Alameda, in spite of being a small island, has its share of restaurants that tickle the palate. Whenever we want to go out and get something to eat, we fight the urge to go off the island because there are so many to choose from. When I meet new clients who don't know much about Alameda, I take them to different restaurants so that they will see and taste for themselves what Alameda has to offer.
Here are the three newest restaurants in town. Life is good!
ITALIAN - Acquacotta
The newest addition is AcquaCotta http://www.acquacotta.net/ on Webster Street. They don't take reservations, so we ventured on a Saturday night at 7 pm and waited for a table. It was packed and noisy (concrete floors). But we didn't mind the wait because the bartender was such a joy. She kept us all entertained. When we couldn't make up our minds which wine to order, she let us taste two of our choices before we settled on what we wanted.
As delightful as the bartender was, we can't say the same for the waiter who may either be inattentive, inexperienced, or simply not good. He let our food get cold before he brought it out. As good as the food was, it was hard to overcome the fact that it had to be re-heated.
CUBAN - Havana
Havana's is presented to us as a fusion Cuban restaurant http://www.havanarestaurant.net/alameda-contact.html on Park Street. The first Havana is in Walnut Creek. Because we're from Florida, we are always looking and craving for good Cuban food. What we have is "sort of" Cuban. The nearest that came to what I remember as good Cuban food is their Ropa Vieja. This place is always rocking. We like the retro feel of the coctail bar, the pitchers of mojitos, the colorful pictures of life in Cuba. Some of the appetizers were tasty, and our personal favorite is the crab cakes.
VIETNAM - Dragon Rouge
People will likely disagree, but I thought the food at the Dragon Rouge http://dragonrougerestaurant.com/ on Encinal Avenue is better than Le Colonial in Oakland, and the people are less pretentious. I like the fact that three cousins started this restaurant to showcase their mothers' culinary skills. It's a family focused labor of love.
We thoroughly enjoy their signature Phantastic roll, anything curry, anything lemon grass....as a matter of fact, we've enjoyed everything we've ordered. There is a good selection. It isn't the usual Vietnamese fare of long lista and variations of the Pho, but if Pho is what your crave, it is great here, too. Since Dragon Rouge opened, I haven't ventured to Oakland for Vietnamese food anymore. Why bother? We have a terrific one right here.