In this edition: a cocktail lounge focused on Afro-Latino flavors is headed to Downtown early next month, a cocktail bar and steakhouse is coming to Uptown mid-March and Pill Hill has a new cafe serving vegetarian dishes.

Here's what you should know about Oakland's food scene this week:

Opening

Downtown

Sobre Mesa (1618 Franklin St.)

Hoodline veteran tipster Al M. alerts us that Sobre Mesa, a cocktail lounge focused on Afro-Latino flavors and inspired by the cultures of the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, is getting ready to open. The Chronicle reports that the lounge is set to open its doors March 5 in a space previously occupied by The Payback.

As we previously reported, Sobre Mesa is owned by chef Nelson German of AlaMar Kitchen & Bar, which is located just a few blocks away. The new bar will emphasize small-production spirits from the Afro-Latino diaspora, including rum distilled from sugarcane grown on a family-owned plantation in Alma, Louisiana; hand-crafted rum made by Cuban rum masters in the Dominican Republic; and Träkál, an up-and-coming spirit made from the indigenous fruits and botanicals of Patagonia.

Uptown

Palmetto cocktail bar & steakhouse 

Eater reports that the team behind Kon-Tiki – a tiki bar and restaurant in Downtown – is working on Palmetto, a cocktail bar and steakhouse set to open its doors mid-March. Owners Christ Aivaliotis and Matt Reagan are taking over the former Flora space. As we noted, Flora closed last November alongside its sister bar Fauna.

Expect classic steakhouse steaks and chops paired with a cocktail menu listing classic cocktails and tropical drinks. The space will feature pastel colors, neon lights as well as a pink marble bar and green diner chairs. Expect dinner and drinks every day of the week except on Sundays.

Open

Pill Hill

Petit Cafe (411 30th St.)

Al also informs us that Petit Cafe has moved in near the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Summit Campus. According to their website, expect local bread and pastries from Firebrand Artisan Breads and Grand Bakery, Red Bay coffee roasted in Oakland and cuisine inspired by travels to Europe and South America.

Petit Cafe serves breakfast and lunch with a focus on seasonal vegetarian dishes. Coffee drinkers can choose between almond or oat milk and there is a 50 cent discount when you bring your own reusable cup.

Thanks to our veteran tipster Al M.! Have you noticed a new addition to (or subtraction from) Oakland's food landscape? Text a tip and a horizontal photo to (415) 200-3233, and we'll look into it.