Wood Tavern has been my favorite restaurant in Oakland since I first visited nearly twenty years…read moreago. In all that time, it has remained remarkably consistent. I've been here for date nights, holiday dinners, business dinners, and countless meals with friends visiting from out of town. It's one of those rare restaurants that seems to work for just about any occasion. The service is always great, the College Avenue location is hard to beat, and I've always had good luck finding street parking nearby. The ribeye is my personal favorite and what I order more often than not. If you're coming with a group, the cheese and charcuterie plates are a great way to start. The menu is varied enough that there's always something for everyone, and I've never had a bad meal here. I was genuinely sad to hear that they'll be closing at the end of the year. Restaurants with this kind of quality, consistency, and character are increasingly rare. If you've never been, make a point of going while you still can. I'll certainly miss it once they're gone.

$25 Pastrami Sandwich: pretty darn good but there is an excellent pastrami that I just tried…read moreelsewhere which dampens my enthusiasm. This one had some crispy edges and well prepared which was lovely though. $14 warm chocolate buckwheat pudding cake: definitely house made. Definitely very good but definitely a safe choice. I think I should have been more adventurous. As good as this is, I'm not convinced I got my $'s worth.

Shrimp & Grits: Well spiced, moderate temperature and the cilantro helped freshen up the flavor…read moreprofile. Shrimps were juicy, sauce thick, eggs perfectly runny. Decent amount of food! Skillet Corn Bread: Crunchy exterior, sliced peppers throughout, medium crumb, slightly sweet butter. Would recommend getting to share with the table. SIDE OF FRIES: TRANSCENDENT. BEST FRIES I HAVE EVER HAD. Seasoned with salt, cracked black pepper, dill and parsley. Holds form well for dipping. Crunchy outside, fluffy inside. If you appreciate well seasoned balanced fries, get these. It takes some time to get your food but the food comes out fresh so it's well worth the wait. The staff are attentive and friendly which is a merit to itself because this place is incredibly busy. Props to them. Ambiance is beautiful. Many natural materials but the glass blown lamps and the mint green art nouveau (?) decoration are stunning. This seems like a great place to dine at for many occasions. 10/10 come visit.

Great service and the food was yummy. The mimosa craft was just enough to share for two could've…read moredone three people. We felt welcomed from the first point of coming in to our departure. Everyone said hello status and constantly checked on us. It was a nice experience.

I came here with four other friends from work. We made a reservation which was super easy, but not…read moreabsolutely necessary. Larger parties should though since there aren't too many bigger tables. It was a really cute place with a great ambiance. I loved that it was only a half mile from bart, so a lot of us took public transit. The waiters were very attentive and kind, and also very generous! We got salads on the house and desserts, as well as bread. Not sure if that is normal or if they just liked our group lol, but they were so sweet. I certainly wouldn't go in expecting it, but thought I should share that note because it really made an impact on us. I appreciate that they didn't rush us at all, and we stayed for a few hours. Also the food!!! Everything was so good! We all enjoyed our food and drinks, and there wasn't a single complaint. I got the salmon which was cooked perfectly with a delightfully crispy top and a buttery soft inside. The prices overall were a little bit of a splurge for me, but I would certainly come again. Thanks Marica for the wonderful service and food!

At Merica, my partner and I were met with service staff who were warm, courteous, speedy and…read moreresponsive. The restaurant space is well-lit, has plenty of indoor seating and seems suitable for a date or casual get-together with friends. My partner would give the food a five-start rating for its simplicity, generally flavorful, with spicy sauces and THE BEST guacamole! He had the Korean spare ribs and mash potatoes. He found the ribs to be fall-off-the bone tender, with potatoes that were more whipped than mashed alongside a carrot puree. I, on the other hand, had the New York Steak and au gratin potatoes. Though I wanted to enjoy my entree, I found the New York Steak to be unfortunately chewy and with too much fat. The au gratin potatoes could have had more crispy layers but tasted mediocre. Though I'd only rate this first experience with three stars. the service staff DID win us over and could potentially be the reason I'd be open to giving it another try.

