Snail Bar

Where to begin? This is, bar none, the restaurant at which to show off just how far the Oakland wine and dining scene has come. In many ways a modern heir apparent to the vibe begun decades ago at Chez Panisse (not too far away in Berkeley), Chef Andres' talent for sourcing quintessentially peak produce is always on display on the ever-rotating menu.

The standby standouts are the snails (of course) with cashew miso and kumquat, as well as the grilled ham and cheese. The wine list skews natural (the nominal Snail is a reference to Slow Food), and the wine team is ever on hand to answer questions and guide you to new discoveries.