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    Limewood Bar & Restaurant

    3.4 (516 reviews)
    PriceyNew American
    Open 7:00 am - 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM - 3:30 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Limewood Bar & Restaurant Photos

    LIMEWOOD BAR & RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Limewood Bar & Restaurant

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    Reviews With Photos

    Carnitas hash
    Cheryl R.

    Beautiful views from this upscale restaurant in the Claremont Resort. Service was attentive. The food was very good. We enjoyed the French toast with berries and blueberry thyme syrup. The bagel with lox was a bit over toasted, but edible. The carnitas hash was delicious. Coffee was strong and was topped off regularly.

    Branzino
    Stephanie D.

    Not sure why this isn't better rated, but this place is incredible. My friend brought me here to celebrate my birthday and I was amazed by the view and the food. The service was impeccable, and the waiter went above and beyond. Extremely attentive, and always asking us if we needed anything additional. We ordered quite a bit for 2, but we couldn't decide what we wanted to get so we got a little of everything. Branzino was a 10/10. Extremely fresh, flaky, and delicious. We got a pulled steak sandwich and that was also delicious. The grilled onion along with the sweetness of the bread, honestly burst in my mom. The mussels are so addicting! The garlic w the wine sauce reduction was so good. The crisp of the bread made it perfection! Also, fries is a must in my book! A nice little surprise - they brought me a cheesecake which I couldn't stop eating.

    The cutesy bathroom
    Samantha W.

    So I apologize in advance for the lack of photos. Once I got my drink I completely forgot the assignment. However Limewood is a great time, the service was great only reason I gave 4 stars was due to the menu being a little lack luster for such a beautiful location. The items ordered were pretty good My drink was the Claremont surprise-delicious My husband had the mezcal magic it too was tasty We shared: the Parker house rolls An octopus dish the 24oz braised short rib The truffle fries We had the butter cake for dessert and I ended my night with the lime drop Everything was pretty good, not to die for but by no means bad I'd like to try their brunch

    View from our table
    Kelley K.

    Solid 4. Ambiance is fabulous! View if Berkeley, Oakland & San Francisco! Wait staff was kind and attentive. The man behind the closed bar at 11:25 Monday 10/13, was abrupt & a tad rude. On to the food: I had the Rock fish sandwich & my neice had the mushroom omelet. All dishes were beautifully plated! The cod was too thin, not very much fish. And the omelet did not have any cheese. I know not all omelets have cheese, but apparently this one needed it. Their complementary birthday cheesecake was very good! I highly recommend for a very wonderful setting, nice vibe & kind staff.

    Pancakes with pear
    Heather M.

    Beautiful views and good service! We have enjoyed dinner before. Tonight dishes seemed to lack a little something compared to other nights. We started with the Parker house rolls which are always a must get! Huge fluffy rolls With marrow butter. The octopus was the best dish of the night!! Tender and flavorful! The burger was good but not as good as past times. We upgraded to truffle steak fries- wedges of potato covered in truffle aioli. The pasta was ok- not as good as past visits. It just seemed to lack something to make it special. The Cobiq was good but again lacking in anything amazing. Martinis are great but over priced at $27. Past experiences have been better so we will be back.

    Breakfast Plate

    The brunch menu lacks options and creativity. I was disappointed that there was only one salad option, more so it was greens, cheese and croutons. I would not recommended the Brunch. The view was awesome. The presentation of most plates was average see photos.

    View of the Bay.
    SK G.

    The fourth star is for the view, otherwise would have been three only! We made a reservation for outdoor. The table for two is a really small table. Our request for a bigger table was frowned upon and ignored, even though the place was only about half full. The weekend brunch Menu is super limited. A few more options would be greatly appreciated! After ordering drinks, we ordered a gem salad to share and a smash burger to share. The kitchen did send the salad in two plates and sliced the burger in half. However, both were brought to the table at the same time! So, do we eat the salad first, and let the burger get cold?! Ahhh! Would have been so nice to get the burger 10-15' after the salad! Fortunately, the burger was yummy, the fries were meh! The view is amazing! It was a little chilly (in July!} and the tiny heaters were useless! The service was ok, nothing memorable. At this price point, the customer deserves more!

