Alameda, CA Restaurants

Asian Invasion in Alameda Sports Bars

2012-05-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

I find it quite amusing that two Alameda sports bars of Scobies and the Fire Den have recently started to serve Asian BBQ. Scobies advertises Korean BBQ and the Fire Den hangs a banner in front for Vietnamese BBQ. Both of these bars are very American in marketing and decorum. I wonder why the change in direction of the food or it is because the usual bar food wasn't making any money? If Great American BBQ wanted to have a second location in either one of those spots, it would increase sales. The Fernside location of Great American BBQ is a bit of a trek to get to, not to mention the lack of parking around it. I would love to get great barbecue on Park Street.

Spring Festival ~ This Weekend

2012-05-12T14:35:00.000-07:00

I totally forgot about the Spring Festival and I unexpectedly came across it while I was riding my bicycle. I walked the entire street fair and came across the Aunt Betty's Corn Dog stand. It was quite a large portion of a corn dog for $4. The wiener was chicken. I ate it because I was hungry and I picked food with my eyes and not with my stomach. The corn dog was mostly batter. The corn dog was lackluster. There wasn't a lot of flavor and the meat was minimum. The mustard I used to flavor the dog made it taste better. Beef dogs are much to use for corn dogs.

Culina is out of The Marketplace

2012-05-09T20:46:00.000-07:00

Chef and owner of Pappo who also owned Culina has moved out of The Marketplace. The chef has consolidated his operations and is cooking all of his catering gigs from the Pappo kitchen. A new food tenant is renovating the former Culina spot and I cannot wait to see who is coming in next.

Zeytini - Gone, Gone, Gone

2012-05-06T22:36:00.002-07:00

Zeytini Restaurant is no longer in business. I am not sure exactly the reason, but they have closed up the business. I was in the mall the other day and noticed that the sign said closed and the tables and chairs were stacked up inside.

The only restaurant that continues to do well in the mall is Sushi House. Go figure.

Rio California Cafe No Mas

2012-05-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

The Rio California Cafe across the street from the former Navy Yard is no longer in business. The new tenant is Viva Mexico #2. For some reason that space in that location has never done well. Food joints come and go on a yearly basis and no one has seem to figure it out. The large housing development across the street doesn't support businesses on that corner. The only business that has been there through good and bad times is the donut place.

Hot Dog Economics

2012-05-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

I went to Doggy Style over the weekend when I had a hot dog craving. I ordered one Dirty South, which is a chili cheese dog and one Doggyzilla which is a bratwurst with Asian toppings of seaweed, wasabi mayo, cole slaw and teriyaki sauce. The two hot dogs and one can of soda was over $14.00. The hot dogs were tasty, but the Dirty South didn't have a lot of chili and the dog was overwhelmed with too much bun.

For about the same price of $14, I could have purchased four chili cheese dogs (with more chili) from Der Wienerschnitzel down the street along Park. Each of their chili cheese dog is $3.25, a bargain in comparison.

I will have to say that Doggy Style must improve their products if they are going to compete with other establishments who have much lower prices and serves about the same quality of food.

American Oak

2012-04-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Barceluna basically rebranded itself to the new name of American Oak. It just re-opened not too long ago. I am not sure if Alamedans have caught on yet. The new tag line of the restaurant is a Whiskey Bar with Rad Food specializing in wood oven pizzas. I know that great pizzas can be produced from the wood oven because I use to buy pizzas all the time from Lucien when he owned Luciano's. I am sure East End Pizza Co. is watching and waiting.

Poutine

2012-04-22T23:16:00.001-07:00

I love poutine. Poutine is a fancy French Canadian word for french fries with cheese curds and gravy on top. The caveat is that the gravy must be a beef based brown gravy. Americans have picked up on this Canadian dish and is now selling it in different places around the bay area. My first notice of poutine was at the Salt House in San Francisco. Their version was a little too heavy on the salt for me (hence the name of the restaurant). However, I was blown away when I saw it on the menu board at Scolari's. Initially they called it fries with cheese and gravy and somewhere down the line they picked up the Canadian term and now use it.
Scolari's does a decent job on the poutine even though they technically don't use the cheese curds.

