Venus - BerkeleyA great experience once againWe had friends from San Francisco join us for dinner. It was their first time, for us this was a happy return. The food was excellent, we started with ribs appetizer, followed by Salmon dish for most of the party. It was prepared great, truly enjoyed it all. Service was attentive, but not overbearingly so. Great experience ell around. Friends from SF now want to return on their own.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMFresh and deliciousThe grilled octopus, seared salmon and asparagus dishes were all cooked to perfection. The staff were very nice and attentive. Cozy seating and the owner was delightful. We'd recommend and go back.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMLOVE this restaurant. I amLOVE this restaurant. I am vegan and my husband isn't. There is always something a vegan dish on the menu or the chef is more than happy to help make it that way for me.
Everything looks good, almost makes me want to eat meat!
Food is beautifully prepared and always look great on the plate and tastes sensational.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time and loved itI chose Venus based on the list that Berkeley Rep offers of nearby restaurants. I was pleased with all aspects of the experience.
The menu was small but great. I wanted to order each entree but chose the salmon. Portions were on the small side which I'm coming to appreciate (but might not satisfy the heartiest appetite). Our server was friendly and competent.
All in all, it was a great dinner for 3 of us.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMHad the fabulous Vegan StirHad the fabulous Vegan Stir Fry and Kumquat Lemongrass Roasted Hoffman Farm Chicken for dinner.
The restaurant could use a better vent and fan system as your clothing retains plenty of the smells of cooking .
Despite that I still love the food!! And go every time I'm in Berkeley.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat neighborhood findVenus is the perfect little place you'll keep coming back to. The menu offers local farm to table dishes as well as daily specials. The wilted kale salad was excellent as well as the wild king salmon. The service is friendly and efficient. I will definitely go back next time I'm in the area.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMA lovely spot!Wonderful locavore fare, with elegant preparations that are simple enough to let the ingredients shine. The salad with apricots was exquisite, the salmon was perfectly grilled and the gnocchi was delicious. Only took off one "ambience" star because our table was in a drafty spot near the front door.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMLove it!My family and I had a great time at Venus. The food was delicious. I ordered the fish and chips, I do think they could have been a little more generous with the food for the price. The staff was awesome and very accommodating to our large party of nine people. It was my uncle's birthday and he can't have a lot of sugar, so they brought out a plate of fruit with a candle, so sweet. Afterwards my family commented that we would definitely eat there again and are eager to try their breakfast sometime.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food and an excellentWonderful food and an excellent value. Fabulous service.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a wonderful place!This restaurant ranks among our new favorites. Miles was a great waiter who helped us with the selections and tolerated our tendency to order single items and share. Zak did his magic in the kitchen and we were happy to support Amy as a veteran in the farm-to-table business, especially when it is so delicious and tasty. Healthy and that good, can't beat that. I had the fortune of sitting in an observation spot to see Zak working in the kitchen and I am amazed what he created with so much attention and care. It was obvious that he loves his job and it showed in the tasty dishes that we were privileged to enjoy. I wish I lived closer to Berkeley.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMunique and outstandingthis place is absolutely unique and fantastic. We arrived quite early in advance of our reservation, but were accommodated quickly. The summer salad (cant remember the name) was unreal; utterly beautiful and simply fresh. the roasted chicken was terrific: tender and excellent seasonings and veggies. The room is reminescent of old NYC and is utterly quaint with no "style" or "decor" to be had! Loved the eclectic, casualness.
NOTE TO PARENTS: this super small, intimate, boutique restaurant is not approrpriate for toddlers? There must be dozens of other nice, kid freindly places. Honestly (from parents) bringing whining, crying, kids into a lovely small place puts a damper on all the other diners.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMVenus is a reliable placeVenus is a reliable place to take a date whether the first time or as part of a nice night out. Thank goodness I had a reservation, the place was packed, but it did not effect service in the least.
We both went with regular fare: I had the hanger steak while my friend tried and enjoyed the trout. We started off with a little gem salad with fava beans and chives, delicious!
