We've been excited to try Commis. We're local and thought it would be fun to walk to. We chose it for a special night: birthday + anniversary dinner. The food was tasty, and essentially all the staff was friendly except our server. He seemed disinterested in brief/friendly exchanges between courses, and we need to ask for wine throughout the night. For example, our wine glasses weren't filled until after the the first three bites arrived. We tried to refrain from eating them until the wine arrived, but it didn't for an awkwardly long time. ~20m from sitting to having wine in hand. Food arrived ~15m after sitting. Our glasses were left empty between many courses, and at least three courses came out with them still being empty It feels small when typing it, but pairing is a big part of a meal like this. Adding to the let-down was when the server would walk by, see they our glasses were empty, and not return. We're friendly guests and err on the polite side when it comes to interactions with staff. He just felt guff and in a grumpy mood. Another strange thing is we were never given a menu. We figured it was part of the program, but it left us feeling lost with where the evening would go from an experience standpoint. It meant we had to ask where we were in the progression of courses, and what wine we should order since we didn't know if/when we were moving to heavier fare. The rest of the staff were friendly, and we enjoyed the food. But the overall experience was impacted by the interaction with the server. Especially given the ~$800 bill for two. A night like this is a rare occasion for us. Hopefully you have better luck with who you receive as a server since they play such an important role. Thank you to the rest of the staff: the personable host, and the chefs who took a break from the kitchen to bring out their amazing offerings while interacting with the guests. read more

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Food was very attractive though there didn't seem to be a cohesive theme to the courses. The service was excellent and well-choreographed for our table of four; plates were always presented and set down simultaneously and the staff were very attentive. The wagyu course was offered and we ordered two, and two wine pairings, and cocktails, and the bill was huge. It was difficult to understand what the chef was trying to communicate when you were served barely a mouthful. There were few confirmatory nibbles. The ambiance was very stylish in the dining room, but there were a couple of loud parties. (One passes through the bar area to get to the dining room and everyone was lined up at the bar having quiet conversation and reverently examining their food - seemed to be more sedate in the bar.) Okay, I went to dinner here. read more

We went for their bar menu. Price is remarkably $109 per person for a 2 star Michelin star restaurant. Loved everything, remarkable favors except the popcorn. Seems like a filler and I don't think it should be a dinner course. read more

My 5 star review of Commis could probably single-handedly be carried by the superb bread/butter course offered. A perfectly bronzed dome humbly sitting in the grey bowl. The hard exterior, emanating a hollow echo as you tap on the top. A perfectly pillowy interior as you crunch thru. Even as I reflect back on it, I can't even exactly pinpoint why Commis' bread rose above all others, but it's unmatched excellence. And I think the bread acts as a good microcosm for the restaurant broadly - simple things just done masterfully well. Also for example, Commis' white sturgeon caviar course paired with creamed potato and onions in beer. A symphony of flavors reminiscent of a high brow sour cream and onion potato chip. My tasting menu courses (with pictures): 1. Dungeness crab and sunchoke cornet 2. Caramelized onion financier with sour cream 3. Pacific oyster with herbs 4. Kampachi, jelly of grilled bines, yuzu citrus 5. Beetroot glazed in fermented beet juice, persimmon, and cheese 6. White sturgeon caviar, creamed potato, onions in beer 7. Milled pumpkin seeds, truffles, hen of the woods mushrooms 8. Slow poached egg yolk with smoked dates 9. Sea bream, salted apple, and toasted kale oil 10. Warm fermented black garlic and marjoram milk tea 11. Roasted pigeon with mountain huckleberry and licorice 12. Makrut lime with celery and buddha's hand citron 13. Roasted chestnut ice cream with cacao nibs and raspberries 14. Chocolate ganache with black sesame 15. Blackberry and violet pate de fruit 16. Asian pear permuted with lemongrass And at $185 for 8 courses (note: I did break out some of the amuse bouche, mignonettes, etc. separate from a "course"), I believe Commis stands at a very compelling value for a 2 Michelin Star experience. read more

