J
O J O
3859 Piedmont Ave
Oakland
510.985.3003
On fashionable Piedmont Avenue and a next-door neighbor to my number 5-ranked
restaurant, Baywolf, you will find this intimate restaurant serving French
county meals with a kitchen that overlooks the small dining room. I enjoy
watching the chefs quietly observe their guests as they take their first bite.
These guys want to know that their cooking has been well received. Jojo’s
has a loyal, local following and I enjoy stopping in for an early supper during
the week. My favorite appetizer, which appears to be a regular on the menu,
is a crab and goat cheese tart. Sautéed sea scallops with bacon vinaigrette
were perfect. For main courses, duck is tops. One of my favorite preparations
is their duck confit, grilled duck breast with orange-currant jus. The Neiman
Ranch Flat Iron Steak au frites is wonderful until the chef tops it with anchovy
butter. The anchovy does not work. Since the chef is partial to anchovies,
a better choice would be to put a Caesar salad on the menu. The anchovy would
have a better home there than on the steak. This is a restaurant where you
really want to look at their dessert menu and order from it. Some favorites
are the chocolate soufflé cake with white chocolate and grand marnier
crème anglaise. Yum yum!
Bon Appetit!
M Y T O P T E N
1.
Chez
Panisse - Berkeley
2. Rivoli - Berkeley
3. Oliveto’s - Oakland
4. Chez Panisse Café
- Berkeley
5. Baywolf - Oakland
6. Citron
- Oakland
7. Soizic
- Oakland
8. Garibaldi - Oakland
9. Dona
Tomas - Oakland
10. tie:
Liaison
- Berkeley
Le Cheval - Oakland
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Jojo