Downtown Oakland/Ogawa Square - AT NIGHT?

[CarrieWas218]

I need to host a business dinner after an all-day office meeting near Ogawa Square in Oakland. We are too large of a party to try and get into cars to drive, but are also concerned there might not be any "nice" or even semi-nice places open in the evening to accommodate a group of about ten people.

Ideas?

[10foot5]

Spice Monkey is not too far (Webster between 16th and 17th). They have decent burgers, good salads, a pretty big menu.

I love Disco Volante's burger, but I've only been there at lunch.

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Spice Monkey
1628 Webster St, Oakland, CA

[MagicMarkR]

Another alternative you might try is oakland Chinatown. Peony is as set up for large groups as you can get, and you could even order a group dinner with a variety of dishes.

[Robert Lauriston]

Non-threatening food: B, Pican, Flora, Disco Volante, Pacific Coast Brewing. Faz is supposed to open next week.

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Pacific Coast Brewing Co
906 Washington St, Oakland, CA 94607

Flora
1900 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

B Restaurant & Bar
499 9th St, Oakland, CA 94607

Pican Restaurant
2295 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

Disco Volante
14th St Webster St, Oakland, CA 94612

Faz
1111 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607

[zippo]

If you want drinks afterward, head to Uptown which is on Telegraph Ave in the area near the refurbished Fox Oakland Theatre at 18th Street. Bar Make Westing (with 2 bocce ball courts), Dogwood, Cafe Van Kleef are all within a block or two of each other. Flora, which has been suggested, is at Telegraph and 19th Street.

Here's a link to an article about that area in the New York Times last month:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/...

[peppino]

Does anyone know if dogwood cures their own meat?

[ola]

Did Faz ever open in 1111Broadway (formerly Verbena)?

[Pius Avocado III]

Not yet, but they look like they're pretty close.

[chowfish]

original opening date was 11-11-11. Now it's 12-31-11. They've done a couple of nice private events for us in the lobby space.

[susancinsf]

I just did a business dinner for about 28 people at Faz; Very similar parameters to those in the OP; I chose Faz because it was very close to our meeting space (in City Center), and prices were within our budget. It was a success: service was good and so was the food, with generous portions. We did a fixed, limited menu with a shared appetizer plate, salad, choice of three entrees: a pomegranate chicken, a beef kabob, or the veggie kabob, and a dessert platter. Cost was mid-forties per person all included (tax, tip, service, etc.) I chose the beef kabob; was quite pleased that it came out medium rare, although I thought the veggie kabob looked the most appealing of the three dishes. My kebab came with bland rice pilaf. Dessert platter included cream puffs, so I was happy. Full bar (that was no host) made much of the group happy. Wine list has a good selection by the glass.

They put us in the atrium area off the lobby, which worked well (less noisy than the restaurant proper, and had the feel of a private room even though it is just a separated area of the room). While I didn't think the food was exciting by any means, I'd definitely recommend them for a business function, or for drinks and a snack after work.

[GH1618]

You could go down to the waterfront, where there are a few seafood places: Scott's, Kincaid's, and Il Pescatore. The free shuttle bus runs in the evening on weekends, I think. Also a new place in that area: Bocanova.

[ML8000]

There's also a new place in JLSq, Haven from the Coi and Plum people.

[ML8000]

4 blocks south on Broadway is Old Oakland which has a few places like B restaurant, Trappist and Tamarindo, all pretty nice places. There's also Le Cheval's new place at Clay and 11th, full bar, pretty new. Otherwise 2nd on Flora.

[CarrieWas218]

I thought about Le Cheval, but most of the attendees are from the mid-west and those flavors are just "too bizarre" for them, I'm sad to say...

I think Flora is the best bet as well - thanks, ML and Spatlese!

[Spatlese]

Perhaps Flora? I'd prefer Plum personally, but Grand Avenue's a bit of a schlep on foot from Ogawa Plaza, so that may not fly.