This was a really great place and in a great location near Center Stage. They were open the Sunday we went to see Rock of Ages. Â I'm really glad they were open, as it is located directly across the street. Â I had the stuffed quail small plate and a glass of white wine. Â My daughter and I ate in the bar and watched as people arrived outside the window. Â The food was excellent! The service was friendly, prompt and professional. Prices were surprisingly decent. Â Definitely on the list to visit again!
Review Source:The gluten-free bread is great, and it is the best bread I've had in a long time. However, the overall service and atmosphere was slightly off to me. It seemed like the restaurant couldn't find it's forte, and nobody that worked there seemed as if they wanted to be there. Yes it's a restaurant that mainly caters to business men and woman, but that is no reason to not to put a smile on and be a little happy.
Review Source:I have eaten lunch here twice and will not return. Â The first time, I ordered the veggie stir fry. Â The server gave me a bowl of stir-fried vegetables and tofu, but did not include the rice that was listed in the description on the menu. Â There were several people serving the table, and it seemed like the right hand did not know what the left was doing. Â I did eventually get my rice, but at that point everyone else at the table had almost finished eating. Â
The second time, I ordered a salad and added salmon. Â I also had the vegan carrot ginger soup. Â The soup was outstanding. Â
The lettuce was a mix of iceberg and romaine, and at least 50% of the pieces of lettuce were brown. Â I could not believe a chef would serve food that was so obviously old. Â I sent it back, and the manager apologized. Â She offered to bring a new salad with mixed greens. Â The mixed greens were actually rotten in some places, with several slimy pieces of arugula. Â At this point, my coworkers and I had been there for almost an hour and needed to get back to work. Â I complained again, and the manager apologized again. Â The waiter developed an attitude at this point, as though it were my fault that the food they served was rotten. Â The check was adjusted so that I did not have to pay for the salad (I did pay for the soup and salmon) and they offered a free dessert, but at that point we were already very late getting back to work. Â
This poor food quality is absolutely unacceptable for a restaurant that charges high prices and presents itself as fine dining.
The location is superb, the interior is sublime and the service professional and friendly.
They were very accommodating for our group and we had a lovely spot up front by those big beautiful windows. I started with a crab dip that was creamy and delicious and for my main course I ordered the Ahi Tuna with great expectation (on my previous visit they had 86 it for the night). The rest of the table ordered their various bits of goodness and we enjoyed our drinks and conversations. 30 min later the waiter approached me to tell me that GASP! they were out of the Ahi......WTF? Why wasnt I told this 1/2 an hour ago when I ordered it or at least shortly thereafter? So I got the Scallops and they were wonderful but I was still disappointed. One of my fellow diners ordered the Calimari Steaks....The best Calimari I have ever eaten. Â Everyone enjoyed the food and the space. The only other downside was desert took 20 min from time of order to service, cmon.........its dessert. They could be 5 stars if they work out some of this silliness. Â The little stuff will kill you.
For a great cocktail and delicious food in a beautiful downtown atmosphere it's hard to beat 525. Â I've eaten here or just grabbed drinks numerous times at this almost one year old spot downtown. Â You could do this dressed up nicely for the theatre or casual in jeans and a polo and be completely at home. Â
Let me start where you should - the bar. Â The bartenders (Michael and Brandon) are great at their craft and create a great mood with their wit and charm. Â I've seen both of them entertain a full bar with interesting cocktails and stories. Â The mood is always comfortable and welcoming and I've had a number of great conversations there with complete strangers. Â It's a fun place to hang out. Â
If you can pry yourself away from the conversation at the bar, the rest of the place is great, too. Â The Berry Burk is a men's suit store from way back and the decore is a subtle homage to that legacy. Â Check out the fabrics used around the place and the original floors. Â It's a nice touch that co-owner Tom Hass seems proud of (and should be). Â But at night it's even better b/c Center Stage's Carpenter's Center Theatre is lit up beautifully. Â (Richmond's Times Square?) Â
But if you're dining there, you're going to care about the food. Â I've had about half of the dishes on the menu and nothing has disappointed. Â The stuffed quail was amazing. Â The calamari has a twist - half of it is non traditional and even more delicious. Â Most friends gravitate towards the scallops and lobster risotto - hard to blame them for that. Â It's delicious. Â And the service is top notch...which should be no surprise since Hass comes from 5 star/5 diamond experience. Â
Also of note is that the entres all come in half or full sizes. Â Easy to share with big groups or to do a little portion control on your own behalf. Â Makes the bill at the end of the night very reasonable, too.
