Opening this summer in Oakland, California’s Jack London Square, Jack’s Oyster Bar & Fish House is the second restaurant concept of owners and industry veterans Rick Hackett and Meredith Melville of Bocanova restaurant, also in Jack London Square. The menu, highlighting local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients is a collaboration between Hackett and Executive Chef Peter Villegas, who brings experience from his past work at restaurants such as RN74, Acqua, La Folie, Campton Place, and Trader Vic’s to the team. Jack’s Oyster Bar & Fish House will serve chowders, ceviches, and crudos, whole fish dishes of the day, and homemade fish & chips in an oyster bar settingoverlooking the Oakland estuary on the Jack London Square waterfront.
“With its history as a busy seaport, it is only fitting to have a dining destination inspired by a traditional fish and oyster house right here at the waterfront,” says owner and Oakland resident Rick Hackett. “We’ve held a number of dinners at Bocanova focused on sustainable seafood and it’s something our guests have always enjoyed whether they are from out of town or live right here in Oakland. I’m excited to introduce a new concept and executive chef to this part of the bay.”
In addition to opening Bocanova, Hackett has worked with some of the Bay Area’s restaurants including Chez Panisse, Bay Wolf, Oliveto, and Postrio. Prior to opening Bocanova, he was the Executive Chef at MarketBar in San Francisco’s Ferry Building.
Formally of Campton Place and La Mar, Executive Chef Peter Villegas brings 11 years of local and international culinary experience to Jack’s Oyster Bar & Fish House. Villegas attended San Francisco’s California Culinary Academy in 2004. He traveled extensively to the Middle East, Europe, and Asia to launch restaurant openings as the Corporate Executive Chef for Trader Vic’s.
Architect Michael Guthrie and interior designer Ann Rockwell are designing the space to set the tone of a modern day oyster bar. The restaurant will feature a raw bar with up to 20 seats. High ceilings with antique light fixtures and walnut slat walls will line the restaurant, a semi-private dining room will accommodate groups up to 36, and a waterfront patio looking onto the bay will seat approximately 32 guests. Keeping in line with sister restaurant Bocanova, which consistently highlights local artists, Oakland residents and designers Becky Carter and Michael de La Torre have designed the logo, menu and signage, and will create a custom mural to serve as a main focal point in the restaurant.
