Bette’s Oceanview Diner – Berkeley
1807A 4th Street, Berkeley CA
Bette’s Oceanview Diner is one funky diner. Comparatively small with just ten places at the counter, five booths and 8 small tables. There are tables outside as well.
First of the décor. Large, shiny black and white tiles on the floor. Fresh flowers on the tables. On the bar there are three mini juke boxes. On the walls are old photographs and black and while posters from San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Just inside the door, suspended over the counter, is a huge slice of pie. Also in a frame on the wall is the first dollar bill Bette received which was from a Cynthia Fulton.
The menu was varied and the service great. Our food arrived on very hot plates within five minutes of ordering. Tom had a fresh herb and cheese omelette ($8.25) with sourdough toast. His verdict was good. The coffee was hot and strong, just the way he likes it.
I ordered oatmeal ($4.95), which is my favorite breakfast. By now I’m quite an expert on oatmeal. This oatmeal was made from steel cut oats, which is the best possible as far as I’m concerned. It was served in a large, shallow dish with a green line round the rim. Golden raisins and brown sugar were on top. Milk was served separately. Very satisfying. Only black mark was one very large lump.
There is just one unisex restroom with pink tiles and a continuous shelf on three walls with a chrome rim. Two pictures on the wall, one taken on the moon and one taken on mars. Wicker basket for soiled paper towels. Nice hot water.
Be warned, this place gets very busy. It opens at 6.30. We arrived at 7 and got a booth with no wait at all. It was full by the time we left. When we came back at 11 a.m. there was a crowd waiting outside for a table.
July 26 2007 03:51 pm | Breakfast Log
