Mouthwatering New American in Oakland

Vic's

★★★★☆ 4.4 (917) • $$

"Vic's has been on my "To-try" list for a long time. Ever since they opened several years ago, I have heard nothing but praises from different people, including my friend and fellow Elite David A. For his birthday this year, our friend Sarah and I decided to treat him to dinner here on 07/03/2024.Sarah and I arrived simultaneously at 5:30pm. Since the temperature was 105F, we had zero interest in sitting outside. Upon entering, we were immediately greeted by the staff, and they seated us at a table near the entrance. The interior was cozy, and the vibe was a mix of coffee shop, old school tavern, and neighborhood bistro. Not sure if that's what they were going for, but it definitely worked. Once David arrived, our server came by to take our drink and appetizer order. For appetizer, we shared an order of Four Cheese Garlic Bread. If you like bread and cheese, make sure you get this. Half a dozen slices of perfectly toasted buttered ciabatta bread topped with several types of melted cheese. Very delicious. For entrée, I had the Chicken Parm Pasta, while Sarah and David had the Chopped Cobb and Pollo Provencal respectively. My dish was a good size piece of double battered chicken breast served on top of a bed of garlic pasta and spinach, topped with marinara sauce and melted cheeses. What I liked the most was when you take away the sauce, cheeses, and breading, I could really taste the chicken. I tried a piece of the Pollo Provencal and it was excellent as well.Service we received was exceptional. The staff were welcoming, friendly, and attentive. Our server checked on us several times during the meal and she took care of our requests with great efficiency.Based on this experience, their high rating is well justified in my opinion. The food, service, and atmosphere are top-notch for a small neighborhood restaurant. I know Martinez is a bit far for some, but it's definitely worth a visit when and if you are in the area. 5 stars.BONUS MATERIAL:- Small private parking lot on site.- Split check option available."

FARM at Carneros

★★★★☆ 4 (981) • $$$

"Great spot for brunch!The menu is pretty expansive so they have a little for everyone.The steak and eggs were by far the best thing we tried.The vibe is pretty laid back out side, inside it is a bit more formal.The service was top notch. We got seated quickly, our orders were taken promptly and our food was out swiftly.I will certainly be back!"

Napa Valley Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.1 (837) • $$

"Napa Valley Bistro was incredible. It is kind of outside of downtown Napa so the area is fairly quiet. We were surprised that for a Saturday lunch, there were not a lot of people there. I brought my friends here to celebrate someone's 21st birthday. The inside had a beautiful long painting of the mountains and there were wooden tables that had wine glasses set up. They're truly living in the "wine culture."I wish I remembered the server's name but she was such a lovely lady. She was very nice and was able to provide a sweet cake surprise for my friend turning 21. The cake piece was too big for everyone and everyone's dishes were given at quite a generous portion.I bought the Summer Spring Vegetable Risotto. I love how the risotto just melts when you eat it. The seasonal vegetables were extremely well done for the taste and I couldn't have asked a better way to celebrate my friend's 21st birthday.There is a spot where you can make reservations, but for the most part, walking in should be fine."

The Hobnob

★★★★☆ 3.8 (834) • $$

"The food, drinks, and service far exceeds any expectations. They'll make sure you're comfortable and the food is always so flavorful and hot. This is our go to for a great family meal. They think of everything with great menu offerings, music, and games. We love their tuna tinga tacos, butter fusilli, chicken karaage, wings, salads, fries, and special"

Crepevine Restaurants

★★★★☆ 3.5 (953) • $$

"I love this place. The staff is so warm and friendly and they have a great menu. The Spanish omelet, the gluten free pancakes, all of it is fantastic. If you are looking for a casual meal with friends and family, here is the spot. Have fun."