    Seasonal Cake
    Saleen M.

    Amazing restaurant in Claremont Resort & Club! We made a reservation & arrived early. We went to the adjacent bar to grab cocktails & watch the game. When our table was ready, we were greeted happily by Em who took us a to a table near the window with gorgeous views of the property & Berkeley. They have an outdoor seating area & we will definitely come back to dine there for brunch. The menu is overwhelming because everything sounded so good, we could not decide! Thankfully, Em recommended a few of her favorite dishes. Sliders: OMG! Amazing! A must order. The prime rib was tender & juicy (& they give a generous portion), the garlic aioli was loaded with flavor & the roll was buttery & fluffy. Braised Oxtail: The oxtail literally melts in your mouth, wow! Seasonal Cake: Make sure to order this with ice cream! So delicious & the perfect amount of sweetness. We were lucky enough to meet Chef John who came by our table to ensure that we were happy we our meal & we gushed about how lovely every dish was.

    Truffle Fries & Gem Salad (split)
    Gina G.

    With my bestie in town staying at the Claremont Resort & Club for a work conference this week, we were just going to meet downstairs in the lobby for a drink before heading to Shattuck for dinner. It was almost sunset and pro tip, you can order drinks from the Claremont lounge and take them outside to watch the sunset (the hotel has outdoor furniture) to vibe and imbibe. With Limewood Bar & Restaurant opening at 5pm, we figured why leave these views and brews when we could keep the fun going without having to leave. For a weekday, the restaurant filled pretty quickly and felt alive. It had me wondering if this was a mix of guests from my friend's conference, other guests, or if locals come to the restaurant too. Regardless, without a reservation we grabbed a high top and service was quick and efficient ~ we split a bottle of wine and the Gem Salad to start. What I loved and appreciated from our amazing server was that she made a note for the kitchen to split the salad to serve to us. While splitting a salad with one other person is usually the norm done at the table, it was so nice to sit back, relax, and have the salad cut already for us by the kitchen ready to consume. Also for a mom to not have to cut anything additional when out with a friend is really nice :) We then shared the Steak Sliders and Truffle Fries. Our server asked if for the truffle fries we wanted regular thin fries or the russet wedges that come standard with the dish. She mentioned the truffle fries are served with a few thicker potato pieces on a plate ~ we wanted to sip on our wine and nosh on regular truffle fries and not the thicker cut, so pro tip..ask for the regular fries! Again, much appreciated tip from the server to ensure our meal was to the standard we wanted. Lastly, the Steak Sliders. Man, I've heard about these 'Parker House Rolls' served here from a Check, Please! Bay Area episode, but truly these rolls and this shareable app which turned into a meal for us, drove it home to 5 stars. From the menu, the Steak Sliders include 'shaved prime rib, black garlic aioli, mushroom escabeche, and fiscalini cheddar' ~ they did not disappoint..decadent, photo-worthy (check my snaps), and the perfect close to a long day with comfort in every bite. The rolls actually come by themselves as a starter app served with bone marrow butter. I've been to this restaurant a few years ago and had the smash burger (still on the menu) ~ def. recommend if the tour de smash throughout the East Bay is your thing. Looks like Limewood does breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and a late night menu served until 10:30p including these epic sliders. You can validate your parking by the host stand or taking a ride share if not staying on location, can't beat it! Post meal there was music playing in the lounge so naturally we gravitated that direction to end the evening with some tunes. Overall, an amazing evening and worth every splurge. Because at the end of the day, who knows when I'll be back..but man did it feel like a nice escape to wine and dine with my bestie at such a historic spot in the East Bay!

    Cocktails
    Stephanie Y.

