Chop Bar in Oakland

I have been a fan of Chop Bar since it debuted at the Eat Right Festival last year at Jack London Square with roasted pig flatbread. This past Sunday, Chop Bar held another pig roast in its own digs and it was just as good as expected. The event included $3 beer specials and $10 plates of roasted pig, salads and roasted vegetables. Chop Bar is one of the few places that feels like a home, and the food reflects that. The space is spacious and on hot days they open the warehouse door making it a perfect spot to enjoy some drinks.

Aside from occasional Sunday specials, Chop Bar serves breakfast and lunch daily and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. The menu is mainly American with a few Asian and Italian influences. Lunch consists mostly of sandwiches, of which I recommend the classic Reuben. Grilled perfectly for a nice crunch, the Reuben is heavy, oily and all that is good.

Happy hour also runs Tuesday through Friday, 4:30 to 6 p.m. and is said to include free snacks.

Service is excellent, as the staff really just want you to have a good time. Chop Bar is so great that it makes me want to live in one of the nearby condos/apartments so I can visit every day.

Chop Bar
247 Fourth St., Oakland

Photo: Chopbar510.com

12% off to-go orders at Amanda's Berkeley

Monday's the last day to get 12% off all phone orders at Amanda's in downtown Berkeley. In celebration of the two 12-minute metered parking spots in front, the all-natural burger joint is offering the 12% discount.

While some people complain of the portion sizes, Amamda's is one of my go-to spots downtown for inexpensive, quick meals. Whenever I have a show at the Berkeley Rep, I stop by Amanda's for a quick bite and am out the door in 20 minutes or less. The naturally raised beef burgers ($3.75) are comparable to In-N-Out more than McDonald's, and the baked fries ($1.50) are deliciously crispy. For a healthier option, try the sweet potato ($1.75) or raw apple fries ($1.50).

In line with a restaurant that serves sustainable, organic food in biodegradable packing, Amanda's makes its own sodas ($1.75), from cola to ginger ale and raspberry. If all the above sounds good, grab a combo ($6.75) that includes a burger, regular fries and a soda.

Amanda's
2122 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley

Photo: Wilhelm Y.

Cherry Blossom Festivities

Celebrate the blooming of cherry blossoms today with all night happy hour at Ozumo Oakland. Starting at 5 p.m. in the bar and lounge, enjoy cocktails, sushi and other Japanese specialties. Featured drinks include Skyy Infusions Ginger, Cherry and Zipang sparkling sake cocktails.

Continue the celebration this weekend and next in San Francisco Japantown with the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. Enjoy food, cultural performances, martial art displays, live music and more at the nation's second largest cherry blossom festival. The parade will be next Sunday, April 18, beginning at City Hall.

Ozumo Oakland
2251 Broadway, Oakland

Photo: ATPF.org

Happy hour at T-Rex Barbeque, Berkeley

My favorite happy hour place in Berkeley is T-Rex Barbeque off Gilman and San Pablo Blvd. While dinner is mediocre and better barbeque can be held elsewhere, happy hour is fantastic. Every day from 3 to 6 p.m., get $4 beers, $2 PBRs $5 well cocktails, $2 off wine, $1 tacos, $1.25 oysters and other delicious finger foods.

The beer options are all craft brews, with my favorite being the Stone Pale Ale. My absolute favorite dish is the nachos with pulled pork and salsa ($6). Oven-warmed chips with tangy pulled pork go well with the refreshing coolness of the salsa. Also try the bar riblets with spicy cayenne BBQ sauce ($5). I could, and would, eat the two every day. The brisket Banh Mi sounded interesting, but didn't deliver considering I could get something twice as big and flavorful for half the price in Chinatown. Deviled eggs ($2) and the fries with chipotle ketchup ($3) are average.

Happy hour has also expanded to include whole meals. Get a 1/2 pint of PBR and a burger for $5, or to share try the full rack of baby back ribs and a pitcher of PBR for $25.

Unlike most places that have happy hour at the bar only, T-Rex opens up the whole space. Whether you sit at a table or one of the couches upstairs, the atmosphere is very chill, especially Monday through Wednesday when there aren't many people. If you sit at a table, you get waiter service, which I appreciate for happy hour. Happy hour is a must when in Berkeley.

T-Rex Barbeque
1300 10th St., Berkeley

Photo: Earl G.

Tuesdays at Pyramid Brewery, Berkeley

If I were unemployed, I would spend every Tuesday at Pyramid Brewery and Alehouse. Not only is there alcohol, but there are plenty of activities to keep me busy for an evening.

I would start my day at 4 p.m. with a free, daily tour of the brewery. The 45-minute guided tour covers the brewing process and the history of Pyramid, as ends with three samples. For those under 21, there is Thomas Kemper soda.

After the tour, I would mosey down to the restaurant for happy hour, which runs from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Pints are $3.50, pitchers $10.50 except for Brewer's Handle Selection and appetizers 30% off. The blue cheese potato chips go perfectly with a cold brew.

After happy hour, I'd hang around until 7:30 p.m. for the start of Brainstormer's Pub Quiz. Trivia winners usually get free beer, with a six-pack for third, 12-pack for second, and a case for the winners to share.

Tuesday is also pint night, so you get to keep the pint if you purchase one of the seasonal glasses. Limit one glass a person.

Pyramid is one of my favorite breweries in Berkeley because of the daily events and promotions they have. The food is average, but Pyramid is a nice, easy place to relax and unwind with friends. Major bonus: they have their own parking lot!

Pyramid Brewery and Alehouse
901 Gilman St., Berkeley

Photo: Beerlabels.com

5% to Charity at Whole Foods Oakland today

For those who shop at the Whole Foods in Oakland regularly, you can feel good knowing 5% of the day's net sales today will go to the Oakland Digital Arts & Literacy Center. The ODALC offers youths free computer training courses, keynote speakers from the Silicon Valley, and other career counseling to train, mentor and inspire them.

Whole Foods
230 Bay Pl., Oakland

Taste for Artisans at Jack London Square, Oakland

After you're done finding Easter eggs and chasing bunnies, head to Jack London Square in Oakland for Taste for Artisans on Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. Presented by East Bay Express, the Western-inspired event celebrates local vendors, from artists who will be selling their work to tastings from family farms, local brewers and winemakers. Admission is free, with swag bags for the first 200 guests and free bicycle valet.

Events include live art and craft-making, live music, mechanical bull riding, cream corn wrestling, pie eating contests and square dancing lessons. Bring unused art supplies as a donation, and receive a free raffle ticket. The supplies and event benefit the Drawbridge Foundation, which provides art programs for children.

Specials at Guerilla Cafe, Berkeley

Among the upscale dining options and boutique businesses in North Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto is a revolutionary-inspired cafe. Established in 2006 by artist friends, Guerilla Cafe is an urban burst in an otherwise suburban stretch of Shattuck Avenue.

The well decorated cafe, which doubles as an art gallery, specializes in breakfast, brunch and lunch with Blue Bottle Coffee and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Hours have recently extended to 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, with Thursday $2 Red Stripe happy hour and games of dominoes every night. Also, the cafe runs occasional Twitter deals: Until Saturday, say the password "mama say mama sa mamakusa" to get a buy one, get one free waffleito promo.

The afterhours menu starts at 5 p.m. and includes about five small plates, including salumi, cheese and fruit, and beet salads, for less than $10.

The staff is friendly and hospitable, even helping us with the rules of dominoes last Thursday. Everyone is laid back and you feel like you can lounge around without anyone minding.

Guerilla Cafe
1620 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley

Photo Credit: Scott B.