Chaplin’s Sports Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.1 (688) • $$

"I can't believe I've never written a review for Chaplin's before. I went on a Friday night just to grab some drinks with friends. They had a DJ to my surprise and really gave the place a good vibe. We got lucky and were seated in a booth right as we walked in. They have ample parking, but also have street parking available. I got a Moscow mule which was good and some Cajun fries. The Cajun fries had a kick to them if dipped in the chipotle mayo. The service was great with the team checking in every 10 mins to see if we need another drink or food item. I would highly recommend you check it out.Just wanted to add that I went and they had the Formula 1 Australian GP Practice 2 playing so I think they play the Formula 1 GP's here. Great to know I found a spot where I can go watch and have a drink!"

LB Steak - Bishop Ranch

★★★★☆ 4 (715) • $$$

"A friend has been to telling us about a great Happy Hour at LB Steak and that we need to meet up to try it out. We made it happen on a recent Friday. We arrived at 4:05 and were sat at one of the bar tables. The happy hour is from 4-6pm and is for seating at the bar and the tables in the lounge area. The area was pretty much full already. There's a TV on the bar wall that was on a sports channel.The menu consists of six Bites items, wine (sparking, red, white and rose), rotating beer selection, two mock tails, and four cocktails. I got a beer, and we shared the loaded tater tots and each got the Wagyu burger.The loaded tater tots were topped with bacon bits, chives, and a four cheese béchamel. Good size bowl of tots. The Wagyu burger came with lettuce and tomato with cheese add-ons at $1 and fries and dill pickle wedge. The burger was good with toasted buns, but felt the patty could have been thicker. Our waitress was friendly and food came out in a relatively quick. A good happy hour at City Center San Ramon."

Rio California

★★★★★ 4.7 (514) • $$

"I can't get enough of this place bc of the food & the owner, Nathan who has a true passion of serving great food.I always come for the Jerk Chicken, consistently moist & infused with herbs. The next dish was Coxinha(not pictured)which is a popular Brazilian street food & I can see why. The light & crispy croquette filled with chicken meat was perfectly fried & had enough moistness inside that one can only beg for more. Although 3 Coxinha's come on the plate, don't be deceived at how filling it can make you. What I also appreciate is the generous amount of salad that is included, with only the freshest of ingredients.The last dish we ordered was the Creamy Lemon Seafood Risotto. The only thing I wish for is for them to be closer to my home."

The Lunch Box

★★★★☆ 4.4 (580) • $$

"They are a hole in a wall in downtown oakland, definitely hard to find parking but great if you are on a walk . Great experience getting a sandwich that blew me away with flavor. Service was quick and easy."

Tomate Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (753) • $$

"How has my mom not been here? She would love it. I came with my dad at least once, possibly twice.The food is very good. It's breakfast food, nothing extraordinarily innovative, but it looks and feels very clean, which is something I don't normally notice or comment on.The real attention-getter, the reason you come here, is its surprisingness and quaintness. You don't expect to find a place like this where it is in West Berkeley, but it's here! And you're not imagining things.I'll definitely be back, but I tend not to think of Berkeley anymore, which is understandable and sad and justified, but ancient. (Make mine a 99.)"

Creekwood

★★★★★ 4.5 (536) • $$

"I have not been there since they are first opened.Went on saturday night dinner.1) same nice decor, clean, modern look2) Waitress is attentive and nice3) Ordered Gaupacho cold tomatoes soupvery tasty4) ordered mushroom pizza, I have more high expectation, somehow, when they first opened, I felt their pizza is better than saturday.5) ordered Gnocchi in pesto sauce, very tasty according to my husband.6) dessert tiramishi's size is very big, good value."

Ceron Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (523)

