Steak Search 1 – The Alley
Once a Texan, you’re always a Texan.
Earlier last week I exchanged a few words with my friend about our food logging endeavour, and I got reminded of steak. (Yes, Sarah, you’re responsible ;-)). I thought it was gone. That evil desire of eating an innocent cow who just a few days ago was wandering the meadow with dreamy eyes. It has resurfaced. Granted I recently enjoy the occasional meatballs from Ikea, a Whopper at the Burger King on San Pablo, and various Top Dog‘s sausages, I haven’t had a chunky slab of steak for months. Now that’s serious. When I’m in Houston, we go to Potatoe Patch almost every other week. When I’m in College Station, I can always rely on Sodolak’s for a hearty fill. Where can I go in Berkeley?
Yelp reveals a gargantuan list of six “steak” locations in the area (for comparison, Humble (TX) has twelve, and Humble is half the area of Berkeley). So starting today I will eat at and blog about every steak house East of the Bay, alphabetically. First stop: The Alley.
It’s the shadiest little hole in the wall I’ve ever been to. The inside is dark and frumpy like the sluggish voice of old black men at the bar counter sharing stories about job and children. The walls are blackish wooden planks, covered in thousands of staples and business cards, like a flaky fish deep fried with scales on and forgotten until it turns ivory with mildew dots. How do they say it, this place got character.
Whatever, I just want my steak. The Alley Special comes with a small bundle of iceberg lettuce, a slice of cucumber, and one cherry tomato. The typical salad of guilt that always comes with cheap steaks and dressed in crocodile’s tears of vinaigrette. For 11.75 we get a 12 oz slab, some half cooked vegetable, garlic bread, and a baked potato.
We ask for no sour cream on our potato, but I’m not sure if that was necessary, as the potato comes simple and spare. No cheese, no chives, no bacon bits, two butter packets still wrapped and melting on the hot steak. We are also given one skimpy knife and one fork each, the knife blade is narrow like a snake’s tongue.
We slice and chew, industriously. This is steak that you can make into mattresses, springy and resilient, and taste like hard work. The steak juice flavors well the half cooked onion, broccoli, and carrots. The garlic bread feels hasty. The bare baked potato fits stupendously beautiful with butter and generous shakings of salt, as it should. Its burnt skin, soaked with steak juice, is something I’ve learned to eat and enjoy, but this time it easily peels off to reveal the tastiest part of a perfect baked potato: the dry, hard shell between the skin and the moist flesh. It’s like pie crust without gooey sugar mess.
So that’s it. The Alley lives true to its name: a dark hangout that only accepts cash in exchange for a recharge reeking of grill smoke, cigarette smoke, beer, old men’s stories, and our backstreet side.
Address: The Alley
3325 Grand Avenue (between Elwood and Lake Park)
Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 444-8505
(parking on the street)
Next on Steak Search: Buckhorn Grill (Emeryville)
Spot on with this write-up, I actually assume this web site needs much more consideration. I’ll most likely be again to learn way more, thanks for that info.
1I think that is among the so much vital info for me. And i’m glad studying your article. But should commentary on few basic issues, The web site style is wonderful, the articles is in reality nice :D. Just right task, cheers
2Spot on with this write-up, I really assume this web site wants much more consideration. I’ll in all probability be again to read rather more, thanks for that info.
3F*ckin’ tremendous things here. I am very glad to see your article. Thanks a lot and i’m looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
4Great post, I believe people should larn a lot from this blog its rattling user friendly.
5Just wish to say your article is as surprising. The clarity in your post is simply nice and i could assume you’re an expert on this subject. Well with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable work.
6There are definitely plenty of details like that to take into consideration. That is a nice point to carry up. I offer the ideas above as general inspiration but clearly there are questions just like the one you convey up where an important factor can be working in honest good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around things like that, but I am certain that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both girls and boys really feel the impression of only a moment’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
7I’ve been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thanks , I’ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your website?
