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Mon. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Mon. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Always saw long lines for this place while waiting in a relatively shorter line across the street at LoCoco's, so my partner and I decided to try it one evening when we were child free (kids would have fussed about not going to LoCoco's - a family favorite).
The wait was not terrible; I was passed over twice by the host as he took names and wine orders from others, but he made up for it by recommending a very tasty wine. We were seated after 30 mins in a sort of alley on the side of the restaurant. It is a narrow space, and I would not recommend sitting there if you are claustrophobic, but it was intimate, and each table has its own adjustable heater - nice.
Waiter was very helpful in explaining the menu and I recommend listening carefully to the menu explanation. We missed a subtle hint NOT to order something, and, regretably, we ordered a loser. Waiter made great wine suggestions that perfectly complemented our meals.
My partner ordered a sanddab pasta - the loser dish - that had warring flavors: raw garlic, cayenne and overpowering ocean. I ordered the calzone stuffed with porcini, goat cheese and arugula. It was a little too lemony for us (we split it after finding the pasta inedible, and it was more than enough for us) but the amazing crust made up for it. I had read that the pizzas are amazing, and believe it after tasting that crust. Also yummy was the salmon crostini we began with.
All in all, a good place - they did not charge us for the pasta - but I would stick to wine and pizza.
Um, I guess we had a nice time?
Sat on the little side patio, which was nice and private but sort of felt like we were in an alley - lots of kitchen noise and random people walking through, and we didn't get a good feel for the ambiance. Our server was friendly but not terribly knowledgeable and sort of unprofessional in her demeanor and diction. It wasn't that bothersome, but definitely noticeable.
The appetizer was disappointing and flavorless. Entrees were tasty, but mine was incredibly salty and my boyfriend's was HOT! I love salty food, but I really thought for a minute that I might not be able to eat it, and I LOVE spicy food but could only take a couple of bites of his calzone. Very weird. We got the cannoli for dessert and it was completely "eh".
Everything about our experience was "just ok". The food was kinda ok. The wine was ok. The service was ok. And really, with all the great food available in this area, why would I get excited about a place that was just ok? I won't be back.
For me Dopo is like that great sweater I bought last year that I always forgets exists. When I find it hanging in back of the closet, I always wonder how I could have forgotten about it.
I go to Oliveto with the same frequency that I wear my favorite Citizens jeans, but why am I always forgetting that Dopo is also exceptionally delicious?
So when a date asked for good italian near my apartment, I redeemed myself, put on that sweater, and suggested Dopo.
I think it was only my third time at Dopo, but I think it was a charm (i.e. the best menu and personal choices.) I was thrilled to see spaghetti ai ricci (sea urchin) on the menu, and had no choice but to order it. The salumi were perfect, and with a glass of umbrian wine, a perfect trifecta was born.
I like the feeling of Dopo as a neighborhood trattoria type joint. No reservations, no website, mostly bare walls, far less stuffy than Oliveto but with many less options.
Rustle through your closet to find what forgotten gems you might be missing!
I crave Dopo pizzas constantly. Gooey cheese, crispy yet fluffy smokey crust, yummy sauce and toppings. God they are perfect. The calzones are similarly scrumptious. I also love the bread that they serve with a pate spread. I don't care particularly for its raw seafood-heavy antipasti section, but the other items on the menu thoroughly compensate. Be forewarned though: you will probably have to ask your server to explain 75% of the menu to you, unless you're much more familiar with Italian than I am.
Though the wait here is supposed to be quite long, I've been seated reasonably quickly the two times I've been.
Wow!
I called in and the phone was answered by an employee by the name of "Ben", he was incredibly condescending, rude and sarcastic!!! He chuckled before every answer as if he was being bothered with a lesser being.
Needless to say I didn't eat there, and I will never eat there if this is who they trust to be the first impression to the public.
Good luck people!
Like another yelper, we got seated on the side patio which is weird. It is clean and private but you do feel like you are sitting in an alley. The food was meh. Arugula salad was about the most uninteresting thing. Just a huge pile of arugula and nothing else. Nice dressing, though. Broccoli soup was pretty tasty though. Pizza was pretty decent, though. Nice crust and it was piping hot. Our waiter was nothing special, it took a really long time for him to show up the first time, but then he was fairly attentive. One of the other waiters that happened to bring our salad and soup was gorgeous so they get extra points for that. :-)
In the end it was a pretty pricey meal that left us feeling like we could have had better some place else.