The Cafe Jolie Experience

2012-04-19T04:53:00.000-07:00

The former Tillie's diner had a face lift inside and out and it's now a beautiful space. The outdoor seating along Santa Clara is great for sunny days. The interiors have complimentary light blue and cocoa colors with a French inspiration decorum. There are plenty of delicious baked items to select from and it's difficult to not order all of them such as the croissants, cakes, cheesecakes, and beignets. Yummy!

Cafe Jolie has been extremely busy and lines are out the door. I couldn't even get in during a week day lunch period. Thank goodness the business owners brought there ideas and inspirations to the West End because the area certainly needed it.

New Hamburger in Town

2012-03-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

I ate a really delicious hamburger at a restaurant in Alameda that I didn't think could or would put a burger on their menu. Can you guess what place I am referring to? The answer is Pappo. The meat was cooked medium rare and it was juicy. The meat had a lot of flavor and you didn't need all of the toppings such as cheese, bacon, or guacamole because the meat was tasty all on its own.

Watch out Scolari's because Pappo is gaining on your territory in the burger realm. Another positive for Pappo is that eating in their establishment is much more comfortable compared to eating at Scolari's or Lucky 13.

A New Trend in Restaurants ... Becoming an Investor

2012-03-23T18:47:00.000-07:00

With a weak stock market (not including tech stocks), the housing market still depressed, CA bonds are too risky, what is a person to do? Why not become an investor in a restaurant...

A friend of mine, his father decided to become a lifetime member of a local brewery. The guy paid $500 which gets him free beer on certain occasions, he always gets a table, never has to wait in line, and membership allows him generous discounts on food items. Little did the restaurant know that my friend's Dad is originally from Bavaria and can drink beer like water. He is definitely getting his value from the investment.

Daniel Patterson, owner of Coi, Plum, Plum Bar and Haven. Daniel is banking on customers paying $500 upfront to become seat holders of Haven Restaurant. Seat holders will get 20% discounts on food for parties up to four people for the life of the customer or restaurant, whichever ends first. Seat holders will also receive first priority on reservations and supposedly no waiting at the bar.

I've been to Haven, the space is quite nice and it's relaxing. Even though the food can be a bit over worked with complex techniques, the $500 would be well spent. I can see this idea taking off in the diner scene in this town, but not for high end food.

Come and Get Your Juicy Friday Meatballs

2012-03-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

The Friday meatballs they make at Santoro's are delicious! You have to pre-order them or get their early on Fridays because they will sell out every week. The store has a tendency to run out during lunch time when the high school kids order meatball sandwiches for lunch. One Friday I bought the last six chicken meatballs in red sauce. Surprisingly there was no pork, veal or beef inside. I was skeptical at first because when you think of chicken meatballs, flavor does not come to mind. However, these meatballs were juicy, flavorful and fluffy. The homemade sauce from Santoro's was also fantastic. The red sauce was rustic with chunks of tomatoes, fresh herbs and hearty flavors. The sauce definitely added a boost to the meatballs.

Friday meatballs are a great way to kick off any weekend.

Three Phat Bobs in a Row

2012-03-04T14:15:00.001-08:00

After shopping at Alameda Towne Centre and completing all of my tasks, I decided to treat myself to a Pearl's hamburger. I ordered the mini Phat Bob, a 1/4 lb. burger with bacon, onion rings, and Jack Cheese with a side of regular french fries. The burger looked amazing on the food board, but when I took the first few bites, the burger wasn't what I had expected. I thought the flavors were dull and the bacon and onion rings did not add a lot of dimension to the food. The bacon had some fat on it so I had to tear off the grizzle and eat the rest. There was only two onion rings at best, so the flavors were subtle. As for the cheese, I didn't notice it. The burger was edible, but it wasn't memorable. The side of french fries were lackluster. I was eating cardboard with no flavor. I would not order the french fries ever again. I recommend going for the onion rings, garlic or sweet potato fries.

While I was eating my meal inside the restaurant, I was listening to what new customers were ordering. The next two parties also ordered the Phat Bob. This burger was a hit. Was this simply coincidence? I even wondered if they were consuming the same burger that I was because I was not amazed by it.

