Me? A Wino? But, of course! I totally had to try out some delicious wine over at Ordinaire and im already itching to go back. Arrived on a whim at around 7pm and the place was definitely the spot to be. Not too many folks outside, but there were tons of people in their outside "patio" I chatted up the bartender for a sec before snagging one of the funky wines. So delicious. I'm a natural wine fan so, my pick was perfect for me. I went, sipped, and sat for about 45 minutes; soaking up the last bits of daylight while spying on folks nearby. Such a nice afternoon activity and Ordinaire was the perfect backdrop. read more

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Visited Ordinaire for the second time, this time to celebrate a friend's birthday. The folx who worked there allowed us to taste the wines we were interested in, and let us know about the wine bottle deal, which we decided to do since we both wanted the sparkling rose. We also ordered the three cheese plate, which was much needed because of all the wine. The vibes were welcoming, other guests were friendly too, and it was a wonderful to celebrate a friend, relax, read, catch up, and just be. Would recommend! read more

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delicious wine, great selection. nice server. lots of cute dogs. yummy sardines. interesting na options including cactus spritz. read more

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Ordinaire continues to be exquisite with unparalleled deals! I tried the meat option yesterday and good gracious, the salami was spectacular. I love their outside seating is so fun, especially with the nice weather! read more

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We loved our wine and cheese combo a must try for sure , also im pregnant and i loved that they had kombucha as a nice sparkling sub for me read more

Ordinaire - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Cute wine bar in the neighborhood. Love the music curation. It's intimate for a date night, and quiet enough for a conversation. I like that it has the option of the outdoor parklet when the weather is nice! Will come back again. read more

First time here .... I came on Sunday Nice place to chill and enjoy a glass of wine Ambiance is nice Michelle was our server She is very knowledgeable and friendly Venue is clean and well organized Prices are reasonable They sell wine from local areas There is limited indoor seating and also a spacious parklet with outdoor seating Street parking only Parking is metered No private parking lot They do offer charcuterie boards and other cheese read more

Ordinaire - Everything is ok and A glass of Emmj - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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New to East bay and wanted to find some natural wines. This spot was a rec from a friend of mine, at first glance I was very impressed with the selection. I'm pretty sure you will find something that fits your wants and needs here. Staff was very knowledgeable (Daniel, thanks bro!). Bonus: they have a front patio where you can enjoy some of the wines they are showcasing. On a nice day you really can't go wrong so just grab a glass and enjoy yourself because maaaan life is too short!! Cheers y'all!! read more

Today was the absolutely best weather we've had in a long time. I was eager to find somewhere cute and quaint to enjoy a glass of wine while wrapping up the walk with my dog. Ordinaire had a friendly lady serving the wine glasses who was very helpful in suggesting a good glass when I gave her my preferences. They allow dogs inside while you order and have a cute picturesque parklet outside for you to sit with your doggo afterwards. Will be back! read more

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I stopped into Ordinaire after getting several recommendations, and was not disappointed. The music was on point (inside), staff was super friendly, and the wine selection was fabulous. An added perk; their cozy parklet offers outdoor seating and great vibes when the weather permits (: read more

Glad to have this neighborhood spot. It's always lively and a great place to stop in for some wine. Don't like that they try to shove their politics at you while sitting inside- there's an enormous Palestinian flag and free Palestine signs which really took away from the experience and made a lot of my group uncomfortable read more

I only took a few videos of the interior so will leave those out of my review This is a wonderful wine shop! So many interesting wines about. Nothing you'll find at big box store in the city. Non traditional producers. I would come here to buy wines again. Not a fan of their cheese plate but I mean the wine definitely makes up for it. Customer Service is laidback I would say great but they were friendly enough. Check it out for sure read more

Ordinaire - Bathroom poster - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Really lovely wine bar on a fun, busy area of Oakland. The people behind the bar were friendly and knowledgeable for providing recommendations to your taste. I loved how non-pretentious the vibe was! My party sat outside and enjoyed a few bottles and charcuterie boards. The bottles that our friends ordered were super reasonably priced as well, in the 30s and 40s. The interior atmosphere is so charming and would be wonderful for a casual date in an intimate setting. The cheese and meat board comes with a soft cheese, hard cheese, meat terrine, sliced salami, and sliced bread. All for $20 which was fair! The toasted bread slices were an interesting flavor profile, but I think we would have preferred some baguette or crostini material for some additional crunch/texture. Still, it was quite yummy! There are some other lounges/wine bars on the same street so I would definitely come back to enjoy drinks on a night out in Oakland. read more

