First, the food was delicious! We had Arugula salad that was crisp and fresh and seasonal. We also shared all our plates including a vegetable gumbo and a swordfish that we talked a lot about as we ate it and afterward. The space was lovely. We had chosen a particular spot with a nice-sized table but had to move for a large party at another table (they must have arrived after we left) so our table got a bit crowded with all our plates. Service checked in from time to time, especially towards the end but it was slow that Friday night so unsure as to why we waited for service periodically. Really recommend the food and it seems like cool events are happening soon! I suggest supporting this spot as it is so close to Bart and buses and in a part of downtown that needs a little more love. read more

Beautiful setting with loads of fresh seafood on the menu. It was a bit pricey for two and we were both slightly hungry when we left but overall it was nice. Service was fast and the margaritas were yummy! read more

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Visited on a Thursday around 3:30pm with a friend for happy hour. Were seated pretty quickly upon arrival. Bar had a few other guests but plenty of open spots. Drinks: The Chilano - this was okay, a bit sweet, wished there was a bit more lime and the ginger beer was flat The Broadway - really tasty, a nice balance of sweet and tart, not too boozy, hints of passion fruit Food: Ahi Tuna Causa - this was okay, a base of mashed potatoes topped with creamy diced ahi tuna, cucumber and avocado, could have used a bit more seasoning and salt Shrimp Ceviche Tostada - shrimp was nicely cooked, tomato forward sauce with a slight spiciness, tostada was crisp and not greasy Beef empanada - pretty good, nice amount of filling, crust was crisp and flaky, could have been a little hotter in temperature, nice creamy mayo and pickled onion garnish Service was pretty good, friendly and welcoming. Placing order was fairly easy but towards the end of our meal a large party was beginning so took a few minutes to get the check. Overall this was okay, more of a 3.5 star, a bit pricey for happy hour given the portion sizes which were fairly small. Dishes and drinks are a bit hit or miss. read more

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After passing so many times, we decided to finally stop in and take advantage of their happy hour which is daily. MaryCarmen was our waitress and was very attentive, she made suggestions. Food is fresh and delicious. I highly recommend this hidden gem read more

Bocanova - Latin American Near Me - Oakland, California

Love this place! The staff actually asked my name since I've been in to sit at the bar a few times! The bartenders are super nice. I've also met one of the owners, and you can see how passionate he is about this place. The food is excellent! Lomo Satado is spot on, and the empanadas and cheese quesadilla are both hits! Their cornbread is some of the best I've ever had. It's in the financial part of Oakland on 12th street, and it just doesn't feel like the locatioh does it justice. I hope more people can come out to enjoy happy hour here. The ambiance is nice, well lit, and very clean. It's a great go-to spot for me, and I always end up ordering food to go because it's that good! read more

Food wasn't the best at all. I couldn't eat my stomach was hurting. The shrimp that was dwn played was amazing. But everything else wasn't I am pretty disappointed. I told them it was my husband birthday and added to my reservation. Nothing happen. Big ass disappointment. Drinks weren't even good. I wouldn't recommend this place. read more

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Super kind people that work in Bocanova great service, the capacity is perfect for a party. The food and drinks are amazing. I love Bocanova!! read more

Bocanova - Lomo saltado!! It's one of my favorites that comes with fries and juicy vegetables .. - Latin American Near Me - Oakland, California

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My wife and I went to Bocanova for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and we were pleasantly surprised by such an amazing location with the perfect patio setting overlooking the downtown. The service was impeccable. The drinks were on point and the food was absolutely delicious. We are telling all our friends about this place the experience of the food, drinks and atmosphere were perfect. What a hidden gem in downtown Oakland. 5 stars for Bocanova! read more

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Decide to try a place my friend recommended and I was not disappointed. Bocanova was delicious. I got the Peruvian classic ceviche for an app and then decided to go for a chifa steak. Both were delicious and I got a couple of drinks. My favorite was the Broadway. The server Nicole was nice and very attentive. Will be back soon! Thanks! read more