My daughter ordered a few chicken. Broccoli sesame bowls , french fries, Brussels sprouts , A…read moregreen smoothie-yum and a couple of desserts that are going to be delivered to a good friend for her birthday. We live in Castro Valley and we're thrilled this restaurant delivers. Top quality food which was prepped and seasoned to perfection. Everything was delicious. Top notch!. Give this place a try you will be glad you did. Bon appetit. Support local businesses. Thank you

It's nearly impossible to eat out and eat REAL FOOD. I…read moredon't have the motivation, time or patients to cook at home a lot. Kitava is bringing you whole, real, and healthy choices you don't have to feel guilty about. Love it.

It is good to come early 5:30 pm to have better parking and enjoy the ambience before it got too…read morecrowded. We started with a round of drinks: Crazy Pisco, lemon drop, MUA lemonade, Faction pale ale. Appetizers to include crab cakes, and the BEST TASTING BRUSSEL SPROUTS aka " brown butter brussel sprouts. You must order these. Our entrees included a wonderful slow cooked lamb shank(enough for 2 people), crab po boy with tons of fries and fried chicken. We finished off our evening with pineapple cake, bread pudding, and an almond cake all exceptionally delicious. We were provided with excellent service from Val.

Another evening in beautiful Oakland with my colleagues (7 of us) at dinner at Mua. JR was our…read moreserver and JR was top notch with personality and helpfulness when it came to our food allergies (vegan and gluten free). Upon looking at the menu, I wanted everything! I'm not even kidding. Everything sounded great. The space is really cool as well inside with lots of that local art you know and love in the Oakland area. I ordered a margarita to start. Yum! For apps, we ordered the guac and chips alongside the fried calamari. I partook in the guac and chips, fresh and delish. Calamari was not gfree. For my main entree I split a beet salad with one of my colleagues, I can't say no to a beet salad. Then I ordered the mussels...which were so good. I loved the aioli on the top of the fries. I also had a bite of my colleagues coleslaw...and I will say it was the best non mayo based coleslaw I've ever had! Not kidding! It has red onion, green pepper, and cilantro. For dessert since it's always a must on a biz trip, we ordered crème brûlée and a sorbet. The brulee was as expected and perfect to end the night. Will definitely be back!

It is just so incredible, the environment is so authentic and clean! We came here to celebrate my…read moregraduation, and the team made it unforgettable. Alan, Sarah, and the rest of the staff were remarkably warm and welcoming. To make the occasion even more special, they treated us to extra desserts and snacks including their delicious house-made mochi and fresh French fries! Every single dish was incredible, and I honestly couldn't pick a favorite if I tried. I can't wait to come back and try the other seasonal menu!

Sun Moon Studio, West Oakland, 4 tables, 12 seats, one Michelin star, SF Chronicle best new…read morerestaurant in the Bay Area. Got a reservation six weeks out to the minute because thats how this works and it was worth every second of the effort. 13 course tasting menu from two Benu and Per Se alums, Alan Hsu and Sarah Cooper. The Taiwanese sausage course stopped the table cold. Monterey spot prawn with tofu was precise and clean. Dry aged duck had this depth that just doesnt happen without real technique. Every course earned its place. The space is a converted garage in an industrial block, white hanging cloths from 20 foot ceilings, four wooden tables. Completely unpretentious for a restaurant operating at this level. 5 stars, one of the best meals ive had anywhere. Set your alarm for noon exactly six weeks before you want to go

Portal is a five‑star staple. The happy hour deals are great, the backyard is genuinely amazing,…read moreand the burgers are always delicious. The ciders on draft hit the spot every time, and the skinny Bloody Mary is perfect for a Sunday brunch reset. Service is always fun people are super nice, the vibe is relaxed, and it's just one of those neighborhood spots that never disappoints.

I wasn't aware happy hour had just began when I stopped by for a quick bite. My wait time was about…read morehalf hour and I was hangry but $5 Sangria definitely softened the negative experience. It was delicious. The patio has gorgeous views of the Lake Merritt and the happy hour menu items are $5 each. Definitely recommended!

