Garden Variety - Berkeley

I go to Garden Variety 1-2 times a week. The service is really fast, and the employees/owner are very kind and attentive. They have really great cookies that are well-priced. Probably the best cookies I've ever had. It's the best affordable healthy food I've had in downtown Berkeley. You get a lot for what you pay for and the quality is unmatched. My go-to is the tuna melt sandwich but their fried chicken sandwich and fried rice also are really fantastic. They also have the best potato salad I've ever had in my life. It's simple food but extremely flavorful and well-executed.I'm also a big fan of the vinyls in the store. I would recommend this place to anyone!

Garden Variety is my go-to joint for a healthy , yet hearty meal in the area. Favorites are definitely the fried chicken sandwich, soba noodle salad, and an under-rated item: the chicken gumbo soup. Whenever it 's on the menu, I always get it. It 's so tasty and perfectly spiced. Also can 't forget to mention the cookies!The only negative about this place is it will close on random days and I wouldn 't know unless I go in-person or check to see if I can order on the ChowNow site which is their main site for online food orders (link is in their yelp profile). Keep that in mind and don 't be like me, who ordered a meal on a random Wednesday when they were closed, and didn 't end up picking up the food until the following Monday when they were back open! (Granted I was d and didn 't double check on the app when the expected time for pick up was set for). Still, I keep going back though! :D

I'm so mad at myself for not coming here sooner. The reviews are spot on. Flavor packed food. Beautiful garden outdoor seating. Friendly staff. You can't go wrong with lunch at Garden Variety. My only wish is that they were open on the weekends.The fried chicken sandwich had a generous amount of crispy and juicy chicken, creamy garlic sauce, and crunchy slaw. They offer a choice of two salads with all sandwiches. I could have eaten a bowl of the potato salad alone. I was very kindly given a free tahini chocolate chip cookie when the staff found out I was a first time customer. I'll definitely be back to try out their other menu items!Fried Chicken SandwichChocolate Chip Tahini CookieGideon T.Berkeley, CA049110/18/2022Updated reviewHad their Ginger Molasses cookie today, and, let me tell you, bakeries that specialize in actually baking things like cookies do not hold a candle to Garden Variety. Absolute perfection. Crispy and almost caramelized on the outside best way to describe whatever's going on with the edges) and then decreased crunchiness leading to a moist center.I don't know why actual bakeries have such a hard time baking good cookies. Here is a salad joint that makes cookies on the side and they have absolutely nailed the practice. These are the cookies of the grandmother of your dreams!6/3/2022Previous reviewAbsolutely the best cookies to be found anywhere in Berkeley. Better than the highly touted bakeries in the area. Far better than any coffee house. Always freshly baked.The chocolate chip is my favorite, but the others are equally good. Always perfectly textured crunchy on the outside; soft in the middle), bold yet nuanced with the quintessential aftertaste of a cookie from the oven of the grandmother of your dreams.Substantial, but not overwhelming . Incredibly reasonably priced. At two dollars, there isn't a better deal in the Bay Area!Read moreJeffrey Y.Elite 2022Seattle, WA5301392589/9/20221 photo1 check inAmbience 8/10 Excellent rose garden in backyard with ample chairs and shady umbrellas available. Decent unisex bathroom.Quality 6/10 Decent salads, nothing special. Would have preferred darker greens. Grilled peach were a bit charred and removing the char was annoying. Expecting more of an experience at this price point.Service 5/10 Friendly staff members, self serve water. The cups were plastic glasses, and they were oily and had a distinct plasticy aftertaste. After trying a few different glasses, we notified the staff and they gave us two Solo cups instead. Good service, but sus quality water.Value 6/10 $12 15 base salads are good for the area and salads are large enough, but Mezzo is not too far away with much better value for salads $12.90 for a combo salad and soup, last time I checked). Good quality, higher end place for Berkeley.Overall 6/10 friendly, good salad place with small hiccups. 3.5 starsRed Quinoa and Roast Chicken, GF Grilled Peach and Goat Cheese, with TofuJoniece H.Elite 2022Alameda, CA246821177/11/20223 photosLOVEEEEE Garden Variety!!! My coworker and I stopped by here on a whim one day and I'm so glad we did! Whenever we get down time at work, we'll stop here for lunch so we can enjoy the gorgeous rose garden . The fried chicken sandwich is so good! I also got their soba noodle salad and fried rice before on other occasions and honestly you can't order a bad thing from this menu. Everything is fresh and made to order and the chef and cashier are just the two most fabulous people you could ever meet! I'm so glad I stumbled upon this place as I truly feel I found a gem here is Berkeley keep up the great workEd U.Elite 2022

Beat fried chicken I’ve had. I also liked the service.Give a raise to my man Diego!!!

I'm so mad at myself for not coming here sooner. The reviews are spot-on. Flavor packed food. Beautiful garden outdoor seating. Friendly staff. You can't go wrong with lunch at Garden Variety. My only wish is that they were open on the weekends.The fried chicken sandwich had a generous amount of crispy and juicy chicken, creamy garlic sauce, and crunchy slaw. They offer a choice of two salads with all sandwiches. I could have eaten a bowl of the potato salad alone. I was very kindly given a free tahini chocolate chip cookie when the staff found out I was a first-time customer. I'll definitely be back to try out their other menu items!