Since 1996, Renee's Place has been a Bay Area favorite for light, fresh Szechuan and Hunan cuisine served in an inviting environment. A simple dining room makes serene surroundings that are a perfect atmosphere for a quiet dinner and some great Chinese food. Muted walls, soft carpet and a peaceful fountain in the entryway add to the effect. Try the salt-and-pepper spareribs, unless you're on a date -- they're hard to eat gracefully, but worth the struggle.
Renee's Place features the finest available ingredients: seasonal, organically-farmed produce from local suppliers such as Lundberg Family Farms; humanely and sustainably raised chicken, pork, beef and lamb from local providers, including Prather Ranch and Mary's Chickens; and select condiments, such as raw, organic cane sugar and Himalayan pink salt.Aside from stylish decor, what sets Renee's apart is the approach to food.
Renee's Place features the finest available ingredients: seasonal, organically-farmed produce from local suppliers such as Lundberg Family Farms; humanely and sustainably raised chicken, pork, beef and lamb from local providers, including Prather Ranch and Mary's Chickens; and select condiments, such as raw, organic cane sugar and Himalayan pink salt.Aside from stylish decor, what sets Renee's apart is the approach to food.
Services
These delicious dumplings are made in-house from scratch using humanely-raised, lean ground pork. They are boiled gently and served with Chinese vinegar. Whole cumin seeds and sliced jalapenos give the tender, thinly sliced lamb pieces in this dish a distinctive, savory flavor and spiciness. Stir-fried green and red pepper and onion provide the perfect balance of sweetness.
Renee's Place is located at 1477 Solano Avenue, between Santa Fe Avenue and Curtis Street, in Albany, California. From 80/580, take the Buchanan Street/Albany exit. Proceed east on Buchanan, making a slight right onto Marin Avenue just before San Pablo Avenue. Continue on Marin Avenue to Santa Fe Avenue.
Reviews (28)
Bichen W.
Nov 11, 2021
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Strangest combination of "Chinese" food I've ever had. The crispy duck was crispy all right. Very little duck left after frying the bejesus out of it. Not sure what the point of the fried tofu was. It was like eating regular tofu with the outside lightly toasted. And the HK pan fried noodles were quite burnt and very crunchy. Nothing against the people working there as they were very friendly and were talking about how their kids are all grown up and going to college which was very sweet. But... the food is definitely incredibly lackluster and overpriced.
Garrett T.
Oct 13, 2021
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Kellie A.
Sep 12, 2021
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We got take out from Renee's for the first time and it was simply delicious. It's fresh and high quality food. We got salt and pepper shrimp, sweet and sour chicken, pot stickers and chow mein and would get all of them again. Renee's is now our favorite Chinese restaurant in Berkeley. Also, the ambience is lovely, and Renee is warm and kind.
April U.
Jul 26, 2021
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Bob J.
Jul 16, 2021
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Julie L.
Jun 25, 2021
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Got $90.00 plus dollars of takeout on Father's Day, a HUGE splurge for us in our post Covid recovery. Our Marco Polo prawns were rancid...I mean stink up the house, open the windows horrible and our vegetable chow mien had beef in it...much to my vegetarian daughter's horror. I called that night and spoke with Renee hoping that she would refund me for those two items. Nope, she wanted me to bring them back to the restaurant so she could examine them. I actually did try on Monday but found the restaurant closed in spite of it being during normal posted open hours. I dumped the disgusting
R. F.
May 12, 2021
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When we lived closer to Renee's Place this was our "go-to" Chinese food place. It's a little more expensive than typical Chinese food restaurants, but the quality of the ingredients comes through.
We came back to town after a couple of years & headed straight here. If anything, the food is EVEN BETTER. We had the tea-smoked duck, the Uighur lamb, the spicy beef with basil, & the mu-shoo pork. All were excellent, and I should make special note of the lamb: cumin can be tricky -- but the seasoning here showed a confident & deft hand at work on it. Too little and
We came back to town after a couple of years & headed straight here. If anything, the food is EVEN BETTER. We had the tea-smoked duck, the Uighur lamb, the spicy beef with basil, & the mu-shoo pork. All were excellent, and I should make special note of the lamb: cumin can be tricky -- but the seasoning here showed a confident & deft hand at work on it. Too little and
Sukh Sandhu
Apr 28, 2021
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Dale Oxley
Feb 20, 2021
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Aimee R.-P.
Jan 12, 2021
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Scott K.
Dec 19, 2020
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We had a wonderful take out dinner last night, extremely tasty! Our only request is for the restaurant to adapt a little more to a take out only world. I'd rather not have to go into the restaurant to get my order or pay inside using a pen handed to be from the register. Little things would make me feel more comfortable coming back during COVID.
Julian C.
Dec 14, 2020
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Deborah G.
Nov 09, 2020
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Jim B.
Oct 14, 2020
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Thomas C.
Aug 23, 2020
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Dylan C.
Aug 05, 2020
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Hands down, my favorite Restaurant in the world.
It is simultaneously exactly what you are looking for in Chinese food and several steps above what you would expect, with a level of quality & freshness that is unmatched in my experience. There is none of the heavy or greasy feel that I sometimes experience at other Chinese restaurants. None of the ingredients feel as though they have been added to fill up the plate. I would go for the pot stickers alone, since they are phenomenal, but across the board the food is top quality and delicious.
