Bette’s Oceanview Diner is a Berkeley institution, family-owned and -run since 1982. Most famous for our pancakes — be they buttermilk, cottage cheese, pumpkin or gingerbread — we’re a California-style diner with emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and homemade fare. From our lemon currant scones to our blueberry, bran and donut muffins (rolled in butter then cinnamon sugar), all our baked goods are made on the premises by our fabulous bakers. The coffee steaming in that bottomless cup is roasted in nearby Emeryville and our bagels are from down the street. We like our eggs cooked soft and custardy.

But at Bette’s, it’s not all about the meatloaf. It’s about the overall experience. And in order for that experience to mean something, “somebody has to be home and you have to have a good time,” says Bette.