The episode with Cheese Board is airing Monday 5/20 at 6pm PST.
Hello, everybody (readers):
My granddaughter is an employee of this community located restaurant. By-the-way...you have just got to eat that BBQ!!
My granddaughter, Lady Shay, sometimes work the cash register for the owner, Tina, SMOKE BERKELEY (did I say YUMMY). I'd like to add Lady Shay's bio to Luke Tsai one sided (poor journalism method) reporting.
Lady Shay grew up in Oakland, California. She attended private school most of her life graduating from a private Seventh Day Adventist School in Oakland Hills (8th) grade moving on to San Lorenzo High. At sixteen she graduated from high school then entered Texas Southern University at the age of 16 years old.
Lady Shay discovered THE BREAD PROJECT after realizing her inner self. She changed her occupation and turned to becoming a Chef. While researching options to the tuition that Le Gordon Blue, San Francisco, CA., charged her fortune lay before her in another "dress", she graduated from THE BREAD PROJECT and became its' CAFE MANAGER.
While looking for a second job (economics--Bush economics), Lady Shay found SMOKE BERKELEY. What good fortune.
Perhaps Mr. Luke Tsai meant well but who wants to read the mind of a journalist when we're supposed to read his written words?
Do a better job, LUKE. Did you interview any employees? You've made my granddaughter's impression dwindle!
HOWEVER, hey!! Let's give Ms. Tina over at SMOKE BERKELEY a shout out. Run over (yes, run) today. Get that meal you've always dreamed about coming straight outta TEXAS.
And that's where I'm from. HOUSTON, TEXAS.
ms. akilah mohammed
Totally inaccurate review. The food here is DELISH. Love the artichoke dip. Only downside is there is not a full bar yet just wine and beer!
Wow, this article was extremely insulting from beginning to end. It was "challenging" this and "adventurous" that. You need better adjectives. Yea Nigerian food isn't made for the "american" pallet, meaning its not covered in salt fat and sugar. But just because it isn't, doesn't mean it has to be seen as an "adventure" to eat it, geez. Do better next time, its not hard.
Their pastry chef, I think her name is Debbie, makes an incredible apple and berry strudel. Served a la mode with vanilla ice-cream it is 'to die for'.
A "no-talking" policy? Does sound abusive.
The classic American answer to blandness is Tabasco.
Sheesh. You make it sound like there's jobs all over the place. Did you ever think that people are working as much as they can, trying to support their families? Workers need to be paid enough to at least survive. And why wouldn't a food-handling establishment want their workers on health insurance right away?
This sounds a lot like people expecting more from their part-time job than is realistic. If these former employees went to Domino's making pizzas of dough powder A and pizza sauce B -would they be better off? If so, then go fill out an application. Honestly, and this is coming from someone who started working at 15 and did so all through school, I don't expect a pizzeria to provide what these former employees expect it to. I worked hourly in retail and restaurants until my last year in college and, wow, I had some bad, bad bosses. One boss was so mental I quit right in the middle of my rush hour shift -no one called the newspaper over it. As a professional I still have had to change jobs because my bosses were nightmares. I feel for these people, and then I totally don't.
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Wow, quite the snarky review. I had a far different experience. I found the food excellent. The service was good but not great. The design elements are great fun, and a refreshing change from the ubiquitous "modern" styled establishments springing up all over. BTW - best bathroom around.
wow, this is so well written. what a great review--beautifully brings out the humanity and the soul of the people and the setting.
Eat at Jodie's right now! They're slowly fundraising for that bigger place. When I went in there, the place was not full, and it should be! All the time! They took a big hit financially when they couldn't serve their fried chicken anymore...
The reviewer contradicts himself repeatedly--Tsai says it's refreshing to see an American pizzeria that isn't a chain, but the pizzas are "traditional Neapolitan style to please the purist." So what makes an "American pizza"? Maybe it's the rest of the "unapologetically American" menu--except the fried cheese curds, smoked chicken wings, and twice-baked potatoes are closer to "Cal-Italian hybridized American" than mere twists on county fair food.
In the end, I'm unconvinced that The Forge turns the paradigm of American pizza "on its head" with a unconventional appetizers. Sounds like good food, though.
Will have to go back.
Stumbled in once several years ago. Your review rings true. Will need to try the eggs Benedict variation.
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And here I was thinking this was about local fish taco pioneer Baja Taqueria opening a new branch.
Cool, thanks for the recs, Andrew and Eric! Sadly, I've eaten quite a few mediocre fried fish tacos around town, too, but I haven't tried either of these.
no need to wait months; there are batter-fried fish tacos being served now at El Chilar on 17th in downtown Oakland.
Re: “The Best Chinese Restaurant in Oakland That You've Never Heard Of”
I've been going to Ben's for a year, the food is delicious and inexpensive but what keeps me coming back is how fresh it is. They are located in the produce district and it shows. Ben knows how to cook vegetables, not overcook them like most restaurants. Expect warm service, great inexpensive food and don't forget to bring cash.