FIVEI've been to FIVE severalI've been to FIVE several times and always have reliably great food and friendly efficient service. The 'over the top' (in a good way) decor is lots of fun, especially in light of the current minimalist style of many restaurants.
I definitely recommend it!6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMBacheloretteI hosted a bachelorette dinner here last week. All I can say is, we scored. This was the perfect place to sit back with some friends, enjoy some great food, feel comfortable about being a little silly, and all in an elegant and upbeat atmosphere. The kitchen treated us to some yummy dishes upon arrival, at no charge to our group. They also gave us a champagne toast to top off our evening. The food was delicious, service was fun and fabulous. The only down side is that the menu was very red meat heavy, with one veg dish and one seafood dish. Everything else was beef or pork of some sort....tasty, but heavy. All and all, I highly recommend it, and fully plan to bring friends back here in the future!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMeasy going eleganceGreat ambience. Interesting, fresh, varied menu. Wonderful service.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMDaughter bdayThe people were very welcoming , the waiter really nice and helpfully. My daughter and husband got to try cocktails they never had before. The food was very well executed and the dessert the waiter recommended when we asked was excellent! Good place for a nice evening and special occasion..6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways keeping it freshNever let's me down. Great seasonal dishes, cocktails, and service.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a birthday meal with myHad a birthday meal with my son on Memorial Day. Crowd was light, so not sure how service and noise levels would be if restaurant crowded. Nice old hotel "grand" dining room feel. Menu not extensive, but everything we tried was excellent! The suggested wine pairing worked for us both.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMTop-notch food, big portionsThe food was superb (we tasted each others' and all 4 were well above-average). The meat portions were really large for a fine dining restaurant....we didn't even clear our plates. The service was a bit off; we could rarely get his attention even when he was waiting on a table near us, and even though he knew we had an 8pm performance to get to and asked for the bill, he disappeared forever, then disappeared for a long while again after taking our cards so we barely made the curtain.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMI took my assistant for aI took my assistant for a celebratory lunch here and it was perfect. Excellent summer-y food creatively served, a lovely room, and quest and relaxed enough for conversation. Good, attentive service too.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, service was offThe food was delicious, but it took a very long time to be served. Other sections of the restaurant seemed to be moving faster, so perhaps it was just our particular server.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMExquisite dining, excellent valueThoroughly enjoyable eating! Outstanding service enhanced a wonderful dining experience. Lovely atmosphere where you can take in the classic architecture (high ceilings, wooden floors, stately columns), conversation of your table mates, and the memorable sensory delights of well prepared food. This restaurant is a gem, it is a good value, and it deserves to have the light of your presence giving a spark to its many fine facets.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently good!I love this place. It has a kind of sparkle you don't see with many Berkeley restaurants, and it does make you feel like dressing up a tad. My only complaint is that we let our server know we had to be somewhere and though our food came quickly, he did not get the check to us when we needed to leave and he got rather hard to find when someone joined our party late. The woman at the hostess stand stepped up, though, and was just lovely, and our friend got his starter and his cocktail in record time.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was excellent and serviceFood was excellent and service was amazing. Mac and Cheese was a must have!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat food + decorlove this place... the food was yummy and the decor is awesome. biscuits were awesome as well. while all of the other wait staff seemed friendly, we didn't get one at our table. she seemed annoyed and we felt like we couldn't ask her any questions.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFarewell, Chef Banks White!As reported in the Chron, ExecChef Banks White is moving to NY to man the kitchens at Minton's in Harlem. We wish him well, and hope someday he returns to the Bay Area, because he is a TERRIFIC chef. Perennially underrated in Berkeley's overly-PC air, his food is stylish, with beautifully balanced flavors (that classic French training shows thru) as he brings Southern-inspired cooking up to date with clean, elegant compositions. If you want large portions of oversalted food, pls go elsewhere. For those who love Artisan/Lafayette and Fifth Floor/SF, get thee hence to Five before Chef White leaves (5/31/2013), and enjoy that food! If the brined pork chop or fried chicken is on the menu, be sure to order it!5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMlimited lunch optiionsWonderful service and great deco atmosphere. Food flavorful but would like more options for lunch.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMOur waiter was wonderful andOur waiter was wonderful and the food was delicious!!!
We had a long time to have a very nice and well needed visit.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMOrzo mac n cheeseThe orzo Mac n cheese was great and worth trying. Baby artichoke omelette was bland. Waldorf chicken salad was excellent. Good drink selection. Attentive wait staff.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful service, great foodWe've been there before, and stayed away for a while because of the noise level. If you arrive early enough, it's not too much of a problem. The service was impeccable, and the four of us all enjoyed the food, although the risotto was a little bit dry. Great presentation, wonderful flavors, and biscuits straight from the calorie-filled South.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved FIVE!Wow! A friend and I had dinner here last week end. The mac 'n cheese was amazing---made with orzo. Not your usual macaroni and cheese, believe me. Delicious salad and a good wine list. What more could one want? I'll be back for sure!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGo before Theater!This is a beautiful restaurant with lots of light and art deco within alking ditance of Berkeley Rep[ and Aurora Theater. They knew we have tickets and service was perfect.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMThis dining experience wasThis dining experience was FAR FAR BETTER than the last where several of our party did not have an opportunity to dine at all because of poor kitchen service.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food in chic surroundingsThe decor is tres chic! It was the perfect place to take my "foodie" brother for his B'day. The orzo macaroni and cheese was outrageous, in fact we could have made a meal of that and a salad if we weren't such pigs. Try the house cocktails too. I didn't give 5 stars for food as we weren't big fans of the cornbread fruit cobbler thingy,but we're serious traditionalists about cobbler.
