DeLuxe

Back in 2000, when I used to walk past 40th and Webster on my way to BART, there was a huge burned out medical building that was literally rotting in place. A few years later before the housing crash a bunch of lofts were built on the property. The two lofts that included ground floor retail spaces were vacant for a long time — well into the housing crash. Fortunately for Temescal, the spaces how houses homeroom, also referred to as the macaroni and cheese restaurant. Their menu consists of about 10 entrees each a variation of mac ‘n’ cheese. The ‘Mexican mac’ was good and had a nice amount of chipotle and chorizo. ‘Mac the goat’ is made with goat cheese and buttery toasted bread crumbs. They also offer a side salad and some veggies plus a variety of add-ons you can add to your mac. Inside the place is decorated with a school theme: library cards and recycled lab tables. We went there for a rare weekday lunch in the pouring rain and their comfort food really hit the spot. Warning: these days the wait for dinner can be 2 hours (and they don’t take reservations)

homeroom
400 40th Street, Oakland, CA 94609
510.597.0400

Everytime I head up to Sonoma County these days, I try to strategize a way to enjoy a meal at The Fig Cafe in Glen Ellen. This spot was the original location of The Girl & The Fig which is now located on Sonoma Plaza. The Cafe menu is French influenced and there’s something to please everyone for dinner and brunch on the weekends. For dinner try the mussels, thin crust pizzas with house made salumi, or pot roast with horseradish mashed potatoes. For brunch, the croque madame with mornay sauce was tasty. They don’t take reservations but getting a table here for two has never been an issue in the past — part of the charm of sleepy Glen Ellen

The Fig Cafe
13690 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
707.938.2130