One night I was too tired to heat the grill and cook dinner. I opened the refrigerator about six times trying to decide what to make or how to concoct a meal that was quick. With all of the fuss wasted on making a decision, it was easier to buy food instead. The choice was barbecue from from Everett and Jones on Webster Street. I ordered three small plates to get a wide variety of food without over eating. The food selections were barbecue chicken, ribs and pulled pork with medium heat sauce. The sides were corn bread, brown beans and macaroni and cheese.
The barbecue sauce was the same for all of the meats. It was tasty with a little bit of heat and a smokey essence to it. As for the main entrees, the barbecue chicken was moist and tender, it was the best meat out of the three. The ribs were also good, but a bit overcooked. The edges of the meat were dry and crunchy in texture. The flavor of the ribs were tasty and satisfying and easy to release from the bone. The pulled pork meat had problems. The meat was extremely overcooked and dry. Secondly, pulled pork is either pulled away from the bone by manual labor or by using a fork. The meat in this case was cut away from the rib with a knife and roughly sliced. I do not recommend the pulled pork due to the dryness of the meat. The sauce helped in giving moisture to the meat, but the meat was tough. Hands down, Chef Edwards in Oakland doesn't have anything to be concerned with his Piggly Wiggly Sandwich; there is no competition here. His pulled pork sandwiches are what dreams are made of.
The sides can compliment a meal if you choose them wisely. The brown beans were delicious, smokey in flavor with a slight sweetness to them without being too thick or runny. The corn bread was dry and crumbled easily. There wasn't a lot of moisture in the corn bread which was probably why it crumbled into thousands of little crumbs. The macaroni and cheese was sad. The cheese flavor was bland, the look of the dish was uninspiring and it was a weak side. It would have been a safer bet to choose corn on the cob instead.
The Webster Street location is better than their small kitchen inside Scobies Bar and Grill. I know I will come here again, but choose different sides and taste other meat options. I do like my extra helpings of barbecue.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Closed Doors
As I casually drove back to Alameda one day, I noticed a construction crew was working at the Le Cafe Restaurant on Webster Street. What puzzled me about the renovation was that all of the restaurant signage was removed. The front door sign that listed the hours was gone. There wasn't a "Temporary Closure Due to Renovation" sign. The exterior of only the restaurant, not the entire building, was being worked on. It was not a promising indication that the restaurant was able to survive the recession. I will have to closely monitor this location to see if a new owner has taken over the space. Stay tuned for more details.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Tapas
Tapas are great because the dishes are served in small portions and a table is able to consume a wide variety of food. Tapas were a smashing hit in the mid to late 1990s and have kept their panache in the bay area. Alameda has two tapas restaurants: Barceluna and Zen. Interestingly enough, Barceluna and Zen are just steps from each other. Both are located on Santa Clara Avenue, west of Park Street.
If you read my blog entry dated on March 8, 2009, Zen was definitely off on my radar. I then decided to give Zen another try and went there on a weekday night. This time, the atmosphere and service was a complete 180 compared to the previous encounter. I believe the owner was working that evening and greeted my party as soon as we entered the door. A major relief when I saw someone take care of us in front of the house. The menu was a long list of Asian fusion tapas, entrees and desserts. My table ordered about six different small plates. We ordered gyoza which is basically the Japanese term for potsticker. The won ton skin was crisp, not chewy, and the filing was pork and vegetable. The sauce for the gyoza was a light soy sauce with a slight hint of daikon. Gyoza was a great start to begin a meal. Agedashi with bonito flakes was another delicious dish. I am a huge fan of tofu, I believe everyone should eat tofu on a daily basis. The tofu was dry and firm which means the oil in the pan was really hot. The bonito flakes added another fish dimension to the dish while the sauce was slightly sweet. It was overall a tasty and healthy plate. One of the signature dishes of the restaurant is the sweet potato and taro chips. We had to definitely try it since it was recommended by the wait staff. The chips came with a chipoltle and mayonnaise sauce. When the fish and chips dish came out, I was really excited. I love fish and chips. The fish was cooked well, not overdone and not limp. The chips appeared amazing, but ended up being a disappointment. There was not a lot of flavor coming from the sweet potato or taro root. The chips were deep fried, battered and cut into wedges, and the sauce helped bring some flavor and moisture. The fries overall, were a miss for me. An interesting dish that was selected that evening was the kim chee fried rice. Kim chee is fermented cabbage and can be spicy. The rice dish was great in flavor and had some heat to it, but not scorching hot. The beef slices in the rice made the dish, it brought depth and texture in a fantastic way. In summary, I am glad that I did not completely write off Zen since the meal was great and the service was much improved. I would recommend coming to this restaurant with a reservation and knowing the manager or owner is working.
