You can’t go wrong with Centouno’s torta fritta appetizer, traditional Italian fried dough served with cured meat ($14). The restaurant’s philosophy is that “the ingredients should do the talking.” Photo: Emilie Raguso You can’t go wrong with Centouno’s torta fritta appetizer, traditional Italian fried dough served with cured meat ($14). The restaurant’s philosophy is that “the ingredients should do the talking.” Photo: Emilie Raguso
Owner Fabio Dalle Vacche has teamed up with his mother, Luigina Delfino — who’s been cooking for 40 years — to launch a cozy, rustic and stylish Italian restaurant on Broadway just north of Jack London Square. Dalle Vacche drew inspiration from his family’s trattoria, just outside Parma, Italy, and has state-side experience opening Borgo Italia in Old Oakland and consulting for restaurants in New York City. Dalle Vacche goes out of his way to make diners comfortable. Dishes are “an homage” to Delfino’s long culinary history, and reasonably priced to boot. Via the restaurant website, “Using only the best ingredients, her recipes are unassuming, delicious and served the way she does in her own kitchen. Not distracted by unneeded garnish, the food is rustic, cooked with love and speaks for itself.” See the initial menu here to get a sense of the offerings, but items do change.
Centouno, at 101 Broadway, at the Embarcadero in Oakland, opened in December, and Nosh was invited for a complimentary meal for two to try it out. If you’ve sampled the spots we feature, please let us know about your experience in the comments below. (Photographs by Emilie Raguso.)
Centouno is located on Broadway where it meets Jack London Square in Oakland.Cozy, rustic, comfortable and chic: Centouno hits all the bases.Fresh bread is served with olive oil and a balsamic glaze. You’ll want to eat it all. Fresh bread is served with olive oil and a balsamic glaze. You’ll want to eat it all.Fabio Dalle Vacche offers Italian comfort food in small-plate and family-style formats at reasonable prices.The wine list has Italian along with California and New World selections, all of which are offered by the glass. There are several beers on tap, including ones from Centouno’s neighbor, Linden Street Brewery. The building housing Centouno is a historic structure built in 1909 and some of the original brickwork remains. Via the restaurant website: “Once known as the Overland House because it was the venue where travelers completed their overland journey before setting sail on the Pacific, is was also a favorite haunt of author Jack London.” The wine list has Italian along with California and New World selections, all of which are offered by the glass. There are several beers on tap, including ones from Centouno’s neighbor, Linden Street Brewery. The building housing Centouno is a historic structure built in 1909 and some of the original brickwork remains. Via the restaurant website: “Once known as the Overland House because it was the venue where travelers completed their overland journey before setting sail on the Pacific, is was also a favorite haunt of author Jack London.”Mushroom risotto and slow-braised osso buco — which takes 11 hours to prepare — are among owner Fabio Dalle Vacche’s recommendations. Mushroom risotto and slow-braised osso buco — which takes 11 hours to prepare — are among owner Fabio Dalle Vacche’s recommendations.Lightly coated, deep fried apple rings with a touch of sugar pair well with refreshing lemon sorbet.The 22-seat private Taverna dining room at Centouno is available for reservations. The restaurant has seating for more than 100 and the dining room includes rustic Old World Italian-inspired décor with reclaimed barn wood accents throughout.
Hail all foodies! Nosh will soon launch Nosh Weekly, a free weekly email that will keep you bang up-to-date on all the delicious food, drink and restaurant news in the East Bay. Want to be one of the first to receive it? Simply sign up here.
Emilie Raguso (former senior editor, news) joined Berkeleyside in 2012 and covered politics, public safety and development until her departure in 2022. In 2017, Emilie was named Journalist of the Year...
More by Emilie Raguso
