Eating while riding horseback was pioneered by the efficient Mongols, who also adjusted to reading, receiving haircuts, and filling out their taxes atop their four-legged mobiles. Enjoy the convenience of chairs and tables with today’s Groupon. For $20, you get $40 worth of New American cuisine and drinks at Levende East in Oakland.
Inside the restaurant, fresh, seasonal cuisine and sleek, modern décor come together like a well-executed jewel heist. A nomadic menu of seasonal treats features smart stomach fillers for lunch, dinner, and dessert. Sample dinner starters include marinated olives ($4), the soup du jour ($4/$8), and warm bread served with olive oil, scallions, and citrus ($4). Afterward, advance to more substantial savories, currently including Thai curry pasta ($18), a roasted half chicken glazed with orange honey ($18), and lobster Cobb salad ($16). Smother weekday worries with a pillowcase of specialty margaritas like the pom pom ($10) featuring pomegranate puree, Gran Centenario Plata tequila, and a splash of Cointreau. View a full list of menus on Levende's website.
Nestled into historic Old Oakland, Levende East is a prime spot to enjoy great eats while doodling mysteriously in a Moleskine or wooing foreign exchange students. The looming chandeliers cast a wizardly sparkle across dark wooden tables and minimalistic settings. The contemporary and innovative ambience mimics the rotating seasonal menu, which keeps diners pleasantly perched upon their toes. This Groupon is not valid toward Levende East's happy-hour menu, and reservations are recommended.
Reviews
East Bay Express and Gayot both recommend Levende East's superb sustenance:
- The Levende surf & turf, an apparently perennial verbal special, radiated flavor from the inside out. The surf part featured grilled shrimp threaded onto a whittled stick of sugar cane; turf was a section of seared lamb loin, its cap of breadcrumbs turned rusty brown in the pan. It rested on a pestolike green sauce that contained mint and capers. It was a dish whose simplicity was startling. – John Birdsall, East Bay Express
Though some reviewers question the service, most agree that the edibles are superb. Yelpers give the eatery 3.5 stars, Citysearchers give it three, and 85% of Urbanspooners recommend it:
- This wonderful restaurant really surprised me when it came to food, music & atmosphere...They keep a classic menu, but are not afraid to try new things. I would recommend the mini burgers, (lamb or tuna) as well as, the some of the best mac and cheese I've had in a restaurant. – ChelleintheBay, Citysearch
- They had only a few beers on tap, but at least they were interesting, and they had a decent selection of wine by the glass. The fish, when it finally arrived, was fresh and cooked just right. Very tasty. – Ricky S., Yelp
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