Water Lounge & Raw Bar
photo: Kevin Bond
Water Lounge & Raw Bar aims to lure hip Rockridge habitués and nearby BART commuters with a pared-down, midpriced menu of seafood small plates and charcuterie that’s served nightly until 1 AM; a cutting-edge cocktail list, backlit multicolored bar and rotating art exhibitions add to the nightclub ambiance (5634 College Ave., Oakland; 510-654-5426).
A spiffy new rustic Italian in the up-and-coming Glenview area, Bellanico is from the folks behind San Francisco’s Aperto and offers an array of moderately priced, sustainably inspired lunch and dinner fare, ranging from Venetian cicchetti (small bites) to housemade pastas and secondi plates; the wine bar, illuminated by orange blown-glass pendants, pours old-world wines with an emphasis on Italian varietals (4238 Park Blvd., Oakland; 510-336-1180).
Bellanico
photo: Kevin Bond