Leap Day

2012-02-28T22:50:00.000-08:00

We get an extra day in February this month, February 29. Is this a special day since it only occurs once every four years, or should I treat it as any other ordinary day? I am perplexed. Perhaps, I will treat myself to a special lunch instead of eating at my desk. Scolari's, here I come! I think this extra day is for reflecting of how precious time is since work and family is all consuming and we all need a personal time out to relax.

Is the Economy Picking Up?

2012-02-26T22:45:00.000-08:00

Last Friday's Alameda Journal had an article on the new restaurants that are now along Park Street. Dragon Rouge just moved and increased square footage to the former Aroma Restaurant space at the foot of the Park Street bridge. Red Onion just opened on January 12 and their daily operating hours are from 10 am to 10 pm at 1222 Park Street. The restaurant has two other locations in Pinole and Vallejo. The facade has an art deco look and feel with bright colors of mustard and ketchup. The food is American diner food. Monkey King Pub and Grill will open tomorrow in the former Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant (1314 Park Street) next to The Hob Nob. There appears to be a lot of buzz of this restaurant opening. I hope the food is as good as the PR it's receiving? One great aspect of this new place is that it will stay open until 2 am on certain nights. I love late night dining and there is never a good selection in Alameda, especially if you don't want to wait in line at La Penca Azul.

Hopefully these little signs are indicators that the economy is picking up and banks are lending money again. Alameda is a such a small town considering we have two large cities at our front door of San Francisco and Oakland. Alameda needs variety and diversity in the restaurants because it would be a shame for residents having to go off island for a nice meal. In the long run this is bad news for city hall since tax revenue is lost and people are going elsewhere to spend their disposal income.

Ahh for Pizza

2012-02-22T15:45:00.000-08:00

The buzz of East End Pizza Co. has finally caught on. The waiting lines for a pizza are now long. When you call to order a pizza it may take a while because the staff has a tendency to not pick up and you cannot leave an order on the message machine. A few times I have spoken to the owners about paying for call waiting or figuring out another communication mode for customers to order pizza, but they won't bother in having to deal with another piece of equipment. I somewhat understand where they are coming from since they are so few staff working there. However, people like myself get somewhat frustrated when you want something and you cannot get instant gratification.

I believe the owners are doing a psychological experiment on the citizens of Alameda in creating small supply with large demand. My case in point is why East End Pizza Co. can charge $18 for a 14" inch pie.

Offensive Smell

2012-02-17T22:35:00.000-08:00

Went out late Friday night for a scoop of gelato at my favorite ice cream place Tutti Melon. While I was eating my scoop of strawberry cheesecake, a gang of high school kids came in and took over the place. They all ordered deep fried chicken nuggets. The deep fried smell in a dessert shop was horrifying! The smell was disgusting and I had to wonder why Tutti Melon would allow such an atrocity. First of all, Tutti Melon should not feel threatened by Quickly, which makes the sugar filled tapioca beverages, teas and slushes with a hoard of fried foods.

The offensive smell killed my appetite and completely ruined my experience eating inside their shop. The business owner needs to focus on customers having wonderful and relaxing memories of going to Tutti Melon and not worrying about what other businesses are doing down the block. Fried foods in a dessert place is a business killer, not a money maker. I plead to the owner to remedy the problem.

Food for Your Sweetie

2012-02-12T09:27:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is soon approaching. Have you figured out which restaurant will be selected for the special night, or what home made meal will be cooked? I wish the weather was looking better than grey skies and possible rain showers. An outdoor European style cafe in a wide open plaza with scenic views and old architecture surrounding you sounds dreamy. I don't think there is anywhere in Alameda that fits this description. Oh well, one call always think of Paris or Rome.

Amore. Ciao.

My Fascination with Bread

2012-02-02T21:19:00.000-08:00

I never asserted a lot of thought on bread. I enjoy bread, I eat it almost daily. Bread is a food where I underestimate the beauty of it. There is a real science in making truly delicious bread. It is a talent and skill that is not to be taken lightly. When you go to the grocery store, there is plenty to choose from, but it turns into a haze of reading the nutrition and calorie charts.