Snooty service. Quite snobby. I'm not impressed.
Excellent pate. TOTALLY ECLIPSED BY THE HOT AS HELL ENTREES. Both blew my freaking head off. Had to leave it all and walk across the street to have an actual dinner.
Bad server for not knowing what's in the dishes! BAD!
Sooooooo....I wrote a cranky pants review a few years ago based on the dinner portion/pricing ratio.
Then I moved into the neighborhood and checked out Dopo for lunch. They offer a limited menu of pizza, panini and small sides for reasonable prices and I've had super friendly service every time!!
Check it out!
"Where did my food go?!" That's what I've been asking myself since my pathetic excuse for a dinner… Read more »
There are a few things you must know before venturing off to DOPO. First off, the host is very attentive. There will always be a line upfront, so if the host puts your name on the list, ask him to also take down your phone number in case you decide to take a stroll while waiting. This brings up another point that DOPO MUST start accepting reservations because the line is huge ALL the time. It's no secret that this place is good and has a line to show it.
Now onto the food, it was very well prepared. There was a cordo soup that was decadent. Think creamy asparagus soup drizzled with olive-oil along with one soft boiled egg breaded with panko crumbs. Slicing the egg and seeing the yolk ooze out the egg and into the soup was good enough too keep me warm on a nippy night. Then we waited, and waited and waited for the wine, followed by another wait for our early girl tomato and basil pizza. It took almost an HOUR for the pizza. The pizza was delicious, but I could have driven to cheeseboard pizza in Berkeley and came back before the pizza arrived at our table.
There is definitely a disconnect between the server and the kitchen staff. As the line-cook had to apologize for the pacing of the entre instead of server giving us an explanation. This should NOT be the norm at a restaurant that has many followers and reviews. We saw a few diners leave because the food was taking so long to come out. Two and a half hour for pizza and soup is way too much time. And given the fact that the bay area now has many Italian restaurants, which are becoming national destination, DOPO must be more attentive and respectful to their clients.
I would come back on a weekday (not Friday), but if I receive this type of treatment again, than DOPO must be re-evaluate their staffing, pace and service.
Today is our friend Valerie's birthday and we wanted to take her out. She lives a block from Piedmont so we decided to have a meal in her area. She had no preference in general. I have been to quite a number of places there, as had she. But her suggestion was Italian. Fine with me. I wasn't in the mood for Ethiopian, Thai, Chinese, Greek, Turkish, Carribean, etc. So she suggested Lococo.
But I had a better idea: Dopo! A friend of ours had invited us earlier, but we couldn't make it. Valerie had never been there either. Neither had our friend Molly.
Wow! We walked there. The host offered us inside under a fan or out with the option of heat. Valerie and I are crazy Germans who get cold easily. We picked the outside table with the heat lamp on with the back to the inside. Jack & Molly sat facing us.
The menu looked good, but like many modern CA restaurants, the actual food was way better. We started with the sampler of cold cuts and pate. The rabbit pate and the duck "salami" as well as the mortadella were my favorite. But the other meats were also superb.
Then we had the antipasti platter. Highlight was the stuffed squid.
The main course was accompanied by a vegie platter. My usual favorites was the disappointment. Panzanella was a little dry and lacking the acidity I like. But to many of our surprise, the caponata was delicious--and I hate olives! The beans were also superb.
Jack had the Lasagna alla napoletana. Whereas it was fantastic, it was really a Bolognese. Had I known, I would have ordered that. The fresh pasta with chanterelles, sage, and butter was quite well made but too subtle for my taste.
Afterwards we all had a refreshing salad of greens with a bright vinaigrette. While we were too full for desert, our lovely wait staff brought us some strawberry gelato with biscotti since Valerie was a birthday girl. Despite no longer liking anything sweet, I tried both. The ice cream had a real European strawberry flavor and the biscotti had just the right consistancy and flavor balance with a touch of anis.