When I first visit a Chinese restaurant that I have
It is simultaneously exactly what you are looking for in Chinese food and several steps above what you would expect, with a level of quality & freshness that is unmatched in my experience. There is none of the heavy or greasy feel that I sometimes experience at other Chinese restaurants. None of the ingredients feel as though they have been added to fill up the plate. I would go for the pot stickers alone, since they are phenomenal, but across the board the food is top quality and delicious.
When I first visit a Chinese restaurant that I have
Marcus A.
Apr 07, 2020
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Fiancee and I were craving some Chinese during this shelter-in-place, so we tried this place out. The food was great. Typical portions as any other Chinese restaurant, but the flavor was good. I especially loved how fresh the chow mein and potstickers tasted. The orange chicken was a bit too suacey for me (I thought it was sesame chicken), but everything else was great.
The staff was SUPER friendly. Looking for this pandemic to end because I'd love to be able to dine-in here instead of only having take-out.
The staff was SUPER friendly. Looking for this pandemic to end because I'd love to be able to dine-in here instead of only having take-out.
Ari L.
Feb 11, 2020
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Cleo B.
Jan 31, 2020
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Renee's when Renee is not there: flies, loud telling in the kitchen, man talking loudly on his cell phone Aaron the back table in the dining room, and no lovely classical music.
Good food still. Favorites are orange beef, eggplant, chowmein.
Come back Renee, or mAke sure quality control for ambience is in place when you are absent.
Good food still. Favorites are orange beef, eggplant, chowmein.
Come back Renee, or mAke sure quality control for ambience is in place when you are absent.
Laura Driussi
Jan 01, 2020
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Wonderful and elegantly presented Chinese food in a calm and beautiful atmosphere.
My picture doesn't do it justice but their walnut prawns are airy and crisp, the crispy duck is well seasoned and tasty, the garlic kale is bright green and tender, and the brown rice is blended with wild rice and is beautiful with a great texture.
There are very few restaurants on Solano that are conducive to a quiet conversation. This is one of them. (The others seem designed to amplify noise -- maybe I'm just just losing my hearing!?)
The owner is very friendly and remembers us every time. Have been coming
My picture doesn't do it justice but their walnut prawns are airy and crisp, the crispy duck is well seasoned and tasty, the garlic kale is bright green and tender, and the brown rice is blended with wild rice and is beautiful with a great texture.
There are very few restaurants on Solano that are conducive to a quiet conversation. This is one of them. (The others seem designed to amplify noise -- maybe I'm just just losing my hearing!?)
The owner is very friendly and remembers us every time. Have been coming
Randy D.
Dec 17, 2019
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Damon G. Nomadic
Dec 15, 2019
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Victor G.
Nov 23, 2019
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Renee's Place has minimal decor of black & white pics of scenery, etc. on it's walls.
offerings: lunch specials
eats: kung pao imitation chicken(11.75)
-tart hot & sour soup, not hotness tasted
-tart iceberg lettuce salad
-3 pieces of semi soggy tart & spicy fried calamari
-cubes of vegeterian chicken (not tofu) with red peppers, cucumbers, peanuts, in a tart & spicy sauce.
-fortune cookie had no fortune within. unknown if it's a bad omen or they've gone paperless.
*food definitely for those with tart tastes. otherwise go elsewhere.
leftovers:
-after dropping
offerings: lunch specials
eats: kung pao imitation chicken(11.75)
-tart hot & sour soup, not hotness tasted
-tart iceberg lettuce salad
-3 pieces of semi soggy tart & spicy fried calamari
-cubes of vegeterian chicken (not tofu) with red peppers, cucumbers, peanuts, in a tart & spicy sauce.
-fortune cookie had no fortune within. unknown if it's a bad omen or they've gone paperless.
*food definitely for those with tart tastes. otherwise go elsewhere.
leftovers:
-after dropping
Sonja Herbert
Nov 16, 2018
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Raibonne Charles
Jun 30, 2018
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Toni M.
Nov 13, 2017
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Alan and I met here for lunch today after finding Bo's up the block closed. The lunch menu remains the same, although the price has risen to $10 in the 6+ years since I was last here w/ Mary, not an unreasonable increase. Alan comes here regularly for dinner w/ his friend Haig and they linger afterward to play Scrabble.
I chose the eggplant w/ garlic as my appetizer again and lemon chicken as my main, w/ brown rice. Alan chose the vegetarian spring roll as his appetizer and the spicy Szechuan prawns as his main w/ chow mein. We were brought hot and sour soup to start. It was slightly
I chose the eggplant w/ garlic as my appetizer again and lemon chicken as my main, w/ brown rice. Alan chose the vegetarian spring roll as his appetizer and the spicy Szechuan prawns as his main w/ chow mein. We were brought hot and sour soup to start. It was slightly
M. S.
Oct 12, 2017
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Best green onion pancake I've ever tasted! Friendliest service I've ever received at a Chinese restaurant! Pricey like other restaurant in vicinity but I like everything here much, much more (sustainable, humane meats used, organic)! I like that it's elegant, food comes out fast, service is efficient, & I can't wait to try their other dishes! We're actually thinking of heading back here next week! :) my new favorite Chinese restaurant! ♡
Elisa Kleven
Aug 21, 2013
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We have been big fans of Renee and her restaurant for over twenty two years. Her food is as delicious and expertly prepared as she is wonderful and kind. Everyone who works at Renee's , from the chefs to the waiters, are terrific. The atmosphere is beautiful, too, with elegant decor including waving fans and a trickling fountain, and beautiful classical music. A truly special place with amazing food.
