Husband and wife winemakers and owners Michael and Anne Dashe create small-lot single-varietal wines from Sonoma and Mendocino fruit at their Oakland facility without sacrificing flavor and sense of place. These are serious wines at an affordable price. Besides the lovely tasting room, there’s the garden patio that opens in March and features live music on the first Saturday of the month. Make reservations online and you’ll receive a tasting fee discount.
Campovida’s footprint is quite large in Hopland — farm, wedding venue, wine making facility — and even though its Oakland tasting room is small in comparison, it makes up for it in spirit and vibe. Named Taste of Place, this intimate space pours the brand’s Mendocino-sourced varietals like Nebbiolo and Syrah. Enjoy a wine flight and accompany it with a charcuterie plate. Check their website for live jazz nights.
Winemakers Stew Epstein and Jeffrey Fiegel have an affinity for Spanish grapes and are committed to making highly acclaimed, delicious wine from their Oakland facility without the pretention normally associated with wines of this caliber. They’re currently pouring their first Pinot, a 2014, and a 2016 Tempranillo Nuevo, in addition to their Santa Ynez Valley Rio Blanco and Dry Riesling. Tasting fees vary; check their website.
Ramen’s history is a bit cloudy — kind of like a steamy bowl of tonkotsu — and while others debate its origin (China or Japan), I think we can all agree that enjoying those chewy noodles in a bowl of savory and satisfying broth has almost become a rite of passage for Bay Area diners. It’s cold out, so consider heading over to one of our BARTable picks and nourish your stomach — and your soul.
The Bay Area is home to some great French bistros. You know, the type of place that serves standbys like cassoulet and coq au vin and also offers up specials that highlight seasonal ingredients. Many of these places are run by expat chef/owners whose repertoire of recipes are akin to a running list of what’s fresh at the market. Come fall, chefs turn to ingredients that are more available in the pantry than on the vine.
From Visit Oakland:Faz Restaurants & Catering, in Oakland is famous for serving the best Mediterranean food in the Bay Area. Also, book your next catering event!
Photo courtesy of FacebookGarnering plus points for its name already, Residual Sugar Wine Bar brings winos to downtown Walnut Creek for its expansive menu. Friendly and knowledgeable staff pour international labels alongside cheese and charcuterie plates in a dimly lit space that’s classy enough for a date but casual enough to show the game on the flatscreen.
Photo courtesy of Julia’s at the Berkeley City ClubFrom Visit Berkeley
Phot courtesy of FacebookFrom Visit BerkeleySince 1902, the Faculty Club has served as a secluded retreat, luncheon club, meeting place, tavern hotel and party facility for faculty staff, alumni and community members closely associated with Cal. Open Mon - Fri for dining services and available for private events seven days a week.