Kitava

With only two months remaining before Wood Tavern closes permanently, we knew we had to make…read moreanother visit. Over the years, we've enjoyed Wood at just about every time of day--lunch, mid-afternoon noshing, and dinner. But mid-afternoon has always been our favorite. Two longtime favorites are the Pastrami Sandwich and the Tavern Burger. This visit, however, we tried something we'd never ordered before: the house-made charcuterie board, featuring rabbit terrine, whiskey-laced chicken liver, pork rillettes, and juicy house-smoked duck breast. Boy, have we been missing out! What a wonderful surprise. The board comes with plenty of beautifully browned toast, but don't hesitate to ask for more. You'll need it to enjoy every last bit. We enjoyed it so much that we've decided to make one more visit before Wood closes at the end of December. We're really going to miss Wood Tavern. It's been a special place for us, and we're not quite ready to say goodbye!

$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.

1.2 mi•Grand Lake, Lower Hills

Grilled Rib Eye Steak

See all

Cherry Bomb! non-alcoholic cocktail. $13. Tilden Lacewing, Amarena cherry, lime, ginger beer, tall glass.

Almond & Oak

4.4(451 reviews)

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.

Baked strawberry rhubarb French toast

See all

Eggs Benedict

Marica

4.4(2.6k reviews)

0.8 mi•North Oakland

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.

Another shipment of lobster in for the weekend. Limited quantity for a few lucky people who can get this drop!

Marica Seafood Stew

See all

Short ribs

Mua

3.9(4.1k reviews)

1.0 mi

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!

Interior

Blackened Catfish

See all

Baby girl (top left), Bismarck (green one), La capilla

Sun Moon Studio

4.9(52 reviews)

1.7 mi•West Oakland

It took many attempts and a lot of luck to secure a reservation at Sun Moon Studio, and I'm happy…read moreto report that it truly is worth the effort. My friend and I celebrated our birthdays here together, and the food was phenomenal. Service was excellent. The 10 delicious courses were delivered at a steady pace, and we were full and satisfied by the end. There was one dish in particular that we can't stop thinking about: corn pasta with smoked mussels and sun gold tomato. I wish I could eat it again. The dessert, a fig and almond tart, wasn't my favorite, but the savory dishes were all amazing. I can't wait to return to Sun Moon Studio for another meal!

As a Taiwanese-American, I've been wanting to try Sun Moon Studio...but as everyone knows,…read morereservations are tough. I looked for fun sporadically a couple of times in the past, never at the scheduled noon releases 6 weeks prior to the dot. However, I somehow lucked out and managed to snag a reservation whilst looking on a random afternoon a month out. Parking is pretty easy as there's plenty of street parking. We got a spot right outside the restaurant and got seated at a 2-top by the window. Tasting menu was $180/person but I think that it changes month to month. I think November is $216/person. We also opted for beverage pairings, $125 for the alcoholic pairing and $65 for non-alcoholic. It seemed like the pours for the wines were a bit stingy, whereas they were more generous with my non-alcoholic options. Sarah and Alan seem very down to earth and their enthusiasm for their craft is apparent. Some of the plates reminded me of dishes I grew up eating, but with a fancier twist on it, although the flavors were spot-on. We were celebrating our anniversary and were given complimentary olive oil cakes in addition to the plethora of sweets to round out the night. They also accommodated my husband's aversion of persimmons. The man won't even eat anything that comes in contact with a persimmon, and we mentioned it last minute as we didn't realize persimmons would be featured on the menu. Staff were very gracious about it though. As a parting gift, we were presented with two mini loaves of ginger molasses cakes to enjoy the next morning. I love it when restaurants do this, as it feels like an extension of the experience to look forward to the following day. The only things that felt a little off was the inconsistency in changing silverware. Sometimes they left used utensils and sometimes they cleared it. If you obviously used it, and left it on the plate, then they would clear. I didn't have an issue, as I was taught to not let used silverware touch the table again, but my husband is hit or miss on etiquette. I figured perhaps it's just a bit difficult to tell if someone has used the settings or not. I left dinner uncomfortably full and my only regret is not asking them to box up the passionfruit cheesecake to go. It was my own fault for getting a drink pairing though, as I think the liquids just took up too much space in my stomach. Would love to return in the future for other celebrations or as Alan said about the last dish of the night, just for fun.

Liberty Duck

See all

Egg custard tart with salmon roe

Portal Oakland

4.1(1.9k reviews)

2.0 mi•East Oakland

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!

