After Heinemann’s left the neighborhood, people in the Bay no longer had a place to call home on Silver Spring. They needed a local hangout — a place for a good family meal with or without the children. Berkeley’s satisfies both, opening at 7 a.m. seven days a week. Actually, the café serves breakfast until 3 p.m., lunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and dinner starting at 4 p.m. with later weekend closings. And, in addition to the regular menu, an Express-To-Go menu lists salads and sandwiches packaged, ready to walk out the door.

On two visits my friends and I sampled both breakfast and lunch. We opted out of dessert but were tempted when our server said the Pot du Crème, the fancy sugared donuts and the Chocolate Bouchon are all made in-house. We liked the Egg Croissant Wrap, scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon and the Egg Strata with tomatoes, goat cheese, artichokes and red pepper. For lunch, we chose frugal entrées — half sandwiches and soup. The Egg Salad Sandwich, reminiscent of Depression-era cuisine, had a makeover with the addition of sweet chutney, and likewise the Tuna Salad Sandwich had a new flavor, capers, along with the usual.

Entrées go up market at dinner. Guests can order Apple Duck Confit with sage polenta, Roasted Pork Loin with that same polenta or everyday Fish and Chips, no longer served only on Fridays. Berkeley’s encourages family dining as there’s a kid’s menu, too.

»Berkeley’s Café
342 E. Silver Spring Drive(414) 897-8624.