Red Oak Cafe serves up healthy choices in Oakland
It seems like it's been a long time since anything opened in the caffeine- and burrito-fueled heart of Oakland that's not a fast-food chain. And for all the smart people at the neighborhood's hospitals and universities, there's a distinct lack of healthy, nourishing "brain food" nearby. Man cannot live on burritos and beer alone -- although college man can probably survive, say, a semester.
Maybe the owners of the Red Oak Cafe saw an opening here, or maybe it was just an educated gamble. But judging by the standing-room-only crowds in this tiny cafe at lunchtime, you'd think that offering fresh, healthy, mostly organic food was some sort of ruse -- for selling burritos and beer.
Red Oak is in the beautiful, historic Iroquois Building, designed by local architect Frederick Osterling. There's a beautiful set of 70-year-old sepia-tone photographic murals of Pittsburgh industry and architecture that wraps around the room near the ceiling.
The space is a little on the cramped side. You have to find and keep a seat, while ordering at the register and picking up your food at the deli counter. This isn't possible at peak lunch hours without help. On the plus side, one of the managers has experience cooking with superstar chefs Lidia Bastianich and Rick Bayless, so they're not going to crack up under the pressure of an Oakland lunch rush.
The Cajun Turkey Bacon Wrap ($7) sounds like something you'd find at Subway, but the freshness and perfect, manageable size stand out. The "Cajun" bit is merely some seasoning on the turkey, but there's just the right amount of juicy, crunchy bacon and Swiss cheese. Honey mustard and mayo aren't really necessary but don't hurt, either.
As a side, they offer homemade corn chips or fresh asparagus.
Grains, Beans and Veggies ($6.50) is a standard menu item that changes slightly from day to day, depending on what beans, grains and veggies they happen to have. Ours was a combination of basmati rice, black-eyed peas, pinto beans and tiny green peas. The vegetable of the day apparently was asparagus, because they were giving it away with everything. But for the sheer quantity of asparagus served, it was slightly amazing how crisp and fresh it was. No floppy, mushy asparagus here.
There are two daily soup offerings, one of them organic, which costs $1-$1.50 more. Our organic soup of the day was a Tomato Vegetable ($4), which was more of a thick stew than a soup. Lots of chunky tomatoes, with a little bit of tangy spice, but very hearty. Two of us could only finish half the smallest cup of soup they offer.
Additional Information:
Red Oak Cafe
Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m Mon.-Fri.
Address: 3610 Forbes Ave., Oakland
Phone: 412-621-2221
I didn't get to try
Maybe people were clamoring for Yoatmeal , and I just missed it, but this seems equal parts appealing and, well, gross. It's oatmeal infused with green tea and mixed with yogurt, with a different flavor each day. Thursdays' entree is Shrimp, Chicken & Andouille Sausage Jambalaya , with cheddar grits and garlic green beans.
