"I 'd been wanting to try Pappo for a while. Seeing their special dinner menus looked like the chef is creative and interested in market fresh ingredients. We finally made a reservation to celebrate a birthday. The restaurant was busy, but the noise level was tolerable. The seats are moderately comfortable not long dinner comfortable. Service was efficient, though I wouldn 't say we were helped in the direction of our choices ergo the 3 stars for food. The items that were good were quite good and a good value for our group that included gnocchi and pork chop mains. The disappointments were a cioppino that was way too salty with an almost gravy like sauce, and the cassoulet that was rather dried out two dishes that we were all excited to see on the menu. We did the 3 starter option and our selected ones were generally good nothing stand out, but take the term small plate to heart. As for desserts again we did the 3 plate option. Creme brulee did not have the cracklin crust one hopes for flavor was not particularly compelling, there was a chocolate something I weirdly don 't like chocolate but others said it was fine, and an almond cake (I think) that was the winner. Wine list was decently priced and enough of a range of interesting wines to accommodate the food. So good location, decent prices, good staff, but wildly uneven food just like all my fine dining experiences in Alameda oddly. I 'd recommend it in context, but I won 't be making an effort to return."
