Bites Nearby: Dopo on Piedmont Avenue

There aren't many restaurants with daily menu changes that I can afford for the average weekend dinner. Such quick item turnover is indicative of fresh products and constant vigilance and creativity on the part of the chef. All these are true of  in Oakland, without ringing me up for the equivalent of my student loan payment for a dinner for two.

The menu is brief but comprehensive and represents cuisine from several regions of Italy. Lighter coastal dishes like sea urchin with butter beans as well as heavier inland fare such as a classic lasagna are often included. Typical of the menu is agnolotti with lamb, a dish that comes directly from the Italian Piedmont, the namesake of the avenue that Dopo is located on.

To add to the regional feel of the restaurant, the wine list is a tastefully drawn outline of Italy with wines and their origins dotted throughout.

A staple of the menu is thin-crusted pizza often topped with buffalo mozzarella, wood fire-smoked ham and Italian sausage. What region of Italy doesn't love pizza?

It's true that this place is often packed on weekends, but the one time that my party got stuck outside waiting for a table, the manager came out more than once to check on us, ask if we needed water and reassure us of the waiting time.

Dopo is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner hours, and is available Sunday for private parties. Special regional dinners are held every two months, so check out their event page and mark your calendars.