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Venus is at 2327 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: 510.540.5950     Fax: 510.540.5878

Hours of Operation:
Breakfast – 8am to 2:30pm Monday through Friday

Lunch – 11:30 to 2:30 pm Monday through Friday

Dinner – Thursday-Saturday: 5:30-9:30, Sunday and Monday: 5:00-9:00

closed for dinner Tues+Wed,  now open Mondays!

Brunch – 8am to 2:15pm Weekends

 

About

Established in 2000, Venus in Berkeley is named for the morning and evening star. Sourcing directly from the local Californian fields and ranches to provide tasty meals with a wholesome origin is how Venus has made a mark on the local community. No cans, freezers or microwaves are allowed in the kitchen which means every creation that exits the kitchen is made from scratch and full of flavor.

Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Venus offers guests a selection of small and large plates and salads with options for vegan, gluten-free and paleo dishes. You will not want to miss out on the piri piri chicken with mashed butterballs, griddled zucchini, carrots and lacinato kale or the slow roasted pork sandwich with gruyere and chipotle mayo.

vendors we love

Venus uses excellent local produce, meats, and fish. A meal here might feature Marin Sun Farms beef, select seasonal produce from Happy Boy Farms, and luscious fruits from Frog Hollow. We’re always talking to Kenny from Two-X-Sea to find out what the local sustainable fishermen have brought in. Of course, we feature house cured bacon and seasonal jams created at our sister restaurant, Revival Bar+Kitchen.

 

Food & Drink

We’re here for one reason: we love California food and a perfect beverage to accompany it.  In the name of this pursuit, we offer strictly seasonal fare prepared with attention to detail, a lively wine list featuring organic and biodynamic wineries, and excellent small producer coffee.  All of it served with verve and precision by waitstaff who love what they do.

Venus serves weekday breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.  We see a lot of faces that show up for all four.

We have lots of menus:

  • Weekday Breakfast
  • Weekday Lunch
  • Brunch
  • Brunch Part 2
  • Dinner
  • Desserts
  • Beverages
  • Wines by the Glass
  • Wines by the Bottle

 

 

Bay Area Bites Guide to 6 Favorite Pancake Spots In Berkeley and Oaklan

By: Shelby Pope | Mar 15, 2016 | www.kqed.org/

The tiny, beloved Venus Restaurant has a breakfast menu that contains standard brunch favorites spiked with interesting flourishes and decadent touches: akoori scrambled eggs, a butternut squash scramble, a 14-hour slow-roasted pork sandwich. They also have a dedicated griddle section of the menu, with pancakes, flapjacks and hotcakes (which are all the same thing). The ostentatiously-named named “Luxury Flapjacks” are an upgrade to your childhood chocolate chip pancakes, with chunks of fruity Valrhona dark chocolate that create bittersweet pockets that complement the small chunks of strawberry. The pancakes have a wonderfully light and fluffy texture, and are barely sweet, highlighting the dual richness of strawberries and chocolate. These are especially unique pancakes, ideal for any sort of breakfast-time celebration.

Venus Restaurant
2327 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
Ph: (510) 540-5950
Hours: Mon 8am-2:30pm; Tue-Wed 8am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-9pm; Sat-Sun 8am-2:15am, 5:30-9pm

 

 

 

Venus restaurant to open location in North Berkeley

BY JAN SCHUERMANN | STAFFLAST JUNE 13, 2018

Venus, a popular brunch restaurant in Downtown Berkeley, will open a new location on Solano Avenue in North Berkeley.

The new restaurant will open at the site of what is currently known as Main Street Pizza Bar, which has the same owner as Venus. Until the soft opening for the new Venus — which will take place June 22 — Main Street Pizza Bar will remain open for customers. A grand opening will follow in mid-July.

“People came to me and said I should open something like the Venus restaurant (in North Berkeley),” said Deepak Aggarwal, the owner of the restaurant. “At our new Venus café, we’ll welcome more middle-age and settled-down people, (and) families with children.”

The Solano Avenue location will be open from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., seven days a week, and is twice the size of the Shattuck Avenue location, Aggarwal said. Main Street Pizza Bar is currently a quicker-service restaurant, and once the new location is open, it will become a sit-down restaurant, according to Aggarwal.

