My friend and I came here for dinner and man, it was delicious! We started with margaritas and I asked for mine to be extra spicy, and they definitely delivered! Things we got: Burrata- this was the only thing that was meh Olives - amazing Mussels and fries - their go to dish continues to deliver! Dessert - this was delicious and we almost fought over the last bite! The place was packed and lively, and I want to highlight that the service was stellar! Our waiter checked in on us but didn't rush us and was the right level of attentive. Can't wait to come back! read more

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I first started going to À Côté around the 2002 or 2003 timeframe, shortly after it opened. Back then, I remember it was one of the most exciting restaurants in the East Bay. It was hard to get a table. Its French bistro type cuisine was classic but creative, beautifully prepared, well presented, nicely served and consistently quite superb (and I mean superb food). For years we went there for birthdays and special nights out. Pricey but worth it. Over the years, the restaurant has evolved (seemingly through quite a few iterations) from its original French bistro roots into a much more mixed/eclectic Mediterranean restaurant. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, you gotta adapt and evolve to survive, but somewhere along the way, I think this restaurant lost what differentiated it and made it special in the first place. Since its opening, a lot has changed on College Avenue as well. It became sort of a restaurant row with an exciting restaurant scene, offering a lot of options. Competition is much more formidable today, making it increasingly important for restaurants to distinguish themselves somehow. I returned about a month ago, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing. The dinners were perfectly acceptable, but nothing was particularly memorable. The food was (I'm sorry to say) ordinary, especially considering the rather substantial bill. On the positive side, our server was absolutely delightful. Warm, engaging, attentive, funny and clearly focused on making our dinner enjoyable. She was the highlight of the experience, for sure. I've always believed that to succeed in a competitive market, every business needs a compelling answer to a simple question: "What are we the best at?" The original À Côté had a very solid answer to that question: "we offer the best French bistro food and experience in the entire East Bay Area." Maybe there's an opportunity to revisit that question and rediscover what could make this restaurant truly exceptional again. read more

I have always given A Cote 5 stars. But recently, the food has been lackluster. Tonight I had squash soup that any unimaginative chef might have made: It was basically mashed squash, extra thick, with no detectable seasoning. I didn't eat it and--with some grace--they didn't charge me. But it's hard to imagine that it would past muster with any discernng and inventive cook who knew French cuisine--or Hunagarian cuisine for that matter. The french fries now arrive in a smaller bowl--far less festive than the overflowing plate of the past. As I suspected, the small plate made the portion look as large as before. (Another note: I waited for over twenty minutes for the soup and was told that the kitchen was "busy". How long couldit take to heat up soup?) A litle over a year ago, A Cote changed the staff, although supposedly the original owner is still the owner. However that shakes down, A Cote seems to be lacking the panache that once defined it as a genuine French bistro in the middle of Oakland. I It used to be an escape to France. Now it's a stopover at any one of Oakland's okay restaurants. read more

We came here for dinner. As we were walking in, someone behind us said, "Ugh this place is so PRICY!" They were right. The bartenders weren't very attentive. Am I supposed to flag one of the 3 down even though they all made eye contact with us and there was only one person sitting at the bar? The person who did end up helping us seemed annoyed, didn't even smile. Service was slow. It took some time before our plates came out. It was a pre-fixed menu but they brought out plates one at a time. So, as we finished one shared plate, we had to wait a while for the next. 3-4 people sharing a plate of food (see pictures) was not enough. That was poor planning on our part. I understand why people come back. The small bites of food we had tasted really good. They have a nice back patio. Street parking can be a challenge. There are 2 gender neutral bathrooms that were somewhat clean. read more

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À Côté, it's always a great choice! You have a small but mighty restaurant with a menu that includes staples and seasonal, available items. You can choose to sit inside or outside. Reservations are HIGHLY encouraged. The service is top-notch; you can ask all the questions because the staff is highly knowledgeable. The Watermelon Gazpacho was delightful and refreshing. The mussels always hit the spot, and if you go from Tuesday to Thursday, they have a deal from 5-7pm that includes 2 glasses of wine or draft beer, fries, and mussels for $45. Trust me, that is plenty for two people. The vanilla creme burle was yummy as well. Street parking can be tricky, but I have always found a spot without too many complications. read more