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The team is a well-oiled machine without seeming like they're just going through motions and rattling off speeches. They were efficient but personable - one server even joined the rest of my party in making fun of me for not noticing the obvious (and delectable) butter accompanying the bread. I really enjoyed how everyone pitched in to bring out dishes and chat with us, even if they were not our primary server. The sommelier in particular seemed to have a tough job, visiting every table that ordered the wine pairing, and patiently explaining the notes and how it would go with the dish before us. There were no low points to the food! Each dish was fresh in taste and its concept, and beautifully plated of course. It's strange, but I like when a restaurant's dinner ware has heft to it while being aesthetically pleasing. The portioning is abundantly generous - really, a steal for a chef's tasting menu at this pricing - so that I had to pass off some of my desserts to my partner because I was bordering too full by the third act of dinner. We didn't get to sit outside in the charming courtyard, but were fortunately all vaccinated - and actually told the host that this was the celebratory dinner of all of us being vaccinated. I felt entirely safe with the masking and hygienic standards otherwise. It does get a bit loud inside, but the music was enjoyable and much of it was probably our fault for being boisterous after the majority of the wine pairing. I can't wait to come back a different season to try another menu! read more

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I already gave a completely accurate 5 star review. I'll add to it that Commis has a knack for keeping the great things consistent and mixing it up in all the right places. They tweak the menu, some of the concepts (the new fixe prix bar menu is a revelation), the wine list. If you go to Commis and then go there again in three months, everything you love will still be there and there will be new things to love as well. read more

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I am an American who has been living abroad in the U.K. for the last several years and on my first visit back stateside, I was thrilled to snag a reservation at this 2 Michelin * spot. Now I've had other Michelin * experiences so I feel that my expectations were reasonably set - high standard of service, wow factor, impeccable presentation, innovation, and above all, high quality of taste and ingredient. And for the price point of $225 pp before drinks and tax and service, I would expect nothing less. Unfortunately none of those metrics were without blemish. Firstly, the service was very good - we were greeted immediately, brought to our table quickly, water provided and attentive throughout but due to our 8:30pm seating, I got the sense that they wanted to move us quickly through. Courses were brought out in what felt like a rushed way and on a couple occasions I saw hovering and false starts to clear our plates when I wasn't finished. I am not suggesting a leisurely pace, but give us a chance to digest and savour! On the wow factor - we definitely got this visually but not on taste. Some were too conceptual, others were too big for such a delicate ingredient, etc. Presentation was generally strong - flatware were interesting and cocktails were gorgeous, but the dessert courses were so disappointing. The first was v monochromatic in not a bold or impactful way, and the second was just messy and texturally a total fail for me. The finale of 3 sweet plates was ridiculous - 2 mini creamsicles, 2 truffle chocolates and a melon slice! They seemed such throwaways and really ended the meal poorly, didn't understand at all the relationship to the rest of the menu. Innovation was there - but also some just didn't work (the dessert of caramel, bananas, pineapple, and others) and were inedible for me. And on taste and ingredient - the chicken tasted like spam, I could not take beyond 2 bites. For a $700 meal, I was massively disappointed and would caution others against coming. read more

Commis - Tomato starter - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

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Came back to try the more limited bar prix fixe menu. This is a shorter more casual experience than in the main dining room, but delivers on the fine dining aspects and still comes with a beverage pairing. We added on the caviar option to the four course menu, which was a perfect bite. Not to be outdone, from the small bites was a wagu beef tartare which ranks at the top of my list for umami taste and texture. The big eye tuna salad is a marvel and was followed by the slow poached egg yolk (which appears to be a menu staple), a steak and desert. The desert was the only miss for me. The drink pairing with a yuzu sake and combined with the lemon posset needed something to break up the tartness - like ginger snap, or less yuzu. But that is probably just a personal preference, the experience is still worth it. The staff were awesome too and always ready to engage and answer questions. So glad I found out about this bar service. A great option if the full menu is too much food or time and you still get that to die for bread and butter. read more

