The Fat Lady Bar & Restaurant

Otherworldly decor, like something from another century. Low colorful lighting and a distinct feeling of being a fancy lady-of-the-night's boudoir are some of the visual delights awaiting you. It is a funky-fun unique experience. Tasty food (great ribeye) and great drinks (paper airplane) are available. Excellent service! However, the tables are small and seating is limited. Make sure you get reservations ahead of time, even for small groups. Yes, it is a popular spot.

I recently visited The Fat Lady, a bar and restaurant with a vibrant, colorful interior that feels more like a bar than a traditional dining spot. The atmosphere is casual, making it a fun place to grab a bite or a drink with friends.We started off with the fried calamari appetizer, and I have to say, it was one of the best I've had in a long time. Lightly fried, crispy, and delicious, the calamari was served with two dipping sauces that added a nice touch.For our entrees, my husband had the seafood pasta with cream sauce, which he really enjoyed. On the other hand, I ordered the lamb chops, and unfortunately, they were a huge disappointment. I asked for them to be cooked medium, but they arrived completely overcooked--grey and unappetizing. I brought it to the attention of our server, who was excellent and immediately promised to send out a fresh plate. However, when the second round of lamb chops arrived, they were just as overcooked and grey. I mentioned this to the server again, and he offered to send the manager over.It was slightly annoying that the lamb was overcooked twice, however the worst part was the manager's attitude. She was rude about it, and argued with me about them being overcooked which they clearly were. The cook on them was not even close. After two failed attempts, I didn't want to go through the same thing again, so I ordered a burger instead. It was fine, but nothing special.Although I have had good experiences with The Fat Lady in the past and do plan to give it another shot, the interaction with the rude manager left a bad taste in my mouth and it will be a while before we go back.

Picture this: it's the middle of a workday, and you step in for lunch, instantly transported to a lively, fun atmosphere that feels cozy and perfectly decorated for the vibe. From the moment you walk in, the staff greets you warmly, and everyone is super friendly.The menu offers a nice variety, but we both went with the burger, which we were told is the top lunch pick. Unfortunately, my burger and fries came out cold cold--like, really cold. Not sure if my colleague's was the same, but it was disappointing. That said, the burger itself was juicy and delicious, so I'm chalking it up to a rare mistake.I still liked this place and absolutely recommend giving it a try!

The Fat Lady is a JLS must! Aside from their stellar brunches, they are super accommodating to parties, and the perfect place for a small celebratory meal or gathering for spirits. We recently booked with them to celebrate the wedding of my daughter and son in law at the Alameda courthouse. We had a small party and they took care of us. We let know ahead of time that we wanted to split our bill two ways and they were great about it. Our service and the food was phenomenal. We started with the fried zucchini, a Caesar salad, and some steamed Manila clams. The French fried zucchini was fried to perfection and topped with parmesan with a side of Roquefort bleu cheese. The garlic and herb broth that the Manila clams arrived bathed in was swiftly sopped up with the most delightful garlic toast. The salad was a classic Caesar done to perfection.The main dishes our party ordered included New York Steak & Pomme Frites, the Fat Lady burger, and Chicken Mediterranean. Everything was cooked perfectly and presented well. The onions on my burger and the fries were nice and crunchy. We had crème brulee and cheesecake to round out our meal. Both excellent choices that highly recommend.Thank you, Fat Lady fam, for filling our bellies and making our evening both special and memorable.

Still love this place! Been coming here for a long long long time. New fav on the menu is the lamb on the app menu. I've been on a keto diet for over a year and it's tough to eat out. The Greco lamb chops under the starters is fantastic! Best keto option on the menu and so satisfying! Pair it with a side of veggies or a salad and it's bliss! And service is always on point weather im at the bar or at a table. Interior is always dark and moody. Super classic. If there is a major holiday coming up like Halloween or Christmas, they go all out on decor on the dining room. Always super cool. Love this place! Best in jack London!

