The Chatterbox

Received word about a brand-new café called JEBENA, serving coffee from Barefoot and loose-leaf teas, along with savory dishes like panini, soup, and salad. Since owner Kinani Ahmed is Ethiopian, he also plans to offer an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, brewing the coffee in a traditional way (this is coming soon)…

OOLA RESTAURANT & BAR is now launching weekday lunch (Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm) and Sunday brunch (10:30am-3pm). Lunch items include the baby back ribs, salads, a Reuben, fish and chips, grilled flat-iron steak, and the trending dish of the year: fried chicken and waffles. Starters are $6-$16, and…

DRAGON ROUGE, in the heart of Alameda’s Park street business district, is celebrating its third year of business by adding affordable lunch service; look for Vietnamese dishes like banh mi and pho. Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm. 2304 Encinal St., Alameda, 510-521-1800.…

The folks behind Levende East are now opening LIEGE SPIRITS LOUNGE in Oakland—the grand opening is this Wednesday, March 17th, starting at 7pm. According to a note I received, they will be serving “tapas items and an assortment of healthy, house-made broth-based fondues featuring organic meats and seafood items,…

The kind couple behind bargain bite favorite Wally’s Café, Angelica Zuberbuhler and Walid Matar, have now opened MS. WALLY’S CAFÉ, also in Emeryville. While the menu will continue to offer affordable and authentically made Mediterranean and Lebanese dishes like hummus, tabbouleh, falafel, and kebabs, new dishes include crêpes,…

I don’t think many tears will be sniffed over the closure of Craig’s Place in the Mission, which is now opening as ~EBB & FLOW~ this Wednesday. Chef-partner Vincent Schofield (Boulevard, Sundance Kitchen, Willows Inn on Lummi Island in Washington) has partnered up with the owners, Craig and…