Food Awards

You voted for your favorite restaurants, and Diablo's judges rated them for food, ambience, and service - out of a possible 90 points. Find what the judges had to say about them, starting with our number one: Pizzaiolo. Visit all 17 of the top restaurants and be your own judge.

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Oliveto.Oakland

  Food: 26 points, Ambience: 27 points, Service: 23 points

FINAL SCORE: 76 points out of 90 points

	"The strengths here, as always, are the uber-fresh ingredients and cooking with a strong point of view." - Josh Sens

What they’re doing right: Superb ingredients, sharply focused menu.

Flavor we can’t forget: The olive oil— with remnants of the French filet beans, fava bean puree, roasted squash, and almonds— was a treasure, like trying to sop up liquid gold with small chunks of delightful, delicious bread.

Detail we’re glad they attended to: The espresso is the highest quality available. It’s almost tart and doesn’t even require sugar. Thanks for being green: Local halibut. Local arugula. Grass-fed veal liver. Need we say more?

Best dish: Conchiglie with sand dabs, olives, and pine nuts. An inventive dish, perfectly prepared, with all the balances of flavors and textures that make for great cuisine.

What stood out in our minds after this meal: This meal was memorable for being whole and satisfying, everything elegant, without requiring show or glitz.

Funniest moment: How the restaurant cleared out by 8:30 p.m., as if everyone expected their BMWs to turn into pumpkins by 9 p.m.

We’d go here: To feel absolutely taken care of.