Dinner near Chabot Space?

[elizabells]

::waves hi::

In my usual fashion, I'm looking for a restaurant for a 2nd date. We're going to the planetarium show at Chabot and I'm trying to find something fairly nearby. The bistro at Chabot itself is out, as they only have 2 seatings that night and we can't make it. We've got one inveterate carnivore (moi) and one pescetarian (... not moi). Something relatively casual would be good, as we're just two young Hounds getting to know each other, not so much in A Grand Romance.

Thanks you guys!

[elizabells]

Hi all!

Sorry for the delay. I'm coming from El Cerrito and he's coming from San Francisco. I know there's nothing really up near the Observatory (unless the Mormon temple has opened a restaurant), so I guess I was hoping there was something decent in Montclair. As of now it looks like Hunan Yuan, based on one reco from a friend. I had heard there was a good sushi place, good to know the name!

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Hunan Yuan Restaurant
4100 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619

[JasmineG]

Park is a better idea than Montclair, just about as close, and there's better food at Marzano or Bellancio than anywhere in Montclair.

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Marzano
4214 Park Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94602

[wolfe]

Found 2 sushi places Montclair, Toshi and Kakui. No Chow reviews, others very mixed. About 3 miles from Chabot.

[The Dive]

Would Old Weang Ping Thai work? It is kind of strange, but it could be fun.

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Old Weang Ping
6217 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94605

[Ruth Lafler]

As I noted above, it really depends on what direction they're coming from. If, for example, you're coming from North Oakland/Berkeley then something as far east as the Millsmont area would be really out of the way.

[macadam]

Dinner and a Movie
DINNER
The 4-course dinner includes an appetizer, salad, entree and dessert. You will have a choice of a chicken, salmon, or vegetarian entrée. Dinner reservations are available at 6pm or 8pm on Friday and Saturday evenings. Advance Reservations are required. Space is limited and we recommend calling at least a week in advance for reservations.
Price: Adults $18.00 / Youth $12.00 Dinner: 6pm & 8pm

[macadam]

That is at Cabot Space and Science Center.

[Ruth Lafler]

In the original post, she mentioned that they couldn't make these, for some reason, but it's good information for other people who might be interested.

[Robert Lauriston]

If it's the weekend of the 14th, you could go to the Greek Festival.

Champa Garden's not much farther than Glenview. The Temescal (Pizzaiolo, Barlata, Lanesplitter, etc.) is a quick hop on and off the freeway.

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Champa Garden
2102 8th Ave, Oakland, CA 94606

[10foot5]

Does anyone know if Woodminster Cafe is still doing Persian Food on Fridays?

If your show is on a Friday night that could be a good quirky, super-casual, chowhoundy, second date option.

I always loved the food, and it’s that closest restaurant I can think of to Chabot.

Here is the original thread from a few years back

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/3264...

I believe you have to call in the afternoon and order in advance, at least at one point that was the case.

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Woodminster Cafe
5020 Woodminster Ln, Oakland, CA 94602

[Ruth Lafler]

I thought about that. I think it sounds great, but the descriptions I read about it suggested it might not be appropriate for someone who describes himself as a "pescatarian."

[abstractpoet]

Woodminster Cafe is great, but most of the things I remember having there all had some lamb component.

I'd love to see a recent report, too, since it's been more than a year since I've been -- I hope they are still doing those Persian dinners.

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Woodminster Cafe
5020 Woodminster Ln, Oakland, CA 94602

[Ruth Lafler]

The Chabot Science Center is up on the top of the Oakland Hills in the middle of a regional park -- there's nothing nearby. You're going to have to figure out your route there -- once we know what areas you'll be passing through, we can give you some more advice. I'll just note that while Montclair Village might look like a good location, there is not and has never been -- in the 40+ years my family has lived there -- a better-than-ho-hum restaurant there. A better bet might be to check out Marzano or Bellanico on Park Blvd.

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Bellanico
4238 Park Blvd, Oakland, CA 94602

Marzano
4214 Park Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94602

[The Dive]

I think Marzano or Bellanico would be good, close spots. I agree that there has been nothing worthwhile in Montclair, although I have heard some good things about the new sushi place, Kakui Sushi.

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Bellanico
4238 Park Blvd, Oakland, CA 94602

Marzano
4214 Park Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94602