For lunch they're a popular choice for a business meal. Â I usually stick to a salad with protein on top and a soup. Â Always good - very fresh. Â The spinach and fried bree salad is a must if you're willing to indulge a tiny bit. Â I'm not a fan of clam chowder, but frequent guests have commented that it's top notch. Â Chef Hasty (also co-owner) should be proud of his seasonal creations and the care he and his staff obviously put into the dishes. Â
Overall this is one of my favorite places in Richmond. Â I've enjoyed it every time I've been and so have our friends and business relationships. Â The
Overview:
525 at the Berry Burk bravely opened its doors in a neglected area of Grace Street across from the Carpenter Center. Along with Pasture, it is the only restaurant holding down the neighborhood, so I can understand that there's some pressure there. The baby-boomer clientele most often stop by pre- or post-theater, for a business lunch, or for after-work cocktails.
The concept is (pricey) fresh, New American cuisine using local ingredients -- so, that same song and dance repeated by most trendy Richmond restaurants. It's the first restaurant I've visited where every entree is also available as a small plate (tasting portion), which is a great and creative idea.
The space is beautiful if not a bit sterile -- floor-to-ceiling windows rather than walls, white table cloths, high ceilings, and an intimate bar area. Great place for date night with romantic ambiance.
Dinner:
I visited for dinner after they first opened this past summer. That night, I was able to try a fish I'd never had; although I don't recall exactly what it was, I remember it being delicious. Lots of carnivorous fine dining standards grace the menu, like beef carpaccio, filet mignon, pork belly, etc, with lots of seafood too and a few vegetarian options.
The only thing that confused me was the service. With everything else so professional and civilized across the board, our server, a young college-aged girl, awkwardly seemed as though she had never waited a table in her life. Absolute zero knowledge of wine service or menu items. Luckily, the owner/manager was more than happy to knowledgeably answer our questions, and he saved the experience.
Bar and nosh:
Bar service is great, and there are many regulars. If you're traveling alone and staying at a nearby hotel, the bar will surely provide interesting company and conversation on most nights.
I usually grab some snacks while I drink -- the four mushroom salad is a huge portion and always fresh. While the entrees and small plates are on the pricey, a bargain can be found in their various "dips." Â I love the onion dip at just $3.
But speaking of small plates and entrees, they are worth the expense. I have tried the scallops with risotto which were fantastic, save for several rubbery "feet" I found still attached to the scallops -- a lazy oversight on the chef's part. The fried calamari served two ways is the best I've ever had. The vegetable spring roll is a small portion for the price but also delicious.
Lunch:
A few months ago, I stopped by on a Friday afternoon. They were understaffed and full to the brim with a 20-minute wait. Our poor, well-meaning server received four or five tables within just ten minutes, along with what seemed like several large parties he was taking care of clear across the restaurant with support staff not present to assist him. As a restaurant worker myself, it looked like a hell of shift. I won't fault him for trying his best.
I was nervous about my portobello and heirloom tomato sandwich as it was the only vegetarian item on the menu, but it was a pleasant surprise. Nice portion served on delicious, fresh-tasting focaccia with a generous side of shoestring fries. My friend tried the club, which included ham, turkey, bacon, a fried egg, with lettuce and tomato. She loved it, and the portion was so huge she was unable to finish it.
Brunch:
I came in for brunch on a separate occasion to sit at the bar, and honestly the food did leave a little to be desired given the plethora of tempting brunch options in this city. I tried the stuffed French toast which arrived nearly cold and was *swimming* in cream cheese. Rather than "stuffed" it was more like a very messy strawberry and cream cheese sandwich. The hashbrowns were dry, cold and bland -- just really terrible -- but the mimosas and service were both great and kept me from complaining. I'll return to try a different entree and hope the experience improves.
To conclude, I think that this is a great restaurant that is still "earning its wings", so to speak. Maybe hiring professional waitstaff outside of the VCU demographic would help. But I'm definitely a fan! Try the bar!