"Visited Ceron with 3 friends for Saturday brunch. Place opens at 10am and was empty...it's unfortunate as the interior is beautiful and aesthetically gorgeous (Modern Mission style) from the former business (Otaez Mexican Restaurant). *sigh* The vibe almost transports you to dining in the City without going across the bridge and circling for parking. The menu is creative and interesting so plenty of items to try. Options for brunch: eggs Benedict, chicken and waffles, simple breakfast with coffee cake and sandwiches. I opted for the French dip sandwich which was presented well and enjoyed the accompanying potato salad. Though good I probably wouldn't order again and try a seafood dish .Friends enjoyed their dishes and what really finished off the meal was the chocolate silk dessert. Light chocolate mousse with a chocolate-crust with varying textures of chocolate gelato, candied hazelnut and chocolate tuile.Our server/host was the Owner/Executive Chef Juan Jaquez - very welcoming, engaging, and mentioned he formerly was head chef at Paradiso, San Leandro for 15 years....i knew the food was different after the pandemic and time he left to open Ceron! I really enjoyed the food when he was there and will have to return to Ceron to try their dinner service. Service was efficient and attentive even after more people arrived.Place is a great venue for a special occasion and meet up with friends. I'd definitely return to try some of their appetizers and eyeing the Berkshire Pork chop. Everything looks delicious albeit pricing on the higher side with like spots. Nevertheless, I'll give it a try if Juan is in charge of dinner service! :) Parking lot in back with metered street parking. Outdoor patio up front (facing Webster) and bar area is great when weather permits or if you have a pet. Highly recommend visiting Ceron!"

Pinoy BBQ ATBP

★★★★☆ 3.9 (535) • $$

"I was passing by for a daily routine and noticed this place took over the previous Vietnamese food joint?It's been a while since I saw another Filipino food place so I figured there is no harm in coming by.I only ordered one pork skewer to give it a try, and just enjoyed it. Taste wise it's about as good as it gets, Filipino food at fair prices is respected regardless."

Provisions

★★★★☆ 4.1 (481) • $$

"I had the fried chicken sandwich. Unfortunately, I found it very bland. I was hoping for some flavor.I ordered my fries well done and unfortunately, they came not well done and cold. I did ask for the fries to be as ordered and they did fix it."

JP's Family Restaurant & Sports Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.8 (526) • $$

"I originally drafted this review but forgot to post it. I visited JP's for the first time on October 26, 2024, and I can't believe I hadn't noticed this spot before. It's definitely a hidden gem that everyone should check out. The food was pretty good overall, but the fried pancake oh my gosh, 10/10! (I forgot to get a picture)We came after a hike, and while it was somewhat busy, we didn't have to wait to be seated. However, I got the feeling that if we had arrived after 11 a.m. the place would have been packed. By the time we were finishing up, the restaurant was definitely filling up, which tells me it's a popular spot. I highly recommend checking it out, and I'd definitely go back!"

The Bureau 510

★★★★☆ 3.8 (523) • $$

"I have been a few times and this is the spot for watching sports, get togethers, or date nights! Good foods with an expanded menu featuring Thai foods and a Yakitori HH. The vibe is chill and foods are high quality. My experience with the waiters/service has been fantastic- they were hard working, helpful, and efficient. Just a hop-skip away from IKEA and Emeryville shopping, so definitely worth trying if you are in the area. Highly recommend!"

Lama Beans Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (403) • $$

"Lama Beans Cafe is a restaurant I've passed by throughout my life but was never drawn to. My friend spoke highly of the options and affordable cost, so on a breakfast whim I chose to take my cousin and me here.The restaurant is unassuming inside and outside--open seating for small and larger groups plus tables outdoors. For breakfast and lunch it's counter service. Order and pay and your items are brought to you while water is self-serve. The vibes are quite casual and neighborhood-like like with service being friendly and efficient.For brunch, I got the Organic Tofu Scramble. The dish came with toast, home fries, and their trio of sauces. Portions were nicely sized for the price. I felt that the tofu scramble could've been seasoned more and some parts of the dish tasted a bit flat, so that's when the sauces did the saving. My cousin had the Country Omelet and said it hit the spot.For those in Berkeley looking for a no-frills neighborhood spot, Lama Beans Cafe is adorable and has decent food. The restaurant is located off Gilman St. with street parking in the area. Not sure if I'll be back anytime soon but I'm glad to have tried it."

