Any great restaurants near Oakland zoo?

[jonahsmommy]

We are taking a little trip to Oakland Zoo and are in need of a great restaurant to eat nearby. It will be DH, myself and our DS (age 7) Really don't want to eat in the zoo.
Thanks!

 

[bcla]

Not really. It's in an otherwise residential neighborhood. You'd probably need to drive further north or south on 580. There are places on E 14th, but the neighborhood has a sketchy reputation.

How close does it absolutely have to be? San Leandro isn't that bad. Frankly I'd recommend just driving to Lakeshore Ave in Oakland and going to Arizmendi Pizza. There's also a Cuban restaurant around there I've been meaning to try. If you can get there on a Saturday before the Grand Lake Farmers Market closes, they have some pretty good food trucks.

 

[jonahsmommy]

What time does the Grand Lake Farmer's market closes? That sounds perfect!! Is it very far from the Zoo?

 

[bcla]

What time does the Grand Lake Farmer's market closes? That sounds perfect!! Is it very far from the Zoo?

8 miles, but almost all of it is freeway. Maybe 12 minutes plus time to find parking. It's 9-2. If you're at the zoo when it opens and spend about 2-1/2 hours, you should be able to make it there before it closes. The Yelp link has lots of pictures. It's not really food trucks, but food stands.

https://goo.gl/maps/HaH5j

http://www.agriculturalinstitute.org/grand-lake-oakland/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/grand-lake-farmers-market-oakland

 

[Purrkins]

San Leandro has some good chow and is pretty easy to get to from the Oakland Zoo. Good ethnic eats.

 

[bcla]

San Leandro has some good chow and is pretty easy to get to from the Oakland Zoo. Good ethnic eats.

I'm kind of wary about San Leandro these days. The area around E 14th has gotten pretty crazy over the years. I shop at Marina Square, and they have a strong police presence. The Nike Clearance Store even has a spot right at the entrance where a San Leandro Police officer is there about half the time.

They've had several incidents that they're trying to control. It's not necessarily a problem with residents of the city, but that it's easy to get by public transportation (two BART stations) and that it's developed a reputation as a place where juveniles can get away with random violence.

http://abc7news.com/news/people-attacked-at-random-in-wilding-incidents-in-san-leandro/92501/
http://blog.sfgate.com/crime/2014/06/06/san-leandro-mob-attacks-prompt-wilding-task-force/

As much as Oakland has a reputation as a place that's supposedly unsafe, I actually feel more comfortable in neighborhoods there where I'm familiar compared to E 14th in San Leandro or near Bayfair Mall.

 

[Purrkins]

People should go where they are comfortable and I agree San Leandro could turn some people off.

People usually cross the street to avoid me so my perspective may be a bit skewed.

But great eats in that area and sometimes my belly leads the way.

 

[bcla]

People should go where they are comfortable and I agree San Leandro could turn some people off.

People usually cross the street to avoid me so my perspective may be a bit skewed.

But great eats in that area and sometimes my belly leads the way.

I've been know to venture to some parts of town that others might avoid. I don't know if I'd bring my family though. Ever been to International Blvd (the former E 14th St. in Oakland) around Fruitvale? I've done it a few times and have never had an issue, but I understand it's not always the safest place to be, even during the day.

However, I recommended Lakeshore Blvd on a Saturday. That's one of the most vibrant and safest places to be in all of Oakland with upscale restaurants and a heavily police presence. I take my family there quite often without concern. However, that a family nearly got forced out of their car in San Leandro sort of worries me. The thugs who did it were unconcerned that there was a baby in the back. I have a young child, and that's every parent's worst nightmare.

 

[Purrkins]

I've been know to venture to some parts of town that others might avoid. I don't know if I'd bring my family though. Ever been to International Blvd (the former E 14th St. in Oakland) around Fruitvale? I've done it a few times and have never had an issue, but I understand it's not always the safest place to be, even during the day.
.

Old acquaintance just opened up a new place at Fruitvale Station - The Half Orange. Local beers and craft sausage. Will be up in a few weeks to try it out.

