Exceptional food, very welcoming employees, constantly great character. They charge affordable rates and the food quality is fantastic. 5 stars.
Bradley Klein
Very elegant and welcoming spot. They offer large portions and for reasonable rates. I liked the menu very much and the staff were super welcoming and explanatory. Highly recommended.
Ian Pitts
This spot simply knows how to serve their customers. Regularly with a very nice attitude. The food is conveniently priced, always fresh and neat.
Alejandra R.
This is one of our go to places! The tri-tip plate is so amazing and their sauce is just incredible, we always have to ask for more! A must go for sure.
Debbie L.
This location is closed. Only the location at 1308 Curtis St/1280 Gilman St is open. The Brazil Cafe truck is tucked and operating within Westbrae Biergarten.Sign on the door says the Gilman location is open.
Vivian C.
---Pre-Covid Review---3.75/5Came by for a post-midterm meal. Didn't realize I got in right under the radar (aka right when they were about to close) so I really appreciate how sweet they were for letting me stay and stuff my face while they cleaned.I got the tri-tip plate which comes with rice, salad, tritip, white bread, grilled onions, and a side of their green sauce w/ ricotta. I've been to Brazil Fresh Squeeze Cafe and got the same plate before and maybe it was because it was a while back but the portions were so much better. Way more bread, meat, salad, and sauce, for the same price. Luckily all the flavors were still great. Very flavorful rice and meat with neither being overpowering or overly salty so they complimented each other very well. The salad provided a bit of freshness and the drizzle of creamy sauce tied everything together. The main disappointment was the grilled onions which looked and tasted like they were lightly sauteed but I get this was late night before closing so the quality wasn't as up to par. I still love their green sauce, I just wish there was more so I could dump it on everything instead of having to ration it out carefully.Overall, I still really enjoyed my meal but if the weather isn't too bad I'd probably pick the tiny hut assuming their portions are what I remember them to be.
Ashley P.
I wish I could send a direct message to the business owner but it's not possible long story short drive from out of town to come to the restaurant to order takeout because yelp says they're open till 830 long story short show up and they're closed it be nice if you guys updated your closed status for everyone else
Lydia Z.
Substantial, flavorful, and affordable. Great value and service. Ingredients are simple and not necessarily "high quality" but everything comes together well. Service is good and serving sizes are quite large.
Julianne O.
This place hands down has the best sandwich in the Bay Area. The tri-tip sandwich is heaven on earth. Awesome tri-tip, creamy cilantro sauce, green olives, grilled onions, tomatoes, Ricotta cheese and pineapple. So good. I like to eat it with a side of black beans!
Ladan S.
The tri-tip sandwich is amazing. I'm taking off one star because their website says Pedro's Favorite is $9.99 but the sign on the shack says $11.99. Please update so your customers have accurate pricing. Especially important when you've just offered to buy your co-workers lunch.
I'll start with the good because I don't want to, and if I don't want to do something, that usually means I should do it. It's a cute little place. I love these art-box restaurants. (I just made up the phrase, so don't go trying to figure out what obscure thing John S. is writing about now.) They're small and cozy but not rainy-day cozy. They're comfortable without making you feel like you need to be fake nice to the people at the next table, and there's lots of colorful and interesting art on the walls. The service is also outstanding. More on that later. Now on to what annoys me, because so many things annoy me about the Pedro's Brazil Cafe mini-empire in Downtown Berkeley. First and foremost, vegetarians get absolutely hosed by this place. There's no way that tri-tip costs the same amount as vegetables. I don't care how government-subsidized the beef you're buying is; it's economically impossible for beef to cost the same amount as vegetables. Beef costs much more than vegetables, so when you charge me the same price for the same dish as someone who orders it with tri-tip rather than veggies, I know I'm subsidizing that person's beef--or I'm subsidizing your bottom line more than that beef eater is, and that makes me angry. I know that many restaurants overcharge on vegetarian dishes, but Pedro's does it in the most egregious fashion. Most places will charge a buck or two less for a vegetarian option even though it probably costs the restaurant a third or more less than the meat option (and probably half the beef option), but the exact same price? Please. The wait can be a little bit long, even when you call ahead. The wait is long at the shack version of Pedro's (the original) farther east on University, but you can't call in there--can you?--so it makes sense. But when you call in your order and arrive when they tell you to arrive or even five minutes later, there's no reason you should have to wait another ten minutes. The people are very nice while you're waiting, and I've never had anything but really friendly interactions with the people here, but I always have the sinking suspicion that they start cooking my order when I arrive rather than when I call it in. The food is good, even though it's overpriced. The bread is just plain old white (French?) bread, but it's delicious, especially when paired with the wonderful veggies and that sauce that I want to call guacamole but that's too runny and sweet to be guacamole. That sauce is excellent. See? I'm really confused about how to feel about this place, but I do like it. I don't expect a Brazilian place--or any Southern Cone restaurant, for that matter--to cater to vegetarians like me, so I am glad that they have veggie options, but I can't eat here too often because seeing the prices always reminds me of how unfair it is, and that just bugs me.
Mark H.
The Tri-Tip Plate is my go to dish every time at Pedros have to get the mango smoothie to wash it down. Been going to this place for years and it never disappoints. Anytime I am in Berkeley I find a way to make a stop. Always fulfills my hunger the right way with perfect Tri-Tip cooked in onions with the special green sauce that satisfies all of my cravings.
Richie Zeng
The shack (Brazil Fresh Squeeze Cafe) on University and Walnut is definitely much more famous and popular, but this place is great if you want somewhere indoors that serves the same food.
Brock Turner
The best long drinking venue ever! And such great food!
