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    The Wolf

    4.2 (563 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    The Wolf Photos

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    THE WOLF ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - The Wolf

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    Reviews With Photos

    Exterior signage
    Taylor J.

    It was that time again for my weekly solo date night and I have had The Wolf in my bookmarks for a bit. Arrived at around 7pm w/o a reservation and had to wait for roughly 40 minutes which wasn't too bad. Lucky for me there is a little bar down the street and I had a little drinky drink. When I got the call from The Wolf, I finished up and rushed over. I was sat at my favorite place in a restaurant...The bar. Its my favorite spot to people watch. OK drinks! I so I had the Coming to the Cottage. First off, the drink itself is so pretty. I love a drink in an unconventional color. It was delicious too. To start, I had the little Gem Salad. It was so good, but i'm super biased. This one had dill, radish and a yummy dressing. Super solid. For my main, I had the duck and it was so yummy. It came in a great sauce and cooked perfectly medium rare. Super fun time over at The Wolf! I totally understand the hype of this place. Great food and great service.

    Polenta!
    Morgan W.

    Given that we used to live a block and a half away, the Wolf became more than just a "sometimes" restaurant; 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.

    Chantilly A.

    What a time was had! Visited here for the first time with a good friend, sat at the bar, and enjoyed ourselves. The servers were extremely nice, funny, and made excellent recommendations. The fries were piping hot, seasoned to perfection and delicious! I can't remember the name of the drink I had, but I asked for something sweet, refreshing, and boy, did it deliver! I do know that it had lavender in it, but other than that, I can't remember the name. But anyways, I would absolutely return and I look forward to the next catch up!

    Dessert menu
    Alexis B.

    I came to The Wolf with a group of eight for a celebration dinner on a Friday night, and overall it was 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.

    Oysters
    Luciano Z.

    Came here for a friends birthday and enjoyed everything we tried. Although we didn't get to sit inside the restaurant, they still had a nice patio area that felt like we were inside. The star of the show for me was the risotto. From the presentation to the taste, it was absolutely delicious. We shared the bread, oysters, Spanish octopus, and Brussels sprouts for appetizers. As a seafood lover, I loved how fresh oysters tasted, as well as the octopus. Definitely a spot to check out if you're looking for an upscale vibe and amazing food.

    Edison H.

    Came here for Valentine's Day dinner. I like their take on duck liver pate and octopus leg. A good changeup from how they're usually served especially the fried octopus leg. The Cornish game hen was a bit too salty for me though, but wouldn't say it was a deal breaker. The food alone was 4.5/5 for me. The plating and flavors are both great. The service was pretty okay - they may have picked it up after seeing I was on Yelp (maybe it's in my head lol). The price tag is a bit on the steep side. Overall, giving this a solid 4*.

    Egg tagliatelle with braised rabbit. Delicious!
    Elena C.

    Vibe: 3.5/5 Service: 5/5 Food: 3/5 Drinks: n/a Value: 3.5/5 First off, shout out to the wonderful hostess and our waiter, Eric. They were trully the highlight of the night. Unfortunately, the food was quite disappointing. Duck liver pate (3.5/5): It had a mousse-like texture and good flavor, without minerality, which I liked. The green peppercorn added a lovely crunch and worked quite well with the mousse. BUT, the parsley garnish and its flavor were overwhelming. It could have benefited from a bit of sweetness. It was fine, but nothing worth going out of your way for. Wild boar pappardelle (2.5): Every single review was raving about this dish, and the pasta was beautifully cooked. However, my dish seemed to have some other meat (my guess is chicken because it was light) mixed in with the boar pieces. The boar was quite dry. The sauce had zero flavor and lacked salt. The only few good bites were those that had some of the pecorino on them. I didn't finish it. My husband's burger and fries also lacked salt. Maybe we came on an off night, but it was definitely not the culinary experience we're used to from The Wolf.

    Mint ice cream
    Jasmine F.

    Our friends said they loved this spot from two years ago and wanted to check it out again. It did not disappoint. Everything we ordered was so delicious. You cannot go wrong with their menu. Our table got the oysters, roasted beets, French fries, Brussels sprouts, and sourdough bread (comes with a delectable dipping sauce/oil). For dinner, two got halibut, one burger, and I got the fried rice. Everyone's dishes were wiped clean! The pacing of the restaurant makes you really enjoy your dinner, the company, and the energy. They bring new plates and silverware to you at each course, which is a nice touch. The waiter, I wish I got this name was fantastic. You could tell he loves hospitality. So kind, explained the menu, gave recommendations and made the whole experience lovely. The service was phenomenal. For dessert we got the chocolate cake, mango cake, and the mint ice cream. Everything was so good. I look forward to dining here again! We only got pictures of the dessert!

