East Bay – The Perfect Spot

9 Standout Restaurants of the Month

by Virginia Miller on May 1, 2025 in The Latest, Top Tastes

Reviewed in this article:
— Modern Lebanese and Levantine Pop-up at Buddy: Ilna
— New Neighborhood Spot Ideal for Groups & Families: Fifty Vara
— Cocktails & Bites with Seafaring Touch: Bar Maritime
— Persian Mexican Lounge: Movida
— Japanese Hot Pot Lunch Go-To: Potto

— SF Chron’s #3 Keeps On Wow-ing: Rich Table
— Two Top Female Chefs Keep This 32-Year-Old Shining: Boulevard
— Killing It With Bold Veggie Dishes: The Progress
— The Farm-to-Table Legend Since 1971: Chez Panisse Read more →

Worth Crossing the Bridge For: Daytrip Evolves Into One of Oakland’s Best

by Virginia Miller on April 14, 2023 in Around the Bay, Top Tastes

Opened October 2021 by Finn Stern and Stella Dennig, as Oakland’s Daytrip approaches one and a half years of age, it has become clear it’s one of the city’s best restaurants now. It was named one of Bon Appetit’s top 10 new restaurants in America in 2022 and is one of the tougher reservations in OAK. Read more →

8 Places to Eat & Drink Now, East Bay Edition

by Virginia Miller on March 7, 2022 in Around the Bay

Six new restaurants/eateries, plus one pre-pandemic gem and two bar stops, all draw me to the East Bay. Digging in also meant some disappointments, including solid but not destination-worthy cocktails at charming Palmetto, or overwrought cocktails that sound exciting but don’t deliver at The Miranda. But each of these eight has one (or a few) winning aspects: Read more →

7 Foods From Outside Lands 2021 That We’re Still Craving

by Virginia Miller on November 1, 2021 in On the Town

Published November 1, 2021 at The Bold Italic, seven foods from Outside Lands 2021 that we’re still craving (and thankfully, you can still eat around the Bay Area):

A Guide to the Bay Area’s Local Grocers

by Virginia Miller on March 27, 2020 in Around the Bay

In my latest article for The Bold Italic, I cover over 20 of San Francisco and the Bay Area’s best local grocers/markets, international markets, shops doing drink/bottle delivery and CSAs/CFAs delivering produce from farms and local, sustainable seafood to your door.

Bay Area, It’s Time to Get Takeout

by Virginia Miller on March 19, 2020 in Top Tastes

My latest article for The Bold Italic, published March 19, 2020, on numerous greats offering takeout, curbside/window pickup and delivery around the Bay Area now with my recommends on top dishes and standouts to order.

9 Bars Serving Standout American Whiskey Cocktails Across the US

by Virginia Miller on October 9, 2019 in Imbiber

Covering 9 standout American whiskey (bourbon, rye, etc.) cocktails around the US at Liquor.com, you’ll find my top national drinks on menus at these bars/restaurants: — Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar, Chicago— Existing Conditions, New York City— CDP Bar (at Commis), Oakland, CA— Julep, Houston— The Bindery, Denver— Proof on Main (at 21C), Louisville— Bar Beau, Brooklyn (NYC)— Bird & the Bottle, Santa… Read more →

9 Top Oakland Restaurants

by Virginia Miller on September 26, 2018 in Top Tastes

In my latest Time Out column: talking 9 of Oakland’s best places to eat now. Article here. While some media have dubbed Oakland “the Brooklyn of the West” the last few years, Oakland has been a hotbed of deep cuisines and cultures — and of artistic innovation — well before Brooklyn faced its hipster renaissance of the past decade. Oakland’s rich… Read more →

The Top New Openings of the Month: April 2018

by Virginia Miller on May 9, 2018 in The Latest

In my latest Time Out column, my top openings of the month join other recent standout newcomers for a top 10 on where to eat now (article here): Che Fico 838 Divisadero St., SF, 415-416-6959; chefico.com. Tuesday-Thursday 5:30–11:00pm, Friday–Saturday 5:30pm–1:00am. Che Fico is the new “it” spot (and one of the toughest reservations) in town, garnering national press and celebrity… Read more →

Top 11 Gin Cocktails in US Bars Now

by Virginia Miller on April 16, 2018 in Imbiber

Covering the 11 top gin cocktails of the month around the country at Liquor.com, you’ll find my top national drinks now at these bars/restaurants (click on each for the featured cocktail): As one of the greatest, far-reaching spirits in history, gin is worth drinking any day of the year. But spring seems particularly suited to its green herbaceousness, its citrus-driven… Read more →