I really enjoyed my first visit here! I had drinks and a meal sitting at the bar…read more I started with their gin cocktail, the Mothership. This will definitely be my go to when visiting here! I like my cocktails really cold and this was perfect! I also loved the globe glass it's served in. I had the mussels for my meal. Fantastic! The sauce had a delicious funkiness to it. I finished off with a proper Corpse Reviver No. 2. For those into these things, there's a No. 1 that's not as popular. For this cocktail, the glass is rinsed with absinthe. Sounds a bit crazy as good absinthe is expensive, but once you taste it you understand. Absinthe is a strong flavor and this makes it harmonious with the other cocktail flavors. The bartenders were excellent and knowledgeable. I really enjoyed the featured artist works. I'll make this a regular stop!

We hit Bar Skula for dinner last weekend and loved every minute of it! The cocktails were inventive…read moreand downright delicious--I went for the New Vic and the crisp, refreshing Mothership, while my wife downed her Montalban and the zingy Desert Heat. The starters set the tone perfectly: Marinated California Olives, French Fries, and Escabeche, all hitting the spot. For dinner, we split the Macha Shrimp and the Corn-Husk Wrapped Halibut--both vibrant, fresh, and just adventurous enough. The room was buzzing, packed with happy people and wrapped in super-fun murals (the Lake Merritt Monster!) and other hyper-local artwork--it felt like a love letter to Oakland. Service was outstanding too, warm and friendly from start to finish. I can't wait to go back.

When I think of a sandwich that has the ability to make my mouth water just thinking of it, few…read morecome to mind, but what the sandwiches they make at Southie is definitely one of them. I've had their Spicy Hog, steak with mushroom, a few Cubans, but the one that I always come back to is "The Balls" sandwich. First off, this sandwich is massive, so be sure that you come here on an empty stomach. These beef meatballs are seasoned to perfection and bursting with flavor. The balls are covered in their red sauce with provolone and Grana Padano, which gives it that nutty and salty flavor that pairs extremely well with the meatballs and baguette. All the juices and cheese just get soaked up to perfection. The baguette bread they use is supplied by La Farine, which is just a few meters away from each other. Just putting out there that La Farine is hands down one of the best bakeries in Oakland, so it makes sense that this sandwich would be so dang good. I'll be honest that I'm not a big fan of the chips or those chips in general and could be fine with just the sandwich. If you are going to have any sandwich to eat here first, I would highly recommend you try "The Balls" because I promise you will not be disappointed. I will always say that the dozen or so times I've been here, the staff are always so friendly, and the atmosphere is very down to earth. The price of their sandwiches is in the $20 range, but the quality and portion make it totally worth it.

The spicy hog sandwich I had a few minutes ago was quite messy but good…read more However, my petty gripe is that it was 2pm, there was an open 2-person table on the side, but I was seated 1 foot from and facing the cash register, and told people were coming for the empty table. No one came and instead quickly several more tables cleared out. Rather than see a few minutes of the England-Serbia World Cup match, I saw a bunch of people up close paying lunch bills. Don't come in solo expecting a side table.

Belly has become one of my favorite spots in Oakland, and for some great reasons. The food is…read moreconsistently yummy. Their salads are a standout, especially with the ability to customize your protein. Their fusion twists on burritos, bowls, burgers, and spaghetti are right up my alley. Their drinks and mocktails are a nice touch too. But what really keeps me coming back every Tuesday is Mahjong Night. Alice and the staff have built something genuinely special here; a warm, welcoming community where regulars and newcomers mix easily over tiles and great food. The energy in the room is wonderful, and you can tell the whole team actually cares about the experience they're creating. If you're looking for a neighborhood restaurant with delicious food and real heart, Belly is it. Highly recommend coming for a meal, and even more so for Mahjong Night if that's your thing.

