Now open is the Oakland location of 4505 BURGERS & BBQ, taking over the vintage Glenn’s Hot Dogs in the Laurel District (the owners retired). You can’t miss the sign! Founder Ryan Farr is adding whole hog barbecue to the menu, as well as soft-serve ice cream (featuring Double 8 Dairy from Petaluma). There’s also a spacious and kid-friendly patio! Open daily 10:30am-10pm. 3506 MacArthur Blvd. at 35th Ave., Oakland.
I’ve been tracking the opening of MAMA OAKLAND from Bay Grape’s Josiah Baldivino and Stevie Stacionis in Lake Merritt, and they’re gunning to open on Monday July 8th. To recap, they’re going to serve three-course, prix-fixe ($29.95) suppers that should make you feel like you’re having dinner at nonna’s (even the space will be outfitted with some Stacionis family furnishings).
Seasonal and market-fresh produce will be highlighted in a soup or salad option, plus there will be two pasta choices (gluten-free is possible—and one vegetarian option, with vegan possible), and one signature “Mama’s sugo” red sauce option, plus a seasonal dessert or gelato and biscotti. Mama’s sugo was the inspiration for the restaurant, based off Stacionis’ Abruzzese great-grandmother’s cooked-all-day red sauce with braised pork and beef. You can also order a supplement of Mama’s meatballs (sounds like a good idea), or bread and butter with anchovies.
Of course, the global wine list will rock—it was designed to be approachable, affordable, and there will be a small reserve list for those who want some baller bottles. Open daily 5pm-10pm. Walk-ins only. 388 Grand Ave. at Ellita, Oakland.
Co-owners Jennifer Cremer and Richard Clark will be opening Oakland’s BOOT AND SHOE SERVICE for afternoon service and become an all-day eatery, starting this Saturday July 6th. The restaurant’s existing café menu will be expanded to include small bites (like polenta porridge toast with butter and strawberry jam, or salmon rillettes with cucumber, caraway, and fermented leek on seeded levain); larger dishes (such as an egg and avocado sandwich with maitake mushrooms and Fiscalini cheddar; crispy rice salad with sorrel, mint, and soft-cooked egg); sweet or savory porridges; plus coffee, tea, and new housemade pastries. Enjoy a glass of wine, batched cocktails, and nonalcoholic beverages to go with your lunch, and there’s Wi-Fi too.
Come by over the weekend and you’ll find new, grandma-style square pizza slices (Sat-Sun 8am-2pm), and you can purchase whole, housemade loaves of bread Thursday-Sunday. New hours are as follows: counter service breakfast and lunch Tue-Sun 8am-2pm; dinner Tue-Thu 5:30pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm, Sun 5:30pm-9:30pm; weekend brunch Sat-Sun 11am-3pm. Closed Mondays. Counter service operations will run during the weekends concurrently with sit-down brunch service, take your pick.
Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson of TARTINE are going to be opening a café and bakery in the historic Graduate Berkeley hotel this summer, featuring their pastries (there will be morning buns!) and breads, as well as an extensive offering of breakfast and lunch items, including sandwiches and salads. You can also pick up éclairs, tarts, cookies, muffins, and tea cakes, and there will be coffee service from Coffee Manufactory. Studio BBA is behind the design. Hours will be 7am-4pm daily. 2600 Durant Ave. at Bowditch, Berkeley.
Mezcal lovers, check out this dinner at ~COMAL~ with Susan Coss of the Mezcalistas on Tuesday July 16th!
4505 Burgers & BBQ is now open in Oakland. Photo courtesy of 4505 Burgers & BBQ.
