A new casual restaurant called Portal, from first-time restaurateur Warren Rector and Jennifer Tucci (one of the partners behind Rosamunde), just opened at 1611 2nd Avenue in Oakland, right at the edge of Lake Merritt. The place just had its grand opening last night, and features a menu with diverse influences from chef Eric Evert (Hudson, Lalime’s), focused on casual snacks like a pickle plate with pickled eggs, sliders, and a rolled and grilled market-vegetable pizza that Evert has dubbed Garbage Bread.
Also, there’s a thoroughly vetted beer list with fancy stuff by the bottle (think Ommegang, Allagash), and local brews on tap. And let us not forget to mention the huge and very nice patio which is about twice the size of the indoor space, and has a view of the lake.
We know where we’ll be drinking the next time we find ourselves in Oaktown on a warm fall day!
Portal - 1611 Second Avenue at Foothill Boulevard, Oakland - 510-663-7678 - Open Monday to - Friday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and weekends 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Nosy Garbage Bread [East Bay Dish]
Portal [Thrillist]
