A tale of two tacos at Wences! Another great fast lunch. I got my fav- the mahi mahi tacos which can be grilled or fried but have to be the same (my only complaint!). Luckily my mom also wanted the fish tacos so we had one order of grilled and one order of fried and traded. Both tacos are served on soft corn tortillas with a good amount of slaw, salsa, guacamole, onions, and a charred jalepeno to add to it. Both tacos were full of fish. The grilled fish was light, fresh, and flavorful. The fried tacos were huge hunks of mahi mahi in a crisp batter. We couldn't decide which we liked better! And of course an order of truffle fries to split! read more

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We had dinner at Wences on a Monday night and were surprised by how lively it was! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm and friendly welcome. The weather was perfect, so we sat outside and enjoyed the evening . We started with the watermelon grilled prawns salad--so refreshing and flavorful. I had the steak and scallops, and the steak was cooked perfectly medium rare, just how I like it. My husband had the fish and chips, and it was crispy and satisfying. I sipped on a Tito's with soda, and he had an old fashioned--both were spot on. We wrapped up the night by sharing the beignets for dessert. Great food, great service, and a perfect evening! read more

Wence's - Watermelon grilled prawn salad - New American Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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Excellent service, drinks, food, ambience! The fries were a little over salted but other than that we have always enjoyed our time here. Bartenders are friendly & attentive! read more

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Place is a bit fancy, that's Ok every now and then! Food is excellent and a good variety of it too. Drinks are good, you can taste the spirits that are in them! Some places you can't. read more

Definitely my favorite restaurant in pleasant hill. If you're ready for a new experience that will NOT disappoint, then pop into Wence's! They have beautiful Friday night experience with a live band. The service is excellent! From the moment you're great by the host, to ordering with the wait staff, their attention to the customer experience is phenomenal. They have an extensive wine selection. One of my favs is the New Zealand white haven Sauvignon Blanc. It pairs so well with the fall ciopinnio special. It's a seafood stew that contains calamari, prawns, clams, crab and fish, with a few slices of fresh garlic bread. It's the perfect dish to enjoy on a Friday evening, while seated in the outdoor patio (heat lamps included) with a few friends and a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. You'll thank me later! We also enjoyed the artichoke starter, fresh herb salad, oyster shooter and the seafood grill. All pictured below. read more

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Just moved to the area and went at the recommendation of a handful of people. It was an anniversary dinner; we were seated quickly and in the perfect spot. Drinks were spot-on: so balanced and frothy (we got a drink that had foam on top). We each ordered from the specials of the day. I got lobster paella and it was amazing. I was worried that the price might be ridiculous because it was the special and it was lobster, but when the bill came, it was price-wise on par with the rest of the menu. The place is nice: the patio outside was quite busy but indoors was quiet--almost serene. It is pretty there without being opulent. Will One hundred percent go back. read more

Wence's - Lobster paella. It was really delicious. - New American Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

First-time visit and I was very impressed. Excellent service and fresh food. Hosted a business dinner and the staff was attentive and our dishes were excellent. read more

Nice interior and excellent service. Very friendly but efficient. Nice outdoor dining area as well. The food was good. I went with the swordfish special and liked it. I was really looking forward to some wine but boy do they love the Wagner family wine and boy do I hate Wagner family wine. Camus, Belle Glos...they have them all but I find them all but undrinkable so that was a minor letdown. The other ding was the bread pudding dessert which was nothing like any bread pudding I've ever had and I order it any time I see it. But back to the pluses: Large varied menu so you're sure to find something to your liking, a friendly crowd and a large full bar so when the wine list didn't come through, the perfectly made manhattan did! I'm sure we'll be back but with our expectations properly set. read more

Happy hour is on point...drinks are tasty, food is delicious, service is amazing.... Can't say enough about this casual, cool spot/ check it out! read more

I've been here to dine many times but I sat at the bar for the first time today, Jasmine took care of us and did an amazing job. She was very attentive, knowledgeable, and helpful. Food was great, ordered the fish and chips and smash burger. The jam on the burger was bomb. Great ambiance, lively and had on the football game. 10/10 would recommend, will be back next Monday to watch football. read more

