Merit Cleaners

The owners are incredibly sweet: my mom used to take our dry cleaning here when I was a little girl spilling juice all over her sweaters. When I was that young, whichever owner happened to be on front-​counter duty would always let me pick out a Tootsie Pop, which made me loooove going there.
I’m 22 now, have long since stopped spilling juice on my parents and now I get drinks spilled on me in bars. (And, you know, work, so I’ve gotta look halfway presentable from time to time in clean, nice clothes.)
They’ve cleaned a number of sweaters, skirts, and silk shirts for me very well. And, just a week ago, they successfully cleaned a terrible-​looking, hard-​to-​remove stain out of a delicate white silk shirt I took in. They’re quick, charge reasonable prices for a thorough cleaning, and are very friendly.
(On that last point: the first time I came back as an adult to get clothes cleaned, they remembered me from when I was a little girl! I hadn’t been in in over a decade so I was touched.)
They take cash and check only, FYI.

My wife and I have been using Merit Cleaners for a while now, and have found them to be a great dry cleaner. The service is solid/​good, though perhaps not exceptional (ie I’ve been to better). The owners are extremely polite and friendly, and remember us when we return. The cost is a bit above what I would expect to pay, so we often talk about going somewhere else, but haven’t left yet. We live in the No. Berkeley hills so the location is fantastic, and there is always ample parking. The pluses far outweigh the minuses here. Use Merit and enjoy!

If I could give this place a zero I would.
I dropped off a very expensive shirt to be dry cleaned, it was a blue silk.
I go to pick it up and there is a huge, bleach stain on it.
I say, «Would you like to explain to me what happened to my shirt?»
Merit Cleaners, «You drop off like this:

Honest, reliable, and friendly service. I trust my best clothes will receive the best care at Merit. My father was a customer for many years, and I remember going in to the «lollipop cleaners» as a little girl (they always give kids tootsie pops). They always remember my name and have my clothes ready on time.

Highly recommended. The proprietor is a true gentlemen and strives to please. In short order, he recognized my name and preferences and began treating me like a longtime customer.
Prices are reasonable — *not* rock bottom, but I quickly realized that you get what you pay for when I once shopped around elsewhere and was very disappointed with the results. I haven’t been anywhere but Merit Cleaners since.