Disco Volante - Oakland

Hey All you East Bay folks!!  You have got to try Disco Volante on 14th & Webster.  It is fantastic. I think it has been open only a few months but already has a great following.

The space is a beautiful Art Deco building in downtown Oakland.  The inside has big red vinyl padded booths. Cool stain glass accents inside the restaurant.  Also, has a live music stage.

The food is delicious. I had crispy avocado tacos.  Lightly breaded and deep fried avocado with carrot & jicama slaw and garlic bean spread! And to drink the great waitstaff made me a blood orange soda!

I am looking forward to trying the burger and the ribs, which I have heard are amazing.

Sorry no pics - too busy eating!!

Go check it out!!

http://www.discovolanteoakland.com/

Town Hall

Delish!!  Town Hall in the SOMA district of San Francisco. There is lots of street parking. They have a covered patio if you're so inclined. The old building they occupy has been fabulously refurbished.  Classic with an industrial spin!

The wait staff was outstanding.  Yummy cocktail concoctions! Great wine! And the food!!  The food was amazing. I had pork belly and pork tenderloin medallions wrapped in bacon! The belly melts in your mouth. The tenderloin was on a bed of beluga lentils! My honey had the blacken catfish on avocado schmear.  The mini biscuit app was awesome!

Definitely going again!!

Zza's Trattoria

Oakland's Grand Ave has a great little Italian place that I bet not many of you know about it.  Zza's is excellent!  Great staff!  The food is super tasty! Perfect size portions. Huge wine list for a little place. The atmosphere is cozy although can be a bit loud.

It's a perfect place for a group gathering.  I can't wait to go back!!

www.morezzas.com
 552 Grand Ave

Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 839-9124 (restaurant)

Dimitra's Alameda

Worst gyros ever! Pita was all doughy. Tzatziki sauce made from sour cream and globbed on the gyros. The meat was ok but no flavor. Just yuck.  How have they been around for 30 years???

I'd pass on this establishment if your on the Island.

Coffee

As I sit in the morning sun enjoying my cup o' joe i think about how much people are dependent on coffee. Not just as a livelihood for the bean growers around the world but all the people and companies along the way that finally make it to my cup.  It's pretty amazing how many people have touched and depend on the beans that i grind every morning.  I am just the consumer but I too, depend on the beans.  Coffee has always been in my life.  

My Mom loves coffee. The process, the flavors and the social aspect. Every Sunday morning, the best place for many people to be is at my Mom's house for coffee.  It's a pretty special time. Folks coming and going. The constant smell of coffee and sound of foam being frothed.  Conversations about current affairs and lots of laughter.  Whenever I fly home I make sure to not schedule my return flight until after Sunday coffee.

As I sit here with my coffee in my house with memories of being a kid in the living room on Sunday mornings and listening intently on what everyone had to say, I realize the power of coffee.  So enjoy your cup o' joe and think about how it has influenced your life and the lives of many.

C'era Una Volta Restaurant - http://www.ceraunavolta.us

This cozy little Italian place in Alameda is lovely.  The food is authentic homestyle Italian. Which, by the way, is my favorite food in the world. Although, Italian food has tried to kill me twice, but that's for another post.

Back to C'era Una Volta - the atmosphere reminds of my favorite little place on the Amalfi Coast in Italy.  The warm lighting, curved ceilings, arched entry and kind people makes this restaurant a special place.  They have a great wine selection. Something delicious in every price range.  The food is always great.  If you are celebrating something special, the staff goes above and beyond to make you feel wonderful. They truly appreciate your business!

On more NoLa item

As you will notice, I am a huge crab cake fan.  And I think I had some of the best ever in New Orleans (and one of the worst - on Bourbon St; nuff said).  Other than Dante's, I had a lovely crab cake at the Orleans Grapevine Wine bar and bistro.  This particular evening we had to pick up our 83 year old friend Mr. Lawrence Cotton from his gig on Bourbon at 130am.  We were looking for some food at 1030pm.  Amazingly hard to find in the French Quarter.  We came across Orleans Grapevine and were pleasantly surprised.  Cozy little bar with and outdoor patio and tasty crab cakes.

Check it out next time you're in New Orleans - http://www.orleansgrapevine.com