You could also probably feast at burdell for $150/head, if modern southern x Californian food sounds appealing.
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$700 because there are 4 of us
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Then $700 will not cover it as there is 18% service fee and I assume you also want to drink something beside water
(And yes, as others have mentioned - if you want to have a high-end dinner in that area Commis is much better)
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I’m convinced. We will do the alc menu at the cafe or none at all. I got caught up in the moment.
I agree about soi 4. It’s ok. I wouldn’t send anyone there.
I am also luke warm on farmhouse kitchen we have one here in Menlo park and while the food is above average it’s not remotely in rotation. We have a smaller more homey northern thai place that gets my business. I would go to farmhouse before soi 4 for sure.
In oakland i would not aim thai. Italian (new northern), brewery, ethiopian, korean, viet, upmarket central american, tacos, late night Chinese , “other”. Eg, hawker fare, rip, would be in the “other” category. Oakland is also known for one off stand outs like Junes or fikscue.
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Yes.
Cp one goes to a bit more for the past than the present. The present is good, but so many places have gone further over the decades commis is a great example, or crenn, if you like a challenge.
For me the history of cp was more about the upstairs too. In the early 90s when i lived in the East Bay and started to have income, upstairs was the place to have the (then) inimitable pizza and something interesting that expanded my mind, every few months. downstairs i did literally once.
Having upstairs lunch would even press the nostalgia button harder, for me.
What about the Inner Richmond? That’s my favorite area for mom and pop places, especially if you like Asian food. Breadbelly, Lung Fung Bakery, Sichuan Tasty, Lokma, Arsicault, Burma Superstar, plus lots of take out dim sum and take out char siu places along Clement Street where locals shop. Also on Clement are Green Apple Books and Fleet Wood for souvenirs. On the same block, Kamei Housewares is fun to pop into for whatever you need in the kitchen.
You could stay in the Presidio, which is very close by and rent e-bikes to explore the area. (You can also rent regular bikes at Sports Basement). Presidio Tunnel Tops is great for a stroll (the playground is amazing if you have kids, but it’s also just a gorgeous area with native plants). Within the Presidio, there are many hikes, and the views from Immigrant Point Overlook are stunning. You can check out the Andy Goldworthy Spire and Woodline, which are fun. The sprawling green lawn in the Presidio with the big red chairs is a great place for a picnic. You could pick up take out dim sum from Clement Street area and then feast on the lawn.
A short Uber ride away from here would be the 16th Ave Tiled Steps, which are beautiful.
In Berkeley, I’d second brunch at Tanzie’s, currently my favorite place in the Bay Area for brunch. If you go on a week day, waits are not long. (Also love it for dinner, but the flavors are funkier, as they feature less typical Thai dishes. The hung lei beef cheeks are amazing but pricy.) Also love Lulu on Solano Ave, and Solano could be a fun, low key stroll. You could pop into Lavender Bakery, Sichuan Style or Korean Superette patio for lunch, Flowerland for coffee/local vibes/gorgeous plants, Foxglove and other little boutiques. Closer to campus, our family loves Hui Lau Shan for the best mango ice desserts. You could do some hiking on the Nimitz Trail in Tilden Park or, steeper, Stonewall-Panoramic Trail near the Claremont, then get a cheap but easy dinner at Marugame Udon or one of the many hot pot places that have popped up around Berkeley campus, followed by Hui Lau Shan. Great China near campus is also reliable for Chinese classics, including Peking Duck, or you could try the funkier, spicier flavors of Hunan food at Easterly. Or you could venture a little further for Ethiopian. We love the peaceful outdoor patio at Barcote.
Finally, I’d pop over to Standard Fare for brunch/lunch and make sure to get a mochi muffin next door at Third Culture. Shopping on Fourth Street is 5 minutes away by Uber/Lyft. In general, if you won’t have your car rental, I’d say you would need an Uber/Lyft to get around in Berkeley, but all of the rides would be short.
In Oakland, the area around Lake Merritt has Arizmendi’s, Bake Sum, Grand Lake Kitchen, Oaktown Spice Shop, which might be worth a stop. (Their Umami salt is delicious.) Saturday morning would the most vibrant with the Grand Lake Farmers’ Market. If you want tacos, you could BART from Lake Merritt to Fruitvale for a quick stop at La Grana Fish close to the BART station or a little further down, El Paisa.
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A post was merged into an existing topic: 2025 Northern and Central California Food News and Journalism [SF Bay Area, Northern California, Central California, Northern Nevada]
