07/09/09

The ultimate kid friendly restaurant

by jenniferg

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

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

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

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

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

12/30/06

The best Mexican food around!!

by yummyt

Seriously so good, and such a good price too. It is full of kids at peak kid-dining time, no doubt. But go a little later to avoid them. The food is awesome, and they make a great margarita (no margarita-mix junk)!! The people who work there are always really nice, as are the customers.

10/04/06

Better than Cactus and Gordo's

by jaydubeya34

No, I'm not kidding. This place is rarely mentioned in the same sentence as Cactus and Gordo's are, perhaps because it is off the beaten path. However, don't let its location deter you. In a city full of awesome Mexican food, Picante is the best spot for a burrito. All of their meats are marinated for hours, if not days, and then grilled to perfection. Not too big but definitely enough to fill you up. Little details such as guacamole topped with queso fresco, homemade agua frescas and tortillas made to order remind eaters that Alice Waters thought of everything when she opened this place up years ago. During lunch hours and on Cal football days, lines can run out the door. Come winter, when the crisp air sets in and burritos/tacos are more than your stomach can handle, opt for the chicken tortilla soup. It's simply amazing.

• Pros: Great food, value and quality of service
• Cons: Long lines during rush hours

09/15/06

Good food, bad kids.

by hezmodo

Now that I have the haters on me, Picante is a LARGE, cavernous place. It's a great place for people with kids who desparately need to go someplace where they won't get frowned on, and can meet others' with kids. So that's good for them; but not so much for the rest of us. The food used to be better, but it's still very, very good. Housemade tortilla's are fantastic no matter what you order with them. Their quesadilla's are pathetically small; I think they're made only for the kids. Tortilla soup, ceviche, carne asada, tortas, chile rellenos are all excellent. I hate this place when it's mad crowded; it seems that parents don't care that their kids scream and throw food all over the place, but otherwise, it's a great place to go. And you can linger for a long, long time and no one will bother you. Oh, and the hot chocolate and coffee are to die for. But honestly, beware, peak times make this place unbearably loud and crowded, and the rugrats make it impossible for those us who've passed our toddler days. Fair is fair: us childless folks have the option of enjoying picante in the down hours. Leave the peak hours for the parents. But do go for the food; it's excellent.

• Pros: Good hearty portions of fresh, tasty food, quick service
• Cons: Peak hours are loud, crowded and TEEMING with unruly children

08/27/06

Viva Picante!

by lakeygirl

Wonderful, fresh Mexican comfort food. Great staff. Casual dining arrangement, but each dish I've tried demonstrates careful attention to detail. And I must say this: the Mexican chocolate angel food cake is good -- dangerously good.

Editorial Review

by Contributor

The robust menu of Mexican fare at this bright Berkeley eatery includes empanadas, tamales, enchiladas and regional specialties like Baja fish tacos.