Slow

While visiting Cal over Labor Day weekend, we stopped by Slow for lunch. Slow is a small and homey spot offering unique, healthy sandwiches. Unsure of what to order, I went with the cashier’s recommendation: Pulled-​Pork Sandwich ($ 8) and an Arnold Palmer ($ 1.50). The sandwich arrived on a cute tray and I dug right in. The pork was tender and flavorful, doing the job and filling me right up. However, I can’t say it was the best sandwich I’ve had, nor something I would want again and again. The bread was soft and fluffy, but the crust cut up the roof of my mouth, and that’s always no bueno. Good spot to grab a quick lunch, but don’t expect anything drool-​worthy.

Simple, delicious, no fuss. Contrary to the name, you can actually get a quick meal here.
We came here for dinner and tried the pork belly and the beef cheeks with couscous. We ordered at the counter. Each dish was about $ 9 – 11. Paid with credit card. We sat ourselves, enjoyed a delicious meal, and were out in about 45 mins. We did take our time eating the food though. The portions aren’t huge, and I guess that’s when they expect you to take your time to actually taste the food and appreciate it. Although the portions weren’t ginormous, it was very good quality, and I left feeling relatively full.
Would definitely come back for a glass of wine sometime as well! Loved the rustic look and feel of the space and the outdoor patio in the back.

What a wonderful place! The BLT I got here was soooo yummy and the beer selection is small, but nice and includes beers I don’t normally see.
Most notably, the outdoor seating contains a rose garden. It is a beautiful place to grab some delish food!

Don’t let the line intimidate you!
Contrary to the establishment’s name, service is quick and efficient here. I walked by countless times and had this place bookmarked, but there was always a line and I figured I would be short on time. Today I decided to tough it out, and the line went super fast. There’s one girl on the register, and whoever was working today deserves some serious props – she was really efficient and simultaneously friendly and informative.
Ordered a BLT and potato salad, and my total only came out to $ 11. There’s a nice outdoor patio, but I opted to stay inside the dining room. My food came out shortly after I ordered, and LET ME TELL YOU.
BLT is made with house cured bacon, heirloom tomatoes, butter lettuce, and truffle aioli on an acme roll. Insanely good. The bacon was so flavorful and crispy, and the bread was soft. All the ingredients were portioned perfectly and it was one of the tastiest sandwiches I’ve had in a long time. The potato salad? Perfection. Perfectly cooked potatoes, with dill, onion, lemon, and stone ground mustard. Honestly one of the best potato salads I’ve ever had (behind Genova). Would definitely come back to check out dinner, and will most definitely be back for lunch!

Oooooh. I like this place.
Niman Ranch Braised Beef Orange Marmalade, Kale, Fennel, and Red Onion Slaw, Sharp Provolone Cheese, Arugula, and Aioli on ACME Batard $ 8.00
Wow! I was like… Orange and roast beef? But it works! The bread was perfectly crunchy. The meat was oh-​so-​amazing. It was perfect. Like happily ever after…
Free Range Chicken Salad
Golden Raisin, Almond, Red Onion, Tomato, Arugula, and Tarragon Aioli on ACME Focaccia (Yes, it’s a Sandwich!!)
$ 7.50
It was good but I liked it (but loved the beef).
The focaccia had a little salt on top. I was like… Nuts and chicken? They use peanuts and almonds FYI. I liked it though :)
I’m totally coming here again soon. Service was great. It was a little pricey but the quality was worth it.

While I was prepared for smaller portions thanks to other reviews on Unilocal,I was still disappointed! My boyfriend and I split the pork cheeks and steamed mussels/​clams with linguine. I’m not even joking when I say there was about 2 bite-​fulls of linguine in that dish. Pasta is the cheapest ingredient in that dish, so why so stingy? The pork cheeks were tender but again, small portions. Enough for 2 bites per person.
On another note, the rose garden in the back is lovely and fragrant right now. It was still a nice date.

I love the rose garden in the back that Slow shares with Brazil Café.
The food is quite small but quite tasty. I think if I were normal hungry, I would want to get a small plate and a side to go with it, so it ends up being more of a $$ place than a $ place. I got the pork cheeks, which were delightfully tender. My friend’s pork belly was a tad saltier than I would like.
I would come here again. The garden out back really makes the whole experience delightful, especially on a warm summer evening.

When I first walked in, I was pleasantly surprised by how small and cozy it was. It’s not great for bigger parties of course, but it has a homey, laid-​back vibe.
After reading through Unilocal reviews, I decided to order the chicken confit, which is no longer on their normal menu but it’s a special so they’ll still make it. The presentation was very nice and classy, but the chicken was disappointing. I took 2 bites and it was very dry and unflavorful so I just put it aside and ordered a cobbler. The cobbler managed to salvage my meal. It was a good balance of sweet and tart, with soft juicy peaches in it, and the cobbler crumbs on top were buttery and a great texture. I also tried the lamb sandwich and it was delicious. They put plenty of lamb in it and the bread was soft and fresh.
Their service is great, our food came out quickly and the workers were friendly. I would probably come back only for the cobbler.

