BAMPFA

Wood-fired pizza on a big two-level garden patio that forgives kid volume, with downtown Berkeley bustle all around. The grown-ups get good beer; the kids get room to be kids.

Simple Mexican cooking built around fresh ingredients and fire-roasted salsas made by hand, with lots of them to choose from.

Gelato made daily downtown, with dairy-free in the case too.

University campus with paths to scooter on, lawns to run around, and Strawberry Creek running past Sather Gate and a eucalyptus grove, for dipping toes in.

Classic diner downtown serving milkshakes and fries, a casual choice for a family meal.

Jambalaya, mac and cheese, and beignets drenched in powdered sugar, at a downtown Berkeley staple.