Friends and Family

As someone that is open to vegetarian meals but loves his carnivore diet I'm not gonna lie... I'm impressed. Primarily because of ingredients and execution. The same ingredients wouldn't be executed as well at any restaurant.You like that ginger miso free salad before your Japanese bento box? ThisThis is the best version. You like mushrooms and soy sauce? Experience this one cause it's better. Also, one of my fave rice cakes ever - chewy, well seasoned, tastes homemade.Carrot cake is pretty good - I don't even like cake much but the frosting us awesome. Drinks are strong and tasty - the for Rei is for every bourbon lover.Oh and btw the drinks aren't shabby either. The dolly is a standout. The daily affirmation is awesome - celery flavor done rightService is awesome, they're happy to have a Convo even tho it's busy on a Saturday night

Drinks and the vibes. I came on a chilly night, so we sat at the bar and imbibed in way too many cocktails but they were so good, how can you not. This is definitely "Oakland" cool, a great place for a first date, if I do say so myself. Why not five stars? I didn't love the food options. Not a ton to choose from and nothing super stand out to soak up the booze. *I'd like to add that I had 1 too many martinis, so my memory/mind is a bit fuzzy. Service was great, not cheap, but on par with spots, and this spot has really well made cocktails and great vibes. I'd definitely come again to meet up for a cocktail or two before or after dinner.

An inclusive space for everyone. Great cocktails and food/snacks. Awesome vibe, friendly staff, and cool space. Parking can be challenging. ---We went to Friends and Family after reading about it in the SF Chronicle and Resy. Navigating the area and parking was difficult on a weeknight, but we were able to find street parking near the bar after circling around for ~10 minutes. I appreciate the mission statement of providing a safe space where everyone is welcome. The space is full of thoughtful details, and the outdoor space looks amazing with the mural. The pink lighting, the tableware, and the warm and friendly staff really make the place intimate, welcoming, and personal. I really felt like I was being taken care of in a way that's so rare nowadays. I asked for a recommendation for spirit-forward drinks, and was delighted by both the "for rei" (and "the colette." "For rei" came with a block of coconut water ice, which I popped into my water after finishing the tasty cocktail way faster than I should. It reminded me of a cocktail from another place in SF, but it differentiates with its coffee flavor. Friends and Family also offer a "Daily Affirmations" mystery drink, which benefits gender-affirming care fundraising. It was a nice strawberry-flavored drink that particular night. The Asian-influenced food also shines at Friends and Family. The hot-and-sour mushrooms pairs with the drinks nicely with its assertive flavor. The "les eggs" was a genuine surprise with its creamy yet refreshing sauce. We also had the yaki onigiri (grilled little rice balls) and the sardine banh mi toast. The tune miso was definitely interesting and an umami bomb. Overall, the dishes are on the salty side. If I can use a single word to describe my memory of Friends and Family, it would be "warmth."

Came here for the first time after an event and had a wonderful time! Love the overall vibe & decor. It's casual, but not too casual. The staff was nice, however the distribution of our food and timing was a little odd. Food for the most part came on time except our last dish which came 20+ minutes after we finished everything? Who knows. It did though disrupt the flow and overall experience. But the food was delicious!