Everything about this place is great.
The Niman braised beef sandwich, complete with orange marmalade, kale, and fennel, is a great choice for lunch. I personally love the sliced Acme bread it was served on (as opposed to a huge chunk of loaf). It was sweet, savory, crispy, and the kale added a subtle kick to the sandwich.

I’ve only been here once during lunch so my review is for lunch only,
I came in early lunch and the line was pretty long already.
Ordered their braised beef with lemonade.
Braised beef sandwich was really good. I didnt think the orange and beef would be really good but the combination was a great idea. My only disappointment was I was hoping to get more beef in the sandwich.
the side salad was good too.
service was good.
I heard there is a good seating area at the back but there was no access for my child’s stroller without going outside. which brings me to my gripe: the eating area near the counter was too small.

Simply delicious!
Slow focuses on using locally sourced ingredients and turning them into gourmet dishes at affordable prices!
The restaurant itself is small and humble with just enough space for five or six tables. The menu features sandwiches served all day with small plates available after 5PM. All their dishes are vibrant with color and you can taste the freshness of all the ingredients.
My table tried a number of items from their roasted beets and butternut squash to their braised lamb sandwich to their glazed chicken wings. All of them were delicious, but their BLT and braised pork belly were the standouts!
Their BLT is amaaaaaaazing! Best one I’ve ever had! They dry cure their own bacon and I think that’s what makes the difference. So simply made with butter lettuce, heirloom tomatoes and truffle aioli on an ACME torpedo roll. You can really taste the high quality of their ingredients in this sandwich. I could eat this everyday! They only have a limited amount of their bacon everyday though, so come earlier in the day, so you can score yourself some of this deliciousness!
The braised pork belly was delectable without being too fatty or heavy. The pork belly was super tender, but still crispy on the outside. The combination of asparagus and orange slices really gave a nice freshness to the dish where most other pork belly dishes feel weighed down. Thumbs up for figuring out how to make pork belly feel light!
I love, love, love this place! The prices are super reasonable, but you still get a high quality product. It really shows that gourmet food can be made without those typical gourmet prices. I could eat here everyday!

Looks super tiny from the street but actually has an extremely spacious and beautiful rose garden in the back! Read a few reviews that the sandwiches were small but I was completely satisfied with my portions! Split half/​half with my friend so I got to sample two different sandwiches.
Niman Ranch Braised Beef: Delicious acme bread with plenty of beef! Could’ve used maybe a little more flavor in the meat as the orange marmalade sometimes overpowered the sandwich. Not a fan of the marmalade but overall delicious sandwich because of the tender meat.
Free Range Chicken Salad Sandwich: Usually not a fan of chicken salad but this sandwich was much better than I expected. In my experience, chicken salad is always doused in sauce and is much too creamy for my liking, however this sandwich had a great balance of meat and veggies. The raisins added a surprising burst of flavor which I really enjoyed.
Loved the open seating in the rose garden especially on the sunny day I went! It is on the pricier sides for just a sandwich though.

Their pulled pork sandwich is super delicious, but the reason I gave them 3 stars was because the bread had blueish-​gray mold… And I mean, it’s probably not their fault the bread is moldy considering the bread comes from Acme, but when I asked them if that was mold, they said no. At least they offered to make me a new sandwich that came out in less than 5 minutes!
Nonetheless, the pulled pork sandwich was absolutely delicious! I really enjoyed the pickled vegetables inside.

Having read the reviews prior to stopping by Slow for a late dinner, I had high hopes for this little eatery. Their menu has limited selections but items are healthy choices made with fresh ingredients. The sandwiches can be converted to salads which is a nice option. Slow seemed like a place that would be up my alley.
There are a few small tables inside Slow and other outside seating in the backyard garden. Since it was already late in the evening, it was too dark outside for us to sit in the back area. The waitress at the counter was very bubbly and took our order at the counter.
I decided to get the Nimen Ranch braised beef salad and a seasonal cobbler. The salad was a huge let down and in retrospect I would have gotten it as a sandwich instead. The salad was literally just some cooked shredded beef thrown on top of some greens. There were no other veggies in the salad and it was just unappealing visually. It tasted really bland. As for the seasonal cobbler, it was apple and berry. The cooked fruit was alright as were the chunks of crispy, crusty bites laced with cinnamon. Cobbler was fine but certainly not one of the best I’ve ever had.
I feel like Slow did not live up to its potential during my visit. I wish it was better for me. The salad fell flat and the dessert was just ok. I’m not sure if I may have ordered the wrong thing or if it was an off night. The prices are very affordable. I do love their concept and the menu seems appealing. The staff is nice and the restroom is clean. I would like to give Slow another shot in the future but wouldn’t go out of my way.

