Burdell in Oakland
Yelp – Maryanne W.
Burdell Owner Taking Over Wood Tavern Space
A week or so after news broke that longtime Oakland favorite Wood Tavern would be closing at the end of the year, word comes of its replacement. And it’ll be staying in the Oakland family. Geoff Davis, chef-owner of critical darling Burdell, will be taking over the prime Rockridge venue where he’s planning a neighborhood bar and grill concept dubbed Uncle’s. It marks a departure from Burdell, in which Davis has drawn national acclaim for an upscale reinterpretation of black soul food since opening in Oakland’s Temescal district in 2023.
At Uncle’s, Burdell told the San Francisco Chronicle that he plans a more casual concept that draws its inspiration from classic 1970s-era steakhouses such as San Francisco’s Tadich Grill, in which grilled meats join items like oysters, pastas, a tableside Caesar salad, and, of course, martinis. He said he was also inspired by his childhood growing up in Modesto when his uncles would entertain guests while grilling steaks in the backyard (thus the name). Burdell’s version will be a modern spin, the most obvious example being that his menu will emphasize underrepresented cuts of steak—French coulotte and Brazilian picanha, for example—paired with seasonal (and non-customizable) sides and sauces. Currently, Wood Tavern is set to close at the end of the year when its lease runs out, so expect Uncle’s to launch sometime in 2027.
Enssaro Moves to Rockridge
Speaking of Rockridge, popular Ethiopian restaurant Enssaro has completed its move to the same tony Oakland neighborhood with a makeover to match. The owners held a soft opening over the weekend at their new location on College Avenue (near Trader Joe’s), where it moved after 20 years in the Adams Point District near Lake Merritt. Family-operated by the same mother, daughter, and son team, Ensarro’s new home received a contemporary makeover from the same design group behind Draymond Green’s San Francisco restaurant Meski and Oakland’s Lucy Blue. The food, meanwhile, remains the same with a menu centered around spongy fermented injera, Ethiopian flatbread with spiced meat, and veggie combos. A full bar mixes artisan cocktails, and there is outdoor dining on the back patio. Here’s a sneak peek.
Egg Palace to Replace Trueburger in Oakland
A quirky replacement has emerged for Trueburger’s shuttered Temescal location at 4101 Broadway. Egg Pals, which has run its hit breakfast sandwich pop-up for four years out of Ramen Shop, Tacos Oscar, and Mother Tongue Cafe & Bar among many other local spots, is opening its first brick-and-mortar restaurant dubbed Egg Palace. In the morning, owners Brack DeFries and Chris Morgan plan to serve their signature egg sandwiches—centered by a jammy soft-cooked egg and American cheese on a Starter brioche roll—in addition to an expanded menu of breakfast items. By night, the restaurant will reopen for dinner with a full bar and menu centered around burgers (6-ounce patties cooked medium rare rather than smashburgers) and drink-friendly bar snacks. The pair, who met while bartending at various Oakland venues including the now shuttered Kronnerburger, are aiming to launch by the end of the year.
More Details About CreekHaus in Orinda
An ambitious new multi-use project envisioned as a community gathering hub in downtown Orinda is coming into focus. Set to launch in Orinda Village over the coming months, CreekHaus promises to be an indoor-outdoor destination mixing elements of food, drink, live music, and community events. The first phase of the project will see the opening of a café from sustainable San Francisco roaster Equator Coffees, as well as the adjacent CreekHause Beer Garden offering local craft beer, wine, and sourdough thin crust from acclaimed local pizzamaker PizzaHacker that can be enjoyed al fresco in an oak tree-shaded garden patio abridging San Pablo Creek. An upscale bistro and cocktail lounge will launch later. While initial plans suggested a debut as soon as the end of the summer, the project’s complex nature has led to an “evolved” timeframe calling for CreekHaus to be rolled out in phases with no set opening date.
Orinda’s Creekhaus
Courtesy of CreekHaus
The project is the brainchild of Ben Zarrin, founder of Paymun, the local real estate and design-build firm that will also be housed on the upper floors of the nearly 10,000-square-foot complex. Zarrin, who lives in Orinda with his wife and four kids, said he conceived of the project as “Orinda’s backyard,” a place where multiple generations of neighbors can congregate from morning through nighttime.
“There are a lot of younger families that have moved here with their kids,” he told Dish. “So, we want to make sure that this is somewhere that everybody in the community can enjoy and be proud of.”
Zarrin acknowledged that implementation of CreekHaus has been more complicated than he anticipated, while thanking his staff and small army of “partners, subcontractors, consultants, engineers, utility providers, inspectors, and City staff” dedicated to working through the challenges. It’s a process, he says, that will be worth it in the end.
“Every challenge, every milestone, and every thoughtful decision have made the project stronger and more resilient,” he says. “We’re excited to continue sharing that journey with the community.”
Stay tuned and follow the project’s progress at creekhaus.com.
Drink Club Debuts in Livermore
Downtown Livermore is known as a drinking town with more fun watering holes opening seemingly every day. The Downtown Pour Collective is hoping to tap into that spirit of spirits with a new monthly club membership where members receive discounted pours during non-peak hours at five local bars and restaurants every month for a fee. Founding businesses include Demitri’s Tavern, Calamari Bistro, The Cheese Parlor, Swirl on the Square, Stampede, L Campo, Wingen Bakery, and Bruno’s. Check out the details here.
Small Bites from Around the East Bay
San Francisco’s iconic Ghiradelli Chocolate Company closed its tourist-magnet chocolate and ice cream shop due to a workers’ strike.
A woman was arrested last week for using bear spray on several customers outside a Lafayette grocery store (either Trader Joe’s or Diablo Foods).
Will lower egg prices mean lower prices at Bay Area bakeries and restaurants?
Stereo41 in Walnut Creek, Albi’s in Danville, Café Bolita in Berkeley, and Hinata Sushi Kitchen in Hayward make this roundup of new outdoor dining options in the East Bay.
Contemporary Peruvian restaurant Pucquio closed after more than a decade in Oakland’s Rockridge district.
Drive-through national coffee chain 7 Brew Coffee looks to be coming to the East Bay with new locations in Concord and Pittsburg.
Participate in Monday night karaoke and get 10% off your tab at Crazy Block Cheesecakes.