Totally Unauthorized

The rebirth of Oakland is amazing.  I’m not in the habit of giving Jerry Brown much credit, but what has the uptown renaissance is astounding.  The new restaurants, the boom in art galleries, Oakland is now a destination rather than a place to avoid.

The first Friday of the month is Art Murmur day.  The galleries are open late, the food vendors come out as they close 23rd between Telegraph and Broadway, music is everywhere.  It’s the place to be for the young, hip, slick and cool.  Fortunately, they let me in there too.

Last night, Gail and I met some friends and hit the scene.  We started out at Mercury 20, a collective gallery on 25th street, where we saw some very innovative work by our friend Laura van Duren.  Next door and upstairs to Mercury 20 is Vessel, an absolutely stunning gallery space.

Vessel gallery

Vessel gallery

The corner of 23rd and Telegraph

So after a couple of hours of looking into galleries, shouldering our way through the crowds, sometimes coveting the art and sometimes reviling it, we were ready for dinner.

We were out with friends, one of whom works and displays at Mercury20 and knows the latest and greatest in Oakland dining.  He had chosen Mua for us.  (You really want to click through to this website, it’s just cooler than I can explain)

Situated in a cavernous building which was once an auto repair place, Mua is the place I always wanted to be hip enough for.  I wasn’t then and I’m not now, but they still let me in.   There were 7 of us, and they showed us to a table on the balcony, right next to the upstairs bar.  The people watching was spectacular.

The dinner was pretty alright, too.  The menu isn’t extensive, but covers the basics well and has a few nice touches.  Instead of a salad, I started with the hamachi crudo, which is just another way of preparing sashimi.  Thin slices of raw yellowfin tuna, touched with lemon juice and served on slices of cucumber.  It isn’t for everyone, but I thought it was quite well done.  Gail had the carpaccio, and didn’t leave anything on the plate.  Our tablemates shared a couple of orders of green olives stuffed with feta cheese and fried.  If you have to eat death food, it should always taste this good.

Blackened Catfish on dirty rice. Not fancy, just good.

These Brussel sprouts are so good almost everyone would like them.

My main course was blackened catfish on dirty rice.  A simple dish, simply presented.  Sometimes restaurants are trying so hard to be clever and innovative that they forget to get the basics right–not here.  Gail and I shared an order of brussel sprouts  (sorry Mike) and loved every one.

Okay, the place is loud and busy.  The service isn’t particularly fast, but we weren’t in  a hurry, either.  The prices are reasonable–the bill for 7 of us, with 2 bottles of Prosecco and my iced tea, was under $400.  Give the place a try, and don’t forget to gallery hop on the first Friday of the month.