I'll be back!4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMI had eaten here once beforeI had eaten here once before in the evening; this was my first time here for lunch. The menu for lunch is not extensive, but my friend and I both found something we liked.
In the evening, part of the fun was the cocktail list, and we weren't up for that at lunch. All in all, it was a fine choice for lunch before a matinee at the Berkeley Rep (they do offer a discount if you show your tickets) but I will probably make more of a point of going back for another dinner.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMAll 5 of us in the party wereAll 5 of us in the party were impressed by the food, everyone said their selection was very well prepared & presented. Our was very competent, friendly but not excessively so. Has the feel of a classy place.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat interior. The interiorGreat interior. The interior is gorgeous. Reminds me of the area designated for brunch at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, although on a smaller scale, prior to it’s renovation. The staff was friendly and the service was great.
Beautiful interior, great food and outstanding service --- can't ask for anything more.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMDining room with fine spaceDining room with fine space and high ceilings of a grand era. Staff very warm, interested, and intuitive. Food all arrived on time and was delightful. Perfect for conversation when dining with people who care about good food.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was very good--enjoyedFood was very good--enjoyed the "new" southern-style dishes. Glad to see they're polling the diners about new dishes.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our third visit toThis was our third visit to Five, and we have enjoyed it every time. I had the lamb shank, and it was fall off the bone tender, with subtle flavors of garlic and herbs. The accompanying beans, broccoli and other vegetables were perfectly done. My wife had a steak which was perfectly done to the medium rare she requested. There was so much food that we took the leftovers home and ate them for dinner the next evening! The wine we chose was excellent, but we thought $40 indicated a very high markup. It would desirable to offer at least a few selections in the $20 range.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMA downtown Berkeley surpriseWe were pleasantly surprised by the ambiance, which was elegant and also very comfortable. The lamb shank was terrific, but the butter lettuce salad was disappointing (flavorless, with the leaves prepped too large). Our server was very knowledgeable and interacted with the table at an appropriate level. All the entrees were delivered together by two other servers. All in all a wonderful evening. We certainly will return.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMStep into the SouthThis is our second time visiting Five on Easter Sunday. The atmosphere is amazing and every food item is completely worth the price. You walk in and there are large chandeliers on the ceiling and elegant decorations everywhere. When we sat down, two people at our table had the crepes - amazing. I had the creole shrimp omelette - also amazing. The eggs were fluffy and the flavors were balanced really well. The whipped cream, jams, and other side items were all house made and very tasty.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely space with beautifulLovely space with beautiful lighting and decor. Our waiter was gracious and knowledgeable. We were celebrating our daughter's acceptance to Cal and when they heard that they brought us champagne (sparkling pomegranate for her!) and everyone came by and congratulated her. The food was distinctive, creative and delicious. Wine was excellent too!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of Berkeley's best hotelOne of Berkeley's best hotel dining venues located in a vibrant part of the city, sevice is outstanding from the matre D' to the servers, very nice ambiance as well. May I suggest daily soft dining music to wet the emotional palate...3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFood is always great, serviceFood is always great, service exceptional .... attentive without being obtrusive.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a delight!Wonderful food, wonderful service, wine list that fit the menu...what more could you ask? The food has actually gotten better than the last time we were there a few years ago. There was even a vegan dish, which was wonderful, on the menu. The presentations were as arty as those at the most expensive restaurants. The wine list has many moderately-priced, excellent selections. The room is as charming as ever, and showing no signs of being 7 or more years old. The black & white stencils are still pristine. Tables are nicely separated, which made the dinner even more pleasurable. All in all, highly recommended!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service!I have been to Five a number of times and each time the customer service has been fantastic. This past weekend I forgot to make a reservation for Saturday night dinner, so at the last minute the earliest I could get was 8:30 pm. Upon arriving earlier at the bar to meet friends, the host informed me that they could probably get me in by 8pm at the earliest (which was fine by me!) - at 7:30, the host came over and told me they could get me in anytime that worked for us. The service is always great - but this was extra special. The food and waiter were great, as was the service at the bar. I love that they will always let you try the wine (when you order by the glass) to ensure you will like it. It is one of my favorite relaxing dinner spots!3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMOur server Christine was great,Our server Christine was great, sweet and knowledgeable as always. She helped us to pair our wine with the food and explained the components of our dishes. All the food was delicious and the temperatures on the proteins on point. Recommend the pork loin and the lamb shank. Thank you FIVE for the wonderful experience from start to finish.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMA very pleasant experienceFive is a very good restaurant. The food is all fresh, organic and excellent. I highly recommend the restaurant for many different kind of occasions.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMFIVE rocks.Refreshingly unusual menu, charming service from Joe, great ambiance.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent salmon and saladExcellent salmon and salad dishes beautifully prepared and presented. Knowledgeable, attentive service without being overbearing.
Perfect option fo pre-theatre dining with very good price-performance.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMThe interior is GORGEOUS.The interior is GORGEOUS. You feel like you're in a luscious establishment for sure. I probably should have visited during brunch hours because their breakfast menu doesn't offer anything super-duper exciting, but it's also not bad food either. For the record, I had oatmeal and bacon - which may sound bland - but to me, a stellar oatmeal would offer a hearty serving of fruits or... perhaps have some exotic / exciting ingredient I was not expecting. My friend had the Eggs Benedict and was more satisfied; also, the way they fry their potatoes is delightful: it's a light fry with just the right amount of salt!3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMSlow bar service but foodSlow bar service but food and other service is excellent1/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWas entertaining a large groupWas entertaining a large group of professors - servers were excellent and well-informed. Meal was very pleasant overall. Wish FIVE could do something about echo-y noise in space though.1/1/0001 4:00:00 PM