KUSHIDO, a new yakitori-style Japanese restaurant, is now open in Temescal. Owner Jonathan Moon’s project is inspired by the izakayas of Japan, where yakitori skewers are served alongside beer and other beverages. Think of it as a drinking place with good food, not the other way around. They’ve got a real binchotan grill that’s visible to diners, where more than 20 types of yakitori are grilled, including bacon-wrapped mochi and different cuts of chicken. They’ve also got several Japanese beers on tap, as well as sake and shochu. There are also some non-yakitori items on the menu, like sashimi and ramen. Hours are Tue-Sat 5pm-11pm. 4828 Telegraph Ave. at 48th St., Oakland, no phone.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that cats are the new black and soon you’ll be able to hang out with friendly felines at every café and restaurant in the Bay Area. Opening on Saturday (excuse me, Caturday) October 25th is Oakland’s CAT TOWN CAFE, a space where you can get coffee from Bicycle Coffee Co., bagels from Authentic Bagel Co., and sweet pastries from Kitchener Collective. Within the café is the fully contained Cat Zone, where you can take your food and drink and hang out with cats of all sorts. This is not all just for fun, though: the cats at Cat Town are available for adoption through the Cat Town nonprofit, an organization that has been rescuing cats from the East Bay’s overcrowded shelters since 2011. You can even reserve a spot in the Cat Zone for a donation of $10 to the organization. Meow! Café hours are 8am-7pm and Cat Zone hours are 10am-7pm. 2869 Broadway at 29th St., Oakland, 510-915-1454.
Liquor license activity tipped us off to a cool new project opening this winter, called THE OCTOPUS LITERARY SALON. Details are still a bit spare, but the space is inspired by salons and pubs in Europe, where people of all ages gather to eat, drink, discuss literary happenings, and listen to live music. Construction has started and they are targeting a January opening—of course we’ll keep you updated. In the meantime, catch one of their pop-up salons; follow along on Twitter for updates. 2101 Webster St. at 22nd St., Oakland.
Some more liquor license activity: last month we mentioned the upcoming project from Alexeis Filipello (Stag’s Lunchette, Bar Dogwood) and Matt EIseman called THE LODGE, but we couldn’t quite reveal the location just yet. Since license activity has hit the wires, we can now reveal it’s going to be opening in the former Egbert Souse’s in North Oakland. It’s looking like 90 days to build out, so expect a spring opening. To recap: The Lodge will mostly be a bar with classic cocktails and some top-notch bar food/small plates (think Bay Area classics, like oysters on the half shell, plus fish fries, crudo, chowder, and salads). There’s a nice lodge setting and a patio, with about 60 seats in all. We’ll keep you updated! 3758 Piedmont Ave. at MacArthur, Oakland.
It looks like there is a new spot in Grand Lake, called JJ BURGER. East Bay Express reports that the new spot has moved into the former Kung Pao Kitchen and is serving slightly elevated burger, with fresh toppings, brioche buns, and quality meat. There are also lots of patty choices, including chicken, turkey, and an ahi tuna poke burger. Hours are Tue-Sun 11am-9pm. 3415 Grand Ave. at Elwood, Oakland, 510-451-0633.
The interior of Kushido. Photo from Facebook.
