Something Old, Something New; Something Borrowed, Something Blue

By OTown Eater

Something Old:  If you want an oldie but a goodie, bring yourself down to Jack London Square and dine the Old Oakland way at the Oakland Grill. A long time Oakland establishment, the Grill is consistently a perfect place for breakfast, lunch, or a leisurely brunch.  Nestled between the warehouses of Franklin St., the exterior preserves the old-timey feel, while a fresh menu, with some old classics, will leave your tummy satisfied.  A variety of benedicts are served 7 days a week from opening until close, in addition to the combos which combine your favorite sweet breakfast items with two eggs and bacon!  The lunch stars are the Turkey Club and the Spinach Salad. Yum!  Don’t forget to enjoy a mimosa with your meal.  **If you are not in the Jack London neighborhood, check out the sister restaurant Lakeshore Café.  The menu is almost the same, with a few local favorites to please the Lake Merritt crowd.  Personally, I’m a fan of the Chicken Florentine Benedict: Chicken, poached eggs, spinach and Hollandaise…oh, my!

Something New:  If you haven’t checked it out yet, stop by Oakland’s newest beer bar and eatery, The Portal Restaurant.  Open for bar snacks and Dinner in the evenings, and brunch on the weekends, Oaklanders welcome this little “portal” to the Lake. The menu features unique dishes that pair nicely with their beer selection, boasting ingredients purchased daily from local farmer’s markets.  On a clear day, sit out on the enclosed patio (they have heat lamps and blankets if the night/day turns chilly) and enjoy gourmet sliders (“mini burgers”) and a local or regional beer, with a clear view of Lake Merritt.  Another must try is the “Garbage Bread,” or grilled pizza stuffed with a variety of the daily fresh vegetables.

Something Borrowed: Thanks to restaurateur, James Syhabout, Oaklanders are now able to experience the streets of South East Asia right here in the streets of Oakland!   Blending the street food of Thailand with Oakland’s urban flare, Hawker Fare is a real stand out.  Enjoy the mussels, papaya salad, or green beans, all bursting with flavor.  Sink your chopsticks into the Pork Belly rice bowl, and don’t forget to order every entrée with a fried egg on top!  Oh yeah, and they serve malt liquor and soft serve!  It doesn’t get much better than that!

Something Blue: You don’t need to travel down Route 66 in the 1950’s to enjoy quality diner food.  Instead, head down to the Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood on Telegraph Ave., and order a blue plate special at Rudy’s Can’t Fail Café.  There is a different special for every day of the week: Try Monday’s meatloaf, or Friday’s fish and chips.  Or, simply order from the long and diverse menu, and breakfast is served all night (French Toast at midnight, anyone?)!  With a full bar and the diner favorites you crave, Rudy’s really “Can’t Fail!”

Summary

1)     Oakland Grill
301 Franklin St
Oakland, CA 94607

Hours: Daily 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
Average Entrée Price: $10
Expected Wait: 0-25 minutes (Weekends can be busy)

2)     Portal Restaurant
1611 2nd Ave
Oakland, CA 94606

Hours: Mon-Fri 5 pm – 11 pm, Sat-Sun 11 am – 11 pm
Average Entrée Price: $11
Expected Wait: It’s too new to know for sure.  It’s only really worth sitting on the patio, so wait for an
available table if necessary.

3)     Hawker Fare
2300 Webster St
Oakland, CA 94612

Hours: Mon-Fri 11 am – 2:30 pm, Tue-Thu 5 pm – 9:30 pm
Average Entrée Price: $9.50
Expected Wait: You could wait up to 30 minutes, and they have difficulty seating parties larger than 6.

4)     Rudy’s Can’t Fail Café
1805 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94612

Hours: Daily 7:00 am – 1:00 am
Average Entrée Price: $10
Expected Wait: You could wait up to 30 minutes on a busy weekend, or when there are events happening in
area.