And so, we took a stroll after a "what's for dinner?" question to each other, and ended up at Stella Nonna.

The verdict, then the details:

It is going to be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Permanent hours are not yet fixed, but expect regular dinner service (5 days?) then an addition of weekend brunch, and then lunch.

Our food was very good. We shared the KFC wings, which were very tasty, with a nice but not overpowering amount of heat.

We then had:
(1) The pork shoulder with mac & cheese stuffed poblano (in a red enchilada-ish sauce). I enjoyed this dish, and I'm not sure why. It was unusual, and as much as it didn't work, it did work. Accordingly, this might be exactly what the chef intended.

(2) The fried chicken over a bed of butter beans and bacon braised beans. I tasted this, and it was a solid, if not "home run" dish. The beans were great. The chicken was good.

We took a piece of carrot cake home. No verdict yet.

The space is a comfortable place - 3 areas. The main dining room, a bar area, and an outside patio. Speaking of bar, they have a full liquor license, which surprised me, and is a welcome addition to the area, as it seems like it will be a nice place to go and have a drink with or without a bite without a lot of crazy noise, etc.

The owners (I assume that was who we spoke with) as well as the staff are eager to please, no attitudes, and seem to have experience in the food business.

We shared a tasty bottle of Nero d'Avola. Price was a couple of bucks over 2x the K&L price, which was fair. Corkage is $15, waived with purchase of a bottle.

We came home pleased.

It is opening (soft opening this weekend). San Pablo near Camelia. Eclectic menu - at least the initial menu. Haven't tried it yet.

http://www.stellanonna.com/

We're not going to want to wait for an hour-plus, and want a place where we'll be able to have a bit more "non-shouting" conversation.

We're looking for a place that has passable+ food and bottomless mimosas for Sunday Brunch. (Cafe Biere is out of the equation.) I've been searching around and don't come up with much - Cugini on Solano, District in Oakland - any suggestions are welcome.

My gold standard is the esteak burrito from La Cumbre, circa mid-1980s, and frankly, nothing else has ever been like that. I've generally shifted to plates or tortas, as several places have a great meat or two, but the entire burrito package isn't too exciting, i.e., the carnitas at La Mission go into a torta, the various meats at La Palmita go into a homey plate. The taco truck that used to be at the gas station across the street from Raley's in El Sobrante made a decent burrito (with a nice tortilla that would soak up the grease from the meat and turn orange), but I haven't been in ages. I recently had a Portumex burrito al pastor (another place from my ever-increasingly-distant past) about a month ago and left with a "meh." Cactus (Solano) fell off my radar several years ago after things were getting more "meh" with every visit.

Any updates?

Further, using your Mexico example, there are probably thousands upon thousands of mediocre restaurants in Mexico, dishing up what we think of "traditional Mexican fare." No doubt, they are the 100% definition of authentic. If one of them opened up shop here and served the same food, yes, it would be authentic, and I'd probably eat there a total of one time. For me, "Good" is much more important than "authentic."

His other approaches aren't things I return to eat. I haven't been to Mint Leaf, but I've been to 2 incarnations on Oxford, and used to visit KP Solano on occasion, but stopped altogether.

It may have fallen off everyone's radar because it changed to "Timbao" for a short while with a different menu, and that didn't last very long, and now, it is Montero's again. Same ownership all along (I believe). Given that Talavera and La Mission have a handful of very decent items, I'd expect that Montero's would, too.

I have no idea. There is a hand painted address (probably where their kitchen is) on "Pages" St (I'm sure it is Page :) )

It has been recently hanging out at San Pablo y Gilman in the afternoons (at the auto shop) - any comments?

Did he go with a bag or mask over his head?

Mostly agreed about the Purple Pig - fun place, decent enough food, we both thought the food is better back here, and salty enough that I'm surprised there isn't a stroke suffered every night in the place. (Our Chicago dining (mid-range) experiences over the course of a long weekend left us pleased, but not thrilled, and we both felt that it was some of the saltiest food we've ever eaten.)

