Oakland: Bar Updates and New Eats (2.15.10) (michaelD: the bay area buzz report)

You take a break, slow down a bit, ease on into the new year, and BAM! The Oakland bar/restaurant scene leaves you in the dust. Time to catch up...

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[11.10.09] Word is that eVE (not to be confused with Eve Lounge in SF) will be a 28-seat Berkeley eatery from husband and wife team Christopher Laramie (executive chef) and Veronica Laramie (pastry chef) who plan to open before the month is up. The Le Cordon Bleu Paris graduates have created a New American menu that will be "micro-seasonal and locally sourced." Main courses will include: quail with pancetta, chestnuts and star anise; seared black cod with miso, carrots and almonds; and corned Wagyu beef with rye bread, sauerkraut and mustard. The menu is available in a prix fixed format only wherin three courses are $33, five for $55, and seven for $77. 1960 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA. [Sf Examiner]

[12.4.09] Pican Restaurant, Oakland | Foodnut.com http://bit.ly/902btb
Pican is a restaurant in revitalized Uptown Oakland next door to Ozumo. New Orleans native Michael LeBlanc started this restaurant in 2009. This area is undergoing a transformation from long closed auto dealerships and the like to a modern inner city. It serves California infused Southern Cuisine with lots of fresh seasonal ingredients in a vibrant cosmopolitan atmosphere. They were on the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand list for 2010.

[12.10.09] SPICE MONKEY is big on portions, community http://bit.ly/aN5bes
That's just the kind of place Spice Monkey is. You couldn't find a sweeter, more sincere, more gratitude-filled cafe on the planet. And that's precisely Kanitha Matoury's intent for the place, which she opened 19 months ago in the space long occupied by Sabina's, an Indian restaurant. "It's kind of like a community restaurant," says Matoury, a native of Cambodia who lives in Oakland herself.

[12.12.09] MERITAGE in Berkeley matches farm-to-table food with wines - Inside Bay Area http://bit.ly/aWGD6u
...His wine-driven food is certainly exceptional — fresh, local, seasonal, inventive and pretty. The menu is an education in food and wine pairing, as dishes are categorized by the weight and style of wine that best matches them. Thomsen has no formal education in wine; just a sharp palate and the kinds of friends who own Napa wineries and invite him up for golf and breakfast burritos, he tells me...

[12.14.09] Eater SF: Boot and Shoe, Gather and Eve All Debut in the East Bay http://bit.ly/aKWlHV
Boot and Shoe - Over the weekend, Charlie Hallowell's neighborhood game-changer officially shed its "soft opening" status ... Gather - For now, the restaurant, cafe and an all-organic bar is open only for dinner, but lunch/breakfast will roll out in early 2010 ... Eve - Opened last week. There are only 28 seats, tasting menus are available (Three courses = $33, five = $55, seven = $77).

[12.16.09] Night Writer: Oakland's MIMOSA bubbles with style - Inside Bay Area http://bit.ly/cJRtFa
I think the good folks behind Mimosa, Oakland's newish Champagne lounge, figured as much. The bar and lounge, which shares its corner of Broadway with buzz-worthy restaurants Pecan and Ozumo, opened in August and seems to be quite the hangout for the post-dinner crowd. Inside, exposed gray vaulted ceilings set an urban vibe. Soft, leather sofas line the perimeter of the space. Mimosa's a classy joint but doesn't try too hard, which I like. Pearly tiles dangle from two chandeliers and rod-iron wall art borders an enormous TV screen.

[12.17.09] Boot and Shoe Service Restaurant, Oakland | Foodnut.com http://bit.ly/9OAdkN
Boot and Shoe Service is a new casual neighborhood pizza restaurant from Charlie Hallowell, the Pizzaiolo folks. This restaurant is located in Oakland’s Grand Lake district, blocks from the Grand Lake Theater, and is named after the original tenant of this old building. They focus on local and sustainable products. 18% gratuity on parties of 5+.

