East Bay Spice Co

Bumped up to 5 stars after several more visits.
Everything on the menu is great! This is officially my favorite place in Berkeley now.

The sister restaurant to Tigerlily. I’ve never had the drinks here yet, but I’ve had the food (quite ironic at a bar). The food menu is quite small (well it is mainly a bar duh), but it is QUALITY food. Their kitchen is usually open till around 11:00PMish and they are Indian based.
Get any of their curry plates — I get the Chicken Tikka Masala for a value meal. Unlike Tigerlily, this place is significantly cheaper despite the quality being similar. I also think this place tastes a LOT better than house of curries and slightly better than Taste of the Himalayas. They also give you a good portion too (hence value).
The Tikka Masala Flatbread was yummy, but not worth the $ 12 I think (unless you’re sharing of course).
Gets crowded at night, but nice chill bar environment. It’s also located right next to Center which means starbucks, cinnaholic, and boba are all within 1 minute of walking!

Charging $ 12 for a mediocre cocktail and adding 20% gratuity without even asking is just ridiculous.

We came here for a late dinner and sat near the bar area. We got the garlic naan, vegetable korma, and chicken tikka masala which were all delicious. The chicken was a bit dry but the sauce was delicious. The rice and naan were perfect. We also got a buttered rum drink but it didn’t arrive until our meal were done eating so we weren’t happy about it but the drink was on the house. Otherwise, the service was friendly and it seems like they really have a lot of effort to provide good service.

Everything about East Bay Spice Co was simply lovely! I was more than delighted that my first experience certainly exceeded my expectations.
I had been dying to try out this highly praised establishment for months after hearing about their wonderfully crafted unique house-​made cocktails and delicious appetizers and entrées.
My best friend and I found ourselves here hoping to relax and unwind with a cocktail after a slightly intense week of work. We ended up having to finish up the evening with one last meeting with a client and decided upon staying at this location due to its relaxing ambiance and the fact that it stays open until 2:00 am.
Our seating host was exceptionally polite and very attentive. We opted to sitting on the second level of the restaurant which is slightly more secluded and quiet.
Our drinks arrived promptly and were excellent. My best friend stuck to her usual favorite, the Sazerac while I opted to trying their Ornament Of The World cocktail which is a delicious mixture of
plantation 3 star rum, cynar, cane syrup, lime, and Mumbai bitters.
The drink was well balanced and had a very unique flavor, I was a fan!
Our meeting ended up running past midnight so we decided to try some of their more simple dishes. I kept it casual and light and opted for their Street Salad which is a mixture of grilled corn, carrots, cucumbers, and some other vegetables on top of a thin flatbread-​style cracker and 3 various dressings on the side.
The salad was fresh, light, and flavorful not too extravagant but worked well as a healthy snack.
Overall, the ambiance was stellar in my opinion, the lighting was soft, slightly sultry but still romantic and the background music was a soothing mix of R&B songs. I was thoroughly impressed and grateful that East Bay Spice Co has found a home in downtown Berkeley, we certainly needed a place like this!
I absolutely want to come back and can’t wait to sample more of those dope cocktails!

The drinks/​food: The drinks at East Bay Spice Co. are pretty tasty! I think I’ve always come here for the drinks and then maybe decided to get food later on. They have a wide variety, with different types of liquors, and base options. I usually hate it when drinks are TOO sweet, and this place does a good job of not making their cocktails taste too artificial. I wouldn’t call the food here super authentic/​Indian, but it’s still pretty good fusion food. The saag paneer was tasty and the flatbread/​naan it came with was fluffy and light. (Actually, while the drinks here can range on the pricey side, the food here is reasonably priced)
The atmosphere: This place can get pretty busy pretty quickly, especially since Easy Bay is on the smaller side. That being said, if you get here early enough, with not too big of a group you should be able to find a spot, since most people just come here for the drinks. Since East Bay Spice Co. isn’t super large, so I would have a back-​up plan just in case. Luckily, it’s in such a busy area, you probably won’t have too hard of a time finding another bar. The overall atmosphere is cozy and trendy (almost speakeasy-​esque), and the small size makes it nice to have a conversation.
Recommendations: The Samsara (House Rum Blend, Cocchi Rosa, Ginger Syrup, Lime, Absinthe) and the Portrait of the Lady (Gin, Vodka, Scotch Ale, Honey Syrup, Lemon, Barkeep Fennel Bitters. (Next time I come here, I want to try the Harlequin Gimlet)

Superb place. We ordered a cocktail with ginger essence. It was costly for $ 12 but worth the price. They had an excellent choice of cocktails.
This place has mostly Indian food but i saw folks ordering pizza too. We ordered Tandoori taco and mix vegetable curry. The mix vegetable curry was very tasty and it came with Indian breadNaan and rice. The food price was reasonable and quantity is big.
The place was crowded for wed evening. I wonder how they handle crowd during the weekend.
I will go to this place again.

