The Walnut Tavern Bar & Grill

Fantastic quality food, cozy atmosphere and great service. What a nice hidden gem.
We're coming back for more. Thank you.

The new owners did a nice job with the menu and staff. Nepalese themed with American comfort touches. Norbu was our server. He was attentive without being overbearing and knowledgeable with a great personality. The Texas style BBQ over potato salad with pickled onions was perfect. The Momo dumpling platter was tasty with chicken, beef and veggie filling plus dipping sauce. But the grilled rack of lamb was the best. It was crusted with herbs that worked well together and was perfectly cooked med-rare, with creamy mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables rosemary lamb au jus.

Plus we picked a warm day so we could sit in the upper patio area with a great view of the bay and setting sun. We'll be back.

Update: came back here and ordered some of the same items. Very disappointing food quality and service. Was hoping to make this one of our regular neighborhood spots, but don't think we'll be coming back.

Medium meat orders (steak and lamb) both came out extra well done and waitress response was OK I'll let the kitchen know with no follow up. It's disappointing to spend ~$50 per entree to get something much worse than what I could make at home.

The patio was nice on a warm sunny day in May. The inside was charming too but we wanted sun.

The service was slow enough that you could have a lengthy conversation. It might have just been that the patio is out of the way. As a result you had to catch people for service when you saw them there for others.

For the price I would have expected the food to be better. It was not bad but did not have the presentation or unique flavor you might expect for the price.

All in all it was an ok experience.

We visited during happy hour on a Wednesday. The restaurant has a cozy ambiance, with comfortable booths and soft lighting. While they have a rooftop dining section, the weather was too cold for us to sit outside that day, though the photos of it are very appealing.

My drink was quite good, and the service was fantastic. However, the food didn't quite meet my expectations. We ordered the pork belly sekuwa, the fish and chips, and the short rib burger. The pork belly was a standout, bursting with delicious flavors. However, the fish was disappointing--it was soggy, the batter felt off, and it badly lacked seasoning. The coleslaw was bland and overdressed. On a positive note, the fries were nicely seasoned and crispy.

The short rib burger started off flavorful, but I soon noticed that it didn't taste evenly seasoned, leading to some bland bites. Despite this, it was juicy and cooked perfectly. The side salad with the burger was one note and needed some acidity in the dressing.

I'm uncertain if I would return, but I must admit that the menu offers a variety of appealing options that may be more to my taste. It's possible that I simply chose the wrong dish on this occasion.

Great location and food. We just discovered this place and gave it a try. It's only been open for about six months.
This place is nested in a small group of stores, businesses and cafes. There's rooftop seating which gives you a nice view of the Bay. Great place to hang on a beautiful afternoon or evening. After, you can do some shopping or stroll around the neighborhood.
We ordered the ground short rib burger without the bun and the grilled chicken sandwich.
Friendly staff and service.
Like many places, we felt the prices were a bit high. We'll offset this next time by sharing plates.

Tucked away in the Berkeley mountains, The Walnut Tavern Bar & Grill is a hidden gem serving innovative Nepalese-American fusion cuisine. The cozy, modern ambiance is inviting, but could benefit from a bit more attention to cleanliness. The shared bite dishes stole the show: Umami chicken wings with chilli sauce, succulent shrimp gamba, tender BBQ pork short ribs with potatoes salad and onion pickles, and a fresh beetroot salad with goat cheese. The Classic Shrimp Scampi in linguini pasta was a standout, with a flavorful and spicy sauce that ranks among the best pastas we've had. The spicy mango margaritas were just okay, lacking a refreshing zing and their bread was slightly moldy. Despite a few minor missteps, we highly recommend this gem for its incredible fusion fare. Don't miss out on this culinary adventure!

Tried this new restaurant in Berkeley.

It's located in a residential neighborhood. The ambiance is nice with a bar in the front. Service is attentive. Shared two apps and one entree.

The rack of lamb is tender and delish although a bit small. Had to send the pork belly back which was not good. Pleasantly surprised by the feta & sriracha flat bread. Very tasty.

Overall, it's a decent restaurant. Not amazing but pretty decent.

Came here with my family and had a satisfying experience at Walnut Tavern. They offer a unique blend of flavors that surprised me- especially the fusion dishes that incorporated Himalayan & Nepalese influences. The ambiance was decent, though not particularly remarkable unless you're sitting on 2nd floor deck where there's a distant bay view, providing a relaxed setting for a casual meal. We didn't get a chance to sit out there that day because it wasn't offered that night.

I ordered the Grilled Rack of Lamb (4/5) - the herb crust on the lamb was tasty especially with the au jus, but just felt like something was missing..
Other members in my family ordered the Root Vegetable Blend, Impossible Burger (cute plating!), and Shrimp Scampi. While the menu was enjoyable, I found it somewhat limited in options, however, the customer service was commendable--attentive and friendly staff.

Overall, Walnut Tavern earns a solid 4 stars from me. If you're in the mood to explore new flavors in North Berkeley and want a cute little restaurant with friendly service, this spot is worth a visit.

Food was great, huge prawns. Quinoa salad very filling. Service ideal. Love the location n the draft beer selection