    The views and vibes. Located in the Claremont Hotel, this is an upscale, but hip hotel restaurant with incredible views of SF. They have comfy booths, but also tables with epic window views of the City below. We caught the sunset and it was beautiful. The food is solid. I wouldn't rave, but I wouldn't say anything bad about it, per se, except, yes, it's expensive. Some would say over priced, but again, those views and vibes. The place was busy on a Wednesday night. A mix of a hotel bar scene and patrons for dinner, mostly looking corporate. But I do need to add: the place was well staffed and provided really good service. I was with the family and the kids ate chicken tenders from the kids menu. Bonus: kids under 5 eat free if you're staying at the hotel. I enjoyed my $18 cocktail, but it was small. I ordered the vegetarian dish which was a broccoli steak in a Thai curry sauce with quinoa. It was healthy, which I was going for and solid, if not a wee boring. My husband's fish was good. It was slightly overcooked, and could have used a little side dish action for the price, but overall a solid dish. We ordered gelato for dessert and I mean no complaints there. In the end, while the food isn't going to blow you away, it is good, but it is quite expensive. You're paying for that view, a high level of service and atmosphere. I 100% will return. It felt like a night away from our lives, perched up on the hill enjoying a luxe night out.

    Delicious vegetarian pasta
    susan s.

    We enjoyed our dinner at the Limewood restaurant this week, to celebrate our anniversary. A beautiful view of sunset over San Francisco from our table by the window am- the internal ambiance and views are a definite high point of this location. We loved the rockfish starter and the pasta but the Cordia fish entree was interesting, not our favorite. Our server was kind and gracious as you would expect at the Claremont Hotel.

    Alexa D.

    Ate here while waiting for my room to be ready at the resort, and the food was delicious! The service was also good despite being busy, there were runners filling up water constantly and checking in. The hosts & hostesses were also great, addressing me by name after my meal which made me feel special haha. I had a chicken sandwich which was also great mix of sweet and savory, with the doughy bun and sweet glazed chicken. The chicken was thick and juicy, with the perfect crunchy crust all around! I loved the honey sauce it was glazed in, and the coleslaw was a good touch to balance out all the flavors. I had gotten truffle fries which were nice and crispy! The truffle flavor was there and light, not too overpowering. I was seated on the patio facing the bay, which was nice and the weather was good! There are quite a bit of tables out there which is nice, but felt myself almost staring at people trying to look at the view...It was also mainly covered, so no worries about the sun there! There are also space heaters for the area if needed for the cooler nights. It looked like there was a lot of seating inside as well.

    Menu
    Quandra R.

    It was my birthday weekend so we went and what an awesome experience. We had reservations for brunch so the Hostess immediately had us seated at a table with sweeping views of the East Bay Area all the way to SF. Then we were greeted by our Server who's service was impeccable was attentive, friendly and helpful with menu suggestions. I ordered the Smash Burger which was cooked to perfection. Compliments to the chef! My drink was equally delicious. Parking was affordable and easy to find and the entrance is accessible. Looking for to my next experience.

    Espresso martini

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    1 month ago

    Great view, ambience; the usual lackluster service and below par food. Even with 30% off the bill was high for the quality.

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    Limewood Bar & Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Limewood Bar & Restaurant

    Any gluten free options?

    Hi Bruce, Thank you for your question. Yes, we do have gluten free options at Limewood.… Read more

    Now that Alameda County goes into Red tier, are you reopen for indoor dining?

    Yes. At 25% capacity. Reservations are required and can be made on Opentable or by calling 510-549-8585

    Are you reopen for indoor dining yet?

    We are allowed indoor dining at 25% occupancy at this time.

    Will you be open on thanksgiving 2020? Is there a fix price? Thanks

    Currently we are only allowed for outdoor dining. No buffets due to County guidelines. Although things change monthly. We are planning a Turkey to go option. And will announcing the details in about a month. Our website will have updated information… Read more

    If I have a party of 25, would it a prefix menu and do I need to put down a deposit?

