Skates On The Bay Completes Interior Design Renovation, Adding New Raw Bar, Private Dining Room And Seafood Menus

Skates on the Bay, a beautiful and historic waterfront gathering place for fresh seafood and unmatched views of the San Francisco Bay, announces the completion of a major interior design renovation, including the addition of a new raw bar, glass-walled private dining room and innovative menus. Originally opened in 1983 in the Berkeley Marina, the reimagined Skates on the Bay is a stunning restaurant to enjoy cocktails at sunset, brunch with the family or dinner with a date anytime of year.

"Skates is such an institution in this community," said General Manager Kevin Jones. "From the moment our guests walk in and have that 'wow moment' to the time they leave, we want to make sure their experience here is spectacular and memorable. Our new changes allow guests old and new to fall in love with us all over again."

Completed by Bar Napkin in Phoenix, Ariz., the new design includes a beautiful quartz stone counter and the raw bar's ice display case, visible upon arrival and showcasing some of the day's fresh seafood, including local oysters, Dungeness crab, shrimp, fish, sea urchin and scallops. The redesigned dining room incorporates subtle, earthy tones and nautical colors befitting its location as well as custom-designed metal and rope chandeliers with Edison bulbs, granite-topped tables and natural teak, stone and leather finishes throughout. The sleek bar area is open and inviting, featuring communal tables, a cozy fireplace, maple wood floors and clean-lined chairs and bar stools. Skates' signature, floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides offer stunning views of the surrounding San Francisco Bay and the active Berkeley Marina, always offering an impromptu glance of the sailboats heading to sea or returning to port.

The new Private Dining Room offers groups (72 seated and 90 standing) the opportunity to enjoy their special event in a glass-walled private area, without compromising the breathtaking views that Skates on the Bay is known for.

The Pacific-driven, seasonal menu at Skates on the Bay focuses on fresh seafood, classic American dishes and new raw bar items. Daily-changing fish and oyster selections are sure to satisfy every palate or mood. Some of the new menu items include Bloody Mary Fresh Oyster Shooters with Absolut Peppar vodka, tomato, horseradish and black pepper ($4.95); Hamachi Sashimi with cilantro, jalape�o, lime, tomato and smoked sea salt ($12.95); Smoked Salmon Chowder with crispy salmon skin, salmon roe and chives ($8.25); house-cured Wild Alaskan Salmon Carpaccio with mustard aioli, cream cheese, capers, pickled fennel and crispy bacon ($12.95); and Steamed Fresh Mussels with Point Reyes Farmstead blue cheese, bacon and green onions ($12.95). Virtually everything from the sauces and condiments to the desserts are made in-house, such as the house-smoked salmon, "secret sauce" aioli and tomato jam. Other freshly made ingredients are sourced from local companies, such as bread from Panorama Bakery and fettuccine from The Pasta Shop in Berkeley.

Cocktails at Skates on the Bay are made fresh to order and the list focuses on traditional favorites such as the Dark & Stormy with Mount Gay Eclipse rum, ginger beer, fresh lime ($9) and the popular weekend Bloody Mary ($10; $3 refills), which is presented along with an individual carafe of vodka and tomato juice so guests can create their own concoction at the bar using a selection of 25 hot sauces, 15 house-pickled vegetables and various salts. Additionally, Skates is adding new seasonal cocktails such as the Honey Martini and the Market Fresh Collins along with classics such as the Basil Gimlet and Kentucky Sour.

Skates on the Bay offers a nightly "Social Hour" menu of drink specials and small bites, perfect for encouraging neighborl