Slug

Snail Bar’s new gastropod-inspired natural wine bar, Slug, shines on its own—and yes, you can partly blame the rotating disco ball at the center of the cavernous space for that. The Downtown Oakland sister spot has a full-on DJ booth, shelves of books and tchotchkes, neon purple lights at night, and a French-focused wine list, with many glasses under $11. While the food menu shares some dishes with Snail Bar, like the ham and cheese sandwich, this place is doing its own thing to great effect. Herbs, chilis, purées, and stone fruits make for bright, deeply flavored dishes: tender char siu pork belly atop creamy figgy mustard and crispy flatbread, kombu-cured halibut covered in salsa matcha, and clams in Thai chili-laced green curry.