Wences is a beautiful restaurant with an amazing atmosphere from the moment you walk in. The inside is very elegant with low, dim lighting that really sets the tone and creates an intimate setting. The décor is great and the whole space feels warm and welcoming. Outside, they have a full open patio that connects right to the bar with a barn-style door that lifts up, which is such a cool feature. You can sit outside, enjoy your food, and people watch while you eat. There are TVs throughout the outdoor bar area as well, so it's a great spot to catch a game. Overall, the environment is just excellent. It's also the kind of place that works for any type of occasion. There were plenty of families celebrating and enjoying big dinners, couples having date nights, and smaller families like ours just enjoying a great meal together. It's truly an all-around great setting whether you're celebrating something special or just grabbing a nice dinner. I just visited Wences for the second time, and it was every bit as great as the first. The first time I came here was with my fiancée and our family to celebrate her birthday, and the experience was so good that I had to come back to see if they were truly consistent. I'm happy to say they absolutely are. This time I came with my family of four. We had a reservation and were seated right on time. The service was excellent from the start -- our drink orders were taken immediately, followed quickly by our food orders. Everything moved smoothly and efficiently, and we never felt like we were waiting on anything. To start things off, my lady ordered the wedge salad, which was absolutely great -- fresh toppings and perfectly prepared just like you'd expect. I also ordered a dozen oysters, and they were excellent. Freshly shucked, clean, and incredibly fresh -- exactly how oysters should be. For our main dishes, I had the lamb, which was outstanding. My fiancée ordered the special: halibut with prawns served over a medley of vegetables, and it was fantastic. My son had the mac and cheese and loved it so much that he finished the entire plate. My toddler ordered the grilled shrimp with mashed potatoes from the kids' menu, which was also a big hit. We also ordered the tempura string beans as an appetizer, and they were incredible -- easily one of the highlights of the meal. The beer on tap was great as well. To put it simply, everything on my plate was eaten, and everything about the experience was top-notch. If I could rate it higher than five out of five, I would. But since I can't, Wences gets a solid 5/5 from me. Consistent food, excellent service, and an amazing atmosphere both times I've visited. read more

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First time here and it was great . Had fried oysters and they were so juicy and delicious. I also had crab and Gruyère cheese fondue with toasted ciabatta bread so warm and delicious . Will definitely go back for dinner read more

Food was really good. Calamari was crunchy outside and soft inside. Shrimp scampi tastes interesting with huge shrimp on it. Lobster Benedict was ok, for spinach in it does not really compliment the taste. Service was fast since we were the first customer. Aaahh servers were ok not really friendly and welcoming. Ambiance feels great, Food 4 Ambiance 4 Service 3.5 read more

Fantastic happy hour- Monday-Friday, 3-5 PM. Service is consistently great. They offer up interesting and well-made alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage options and we have a few favorite happy hour food items. The oysters are a great deal at only $11 for a half dozen and the grilled artichokes are delicious on their own, even without the accompanying dipping aiolis, thanks to whatever their cooking style and seasoning entail. My honey and I have had the house and wedge salads, both tasty. (They also have a caesar.) During a recent visit, we shared the chicken sliders which are fairly simple grilled chicken with tomatoes, lettuce, and onion and a light sauce, topped with a perfectly crispy onion ring. With regards to their full happy hour and regular menus, this honestly only scratches the surface. read more

Great ambiance, always great drinks and fresh seafood. The parking lot can be tight, but otherwise there should be no problem finding a park either on the street or in the parking lot. We tend to enjoy sitting at the bar and chatting with the bartender. Sometimes it can be hard getting a seat without reservations. But the best seats are at the bar, it's alive and great conversations with other guests. The food is always on point, even on the busy holidays. read more

10/10 -- Wences never disappoints! Wences is easily one of my favorite restaurants. The food is consistently amazing, the atmosphere is great, and the service is what really makes this place special. Not to mention the food is amazing and definitely have the best oysters in the east bay I especially have to shout out Sarah and Sal. They are hands down my two favorite servers and a huge reason I love coming back. They're both incredibly friendly, attentive, welcoming, and always make sure everything is perfect. You can tell they genuinely care about their guests and take pride in giving people a great experience. Great food can make you enjoy a restaurant, but amazing people make you want to keep coming back -- and Sarah and Sal absolutely do that. They deserve all the recognition! If you haven't been to Wences yet, you're missing out. 10/10 food, 10/10 atmosphere, and 10/10 service. I'll definitely keep coming back! read more

I came here yesterday with a friend for lunch. It was 102° outside. But it felt super cool in the outdoor seating. Order an appetizer of the calamari it was yummy. And I ordered a bacon jalapeno cheddar burger. It was delicious! Cooked perfectly to medium. Just the right amount of sauce. Service was amazing. read more

Wence's - Bacon Jalapeno Cheddar Burger - New American Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Wence's in Pleasant Hill is a hometown staple. When you walk in you see a beautiful bar and seating everywhere, both inside and outside the seating is so clean and cute. The service is extremely attentive and both fun and lively. The food is exactly what you're looking for. This is a small hometown family run business that you will both feel happy to support and you will leave happy and full. 10/10 will repeat. read more

