Day of the Dead Cafe

Ugh, so sad this quirky as hell, hole-​in-​the-​wall coffee shop has closed. There’s no place like it… They sold coffee and hot dogs and the place was decked out in skeletons. RIP :-(
The business that moved in is yet another hipster establishment lacking personality with a name no one knows how to pronounce. Oh boy…

Sadly yes, DOTDC is CLOSED. He has moved on to other ventures in life. This place had a unique PERSONALITY, a great cup o’joe, fun patrons, hot dogs you could take into the Grand Lake Theater and great gelato! Smokey it was a GREAT run & THANK YOU for the great memories!

It’s Monday, September 9, 2013 and Day of the Dead Café is CLOSED. I am devastated. Smokey! If you are out there reading, this is Carly of Carly & Husein. We came from Philadelphia to see you and couldn’t believe we missed you by one day. So sad.

Never again: I came here once and had a delicious cappuccino. Then tried to return several times, but it always seems to be closed during regular business hours. I figured they closed down. I walked by with out of town guests and they were open! I crowed about how delicious the coffee was, so we popped in and ordered mochas. The barista was distracted and seemed annoyed to see us, and was having difficulty making the coffees. He then proceeded to microwave our mochas. No thanks.

Super nice people, delicious food, totally awesome!!!

It’s rough around the edges in most of the right ways. And it’s unpretentious. The hours are weak. Small business or not, you gotta bust ass and be open consistently.
Anyway, I’d take it in a heartbeat over yet another chain coffee place «barista» telling me my large coffee is a «venti». Right. And the kid at subway is a sandwich engineer. Throat punches all around.

This will be my place of coffee when ever I exit grand ave nearby. It’s literally located next door to grand lake theater. I came by after walking around farmer’s market and that mediocre latte up the street earlier. Place feels like very very old school and the people running as far as I can tell has 3 decades of roasting under their belt. The bob marley is drip is the real deal for me ethiopian mix with another type but I forgot. They do serve other items such as hot dogs and sandwhiches. I would like one of their t-​shirts hanging up with the skeleton imprinted on front. That’s a shirt I would wear during Halloween. The old timer out front is a great person to chat up as he will turn you the earlier days of the area.

Very generous host. Good Internet. Little neglected, but it has a very positive energy.

The decorations are great, but the smell of the place was so funky that I cut my stay short. Not a nice place, and the coffee was absolutely terrible (and I’m someone who doesn’t mind gas station coffee).
Other people seemed to have had better experiences, but I hated mine.

What an odd special little piece of Oakland this is. From the corner of Lakeshore that’s under construction watch out eyes up the cars flying off the exit ramp haven’t yet realized the changed traffic pattern stretched around up Grand to a couple of stores past Day of the Dead. An eclectic mix of chainish wings and fried chicken, a sweet tavern, a Thai place tucked back down an alley that looks so appealing I’m going there next, the decidedly left of center opinionated on its marquee theatre showing first run corporate features (oh, the irony), the smoke shop that’s more a locked museum than a place for smoky commerce, and last but not least the subject of this review — Day of the Dead.
Full disclosure — I know only a little; I stopped but for a few moments last evening before the talking teddy bear movie to have a snack. A Polish dog. The only Polish food I’ve had in Oakland so far, I think. C-​monster had a chicken apple sausage.
Damn they were good. Hella tasty.
The proprietor doing the preparations and serving was as nice as these dogs were good. As my synapses would permit in-​between being all excited about what was going on in my mouth I looked about at the eclecticity that was inside. I can’t even in a thousand words paint the picture. Cozy, aesthetically varied, artish, interesting people, happiness.
I think a perfect date (solo or accompanied) in these parts could include a walk through the Rose Garden, a browse in Walden Pond, a quick snort at Heart and Dagger, the dog here, a corporate feature in the anti-​corporate theatre and a nightcap at the piano in The Alley.
All simple and lovely.

This place makes me smile. Upon entering the shop I was confronted with a middle-​aged man singing Stevie Wonder on a karaōke machine. He was really getting into it ! The man who served me a decaf soy mocha allowed me to take my drink while I ran to wellsfargo for cash. Yes, they are cash only. The mocha was good but the muffins with the cream filling totally win.

Good coffee– but terrible business skills. Smokey, the owner, basically opens his doors whenever he feels like it… and this is at most random. He’s interesting to talk to, and for that i don’t mind coming in for a coffee now and then. But, it’s hit or miss with when he’s open.

