(510) 841-0960
4TH & University Ave
Berkeley,
CA
94710
37.8675
-122.2998
Neighborhood: Southwst Berkeley
10/12/08
Great Comfort Food!!
by comfortfoodlover at Citysearch
Brennan's is a place that is comfortable, has great "comfort food" and a great wrap around bar. Friendly staff and good prices. We go there on a regular basis. Try it. If you like a good cafeteria style restaurant, comfort food and a great bar, you will love this place!!! Bring your appetite because they never serve small meals.
- Pros: great parking, service and food.
- Cons: sometimes food needs to be heated up-but it is cafeteria style. food is fresh though.
09/12/06
Everything a hof brau bar should be
by hezmodo at Citysearch
Located in a cavernous barn of a building, Brennan's offers the last honest Irish coffee, otherwise, the drinks are rather skimpy. The food is typical hof brau -- huge steamship roasts, roast turkey, corned beef and cabbage as well as daily specials, served daily (except Sundays, as I recall), in cafeteria style. Yup, you just grab an orange tray and silverware, and glide your way down the line, choosing what you want as you go. A dipped roast beef sandwich here is worth every dime (Around $5.99) -- a HUGE portion of meat, sour dough bread soaked in jus (Sometimes they'll ask if you want it dunked, otherwise you'll have to assert yourself). A side of house-made mashed potatoes and chicken or beef gravy, ordered separately, and you'll be in Heaven!!! Open-faced hot turkey on white bread comes with mashed potatoes and boiled vegetables. Brennan's is famous for their horseradish, and take heed; it'll have you coughing and eyes running uncontrollably, so be gentle on yourself. Everything here is just what the 1950's ordered, and they're not calling for their food back, 'cause it must be shared. Everything is made in their huge kitchen (except the desserts) by a bunch of surly guys, most of them have been there forever. Skip Brennan's if a low-fat veggie diet is on your menu; these guys just give you the meat -- and a lot of it. Side salads are available, but they're an after-thought. Brennan's is a great place to meet after work, have a few drinks, and soak the alcohol up with a solid meat n' potatoes meal. A total value dollar for dollar, and you can sit as long as you want in a room that must seat 500 people. TV's are carefully arranged so anywhere you sit, ESPN or other sports cast is within sight. This is a serious thro-back, and you won't have to dress for it or pay out the nose for it, either. It's a stone's throw from chi-chi 4th Street shopping, and parking is more than ample. There just aren't very many places like Brennan's anymore. Gotta love 'em.
- Pros: Huge servings of good honest food, perfect Irish coffee, a lovely memory of the past
- Cons: The servers are sometimes out and out rude; but who cares? Everything else is downscale good.
03/12/04
Blue Collar Comfort Food
by daigoro1715 at Citysearch
Everytime I travel to the Bay area, I make it a point to stop at Brennan's. Cafeteria style food and seating with a surround bar. The food comes in large quantities, is very tasty and very fresh. They carve the turkey off the carcass! Their hotplates (corn beef is my favorite) come with fresh mash potatoes and choice of gravy. The signature corn beef plate with potatoes and cabbage is outstanding... St. Paddy's Day year round!! For home style cooking, don't miss this place!
- Pros: home cooking, lots of seating, good parking
- Cons: , cafeteria seating, noisy
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