The Rendez-Vous

I was so charmed by this restaurant. From the mismatched crystal goblets filled to the brim with carefully shaken cocktails, to the amaretto syrup spooned atop my chocolate pot de creme - my senses were tantalized. The food was exceptional, the vibe deeply romantic. If I wasn't already in love with the friends I went to The Rendez-Vous with, I would be after this dining experience. The service was attentive, just the right amount of casual and very personable. I felt like our server was taking genuine delight in serving us and that felt so special. I went with a group of 7 friends to celebrate a birthday. We ordered every single dish on the hand written menu and each one was so darn good! We started with oysters - carefully shucked (no shells, not bruised), SO DAMN FRESH and clean served with a kishu mignonette. The beef tartare was basically the paragon of the dish - I would go back alone to sit in a cozy booth, draw the chandelier, sip a cocktail and just eat this tartare. The crab salad was the star for me - perfectly ripe avocados covered in crab that was lightly dressed in homemade aioli, supremed citrus and pops of (exciting) pickled watermelon of all things! Damn. The fregola with lamb sausage, pine nuts, tiny pickled peppers, creamy feta and a light sprinkle of pomegranate seeds tasted like a hug from my grandmother. There is so much care put into every detail at this restaurant. I almost want to work there and I can't wait to go back.

This little "hole-in-the-wall" has potential to be a truly fantastic restaurant. First off, the restaurant is a cool, funky space that definitely has "Parisian" vibes, but not in a traditional sense. The bar is beautifully back lit with green lights and has cool Polynesian themed frescos. The service was good and attentive. We sat at the bar and had great conversations with the bartender. She was a great conversationalist!The food was great.. we started with half a dozen Beau Soliel Oysters which came with a horseradish mignonette. We followed that with the smoked trout pate which was probably my favorite dish. My wife and I both ordered the Crab Salad for our mains as they ran out of the Smoked Petrale Sole. It was good but the portion was tiny and at $39 I was hoping for more... it was more portioned like an appetizer. We finished off with the chocolate tart which was also delicious. This place is close to receiving 5 Stars, but portion size needs to be addressed. Plus, having only three entrees and running out of one limits what can be ordered.

My new favorite restaurant!So an artist opens a restaurant and you get this very cute neighborhood restaurant. It's a great place for a solo dinner or a date as the place is small and mostly 2 person top tables. There is also seating out front, a back patio, and a little shed in the back they rent out for private events. All in all everything was phenomenal, the ambiance, our serve Alberto who went above and beyond by giving us a full tour of the place showcasing the uniqueness of the design, and the food and drinks were exceptional and fresh. The Picasso drink was such a cool treat with the hand done design. It appears they rotate their menu so I will be back again and again to try! Reservations can be made on their instagram page @therendezvousoakland

I have wondered about this place forever and the limited Yelp reviews kept me intrigued, but just the lack of information kept me from going. What's the menu like? Is it truly so loud? Do they even serve entrees? Well, well, my Yelp friends. Step right up, I'll give you the dish.Overall, I'd call this place a cocktail forward place that serves up some pricey, but tasty, shareable plates.This place is a vibe and it's my type of vibe. Dark, moody, antique-y style everything - from cocktail glasses to the serveware. This has to be one of my favorite 'ambiance' restaurant in the East Bay, hands down. They were bumping great old style soul music. Loud, but not like deafining loud. My friend and I could very much still have a conversation and I really enjoyed the music ambiance setting the vibe/scene.We sat inside, but outside is super cute and you can see they host a ton of private events out there and I see why. It's adorbs; a perfect place for a cocktail party.Speaking of cocktails.... The cocktails were great and boozy. That picasso drink with tequilla was great and loved the unique art on it. Foodwise: They have about 8-10 things on the menu, most of them cold, and all meant to be shared. The oysters were fresh, and there was a great melon, burrata crostini dish. We also went with a pasta dish, seemingly the most substantial/largest dish they have on the menu. It was creamy and delicious, with vegetables and delightful little meatballs, and while not the most elevated dish, it was filling and comforting.So, what's the prob? It's a wee bit expensive. Drinks are $16-$18+, dishes are in the high $20's and low $30s. Even the smallish side of bread was $9. Again, everything was good and I loved the vibe, but prices are similar to some of the more well known, upscale restaurants that are serving up a bit more substantial eats, with a more diverse menu.It was a great spot for ladies night where we enjoyed all the cocktails and catching up, and I'd def come again!

This place is a mood, a delightful oneExcellent service. Alberto is spirited and his excitement is contagiousCocktails are excellent beatifically crafted by the ownerThe burrata with basil, tomatoes, pineapple, watermelon is out of this world. Well balanced acidity. I usually have to brace myself for the tomato acidity but not with this dish! Expensive however.Black cod crudo is succulent and so incredibly fresh. The stringy julienned vegetable slices give the dish an interesting texture to accompany the fish slices. Also expensive. Only complaint is the small portion.Be careful with your wallet, can easily spent $100 on 2 cocktails and 2 plates alone.Definitely worth a visit if you're in the mood for a quick bite (can't be too hungry!) and want to be transformed to an European style cafe with vintage fixtures

Incredible! Though you might pass the restaurant bz the lighting is a bit dim and it's near Children's Hospital, that's a mistake. It's one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. The ambiance is colorful, fascinating & innovative. The service? GreatAnd the food? Holy Elvis! The food is exceptional. (I've copied our menu for you.) The quality of our dinner was OFF THE CHARTS!My bride & I went on a mission to sample everything. The chopped egg salad crostini appetizer, the Salad Lyonnaise, the King Salmon Crudo, the Smoked Swordfish Pastrami and the Toasted Sardinian Frregola with short rib ragu! Yes, we had all of these!!Holy Toledo! The food was amazing. Everything!! The chef is so very talented.I love this place! And I will be back!

Excellent bar and atmosphere. Great for meet ups lots of local love from the neighborhood.

If 6 stars was an options I'd give it to this place immediately!! The service was amazing, we had such a friendly host who gave us a tour of the space and had the most welcoming energy!! The space itself is absolutely stunning with a very rustic feel. I came here for a drink with a friend and got the Picasso drink which was one of the most unique drinks I've had ever. It was definitely strong but so so good!! This will now become one of my regular spots! A must visit and amazing addition to the city of Oakland :)

Shitty service, food was bad, way too loudfirst time i went here they served a beer to my friend and the whole glass was foam, maybe an inch was beer at the bottom. they didnt offer to comp it or replace it which i found super weird. Later that evening i ordered coffee and it was grainy, tasted shitty quality, and in a teeny tiny portion. went back again last night for a friend's bday and asked specifically if a dish was celiac safe and gluten free (i have celiac) they waiter immediately answered "yes yes its totally fine!", i felt suspicious but ate it and 20 minutes later felt so ill and sick. Definitely got poisoned here. Also my friend saw that same waiter pounding beers all night lol..... i hate this place. $36 for a potato and you cant even check about medical dietary restrictions? bullsht. wish i could give it 0 stars.

Absolutely worst service I've ever experienced. Got moved 4 times with a reservation a month in advance, waiter was condescending and rude, took a half hour to get our drinks and have our order taken after being moved 4 times! DO NOT waste your money here!! Foods decent but it was a terrible experience. Not what you expect on a $250 meal. Extremely disappointed and regretting spending my money at this place.