Legume Bistro is now open at its new North Oakland location. Owners Trevett and Sarah Hooper closed their Regent Square location last spring in preparation for the move, and have spent the past four months renovating their new space, which features a full-service bar.
Much larger than the original Braddock Avenue location, Legume now seats 80 in the dining room and an additional 30 at the bar.
Located within the 1920s King Edward Apartments building, Legume replaces the former More Restaurant, which had served Italian cuisine in this location for the past 40 years.
Sarah Hooper says while remodeling the space, an original blue-green terrazzo floor was discovered beneath carpeting and plastic. Classic features like the original flooring were incorporated into the interior design, completed again by Joy Robison. Hand-crafted woodwork by local artisan Miki Szabo also appears throughout the restaurant.
When it came to remodeling the kitchen, however, Trevett Hooper turned to the community. A successful
Kickstarter fundraising campaign raised over $17,000—more than double the original goal. It was enough to create an ideal kitchen that is both beautiful and functional. Funders were in turn rewarded, based on the amount of their gift, with recipe cards, invitation to a Kickstarter party, dinner for two, or cooking lessons.
Legume’s menu will feature the same seasonal American cuisine as before, with a menu that changes nightly. Recent dishes include sweet potato ravioli with brown butter, sage, Hakurei Turnips and greens; pork shoulder braised in applejack, with Carolina Gold rice, and green beans; spaghetti with roasted goat sauce and sautéed greens; grass-fed ranch steak with parsley butter and mushroom barley risotto.
Hooper plans to begin serving lunch in the spring, and a bar menu is also being developed.
And although Legume is no longer BYOB, Hooper says there will be no corkage fees on Mondays, which she hopes will encourage fans of the former location to continue bringing bottles of their favorite wines.
Legume Bistro, located at 214 N. Craig Street, 15213, is open for dinner Monday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. A happy hour is offered from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the bar remains open till midnight. 412-621-2700.
Writer: Andrew Moore
Source: Sarah Hooper