0.3 mi•Piedmont Ave, North Oakland

Corner Seating

Grilled Chicken and Jalapeno Burger

See all

BBQ Chicken Wings

Pomet

4.4(258 reviews)

We chose Pomet for my birthday dinner with my husband and parents, and it turned out to be a really…read morelovely evening. We wanted something special, and the goal was met. First, the service. Excellent. Attentive, warm, and full of thoughtful recommendations. We joked afterward that we'd somehow met nearly everyone who works there over the course of the evening. Not sure if this is part of the hospitality model, but we certainly felt well looked after. The food is hyper-seasonal, creative, and clearly the product of people who spend a lot of time thinking about ingredients. We started with the fig salad with smoked fig vinaigrette, and this was the star of the table for me. Just exceptional. Now, because we were dining with Midwestern parents, our ordering was perhaps a little more conservative than my usual approach. Carbohydrates were well represented. Let's leave it at that. Still, I was thoroughly impressed. Everyone loved the ugly mushrooms. I suspect this is the current must-order dish on the menu. What a stunner. Not sure who decided to call them ugly, but I think the mushrooms are doing just fine for themselves. I also loved the pacing of the meal. It reminded me of some of my favorite dining experiences in Spain, where dinner is an actual event and nobody seems particularly concerned with getting you out the door. Courses arrived at a lovely rhythm, giving us time to enjoy everything and, more importantly, each other's company. I was pleased that the Midwestern contingent appreciated this approach as well. For the grand finale, we ordered four of the six desserts. Apparently we'd decided to make up for our earlier lack of culinary adventurousness. One was a blueberry ice cream sundae with corn and a very tart crème anglaise-style sauce. I did not enjoy this one. Not even a little. But I appreciated the ambition, and I'll always give a restaurant credit for trying something interesting rather than serving another predictable chocolate dessert. All in all, a fantastic birthday dinner. Pomet strikes a balance of thoughtful, inventive cooking and genuinely warm hospitality. We've been talking about the meal for days, which is usually a good sign. Highly recommend for a special occasion. And perhaps bring a few adventurous eaters. Or Midwestern parents. Apparently both can have a good time.

Service was great and food was even better. This place gets extra points for allowing dogs at the…read moreoutdoor dining area. Don't worry about being cold, they provide heat lamps and blankets. We ate inside and the staff was super attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. The Hokkaido milk rolls were incredibly fluffy with just a touch of sweetness from the milk. Paired perfectly with the butter. My favorite dish which I will order every time is the ugly mushroom caramelle. I can see why it has remained a staple on the menu. Savory and filling with the perfect ratio of mushroom to pasta. The sticky toffee pudding is also a must-have, and the tea comes with the cutest little cookie. I'll be back!

0.6 mi•Temescal, North Oakland

Inside area

Korean Fried Duck Leg w/ honey garlic soy glaze, seasonal house pickles ($24 + $3 radish kimchi)

See all

Ugly Mushroom Caramelle w/ SHARED CULTURES kombu garlic miso, breadcrumbs ($24)

North Light

4.4(301 reviews)

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.

1.4 mi•Adams Point, Lower Hills

Falafel wrap + add feta

See all

Outside seating

Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt

4.0(1.5k reviews)

My first time in Grand Lake , I ordered Hank's Plate and it was very delicious! I had to take…read moreleftovers home because I tend to eat very little but it was delicious both fresh and as leftovers after reheating! :) And the server at the time (I forgot her name) was very accommodating and hospitable! Answered even my questions about what mayonnaise they used since I really enjoyed it! The second time in Grand Lake, my family and I were served by Isa! We were very lucky to get seats since there were 7 of us, so I thank you to whoever was able to make that happen. Isa was a lovely server, she attended to our needs and answered our questions with great energy, politeness, and was informative. It was a great pleasure having her as our hostess! The food was delicious, my family ordered an array of things and it seemed like everyone was satisfied since there were no leftovers by the end of it! I got to sample all of the food except for the soup of the day and they were all delicious!! One thing I didn't get to take a picture of was the polenta and it was AMAZING !! :) The ambiance was busy since this place is pretty popular it seems! The decor fits the theme of the restaurant well and I appreciate the extra seats available outside the establishment! :)

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.

0.3 mi•Piedmont Ave, North Oakland

Dining room

Savory French Toast tastes awesome when you break the egg yolk over the toast.

