Such a beautiful place! The vibes, the food, the people - all 10/10! First off - I'd suggest to make a reservation! We sat indoors but they do have an outdoor tented area. Second - we didn't have any issues parking on the street. The restaurant is tucked away in a semi-residential area. Third - the experience start to finish: Staff - super friendly, and welcoming! There was a seamless handoff between checking in, to the person helping with our order, to receiving our order. Drink - I had the house fermented soda and at that time - it was featuring dragon fruit. OMG - incredible, tasty, and refreshing! Food - we had SPICY CARROTS TOASTED ALMOND MISANTLA (11/10), BLUE CORN QUESADILLA (10/10 - everything handmade/fresh), and BLACK MOLE ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH (11/10 - whoever's came up with this combo - chefs kiss!) and more! I recommend this place for date night, family dinner, or a birthday/hang with some friends! read more

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Service and food were great! Do not miss out on the carrots and tostadas! The only "downfall" was that the drink menu online was not up to date with what was offered the day we came in. read more

Bombera - carrots + smoked trout tostada + horchata + night bird drink - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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I always get the smoked trout tacos because they are DELICIOUS! I plan to explore other options on the menu next time. How can you go wrong with smoked trout and crispy shallots in a taco? It's just amazing! The service is efficient and the staff friendly, The enclosed patio with umbrella covered outdoor tables are nicely spaced, and there is an inviting subtle Latin charm in its design. Bombera is a favorite, and I will definitely be back to try more delicious options! read more

Bombera, hear me out, brunch once a month on Saturday and Sunday? Or just Saturday? Or just Sunday? I was THRILLED to see that the New Year's Day brunch was back this year after a hiatus and I made a resy for two immediately. I was in Hawai'i for two weeks reconnecting with my family so this was my Christmas gift to myself. I love everything about Bombera but I specifically love not having to eat it for dinner. read more

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It's been almost a year since visiting Bombera but I'm still thinking about the freshness and flavors that I enjoyed here. Since I've just locked in the res for my next visit, I'm writing my thoughts in hopes that these months in between have only made this place even better. Bombera is a firewoman and this place is fireeee. The carrots appetizer will make you fall in love with carrots and calling yourself Bugs Bunny--it is that. good. I love the tostadas: smoky whitefish and fresh toppings. I'm not sure if these are on their current menu but the fish tacos were huge and perfect. I love that they let you add on a taco since we were a table of 3 and each wanted our own or if you're feeling extra hungry and want 3 for yourself! Oh and the carne asada was perfectly done but I only wish the portion was larger. They've maximized the seating in the dining room and patio (heated or shaded if you like) where you feel the liveliness but still have privacy for your own table. Lastly, Chef Dominica is not only a culinary genius but she has such a warm vibe and took time to greet so many of her diners on the patio on such a beautiful evening. I'm so excited to be going here in a couple weeks and again and again! read more

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Second time dining at Bombera. Amazing service, food is well thought out and the flavor and presentation 5 star plus. Cocktails are exciting, well put together and balanced. Fresh ingredients, Mexican flair, friendly and fun. Parking can be a challenge but worth it. We sat at the end of the bar closer to the entrance which is Where sat the first time we ate there. I enjoyed watching Guadalupe the bartender create cocktails and share recipes with me. Alejandro provided excellent service while We were waiting for our table. No reservations so 60 minutes but time went by quickly. Well done Chef and restaurant family. See you again soon. I'm hoping I can sneak in a chat with Chef next time. read more

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I have been wanting to dine here for years! We finally made it! This place is so charming! What a welcoming establishment! The entire staff is friendly & efficient. The drinks & the food were all amazing! We had the best time. I truly hope we will dine here often. It really will be difficult for me to order anything besides their Swordfish. It was the best fish I've ever eaten. Mind blowing swordfish! Thank you Bombera for the wonderful experience. read more

