Best Pre-Theater Restaurants in Berkeley

The service was stellar, the food, especially the Arancini and special pizza was excellent. My only complaint was that we were there early, only a couple other tables in the whole place had customers, but they sat another group at the closest table to us, raising the noise level significantly in our otherwise empty restaurant.

John’s Grill is one of my most favorite restaurants in SF. The staff are efficient and friendly. The ambiance is great, and I enjoy taking first-timers to this gem. The food is great, and my favorite is Jack LaLanne seafood salad with a glass of Chardonnay. Steaks and pasta dishes are great too! Make a toast or two to Hammett, Bogart, Astor, Greenstreet etc. Save a bit of time to check out The Maltese Falcon and other film noir items upstairs. Enjoy the day!

What a gem of a family restaurant! My husband and I went here before going to a play at the SF Playhouse. The owner served us at the bar. He was so gracious, friendly and attentive. His family members were equally welcoming and lovely. I consider myself to be a bit of a Greek food snob. My mom was from Greece originally and I travel there often. I am always looking for good Greek food in the States. The Parthenon exceeded my expectations. Every dish was outstanding. It’s rare to find a kebab that is not too dry. The lamb kebab was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The Pastitsio was delicious and fresh. The tzatziki was great and their own house dipping sauce for pita was even better. If you go, best to go on the early side or make a reservation as this place has been discovered and gets packed. We were there when they opened at 5 because of the timing of our play. By a little after 6 they were already busy. We will definitely be returning!

Outstanding service, delicious cuisine and comfortable setting. Every bite was a delight. There were flashing lights in the street due to an emergency vehicle and for half our meal we had to deal with this on our faces since we were seated at a window. No fault of the restaurant but it would have been nice to be offered a different table.

We come to Heroic Italian before seeing our play at Berkeley Rep and are always so glad we have chosen to eat here. The salads (this time we did the California Caprese salad - sooo good,, and enough for 2) are always hearty and original. The pinsas are a favorite -- we love the crispy crust and the fresh toppings. Serving is prompt and friendly. (and Berkely Rep patrons get a complimentary glass of Prosecco.). No wonder we keep returning!