EAST BAY INSOMNIAC

HERBIVORE

2451 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley • 665-1675

SERVING:

• vegan soup, sandwiches and salads (see menu)
• vegan organic entrees (see menu)
• wine, cocktails and desserts (see menu)

OPEN UNTIL: 12AM (Thurs-Sat) • 10PM (Sun-Wed)

PARKING: street

THE EBI REVIEW: This is what it says on Herbivore’s website: “Herbivore is a vegan restaurant that offers an international menu and an enjoyable atmosphere. The food is enjoyed by vegans and non-vegans due to the quality and method of preparation, and the variety and richness of the menu.” Allow me to deconstruct. Herbi-BORE offers vegan versions of classic fare with an Asian flare. The “atmosphere” consists of modern uncomfortable tables and chairs that breach personal space with their proximity. Vegans and non-vegans find the food bland and unexciting. How does a restaurant that should be unique come up so ordinary? How do they render pesto so flavorless? How does a lentil loaf taste even more boring than it sounds? I don’t know. It continually disappoints. That said, props for existing. Vegan insomniacs have to eat too. Also, points for irony. Last time I was there, they were playing “Meat is Murder.”

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WALGREENS

 5055 Telegraph Ave, Oakland • 595-3440 (store) 595-3605 (pharmacy)

If you have a panic attack at 3AM, and the situation only escalates when you discover you’re completely out of Lorezapam, ask a friend (or concerned stranger) to drive you to this wonderful all-night establishment for a refill. You don’t even have to get out of your car: Walgreens offers the convenience of a drive-thru pharmacy–a neurotic’s nirvana. If you do go in the store, pick up some toilet paper and light bulbs. You always run out of those at the worst time too.

Drive-thru dispensary

Walgreens offers crutches and hair extensions in the same aisle because lots of folks break their legs and bust their weaves.

OPEN: 24 HOURS

PARKING: lot

FOOSH™ SERIOUSLY CAFFEINATED ENERGY MINTS

WHAT ARE THEY?

FOOSH™ Energy Mints are large peppermints containing caffeine, ginseng, taurine and five B-Vitamins. One tin of FOOSH™ contains a dozen mints.

HOW MUCH CAFFEINE?

This is the first product I’ve tried that I can say lives up to its caffeine claims. Per the packaging, 1 mint = 1 cup of coffee. FOOSH™ even did third-party testing to compare their product with others. FOOSH™ creams the competition with a declared 100.08mg of caffeine per serving. (Compare that to roughly 25mg per serving of Jolt Gum.) This is actually pretty fascinating stuff. Check out the tests by Silliker Labs and Sani-Pure Food here. (This link takes you to an interactive Flash chart with downloadable PDFs.)

WHAT ELSE IS IN IT?

Besides 100mg of caffeine, the energy-enhancing ingredients in FOOSH™ include: B-Vitamins, Ginseng and Taurine. The complete list of ingredients is: Sorbitol, Caffeine, Natural Peppermint Extract, Other Natural and Artificial Flavors, Proprietary Synergistic Energy Blend: (Taurine, Ginseng, Vitamins: Niacinamide, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Mononitrate, Cyanocobalamin), Magnesium Stearate, Salt, Sucrolose, Acesulfame-K, Aspartame*, Blue 1. * Phenylketonurics: contains Phenylalanine. Read the rest of this entry »

RUDY’S CAN’T FAIL CAFE

4081 Hollis Street, Emeryville • 594-1221

SERVING:

• breakfast (see menu)
• brunch (see menu)
• lunch (see menu)
• dinner (see menu)
• drinks (see menu)

OPEN: until 1AM (Fri & Sat) • 9PM (Sun-Thurs)

PARKING: small lot, also free public transportation with Emery Go Round service (check times)

REVIEWS:

WEBSITE: Rudy’s Can’t Fail Cafe

YOGURT PARK

2432 Durant, Berkeley • 549-0570

SERVING: frozen yogurt

OPEN UNTIL: 12AM

PARKING: street

WEBSITE: Yogurt Park

THE EBI REVIEW: Yogurt Park distinctly reminds me of the spirit and time in which the East Bay Insomniac project began. In 2003, The Larry Sanders Show was on late night syndicated rabbit-ear-receivable television. Quite often, immediately prior to inquiring if his pants made his ass look fat, Garry Shandling (as Larry Sanders) would send a studio minion out for frozen yogurt. I found this captivating and hunger-inducing.

Enter Yogurt Park. Open until midnight with large servings, nonfat flavors and ample toppings, this brightly-lit little takeout joint often has a small crowd of like-minded sweet-toothed night owls. Due to an upturn in competition in the last couple years from trendy gelato, Yogurt Park feels dated in a good way. A gigantic large will only set you back $2.75 ($3.40 with 2 toppings). Although equally delicious, you can’t even get a picolo at Naia for that price. Just browse Yogurt Park’s wall of accolades for proof of their staying power (since 1977!) Butter pecan and cappuccino flavors recommended.

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