There's very little not to love about 525. Â First, it's located right across from the Carpenter Theatre downtown. Â Grab a cocktail or dinner, and see a show! Â The building is decorated in a minimal, modern chic with windows wrapping two sides allowing light to flow in by day and making people watching easy by night. Â Service is professional, courteous and prompt. Â Nicholas was great. Â Drinks were great. Â My problem with 525 is that the menu is one of THOSE menus. Â Also minimal. Â I generally steer clear of "small plates" menus because they're almost always a ripoff. Â Mind you, I do not mind spending money on food. Â But you really just don't get much for your money here. Â I ended up getting the entree sized scallops. Â I wouldn't mind spending $22 for 7 large or even medium sized scallops (and a dollop of risotto), but these scallops were embarrasingly small. Â I needed more food!
So, I also ordered a calamari, which totally redeemed the child sized portion of scallops because it was SO GOOD! Â I've never had calamari "steaks" before, just the rings and tentacles. Â The steaks are to die for! Â Especially with the shallot caper buerre blanc sauce. Â I'd go there for that alone... Â And maybe a salad. Â And martini.
First of all I absolutely love that this place is tucked in so well next to Carpenter Theater. It's perfect for a before the show drink and appetizer and even an after-the-show meal or late night snack.
My friend and I went there before the Aziz show the other day and we shared an order of the vegetable spring rolls. The size was perfect for a small plate for the two of us to share and the picked (I believe) carrot salad made the perfect compliment to the spring rolls. The rolls were fresh tasting and did not have any excess oil and paired with both the red wine and the cider wonderfully.
The atmosphere is like a classy, young, professional place. I wouldn't feel completely right walking in there with simply jeans and a t-shirt but going there after work for cocktails or dinner seems just right.
The bartender and the owner are both very friendly and ensured that all the guests in the bar area were taken care of. By the time my friend and I left to get to our seats the bar was quite packed and the owner was helping the bartender in making the drinks. It seems to me that the owner shows a huge interest in making the business a success and is more than happy to help out in any way.
I would definitely recommend this place to a friend and/or family member.
I love how much Grace Street is changing into this foodie scene! This place is right across CenterStage. Too bad this place requires street parking. There's a lot right in front, but it charges by the hour or $7 on the weekends. Once you walk inside, there is a complementary coat check. The dining area is fabulous. White tables with panoramic windows (pictured)! Can't help but admire the views and even some people watching!
the food.
presented so beautifully and comes in either small plates or large plates.
-roasted garlic hummus: It comes with focaccia breadsticks. Tastes soo good! Probably since it's made fresh!
-seared sea scallops (pictured): The best scallops, I've ever had! It's nicely matched with the sweet pea and lobster risotto.
-fried calamari duo: Prepared in 2 ways - the steak and the rings. I've never had the steak portion and I'm not rushing to try it again since it was just a big chewier portion. The rings didn't have much flavor. Pretty much, I've had better calamari elsewhere.
-kalamata tapenade: I'm not big on olives, but this may make me reevaluate that. It also comes with the focaccia breadsticks.
-pan fried salmon: not cooked with much flavor, but I tend to like my salmon salty
the service.
Our server was impeccably polite. He was on top of the refills. Also did a great job explaining the menus. Top notch service.
I'd say this place is great for groups since you can share food with everyone to try a bit of everything. It's quite a classy place. I'd come by more often if it wasn't for the street parking, but that's downtown for you.
My friends and I were in town for a bridal shower and enjoyed a wonderful dinner for on Saturday night. The staff kindly let us linger in the bar area to watch Maryland beat Duke before seating us. The restaurant was clean and quiet and our server, Nick, knew the menu quite well. We followed Nick's suggestions are were not disappointed! The four mushroom spinach salad and braised pork belly were my personal favorites. My friends really liked the specialty cocktails and I enjoyed the chocolate rooibos tea after dinner.
The theater crowd filed in as we were finishing up.
I have been to 525 twice both times for dinner on a Saturday night. Â Though the place was full I never felt rushed or neglected. Â The drink menu has some unique cocktails. Â The watermelon basil martini and the jalapeno pear margarita are fun!
