While most of the East Bay is in robbery crisis mode, the city of Clayton is neck-deep in another controversy. A few weeks ago, the mayor ordered the police department to shut down a vegetable stand run by two girls, ages 11 and 3. Last night, the planning commission ruled that the children could return to their evil sidewalk business: "They'll once again sell produce like the $1 melons and 50-cent radish bunches grown in their yard ... There will likely be limits on hours of operation, parking and traffic flow and on how often the girls can open the stand each week." Bless you, Bay Area. [CCT]
While you won't find the drama of previous menu itemsas cauliflower soup with chocolate and rosemary dust, Marsh isn't afraid of bold flavors, as shown in one main course: honey habanero-glazed ribs ($16). The three ribs fall from the bone and onto the bed of braised greens, accompanied by whole baby carrots. The heat in the glaze is searing, a little bit of S&M on the palate ... The curried lamb ($21), the most expensive dish on the menu, is also the most elaborate ... It's a well-balanced, fully realized dish.
The bad news, though, is that desserts fall short, or in the house-made lavender ice cream's case, go too far ("so strong that it was like eating a handful of potpourri"). Deuce aside, it's a fairly positive review, as it seems that Brick has found its way as a comfortable neighborhood, lounge-like joint. [Chron] The reviews continue: a 1.5-star Chron review, Epic, Cossu and The Elsewhere >>
Jack London Square: Tomorrow evening, the newest restaurant addition to the Joie de Vivre empire will open in Oakland, as Miss Pearl's Jam House debuts in the former Jack's Bistro space in the Waterfront Hotel. We hit on the details earlier this summer, and as seen from the gallery above, stopped by the waterfront for a peek this weekend. And as promised, the sprawling 8000 square-foot, 300+ seat space designed by Michael Brennan is indeed modeled on a Caribbean mansion . We'll reserve judgment until the place is up and running, but on sunny Sundays with the market in the backdrop, that patio could be a nice option. Full menu here.
· OaklandWire: Miss Pearl's Jam House Due in August [~ESF~]
All the latest openings, big and small, get served up on a regular basis by The Dish. Spot a newcomer in your neighborhood? Kindly let us know; operators are standing by.
1) Nob Hill: Well, well: after a six-month hiatus due to some, ahem, rent problems, The Front Room officially made its return over the weekend. As suspected, the 40-year-old classic has been resurrected by new owners, but we're told the menu and look have stayed pretty much the same, which may or may not be a good thing. 1550 California Street, between Larkin and Polk; (415) 771-1591; website [EaterWire]
Following robberies Thursday and Friday nights, the wave continues as two more Oakland restaurants were robbed over the weekend in the same takeover manner: "Later Sunday evening, six men held up a restaurant at gunpoint. An employee at the Full Moon Seafood House, who declined to give his name, said the men entered the restaurant after 10 pm ... The Sunday robberies followed a hit Saturday night at Mama Rosa's Pizza at 2370 High St. in East Oakland." [Chron]
Add two more similar takeover restaurant robberies to the growing tally: one at Castro Valley's Bangkok 580 Thai and the other right on Oakland's Shattuck Avenue, at Nomad Cafe. For the month, this makes ten in Oakland alone, and over a dozen in the Bay. Not good, not good. [CBS/Chron]
THE MARINA—Via the inbox comes some reckless rumormongering regarding the shuttered—and recently leased—Andale space on Chestnut: "I noticed that the space, on Chestnut Street, formerly occupied by Andale has been leased and there are workers in there. I asked one of the workmen what was going in there and he said it was a Mexican restaurant but he didn't know much about it." True story or confused workerbee? Stay tuned. [EaterWire]
ALBANY—Berkeley's direct neighbor to the north doesn't get as much food buzz, but now open for business is a new tapas bar called Ferratt's. It apparently just opened last week; per standard operating procedure, reports are encouraged. 854 San Pablo Avenue, between Solano and Washington; (510) 647-9014; website [EaterWire]
West Berkeley: Across the Bay, Berkeley's indie newspaper breaks the news that Vik's Chaat Corner will be moving out of its now-iconic warehouse digs, where it has been since 1989. The good news, though, is that the Chopra family will be moving the 140-seat restaurant to a newly-bought building two blocks away:
Chopra has big dreams for his new restaurant on Fourth and Channing Way, previously occupied by the children's sportswear store Sweet Potatoes, but insists that its essence will remain the same.
Although the building—which is part of the city's "Berkeley Jet" architecture series because it once belonged to a boat propulsion company—spans 25,000 square feet, Chopra plans to use 6,000 square feet to build a 175-seat restaurant and lease out the rest
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In his revisit review for the week, Mister MB gives Brick the same two stars it got upon its initial review back in 2006. The good news is that the Tenderloin restaurant has established itself with a solid customer base, the kitchen is in good hands with Alex Marsh, and Bauer S&M references are always fun:
THE MARINA—Via the inbox comes some reckless rumormongering regarding the shuttered—and recently 
West Berkeley: Across the Bay, Berkeley's 
