Wood Tavern, Oakland

Last weekend, Frank and I wanted to go out to lunch...but we wanted a good meal. So we decided to go through the Caldecott tunnel over to the border of Berkeley and Oakland on College Avenue....right across the street from College Avenue liquors (I am a Cal Alum) to Wood Tavern. I first went here with my friend from college, Ardith, who suggested that we meet there to have dinner (I hadn't seen her in almost 15 years). She lives in Marin, I live in Danville, this was a midpoint. Since then, Frank and I have been twice, never disappointed. We started with a cheese plate with Explorateur, a french triple cream cows milk cheese.....$4. What a great deal. Wonderful artisan bread from La Farine, a bakery next door.....great start to an amazing meal. Then we shared an asparagus salad....fantastic. Served with frisee, diced egg, couscous, chives and a hint of truffle vinaigrette....best, most creative salad I have had in a long time. Then we shared the Hot Pastrami sandwich.....wait, a melt-in-your-mouth hot pastrami sandwich, the best I have ever had.....and we also shared the fresh rigatoni with a braised pork sugo, with chili flakes, garlic and fresh parsley. What a treat!! This is a cozy, neighborhood restaurant with fresh and delicious homestyle food. One of my favorites in a long time!