Venus has been on Shattuck Avenue for 24 years. Aggarwal said he also owns Tigerlily at 1513 Shattuck Ave., East Bay Spice Company at 2134 Oxford St. and Barbarian at 2012 Shattuck Ave.

The new location will be similar to the restaurant in Downtown; it is important for Aggarwal that people will have the same experience. Customers of the new Venus will have almost the same choice of dishes and food as at the other location. Only a few items, such as chicken wings, soup, waffles and breakfast pizza, will be added.

“I renovated the new restaurant a little bit — I put new tables in it and set up the bar. It already looked good, though. The menu will be the same; we are going to order the coffee from the same company, and all is organic and local,” Aggarwal said.

Matt Johnson, an employee at the neighboring Noah’s Bagels, said Main Street Pizza Bar changed a bit over the years and that he would get pizza there with his co-workers on occasion. Even though he has not been to the original one in Downtown, he said he will definitely visit the new Venus location because he believes he will enjoy the food regardless.

According to Aggarwal, Solano Avenue does not have many restaurants. There is one of each kind: one pizza place, one Mexican restaurant and one Indian place.

Kelly Baird, a UC Berkeley student who has been working as a server at the Downtown Venus location for a couple of months, said their favorite dish is the lemon ricotta hotcake and that they like the customers.

“I like the atmosphere and that everything is locally produced. It is good food, and it is my favorite brunch place,” said Jasmina Husanovic, a regular customer at the Downtown location. “I’d be really interested in the new restaurant, especially (because) my son likes waffles a lot.”

TRIP ADVISOR REVIEWS

 

visual
Alexandria, Virginia
Reviewed March 23, 2015
Food was great, but its a bit pricey for breakfast
Breakfast dishes were all excellent, and they had eclectic choices, like the autumn squash scramble. The chocolate raspberry flapjacks felt a bit overpriced ($10 for two pancakes), but I guess its Berkeley. The egg dishes are a better deal. Although it's a bit crowded, you don't feel like they are rushing you out the door. Last week when I came in with friends for breakfast I spent part of the time checking out dog beds for my two pooches. My girls friend had had it with two extra furry bodies in our bed every morning. The ultimatum had arrived that morning with "Find a new place where dogs go to sleep or I will." Point taken, I said. Thus my search for some comfy dog beds. I found a cute site called GoodnightDog whose dog beds are made with designer fabric here: https://www.goodnightdog.com/dog-beds.html. The round dog beds look like large floor pillows. I ordered two while eating those chocolate raspberry flapjacks, hoping that Kix and Atlas would love them enough to prefer them over our bed. Update: Still dropping by Venus a couple times a week. Dogs sleeping in their own beds. Girlfriend: happy. Me: relieved. Life is good.
Date of visit: March 2015

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Barry W
Berkeley, California
Reviewed February 14, 2015
Good Food
The Venus Restaurant has good and healthy food. The space is a bit too tight, so we go at off hours. We always enjoy the delicious food and the service is good too. An excellent choice in downtown Berkeley.

Date of visit: October 2014

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Tina V
Reviewed February 11, 2015
Delicous breakfasts
The first visit, I had the Florentine eggs Benedict. Fantastic Hollandise! Everyone in our group enjoyed their food, so we were back again the next day. this time I had the warm poached egg salad, which was also excellent. The latte and the regular coffee...More

Date of visit: February 2015

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billp365
Seattle
Reviewed February 7, 2015
Popular and very good breakfast
Venus has a varied menu for breakfast and lunch. My party of three was there for a late breakfast. We had three different egg dishes and all were excellent. The coffee was delicious. The only negative thing I can say was that the service was...More

Date of visit: February 2015

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Zakrah
Madison, Wisconsin
Reviewed February 7, 2015
Creative food
If you are looking for something delicious but a bit different, Venus is the spot for you. My husband and I ordered nearly everything on their appetizer menu last night, including a colorful dish of orange beets with bright green sauce on top of rich...More
Date of visit: February 2015

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so cal
Reviewed February 3, 2015
the foodie breakfast place!
love venus ... yummy!!! ..we always take my daughter here for Sunday breakfast every time we visit! the biscuits are delish and the specials are always extremely inventive!
Date of visit: January 2015

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Kenya2010
Berkeley, CA
Reviewed January 27, 2015
Fantastic, Overlooked Restaurant in Berkeley
We recently dined at Venus on Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, and absolutely loved it. We have eaten there a few times previously and would eat there more if not for the challenging downtown parking situation. I recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes if dining at Venus on a weekend night -- you may have to park several blocks away. Weeknights are much easier.

