SR24 - American, Oakland - CLOSED

5179 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 655-9300
Parking: strip mall parking lot and street parking

Last Visited: February 2011

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

SR24 was praised in the SF Chronicle and a few other magazines for its organic, locally grown ingredients.  Travelzoo had a special deal for two starters, two entrees, and a shared dessert for $35, half the usual price, so I purchased a local deal and gave it a try.  My guess is that the combination of location and price caused the restaurant to close from lack of business - the prices are that of a high-end restaurant, but the bars on the windows don't convey that well. 

Complimentary bread in a paperbag with a block of compound butter made with rosemary and sea salt are served at room temperature was a nice beginning.  The bread was even warm.

- Caesar salad - The romaine hearts were chilled and dressed well.  The shaved parmesan topping the lettuce was also good.  The only thing I didn't care for were the croutons.  While alone they were fine, it was the first of a couple of dishes that seemed to be supplemented with croutons.
- Sweet corn soup, Dungeness crab, and hot chili oil - I liked the sweet corn soup.  Served in a giant bowl, it was definitely what you would expect at a middle to higher end restaurant in terms of presentation.  The sweetness was balanced nicely with the chili oil without it being too spicy.  The crab was present, though not abundant.  A sprig of tarragon is placed on top as garnish.
- Seafood stew with rockfish, mussels and squid - The croutons make their appearance again.  The stew had a nice flavor, but what seafood stew is complete without shrimp?  The shrimp was noticeably absent.  While the portion looked a little small, it was good. 

- Kobe pot roast -  I really liked this pot roast.  The meat was tender and had the right ratio of fat to meat.  The demi-glace sauce was rich, and the ciopollini onions and carrots were sweet.  I would have liked a few more potatoes than what I got.  If they were still open, I would get this dish again.
- French toast bread pudding - By the time I got to dessert, I was getting pretty full.  The warm french toast was good.  I wouldn't really call it pudding, but it is soft.  The ice cream quinelle was a nice constrast against the hot sweet cake. 

SR24 was promising in terms of food, but the prices just weren't right for the area.  The environment was also a tad on the cozy side with tables very close together.  The patrons at the table on either side of us were also enjoying a Travelzoo deal, so the deal was successful in the short term.  If  I had had to pay full price, I would have had higher expectations.  Happy hour offerings were decent with a few items for $5, but even that couldn't bring them enough business considering the neighborhood.