Lo Coco's - Berkeley

I recommend arriving early since the restaurant opens at 4 PM. It's best to get there before 5 PM unless you're prepared to wait in a compact waiting area that... read more I recommend arriving early since the restaurant opens at 4 PM. It's best to get there before 5 PM unless you're prepared to wait in a compact waiting area that reminded me of an elevator in the Empire State Building. We kicked off our dinner by sharing Focaccia Bread (photo: [hidden link]) and the $18 sautéed seasonal vegetables, which were fresh from the farmers' market—broccolini, cauliflower, mushrooms, romanesco, and cherry tomatoes (photo: [hidden link]). It was a lovely, healthy start leading into our individual pasta dishes. Jamie opted for the restaurant's signature dish, the $17 Tagliatelle al Sugo, accompanied by a couple of their large meatballs (photo: [hidden link]). The pasta was simple and fresh, very thin, and topped with a rich tomato sauce. It was light but satisfying thanks to the moist meatballs. I chose the more decadent $27 Pappardelle Bolognese (photo: [hidden link]), which is renowned for its eight-hour-stewed beef and pork shoulder ragu that envelops the noodles. The pappardelle was wonderfully velvety and provided an indulgent, meaty experience. You might think we'd be completely full at this point, but we couldn't resist splitting a $13 slice of Tiramisu—a delightful handmade dessert that was surprisingly light (photo: [hidden link]). When we left, the crowd was overflowing out the door, reinforcing the need to arrive early. Overall, I’d rate the experience as follows: FOOD: 4 stars—authentic homestyle cooking with generous portions AMBIANCE: 3.5 stars—always crowded SERVICE: 4 stars—our server was attentive TOTAL: 4 stars—I'll definitely need to return more frequently, but I’ll remember to come early! If you're exploring Berkeley, check out this collection of places I’ve visited and reviewed: [hidden link].

Delectable desserts. We didn't order food because we had eaten elsewhere. Hazelnut gelato and cannoli were amazing! read more Delectable desserts. We didn't order food because we had eaten elsewhere. Hazelnut gelato and cannoli were amazing!

Amazing spot tucked away on Shattuck! We came here not expecting much but I was blown away by the freshness and quality of the food. The complimentary bread was... read more Amazing spot tucked away on Shattuck! We came here not expecting much but I was blown away by the freshness and quality of the food. The complimentary bread was to die for, so fluffy and hot. As a fellow baker, I really appreciated the bread and it set the bar high for the rest of the meal. The pizza and pesto gnocchi pasta were both outstanding, with generous portions perfect for sharing. The service was excellent, accompanied by fantastic recommendations. Despite the small size of the restaurant, our experience was very relaxed, and securing a table on a Saturday night was easy.

I absolutely loved the pesto ravioli. The sauce and the pasta were both incredibly delicious. Food: 5 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 3 Price per person: $20–30 Recommen... read more I absolutely loved the pesto ravioli. The sauce and the pasta were both incredibly delicious. Food: 5 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 3 Price per person: $20–30 Recommended dishes: Norma Pasta

My son said: The food is perfect and the smell of pizza is great the waiters are so friendly overall the restaurant is perfect. . Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere:... read more My son said: The food is perfect and the smell of pizza is great the waiters are so friendly overall the restaurant is perfect. . Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Price per person: $20–30