Venus is an often overlooked restaurant in Berkeley. This farm to table eatery serves food every bit as good as many of Berkeley's highest rated restaurants. The cuisine is varied, innovative and with a menu to suit every diner's tastes. Everything tastes so fresh and so homemade, AND original. While some of the dishes are called, for instance, Eggplant Parmesan, what comes out is a beautiful and fresh take on the old standard. And -- Because the food is locally sourced, the vegetables on the mains constantly change with the climate.

I had the ocean trout (aka Arctic Char) and it was mouthwateringly cooked to tender perfection. Accompanying the dish were some delicate little trout or whitefish eggs, a special yellow broccoli and amazing little fried polenta cakes. My friend ordered both the gniocci and the little souffle starter. We could hear them whipping up the egg whites in the kitchen, and smell the corn cakes cooking. Our plain green salads, to start, were perfectly dressed and a welcome beginning to the meal. Everything was perfect. I wish I would have been hungrier because I would have ordered dessert!

The only minuses I give this restaurant are 1) Its location -- which makes parking a chore, and 2) I would like to see table cloths on the table at night. The restaurant is pretty simple in decor, and table cloths would go a long way toward uplifting the evening mood and dampening the sound a bit. And 3) I think that their exhaust fan needs some work. The smells in the restaurant were heavenly but their existing fan did not do the job when it came to drawing out the smell of frying food. I could smell the corn cakes on my clothes when I got home.

Overall, I loved this restaurant and will return with family or friends SOON. I encourage everyone looking for an excellent farm to table delicious meal to try Venus. It is fabulous!
Date of visit: January 2015

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dragonrees
Concord, California
Reviewed January 22, 2015
excellent dining value near U.C. Campus
Our party of 4 found the service at Venus to be topnotch, professional, friendly, efficient, courteous. Also, the servers were completely familiar with the dishes and the wine. Our reservation was handled promptly, contrary to a few earlier reviews. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting. The menu, characterized as Organic farm-to-table, is not extensive, but is interesting and contains some great choices. Many of those choices are gluten-free. We chose the Prime Filet Mignon (a special this day), the Piri-Piri Chicken, roasted baby-back ribs, and The Butternut Squash Gnocchi. The Wine list is short and changes frequently. A cocktail special this evening was made with Sake and Blackcurrant and was outstanding. We also found prices to be quite reasonable. Venus is located in downtown Berkeley and near the UC campus. Street parking and parking in nearby lots can be difficult during University events. Our group was completely satisfied with our experience and will return soon.
Date of visit: January 2015

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Tony C
San Diego, California
Reviewed January 4, 2015
Great place for breakfast.
There were few options for breakfast outside our hotel. We finally stumbled upon this place and were glad we took the time to search. Our breakfast was excellent in every way.
Date of visit: December 2014

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Brian A
East Lansing, Michigan
Reviewed December 30, 2014
Wonderful!
Every element of our meal was great, from service, to ambiance to food. We had a variety of appetizers, main dishes and a dessert, and the ingredients, presentation and flavors were nearly perfect. Service was attentive and friendly. To my palate, the seasoning of each item tended very slightly toward being salty, but my companions did not agree. This a casual restaurant with reasonable prices (for Berkeley) and great food. We did not have a reservation for a Sunday night, and we had a 13-year old with us, and were made to feel very welcome.
Date of visit: December 2014

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***** jen e
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Reviewed August 2, 2012
excellent
Organic, local food; small venue with limited menu but absolutely unforgettable. Waitstaff was attentive and the dishes were packed with flavor. I was just visiting the area, but would definitely return. Healthy and fresh. You won't be sorry!
Date of visit: July 2012

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***** cy1229
Greenwood, Indiana
7137
Reviewed July 26, 2012
Small, eclectic, very good
Had a great meal with business friends earlier this month. The menu is not outrageously extensive, but all of the choices were appealing. They have a lot of organic and sustainable choices, and everything was cooked deliciously.
Date of visit: July 2012

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**** Birdwanderer
Richmond CA
Reviewed February 24, 2012
Wonderful, small, freindly and delicious
This is a small, pleasant restaurant on Shattuck, convenient to the movie theatres and UC Campus. It is a great place for lunch for one or dinner for two. There isn't much room for a group. The food is delicious and healthy, the menu is varied, and the staff are friendly.

