Over the last several years, I have spent a lot more time in the East Bay, which meant I needed to find some places that would satisfy my culinary needs. Luckily, the East Bay has a really diverse food scene and I have enjoyed many wonderful meals there, but these are a few of the places that I like to visit regularly.

Á Côté
5478 College Ave. (at Taft), Oakland, 510-655-6469, www.acoterestaurant.com
Á Côté is a great place for diners who like making choices. First, you get to decide on where to sit, the communal dining table that runs down the middle of the restaurant, the cozy tables that line the walls, or the backyard patio. Then, you get to choose from the many seasonal Mediterranean small plates including the French classics, mussels with Pernod and croque monsieur. And finally, you get to make a selection from a wine list that focuses on little-known European wineries.

Doug’s Bar-B-Q
3600 San Pablo Ave. (at MacArthur), Emeryville, 510-655-9048
This no-frills takeout restaurant has been serving the best barbecue in the Bay Area since 1976. My personal favorites are the pork ribs and the beef brisket. If you want something different for Thanksgiving and don’t want the mess, they also sell whole fried turkeys. They are only open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday -Thursday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday–Saturday, so plan accordingly.

Paragon Bar and Café
41 Tunnel Rd. (near Oak Ridge Rd. in the Claremont Resort and Spa), Berkeley, 510-549-8549, www.paragonrestaurant.com
The only place in the Bay Area with a comparable view of The City is the Marin Headlands – but the food and service are better at the Paragon. Sip Champagne on the heated deck and enjoy the sun setting behind San Francisco. This is a great place to bring out-of-towners.

Berkley Bowl
2020 Oregon St. (at Shattuck), Berkeley, 510-843-6929, www.berkleybowl.com
This is The Place to shop for produce, with just about the widest selection available anywhere. They carry a great selection of natural and organic products alongside more conventional grocery items.

The Food Mill
3033 MacArthur Blvd. (at Maple), Oakland, 510-482-3848
Tired of spending $6 for a jar of spice you will probably only use once? Do you like to have a wide array of spices on hand to experiment with? Then it’s worth the trip to the Food Mill where they have hundreds of bulk spices and grains, including a large selection of organic spices. When you buy in bulk, you are getting fresher spices and saving tons of money.

The Fat Lady
201 Washington St. (at 2nd St. in Jack London Square), Oakland, 510-465-4996, www.thefatladyrestaurant.com
This family-owned restaurant is housed in an 1880’s Victorian that was once the most famous brothel on the Oakland waterfront. You will find quality food at reasonable prices while enjoying the collection of antique signs and paintings of classic nudes that decorate the restaurant.

Southern Café
2000 MacArthur Blvd. (at Canon), Oakland, 510-261-1404
The Southern Café is an institution. The family-owned business has been serving soul food in Oakland for 30 years, the first 25 on East 14th Street. Maralena Clay says she makes chicken just like her mama, originally from Louisiana, by seasoning the chicken – not the flour – with salt, pepper, and spices that she won’t disclose. She dips the pieces in egg wash, dusts them with flour, and fries them until golden brown. One bite into the thin, crunchy coating sent the hot juices dribbling down our chins, and we like that.