The Wolf — Restaurant in Oakland

In celebration of my 10 million views on Google maps reviews.

About 45 years ago when I was about 14 years old, some kids tried to bully someone at a local park and I stepped in and gave them hell. I didn't know it, but at the time. Michael Wilde, founder of the Bay Wolf restaurant, was watching me stick up for his sons who were being bullied by some local bullies. I developed a relationship with him over the years, even trying to work there on more than one occasion which he allowed once or twice, but then quickly fired me telling me, " look. You're a musician. Do music!" He was right, I did, and it worked out like crazy.

I stuck my head in here tonight out of nostalgia, looking for a place to celebrate my 10 million views on Google maps, but the smell of the food drew me in, the executive chef has authored some of the greatest dishes currently served in Oakland, the service is completely on point at a level that you'd have to experience to understand, and the kitchen and staff are a living, breathing, throbbing organism, beautifully functional, with a heartbeat and a mission.

This is the high class Novell cuisine that made Oakland and the Bay area famous. (Some might say Berkeley, but Michael was always on another track from Alice to begin with, and I was there to witness it so don't mess with me)

I stepped in and asked to eat at the bar, ordering the heirloom tomato salad, which completely blew me away, and was so beautiful. I really had a hard time disturbing it to enjoy it. The tomato, hints of pesto and olive oil, savory tomatoes and burrata cheese, all flowed together so well that I asked for some bread to sop up what was left over.

My main dish was the rotisserie chicken, succulent and tender floating in a small layer of what I can only call. Yummy chicken juice, (is there any really "high class" way to approach chicken? I don't think so. This is food for the working class no matter how you plate it) the portion was generous and I ended up taking half of it home.

Throughout the night I enjoyed three glasses of Luli Pinot noir from Monte Linda vineyards, the perfect subtle accompaniment to these flavors, and finished up my meal with their delicious lemon cake, served with blueberries, and a small scoop of homemade gelato.

Details really make the meal for me, like the fact that they were serving fresh Acme bread with homemade butter, and that everyone I talked to seem to have an intimate understanding of the menu.

This place is nostalgic for me because it is one of the first places that I discovered fine cuisine under the tutelage of Michael, and through the years, I learned a lot about life, politics, human dynamics, and spirit, from watching him handle the restaurant and watching employees deal with one another and the public. This place was a school for me.

While not inexpensive, this place is the spot that you bring someone to for a special meal, and the environment, is quiet, inviting, with an open kitchen design that allows you to see what's going on. This place, along with Corso in Berkeley, is among my favorite fine dining experiences in the East Bay and I cannot recommend it highly enough for those that appreciate the extra quality, care, and attention to detail that go into every meal at establishments like this, of which there are not very many. Six and a half stars. Thank...

Odd and upscale. This gives eclectic Berkeley vibes with an old gentleman's club feel. Let me explain... Everything was upscale, made when you ordered it, fresh, super small portions, gorgeous plating, bar looked like something out of a resort advertisement, all in an odd maze like layout. It feels like we should be sitting in leather winged chairs smoking cigars and sipping on aged bourbon.. Outside looks like a weird auto parts garage, walk up the stairs, into the middle of the restaurant. Seating flanks both sides, with another closet like room that is the bar. Its definitely an interesting place to visit. The chairs and tables were modern and uncomfortable. We sat by the window.. which actually had no glass, but just a sliding shutter banging in the windy rainstorm. Had a great selection of aged whiskey and bourbon with some classics on the drink menu. The food was... interesting. I want to say French American fusion. We had brussel sprouts, chicken and duck liver mousse, oysters, pork chops, and the king salmon. The salmon and brussel sprouts were good but nothing amazing. I believe we also had a fritter or fried puff pastry of some kind as well. The pork chops were heaven but the mousse was definitely an acquired taste. I love both duck and chicken.. and love patte, but that was inedible for me. I couldn't do it. Since the food takes a while to come, don't be like me and sip on aged whiskey throughout the night. The portions are so small, you'll be drunk well before you feel full. Its pricey so be selective with your menu choices, but you...

I hadn't been here since it was the Bay Wolf, a much more high-end-Chez-Panissey kind of place. The Wolf is more casual but still uses great local ingredients. I had a dish of cameroni pasta sauced in kind of a velvety lamb "ragu". I caught the gaze of my friend across the table who had ordered the same dish and we both said "damn! This is so good! My other mate had a Sonoma duck breast cooked perfectly with a milder flavor than I prefer, but I think there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. I miss the gamey flavor of duck in these breast-only dishes and the moroccan ras-al-hanout influence was barely there. I love those ducks in Chinatown! We'd shared a very good little gem salad with a alium-tinged creamy vinaigrette. The brussels sprouts were light and leafy rather than clumpy and resembles seaweed. Very nice lightly tangy flavors. I'm cautious about tiramisu as everyone does one, and many are just so-so. The earl grey tiramisu here is fabulous. Every bite! My friend had the cherry-chocolate tart and I failed to grab a bite. It's a great flavor combo and it looked like there was a lot of chocolate. I'm a big fan of cherries this time of year, more so than ubiquitous Valrhona dark chocolate, so I would have told them to hold the chocolate. Overall, the place is nice, comfortable, casual, with friendly, helpful service (the wine the server recommended was delicious) and a reasonable tariff, and everything is served on Heath tableware, as it should be in a...