Pros:
— delicious lamb sandwich (tender, flavorful lamb. I wish the meat to bread ratio was higher though)
— tasty beef sandwich (thinly sliced beef and toasty, chewy bread)
— plentiful seating outdoors on a sunny patio
— quick service
Cons:
— $ 10 for a sandwich (not a large sandwich, but it filled me up)
— peak hours have a long line (when we left, there was a long line to order)
— if the weather is cold or rainy, the only seating is indoors, where there are only a few tables
Bottom line: I highly recommend their meat sandwiches. I will be going back to try the pork sandwich soon!

Adorable little place for some great sandwiches.
Had the braised beef sandwich with some sweet fruit spread. For some reason, these beef and fruit/​citrus marmalade type sauces always seem to result in such beautifully crafted sandwiches! This is my second time having such a combo, and I have to say, Slow did a really good job with this.
Lovely area out in the back for more seating. Here, you can also see neighboring Brazil café’s customers with their food, and you start wondering why their food looks different from yours…
Great place for dates and catching up with friends!

Slow is a nice, casual, reasonably priced restaurant with a focus on high quality, fresh ingredients. The location is right off of University Avenue and offers both indoor seating towards the front of the restaurant or tons of outdoor seating in the rose garden out back. There’s plenty of parking nearby with metered parking along University and a few garages scattered throughout the Civic Center and Downtown area.
Came in for lunch and the gf got the Caprese while I opted for the Niman Ranch Braised Beef. I tried a bit of her sandwich, and was blown away at how good it was — it had just the right amount of bite with the cheese and the freshness of the tomatoes really shined through. My sandwich was also very tasty — the beef was cooked very well and the orange marmalade gave it a nice citrusy finish. They have some dinner exclusive items that I will definitely have to come back to try.

Slow is just darling. I discovered this place after a vocal coaching session on a breezy summer day and I’m so so so glad I did. From the first bite of my pulled pork sandwich, I knew this place would become a lunch time fixture for me.
The interior design and overall vibe of this place are what makes it a total home run. The back patio is easily one of my top Downtown Berkeley obsessions. It’s a gorgeous, well kept rose garden complete with intimate tables for two or four, benches, and picnic tables, shaded with umbrellas. The inside is adorable as well with distressed wooden tables, bright yellow wall paint, flower vases, their menu written on a chalkboard… you get the point. The staff are affable and certainly add to the pleasant atmosphere. Though the food is elegantly prepared, they serve their dishes on paper plates with eco friendly utensils. It’s a charming juxtaposition.
While the majority of my visits to Slow take place in the spring and summer to enjoy the rose garden, their food is consistently delicious all year around. Upon my first visit, I was shocked by what you get vs. what you pay in a good way. These dishes have such fresh ingredients and elevated flavors for such reasonable prices. They even place importance on their plating! I’ve never had something I didn’t like here. My favorite thing I’ve tried is the BLT. It stands out the most because it’s made with braised pork belly and served with a decadent truffle aioli, a lot different than what you might expect. They also do great things with vegetables so don’t shy away from their salads and vegetarian small plates. The house made lemonade with optional fresh berries is the beverage of choice.
If you’re seeking gourmet eats for less than gourmet prices, Slow is the answer.

What a great place to have lunch on a summer day!
Slow is kind of tucked away on University. From the outside, it may look small and humble, but on the inside, the back door leads to a beautiful rose garden!
I came here with my friends and we all ordered different things. I got the chicken salad sandwich, which was very tasty and came with good bread. My friends got the pulled pork and the braised beef, the latter of which was my favorite out of all the options. Sandwiches come with potato salad on the side, but (being a lover of potato salad) I thought it was kind of bland and prefer the creamier kind. It was very refreshing though.
I haven’t tried Slow for dinner, but I know it is more expensive. Lunch sandwiches are a pretty good deal!

Strolling down University Ave, headed to Asha Tea House just to get boba; We discovered this nimble place called Slow. I quickly Unilocaled it, and found a lot of my fellow Unilocalers giving four to five stars, so without hesitation I scoped out the menu on the window.
The Ox Tail pretty much screamed «HELLO»! So, upon entering this little homely place with the yellow walls and unique wooden kitchen tables, we went approached the counter. After the nice lady took our order, I wondered where was this secluded patio our fearless East Bay CM (Nique F.) was talking about. Then walking around the kitchen, out the back door, I said, «Oh wow»! This was one fancy-​shmancy garden/​patio area. Calming, and a good break away from the busy street.
It was perfect wine weather, so we enjoyed a glass before our meal. The gf ordered the Free Range Chicken Confit which came over asparagus, lentil, and cara cara orange. The chicken was soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. The combination was simply exquisite!
As for my Niman Ranch Ox Tail, this was just mouth-​watering goodness! This dish really made my day. The meat was soft and full of slow-​cooked flavor; hence the name of the restaurant. It came with baby carrots, cippolini onions, fingerling potatoes, and a nice red wine sweet vinegar flavoring! So good, I’m reliving it in my head!
I believe our bill was just under our $ 42 average. But all together, the atmosphere of the garden, great service, the weather, wine, and entrees just made for a perfect refreshing day! I can’t wait to go back!