Raleigh's

Bar, Eatery

2438 Telegraph Ave
Berkeley, California, 94704
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.48
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
9
pDev:
12.93%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
Photo of lhaqq
Reviewed by lhaqq from California

3.65/5  rDev +4.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 4
At the risk of advertising the good prices, and thus increasing the people that go and causing them to jack up prices, this is a pretty reasonably priced place. The had probably thirty or so beers on tap. The menu advertised that "after five beers are $2.50." I thought it was a way to get people drunk and to buy a lot of beer--i.e. buy five beers and the rest are $2.50. Of course, it it ended up being that it is after 5pm that all beers are that price, so I will definitely be back. The food is pretty good as well. Atmosphere isn't anything too great--just a regular grill type place.
Dec 28, 2008
Photo of Georgiabeer
Reviewed by Georgiabeer from Georgia

3.43/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 3.5
I used to go here a lot about 10 years ago and I went here again for the first time in a while relatively recently. Pleasant bar area right on Telegraph with a great patio out back. They still have the hand drawn chalk beer portraits and a nice open feeling. This used to be kinda a center of beer culture, but these days seems more like a college bar with slightly dumbed down taps. Still some okay local stuff, but nothing really special stood out. Many places have eclipsed this place in that regard. Good, solid pub food, and quite a few healthy options, but overall the food seems to have slipped a bit. Decent and pleasant place, but nothing work seeking out unless you are on Telegraph.
Oct 29, 2008
Photo of Natural510
Reviewed by Natural510 from Ohio

3.23/5  rDev -7.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 2
Raleigh's is a serviceable pub on the Telegraph strip in Berkeley.
The atmosphere is somewhat kitchy, mostly varsity. They do have decent beer on tap...quite a few California microbrews along with some macro imports like Newcastle & Guinness, by the glass or the pitcher. If you have a friend who drinks hard alcohol, strongly urge them NOT to order the agave wine margaritas...they are disgusting!
The servers are generally friendly enough, but not always very attentive. This may be due to age, as most look to be college-age or younger.
Main downside to Raleigh's is the food. It's affordable, which is good, but not usually edible. The kind of thing which tastes okay after a few bites but goes bad quickly, only to be finished if you are really drunk. Plus I've heard my fair share of horror stories over the years regarding a rat problem here (endemic to most of Telegraph, me thinks).

Anyway, a good stop if visiting the Telegprah area for a pint or two...and make sure you go when Cal doesn't have a game going, otherwise it will be impossible to get a beer, let alone a seat. For a great beer experience, however, I recommend Jupiter or Albatross instead.
Feb 22, 2008
Photo of jp11801
Reviewed by jp11801 from Florida

2.83/5  rDev -18.7%
vibe: 3 | quality: 2.5 | service: 3 | selection: 2.5 | food: 4
not a bad place but there are soooo much better in the Bay Area. I stop here when I shop Telegraph road but I would not go out of my way for a beer here.

The atmosphere is nice wooden bench tables and bar are appealing and the crowd seems friendly.
The quality of the beer selection is ok at best they are in a great area and would have access to many great local beers but they keep the same ok ones on tap here. I usually drink the Moose Drool when I am here.
Service is always friendly although not beer experts they try.
Selection as stated could be so much better but they are always crowded so why rock the boat.
Food is always good standard Cal pub type menu and always fresh tasting and well prepared.
So overall is it just ok great for a stop off if you are in the area but I would not go out of my way to try this place.
Dec 31, 2007
Photo of Boneheadmx
Reviewed by Boneheadmx from California

3.23/5  rDev -7.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 2 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Located on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, Raleigh's is out of the way, yet easily accessible to the general Berkeley public and students alike.

The atmosphere is nice with the wooden-and-brick architecture. The wooden furniture as well as a spacious patio outside makes this place very nice to eat and drink.

The quality of the food and drink is also quite good. I've gone there a couple of times and there is never anything wrong with what I've ordered (except for once, when my friend's cracked beer mug broke and spilled beer all over us).

The service on quieter nights is OK, since the place is quite large, and there never seems to be enough servers. The servers are nice, but it oftentimes takes a while to get food or drink.

The selection of drinks are pretty good, since they have about 20-or-so beers along with a selection of wines and a few cocktails (although one wouldn't go there for anything other than the beer).

The food is also quite good, since the place isn't focused solely on drinks. It does take some waiting for them to make it, but the food really is quite decent.

Overall, expect to pay 8-10 dollars per meal and roughly 11 dollars per pitcher, which is pretty average here in Berkeley. Overall, not a bad place. Very good because of their selection.
Oct 10, 2007
Photo of DaPeculierDane
Reviewed by DaPeculierDane from Wisconsin

3.44/5  rDev -1.1%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3
Raleigh’s is a slightly above average bar in a good location. It offers 19 taps (2 of which are nitro I think) and 10 bottles but all of those are BMC. The taps are a nice mixture of CA micros including Bear Republic, Speak Easy, Sierra Nevada, Anderson Valley, and Stone. Service is friendly and available. The atmosphere is cantina with roosters. Well drawn chalk boards display symbolic pictures of their beer. The stereo played Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall while I was there. Pints were $3.25and there happened to be a special on El Oso pitchers that day…$3 each…I had a good time.
May 12, 2006
Photo of drewmprs
Reviewed by drewmprs from California

3.1/5  rDev -10.9%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 2 | food: 2.5
This was my number one bar during my college years. Kip's was too Greek, Blake's was too expensive, and Bear's lair wasn't too big yet. Yes, I do have a Raleigh's Tshirt. Tough to do these days because of the micros and the changing taps.
A college hangout. My senior year they had a deal where it was 9.50 a pitcher for the good beer. Needless to say I downed countless pitchers there. Ambience is ok, pool table, shuffleboard and darts. Backyard beer garden is one of a kind in berkeley. Too bad its so cold up there, which is why I moved back to so cal after I graduated. Absolutely packed after cal football and basketball games. Staff is helpful and personable. Bear's Lair is more popular now because of their specials. I suggest going down to shattuck if you want a more unique brew. Try Jupiter's.
Dec 15, 2005
Photo of Bang34
Reviewed by Bang34 from California

4.28/5  rDev +23%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
This place was a regular for me while I was an undergrad at UC Berkeley.

Most of the regulars are Cal students, but there is a nice mix early in the evening before the college crowd gets out.

They used to have only micros and craft brews but due to market pressures they have started to offer some macros on tap.

They have also lowered the prices on many of their micros on tap because of macro pressure.

Their food is the standard pub grub, burgers all on fresh baked buns from a next door bakery. I recommend the avocado, bacon, swiss burger, totally a California thing.

I went there when they had a frequent buyer’s card where if you drank 30+ beer's on the list you got a free T-shirt but since macros have entered the picture they don't have it anymore.

Still one of the best beer bars in Berkeley.
Jul 07, 2005
Photo of Tang07
Reviewed by Tang07 from California

4.15/5  rDev +19.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 3
Great collage bar. Lots of young people, and lots of great beer.
It's close to Peoples' Park so if you drink too much there is a place to crash.

They have 20 + beers on tap and more by bottle. A traditional long bar.

Their food is average pub grub. Burgers, and what not. Nothing to write home about, but it doesn't detract from the wooded back patio and the great beers and friendly service.

It's a great place to go late in the week when they have extended hours.

Be aware that it is a collage bar and can get very crowded with young folk in the evenings.

If that is not your thing go during the day or on a non sporting event day and you can enjoy the food and beer outside in very peaceful suroundings.
Sep 12, 2004
Raleigh's in Berkeley, CA
Place rating: 3.48 out of 5 with 9 ratings