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The food is great; I wish there were more than one vegetarian entree option. It was mole asparagus - the asparagus was cooked PERFECTLY, I loved it - but meant that overall in my meal I had way too much mole spice with the carrots for a starter. The carrots were also cooked perfectly, great texture in this dish, but the cumulative spice level was a LOT. (Side of sour cream or yogurt would help!) Overall, be very aware of what you are ordering relative to your personal heat tolerance. My teens thought even the salsa that came with the chips was spicy (I did not). My husband's pozole was very spicy while the fish tacos were not. My sangria was delightful and my teens thought their agua fresca and horchata were better than they were expecting. Bigger issue than the food is probably the service. The restaurant was packed on a Saturday night; we had a reservation and after waiting to check in were seated outside right away. It felt like a LONG time before we had a server swing by, and she was such a quiet speaker she was very hard to hear (my family agreed, it wasn't just me!). She also seemed miserable which cast a bit of a pall on our birthday evening. Six different staffers, including the other server in the patio area, came by with parts of the order; it felt very disjointed. Nobody checked on us after the food all arrived, and we did have a potential problem/clarification with the order. Many blips with the service/presentation, such as when the two non alcoholic drinks arrived, one had two straws in it and the other had no straw. The server looked at the glasses as she set them down, said something like, "ugh they messed that up", and was gone for a while getting another straw. "Straus" appears on the dessert menu three times and is spelled differently every time. Servers were bussing tables and resetting them. I am glad we tried it; judging from the crowd, it's doing great, but for me especially as a vegetarian, the prices compared to the experience don't necessarily merit a special trip to return. Note that the inside is CACOPHONOUS. read more

Pretty good place in Oakland and it's hard to get reservations here. Vibes are immaculate, beautiful decor, prompt and friendly service, though sometimes the line to check in can be a little long. Big menu, sophisticated Mexican food. Vegetarian items are a little limited, considering everything. The chicken is delicious, as are the fish tacos. Very good place and they do very good work for the community, as well. Great place! read more

Must try's: horchata, quesadilla, and fish tacos! The fish tacos were huge and so filling. The quesadilla was nicely toasted and would've been great with the addition of a protein. I'd skip on the tamales, they were fairly dry, and the guac/salsa - the portion of guac was pretty sad. read more

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Happy to have finally tried this restaurant! I would recommend snagging a reservation to secure a seat. For Valentine's Day they dimmed the lights down low to create an intramural vibe. The food was delicious! We tried the fish tacos (most massive fish tacos I've seen, worth the price!), the crispy potato taquitos were my favorite (the sauce that comes with it was DELICIOUS), and the crab tostados were a good appetizer choice. The price point is fair for the portions you get. Staff was super lovely, they let us know that their back patio was open for VDAY - they had a DJ and small bar out back which was a nice surprise! read more

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Came to Bombera for date night and we are both foodies so we shared 6 different items started off with a vampiro drink and then got a complimentary queso with the purple tortillas then we got the fish tostadas and the mole tamales for entrees we got swordfish and the asada asparagus mole lol... there's more we also got the cardamom cake and a shot of mezcal everything was delicious. Fresh and authentic 10/10 service was great from check in to check out. Will be back again. Shout out to hector one of the chefs for the recommendations. read more

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A fully wonderful dinner! We got the carrot and the trout tostadas for starters which were flavorful and a great contrast between each other as well. We also got the mole with chicken and the roasted mojo de ajo chicken which were balanced, well seasoned, and substantial -- we took home a solid amount of leftovers. Our cocktails were great too and complemented our meal well. The ambiance was great and the staff was helpful and welcoming, and let us stay well past the closing time, even offering us tea. I'm excited to head back later this year! read more

Bombera - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

Had a wonderful experience at Bombera and it's been on my list to visit. Scored a reservation for early dining and line was already forming at 5:00pm. Dined inside which was a beautifully decorated fire station, hence the restaurant name of Bombera. Started with the chips, guac and salsa, beets, all amazing. We also had pozole which was good and for our entree the filet mignon and whole chicken! It was a $9 difference from a half chicken to a full -- so guess what more chicken to take home! Our server was very nice. When I had mistakenly thought I was ordering a cocktail vs a shot, he quickly suggested we can make it to a cocktail, and it was really good. Oh and the closer was an amazing cardamom cake that you'd see displayed on the side of their open kitchen --- so so good! This is one of those places we'd love to come back to for sure, that checked all the boxes for a date night. read more