Lucy Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (435) • $$

"Beautiful restaurant. Both indoor and outdoor seating areas were very pleasant. We came here on a weekday, so it was pretty quiet and empty. Throughout the night, there was only one other party in the restaurant. We ordered the Roasted Chicken, Short Ribs, Halibut, and a side of mushrooms. They also gave us Chips and Guacamole on the house because the chicken would've taken a bit longer to come out. Everything here wasn't bad.- The roasted chicken was pretty dry, but the flavor that the creamy sauce gave it was good.- The halibut also wasn't bad.- The short ribs were my favorite. They were very tender, and the sweet and salty flavor kind of seemed Asian-inspired. - The mushrooms were delicious, but they were pretty salty. They tasted great paired with the entrees though.- The guacamole was also delicious. It was light and creamy. Overall, had a great meal here. The food wasn't bad, and the ambiance and service really made for a relaxing dining experience."

The Starry Plough

★★★★☆ 4.1 (404) • $$

"Absolutely baller Irish dancing night. I also love that you can stash your bag behind the bar to keep it safe while dancing. Solid beer menu. Didn't try the food."

Neumanali

★★★★☆ 4 (415) • $$$

"We went to neumanali for an engagement/ birthday celebration. The ambiance is very nice, cozy and homey. The service was amazing! Constantly checking in to ensure we had everything we needed and everyone was very pleasant. Food was amazing especially the scallop and rack of lamb. So much flavor and seasoned perfectly!Thank you neumanali for the amazing food & service!"

Assemble

★★★★☆ 3.5 (541) • $$

"Horrah horrah! From point richmond to marina bay Brezo is making a comeback. Whether by hook or by crook our local family fav foodie spot Brezo, in pt Richmond likely a victim of covid, has re-emerged with most of the fan favorites for lunch and weekend venue. You know Assemble is being "re-assembled as a bar, a BBQ, fine dining, oyster bar, local beer and wine extravaganza destination, steps away from SF ferry, Richmond terminal. To be able to walk or ride bikes here for lunch is just plain decadent. All along the bay trail most of the way. The food is as good as we remember and Hector promised a slow return to the classic Breso favs once they do pop up brunch. Can you say best chilaquiles in the bay? Oh and those blueberry pancakes too! Oh my! Welcome back Heather n Hector! We missed you! Assemble is kicking things up several notches!"

Pelton Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.7 (479) • $$

"Amazing service and delicious food! Highly recommend this place! we were looking for somewhere to go that was relatively close to Oakland airport and we're so glad that we found this little restaurant!"

Khao Hom

★★★★☆ 4.4 (266) • $$

"I had seen Khao Hom on social media platforms on multiple occasions, and thought of it immediately when trying to find a good place for weekend brunch. The restaurant is spacious, and reservations super easy to make on Yelp. They also have a waitlist option if you decide to wait the day of.We ordered the following:[+] roti with curry dip[+] pad thai[+] crab tom yum omelette[+] avocado toast[+] pumpkin curry[+] lychee martini[+] tamarind cocktailThe ingredients were fresh and Thai flavors on point. Servings were small, though, so there wasn't much to take home. Otherwise, service was great - they consistently checked up on us throughout our meal and made sure our drinks kept coming.Khao Hom is a welcome addition to the Downtown Hayward area; both family friendly and good for a brunch out with the ladies."

Communitē Table

★★★★☆ 4.4 (252) • $$

"Was in the mood for something new in my neighborhood, so I just drove down MacArthur. Love "my" new find of Communite Table! Guess it's been here for a while, just new to me. It's a beautiful location, with a lovely menu and staff. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich. It was over the top delicious and their fries are like no other! Ended my visit with the goat cheesecake, delicious. It was a fun spot to treat myself on my day off. Will be back to try more in this gem of a place. :)"

Humbowl

★★★★★ 4.8 (207) • $$

"Came by for Sunday lunch with a friend and enjoyed the experience! I had the Togarashi 2.0 with mixed legumes, and it was so delicious. The rice was perfectly cooked, and everything was perfectly seasoned. The overall meal tasted so fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The waiter was also very kind and provided us with cucumber infused water. Would definitely return again!"