Barceluna is both old and new to Alameda. The previous location was at the old Alameda Theatre before the the movie house was in operation. The restaurant was forced to close and now it has relocated to Santa Clara Avenue at the old Luciano's space. The food is geared towards Spanish tapas, or small plates. The tapas menu changes on a monthly basis, so it always a welcoming surprise to read what is on the menu. The Tuna Luna tapa was fresh ahi tuna with tofu, cucumber and avocado chunks mixed in a spicy sauce. The presentation was nice in a martini glass and with a giant tortilla chip. The flavors, however were a miss. There wasn't enough tuna for my liking and the dish was mainly filling. The tofu did not add any flavor and at times looked like avocado to me. The ahi was over cooked and other ingredients masked the natural taste of the tuna. The mushrooms tapa was decent. The dish was cooked mushrooms with a nice smokey flavor. The skirt steak on top of a crostini tapa sounded great on the menu, but it was a bit difficult to eat. The steak was a bit chewy and slightly tough and did not tear easily once you bit into the meat. The flavor of the beef was good, but I wish the meat was more tender. The pomme frites were yummy and a good sized dish. The fries were crunchy and hot, served with a mayonnaise and ketchup dipping sauce. Another time I had their pulled pork mini sandwiches. The meat was tasty and tender with smoky flavors, moistened in a rich BBQ sauce. As for dessert, the menu is very minimal. The only dessert worth tasting is their deep fried dessert.
If you read my blog entry dated on March 8, 2009, Zen was definitely off on my radar. I then decided to give Zen another try and went there on a weekday night. This time, the atmosphere and service was a complete 180 compared to the previous encounter. I believe the owner was working that evening and greeted my party as soon as we entered the door. A major relief when I saw someone take care of us in front of the house. The menu was a long list of Asian fusion tapas, entrees and desserts. My table ordered about six different small plates. We ordered gyoza which is basically the Japanese term for potsticker. The won ton skin was crisp, not chewy, and the filing was pork and vegetable. The sauce for the gyoza was a light soy sauce with a slight hint of daikon. Gyoza was a great start to begin a meal. Agedashi with bonito flakes was another delicious dish. I am a huge fan of tofu, I believe everyone should eat tofu on a daily basis. The tofu was dry and firm which means the oil in the pan was really hot. The bonito flakes added another fish dimension to the dish while the sauce was slightly sweet. It was overall a tasty and healthy plate. One of the signature dishes of the restaurant is the sweet potato and taro chips. We had to definitely try it since it was recommended by the wait staff. The chips came with a chipoltle and mayonnaise sauce. When the fish and chips dish came out, I was really excited. I love fish and chips. The fish was cooked well, not overdone and not limp. The chips appeared amazing, but ended up being a disappointment. There was not a lot of flavor coming from the sweet potato or taro root. The chips were deep fried, battered and cut into wedges, and the sauce helped bring some flavor and moisture. The fries overall, were a miss for me. An interesting dish that was selected that evening was the kim chee fried rice. Kim chee is fermented cabbage and can be spicy. The rice dish was great in flavor and had some heat to it, but not scorching hot. The beef slices in the rice made the dish, it brought depth and texture in a fantastic way. In summary, I am glad that I did not completely write off Zen since the meal was great and the service was much improved. I would recommend coming to this restaurant with a reservation and knowing the manager or owner is working.