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A small eclectic place as a lot of restaurants located on College Street near the university are, but very welcoming with a throw back sixties vibe. Their speciality is steamed mussels and pommes frittes. There were four of us and we shared two orders of pommes frittes, a cheese plate, chopped salad and a medium seared steak. Not only was there more than enough for us but the food was excellent. Their service was prompt, efficient, friendly while allowing privacy to eat and talk. Definitely worth another visit next time we are in Berkeley! read more

I love the Happy Hour Special here! Dine-in only from 5-7 Tues-Thurs, the special comes with a full order of Mussels and Fries with 2 glasses of house wine or draft beer. It's perfect for 2 people, and the Mussels and fries are absolutely delicious. If you split an entree or small dish in addition, that should make for a filling meal all together. Nice atmosphere inside with friendly and helpful staff. Seating indoors can be a little tight but it's not bad. It's also in a lovely neighborhood. Street parking can be a bit tough when it's busy. read more

Visiting from out of town Friday, Oct 23, I was looking for a small cozy - bistro type affair and A Cote didn't disappoint. 5 of us shared the 3 bean tagine, mussels, steak frites, pollo frito and spaghetti straciatella. Drinks: couple of cross my hearts and a ginger fizz. Dessert: huckleberry and pear butter tart and chocolate gelato. Everything was absolutely delicious and was craving it all the next day. The minute we walked in we were greeted by a very engaging hostess. Same with our server. She was fantastic and super personable. Although the food came out at different times and some of us had to wait a bit, the runner was trying her best to make it work as the place was very busy. I get it. Overall we had a great time - enjoying the energy coming from the coziness of the room, the staff and patrons to and the sweet hostess, unexpectedly, engaged us again as we walked out. read more

Forgot I had been here! I went with my husband and we had three appetizers. Mussels. A plum salad and their burrata. I liked our food and would come back. read more

Had a really nice dinner at this place the other night. We started with their pork belly appetizer that came with the tabbouleh salad and plum sauce. Loved the tabbouleh salad but I do think the pork belly needed to cook a bit longer to make it crispier. We also ordered their steak frites with pommes frites and aioli. The hangar steak cooked to medium rare perfection, so tender with delicious bordelaise sauce and red wine compound butter. Their mussels were so fresh and came with some yummy broth and three pieces of bread. So, I highly recommend these two main courses and probably will not hesitate to reorder for my next visit $25 for corkage fee as we brought in our special Dom Perignon. Service was great and attentive. The ambiance was romantic so it's a great place to have a date night. read more

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My wife and I dined at À Côté on a Wednesday evening around 5:30 p.m. without a reservation and were seated right away on the back patio. The space had a cozy vibe and is perfect for dining on a warm summer day. On cooler evenings, there are overhead heaters to make sure you stay warm. Between the two of us, we shared a few dishes, starting with the burrata appetizer. The burrata was creamy and paired beautifully with the Early Girl tomatoes. I really liked how the crostini were sliced unusually long -- it made them easy to top with cheese and tomatoes without everything sliding off. We took advantage of their Mussels and Pommes Frites happy hour special, which includes two glasses of wine or beer. The mussels were solid. Out of the entire bowl, I only came across one mussel that was a little sandy, which isn't bad at all. The broth was light, but packed with flavor, and I appreciated that they offered more bread to help soak it all up. As for the fries, these could've been better. They leaned soft and slightly soggy, and most were short and stubby, like broken ends. The aioli on the side was nice and thick, but could've used a touch more salt or acidity. Next came the Grilled Hanger Steak, cooked a perfect medium rare. I wasn't a big fan of the baby potatoes -- they were soft throughout, and I tend to prefer mine with a bit more crisp or texture. The squash blossom pesto was visually interesting, with vibrant orange flecks I hadn't seen before, but the dish could've benefited from a sprinkling of finishing salt. The steak itself was tender and flavorful. To finish, we shared the vanilla bean crème brûlée, which delivered on texture and richness. You can tell they used real vanilla bean from the black specks settling at the bottom. Cracking through the caramelized sugar top is always satisfying. The chewy almond cookie on the side was a nice touch, though the sweetness of both did compete a bit. Service throughout the meal was excellent. Our server paced everything thoughtfully -- bringing out the mussels only after we'd finished our starter, and checking in on us multiple times. At $151 with an 18% tip, it felt like the right price point for a mid-week, casual date night, especially with a glass of wine per person included. I would definitely return, especially for the mussels during happy hour and that patio atmosphere. read more

