You know how sometimes, you walk into a house or a restaurant or a bar or a cute little boutique and know, just KNOW, it's going to be your home away from home?
C and I instantly felt that way about Wood Tavern, Rebekah and Rich Wood's new place in Oakland's Rockridge district. It's just that good, and that comfortable, and that pleasant a place to go.
At a recent lazy Sunday lunch (after the most hellacious travel day possible - stay tuned for details), we shared a bottle of our favorite white wine -- Movia Ribolla ($38), which we first tried at Frasca in Boulder.
We started, as always, with their Butcher Block ($5 per item). After a few tries, we've decided that we're happiest foregoing the Fra' Mani salumis for Wood Tavern's own housemade Smoked Duck Breast and Rabbit Rillettes. The rillettes have a texture that is much finer and less overtly "fatty" than most of those I've tried; this makes me want to eat them with a spoon. My only "whine" here is that the duck breast is served in portions of three slices, which makes it difficult for two greedy bitches to share.
Next, we shared a salad of Arugula and Asparagus ($8) which the kitchen kindly split for us. Simply dressed with a light and bright lemon vinaigrette, and punctuated* with toasted almonds, paper-thin slices of fennel, and pecorino shavings, this was a perfect early Spring salad. Nothing you couldn't replicate fairly well at home, but nicely solid.
I moved on to a luscious, spicy, toothsome "Sugo & Shells" ($16). Their lamb sugo is already the stuff of legend, and with good reason. It's one of those dishes which works on a warm day, a chilly evening, whenever. There's something really satisfying about a bright, piquant sauce loaded with tender and gamey lamb that actually TASTES like lamb. Even C was happy to steal a few bites, while I cleverly used my fork to stab his other hand.
So now it gets interesting.
C is an avowed Luka's burger junkie. So much so, in fact, that in two years of nearly-monthly visits, I think I've only ever seen him order something different once. Now, this says nothing about his adventurous nature; but, it does speak VOLUMES about the quality of that burger. Luka's really does have a "perfect" hamburger.
So when he ordered the Hamburger, Add Bacon & Cheddar ($12), I was ready for a throwdown. What arrived to the table was clearly not even TRYING to compete for top honors in the "Traditional" category. It was served on a baguette, but one which had softened up nicely (nothing like destroying the roof of your mouth on hard, crusty bread) and the meat was juicy, flavorful and seasoned well. The fries were "OK", but nothing that would compel me to order them separately, the way we do at Luka's and some other places.
But.
Oh, heaven the pickles. Thick disks of crunchy, tart, salty, slightly sweet, and deliciously spiced pickle. Pickles so good that, when C shared his last one, I felt incredibly guilty about that earlier stabbing incident. Where do I find pickles like this???
After all this, we were both quite full, but managed to make room in our bellies for a lovely Panna Cotta with Strawberry Salad and Granita and Creme Caramel Profiteroles (both $7). Both were very, very good -- better, in fact, than what I expect from a restaurant that is barely cutting its teeth, and which doesn't (as far as I know) have a dedicated pastry chef.
So, clearly, we loved the food. But what is it that brings us back over and over again? What is it that has us making reservations for our next meal before we pay even our bill?
It's that (seemingly) elusive combination of food and ambience, space and service. I'm not all crazy into the Feng Shui thing, but I can tell you that whatever the Woods did, walking into the Tavern feels like stepping into a beautiful but cozy living room. They walk the room, checking on tables, smiling, and making sure people waiting for a table have a drink to tide them over. They are the ultimate hosts, and you can tell that they adore what they do.
*Don't you hate it when people use $5 words completely out of context? Me too.
Wood Tavern
6317 College Avenue
Oakland, CA
510.654.6607
Tags: Food, Wine, Food & Drink, San Francisco, Oakland, Wood Tavern, Restaurants