{"id":89940,"date":"2025-12-11T01:49:12","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T01:49:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/89940\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T01:49:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T01:49:12","slug":"the-east-bays-best-new-restaurant-wins-over-diners-with-dedication-to-the-details-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/89940\/","title":{"rendered":"The East Bay’s best new restaurant wins over diners with dedication to the details"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cAll the pieces matter.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what model-building, detail-oriented Baltimore police detective Lester Freamon said in HBO\u2019s \u201cThe Wire.\u201d It\u2019s true in criminal investigations, and perhaps even more salient for restaurants. Good food only goes so far if the service is shoddy, and a poorly balanced drink can sour a meal in an instant.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nosh readers cast their votes prior to Thanksgiving, and the results of the\u00a02025 Nosh Awards\u00a0are in. Visit Nosh every day from now until Dec. 12 to see a new award announced each day. Congratulations to all the winners!<\/p>\n

At Lucuma, all the pieces \u2014\u00a0the friendly staff, delightful decor, eye-catching drinks, and menu featuring atypical Peruvian dishes \u2014\u00a0add up to the 2025 Nosh Awards winner for Best New Restaurant.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis restaurant has everything, the best drinks and food, especially the ceviches, and the service is excellent. Highly recommended, you\u2019ll enjoy it and won\u2019t regret it,\u201d wrote one voter.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole restaurant is a vibe! Food, drinks, design & customer service,\u201d chimed a Lucuma voter. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a great experience in the restaurant. The ambiance is gorgeous and the food was delicious. The service is top notch and the prices are reasonable. We\u2019ll be back soon for sure. Highly recommended,\u201d echoed another voter.<\/p>\n

Partners Garrett Morris and Renzo Roca opened Lucuma in Downtown Oakland in late July, following a whirlwind five months that included redesigning the interior themselves, developing the menus and training the staff.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to create a space that is different from other Peruvian restaurants, where we served dishes other restaurants don\u2019t serve. We wanted to make something unique where people will sit at a specific table and be able to focus or admire a certain part of the restaurant,\u201d Roca told Nosh earlier this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Anticuchos de coraz\u00f3n, or beef hearts, are a signature dish at Pervian restaurant Lucuma in Oakland. Credit: Florence Middleton for East Bay Nosh<\/p>\n

Roca, the former general manager at the now-closed Peruvian restaurant Piqueo\u2019s in Bernal Heights, manages the front-of-house. Morris, who\u2019s worked as a residential remodeling project manager, runs the bar and back-of-house. Roca is Peruvian, but Morris is the cook, and learned about Peruvian cuisine from Roca\u2019s family.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Voters highlighted the Peruvian cuisine, several of them saying it was the best they had experienced.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best Peruvian restaurant I have ever been too.\u00a0 The best Causa ever,\u201d wrote voter Robin Dean of Oakland.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy far the best and most authentic Peruvian restaurant in the East Bay!\u201d commented Malla Hadley of Oakland.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcelente comida, excelente servicio, un establecimiento espectacular. Recomendado 100% para visitar.\u201d [Excellent food, excellent service, a spectacular establishment. 100% recommended for a visit], commented one Nosh voter in Spanish.<\/p>\n

\"\"One of the most popular cocktails at Lucuma, the Agua Perfecta, is made with lime, basil, botanicals and a choice of vodka or gin. Credit: Florence Middleton for East Bay Nosh<\/p>\n

1700 Franklin St., Oakland; www.lucumakitchen.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Hours: Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.<\/p>\n

Roca and Morris, also completely transformed the space, which was formerly a branch of Wise Sons deli. There\u2019s a handmade straw octopus hanging above the bar, a quipu suspended like a jellyfish, blue kit-kat tiles. Nosh contributor Cecilia Seiter compared it to an \u201cunderwater dreamscape where the Pisco punch is free-flowing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTiny yet beautiful space, we ordered about five items from the menu and there was not one item we wouldn\u2019t order again \u2026 phenomenal! Drinks were just as good as they looked!\u201d commented an awards voter. <\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely beautiful and unique decor, delicious menu, fresh fancy take on Peruvian cuisine,\u201d wrote\u00a0Rose of Berkeley.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe food, service, ambiance are all top-notch. Best dinner I\u2019ve had in Oakland in years,\u201d another voter said. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"No matter where you sit at Lucuma, the decorations provide lots to take in. Credit: Florence Middleton for East Bay Nosh<\/p>\n

Bang-for-the-buck was also mentioned by voters, who found Lucuma also delivered on that final piece of the restaurant puzzle. <\/p>\n

\u201cEvery dish was outstanding \u2014 flavorful and so well presented.\u00a0 Nice variety of mocktails.\u00a0Staff extremely well trained and just nice.\u00a0Very cool and welcoming vibe.\u00a0 I left the restaurant feeling that the prices were quite fair based on the quality.\u00a0 Recently, I have not felt that at a good percentage of the restaurants we have gone to,\u201d wrote voter Mike O\u2019Brien of Oakland.<\/p>\n

Crazy Block Cheesecakes, Daytrip Counter, Jaji, Oken, and Sirene were the other nominees in the Best New Restaurant category.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tRelated stories<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"At\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tAt Lucuma, anticuchos de coraz\u00f3n marry traditional Peruvian cuisine with Californian flair\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tSeptember 25, 2025Sept. 25, 2025, 1:15 p.m.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"At\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tAt East Bay\u2019s best new bar, the community is as vibrant as the cocktails<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tDecember 9, 2025Dec. 10, 2025, 2:57 p.m.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Growlers,\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tGrowlers, grub and good times: The East Bay\u2019s favorite beer garden does it all with a death motif<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tDecember 4, 2025Dec. 4, 2025, 2:10 p.m.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

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