8You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be actually something which I feel I would by no means understand. It seems too complex and extremely huge for me. I am looking forward to your subsequent post, I will try to get the cling of it!
9I always was interested in this topic and still am, thanks for posting.
10Amazing blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your theme. Many thanks
11Very good website you have here but I was curious if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I can get suggestions from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Many thanks!
12Hello, i think that i saw you visited my website so i came to “return the favor”.I’m attempting to find things to enhance my web site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
13It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting things or tips. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read more things about it!
14Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice even as you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a weblog web site? The account helped me a appropriate deal. I were tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered vibrant clear concept
15After research just a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your manner of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and shall be checking back soon. Pls try my website as effectively and let me know what you think.
16Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this site. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very difficult to get that “perfect balance” between usability and visual appeal. I must say that you’ve done a amazing job with this. Also, the blog loads very fast for me on Chrome. Superb Blog!
17I’ve read some just right stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot attempt you set to make such a great informative website.
18I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was wondering what all is required to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100 positive. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
19Hi my family member! I want to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include almost all significant infos. I would like to look more posts like this .
20I like this blog very much, Its a rattling nice place to read and incur information.
21Magnificent beat ! I wish to apprentice at the same time as you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog website? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I were tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided shiny clear idea
22Awesome blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your theme. Thanks a lot
23I truly appreciate this post. I’ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again
24Hey there, You’ve done a fantastic job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I’m sure they will be benefited from this web site.
25You are my inspiration , I own few web logs and rarely run out from to brand : (.
26I truly appreciate this post. I have been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again!
27It’s in reality a nice and helpful piece of information. I’m happy that you just shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
28Hello, Neat post. There is an issue with your website in web explorer, could check this?K IE still is the market chief and a big component of other people will leave out your fantastic writing due to this problem.
29I have learn a few excellent stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot attempt you set to make this kind of excellent informative site.
30very good post, i certainly love this website, carry on it
31Great beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept
32Thanks, I’ve just been looking for information about this topic for ages and yours is the best I’ve found out till now. But, what concerning the bottom line? Are you positive concerning the source?
33Excellent web site. A lot of useful information here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks for your sweat!
34Thank you for sharing with us, I believe this website really stands out :D.
35Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your web-site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched everywhere and simply couldn’t come across. What an ideal website.
36Just wanna comment that you have a very decent site, I love the layout it really stands out.
37Some genuinely nice stuff on this website , I enjoy it.
38Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your site in internet explorer, would test this… IE still is the market leader and a big component to folks will miss your fantastic writing because of this problem.
39Hi, Neat post. There is an issue together with your website in internet explorer, may check this… IE still is the market chief and a big element of people will omit your wonderful writing due to this problem.
40I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Fantastic work!
41I’ve been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thank you, I’ll try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your website?
42Hello! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
43My wife and i felt so peaceful that Ervin could finish up his analysis from your precious recommendations he gained from your own web site. It’s not at all simplistic just to possibly be giving for free techniques that many some other people may have been selling. We remember we have got the website owner to appreciate because of that. The entire explanations you have made, the straightforward web site navigation, the relationships you can help to instill – it’s all spectacular, and it is making our son in addition to us reckon that that topic is pleasurable, and that is tremendously mandatory. Many thanks for everything!
44Just a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding design and style.
45Wow! This could be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Excellent. I’m also a specialist in this topic so I can understand your hard work.
46I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts on this kind of house . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this website. Studying this info So i’m happy to show that I’ve a very just right uncanny feeling I came upon just what I needed. I such a lot undoubtedly will make certain to don’t omit this site and give it a look regularly.
47I have been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this site. Studying this information So i’m happy to exhibit that I have an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I so much no doubt will make certain to don’t forget this web site and give it a look on a constant basis.
48Good web site! I really love how it is simple on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I might be notified whenever a new post has been made. I’ve subscribed to your RSS which must do the trick! Have a nice day!
49Perfectly written written content, regards for information. “In the fight between you and the world, back the world.” by Frank Zappa.
50