    Thank you Connie! For a party of this size we would seek to create a custom menu in order to ensure a seamless experience. In addition, we would require a certain guaranteed minimum and we would be delighted to provide specifics if you would care… Read more

    Will you be serving thanksgiving dinner and how much?

    Yes, we will be open on Thanksgiving and serving our normal a la carte menu. You can make reservations by calling, 510-549-8585. Hope to see you soon!

    Is the Social Hour M-F 3-5:30p?

    Correct. HAPPY HOUR: 3:00-5:30 PM (Mon-Fri)

    View All 11 Questions

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    4.3(2.4k reviews)
    0.8 miRockridge, Elmwood, North Oakland
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    Those who know me, know that I'm not a fancy guy. Which is why I always get the reliable pastrami…read moresandwich at this place. It's good and a solid meal for the price point. The pastrami sandwich comes on a baguette, which I love. It's nice to sharpen my teeth on that crunch. The pastrami itself is made in house, and it's delicious. They cut it fresh. It also comes with a small side of coleslaw. They use a Dijon dressing that is absolutely fantastic. Be sure to ask for extra dressing.

    I have been wanting to try this place for a few months and its so hard to grab reservation. I was…read morefinally able to after trying for a few months. The food in this place was good but the service was so bad at some point I felt like it was a torture. The place was kind of empty not too many table were full but the waiter just would be gone for long and wouldn't come ask if we needed anything. The wait between meals like appetizer and main course was so long not because of kitchen but the server was just gone for long at a stretch. I had to ask him to come and same with after our meal was finished he never came to ask if we needed dessert, The waiter on other table saw us a few times and he finally came and gave us a menu. I really wanted to try a dessert but was scared this will again take us another hour to even get the server to come and get our order. On top of really slow service there was an older man who sat in the table next to us and kept talking to us looking at our food. He literally was asking me if you support trump do you like him. He kept telling us how he knew the owner and his wife and has come to this place for 100 times over years and everything is free for him here. This was all ok but I wasn't sure why he wasn't letting us eat our meal in peace. At some point he became a little racist as well, when we tried to take our food goto he told us i won't take this goto. I never take this goto. And then was like ohh you are from India and it felt so uncomfortable. He was like do you watch fox, I watch fox. Then was like I have cable, I don't try to save money. Do you have cable.. omg never ending interrogation and also kept looking at our food and table and what we were eating and kept commenting on that. I understand this restaurant might have some old and familiar guest or important people come to this place but they should understand other guest should still be able to enjoy there meal without being bothered by the people who are known. It was one of my worse restaurant experiences, the service and on top of this man who somehow is VIP guest at this place made it so hard for us to have our date night meal in peace. I literally tried to run away from this place. This was almost 2 hrs long ordeal. We came a little before 6 and left at 8 and I never eat for that long. I'll NEVER go to this place again even though I loved the food.

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    Wood Tavern - Grilled Rib Eye Steak

    Grilled Rib Eye Steak

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    Southie - The Balls ($16) Lance-style

    Southie

    4.3(937 reviews)
    0.8 miRockridge, Elmwood, North Oakland
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    When I think of a sandwich that has the ability to make my mouth water just thinking of it, few…read morecome to mind, but what the sandwiches they make at Southie is definitely one of them. I've had their Spicy Hog, steak with mushroom, a few Cubans, but the one that I always come back to is "The Balls" sandwich. First off, this sandwich is massive, so be sure that you come here on an empty stomach. These beef meatballs are seasoned to perfection and bursting with flavor. The balls are covered in their red sauce with provolone and Grana Padano, which gives it that nutty and salty flavor that pairs extremely well with the meatballs and baguette. All the juices and cheese just get soaked up to perfection. The baguette bread they use is supplied by La Farine, which is just a few meters away from each other. Just putting out there that La Farine is hands down one of the best bakeries in Oakland, so it makes sense that this sandwich would be so dang good. I'll be honest that I'm not a big fan of the chips or those chips in general and could be fine with just the sandwich. If you are going to have any sandwich to eat here first, I would highly recommend you try "The Balls" because I promise you will be disappointed. I will always say that the dozen or so times I've been here, the staff are always so friendly, and the atmosphere is very down to earth. The price of their sandwiches is in the $20 range, but the quality and portion make it totally worth it.

