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    The Wolf

    4.2 (546 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

    The Wolf Photos

    Business Info

    THE WOLF ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - The Wolf

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    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*.

    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.

    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.

    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!

    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.

    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?

    Trumpet mushroom bucatini w/sherry porcini cream sauce & parmesan.

    Excellent experience on my 22nd anniversary! Made a dinner reservation a week or so in advance to ensure I'd be seated indoors however, upon arrival, host attempted to seat us near heat lamps on the busy patio (outside portion) of the restaurant which I tend to enjoy on hot summer nights. As I'm always cold, and made reservation, I again requested to be indoors and was subsequently and graciously seated to the room on the right if your facing the host stand, where there were no other diners. Amazingly, we literally had our own private dining room for the duration of our meal , which was perfect for great conversation and enjoyment of food without interruption, and, thankfully, we're not forgotten by the waiter!!! I couldn't have asked for better ambiance or dining experience! The menu was also heavy on vegetarian options unlike other occasions during my birthday there was a risotto dish that was vegetarian, which is what made me fall in love with the restaurant many years ago and although different than the rainbow carrot risotto that I first had and have longed for, it was a very good saffron risotto dish with charred, cabbage, trumpet mushrooms, sambal and Parmesan. We also started with the star root Farms little gems salad, served with croutons, finally diced herbs and a Cipollini onion dressing. For our main courses, my partner had the hamburger with fries and aïoli his go to at the restaurant and I had the vegetarian pasta which I'd longed for as an option during some of my previous birthday dinners at The Wolf. This was a creamy mushroom, al dente bucatini pasta , trumpet mushrooms, sherry, porcini, cream sauce, and Parmesan. We also had a mocktini not the one I'd ordered, but hibiscus was served and it was delicious nonetheless. By dessert we were stuffed so we took home a chocolate cake of some sorts. Didn't save the menu or take a picture so I can't quite describe it, but it was excellent as we are not dessert orders typically it was not disappointing whatsoever. Overall, the Wolffe is a tri and true East Bay establishment with a menu that seems to be ever more vegetarian option, friendly, and one that so long as it remains vegetarian option friendly an establishment that I will continue to go back to for years to come.

    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.

    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.

    Menu
    Tania A.

    I recently had dinner at The Wolf on Piedmont Avenue, with my aunt and cousins - it had been a long time since we all had the chance to meet up, so it was definitely a celebratory dinner of sorts . The restaurant definitely strikes a good balance between upscale and approachable/relaxed dining. The décor is a very elegant, elevated California style and it was a busy but intimate ambiance. The food was ALL delicious. We started off with the oysters on half shell , house made buttered naan bread & a beautifully composed cheddar and black pepper popover. The short rib sugo rigatoni, which I had for my entree was cooked perfectly; it was tender short rib, and a beautifully subtly flavourful sherry porcini sauce. The cocktails we had were all well-balanced and creative - I recommend the Kiss from a Rose. Overall the service was good and our server was attentive for most of the evening, although there were two big tables and we were told that the kitchen was super busy and our food would take longer than usual. This certainly didn't take from (or ruin) the experience - but it is something to consider if you're in a rush or are tight on time. It's not pushing culinary boundaries per se, but if you're looking for a reliable, elevated neighborhood spot for a date night or small celebration, The Wolf delivers. I'd definitely go back again to try more of the menu.

    Wagyu steak
    Jef B.

    All the food I ate was solid. Came here in a Tuesday Evening around 8:30pm and there were still many people in the restaurant. We started off with the octopus over chickpeas and hummus. The octopus had a nice a bite and the creamy hummus paired well with the octopus. The steak was perfectly seared and very tender. I loved their sauce! The service was also very attentive and made sure our water was never empty.

    Burger
    Yvonne F.

