A Cote

A Cote Restaurant Review:

This stylish Cal-Med tapas restaurant located along Rockridge's gourmet ghetto features a roomy, granite-topped bar and wood-burning oven. The mostly walk-in business (reservations are granted for early or late seatings only) translates into a line of clientele milling outside the front door. Once inside, the room’s warm earth tones surround a lively crowd. Small plates include french fries, salty and crisp and served with a dense aïoli, and mussels in Pernod-spiked broth. The menu features a variety of salads, flatbreads and fish such as seared sturgeon with purple and orange cauliflower, crispy shallots, capers, and a Meyer lemon beurre blanc. (Michael Cook is the current chef.) Desserts include a pear-brown butter tart with pistachio-cardamom ice cream and rum sauce. There’s also a cheese plate accompanied by walnut toast, sliced apples and poached figs.