 

[hilarys]

Whenever we are in the area, we head to Fenton's Creamery

http://www.fentonscreamery.com/

Good old fashioned ice cream parlor with diner food for those who need real food before their ice cream.

Hilary

 

[jonahsmommy]

Is Fenton's Creamery in the movie UP? Or am I thinking of the wrong ice cream store? Either way, it sounds yummy!!!

 

[bcla]

Is Fenton's Creamery in the movie UP? Or am I thinking of the wrong ice cream store? Either way, it sounds yummy!!!

It is, although the visuals in Up! don't really match the real thing.

I'd recommend Fenton's for ice cream, but I don't care for it when it comes to lunch/dinner. They've got sandwiches and hot dogs - all fairly pricey. Their crab sandwich is legendary, but it's pricey. I'll occasionally order the Reuben (comes with a side of chips but no fries), but mostly it's an ice cream place to me. What I'll often get is the half/half fries onion rings along with a sundae.

My parents took me to Fenton's as far back as the mid-70s. So it has a special place in my heart. However, I think of it more as an ice cream shop than a restaurant.

Now a place I would recommend is Top Dog. They've got two locations in Oakland and two in Berkeley. One is on Lakeshore Ave, which I previously recommended. I really love the vibe of the place. It's vibrant, diverse, and safe. It's one of the nicer parts of Oakland and generally free from the problems that plague the bad parts of town.

http://www.sfgate.com/neighborhoods/eb/grand/
http://www.lakeshoreoakland.com/

I guess one of the more interesting restaurants is "Boot and Shoe Service". It used to house a shoe repair shop, hence the name.

 

[jonahsmommy]

Thanks everyone for all the wonderful ideas!! Talked to DH and DS and we decided to try Fenton's. I promise I will report back.

 

[jonahsmommy]

Updating:
Had a wonderful time yesterday at the zoo.
We went to Fentons and enjoyed some ice cream.
We will go back!!

 

[hilarys]

Glad you liked it. The sundaes are the best!

 

[chrisaman]

You all make me laugh. San Leandro is no more dangerous than any where else, especially Oakland. On top of that, the northern parts of San Leandro which are the closest to the zoo and where all the good food choices are are the best parts of San Leandro.

 

[bcla]

You all make me laugh. San Leandro is no more dangerous than any where else, especially Oakland. On top of that, the northern parts of San Leandro which are the closest to the zoo and where all the good food choices are are the best parts of San Leandro.

Depends on where. I shop at Marina Square - particularly the Nike Clearance Store. They have a reserved police parking spot right in front, and there's a stool for a police officer to sit. I see a cop waiting at the entrance inside the store about half of the times I've go there.

San Leandro used to be relatively OK, but there have been problems in recent years - especially around Bayfair Mall.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/new...dro-two-suspects-arrested-and-charged-bayfair
http://www.kcra.com/news/man-hurt-in-shooting-outside-bayfair-center-in-san-leandro/23598912#!bHz0e5

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_25898916/san-leandro-police-task-force-forms-address-teen

SAN LEANDRO -- A police task force is in the works to combat recent violence by packs of teens that officials describe as "wildings," apparently centered around BART transit lines in Alameda County.

The move comes after attacks in San Leandro, where large groups of teens allegedly attacked and robbed people in recent days at Bayfair Center and near a BART station.

San Leandro police, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and BART police will meet Friday to coordinate a response in the event there's more violence this weekend, said San Leandro police Lt. Robert McManus, who will lead a task force grappling with nearly 20 similar robberies. Law enforcement agencies involved will include Berkeley, Oakland, Newark, Hayward and Union City.

The robberies and attacks can be described as "wildings," McManus said.

"It may not all be the same group but it is the same type of activity, where it's unruly groups of teens that are primarily traveling by BART train and coming out to intimidate and commit crimes of opportunity and are attacking the victims in packs," McManus said. "A task force is being created. We've reached out to all law enforcement agencies that have a BART line."