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Second time being here. Both times, this place is a gem. Not your typical Mexican food. We started with the beets and carrots. Both were amazing! The twist that the chef took to make simple vegetables so good, amazing. For entree, I got the achuete chicken. Seasoned so well and cooked perfectly. Accompanied by rice, some kind of green; and beans. Definitely a gem for Oakland. read more

Bombera - A bowl containing roasted vegetables, including carrots and plantains, topped with toasted sliced almonds, served at a restaurant. - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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We decided to have dinner here after seeing Bombera on "Check Please". Although tonight was my first time, my mom had been here before. She made a reservation online and we were seated right away. We started with an order of chips and guac. The chips tasted homemade. The paper bowl the salsa and guac were in was a bit awkward for dipping. For our drinks, I had the Tepache con Tiki cocktail and my mom had a refresher that was bright pink (hibiscus?). My cocktail wasn't overly heavy on the alcohol with the right amount of sweetness. I got the blue corn tamales and my mom got the carrots and smoked trout tostadas. The tamales came with a side of chard and corn in a rojo (red) sauce. The tamales were tasty and the red sauce had a kick. The carrots had black beans and smoked almonds. While the carrots themselves were good, the sauce was a bit too spicy for us. The smoked trout tostadas were surprisingly good! I wasn't sure if I'd liked smoked trout but the texture was very light and flaky, similar to crab. The crispy shallots were a nice touch. Since we were stuffed, we got a slice of the cardamom cake for later. I had the cake for dessert ~1-1.5 hours after our meal and liked that it wasn't overly sweet. It paired nicely with the fruit (strawberry, pineapple, nectarine) and the whipped cream was the best! Our waitress, Lucia, was friendly, knowledgeable, and patient with our questions. The food was brought out quickly. However, the inside was very noisy, which is why I'm giving 4 rather than 5 stars. We'd come back for sure but would sit outside, possibly with our dog! read more

Bombera - Tepache con Tiki cocktail, tamales, chips, & cardamom cake - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

I've heard a lot about Bombera (it's on many lists), but haven't gotten a chance to check it out since I'm not often in the neighborhood. Finally stopped by recently post-oaktoberfest. So my review is maybe slightly affected by happy-tipsy-post-oaktoberfest vibes. But wow! It met the hype! We ordered one thing from each section of the menu, and realized afterwards that we had ordered every dish with mole - this was a good choice. Everything we had was complex, flavorful, and just all around delicious: * beets (with mole) * tamales (with mole) * duck (with mole) * cardamom cake (this one did not have mole) read more

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Fantastic Food, but Service Left Room for Improvement The food here was absolutely delicious--everything we ordered was flavorful, beautifully presented, and clearly made with care. The drinks were also excellent and complemented the meal perfectly. I visited last night to celebrate my mother's birthday, and we were both excited for a special evening together. While the food truly impressed us, the service unfortunately didn't quite meet the same standard. Our entrées arrived almost immediately after the appetizer, which made the meal feel a bit rushed. We had ordered quite a bit for two people, but our server never checked in with us during the meal. I had to flag her down for a to-go box and later again for a drink menu when we wanted to order more. It was also a little disappointing that we were never offered a dessert menu--especially since it was a birthday celebration. Throughout the evening, our server passed by our table a few times but didn't engage, so we felt a bit overlooked. That said, the food was outstanding, and I would absolutely return for that reason alone. I'm hopeful that on my next visit, the service will match the wonderful quality of the kitchen. read more

Bombera - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

We received a gift card to Bombera as a wedding present, and decided to use it to celebrate our anniversary -- and we're so glad we did! While the outdoor seating looked really inviting with lots of covered tables and heaters, we had a reservation and were seated indoors. The interior decor was bright, fun, and full of character -- it definitely added to the celebratory vibe of the evening. Service was excellent from start to finish. We kicked things off with cocktails: I had the Vampiro (tequila-based and perfectly balanced), and my wife had the Paloma, which was just as expertly made. You could tell the bartenders know what they're doing. For dinner, we shared the Blue Corn Quesadilla with roasted yams and the Pork Carnitas. The quesadilla was grilled to perfection with gooey, delicious cheese. The carnitas were incredibly tender and flavorful, and the fresh tortillas were divine -- soft, warm, and clearly made with care. Overall, Bombera delivered on every level -- great food, drinks, service, and atmosphere. We'll definitely be back (gift card or not)! read more