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First there were sticks. Then there were stones. Then there was fire. And then there was Commis. With the first bite of their poached egg, I transcended. I was inside, outside, and within the chicken. I became the yolk. This is cooking. With gas. What a charming Oakland meal. Humpty dumpty sat Bon appetit on the wall Chef's kiss, a great fall read more

Commis - Scallops - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

Overall not bad for a 2 Michelin star restaurant. My favorite things were the caviar dish and the mini apps. read more

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We ordered the final Commis at home meal and was very impressed! They did a good job of preparing the meal for take home and the flavor profile was great considering sometimes it's hard ordering "fine dining" to go. We really enjoyed the fresh salad in particular. And of course you can't go wrong with the signature poached egg and levain bread. The scallops were cooked perfectly and was still warm by the time I got home so we didn't need to do any additional reheating of anything. I'm glad they finally get to reopen but sad that they will no longer be offering these amazing & bargain take home meals. Bravo Commis for an exquisite 2 Michelin star meal in the comfort of our own home during a pandemic! read more

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Service lacks detail Tasting menu is sublime Drinks not as punchy Every review is a haiku read more

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Easily the worst Michelin star restaurant I have been to. I've been to the Village Pub, Gary Danko, Acquerello, Alexander's, Aterlier Crenn, Spruce, and Manresa. The service was great, we were served 12 drops within 2.5 hour window. Once our plates were done, they picked it up right away and my glass was always full. The food on the other hand was a let down. The first course consisted of crudites and topneck clam...carrots, onion financier, etc. I appreciated the fact that they tried to accommodate the fact my wife doesn't eat raw/medium rare food. They said the topneck clam for her was poached, but all she got was pineapples. Maybe they mixed up the clam with a vegan option? Not too sure. The second course was a whole tomato. I didn't pay $650+ to eat rabbit food for my first two courses. One of the dishes was a tapioca chicken dumpling. The dumpling didn't work for me. The tapioca wrap was just texturally off-putting. The highlight of the meal was the bread and egg yolk. Hence, why it's been a staple on the menu. At least wifey said it was the best bread she's ever had, I'll give them that. The pork collar was chewy and dry. The sauce underneath was spicy and just didn't work well with the pork collar. The desserts were good, probably one of the few dishes I didn't have to force myself to feed. I just felt gypped for spending all that money on all these lackluster dishes...congee, broth, raw veggies, etc. A disappointing meal and a disappointing Father's Day for us. read more

I don't even know where to begin. Boyfriend managed to snag a reservation for this place as a post Valentine's date and at the chef's counter, no less! We got to sit at the counter and watched mesmerized as the chefs put together these complex, carefully crafted dishes. I honestly couldn't even begin to fathom how to recreate the dishes. Commis definitely went above and beyond my expectations! The whole meal was well thought out. The dishes were meticulously put together; each dish had its own personal accompanying set of dishware and utensils; the progression from light to heavier dishes was notable; and the menu is given after the meal, which makes it so that you're truly in the moment and pleasantly surprised when each dish comes out. At first, I was worried that it wouldn't be enough food given the portion sizes of each dish, but we both left full, happy, and mindblown. We didn't have issues in terms of dietary restrictions. The restaurant contacted us in advance to ask about these. As for the review that mentioned the chefs should smile more, they've got enough on their plate already. They've got a job to do and I'd choose the Soup Nazi over fake smiles any day as long as the food's good. Too many dishes to list, but I was truly stunned by every single dish they presented us and that is no exaggeration. It truly is a one of a kind, Michelin star-worthy experience. read more

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Having Commis open again for indoor dining is fantastic. You have the option for both indoor and outdoor. We sat outdoors. Tables are plenty of space between them. All the staff are all wearing masks and super friendly. Their service is excellent and well organized. All the dishes were beautiful, delicious, and fresh. Definitely fully from the 13 courses. I think the taro root, poached egg yolk, and dumpling were my favorite dishes. And the desserts are really light to end the meal. The beverage pairing works wonderfully through the whole meal. They are able to accommodate those that have gluten allergies. Love the chance to go to Commis again in the future. read more