Roger Bar & Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (282) • $$

"We have staycationed at Ameswell twice and eaten at Roger both times. I really like the restaurant, and my husband and I were just saying we should come back even when we aren't staying at the hotel. It's one of the most family friendly restaurants I have been to, but to make it even better the food and drinks are great as well. The atmosphere is very relaxed and because the restaurant is indoor-outdoor, kids can easily go back and forth between the table and grassy area (with cornhole, giant Jenga, giant Connect Four). On our recent visit, we ordered 2 kids meals. The butter pasta was good but cooked al dente so it was a little firm for our 1-year-old (but perfectly fine for our older daughter). The fruit salad had strawberries and blackberries which was great - it wasn't just melon! The pizza is more like a flatbread than a traditional pizza just FYI and the chocolate chip cookies were really good! I like how the kids drink can be milk, apple juice, lemonade, orange juice, or a Shirley temple. The adults enjoyed the margherita flatbread, berry salad, and skewers. The skewers were actually from the yakitori grill but we brought them back to eat at our table. I think they are only available on the weekends. Be sure to take advantage of the happy hour. It's 4-6pm even on weekends and drinks were 20% off when we went. Service is friendly and food comes out fairly quickly. 5 stars all the way!"

In The Wood

★★★★☆ 4 (285) • $$

"I wish I lived closer to Berkeley, just to visit this place more often. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, a full bar and TV's to watch sports. It wasn't too busy so the noise was minimal. The service was fantastic. We were seated immediately and got our drinks quickly. They had several craft beers on tap. I believe our servers name was Simone. She was friendly, helpful and attentive. The food was incredible. There are plenty of options on the menu. We shared the El Nando pizza, which had a nice crispy crust and melty cheese. I had the In the Wood Burger and honestly, it was the best burger I've had in a long time. I asked for medium and they delivered, it was juicy and flavorful. My son had the fish and chips. The fish was cooked perfectly. I can't recommend this place enough. If you're in the area do yourself a favor and give it a try. I'd give it six stars if I could."

Blossom and Root Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.6 (206)

"Came here on a Saturday night for dinner with the boo. We were very eager to explore what this restaurant had to offer in terms of vegan (and gluten free) items, and boy we were impressed! We were seated right away and had a lovely server. Loved the decor with all the hanging plants (screams the crazy plant lady in me...) I started off with a Mandarin Mojito, which was delicious. It's fruity and tangy, but refreshing like a spritzer. #'Crab' Cakes - as someone who's a self-proclaimed crab lover, I wouldn't say the texture was the same, BUT they were really delicious. These were crispy on the outside and slightly gooey on the inside with some texture (?stringiness) from the mushroom. Loved the pickled onions on top to add a bite of acidity.#Smash Burger - We got this with a side of potato salad. The first round came out with burnt buns, which rendered the burger inedible. We conveyed this to our server, and were quickly given a new burger on the house to enjoy. The potato salad was delicious; I like it with a tang of mustard, which this definitely delivered. The burger itself was also quite good. I can't believe the bread was gluten free!#Mushroom Steak Salad - This was the winner of the night. I still couldn't believe the 'blue cheese' was actually cashew based! The mushrooms were cooked to perfection and had such a wonderfully 'meaty' flavor and texture. I'd turn vegan for this salad alone. All in all a wonderful meal service. There were some hiccups with one of the entrees, however we were met with wonderful service and quick resolutions. We will definitely be back to try more of their menu!"

Kitava

★★★★☆ 4.4 (219) • $$

"Let me start off by saying this place was a very pleasant surprise! We came here randomly after an appointment nearby wanting something other than fast greasy food. The salads were so fresh and just the bit of healthy we needed at the moment. Staff was super friendly. We sat at the bar which was fine because the place was packed out. It had a cool little vibe where a lot of people seem to work from there or come chill out. Some people were playing cards, lots of laptops and also friends just enjoying a good meal with one another. We will be back to try new and different combos!"

Vallejo Five Star Burger

★★★★☆ 3.7 (250) • $$

"Damn....I am so full! I ordered a #1 that burger had so much meat on it it was almost as big as my head.Damn...I am so full!"

