Great Panini Sandwiches!
DESCRIPTION: Wonderful variety of extremely tasty sandwiches just like in Italy. Also, salads, chicken barbecued outdoors, cheeses and olives, and other great food in a small deli with seating.
DATE: 2004-03-15
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : salmon panini sandwich

Catering
DESCRIPTION: I used them for a backyard wedding of 100. They were great - took charge, made the guests and family feel comfortable and worry free. Excellent food and presentation.
DATE: 2004-12-02
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : BBQ Tri-tip

Great food
DESCRIPTION: The food and service are consistently outstanding. Fabulous soups, salads and sandwiches.
DATE: 2005-07-05
FOODRATING : 8
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 8
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Tri tip sandwich

Not as good as expected
DESCRIPTION: As stated in other reviews, Fondue Fred is not the best place for fondue. The Atmosphere: A different atmosphere, as some seating is outdoors in the mini mall in which they are located. Well lit, and music in the background. While we were eating, we could smell cigarette smoke although it is not permitted in the area. The Food: The Fiesta Cheese Fondue was good, but they did not bring out the chips they said they would, so we ate it with almost-stale bread. The steak fondue was tough. We called ahead to make sure they had strawberries since we heard their selection is limited. Among the fruits included banana, honeydew, grapes, apples. If you request a specific fruit ahead of time, they may go out to get it for you. The Service: The service was poor as they did not check up on us nor fill our water. The family style restaurant was understaffed , although were friendly when we entered.
DATE: 2004-08-22
FOODRATING : 4
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4

Spend Your Money Elsewhere
DESCRIPTION: Although Fondue Fred is located in a quiet and quaint restaurant alley along Telegraph Ave in Berkeley, it is yet another restaurant that can remain overlooked. It was the worst dining out experience I had and Taco Bell would have been a better, tastier option. Food: Looking at the menu, I made the wrong assumption that everything under the "Fondue" part of the menu involved fondue (ie. cheese) but it actually only included items 1 to 13 and nothing from 14 to 17. Items 14 to 17 had meat and evidently, according to the owners, meat and fondue were mutually exclusive. Upon receiving item number 17 (chicken and mushroom broth stuff), the pieces were large and the broth was soupy. When I asked where the fondue was, the owner replied, 'this is meat only and we don't serve the two together.' She claimed it was the traditional way, though when living in France I never saw such a thing. However, she at least replaced it with a true fondue (apple cinnamon slices on the side with standard fondue). The second fondue was absolutely terrible. It was thick and gooey, there was a bad aftertaste, and there was no seasoning. I think the wine or possibly the kirsch had gone bad (or maybe the cheese was too old) and left a rancid taste. Neither my partner or I could even eat for more than ten minutes before giving up. The bread was fresh, a bad thing for fondue. Normally bread, specifically baguette, is toasted and slighty stale and cut into very small pieces. This bread was none of the above and was rather tasteless (who knew people could make bad bread) and cut into very large pieces. Finally, the salad. Salad was soaked in terrible dressing which had an old, gingerly but bland taste. Service: The waiter forgot about us and we never received a refill on water. When we received the chicken 'fondue' it took 10 minutes to call over someone. She was rather curt and rude but at least gave us another dish. However, a restaurant that prides itself on lots of 'free' and 'all you can eat things' when there is large party, is usually not so good. How much goop do you need to eat to feel satiated? Also, we received a coupon (everyone did) for a free chocolate fondue. When another table ordered chocolate fondue it came with marshmallows. Marshmallows? Are we in the 3rd grade making smores? I don't know if the chocolate was good, but any restaurant that claims it is 'authentic' and serves marshmallows is definitely on the wrong planet. I never even saw the little fluff balls in France, or anywhere in Europe. Most normal people would eat fondue with fruit or crackers. Atmosphere: Well decorated in the wooden style (as the whole restaurant alley) with simple tables and landscape photographs. The music was a bit obnoxious: above normal volume and pop crap heard on the radio. All in all, it was the worst meal ever and my partner and I ended up at Albertsons to buy some fried chicken, dark chocolate, and bananas to have some good food at home.
DATE: 2005-05-08
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 2
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Go to Taco Bell

Romantic, Entertaining, and Overpriced
DESCRIPTION: This is one of the more romantic restaurants I've been in. Dim lighting, lots of secluded corners and booths. The pace for dinner is very relaxed; they expect you to take 2 and a half hours for dinner. Food was good, with very fine ingredients. Preparation is of course largely left up to you. The waiter will get the fondue pots started, then you get to choose how and what to fondue. Just try not to think about the fact that you're paying $50-100 per person to cook your own food. The wine list is OK, with several good, moderately priced $25-40 wines. There is at least one table situated directly under the air conditioning vent. If you get seated here, beg to be moved. You'll be fine at first, but after 2.5 hours you'll be suffering from hypothermia. Also, after 2.5 hours of sitting in front of a bubbling pot of oil, you'll leave smelling like a bubbling pot of oil. All in all, it was fun, but the cost rules out any repeat visits from this critic.
DATE: 2000-08-10
FOODRATING : 6
SERVICERATING : 8
AMBIANCERATING : 8
OVERALLRATING : 6
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Fondue!

DESCRIPTION: I really like this place & managed to get in without a reservation with a 20 minute wait. I was completely amazed at the service & loved the food! It is very expensive, but great for a treat-yourself-splurge once in a while!
DATE: 2004-01-12
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10