It is amazing to realize that only two places on the island actually bakes bread, Feel Good Bakery and Aria International Market. As you know I am a true believer in having more bakery businesses on the island. I have been pleading for years to have more bakeries, but these types of businesses do not come. Boniere could not be profitable in their space, Crema never came and advertised for a long time on Park Street. If you are a lover of lavash bread, Aria International Market on Webster Street bakes it. Lavash is a Middle Eastern bread usually consumed at breakfast with feta cheese, fresh tomatoes and basil and slightly toasted. I have eaten my fair share of lavash and I do enjoy eating it. However, I am not sure if my hips enjoy it as much as I do.

I have written a few blog entries of Feel Good Bakery. I do enjoy eating their baked products. Their prices are expensive and I do wonder at times, if the cost is worth it. (Acme Bakery in the Ferry Terminal has lower prices for higher or same quality products.) Thus, when I am really hungry, I take into consideration of the number of items that I buy to control costs. So when I see the the two for one items, I jump on the opportunity.

French Fries

2012-01-25T20:31:00.000-08:00

When I want decent french fries, a few restaurants come to mind instead of fast food joints. Pappo has delicious, thin cut fries that are crispy and flavorful. The Pappo fries are my favorite. The Hob Nob has tasty truffle fries that have melted cheese and truffle oil on top with a two sauces on the side, one is ketchup and the other is mayo with truffle oil and other herbs. Yummy! 1400 has dutch cut fries that are huge! They are basically wedge fries cut in halves or fourths. 1400 has a tendency to over cook them and they are hard to bite into once they get cool. If you are in a hurry, Nation's Burgers has the best fries going. The fries are soft and tender in the middle and mid-sized, not too skinny and not too thick.

Another trend that I found interesting that is coming back are the curly fries with a spicy coating. Both Angela's and The Hob Nob have their pepper spiced curly fries. The curly fry was made popular two decades ago by Jack in the Box. I guess fashion and food can always make a come back.

Weekend Brunch

2012-01-19T20:26:00.000-08:00

Weekend breakfasts/brunches in Alameda is the only meal that is bountiful in supply. The long lines in front of the diners are a signal that there is still life in this small town. Downtown Alameda favorites are: Jim's Place, Ole's Waffles, La Penca Azul and Pappo. Central Alameda has Marti's Place and Blue Dot, whereas the West End has Wescafe, East Ocean, Pier 29, Rio's and 1400. Even though there are plenty of places to eat, my all time favorite is Mona's Table in Fernside. The menu changes on a monthly basis and the dishes are creative, innovative and not your typical pancakes, eggs and waffles. I am not sure if a lot of people know about Mona's because they don't have the long lines. I have waited for 20 to 30 minutes for a table at Ole's or Jim's.

The Hob Nob

2012-01-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

My new late night hang out place is the Hob Nob. I usually go there after a movie or hanging out on Park Street. What I enjoy about this place is that you can order small plates or entrees - dependent upon my mood and appetite. My favorites are the fish and chips, the truffle fries, the wedge salad, spaghetti and meatballs and their soups. The food is decent and I am happy that the chef actually cares about the food that comes out of her kitchen.

My old default was the BBQ place from the Frog and the Fiddle, but the chef left the premise. I don't know what happened to him?

Adios Barceluna

2012-01-08T10:02:00.000-08:00

Again, the weak economy has struck another local restaurant. This time it is Barceluna. The sign is down and the building is sparse. This is not a good sign for the city or for the citizens of Alameda. The closing is the first of the year and I hope this is not a trend that will continue for 2012.

Open, Open, Open

2012-01-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

Still waiting for Cafe Jolie on Webster Street to open. The signs are up and the iron work is around the building, but I don't see any clear indication of when this place will open for business. I was jazzed about having a specialty coffee house on the island.

The Thai Place down the street is transferring ownership. I wonder if the cooks in the kitchen will change?

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T20:27:00.000-08:00

I was strolling down Park Street yesterday evening looking for a restaurant to eat at. Even though most offices were closed due to the holiday, I noticed most restaurants were also closed. Of course the Chinese restaurants and fast food joints were open, but I was not hungry for these types of foods. After going back and forth two times along Park, the most decent place was Angela's and decided to have dinner there. If you go between 4 pm to 6 pm on weekdays, the Early Bird Menu is a steal for $15 per person for a three course meal. I had a Caesar salad, grilled salmon and chocolate mousse. The courses were of decent portions and I was full by the time dessert came around. As always, the food at Angela's is palatable. The food is simple and safe.