Salsipuedes Called It Quits Over the Weekend

Salsipuedes, the North Oakland restaurant inspired by flavors from the Baja peninsula, closed its doors over the weekend, following Saturday night's dinner service.

The concept was to create a "backyard barbecue" type of vibe, but within the parameters of a neighborhood restaurant. The team of Jay Porter, Luis Abundis and chef Marcus Krauss opened Salsipuedes last August, featuring a menu of food influenced by the dining style of the Baja Peninsula and Pacific Rim. The chef's background was most recently at The Restaurant at Meadowood, which certainly influenced the tone and execution of the menu, something the deeply residential neighborhood might not have connected with— one of the most popular dishes was the octopus melt bao, topped with chicharrones.

Regardless of the closure, Porter says he is proud of the food the restaurant put out. His craft beer pub in Fruitvale, The Half Orange, will continue to operate as usual; Abundis will continue to operate his Nieves Cinco de Mayo ice cream stores; Marcus Krauss is headed to San Diego for the next adventure.

Meanwhile, the 35-seat space is up for grabs, with plans to do pop-ups and events until the right tenant is found. Stay tuned for news on what might take Salsipuedes' place.