Jamie W and I were well overdue to try this four-year-old spot because we had read owner Blake Cole introduced the concept of queer hospitality on Oakland's artistically inclined 25th Street. That doesn't mean the walls were covered with rainbow flags and unicorns. It means everyone in the queer community is treated with respect.In fact, there's a note in the menu: "Please use gender neutral terms + they/them pronouns when referring to staff. Thank you." Straight people are welcome as well (presumably) - so there is an ethic of inclusivity that we found admirable. Jamie made a reservation for us on a Saturday evening, and we found the slim menu an intriguing mix of fusion food and specialty drinks.Thirst first. I ordered the $16 For Rei, a mix of coconut oil washed Japanese whisky and coffee-infused cynar. It was supposed to come with a coconut water popsicle, but it may have been a misnomer for the ice cube, Jamie had the $15 San Michele...Ma Belle, a potent mix of melon-infused gin, cocchi Americano, and dry vermouth with a grapefruit twist (photo: https://yelp.to/6s15DGJCpB). Both cocktails were on the harder side.We shared the $9 Hot & Sour Mushrooms mixed with sesame seeds and scallions and heavily marinated in chili oil (photo: https://yelp.to/N3aduYN-bT). Liked the fungi but it was a bit too much on the wet side for us. I had high hopes for the $15 Sushi Bar Salad, which actually had no sashimi but rather little gems and shiitake "bacon" in a miso-ginger dressing (photo: https://yelp.to/pRVqmeo9oN). It was quite good, just not what I expected.At this point in our meal, we decided to go off-menu and ordered a couple of $15 Espresso Martinis (photo: https://yelp.to/GehzJ2MD7u). They complied, and our mood lifted considerably. The $14 Sardine Banh Mi Toast arrived just in time, an Asian-style bruschetta supplemented with pickled carrots, jalapeño, and maggi aioli (photo: https://yelp.to/2YxZR-ZgVw). That was a tasty-crunchy chaser to the martinis.Our last plate was the $20 Rice Cakes Arabbiata, the largest with rice cakes rolled with gnocchi-like consistency and mixed with tomato, pancetta, pecorino, and chives (photo: https://yelp.to/syvXvo6B9d). That was the most delicious food of the evening. Meanwhile, the space was filling up primarily with young couples in their 20's and 30's. We were kinda feeling we were part of the in-crowd.FOOD - 4 stars...the dishes improved as the meal progressedCOCKTAILS - 4 stars...saved by the espresso martinisAMBIANCE - 4 stars...chill and well spaced apartSERVICE - 4.5 stars...servers were very cordialTOTAL - 4 stars...definitely felt included hereRELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ

So I have a new favorite spot in the East Bay! Love EVERYTHING about this place!! The ambiance is incredible, from the lighting to the decore to the music, it was perfection. The staff was SO friendly and genuinely felt like they loved working there. The drinks were excellent and the food. Oh my god, the food. We had the sardine banh mi, the roasted fennel salad, the rancho gordo beans and the rice cakes. Everything was mind blowing!! The banh mi and the rice cakes were the standouts for me, but I could easily eat every one of the plates every day for the rest of my life!!

The drinks were amazing! But perhaps we came during an off-menu time? We were looking for light bites and drinks as we were doing a bday bar hop and the selections were not substantial enough to get a couple of drinks and share out of our comfort zone ingredients-wise like anchovies, nuts, etc. and it seemed like it was on every dish except the popcorn lol so we went with that but was pretty ready to head out and get some real food. SO I say this to say that the drinks were top tier! Highly recommend coming here for just the drinks itself but don't come if you're looking for dinner unless you're feeling the menu items. To each their own, it's not their fault but really enjoyed the vibes overall! So thank you!

Whoever designed the logo deserves a big ole raise -- I mean, how cute (and clever) is that?! This spot has a relaxed and creative atmosphere and was the perfect place to grab drinks with old friends. It had some delicious mocktail options and a chill, queer-friendly vibe (for example, the menu politely asks for all staff to be referred to in the gender-neutral. Love this!) The service was friendly and not pushy or overbearing. The lighting was dim and romantic and had a back patio for those wishing for a bit of fresh air. The one caution I will raise is that it can be kind of hard to find -- there is no sign at the front of the building! Be prepared to follow Google Maps precisely, or risk spending a few minutes wandering the alleyway (like I did). However, the low-key entrance seemed to add to the mystique and underground vibe of this hidden gem, and I kinda liked it! Whether you need a romantic first-date cocktail bar or a spot to meet friends before a night out in Oakland, Friends and Family is the perfect place to go.

A really cute cocktail bar that serves carrot cake! Cocktails & dessert?? Say less. I love visiting Friends & Family specifically for an espresso martini & carrot cake, they're honestly the perfect pair. The only downside is that they often sell out of the carrot cake. I'd love to see them add more dessert items on the menu!

New chef, new menu - SO GOODHot and sour mushrooms, eat with a spoon because that soupy sauce is fire. So many vegan choices and they're all excellent. Bre is the best bartender who will make sure your drinks vibe with you and your food. All around excellent experience, food, and pours.