The décor/​ambiance of this little shop is great, as is the sunny sidewalk seating, which is what lured us off our bicycles for a cup of coffee and a rest. We ordered a latte and a breve. The breve was weird, mostly foam. The latte was flat out the WORST cup of coffee I have ever had. I’ve had better coffee out of a machine on a ferry boat at 1am.
I thought the Barista was smarmy,

I can’t believe Anthony Bourdain did an SF episode, including a taco-​truck stop in Oakland, and missed Smokey’s tribute to that greatest of American classics, the hot dog. I got the Chicken and Apple as my first official meal in my new neighborhood, and could not have been happier.
The dog was cooked PERFECTLY. I mean, I love a great Papaya King dirty water dog, but I grew up on dogs cooked over an open fire with a crackling crisp skin, and the dog here brought me right back and reminded me in the best way that a hot dog is in fact a sweet little pork barbeque in your hand. The flavor was sweet and savory, and the fresh pickles on the top had a crunch that completed the textures nicely.
If you like hot dogs, you really do need to check this out. And if you don’t like hot dogs, I’m sorry to tell you, but you have to leave the U.S. right now because you have failed the true test of all Americans — all races, creeds, colors, genders, cross-​genders, orientations, religions and all are truly united by One Love for Hot Dogs.
And that makes Smokey a Real American Hero.

I live in the Lake Merritt neighborhood and so walking to support local businesses is the greatest feature about my location.
It was about two years ago I was introduced to Smoky by one of my neighbors. Smoky is an interesting guy who welcomes patrons into his unique coffee shop. I have only bought the coffees by the bag, which are great, so cannot comment on food or sitting around at all.
I truly enjoy the chance to live in the moment, greet an old friend/​business person, and support the efforts of someone local.
The coffees, of which I have tried three and have had Smoky grind them for me, are very good and Smoky is someone I would like to see stay in business. Don’t we have enough empty storefronts in Oakland? Is it possible for reviewers to get past the weird décor or the unique individuals with too much time on their hands?
If I were to hang out for an hour there, I would surely find something to do, such as read or knit or just meet up with others.
Living in Oakland and loving Oakland might just mean that the perfect spot is never going to be found in any town. Treasure the special Oakland flavor that might be Smoky’s Day of the Dead or some other very small business.
By the way, I do agree he is not there often enough. Smoky we get withdrawal when you close up shop!

A café that reeks of hot dogs and celebrates death? Or is it a café that reeks of death and celebrates hot dogs? Either way, it’s not for me. This place is just plain weird.

I don’t know how this place stays in business, as it is only patronized by all the motley Grand Avenue weirdos who don’t have two dimes to rub together, and spend all day walking around the neighborhood ranting at anyone who will listen.
I stopped in once for a cup of coffee and it was burnt. (In their defense, it was toward the end of the day.) I would have gone back to give the coffee another chance but once that flatscreen TV got installed, my interest evaporated. Every time I walk by I see either a bunch of flakes yelling at one another and the TV screen, or some kind of horrid free-​jazz/​poetry/​open-​mic fiasco. No thanks.

I love this place.
The Dias de los Muertos theme.
The fact that Smokey is one of the friendliest local proprietors I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.
The fact that his name is Smokey. And that he sells his own personal blend of coffee, as well as his band’s CD. And schooled me on the difference between bratwurst, kosher dogs, and Polish dogs.
They also have an agreement with the Grand Lake Theater (right next door) so you can bring your Day of the Dead fare to snack on while you laugh your arse off at «The Hangover,» or sog your bun with tears while watching «Marley & Me.»
Mr. Cara would also want me to mention that he loves their coffee, although beware that it’s some strong stuff.
— — — — —
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I respect that completely. However, the one-​star review due to the reviewer’s personal hatred of the smell of hot dogs doesn’t entirely seem fair. They *sell* hot dogs. There is a neon sign in their window clearly stating this. If the mere possibility of the smell of hot dogs turns your stomach, this might not be a place you want to frequent.

A hog dog stand and café rolled into one, how many places do you know of that consists of this combination?
It also helps that they’re one of the only coffee shops nearby my old home, that’s open on a Sunday when I need wi-​fi the most to Unilocal,check emails, and keep in contact with those over the beginning of my return to the Bay Area.
They have especially a theme of roasted blends, influenced by those of the likes of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. I consider this place a Dia De Los Muertos hybrid and mom and pops shop. The coffee here is reasonable, and the foaminess of my $ 3.25 Vanilla Latte, makes it all the worthwhile to rediscovering my roots here and to see what The Town has to offer.
Cheers, looks like I’ll be coming back here for the coffee, hotdogs, and the next time I’ll be in town on a Sunday night haha!

Previously inducted duos in the food hall of fame:
* Fish and chips
* Bangers and Mash
* Pork and Beans
* Chicken and Waffles
And now for this year’s inductee… Coffee and Hot Dogs!
Before it opened, this place had haunted me for quite some time, as I am a big fan of all things surrounding Halloween. I was patient, and was rewarded with a plethora of skeletal trappings.
Even after it opened, I had gone by on many occasions when I desperately needed coffee, and wasn’t in the mood for Peet’s or Starbucks… and they were closed.
FINALLY, I was able to sample the goodness. And see the barista’s mug smiling at me from a CD cover (he’s topless in the pic, by the way, and not too shabby). Great coffee, interesting clientele, and even better, HOT DOGS. They have also been increasing their other food selection, but I have not yet tried it. Can’t get away from my weiners.
Now that is a nominee that I can support. Go DOTDC.