Barceluna is both old and new to Alameda. The previous location was at the old Alameda Theatre before the the movie house was in operation. The restaurant was forced to close and now it has relocated to Santa Clara Avenue at the old Luciano's space. The food is geared towards Spanish tapas, or small plates. The tapas menu changes on a monthly basis, so it always a welcoming surprise to read what is on the menu. The Tuna Luna tapa was fresh ahi tuna with tofu, cucumber and avocado chunks mixed in a spicy sauce. The presentation was nice in a martini glass and with a giant tortilla chip. The flavors, however were a miss. There wasn't enough tuna for my liking and the dish was mainly filling. The tofu did not add any flavor and at times looked like avocado to me. The ahi was over cooked and other ingredients masked the natural taste of the tuna. The mushrooms tapa was decent. The dish was cooked mushrooms with a nice smokey flavor. The skirt steak on top of a crostini tapa sounded great on the menu, but it was a bit difficult to eat. The steak was a bit chewy and slightly tough and did not tear easily once you bit into the meat. The flavor of the beef was good, but I wish the meat was more tender. The pomme frites were yummy and a good sized dish. The fries were crunchy and hot, served with a mayonnaise and ketchup dipping sauce. Another time I had their pulled pork mini sandwiches. The meat was tasty and tender with smoky flavors, moistened in a rich BBQ sauce. As for dessert, the menu is very minimal. The only dessert worth tasting is their deep fried dessert.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Walked Out
It was a busy Friday night in the small town of Alameda. The rained finally stopped after two weeks of wet weather. People were out and about in downtown Alameda. I walked into Zen Restaurant on Santa Clara Avenue hoping for a great dinner. The restaurant was full of customers. The interiors were Asian inspired with paper lantern lights hanging down from the ceiling. The Buddha statue in the front as you walk into the establishment sets the zen like tone of the room. I also thought the wall separator was modern with an Asian twist. It was a great piece to distinguish the waiting area and the dining area.
As I entered the restaurant, no one greeted our party. I waited for a good fifteen minutes and still no one on the floor acknowledged us. I noticed two open tables which took ten minutes to clean, one was a table for two and the other was a table for four. I thought after waiting for twenty minutes that at least a host or hostess would approach the people waiting at the front of the house. Finally, the party of three ahead of me flagged a waiter inquiring about the open table for four. Unfortunately, the waiter had no indication on how long the wait would be. Another staff person then gave the table of four to a party of two who were sitting at the bar. I am not sure why this rookie mistake was made since a table for two was still available. The party ahead of me of course was upset when they noticed the table mix up.
A party of two then came in after our group. No one of the restaurant greeted them. These two people finally got fed up and left. Minutes later a group of six entered the restaurant who claimed they had a reservation. There was not a table available for their group.
A member of my party then yelled out loud again to the waiter on how long it would take for a party of two. The wait staff didn't know. After twenty five minutes of waiting and not being noticed, acknowledged or greeted, my friend and I decided to walk out. The restaurant had poor communications skills and lacked front of the house management. When staff do not make a connection with their customers, the restaurant will lose money regardless how good the food tastes. This experience was a big disappointment since the food smelled amazing and looked delicious.
Zen needs to focus on customer attention and follow through with the details of great service. My other recommendation would be to eat at this restaurant when it is less busy. If management doesn't get it in the near future, I know I won't be the only customer walking away.
As I entered the restaurant, no one greeted our party. I waited for a good fifteen minutes and still no one on the floor acknowledged us. I noticed two open tables which took ten minutes to clean, one was a table for two and the other was a table for four. I thought after waiting for twenty minutes that at least a host or hostess would approach the people waiting at the front of the house. Finally, the party of three ahead of me flagged a waiter inquiring about the open table for four. Unfortunately, the waiter had no indication on how long the wait would be. Another staff person then gave the table of four to a party of two who were sitting at the bar. I am not sure why this rookie mistake was made since a table for two was still available. The party ahead of me of course was upset when they noticed the table mix up.
A party of two then came in after our group. No one of the restaurant greeted them. These two people finally got fed up and left. Minutes later a group of six entered the restaurant who claimed they had a reservation. There was not a table available for their group.