See all

Dozen Donuts, equivalent to four full sized donuts

The Wolf

4.2(568 reviews)

Food, service, ambience - all always stellar and consistent…read more The fall seasonal items - tomato carpaccio was refreshingly delicious and the gulf shrimp pasta was a deliciously unusual tomato sauce mixed with a spatter of basil pesto, over a most delicious pasta cooked to perfection.

I just began going to the wolf this month and my favorite time to go is for brunch…read more I had been hearing so much about the fried chicken salad that they have and I tried it - it was so amazing - I also added a side of aioli to dip my chicken in (hack). I also tried the gazpacho which was very refreshing. The bar is so beautiful and let's in a lot of sunlight. I was greeted by 2 amazing bartenders - Miguel and Stacey who took great care of me , and made the best espresso martinis! I definitely will be back !

The dining area

Strawberry Crostini - sweetness of the strawberries and honey perfectly offset the savory richness of the whipped feta

See all

Duck liver pâté comes with this adorable fried biscuit. The late was sinfully delish!!

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

3 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Morgan H.

3 years ago

Delicious bowls that make me feel so satisfied and energized. The poke bowl was probably the highest quality tasting poke bowl I've ever had, it was perfectly balanced. Rice to fish ratio, lack of vegetables and bland rice and fish. You can sample their extensive and delicious kombucha menu, the Melon Rose was my favorite. All the staff are very friendly and welcoming. I had a lovely conversation with Arie and Sam (I think?) about language and culture. Lovely clean bathroom and a lovely space with lots of light, high ceilings and plants. I love it what can I say! Can't wait to bring my mom here who is on a whole low fat diet. She can't eat at most restaurants but I saw so many options for her here!!! I spent the afternoon here working remotely after many lunches. read more

Ewan P.

3 years ago

We really enjoy this place due to the food being delicious (the ranch is soooooo goooooooood) and the staff is always friendly and helpful. It's been so great to find a 100% gluten-free menu due to my partner being celiac. The only thing I would give feedback on is the protein options. I would love to see grilled salmon and tofu in the future but I'll keep coming back in the meantime :) Dietary restrictions: Gluten free kitchen! read more

T S.

6 years ago

Food was delicious and service was exceptional!! I will definitely be back here soon!

Kitava - newamerican - Updated November 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Oakland, California Restaurants near Kitava

BEST of Oakland, California Coffee near Kitava

BEST of Oakland, California Desserts near Kitava

BEST of Oakland, California Things to Do near Kitava

BEST of Oakland, California Cocktail Bars near Kitava

BEST of Oakland, California Breakfast near Kitava

BEST of Oakland, California Parking near Kitava

BEST of Oakland, California Dinner near Kitava

BEST of Oakland, California Shopping near Kitava

BEST of Oakland, California Wineries near Kitava

Best of Oakland

Things to do in Oakland

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Kitava also viewed

Daytrip Counter

4.5

(127 reviews)

First time at Daytrip counter. I knew this place was going to be good because I love tender…read morerotisserie chicken, soft serve and kombucha. I also purchased the cookie. The black sesame coconut cookie is super buttery and very strong tasting. I recommend a coffee, a dark coffee to go with it. The chicken was melt in your mouth tender. Hands down the best rotisserie chicken I've ever had my life. I used to go to Joinery in Sausalito for rotisserie chicken but not anymore. So good I think I'm willing to move to Temescal just to be close. I got the combo half chicken. It comes with one salad, one side and one sauce for the chicken. The chicken doesn't need any sauce because it's perfectly tasty as it is. However the pesto sauce is delightful. I loved the pesto sauce and highly recommend it. The Club Med salad had everything in it. I am biased because I eat Mediterranean. The Med salad had green olives and gigante beans in it. The beans were still warm. There were so many flavors in this salad. The sheep feta is so fresh in it. High quality. I also loved the roasted cauliflower which is a pain to make at home. It was melt in your mouth tender and goes really well with the lemon tahini sauce and olive oil. All this for $40 and $3 for the cookie. Tip is 18% minimum for the preset lowest option. The lady at the counter was so friendly and kind. The music was lively. All in all, just a super cool place to come eat for the best healthy and tasty food available in North Oakland. I'm coming back soon again!

