Next stop on the foodie adventure weekend was a place I have been meaning to try since I came to Berkeley, Gregoire's. Gregoire's is a tiny restaurant on the northern side of the Berkeley campus near the Gourmet Ghetto. Including its exposed kitchen, it is no bigger than the average dorm room and has little room for inside seating other than a few bar stools. But the ambiance is not what makes the line go out the door and around the front of the restaurant -- Gregoire's is known for its gourmet take-out-style food. That's right, gourmet quality food that is portable to go! It even comes with faux silverware (it's really plastic) and a cute specially-crafted hexagonal box lined with black and white checked paper.
Before you visit, make sure to check the menu online - it changes every month with the local organic ingredients that are fresh and seasonal specialties. Of course, the main favorites stay put on the menu, but there are always new menu items that would make any high-end seasoned chef beg for seconds. From classically French to uniquely multi-national, you will enjoy any menu item you choose.
To start our gourmet lunch, we ordered Gregoire's famous Crispy Potato Puffs. These are a must have for every first-timer (and even return customers). Each potato puff is gently fried when you order and comes with a seasonal unique dipping sauce. I was amazed at the size of the order - each potato puff being the size of a golf ball and receiving a total of 9. The potato puffs are so delicate yet so filling and full of flavor. They are like mini fried mashed potato balls, but don't leave you with an overly fried or greasy feeling. Our dipping sauce, a pink-colored aioli with a dill flavor, added to the wonderfulness of the potato puffs. My only warning is that these potato puffs are filling - definitely share!
For my sandwich "main course", I ordered the Pulled Roasted Chicken Au Jus with Melted Gruyere on a Baguette. (Another lunch favorite is the Fried Buttermilk Chicken with Spicy Slaw - similar to Bake Sale Betty's). The pulled roasted chicken sandwich was a delectable choice and went well with the potato puffs on the side. The chicken was tender and was flavored to perfection. The chicken and the cheese melted together to create a wonderfully unique contrast to the crispy toasted baguette. The menu also doesn't tell you everything that is going to be on the menu - I was pleasantly surprised that mine included onions. But don't be alarmed, anything the chef adds will definitely add to the flavor combinations. The sandwich also came with a side slaw -- white beans pickled with cucumbers, cilantro, and pickles -- a fantastic side to compliment the sandwich.
I am surprised I never tried Gregoire's before this weekend and I want to come back every weekend between now and graduation to try every menu item possible! Everything is so creative and generally under $10, which for this quality of food is an amazing deal. I would recommend coming for lunch instead of dinner -- that way you get a better deal on the meal and can walk around the Gourmet Ghetto after you eat. I would also recommend phoning in your order - the line is quick but the wait for food is about 20 minutes around lunch time.
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