Last week, I took the kidlings to Alameda Landing for their snack time treat. My timing was impeccable because there were some Alameda Landing folks sticking up new directory maps indicating what stores were where.
While I have been keeping track of most of the businesses there were a few that I was super curious about but were still in it’s general category phase on the leasing maps.
Fortunately, the map revealed the name of the one store that I was really interested in:
See it? The large scale Japanese restaurant finally has a name and it is Shirasoni. Before you go googling, it’s here. While I have to say I was hoping for a hot pot type restaurant, teppanyaki is not a terrible back up. It’s a smart business decision because even though Alameda has lots of sushi joints it does not have a teppanyaki place. I think the nearest teppanyaki is in Berkeley or maybe Hayward. Teppanyaki, for those that don’t know, is where the chefs cook in front of you and put on a show where they inevitably make an onion volcano.
Oh, there will also be a Sally’s Beauty Supply next to Chipotle. Chipotle is supposed to open sometime at the end of the month and apparently In N Out will open next week or so I’ve been told. Evidently there were more than 600 applications for approximately 60 job openings.
Blogging Bayport Alameda 
I hope the cooks puttn on a show are not smart alexs like at the Benehanas. We dined there with our 2 year old. The cook tossed a scoop of oil on the grill in front of our daughter and a 2 foot ball of flame shot up. Needless to say she had a fit…and we had an overflown diaper to clean!
Comment by ChrisD — May 7, 2015 @ 7:20 am
The last two times I’ve been to the South Shore Chipotle, the service has been terrible. Super long line, mostly because they are moving very slowly. Took me almost 30! Minutes last time, with a line that should have taken 10. I’m guessing it is a combination of taking the best manager to open the new store (normal retail operations) and perhaps lower quality staff available for hire now that Oakland has raised its minimum wage and might be taking our best service workers. Competition is a bitch.
Comment by BMac — May 7, 2015 @ 10:52 am
Thanks for the link. Another Japanese steakhouse, like Hana Japan or Benihana, but also with sushi.
Comment by vigi — May 7, 2015 @ 11:39 am
Island Tacqueria, less than a minute to order and food in five. Remiro Bros., great food, great service, great people. Taco trucks at 23rd and east 12th. price for small taco went from $1.25 to $1.50 to $2 in two years after YEARS at $1.25, BUT it’s still best marisco truck in east bay. On Webster, Otaez has really cheap/good Mexican breakfast, REALLY cheap American combos til 9 a.m., and parking.
I hope the Landing is a smashing success, and happy for folks who have their shopping choices fulfilled, also great to have more jobs, but I’ll never shop there. I live across the street from Southshore but only go to Trader Joe’s for unadulterated olive oil and beer. (A huge amount of olive oil is cut with other oils at the wholesale source. Tests showed Trader Joe’s as reliable quality). Also periodic purchases from the small luggage store. That guy has great retail skills. Safeway only when I run out of stuff.
When we had really small kids we would “treat” them to Applebee’s. I miss having small children sometimes, but never Applebee’s.
Comment by MI — May 7, 2015 @ 5:08 pm
MI, I eat at all those places you mention too. Sometimes, I don’t feel like Mexican food though, so I go to Chipotle.
Comment by BMac — May 7, 2015 @ 5:47 pm
Unfortunately Mexican food in the U.S. is totally ruined if one eats in San Miguel de Allende.
Comment by jack — May 7, 2015 @ 6:46 pm
Is there any place to find out the timeline on the Phase 3 development? The Waterfront – mixed use commercial part. I have tried Googling but it doesn’t come up in anything I have found. Looking through old agendas and minutes seems daunting.
Comment by Kevis Brownson — May 7, 2015 @ 9:14 pm
#6….after one visits San Miguel de Allende…..lots of things are ruined…it is a small paradise…
Comment by J.E.A. — May 8, 2015 @ 6:09 am
5. duh, thought Chipotle was supposed top resemble Mex. The name sure fooled me.
Comment by MI — May 8, 2015 @ 12:45 pm
so Jack, you know about “regional cuisine”? I’ve never been served refried beans in Mexico, but the food in Oaxaca didn’t spoil me for regional version of Mexican food. Northern New Mexico food is unique and great. Those folks are a real case of the border crossing them instead of the other way around. To each their own.
Comment by MI — May 8, 2015 @ 12:53 pm
I’m by any means no epicurean Mark, regional or not but in my experience dining on regional food is one thing while dining on that same regional food prepared outside of that region loses something. That’s not to say the out-of-region food cannot be delicious in its own way, it’s just that the food preparation and ingredients seems to change some, perhaps intangible, element when transplanted.
J.E.A. In #8 above, in describing San Miguel de Allende, perhaps hits on an intangible element that may influence taste buds as well. That little town is indeed the closest to paradise I’ve ever been so how could any meal in paradise not be uniquely delicious?
Comment by jack — May 8, 2015 @ 5:56 pm
#11…I could not agree more….I just came back from one of those dinning experiences….I live in SMA part time….it is a magical place….
Comment by J.E.A. — May 8, 2015 @ 6:18 pm
Jack I was just saying that “Mexican” covers a lot of cuisine and trying to make a point that we are actually living in a region of Mexico. Hoi An in Vietnam was touted as having the best food in Vietnam. Of all the places we visited Hoi An’s food didn’t have any bad restaurants and the best one’s were spectacular. Never been to S.M. Allende.
Comment by MI — May 9, 2015 @ 2:35 pm
I’ve only traveled the west cost of Mexico and Mexico City, and did San Cristobal de las Casas on the way to Guatemala in 1976 when I was 21 and traveling alone. Always heard about “arteest” colony in San Miguel. Is that the place where Huxley hung out and Leary first tried mushrooms? When I was traveled out, I took a three day train ride from Palenque to Juarez to get back to States ASAP, and never got off. The northern desert was mesmerizing from the train window and I probably glanced passed Copper Canyon without knowing, but I was young and not consulting guide books.
Comment by MI — May 9, 2015 @ 2:49 pm
Northern Vietnam and Laos are actually regions of China, by your Mexican formula and Thailand and Cambodia and a good part of southern Vietnam are actually part of the Khmer Empire which has its roots in India but so what? Through the centuries other countries (mainly France) have influenced SE Asia’s cuisine as all other countries have had their victuals’ tastes change and develop by other countries and it’s all what it’s become.
Comment by jack — May 9, 2015 @ 5:52 pm