[12.30.09] The Road to Gourmet Gulch - Berkeley | Restaurant Review | East Bay Express http://bit.ly/daDitg
Gourmet Ghetto is last century's news. These days, the pulse has shifted a mile southwest to a single block of University Avenue.

[January-February 2010] BOCANOVA - Taste of the Town, Square One - Oakland Magazine http://bit.ly/d9qJyd
But if Bocanova’s arrival in Oakland’s ostensible waterfront Mecca hasn’t marked the tipping point in the district’s fortunes, its lively warehouse-elegant ambience, killer cocktails and appetizing pan-American menu provide a few more reasons to think of Jack London Square as a culinary destination. With combined pedigrees that include Market Bar, Chez Panisse, Oliveto, Bay Wolf and Enrico’s, executive chef Rick Hackett and his wife, Meredith Melville, have transformed a former icehouse into a stylish post-industrial milieu perfectly in tune with Oakland’s citywide restaurant renaissance, and the best of the square’s recent additions.

[January-February 2010] SOULEY VEGAN - Second Helpings - Oakland Magazine http://bit.ly/abJGcV
Tamearra Dyson makes a “give-me-more” statement with her okra and her tofu, prepared in her unique vegan style at her Jack London Square soul food eatery, Souley Vegan. The 30-something owner-chef has been vegan since age 16, initially “because the thought of eating flesh off a bone grossed me out.” She didn’t want to eat dairy either, so began, while still in her teens, experimenting with her Southern grandma’s recipes.

[1.6.10] I-Squared - Please Pass the Persian | Restaurant Review | East Bay Express http://bit.ly/ajWiqe
Considering the dearth of Persian restaurants in the Bay Area, it's something of a disappointment that I Squared, a year-old Iranian-Italian fusion restaurant in Rockridge, doesn't embrace its Middle Eastern side more strongly. Yes, the setting is attractive in a sleek and cool sort of way, the vibe is welcoming, and the food is uniformly delectable.

[1.12.10] POP-UP GENERAL STORE – full coverage on Eater SF http://bit.ly/a81NdD
It's the not proper butcher shop Lee was looking for back in the fall, but rather, a pop-up spot in the Temescal streetcar depot where Grace Street Catering is also located. Lee and Nosrat will be offering "many of Eccolo's classic dishes, as well as other foods [they] love to make, for you to pick up and cook at home." Think: Lee's sausages (crepinettes, boudin blanc), Eccolo's cassoulets, butternut squash ravioli, handmade pastas and farmers' market produce. The food items will change on a weekly basis and the plan is to make it a regular occurrence. [Eater SF]

[1.13.10] Eater SF: Chez TJ Names a New Chef, JLS MARKET Gets LEED Approval http://bit.ly/cjynFd
The centerpiece of the would-be JLS $375 million renaissance, the JACK LONDON SQUARE MARKETPLACE, has had its share of delays, but this week it earned LEED Silver certification. The developers say that the building’s green practices "directly align with its new use as a regional destination for quality, sustainable food." [BT, previously via Eater SF]

[1.13.10] Eater SF: SR24, Georges, Thermidor and So Much More! http://bit.ly/awYOll
Currently slated to debut on February 1 is the newest addition to Oakland's Temescal neighborhood, not far from Pizzaiolo, SR24. With chef Josh Woodall (last seen at South) at the helm, it's billed as a "classic American eatery with a consciousness for sustainability and the community." The named stands for State Route 24 and a sample menu can be viewed here. [PLYWOOD via Eater SF]

[1.25.10] 60-year-old MERRITT Restaurant and Bakery received a $162,000 bailout from the city last year to help pay off creditors, but now the institution has asked for another one, lest it close: "[Owner Charles Griffis] says the real issue is a shortage of parking since the Lucky's grocery store next door expanded. And Griffis thinks the city, which signed off on the expansion, has the responsibility to help him fix the problem." [Chron via Eater SF]

[1.25.10] Bites - Hotel Review - LAKE CHALET Seafood Bar and Grill - NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/bVWfcW
The New York Times bestows some national attention on Oakland's massive Lake Chalet, noting that it feels more like a neighborhood place than its San Francisco kin, but for better or worse, the main show is really the setting: "With all the visual distractions, the food is a bit of an afterthought. The contemporary Californian menu is resolutely unpretentious ('Start with some fresh seafood!' it exclaims) and less singular than the views." [NYT via Eater SF]

