Dopo
Oakland, CA 94611
Phone: (510) 652-3676
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Echo Avenue
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm , Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-11pm, Sat 5:30pm-11pm
Editorial Review for Dopo – by Scott Hocker
The Scene
Sleek and sophisticated with maize-colored walls, warm lighting and abstract prints dangling from metal fixtures, this tiny cafe is a fitting addition to Piedmont Avenue's restaurant row. Well-heeled ladies and crunchy East Bay types are coddled by extremely professional servers.
The Food
A former cook at Oliveto, Jon Smulewitz assembles food from an Italian menu as tiny as the space itself. Antipasti misti (a trio of small bites) changes daily, but prototypical examples include meaty, roasted porcini with pea greens; pristine shrimp with chickpeas; and a mini-fritter of big-eye tuna with barsan olives. Pastas are a revelation. White-on-white spaghetti with cauliflower and ricotta proves monochrome works, and Dungeness crab tortellini napped with butter and snipped chives sings. Crackly, chewy pizzas are a wondrous exercise in restraint, especially the spicy peppers and sausage option, coated with vibrant tomato sauce. Desserts, like chocolate almond torte and lemon tart topped with creamy sabayon, are simple and delicious.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Know Before You GoDopo doesn't take reservations. Dine at off-peak hours to avoid a wait.
The ExtrasIf you find yourself forced to wait, take a seat at one of the two tables in front of the restaurant and nurse a glass of wine.
User Reviews for Dopo
07/03/2008 Posted by dtsanava
I love italian food. I love good Service. I love Good dinning atmosphere. Everything I just mentioned is at the very high level at Dopo. Me and my girlfriend god hooked after first time we went there. And to top everything I just said their prices are very very fair. Not expensive at all. Their place is very clean, their weighters have very good manners, they smile, make you feel welcome. I have not since this kind of food and service in US yet. This was something I am used to seeing in Europe so I was very pleased to see such a cool restaurant in my neighbourhood. I will be definitely going there and calling it one of my favorite restaurants.
Pros: Ambience, Servcie, Food, Everything
03/09/2008 Posted by 1253willyg
Dopo is the kind of restaurant I could eat at a couple of times a week. Simple, honest, inspired food served in an unpretentious, warm room with an open kitchen is truly inspired and reflects the ideals of market cooking. My favorite preparations include the salume, the pesce crudo, and the antipasti. Some favorite dishes I've had (there's many) include marinated swordfish with pistachios, breadcrumb stuffed baked anchovies, fried veal involtini, and anything on the salume menu. I'm a foodie- meaning I eat out quite often, and when traveling I'm obsessed with eating and learning about a local culture through food. In my trip last year to Rome and Sicily, I ate lots of delicious fish preparations, most memorably smoked tuna and swordfish. Jon cooks in the style of Italian food as it is eaten in Italy. Dopo is my favorite restaurant in the Bay Area, hands down. Naysayers on citysearch- small portions?, too pricey?, having to wait? Good things are worth waiting for, what is the big rush anyway? Dopo offers a great value for the level of food that they serve. You should probably go to pasta pomodoro or some lousy red sauce "Italian" joint and get your fill on overcooked, underseasoned pasta dishes and free refills on the sodas. Don't try to come off like you really know what's good when you might not be the best judge.
Pros: truly inspired, market-driven food
Cons: closed on sunday, could use some fish or meat entrees
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