When my bf asked me where I wanted to eat for our anniversary dinner, I knew exactly where I wanted…read moreto go! Once again, we have found ourselves at daytrip counter. We ordered the same thing as last time, the "combo #1." In this combo, we got: the crispy spicy salad, the sesame cauliflower, and the half bird with lemon tahini sauce. I also tried to the black sesame coconut cookie, this time. As usual, everything was super fresh and delicious. I thought the cookie was super fun and different, it's kind of a mixture between a macaroon & a cookie. It has a nice balance of sweet and salty, as well. This is currently my favorite meal at the moment, and it never disappoints! This little counter service spot always has the best vibes, and I will keep coming back! :)

Aman Cafe

4.7

(187 reviews)

The roti was absolutely the best. Incredible comfort meal. Server was kind and friendly. Definitely…read morea nice spot to have a chill lunch. Pretty quiet and lower in noise level

This is a cute spot in Oakland! It not too fancy- you order at the counter and the waiter brings…read moreyour food to you. The seating is a bit limited, so beware if you're a larger group! The roti is light and crispy. I took a star off because the portions are SMALL. The plates are definitely not big enough to share. On top of that, there was not much protein in the beef nor tofu dish. The Vietnamese coffee wasn't sweet as the traditional one is, I guess that's up to your preference! The Thai tea was also lighter- and able to be ordered with almond milk! Overall this place was good for a light lunch!

Ashby Eatery

4.8

(41 reviews)

Let's keep this sweet little spot alive. it has everything…read moreto love: laid-back, friendly people, a great menu for any time of day, delicious sangria, a cute little patio with plenty of tables and chairs and umbrellas, and parking! We have tried a bunch of different food, and witnessed other customers raving about their orders too. And Biscuits! Please tip this hard working small team.

Pros: yummy food, ample seating, and free parking Cons:…read moreslow service My friends and I came for a quick lunch before visiting the Lacis museum. We ordered avocado toast, biscuit sandwich, and spicy smoked turkey and provolone sandwich on gluten-free toast. We got our drinks within 10 minutes of ordering. Our food though, took 30 minutes or more. When I checked on our food, they said it would take another 10 minutes but they were almost done. We were the next order. The service staff said that they had DoorDash orders as well. My sandwich was good as it was spicy as well as smoky, and the salad had garbanzo beans and even cherry tomatoes. While I enjoyed the table in the back, I am not sure about the wait. I ended up pushing back our museum tour so we can finish our lunch before the visit. We bussed our table as well.

Plenty

4.4

(189 reviews)

My go to order is the Butter Miso Salmon Bowl. 5/5…read more If you're health conscious or want something healthier to eat, I'd highly recommend this restaurant. Food is delicious, comes out quick, and keeps you within your macros. You'll also feel much better after eating here than a near by burger joint. They also provide weekly or monthly specials and I'd highly recommend trying any specials out when you get a chance because it will blow your mind at an insane value. Jack & Asuka are phenomenal owner-chefs and are super friendly. They also have a special 6 course prix-fixer menu at a super cheap value for a casual fine dining evening once every other weekend. Definitely an underrated restaurant in Oakland.

my friend picked this place and i was expecting another basic salad spot, but it ended up being way…read morebetter than that. everything looked fresh the second it hit the table. lots of color, good portions, and food that actually felt like somebody cared when they made it. i got a bowl and was surprised how filling it was. usually healthy leaning places leave me hunting for snacks an hour later lol. flavors worked really well together and nothing tasted like it came out of a package. prices felt reasonable too. not cheap, but for the quality and portion size i thought the value was solid. the staff were friendly in a genuine way. quick when we needed something, but otherwise let us relax and enjoy our meal. service felt easy and natural. the ambience was probably my favorite part. bright, casual, artsy without trying too hard. people were hanging out, chatting, playing games, working on laptops. it had that comfortable neighborhood vibe where you can stay awhile and nobody seems bothered by it. def the kind of place i could see becoming part of a regular lunch rotation. good food, nice people, and a space that feels welcoming from the moment you walk in. really enjoyed it.

Cholita Linda

4.4

(2.3k reviews)

ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!! The Cubano and the Mango Strawberry Agua are the best thing that ever…read morehappened to me and changed my life. I would 10/10 recommend, and would definitely come back for more.

Love this place because of the bright, colorful, and tropical interior! Also their Baja fish taco…read moreis sooo good because the fish is really crispy and flavorful. I also like that the service is really fast! You order first, find a seat, and they'll bring your food to your table pretty quickly

Palmita

4.7

(23 reviews)

The management for this restaurant is _extremely_ responsive to concerns expressed by customers…read more That's a huge plus for me, as I have a significant soy and legume allergy, so having management/staff who care about their customers is incredibly important! The menu looks very interesting; I wish we had been able to eat there while we were in Oakland for our granddaughter's wedding.