    I was very surprised the pulled pork sandwich was very delicious. The turkey pancetta pesto also…read moregood. What I really didn't like was the bag of potato chips they put on my plate. The texture difference was fine. It needed it, but I would've preferred hand cut potato wedges or french fries with a pulled pork sandwich. I did enjoy my meal and I will come back again. I'd try the meatball sandwich. This was yesterday

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    Southie - Inside bar and seating.

    Inside bar and seating.

    Southie - Sunday Brunch Menu: Poached Eggs & Pastrami Hash ($16)

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    Marica - Twice cooked lobster

    Marica

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    1.5 miNorth Oakland
    $$

    Date: 3/27/2026 Time: 7:25 PM 68° Cool…read more My male companion asked where I wanted to have dinner this evening. I had a taste for Chilean sea bass. A search on this website resulted in Marica having it on their menu. He booked a 7:30 PM reservation for two. We arrived early. What started out as a not too pleasant experience for us was the attitude of the guy who greeted us when we entered the restaurant. Attitude bordered on rudeness (3 star). We somewhat tolerated it, not knowing what to expect next. The restaurant was filled with diners, and the only available seating was not far from the front door. Oh, the chill was in the air, and my not wearing a sweater and/or light jacket to stay warm had me shivering. I had to brave the element (LOL). Since there was no Chilean sea bass on their daily special menu, it took a little longer for my companion and I to peruse the menu, and decide what entrees we were willing to have. Usually I would order an Arnold Palmer as a beverage; however, this time I decided to be adventurous - reisling peach spritz please - to whet my appetite. My date had the Temescal pilsner. Eats: Grilled salmon arange ginger saffron blanc beurre, roasted potatoes and vegetables. Korean short ribs, honey garlic gochujang marinade, mashed potatoes and vegetables. Our meals were on point and bomb-diggity delicious. The arange ginger saffron was perfect with the carrot. It reminded me of glazed carrots. The green beans were fresh and not overcooked. Ooh, the Korean pork ribs were tender and that sauce was sweet and had a subtle kick of spiciness. (Definitely a perfect complement for the pork ribs.) I have to admit the chef knew how to burn. Food tasted so good that figuratively speaking y'all gotta slap the cook and his mama. Ambiance: Comfy and casual. Despite the dining area is small, still it is a great restaurant for dining on a Friday evening. From my perspective and vivid imagination with the indoor lighting, it exuded a romantic atmosphere. Only in my mind I can hear soft jazz in the background. What convinced me to give Marica a 5 star rating? It was none other than Enriqueta, our waitress. She was pleasant, attentive and so accommodating. The chef lost our order ticket; thus, the wait time for our meal took a bit longer than we anticipated. She came to the rescue and comped us with dessert - chocolate souffle with homemade vanilla ice cream. It certainly was a gesture of kindness to have my date and me smiling from ear to ear. Return visit? Yes, mos def...not the rapper for Chilean sea bass. Enriqueta said I can always call to find out what their daily special is.

    We made a reservation for Oakland Restaurant Week and decided on the black cod and the three course…read morespecial menu which consisted of fresh corn and shrimp cream soup sweet and delish, Prince Edward Island Mussels my fave, claypot salmon with signature rice which had a real kick to it, especially the rice, followed by orange creme brulee, tangy and tasty. Service was attentive. Somehow though we ordered the black cod we got the oxtail but notified them immediately and they replaced it with the black cod and gave us a complimentary pannacotta for the mistake. Food was great, just wish there wasn't a quick to the special rice

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

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

    Marica - Marica Seafood Stew

    Marica Seafood Stew

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    Short ribs

    Kitchen Story - Chicken and waffles, very good.  Waffles so sweet, syrup was unnecessary.