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First and foremost the food is here is 10/10, let's just get that squared away up front. Couple that with the lovely ambiance, and their attentive yet not oversolicitous service and you've got yourself a wonderful place to have an amazing meal whether you're on a bestie date, communing with friends or on a romantic date. The cocktails are smooth, delicious and refreshing, especially. For dinner highly recommend the deviled eggs, we ate those so fast, I didn't get to snap a pic, the Mexican Cesar salad, Chicken a la brasa and the poblano cornbread, which was perfection. They close on the earlier side, likely because of their location downtown, so plan accordingly. The management and staff were approachable and warm, so if you're looking for a venue for a private party or event, I wouldn't hesitate to consider giving this place a shot. What a cool Latin American fusion culinary gem for the town!! read more

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100/10 would absolutely recommend. The entire Bocanova staff is wonderful and the food is delicious. Our company has partnered with Bocanova for the past 3 years and we don't plan on changing restaurants any time soon. Martin, Victoria, Alejandro, and the entire staff are kind and always go above and beyond to ensure our events, meals, and experience is fantastic. The music and atmosphere is always on point. We love you BocaNova! read more

I'm so happy to have this restaurant in my neighborhood. The vibe is incredible. They have a variety of seating options, whether you want to sit outside, inside near the bar area, or in the back of the restaurant where it's more open and can accommodate larger groups. I've been there twice. The first time I had the burger, and the second time I had the cioppino. Both were excellent, and my friends really enjoyed the dishes they ordered too. I will definitly be back here many more times. read more

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Their veggie option is very good. Fish and chips were very tasty. Atmosphere is very quiet inside the restaurant

Came here for my girls bday brunch. We ordered mimosas and some brunch cocktails first. The girl with the big curly hair came to deliver it but she dropped all our drinks next to us, they cleaned it up, she kept saying sorry, the manager came out and also said sorry. Usually when these things happen cause I use to be a server, we get it comped or our second drinks comped or a discount... at least something But we didn't get anything but our first round made quickly and they stained my white pants too. Two of my friends ordered another round of the same mimosa but it looked nothing like the first round or tasted like it. I asked the server and she said it's the same drink when it obviously was not. The only reason why I'm giving two stars was at least the food tasted good, but the whole beginning of our experience was a shit show. Definitely not coming back here. read more

Bocanova - Latin American Near Me - Oakland, California

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We went on Valentine's Day, and had an amazing time. The place was packed and everything was amazing! The food, the service, the drinks! I woke up the next morning thinking about their food lol. The brussels sprouts were to die for, honestly everything was delicious! An amazing restaurant that we will continue to go to! The ambiance was a great vibe as well and just felt exciting and inviting. read more

I loved Bocanova of old, and was so sad after they closed down years ago. So when I saw it had reopened, I was beyond excited! We came here on a Thursday night and the restaurant was half full at best. Our waitress seemed pretty attentive and even gave us some suggestions when we ordered. I wanted the steelhead salmon ceviche, but she told us it wasn't very flavorful and suggested we get the Mexican ceviche instead. I really wish I had stuck to my guns because the Mexican ceviche was largely baby bits of shrimp and a shit ton of tomatoes. Did it have a kick? Yeah, a little bit. Would I ever order it again? No. We had also ordered the deviled eggs, which she forgot to put in. We ended up sitting for nearly 30 minutes between getting the ceviche and her coming to check on us, when we mentioned the eggs, to which she had a confused reaction saying 'oh you ordered that?'. So the deviled eggs came out at the same time as the empanadas and cioppino. The deviled eggs were fine, but hardly worth the price. The empanadas were tasty, but they were sitting on sauce, and by the time they made it to our table, the bottoms were soggy. Unsure if that's because it had sad too long or they need to plate differently? Now, the cioppino. We had asked the waitress whether we should get the stew, the scallops or the cioppino, and she said the cioppino was a special and limited and we should absolutely get that. Oh boy. It was so bad that we ate the little bit of crab (a couple of chunks and a crab cake that was soggy) that was on top, and that was that. The waitress came back and asked if she should box the rest up and we said no, and told her not to recommend this to anyone. It was basically a bunch of bits of tomatoes filling up the entire soup bowl, topped with the soggy crab cake and a couple of chunks of crab. Cioppino is supposed to be a seafood stew. This was not that. You can maybe say this was their take, but it was terrible. I did order the bread pudding for dessert, hoping it would at least be vaguely reminiscent of the old restaurant, and thankfully it was. It wasn't quite as great, but close enough. I'll go back at some point and try other things, and hopefully the food will be better, but for now, I wouldn't recommend this new iteration. read more

