Lungomare--Oakland (Italian cuisine)

The latest venture from the owners of Chop Bar and Grand Tavern, Lungomare serves Italian food inspired by Tuscan and Ligurian specialties. Located at 1 Broadway in Jack London Square, this restaurant offers plenty of outdoor seating right on the waterfront as well as a nice ambiance indoors. Also included is a raw bar, a regular bar, a breakfast café and live music on certain nights to make this an all day and night destination.

http://www.lungomareoakland.com/

So far, I've been here for lunch and dinner and all their offerings have been delicious. Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.

Berry Phosphate. A house-made berry soda using strawberries, blackberries and tarragon, this was a very refreshing, non-alcoholic drink. However, all their sodas have a spiked option.

Cucumber Tonic. Made with cucumber, lemongrass, cardamom and lime peel, I opted to spike it with the recommended St. George Basil Eau de Vie. Very nice.

Dante's Inferno. Off their cocktail list, this drink was made with Clement Agricole Rhum, Cimarron Tequila, Cantaloupe, lime and Hellfire Bitters. It went down very easy.

Scarlet Letter. A very ladylike drink with Val de Mer Sparkling Rose, Cocchi Rose Aperitivo, Arancello, and Lowquat Bitters.

Manhattan. One of my favorite drinks. This one was nicely balanced with Willet and Dolin Rouge. Delicious.

Focaccia. Herbed and fluffy, this bread had a bit of salt in it, but it was good for soaking up sauces.

Burrata. Served with some very nice smoked salmon, this burrata was sprinkled with gray salt and drizzled with a very good olive oil. So tasty.

Grilled Octopus. Very nicely grilled octopus that was artfully plated with well-prepared heirloom beans, pancetta, frisee and a very savory sauce.

Softshell Crab Sandwich. A crunchy softshell crab on a crusty loaf, this was a fresh and delicious sandwich with an arugula and fennel side salad.

Smoked Berkshire Pork Chop. A very large and perfectly prepared piece of pork, served with celery root puree, caramelized endive and lardons. I needed every bit of that sauce. So delicious.

Flat Iron Steak. Exceptional steak that was cooked medium rare and served with summer beans and fingerling potatoes. Succulent and buttery. This is the place to go for well-prepared meat.

Chocolate Budino. Silky chocolate pudding with caramel and sea salt on top. Topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with what seemed to be tiny malt balls. A bit on the sweet side for my taste but the textures were very nice.

Panna Cotta. Layered with a peach compote and berry granita. This was lightly sweet and what I would consider an excellent dessert.

Jack London Square may be considered a touristy location, but they do have a number of top-notch restaurants. Lungomare is one of those restaurants I plan to frequent again in the future.