A good option for cocktails and a late night bite.
East Bay was one of the few full bar options in Berkeley, but recently more options have popped up. The place is small, so if its full it will be tricky finding a table or a spot at the bar. For some reason though, I have always been able to sit down when I have showed up. It is crowded and dark, yet somehow more trendy than divey.
The cocktails have been satisfying. They tend to follow the very familiar bitters-​heavy Bay Area trend. They also offer some good beers. The food consists of Indian bites. It has generally good and very flavorful though not always perfect. The tacos were nice and saucy. The pakora were flavorful, but not crispy. The samosas were good, but perhaps needed a bit more sauce.
Worth checking out.

This place is a gem! I’m all about finding rustic feeling bars. It’s so hard to find a bar that has it all, atmosphere, service, great food, unique drinks and this has it ALL.
My drink was incredible– Royal Chartrr. Yum! I also got the Tikka flatbread. Such a neat idea and it was great!
We took some friends here visiting from San Diego and they said they want to come here next time they visit.
Also love the idea of the old Karate Movies playing on the wall. Very well executed establishment. Great job EBSC!

Awesome vibes here! Lots of mixed drinks (a bit pricey though at $ 10 – 12), and solid food. The 1498 (light & citrusy) and the flatbread are addicting. Also, they have a pretty good hot drink menu during the winter with hot chocolate cider and more!

This small restaurant and bar is pretty great. I have to start with the staff and service, which is what really sets it apart from the rest. They are warm, knowledgable and find that perfect balance between being attentive and not bothering you.
The cocktails are excellent and they have a menu full of originals. Seriously, you should try one or more of these concoctions rather than ordering your normal go-​to. Not too sweet, not too strong, just right.
The food is also quite tasty. I had tandoori chicken and naan. The chicken was well spiced, juicy, and good, not amazing. The naan (maybe just flat bread) was about as plain as it gets, but tasted fine. It was served as a side item rather than ordered separately.
Lastly, the atmosphere was chillaxed. It was busy without being too crowded or noisy. Low lighting, retro speakeasy decorations on the wall, little tables and pretty small bar. It all works nicely.

My 1492 drink was delicious! It was the best one I had for the night. It’s on the «low tide» side meaning it wasn’t too strong (this was the 3^rd place to visit and i was driving home). It smells like delicious indian food here. Naan was decent– tastes like any other naan bread. Bathroom was actually clean, but only one (at least on the first floor). It’s a small intimate area and I liked it. I like how their drinks have a spicy flair — mine wasn’t too sweet either.

East Bay Spice Co is such a hip little place in Berkeley, I absolutely adore it. They definitely fill a niche that we could use more of in the area. I love the bar and the fact that they do hand crafted drinks. I’ve had Portrait of a Lady and while I can’t say it’s my favorite drink, ti was definitely an experience to see the bartenders make it. I hope we have more speakeasy-​esque bars popping up in the area to force them to up their game.
And can we talk about the food? They serve amazing flatbreads which are absolutely addictive. All in all, Ive been to East Bay Spice Company 5 times already and every time I go I’m always planning my next trip back.

We had a great visit to East Bay Spice Co. Strolling down Center Street, which has become the food court for downtown Berkeley, most places were packed or didn’t appeal. Rounding the corner we came upon East Bay Spice Co., and they were able to seat us right away outside.
The service was awesome — we couldn’t have been greeted in a more friendly manner, and the food we had — a tikka masala, saag paneer and samosas were great. My dining companion didn’t like the samosas too much, they had bacon in them so were decidedly inauthentic, but I thought they were darned tasty.
Would certainly go back.

Easy Bay Spice Co is a perfect date spot: intimate ambience, romantic lighting, and delicious food & drinks! Been to this place for several occasions now, and I’m always satisfied with the food and the experience at the end!
It’s a very small restaurant and bar on Center St. & Oxford St. There are about 6 tables outside, and about 15 tables inside. It’s truly a date spot because one table can only fit two people. If you want to have more privacy, you can go upstairs, although the space between each table is kind of cramped together. The lights are not bright to see everyone but not too dark to see the person right across from you.
As for their food and drinks, they are absolutely delicious! I tried the Harlequin Gimlet (~$ 12) and it was so tasty! They also have a great beer selection! Some of my favorite food items are: Tikka Masala Flat Bread, Lamp Chops, Chicken Tikka Masala Curry, and Lamb Vindaloo. The chef here is really committed and every dish we had here doesn’t disappoint. They have a relatively small food menu, but I think the idea of «less is more» applies to this place perfectly.
Their service is pretty consistent too, although some nights they’re super easy so they might be slow in terms of bringing people checks and other requests.
My overall is a 4.5, but I’m happy to round it up and give them a shining 5 stars. Will come back here very soon!

