oakland – Waiting For Delight https://waitingfordelight.com Honest Restaurant Reviews & Travel Experiences Wed, 07 Sep 2022 04:07:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://waitingfordelight.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/cropped-WaitingForDelight_Coffee_Logo-32x32.png oakland – Waiting For Delight https://waitingfordelight.com 32 32 Rosenblum Winery https://waitingfordelight.com/rosenblum-winery/ Mon, 12 Sep 2022 17:10:00 +0000 https://waitingfordelight.com/?p=996
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

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Mama’s Royale Cafe https://waitingfordelight.com/mamas-royale-cafe/ https://waitingfordelight.com/mamas-royale-cafe/#comments Sat, 10 Sep 2022 09:22:00 +0000 https://waitingfordelight.com/?p=700
Ambiance
5/5
Service
5/5
Food / Drink
5/5
Overall
5/5

Visited (quite a few times, but prior to this review) for breakfast on 8/6/2022

Awning out front of Mamas

Before I start with this review, I’ll just mention this is by far my favorite breakfast diner, hence the 5-star rating in the breakfast category. I have been coming here for years. I was turned on to this place around 2010, when my friend introduced me to the spot for their key vegetarian dish, the Veggie Joe. That dish is still one of my favorite dishes ever and I return about once a month to treat myself to it 🙂

There are accents and reminders of the restaurant’s past throughout

So, onto Mama’s! Mama’s is a cute diner located on Broadway in Oakland, just past auto row and Kaiser. From what I understand, the diner has been there since the 40s and used to be a Chinese restaurant. The interior still has remnants of its history, which makes its decor fun and unique. 

When walking in, you’ll stand in the walkway until seated.

When you walk in, you’re greeted by the host stand and if you’re lucky enough to not have a wait (friendly tip, go before 10 to avoid the crowd), you’ll be seated. There are three seating areas, one in the front, booths in the middle, and there is a side room with a large number of tables. Personally, I like the front room for people watching, but if you’re with a group, the side room is likely best. The owner Hooshi is often there helping out with seating and he is such a friendly and helpful guy. He took the time to learn my name since I am a frequent diner.

Seating in the first room

Inside looking out towards the street.

Seating in the larger (more open) third area

They have rotating specials, always check the white boards 🙂

As for the menu, there is quite honestly something for everyone. Pancakes? Check. Omelets? Check. You name it, they’ve got it. They also have weekly specials. This is great if you’re with a group of folks with a variety of appetites, but it can be a struggle if you’re indecisive. So, let me help you and say, just get the Veggie Joe. If you’re a vegetarian, or like vegetarian food, it’s just so good! As I mentioned earlier, I get it frequently!

The veggie joe breakfast with grits and a biscuit!

The Veggie Joe is essentially a scramble and comes with spinach, veggie sausage, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and mushrooms and it’s so yum. When I order it, I replace the potatoes for grits (because….grits) – but the potatoes are nice home fries if you like those. Also, substitute your toast for a biscuit. You won’t be sorry 🙂 They make their biscuits fresh, and while some batches are a bit dense, they’re always buttery, and go great with jam or honey.

Can’t miss the homemade biscuits

Also, a secret not known to all is that they make their own salsa! It is divine. It goes great with any egg dish and I always request it 🙂

The Mama’s homemade salsa is absolutely delicious and a great add to just about any dish

Fruit cup is standard mixed diner fruits – expect melon, blueberries, strawberries, etc.

You can pay or purchase pastries up at the counter.

After the meal you can pay your server, or if it’s packed, you can take your check up to the front counter and pay at the register. Also at the register is an assortment of fresh & day-old pastries. So, if you want something for later it’s a great takeaway!

I feel like diners are typically hit or miss. This spot though always hits me with their veggie joe. If you’re a vegetarian, it’s one of the best breakfasts you’ll find. As far as diners go, I give this a full 5-stars!

So, I say give this place a shot if you’re in the mood for breakfast, you may even catch me there 😉

~Jeremy

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