Telegraph: A bittersweet chapter


This blog post covers our journey on Telegraph.
Click here to jump to our move, open date, & FAQ

 
 

Our first brick and mortar

It had been about 6 months of hunting for a location by the time we found 3932 Telegraph Ave. It wasn’t because we were picky, rather because we didn’t have much. We didn’t have the capital, we didn’t have the credit, and we didn’t have a huge following. That didn’t stop us from trying, so by the time we signed papers for this spot, we were excited and ready to go! 

Frankly, we didn’t have a choice. Having just invested most of our savings on the space, we were left with 2 months of working capital. With the help and support of our loved ones, we quickly got the space up and running within a month.

 
 

We were not running on pure hope

Flashback to 2015, Tony and I finally decided to start our business after extensive “what ifs” and “when we have our own place” talks during our 3 years of knowing each other. We spent most of 2016-2018 working on our business plan, concept, and dishes. Tasting parties for friends turned into ticketed pop-ups for friends, family, and followers. 

After much trial and tribulation, we were where we were meant to be when we opened up that door for business in October 2019. After a few slow winter months, it was Oakland Restaurant Week in January 2020 that gave us the break we were looking for. Business went well, allowing us to build our reputation in those next few months.

 
 

Getting through the pandemic

Around March, the unforeseen pandemic caused our closure for the next year. Luckily, we landed upon the amazing World Central Kitchen, who we partnered with to provide meals for front line workers. This is their story: wherever there’s a fight so hungry people may eat, we will be there – we must be there.

During that year, we prepared meals for partnering locations nearby.

 
 

Getting back Into the swing of things

Around June 2021, Saucy re-opened with a focus on the Happy Hour menu and dinner experiences. With that, exclusive items like the bulgogi grilled cheese sandwich, pork belly lettuce wrap, popcorn shrimp, udon, and the Basque cheesecake were introduced. In addition to those, we were able to bring in new sake and a third spritzer.

Note Worthy

  • We were ecstatic when chef Tony got the Basque cheesecake just right - with it’s creamy center and perfectly caramelized (burnt) top. Enjoy this with a yuzu berry sauce, miso caramel, or by itself. This is offered by the slice on the regular dessert menu, pre-ordered as a whole (6 in.), or sometimes in the desert round of the chef’s tasting.

  • The Passionfruit Lemonade is another welcomed addition to our Saucy offerings. It’s deliciously sweet and tart and you can have it with or without sake.

  • Last, but not least - the Chef’s tasting menu (with the option to add sake pairing and/or 2 oz. A5 Japanese Wagyu) is a must try here at Saucy. This is a 6-course experience and reservations are recommended as some exclusive items require preperation a day or two in advance. Tastings include on-menu and off-menu items, making for a fun and unique meal. Most guests find the meal filling.

    • Dietary requests are accepted

 
 

Our new Home in Old Oakland


It’s the end of March now and I can’t believe we’re 2 months into our new space at 468 8th St. in Old Oakland. During this time, we worked on minor renovations, completed the health department checklist items, refreshed the walls with new paint, did some work on the main dining room, and bathroom. Our goal was to do what we can with the skills and help we had.

The challenging part was getting all the required licenses and permits updated. Thankfully, most of the city requirements have adapted a digital process in one way or another.

I must mention that even though we’re just at the beginning of this chapter, our new landlord(s) and management group have been nothing but welcoming, a complete 180 from our previous experience and more than we expected. We love that we’re working with a solid group and we’re looking forward to building a successful block together with the other businesses for many years to come.

The last two pieces are the alcohol license (active as of 3/29/22) and internet setup, which we hope to get completed this week. As prepared as we came into the move, there were obstacles that were out of our control. Needless to say, we’re nearing the end of the waiting period, excited to re-open and welcome back our supporting customers and new customers.

 
 
 

Frequently asked questions

Where is Saucy located? We’re located on a corner lot on 8th street, between Washington and Broadway. We’re right next to the Douglas parking lot.

How is parking in the area? The Douglas parking lot right on our property is a paid and attended parking lot. It is not managed by us or our landlord so we do not have a validation system. There is street parking on 8th street and surrounding blocks. Do practice the same precaution when parking here like you would on any other public street by not leaving anything in plain sight and remembering to lock up.

Are you accepting reservations? Yes, we are! Our reservation book is currently open on OpenTable starting Wed. April 6, 2022. We will start what is known as our “soft opening” phase. Most menu items will be available with the exception of a few items. The soft opening phase allows our team to learn how to best operate in the new space.

When are you accepting takeout? We will start accepting takeout orders right away on our opening day - April 6, 2022. Order via saucyoakland.square.site

I purchased a gift card before you moved. Can I still use the gift card? Absolutely! Nothing has changed with our ordering system. Any gift cards purchased since our opening in 2016 is still valid.

What developments do you see in the near future? We’re looking to achieve a steady and healthy growth as a company in the upcoming years. With our new space, we’re able to accommodate an additional ~8 seats. We’re expecting an outdoor patio within the next 6 months, which will seat another ~10 seats. By expanding our space, we’ll be able to do what we love and offer our dishes to more customers and experiment with new offerings.

Just as important, our goal as a company is to provide a safe and sustainable work place for our employees. Workers in the restaurant industry do not have access to affordable health care. We are hoping to be able to help by providing access to such resources soon.

If you have questions or comments about our move or this post, feel free to email us directly at saucyoakland@gmail.com. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you soon! - Saucy Crew

 
 
 
Jenni NguyenSAUCYOAKLAND, restaurants, Oaklandrestaurants, oldoakland