Barney's is known for it's burgers, but I go for the salads. They serve huge salads with fresh ingredients, and are very flexible about substitutions and additions. Every salad I've ever had there is impeccably fresh and well-balanced. The house vinaigrette is quite good. Friends are happy to meet me there and enjoy both the burgers and the available substitutes (you can choose chicken, veggie patty, or turkey burger.) For me, though, the salad is king.

Seating is pleasant and clean. The kitchen is in full view, which I always find reassuring. Meals are very consistent from one visit to the next. They've gone to giving guests a large bottle of still water when they arrive, with glasses, which is a nice touch.

Downsides: the service is sometimes uneven. I haven't been able to see a pattern in it, but some days everything is slow. On a good day, the service is wonderful. I'm rating it "average" for service but that's splitting the difference. For that reason, it isn't a place I'd recommend for a "quick bite." However, it is a great place to get a healthy meal.

Extra points for being near the Rockridge BART station in a fun neighborhood for walking.

My office is a block away from Barney's, so I have lunch here about once a month. The atmosphere at this location is much better than the Barney's on Piedmont Avenue. They have plenty of seating, both indoors and outside, either in the front of the restaurant, or in their back patio area. But Barney's is much more than atmosphere.

The burgers here are above average, and sometimes spectacular. Their menu is full of great options, including the some of the best Specialty burgers around. My personal favorite is the Alpine burger, with Swiss cheese and sauteed onions & mushrooms. Another great one is the I always order my burgers medium rare. A close second is the Guacamole burger, loaded with fresh "guac", jack cheese and sour cream. Oh and I can't forget the Chipotle, with its spicy sauce and jack cheese. I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

Barney's is also well known for their spicy curly fries. A full basket is HUGE. So if you are on your own, get the small size. The homemade ranch dipping sauce is awesome. If you are tempted to try the garlic fries, don't. They are a bit dry, and aftertaste from the garlic will last for days. If you're into lighter fare, Barney's has a full menu of salads and other items as well. They also do milkshakes, but you might want to pass on those as well. Why? Because the landmark Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream parlor (less than a block away) is the ideal place for dessert.

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers is located on College Avenue in Oakland's Rockridge Shopping district. The restaurant is a couple of blocks from the Rockridge BART station, and easily accessible from highway 24.

Great sports bar that has beautiful burgers. I highly suggest you check it out.

We went for lunch and got there just before the crowd. When we left people were waiting on the street. Lots of different choices for additions to the burger! I can see how some people might be disappointed with the burger. They are not thick (but the bun is pretty large so quantity was not an issue); much of the flavor comes from the rest of the ingredients which we found to be quite fresh and flavorful. We also tried the falafel (small patties) - very crispy and quite good. The spicy curly fries and the sweet potato fries were excellent.