Another new kid on the block...Bocanova

 
(Sun Aug 31, 2009 - Bocanova @ Jack London Square, Oakland, taken via iphone)

Now we have Bocanova in Jack London Square (pictured above), which opened to the public tonight. Occupying the Old Spaghetti Factory location (6500 sq ft), this new entry into the Oakland bar/restaurant scene features a Pan-American cuisine, and was opened by the executive chef of the popular Market Bar's (Ferry Building, SF) Rick Hackett and his wife Meredith Melville. Michael Guthrie, the architect behind Bix, Myth and Zinnia in San Francisco, designed the interior.

Psst, a certain owner (Tanya Holland) of a certain successful Oakland restaurant (Brown Sugar Kitchen) is opening up a creole cuisine restaurant next door to Bocanova next year! Read more from the SF Chronicle...

Does anyone else see what's been going on in the East Bay over the last couple of years? Worth checking out...

See the pattern? And did you know...
(courtesy San Francisco Business Times, Oct 2008)

• A projected 15 new restaurants will open in (Jack London Square) in the next two years.
• In the span of 7 yrs, 1,800 residential units have been built in the Jack London vicinity.
• Jack London Square will have four main dining areas. The first building, directly across from the ferry landing, will house three restaurants, one of which will be a brew pub.
• The second area houses Joie de Vivre Hospitality’s recently opened 300-seat Miss Pearl’s Jam House and Waterfront Hotel. Across the way from Miss Pearl’s is another large restaurant space, a former T.G.I. Friday’s, which lost its lease when Ellis Partners decided to un-chain and upgrade Jack London Square.
• 66 Franklin St., across from the public market, will likely house three restaurants in addition to the commercial bakery and baking school that Meg Ray, founder of Miette Patisserie in San Francisco’s Ferry Building, will open next spring.
  
• The market building (planned to be the largest public market on the West Coast) itself will have up to five restaurants in addition to the 65-odd farm stands and artisanal food product vendors
• Up to five of the 15 restaurants will be small, quick-serve and fast-casual spots. The rest will be full-scale operations.

How do you say, "Gastro Renaissance?"

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Comments

[michael d]

Thanks Joan! I'll check it out.

[Joan Frierson]

If you want to travel further east, Maria Maria in Walnut Creek is good. I hear that Santana has part interest. Good food and margaritas. Upscale Mexican.

[michael d]

Thx Shiree!

[ShireeMD]

I2 (I squared) on college. It's Iranian and Italian.