I’ve been to East Bay Spice Co dozens of times. At nights this place is very dark inside, and it’s usually not that loud. They have few tables outside which is nice, but if you want better service I recommend sitting upstairs.
They have a huge cocktail selection, I’ve only tried their Royal Charter and the Harlequin Gimlet. Not a cocktail person, but the cocktails here are tasty and a bit pricey (around $ 10-​$ 11). I’ve I also tried Fieldwork IPA here for the first time and it was delicious!
From a place like this you might not expect good quality foods, but to be honest the food here is always good, and not pricey at all (unlike their cocktails). Never had a bad experience here. I like their vindaloo and chicken tikka masala. If it’s your first time I totally recommend the chicken tikka masala, it’s full of flavor and very creamy.
My only complaint is that the place is very compact, you can overhear most of the conversations, and it’s tight to a point that is awkward. I feel like there is only 5 inch space between each table. The service is also not that great, and that is because they are understaffed. They really need to hire more waiters/​waitresses. Overall this place is unique and nice, you should definitely come here if you want good drinks and good foods. Plus, it’s a nice place to bring your date.

More like a 3.5, but the fantastic drinks and service bump it up.
First off, the space itself is gorgeous. You can look at the photos of the bar on this Unilocal page, and if you get a seat upstairs you can peer down and get a sick view. Second, service is incredibly friendly, albeit a bit slow at times (if you’re upstairs. But I get it, I wouldn’t be sprinting up and down those things all night). Drinks are out of this world good.
Food is… okay. This is definitely fusion Indian food, and the spices and flavor have been turned down several notches. We ordered the vegetable pakora, chicken samosas, tandoori chicken, and the famous tikka masala flatbread. Personally, I thought the flavor fell short in all of the dishes. It wasn’t bad by any means, but definitely not the most flavorful Indian food I’ve had – not even close.
Drinks on the other hand, are a serious form of art here. I ordered the 1489 (it may be a different number that I can’t recall) and it was insanely good, with some kind of apple syrup mixed in there. I’m sensitive to sugar and usually don’t like cocktails, but this drink was the absolute perfect balance of sweet and tart. My friend ordered some kind of wine/​beer hybrid they have, which sounds really odd but is seriously delicious. I’d definitely come back for drinks and happy hour, but don’t think I’d opt to do dinner again.

Still 5 stars… Just returning to update about their ever-​growing mixology with their spirits. 3 weeks before this review, EBSC celebrated their anniversary commemorated by a new drink menu… But I’d say more of a guide… A portion is even dedicated to «uncharted waters» for drinks they are testing out. Recipes for the mixes are provided for each drink as well as a glossary of sorts in the back: yes, remake your favorite drinks at home! As for service, always wonderful! Cheers*
P. S. music still hip-​hop… The good kind. Still threw me off… But still good haha

At first it was a bit confusing — East Bay Spice Co, is that like the Oaktown Spice shop? Selling spices in jars? But no. It’s a bar and a restaurant, although that was not clear at all at first. I had to look at the menu to figure out what kind of food they serve — Indian, it turns out. And suddenly the name makes a little bit more sense.
Me and my friend we ordered some yummy appetizers and mead. the amazingly delicious mead was served in pretty decorated gilded glasses fit for a queen. Very fanciful. The food was good but I thought the mead was definitely the highlight.
Service was fairly slow, and i am not sure if that was because we were sitting outside? Not sure. Place seemed pretty crowded when we got there but we still got a seat right away. In the end we had to hurry and find the waiter to pay for our drinks and food, because we had to run to a play. Not a place to go to if you are in a hurry of any kind. This is a place where you could sit and much on a couple bites and cocktails for hours.
Perhaps next time i will try some of their mixed drinks, since it seems a lot of other Unilocalers are fond of them.
Good ambiance. Mysterious-​ish.

This place is smaller than what I expected but the atmosphere and décor made me fell in love with this place. It’s an Indian restaurant + bar, so don’t be shy and give the food and drinks menu a try.
I LOVE how all the drinks were extremely smooth. You can definitely taste the kick at first but there’s no aftertaste at all (which I hate because it can ruin a drink). I’m not a big fan on darks so all of the cocktails I tried were on the lighter side!
(+) Harlequin Gimlet: ($ 11) gun club gin, ransom old tom gin, bittermens malort, citra hopped IPA syrup, lime. I was never a fan of gin but I seriously loved this drink (it tastes similar to a tequila cocktail). The citrus flavor balanced well with the gin! I would definitely recommend this drink to anyone.
(+) Portrait of a lady $ 11. anchor hop head vodka, tru organic gin, msb nitro, honey, lemon, fennel bitters. This one just screams East Bay Spice Co. at you! You can definitely taste the spice flavor (probably from the fennel bitters) at the first sip, but it was so smooth. I would also recommend this if you’re looking to try something out of the box.
The rest of the drinks we ordered were off menu and they were all good. Definitely try the Silver Monk here! The bartender was super helpful and nice. We told him to surprise us with off menu drinks and they were all super fresh. He said that all of the juices are freshly squeezed so they only make cocktails with anything that they can squeeze themselves. Love it.
The food doesn’t start until 5PM and I have say that the food is great. We only tried the Samosas Cholay but it was delicious!
All in all, I’m definitely excited to come back again.