Visit 1. Â There were three of us and we sampled many small plates including duck confit, calamari (the large tentacles are amazingly tender!), scallops, pork belly and the rabbit and morel pot pie (couldn't really taste the morel). Â Everything tasted amazing and each plate was very different from the other. Â For dessert we split (so full) the Baileys creme brulee (hope that is permanently on the menu!).
Visit 2. Â This time we were a group of four and there was not as much sharing except for the caramelized onion dip and the shrimp dip (which is cold, we were a little surprised at first but it is yummy). Â I ordered the calamari again and the salad with fried brie (I had to try it!). Â Again the calamari was very tender. Â The salad was quite good but I had a little entree envy looking at my husbands filet. Â Sometimes no matter how tasty a salad is it doesn't compare to a steak. Â We shared the chocolate molten cake- so rich and amazing!
*Note is tends to be very busy around showtimes (the Carpenter Center it across the street), if lots of energy is not your thing I would suggest making a reservation during a performance. Â
**Parking can be a little tricky unless you are willing to spend $5-10. Â We drove around a bit and found a free street spot within a few blocks on both visits.
First let me say- I had a great glass of wine, the steak was well prepared and the setting is beautiful, especially the large windows.
The three stars really is about the service. Â Our waitress, once we finally got one, was great but the hostess looked, at best, totally confused. Â I don't know if it was her first night but both she and another hostess told us that they didn't have any tables and then walked off. We waited and when she came back, I said it was okay, we'd simply wait and that was even more confusing for her. Â I almost just left because it honestly seemed as that they didn't want to seat us-ever. Finally I offered that we'd walk down to Pasture for a drink and try back in a bit. Â I don't know what is so hard about giving a wait time but no one seemed to have a clue.
When we did finally get seated we were put at a tiny table by the wait station when there were clearly lots of tables available at the windows away from the bustle of the servers. Also, the place has really cleared out, again making me wonder why they didn't just tell us to come back in 30 minutes. I guess I felt as if I'd done something wrong by trying to come and eat there. And you may be thinking, why didn't I have a reservation? I tried that, leaving a message with a voice mail system earlier in the day. Strangely, their voice mail doesn't even say that I've called 525 or offer hours, and no one returned the call. I'll definitely try it again though because once we were finally settled, it was an enjoyable night and I'm excited to see that area becoming a more popular dining destination.
I love it here. This is the perfect place to meet friends for a drink. I also came here as part of a progressive dinner, and the food here was phenomenal. It's in an awesome location, and you can see Centerstage through the floor-to-ceiling windows. This is a great place to stop and grab a drink or dinner if you're seeing a show. The only downside is that parking is kind of a drag here. The bartenders are super friendly and the burgers are delish!
Review Source:So I came back one evening for a social. Â I was nervous about it based on my experience during my first visit. Â I eased my way in by adding a cocktail, I had one of the specials for the night...I can't remember the name of it, but I think it was their version of a Long Island iced tea. Â It was good and one was enough to give me that warm fuzzy feeling. Â As for the food menu, I was disappointed to see they only offered appetizers, salads and small plates, because I was pretty hungry! Â I eyed the calamari (prepared two ways), and the server assured me that the larger size a decent portion. Â She was right, albeit it wasn't the best calamari I've had, but it wasn't bad. Â I still love the ambiance of the place, which is even more appealing at night, but I don't know if the chefs here will ever completely appease my taste buds. Â I would come back for a drink, though.
Review Source:I love going here for lunch, and it's only a few blocks away so I've come a lot so far. Â For the price of lunch almost anywhere else nearby (salads and paninis for less than $10), I can sit in a beautiful open space with white tablecloths, huge 20 ft tall original glass windows with a view of the facade of the Carpenter Theater, and friendly, conversational, great service.
The presentation is always gorgeous, all the plates and everything are just so unilaterally pleasing and cohesive looking. Â My glass is never empty. Â I haven't disliked anything I've ever ordered, although there is room for slight improvement (the pumpkin bisque today was delicious but maybe a little too sweet) - so in all honesty I could say this is more of a 4.5 but to express my overall fondness I'm going with a 5. Â I almost always get the cous cous just because it's delicious and it LOOKS so good on the plate.
