Business & Tech

Piedmont Avenue: Frightening or Enchanting?

Restaurant reviewers from out of town have been spooked by the Oakland street frequented by Piedmonters.

The buzz around the now two-year-old Commis bistro at 3859 Piedmont Ave. has been accompanied by shudders about the surrounding neighborhood.

In his October, 2009, review, the New York Times' Eric Asimov called the stretch of Piedmont Avenue where he found Commis "gritty." In January, 2010, GQ's Alan Richman called the block—which is also home to the consignment shop benefiting Piedmont public schools—"desolate." Richman went on to say, “When I ate at Commis, I almost swiped one of the rapier-like butter knives to protect myself while walking to my car.”

In this week's edition of the East Bay Express, What the Fork blogger John Birdsall takes issue with Richman's fear of the Commis 'hood, suggesting the street is more yuppy than thug.

What do you think? Has the avenue turned around in the last few years, or was it never that bad to begin with?


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