San Francisco - November 07, 2007

In Vino Veritas

Franklin Square Wine Bar Opens

Fiction: There’s nothing to eat in Oakland’s Uptown besides hoagies and fried chicken.

Fact: The pioneers behind the always bustling Luka’s Taproom just opened a tasty new wine bar in the up-and-coming nabe. Down the street from the Paramount Theatre and surrounded by galleries, Franklin Square Wine Bar is a primo spot for gabbing with a pal over a glass of Sonoma zin.

The small, sleek restaurant has a long bar, a clear view of Broadway, and a wall of mostly California and French wines.

With more than 60 vintages priced to taste, you can afford to linger over light snacks like house-made parmesan flatbread crackers and marcona almonds. Creative, wino-friendly fare like duck rillettes and fig jam on ciabatta or tartine of wild mushrooms with an egg over easy satisfies louder rumblings.

Finish your meal with a fine chocolate truffle and you’ll be good to go.

And that’s the truth.

Franklin Square Wine Bar, 2212 Broadway, at 22nd Street, Oakland (510-251-0100).