[quote=“Sasha, post:13, topic:44138, full:true”]
We’ll have a car for the first part but I was going to return it and Bart around SF and Oakland. I’d need a compelling reason to hold onto it. Of your list what are the top 2-3 neighborhoods for cute walking, shopping, dining, iyo. That’s all we’d have time for…
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If you don’t have a car, but have access to BART, get off at Rockridge BART station in Oakland. Altho 4th St./Berkeley is fun, it’s not as easy to get to unless you are staying very close in an Air B&B - but there’s always Lyft/Uber.
Rockridge BART is centered on mid-point of College Ave., which spans Berkeley/Oakland. Lots of stores, pubs, restaurants in Rockridge; easy walking (level ground). We suggest for food:
Kitty-corner from BART station: Enjoy Market Hall - several vendors offer fabulous gourmet shopping; note the cafe/restaurant (both named Acre) are okay but average. Walk south and take your choice:
Namastey Patio has excellent Nepalese food (insist upon HOT if you are serious about chilis!). Don’t miss the one fusion dish they have, well-spiced grilled Tandoori Asparagus Mushroom portobello cap. My carnivore husband said it was as good as a steak! Momos and curries are very good, also. It’s 1 block down, and across the street from Market Hall.
Address: 5500 College Ave, Oakland
The very best Milanese Italian food in the entire SFBA is Belotti Ristorante - same side as Market Hall, 2 long blocks down. Michele Belotti is a superb cook and his pasta dishes are outstanding. Don’t miss the Tortino di Spinaci - a spinach mini-souffle with an oozing quail egg yolk baked inside it. The two best pastas are the agnolotti di lidia made with a 3-day beef glace de viande and the tortelli di polenta, ravioli stuffed with polenta. Michele makes his pasta with extra eggs and the texture is supple and toothsome. All of his salads are superb. We usually just skip the entrees; they’re good but it’s his pastas that beat everyone else’s. Only the Locanda local mini-chain and A16 come close to Michele’s pasta dough. Note it’s VERY tiny; make reservations, especially for dinner. We usually go for lunch, same menu.
Belotti Ristorante
5403 College Avenue, Oakland
Belotti full menu, all day
Walking back to BART, go 1-1/2 blocks further for Starter Bakery, one of the best bakeries with excellent kouign amann:
5804 College Ave, Oakland
