Republica

Republica is the closest thing Berkley has to a chef-driven flagship — a small, trendy gastropub on Coolidge that’s been doing health-forward American comfort food and serious craft cocktails since 2013. “Health-forward” undersells how good it is: this is the spot for a genuinely interesting dinner (fish and chips, the cult-favorite Plato’s Potatoes — fries with feta), with a menu that keeps vegetarians and gluten-free diners genuinely happy rather than grudgingly accommodated.

It’s polished but neighborhoody, equally right for a date night or a catch-up over cocktails. We have it on our list as Berkley’s dependable go-to when you want something a cut above casual without leaving town — the kind of place locals are quietly proud of. Ask what’s seasonal, and get a cocktail.