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Very delicious food and very inventive menu. The service is very lacking in areas met by restaurants at half the cost. They seem to have a weird bus-boy & waiter(ess) communication disconnect. For example: left handedness is only noticed 5 courses late. My teacup was left empty for over 45 minutes, until I was served the last bit of but teapot at less than tepid temperature. Other restaurants would take notice to the drink level and temperature. Unfortunate for the price paid. Sad to see this place is the best East bay has to offer according to Michelin. read more

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First time I went I was blown away and loved everything I had. I went back a couple years later and was really unimpressed. I hate that you can't see what's on the set menu and only find out once you're there. If I'm paying $600+, you'd think they would at least let me know what I'm gonna be eating. Second time I went, the menu had several dishes I really didn't like bc of the ingredients (and had I known those ingredients were gonna be in the menu, I wouldn't have gone), and/or the flavor was just really boring. My second experience was definitely not worth the money. There were some really delicious dishes as well, but again, for the price, I would want every dish to blow me away and that wasn't the case. Also, for a Michelin star restaurant, I would've expected better service and there were a few instances where Commis missed. 1. I ordered a drink that I had my first time there and loved. Second time it didn't taste the same, not as good. I asked the waiter to confirm it was what I ordered bc I recalled it tasting different. I also asked if there was a certain liquor in it and he corrected me and said it was something else; later I checked and I was correct. Rather than offer to bring me the menu to confirm or offer to remake it, the waiter got really defensive (albeit in a polite way) about it being the correct drink. 2. Another waiter bringing the food incorrectly told us we were having clams when they were clearly mussels. I also had a food intolerance and he incorrectly served a dish to me (fortunately we noticed and switched). Normally I don't really care about this stuff but again, for the crazy price of this place, I expect perfect service. 3. We asked our server to recommend a bottle of wine that would go well with everything. He recommended the pairing and wouldn't give a recommendation for the wine. ofc the pairing would be the best option, duh; but if your guests ask for a bottle rec, it's your job to give some guidance at least. It felt like he was pushing for the wine pairing and wouldn't help us pick a bottle otherwise (or maybe he didn't know? Which also is disappointing) TLDR: Very pricey for a hit or miss menu with okay service quality. read more

Never disappoints. Amazing food and beverage experience. Everything is perfectly prepared with an incredible attention to detail. Sit at the counter if you can. Always arrive early for a cocktail before hand. The beverage pairing is always great and interesting with wines from all over. read more

UPDATE: Came back for the 2nd or 3rd time as dine in (we've ordered to go during the pandemic lockdown as well). This time, it reminds us of how spectacular Commis is! Each bite of the 10-12 courses were amazing. Hands down- BEST.COCKTAILS.EVER. I did not get the name of the cocktail we had, we asked our server to surprise us. It was sweet and sour but the mix was just amazing. The after taste was sweet. A must try! Service was excellent. Can't express enough about this place. Will definitely be back even if it's just to eat the same dishes again :) read more

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Who knew there would be a 2 star Michelin rated restaurant a hop, skip and a jump from my apartment? It was one of my top 3 meals of 2018. April 2018 is when my foodie trifecta (me included) decided to splurge aka live a little and dine at Commis. I've always walked by it and it looked so intimidating for some reason- perhaps it was the classy sign, the dark, intimate interior, or the fact that the meal itself starts out at $159/person. All of those reasons I threw out the window as my girls and I made reservations and found ourselves adding the wine pairing to our already expensive meal. Yolo. Each of the dishes were sublime- but all I wanted to do was eat 10 of their perfect sourdough round loaves with that addicting peppered butter. Seriously- best bread and butter I've ever had. The first bite of the oysters left me in a state of yumminess. Most of the dishes hit me like that - let's just say all you can hear from our table was a cacophony of "wow! Omg! Amazing!" The different wines brought out paired nicely with our courses as well so I highly recommend it. By the end of our meal, our tummies were stuffed, our tastebuds tickled, our senses were invigorated, and our pockets were lighter. I still think about that bread to this day. read more

