La Cocina alum Dionne Knox has opened her first brick-and-mortar location of ZELLA’S SOULFUL KITCHEN in the Mandela Foods Cooperative, Scoop reports. Knox has been serving her California-style soul food through her catering business and with prepared items at Whole Foods, but now you can find her dishes at breakfast and lunch, with dinner service coming soon. There’s a Beauty’s bagel with cream cheese and biscuit breakfast sandwich at breakfast, and a selection of salads and sandwiches at lunch. Soon, dinner will be added, with a rotating selection of comfort food plates; take a look at the menus here. Current hours are Mon-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 10am-4pm, evening hours coming later. Inside Mandela Foods, 1430 7th St. at Mandela, Oakland, 510-452-1151.
WOODS BAR & BREWERY is getting ready to officially open its doors on Saturday October 11th. The project, from Jim Woods of Woods Polk Station and Cervezeria in San Francisco, moved into the former home of Rocsil’s Shoes in Uptown Oakland and will offer 12 beers on tap, most of them brewed in small batches on-site plus a few local guests. In addition, they’ve got an enclosed patio with a fireplace and a newly-restored mahogany bar. Hours are Sun-Wed 5pm-11pm, Thu 5pm-12am, Fri-Sat 5pm-1am. 1701 Telegraph Ave. at 17th St., Oakland, no phone.
PLANK, the dining space and event venue in Jack London Square we told you about in August is planning a grand opening for Friday October 10th. The large space offers lots of activities (and room for up to 1,000 people), including bowling, bocce, video games, and an outdoor beer garden, along with a menu of plates designed to share like pizzas, chorizo fundido, and crab cakes. 98 Broadway at Embarcadero West, Oakland, 510-817-0980.
East Bay Express reports that Japanese restaurant B-DAMA has reopened in the Swan’s Marketplace building. They’re serving lunch and dinner, with items like rice bowls, grilled meats, and uncut sushi rolls called gaburi. Hours are Mon-Sat 11:30pm-2pm and 5:30pm-10pm, closed Sun. 907 Washington St. at 9th St., Oakland, 510-251-1113.
There is also news from East Bay Express that AUNT MARY’S CAFE has reopened after moving across the street from their old location. They’re now in the former Clausen House Thrift Shop location, next to Hooper’s Chocolates. They’re still transitioning a bit (no liquor license quite yet, and espresso is on hold due to a machine issue), but you can still pop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Hours are Tue-Sun 8am-3pm, Thu-Sat 5:30pm-9pm. 4640 Telegraph Ave. at 47th St., Oakland, 510-601-9227.
The exterior of the new Woods in Uptown Oakland. Photo courtesy Woods.
