Clove and Hoof, A Butcher Shop/Restaurant, Debuts in Temescal

In the footsteps of Belcampo Meat Company, Fatted Calf, and 4505 Meats, Oakland now has its very own sustainable butcher shop that doubles as a restaurant: Clove and Hoof, which quietly opened its doors this past Thursday at 4001 Broadway (at 40th). The brainchild of Analiesa Gosnell (Cafe Rouge) and John Blevins (4505 Meats), the shop is all about locally sourced, whole-animal butchery. Both owners have extensive backgrounds in butchery, and in the lead-up to opening, spent time traveling and studying charcuterie in France.

The 24-seat dining area will start out serving lunch, with plans to expand into dinner after the holidays. Hearty sandwiches are the main focus, with options like a fried chicken sandwich with fish sauce caramel, Old Bay butter, apple celery leaf slaw and pomegranate seeds, or the C & H Burger, a Southern-inspired stack of two patties slathered with pimento cheese and caramelized-onion jam. Lettuce lovers also have a couple of options, including an apple and persimmon salad with Pt. Reyes blue cheese crema and toasted walnuts.

The space is sunny, with dark grey walls and newly refinished hardwood floors. Diners are placed right in the middle of the action, with the butcher counters centered only a few feet from the dining area. Hours are currently Wednesday-Friday, 11am-5pm; expect those to stretch a bit longer as things progress.