Many years ago, we used to frequent a restaurant on University Ave. that was in what I think was an old train station. It’s driving me nuts that I can’t remember the name. As you’re going towards the campus, it was on the right, about halfway up. Thanks!
This it?
1 Like
Before Brennan’s, there was China Station in the old train station…hence the name. Brennan’s was very close and you could see the sign from the the overpass, street. It moved to the train station after the land was used for housing. Next door was Celia’s, one of many in the Bay Area, but all different owners.
Otherwise, could it be Spenger’s, the seafood place that was there forever?
I’m not certain it was Brennan’s. Brennan’s was an old train station near the tracks that run just east of Fourth Street. There was an older train station at 1310 University, about 6 blocks east of Brennans’s and on the right heading east about halfway to Cal, as the original poster describes.
Let me dig some more to see if I can come up with the restaurant name at that building which is now a school.
Here’s a photo of the old train station at 1310 University -
5 Likes
Santa Fe Grill?
2 Likes
I also was thinking Santa Fe Bar and Grill. An early Jeremiah Tower joint IIRC.
2 Likes
It was the Santa Fe Bar and Grill which Jeremiah Tower, a Chez Panisse alum, had a hand in. -
from NYT in 1984:
Santa Fe Bar and Grill
One of the star graduates of Chez Panisse is Jeremiah Tower, who designed the menu for and on occasion cooked at Santa Fe Bar and Grill in Berkeley. But Mr. Tower was busy finishing his new restaurant, called Stars, which will open early next month, when I had brunch at the Santa Fe and his touch was missing from some of the dishes. The expertly cooked ingredients in a chicken salad, for instance, needed a zestier dressing. The spicing of a meaty sausage was elusive and a garlic ni,coise butter, designed to accent a well-grilled piece of chicken, failed in its task.
But chilies added a rich, inky flavor to crepes filled with chicken and to a frittata seasoned with pancetta and red peppers. Well-marinated ceviche of salmon and Pacific snapper were pungent with cilantro and thinly sliced red onions. Still another goat- cheese salad was rescued by a hazelnut vinaigrette.
The quality of the chocolate in a hazelnut chocolate cake was exceptional and the lemon mousse lacked only smoothness to make it sublime. These desserts were better choices than pecan bourbon pie made with stale pecans and the one-dimensional flavor of chocolate paradise, a four- layer souffle made with chocolate cream.
Still, where else will you find someone playing jazz and standards on a grand piano in the middle of an adobe-style circa 1930’s former railroad station at Sunday morning brunch?
Santa Fe Bar and Grill, 1310 University Avenue, Berkeley, 415-841- 4740. Lunch and dinner every day. Reservations recommended.
about half way down the page is Santa Fe B&G -
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/20/garden/in-the-city-by-the-bay-fine-restaurants-abound.html
6 Likes
Once you posted the picture, I recognized it…but had to think of the name. That building was a landmark, very noticeable. Too bad they tore it down.
3 Likes
I ate at Jeremiah Towers’s Santa Fe Bar and Grill several times in the late 1980s. It was fantastic. I especially remember eating a delicious salad composed of many kinds of fresh, soft herbs and radicchio, which was new to me at the time. The dressing complemented it all perfectly. The architecture and atmosphere were superb.
It’s very sad the beautiful building was demolished. How did the Historical Commission allow that?
I only went to Spenger’s once and after waiting in line for an hour, found it very disappointing. Never returned.
2 Likes
My parents were visiting, so I took them to the traditional parents-visiting place, Spengers. But the wait was over an hour, so we bailed and went to the Santa Fe Grill instead. It was excellent.
3 Likes
I pass by that building on my way to chorus rehearsals–think it’s a school now.
My bad, is the original building still there? I think it is…but it has a fence and landscaping around it, not as noticeable.
China Station? The train track ran right next to the dining table windows. Scared the heck out of me the first time. Great pressed duck c. 1987.
Thanks, everyone. The one I was trying to think of was Santa Fe Bar and Grill. We used to go there a lot with my father since he was paying!
We also went to Spenger’s and Brennan’s.
2 Likes
Miss Spenger’s of the old, old days.
1 Like
(post deleted by author)
5 years at UCB and I went to Spenger’s twice. First time was on my parent’s dime when they dropped me off Freshman year and second time was my introduction to Long Island Iced Tea. 
I went to Santa Fe Bar and Grill circa 1984 on a date. Have no recollection about the food but it was a cool building.
2 Likes