    Love, love, love! The Wolf is the perfect spot to celebrate a milestone, or if you're looking for an intimate environment. I came with my partner to celebrate our 3 year anniversary and we sat on the patio; the windows are sliding panes depending on the temperature but they also have outdoor heaters on the ceiling. For appetizers, we had the Spanish octopus which was cooked perfectly with a light char topped on a bed of crispy chickpeas and a yogurt sauce. We also had the duck liver pate toast which I don't think it's for me, but I know it's a fan favorite. My partner had the burger which he raved about. I stole a few pieces of his fries with their house made aioli which was so yummy. I had the Manila clam spaghetti and the pasta was cooked Al dente and the sauce was extremely flavorful. Afterwards, we opted out of dessert because we were too full but our server surprised us with a small dessert which was extremely rich and delicious. It was such a sweet gesture, we can't wait to come back!

    Flatbread
    Adrian V.

    Celebrated my MIL's birthday having dinner here it was her choice. They were busy at 5:30 when we arrived for our reservation but were seated quickly. It did take about 10 minutes to order drinks but after that the service was as it is expected to be at a restaurant like this fast and frequent. The menu had a nice selection of meats like beef, pork, chicken and fish. We ordered 1 of each and were happy with our meals. What they didn't have was vegan choices. They only had a fresh pasta option which is made with eggs and a flatbread which is what my FIL ended up ordering because he didn't want to eat a salad. Casual vibe with muted decor.

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    4 months ago

    Limited value all around. Service, what service, food, would not go return says it all. Eilene Slesinger

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    1 year ago

    Great food and service. The Wolf is our go-to local spot for a special meal. Consistently delicious.

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    6 months ago

    Lively and lovely! I knew this place as the Bay Wolf years ago and this permutation is terrific

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    11 months ago

    Went with a friend and we were sat at a comfortable table, the food and drink was excellent and we received great service.

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    1 year ago

    Awesome food and great service. Cocktails are also unique and very good. Love this place for a nice lunch or dinner.

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    Page 2 of 14

    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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    4.3(2.4k reviews)
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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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    Almond & Oak - Shrimp & Grits w/ shrimp gravy, scallions, poached eggs ($21) + Chive Scrambled Eggs w/ applewood-smoked bacon, potatoes ($19)

    Almond & Oak

    4.4(425 reviews)
    0.9 miGrand Lake, Lower Hills
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    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.

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    Kitava - Power bowl with crispy chicken

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    4.4(265 reviews)
    0.3 miNorth Oakland
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    Delicious and flavorful, one of My favorite bowl places. I…read morelove the whole Folds, clean ingredients, low Processed foods. I especially love that they don't use dairy or seed oils in their dressings. I often get all veggie bowls and they are super filling. Much of the menu is also Daniel Fast- friendly

    Came here on the rec of a friend who told me she thought I'd like it. It's about a 24 min drive and…read moreI thought about ordering online for pick up, but it showed it'd only take 10 mins online and I wanted it fresh and crispy so I decided to order when I got there. I will say, if you have somewhere to be *ORDER ONLINE*. I got there and was told to order from the self serve tablet (I could have done this on my phone ahead of time), but I put in my order and sat down to wait for it. At the 22 min mark, the two groups of two behind me got their food before I did, so I went up to the worker behind the bar and asked if my order was ready and I was told mine would be next. All in all- took 32 mins. So again, if you have somewhere to be- order ahead! Food was good. Could definitely tell it was made fresh to order - not only because it took some time but because my friend cauliflower came out PIPING hot. Lots of oil drippings, so if that isn't your thing, may not be for you, but I will say that it was my fav bite. This was a good restaurant- I would say 4 stars for the food alone. BUT if you're in a pinch, either order online or maybe save this spot for when you have more time. Also- I know that good quality food is pricey, this place is no exception. But you pay for what you get and the quality is better than that of fast food.

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    Pomet - KLINGEMAN Pork Coppa Chop w/ roasted K&J ORCHARDS quince, LONELY MOUNTAIN french shallots, pork jus ($58)

    Pomet

    4.4(241 reviews)
    0.1 miPiedmont Ave, North Oakland
    $$$$

    At first sight the restaurant is not big and limited in space. But we were given a table by the…read morewindow which we liked. The food was exceptional, everything is so fresh and tender, melting in the mouth. The quail, the black cod were so so delicious. The service was excellent with knowledgeable assistants. They have a somilier helped with the wine selection and the wine was just perfect for food. Great experience!

