FAVA

"A pair of Chez Panisse alums opened tiny lunch counter spot Fava, just around the corner from the mothership in Berkeley. Yes, the aesthetic is there, but so is the flavor. Dine on flatbread sandwiches filled with spicy chicken, herbs, cabbage, yogurt, and harissa; pints of soup; and beautiful salads made with the Bay Area’s best produce, perfectly arranged. There’s nowhere to sit, really, so this is best eaten as a picnic in a Berkeley park or at home." - Dianne de Guzman

"Anyone who hits up farmers markets like it’s a competitive sport will become a regular at Fava. The lunch-only takeout window in North Berkeley specializes in healthy, vegetable-heavy dishes with a Mediterranean bent. Flatbreads are loaded with falafel and herbs, glossy steelhead is served over tabbouleh and marinated beets, and lentil soup is finished off with dill. Ending the meal with a tahini chocolate chip cookie, dusted with sesame seeds and crisp around the edges, is always a move we endorse. This light lunch will fuel you through an entire day, yet never send you into a too-full-induced nap. " - Julia Chen 1, Lani Conway

"There’s a tiny spot called FAVA in Berkeley that’s basically just a window and a few seats but the food is incredible." - Edward Barsamian

"Anyone who hits up farmers markets like it’s a competitive sport will become a regular at Fava. The lunch-only takeout window in North Berkeley specializes in healthy, vegetable-heavy dishes with a Mediterranean bent. Flatbreads are loaded with falafel and herbs, glossy steelhead is served over tabbouleh and marinated beets, and lentil soup is finished off with dill. Ending the meal with a tahini chocolate chip cookie, dusted with sesame seeds and crisp around the edges, is always a move we endorse. This light lunch will fuel you through an entire day, yet never send you into a too-full-induced nap." - Julia Chen

"For lunch, I got some food from my friends who own a place around the corner called Fava. They make spiced yogurt, so I had that, and the best hummus, which we dip all these vegetables into."