Julia’s at Berkeley City Club

What a great little place! Located in a hotel that is nestled in a neighborhood near downtown Berkeley, I would’ve never found this place if it wasn’t for restaurant week. Honestly, I thought we were lost when my friends and I pulled up to the location. We walked up to the front doors, rang the door bell for service, stated we were there for dinner, and were buzzed in.
Julia’s is on the second floor of this beautiful historic hotel. The restaurant itself is about the size of a small conference room but definitely very classy — the décor was so elegant and the service was great. I ordered the kabocha squash soup, the braised short rib, and the chocolate ganache bar. The soup could have been a bit thicker in consistency but tasted great. The braised short rib was so delicious! Every bite was melted in your mouth and full of flavor — even the sautéed kale at the bottom was yummy. I’m a huge chocolate person so the ganache bar was amazing — the lavender chantilly was a bit overpowering but it was a good pairing with the thick chocolate consistency of the rest of the dessert. If that sounds too sweet for you, I would recommend the pan cotta — very refreshing and just as good. Enjoy!

The one thing I love about Restaurant Week is it opens my eyes to restaurants I had no idea even existed and finding that gem that I would return to again throughout the year, often introducing others to my new find.
The location is rave worthy in itself. Nestled in the Berkeley City Club, a historic hotel, private social club, and event venue is Julia’s. Named after Julia Morgan whose architecture is throughout this place, you might just feel like you are dining at Hearst Castle instead of Berkeley between campus and downtown. You ring the bell, get buzzed in and go up the stairs to the second floor where Julia’s is at the right of the stairs.
Unfortunately parking can be a challenge especially if you happen to be here when there is a Cal game and a Cal Performance the same night like we encountered. It ended up taking hubby almost an hour to find parking and then had to hike in since all the lots were full. Without the multiple events however, there is a lot on Ellison close by.
Members get a discount when dining at Julia’s so the clientele does tend to be more mature and therefore a dressier establishment (jacket not required but no jeans and sneakers either). However, it never feels stuffy, but instead intimate and quiet provided there isn’t an event being held on the other side of the floor. Service was excellent and our server Jessica came around periodically to keep me company while I was waiting 40 minutes for hubby to show up because of the parking.
Between the two of us, I had ordered the two appetizer choices, the steelhead and short rib for entrée, and chocolate bar and crème fraiche panna cotta for dessert. I had started on my roasted red beet appetizer while waiting and they were so considerate to hold off on the kabocha soup until he arrived so it would be nice and hot. Every bite of the roasted beets and the kabocha squash soup left you wanting more that it was a wonder there was any beets left when he arrived. The poached steelhead was perfectly cooked and tender served over a bed of spinach while the saltiness of the short ribs was offset by the creamy polenta. Personally I preferred the poached fish as the short rib was a bit too salty for me, but again, I understand that they need bold flavors to stand up to the polenta.
It was probably because I had the chocolate first that made the panna cotta seem bland in comparison but I really enjoyed that chocolate ganache bar paired with a light lavender Chantilly cream. I rarely like floral flavors in my food and often lavender overpowers a dessert but this one gave me just the perfect hint of lavender to go with my rich chocolate ganache and cake bar.
After dinner, we walked across the hall into what looked like their library filled with vintage books for the second time making me feel like I am in Hearst Castle or Downton Abbey’s Highclere. I couldn’t help but linger secretly hoping that an after dinner drink would appear in my hand along with Lady Mary.

I LOVE this place. Went there every other day while I was visiting Berkeley.

Had a great time there with another geezer who was holed up in this architectural masterpiece for the last month. joined by a young buck who brought our collective age down to the low 60’s.that said the food went downhill in this fantastic time warped dining room for me after the caesar salad (2 Romaine Hearts grain mustard caesar dressing, focaccia croutons, parmesan $ 12) and the squid app (Grilled Local Calamari white beans, spanish sofrito, cilantro salsa verde $ 14). My duck (Roasted Duck Breast cranberry beans, rainbow chard, heirloom carrots, duck jus $ 29) was served as ordered (rare) but virtually tasteless… the 3 roasted carrots did have taste. they tasted old! the beans & chard were fine. all in all… underwhelming but service quite good! as well as the warm bread… interesting to check out especially with someone who’s staying there…20% discount!

Steak cooked to perfection. Nice pace for starters and entrée.
Relaxed and beautiful setting. Take a walk around the common areas. Beautiful patio gardens.
Can be warm, so try to sit by a window for air circulation.

Awesome classy restaurant with fresh, delicious food and rich history! Be sure to spend time exploring the grounds as they are superb!

Everything was lovely. The soup was delicious, creamy, and well flavored. The scallop watercress salad is a bit stingy and the pureed vegetables do not add anything to the flavor. The steak was perfect.
The dining room is so beautiful and quiet, very civilized. Unfortunately, the hostess is strange. She refused to seat us a few minutes before five even though a few other tables had already been seated and then seemed hesitant about allowing us to reserve a table for 5:00. No smile, no warmth… But the waiters are nice.