Belly Date: Monday, September 7, 2026…read more It was Labor Day, and I was debating where to eat near Rockridge BART. Unfortunately, both Cactus and Market Hall Foods were closed, so I decided to eat at Belly since I was also in the area playing mahjong. This was my second time eating here. I split the Surf Burrito ($20.75) with my friend. It comes with tempura fish, sesame slaw, avocado, pico de gallo, sambal aioli, spicy crema, and multigrain rice. The burrito was a good size, so splitting it with someone is a good idea. The menu says it comes with spicy crema, but I didn't find it spicy at all. My friends ordered the Crispy Dumplings ($12 for 6)--homemade pan-seared pork and shrimp dumplings served with soy chili oil. The dumplings seemed a little small for $12, which works out to about $2 each. Overall, if I'm in the neighborhood playing mahjong, I would come back to Belly to eat. I would probably split the burrito again because $20.75 is a little pricey for a burrito.

This place might be my new go-to for burgers. I am soooooo siiiiiick of smash burgers, enough with…read morethe smash burgers, if I'm force fed another smash burger because it's "hip" or "cool" or has a tasty little crust I WILL explode! I will change the trajectory of any unfortunate onlooker's life! Anyway, I had the B-B-B which was very good. Deliciously savory with an extra kick from the bleu cheese, a luscious patty you could really bite into (UNLIKE A SMASH BURGER) and some really tasty sauces on the side. I kinda like my burgers drenched in bbq sauce and the kind that came with was a perfect smoky, rich, not too sweet sauce. The sweet potato fries felt kinda sinful ngl. Usually sweet potato fries are the "healthy" option but also usually they're shoestring and nicely sweet but just ok. These were kinda decadent. Steak cut and what I can only describe as a crack laced crumble coating. An order of these make a perfect dessert. The slaw was fine, nothing to write home about. They have vanilla creme soda :) The perfect accompaniment for a burger imo. My new go-to for burger delivery whenever I'm in the mood for it. I'm assuming if you go in person you can customize the patty but even i'f you can't, they're medium is pretty decent and still quite tender. Excited for my next order!

Why 5 stars? 1…read more convenient if you're at Oakland Harbor or Stanford Med/Emeryvill location 2. Easy on/off Highway 80 3. Easy to find and street paid parking available 4. Priced right and great menu 5. BEST Hot Toddy EVER!!!!! Here is my story: So I'm heading back to SFO from Napa after a work (believe it or not) trip. Driving down the 80 we decide to stop on the Oakland side mainly because of timing. Of our choices, we pick The Bureau 510 and I will admit and boast it was a great choice and a great find. We had Chicken Katsu Curry, Kalbi (both on their specials of the day menu) and our other party ordered a burger which look absolutely great too! Why the hot toddy? BECAUSE it was raining and windy and that cold penetrated to the bone!!! Thank you cold weather! If not for that I may not have selected a hot toddy. Service great! Establishment clean, comfortable every "Local" like you ask "Where do all the locals go?" They go to The Bureau 510. Go there! Eat There or BE SQUARE

Grabbed a Tuesday lunch outside the home office today in the Haus of Chefs…read more Went for the burrito bowl with the blackened chicken. Great salad, better chicken. Very flavorful! The beans and rice are red beans and rice, so good. Also, they really fill the bottom of the bowl with them so if you don't finish the bowl you've got another meal side to go! Can't wait to try another dish.

Omg!!! If you haven't been to Jusla for Soul Food Taco Tuesday, you're seriously missing out…read more Chef's creations are super creative, bold, and absolutely worth the hype. Here's the Vibe * We had the grilled oysters to start (YES), and I went for the fried lobster tacos--yummmm. Perfect balance of crispy, creamy, spicy, and fresh. * Sadly, they were out of their popular oxtail and spicy short rib tacos (thanks to that graduation crowd), but that just gives me a reason to go back. * I love that this spot supports pop-up chefs and local Black-owned businesses--you can feel the passion in every bite. Logistics & Details * Located inside Haus of Chefs (they're open Saturdays and Tuesdays only). * The bar is run separately by the owner, and it's fire--solid cocktails like the Creamy Espresso Martini or California Dreamin' round out the meal. * Don't miss the full dinner menu--Salt & Pepper Bronzino and the Jambalaya Rigatoni are next on my list. If you're in Oakland and want something soulful, flavorful, and full of love, this is your go-to Taco Tuesday move.

