Laughter, music, and the aroma of delicious food beckon from the bustling scene on Allston Way in Downtown Berkeley. Upon entering FIVE restaurant, guests cannot help but feel uplifted by the gorgeous and expansive space with its breathtakingly high ceilings and majestic white columns. Intricate crown moldings of a bygone era adorn the ceiling only to be interrupted by a modern and eye-catching red chandelier.

As you peruse the menu familiar favorites jump out, such as petrale sole, mac and cheese and egg salad. Yet, upon further inspection, nothing is the same. New ingredients and spices enhance the old favorites, creating new sensory experiences. Like the historic Hotel Shattuck Plaza in which FIVE restaurant resides, the approachable menu is the past redux. Memories come flooding back while new ones are simultaneously made.