A member of my party then yelled out loud again to the waiter on how long it would take for a party of two. The wait staff didn't know. After twenty five minutes of waiting and not being noticed, acknowledged or greeted, my friend and I decided to walk out. The restaurant had poor communications skills and lacked front of the house management. When staff do not make a connection with their customers, the restaurant will lose money regardless how good the food tastes. This experience was a big disappointment since the food smelled amazing and looked delicious.
Zen needs to focus on customer attention and follow through with the details of great service. My other recommendation would be to eat at this restaurant when it is less busy. If management doesn't get it in the near future, I know I won't be the only customer walking away.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Everett & Jones
Everett and Jones recently had their grand opening on Webster Street. The space is pleasant and has a comfy feeling to it. The light fixtures matched the BBQ themed food and restaurant; the light fixtures were miniaturized Weber grills hanging down from the ceiling. Very adorable.
Due to the new location on the West End, they closed down their Main Street store, right across the street from the Navy Point entrance. Their other location on the island is inside Scobies Restaurant on Central Avenue off of Park Street. The Scobies location needs to be careful with their food quality since I wasn't too impressed with the food the last time I had a meal there. The problem with the food was that it lacked flavor and soul. The food had no personality.
I am hoping the Webster Street location will be closely looked after by the one of the daughter's of the original owner. The food at Everett and Jones is great tasting, quality food. When one of the daughter's watches over the kitchen, the food quality is unbeatable. I would recommend this restaurant since it is difficult to find good BBQ on this island and more importantly on the West End.
Due to the new location on the West End, they closed down their Main Street store, right across the street from the Navy Point entrance. Their other location on the island is inside Scobies Restaurant on Central Avenue off of Park Street. The Scobies location needs to be careful with their food quality since I wasn't too impressed with the food the last time I had a meal there. The problem with the food was that it lacked flavor and soul. The food had no personality.
I am hoping the Webster Street location will be closely looked after by the one of the daughter's of the original owner. The food at Everett and Jones is great tasting, quality food. When one of the daughter's watches over the kitchen, the food quality is unbeatable. I would recommend this restaurant since it is difficult to find good BBQ on this island and more importantly on the West End.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Crepes
I am fond of crepes. I can eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I know certain people have reservations of eating crepes for dinner, but they are light and versatile. Crepes can be savory and sweet.
Alameda has two restaurants that serve crepes. Planet Crepes on Encinal Avenue only serves crepes. Marti's Place, also on Encinal Avenue serves Swedish pancakes that are similar in taste and consistency of crepes.
Planet Crepes is a hang out for young, high school kids on the weekends. The interiors of the restaurant are bright, bold and youthful which could explain the young customers. The menu lists savory crepes of meats, cheeses and vegetables. While the sweet crepes have fruits, ice cream, nutella and melted chocolate options. If you don't like any of their fixed combinations, than one can create a new crepe with any ingredients. The savory crepes are decent in flavor and size. I was surprised that I was able to taste all of the flavor combinations of the ingredients of the Florentine Crepe. The feta cheese was not over powering, the grilled red onions gave a slightly sweet taste, and the spinach was fresh. The crepe was overall a healthy meal. The dessert crepes had a lot more pizazz and appeal in the presentation compared to the savory ones. The dessert crepes had the whipped cream and melted chocolate to garnish the beautiful creation. Planet Crepes is the only crepe place I know of that scoops ice cream right inside of the crepe. The heat of the crepe with the cold ice cream is a good combination. Prices are affordable for both the savory and sweet crepes. You could get a savory and sweet crepe for under $10 total. That is a decent price considering it is a meal and dessert. I would recommend this place because it is casual, inexpensive and interesting. This place stays open at night.
Marti's Place serves up their Swedish Pancakes with nothing inside. The lingonberry jam that comes with the pancakes is spread on top of the pancakes. The pancakes are slightly sweet and taste very similar to a crepe. These pancakes are very plain compared to the crepes served at Planet Crepes. The pancakes are served as a side dish since the meal comes with eggs and bacon or sausage. If you are looking for simple crepes that don't have all of the fancy options than Marti's Place is a good choice. This place is open for breakfast and lunch, no dinner.
