Recommended Restaurants:
Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe - 1806 Telegraph Avenue - (510) 251-9400 - www.iamrudy.com
Rudy's second location is now open on 18th and Telegraph next to the historic Fox Theater in the center of Oakland's Uptown district. Classic American diner fare prepared by with seasonally fresh, often locally sourced ingredients. This location features 120 seats, full service bar, VIP catering, and food concessions to the Fox theater's guests insuring that Rudy's literally Can't Fail. Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe has been open since 2002 and was born from our desire to create a restaurant where people of all walks of life can feel welcome and at home, eat honest, good, nutritional food at affordable prices in an atmosphere of fun and creativity. Rudy's has received many accolades and awards ranging from television to press to the hard core Rudy Fan's who proudly wear their Rudy's tattoos.
Flora - 1900 Telegraph Avenue - (510) 286-0100 - www.floraoakland.com
Just across the street from the Fox Theater, Flora's classic Californian food has a modern sensibility. The menu is straightforward, but far from boring, as a few unusual combinations and ingredients raise the interest level. The meticulously stirred and shaken cocktails add a rhythmic beat to the symphony of happy dinner chatter.
Xolo Taqueria - 1916 Telegraph Avenue - (510) 986-0151 - www.xolotaqueria.com
Xolo Taqueria is Restaurante Dona Tomas' new "mission-style" taqueria located in downtown Oakland across the street from the historic Fox Theatre. Xolo is a casual, cool and kitschy taqueria featuring a simple menu of unusual and delicious tacos and burritos plus a few other items like the "Danger Dog", a Mexican-style bacon wrapped hotdog, vegan pozole and hot bite-size churros. Beer and wine is served along with house made horchata and seasonal aguas frescas.
HIBISCUS - 1745 San Pablo Avenue - (510) 444-2626 - www.hibiscusoakland.com
HIBISCUS serves organic Creole Caribbean dishes from the kitchen of exec chef Sarah Kirnon. You can expect Pan-Caribbean influences from Barbados to New Orleans and from Jamaica to Martinique. The menu changes according to seasonal ingredients but the Spicy Crab and Grits are always a hit. There is also a lounge and bar for a unique rum inspired cocktail and a flavorful appetizer.
Luka's Taproom & Lounge - 2221 Broadway - (510) 451-4677 - www.lukasoakland.com
Luka's menu inspiration comes from the brasseries of France and Belgium. In fact, they've taken to calling their style of cuisine "California Brasserie," which basically means that they've taken traditional French & Belgian brasserie dishes such as oysters, mussels, frites , sausages and cured meats, and put them together in a way that reflects the culinary sensibilities of the Bay Area.
Picán - 2295 Broadway, at 23rd - (510) 834.1000 - www.picanrestaurant.com
Tantalizing aromas, rich tastes, stimulating colors, layered textures, enveloping sounds. The tradition of the South. The sophistication of California cuisine. Vibrant cosmopolitan energy. Full-service bar and lounge with Southern Twists and classic standards, alongside the most comprehensive Bourbon selection in the Bay Area.
Ozumo - 2251 Broadway - (510) 286-9866 - www.ozumo.com
This San Francisco favorite has moved across the bay, just a few blocks from the Fox. Ozumo offers a well-rounded list of Japanese specialties: tempura, grilled items, sushi and sashimi. Aside from the expected, the kitchen comes up with more unusual fare such as herb-marinated scallops with a raspberry vinaigrette and veal sauce, or grilled lobster with a dashi-citrus sauce.
Home of Chicken and Waffles - 444 Embarcadero West - (510) 836-4446 - www.hcwchickenandwaffles.com
Immensely popular Oakland soul food hotspot Home of Chicken and Waffles (HCW) opened its doors in May 2004. From residents of the neighborhood’s luxury lofts to club-goers looking for a delicious way to end their night, Home of Chicken and Waffles is a hands-down favorite. Originally a franchise of Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles, the family-owned HCW implemented an upscale thematic flair and re-branded itself with a 60’s diner image.
Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill - 1520 Lakeside Drive - (510) 208.5253 - www.thelakechalet.com
The people that rocked San Francisco with the beloved Beach and Park Chalets are have opened their follow-up in Oakland -- the Lake Chalet, a 425-seat, multimillion dollar seafood behemoth in Lake Merritt's newly renovated boathouse. The seriously classed-up premises are awash in painted blue wood, blackened steel, and mahogany, and are made up of several distinct dining zones including two fireplaced private eating rooms, an 80-foot marble bar that looks out at the lake, and a dockside patio.
Plum - 2214 Broadway - (510) 444-7586 - www.plumoakland.com
Just five blocks north of the Fox Theater, Plum is a sophisticated urban restaurant in Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood. The menu is a mix of creative dishes made with the highest quality local ingredients. Open until 1 am, it's the perfect late night spot.