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Actually 4.5 stars. Service and attention were excellent from the moment we stepped into the (very cozy!) patio to speak to the hostess up to boxing up leftovers. Not only our own dedicated server, but anyone who passed by would check to see how we were doing (without being overbearing or interrupting conversation) and refill water. The interior was surprisingly loud, so if you are sensitive to noise or prefer a calmer dinner date, go for the patio. We initially didn't book the patio because we were worried it would be cold, but it's enclosed in a tent structure with heaters and blankets! I recommend skipping the chips, guac, and salsa that is offered as soon as you sit down. The salsas across the board were actually underwhelming to us. We ordered the tuna tostadas to start, then my partner had the pork as his main and I the duck. We were a little flummoxed trying to order something that didn't have too much overlap on sides (read: more rice and beans). When they did come, they weren't particularly impressive or flavorful. Some of it didn't really make sense either, like the mole was better suited to the pork than with the duck. The duck also had a strange mini salad situation going on that didn't jive. The proteins themselves though, were excellent: tender, moist (sorry), and well-spiced. We felt full pretty quickly from the beans and rice, which was a shame because the tres leches looked amazing. I loved that they are Mexican farm to table - actually listing out their purveyors. Since they seem to have seasonal takes on dishes, I'm definitely up to coming back to try new things. read more

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The food was fresh and delicious. I recommend the grilled swordfish dish. The salsa and chips was very good too. There cocktails were excellent and the staff was very helpful. The interior was cute and clean. read more

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I loved the spicy carrot dish w the flavorful black beans. The blue corn quesadillas were a bit boring as the tortilla was dry. The margaritas were strong and delicious. Crazy noisy, too many people squished inside, harried waitstaff. I'd prefer a less crowded environment to savor the flavors and enjoy conversations and company. So crowded they ran out of menus. read more

I'm honestly shocked I haven't written a review for Bombera yet because I am obsessed with this place. It's one of the restaurants I think about regularly and recommend to everyone. The location is a bit random and parking can be tricky, but trust me -- it's 100% worth the effort. Service is always great: friendly, knowledgeable, and never rushed. The cocktails are truly to die for, but they also have a solid beer and wine list, so there's something for everyone. The spicy carrots are a MUST. Non-negotiable. We get them every single time and I will never skip them. I usually like to switch up my order, but my go-tos are the trout tostadas, queso fundido, blue corn quesadilla, or the swordfish -- all consistently excellent. There are also plenty of vegetarian and pescetarian options, which I really appreciate. I'd definitely suggest making a reservation, especially on weekends. Bombera is one of those spots that never disappoints: incredible food, amazing drinks, and a vibe that keeps you coming back. Can't wait for my next visit! read more

Yes, this place really is as good as everyone says it is. Even the guacamole and salsa are on their own level in terms of what you can find in the Bay Area. This is by far the best Mexican restaurant experience I've had outside of Mexico. The spicy carrots are life changing. They're the kind of carrots that make you realize you suck at making carrots . They are tender, rich, and extremely flavorful with a nice kick. Additionally, the black beans they are served with are also amazing! They are different than the side black beans, so don't miss out! The carrots are a must order. The swordfish was cooked perfectly and all the elements complimented it to make a very bright and comforting entree. Finally, the quesadillas with yams and the Oaxacan cheese might be the most comforting and delicious addition to a meal I've ever had. Though it's just the 3 ingredients, they all work together amazing to give a savory and slightly sweet bite that you won't forget!!! read more

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The spicy carrots were the highlight of the meal!! The blue corn quesadilla was also really nice and the black mole was delicious! The mole verde had a heavy peanut flavor which was good but not what we expected. The location is adorable and the decor is charming. The service was the downfall of this meal. It felt like our server was always walking away as we tried to order and it felt like he didn't even have the time to talk to our table. I had some of the orange juice from my orange wedge squirted on my face as they dropped off the sangria and the sangria had a slight banana flavor that overtook all other flavors. The food was good but the service left us disappointed read more