    Duck pate with endive
    Wendy S.

    I popped in here just to have a drink. I tried their French 75 and asked for St. George Gin. It was delicious! As I'm now on a low carb diet it's tricky finding things to eat when I'm out and about. Not so here. I ordered the duck pate and they substituted the toast for endive. Spectacular! I paired it with a glass of their Laurent-Perrier Brut. Heaven. The pate is almost as good as foie gras. Could be my new hang out!

    2023 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir ($78)
    Wayne H.

    The last time we ate here was probably two decades ago when the restaurant was still called Bay Wolf. We had any early dinner reservation at 5:30pm and it was quite easy to find street parking within a block of the restaurant right on Piedmont Ave, though by 6pm, most of the empty spots had been taken so leave yourself time to find a spot and walk (if needed). We found the ambiance quite casual and relaxed. There was definitely a buzz in the place, especially as it filled up for dinner service, but it was never so loud that we couldn't hold a conversation. I really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere, which was a great way to unwind after a long day working. Our server was fantastic - knowledgeable about the menu, he was efficient and courteous even while juggling 6-8 tables. He was awesome with the wine service as well - bringing us extra glasses and always checking if we wanted another splash. I'm used to servers that open bottles and then are never seen again but that wasn't the case here at all. Overall, the food was excellent. We enjoyed some dishes more than others, but everything was well-executed and really showcased the fresh ingredients sourced by the restaurant. We started with the duck liver pate toast and the Spanish octopus. The pate was delicious, but quite a large portion for two people. I'd highly recommend splitting this between four people as it's quite heavy and contains quite a lot of bread. The octopus was incredible - we both commented that this was the most tender octopus we've ever had and we really enjoyed the slight crisp batter on the outside and the fried chickpeas, which offered some textural contrast. I had the branzino as my main and my wife had the pork chop. I have to say, 95% of the time when I get fish, the skin isn't crisp or doesn't stay crisp by the time the plate comes out, but that absolutely wasn't the case here. The skin was super crisp without overcooking any of the flesh - absolutely perfectly cooked. The quinoa was swimming in a bit too much olive oil for my liking though. The pork chop was perfectly cooked. If you're not a fan of medium pork, you might want to mention this when you order because they didn't ask for the temp for us. The chop was so juicy, flavorful, and tender. If I had one minor complaint, I would've liked slightly better trimming to remove some of the larger chunks of fat, but totally recognize that some people love this. To end the meal, we shared the peach hand pies. The crust was so delicate, buttery, and flaky - you could wrap anything in this pastry and it would be delicious. The wine list is pretty good. They have about 40-45 labels of all different varietals, styles, and price points. The less expensive bottles (under $60/bottle) all had pretty large markups, easily 2.5x+ wholesale cost of the bottle, but this is fairly standard practice these days. Overall, we had a very enjoyable dinner. Excellent food and service, wonderfully relaxing ambiance, and great wine! What's not to like?

    Sakura pork chop
    Abigail N.

    I had a lovely dinner here! The service was attentive (our water glasses were kept full), and the whole restaurant felt classy without feeling oppressive. And the food and drinks were great! Here are the details: I'm once again thrilled to report that I encountered a wonderful non-alcoholic cocktail menu. Feeling bold, I ordered the thyme after thyme. This drink was delicious and refreshing and not at all soapy (which sometimes happens with astringent herbal flavors). In fact, this drink was so wonderful that my boyfriend switched drinks with me! He ordered the aperitif spritz, which I also loved because it was so full of bitters. This spritz tasted like all the best bitter elements of a fresh cut grapefruit. It was fun to nurse this drink all through my meal. For appetizers, we got the popover and the duck liver pâté toast. The popover was perfect and the boyfriend and I playfully argued over every last crumb. The pâté was tragically disappointing. Sure, it was absolutely beautiful coming out, but the only thing you could taste on the toast was the peppery chutney drowning the pâté. I don't actually like duck liver and thought the toast wasn't so bad, but the boyfriend who LOVES pâté did not care for this dish at all. The entrees were roaring successes, however! I love duck confit and will order it given half a chance. This was a great duck confit: the meat fell easily off the bone, the tartness of the stone fruit balanced the natural savoriness of the duck. The cornbread soaked up all the juice on the plate. It was a perfect dish. The pork chop was also wonderful! I love a pork chop with a sweet sauce and still this pork chop exceeded my expectations. The flavors were totally on point. Perhaps the pork chop was a smidge on the dry side, but it was almost impossible to tell underneath the figs and sauce.

