I went to Piada for lunch on a Sunday afternoon and I wasn't sure what to expect. But I was pleasantly surprised! My best description of this place is that it's like chipotle meets Panera ... but Italian food. It's in the heart of Oakland so the staff members were all younger, as expected. But everyone was very nice. We ordered a piada, which is basically like an Italian burrito. We got to go down the line and choose what we wanted in it. And it was delicious. We also ordered a salad that seemed fresh and flavorful and fairly large. We even ordered the cannoli cream and shells for dessert. It was a very decent portion for the price! We did not leave hungry.
I also enjoyed the vibe inside. White brick walls and wood tables. They did a great job choosing the style and everything just worked well for the type of restaurant.
The most negative thing about the place is the location. Parking can be so difficult to find and it's not a quick in, quick out kind of place in the heart of Oakland. But other than that, if I'm looking to grab a decent quick meal I would definitely go back. Its not a gourmet, sit down restaurant, but for a restaurant of this nature I was very pleased!