    I've been to Pomet at least seven times, usually with my boyfriend, and I've always had a good…read moreexperience. Because of that, I chose it to celebrate two of my friends' birthdays on April 11. I was genuinely excited to treat them to a beautiful dinner. That's not what happened. From the moment we sat down, something felt off. We had just come from the Alvin Ailey show and were catching up, so we were taking our time. Still, it felt like we were being rushed. The pacing of the food made no sense. The salad came out quickly, which was fine, but before we even started it, two fried dishes hit the table. I asked directly if they were trying to rush us because I've been here many times and that has never happened. The response I got felt dismissive, like I didn't understand how they serve their food. I do. This was different. By the time we got to the fried dishes, they were cold and not good. And honestly, they didn't seem hot when they first came out. That pretty much set the tone. The pasta came later and was also cold. At that point, I asked to speak with the owner. I've met her before when I've come in with my boyfriend and she's always been warm and present. This time I was told she was busy, and while I could see she was in the back of the house, she did not appear so busy that she couldn't step away briefly to address a guest who was clearly disappointed. No one ever came back to follow up. The main dishes didn't recover anything. The cod had no flavor and was cold. The pork chop was tough, fatty, and just not good. It didn't feel like the same kitchen at all. What made it harder to ignore was looking around the room. Other tables were getting a completely different experience. Food coming out properly paced, hot, and with attention. Our table felt like an afterthought, especially after we raised a concern early on. At one point, someone offered to take two dishes off the bill. I appreciated the gesture, but that wasn't the issue. I wasn't trying to get anything for free. I was trying to give my friends a really nice birthday dinner. This is a Michelin-recognized restaurant, which is exactly why I chose it. I've known them to deliver. That's what made this experience so disappointing. It felt rushed, disorganized, and careless. I don't know what's going on there right now, but it was not the same experience I've had before. I won't be going back. PS. Normally I take pictures, but didn't because the food was that disappointing!

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    Inside area

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

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

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

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

    Sun Moon Studio - egg custard tart with salmon roe

    Sun Moon Studio

    4.9(39 reviews)
    1.8 miWest Oakland

    Sun Moon Studio absolutely delivered. Every detail--from service to ambiance was dialed in…read more Standouts: the Monterey spot prawns, razor clam with pomelo, egg custard tart with bonito & trout roe, and the Liberty duck pasta. The squab with morel & pretzel croissant was a showstopper. Desserts were clean and balanced (loved the cherimoya sorbet), and somehow we ended the night with house-made French fries (unexpected and perfect!). Thoughtful, seasonal, and seriously delicious. Will be back!

    By far one of the greatest dining experiences I have ever had!…read more My wife and I decided to celebrate our valentines day at Sun Moon Studio and it was the most memorable dinner we've ever had! The food was portioned perfectly and we were full by the end of the meal. We particularly loved the service and ambiance of this restaurant because it was such an intimate space. We were able to speak with majority of the workers and even the owners! The food was exceptional and by far some of the best food we've ever had! We loved the concept of the set menus because it helped push ourselves to try things we normally would not get at any other restaurant. Reservations were a bit hard to get, but understandable and just made the wait even more exciting! Everything from the service, down to the food had a special feeling of passion and we felt that from the Sun Moon Studio team. I'm glad this establishment has grown to be what it is today, everyone that is part of this team worked with so much thought and compassion into everything they did! We absolutely loved our dinner together! Thank you for such an intimate fine dining experience! Special shoutout to Koji!!!

    Photos
    Sun Moon Studio
    Sun Moon Studio - Scallop

    Scallop

    Sun Moon Studio - Kouign amann with grilled apricots

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    Kouign amann with grilled apricots

    Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt - Bowl of Persian Cucumbers

    Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt

    4.0(1.5k reviews)
    1.1 miLower Hills
    $$

    Stopped by Grand Lake Kitchen for brunch this sunny weekend and it really hit the spot. The food…read morewas delicious and it felt like the perfect kind of meal for a relaxed weekend morning. I ordered the turkey club and it was honestly huge. You can see in the photo how big it is compared to my hand. It was stacked and super satisfying, the kind of sandwich that definitely fills you up. We also shared a deviled egg and some fried zucchini to start, which were great little bites before the main dish. The zucchini was crispy and light, and the deviled egg was simple but really good. I paired everything with a mocha latte that was perfectly balanced and honestly superb. Overall it was a ten out of ten brunch moment. Between the sunny weather, good coffee, and really satisfying food, it was exactly what we were looking for. Definitely one of those spots I would come back to for brunch again.