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Wences has been a special place for my wife and me for over a decade. We first started dining here around 2013 when I lived nearby, and it holds fond memories of early dates and special occasions. Even after moving about 30 minutes away to Oakley, we knew we had to return for my wife's 35th birthday yesterday after a few years' absence. We were deeply moved by the staff's outstanding kindness and hospitality. Our oldest daughter, who has autism, was having a difficult time waiting for a table upon arrival. The team was working to find the best seating arrangement, and they were extremely patient, friendly, and nonjudgmental. We were especially grateful when the host provided the guest Wi-Fi password and even typed it into her iPad right before she became upset--a truly thoughtful gesture we don't always receive when dining out. The food and service was wonderful (Thank you, Edgar). We started with calamari and a bottle of the Justin Cabernet 2022. My wife loved her oyster shooter and shrimp scampi, and my 12 oz ribeye was perfectly prepared rare. The evening was absolutely fantastic and relaxing, making for a perfect birthday celebration for my wife. Thank you, Wences, for making our return so memorable. We look forward to our next visit. read more

Wence's - Shrimp Scampi - New American Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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My brother recommended this restaurant so we decided to try it out. Upon arrival, we noticed how bad parking was. We went today, on a Thursday evening, and finding parking was a challenge. There is a parking lot, but it was full. There is also street parking and that was filled up with cars too. I even noticed cars that were parked in locations that were probably not legit parking spots. Anyway, now I know next time, to expect horrible parking. We made a reservation early in the day. When we walked inside, we were greeted immediately and the host brought us to our table. Our server was very friendly and then another waiter brought us water. I ordered a half dozen raw steamboat oysters. The waiter said that it was the largest oysters they had. When it was served, it just looked like regular sized oysters like other places. I also ordered a special appetizer which was grilled cheese with prosciutto, grilled asparagus and this sweet sauce topped with raisins. That was delicious. My partner and son ordered Mac n cheese. I didn't get to try it but they enjoyed it. For our main courses, I ordered the special which was scallops with cauliflower and a white sauce. It was good. My partner ordered a Junior burger which wasn't Junior. My son ordered the lamb chops -- delicious. Lastly, we ordered 2 non-alcoholic drinks - which was a prickly pear drink with sparkling water. My partner ordered a drink that tasted like a Pina colada. That was good. Overall ambiance and dining experience was nice. The waiters emptied our table continuously to make space for our food and always checked on us. To everyone who would like to dine outside, there is outdoor seating with heated lamps available. Will definitely come back for their $1 oysters. I think that happens on Sundays but call first to make sure. read more

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5/5 oysters 5/5 service 5/5 ambiance 5/5 bathroom Me and my grandmother enjoy going here every time I come to visit her. It's a wonderful restaurant with excellent servers. read more

Wence's - New American Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Love their $1 oysters on Sundays and their omelettes are delicious. Make sure to ask for 2 cocktail sauces if you order 2 dozen oysters because they will bring you 1 no matter the amount of oysters you order. read more

Wences has dollar oysters all day on Sunday s and Mondays. The oysters aren't just the large ones but the small ones are also included for just one dollar and they don't put a limit on how many you get either . What a deal !!!!! read more

Wence's - Oysters - New American Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

I dined here for dinner while in town and enjoyed the good service, delicious food, and drinks. There are plenty of indoor and patio dining areas and a couple of bars (regular and oyster bars) to enjoy the relaxing yet lively atmosphere. We ordered a few starters and drinks; the oysters were fresh and tasty, and the ahi tuna tostadas were so good I could have eaten a couple of plates. The clam chowder was creamy and flavorful. The Dungeness Crab Stack was a fresh and filling dish. The lump crab was cooked perfectly, and the presentation was nicely executed. The house-made cocktails menu had a few eye-catching options. I tried the Maya-Thai because it had Licor 43 Liqueur (which I like), fruit juices, and walnut bitters, and it seemed interesting, but it was just okay. I would pass it up next time and try another house cocktail. The rest of the table enjoyed the drinks they ordered. Though we had reservations, we waited about 15-20 minutes for our table to be ready. We had a decent-sized party of nine, and it was busy, so it was a little wait. The noise level, however, was moderate to high, so conversing was challenging. Overall, we had a pleasant dining experience and would return for the drinks, to try new foods, and to enjoy the vibe. read more

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I love this restaurant. Every visit has been consistently great--never a disappointment. The food and ambiance are excellent, the service is reliable, and the drinks are exactly what you'd expect from a speakeasy. read more

Wence's - Halibut and Prawns Special - New American Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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We're so lucky to have Wence's in Pleasant Hill! It's our go-to spot for a nice dinner out, as well as happy hour and moms' night out. They make a great bourbon sour and I love the oysters Rockefeller, ahi tuna tower, and sea bass. read more

