Attention Ivy Hill area residents: curious about the sumptuous scents wafting about the 'hood? Follow them straight to Champa Garden, where Thai, Vietnamese, and Laotian cuisines are served with authenticity. Inside, a small bar replete with an awnin..

This Oakland eatery takes its name from the town located on the volcanic slopes that produce the world's best tomatoes, and Marzano strives to honor this legacy. Gothic chandeliers and hand-blown glass wine casks illuminate the timber beams and brick..

Neighborhood favorite Bellanico serves up consistently good, rustic Italian fare. Large windows overlook Park Boulevard, while inside, persimmon-colored walls, wood furnishings, and an open kitchen welcome foodies. Lunches are low-key, frequented by ..

Waft into Sidebar along with the breeze from Lake Merritt for artisanal cocktails (need a Corpse Reviver?) and Mediterranean-inspired gastropub dining in a quirky space. Photographs of life on the road add character to the pumpkin-spiced interior, an..

While there are no white, sandy beaches here, the soothing Grecian vibe, Greek patrons, and scrumptious bites will take you at least part of the way to the Greek Isles. Inside, Mediterranean blues and whites color the high-arched ceiling, where a lon..

Can't get a table at Oakland's popular Pizzaiolo? Well, you may not have much luck at sister pizzeria, Boot and Shoe Service, either. Nevertheless, it's still well worth the wait. On a bustling stretch of Grand Avenue, this crammed casual eatery is a..

Dying to appease your hunger pangs after a jog around Lake Merritt? What's better than Grand Avenue Thai with its chic and cheery décor of bright walls, splashes of color from fresh flowers on every table, and evocative artwork created by the chef's ..

While many Bay Area restaurants go hog wild for meaty menus showcasing charcuterie and porchetta , the chef's club at Encuentro continues to practice the art of high vegetarian cuisine. Lauded in San Francisco as a vegetarian's haven, this is a welc..

Daniel Patterson of Coi fame is responsible for this wonderful arrival in Jack London Square. Haven's ample space, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and harbor-facing views, has an airy feel, and is styled in warm woods, shiny steel, and pristine whi..

Escape from Oakland's Grand Avenue into Camino, a lofty Basque-style dining hall where pressed-tin ceilings and wrought-iron chandeliers hang above exposed brick and salvaged redwood communal tables lit by candles and lined with vintage church pews. ..

Located in lively Jack London Square, everything is big at Bocanova—several dining rooms, a massive (and admired) bar, and the spacious patio overlooking the harbor. The industrial-chic space highlights soaring ceilings, funky light fixtures, and sta..

A bright red and gold color scheme greets guests at Legendary Palace, in the heart of Oakland's Chinatown. Everything is large at Legendary—imagine rambling dining rooms with 600 guests spread over two floors. Yet, this literal "palace" of ..

Surrounded by a collection of Chinese restaurants, markets, and grocers, this unassuming spot sings to its own tune. It's all about authentic Cambodian here at Battambang, where true-blue ingredients like prohuk (fermented fish paste) and savory li..

A minor revamp has made Miss Pearl's a little more contemporary (in design) and Southern (in cuisine). Housed in Jack London Square and adjoining the Waterfront Hotel, its fresh interior features well-worn wood floors, bright white and grey walls, co..

Gather a gang of amigos and pop into this sunny spot for a banquet of mouthwatering antojitos —small plates, or "little whims." These sharable bites may be small, but they're big on flavor, so park it on the wooden communal table and prep..

This Mexican café is housed in Old Oakland's historic Swan's Market, a great spot for die-hard foodies. Guests order at the counter and sit at one of the communal tables in the warehouse-like space. Note that they serve dinner but close early, so arr..

Street carts often dole out some of the tastiest food you can find, but who wants to stand on a street corner as you nibble and nosh? Salvation can be found at Hawker Fare. This Oakland newcomer brings the flavors of Southeast Asian street carts insi..

More than two years after its debut, Plum is still going strong. This minimalist darling spins out contemporary Californian fare that is beautiful both in its presentation and taste. The space is long and narrow, but the walls-painted a dark plum and..

Picán is all business in Oakland—jamming with a business set at lunch and after-work cocktail clusters at dusk. The large space has a sidewalk patio (dreamy when the weather is warm), a bar and lounge (where you can order off the menu), and elegant d..

Bay Wolf has been a Bay Area icon since the mid 1970's. As the restaurant approaches its 40th birthday, the kitchen is still successfully preparing food the way it always has—excellent ingredients are treated with simplicity and care. True to the loc..