[1.28.10] This week's Scoop noted that COMMIS is now offering a special three-hour menu at the chef's counter, but for those wondering about the actual price, it ranges from $100 to $125, depending on the night. The three-course prix fixe is still at $59. [EaterWire]

[1.29.10] COMMIS in Oakland Deserves Its Michelin Star | Eating Out by Raymond Sokolov - WSJ.com http://bit.ly/9nLde7
Michelin guide in hand, The Wall Street Journal visits the Bay to give national buzz to three newly-starred spots in Commis, Luce and Quince. Naturally, Quince earns itself another rave, as does James Syhabout's Oakland standout: "At COMMIS, we are in the hands of a self-contained imagination .. Michelin's rush to judgment with Commis paid off." [Eater SF]

[1.18.10] Turn right for every day, left for special occasion...MARZANO/GARIBALDIS http://bit.ly/9Hc8oY
For his Sunday offering, Bauerlicious kills two birds with one stone this week, sending out a double review of Oakland's connected restaurants Marzano and the higher-end Garibaldis. Both eateries notch 2.5 stars each, with the main difference being some service issues with the upscale half of the operation: "Yet for all the misguided attempts at efficiency, dining at Garibaldis feels like a special occasion - and at a reasonable price - while Marzano is where I'd return for a quicker midweek meal." [Chron via Eater SF]

[1.20.10] Phatt Matt's BBQ - A Sampler of Barbecue Styles | Restaurant Review | East Bay Express http://bit.ly/9d5SdB
Phat Matt Gonzalez, an Oakland resident, has been barbecuing for more than three decades, first in Chicago (a barbecue destination itself), then the past few years at the Grand Lake and Metreon farmers markets, and the experience has paid off.

[1.21.10] CHOP BAR is a treat in Jack London Square http://bit.ly/bQDgG2
At any time of day or night, neighbors from the condos now populating the old warehouse district chat companionably around the big half-circle bar, sipping a Roast Coffee Co. latte or sharing a carafe of JC Cellars' Rhone-style blend. At glossy wooden tables, friends sit with laptops, nursing a glass of Linden Street Black Lager or sharing a plate of Col. Newsom's Kentucky ham. The wait staff is a combination of laid back and attentive. The chatter and eclectic music layer in a warm vibe.

[1.22.10] Oakland's GRAND TAVERN a warm spot to sip away bad weather - Inside Bay Area http://bit.ly/b6jW54
The Grand Tavern moved in about eight months ago. The owner, Temoor Noor, recruited his mother Kay Amir, sister Jasmin Noor and a silent partner to help run the neighborhood tavern. A former urban planner, Noor painstakingly restored the Victorian-era house from its previous service as Señor Nero's after spending nearly three years searching for a recipe for "how people like to hang out." ... The result: cozy fireplace, reclaimed wood bar, shimmery gold wallpaper Noor brought from Britain, ambient music and a whimsical throne from his mother's living room.

[1.23.10] REMEDY COFFEE - Man Seeking Coffee » A Clover on a Coffee Cart to Cure Your Ills http://bit.ly/cg6Xtn
As you may have been following on this blog and elsewhere, quality coffee is finally beginning to roll into the East Bay ... If all goes well, Remedy should open its doors in a matter of days or weeks and promises to be a bit bigger build-out than Subrosa’s cozy space. Remedy will have indoor seating and a very cool phone booth where guests will be encouraged to take cell phone calls. There will also be food, baked in house, by (I hope I have this right) Oakland’s Cake Ladies. For now though you can enjoy Ritual coffee via Remedy’s coffee cart, which you’ll find parked outside or in, depending on the weather, until early to mid afternoon on most days of the week.

