Chop Bar-Saturday Brunch

Sunday, April 28, 2013 0 , , , Permalink 0

After a hard workout on Saturday morning I felt the need for a nutritious breakfast. I'd been meaning to check out the brunch at Chop Bar. Imagine my delight when I realized they had bacon bloody marys on the menu. Pretty sure that is the perfect post workout drink. Kismet. They were very busy but the staff was friendly and seated me at the bar right away. They did not even mind giving me a second seat for my imaginary boyfriend. The real boyfriend showed up in time to order this. I think it was a disappointment to the man next to ...

HeyDay

Reflecting on my meal at Heyday, the new restaurant on Spear in downtown SF opened by Chez Panisse Cafe alums, it occurred to me that this page would more accurately be named "Meat Oakland." When I was a kid,the vacations my family took were always road trips. Each morning of those trips, facing endless hours of counting Interstate signs and tired already from begging my parents to let me swim through the slimy flotsam in the hotel pool just one more time, I directed my best whining at the need for breakfast to be at Denny's. It had to be Denny's. ...

Tribune Tavern

Friday, April 12, 2013 0 , , , , Permalink 0

Eat Oakland checked out the Tribune Tavern last night, the newest downtown spot to get your food and drink on. This is another new spot by Chris Pastena of Chop Bar (see Lungomare in Jack London) and Temoor Noor of Grand Tavern. Chop Bar and Grand Tavern are favorites of Eat Oakland so we thought we'd check it out. A little bird told us there are also some Daniel Patterson alums in the bloodline. First the positives: It is a stunning space. It's everything we think a downtown spot should be: big windows, an large curved bar that invites you to ...

Albany Taproom/Grazzy Burger

Friday, March 29, 2013 0 , , , , , Permalink 0

The Albany Taproom is a nice casual addition to the great watering holes on the San Pablo Albany/El Cerrito corridor (others are Club Mallard, Hotsy Totsy, Elevation 66 and, if you care more about getting your swerve on than having high quality beer or mixologist cocktails, the Melodee.) They have a great selection of beer on tap for the beertologist. I know, look it up, there is no good word for the beer knowledgeable. Of which I am no longer one, but it is fun to belly up to a bar where they are excited about what they are selling ...