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Maybe the waitress should consider getting another job. From the moment my coworker and I walked in we felt unwelcomed. Even though there were only 2 other tables during lunch time. When we asked her about the huacatay dressing and what it tasted like she said she didn't know and suggested we basically look it up. It was only because we asked the bus staff for a sample that we were able to try this mayo green like dressing. Our waitress didn't know if it was a quarter or a half or a full chicken based on the two prices and seemed generally pissed off that we ordered dessert with our meal. Also, she didn't write things down and constantly asked us what we ordered. Please, if you can't remember just write stuff down! The chicken was overcooked and pricey. They weren't willing to give me more sauce on the side. The tres leches was not that good and was rather plain, I wanted to really taste the Leche and the cake, but it just tasted like non fat milk on some sponge cake. My coworkers salad was a meh, but her bread pudding was a solid 5 stars. The crab deviled eggs were 3 stars. Not really any flavor or spices to it. Like I said, the service was awful. We won't be back. read more

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This place doesn't taste Peruvian. some dishes are Mexican-ish, others are served with curry? Peruvian food is great, and this is sadly not. It was ok, but nothing tasted as described and nothing was worth ordering again. Very expensive also! Place is huge and empty, and the wait and bussing staff was friendly and great at their jobs. Management could learn a thing about public humiliation and not give the busser grief when their job is perceived as not good enough, when in fact all was OK with us, and the manager was the one who made things weird and embarrassing. There is no need to micromanage for the benefit of the customer when the customer is fine. read more

Had lunch on a slow Sunday afternoon in January. Fish & chips were not greasy and came out hot. Sturgeon fish taco's were good but a tad salty. The croissant chocolate bread pudding was for dessert and soooooooo good! It did take a while to get the dessert but our really sweet waitress had it removed from the bill. We didn't even have to ask. Great service and I would come back. read more

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Bocanova once located at Jack London Square (closed 2017) is back and now located at 1111 Broadway in Downtown Oakland. The new spot is beautiful, bright and open with 2 outdoor patios, with bar, lounge area and cafe up front. Bocanova offers Latin American-fusion cuisine with emphasis on various seafood dishes including ceviche, pan roasted mussels, and simply prepared fish dishes. For those not into seafood, they have plenty of intriguing meat dishes with vegetarian options so there's something for everyone. Items ordered first visit: THE ARGENTINO BURGER - chimichurri, mushroom, crispy onions - a nicely prepared and flavorful (you can taste quality) burger with fries - 4/5 FRIED FISH CREOLE - coated with cornmeal and fried atop a bit of rice with mussels and shrimp in a spicy tomato broth. Seafood nice - Personally, thought broth was a bit bland and would've liked it a tad thicker. Even accompany with a slice of bread as you're left with plenty of broth left over. 3.75 - 4/5 TRES LECHES CAKE - Coconut, matcha and mango - light, with mango compote and toasted shaved coconut - my dining buddy and I thought it 'ok' - 3/5 stars Dishes are good for sharing family-style so you can sample more dishes if you can't decide! Service was friendly, staff welcoming, With so many menu options for brunch, happy hour, daily specials and all day menu I would definitely return. I'm already eyeing my next dish: ceviches, duroc pork, liberty duck, clam chowder... Pricing seems to be in-line with like restaurants so average per person for lunch: 2 dishes (1 seafood), drink and dessert $37/person with t/t Located near the 12th Street BART station. Metered street with garage parking in the area. read more

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The ambiance was amazing but the food was meh, nothing to write home about. We ordered the Peruvian style chicken which had the most flavor and I loved the arugula as an additional touch. The Coconut Seafood Stew "Moqueca" on the other hand was bland. The soup felt watered down mainly lacking depth, so I wouldn't recommend ordering that from the menu. Overall, I won't be paying another visit because for the price I expect impeccable food. Our group didn't order drinks so I can't comment on that. read more