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I was finally able to visit Bombera this weekend which was highly recommended by my Baby Sister. She is all about eating healthy and organic foods! I made reservations for 3 at 7:30pm! Reading all the reviews regarding wait times if you don't have reservations especially on a weekend I was a little skeptical. We got there a little early and we're greeted right away with a smile and excitement! The hostess at the front found my name and said we have your table ready and did not worry about how early we were. (25mns early) We were seated right away and we're provided with water chips, salsa & guac! The vibe of the Bombera inside and out is really nice. Gives a Mexico feeling right off the bat, as if you were to walk down the street in Mexico and find a nice looking place to eat and instantly thought to yourself let me try this spot! Bombera is a Farm-to-Table women owned restaurant. The staff is amazing! Everyone with a bright smile on their faces more than happy to check up on you and make sure you are enjoying your time there. We ordered charred Beets a La Chicana & Watermelon Salad for appetizers. The charred Beets were Amazing! Highly recommended. The watermelon salad was also very good and refreshing! For entrees we ordered Fish Tacos, Roasted Chicken Mojo de Ajo & Carne Asada Huarache. All in all this place was great! From the food to the staff to the music playing inside and out makes you feel like you are right at home! Definitely a family vibe here. Would I Come Back.. Absolutely! Definitely Moe Approved! ! read more

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Had a fantastic time celebrating our friend's 50th wedding anniversary tonight! Service was warm, caring and attentive. Everyone enjoyed their meals, but the watermelon salad and whole roast chicken were the clear winners! Margaritas go down way too easy but are pricey at $15/drink. Chocolate chip & oatmeal cookie was tasty, but they charge $9 for a single cookie!! Our tab after tax and tip was $320+ for 5 margaritas, 1 mocktail, watermelon salad, roasted carrots, duck leg, filet mignon, whole roast chicken, 1 cookie and 1 coffee. It's too pricey for a regular meal, but worth the occasional splurge for sure! read more

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We came in on a Saturday night and I'd recommend securing a reservation before arriving. They were extremely busy at opening and two long lines formed at the door. Once we sat down we were given chips and salsa. The chips were fresh and on the thicker side. We opted for the tostadas and the watermelon salad for the apps, the portions were huge. The tostada was on the fishier side but it was packed with flavor. The watermelon salad was good but I personality didn't think it was as special. For the main course we got the beef hurrache with the filet mignon. This was the star of the show, the steak was perfectly tender and seasoned. The queso on top was a great pairing as well. Overall great experience and I'd recommend this spot to Mexican food lovers. read more

Bombera - Mexican Near Me - Oakland, California

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Came here to celebrate my grandparents 54th wedding anniversary! All of the food was delicious! We were able to get a table without a reservation but I suggest making a reservation to be safe. I highly recommend paying them a visit. read more

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Went awhile back for lunch with a couple of friends. When we arrived the line was enormous, but moved quickly. We were sat down and were taken well care of. The food and drinks were delicious! Will totally visit again! read more

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I love everything about Bombera. The chicken - amazing. Best beans and rice I've ever had. The potato taquitos - delicious. The drinks! So good. read more

The restaurant is beautiful and it was packed. Reservations are highly recommended. We ended up sitting at the bar which still a great experience. The staff and our waiter were very nice and accommodating. We ordered the chips and the guacamole, queso fundido, tamales, and taquitos to share. They were not bad and not good, just okay. I was hoping for something to knock my socks off but it didn't happen. Parking is limited so ride sharing is recommended. read more

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Mexican restaurant with good variety of fresh delicious cousins. Reasonably priced to quality and atmosphere. Good to have reservation otherwise expect a wait time and or bar seating Has decent indoor and outdoor seatings. Full bar with bar counter and bar seating. Open kitchen makes it a bit noisy but still fine with pleasant background music. Service was a bit messy with couple mistakes but not bothered much like bringing wrong order etc. Good for date night, couples, small group, meetup and seniors. All in all, will go back again. read more