My wife and I stayed the weekend at the Berkeley City Club and had the pleasure of dining at Julia’s our first night. The service was great from the moment we entered the Restuarant. After being seated our waiter asked if we wanted bread and I said no because I can’t eat gluten, the waiter said no problem I can bring you gluten free bread which she did. This was a first for me. I wish more restaurants would do this for their customers.
For dinner my wife had the roast duck and I ordered the grilled pork chop. The presentation of both dishes was exquisite. My pork chop was cooked to perfection and my wife said the same about the duck. We also had Julia’s «little gem lettuce» salad which was super fresh with assorted greens.
Julia’s is small and rather intimate. The lighting is a bit too bright, but not unpleasantly so. I would come here again for a quiet and great meal.

4.5, but they deserve the extra half star for traditional (meaning well-​trained and excellent) waitstaff and an absolutely gorgeous Julia Morgan building (no, it’s NOT named after Ms. Childs, lol).
Chef Alaun Grimaud took over in 2012 and deserves the extra star Julia’s has garnered over the time he’s been here. He is classically trained, and except for one line cook who exhibited too much enthusiasm about using too much butter (tasting good is one thing; greasiness is quite another), the food is divinely, beautifully updated French. For dinner, we had:
— Potato gnocchi with lamb picadillo, capers, golden raisins, Spanish olives: Stunning! Balanced flavors, a hearty starter or good light entrée.
— Chicken liver mousse with fresh cranberry sauce, grilled sourdough bread: Lightly foamed to offset the richness, this was also amazing. Three ingredients on a plate, each perfectly executed — you’d be surprised at what lousy toast many high-​priced restaurants serve! Again, great balance and loved the elegant simplicity. No excess garnishes, sauces, trendy dips. None of the idiotic dessert-​sweet or sour-​pickle nonsense that so many CA chefs think must accompany offal.
— Roasted duck breast, braised farro and black barley, lacinato kale, pickled quince, duck jus: If there hadn’t been an overdose of butter on the grain pilaf, this would have been one of the best duck dishes I’ve had in 50 yrs. As it was, it came soooo close to perfect. We love butter (and we use a lot of it at home), but there was so much here it threatened to overwhelm the divine au jus.
— Fulton Valley chicken: roasted breast, confit leg, polenta, braised red cabbage, roasting jus: Chicken was lovely, the confit leg (that’s the way to handle free-​range birds!) nicely tender. Cabbage and jus were excellent. But again, the polenta was over-​the-​top rich with too much cream and butter. We like rich food, but this side went over the line, even for us.
We ended with dessert and coffee. Julia’s uses Peet’s Major Dickinson blend, but there’s no espresso available. MD is not a blend we like; we prefer the French or Italian roasts from Peet’s. It’s strong, but not very interesting.
Flan is the firm style, not the delicate fall-​apart custard. Spiced walnut cake was delightful, even if the baby Comice pears weren’t cored (but poached in wine, they were nonetheless delicious)!
Summary: EXCELLENT. So far the best French restaurant in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, hands-​down. Note there is a parking lot across the street, but beware of events at UC when it fills up.

A friend’s birthday rolled around and because she’s so busy, the reservation I’d made in the city (at SPQR!) had to be cancelled. She was available the next Tuesday, but by then it was impossible to get a reservation anywhere in the Oakland area – where she lives.
Then I stumbled on Julia. The reviews looked good and I liked the idea it’s in an historic beautiful old building.
We got there and luckily there’s a parking lot next to the building. It’s kind of confusing, but we figured out that it’s OK to park there, so long as we’re at Julia’s.
When we got to the front of the building, we found out the door is locked! But then we saw that you’re supposed to get buzzed in. That was odd, but, oh well.
After checking that our parking was OK, we went upstairs to the dining room. The interior is every bit as nice as the reviews said. The dining room has a wonderful Moorish vibe and just felt nice.
The server got there and told us her name – I have no problem with that, but some foodies in SF find it annoying – get over it! She was attentive, articulate and competent. The menu had many great choices so we decided on sea scallops and agnolotti for appetizers and then Petrale sole and beef filet for an entrée.
All of it was fantastic! Perfectly cooked and what’s more, it came out very fast. The room was busy with academic looking types (lots of tweed jackets), so that was impressive. Also the bread was brought out quickly and was warm, toasty, and delicious.
For deserts, we split a chocolate ganache that was as rich as a lord. Good thing we only split it, because a full order of that would have been just too much.
Anyway, a real hidden gem in Berkeley and I plan on taking more friends there!

Excellent food, beautiful historic building. Very good service.
Minus 1 star for not providing parking to people with restaurant reservations. For such a classy looking establishment, I would expect Valet, or at least being able to park in their ample lot.

