Bay Area's Black Restaurant Week rolls out a delicious list of specials
Lobster tacos, pork chops, oxtails, curried goat, crawfish, loaded mac and cheese — you know you're going to be eating well at Black Restaurant Week.
This year, the national event is being celebrated in the Bay by dozens of restaurants, bakeries, pop-ups, food trucks and virtual kitchens. It runs from now through May 28.
According to the Atlanta-based founders, “The odds are continuously stacked against Blackowned culinary businesses and their survival is still in jeopardy as they face constant economic downturns due to recovering from the pandemic while currently coping with inflation.”
Here is a sampling of what Black-owned restaurants in the Bay are preparing. For the full list of participants, check out blackrestaurantweeks.com/bay-areablack-restaurant-week:
ALAMAR KITCHEN (OAKLAND) >> Chef Nelson German has designed a $45 multi-course menu that features entree choices of SlowRoasted Pernil, a Dominican pork
shoulder and kidney bean stew; Gulf Shrimp Criolla with rice grits, plantains, peppadew peppers and a sherry-butter sauce; or Veggie Sancocho with dirty island rice, plantains, corn, sweet potatoes, okra and yucca.
GOLDEN SAFARI (HAYWARD) >> Specials include Spicy African Beef Suya (can be made vegetarian) for $12.99; Grilled Whole-Fish Platter with fried plantains ($19.99); and Fufu and Egusi (green vegetable and melon soup with peppers) for $16.99.
COCOBREEZE CARIBBEAN (OAKLAND) >> Prix-fixe four-course meal for two, with appetizers, drinks and desserts for $65, includes choices such as Braised Oxtails, Jerk Salmon, Fried Escovitch Fish, Curry Goat and spicy Creole Pineapple Chicken.
ISLAND TASTE CARIBBEAN GRILL (SAN JOSE) >> Enjoy discounts on dishes such as Bolt, the jerk chicken entree named after the famous runner ($14), served with plantains, rice and peas and pickled salad; Kingston, curried goat ($16), served with sides; and Rasta Pasta, with bell peppers, tomatoes and garlic in a coconut cream sauce ($12), with salad.
BOUG CALI (SAN FRANCISCO) >> Among the specials are a Fried Catfish Sandwich, with black-eyed peas and a watermelon lemonade ($20); Smoked Shrimp Gumbo, with Caesar salad and a lavender lemonade ($25); and Lobster Tacos, with black-eyed peas and a watermelon lemonade ($23).
OKO TRIBUNE (OAKLAND) >> Highlights of deals include “Shrimp Ceviche Negro” ($14); House-made Andouille Sausage with pretzel
knot, pimento beer cheese and house pickles ($14); and Bone-in Pork Chop with Sea Island red peas, sorrel, mushrooms and gooseberry chimichurri ($32).
Peninsula Restaurant Week offers deals for breakfast, lunch, dinner
The Peninsula Restaurant Week runs from this Friday, May 19, through Saturday, May 27, with businesses all up and down the Peninsula enticing food lovers with the opportunity to save money while discovering new places and revisiting old favorites.
About 90 restaurants are expected to participate, according to the website. Not all restaurants have posted their specials; keep checking back for updates. Among the highlights we found:
YAMA SUSHI (BELMONT) >> Sushi Boat with 32 assorted rolls, sashimi and nigiri for $49.99 and a Bento Box Dinner for for two, served with soup and salad, for $36.99.
HOBEE'S (SUNNYVALE, MOUNTAIN VIEW, PALO ALTO, REDWOOD SHORES) >> Dulce de Leche French Toast for $10 — a discount of nearly 50% — any day until 10 a.m.
RISTORANTE CARPACCIO (MENLO PARK) >> A $25 deal with salad, minestrone and housemade gnocchi with Bolognese or vodka sauce.
CREOLA BISTRO (SAN CARLOS) >> Four courses for $55, with options such as Oyster Brochette, St. Charles Catfish and Wild Mushroom Jambalaya.
7-MILE HOUSE (BRISBANE) >> Three-course meal for $45, with selections including Pork Adobo, Brazilian Fish Chowder and Ube Cheesecake.
ASIAN BOX (BURLINGAME, PALO ALTO) >> Shrimp Roll Salad, Pork Spring Roll and house-made drink for $19.99.
FATTORIA E MARE (HALF MOON BAY) >> A $75 prix fixe special with four courses: appetizer, pasta (Artichoke Tortellini or Pasta Bolognese), entree (New York Steak or King Salmon with sides), and dessert.
LOCAL UNION 271 (PALO ALTO) >> Threecourse lunches or dinners with beverage for $29 and $49, respectively, and choices such as Blackened Prawns Taco Platter and Fresh Local Black Cod.
AMOURA (SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO) >> Twocourse lunch for $20 and a family-style $30-per-person dinner, with options like Pomegranate-Braised Lamb Shoulder, Roasted Salmon with Sumac, plus mezze and dips.
COUPA CAFE (LOS ALTOS, PALO ALTO, STANFORD, REDWOOD CITY) >> All paninis $11, including Carne Mechada, Chicken Chipotle and Bacon Club. Use promo code RESTAURANTWEEK if ordering online.
ST. STEPHENS GREEN (MOUNTAIN VIEW) AND ALHAMBRA IRISH HOUSE (REDWOOD CITY) >> Three courses for $30 with selections such as Sausage and Colcannon, Shepherd's Pie and Bailey's Bread Pudding.
CENTRAL PARK BISTRO (SAN MATEO) >> Three-course deal for $50 features options like Baby Back Ribs with sides, Pasta with Duck Ragout and Beignets.
ADRESTIA (SUNNYVALE) >> $20 breakfast, $30 lunch (Wagyu burger) and $50 dinner (half Petaluma chicken with sides and glass of pinot noir). MAZZETTI'S BAKERY (PACIFICA) >> Two cake slices and two coffees for $10.
WILDSEED (PALO ALTO) >> Two-course lunch for $20 and three-course dinner for $40, with options such as mushroom-spinach Wildseed Burger, Curried Cauliflower and “Neatball” Masala.
DETAILS >> Peninsula Restaurant Week is presented by Embarcadero Media and local partners, including chambers of commerce. To find deals, go to www. peninsularestaurantweek.com and click on the blue “special” link near each restaurant's name.