    This was me and my husband's first time at the restaurant and the food here was excellent…read moreeverything was very good and flavorful. I gave it to stars because the service was really bad. Our waitress took very long to even acknowledge us, didn't person herself to be very friendly, and lacked any attentiveness to us as customers. We had to ask other people for things like refills on our drinks, condiments, etc. She didn't ever really try to check to see how things were going after the food was served and we had to ask someone else to pay. Unfortunately considering this experience my husband doesn't want to go back and I hate that for us because the food was really good.

    Photos
    Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt - Dining room

    Dining room

    Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt - Savory French Toast tastes awesome when you break the egg yolk over the toast.

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

    Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt - Dozen Donuts, equivalent to four full sized donuts

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    Dozen Donuts, equivalent to four full sized donuts

    Bardo Lounge & Supper Club - Drinks, burger and shrimp and grits

    Bardo Lounge & Supper Club

    4.3(326 reviews)
    1.1 miLakeshore, Lower Hills
    $$$

    What to say about Bardo! The vibe and decor are both immaculate. Truly put together by someone with…read morea vision and they executed it splendidly. The food is pound for pound some of the best in Oakland. My wife and I dined here last night and did the Dinner Party Menu and it did not disappoint. Everything we had was excellent but the highlights for me were the incredible scallop crudo, the fried artichokes with fava bean and pea hummus, and the chicken and grits. The other major highlight was the staff and service. Everyone was so friendly and stellar at their jobs. Finished plates were taken quickly, drink orders were filled and served within a few minutes, and new plates of food were swiftly fulfilled between courses all on a fully-packed Saturday night. I would 100% recommend Bardo to anyone visiting Oakland, or locals looking for a nice night out. Since their menu is seasonal, I can't wait to return to sample their new offerings.

    This was my first time here and goodness was it ever a vibe!! I don't know much about the 70s…read morebesides I've listened to the music, but I definitely liked the environment in the atmosphere here! There's a quaint little upstairs set up with a little couch and display area. I love how it's set up and it set the theme or tone for the restaurant below! There's also a seating area above the bar, which I would've loved to sit in, but our little booth was very quaint! We were next to four girlfriends having their own dessert in a little couch that wrapped around! So cute!! Our server was very helpful, I wanted something not too sweet but something with a bit of a zing for a cocktail. My boyfriend already knew he wanted The House cosmopolitan because he read the menu before we arrived! Lol I ended up ordering the day spa, it was perfect!! He liked my drink more than his house cosmopolitan or his second drink. He ordered the day spot as well! Hee My boyfriend and I were starving so he ordered four different dishes off the menu!! Our dinner: Squash Risotto- so much FLAVOR Handmade Fettuccini: the pine nuts were everything! Local Halibut: so soft and flavorful Crispy Skin Chicken Breast: wow! I loved the seasoning! I got the baked apple pie, which was more like a deconstructed apple pie, but it was delicious! My boyfriend got sorbet that was good too, but he liked my deconstructed apple pie Dessert more. Hee I truly enjoyed the dishes here, but the menu is a little small. Perhaps we just ordered too much?! I would love to come back and have the other dishes. We didn't get to try yet off the menu. Hee

    Photos
    Bardo Lounge & Supper Club - The bar

    The bar

    Bardo Lounge & Supper Club - Mushroom Bolognese

    Mushroom Bolognese

    Bardo Lounge & Supper Club - Ribeye.

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    Ribeye.

    Marica - Twice cooked lobster

    Marica

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    0.9 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

    Photos
    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

    Marica - Short ribs

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    Short ribs

    The Wolf - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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