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An exquisite dining experience from the moment we arrived through to the end. We went for my husband's birthday and so added the optional wine pairing. We enjoyed everything--the ambiance, the food and the wine tastings. We aren't likely to ever go back though because it is too pricy for us. All in all, we are happy to have had the experience and recommend it for a memorable special celebration. read more

Commis - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

food is amazing and well plated even for takeout. Everything is fresh and it's worth all the stars and one of the few super fine dining places in Oakland. read more

Snooty service Small portions Food was ok Very expensive Plain ambiance I won't go back read more

Awesome experience!!! Great ambiance with attentive and knowledgeable waiters and amazing food! We had before dinner cocktails the bar prix fixe with wine pairing and the caviar special appetizers! Everything looked and tasted delicious!!! I will definitely return to try other offerings. read more

Michelin stars 34 and 35. Great food and good value (under a hundred bucks for a two-star tasting menu). However, they're not responsive at all over the phone. There was no way to specify on Tock that I'm a vegetarian. I tried calling them; however, no one ever picks up. I couldn't find any e-mail address other than their "Careers" e-mail address. So, I sent a number of messages there letting them know my dietary restrictions. No one ever replied. They did get the e-mail message though because they confirmed that I was a vegetarian as soon as they seated me. Finally, this restaurant is in Oakland. Read the reviews about other patrons whose cars got broken into while parked on the street (of course they did in Oakland!). Park in the Kaiser Parking ramp to be on the safe side. Will I ever return to Commis? No, never. 1. No one ever picks up the phone and 2. Parking in Oakland is a pain. read more

All I can say was that every dish was fantastic. I've been to a few Michelin star restaurants and this was one of my all time favorites. read more

Commis - New American Near Me - Oakland, California

Where do I begin.... We'd always pass by here on our neighborhood strolls and had no idea the gem that it was (and so close to home). Googled/yelped it and decided it was special occasion appropriate so made reservations in October to come here late November for our anniversary dinner. Place was buzzing and the sister bar CDP of course had a wait. We sat in the back corner of Commis where it felt very safe and intimate. Each dish was immaculate- creative flavor profiles, clean presentation and quality ingredients. A few things they also serve on the a la crate menu next door at CDP and happy about it because my favorite dish was the slow poached egg. Also a new flavor for my pallets was jelly fish with kohlrabi and Anjou pear. The duck practically melted in my mouth. Also the CDP old fashion is a must order if you consume alcohol. Our verdict is top 3 that we've ever had (and we've tried a lot across geographical locations). Many compliments to the chef and the sincerely dedicated staff would made this such an enjoyable and memorable experience. We returned to CDP a couple months later and brought friends for a round of drinks and a La carte items! Sophisticated spot for a nice night out. read more

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What I love most about Commis is their humble, nonchalant yet upscale, exquisite "hole in the wall" presence. Our waitress Akiea was phenomenal in all aspects. She was personable, yet professional and explained each dish thoroughly. She checked in regularly and ensured we were content at all times. The food was great, some better than others. The bar tasting is 109$ a person with a 100$ deposit that goes towards the meal, which I feel is very reasonable. Drinks are not included (15-21$) and gratuity is added at the end automatically. The "starters" are small bites that pack a massive punch. I could eat that Tom Yum popcorn all day! The scallops were very refreshing with the nectarine and the chili was a nice bit of heat. The slow poached egg with fresh baked sourdough bread and chicken skin butter is probably the meal I would choose should I ever find myself on death row as my last supper; aka the highlight of the entire meal. I have never experienced a butter so creamy and flavorful, it was really like eating crisp chicken skin; the bread was fresh, warm and light with the perfect crunch and has a 15 year starter (so you know it's good). The menu lists pork as the main course, however, my mother and I don't eat red meat therefore were given swordfish. Per my father: the pork belly was very rich, almost too rich to enjoy the rest of the flavors, and left him very full but still great. The swordfish was a bit overcooked and lacked flavor, so I feel there's room for improvement. The dessert was creative and challenges your palate but we felt the black vinegar was too overpowering. All in all, I felt the meal was worth the experience and they have potential to compete with French Laundry on a culinary level if they keep it up (although French Laundry doesn't charge extra for bread and gives a much more elaborate experience). We will gladly be back for the full ten course! Thanks for the amazing birthday! read more