    Kitchen Story

    4.0(1.4k reviews)
    1.4 miNorth Oakland
    $$

    Living down the block for years this is the first time I've been to kitchen story. The weekends…read morewhen I would drive by seems like there's always a lot of people here so I made a reservation reservations online and you have the option to choose if you want to sit outside inside or upstairs. I reserved for three to sit in the main dining room. The next day we arrived right on time for our reservation and still had to wait about 10-15 minutes and was asked if we could sit outside and then we were seated upstairs. I was a little bummed we didn't get to sit in the lower dining room like I booked on our reservations. It was still cute upstairs and good company always makes brunch even better. The servers were quick and helpful. I wanted something light so I just ordered the chicken and waffle bites. My husband got French toast and a side of chicken and my friend got a main entrée of a sandwich with some fries and a little soup. All of the food that came out looked amazing even at other people's tables. For brunch, the price is a little pricey, but I would like to come back to try other entrées when I'm more hungry. We asked one of our servers if he had a light as I brought a little candle to celebrate my friend's birthday, and as he lit it, he also decided to join in with us as we sang happy birthday, which I thought was really sweet. He did not have to do. He even got other tables around us to sing happy birthday as well. It felt like a special moment for my friend, which was a nice surprise. I did really appreciate this part and look forward to coming back.

    We visited Kitchen Story for a spontaneous Mother's Day brunch. I will say this is a popular brunch…read morespot, so be prepared for a bit of a wait. We arrived shortly after 10am and our wait was just under 30 minutes. The restaurant is cozy (on the smaller side) but has an interesting layout. There's seating both indoors, outside, and upstairs. You may have to squeeze by a few tables to make your way to the restroom. Customer service was friendly and attentive. Pricing for food & drinks was a bit high. Our total for 2 entrees and 2 drinks was $60 before tip. We ordered two drinks (orange juice and an iced mocha) which were provided promptly. The orange juice was a little too sour and my mom had to add some sugar to improve the taste. The iced mocha was good, not too sweet. One thing to note the wait for our food took much longer than expected, and it may have been due to how busy it was. My mom opted to order the salmon yuzu benedict and I got an egg plate (scrambled eggs) with a side green salad. My mom mentioned the potatoes lacking salt but she enjoyed the salmon benedict. I thought the scrambled eggs were good, but slightly bland & needed salt and pepper. The side green salad was alright, but the vinaigrette had a bitter aftertaste. Overall, the meal was pretty good and timing wasn't the best. I'd likely return for brunch on a non-peak day. Definitely recommend joining the yelp waitlist prior to arriving if you can!

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    Kitchen Story
    Kitchen Story - Mascarpone Stuffed Deep Fried French Toast the outside was more crunchy than expected. Was a bit tough to chew.

    Mascarpone Stuffed Deep Fried French Toast the outside was more crunchy than expected. Was a bit tough to chew.

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    Almond & Oak - Shrimp & Grits w/ shrimp gravy, scallions, poached eggs ($21) + Chive Scrambled Eggs w/ applewood-smoked bacon, potatoes ($19)

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    4.4(423 reviews)
    3.2 miGrand Lake, Lower Hills
    $$

    Very tasty, Southern inspired foods. I loved the spicy chicken sandwich and their cornbread. There…read morewas a wait list on a Saturday morning, but the text to let us know our table was ready came fairly quickly. Our server was very prompt and kind. The restaurant is beautiful, with a full bar and view of their grand oven. Highly recommend to make a reservation here for brunch.