Came in with our party of four on a Thursday evening around 5:30 PM, and we were able to grab some…read morehigh-top seats by the bar. You can definitely tell this place has a loyal group of regulars, which is always a good sign! We ordered three appetizers to share: buffalo chicken wings, nachos, and Cajun popcorn shrimp. We enjoyed all of them, but the wings were definitely our favorite! The rest of our food was pretty good as well. I loved the fish and chips I ordered, and my friend said her fried chicken was delicious. The portions were quite generous and could easily be shared. Service was fast and attentive throughout our meal. Overall, we had a great experience and would definitely recommend this place!

How have I grown up in the Bay Area without knowing about Crogan's? I was invited to attend a…read morepresentation (about cremations) and lunch was to be provided here at Crogan's. Nestled comfortably in a cute little section of shops in Montclair, it is conveniently located to public transportation, I decided not to drive and hopped on the 18 bus from downtown Oakland and it was a short 3-5 minute walk to the restaurant. As you walk in, you instantly notice how spacious the space is. Plenty of seating and a bar area- visually it gives me the vibe of "Cheers" and I'm waiting for Norm to walk in any minute. I arrived at 11:30 for the presentation and there were only a few people inside. Upon leaving a couple hours later, the restaurant was almost full on a Thursday afternoon. Our party was a total of 11 including our host and we were seated in a private area in the back. So this would be perfect if you are looking for a place to rent for a special event- it could easily fit 15-20 people. Now, on to the food- when I tell it came out piping hot and fresh! We were told that we could order anything off the menu up to $26. The menu cost range was about $6-30 so pretty affordable in this economy. I ordered the fish and chips as did a few other people. Everyone raved about how fresh their food was. My fries were seasoned perfectly and needed no salt. The fish was cod I believe and came with (3) medium sized strips and I got a side of coleslaw. The fish wasn't really seasoned at all BUT it was so crunchy and crispy (texture) and the inside was so flaky, tender and super fresh like they caught the fish outside. I was able to eat a couple of pieces and took the rest home- NOTE: the fish doesn't reheat well in the oven so it needs to be devoured when you order. The person to the right of me ordered the shrimp and avocado salad which looked really appetizing. A good portion of bay shrimp alongside ripe avocado, tomatoes on top of a bed of greens. The gentlemen to the left of me ordered a double portion of ribs. I wish I could've snuck a photo- the ribs were HUGE and he didn't talk the entire time which is a good sign. Overall, this is a family friendly sit down place with great American and Seafood options. Food is prepared fresh to order- I definitely will be back to check other options on the menu!

Nice portion of food, hot as should be. Seating available, and east parking. Customer service was…read moregood. Peaceful vibe, nice and clean.

I really enjoyed my experience at The Fat Fish! You can tell the fish is fresh as soon as you taste…read moreit. It came out hot, perfectly cooked, full of flavor, and most importantly, it didn't have that fishy taste at all. Honestly, this is the best fries fish I've had in the Bay Area. The staff was so nice and made me feel welcome, which made the experience even better. I also really appreciated how clean the place was. They have a great menu with plenty of options, so I'm already looking forward to coming back and trying something different. Good food, friendly people, and a clean, comfortable place--I'll definitely be back!

A great local spot for a good sandwich and coffee! The food is delicious, the view is beautiful,…read moreand the staff are friendly. It's a popular place with locals, and you can definitely see why. Definitely worth stopping by!

It's such a disappointment when in current day, the establishments you frequented back in the day…read moredon't live up to the great memories. I haven't been to Sea Breeze in about 15 years and I decided to give them a try since I pass by them everyday on my new commute to work. The place still has the same roadside shack look I remember. The biggest difference was the lack of fun, enthusiastic vibes from the employees that was the norm on previous visits years ago. I ordered two sandwiches. The bacon, egg and cheese sandwich was pretty basic. It was on the dry, unseasoned side. I will call out that they had a decent amount of bacon on the sandwich. I also ordered the shrimp salad sandwich for lunch later in the day. It was very mustard-forward and not a lot of shrimp. Prices were on the higher side- not much of a thing if the food tasted better. Maybe I ordered the wrong things from the menu? Probably not coming back anytime soon. I'll probably wait another 15 years.