Mua Oakland Restaurant/Bar

Adi Zakti’s Restaurant Review-etc. - January 2nd 2009

MUA Restaurant & Bar/ Art Gallery
2442 Webster Street, Oakland Ca 94612
www.Muaoakland.com

Thank you for stopping by to check out what’s going on around Oaktown, which is one of my favorite places for dining and partying with the” Pretty People”
.
I am a Berkeley transplant to Oakland who happens to love good food and people, one goes with the other when having a night on the town, and I hope not to disappoint in guiding you to both. My love of art and movies will be included. Please inform me of mistakes of any kind or interesting tid bits
Love and peace,
Adi Zakti


To my absolute surprise and astonishment Auto Row now is taking on a new appearance with the elegant yet Urban Cheek Restaurant MUA, (Which means “Other World” in Korean).

What used to be a rather large garage of some sort is now home to a two level funky cheek Restaurant and artist lair; called MUA, and part of the Oakland Art Murmur walking tour (www.oaklandartmurmur.com ) a group of Galleries showing art work, and MUA is in the line up. The upstairs turns into a super uptown style art gallery and sitting solon with groovy cozy nooks and crannies for intimate social gatherings. Downstairs is big enough for larger Venues and fine dining.

MUA * has some of the most innovative cuisine and signature cocktails I’ve ever tasted and will describe later. But first I had The Picard signature cocktail, not named after the starship captain in Star Trek, but the first manager of MUA. This drink had a citrus type flavor, it’s a must drink!
Hendrick’s gin,
Prosecco
Elderflower liqueur,
Lemon.
(Signature drinks range from seven to ten dollars).

Main Dining Area* has low lighting with spacious seating and high visibility for checking out all the pretty people, you won’t have to bump elbow with the party sitting next to you while eating. Save the bumping and grinding for later when the dining room converts into a dance floor like it did for New Years Eve’s smashing party of 2009

The Upstairs* level is filled with Asian antiques, giving the uniquely carved out space a rustic Asian antiquity feel, with dark teak wood tables, chairs and amours for more privacy. You will have to see it to understand what I’m talking about. But it’s beautiful.

Because I came for just a drink I decide of the finger food appetizers to go with my drink. I am Vegan/Vegetarian so I mainly wanted to see if they could please my pallet. MUA exceeded my expectations with the Crispy Tofu /black bean, sweet chili. It was so good with perfectly served tofu square lightly fried golden brown, with chili and black bean sauce at the bottom. You dip the tofu in sauce piece by piece or toss the whole thing and you’re done with it. Yum!

I tried the Mung Bean Kimchi Pancake. The flavors were multi laired and the consistency just right. When talking to the Head Chief, John Mardikian and Su Chef, Chris Dunham they laughed when asked to explain this dish, and said it took one month to get the consistency and flavors just right, you must have this vegan treat when you go to MUA.
One more Vegan treat I had New Years Eve and then I will let you go there, was the MUA Vegan / French greens lentils ,butternut squash, kale stew served / Chick pea, bulgur quinoa walnut patty, It doesn’t get any better my Foodies.

Adi Zakti