In Praise of Alta Bates' Cafeteria

By Ted Friedman/Berkeley ReporterJuly 10, 2013

WHERE HAVE ALL OUR HOFBRAUS GONE?

I plan to have my birthday dinner at Alta Bates (hospital) cafeteria.

I meet interesting people there--from as far away as Calaveras County and their soups are to die for, which they can accommodate as well.

I began going there after an old friend recommended it years ago for Thanksgiving dinner.

When I encamped in the ER (6 hours) for dehydration recently (photo: Ted Friedman Berkeley Face Book), I ordered food from the cafeteria.

In Springfield, Il we had two cafeterias, Strongs and Conn's--magnificent eats--long gone.

The last great East-Bay Hofbrau, a type of cafeteria, closed at Broadway and Grand a decade ago. Berkeley's last great Hofbrau on Teley--Hiedelberg-- has been gone for decades. A string of successors (Mexican, Indian) has failed there.

Brennan's, near the Amtracks, is a wax museum with food to match. Tommy's Joynt, SF, no longer serves Buffalo stew.
 
One left. Europa, near Orinda theater--is first rate and only 12 minutes from Berkeley and Bart accessible. One in San Leandro (no review).
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berkeleyreporter.com features "A Wild and Bumpy Berkeley Week," with a photo-gallery of my best. http://berkeleyreporter.com