Ordinaire - Salami board, meat and cheese board - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Cute and hip! I thought it was a cute and very hipster wine bar, with cool music and reasonable pricing. I would def go back. They use old wooden elementary school-like furniture that worked really well with the place. Most people here were in their early thirties, casual attire. Walk-in or date approved! Toast! read more

It's an A-ok spot. Not bad by any means, but definitely not a place I'd go out of my way for. Limited indoor and outdoor spots, my friend and I posted up at the bar to enjoy some wine. The $3 "jar" of almonds was ultimately like 15 of them. The wines on tap were solid and and the least expensive option priced at $8 and $9 per glass. The rose was smooth and my friend enjoyed her red. The bartender offered no info on either of the wines. Honestly, the first bartender was as friendly and warm as a door. I'm not a super stickler on service, but it was noticeable how uninterested he was in having an experience with me as a customer. His counterpart however offered a bit more personality into the experience. Part of going out is yes, the food and wine, but the other part? The experience and interactions you have, especially at an intimate neighborhood wine bar. Overall, a small sampling of almonds and 5 glasses of draft wine was about $90. read more

I'm no expert on wine and I don't play one on TV either (ba dum sh!) but my friends who are much more into wine think this place is basically the best and I don't disagree. Pretty much every wine I've had here, or bought to take home, has been excellent. Going in for recommendations, I don't feel like they're judging me based on my list of criteria (or lack thereof) which is nice because wine can be a bit intimidating. Hopefully their parklet is here to stay since it seems to be a real hit. read more

Best date spot quaint, low key spot. The staff provides the best suggestions and education on the wine. The owner is super friendly and offers solid menu. Best spot to grab a drink or have a small gathering. read more

Ambiance- fun relaxed wine bar Wine - wide variety of natural wines Service - great group of folks extremely knowledgeable about the wines they have Cost - affordable read more

Wanted to love it. Liked it. Can't get them for false advertising because the wines were definitely ordinaire. It was crowded so it is beloved by lots of people. I just felt like I was drinking an "ok" glass of wine out of an "ok" glass. I've probably been spoiled by the experience at Bay Grape. If I hadn't been there, this would be a four star place. read more

Ordinaire - Um, Ordinaire. - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

This is not just based on the photo I am sharing from Ordinaire website and the experience of today. I have been here in the past and just didn't feel very welcome. I came in on Christmas Eve because Bay Grape website listed them closing at 4. I went to Ordinaire website and it clearly said they close at 6 on Dec 24. The problem is not that they were closing. At 4:15 the guy was closing the blinds and I asked if they were closing. I was thinking the closed at 6 since their website said that. He said. Yea. You can grab a bottle and go tho. I told him it said online the close at 6 and his response was "well I'm a real human". I guess that's reasonable if your trying to be rude. Point being. I get it. It's Christmas Eve. Please tell the real human that updates your website to talk to the real human that manages this store and tell the real humans who work there that real humans shop there. Just not this one. Please take your business to Bay Grape read more

Ordinaire - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Selection is great as far as natural wines go, but the attitude of the staff is just far off-putting and disappointing. I've always given the stories of unacceptable snobbery the benefit of the doubt--though nearly all my friends adamantly won't ever go back to Ordinaire after a bad experience. Still, I am not so sensitive of a person and I appreciate what they're doing in Oakland. Today, though, I came to their curbside table to get a few wines and was met with such a cliche snobbery that it just felt really sad and uncool. I think today was my last day spending money there as well, and it's a shame because I do love natural wine and supporting small businesses like Ordinaire. I hope the girl who helped me likes her $20 tip for those bottles I bought from her. read more

We appreciate Ordinaire's attention to detail. Wines by the glass, either on tap and out of the bottle, with an amazing selection of local and European varietals for purchase. It's nice to now have a local, one-stop shop for wine. We paired various white and red wines with a delicious selection of cheese and meats . . . and had a good time talking about wine with Bradford and his staff. read more

Ordinaire - Welcome to the neighborhood. - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