Attended a work conference across the street at the Marriott, and wasn't impressed by their bar. So my adventure led me here. Super cute ambulance. I loved the murals and colorful light fixtures. The space is open, bright and very clean. I was slightly confused by the happy hour menu. Several of the food options were the same price as the regular menu?!? I selected the mezcal margarita and crispy shrimp taco. Loved watching the margarita prepared in front of me, by the server, Jose. He was amazing and super patient. P.S. the taste was spot on. The shrimp tacos could use some work. Perhaps the tortillas were overstuffed because they fell apart instantly. And the toppings were unique...carrots and capers that's a first for me. Overall experience.... very interesting. read more

Bocanova - Crispy tacos - Latin American Near Me - Oakland, California

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This place was not worth it for happy hour. It was $12 for Ahi Tuna Teradito plate you see in the photo. You get two wimpy slices of tuna covered in micro greens. The sliders were not substantial. Customer service was friendly but really slow. read more

Bocanova - PoBoy Sliders Ahí Tuna Teradito - Latin American Near Me - Oakland, California

WOW!Stopped in before Crowded House concert at Fox wanted somewhere close to our hotel(Marriott City Center). We shared the Beef Anticuchos.Amazing!I got the Red Curry Peruvian Organic Chicken Al La Brass(came with small portion fried potatoes) and got a side of the Mexican beer braised beans.My husband got the Argentina Burger with fries and shared bread pudding for dessert. We both agreed best meals we had in quite awhile! Outstanding service too read more

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Excellent food for a unique treat if you are in the area. Very unique flavors that are not to be missed. They have some great drinks as well. Enjoy. read more

This is a nice location. I prefer the outdoor area as well as the area by the large windows, there they have a view of a small waterfall/fountain. There's a bar, I didn't get a pic of it. The agua fresca for the day was papaya and piña it was refreshing but I was surprised it wasn't sweet. It was watery. I eat fresh pineapples almost everyday and the pineapples are always sweet. I was wondering if the fruit that was used wasn't ripe. Regardless it was a refreshing drink. I got fresh fish and garlic fries. Both were very good. The fish tasted fresh. Though the battered fish didn't have much flavor, the sauce was good. My husband ordered clam chowder. It was made with sweet potatoes. It was good just not great. My son ordered a chicken burger on brioche bread. He was happy with his order. I tried it, it was good. We'll have to come back and try the other meals. The staff was excellent in customer service. read more

Bocanova - Latin American Near Me - Oakland, California

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Last week we had a fantastic time celebrating a friend's birthday at Bocanova. We got off at the 12th Street Station of the Bart yellow line and used the 11th St side exit to end up just steps from the restaurant entrance. Our friends from Hayward drove there, but they said next time they would use Bart instead since it was so convenient. The bar area was busy and the vivacious music was like an invitation to start dancing. The restaurant is decorated with beautiful lamps and colorful murals, the patio looked very attractive too, but we sat on a second dining area in the back that had an open kitchen and was equally appealing.  We ordered the Ceviche crocante, the Oyster mushrooms and the Crab devil egg appetizers. I loved the rocoto leche the tigre from the ceviche spooned over the fried calamary that came included with the dish. Everyone was happy with the server's suggestion to order an extra devil egg because they were so good that nobody wanted to share them. We also tried the Lomo saltado, chipotle pork chops and the grilled lamb chops with patatas bravas and a side of fries. I enjoyed a little sample of every dish, but my favorite was the lamb topped with a flavor packed sundried tomato salsa. The cute table lamps were very handy to help with the lighting when taking the pictures of the food. The staff was friendly and very attentive. I will be back soon, but this time with my husband who wants to try the pork chops himself after he heard me talking about the overall experience and how yummy the food was. See you soon Bocanova! read more

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Stopped in for lunch Friday before the Christmas week. Space is cavernous. Bar area separated from dinning room by a service hallway complete w elevator for the other establishment upstairs? Lunch special Gumbo was muddied. All one could taste was the peppery ingredients. Service was spotty, I had to stand, walk across the dining room and ask for my bread from the assistant. Pricey lunch for a bowl of soup and glass of Cava. Miss the Jack Lindon Square venue and its crew. It seemed livelier read more

