Restaurateur Dona Savitsky says closing her 20-year-old Temescal sit-down restaurant and reopening as a quick-service spot on Piedmont Avenue was one of the best decisions she’s made.

Kathryn Bowen
Kathryn Bowen is an Oakland-based writer with a background in law and food policy.
Alice Waters’ Edible Schoolyard Project changed how Berkeley students eat. Its next goal: to fight climate change
As ESY enters its 25th year, Waters and the organization’s staff talk lessons learned, challenges and their most ambitious pledge yet — to help Americans eat their way out of climate change.
Tacos El Tucán ups the ante with quesatacos and other Tijuana-style fare
Just three weeks old, this taqueria in Richmond is already drawing hordes of hungry diners. Find out what the crowds are fussing about.
North Light shines with a revamped brunch menu
With new chef Leo Batoyon at the helm, North Light has found its place in Temescal, offering a solid weekend mid-day menu and great cocktails, to boot.
The heat is on: World Famous HotBoys introduces a spicy, celebrated Tennessee specialty to Oakland
This California-style version of Nashville hot chicken comes in five degrees of spice: mild, medium, hot, hot hot, and hella hot.
What does it mean for small butchers when meat is the ‘bad guy’?
With meat consumption waning and protein alternatives on the rise, what’s to come of butcher shops like Ver Brugge, Marin Sun Farms and The Local Butcher Shop that base their livelihoods on livestock?
Chardonnay haters: This Oakland winery’s Old World-take tastes new
Côte West winemaker Bret Hogan is taking California grapes to town — Meursault, Burgundy, to be exact — for his flagship wine. It’s not your grandma’s Chardonnay.
A midsummer night’s dream: Bar Sardine packs in crowds with natural wine, tinned fish and a cozy vibe
Bartavelle’s easy-breezy Tuesday and Friday evening wine bar offers a Portuguese and Spanish-influenced menu that’s seasonal, fresh and au courant.
Sauerkraut drinks, bibimbap-inspired rice bowls, and savory jooks nourish at Café Umami
Give your gut and mind a boost at the café’s recently opened second location in Uptown Oakland.
Italian-inspired Mama on Grand Avenue is a charmer
Stevie Stacionis and Josiah Baldivino’s new Oakland eatery welcomes guests with an accessible three-course menu and a budget-friendly wine list.
From dissertation to dessert: Former academic turned baker brings Turkish treats to East Bay
These days, Hatice Yildiz harnesses her innate curiosity and attention-to-detail to perfect recipes for baklava, bourek and other sweet and savory Turkish treats.
À Côté brings Georgian food, the ‘next big thing,’ to Oakland
From June 26 through July 7, the Euro-Mediterranean restaurant in Rockridge will host a traditional Georgian food and wine dinner series.