The location is great - on a quiet street in South Oakland with a good feel. Interior is also comfortable, with CPop playing quietly and a decent amount of seating. 3/4 of tables were taken at about 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon.
However, the low rating is due to the food. We ordered Mala beef tendon, which despite the nice thin slices, was far too slight on any mala flavor and overly salty. The sauteed green beans were also way too salty and though soft on the inside, did not have the blackened thin crisp desired on the skin. The last dish garners lowest marks - my typical favorite cumin lamb. The chunks were either too large and connected or too small, and they came out as though half deep-fried with puffy crisp. The flavor was incredibly sweet, causing great confusion, and there was hardly a cumin tinge whatsoever.
I'll have to try Sichuan Gourmet again, but the first impression didn't make the grade for me.