Wood-grilled steaks in Berkeley environs?

[Robert Lauriston]

Been in a steak mood lately. If I'm going out, I want it grilled over charcoal or hardwood. Any recommendations besides these?

À Côté (closes 10pm Sun.-Tues., 11 Wed.-Thurs., 12 Fri.-Sat): grilled skirt steak with cranberry beans and salsa verde, $16

Cafe Rouge (9 Sun.-Mon., 9:30 Tues-Thurs., 10 Fri.-Sat.): Magruder T-bone & fries, $36

Eccolo (9:30 Mon.-Thurs., 10 Fri.-Sat., 9 Sun.): Niman ribeye w/arugula, $32

Nizza la Bella (9:30 Sun.-Thurs., 10:30 Fri. & Sat.): steak-frites, $18.50

Oliveto (same closing hours as Rouge): nothing on current sample menu

[chemchef]

I'm guessing that, if you don't already know about it, it probably doesn't exist. :-)

[Robert Lauriston]

Not wood- or charcoal-grilled, but a decent alternative when the above places are closed: Luka's Taproom (kitchen closes 11pm daily): boneless ribeye with grilled zucchini, roasted new potatoes, grilled maui onions, chimichurri & cotija cheese, $24.

Steak was good, the chimichurri was tasty, green beans were good, zucchini was just OK, the onions had an unpleasant flavor, like maybe a dirty spot on the grill.

[Scott M]

I haven't tried the steaks but there is the Prime Spot on Grand Ave. in Oakland and T-Rex has a grilled skirt steak on the menu.

I have always like the grilled flat iron steak at JoJo.

[Robert Lauriston]

Does Prime Spot grill over wood or charcoal? There's no mention of it on their Web site.

[Scott M]

No idea, might be worth a call to the restaurant to find out.

[JasmineG]

Cesar on Piedmont often has a steak on the menu (most recent online menu it's hangar steak), and every time I had it it was great, but I'm not sure how they cook it.

[Robert Lauriston]

Yeah, Cesar's steak is great, but I don't taste that charcoal / wood smokiness. I go there often since it's open after most other restaurants with good wine have closed (kitchen closes at 11 weeknights / 11:30 weekends).

[Rapini]

I don't think it's wood/charcoal grilled, but Jojo always has steak frites on the menu--v. tasty...also, have been told that Chez Panisse downstairs will, on request, substitute a steak for the entree of the day..

[Robert Lauriston]

I can't imagine a situation where I'd want to substitute a steak for the main course at Chez Panisse. Though by chance they have a great-sounding steak menu tonight:

Anchovy toasts with cherry tomatoes
Green cannellone with ricotta and chard
Marin Sun Farms grass-fed beef tagliata with rosemary, fried potatoes, and wild rocket
Black Mission fig crostata with wild fennel ice cream

[kresge86]

Jojo's offers a very nice grilled (don't know if it's grilled over charcoal or hardwood) Niman Ranch Flat Iron Steak aux Frites with Anchovy-Mustard Butter. Delicious.

-----
Jojo
3859 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611

[linzjonz]

What about T-Rex or Trattoria Corso?

Cerise