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I had been waiting for so long to try Commis, and while the food was spectacular, the lackluster and borderline rude service made the experience memorable only in a bad way. Having been to numerous Michelin restaurants in SF and the world, this level of service is definitely not customary (nor enjoyable / recommended). The restaurant itself is beautiful, a minimalistic interior with special and detailed touches throughout. From pretty much the time we arrived, we were met with a cold and stern attitude, primarily from the front of house attendant who also doubled as a waiter/server. He was brusque, abrupt, and couldn't be bothered to engage with us in any meaningful way. Our primary server was slightly better throughout meal service, but also seemed bothered when we'd ask for more information about the meals. He'd put a plate down and mention a couple ingredients that we couldn't really hear, and then after asking more information he'd reluctantly go into more detail. We were also seated in a front of house section with multiple empty tables so already felt secluded. The real kicker was that I asked after the bill came to take a picture of the first wine he served as part of the beverage pairing, and he took a deep sigh and rolled his eyes before telling me that it was on the menu takeaway that came with the bill. Not sure why this gesture of appreciation of their beverage menu came as such an inconvenience. I'm also not going to detail our journey with trying to get to the restroom, but tl;dr the FOH guy told us there's only one bathroom and it was occupied, and that he'll come tell me when it's free (to which, even after 20 minutes and multiple requests, he never did). By the way -- there's a second bathroom (same size/quality) in the back by the kitchen which we saw another guest use and which we requested . Not sure why Mr. FOH treated it like a secret. Anyways, like I said - the food was spectacular. The onion financier with sour cream and the pacific oysters were some of the best bites I've ever had. The Japanese sea bream melts in your mouth. And one of the best dessert candies I've ever had was the calamansi and fish sauce caramel. To die for, truly. I also would mention that the above only details a handful of weird/rude/bizarre experiences with the staff at Commis. I really wish my local neighborhood Oakland Michelin star restaurant would be nicer to the patrons of their own neighborhood. My friend and I dropped $900 to be treated like we were unwelcome at Commis. Disappointing. The bar looked nice and offers a smaller 4-course offering with what appeared to be friendly bar staff - if anything, I'd suggest that if you're looking to visit. read more

Deserves 2 Michelin stars? Probably. Worth 700 bucks for 2 people with 1 getting the alcohol pairing? Probably not. Very interesting food with unique flavor combinations and some really awesome stuff, but some iffy items as well. 15 "courses" where some are just a single bite and no course is more than a few bites. The alcohol pairings were definitely unique with super obscure kinds of sake and wine, but the pours were tiny (just a couple sips each). Pineapple and oyster, not so much. Oolong tea mousse and apples, heck yeah! The seafood dishes were probably the best overall. The more veggie-forward dishes were only OK. The one pork dish was a fancy Chinese BBQ pork style dish but very small. The desserts were also quite numerous and good for the most part (but the caramel with fish sauce was not for me, despite loving each of those 2 ingredients separately!). read more

If you'd like to impress someone, this is your spot! Over the top, very serious about the food. Lovely bits and presentations, but you'll want a burger - after dropping $600 pp. read more

One of the greatest meals I've had in recent history. The food was beyond expectations and closer to what I had experienced at three star restaurants rather than two. Each dish was wonderful and a piece of art. Some were playful even. They had quite an interesting pairing, everything from beer, to wine to sake which we enjoyed. As far as ambience is concerned it's got a urban feel and the restaurant is not necessarily a quiet place but it's still comfortable. We will certainly be back. read more

When spending $800+ for a dinner for two, you expect the following not to happen: 1. When complaining that the dishwasher is extremely loud to the point a conversation cannot be heard, and you get a response saying we should have not chosen the seat near the bar and the next time we should ask for a seat away from the dishwasher. Blame the customer? Do we get to pick our own table like a mall food court and we didnt know? Next time? There will not be a next time 2. Go into elaborate detail explaining a dish when the other person is not at the table (in restroom). 3. Generally aggressive service that makes one not feel very welcome. Aggressive leaning in, over the head plating, etc Each of these are minor on their own and nothing worth writing about. But if you are fine dining, charging fine dining prices, the above are not acceptable in aggregate. Food was good but we will not be back. read more