I may be wrong, but it seems like around these parts, for the most part, we are well over foams, tweezers and deconstructed items as the base of our meal. If that is not being "new/innovative," good for us. We are also, in my uneducated opinion, much more assimilated in our ethnic communities for a much longer period than Chicago, and our food reflects this (probably for better and for worse).

http://www.oaktownjerk.com/

He's "around town" and I've seen him at the Oakland First Friday Art Murmur (in the same building as Two Mile Wines) a couple of times.

I'd agree with Crixa, as long as you stay with the rustic-type cakes, and not the ones in the refrigerator case.

i went a couple of weeks ago. I'll be back.

Food was very good (2 starters, 2 pastas) - my only comment to the contrary is that my ravioli portion seemed quite lacking (and I am not talking about Olive Garden comparisons), while my dining companion's pasta dish was much more substantial (at the same price point).

are you staying in Oakland? I'd try and eat at Commis on Saturday night. Sunday you might want something at or near Jack London Square on your way to the show (I assume you'll be taking BART) - I suggest this because you might find more open early enough for your needs. You might consider starting your day at the Ferry Building in SF for your morning meal.

I don't think so. I have heard that they don't even have lemon ice anymore. I gave up going awhile ago. My last sandwich was lukewarm and probably half the chicken of the "good old days."

Back to the apple pie, it was just the best. If I could find one in the area 75% as good, I'd be thrilled.

Does anyone make a pie similar to the apparently "eternally retired" Bakesale Betty apple pie? I've given up them ever having pie again, let alone pretty much anything else.

It is split in two, with a very large opening between the two.

First trip there today:

(1) Burger was tasty enough, but in the good, not great, department. I certainly wouldn't recommend that anyone order it more done than medium rare. I appreciate the beef quality.

(2) Open until 10 or 11, depending on the night. That is a big plus. One would be relegated to Nations or Taco Bell or similar in the 'hood at that hour, otherwise.

(3) The fries were odd. Plus- they come with 2 dipping sauces (choice of many) which were tasty. Minus - they looked extra crispy / well done, and were pretty floppy. Taste was ok.

(4) They brought over taproom beer/wine menus, but we had to ask. Service was friendly.

The "continued existence" comment is right on point. Some of our favorites, with lines out the door, are living a precarious existence.

Almost every public story has a back story. Every lease that has "been lost" isn't simply a piece of paper that disappeared in a file cabinet. I am sometimes floored when I hear a quiet back story about who isn't paying a bill to whom.

I appreciate the candor of the Scream owner.

Depending on the type of "day" and chat you want to have, Wood Tavern, delicious as it may be, might not be the best place to carry on conversation at normal voice level. Oliveto is a lovely setting - I haven't been in awhile and haven't heard about what is coming out of the kitchen lately. But it sounds like the perfect setting for a spa day. Cafe Rouge also seems in the "theme" for the day, but is on the far other end of town.

I almost always get a Tostada Salad with Carnitas at Talavera, and a Carnitas Torta at La Mission.

I can't speak for all the restaurants, because I don't visit many of them anymore, but I can only imagine that keeping a portfolio of restaurants afloat in the past few years has been more than a challenge. That said, the kitchen at Lalime's, where I go typically once to twice a month has been putting out some excellent food, often on their Thursday special menus (not offered every Thursday).

EAT LOUNGE HAS CLOSED FOR BUSINESS
WE REGRET ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

http://eatpluslounge.com/

It was the (arguably) best beef in the city a few years ago, and for several years running.

Seafood overall is pretty bad. Steak quality is way down, and sadly, La Brigada may have been permanently chopped off my list as of January.

If you search for El Baqueano, I've eaten there twice in the past year-plus, and it was excellent. It isn't your typical BA dining experience, but it it is a great tasting menu of unusual items, and I think it is better than Pura Tierra, and has a lovely wine list.

What T-Rex now has are appealing meal-sized salads, and you can add Fried or Grilled chicken ($3), brisket ($4) or salmon ($5) for a protein. Given the convenience factor, this has placed it higher on my lunch radar.

The happy hour riblets are really good. ($8)