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Guys I'm going to be so honest the food was absolutely worth trying and so delicious and welll executed but I can't look past the excessive wait times. With a reservation booked 2 weeks in advance we waited 45 minutes for our table and another 30 minutes for drinks. They seem to be suffering from understaffing due to the major hype not to mention the loud interior. The food was so amazing that it carried this review to 4 stars but I have to say the wait time with a reservation was a bit ridiculous. Might still return for that chicken though too good lolllll read more

My companion wanted to try so we did. We got spicy carrot - must get, blue corn quesadilla - ok, queso fundido - pass, fish tacos - must get The service was excellent but some of the dishes were not as exciting as I thought would be. The flavors are fresh though, you can tell the kitchen used best ingredients possible. read more

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A+ Mexican spot!! I'm seriously still dreaming about the food I ate here! First of all our server was incredible. I wish I got her name to give her a shout out! She was the sweetest and offered the best recs to us! 10/10 - Spicy Carrots 10/10 - Smoked Trout Tostado 10/10 - Spicy Margaritas 8/10 - Grilled Sordfish. The fish was really moist however the sauce it was in could have had more flavor. We also asked for more tortillas as the amount of fish they gave us was a lot. I saw so many people order the fish tacos and it looked amazing! Definitely trying this next time I go back. Pro tip : make a reservation as it gets packed! read more

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Brought my husband here for his birthday and we both enjoyed it. They have a creative menu with plenty of options for meat-lovers and vegetarians alike. The space feels simultaneously open and airy due to the high ceilings, but cozy because of the seating arrangements. The food is flavorful and the service is good. I recommend anything with their mole! read more

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Mexican Restaurant, authentic or not? To our standards and my mother who is from Michoacán... love it :) ! We were the only Mexican Americans in there. Our waiter & waitress were so kind to us and spoke to us in Spanish. Thank you so much for this as it can be difficult at times for my mom to order food anywhere. * Such a nice restaurant and the music I LOVED !! Gracias por todo y ser tan cariñosos con nosotros. I wish I would have got down the names of our waiter and waitress. Very nice people and checked on us regularly. * The food is presented to you so nicely and taste great. The total price wasn't bad at all either , I believe it came out to $113 read more

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This restaurant has been on my list for a long time, so I was really excited when we finally got a chance to try it. It's very popular, so reservations is definitely recommended. This is located in a pretty decent part of Oakland. Street parking wasn't bad, although you'd probably have to go a couple blocks away on a weekend. There's a patio seating area, and inside there's a bar and a dining room. The place is pretty small and not fancy, but the food is definitely worthy of its Michelin Bib Gourmand status. The food is elevated Mexican food with a modern touch. Every bite was flavorful and balanced. Even their chips and gauc somehow tasted richer. The menu is really creative, and there are so many more dishes I want to try. What we ordered: + Spicy carrots toasted almonds Misantla - carrots are roasted and soft, and they sit in a bed of black beans and chili oil. You taste the smokiness with a hint of spiciness. + Roasted chicken mojo de ajo (half) - chicken is roasted and tender, and it sits on a bed of rice and a bean/corn mixture that's divine. + Grilled Swordfish con salsa verde - perfectly cooked swordfish served with rice and beans and handmade tortillas. Makes the perfect fish tacos. + Gigante oatmeal chocolate chip cookie - this is probably the size of about 3 regular cookies. It's so chocolatey, I didn't notice the oatmeal. It's crispy outside and tender inside. Served with cut strawberries and pineapples and some whip cream. A perfect way to end a meal. Although the food was 5-stars, there's room for improvement. Our server didn't engage with us at all. Not even a hello or goodbye. She attended to us all evening, but a friendlier attitude or at least a smile would have made the evening nicer. There were only 4 options for wine by the glass, and the red wine we chose was just ok. It was more like a rose than a red. In addition, not a big deal, but some of the smaller sauces or fruits were served in paper cups. These are just minor things, but if they want to advance in their rankings, these are easy fixes to match their level of food. Overall, we enjoyed our meals and would definitely come again, and would recommend this place to all our friends. read more

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This restaurant is so beautiful and vibrant. Thankfully the food matches the ambiance! Delicious and unique variety of dishes. It's on the pricier side, so definitely a treat for a special occasion. Service is great too. read more