EAST BAY INSOMNIAC

BEN & JERRY’S

2128 Oxford, Berkeley • 845-9445

SERVING:

• ice cream (see flavors)
• frozen coolers, shakes and splashes (see drinks)
• frozen yogurt and sorbet smoothies (see the refreshment)
• ice cream cakes (try their Virtual Cake Builder)

(If links above aren’t working, try this menu.)

OPEN UNTIL: 12AM

PARKING: street

REVIEWS:

WEBSITE: Ben & Jerry’s Berkeley Scoop Shop

Photo from Justin Sailor’s Hometown Invasion blog.

Visit the Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard and ressurect your favorite flavor here.

SMOKEHOUSE

3115 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley • 845-3640

SERVING:

• burgers
• hot dogs
• chili dogs
• chicken sandwiches
• grilled cheese sandwiches
• veggie burgers
• fries
• milkshakes and malts: vanilla, butterscotch, chocolate, coffee, mixed berry, root beer, orange, strawberry, pineapple, banana, boysenberry, caramel, black raspberry, cherry, orange freeze and root beer float

OPEN UNTIL: 1:20AM

PARKING: street

THE EBI REVIEW: Smokehouse was pretty deserted on a Friday at 10PM, despite being open until an original 1:20AM. Easy parking is available in front and along the neighboring side streets. Picnic table seating is plentiful if uninviting.

I go here for the milkshakes ($3.25), which are thick and delicious. The food is sub-par given the prices (compared to other fast food). The grilled chicken breast ($4.50) was limp and flavorless; the veggie burger with cheese ($4.75) forgettable. Lettuce and tomato are considered “deluxe” toppings and will set you back another 60 cents. The fries are good and crispy, but not exactly hot. Dinner for two (2 burgers, 2 fries and 1 shake) was $20.

Bottom line: Tasty shakes, mediocre food. More local prestige than a fast food chain, but more expensive too.

REVIEWS:

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MEL’S DINER

2240 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley • 540-6351

SERVING:

• milkshakes
• burgers
• grill cheese sandwiches
• turkey BLTs
• diner dinners

OPEN: 1AM (Fri-Sat) • 12AM (Sun-Thurs)

PARKING: downtown street

REVIEWS:

NATIONS

317 Broadway, Oakland

1432 Webster, Alameda

6060 Central Ave, El Cerrito

SERVING:

• burgers (see menu)
• hotdogs
• vegetarian burgers
• breakfast (see menu)
• pies! shakes!! CHEESECAKE!!!

OPEN:  24 HOURS! (El Cerrito) • until 2:30AM (Oakland) • until 3AM (Alameda)

PARKING: lot