Door dashed lunch after arriving home from a long weekend trip in Vegas and let me tell you, this…read moreis exactly what I needed. Got the chicken ensalada with the mole sauce and a side of the marinated tofu. The pulled chicken was the absolute star!! The mole was a little thick for my liking (but prob just a preference thing/wanted a dressing for my salad) and just bc the chicken is THAT good, I think I'll skip the marinated tofu next time. The purple cabbage/cauliflower and beans+ corn were good (nothing special). But I am a sucker for pickled onions and these added on top were GREAT!! I try not to order lunch when I'm at home, but if I'm ever in the need, or want a light dinner- will 100% order again and maybe try a different sauce!

Me & Jungle Cafe

4.5

(248 reviews)

Okay...we stumbled on this place following a mellow tub session at Piedmont springs. I can't…read morebelieve we got so lucky discovering this hidden gem. We went in for a nice cup of tea... But let me tell you, it was the extensive selection of delicious rice paper wraps/rolls that were TO DIE FOR!!! Easily one of my top three finds for this year!!!! We did the Miso Tuna roll, and it was sublime... Super attentive and friendly service, delivering the freshest, most fragrant and delicious rolls I think I've ever tried. Get the combo of the peanut and green sauce...and saturate the roll with the vinegary herbaceous green sauce...it's a taste that immediately made me sit up and take notice. Like new synapses were engaged... I cannot recommend highly enough. It was a cozy cafe with amazing Vietnamese inspired snacks...WE WILL BE BACK!!!

The place is cute, right on Piedmont ave with such a great back patio. The drink menu is really fun…read morewith unique coffee offerings and so many great tea and lemonade options. I can see why this is a Yelp favorite for a meetup. However, the food didn't do it for me. While it's pricey, portions are large. However, the Oakland wrap I had was pretty underwhelming. Bright fresh crisp veggies rolled into a wrap with a spicy cilantro lime dressing. The Oakland came with chicken and it was unappetizing. It was flavorless, and chewy and looked funky. Not freshly cooked seemingly. It gave off bagged chicken vibes. The spicy cilantro lime sauce was overpoweringly spicy. The whole thing didn't work for me. My friends salad, was pricey, and huge, but again, a little underwhelming when it came down to the salad. A lot of greens with a half of an avocado, dressed. Overall, drinks and maybe the pastries, yes. Such a cute and relaxing cafe to catch up with friends or solo dine. If you happen to be a vegan or very veggie forward, this may call out to you more, but as someone who appreciates veggies and fresh eats, this still rang up as underwhelming and not quite worth the price tag.

Wally's Cafe

4.6

(2.1k reviews)

Wally's Cafe is a great spot for Mediterranean food in the East Bay…read more We ordered delivery for this spot for a night in and it was the best decision. We wanted something that tasted fresh, healthy, and was filling and our friend that live in Alameda heard about this so we decided to give it a try. I got a combo plate to share with my boyfriend and it was such a huge portion. The flavors were so good and everything was delicious. Even split between two people, we had leftovers after. The delivery was pretty speedy and everything was packaged well and tasted fresh.

I have a thing for hole-in-the-wall restaurants in the truest sense. The focus is almost entirely…read moreon food, no fuss it's so to the point, and usually there are one or two things that are so good they explain why the place has a following. Wally's Cafe fits that description perfectly. You walk down a nondescript alley lined with flags to a simple counter, two tables outside, and the sound of the grill sizzling in the back. The first surprise was a complimentary lentil soup, garlicky and comforting, with little bits of rice running through it. But the beef shawarma wrap was easily the best part of the meal. The wrap came hot and toasted, packed with juicy pieces of beef with properly charred edges, tahini, tzatziki, onions and tomatoes. Dipped into the toum, every bite had that great combination of char, garlic, acidity, creaminess and freshness. I know a lot of people get Wally's to go, but I genuinely don't understand why. This is something to eat IMMIDIATELY, while the bread is still warm and the meat has just come off the grill. The chicken pomegranate wrap was good, but more similar to wraps I've had elsewhere and didn't have quite the same layering of flavors. Was hoping for more. And finally, complimentary baklava. Crispy, filled with pistachio and almond, and best of all, not soaked in sugar syrup. That's what I like about a real hole in the wall, a small menu, no distractions, and one thing good enough to make the whole trip worthwhile. At Wally's, it's the beef shawarma.

Kitchen Story

4.0

(1.4k reviews)