Alameda has two restaurants that serve crepes. Planet Crepes on Encinal Avenue only serves crepes. Marti's Place, also on Encinal Avenue serves Swedish pancakes that are similar in taste and consistency of crepes.
Planet Crepes is a hang out for young, high school kids on the weekends. The interiors of the restaurant are bright, bold and youthful which could explain the young customers. The menu lists savory crepes of meats, cheeses and vegetables. While the sweet crepes have fruits, ice cream, nutella and melted chocolate options. If you don't like any of their fixed combinations, than one can create a new crepe with any ingredients. The savory crepes are decent in flavor and size. I was surprised that I was able to taste all of the flavor combinations of the ingredients of the Florentine Crepe. The feta cheese was not over powering, the grilled red onions gave a slightly sweet taste, and the spinach was fresh. The crepe was overall a healthy meal. The dessert crepes had a lot more pizazz and appeal in the presentation compared to the savory ones. The dessert crepes had the whipped cream and melted chocolate to garnish the beautiful creation. Planet Crepes is the only crepe place I know of that scoops ice cream right inside of the crepe. The heat of the crepe with the cold ice cream is a good combination. Prices are affordable for both the savory and sweet crepes. You could get a savory and sweet crepe for under $10 total. That is a decent price considering it is a meal and dessert. I would recommend this place because it is casual, inexpensive and interesting. This place stays open at night.
Marti's Place serves up their Swedish Pancakes with nothing inside. The lingonberry jam that comes with the pancakes is spread on top of the pancakes. The pancakes are slightly sweet and taste very similar to a crepe. These pancakes are very plain compared to the crepes served at Planet Crepes. The pancakes are served as a side dish since the meal comes with eggs and bacon or sausage. If you are looking for simple crepes that don't have all of the fancy options than Marti's Place is a good choice. This place is open for breakfast and lunch, no dinner.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Valentine's Day Dining
When one thinks of romance, Alameda may not come to mind for dining options. San Francisco is usually the first choice in wanting to capture a special moment or a romantic evening. I don't think Alameda Diners are screaming "Love Me!" on Valentine's Day.
February can bring unpredictable weather since it is winter. If the weather comes around and brings warm, sunny days around Valentine's Day, a romantic picnic on Crown Beach would be the perfect venue. The skyline view of San Francisco is awesome, you are able to see the entire city. The beach is clean and it's not heavily populated in winter. A gourmet picnic basket would be fantastic with a great bottle of wine (that you will have to hide from the Parks Department personnel). Sunsets on clear days are breathtaking. The beautiful colors of pinks, purples and mauves are gorgeous that light up the sky. I think a picnic would be more romantic than dining out in Alameda.
If an outdoor picnic is not your style, than a dinner reservation is a great second choice. Reservations need to be called in advance since there are a limited number of restaurants in Alameda. A few places come to mind for Valentine's Day dining: Pappo, Cera Una Volta, Acquacotta, Yume, and Havana. I selected these establishments based on food quality, ambiance, uniqueness and customer service. Pappo has the cool, loft, industrial chic vibe to it. The food is delicious and the wine selection is good. The dim lighting in Pappo also inspires a romantic setting. I recommend a table in mid section of the room, or a table on the bench side. Cera Una Volta has a rustic, Italian feel to it. The food is authentic Italian cuisine in which the Italian chef (from Italy) has put his heart and soul into his creations. There is one table that is slightly inside an alcove which is somewhat romantic for two. Dining should be commenced on the first floor and do not recommend the second floor. The sushi bar at Yume is a great spot for fresh seafood. The customer service is impeccable due to the diligent attention of the Sushi Chef. Sitting at the sushi bar is lively and interactive since the chef and the other sushi bar patrons are all talking with each other. The food is unique and fresh. Havana has a great Latin vibe to the room. The colors and the music connect and inspire a laid back energy to the dining experience. The lighting and mojitos also promotes customers to sway with the music and have a good time. The food is tropical and it's the type of food that most Americans do not prepare at home. I would recommend a table mid section or closer towards the back wall of the dining room. Acquacotta is a dim light restaurant with warm, rustic colors. The food is fresh with unique Italian flavor components. The quality of the food is amazing and the wait staff can recommend dishes. The dining room has great acoustics, so the noise level remains low even when the room is packed. The ambiance is romantic in a simplistic way. Seating is best when dining at a window or on the right side of the entrance door.