    Came here for lunch with a friend at 1 PM on a Saturday. We came 15 minutes late after our…read morereservation because of parking and they were understanding of it. As soon as you walk in, you're hit with the smell of a campfire from the oven. The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous with an Art Deco design. The ambiance is cozy but elevated. Benedict (buttermilk biscuit, dungeness crab cakes, marinated swiss chard & beet greens, herbed hollandaise, poached eggs & mixed greens): I'm not a huge benedict person because they can feel heavy, but this one was fantastic. I loved the textures and flavors of the crab cakes pairing with the greens and vegetables. It felt balanced and not too creamy or exhausting to eat. It definitely stands out from the run-of-the-mill brunch benedict. Vegetable Hash (roasted sweet potatoes, garnet yams, sunchokes, cauliflower, cremini mushrooms, celery root & onion, savoy spinach & poached eggs): This was also delicious and also set itself apart from the standard brunch hash. I loved the different vegetables in it besides being just potatoes and onions. The mushrooms and root vegetables worked really well together. Everything was well-seasoned. I'm glad we ended up choosing these dishes even though neither were my original top choices (I decided on the menu with my friend). It made me feel like you can choose anything and it'd be a banger. We were quite full from these dishes, and we forget we also ordered beignets to come out last. They were fluffy and mostly air (but not in a bad way). The service throughout the meal was good. We were checked on from time-to-time and our waters were refilled, although I wish the water glasses were a little bigger. One small thing to note was that we were given the check while we were still eating, even though the restaurant was still seating people despite it being close to closing time. Unsure if/why we were rushed like this. Overall, this was a memorable brunch spots I've been to in the Bay (dare I say one of the best?). We left smelling like a campfire. I would recommend it.

    Photos
    Almond & Oak
    Almond & Oak - Baked strawberry rhubarb French toast

    Baked strawberry rhubarb French toast

    Almond & Oak - Eggs Benedict

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    Eggs Benedict

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

    The Wolf

    4.2(545 reviews)
    2.5 miPiedmont Ave, North Oakland
    $$$

    Given that we used to live a block and a half away, the Wolf became more than just a "sometimes"…read morerestaurant; it became our "Cheers." It's our first instinct for a bad day, a celebration day, an outing with friends, showing visitors our neighborhood, and saying hi to our favorite waiter. My last review of the Wolf was written a handful of years ago, during the vegetarian decades of my life. In the years since, I've expanded my diet and tried many, many more of their excellent dishes (even when our entire party orders a steak). Thank you, Wolf staff, for always making our neighborhood night out memorable.

    I came to The Wolf with a group of eight for a celebration dinner on a Friday night, and overall it…read morewas a really enjoyable night. We had reservations, but I arrived a little early so I grabbed a seat at the bar while waiting for the rest of my party. The bar area has a great vibe--lively and energetic--and it's a good option if you can snag a seat and don't have a reservation or want something a little more relaxed. The guy sitting next to me already had a drink, so I asked him what he was having. He told me it was the Kia Ora, a tequila-based cocktail, and said it was really good. It also happened to be the bartender's favorite, so it was getting great reviews all around. I decided to give it a try and I'm glad I did--it was delicious. Not too sweet and really refreshing. The Wolf was definitely busy that night, so I was glad we had made a reservation, especially for a group our size. Once everyone arrived, we were seated at a big round table, which made it nice and easy to talk with everyone. I ordered another drink with dinner, this time the Amante, which is mezcal-based and supposed to have a spicy kick. It was also very good, though I personally didn't taste much of the spice. The service was good and everyone was friendly, though I do wish things had moved a little faster. I know that with a group of eight it can take some time, but we didn't get our food until around 9:15--about 45 minutes after we ordered--and by that point I was definitely hungry. When the food did arrive, it was worth the wait. I ordered the hamburger, which was excellent, and the fries were crispy and perfectly fried. Everyone else in the group seemed really happy with their meals too--though I'll admit I was a little too focused on eating my burger to keep track of what everyone else ordered. Overall, The Wolf is a great spot with a fun atmosphere and really solid food and drinks. I'd definitely recommend it for a date night or a group dinner.

