Henry’s Publick House in the Durant Hotel, 600 Durant Avenue, Berkeley, CA 510- 809-4132,  has long been a bar peopled by fraternity types from nearby UC Berkeley frats. Now, it’s reinvented itself as a “gastropub.”  My daughter Amanda, 21, visited last week, thankfully before the Cal game when the place was jammed.  Here’s her report:‎

OK, I’m going to be honest. I grew up in Berkeley with two non-Cal affiliated parents. Bred in a nest of athletic apathy, sports never crossed my mind and were only reminiscent of traffic jams on Piedmont and Channing on those faithful Cal football Saturdays when, trying to struggle across town, one of my parents would swear heartily regarding the death of collectivized sports.

So it’s no surprise that I had never stepped foot into Henry’s, a bistro and bar attached to the Durant Hotel, famous for it’s sporty disposition.  But upon taking a language intensive UC Berkeley class this summer, I found myself on campus and, well. In need of a stiff drink.

Enter Henrys. Newly remodeled, I walked in completely shocked. Muted yellows and blues and new gleaming wood furniture? Helpful bartender?

Sports on MUTE? I almost died of shock. And the beer list? A commanding full page, with only a few pitfalls that any bar kitty corner to frat row would fall prey to. And to my pleasure, beer was listed before the wine and spirits list.

They also had a full bar menu with lots of interesting appetizers to try. The Lemongrass Frites were terrific and paired easily with a fresh Hoegaarden Wit served in a respectably warm pint glass. They also stocked Chimay Red, Deschutes Black Butte Porter and Lost Coast Downtown Brown.

So forgive Henry’s for having Miller High Life on tap, forgive Henry’s for their novelty size ordering system (“I’ll take 60 oz. of Guinness” might be something I never want to say out loud in public) and forgive them for game days when the quiet atmosphere becomes a din of late bloomers cheering on the home team.

Henry’s is remodeled, pleasant, and a far better choice than the slop you can get further down Telegraph.
And to be even more honest, after that Hoegaarden I had a vodka gimlet up that was absolutely perfect. Not a bad place to take a date… just not on game day, fellas.  Amanda Brand

Photos: Top: Henry’s draft beer list. Yes, we know Boont Amber comes from Anderson Valley Brewiing, Boonville and Race 5 comes from Bear Republic, Healdsburg and Cloverdale. They don’t.

Below: Henry’s locator map. University of California, Berkeley Campus is above Bancroft Avenue.