Back in November, we broke the news that chef Eddie Blyden (Henry’s, Miss Pearl’s, the Alembic) was going to be opening his own burger spot in the new year. Well, the time has come and the griddle is hot: CROSSBURGERS is now open in the Rotunda Building on Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland. The menu includes his trademark burger ($7.99), a custom blend that uses four kinds of beef (he uses natural beef), and Eddie has a local baker making a special challah bun. What’s the difference between the hamburger ($6.99) and Crossburger ($7.99), you ask? Well, let’s just say the Crossburger is angry. Think spice. (And it also comes with secret sauce and bacon.)
There’s also a CrossCuban (say what?!), a Cuban-spiced pork burger ($9.49) with smoked ham, Emmenthaler, and pickles. Yeah. I want that. There’s also a fried chicken sandwich ($7.99, made with Mary’s Chicken) with tarragon rémoulade and kale slaw, and a dog (it’s Niman) that’s an homage to a Detroit Coney dog, topped with chili gravy, pickled onion, and spicy mustard on a steamed bun. Chef was also telling me about black-eyed pea chili he’s working on, and he also likes making dishes with beets, so there will always be some “Beets by Blyden” on the board (heh). Hours are Mon-Fri 10:30am-5pm, and he’s planning to keep some special hours for First Fridays and other events. 300 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, 510-817-4463.
As Scoop reported and a press release confirmed, Alameda is getting a new watering hole, called CAPONE’S SPEAKEASY. It’s in the former Wells Fargo building, and as the name would suggest, has a 1920s gangster theme. Nicholas Koliopoulos is the chef, and he’ll be serving a menu focused on small plates, intended for sharing and pairing with drinks. There will also be live music, DJ nights, a dance floor, and staff in costumes. The plan is to open in April, and hours will be Tue-Wed 4pm-11pm, Thu 4pm-12am, Fri-Sat 4pm-1:30am, and Sun 9am-9:00pm. 1400 Park St. at Central, Alameda, 510-522-2391.
Noted San Francisco chocolate maker TCHO has been located at Pier 17 on the Embarcadero for several years, but is decamping for the East Bay, according to San Francisco Business Times. Apparently, they outgrew the space and the 49,000 square feet they found in Berkeley’s Marchant Building fixed that issue (all the financial instability at the Exploratorium, their landlord, can’t have helped, either). They’ll still have a San Francisco presence though: CEO Andrew Burke reports that they are currently looking for a location for a small shop in the city. The new facility should open in April, and the Pier 17 shop will close up this month. 3100 San Pablo Ave. at 67th St., Berkeley.
The Oakland location of GREGOIRE is now serving lunch all day, according to Berkeleyside Nosh. That means you can get their sandwiches, like the chile verde braised pork or the house-smoked calamari, until 9pm. Sweet! 4001 Piedmont Ave. at Broadway, Oakland, 510-547-3444.
The Crossburger with bacon. Photo courtesy of Eddie Blyden.
