Dinner in Oakland Broadway/10th

[Scotty]

My new job requires me to be in Oakland (Marriott @ Broadway/10th) during the weekdays. I joined a few guys and now we're a group of four who walk to local places for dinner.

Our normal place is Pacific Coast Brewing Company. It isn't bad at all, the special of the day is normally good, esp. the $15 Pime rib dinner, with some great mashed potatoes. Another favorite is the meatloaf. One of our crew will not eat anything spicy.

We've been to B's and the food was liked. A little more expensive and it was hard to talk at the table, a lot of echos there.

Our "treat" was to make a longer walk to Jack London Square and eat at Scott's.

We do like to get in and out quickly and while I'm open to spicy and any type of food and 3 other are real meat and potatoe guys.

The plan is to be living out of the hotel for a few months. So please, any and all advice, for the four of us to walk or a quick ride Bart and a short walk from a station. No car.

Maybe a few places when it is just me-longer rides/walks OK.

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Jack London Square
70 Washington St # 207, Oakland, CA

[Ruth Lafler]

You've gotten lots of great recs for Oakland, but there's no need to limit yourself to Oakland. San Francisco is just a short ride (12 minutes from 12th St. to Embarcadero) on BART across the Bay, and that opens up a lot more choices (if you're going to be there for "a few months" you're going to want them). You can also reach downtown Berkeley by BART. Finally, you can reach the thriving restaurant scenes in the Temescal and Piedmont Ave. areas of Oakland using ACTransit (which is going to be changing routes and schedules over the weekend, or I'd give you specifics), or a short cab ride (split four ways, maybe cheaper than public transit).

[Scotty]

Outstanding! Thanks for all of the fine tips.

Now back home to Los Angeles today. I'll try to talk to boys into going to a few different places.

[lucymom]

If you like spicy I recommend Spices! 3 for the hottest fried chicken. Another fav option for me is Pho 84. Try their chicken curry. One of my favorite dishes from this place and I've been going there for the last 14 years. This is a much further walk down on Broadway but a fun spot is Mua. They have awesome drinks and the scene is what's great about Oakland, true diversity. I wouldn't rave about the food but there's a lot of options for a group to enjoy. And I too recommend Hibiscus, awesome fried chicken and jerk chicken. Plus, I love their homemade hot sauce.

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Spices 3
369 12th St, Oakland, CA 94607

Pho 84
354 17th St, Oakland, CA 94612

Mua
2442A Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94612

Hibiscus
1745 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

[Robert Lauriston]

Oh yeah, Hibiscus is probably good for meat-and-potatoes types. Spices!3, not so much.

Great burger at Mua.

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Mua
2442A Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94612

[dlglidden]

B has a happy hour (from, I think, 4:30–6:30). They have at least two varieties of oysters every night and they are a dollar each (great deal!) and a couple of very good pizzas for (as I remember) $8. B's entire happy hour menu is really a great deal, and I've been there at least four times on Friday night and it was never crowded and there was virtually no noise.

And why hasn't anyone mentioned Tamarindo Antojeria?(http://www.tamarindoantojeria.com) It's just around the corner from B' s (on 8th street) and has excellent, reasonably priced Mexican food. And this is (for lack of a better term) "real, fine dining" Mexican food: check out the menu on their website, you'll see what I mean.

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Tamarindo
468 8th St, Oakland, CA 94607

[Michael Rodriguez]

Do try Caffe Verbena, just across 11th street from your hotel in the APL building. Excellent drinks and very tasty food, both in a lovely room.

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Caffe Verbena
1111 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607

[ML8000]

Luka's Taproom serves a decent burger and updated American fare, about a 10 block walk one-way, or a BART ride. Also Soizic Bistro in Jack London Square but on the pricey side. Chinatown is 2 blocks away. Chef Lau or New Gold Medal serves non-spicey Cantonese food. Chef Lau is bargain and very good.

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Luka's Taproom
2221 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

Soizic Restaurant
300 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607

[lexdevil]

I second the recommendation for Chop Bar, also Taco Grill. I'd probably pass on Bocanova, but given the length of your stay, it might be good for variety. Have to admit that I've only been there once, but I wasn't thrilled.