    Robbin R.

    I don't have time for an in-depth review, but everything from food and drank to service to ambiance was GREAT! Never had octopus so perfect...I can't consider having it anywhere else now.

    Chanterelle & cheese quiche w/mixed green salad
    Martha G.

    We enjoyed a delicious lunch. An interesting menu, good food and great service. The quiche was the fluffiest I have eaten; I thought I was eating a soufflé. And the dessert was sophisticated, nutty, salty-sweet; complex. We were both very satisfied with each of our meal.

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    2 months ago

    this spot has the best mint chocolate chip ice cream i've ever had. food is also good but highly rec the ice cream

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    Page 1 of 15

    The Wolf Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Wolf

    Does the sandwiches come with fries?

    What's the dress code for solo dinner TUE?- like: what is too casual and what's perfect?

    With a good amount of patio seating the atmosphere is more casual. Jeans would be fine with a polo or button-down shirt.

    Is there patio dining?

    They have a couple of tables on the sidewalk but strictly speaking, no. The front part of the restaurant is a "porch" that while fully enclosed gives the feel of a a "hybrid patio."

    Do they offer gift certificates?

    Yes

    Do they charge a corkage fee?

    Yes. $25.

    Has anyone been here who's asked for vegan menu items?

    They always make me the Brussels vegan and I get A salad and they normally offer pasta or risotto vegan... dinner is better for vegans then lunch as far as flexibility.

    How dressy is the attire?

    It's perfect! For a special occasion, you can go dressy and not be out of place or you can go casual. The decor is wonderfully crafted that suits all types of dress.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Mad Oak - Beer choices :)

    Mad Oak

    4.1(829 reviews)
    1.8 miLake Merritt
    $$

    Great outdoor sports bar. Happy hour prices are great for beverages and food…read more The services was quick

    I prefer to resolve incidents like this offline as I hate to make negative feedback public, but I…read morehave contacted the restaurant directly several days ago and received no response about the incident below and I am sharing my experience here on Yelp so other customers may be aware and choose wisely. Incident: My party of 7 came to Mad Oak around 5pm on Monday evening, 7/20. I did not have my ID on hand as I didn't realize I needed it for entry. I was not planning to consume alcohol. The staff member in charge of the outdoor entry let me in anyway after a little bit of friendly back and forth. One of our friends arrived later and similarly did not have their ID. The same staff member turned them away very rudely and dismissively. I went over to the staff member to let him know that our friend was with us and I also did not have my ID. He responded very rudely despite all members of our party being very respectful. He replied me saying, "What did I tell her?! What did I tell her?!", without explanation. Our friend who was turned away identifies as they/them and without explanation from the staff member, and inconsistent application of rules pertaining to ID, I suspect it might have been a situation where our friend was unfairly discriminated against for their appearance. To sum it up, it was not clear that IDs were required for entry otherwise I would have prepared my party ahead of time; the staff member inconsistently applied an already unclear rule; he did not explain why one guest was allowed and not another, even in the same party; and lastly, he was unnecessarily rude. Our whole party ended up leaving Mad Oak to go somewhere we could all be together. In my outreach to the restaurant a couple days later, I asked for a response to let me know that they have addressed the issue and there has been no response to date.

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    Oaxaca old fashioned

    Mad Oak - Urban wild life. Red tail hawk posted at Mad Oak, on the look out.

    Urban wild life. Red tail hawk posted at Mad Oak, on the look out.