What a fantastic place. Also the two wines suggested by our waitress after explaining our tastes were right on target.
Thanks, Dopo!
I thought Dopo was delicious. My friends? Not as enthusiastic as me but I think everyone still enjoyed themselves.
We shared the salumi plate for 4 and while all of the meats were delicious, I thought that $27 for one little slice of each meat (and crostini with duck pate) was a little sheisty. Don't get me wrong - they were all very good but for almost 30 bucks, it would be nice to get more than one thin little slice of meat each.
I split the pancetta, fresh cayenne and egg pizza, as well as the agnolotti with sugo with my friend. I really liked the pizza. I thought it was nice and airy with the right char and the whole nine. I don't think my friend really loved it though. Different strokes...
We did agree, however, that the pasta was heavenly. It was delicate and tender but sadly, there just wasn't much of it. I could've eaten a heaping bowl of it.
I had a bite of my other friend's heirloom tomato and breadcrumb salad. It was pretty awesome.
Ordered a few glasses of the Falanghina, which was perfectly crisp and summery.
I'd say overall it was a great place for dinner to catch up with friends... that is, except for the annoying busboys who were swarming over our table and came up to get our checks, oh, maybe 4 times? Other than that hiccup, I would highly recommend checking it out for dinner.
My lovely sister called me at 4pm on a Friday night and offered to take our kids for a sleepover. Excited, but with no solid plan in hand, my husband and I headed to Piedmont Avenue, hoping to catch a movie or grab some dinner. Stars were aligned and we ended up doing both.
After procuring the perfect parking spot (which on Piedmont Avenue is like winning an olympic medal), we got our movie tickets. With time to spare, we walked around to find a spot to grab a bite.
I have always wanted to try Dopo but the crowd of people I always see waiting outside kept me away. This evening, we were able to get a sweet table for two near the window.
Our server was wonderful and responsible for our 5 star experience. She was cool and confident and an expert on both the food and the wine list. Her recommendation of the Bolognani Moscato Giallo was spot on. I fell in love with the wine and am still looking for a retail distributor that carries it.
When we didn't want to order the platter but wanted a single salumi, she went down the list and described each item expertly. We settled on a plate of lucanica which was smoky, spicy and delicious. We also got the Dopo pizza, which was thin and crispy, just the way I like it. The stuffed grilled squid was good but I wished it was a bit more charred. I will return to Dopo if only for the pork pate that accompanied the bread. Decadent and porky, it was so sinful that I felt slightly naughty eating it.
All in all, a perfect meal to start off a perfect date night. And by perfect date I mean watching 500 days of Summer followed by an entire season 2 of Weeds on DVD. Yeah, I know. We need to get a life.
This was a really great find. The menu changes with what's in season, so you may or may not be able to get the same things we did, but we were there in time for the chanterelle ravioli with sage and I couldn't believe how delicious these were. It takes a real chef to know the right season for the right ingredients and then cook accordingly. Apparently, late summer is the best time for chanterelles and it showed. Also, I would never have thought to put a sage leaf on that, but it was spicy and powerful and a great compliment to the mushroom.
Also had a pizza there, very light and delicious crust, great choice of cheeses.
The staff is also really nice. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Dopo is my go-to place in Oakland, although a little pricey. They have a very limited vegetarian selection (usually only 1 dish) and that is why I gave it 3 stars. HOWEVER the food is always fresh and of great quality. I cannot wait for them to bring back the dried porcini mushroom pizza- my favorite dish, that is only in season 2-3 weeks out of the year!
This is one of those rare time where I wish yelp had half stars. 3 stars for food 1/2 star for service (an dthat is only because the host was so friendly and accomodating.)
The menu is very limited, that being said what is on there is very tasty. I got the bufala mozzarella pizza, and although a little greasy in the middle the flavors were fantastic. Two people at my table got the lasagna and were equally pleased. We also started off with the salumi plate and everything was delcious..escpecially the pate. That all being said, Two stars are missing for the lousy service. The waiter was inattentive and basically ignored us. He suggested this wine that tasted like dirty socks...although he described it as "crisp and fruity" - I would have sent it back but it took us 20 minutes just to flag him down and get our entree order in. We waited probably a good 30 minutes plus between the app and entree and were never checked on by him throughout that time. Not to mention my fi ordered the prok chop - hey waiter, maybe a heads up that it comes with nuthin? It was just a hunk of meat on the plate. Sides are a la carte, but how can you guess that when your waiter is a mute idiot? We had to practically send up flares just to get the check.
