Sliver Ginger Mint Lemonade: Sliver is the Cheeseboard knockoff started by Cheeseboard alums, serving essentially the same exact product (even down to the same green salsa) minus the lines, and with the added benefit of proximity to campus (at least for Berkeley students). Which is to say that the owners made a smart business move, though it seem unfair and disloyal to say the least. As far as the pizza goes, I have no comment, for both Cheeseboard and Sliver. But I was impressed with their Ginger Mint Lemonade, whic... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks berkeley sliver ginger mint lemonade 3.5
Sweetgreens Iced Chai: Up to this point, I had been resistant to the ~$15 salads at Sweetgreens, but after returning to Berkeley after traveling, I often crave fresh fruit and vegetables. I caved in and stopped by Sweetgreens for a salad (which was actually filling and quite tasty) and purchased a cup of iced chai to accompany my greens. I really enjoyed this calorie and sugar-free option, with its warming blend of fragrant spices like cinnamon, cardamon, and cloves. A surprisingly concentrated flavor. Very re... (read more) 3.5/5.0
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Sweetheart Cafe Jasmine milk tea with boba: Sweetheart Cafe is a small bubble tea shop on Durant right on the south edge of UC Berkeley's main campus. The main draw to this inexpensive mom and pop shop is their boba, which as far as I'm concerned is unrivaled in the Bay Area for its chewiness and overall consistency. The Jasmine milk tea that I purchased alongside the boba had an identifiable Jasmine tea flavor but was more milk than tea. Would not be surprised at all if it was powder-based. 4.5 for the boba, 3.0 for the tea. Overall... (read more) 3.5/5.0
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Sweetheart Cafe Avocado Slush with Boba: A creamy drink that tasted more like milk than avocado. The standout component was still the boba, which remains singular in its chewy consistency. Overall, though, I would recommend another beverage at this Berkeley favorite just a block away from Sather Gate. 2.5/5.0
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Sweetheart Cafe Almond milk tea with boba: Every few months, I stop by Sweetheart Cafe for their preternaturally chewy boba, despite the fact that I’ve never had a particularly good drink here. This time, I waited patiently in line after a group of Cal students arrived for their bubble tea fix at 10pm (the busiest I’ve seen the place, though now that I think about it, I’ve only ever gone there at night). The almond milk tea had a sweet and predictable flavor (even at half sweetness), but the boba was very good. I wonder if they would... (read more) 3.0/5.0
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Tara's Organic Ice Cream Jasmine green tea ice cream: On the northern edge of the Elmwood district, at the border of Oakland and Berkeley, is a small ice cream shop called Tara's Organic Ice Cream. They feature a rotating menu of ice creams and sorbet. I was hoping they would have black sesame ice cream, but I was out of luck on the day I went and got a scoop of jasmine green tea instead. The texture was not as smooth as it could be, but the subtle herbal flavor was unique - clean but also very creamy. The type of ice cream that needs to be acc... (read more) 3.0/5.0
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