Just off College Ave - only “technically” in Oakland; it’s a few blocks south of Alcatraz (where Berkeley becomes Oakland).
Been meaning to check it out basically since they transitioned away from being a pop-up (in 2023). They describe themselves as a “hybrid of counter service and full service” - order at the counter, get seated, food is brought out to you (as is the check).
Everything was exceptional, except the focaccia, which was kinda weird and not very focaccia-like. (It wasn’t bad, just not nearly as good as everything else.) If this place presented itself as a high-end full-service restaurant, they could easily be charging double (at least for the pasta and dessert). Kind of crazy that it’s possible to get seats, but they only take reservations at 5 pm and are walk-in-only beyond that.
I didn’t actually expect it to literally be cookies with a shot of (quite decent) amaro. Gingersnaps were excellent, ginger avoided being overpowering, letting some other subtle flavors peek through.
We also got the chocolate budino (2, actually) but the picture turned out blurry as all get out. Great base but I think they could’ve skipped the winter citrus (which was a few small slices of grapefruit & mandarin, or something).
This was $200 all-in for 4 people (including 3 unpictured cocktails). Continues to be on the QPR pareto-frontier, in the Bay Area.
. Mistake not to get this.