Overall, I would say that although the food is very tasty, it was not mind blowing and the lack luster service makes me cross this off my list of places I want to eat at again.
I used to buy my christmas tree in the used-to-be-vacant-lot on the corner of Piedmont/Pleasant Valley, where Adesso now takes up shop.
I remember when there were TWO rockridge movie theaters - one in the shopping center where Pet Food Express and Boston Market are now...and one across the street from Oakland Tech.
I used to love stopping at the long-defunct CeCe Dove's catering for free samples.
I recall when people would speak in whispers about what might happen to you if you ventured past the intersection of Piedmont and MacArthur.
I used to put gas in my 1971 Chevelle Malibu at "Cheaper!," across from the Piedmont Theater (now 7-11).
So considering I've lived in the Oakland area for pretty much my entire life, I'm ashamed at how long it's taken me to stop for a meal at Dopo. But, after lunching with the lovely Betty H. (who loves good food and writes awesome yelp reviews) this afternoon, I can say that I've done it. Done it and liked it. Done it, and would go back to try a full meal on for size one of these Summer nights.
We kept it light this afternoon, splitting a salad of little gem, anchovy, lemon, and parmesan - and a delicious cracker-thin crust pizza with basil and fresh mozzarella. Service was low-key and friendly, and they patiently explained to me what "bresaola" was (after checking with the kitchen for confirmation), as I contemplated indulging in the calzone (which is constantly changing).
Splitting a salad and pizza was just enough to satisfy my lunchtime hunger, but I can see myself going back and dropping more on a full meal and a glass or two from their comprehensive wine list. Cheers.
"DOPO" is Dope! On a promenade in "Piedmont" during a quiet week night, my better half and I were lead to this jewel by the candles and dimmed lights of this, at the time, soon to be favorite Restaurant in Oakland. I was seduced instantly by a charming, well mannered and smiling host that greeted us in a attractive and smooth way. I was delighted to experience that even though the place was busy, the staff was able to create from the get go, a slow paced, personable and very pleasant experience. Our server was able to combine professionalism, knowledge, humor and style with premium ability.
I started with Raw Oysters on the half shell and was pleased but not ecstatic by them; this is, of course, my personal opinion about what I usually like and not on the quality of the product. I loved that they were served simply on a plate of "Gros Sel" and not some "Fancy Wannabe" presentation. Following was the "Slow Braised Flank Steak" with a "Dopo" version of what I think was a "Jardiniere de legumes" cooked within the steak . Conveniently, it came sliced in two sideways and was perfect for the both of us. The flavors were very rustic to me. It reminded me of some of the steaks I' ve had in the South of France. The seasoning was nearly perfect, the meat was beautifully tender with just enough texture that It could be chewed long enough to reveal it's flavors and juices.
After what I call a "High-End Comfort Food" entree, I indulged in a symphony of gelato that took me on a journey. A journey of patience, of textures, of powerful flavors and subtle hints of spring. The Banana gelato was unlike I had ever tasted in a desert. Just like biting in a bearly over ripped fruit; so beautiful, rich and powerful that I couldn't help but smile as it was melting in my mouth. The color was so comforting and the texture was of the freshest, like it had been made-to-order, just for me. The "Sicilian Honey" one was on a whole different plane. Not much at first, (I maybe should have started with it) a pleasant and smooth flavor, but then it came, a gorgeous, gradual and almost surprisingly sweet feel in my mouth. I almost didn't recognize it. Why? Because the only times I have experienced honey like this, is when I have harvested it myself and ate it right off the comb. Long story made short, the best desert I have had in at least a year. (Right there with "Cesar's Orange and Caramel Bread Pudding" and "Oliveto's Gelato's Rice Pudding"). And right when I thought that Dopo couldn't satisfy me anymore, (at least for the night), our server brought me another oyster for me to taste( a more pricy one that I had ordered previously), I guess to show me that "Dopo" isn't just about Great Food, Great Service, Great Customer Care or about the "Chef de Cuisine" personally coming to the tables and thanking the customers for dining with them or wishing them a good night as they are leaving, but that "Dopo" is driven by passion for what they do and believe in what "Maya Angelou" once said: "People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did, but People will never forget how you made them feel" and I felt great leaving this place.