Malakai Conner
I absolutely love their food and service, fantastic location to my home. The workers are always very friendly. I highly recommend this place.
Exceptional food, very welcoming employees, constantly great character. They charge affordable rates and the food quality is fantastic. 5 stars.
Very elegant and welcoming spot. They offer large portions and for reasonable rates. I liked the menu very much and the staff were super welcoming and explanatory. Highly recommended.
This spot simply knows how to serve their customers. Regularly with a very nice attitude. The food is conveniently priced, always fresh and neat.
This is one of our go to places! The tri-tip plate is so amazing and their sauce is just incredible, we always have to ask for more! A must go for sure.
This location is closed. Only the location at 1308 Curtis St/1280 Gilman St is open. The Brazil Cafe truck is tucked and operating within Westbrae Biergarten.Sign on the door says the Gilman location is open.
---Pre-Covid Review---3.75/5Came by for a post-midterm meal. Didn't realize I got in right under the radar (aka right when they were about to close) so I really appreciate how sweet they were for letting me stay and stuff my face while they cleaned.I got the tri-tip plate which comes with rice, salad, tritip, white bread, grilled onions, and a side of their green sauce w/ ricotta. I've been to Brazil Fresh Squeeze Cafe and got the same plate before and maybe it was because it was a while back but the portions were so much better. Way more bread, meat, salad, and sauce, for the same price. Luckily all the flavors were still great. Very flavorful rice and meat with neither being overpowering or overly salty so they complimented each other very well. The salad provided a bit of freshness and the drizzle of creamy sauce tied everything together. The main disappointment was the grilled onions which looked and tasted like they were lightly sauteed but I get this was late night before closing so the quality wasn't as up to par. I still love their green sauce, I just wish there was more so I could dump it on everything instead of having to ration it out carefully.Overall, I still really enjoyed my meal but if the weather isn't too bad I'd probably pick the tiny hut assuming their portions are what I remember them to be.
I wish I could send a direct message to the business owner but it's not possible long story short drive from out of town to come to the restaurant to order takeout because yelp says they're open till 830 long story short show up and they're closed it be nice if you guys updated your closed status for everyone else
Substantial, flavorful, and affordable. Great value and service. Ingredients are simple and not necessarily "high quality" but everything comes together well. Service is good and serving sizes are quite large.
This place hands down has the best sandwich in the Bay Area. The tri-tip sandwich is heaven on earth. Awesome tri-tip, creamy cilantro sauce, green olives, grilled onions, tomatoes, Ricotta cheese and pineapple. So good. I like to eat it with a side of black beans!
The tri-tip sandwich is amazing. I'm taking off one star because their website says Pedro's Favorite is $9.99 but the sign on the shack says $11.99. Please update so your customers have accurate pricing. Especially important when you've just offered to buy your co-workers lunch.
Restaurantji Recommends
I'll start with the good because I don't want to, and if I don't want to do something, that usually means I should do it. It's a cute little place. I love these art-box restaurants. (I just made up the phrase, so don't go trying to figure out what obscure thing John S. is writing about now.) They're small and cozy but not rainy-day cozy. They're comfortable without making you feel like you need to be fake nice to the people at the next table, and there's lots of colorful and interesting art on the walls. The service is also outstanding. More on that later. Now on to what annoys me, because so many things annoy me about the Pedro's Brazil Cafe mini-empire in Downtown Berkeley. First and foremost, vegetarians get absolutely hosed by this place. There's no way that tri-tip costs the same amount as vegetables. I don't care how government-subsidized the beef you're buying is; it's economically impossible for beef to cost the same amount as vegetables. Beef costs much more than vegetables, so when you charge me the same price for the same dish as someone who orders it with tri-tip rather than veggies, I know I'm subsidizing that person's beef--or I'm subsidizing your bottom line more than that beef eater is, and that makes me angry. I know that many restaurants overcharge on vegetarian dishes, but Pedro's does it in the most egregious fashion. Most places will charge a buck or two less for a vegetarian option even though it probably costs the restaurant a third or more less than the meat option (and probably half the beef option), but the exact same price? Please. The wait can be a little bit long, even when you call ahead. The wait is long at the shack version of Pedro's (the original) farther east on University, but you can't call in there--can you?--so it makes sense. But when you call in your order and arrive when they tell you to arrive or even five minutes later, there's no reason you should have to wait another ten minutes. The people are very nice while you're waiting, and I've never had anything but really friendly interactions with the people here, but I always have the sinking suspicion that they start cooking my order when I arrive rather than when I call it in. The food is good, even though it's overpriced. The bread is just plain old white (French?) bread, but it's delicious, especially when paired with the wonderful veggies and that sauce that I want to call guacamole but that's too runny and sweet to be guacamole. That sauce is excellent. See? I'm really confused about how to feel about this place, but I do like it. I don't expect a Brazilian place--or any Southern Cone restaurant, for that matter--to cater to vegetarians like me, so I am glad that they have veggie options, but I can't eat here too often because seeing the prices always reminds me of how unfair it is, and that just bugs me.
The Tri-Tip Plate is my go to dish every time at Pedros have to get the mango smoothie to wash it down. Been going to this place for years and it never disappoints. Anytime I am in Berkeley I find a way to make a stop. Always fulfills my hunger the right way with perfect Tri-Tip cooked in onions with the special green sauce that satisfies all of my cravings.
The shack (Brazil Fresh Squeeze Cafe) on University and Walnut is definitely much more famous and popular, but this place is great if you want somewhere indoors that serves the same food.
The best long drinking venue ever! And such great food!
I absolutely love their food and service, fantastic location to my home. The workers are always very friendly. I highly recommend this place.