[1.23.10] Cafe Eritrea offers no frills Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine http://bit.ly/d3UMIE
Oakland is colloquially known as the mecca for Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine in the Bay Area, thanks to its large expatriate population. On Telegraph Avenue, the main thoroughfare of this thriving community, Cafe Eritrea d'Afrique sits quietly among East African restaurants and shops, serving up reliably delicious traditional fare.

[1.25.10] ERA ART BAR AND LOUNGE | Cubism, Cocktails and Clubbing | San Francisco | SFO | Lake Merritt District | Bar | [Urban Daddy] http://bit.ly/aKvaex
This massive space combines a turn-of-the-century cocktail den with a modern art gallery and nightclub—which at first blush sounds a little schizophrenic. And it is, but it's a high-functioning and nattily outfitted schizophrenic, one from the 1890s who draws a mean cocktail.

[1.26.10] Five spots for coffee and culture in Lake Merritt http://bit.ly/bXUuvw
In the Lake Merritt section of Oakland, independently-owned coffeehouses have won favor with locals in a big way. They embody a unique character and charm that simply can't be duplicated in corporate coffee chains. Here's a rundown of some of the coolest cafes this part of the “O” has to offer:

[2.3.10] Flavah Island Cafe - Ackee Days Are Here Again | Restaurant Review | East Bay Express http://bit.ly/98utzj
Fried treats at Flavah Island, which opened last September in the virtual shadow of Berkeley's Lanesplitter and brought more Jamaican cuisine to a wildly diverse neighborhood, include the spicy, dense cornmeal dumplings called "festival" as well as plantains and exquisite fritters whose scallion-flecked salted cod — the "salt fish" that is praised in the old song "Jamaica Farewell" — has a texture closer to that of pudding than that of fish.

[2.5.10] Speaking of bars, tonight marks the debuts for two newcomers on the Oakland nightlife scene: ERA and BEER REVOLUTION. The latter is a fairly standard beer spot, but the former, Era, is an ambitious, two-story 5000-square-foot bar/artsy lounge with a 35-foot steel and concrete bar. 19 Grand Avenue, Oakland; 510-832-4400; website [OT via Eater SF]

[2.09.10] The Beginning of a New ERA | The Chatterbox | Tablehopper http://bit.ly/9Nl0VL
The 5,000-square-foot space will bring together art (expect bi-monthly collections of modern and contemporary art), handcrafted artisan cocktails with house-made syrups and bitters, local small production wines, and a wide range of music (with occasional live performances).

[2/11/10] FLORA RESTAURANT Restaurant in Oakland Draws Theatergoers, Businesspeople - WSJ.com http://bit.ly/baRsfh
Just across the street from the newly renovated Fox Theatre in Oakland's burgeoning Uptown district sits Flora Restaurant and Bar. At night, theater patrons saunter over to have a drink. But by day, the 50-seat restaurant serves local lunchers from companies including Kaiser Permanente, Clorox Co. and Walt Disney Co.'s Pixar.

[2.12.10] Night Owl: BEER REVOLUTION and ERA add to Oakland's night life scene - [Inside Bay Area] http://bit.ly/bTsn8X
If you happened to pass by the intersection of Grand Avenue and Broadway last Friday, your curiosity about the throng of would-be barflies wrapped around the block would have been justified. Era Art Bar and Lounge attracted 700 people that night in what may be a recent record-setting opening night ... The opening Beer Revolution created a beer loop between Linden Street several blocks west and The Trappist and Pacific Coast Brewing Co. to the north. The city had to make an exception for Beer Revolution's location because the building is so close to other off-site liquor selling establishments. If they hadn't, the City Council might have had a revolt on their hands.

[2.12.10] Just a reminder that starting this morning with breakfast, the Oakland branch of Cesar made the move into CESAR LATINO, changing the concept from Spanish tapas to South and Central American fare. [EaterWire]

[2.14.10] Brown Sugar Kitchen sweetens West Oakland - San Jose Mercury News http://bit.ly/bzVH4k
West Oakland became a dining destination two years ago when Holland opened Brown Sugar Kitchen. Like Dan Levi, folks who appreciate quality food come from all over, and Los Angeles is farther away than San Luis Obispo.