Fellini: The Restaurant

I'll never forget Sandra Bernhard's joke about Federico Fellini movies.  She said that you had only to visit Italy once to realize he films documentaries.  Nonsense of course but I laughed 'til I cried.

Here I want to remind you to have brunch or dinner at Fellini restaurant because it will be such a treat for you.  Not a white tablecloth restaurant but not exactly a diner either.  Let's call it casual elegance.  The clientele is old young black asian and white.  It's in Berkeley at 1401 University @ Acton.  They serve bunch Saturday and Sunday 9:30am - 1:30pm and dinner daily 5:30pm - 10:00pm.  Reservations are accepted for parties of six or more.  Also, attached to the restaurant is a sweet little coffee bar open daily 7:00am - 6:00pm.

Anyway, there are Fellini movie posters at the Fellini restaurant.  The place is packed with lots of strong colors and red walls.  The wait staff is terribly nice and young and attractive.  The maitre'd the evening we went was uber hip my dear.  And really nice too.   He's pictured left wearing the green scarf. 

We've been twice.  Once for brunch and and once for dinner.  Both times I was so delirious at the array of dining possibilities that I ordered and ate like a banshee having her last meal. 

For brunch I ordered and loved the following: french toast smothered with vegan butter and maple syrup (the vegan french toast was brown and crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, just the way I like it), that morning's special vegan scramble (it included heaps of vegan cheddar and faux bacon), house potatoes (crispy and salty with creamy smooth vegan sour cream), washed down with a spicy virgin bloody mary and a ton of coffee.  Oh, also that morning they had special pancakes.  I shared a short stack with Harrison.  Whew!

For dinner, Harrison and I started with an order of garlic bread which comes with an organic marinara sauce for dipping, the kale appetizer (lightly steamed and tossed with olive oil and lemon juice - oh my goddess - I'm getting my own order next time), a pesto pizza (pictured left) and the Linguini alla Diavola (creamy like an Alfredo sauce but spicy with sun dried tomatos and artichoke hearts).

Our waitress had advised me to order something a vegan can not count on ordering @ other restaurants.  CREAMINESS.  That was very good advice.

Did I mention that Fellini cooks all vegan dishes in dedicated vegan pots and pans?  Well, they do.  And did I mention that parking is plentiful and free at Fellini?  To prove it, see the shot below of Harrison in the lot, leaning on her Mini. 

So, make the trip to Berkeley.  Your meal tab will end up being a lot less than ours, I guarantee it!