Shayla B.
Yelp
The tacos are extremely tasty but the overall value for the price doesn't quite match. I'm actually a fan of Belly and have been to their flagship location in Uptown a few times in the past. Admittedly, I haven't been back there in a few years, but I've always dug the concept. When I found out that they were opening a location in Rockridge, I was super excited since it's closer to me.
Belly specializes in Asian fusion cuisine and they do it well. This location in Rockridge is stylish and cozy. It's really colorful and has more of a bar setup compared to their other location. They have beer on tap and wine for purchase, but they don't serve hard liquor cocktails. I stopped by for lunch and I was the only person there during my entire visit. The lady who served me was super sweet. It seemed like she was the only wait staff there, and understandably so since it wasn't busy at all.
Ended up ordering two tacos: The Surf and the Cali. The Surf is their version of a Baja fish taco, and I enjoyed it. The fish had a nice beer style batter and the toppings were fresh and added some nice flavor. The Cali taco was all good and came with steak pieces, fries, and guac on top. Really liked their guac. Although I'm not really a fan of having fries in my tacos, I felt like the fries and the rest of the toppings melded really well together. The tacos are really tasty and I can really complain about the taste because it's on point.
So, here's my gripe with this place; the price tag. After having those two tacos, I was still left feeling hungry. It costed about $15 for two tacos before tip. If I'm paying $15 for two tacos, they need to be worth that price. Although these were good, they weren't worth that much in value. And let me just say, EVERYTHING here is expensive. Sides cost between $7-$20 and their burritos are $17-$20 each.
I understand that this is Asian fusion and their menu is very innovative, but that's just too damn much for something that I could easily get elsewhere for almost half the cost. There's nothing else that warrants the high prices. No upscale ambience, no above and beyond service, no unforgettable experience. It's just a casual spot that serves pricey (albeit tasty) Asian fusion fare. I wouldn't be opposed to coming back here again if I was really having a craving, but this would be more of a "let's splurge on lunch today" kind of meal for me.