Fava

Anyone who hits up farmers markets like it’s a competitive sport will become a regular at Fava. The lunch-only takeout window in North Berkeley specializes in healthy, vegetable-heavy dishes with a Mediterranean bent. Flatbreads are loaded with falafel and herbs, glossy steelhead is served over tabbouleh and marinated beets, and lentil soup is finished off with dill. Ending the meal with a tahini chocolate chip cookie, dusted with sesame seeds and crisp around the edges, is always a move we endorse. This light lunch will fuel you through an entire day, yet never send you into a too-full-induced nap.