This laid back wine bar specializes in everyday wine (vin ordinarie) which they sell by the bottle on the shelves and also by the glass at their bar (and if you want to buy a bottle from the shelf and enjoy it by the glass at the bar, they allow you to do just that if you pay the corkage fee). We stopped into Ordinaire before dinner nearby at The Star last Friday night. Whilst perusing the chalkboard menu of by the glass options my eyes caught sight of the flight. For $20 pick any three half glasses and voila! you have a flight. The flight option was definitely the way to go. We tried three excellent whites: one bubbly, one local and one dry Riesling. I liked them all but the Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Riesling is the one I just can't stop thinking about. I love the relaxed, neighborhoody vibe of Ordinaire. The wine dudes here are kind and well-informed and made me feel right at home. Highly recommended if you're in the Grand Lake area. read more

Ordinaire - A great by the glass option - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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This was my second time at this spot and is not very welcoming. I'm not expecting to be greeted with massive hello's and none stop help but at a boutique natural wine shop I expect them to at least offer to assist in selecting wines. To sum it up: we did not receive and help, person who charged us for our wine didn't look up or say thanks for coming in. His coworker didn't seem phased even when we looked his way. Wouldn't recommend to anyone. 2 males working the day of so I can't speak for the other staff. Good selection. Check out Bay Grapes instead it was the exact opposite in service experience and set the bar high for casual wine bars. read more

Eh. Servers have been friendly and helpful and offered tastes, which is nice. Interior is okay, not exciting. I've just never much liked any wine I've had from here. Its all "natural wines," which here seems to mean unpleasantly weird and funky. And in my book, funk belongs in music, not in my wine glass. read more

Cute place with good wine. I've been here several times over the course of 7 years or so though my friends and I tend to prefer Bay Grape because the employees there are much more personable and approachable. The wine is of comparable quality. However, the snacks here are better and the outdoor space is much more spacious. read more

Effortlessly wonderful. I found myself in San Francisco yesterday, tasked with coming up from LA to take a few photos. This worked out much more quickly than planned, and as such, we had some time on our hands. A quick wander in the City with a 50lb backpack proved to be a losing proposition...and then I remembered that we were flying out of OAK, the very city where legendary natural wine destination Ordinaire was located. My companion was down. We called an Uber and away we went. He wasn't aware of the natural wine movement, and had never tasted a skin contact wine before. Walking in felt great. High shelves were filled with bottles of wine from the best producers imaginable. A pair of Frank Cornelissen magnums, the pop of a row of Yann Durieux labels. We got to ordering. First it was two flights, which I would not recommend ordering. I feel that the way to get to the soul of a particular expression is through a full glass at minimum, a shared bottle at best. These small glasses get confusing. So we moved on to a $26 500ML of Maurizio Ferraro's Secondome Vino Blanco, wonderful, textured deep-orange skin contact wine. The charcuterie plate we shared was one of the most delicious and honest things I have ever put in my mouth. It was clear that the selections were of the highest quality, perfectly served. I can't even work up the right words here. Incredible. A charcuterie plate is something that can be awful and generic when done without care and taste; this was a rustic, but simple tour de force. Also, it was refreshing to see low key locals enjoying natural wines together. Clearly neighborhood people, low-key and not trendy hipsters. The take-away is clear: natural wine is about eliminating pretensions, questioning limiting beliefs, and perhaps most importantly, about shared enjoyment between people from all walks of life. Bravo, Ordinaire. :) read more

Love the casual vibe of this place. Many places to roam: *school desks in the front *tasting bar *table *bar Today they were showcasing a small producer from Italy who they are featuring at a private event, 6 tastings for $20. Deal. Typically there is a small menu, but today only cheese was available, great French and local selections, walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds. Bread is from Arizmendi. Full service here, cold Oakland's best and table service for EACH tasting, we didn't want to stand for an hour. Lovely place. Another reason to love Oakland. read more

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Hubby raved about this spot so he took me for our ritual date night. The whole vibe is WEIRD & COLD!!!! Strike one: No greeting, no acknowledgment, no guidance from the staff. Strike two: No wine knowledge! Ol girl didn't know what an old vine concept was. Strike three: Wine was alright (settled for a flight $24) but couldn't even enjoy it given the two aforementioned strikes and ol boy (server) with the stash smoking right outside of the door next to our table, it completely ruined the nose and palette necessary for wine tasting. SMH! We hurried and paid without any notice from the staff! Shocker!! I'd have to be dragged to go back. Too bad as we live in the neighborhood! read more

Ordinaire was my favorite wine bar when I lived in the neighborhood! It's a little pricey but understandably since the all natural wines are always high quality. The atmosphere is also lovely - laid back and quiet, which is great for a date/conversation. I used to love walking down and having a glass with a good book by myself. Totally recommend! read more

