Bocanova

Owners Rick Hackett and Meredith Melville (of San Francisco's MarketBar) opened this chic pan-Latin spot in fall 2009, anchoring new development in Jack London Square. Bocanova features a raw bar (with ceviches, crudos, and signature crab deviled eggs with chipotle aioli), garden salads, fried foods such as empanadas, and rotisserie and grilled flesh, fish, and fowl. Specialties include black bean soup, seafood tacos, steamed clams with chorizo, and strip steak with chimichurri. Sit indoors under the lofty ceilings and admire the open kitchen and colorful handmade rugs, or enjoy the shaded patio right on the Oakland marina, yards away from docked pleasure boats. It's especially pleasant at lunch. The bar offers inventive cocktails (we loved the cucumber gimlet); the wine list is divided into Old World wines from Spain and Portugal, and New World ones from North and South America.

• Cuisine(s): Central American, Latin American, Mexican, South American

  Hours: Sun 10am-9pm, Mon-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm

  Price: $$, $$$$

  Payment Types: All Major Credit Cards, cash

• Attire: Casual

  Features: Banquet Facilities, Kid Friendly, Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Private Party, Takeout, Wheelchair Accessible

  Serving: Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch, Snack Food

  Alcohol: Full bar

• Reservations: Accepted, Recommended

  Parking: Lot Available, Validation Available