And good gracious, the TOMATOES. Â They are local heirloom tomatoes and they put thick slices on the sandwiches. Â The flavor is bright, ripe, and acidic - like the ones my grandparents made tomato sandwiches with from their backyard garden in North Carolina. Â There's always a puddle of tomato juice on the plate when I'm done because the tomatoes are so super-zaftik.
I often sit at the bar because then I end up conversing with someone for my whole meal. Â I've heard all about the history of space, the renovation process, getting settled in the Richmond food scene, shifting demographics, politics of Grace Street, cooking, et al. Â I like them as people and it's cool that the food is good and the space is gorgeous because I like supporting them.
But yeah, I recommend it mostly as a beautiful place to enjoy a sophisticated, high end atmosphere for lunch downtown without paying a hefty check. Â Dinner is a bit pricier though.
Bathrooms: Men, Women, single occupancy. Â In the Men's, just a toilet and sink. Â I do, however, love the understated snakeskin pattern embossed wallpaper and leather-style tiles. Â Sounds bad on paper, looks great on the walls, take my word.
Went tonight for dinner - virtually empty on a Monday night.  Drinks were fab - especially jalapeño pear martini.  Wonderful butternut squash fondue in a bread bowl - we ate fondue & then bread bowl too!  Okay four mushroom salad - nothing remarkable.  Three small plates - herb tomato polenta - good but supposed to be over wilted spinach...just a few fresh leaves on plate but sauce was good.  Barramundi
Was great as were grilled beef medallions with a wonderful succotash.  Irish cream creme  brûlée for dessert - really good and perfect carmelization but couldn't taste Irish cream.  Pecan bourbon bread pudding was fantastic as was chocolate martini!  Service was outstanding....waitress was helpful and her recommendations were spot on!  Bar bill was more than the food (3 cocktails plus two glasses of wine) - would definitely go back - everything on menu sounded great!
Very disappointing. I have tried both dinner and lunch. They seem to have figured out lunch, but dinner is awful. Service is so bad...last time, we waited 20 minutes after having received a glass of water and placed a drink order, never saw our server, we left. Prior dinner visit food was over cooked, had very little in the way of unique flavor or presentation. It seems like they are always out of 3 or 4 items on the menu. How can anyone run a restaraunt this way???
Review Source:I might upgrade this place's star level in the future, but for now, it's a solid 4.
Have only visited once, for lunch, but I was very happy with the food, the service, and the setting. A group of us wandered in around 2pm, after a site selection visit to Centerstage - seven of us, vastly different in tastes and backgrounds, and not a single quibble from anyone about their experience. That's a surprising outcome, particularly when I consider that many of these folks don't dine downtown usually.
I've read the other reviews, including one posted today, and I have to say that I'm surprised that the experiences seem so uneven. I'll update this review if my opinion changes, in either direction ...
Great looking place and nice ambience with a friendly staff! Â The issue my group had was that the food was lacking in flavor across the board but was presented well. Â I went with two other friends for a girls night. Â I had the primm's cup cocktail which was iced down with no noticeable alcohol. Â It was slightly sweet with citrus and mint notes and less alcohol than a wine cooler. Â One friend had a mixed drink which was also lack luster and the other friend had wine (had to request a cleaner glass). Â The pricing on the small plates was pushing it for a small portion (which I can appreciate as being a more appropriate serving size) but the taste wasn't there. Â My steak medallions were literally thrown in the fire and burned to a crisp and the saving grace was the succotash. Â Really succotash??? One of my friends had a salad with a carrot dressing (strange consistency and taste) and the other had the fried tomatoe with crab. Â They advised that the tomatoe dish was ok if eaten all together and the sea scallop dish was pretty good but still lacking in flavor. Â The manager did ask how everything was and I advised her of the blandness across the board and my burned dish. Â She was mortified and gave us a delicious dessert. Â We chose the pecan pudding which was the best item of the night. Â I hope this restuarant can pull these dishes together because it looks so nice inside. Â And as another reviewer mentioned, it is a bit cold. Â The alcohol in the weak drinks will not warm you up.