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***** Vetipie
Oakland, California
Reviewed February 8, 2012
wonderful
I have been wanting to come to Venus for many months, as a Pagan girl myself, I am so curious to eat where its named after the Goddess of all Love. "Venus". A place to eat that serves not only organic food, also sustainable and grown by local farmers, including all the meat and fish. No freezer or microwave.. and of course filtered still water.

My friend is visiting from Scotland, so we thought Venus a good choice as neither of us had ever been there. I love to explore new places every month.

A simple yet welcoming interior, we get to choose where we sit. A spacious table for 4, so the two of us can spread out. Excellent attentive server from England, a bright lass with a mane of blonde curls.

We start with a yummy salad of golden and red beats served chilled on a thick bed of goats cheese, which tops a bed of olive oil drizzled arugula, delicious. My friend had a yummy crostini, which she was also delighted with. I love water with my food and my glass was never empty.

For our main courses, I chose the special, seared scallops with mashed potatoes and saute' of summer vegetables. The scallops were sweet and tender, mashed potatoes to live for. My friend had the sea bass in a delicate thai coconut milk sauce, atop a bed of seared yummy greens, it was so yummy.

We had drunk a bunch of wine earlier so opted out of wine for dinner.

A serendipidious moment of asking my server who was cooking, she told me a name and then pointed to a blonde woman sitting over by the door and said she was the owner and main chef. I said hello on my way out the door and that moment led to two more hours sitting with her and her publicity/marketing friend, tasting several wonderful organic, bio dynamic wines and tasting some wonderful cheeses accompanied by bing cherrys cooked in sugar and lemon and pistachio nuts, what a divine combination. What a delightful being she is. I love that there is a place, that is totally organic and seasonal. Often I pay similar prices for non organic food, without the consciousness that seems to be offered at Venus.

It was my first time at Venus and I'm sure I will be there many more times to come. The evening was delightful in all ways. Thanks for a great night Venus.
Date of visit: March 2011

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***** Lili_hope
Reviewed January 22, 2012
Great impression
The team of Venus made may firs diner in US really special, thank you. ;)

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**** TrnrMom
Fremont, California
Reviewed January 15, 2012
Organic, Locally Sourced
Venus features a limited menu of very well done entrees and very creative use of seasonal vegetables and fruits in the starters. Our group had the warm kale salad and the arugula salad. Both were packed with ingredients that combined well and were not over...More
Date of visit: January 2012

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** SFTraveler009
San Francisco, California
Reviewed October 31, 2011
Great Breakfast/Brunch in Berkeley
Well, the title kind of says it all, but to elaborate, Berkeley has some of the very best breakfast joints in the Bay Area, and of these, Venus is one of the best. The rating is only for breakfast foods, as we have only eaten...More
Date of visit: October 2011

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** Rodd K
San Francisco, California
Reviewed October 20, 2011
The staff is friendly and the environment is comfortable, but the food is a disappointment.

Several dishes were well conceived, but poorly executed. Our pork dish was carelessly prepared; the meat was far too salty and the sauce was excessively sweet. Two vegetable dishes suffered from an overdose of pepper.

Nice place, nice people - they just need to slow down a bit and cook with a lighter touch. The interesting recipes and organic ingredients deserve better treatment.Date of visit: October 2011

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****Tish P
washington, dc
Reviewed September 3, 2011
Don't be fooled by the funky decor
While secretly wishing that my friend had picked the cute French cafe down the block, I agreed to have breakfast at Venus Restaurant. I was put off by the funky decor, but I should have known that it would live up to its reputation for delicious, imaginative food. There were too many choices, but I picked the lemon ricotta pancakes and they were the most memorable pancakes I've ever had! Served with maple syrup, lemon curd and blackberry sauce, they were true heaven on a plate. I definitely want to go back and try some of the other options, but I'm not sure if I will be able to resist choosing the same thing again!
Date of visit: August 2011

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***** Md
Reviewed August 14, 2011
Excellent food quality and well cooked
The local fresh tomato and lemon cucumber salad was delicious. The main course meats we ate were the skirt steak and ribs, both of which were plentiful and seasoned the way I like them. The ribs in particular were fantastic with so much meat on...More

Date of visit: August 2011

 


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