Categories
Bars California Oakland United States Wineries

Rosenblum Winery

Ambiance
4.5/5
Service
4.5/5
Food / Drink
4.5/5
Overall
4.5/5

10 Clay Street, Oakland, California

Visited in July 2022

View during the sunset

Rosenblum is a wine cellar located in Jack London Square, where the San Francisco Bay Ferry terminal is in Oakland. It’s directly on water street and hard to miss. The setting is perfect for a date, happy hour with friends, birthday drinks, or just a hang with your friends. They do often get booked up, so I encourage you to make a reservation on Yelp. Otherwise, you may find yourself without a table (this happened to me once!).

They have three types of flights, the Rockstar (aka. red flight) is shown here

The Ambiance of Rosenblum is charming industrial. Indoors, there are low metal tables and high-topped wooden tables with stools. There is also some seating at the bar. Outside, there is a large outdoor patio seating area, with umbrellas. There are no heaters, so bundle up if it’s cold, but when it’s warm / sunny – it is a delight to sit outside. You have an unrestricted view of the water. They do have a 2-hour reservation window, meaning you can’t get too comfortable and hang out all night 😉.

The bubbly flight (comprised of sparkling wines)

The wine list is actually quite extensive. Rosenblum is known for their Zinfandels, big & bold, but they also have a variety of other wines from other producers you can order as well. If you are a wine aficionado, it’s a fun place to try some new things, just be warned that the staff are not trained sommeliers. They are kind and helpful, but as a person who used to work in the wine industry, they couldn’t tell me about old world / new world, flavors, scents, etc. So, I’d say just go with an open mind and to try what interests you. They have three different flights (a red, white, and sparkling), so those are great to do if you’re indecisive or want to see what they have to offer. 

A glass of their famous Zinfandel

If you end up ordering a glass that isn’t your jam, they will replace it for you. Also, if you become a regular, the staff make it a point to remember your name and make you feel welcome. I appreciate this 😊

Speaking of becoming a regular – if you are a local, I encourage you to sign-up for the wine club. No, I am not marketing for them, but it is actually quite a good deal, as there are discounts on food and wine. Since I live locally, I can take advantage of the discounts when stopping in, along with the free glass of wine when I do make it over. So, the membership really pays for itself if you go even a few times in a month.

The prairie breeze cheddar is my favorite of the hard cheeses

Rosenblum does have a short list of foods, which are helpful when hanging out for a bit. They have personal pizzettes, cheeses, hummus, crackers, etc. Everything is ala carte, meaning when you order a cheese, you get the whole block of cheese! So, order carefully, or you’ll be set with a lot of food. Prices are reasonable for what you get. I really like the Prairie Breeze hard cheddar and if you’re lactose free the Labneh cheese is not bad! I will admit I have never had it before, but I will likely order it again. 

Overall, if you are in the Jack London area and are looking for a casual place to hang, catch-up with friends, or simply grab a glass of wine, I recommend checking-out Rosenblum. It may not be located in Napa, but it definitely gives you a taste of wine country in the city.

~Jeremy

Categories
Bars London Pubs United Kingdom

Southwark Tavern

Ambiance
4/5
Service
4/5
Food / Drink
4/5
Overall
4/5

Visited Sunday May 29th  – afternoon

View of the Bar at Southwark Tavern

After brunch at Mallow, my friend and I were looking for a place to grab a pint and relax for a bit. We had a busy morning of walking the market, eating all the yummy foods at Mallow and needed to chill. We mapped out the bus we needed to grab, which was down the street and saw there were quite a few taverns on the way.

Inside of the bar

We decided on Southwark as we walked and weren’t disappointed. The pub is your standard English Pub. A nice assortment of beers on tap, decently friendly bar staff and an interesting mix of clientele. We opted to sit inside and I’m not sure if this is common to occur in the evening as well, but the Sunday afternoon crowd definitely gets busy in pulses. It’s almost like a regular heart beat! So, if there is a line when you go in, just chill for 5 and then you’ll be able to walk right up. Although, by waiting in-line I did meet quite a few fun characters. There was a fellow who just finished biking 100 miles (there was some century ride through London that day) and a lady who was ordering her own interpretation of a gin & tonic (it was flavored gin, sprite, some bitters) – she was convinced of it, and I thought it was slightly odd, but encouraged her to go for it!  

While sitting here for a bit, I can say the noise level was manageable. Not too crazy to have to shout, but also not quite to feel awkward. What did I drink? Well, I ordered a Pint of Peroni, a Guinness (perfect pint certified), and a good ole regular Gin & Tonic (had to have one after the strange concoction I heard the lady talking about). Prices were reasonable! Also, they have a short food menu, so if you become hungry you can get something to nibble on. 

Peroni Cheers!

Overall, this is a solid English corner pub! Nice place to grab a pint after work or just when passing by. It does get busy in pulses, so if there is a line, chill for a few and then you can get right to the front. There is indoor and outside space to sit, and prices are reasonable (for the area). They have some snacks, but mostly come for the drinks. 


~Jeremy