Post #424452 by chiwito on Wed, Dec 17, 2008 12:46 PM

With many Alameda restaurants having opened, closed, or relocated in the past year or three, it may be time for an update to this thread. I'll also throw in some of my takes on the good and better places to eat in town, though tastes may vary as to whether it is time for that.

I heartily second two of the Jab's top three. Speisekammer is excellent, and the patio is fun on a warm day. I'm always biased toward places with outdoor seating, especially if they have views of the water [Speisekammer doesn't have that, but you can't have everything]. I love to bring my dogs out with me, so patio seating where they can sit by the table is a Big plus. By the way, Skip Henderson and the Starboard Watch, the same group that performs on pirate night at Quinn's Lighthouse [another favorite of mine; thumbs up to Jab's praise of them] plays semi-regularly at Speisekammer; used to be about monthly, currently seems somewhat less frequently.

I'm not as much into sushi as I was when younger, dunno why, but I do like Sushi House at South Shore a lot, as do my fiancee and others who are more sushiphilic than I. Haven't been to Kamakura in a few years, but it was very good then and I assume it still is.

Not really a Thai guy, so haven't tried Toomie's and prolly could comment with much authority even if I had.

Alas, Orchard Burger is no more. Jerry Orchard has passed away, but the location is now the home of Bip's Broiler. Still very good burgers [I'd say better than at the Orchard, but I'm biased -- the proprietors are friends of mine]. A more varied menu than the Orchard with daily specials and a few dinerish items in addition to the basic burger joint fare. Best burger in town in my opinion, though the new Burgermeister [an outlet of the SF-based chain] isn't too bad, and my in-laws would strongly second Tronic's recommendation of Alameda Grill.

Jim's Coffee Shop [which we oldsters still call "Jimmy the Greek's"] is still the best breakfast place and diner in town. Of course the three main diners in town, Jim's, Tillie's, and Ole's all have such intensely loyal followings that there is an almost religious quality to any discussion of them. Jim's now has a second location at the Alameda golf course. Similar but less extensive menu, and a more institutional decor. Unlike the original, it has a bar [not a feature for me at the times of day that I hat a diner] but otherwise, it's a pale copy and for most of Alameda it's an unnecessary extra trek.

Pier 29, long my parents' favorite restaurant, has moved. It is now actually in Alameda, but at the far end of the island. In fact it's actually on another island altogether, an artificial one off the west end of Alameda. Still the same menu, huge selection of solid basic seafood, meat entrees not quite as good. Great servers. Excellent view, either of the yacht harbor on the shady side, or across the parking lot to the bay and the SF skyline on the other side. My family have been regulars at the Pier 29 and its sort-of predecessor, known as the Ark, since my dad and my mom's late husband tried to buy the Ark together in 1946.

The old Pier 29 location is now the home of Tiki Tom's on the Oakland Riviera. See the Tiki Tom's thread for Tikibars and my somewhat divergent takes on this place. Short form: he disliked the food, I like it a lot but the quality is uneven. The drinks could and should be stronger, and the rum selection should be much larger in a self-proclaimed tiki bar, but they are well made and the outstanding bartenders are often willing to adjust the recipe to your taste. The view, long a major asset of the old Pier, is still a lot of fun, and Tom has reopened a couple of the portholes in the floor to watch estuary flow beneath your feet. The entertainment is excellent, from the Hawaiian musicians and dancers on the weekend early evenings to the Alameda All Stars and other rockers from back in the day who sometimes close the place on Saturdays; of course watching patrons who have had a few extra drinks try to step over the portholes because they think they are open is its own form of comedy.

For very good Caribbean food in a moderately upscale setting, Havana, located at the corner of Park Street and Webb Ave. [next to the Sandwich Board and across from the Alameda burger joint and bicycle shop, from other posts in this thread], is a great addition to the Alameda dining scene. It is an even better addition to the bar scene, with a very nice selection of rums [no competition to FI in that respect, but who is?] and some knowledgeable bartenders who like to experiment with new takes on mojitos and daiquiris and the like.

La Pinata is my favorite of the Mexican places cited previously, although I love the Acapulco as well, and Juanita's is much better than Jab indicated. I like the food there; the seasoning is lighter [blander?] than the other two, which is not really my preference but many may find it desirable for that very reason. The late hours are important to me, especially when La Pinata is still crowded at 2:00 am. Oteaz is okay, but the three old time standbys still do it for me.

Speaking of late night, I'm a regular at Nikko's and the manager and servers are wonderful, but it's very ordinary diner food and I wouldn't go when Jim's or Tillie's is open.

See you all at Tiki Tom's or FI or the Conga [or Pinata or Nikko's if the hour is late.

chiwito