan this side of the border. My boyfriend would also be terribly disappointed if I didn?t mention their chicken enchiladas verde as well ? we?ve been eating here for years and he orders it almost every time. Viva Picante!

• Pros: Great food, agua frescas, street parking is usually available, friendly service
• Cons: If you don't tolerate children well, avoid during peak hours