Struggling Oakland pub reverses course with new chef, mobile bar

Starting out the year, it wasn't clear whether Seawolf Public House, a neighborhood pub in Oakland's Jack London neighborhood, would survive to see the summer. In a reversal of course, however, owner Monica Plazola announced July 8 that the pub was safe for now, following a new deal to rent the kitchen to Willie's Kitchen, and a new venture into mobile bartending. 

Starting out the year, it wasn’t clear whether Seawolf Public House, a neighborhood pub in Oakland’s Jack London neighborhood, would survive to see the summer.

The restaurant and bar had been hit by customers’ changing dining habits: People were eating at home more often, commuting to the area less frequently and avoiding the neighborhood because of concerns about crime. In a reversal of course, however, owner Monica Plazola announced July 8 that the pub was safe for now, following a new deal to rent the kitchen to Willie’s Kitchen, and a new venture into mobile bartending.

Willie’s Kitchen is the project of Willie Mendez, former executive chef at Luka’s Taproom. Before Mendez stepped forward, Seawolf’s survival was looking grim. Business remained slow in the early months of 2024, and in May, Plazola told staff members they’d likely have to close in July. Meanwhile, the building owners began working to find potential new tenants.

Since Luka’s Taproom closed in 2022, Mendez had been doing pop-ups with Willie’s Kitchen around Oakland, including at Binny’s Cocktail Lounge, but was looking for somewhere more permanent. Ultimately, he agreed to take over the kitchen at Seawolf.

Following a soft launch in June, Mendez aims to debut the restaurant’s full menu July 13. He’ll also continue to operate his catering business from the kitchen at Seawolf, serving up dishes like Korean wings, burgers, churros and fries.

“We’re going to do great things at this place and build upon what Seawolf has already created here,” Mendez says.

To further boost the pub’s prospects, Plazola is launching a mobile bar affiliated with Seawolf called Compass Rose Cocktails, which will offer bartending and drink catering at events.

“In this new delivery-based economy we’re in, a community pub like ours can only survive if we diversify. Now with four of five different revenue sources housed in one physical space, we’re hopeful that we can survive and thrive far into the future,” she says.

Details: Open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at 350 Fourth St. in Oakland; seawolf.pub.