We'll definitely go back!4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfectly prepared food, friendlyPerfectly prepared food, friendly service, and casual atmosphere.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMVenus is great! The food isVenus is great! The food is delicious, I had the chicken this time, and the servers are attentive. This is one of my favorites!4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMFresh food, lovely serviceKale salad and gnocchi dishes were superbly fresh and served in the right portions. Wine pours were spot on. Our waitress was very kind. One thing that was very annoying, however, was that our little table was parked too close to the door (on the banquette side). I think removing that table is the solution.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMa hug for VenusThis was our first time at Venus, and we were all swept away by the menu, ambiance, and service (except for the noise level). We ordered a number of different starters, main courses, and a dessert, and all were really yummy. The sauces and flavorings were delicious and the presentation well balanced. All in all creative. We'll definitely go back.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMthank you Venusthank goodness for restaurants like Venus that take care to create healthy food from quality organic and conscientious, wholesome sources. I feel good about eating their food--not like I have to eat at home to be healthy. I had the trout, it was ridiculously delicious. the wait staff are adorable. they happily made a substitution for me. the ambiance is lovely. great place to take a date.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMEveryday fresh ingredientsEveryday fresh ingredients make this a Berkeley gem! The dishes are fun, original and change frequently!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed a quick dinnerWe enjoyed a quick dinner here on the way to the Lumineers concert Friday. We told them we were in a hurry when we walked in, and they were great in accomodating.
Happy Boy Lettuces (salad) is good
Mashed potatoes are good
Chicken was nicely cooked, slightly bland. Kumquat and Lemongrass? Who knew?
Vegan stirfry had a nice variety of vegatables, served over black(?) rice with curry. Unfortunately, too much salt overpowered any more subtle flavors that might have been in there.
We'll give them another try, we like the location, the people, the concept.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMVery nice wait Staff...foodVery nice wait Staff...food very very good. Menu a bit limited.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMSomewhat limited menu butSomewhat limited menu but wide variety and such excellent preparation. Tables close, space small, but food is worth going out of your way for. We are regulars here but they really outdid themselves on food quality, preparation and taste on our recent visit. They can accommodate the pre-theater crowd and its location makes for a pleasant walk to the theater district between dinner and curtain time.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMMy new fave for breakfastVery busy place on a Sunday morning. No reservations taken, but if you phone 30 minutes ahead of your intended arrival they make every effort to seat you when you arrive. (It worked for us, a party of two, last Sunday.) Our brunch was delicious. There are great veggie/vegan options and the bread choices include muffins and homemade biscuits served with homemade jam. Good sized servings, espresso drinks available. Street parking on Sunday morning is manageable.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst visit and had a greatFirst visit and had a great dining experience. Trout was almost like salmon, and cooked with a nice crusty outside coating. Gnocchi was also one of the best; not too creamy. Tight seating, but was fine for couples.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food! My only very minorGreat food! My only very minor complaint is that the tables were a little close together, but this didn't stop me from having a lovely dinner.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's a great place and worthIt's a great place and worth another visit, but don't go if you have to make a concert or a movie as the kitchen isn't set up for fast service. We planned an hour and it wasn't enough. Food and service was outstanding.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMI've had two delicious brunchesI've had two delicious brunches here! I look forward to many more!3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMTheir seafood offerings wereTheir seafood offerings were particularly well-executed. Especially the Monterrey Sardines.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat night!!We had a great night on Tuesday, March 19th at Venus! We were warmly welcomed by an older gentleman who was standing outside upon our arrival. We were seated by the host/manager(?) who told us about the specials and menu changes and sounded very professional and knowledgeable. We then got the most amazing olive bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The salads were perfect and the entree's left us silent through the whole meal. Perfectly seasoned and just the right amount of food. To finish the meal we had a chocolate mousse dessert that was smoother and creamier than anything I've ever had before. What a lovely night! We will definitely be going back! Oh, and the decor was darling!3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMLove the menu...limited butLove the menu...limited but wide enough variety for vegetarians and meat-lovers. Squid ceviche special was a real treat. Unhurried atmosphere--no problem with lingering over dessert and tea.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a fantastic pre-showWe had a fantastic pre-show dinner at Venus. The food was fantastic and the service was warm and attentive. When our table was not ready when we got there (people like to linger), they comp'ed us a round of drinks even though we were a few minutes late ourselves. I cannot say enough nice things about experience.3/2/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellentI made a reservation for 5:30 on a Friday evening, and called from traffic on the Bay Bridge to say I was running 20 minutes late. I was kindly told it wasn't a problem, and when I arrived I was greeted by smiling waiters. Venus is charming and the the Pri Pri chicken dish I ordered was wonderfully flavorful. A great place to go before heading over to the Freight and Salvage.2/22/2013 12:00:00 AM