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    Tallboy - Deli dog

    Tallboy

    4.4(187 reviews)
    0.6 miTemescal, North Oakland
    $$

    So been living in Oakland for going on 15 years now. I'm not what you would call a "bar" person. I…read moretend to enjoy my cocktails, wine, and beer in the cozy confines of my own home. That said I'm occasionally inspired to go check out the local watering holes for a good pour, some food if possible, and just to be in the presence of the human pulsation. Walking into Tallboy on a Thursday afternoon was a bit like Nirvana for me. There is a comforting vibe of neighborhood and after work people shedding responsibility and "toe the lineness" and transitioning to pondering true meaning and the other side of the elliptical bend over nicely crafted cocktails and HOTDOGS! I am a hotdog fiend, and Tallboy has a very creative range on the menu that does not disappoint. From a basic onions/mustard, an Elote Dog, an a Coney Islandesque (it has chili) version. Some folk go to bar and line up shots (or craft cocktails). At Tallboy you can do that AND line up their hotdogs which I intend on doing in the very near future. The pleasantries don't stop at the food (there are other delicious snack items on their menu to choose from too). Tallboy has a fully stocked bar, and the menu has a list of really unique and delicious signature craft cocktails. I'm not a Mezcal drinker, but I ended up dubiously ordering their Guava Martini which to my smokey surprise is made with Mezcal. I stayed with the smokey fruitiness of this Guava Martini as it was my mistake that I did not read in the description it is made with Mezcal, and ended up chasing it with their Tamarindo Cocktail which also has Mezcal. To those who really enjoy Mezcal the Tallboy Guava Martini and the Tamarindo Cocktail do not disappoint. Both have that deep Smokey Mezcal essence, but cut with the fruit sweetness. I personally think the Tamarindo balances well with the Mezcal. The Guava Martini the Mezcal comes through stronger, but both are just the tonic to release any existential pinging going on in your head. If you really want to kick in the hyperdrive pair either of these with an Elote Dog. I had their Deli Dog which sufficed. I think the Deli Dog would pair better with their standard Martini, but hey let's us not bring that snobbiness into Tallboy. Tallboy has an element of cloak and dagger or secret treehouse club about it. What I mean here is there is no signage on the outside (please keep it that way!). When you walk past all you see is this quaint beigeish/yellow brick façade of an establishment which begs you to press your face to the glass and scan what in the blazes is going on in here! Before you know it you are caught in the Tallboy tractor beam, and you find yourself sitting at the bar with some kind of craft drank and hotdog pondering the space and the very nice old fashioned wainscoting painted a shade of green circa 1930 (my description of winning in life). The cadre of bartenders are all really pleasant folk, very attentive (checking in with you to see if you need another round, hotdog, or snack), have tight shaker skills, and they know their craft and the menu. Tallboy also has SLUSHIES, and I did not do a deep dive on them, but I'm positive they may/do put spirits in them; or not. Also I noticed other patrons with a beautiful enticing thing that looked like an ice cream sundae milkshake hybrid (it had what looked like whipped cream on top) in on old timey soda fountain ice cream goblet. This could be a craft cocktail they make with the slushie, but major props for serving it in that goblet. I will investigate on my next visit which I intend to be very soon. Tallboy is the kind of bar establishment I could easily adopt as my after work living room for a couple of hours everyday.

    Had an amazing experience at Tallboy!…read more Sat at the bar on a sunny weekend and immediately loved the vibes. Bartenders were friendly and seemed to know a lot of the regulars. Can't quite describe it but it didn't feel like an SF bar, felt more open and like a community watering whole. On to the food and drinks. I'm vegetarian so was so excited to try the dogs - which are vegan. And I may be biased but you cannot tell that you're missing out on anything with all the flavor packed combos. The bun was fluffy and soft and you have multiple fun themed options to choose from. My partner and I ended up getting the deli dog and truffle meltdown. Deli was perfect - classic mix of spice and crunch with the spicy brown mustard and giardiniera peppers. And the truffle meltdown was so savory and decadent - totally different flavor profiles from each dog! We were only going to grab one drink but the menu was so inventive we ended up getting two. I ordered the banana hammock (which comes with a fire show) and espresso martini slushee which was is up there with the frozen Irish coffees I've had in New Orleans. Man writing this has my mouth watering... definitely coming back for more dogs, drinks, and vibes!

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    Tallboy - The bat and the awesome bartender!

    The bat and the awesome bartender!

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    Free AYCE popcorn with your dranks!

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    La Loulou - Wine flight and a Hefeweizen

    La Loulou

    4.2(56 reviews)
    0.4 miPiedmont Ave, North Oakland

    If you've ever been to Les Deux Magots in St. Germain, this is the spot to check out, hang out,…read moresip, while snacking on something freshly made in front of you. The ambiance will get you first, the attention to detail say's a lot about the love put into La Loulou. The service is fabulous, they will remember your last drink. I'm a quirky 'orderer' and they remembered the nuance of how I like my drink. Also, don't forget to checkout the bathroom. Merci!!!

