Dine

Rumbo al Sur

If you're driven to seek out and sample new restaurants the minute they open the doors like I am, you're probably asking yourself - "what the heck took her so long with this review"?

​They opened those doors over a year ago after all, and I was very motivated by the fact that this was the latest East Bay outpost from the folks behind À Côté, as well as their catchy tagline - Rumba al Sur means southbound journey. 

Truth is, this was not my first visit but rather my third.

And another truth is, if you rush into enough restaurants sooner or later you will experience what it means to witness them "working out the kinks". But here's the deal. Although I'm no longer a little girl, I'm still fearful of my grandmother's advice  - "if you don't have anything nice to say, then say nothing at all".

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. If you don't see a restaurant review here on Gather365, it doesn't mean I haven't been there - it means I don't have anything nice to say.

You're reading this now, so trust me when I say they have gone WAY beyond working out the kinks. I had an inkling that third time's the charm when I spotted fried green tomatoes on the menu - nothing gets a Southern girl's attention faster. Although stacked with juicy bay shrimp, avocado and jalapenos en escabeche, I'm pretty sure it would get most people's attention.

Add that to a perfectly crafted margarita, some of the best house-made chips, guacamole and salsa I've ever tasted and this visit is off to a great start! An entree of Achiote pork for two with coconut rice, black beans and grilled pineapple salsa + impeccable service = muy bueno all the way around.

Here comes the best part - dining at that huge communal table next to folks from ​where else but North Carolina?  Just plain meant to be I reckon.

Revival

Amy Murray has been doing the farm-to-table thing in the East Bay for a very long time. So when she says it's Berkeley's turn for a Revival, I believe her.

She's the Chef/Co-Owner of Venus Restaurant  also in Berkeley (where she's been dishing up seasonal, organic and sustainable food for almost 10 years).

Her latest venture is the newly opened Revival Bar + Kitchen where she describes the menu as - snout to tail, root to shoot and all from scratch.

AND she's an enthusiastic supporter of the food movement that is Farmer Jane.org  about which she was quoted as saying  - "I am constantly inspired by women who roll up their sleeves, bring their hearts, souls and feminine touch to their work".

Michael Brennan did an excellent job with the restaurant design, which features reclaimed wood, great plaster effects and lots of turn-of-the-century fixtures and accessories.

One review I read describes the bar as - "sexy saloon-meets-bordello vibe, with atmospheric lighting". I'd say that's spot on - just like their cocktail recipes.

Try the Spring Fling  - gin, basil, ginger and a splash of fresh lime or the Farmer Jane - bourbon, orange tea liquor, strawberry, lemon, honey mint and soda.

Vive la Berkeley!

Plum Indeed

If you saw my earlier posts on Haven or Plum, then you already know I'm a huge Daniel Patterson fan.

So no need for me to go on and on about how all of his restaurants seem to deliver on the delicious handcrafted cocktails, mouthwatering menu and perfect atmosphere that effortlessly and simultaneously infuse you with energy AND a relaxing sense of ease.

Oh wait - I'm going on and on again. Well, whatever. After 3 visits to Plum Bar, I think I have decided it's my favorite out of the 3 (in the East Bay anyway) and here's why. Mainly, I like how "approachable" the menu and the atmosphere are by comparison.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy 4 - 5 - 6 course dinners but sometimes the thought of sitting ANYWHERE for 2-3 hours makes me restless. And just because I'm on the go, doesn't mean I'm looking for "fast food".

I love that you can breeze in and out of Plum Bar - they're open until 1:30AM on the weekends, so you have all night. There's no guilt about lack of commitment and no concerns about lack of quality. Come for a drink before dinner, or come for one after, or for dessert. Heck, camp out the whole night and have drinks, dinner, dessert and drinks again. Whatever you decide, you will revel in the goodness all-round.

All of the cocktails are impeccable - I like the Ol' Saint Fashioned with Templeton rye, brandied cranberry, candied orange and orange bitters. Try the Chicken Wings & Skins with hot sauce & cilantro - it's not what you think - remember who we are talking about here. The Double Burger with Gruyere is amazing and so is the Poutine - a delicious concoction of fries, gravy and cheese.

If you order all of that, don't eat all of it. If you do, you will not have room for the Brioche Doughnuts. Which will mean that you'll have to come back - again and again perhaps, and that will be a tragedy.

Uptown Crawl

Not just another flash-in-the-pan addition to Uptown's flourishing hip and trendy bar scene - Dogwood feels like the real deal as they serve up the stylish ease.

They say - "An intimate spirits-driven sanctuary specializing in cocktails and charcuterie by the pound". I say it's instantly timeless and comfortable, part speakeasy, part hunting lodge, yet current and a bit sexy.

The cocktails are handcrafted, stout and reasonably priced. Try the Hen House - a delicious concoction of gin, ginger and lime. And what's not to like about a joint with bacon chutney on the menu?

Now back to the notion of an Uptown crawl. Try this:

Start with Dogwood - ease into the night with their cozy atmosphere, retro music and a cheese/charcuterie plate and don't forget the bacon chutney.

Next move on to Make Westing - order something from the "Things in Jars" list and elbow your way on to the bocce ball court.

If you're still hungry, go to Flora and order most anything on that menu. Now you're primed and ready to end the night at the kooky Cafe Van Kleef - the "epicenter of the Uptown renaissance". Here you must order the signature drink, The Greyhound, in hopes the generous slice of vitamin-packed fresh grapefruit atop this cocktail will help stave off any ill effects of this long crawl.