Way Station Brew

★★★★☆ 4.2 (191) • $

"I used to really love the brie and date scones, but when I got one today I could not taste the brie nor any chunks of date aside from the one piece up top. Really bland and tasted like baking soda. I do love this gem of a cafe, but wish they would tighten up their food to its previous glory."

Executive Order Bar & Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.3 (161)

"If you are still contemplating, this is your sign to book and come through! I had the best experience booking and hosting my partner's 30th birthday party with about 35 guests altogether. The guests loved the food, drinks, music, and vibes!! Will definitely come by again soon. CHOOSING EXECUTIVE ORDER: One month prior to the event, I was searching for a venue that suited our needs for food, drinks, music, vibe, and pricing. I had been researching 20+ places including Executive Order. Once I heard back from them with the details and options for my event, I knew they were the one! I had specific requirements that I wanted for this event and the owner was extremely helpful, open, and responsive to all of my inquiries. There was never a moment of uncertainty since they presented me with so many options for food /catering and beverages for that night that were clearly outlined in our email communications. Expectations could not have been clearer. AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT: From the initial event booking inquiry until even an hour after our space rental had ended, the staff were the most kind and attentive to our large group. The staff went above and beyond in checking in with me upon arrival one hour before our event and until one hour after the event. They had the space prepared for me more than one hour in advance and helped me setup! Truly grateful for their compassion and willingness to go above what was asked of them for that night. As the night began and guests arrived, they kept me updated with the status of the food coming out and the drink tab. They even helped me coordinate shots around the room to make a toast, light the birthday cake, and cut the beat for the music for us to sing happy birthday. A CLOSER LOOK INTO FOOD, DRINKS, MUSIC:FOOD: The food/catering was too easy to do - it is an excel sheet / google sheets! I strongly recommend the duck fat fries, buffalo wings, and sliders (turkey or chicken). All of it was a HIT. Guests ate it up and came asking me for more! DRINKS: The choice to opt into a pre-paid open bar was a no-brainer. All the guests had a great time ordering to their hearts desires and the bartenders were amazing in receiving all the guests and creating the drinks. Even though shots were the most popular, a few of the guests chose something off their drink menu which they told me was delicious as well. MUSIC: On the night of our event, there was a live DJ playing 90s hip-hop and R&B. The vibe was perfect for the scenery and the DJ was super supportive of our large group - taking requests and coordinating fade outs for us to have a celebratory moment filled with speeches, singing happy birthday, and cake blowing. And once our moment concluded, he played us out with a birthday banger, never missing a beat! Special thanks to John Eric, Dave, T, Ryan, DJ Mark, and the rest of the staff who made that a night to remember! I could not imagine the night going more smoothly."

The Hatch Oakland

★★★★☆ 3.8 (190) • $$

"This spot is a good local watering hole where you can get shwasted with fun bartenders, good company, good music. Beware because it has the small gritty bar feels, and that's what it is, no doubt -- yet it gives all the good times! Wouldn't come here for a nice dinner, go to Pintoh Thai Nextdoor, then come here and dance / drink your ass off."

The Bureau 510

★★★★☆ 4.4 (128)

"We love this place! The first time we went the burgers and fries were next tier amazing! So much so, we kept talking about going back every month for almost a year! Finally went back last week and still, incredible! Can't highly recommend this place any more. The burgers and fries aren't just regular every day burgers and fries, there's something about the flavor that's intoxicating and noticeably better than any other burgers and fries we've ever had. I almost never leave reviews but this place is something very special!"

Cal's Fried Chicken & Burgers

★★★★☆ 4.3 (116) • $$

"Tried this spot for the first time today, and overall, it was really, really good! The chicken sando was unique and flavorful with a side of honey, and the fries bountiful and perfectly seasoned with a crispy, flaky texture.The onion rings were easily the best I've ever had--super crispy and packed with flavor.The only downside? The food took a long time to come out. It was definitely worth the wait, but if you're in a hurry, be prepared for a bit of a wait.That said, I'll definitely be back--this place knows how to make a great burger!"