The Best Gumbo Can Get
I don’t know about y’all but I start losing my mind when I haven’t gone out to eat in a while. I didn’t plan to have any of this this weekend but here we are!
June's Pizza
The one thing I knew about June’s Pizza (other than that they made pizza) was that they often times sold out. Let me just say, it’s for a reason: really good cheese pizza. Technically, with the basil, it’s a really good margarita pizza. First they layer on the most vibrant, tomato sauce you’ll probably ever have from a pizza shop. Then they cover it with shredded cheese ON TOP of the mozzarella cheese. The basil leaves are tucked in the box so you can add as much or as little as you want, hence the reason I initially referred to it as a cheese pizza. Just like the basil leaves the pizza is huge; for $32 you can feed at least 4 adults. In NorCal fashion, they also have a [green] garlic sauce dip for the pizza.
For all my Miss Congeniality fans, after your day’s workout you can take a box over to the brewery next door. There aren’t any paint drums, but it does get nice and moody in there after a certain time. I know the girls are scared to drink beer, but just try it. My personal preference is a dark lager, which sounds serious but is the easiest to get used to.
Also, don’t be scared take the kiddos! There are plenty of them running in and outside.
2408 Mandela Pkway, Oakland, CA 94607
Open Wednesday through Sunday 4PM-12AM
The Library Social Club
I adore this place.
Now, I must be honest, I did not discover this place on my own. I try to only write about places I find and take interest in, and where I’ve also had a good experience. Rule of thumb: if you can’t find a blog written on it, I probably wouldn’t recommend it. But since being introduced, I’ve gone once a month.
They’re closed on Mondays but great on the weekends. They play everything I want to hear: Brent, Kendrick, Cleo Sol. I’ve even enjoyed “I DO” by Leon Thomas (a song requirement for my wedding reception) while drinking a glass of sparkling Rosé. If I can find my man we might just have the wedding there, who knows.
As great as the service is and as wide of a variety of still to sparkling wines there are, the Chicken & Sausage Gumbo is unmatched. Before coming here, I only ate Ms. Kimm's gumbo which only turns up once at the end of the year. But now my prayers have been answered and I can indulge all year round.
From someone who loves a kick and will add ghost pepper to anything, it has the perfect amount of spice; you won’t burn your tongue off but it’ll bring you comfort even in the summer time. To make a great bowl even better, the gumbo is served with a sweet potato cornbread that is buttery, mildly sweet, tender, and moist.
If for some reason your gumbo loyalty lies somewhere else, the Butter & Bread and Smoked Salmon Crudo are two of my other favorite accompaniments.
The Library Social Club - Walnut Creek
1506 N Main St, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Open Tuesday-Thursday 3-9PM, Friday 3-10PM, Saturday 12-10PM, & Sunday 12-5PM
Starter Bakery
If you love Berkeley Bowl’s “Morning Buns”, you’ll love Starter Bakery. Unfortunately, the only item I tried was the Traditional Kouign Amann, which is similar to a croissant if it had crystallized sugar along the folds. They offer so many sweet and savory pastries but I’m considering ordering online to guarantee I can try them all.
5804 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
Open Wednesday-Friday 7AM-3PM & Saturday/Sunday 7:30AM-4PM
Tallboy
After two failed attempts, I finally made it to Tallboy in Oakland.
I was in there drinking like a fish. I love their distinct twist on classic cocktails like the Lychee Martini and Strawberry Daiquiri. The Lychee Martini was made with mezcal for the grown and sexy like me. If you’re looking for a slushie to pack the punch, the Strawberry Daiq is definitely it. It was my last drink of the day, and the strongest.
But you can’t leave without ordering a round or two of the jello-shots. My picks are the Onlyfans Martini and Green Tea Shot which are $4 each.
With a background in graphic design and marketing, naturally I love the branding. I've gotten so accustomed to pay $20+ for a single cocktail, I'm celebrating the fact that their prices are between $12-16. If you really ballin onna budget, they have mini-martinis for $3 and $4 beer.
Clearly, they expect patrons to get real comfortable in there. If you're not a fan of their endless vegan food options, they have a free popcorn setup in the back to keep you steady. I even peeped some charging ports and purse hooks under the bar. Move over Mad Oak, locals of all ages (21+) are now at Tallboy.
4210 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
Open Sunday-Thursday 2PM-12AM & Friday/Saturday 2PM-2AM
Thanks for reading, happy eating!