Review Source:We had a wonderful time at 525 at the Berry Burke this past weekend! We were seated in a window seat and loved the downtown vibe. I started with the edamame dip and loved it. My main dish was the Sea Scollops with Pea and Lobster Risotto. The dish was very welled prepared and I loved the orange essence on the scallops.
Review Source:Waitress didn't offer info on items that weren't available, but I asked based on past reviews.  The item i planned on ordering wasn't available but we chose the havarti fondue.  It had no similarity to fondue or havarti.  The salad I ordered only had 4 ingredients including the spinach, but was missing one of the ingredients.  I alerted the waitress upon receiving.  The walnuts were brought after I had finished and plates were already taken.  I had to remind the waitress again in between visits, but a little too late,  I tried to order another glass of wine when my main meal was brought, and asked a simple question on the sweetness of the Riesling.  The waitress did not return  with an answer until after I finished my meal to tell me it was sweet.  So we just asked for the check,  I was thirsty as my one glass of water was never refilled through appetizer, salad and main course.  I sat with mo drink, as did my husband, for our main course and until we left.  We decided to go to another place for a glass of wine, dessert and coffee.  It also seemed no one cared that I didn't get one of the four ingredients in my salad or that I didn't have any water or wine and had to wait until I was completely done my meal before I got an answer on whether a glass of wine was sweet or dry.  A shame, it is a nice spot and we were hoping it would be good,
Review Source:I came here tonight with a party of 4 others with high hopes from the menu I looked at online. I along with about two of the others were sorely disappointed in our orders.
Starters: I had a Chevre and Walnut roll (3 slices, about 3 oz) with crisp flat bread sticks. I'm a cheese freak but found this one as nothing spectacular. My friend had the Shrimp Dip..I think we were hard pressed to find real pieces of shrimp in it and it's served cold which doesn't do it justice. Someone else at the table had Fried Brie which she said was delicious. There was also Edamame Dip which I did not try. Our last diner ordered Clam Chowder and that was all that he had but said was good and looked very hearty to me with large chunks of clams, corn, etc.
Main Course: I had Duck Confit Spring Rolls. Rolls were okay, but the noodles they served on the side with this were bland bland bland. My friend had the Pork Tenderloin with spinach and corn grit cake. That dish was a winner. Other partners ordered calamari which was nice and crispy. There was a tomato polenta cake on the table as well but I did not try.
Dessert: I did not order but tasted the ones ordered for the table by others in the group. Apple Strudel was good, and they have in-house made caramel and coffee ice cream which are good. Their Chocolate Lave Cake was okay but nothing to go all gooey about. However it was served with this supposed Nutella Whipped Cream that tasted awful. Â Now I love Nutella...this whipped stuff tasted nothing like and is really doing an injustice to the brand. It had an awful oily nasty taste. I don't know if it had sat too long, was old, or ingredients were not fresh but YUCK!
I am giving this place two stars for two reasons: Our waiter, Kevin, was very friendly and polite and the decor was delightful and relaxing. I would definitely hang out in the bar area if I lived or worked downtown. I had a Orange-Ginger Mojito while I was waiting for the rest of the party to arrive that was refreshing and delicious.
Not sure I will be back...maybe you can twist my arm in another year if it makes it and they work those kinks out of the menu.
We came for dinner last night. Â BRING A SWEATER. Â I'm serious. Â It is like sitting on an ice block in there.
We got a starter, a soup, two small plates (think tapas sized), and that left just enough room for dessert. Â I think that's pretty perfect. Â The small plates also come in "half" or "full" sizes...we went with the half so I guess if you order full size of everything, you'll be pretty darn full.
The edamame dip was great and tasted so fresh and healthy. Â It would probably have been even more top notch with a dab more of wasabi. Â I liked that it came with thin crispy pieces of bread instead of pita or "soft" bread. Â For the soup, we got the New England clam chowder. Â That was more like a dip than a soup, it was so thick. Â And it wasn't even hot--I don't know if that's the fault of the kitchen, or just because the restaurant is so freaking cold already. Â My cup of tea that came out around the same time was also cold, so I guess for this one I blame the kitchen.
For small plates, we got the polenta with herb tomato and the sea scallops with sweet pea and lobster risotto. Â YOU GUYS. Â THE RISOTTO. Â Everything else was delicious and fabulous, but the RISOTTO. Â YOU GUYS. Â I could take a bucket of that stuff home and just heat up a bowl a day with some extra parmesan melted on top. Â Dayum.
