A Taste of Africa in Oakland, Potato Crimes

[Photo: Room 389]

EAST BAY — What The Fork, combing Chowhound, makes the unusual discovery of Cameroonian food on Tuesday nights at Oakland bar Room 389 (389 Grand). Turns out it's the work of chef Malong Pendar of Berkeley's defunct restaurant A Taste of Africa. [EBX]

COMING ATTRACTIONS — Reservations are now being accepted for this year's installment of Dine About Town, which takes place June 1-15. The annual drill: 111 restaurants from Absinthe to Zingari, each offering two-course lunches for $17.95 and three-course dinners for $34.95, with the requisite yearly debate on whether this is a value or not. [EaterWire]

CRIME — Be very careful when going to the bathroom in a restaurant, lest you suffer the recent fate of a poor 55-year-old victim of robbery and threatened assault via potato peeler in an unnamed restaurant john. Luckily, the suspect has been arrested. The incident was reported on the 2200 block of Mission Street, where Mission Chinese Food/Lung Shan and Gracias Madre are among the eateries. [SF Appeal]

CRITICS PICKS — Virginia Miller puts her bib on to roam the Upper Haight and Cole Valley, serving up her favorites from the neighboring hoods she lives in between. While there are usual suspects such as the Alembic and Magnolia, she also gives up a tidbit that might be a secret outside the immediate area: There's worthwhile pizza by Giovanni's at Club Deluxe. [SFBG]