Julia’s at Berkeley City Club is a hidden gem. Unless you are aware that it is there, it may be overlooked as there is no apparent signage to indicate its existence. Public parking is available at Durant and Telegraph garage.
The space Julia’s is located in is beautiful with architectural elements that transport you back to that what was popular in the late 20’s. The evening I dined there the large Gothic/​Moorish style windows were open to let the evening breeze in. The atmosphere is charming.
The food was of fresh seasonal ingredients and was delicious. Gluten free bread was available for appetizers and the table. Julia’s is one of the few places I have ever been to that ask as to how you would like your fish done. I requested medium rare and it was served a beautiful medium rare. The elegantly plated dishes elevates the dining experience to spectacular.
I appreciated that special notations are present on the wine list indicating wine from women owned wineries. Overall, it was an outstanding experience and look forward to returning.

Delicious seasonal food, beautifully presented and served with genuine warmth and attentiveness. The summer-​only Wednesday lunches on the shaded terrace are memory-​making.

What a lovely place for a leisurely dining. Nestled upstairs at the historic Berkeley City Club, appointed with white tablecloths and fresh flowers, Julia’s is elegant without feeling stuffy. The quiet ambiance is perfect for lunching ladies or in our case, a post-​graduation celebratory lunch.
I ordered the yellowtail with chimichurri, creamy polenta and roasted asparagus. The fish was cooked to perfection and beautifully presented. My son ordered the skirt steak and reported that it was tender and tasty.
The entrees were priced at $ 13 which I thought was a really good value for a higher end sit-​down lunch. Must come back for dinner.
Note to Cal students: take your mom here.

We stayed at the Berkeley City Club, which provided comped continental breakfast for guests.
You service yourself like a buffet. There were coffee, tea, several juices, cereals, danishes, bagels, fresh fruit, and oatmeal. No hot food was available, unfortunately.
The plates were replenished and the tables were cleared quickly so that new customers are able to enjoy their breakfast.
The room was beautiful with huge windows overlooking Berkeley. Such a nice place to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee and read the paper.
We wanted to dine here for dinner, but unfortunately, we weren’t able to squeeze in a reservation.

A terrific find in my hometown! I had no idea that Julia’s existed, let alone in the Berkeley City Club. The building alone is worth 5 stars. Julia’s offerings were focused and perfectly presented. I can’t wait to go back.

Ate there with friends last week. Better than average food, though a couple of problems. But, the service was well below par.
First the food: Sole was slightly over cooked, the little gem salad was tasteless and the sauce on the, otherwise delicious, kumquat cake was way too sweet.
Now the service:
Dear Waiter/​Waitress… First off, I really do not need to know your name. It is time to get past that, a simple welcome to Julia’s would suffice. Next, it is NEVER, NEVER, NEVER Ok to interrupt a conversation at the table, not to ask if we are ready to order, and certainly NEVER to ask if our meal was Ok. Which brings up «asking if the meal is Ok.» Please do not ask, you should know already if the food is Ok. Please don’t expect me to tell you. On the other hand, it is nice to be asked «is there anything you might need?» Ordering: If you are out of something, please tell us BEFORE we order. Wine service: If I order the wine, then I taste the wine. You do not need to ask, «who will be tasting?» If I ask about the wine and you do not know the answer, please do not fake it, ask someone else for help. A Cabernet Sauvignon is NOT a substitute for a Syrah. And, if you are not going to serve the plates your self, at least let the server know which plate goes where.
Summary: As others have noted, the space is very nice, beautiful actually, the food good, the service friendly. But, they really need to work on the professionalism of the service.

After having a lovely salad at a vegan joint earlier, it was time for a steak. And Julia’s served up a mighty fine one that made me want to sing along with their Frank Sinatra. Yes, the playlist trends a little old school (lots of blue haired folks here) but it’s cool. Sit back with a martini and drink in the fabulousness of this place.

This place is insanely great! We felt like we were dining in a European château. The food was exquisite, presentation as well. The specialty cocktails were fab. Fresh gorgeous flowers everywhere, and beautiful places to visit. the library next to Julia’s, the Swing Dance down the hall, the gorgeous indoor pool. Lots going on. if you love places like Foreign Cinema in the city, or Five in Berkeley, you need to dine here. I really fell in love with the whole place and can’t wait to return

What a find! Who knew such a place existed in Berkeley. Beautifully preserved historic building on Durant, near UC Berkeley, along with wonderfully prepared food.
Went for lunch upstairs at Julia’s, and it was amazing. Had the Sea Bass with polenta, peas and beans. This dish was phenomenal — rich, well balanced meal; smooth polenta; exquisite fish! Others in our party had the Orchiette with Bolognese and the Pea Risotto, both were delicious. Looking around, the sandwiches were popular choices among other diners, so we will give those a try next time.
We shared a dessert, Warm Banana Cake with Rum Raisin Ice Cream, which was just ok, but since the three main dishes were such a hit, I couldn’t justify docking a star.
They have a lot for club members and hotel guests only, but there is plenty of free two hour parking on Durant just down the block, so no need to rush through your meal by parking in the one hour paid spots across the street from the building.
Give this place a try… you won’t be disappointed!