From their kitchens to yours: Support local restaurants and food businesses!

Dear Friends,

Food not only nourishes us, it brings us together as a community. “Breaking bread together” can address conflict and build critical relationships.  For many of us, food is love. 

As we enter our second month under Shelter-In-Place orders in the San Francisco Bay Area, many have rediscovered the joys of the family meal and cooking at home.  As our grocery carts are fuller than ever, we realize just how much food we consume, we also realize how much we used to eat out and support our local food businesses.  

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant business had low profit margins and uneven cashflows. Many of them face numerous economic and social barriers to women and people of color and other obstacles to success that are magnified by this crisis. YET – they choose to open, welcoming us into their dining room and sharing their stories through their food, talents and service.   For many immigrants and people of color, food-related business is both a way to build assets, while building community and employing community members. As one Swan’s Market restaurant owner told me, the pandemic has impacted much more than their business. Their employees are left without work, the small farms and bakeries that supply the restaurants are also hurt and many must reduce staff.

While plans are now underway to open up our economy, restaurants will take months to recover. Many do not have the resources to continue. Your support for them is critical to maintaining the health of these community–building businesses. Just as we’ve welcomed back our families to the kitchen table for meals, let’s also welcome our restaurants into our homes and onto our tables. 

Chinatown

Sweetheart Cafe (315 9th Street, Oakland), is Oakland Chinatown’s first bubble tea shop! As a small, family-owned business, they will celebrate 24 years in business this June! Please help them stay in our original location and continue serving delicious food to new and returning customers. HOURS: 10am – 6pm (M – Sa); 10am – 5pm (Sunday). Sweetheart Café is open for pickup via Ritual and delivery via Postmates.

Our partners at Chinatown Improvement Initiative started a social media campaign, Good Good Eatz, to help Chinatown restaurants and small businesses pivot their business models to meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Check them out on Facebook and Instagram to find out which restaurants are opening and providing pickup and delivery.

East Oakland

Dallaq Market, a neighborhood market that serves our Lion Creek Crossings residents and the greater Havenscourt community in East Oakland (6901 Lion Way, Oakland) will assist anyone who may be handicapped or is a senior citizen without anyone to help with groceries! Akram and Tizta are here to help! Just call them: 510 316-1842! HOURS: 10am – 7pm Daily.

Swan’s Market

Known for its Nepalese comfort food, especially, their momos in three flavors (chicken, lamb, vegetarian), Annapurna (948 Clay Street) is providing a 10% discount on all online orders for pickup or delivery. HOURS: 11am – 9:30pm.

While B-Dama & Delage Sushi has temporarily shut their location at Swan’s Market, they are selling their popular Bento Boxes and Bowls via curbside pickup at Berkeley Bowl West (920 Heinz Avenue). Their menu changes weekly. Follow them on Instagram for menus and specials. HOURS: 11:30am – 7pm M-Sa; 11:30am – 6pm Sunday. To order, text 510-421-6023 and provide order, name, and time of pick up.

In addition to ordering from their menu, The Cook and Her Farmer at Swan’s Market (538 9th Street, Oakland) is now offering pantry items, including pasture-raised eggs, house tomato sauce, jams, and a selection of natural wines. HOURS: 11am – 7pm Tu-Sa. For pick up, you can order online, in person, or over the phone at 510-285-6140. Delivery orders are made through CAVIAR.

Both CupCakin Bakeshop locations (907 Washington Street, Oakland; 2391 Telegraph; Berkeley) are open for limited hours. Please check their Instagram account for daily updates to get your cupcake fix! For Bay Area delivery, submit info on their contact page.

Miss Ollie’s (901 Washington Street, Oakland) is featuring an all-day menu for April, that includes their famous fried and jerk chicken! HOURS: 12 – 7pm Tu – Sa. Call 510-285-6188 to place your take-out order.

Rosamunde Sausage Grill (911 Washington Street, Oakland) will feature 4 draft beers on special at 50% off in combination with any food order Thursday through Saturday. Pick up orders only, no delivery on discounts. The featured beers are: 1) Allagash Brewing White, witbier, 2) Moonlight Brewing Death & Taxes, dark lager, 3)Berryessa Brewing Mini Separation anxiety, session IPA, 4) HenHouse Brewing An Honest Day’s work, Saison. These beers can be purchased in 16 oz mason jars or a 64 oz growler. Their full beer list can be viewed here and are available to go with food purchase. HOURS: ​11:30am – 8pm Tu – Sat. Pickup and delivery avail

In order to maintain optimum freshness, Sincere Seafood (907 Washington Street, Oakland) is carrying a limited selection of fresh seafood. HOURS: 10am – 5pm M-Sa. Call them at 510- 832-3866 to find out what they have fresh for the day and to place your order for pick up.

Super Juiced (540 9th Street) is working on launching their online store to allow for consistent ordering and curbsite pick up. Until then, follow them on Instagram to announce periodic openings, including when their online store is up! Super Juiced has also started a Go Fund Me page at: Support Super Juiced! so they can continue to pay bills and support their staff through the shelter in place. 

Taylor’s Sausages (907 Washington Street, Oakland) is Swan’s Market’s oldest tenant! In addition to making their own preservative-free sausages, Taylor’s is a full-service butcher. HOURS: 9am – 6pm M – Sa.

West Oakland

Community Foods Market (3105 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland) is offering online ordering with curbside pickup within two hours. In addition, through April, CFM is offering 50% discounts every day for those paying with EBT cards. HOURS: 10am – 7pm.

Fortune Cookie Restaurant (1698 7th St, Oakland) is offering online ordering for pick up or delivery within 6 miles. HOURS: 11am – 9:30pm Daily. 

While Magnolia Street Wine and Lounge (3443 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland) has not opened yet at the California Hotel, Chef Leilani is cooking up some family and fan favorites like fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and nanna puddin for pickup. Follow her on Facebook for pop-ups throughout the week.

Finally, I want to continually shout out EBALDC’s own front-line staff of maintenance, custodial teams, property managers, and resident services teams who are addressing a wide range of operating issues, sanitizing our properties, and ensuring our staff, residents, clients, and guests are safe. I am truly humbled by their dedication, and I am grateful for your partnership.

In community,

Joshua Simon, CEO