Was lucky enough to try this eclectic and delish restaurant while I was in town for business. My team was seated in the back room with plenty of natural light. I ordered the scallops dish which was delicious but not a great option if you're famished. The table had shared oyster mushrooms and fried cauliflower...even though I couldn't partake - everyone raved about both. We also ordered dessert. I ordered the vanilla ice cream with the cajeta sauce...OMG (drool). Must have! If you have a chance to check out this place...DO IT! read more

We had a party for our daughter. Martin and his team were so good. Our 55 guests, young and old, were absolutely happy with their experience: the food was amazing and the service was perfect! The ceviche spoons, empanadas, steak bites were delicious as appetizers. The family style dinner service was perfect and allowed our guests to feel more at home. read more

Overall really have a lot they can improve on. We were one of 3 tables for a weekend dinner, with a reservation, and it took so long for everything. From bringing menus, getting water, getting drinks, bringing out food. There were many people working - we saw 2 people up front, a bartender, at least 3 different people bringing us food, and several folks in the kitchen. So puzzled why everything was so slow. But the main reason for the low review is the food - we used to love Bocanova when it was at JLS and managed to have a bunch of special events in their private room and dining room. Unfortunately, their food now is nothing like. We shared a few appetizers, had a variety of entrees, and 4 desserts. Before I would have enjoyed everything. This time the best I could come up with is that there was only one dish (dessert) that I really disliked. Considering their prices, and the fact that there are so many places we love to frequent in Oakland, we won't be back, read more

Came here for happy hour and the bartender Alex was such a cool dude. He made the best passion fruit margaritas!

I was a frequent visitor of Bocanova in Jack London and was so sad when they closed. After finding out they opened back up recently on Broadway as first announced a few years back, I was so excited to go and get some of my old favorites while in town. Sadly, like most spots that were full of life and culture in Oakland, this new location is lacking that. I loved the Jack London location -- it was bright, on the water, always crowded, and surrounded by other things to do. This new location is dark and quiet. The service is still great as are the drinks, but the old menu needs to return ASAP. I got two of my old go tos (still great), which are the dungeness crab deviled eggs and patatas bravas. I wish the fish or fried chicken sandwich was still on the menu, but still loved the app/side i chose. My dad has been to the new location twice now and said the food was better the first time just a week prior than when we went. All in all, I hope the new location gains more traction as the weather gets warmer and the old menu makes a return quickly. read more

Haven't had a lot of experience with Peruvian food so the soy sauce on the arroz was overpowering on the Lomo Saltado. The beef was great. The Mixed seafood cerviche w/ chips was solid. On first try I'd go for appetizers. But I'd try again with another dish. read more

Got food poisoning from their Ceviche. Was sick 30 minutes after dining, barely made it home, and continued for three days.

Amazing cocktails, delicious food and delectable desserts. Bocanova is such a gem and I'm so glad I came here tonight!!! my boyfriend took me here for date night and when I tell you everything was a 10 out of 10!!! The staff/service was amazing, quick and knowledgeable of the menu and the ambiance was absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend visiting Bocanova for your next date night or special occasion. read more

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So delicious!!! Had the beef stir fry absolutely amazing!!! Alex's drinks however, takes the cake!!! Wonderful experience highly recommended to anyone looking for a nice vibe with Latin music cuisine and amazing drinks!!! read more

Here's their $35 Lomo Saltado. Rice was dry/hard, steak is mid, you tell me if this is worth $38 (with tax)? read more

Bocanova - Lomo saltado - Latin American Near Me - Oakland, California

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Where do I begin. From start to finish, service and food were incredible. We went for a friend holiday meet-up, and had such a great time. The ceviche was so fresh and the leche de tigre was spot on. Exactly how you want it to be. I had the Moqueca (Brazilian stew). It was comfort in a bowl and full of flavor. Dulce, our server was so friendly. Her and the owner, Martin, made our dinner a very special one. Can't wait to return. read more

Amazing food and service! We came here for a business lunch and it was incredible. I would love to come here again whenever I'm visiting Oakland! read more