Alameda suggestions?

[SteveTimko]

I expect to be staying in Alameda next weekend. I planned on at least one meal, maybe dim sum, at East Ocean. Any other suggestions of where to eat in Alameda? Or places close by in Oakland?

[Janet]

Several of us ate at Havana a couple of weeks ago. It was surprisingly good. ( I had eaten at the one in Walnut Creek and not impressed). I had the garlic fries and skirt steak, fabulous. They will adjust the garlic amount to your wishes.

Others had the shrimp and corn tamale. They said it was great. Two of them eat lunch there regularly. Between them they have tried everything, including mojitos. They love it all. I plan to go back soon.

[Ruth Lafler]

I think the food at Havana is pretty good, but I haven't been impressed with the mojitos. Surprisingly, the best mojito I've had in Alameda is at Ching Hua down the street. Now if only I could have the food from Havana with the mojitos from Ching Hua....

Other good places to eat in Alameda:

In the Park St. area:
Pappo (Cal Cuisine)
Asena (Cal Mediterranean)
Yume (sushi)

In the Webster St. area:
Acquacotta
Otaez (get the carnitas or the pozole, both weekend specials)
The New Zealander (New Zealand style pub food)

Depending on where in Alameda you're staying, parts of Oakland may be closer than other parts of Alameda. If you're near Webster, the restaurants in the Old Oakland neighborhood (B, Levenda, Tamarindo, etc.) are just as close or closer than Park St.

[Robert Lauriston]

My favorite place in Downtown Oakland is Shanghai. The Trappist is down there, too.

Fruitvale's many Mexican places are a short drive from Park St.

[Ruth Lafler]

Very true.

[rworange]

link

[theomordha]

This is closed now. I believe that their Walnut Creek door is open. It is a loss for Alameda.

[myst]

Havana is not closed they just changed the name. Habanas

The The Hob Nob is good for relaxed bar small plates dinner (mac n cheese, sliders, truffle fries etc.) they also do a decent brunch.

Spiekskammer is german and fun for a beer.
Tomatina (local chain) has woodfire pizza - but pastas pretty bland.
Pearl's Burger - just opening good buzz
Zen
Second: Burma Superstar.
La Pinata - Mexican and breakfast.

[Melanie Wong]

Thank you, I found this piece in The Island on the name change.
http://www.theislandofalameda.com/201...

[Jumbo_Jack]

My two highest recommendations for Alameda are alcohol tasting: Rosenblum (rosenblumcellars.com) and Hangar One/St George Spirits (stgeorgespirits.com). Great views and for maybe $25 total, you can sample about 8 wines, 6 vodkas, whiskey, and a handful of other stuff.

Burma Superstar in Alameda is unique, fresh, and much easier to eat at than the sf location. I do like the tea leaf salad, but it kept me up for hours and hours...

[SteveTimko]

Was there caffeine in the tea leaf salad? If so, that rules it out for me.
Is the Alameda Burma Superstar as good as the one in San francisco?
I'm going in for a wine tasting, so I think pretty much rules out any other booze tasting.

[Robert Lauriston]

I thought the food at the Alameda branch was if anything better.

[Ruth Lafler]

Yup. Lots of caffeine, since you're eating the actual tea leaves. However, I really prefer Burmese ginger salad, although I haven't had the Burma Superstar version.

[Robert Lauriston]

Second on Burma Superstar. Speisekammer.

Cocktails at Forbidden Island.

[myst]

Thank you for the correct spellings. I'm always rushing and the links never work for me either....

[SteveTimko]

As the person who started this thread, let me say Burma Superstar is fantastic. I also love the dim sum at East Oceon on Webster. And the hand-pulled noodles for Chinese soup at Ark on Park is also great and a steal at $7 a bowl.
A friend recommends the New Zealander, but I haven't tried it yet.

[Robert Lauriston]

East Ocean Seafood is my favorite dim sum place in the East Bay these days. I keep meaning to try it for dinner.

Here's a more recent topic with some more recommendations:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/705816

[nicedragonboy]

I definitely think you should try it for dinner some time. I think though it is best for a larger group where you can plan out a banquet style meal w/ the host/kitchen. I'd be surprised if there hasn't been a chowdown there before.

[Ruth Lafler]

I'm not sure there's been a chowdown. Melanie has reported on the wo choy menu and I've reported on some dinners there. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/308077

Also: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/5828...

[nicedragonboy]

unless they've upgraded the menu, I'd pass on the New Zealander. The atmo is fine (located in the hisoric Croll's building), but the food last time I was there (3 yrs ago) was forgettable.

[tomatoaday]

The NZ recently changed owners although the Chef / Owner remains as chef. I'm not sure what changes took place while they were closed, if any, but like nicedragonboy says, my one and only visit, also about 3 years ago was average. I remember liking the green salad and the Australian ketchup like bottled sauce but can't even remember what type of meat pie I had.

We don't eat out much in Alameda, although we live there, but I do like Mint Leaf for Vietnamese down in the Marina Village strip mall, Acapulco for old fashioned Americanized Mexican and the Hob Nob on Park.

[nicedragonboy]

I'm a fan of Tu Tai 2 on Webster for Vietnamese food. Solid traditional vietnamese with a pretty wide menu. Might not blow your mind, but good enough to save you a trip into Oakland for sure.

[tomatoaday]

I hadn't noticed the address link in my post. It was not the place that I meant and I have removed it. I was referring to the Mint Leaf in Alameda, down in the Marina Village strip mall near Albertsons, off Webster but before the tube. The menu looks authentic to me but I am not an expert. If you have not been there, here is the link to the menu:

http://www.mintleafvr.com/Menu.html

[pcdarnell]

Have you tried Dragon Rouge for Vietnamese on Encinal, just off Park? I have only had lunch there, but it's quite good.

http://www.dragonrougerestaurant.com/

[nicedragonboy]

I like it too, but it's a little more fusion-y than I prefer for my Vietnamese cravings. Plus, I have family who know the owners and are investors in the restaurant.