If you're willing to walk about 10 blocks (or hop on the bus if you're feeling lazy), Luka's Taproom will do well for meat and potatoes. Prices are fair, drinks are good, and Monday brings $1 oysters. It can get loud, so you might want to try going on the early side.

Though it's not the best Vietnamese food in town, Le Cheval (right behind the Marriott on Clay) is a safe bet for conservative eaters. Nothing is spicy, and the cube steak will please your meat and potatoes people. A few dishes (like the claypot snapper) are really excellent. Nothing is bad, prices are good, and servings are large.

You should definitely take BART to Rockridge and hit Wood Tavern. You will, however, need a reservation. It would be classified as a treat. Also in Rockridge and very good, I have had surprisingly good luck pleasing conservative palates at Soi 4 (Thai). Marzano (Italian), Marica (seafood), and A Cote (French small plates and GREAT wine and cocktails) are other good Rockridge options.

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Luka's Taproom
2221 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

A Cote
5478 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

Wood Tavern
6317 College Ave., Oakland, CA 94618

Taco Grill
3340 E 12th St, Oakland, CA 94601

Le Cheval
1007 Clay St, Oakland, CA

Le Cheval
2600 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

Chop Bar
247 4th St, #111, Oakland, CA 94607

Bocanova
55 Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94607

Marzano on College
5356 College Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618

[lexdevil]

You might also want to try Hibiscus at 18th and San Pablo. Tasty Caribbean food in a nice setting. Prices are very fair, though not cheap. The braised short ribs are nice.

[Robert Lauriston]

I've been to Bocanova three or four times and had I think only one dish I wouldn't order again.

If you go to Chop Bar, be sure to order the Colonel Bill Newsom Kentucky ham. Best domestic ham I've had.

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Bocanova
55 Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94607

[lexdevil]

The time I went I had two dishes that were fine to good and one dish (quinoa salad w/ shrimp and beets) that was mostly flavorless (and kind of gross where it had flavor). That plus some really clueless service have caused me not to rush back. As I trust your opinion, I'll probably give it another shot sometime.

[escargot3]

My experience has been the same as Robert's -- i've been to Bocanova a few times now, and on each occasion we;ve had great food, except for 1 dish. Service is slow, but it comes with the culture. It ain't a place to go for a quick meal.

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Bocanova
55 Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94607

[Robert Lauriston]

At B, if you get a table in the back right corner it's quieter.

Bocanova is good.

Mexicali Rose for old-school Mexican-American.

Flora can definitely satisfy meat-and-potatoes types.

Places I haven't been but that would probably work: Pican, Lake Chalet.

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Pican Restaurant
2295 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

Mexicali Rose Restaurant
701 Clay St, Oakland, CA 94607

Bocanova
55 Webster Street, Oakland, CA 94607

[abstractpoet]

If walking down toward Jack London Square, you might also consider Chop Bar.

I love Pican (and meat is certainly their strong suit, especially their fried chicken and their pork chop), but just note that it is quite a bit more expensive than some of these other options. Not an everyday dinner kind of place, at least not on my budget.

If you're open to taking BART and to Mexican food, Taco Grill (right by the Fruitvale station) is very good (and not necessarily spicy).

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Jack London Square
70 Washington St # 207, Oakland, CA

Taco Grill
3340 E 12th St, Oakland, CA 94601

Pican Restaurant
2295 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

Chop Bar
247 4th St, #111, Oakland, CA 94607

[susancinsf]

Four of us had dinner at B about two weeks ago. On a Saturday night, it was not at all noisy, and we could talk comfortably. We were seated on the right facing into the restaurant, but not all the way to the back (about half way to the back perhaps, by the windows).

Service was fine, though perhaps not completely professional (the server seemed to develop an instant crush on my friend, to the point of commenting on her clothes and make up). The food was very good to excellent; friends ordered the cioppino that was on special that night . I didn't taste it, but they said it hit the spot and it looked delicious. Hubby thought his beet salad was good but slightly overpriced.

The only miss of the night was the bread, which was slightly stale, even though they charge extra for it. (I think it is Acme, IIRC, and $3 a plate?). We were celebrating various birthdays and weren't in a mood to complain, but if one charges extra for bread, it darn well better be good.

Service and bread hiccups notwithstanding, we enjoyed ourselves quite a bit. I'd go back just for their version of the Sazerac, which was outstanding.