Italian food like it's supposed to be.
Must tries:
- salumi/pate sampling ( a plate for 2 can satisfy 4 judicious epicures)
- the lasagna (holy OMG!)
- any wine recommended by Graham ;)
Four stars. Not five, but not completely their fault. Five, maybe, if the menu wasn't so geared to carnivores (of which I am not). So four. It was time for a special meal. So we drove over to Piedmont ave expecting the usual from a hyped up pizzeria: lots of pizzas. Instead, we found what I can only describe as Italian-style sushi, game meats (is rabbit game?), pork, pork, pork, and pizza (and pizza with pork). I'm typically a somewhat reserved eater; I let my eyes gloss over most meat items on menus, my subconscious telling me that's not what I'm here for. However, when it turned out that this menu was very meat-oriented, I had to actively abandon my less-meat-mantra and take the role of ADVENTURER (for me).
We started with a slightly too tannic red wine. A bottle. Priced around $35- I don't remember which it was. Enjoyable none-the-less.
Dined on
yellowtail jack with a green salsa (perhaps of celery, dill, shallot...mere guesses) atop sliced cooked yellow potatoes (fingerlings?)
sausage-stuffed rabbit (think: deboned rabbit tied around case-less delicious sausage with pinenuts)
lasagna!
and pizza of red onion, lonza (cured pork loin), potato, and mysterious white cheese whose name I cannot recall.
The food was TERRIFIC! And when it came for dessert, we couldn't decide and told the waitress this. I let Mr. M. decide and he chose lemon ricotta zepolis, which was deep-fried lemon-ricotta dough topped with powdered sugar. But before those arrived, the waitress brought us a panna cotta, On The House! How wonderful?!
Made our evening.
We stumbled home happily wined and dined, having not broken the bank.
One of my favorite places since I moved into the neighborhood! They have super-thin crust pizza with quality ingredients for toppings - so delicious! I like them better than Delfina, which is quite well-known for their pizza as well.
What sets Dopo apart is that it has a nice, lively atmosphere with friendly staff who are down-to-earth. When you arrive, you are instantly welcomed by a host. He's super-friendly, and offers to bring you a wine/drink list so you don't feel neglected while you wait. I don't usually order wine at restaurants, but I always order a glass at Dopo. The host (and waiters) are great at picking out wines that I like. I'm never disappointed.
My one word of warning is that I don't really like their pastas. I like the pizza, the appetizers, the people, the ambiance...but not the pasta....
More like, don't go.
We went to support the locals, since we live so close. We were craving good Italian and don't mind paying a little more for it. Unfortunately what we got was a lot less, portions aside (we left hungry) and we spent $100.
The menu can be confusing to folks who don't speak Italian, but I do so it wasn't a problem. I explained to everyone at the table what the courses meant. The wine list is what got me a bit perplexed.
Onto the food. Ah yes, the food was inconsistent. The braised rabbit looked more like roadkill- it was served in slimy chunks, overly salted and not very tender, the way a braised rabbit should taste. My sister's entree was tasty but small. The fiance's pizza was bland, overcooked and just a bad combination of flavors (prosciutto should taste good on anything)! I've had cardboard with more flavor and not as dry as this thing they called pizza. I may or may not give them a second chance, but then again, they don't look like they need our business anyway, at least the host said that they are "always packed on Saturday" but we looked around and it really wasn't that busy. Must have been an off night, whatever, you've been warned.
