07.24.07
Great taste, less environmental impact: Levende East
I wanted to reserve my write-up of Levende East until I had actually eaten there (makes sense, no?).
Open about six weeks, the elegant and airy space shares one of Oakland’s hottest corners with B Restaurant, Jesso’s, and the Air Lounge. It boasts a premium bar with a long group-oriented table and cushy chairs in the dining room. The music’s fun, but they turn it up around eight, so have your conversations early.
The menu of Asian/Latin American fusion cuisine is creative,though not unique, since the restaurant shares a chef with the San Francisco’s Levende in the Mission. It also has one of ubiquitous little notes at the bottom mentioning that they use local and organic goods when possible. I love that, and that it’s increasingly common.
(This is not intended as a review, but I particularly liked some of the signature dishes including the coconut miso and the little slider-like lamb burgers.)
Where Levende East really sets itself apart is in its innovative cocktails. I’m no expert, but I do like a good drink, and I particularly enjoyed the Cherry Bomb and La Fresa. They get cool factor points for infusing their own flavored vodkas, which also allows them to whip up unique drinks. If you want to whip up your own unique drink, do so on Saturdays, when a bloody Mary bar complements the weekend brunch.
827 washington at ninth
510.835.5585