The wine selection is fine, yet much is overpriced and very few selections under $20. That's fine, I understand TJ's is up the street. The one star is strictly based on service and knowledge. The men (never have I seen a woman working there) haven't proper people skills. No greetings upon entering (been in 5 or 6 times). After asking for help, I always just receive a few grunts. Nothing beyond 2 syllables. The Frenchman is the only one I've had a pleasant experience with. The others are inept and should perhaps consider different careers where people skills and knowledge of wine aren't necessary. read more

I've always loved this place but first time writing a review... Just ordered delivery from Ordinaire, and we are so very happy! The order form on their website lets you write how much $$$ you want to spend and how many bottles you want, plus the styles or varietals you normally like. Only a few hours later, a wonderful selection of bottles arrives at your door. Not only do you get delicious wine, but you get to support an awesome local business during these difficult times. Thanks, Ordinaire! read more

I have been coming here for several years. The owner and all the staff are super friendly. I have never been disappointed by the wine. It's a great place to come for a drink on a weekend afternoon. They have a restaurant "Mama" which is really good. read more

Decent place to get a glass of wine with a friend but sometimes it's too busy and there's no place to sit. The staff is not attentive and don't really assist you in finding a table. The outside seating is very limited and inside is small as well but the tables closer to the door are best as you don't want to sit in the back area. Surprised they didn't even have any Cabernet in the menu! You can also stand at the bar but know that people will keep coming up to order. read more

Ordinaire - Flight of reds - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

The elitist staff provided some of the snootiest service I have ever experienced in my life. The staff seems to pay more attention to, and give much heavier pours to their friends who are all over the establishment. I could have gotten over that if they treated everyone in the wine bar the same (with the same kindness and enthusiasm) but unfortunately, they did not treat every patron equally. I did attempt to ask questions about the wine and learn more about the shop, which was mostly met with very short answers so that they could continue side conversation and once an eye roll from one of the servers in a beanie. Do not waste your money - several other bars within 2 minute walk. read more

Came here for a glass of wine and some cheese in the early afternoon on a Wednesday and it was just us most of the time, which was perfect. The service was pretty good, the cheese was yummy, but the orange wines were the stars of the show. Delicious and refreshing, I can't wait to go back and get a few bottles. I do want to add that they have a small snacks menu, a couple cheese/meat options and nuts. The single cheese plate came with yummy toasted bread and was $8. read more

Ordinaire - Orange wines and the single cheese plate - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Poor, inattentive service for buying bottles, but better if you're there to drink on premises.

Ordinaire will always have a special place in my Yelp heart as it was where my girlfriend and I had our very first date on Valentine's Day. It's a cozy little French wine bar with a long layout on Grand Ave. We shared a couple of wine flights over comfortable conversation in one of the smaller tables in front. The bartender was quite friendly and the decor of the place is relaxing. Pros: Cozy ambiance, decent wine selection. Cons: On the pricey side per glass. Bottom line: Great spot for a cozy date or night cap. read more

I've visited Ordinaire twice now and I can definitely say I'm a fan. My friend lives in the area and when we want to just catch up and chat, we'll look for something chill to do in the area. Ordinaire is just perfect for that. There's a decent amount of seating (inside and out) and a nice selection of food to go along with the wine. We have stopped by on both a Saturday and a Sunday. Saturdays, with their weekly wine tastings, are much busier (to be expected). Honestly, both my friend and I much preferred Sunday when it was less busy and crowded. We've enjoyed some cheeses and charcuterie plates- during the last visit we enjoyed a delicious, milky brie from Cowgirl Creamery- and enjoyed wines on tap. The staff is very knowledgeable and has given us great recommendations! Overall, 4/5. I definitely would come by more often if I lived nearby! read more

Now that Ordinaire has seafood conserves, there's nothing holding back my five star review...except maybe the restroom. But I don't want to focus on the negative (seriously though, please install a better vent/air freshener). Ordinaire is my gf's favorite local, natural wine bar. It's less expensive, less overtly pretentious, and more intimate than either The Punchdown or Rose's Taproom (although personally, I still prefer Rose's). Service has always been neighborly casual. The things to get are: -French aged Comté cheese (comes with sliced levain) -Tinned mackerel in olive oil (comes plated with sea salt and baguette) -The $20 flight (three generous tasting pours of whatever you want to try from the menu) Large parties be aware that seating is limited, so you might want to call and gauge their busy-ness. read more