I normally would not venture to East Bay as end destination dinner point, but wife and I had massages at Claremont earlier in day so decided to have dinner at Dopo. We arrived early (6:30) and there was already a wait so we decided to eat at the bar. The wine list was well laid out because they literally showed you via a map/placemat which region the wine was from. They had 3-4 wines from every region including Sardinia. We went rather Conservative with a nice Chianti Classico 2006. The friendly, knowledgeable server was also the wine buyer so she allowed us to try a few others just for comparison sake. For apps- we split an arugula salad. It was wonderful- extremely simple but the peppery taste was fresh and still light. We then went to a classic spaghetti/meatball and pizza- WOW- the handmade pasta was flavorful, light and cooked perfectly. The meatball was tasty without being heavy- simply amazing. The pizza had wonderful heat without turning your mouth into an inferno. The crust was crisp and then-like it should be. We also had a side dish of long cooked broccoli- which comes out cool and somewhat mushy, but tasty. For dessert, we had chocolate gelato and donuts (donuts where a little dense in texture and light on lemon taste). I appreciate the fact that the chef would deliver dishes and explain the plate- I like when they take ownership like that!
Great service, great food. Any chance you can move to the City?
Dopo is a sweet, quaint Italian restaurant on the busy Piedmont Street. It would make an impressive date spot, but not so roomy for your big groups.
The hubby took me out for a "just because" date. I have wanted to try Dopo even before the restaurant's expansion. We showed up and was greeted by a huge crowd, but also a very pleasant house manager, who promptly took our names for the wait list and offered us some wine to sip on while we wait. We were seated in about 20 mins, which was surprising for the huge crowd. We sat on the side of the restaurant, which was cozy with the heat lamps and felt very private. The hubby would have preferred the indoor seating, but it seemed so loud and a definite lack of space between tables, that I liked the coziness of the being on the side.
We started with the duck pate, which was heavenly. I would have liked more then three pieces, but the complimentary pork pate and bread made up for it. Our entrees included a pasta with pigeon (think more squab ilke) ragu and the flank steak. We definitely agreed that the pasta was the better dish. Both were a bit on the salty side, but the flank steak had an overpowering sauce, and the texture came out to be more like short ribs. We ended with a cannoli, but could have skipped dessert.
Overall, Dopo was an restaurant with a-ok food, but better ambiance.
Despite all the hype around this place (not to mention a friend who knows the owners), I found it disappointing on every level.
My girlfriend, her 8-yr old daughter, and I arrived at a little before 6pm on a Friday, and there were plenty of tables available, and we were seated right away at our preference -- outside. The hostess brought us water, menus, and when we asked for bread (as per the instructions on the menu, they brought it right away, along with a pork-based mystery pate or rilletes and no explanation provided (even when we asked).
Overall the food was very mediocre. We ordered several items, including: the Dopo pizza which was a little soggy -- not crispy at all -- and had but one achovie on it and the basil was also pretty sparse; the eggplant was the star of the things we ordered...it was excellent tho' perhaps a bit overcooked; the scallops over a bed of pasta...the scallops had been pounded flat so as to appear larger, and they were overcooked and too chewy...not silky smooth at all, and the pasta was also over cooked, not al dente; the stuffed calamari was cooked well (not an easy thing to do) but it was over salted. We ordered wine by the glass, and it was fine.
The service was friendly and helpful at the start and then noticably absent once our food arrived.
We were finished by 7:00pm.
I could understand that service might be compromised if it was busy, but it was just starting to get busy as we were leaving. As for the food, I have no explanation other than it was an off night.
Will I go back? Probably. I think everyone is entitled to make mistakes or not always perform at an outstanding level. But I thought my experience was worth sharing.
Salad was lame -- just baby lettuce with dressing. No tomato, no nuts, not cheese, no onions -- just lettuce.
Calzone was amazing -- very flavorful and a hearty portion. It's vegetarian, but my carnivorous company thought it was delicious as well -- even better than their meaty dishes! Halibut crostini was delish.
The best part about this place was their homemade hot sauce -- this is what gives this place 4 stars. Seriously one of the best hot sauces I've ever tried!!!! Hats off to the chef on that.
The staff at Dopo was very nice. Due to the hot weather they tried to seat everyone they could either outside in front or along the side in a little private alley lined with tables for 2. The alley has a cool secret space sort of feel to it!