We're frequently in this area because there's a lovely wine shop on Piedmont Ave and we always park…read morein the lot right behind Pomet. We've walked by the restaurant on numerous occasions but never had the opportunity to go. That changed last night. We stopped in for an early dinner and overall, everything was great. The space is clean and minimalistic with a clear focus on their wood-burning hearth. It's super lively and energetic, but tables are spaced such that it's still possible to carry a conversation. Service here is top notch -- friendly, warm, and not too overbearing. In many regards, the service here was just as good if not superior to the two-Michelin star restaurant down the street. The food was also tasty, though some dishes were more to our liking than others. The duck entree was fabulous -- far and away the best dish we had. I would've loved for the fat to render a bit more and a slightly crispier skin, but overall, it was the most composed dish and all the flavors just landed. Their signature "ugly mushroom" pasta dish was also a hit, though we were torn between it and the Cacio e Pepe, which we decided to save for a subsequent trip. The caramelle filled pasta were al dente and the farce was a puree of mushrooms and I'm not sure if there was anything else (like ricotta, herbs, etc), but the sauce was killer. Super rich and exploding with umami. We also tried the stuffed squid, which was good, but we'd likely try something else next time. The squid bodies were on the smaller and thinner side so although they were cooked perfectly tender, it wasn't possible to get any color on them so it tasted like boiled or steamed squid. The farce was delicious. With a beautiful wood-fired hearth, it would've been nice to have this spend a little time there. Lastly, we had chicory salad with figs and gorgonzola. A nice starter with great ingredients. Not mind blowing. Overall, we found the dinner quite enjoyable. It is on the expensive side and the check came out to around $120/pp including dessert, a glass of port, and one corkage ($35/750 ml, limit two per table). I had a quick scan of the wine list and it's well curated with something for every palate. The BTG list was a little boring. Bottle prices were by my estimate around 2-3x retail (so call it 3-4x wholesale), which is expensive but par for the course (hence bringing our own). A nice selection of PYCM if that's your jam.

Pomet is an example of true farm to table cuisine. I love how open and honest they are about where…read moreand how they source their ingredients and their authenticity shines through their food. The menu changes according to what veggies and fruits are in season. Since it's approaching the end of summer, flavors from fruits and veggies like peaches, pears and corn were featured in their menu. Not only was the food amazing, but so was the service. All the servers were knowledgeable, caring and led with so much grace. This spot earned their Michelin green star for all the right reasons! Also -- there's a small parking lot and street parking available. Don't leave valuables in your car. It's Oakland :)

Have been going here pretty consistently for almost 2 years now and I have 0 complaints. Food is…read moredelicious, drinks are awesome, and the staff is friendly. They make the best burger I've ever had

Walked in to meet a gf for drinks! Waited for about 5 minutes and since no one acknowledged my…read moreexistence, I walked to see if there were tables available outside. The bartender quickly stopped me to ask if I was meeting friends outside and I said I wanted to see if there was a table available and she rudely pointed me to the sign in the front and sent me back to the front to wait for a hostess. By now there were two tables open inside and I waited for 10 long minutes and then re-approached the bartender and she snapped at me to go wait in the front. Felt like a whites only vibe. Took my date elsewhere and will definitely be telling all my people how whack this place was and how rudely I was treated.

Lamb chops were surprisingly good at a cheap price. Order it medium cooked. You will not regret it…read more Also tried the brisket french dip sandwich. Flavor was overall great but breads get a bit soggy if you wait too long to eat it.

Lovely Breakfast over at Grand Lake Kitchen! It was nice catching up with my people in a nice and…read morecozy setting. Arrived for brunch without a reservation and were told it was gonna be a 40 minute wait. 10 minutes later and we were being seated. Pretty good for a Saturday morning! When we sat down, we immediately ordered drinks. Everyone else ordered an espresso martini, I wanted something on the fruitier side and opted for the Rum key lime drink. Perfectly sweet and a total fun treat for brunch. For food, I got the chilaquiles which were very good and filling! I loved all the flavors. Totally great time spent at Grand Lake Kitchen! Definitely a popular spot for a reason.