    Photos
    The Wolf - The dining area

    The dining area

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

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

    The Wolf - Lamb pappardelle

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    Lamb pappardelle

    In The Wood - El Nando Pizza

    In The Wood

    4.0(339 reviews)
    0.6 miElmwood
    $$

    We were seated quickly on Saturday afternoon. Waitress wasn't great with English so it was hard to…read moreget answers to our questions. The spinach dip with chips was superb. We even had chips left after eating all the dip, how often does that happen? The steak salad was done perfectly. Would have been nice to have a side plate to cut the meat but we figured it out. The El Gordito Pizza had a great crust and very tasty sauce, just right amount of ingredients. Held up nicely when picked up. Soft drink selection was ok. Really liked the brewery list for beers but come on, know which beer it is from each brewery. How many Hazy IPA does Ghost Town make or West Coast IPA does Original Pattern brew? Asked the waitress to check the keg and she came back and said it was an India Pale Ale. Slap my head! Overall, a very solid experience.

    I wanted to like this place more than I did. The atmosphere is genuinely nice, the service was…read morefriendly, and the food itself looked great and tasted good. My chilaquiles were solid, and while the mole wasn't my favorite style, it had a good kick and was clearly well made. The issue for me is the price. I ended up paying over $30 for an appetizer, chilaquiles, and water, and that just didn't feel like a good value for what I got. This street has a lot of excellent options, including some true five-star spots at similar prices and others that are just better priced for everyday meals. When I'm spending that much for brunch-level food, I expect something that really knocks it out of the park, and this didn't quite get there. Nothing was bad. It was a pleasant experience. I just don't see myself going back given the cost and the competition nearby. If price isn't a concern, you might enjoy it more than I did. For me, it's a solid but expensive meal in a neighborhood with a lot of strong alternatives.

    Photos
    In The Wood - Inside

    Inside

    In The Wood - El Gordito Pizza

    El Gordito Pizza

    In The Wood - Mimosa pitcher + grenadine

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    Mimosa pitcher + grenadine

    Gather

    Gather

    3.8(2.6k reviews)
    1.5 miDowntown Berkeley
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Private events

    My friend and I were looking for some healthy options and after a quick Yelp search we found this…read morerestaurant. Once we arrived, we were able to find a street parking spot! There was no wait time and we were able to get a table. The server was very sweet. I am vegetarian and was looking for veg options. She went through the menu with me and helped me think through. I got the vegan spicy tomato pizza and my friend got the shakshouka. We also got some herbal tea to go on the side. The tea came out pretty quickly and tasted great. The food also came out pretty quickly. The presentation of the pizza was top notch and I could not wait to dig in. The portion size was adequate. The vegan cheese was yummy and the spice level of the pizza was just right. The pizza was packed with flavor and thin crust! My friend liked the shakshouka too. He said it was flavorful and tasted great! Over all, we loved this restaurant. The ambiance is very welcoming and they have farm to table concept. If you are looking for a nice restaurant with farm to table theme, look no further!

    Gather nails the farm-to-table concept and was very highly recommended by my vegetarian friends. We…read morecame here after class one day; even with our last-minute planning, we were able to secure a table for the six of us that evening. We shared a plate of the tossed green salad and crispy Brussels sprouts, in addition to two pizzas - Fun-Gi and the Spicy Tomato. The crispy Brussels sprouts stole the show - the deep-frying created a smoky flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture that was equally loved by vegetarians and non-vegetarians in the group. The tossed salad was decent; the lettuce was heavily coated with oily dressing, which I think could have used more acidity. The Fun-Gi pizza was our favorite of the two pies - the hint of truffle oil and rosemary took this mushroom pizza to the next level. I also loved the light and airy crust, which had the perfect amount of crispiness. I wasn't as much of a fan of the Spicy Tomato pizza; while I really liked the unexpected sweetness from the tapenade, the cashew cream drizzle seemed out-of-place. The ambiance of the restaurant was whimsical and warm, providing the perfect backdrop for my friends to linger over our meal. The outdoor seating also looked very charming, and I imagine it would be nice to dine here on a warm, summer evening.

    Photos
    Gather
    Gather
    Gather

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    Limewood Bar & Restaurant - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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