Benchmark Oakland to Host a Tessier Winery “In Between” Event

Benchmark Oakland will host a Tessier Winery “In Between” (the restaurant’s name for Happy Hour) event on Thursday, January 24 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Guests will be able to enjoy free tastes from the winery’s portfolio when ordering a glass of Tessier wine and will also be able meet Winemaker Kristie Tacey (https://www.tessierwinery.com/about).

The Benchmark Oakland Italian-Californian menu is prepared by Executive Chef and co-owner Peter Swanson using seasonal, often locally sourced, organic ingredients. The restaurant’s beverage selection includes an international wine list, assorted beers, and craft cocktails.

Chef Swanson, 45 years old, set the stage for coming to Oakland by opening Benchmark Pizzeria in Kensington, California, in 2012. Previous professional experience includes working as lead line cook at Oliveto Cafe & Restaurant and helping open Dopo where he remained as sous chef for six years. Also playing a central role in the kitchen is Chef de Cuisine Jennifer Moffitt who was most recently at Boot & Shoe Service and who has also spent time in kitchens in Boston, Seattle and the Bay Area (Pican, Gather and 2223 Restaurant, in addition to Boot & Shoe). Working to ensure that the entirety of the Benchmark Oakland dining experience is a good one is co-owner Melissa Swanson who was at Oliveto for ten years, at Chez Panisse as a server in the café upstairs and also helped with her family’s organic baby food company.

The building housing Benchmark Oakland is an historic structure erected in 1876 and a portion of the restaurant’s mosaic and tile flooring has been in place for the better part of a century. Highlights of the comfortable, engaging 50-seat dining room include a burnt orange and black color scheme, wood-topped tables, a high ceiling, abundant natural light from over-sized windows and an exhibition kitchen. The zinc-topped bar has room for 10 people and there is outdoor sidewalk patio seating for up to 16.

Benchmark Oakland is located at 499 9th Street, on the corner of Washington Street. The restaurant is open weekdays for lunch and nightly for dinner, Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday 5:30 to 10:00 p.m., and on Sunday 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. An adjacent pay lot and neighborhood streets ensure accessible parking options. The web address is www.benchmarkoakland.com. Additional information and reservations, also available through Resy, can be obtained by calling (510) 488-6677.