Before dropping off Tam’s mom at the airport, we made a trip back to Alborz in Berkeley (2142 Center Street between Oxford and Shattuck) for an early dinner. It’s one of the few Persian restaurants in the East Bay and is pretty darn good. Unlike the last time we were there when it had just opened and was virtually empty, the place was busy at 5:30pm on a Sunday. Nice problem to have.

Tam and I shared the Alborz Plate again with the berries in the rice rather than the standard basmati rice. The ground beef skewer again stole the show. The chicken and filet mignon skewers were definitely jucier and more tender than last time as well. Looks like the chefs are getting into their groove now.

We had dinner at the highly recommended Dopo up the street from us at 4293 Piedmont Avenue. It’s been getting rave reviews and always has a crowd of people milling about on the weekends. And let me tell you, it lived up to the hype. Even though we went on a weekday, we couldn’t get in. Literally. We wound up comandeering the two front outside tables with my cousin’s weekly supper club gathering.

As the review in the Chronicle indicates, the restaurant is truly tiny. The antipasti mista of shrimp salad, beef tounge (much better than it sounds), and skate was delicious. Tam and I both had their outstanding, simple thin crust pizzas charred to perfection. She had the Pizza Dopo sans anchovies and I had one with proscuitto and rosemary. The staff was friendly and attentive.

Bottom line: tough to get into, but well worth it. And the prices are really reasonable!