Other unique Oakland dining destinations
Commis
Chef James Syhabout earned two Michelin Stars for his inspired New American dinner salon showcasing eight-course prix fixe feasts. (3859 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, (510) 653-3902, www.commisrestaurant.com) Lois the Pie Queen
The Pepto pink and mint green café sure isn’t fancy, yet the wall of fan photos shows how smitten its customers are for outrageously yummy chicken and waffles, loaded burgers, Sunday special dinners like smothered steak and pies, glorious pies.
(851 60th St., Oakland, (510) 658-5616, http://bit.ly/2sCOHBM) Alamar Kitchen & Bar
Order at the counter, grab a table and dig into eclectic plates like a southern braised oxtail bowl, ahi poke, spicy garlic soy noodles, crab slider melts or the rich, romesco butter-dunked seafood boil.
(100 Grand Ave., Oakland, (510) 9077555, www.alamaroakland.com) Brown Sugar Kitchen
It’s upscale ingredient driven soul food with mouthwatering favorites, including Fulton Valley jerk chicken, Creole barbecue shrimp over basmati rice and baby spinach and brown sugar pineapple glazed barbecue baby back ribs. (2534 Mandela Parkway, Oakland, (510) 8397685, www.brownsugar kitchen.com) Shandong
All the standard Chinese dishes are superior, but locals crowd in especially for superb handmade dumplings — you can see the work being done in the tiny open kitchen.
(328 10th St., Oakland, (510) 839-2299, www.sd.222.to) Luka’s Taproom & Bar
The hip, boisterous spot is part late-night dance club and part Cal-American-French eatery romping with plates such as fried chicken, fancy mac-ncheese and Mussels Mariniere swimming in white wine, garlic and butter.
(2221 Broadway, Oakland, (510) 451-4677, www.lukasoakland.com) Pizzaiolo
Chef-owner Charlie Hallowell prints a new menu each day, boasting Cal-Med sensations such as California King salmon crudo with serpent cucumbers, ginger and flowering cilantro, or the stars, pizzas laden with delicacies like the potato, pancetta, fontina and rosemary combo. (5008 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, (510) 652-4888, www.pizzaiolo oakland.com) Doña Tomás Lively, cheerful and authentic with regional ingredients like huitlacoche and verdolagas, the villa style cantina beckons with elegant signatures such as Hoffman Gamebird’s chicken and cheese enchiladas draped in Oaxacan mole with grilled asparagus and puréed black beans.
(5004 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, (510) 450-0522, www.donatomas.com) Café Colucci
Ethiopian cooking shines with imported spices such as berbere chile, mitmita chileherb mix and senafitch mustard for delectable dishes including traditional spicy doro wat chicken and egg stew scooped up with spongy injera bread. (6427 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, (510) 601-7999, www.cafecolucci.com.)