Not bad! I think I need another couple of trips to try other things but the ribeye, mashed potatoes and asparagus was good. Their bread pudding was a different take than what I'm used to but tasted great. Atmosphere is clean, we met nice patrons sitting nearby and our server was nice. As always, huge thanks to the kitchen for their efforts. read more

I love coming here and having happy hour in the outdoor patio. The inside of the restaurant is cozy and intimate but I prefer to be outside working on my laptop while sipping my cocktail and enjoying my happy hour oysters. They have a 3 course meal available if you come for an early dinner along with good prices on drinks and appetizers for happy hour. I don't think I've tried a bad dish yet (although I wasn't too big of a fan of the carbonara here). My favorite appetizers are the calamari, oysters and Mac & cheese, and the fish dishes are pretty solid for the entree choices. The servers and wait staff are quite attentive and they check on you often. The restaurant is located in a strip mall and the parking lot is kind of a pain with super narrow lanes but definitely worth checking it out! read more

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Decided to go here for New Year's Day for lunch. The atmosphere was so inviting. Still decorated from NYE, you couldn't tell that they had 300 people in there for a NYE party. The food was amazing & our waitress Carly was so sweet. We definitely have to go back for dinner & drinks. Not pictured was a Bloody Mary which hubby said was one of the best he had read more

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Oysters are my fav, so yummy and fresh. Workers are nice! I enjoy sitting outside, it's def a vibe.

Had another great meal at Wence's. Made a reservation the day before and we scored the corner booth. We went the sauteed black mussels and the mixed seafood grill. The mussels were amazing and came with some cheese bread for dipping in the sauce. Felt like I wanted to just drink the saute broth! The mixed seafood grill was perfectly cooked and there was a nice triangle of polenta as well. read more

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The restaurant has always been good, since it opened. Just really disappointed that they changed the happy hours stop time from 6 to 5 . Only open for HH till 5 now. Just a two hour window. They've been there many years and , obviously, have done well. Just Greedy! NO BUENO! read more

Found this little place by my parent's house. The vibe was great. Definitely a local spot. Food was good! Favorites: grilled artichoke, oysters and crab stack! Service was friendly but a little slow. Honestly a great experience here! Definitely. read more

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Nice atmosphere and the food is always good. Appreciate the free parking unlike downtown Walnut Creek. read more

Wence's - My wife and daughter celebrating a birthday. - New American Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Still love Wence's after many many years of eating here. Great food! A bit noisy on a Friday night. read more

We had a wonderful dinner at Wence's in Pleasant Hill! We focused our attention on the appetizer section of the menu. Everything was perfect! It was my first time trying the tempura green beans, which were wonderful. The cheesy garlic bread is always so darn delicious. Without a doubt, they make my favorite garlic bread; it's delicious with their French Onion soup, too. The calamari was perfectly breaded and so tender and flavorful. The scallops were perfect with the citrus habanero sauce. We finished the evening with a wonderful bottle of port and a yummy chocolate torte. Cocktails are always fantastic; I have their lemon drop every time I visit. Even with the light rain, we sat on the warm patio and enjoyed the sparkling lights. Service was excellent! If you haven't been for happy hour, it's excellent, too! read more

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First time being here. Place is nice. Seating is nice not on top of each other but highlight for me was the service. Our waiter, Jermey was attentive, consistent and just a good vibe. Food was very good. Dinner was a birthday celebration with a party of 6. Order a few items, oyster bar dish was very good. Had an order of the crab cakes and scallops. They both was a hit. For the entrees, we had the lamb chops, ribeye, jambalaya and chicken fettuccine. Everyone was satisfied with the food. For dessert, two orders of the beignets and an order of crème brûlée for myself. I enjoyed it and all the other items. read more

Wence's - Lamb chop - New American Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

Great little find in a strip mall. The menu has several options for lunch. We had the fish tacos and the French dip. The French dip was loaded with roast beef. The au jus was fantastic. Tasty but not salty. Our server was servicing inside and outside, which left us asking several times for refills and the check. We will for certain return when in the area. read more

Came here to celebrate birthdays, we enjoyed the outdoor patio seating area. The $1 oysters were pretty good and the food was wonderful overall. Our party enjoyed the Mac n cheese, shrimp cocktail, the Chilean Seabass with the polenta, the hamachi dish and crème brulee. We ran into uncooked chicken piccata and they graciously returned it. Service that night though was kind of slow. It took a while for our drinks and oysters to come out. Still enjoyed our dinner here nonetheless and will come back for some delicious food. read more

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Service ambiance Great! Wonderful bar tenders! Thank you for great service!!!!! It's beautiful here read more