For dessert we went with the molten chocolate lava cake, which came with a fresh strawberry and some crushed nuts and whipped Nutella. Â Like I said, the entrees are small but filling, so you will definitely have room for something sweet (and that's a good thing!)
Other than the freezing temps inside, I thought the restaurant to be really lovely. Â A little drab on the color scheme, but when you can sit by the huge windows and people watch (ok fine, dog watch), the walls are not as important.
I came in for a work lunch, really wanting to love the place. I'm always in support of the Downtown "rejuvenation" and this place offers a much needed upscale restaurant to the area with sleek, modern, and inviting decor.
Our waiter was incredibly friendly and immediately offered his menu suggestions, which is something I always appreciate.
To start we had the onion dip and shrimp dip. Why two dips you might ask? Well, because that's all they had - a sign that the menu could use some variety.
I split the Grilled Bistro Tender Panini and Cuban Sandwich with a coworker - both were good, but not great. Better of the two was the Panini...caramelized onions, some kind of garlicky aoli sauce, and crispy oily bread is what my boyfriend calls a "Beki" sandwich.
For dessert I had the peach strudel, ordered ala mode with caramel ice cream. As I took my first bite of ice cream, I looked down to see a long black hair sticking out from my ice cream...and I have red hair...enough said? The waiter quickly replaced my hairy ice cream, but like a bad movie this one had a hair as well. They apologized profusely, took it off our check, and offered another "hair-free" try but at that point my appetite was shot. Moral of the story is that this place left a bad taste in my mouth..literally.
What a classy evening spent at the Berry Burk!  The atmosphere is spacious, the staff is friendly, and the owner obviously has a passion for the industry.  I had the opportunity to taste most of the appetizers- the "Chèvre and Walnut Spread" was my favorite followed (by a close second) by the "Havarti Fondue".  I did not enjoy the "Edamame Dip" as much as I would have expected, but the other options made up for that!  I also wish the starters were served with soft, fresh bread opposed to their toasted flatbread.
For dinner I enjoyed their "Seared Sea Scallops" with are served on a sweet pea and lobster risotto- YUM. Â The tastes were delicious and I enjoyed every bite! Â My friends and I truly enjoyed the space and are discussing returning for Happy Hour very soon!
This chic restaurant just opened, so it may be unfair to be reviewing it publicly so soon after its doors opened. The atmosphere is absolutely lovely. The ambiance begins as you approach the restaurant and look inside the large and spotless windows to a modern minimalist decor. Although the restaurant seats 148 guests, efforts were made to minimize the sounds by keeping wooden floors, cushioned chair seats and tablecloths. THANK YOU FOR THAT!
We were a little concerned when Girl frien' and I got a cocktail menu that was almost as long as the food menu, but that seems to be the trend these days. We ordered cocktails which were reasonably priced ($6 for my mojito and $7 for her Pimm's Cup) and they were both delicious.
We shared an appetizer of Havarti cheese fondue that was listed with Havarti cheese fondue with toasted almonds and raspberry coulis served with focaccia bread sticks . Â The dish was attractively served, but unexpectedly sweet tasting--more of a dessert than an appetizer. We saw no foaccia bread sticks, but were served some slices of grocery store French baguettes which were toasted.
Next came the soup of the day, tomato basil. It was neither hot, nor cold. When I asked the server at what temperature the chef wanted the soup served, he offered to warm it up. Was this intended to be a cold soup? A hot one? It was delicious at only $7 per serving, but still not sure how it got out of the kitchen without being warmed up or chilled and served as gazpacho.
We both ordered the fried brie salad. The dressing was pomegranate vinaigrette which went well with the spinach, spiced pecans and crispy pancetta. The brie was fried in pako  bread crumbs, but was suspiciously circular and looked as though it had been sliced from the cylinder of  cheap brie that can be bought at Martin's. It was tasty nonetheless.
We both left without dessert but felt pleasantly full. Girl frien' and I agreed that the restaurant could never compete with the fine dining options offered in the Fan, but will probably be great located straight across from the Carpenter Center. We will definitely be back for drinks!
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