Fresh meat ; new to chowhound and want your experienced guidance.

[californiablue88]

Two young college kids with a passion for food on a mission to broaden our view of restaurants in our area. We live in walnut creek but are willing to travel into SF. College type budgets ( we can do casual or fancy as long as the food is GOOD) but every now and then willing to splurge on a nice meal.

This stems from finding that we keep circling through the EXACT same restaurants each time we decide to go out. So its time too branch out ; and we committed to try a new place each time we go out. I'm entrusting you chow hounds to guide me to some fine establishments. We live in the bay area; a MELTING POT of great food experiences but we are definitely in a rut.

SO where should we go on our next date night?

Indubitably,
- B

[ML8000]

Take a look at the Taco Truck map of Oakland. Lots of great, cheap eats. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/450404

[slipson]

For some nearby budget friendly choices (great for lunch or cheap dinner) try
Bo's barbeque in Lafayette for brisket
El Jarro Lafayette for tortas, enchiladas and great nachos
Da Lat in Walnut Creek try the vermicelli bowels
Lane Splitter pizza in Temescal
Burma Superstar in Temescal
Cactus taqueria in Rockridge for crispy tacos

For a nicer date night:
Wood Tavern in Berkeley
Piazzolo in Temescal
Dopo in Oakland
A cote in Rockridge
Camino Oakland

[Robert Lauriston]

Berkeley / Oakland area:

Anh Hong
Barlata
Bocanova
Champa Garden
Great China
Ohgane (make them seat you in the nicer front room)

Some SF recommendations:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/636989#4867439
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/540021
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/606406