"Hi Felicia is the Bay Area’s pandemic pop-up darling, a fine dining experience first launched in 2021 on the back deck of the Oakland apartment of chef Imana, who only goes by her first name. The vibe from the early days was more closely likened to a dinner party than the austere, modernist restaurants typically linked to that term “fine dining.” And Imana hopes that feeling of eating “at a friend’s house” will transfer over to the restaurant’s new space at 23rd near Webster Street. Inside, guests will be served 12-14 courses of what Imana calls “California comfort food” — small bites influenced primarily by Mexican culture with global touches throughout, created with California seasonal produce. Hi Felicia will only serve beer, sake, and natural wine; the vision is to keep a constantly rotating wine list of 20 selections, and it’s a who’s-who in the natural wine world. Imana named Stagiaire Wine, Iruai Winery, Everything Is Okay, Gearhead Wines, Lula, Deux Punx, Purity Wine as favorites who will make appearances on the menu. If you had any preconceived notions of what a fine dining restaurant looks like, check those expectations at the door. When asked about what they were going for with its look — a neon green exterior, followed by an all-black interior effused with punctuations of art in every corner — Imana immediately replies, “camp.” She selected “the tackiest shit you can imagine” but it’s a fun mishmash of items that evoke the smallest of smiles at each turn, with many items made by local artists or sourced locally. The level of care is also shown through the team, and when talking about them, Imana starts to tear up with pride. The constant proclamation by Imana and team that Hi Felicia will get a Michelin star, at first seems out of step with the disruptor sentiment. But to Imana, earning Michelin stars will symbolize that there’s a seat at the table for people like her, that Black and brown people deserve a place within the luxury industry, she says." - Dianne de Guzman
