The Wolf

The Wolf sits at 3853 Piedmont Avenue under a Steven Anderson mural that wraps the building in color. It's the kind of location that announces itself without needing to shout about it, a building you'd recognize by its exterior before you even read the sign. The menu works within California-American cuisine territory, which at this point means the kitchen is drawing from Oakland's actual makeup rather than some imagined past. The seasonal rotation means you're not getting the same plate twice if you're the type to return regularly, which suggests a kitchen that's paying attention to what's available rather than locked into a fixed rotation.