Okay, get ready to drool! I'm super picky about giving out 5 stars, so when I tell you this place earned it, you know it's good. So good, in fact, I went twice in the same day! This spot used to be my absolute go-to back in the day, but life happened and it's been a while. Meeting a client for lunch recently brought me back, and it was like no time had passed at all! The atmosphere is still buzzing with this cool, eclectic energy. I dove into the Grecian Lamb - four seriously meaty chops, grilled to perfection, and served with some delicious seasonal veggies. The calamari was a generous portion and fried just right - light, crispy, and definitely not greasy. And of course, I had to treat myself to a martini - so smooth! Consider me officially back in the regular rotation. Girls' cocktail hour, here I come!

Not sure what happened to my original review. I came one afternoon and had the best experience. This is a staple place that's survived the pandemic and that I felt I understood why that day. Since then I've back thinking I'd have the same great experience, but it's been very inconsistent unfortunately. The advice was great one time and not so great the next time (like forgotten table and we wove order way more).Update: I came for crème brûlée again. And it tasted like it was made the week before. It was rubbery and old and not that I even knew custard could do that! I've come two times for it specifically where it's been great and not great.

I surprised my wife with reservations here for our 2 year anniversary. She admitted to me that she had been there before but that she hadn't been there when they had the Halloween decorations up. We both loved the Halloween decorations! It was my first time there and it checked all the right boxes! It's a small cozy atmosphere so it can get a little tight/cozy in some places due to foot traffic but everyone was super nice and understanding about it. The host was very polite and said there were a couple locations inside the restaurant that we could sit so I let my wife choose. Once we were seated, someone immediately came by with fresh ice water and a carafe for our table. Our waiter came shortly after to take our drink and appetizer orders and regularly checked on us throughout the night. They had a small Halloween themed drink menu and we each quickly ordered something that sounded delicious and our drinks tasted as good as they sounded and then some! I don't remember the entire name of mine but it was something Apple Bottom and it had a whiskey base (my preferred base) and a sugar rim. I will absolutely be ordering that again whenever we make it back! We also ordered a serving of French Fried Zucchini and we both agreed that we could have eaten another serving because it was finger licking delicious! We decided not to so we could save room for the main course and dessert but we may have to schedule a visit back just for that appetizer!My wife and I are both big meat eaters so we each went for a steak option. She got the Ribeye and I got the New York Steak & Pommes Frites. I had never had steak on top of a bed of fries before and it was every bit as delicious as I thought it would be! They had just the right amount of green peppercorn sauce on it too! Just enough to get a hint of it with almost every bite. We finished with dessert. We decided to share a chocolate mint dessert cocktail called Patti something and it came out warm and minty. We each smiled as we sipped down the perfect mixture of chocolate and mint. Finally we finished with Tiramisu and Creme Brulee. My wife loved her Tiramisu but finally reached her limit about half way through and decided to take the rest home with us. I love Creme Brulee and this one was good...a little heavy on the egg and a thicker sugar crust than I like but still very tasty. All in all we had a great anniversary with great food and service. We will definitely be back and I will definitely recommend to all my friends and family!

I was visiting a friend in Oakland, and she picked this gem of a restaurant. We didn't have a reservation, but luckily, there were two seats available at the bar. And honestly, that turned out to be the best part of the night! The bartender, Adam, was absolutely fantastic--he made some of the best cocktails I've had in a long time and kept us entertained with his great sense of humor. He also gave spot-on recommendations for the menu, which we appreciated. The food came out quickly, and every single dish was exceptional. The flavors, presentation, and overall experience were top-notch. I'll definitely be coming back next time I'm in town, and yes, I'll make a reservation next time (lesson learned!). Highly recommend this place--it's a must-visit if you're in Oakland!

I had a fantastic experience at Fat Lady Bar & Restaurant. Even though we arrived close to closing time, the staff was incredibly accommodating and seated us without any hesitation. Despite the late hour, the service was top-notch--attentive, friendly, and never rushed.We ordered the chicken and pasta, as well as the steak, and both dishes were delicious. The chicken was perfectly cooked and paired wonderfully with the pasta, and the steak was tender and flavorful, cooked just the way we like it.The warm, welcoming atmosphere and the excellent food made for a great dining experience. I would definitely return to Fat Lady Bar & Restaurant and recommend it to anyone looking for a great meal with outstanding service.