Awake Café - 414 14th Street @ Broadway - (510) 836-2058 - www.awakencafe.com
Open 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm on concert nights at the Fox Theater, as well as 8 am to 11 am Monday through Friday. Awaken Cafe is an award-winning espresso cart in the heart of Downtown Oakland just two blocks from the Fox Theater. Our full cafe and beer/wine bar is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2011.
Mama's Vietnamese Restaurant - 365 19th Street - (510) 251-8878
Mama's Vietnamese Restaurant is a fine diner, located in one of the area's most pleasant settings and is known for its delightful staff and superb cuisine. The menu at Mama's Vietnamese Restaurant features a wide array of great selections, made from only the freshest and highest quality ingredients, with something sure to please every member of your group. Mama's Vietnamese Restaurant has established itself as one of the area's favorite culinary destinations and is sure to offer you a pleasant and unique dining experience every time you visit.
Spice Monkey - 1628 Webster Street - (510) 268-0170 - www.spicemonkeycafe.com
Spice Monkey Restaurant in Oakland can be best described as a spice house that combines several world flavors and seasonings to create unique mouth watering dishes. With dry fresh herbs they create their own signature spice blends, sauces and marinades for each dish. They add their own creative twist to produce massive flavors that cannot be found elsewhere. Throughout the year they travel the world to taste new dishes, test and recreate them in their kitchen then add wonderful new creations to their menu every summer.
Pho 84 - 354 17th Street - (510) 832-1338 - www.pho84.com
Popular with the local lunch crowd, who line up to get their “pho fix” in huge steaming bowls of the namesake dish, this Oakland favorite is more relaxed at dinner and on weekends, when you can order with less jostling and rubbing elbows; the extensive menu of other Vietnamese vittles, including great rice and noodle dishes with just the right amount of spice. At an inexpensive price and combining the finest and freshest ingredients with a delicate balance of spices, Pho 84 brings you the finest in Vietnamese cuisine.
Cafe Madrid - 2001 Broadway - (510) 271-0001 - www.cafemadrid.org
An authentic Spanish sandwich bar serving its famous Bocadillos alongside items ranging from gazpacho to tortilla Española. The Bocadillos here are resolutely hefty and sandwichlike: split lengths of baguette layered with Spanish-style meats, cheeses, and condiments, and served either warm or cold.
Le Cheval - 1007 Clay Street - (510) 763-8495 - www.lecheval.com
East Bay Express Readers' Choice for Best Vietnamese/Southeast Asian for 21 years running, Le Cheval's style incorporates the French, Chinese and Southeast Asian cooking concepts of preparing wholesome, nutritious and special dishes that emphasize quality with quantity.
Mua - 2442a Webster Street - (510) 238-1100 - www.muaoakland.com
The cozy bar opens to an airy two-story dining area full of eclectic art that can be transformed into a dance floor or performance space as needed. The upstairs is intimate and lounge-like. The menu focuses on international comfort food such as BBQ pork buns, butternut squash soup, lamb tagine with couscous, and fried chicken.
B Restaurant & Bar - 499 Ninth Street - (510) 251-8770 – www.boakland.com
B Restaurant & Bar is a short walk from the Fox Theater down the tree-lined streets of Oakland’s downtown Historic District. In this neighborhood restaurant, you will enjoy a seasonal California menu at its best, based on ingredients straight from local farms and markets. The wood-burning oven turns out burrata and roasted fennel pizzas and finishes off Fulton Valley roasted chicken with artichokes. On a warm summer night, enjoy outside dining on the bricked patio along the quaint historic streets of downtown.
Bakesale Betty - 5098 Telegraph Avenue - (510) 985-1213 – www.bakesalebetty.com
Bakesale Betty was created by Australian cook, Alison Barakat, whose passion for food and regard for using the best ingredients make her unique cakes and sweets divine. That line around the corner outside of Bakesale Betty every day at lunchtime? That’s for their famous fried chicken sandwiches, with buttermilk-fried chicken topped with a generous helping of slaw. Also serving chicken pot pie and brisket, Bakesale Betty is well worth the wait in line, which moves surprisingly fast.
Dogwood - 1644 Telegraph Avenue - (510) 444-6669 – www.bardogwood.com
Bars generally do one thing well. Introducing Dogwood, an intimate spirits-driven meat sanctuary specializing in cocktails and charcuterie by the pound, opening this weekend in Uptown. Since the sleek, marble-topped deli counter is all the way in the back, it makes sense to start with some cocktails like a classic martini or maybe the citrusy, whiskey-centric Stone’s Throw before zeroing in on a few pounds of salami, prosciutto and bacon. You know, the important food groups.
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