Water Lounge & Raw Bar   

5634 College Ave
Oakland, CA 94618
510-654-5426
www.pearloncollege.com

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Some might say the day of the raw bar has come and gone. But Pearl Oyster Bar has all the makings of a classic gone modern. The faade of this ultra-hip place is reminiscent of an early Mondrian with stainless steel grid and light green sea glass. Inside, Brazilian cherry woods cover the floor and panel the ceiling, glass chips kaleidoscope the tabletops, and the long bar is backlit in aquamarine. Oysters, clams, crayfish, shrimp, crab and lobster fill the raw bar, which is not so huge to take away from some delectable, "landlocked" small plates. Mendocino sea vegetables with Japanese dressing, bruschetta with grilled asparagus, goat cheese and morels, and penne with saffron-tomato sauce and English peas, show off the ways a raw bar can cut it in the new millennium. Spicy smoky fries with aioli, roasted fingerling potatoes and sauteed spring vegetables are among hearty sides. A respectable wine selection is served by the glass and by the bottle, along with boutique brews and sakes. Pearl Oyster Bar and Restaurant fills a void in Rockridge's prolific offering of cool eateries. Located half a block from BART, it's an easy destination.