Wood Tavern
The first thing you notice when stepping inside the Wood Tavern is that everything feels very open and modern, even though the space isn't the largest. Contemporary fine dining is the first words that come to mind when walking through the doors, but intimate and personal is how you will begin to feel once you are seated. The tight quarters inside the Wood Tavern give the restaurant a friendly ambiance that feels like you know everyone inside. The key to success for the Wood Tavern is that the ingredients all originate from local, sustainable sources. This focus on local cuisine allows the Wood Tavern to create gourmet quality meals that are ideally suited to the palate of the residents in East Bay. The only thing not local is the wine selection. The Wood Tavern features more than 60 wines from around the world, along with a large assortment of gourmet cheeses.
Wood Tavern
6317 College Avenue (At Alcatraz Avenue)
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 654-6607
woodtavern.net
Riva Cucina
If authentic Italian cuisine is what you crave, skip the franchise restaurants and go to Riva Cucina instead. Italians use the word Riva to describe an area where land and water meet, and the Riva Cucina Italian restaurant has stayed true to that concept in the menu selection. All items on the menu are made from items that are grown organically in the local area, with fish that comes straight from the East Bay area. The restaurant also features a number of imported items from Italy, such as fine Italian wines. Riva Cucina serves lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Dinner services is held Tuesday through Saturday, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The dinner menu changes nightly, based on what ingredients are freshly available. The menu is updated on the restaurant website each day to make it more convenient for patrons to review selections before visiting in person. After a delicious meal, be sure to enjoy one of the fantastic traditional Italian desserts.
Riva Cucina
800 Heinz Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 841-7482
rivacucina.com
Maria Maria
Posh decorations envelop you from the moment you step through the doors. Comfortable seating, candlelit alcoves and a warm feeling of ambiance are always on hand. Whether you want to visit Maria Maria to meet a few friends after work for drinks or have a pleasant family dinner on the patio, this is the place. The thing that makes Maria Maria stand apart from all other restaurants in the East Bay area is that it is not merely a place to eat. Maria Maria is a complete entertainment experience, inspired by the music of the legendary Carlos Santana. Santana's music is combined with the theatrical cooking style of Chef Roberto Santibañez, to create a restaurant like no other on Earth.
Maria Maria
1470 N. Broadway
Walnut Creek, CA
(925) 946-1010
mariamariarestaurants.com