Great Service & Presentation, everything else, food, menu, wine pairing, cocktails, Severely Underwhelming 3/5 read more

Went to Commis to celebrate a milestone birthday and this place did not disappoint. It was a 10 course meal of a surprise menu. The food presented was beautiful and delicious. Very fresh ingredients and interesting flavor combinations. The service was exceptional-- what you would expect at a place like this. But honestly, the food was amazing. Most of the dishes had fish, which isn't my favorite, but these dishes were different. Flavors and textures were outstanding. Highly recommended. read more

Congratulations to James Syhabout and the whole Commis team for keeping their two Michelin stars and for receiving the key to Oakland! Well-deserved. My boo used to eat at the restaurant before they received Michelin-star recognition, and he vouches for the high quality and exceptional service even back in the day. This weekend we booked our five-year anniversary dinner here, because it is a special place to us and to the community. We've only eaten in the dining room in the past, so we decided to try the bar this time. We love the open-kitchen experience of the dining room, but also really enjoyed the fixed menu at the bar, too. Like in the dining room, the service and attention to detail was outstanding. Our favorites off the menu were the tom yum popcorn (I don't know how they infused the lemongrass coconut flavor into the popcorn, but it was exceptional), the wagyu beef with black truffles and, of course, the slow poached egg yolk with smoked dates and alliums - a Commis classic. The only thing I preferred was the salted butter versus the chicken skin butter to go with the levain bread. Finally, the wine pairing was on point. Thank you for a memorable evening, and congratulations! read more

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Two Michelin stars is about right for the fine dining experience Commis delivers. During the last year, I was blessed to have gone to all of the Michelin starred restaurants within SF city limits and Commis is definitely in the same league as Lazy Bear, Californios, Coi and Acquerello. It's become tradition for me to eat at a nice restaurant on a Friday and I'm glad I decided to venture into Oakland for Commis. I got here 30 minutes early and was seated at the bar next door (CDP) while I waited for my table. I was totally blown away by the lamb tartare they served here. Even though this is not part of the tasting menu, I can't rave enough about how fabulous this was and it was definitely one of the best dishes of the night for me. The tasting menu itself was eight courses with a few extra small bites. The stand-out was their signature dish (slow poached egg yolk, smoked dates, alliums and malt) served around the same time as their bread service. These are also available at the CDP bar next door. The pacing of the meal was just right and there's a nice kaiseki-like harmony to the dishes. I also really appreciated the perfectly timed consommé. The desserts and the mignardises were nice and refreshing. Ginger beer and rosemary limeade were the ideal non-alcoholic pairings for the night. I really wished they had a non-alcoholic pairing. Service was on point and I love the modern decor. The tasting menu was $175 and with tax/tip/two ginger beers/two rosemary limeades/lamb tartare, the total added up to $285. Note that 20% service charge is automatically included. Pricing is just about right for the dining experience. Highly recommended!!! Definitely coming back to the CDP bar for more lamb tartare!!! read more

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Excellent experience that opened up my taste buds to levels I didn't even know existed. Presentation, taste, texture and variety are all present here and the chef and company do a fantastic job of delivering above and beyond. Had the tasting menu and a few items were beyond belief. Every dish was elevated to a metaphysical level. read more

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Amazing menu, complex flavors. More food/courses than we originally thought! No regrets on splurging for this meal.

My husband and I are big fans of Commis. We've enjoyed other multi-course tasting menus in SF and the East Bay, but Commis always comes out on top. The service is top-notch without being pretentious, the wine pairings are always spot on, and the dishes themselves are amazing. We also appreciate the small, intimate setting. Commis was a life-saver during the pandemic--their to-go boxes were fantastic--but it's much nicer to revisit the place in person for special occasions. They're amazing! read more