Comments on: Ninna: Reviews http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/12/28/ninna-reviews/ Restaurant Reviews by Bay Area Foodies Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:42:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Art Levit http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/12/28/ninna-reviews/#comment-256 Art Levit Sun, 24 Sep 2006 00:44:42 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/12/28/ninna-reviews/#comment-256 Wonderful Asian fusion restaurant with friendly service and a gourmet chef. Piedmont Ave. also has Bay Wolf and Jojo--both of which are a bit more formal and not at all Asian, but Ninna is as charming the other two and with lighter fare. Lunchtime is a good opportunity to sample, with amazingly low prices for the regularly-offered specials. Based on the return business (I recognize co-diners), I think many are absolutely NOT disappointed, as Peter Groner was. Wonderful Asian fusion restaurant with friendly service and a gourmet chef. Piedmont Ave. also has Bay Wolf and Jojo–both of which are a bit more formal and not at all Asian, but Ninna is as charming the other two and with lighter fare. Lunchtime is a good opportunity to sample, with amazingly low prices for the regularly-offered specials. Based on the return business (I recognize co-diners), I think many are absolutely NOT disappointed, as Peter Groner was.

]]> By: Peter Groner http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/12/28/ninna-reviews/#comment-255 Peter Groner Thu, 17 Aug 2006 03:28:12 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/12/28/ninna-reviews/#comment-255 We were extremely disappointed in Ninna's. The food was bland, overcooked, and not what we were supposed to get, according to their website. I've cooked much better meats, sauces, and vegetables than this at home and I don't charge $75 for it. Service was S..L..O..W. We were extremely disappointed in Ninna’s. The food was bland, overcooked, and not what we were supposed to get, according to their website. I’ve cooked much better meats, sauces, and vegetables than this at home and I don’t charge $75 for it. Service was S..L..O..W.

]]> By: Miscellaneous and Useless Information » Restaurants to try out http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/12/28/ninna-reviews/#comment-254 Miscellaneous and Useless Information » Restaurants to try out Thu, 16 Feb 2006 03:49:10 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/12/28/ninna-reviews/#comment-254 [...] Ninna in Oakland: Mediterranean/Thai fusion. Sounds weird, but all three reviewers thoroughly enjoyed it. [...] […] Ninna in Oakland: Mediterranean/Thai fusion. Sounds weird, but all three reviewers thoroughly enjoyed it. […]

]]> By: Sergé http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/12/28/ninna-reviews/#comment-253 Sergé Sat, 11 Feb 2006 22:22:02 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/food/2006/12/28/ninna-reviews/#comment-253 This show is divulging all my favorite out-of-the-way gems. After groaning my way through meals at high-dollar fusion restaurants 10 times the size of Ninna, I have to say my first experience carried with it very low expectations. I was so happy to find out that Ninna is, for me, a standards-bearer for how to do fusion cuisine. Ingredients are never forced into a 50/50 mash-up. You might find just a single non-traditional spice that is used to tint a dish. Subtlety, not blaring contrast, should be the rule for any fusion cuisine. Note to other restaurants: Mango salsa is no guarantee of a knock-out fusion dish. The funny thing about this place is how unpretentious it is. For the quality of food they knock out they seem to have no ego about it whatsoever. Piedmont Avenue doesn't have much of a culinary draw for me, but I make the trip for Ninna. This show is divulging all my favorite out-of-the-way gems. After groaning my way through meals at high-dollar fusion restaurants 10 times the size of Ninna, I have to say my first experience carried with it very low expectations. I was so happy to find out that Ninna is, for me, a standards-bearer for how to do fusion cuisine. Ingredients are never forced into a 50/50 mash-up. You might find just a single non-traditional spice that is used to tint a dish. Subtlety, not blaring contrast, should be the rule for any fusion cuisine. Note to other restaurants: Mango salsa is no guarantee of a knock-out fusion dish.

The funny thing about this place is how unpretentious it is. For the quality of food they knock out they seem to have no ego about it whatsoever. Piedmont Avenue doesn’t have much of a culinary draw for me, but I make the trip for Ninna.

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