My hubby's prosciutto pizza was very yummy. I ordered the fresh tomato & buffalo mozzarella pizza and it was a little disappointing. It wasn't that it didn't taste good (it was actually quite yummy). It was more that it didn't feel like a meal. It tasted more like bruschetta than a pizza and had the weight of an appetizer.
One other complaint was with my wine. They charged $10.50 for a glass of white wine and barely even gave me 1oz. I remember looking around at other tables and wondering why my wine glass arrived so empty. It was literally one sip (not even one gulp) WTF with that!!! It made me feel robbed.
If I go again I'll order the more pizza like pizza and stay away from their wine list.
mmmmmm.... dopo.
Sooooooo good. REALLY great food. It's totally fresh and seasonal. The menu is small as a result, which I don't really see as a bad thing. Everything on the menu is interesting. The pizzas are a-MAZ-ing! Seriously. I dream of the dopo pizza. Maybe this is TMI but I took the few slices home that I couldn't finish one night and slept with the takeout box next to my bed. THAT good kinda pizza.
I've found the staff to be extremely friendly and helpful. The waiting around isn't such a big deal, since they'll bring you a drink, or the last time I was there they suggested I take a take a trip to the bar they just opened up the street while I waited. I didn't take them up on this offer, and sat at a table on the sidewalk, underneath the heat lamp, snuggled in with a blanket. Not much to complain about.
And for such a delicious, delightful experience, it's really not that expensive. I had dinner and drinks here with friends one night and we spent around $70. Not too shabby for four people.
Love it. love it. love IT.
IMPRESSIVE wine list, servers are clearly knowledgeable.
the food is good, for sure, but the portions do not check out with the price. it's a lovely environment & a wine snob's spot, but if you want well-priced & delicious small plates, i would try mua instead.
that said, service was wonderful.
Top-notch Italian eatery in Oakland (Piedmont Avenue).
Each night, they have a wonderful assortment of -
(i) Pesce Crudo (raw fish) served up in creative Italian flare
(ii) Pizzas cooked to perfection (thin and crispy)
(iii) Assorted pasta dishes that make you feel like you are in a small mom & pop restaurant in the North of Italy
One of my favorite eateries in Oakland.
no decor save pics, tables enclose the counter and the open kitchen in the left corner.
fine dining:
-arancino of beef and pork ragu (@6): deep fried rice balls with beef/pork paste in the center. delicate pastry like textures.
-mozzarella al bufalo and basil pizza(14) pizza is thin crusted but not the thinnest i've tasted. imported mozzarella made this pizza very tasty
-sausage & peppers pizza(14): thin crusted, taste good also
-racer, ipa(5) nice and hoppy
-"italian" ale (4) tasted like stella. great!
-chianti classico '06 (11) pretty smooth
-pound cake with chocolate mousse filling topped w/ whipped cream(8?) the edges are pound cake, the inside was chocolate mousse, very nice. lst and only dessest i liked.
doing the uptown:
-simplistic furnishings and docor, a feeling of elegance but not extravagance.
-liter of water on table(european style)
-across from fenton's ice cream
-look for outdoor seating= sign of dopo, no hanging signs.
-no menu visible online, new menu daily
-server was da best: knew everything about wines, dishes, desserts.
-on chron's top 100 '07-'09
-should be 5 stars. haven't tried main entree, thus no 5th star but
everything here was so good. (restraining mysefl..)
Dopo gets an automatic 5 stars from me for serving bread with house-made pork-pate. House-made pork pate!?!? Sign me up.
The ricotta gnocchi with pork ragu was also exceptional, and my date seemed to enjoy his pizza with speck and onions - it was good, thin-crust pizza.
The wine list isn't bad, although I might like to see something besides the omnipresent Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Vallevo for the "cheap" red Italian wine. Don't get me wrong - it's an awesome, cheap wine - very, very good for the price - but there have to be other options as well - Italian wine is very reasonably priced.
Would happily go back any time. Road trip?
This place serves some of the best food in the Bay Area. The last few times were mediocre at best but about 90% of the time i have a wonderful experience. I will always continue to go. They are always busy but it is worth the wait, especially with the quality and fresh ingredients they use. There is a new menu almost everyday. The pasta is hand made and is wonderful. The pizza's are hit and miss. The service is just decent. Some servers are great and others I try to avoid getting when I go. The amari selection is wonderful but all of their drinks are way over priced especially since they come in a tiny glass. It is about $8 for a half sized martini and they don't do a very good job with their cocktails. The food has gone up in price also but usually I don't plan to go there without spending a good amount of money. Overall you should expect to truly enjoy yourself.
