The Bold Italic’s 2020 Awards

This article is part of The Bold Italic’s 2020 Awards, which celebrate the Bay Area’s small businesses and local residents who have hustled and shown creativity throughout 2020. See all the award winners here.

From farmers markets across the Bay Area to their Oakland and Alameda restaurants, Cholita Linda has been quintessential East Bay eatery since 2008. It serves Latin American fare — pulling family influence from owners Vanessa Chavez and Murat Sozeri’s heritage (Peru, Cuba, Mexico) — while expressing the vibrant diversity of the East Bay and Bay Area in general.

Voted the Most Crave-Worthy Takeout in the East Bay by The Bold Italic readers, regulars adore their taco menu, Cubano sandwiches, platanitos (plantain chips) dipped in Peru’s beloved aji amarillo sauce and the picadillo, a platter of Niman Ranch ground chuck laden with peppers, tomatoes, onions, olives, and raisins accompanied by rice, black beans, plantains, and salad.

Congratulations, Cholita Linda, on being the most crave-worthy takeout in the East Bay!

And for you San Franciscans, you’re in luck — you’ll soon no longer need to travel the Bay Bridge to get your hands on Cholita Linda food. The restaurant is coming to the SF Ferry Building sometime this winter in one of the building’s largest locations, including a patio with waterfront views.

We caught up with Owner Vanessa Chavez to talk about this past year and plans for 2021. Read that interview below and keep scrolling to see the other nominees for Most Crave-Worth takeout in the East Bay.

The Bold Italic: How have you managed to stay afloat this year?

Chavez: It was tough, there was so much, so fast and our industry literally changed overnight. We did our best to move quickly and efficiently, but it wasn’t easy. We’re fortunate that our business pre-Covid already did quite a bit of takeout, so we had a lot of what we rely on now, already in place (i.e. online ordering, third party deliveries and kitchen set-up). The demand is completely different, but it’s something we were grateful to already be familiar with.

We have an amazing team of employees who have adapted to a new industry, new systems and more demand in many areas. Lastly, we are so appreciative for the ongoing support and love we’ve had from our loyal and supportive customers. They’ve been amazing, adapting with us and being patient as we figure this all out on the fly. We know how fortunate we’ve been to survive these times and we don’t take it lightly.

How are you holding up now, heading into another month of shelter in place?

The initial Shelter in Place was brutal. It was a shock to our system and to everyone’s. We had to move, learn, stretch and pivot fast, which meant customers also had new things to learn and adapt to. This time around, the impact isn’t what it was then. People are now familiar with the new norms, so we haven’t felt a significant impact, thank goodness.

What are your hopes for 2021?

We hope to safely begin to return to what we all love and miss: community. We miss our customers and know they miss the Cholita Linda experience: communal tables, good music, tropical colors, busy bustle and gathering and sharing simple food made from love. We miss seeing our dining rooms packed with happy faces enjoying their time with us. We hope 2021 moves us towards that again.

How can people help support your business?

Be patient with us and other businesses who are struggling to navigate what is truly a changed industry. We are doing our best and are real people behind the business. We have the same demands as everyone else: family, business, homeschooling and of course, Covid . We’ve hustled, had sleepless nights and grueling days trying to get things right, but the new systems being developed for the restaurant industry are just that… NEW. We are all figuring this out as we go, learning and tweaking along the way to improve.

Aside from that, we can not express how grateful we are for the continued and ongoing support during these times. Just keep coming, spread the word and the love!

Other Nominees for Most Crave-Worthy Takeout in the East Bay

1. Tacos Oscar

Open less than a year at their new 40th Street location in Oakland—housed in an eclectic mix of storage containers—Tacos Oscar closed for three months when the pandemic hit. When they came back, it was totally pick-up and delivery, without outdoor dining.

Owner Oscar Michel said the restaurant has stayed afloat mainly by selling gift cards, a handful of grants, a small PPP loan and EIDL loan—and most importantly, he said, their customers. “We were closed for three months at the beginning of the pandemic and when we returned, so did all of the familiar faces and new ones.” Michel said he hopes they may invite guests back to their patio, perhaps building a parklet.

For now, you can support them by buying gift cards, takeout, and alcohol to take home.

2. Nyum Bai

Nyum Bai, a Cambodian restaurant in Fruitvale, became one of the top restaurants in Oakland almost instantly after opening, capturing the attention of the food industry across the country and winning awards along the way (including being a semifinalist for a James Beard award).

Chef/owner Nite Yun’s food captures classic Khmer dishes that she grew up eating and opened up customer’s minds to the expansiveness of Cambodian cuisine. It’s no wonder readers nominated her for the most crave-worthy takeout.

3. Augie’s Montréal Deli

This Canadian inspired restaurant in Berkeley specializes in authentic Montréal-style smoke meat sandwiches and Québécois poutine — all the comfort food you could crave during a pandemic.

“The support we have received from our amazing customers has kept us going; it's been truly heartwarming to hear how much people appreciate the food and really want to see us succeed,” says owner Lex Gopnik-Lewinski. “Please continue to come by and place orders, leave reviews online, and spread the word.”

4. Marzano

Marzano, located in Glenview, Oakland, checks all the boxes of a solid neighborhood restaurant: cozy ambiance, food that will please everyone, and a welcoming staff. This Italian restaurant the feels like a Roman trattoria inside has continued to adapt during the pandemic, with regular and newcomers alike discovering how good their pizzas and pastas taste at home.

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