A Berkeley institution known for potato-cheese pancakes and bright red flannel hash is saying goodbye after 36 years.
Rick & Ann’s Restaurant, a community hub in the shadow of the Claremont Resort & Club, drew celebrities, tourists and Cal students to 2922 Domingo Ave., all of whom happily waited in line for up to an hour for its legendary breakfast and brunch menu. Owner and co-founder Ann Lauer announced her retirement and forthcoming closure on the restaurant’s website. Rick & Ann’s last day of business is Aug. 3.
The restaurant took many forms in its roughly three and a half decades. It once featured a small market and offered dinner service before shifting to serve breakfast and lunch only after the pandemic. Along the way, Lauer launched what has become a thriving catering business, Ann’s Catering, that will live on as its legacy.
In addition to an impending retirement, Rick & Ann’s lease is ending, Lauer told SFGATE in a phone interview. Interested parties have reached out to take over, possibly even retaining the Rick & Ann’s menu but not the name. That is expected to remain with the catering company, which is currently building a commercial kitchen on 65th Street…