The Lodge Opens in Oakland with Lots of Animals on the Wall and To Eat

It's been a year in the making for The Lodge in Oakland, which as of last night is officially open on Piedmont Avenue. Owner Alexis Filipello (Bar Dogwood, Stag's Lunchette, Darling's Elixirs) teamed up with Oaklander Matt Eiseman to bring the meat-focused, cabin-like bar to the area, Tablehopper reported. The menu leans meat-heavy with charcuterie, sausages, wings and more, thought there is a vegetable sandwich and grilled cheese for non-meat eaters. Drinks focus on simple classic cocktails, local beers and Spanish & Italian wines, plus a fun piña colada slushie machine.

The space definitely takes inspiration from its name for some seriously lodge-like, rustic environs, including log siding on the outside to resemble a wood cabin. ("We went a little crazy — it's like Montana and Wyoming had a dirty love child," Filipello told Inside Scoop. "Every day, I walk in there and I'm like, 'Oh my god, what have I done?' But I think it's pretty awesome.") There's plenty of taxidermy on the walls, a 30-foot redwood bar, walls made of redwood, alder and nutmeg, smoky glass lighting and a paint-by-numbers mural on the wall. And since this is Oakland, there's a small outdoor space out back with beer garden-style seating.

The Lodge is open Monday to Thursday from 4 p.m.- 12 a.m. and Friday to Sunday from 12 p.m.- 12 a.m.