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The weekend is upon us again and it’s got us thinking about date night over here a LLO. With so much incredible food in our different hamlets throughout the city, we thought we’d pick a few and give you our favorite way to spend a night out with that special someone.

Rockridge

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Rockridge is swimming with options for both the casual night out to something more fancy. We ventured somewhere in the middle. Starting with Ramen Shop with it’s great energy and friendly/way cool bartenders for drinks and a little excitement. Then down to Á Côté for an intimate atmosphere and the restaurant voted “Best Date Restaurant” by Oakland Magazine for 2015. Last, down to Smitten Ice Cream for a little subtext and delicious made to order ice cream.

Drinks: Ramen Shop

Dinner: Á Côté

Dessert: Smitten Ice Cream

Lakeshore

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The Grand Lake/Lakeshore area has seen the rise of some pretty awesome restaurants in the last year and we’re sending you to two of them that just celebrated their one-year anniversary but though they may be new kids on the block, they are really doing it right. Start your evening at Shakewell which was voted “Best New Restaurant” by Oakland Magazine for 2015. However, we feel like their drinks are the way to go for date night. The atmosphere is awesome and full of incredible people, from the hosts to the bartenders, that will put you in a great mood. Stroll down the street to Michel Bistro for a romantic, candle-lit, French bistro experience. Then head over to Boot and Shoe Service where you can sit at the bar, or if you’re lucky on the back patio, and enjoy a fabulous desert in a beautiful place.

Drinks: Shakewell

Dinner: Michel Bistro

Dessert: Boot and Shoe

Temescal

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Our Temescal suggestions, as expected, are a little hipper and a little more laid back then some of the others…but really, would you have it any other way? Starting out at the new Grange Hall where mixing cocktails is a science. Inspired by apothecary practices they prepare incredible tonics and cocktails for whatever you possibly are feeling that day. Head down the street to Pizzaiolo where patios, wood-fired pizza, and lovely evenings are made. Finish the evening with the best ice cream in town in the ever charming Temescal Alley at Curbside Creamery.

Drinks: Grange Hall

Dinner: Pizzaiolo

Dessert: Curbside Creamery

Uptown

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As the Uptown District grows in class and popularity there are more and more places that we will forever urge you to go. However, on date night these standards will never steer you wrong. Start at Flora where the Deco vibe and incredible cocktails are always incredible. Then head over to Pican for classy southern cuisine and some of the nicest wait staff around. Our dessert option may seem like a strange one, but trust us. Plumb serves amazing frozen yogurt sundays that will blow your, and your dates, mind.

Drinks: Flora

Dinner: Pican

Dessert: Plumb

Jack London Square

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Lastly we give you Jack London, where things are a little sleeker, a little faster, a whole lot of fun. Get your spanish on at Bocanova with a cozy cocktail right by the water. Then head to Haven for a romantic pre-fixe menu of American fare deliciousness. And then hipster it up for dessert (preferably on the patio over looking the water and the beautiful bridge lights) at Forge, where you can put Lucky Charms on your ice cream if you’d like…or have dessert from a Mason jar.

Drinks: Bocanova

Dinner: Haven

Dessert: Forge

So many wonderful places to take someone out for a lovely evening in Oakland. We hope that you can get out and enjoy a few (or even all of them). Happy Friday everyone!

Written by Lesley

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