Speisekammer

Alameda, East Bay

After our revelatory feast at Suppenkuche, a foodie's haven for haute German cuisine and beer, the CSNSC zeroed in on Speisekammer, the more spacious and elegant sister to the SF diner. The former is more of a raucous biergarten compared to Alameda's family oriented locale. Most members had never ventured onto this tiny gem of an island in the East Bay, and we marveled at the quaintness of Alameda's main drag lined with boutiques, restaurants teeming with diners (always a good sign!) and regular people--no hipsters in sight--who mulled about enjoying the autumn evening.

Speisekammer, unlike her Hayes Valley kin, is a little easier to park, though Friday and Saturday evenings can stymie the hungry customer, who may get a little frustrated circling for street parking. The restaurant is comprised of four huge quarters. With Teutonic elegance, visitors can expect high shining, polished wood adorning walls, floors, counter tops, benches, and shelves. Heavy drapes, oil-painted portraits and landscapes of bucolic people and countrysides, along with various rustic knick knacks lend to a casual Deutsche atmosphere. Speisekammer is great for family gatherings with children in tow. You can actually hear members of your party and see their faces. Weekends may indulge customers with live music, not necessarily German, so no worries for those who are wary of the accordion and polka.

The menu seems to be the same sumptuous fare as Suppenkuche. Recently they've included a "Recession-Proof Menu" that offers half orders with prices more kind to the wallet. The service is hip, friendly and well-informed, though sometimes they can be over-taxed and therefore forgetful due to the high volume of diners, who, like us, demand bountiful platters of some of the best recipes the Bay Area has to offer. We cannot sing enough praises about this restaurant. The spatzle is cheesy. The noodles are the perfect pitch in bite and tenderness. Meat lovers will revel in the assortment of sauce drenched pork, chicken, and beef choices, such as schweinebraten, jagersnitzel, stuffed cabbage, and bratwurst. The schwienebraten, a succulent cut of roasted pork drowning in mouthwatering beer sauce, enjoins sweet meat edged with a sour savoriness. A bratwurst aficianado of our party, who spent his formative years in Darmstadt, courtesy of Uncle Sam, swore the bratwurst was exactly like the ones he ordered on the cobblestone streets of the Fatherland, served in yesterday's newspaper and engulfed with crisp, oily fries. Even though each of the entrees come with sides, such as spatzle, mashed potatoes, and sauerkraut, we highly suggest ordering one or two as a la carte plates, so you can share because your group will undoubtedly hanker for more. The beer selection is unrivaled. Everyone loves the Raddler, and the Belgian Apple Ale is like biting into fruit worthy of the Gods. The flourless chocolate cake satisfies expectations and the apple streudel is perfection.

Speisekammer and Suppenkuche both tip the scales in terms of Bay Area dining experiences. With courteous and hip service and an inviting atmosphere, like a Wagnerian opera, Speisekammer's tasty vittles will spark food enthusiasts' imaginations with fantasies of sublime epicurean experiences come true. Go, now! Don't delay. And be sure to set dates for future visits because you can bet we're penning in our own appointments for more dining euphoria.

2424 Lincoln Ave
Alameda, CA 94501
Phone: (510) 522-1300
http://speisekammer.com/

El Zocalo

Bernal Heights, SF

In the Outer Mission with easier access for parking than the typical hot spots in the area, this Salvadorena hole-in-the-wall is comfortable, low-key and provides some tasty bites from Central America for unbeatable prices. Inside, you could easily believe you were in a dive in downtown L.A. Flower sellers hawk bouquets and other glittery wares. Postcard-like pictures of El Salvador decorate the white walls with photos of las playas, el campo, and other rural, pretty scenes of the home country.

The menu includes Mexican selections but El Zocalo's specialty is Salvadorena, more specifically, their empanedas and pupasas. Perfectly doughy masa that's bursting with corn zest. The enchiladas salvadorenas are by far the piece de resistance. Tangy, savory stewed meat, mixed with pickled cabbage and salsa, all piled high on a crispy, crunchy corn tortilla. These dishes are worth their weight in gold, but thankfully you don't have to pay a pretty penny to fill up on savory bites. The menu includes a selection of Mexican and Salvadorena beers. Overall the ambiance is not much to write home about, but El Zocalo serves as the perfect pit stop for a night out drinking with friends & family.

3230 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 282-2572