Reviews Homestead Restaurant

Overall, we spent a pretty penny at this place, for a place being open a few weeks they have the right idea. Usually fine dining comes at a price where smoke and mirrors on culinary classics, touch of whimsy and the cliche’ Avant-garde presentation will net you a Michelin Star (or three) with a hoard of zealot diners ready to lick your boot on command. Homestead brings you back down to planet earth: eating food harvested from the source and prepared with primitive (and humble) Americana roots. With great confidence I am happy my experience last weekend as a first timer in Homestead was met with great success. One would be foolish to relegate such a dining locale compared to its more diversified metropolitan kin (San Francisco or Silicon Valley). Despite Piedmont being a “stand alone” haute culinary spot within the confines of ‘The Town’s’ borders, having Homestead in its resume list of commendable dining options provides Oakland one more reason to shine brighter and greener.

The warm Homestead on Oakland’s Piedmont Avenue is among the restaurants playing with fire – that is, cooking all their dishes over a wood-fueled flame, typically in a brick oven. Mastering the fire came be tricky since heat can be inconsistent, but when done right you have a meal rich in flavor and color. It’s like getting that great char on the grill at home. Homestead, opened last year by chef/owners Fred and Elizabeth Sassen, has created some buzz for its Mediterranean-inspired dishes and limited menu reflecting the sourcing of sustainable and local ingredients. Exhibition Kitchen Similar to Camino, not too far away in Oakland’s Grand Lake neighborhood, Homestead has a large open kitchen that runs the length of the space. It create a nice, cozy setting and provides diner with a dinner show as everything is done at the counter, including prepping ingredients and breaking down whole animals. Kampachi crudo served Korean-style with spicy sauce, kim chi and lettuce cups, $12 I dined re