I chose Dopo for my graduation dinner and it did not disappoint.
Our party of seven tried almost everything on the menu and ate our meal family style. This was an awesome way to dine at Dopo. EVERYTHING was excellent, but the tuna tartare, the salumi, the pasta, and the pork chop were the standouts of the evening.
The staff were amazing and suggested great wines to accompany our meal.
If there was one downside, it was that it was quite warm in the restaurant and they couldn't accommodate us outside. But that had more to do with the evening then the restaurant. I'll be going back to Dopo for SURE!
When I first went to this restaurant years ago, I wasn't that happy. Coming from an off-the-boat Italian family, I felt that my mom's tomato sauce was better, and the portions at Dopo too small. Not to mention the price.
Well, I've done some growing up since then. This place is my #1 favorite restaurant in the Bay Area. Every dish satisfies me, and the price tag is worth it. The menu changes almost daily, but the one item that is always on the menu is the Lasagna. It's worth the trip just for the lasagna.
I took my off-the-boat Calabrese parents here for dinner a few weeks ago, and they loved it too. My dad even said it was the best pizza he's had since he left Italy some 50+ years ago. And he lives in Brooklyn. That's saying something, I think.
Well, I just can't say enough about this place, I try to go there as often as I can... and then there's Adesso...
Arrived for a late Tuesday dinner....the restaurant is normally crazy busy and we took advantage of a dead night to try it. We had the duck confit, the smoked trout antipasti, and the buffalo mozzerella pizza.
The duck confit was amazing...melt in your mouth and a nice combination of flavors. The smoked trout was way too salty for me, and the porcini mushroom with it was way too pickled for my taste.
The pizza was soggy in the middle, but the edges were crusty and good...and the bread and pate was amazing!
Overall, a good experience. Service was a bit too transactional for my liking - especially since dinner approached $80 for two (with a glass of wine a piece). The ambiance is great, and the food was very good.
Oh - and the Diplomatica (chocolate mousse cake with whipped cream) is absolutely the perfect ending! I would go for the Diplomatica alone...
Yum. If you can get a seat in here, grab it. The food was great and the service was on point. The only negative is how busy and loud this place gets.
Note: Don't hesitate to get clarification about the menu (it is needlessly confusing).
Hey, Patrick!
Delizioso, my friend! You're doing a fantastic job!!
I've heard so many things about Dopo over the past few years from friends whose opinion about food I trust. Tonight was the first time I ate there and they were on target. The food was very good. I had the verdura platter and my friend had a wonderful steak dish. The service was excellent. I look forward to going back.
Oh this place is favoloso! I decided to treat myself to a nice glass of wine and dinner as a celebratory meal.. I walked in and was acknowledged by the owner, then after a brief couple minutes I was greeted and sat.
He said, "How many?" I said, "One." He replied, "And a great number that is. My wife Katie at the bar will take care of you." This was especially nice to hear because it was my first time solo-dining and I was a tad bit intimidated, but that went away immediately after getting settled in.
I had a glass of wine and dinner. I decided to get the Raviolo. It was delicious and not too filling, like your typical Raviolo. It had a light sauce and the presentation was simple.
Everyone was super friendly and the chef even came by and asked about my dinner. I'd definitely go back!
Finally, after almost two years of forgetfulness and failed attempts, we had dinner at Dopo! Glad we did, too, as it turned out to be a near perfect dining experience after a long & hard work week. The owner gave us a nice wine sampling while we waited for our table, while the stellar waitress patiently took us on a verbal tour of the one page menu. She really pampered us throughout a typically busy night for that place (and isn't that one reason you go out to eat, after all?). And then the food was amazing! All considering opening an eatery should go here first to see how it's done!
Join us for breakfast and…
Alameda, CA
1/2 Off Wine Wednesdays
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: North Oakland
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Neighborhood: Montclair Village
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