EAST BAY INSOMNIAC

KANSAI

4345 Telegraph Ave, Oakland • 658-7273

SERVING (See full menu):

• sashimi and sushi
• hand rolls
• bento boxes
• Japanese entrees

OPEN UNTIL: 2AM (Fri & Sat) • 12AM (Mon-Thurs) • 10PM (Sunday)

PARKING: street (easy)

THE EBI REVIEW:

I’d been trying to get friends to check this place out for a while, but in Temescal, Koryo Sushi reigns supreme. So it took a visit from an out-of-towner to get this review.

Background/Disclaimer: Sushi, like the post-Twin Peaks work of David Lynch, is something that I really want to like, but ultimately have a bit of trouble coming to grips with. My girlfriend says I’m getting better (though we disagree on the merits of Inland Empire: quite possibly my favorite since Wild At Heart). But I digress.

Kansai has a swanky motif: mod patterns with warm colors and creative lighting. Geeks will enjoy the tabletop “call” buttons that send signals to the (possibly) Japanese and (definitely) friendly waitstaff. Dinner for two with wine was under $50 with leftovers to feed a particularly epicurean neighborhood panhandler.

We ordered the following: (more…)

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.

ESPRESSO ROMA

2690 College Ave, Berkeley • 644-3773

SERVING:

• coffee
• tea
• sandwiches & snacks

OPEN UNTIL: 12AM (Fri-Sat) • 11PM (Sun-Thurs)

PARKING: street

REVIEWS:

MONTE CRISTO TAQUERIA

1446 University Ave, Berkeley • 486-0321

SERVING:

• burritos
• tacos
• steak
• all-you-can-eat salsa and chips bar

OPEN UNTIL: 12AM 

PARKING: lot

REVIEWS:

GELATERIA NAIA 

2106 Shattuck Ave • 883-1568

FEATURING:

• Gelato (106 different creamy traditional, creative and Bay Area flavors. Try the black sesame seed!)
• Sorbetto (The fruit version of gelatto; it’s dairy free and full of fresh fruit.
• Soy Gelato (Made with fresh organic soy milk.)

OPEN UNTIL: 11PM (Sun -Thu) • 12AM (Fri & Sat)

PARKING: Street

WEBSITE: Gelateria Naia

REVIEWS & PHOTOS: (more…)