    I visited La Loulou several months ago and wanted to give it some time before writing a review…read more After recently having a wonderful experience at another wine bar, I realized the difference in hospitality was too significant not to mention. I really wanted to like this place. I'd walked by several times and loved the interior design, and the videos on Instagram made it seem like such a great spot. I stopped in one evening by myself, ordered a glass of wine and the warm olives (which were delicious), and was looking forward to a relaxing night. Unfortunately, the service was the biggest disappointment. The restaurant was packed, and the atmosphere felt more concerned with maintaining an image than making guests feel welcome. I understand some restaurants embrace a more reserved European style of service, but this came across as cold and pretentious rather than intentional hospitality. As a solo diner especially, I didn't feel acknowledged or valued as a guest. It also didn't help that the dining room had a noticeable body odor smell that took away from the experience. On a positive note, the bathroom was clean and beautifully designed. I originally thought this would become my go-to place to grab a glass of wine while waiting for a table at the ramen spot next door, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. Reading through other reviews, it seems I'm not the only one who had this impression. Oakland's charm has always been its people. You can open a French-inspired wine bar, but hospitality translates into every language. If you're going to bring a Parisian aesthetic to Oakland, don't mistake indifference for sophistication. Guests should leave feeling welcomed, not judged.

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    La Loulou - The luxurious lighting

    The luxurious lighting

    La Loulou - Small cheese and charcuterie plate and a glass of rosé

    Small cheese and charcuterie plate and a glass of rosé

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    Bar Shiru - Actual Proof - superb!

    Bar Shiru

    4.3(312 reviews)
    1.5 miUptown
    $$

    This place is music nerd heaven. They have a section of their menu dedicated to their speakers and…read moreamps, ferchrissakes. I love the atmosphere in here. Staff are always cool, vibe is relaxed. Even the security guard at the door is a cool guy. The interior decor and lighting are gorgeous. Silent Sundays are pretty fun: they play an album from top to bottom, and everyone has to shut the hell up for the duration and can't order any shaken drinks. See? Music nerd heaven. I almost forgot to talk about the drinks: the menu is solid. Good cocktails, reasonable prices, well made.

    My sister and I were really excited to come here, but unfortunately, the experience was incredibly…read moredisappointing. We waited 15 minutes outside in the cold, where Taylor, the same hostess who later seated us, added us to the waitlist and then asked us to leave because there was "no standing room." After 30 more minutes, we finally received the text to come in. When we returned, Taylor didn't acknowledge us and told us to go to the back of the line. After showing her our text, she seated us. We noticed two open seats at the bar and asked if we could sit there. She said the bar was first come, first serve..yet moments later, she seated two walk-ins who had been behind us in line at those exact seats. The inconsistency and lack of hospitality made us feel completely disrespected. We were excited to finally get in, but ultimately decided to leave. Such a bummer!!

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    Negroni and mocktail

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    Clio's Bookstore and Bar - Partial reading area

    Clio's Bookstore and Bar

    4.1(129 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    My best friend and I had a joint baby shower at Clio's in January. It was such a sweet experience…read more The setting was beautiful for an intimate experience. And we didn't really need any decorations because the space is already so gorgeous. We had lots of kids at the shower and they had so much fun dancing around and looking at books. The service staff were amazing. They checked in on us regularly, provided everything we asked for, and accommodated all of our needs. We loved having a bar for people to get drinks at, and it took them through the bookstore too. Having the two different spaces was nice for when things were busy. There was lots of comfy seating, and the big long table was perfect for our buffet. We had done a similar party for my husband and brother in laws 40th birthdays and the experience was also seamless. I'm so happy that a space like this in Oakland, where community can come together and have a screenless and fun experience.

    After a long walk around Lake Merritt with my niece, I was on a mission to find a restroom. She…read moresuggested we stop by Clio's Bookstore & Bar, describing it as part bookstore, part reading lounge, and part bar. I expected a quick pit stop--I ended up wanting to stay. This place is an absolute gem. The atmosphere is eclectic, cozy, and full of personality. The shelves are lined with books spanning more eras and genres than I even knew existed, making it feel like a literary treasure hunt. Every direction I looked revealed another fascinating title or beautifully aged collection. One of my closest friends is a librarian, so I found myself snapping photo after photo to send her because I knew she'd be completely enamored with this place. I didn't order food or drinks during this visit (I rarely drink), but I already know I'll be back. The ambiance alone is worth experiencing. It's the kind of place where you can lose yourself browsing vintage books, settle into a chair with a good read, and simply enjoy the unique energy. From what I could tell, many of the books are also available for purchase, which makes it even more tempting to return. I also noticed that Clio's hosts community events, so I'll definitely be checking their calendar before my next visit. Whether you're a book lover, a history buff, or simply someone who appreciates unique spaces with soul, Clio's Bookstore & Bar is well worth a stop.

    Photos
    Clio's Bookstore and Bar - Blackberry sage shrub

    Blackberry sage shrub

    Clio's Bookstore and Bar - A Friday night at 10pm, busy and loud. Nice bartenders.

    A Friday night at 10pm, busy and loud. Nice bartenders.

    Clio's Bookstore and Bar - Interior

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    Interior

    The Wolf - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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