Adagia Restaurant
(510) 647-2300
2700 Bancroft Way
Berkeley,
CA
94704
37.8693
-122.2541
Neighborhood: Elmwood
What People Are Saying About Adagia Restaurant
The Editor
Joanna Currier
Citysearch
In Short
Elegant chandeliers dangling from high, wood-beamed ceilings, wood paneling, a fireplace and huge, square windows of patterned leaded glass are reminiscent of a venerable prep-school dining hall. A pattern of dark tables surrounds one long, communal table, all stripped of drapery revealing luscious natural wood. Food is Mediterranean-style California fare made with fresh, organic, seasonal ingredients from local farms and artisans.
User Reviews
californiafoodconsumer
September 08, 2008
i've been there twice, and have had badly (and weirdly) seasoned food both times. Like everyone else says, their lettuce is consistently wilted and oily with little other flavoring, and their foods are oversalted. The first time I went was with a party of about 14, and I talked to about 5 of us later and ALL of us had SUPER SALTY food. For the record, the first time I had the 'apricot salad' (not feeling too hungry for dinner) which--underwhelmingly--was sliced apricots over a bed of not-generous oily-wilty lettuce. That was an opportunity to create, but they ignored the possibility of seasonings, let alone other vegetables!!! I 'wasn't that hungry', but I left the restaurant full of bread to compensate for the non-meal. The second time IO went to Adagia was for a work lunch, and I had the falafel sandwich. The falafel was good, but again, the lettuce in the falafel was wilty romaine, and the side salad as super oily. These two trips were about 4 months apart, just to give you an idea. For the price I can't understand why people still go back to have sub-par food over and over.--must be the snoot factor. The seasonings aren't particularly creative--you could whip something more flavorful together in your kitchen by adding a little feta or pepper--or, god forbid, other spices. Sure, the building is nice, but hot hot hot on warm days. I can't understand why they take high high quality Nieman Ranch super-humane meats and organic veggies and crank out this lame stuff. A waste of time, money, delicious ingredients, and your appetite.
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myideas
December 16, 2007
We had lunch at Adagia on a Sunday before a matinee performance at Zellerbach Hall. I had searched on-line for places to have lunch and thought Adagia sounded perfect..It was not! We were seated quickly, but it took quite a while for a waiter to come to the table. Once we ordered, we waited another 10 to 15 minutes to get our drinks (waiter forgot to order one), salads (overdressed & wilted), and bread. The hamburgers were okay..not worth the wait..Overall, it wasn't a horrible lunch, just disappointing & frustrating...I would not go back again..
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topcatwawa
April 27, 2006
This is our second visit and the food was better than the first time. The new crab parfait was full of interesting flavors in each bite and the lamb shank was wonderfully braised with delicately seasoned light sauce over a bed of tasty white beans. The service was attentive and the wine list was small but reasonably priced.
read full reviewThe Details on Adagia Restaurant
Know Before You Go:
Don't expect too many California wines -- the list here is heavy in Italian and French varietals.
Where to Sit:
Group celebrations can ask to secure the communal table with comfortable bench seating for up to 16 people.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Family-Friendly Dining, Brunch, Outdoor Dining, Historic Setting, Lunch Spot, Group Dining, Fireplace