The Fireside Lounge is hosting a Valentine's Day event. The bar will have a DJ, dancing, chocolates and beverages for guests. I believe the event is focused towards singles and goes from 6 PM to 2 AM. Good luck to all you singles out there! There is no cover charge.
The USS Hornet is hosting a Valentine's Day Dance Party on board the carrier. Music, food and dancing is scheduled for the party. Anyone is invited to attend. There will be a cover charge of $45, $55 and $75. $75 allows guests the best view of the entertainment stage and access to the dance floor. $55 is a limited view of the stage, and $45 is the general admittance to the event. Dinner will be served that evening, but at an additional cost of $15 per person. The party will be held from 8 PM to 12 AM.
February can bring unpredictable weather since it is winter. If the weather comes around and brings warm, sunny days around Valentine's Day, a romantic picnic on Crown Beach would be the perfect venue. The skyline view of San Francisco is awesome, you are able to see the entire city. The beach is clean and it's not heavily populated in winter. A gourmet picnic basket would be fantastic with a great bottle of wine (that you will have to hide from the Parks Department personnel). Sunsets on clear days are breathtaking. The beautiful colors of pinks, purples and mauves are gorgeous that light up the sky. I think a picnic would be more romantic than dining out in Alameda.
If an outdoor picnic is not your style, than a dinner reservation is a great second choice. Reservations need to be called in advance since there are a limited number of restaurants in Alameda. A few places come to mind for Valentine's Day dining: Pappo, Cera Una Volta, Acquacotta, Yume, and Havana. I selected these establishments based on food quality, ambiance, uniqueness and customer service. Pappo has the cool, loft, industrial chic vibe to it. The food is delicious and the wine selection is good. The dim lighting in Pappo also inspires a romantic setting. I recommend a table in mid section of the room, or a table on the bench side. Cera Una Volta has a rustic, Italian feel to it. The food is authentic Italian cuisine in which the Italian chef (from Italy) has put his heart and soul into his creations. There is one table that is slightly inside an alcove which is somewhat romantic for two. Dining should be commenced on the first floor and do not recommend the second floor. The sushi bar at Yume is a great spot for fresh seafood. The customer service is impeccable due to the diligent attention of the Sushi Chef. Sitting at the sushi bar is lively and interactive since the chef and the other sushi bar patrons are all talking with each other. The food is unique and fresh. Havana has a great Latin vibe to the room. The colors and the music connect and inspire a laid back energy to the dining experience. The lighting and mojitos also promotes customers to sway with the music and have a good time. The food is tropical and it's the type of food that most Americans do not prepare at home. I would recommend a table mid section or closer towards the back wall of the dining room. Acquacotta is a dim light restaurant with warm, rustic colors. The food is fresh with unique Italian flavor components. The quality of the food is amazing and the wait staff can recommend dishes. The dining room has great acoustics, so the noise level remains low even when the room is packed. The ambiance is romantic in a simplistic way. Seating is best when dining at a window or on the right side of the entrance door.
The Fireside Lounge is hosting a Valentine's Day event. The bar will have a DJ, dancing, chocolates and beverages for guests. I believe the event is focused towards singles and goes from 6 PM to 2 AM. Good luck to all you singles out there! There is no cover charge.
The USS Hornet is hosting a Valentine's Day Dance Party on board the carrier. Music, food and dancing is scheduled for the party. Anyone is invited to attend. There will be a cover charge of $45, $55 and $75. $75 allows guests the best view of the entertainment stage and access to the dance floor. $55 is a limited view of the stage, and $45 is the general admittance to the event. Dinner will be served that evening, but at an additional cost of $15 per person. The party will be held from 8 PM to 12 AM.
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