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Delicious food and great service. They rotate their dishes so you can keep coming back to try new items. They have amazing recommendations if you aren't sure what to get. And don't skip on dessert! Coupe A Cote is the best thing I've ever tried read more

Delicious!! The food was amazing and the service was great! We sat at the community table and the restaurant had fun vibes and the food was amazing! One of the best khachipuri I've had! read more

À Côté - Honey nut squash tartlet - French Near Me - Oakland, California

The best! For the price and food quality, this mine and my wife's favorite nice restaraunt to go to in the Berkeley rockridge area.

Oh. My. Goodness!!! What an absolutely incredible meal I had at this glorious establishment last night. The plum and baby gem salad was absolutely to die for. Some of the best salad I've had in ages. I even asked Chef Eileen for the salad dressing recipe and to my delight she gave me the recipe!!! Not only did she print it out for me she gave me a little to-go container of one of the rare spices in the recipe. What?! Totally delightful. Then we had the roast beats on top of a yogurt extravaganza of herbs and nuts. It was just beyond tasty. Then for the vegetarian beans, Moroccan style. Delectable!! . I would come here every single day if I lived nearby. For dessert, we had the stone fruit upside down cake with pistachio gelato. It was a perfect balance of light cake and dark rich sweet stone fruits (cherries, peaches, and maybe nectarines?) with a perfectly balanced pistachio gelato. My friend and I were in heaven. And to top it all off every single person we came in contact there was just so wonderful and kind. And the chef herself even served us several of her dishes. It was not busy enough in there. Please go support this incredible restaurant! You want this one to stay on College Avenue forever and ever... read more

We were seated on the heated patio in the back. Very New York City vibes here. The walk to the back patio was maybe 300 feet. It's a trek. Cool spot. While the patio is heated our table was not under a heater- with it being early March we kept our coats on. So be aware that not every table has a direct heater. Server was knowledgeable on both the wine list and the dinner menu. Despite a large birthday party going on next to us the service was mostly very prompt. How do I know it was a birthday going on next to us you may ask? Well, they sang happy birthday. Twice. So naturally we joined in for both renditions. The food is French themed while not being fully French. The potato leek soup was lovely and light. The salads were well composed. I had the fried chicken with hot honey for my main (although I did not get a picture) and it was quite delicious. The crème brûlée was also delicious- albeit not the standard shape or height one has come to expect from this classic standard. See pictures. Overall great experience. I'd say I will be back but I live 300 miles away so hard to know for sure. The place was packed while the restaurant next door was pretty empty. Clearly a popular place. There is no parking so you have to find something on the street and likely walk a bit. read more

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Wow. Delicious. Deserves a Michelin star. Everything was ABSOLUTLEY perfectly cooked for what it was. My god. Flavor - perfectly extracted from all seafood dishes. wine - perfectly paired with menu items. Beef - perfectly cooked. Potatoes - soft and flavorful. read more

Absolutely love this place! The service and food quality is stellar! We're pleasantly surprised by the niche selection of wines they have. I recommend the Georgian flatbread and the mussels. Oh my god and our server was amazing! Can't wait to return because I will be back, oh and please ask to sit in the back! Cozy patio vibes. read more

My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner at A Cote. I've been wanting to dine here for some time and they did not disappoint. The wait staff were super friendly and accommodating. The food and cocktails were delicious. A Cote has such a wonderful ambience, with a sense of warm intimacy and a neighborhood vibe. We enjoyed the to-die-for mussels, the pommes frites, and the fried chicken, which was an ample half chicken served with chard and this wonderful polenta cornbread with a jam infused with Calabrian chili. Yummy!! Warm, unpretentious, and super delicious! If I lived nearby, I'd be here at the bar everyday. A Cote reminds me of those wonderful little Parisian spots that people come to everyday, just a favorite neighborhood sexy getaway spot with endlessly scrumptious fare! I'll be back!!! read more

Nice outdoor patio environment. Loved the steak and mussels and frites happy hour special. The chopped salad was really fresh and good. The house wine was okay. The butter tart with vanilla gelato was delicious. Service was good but the bus lady kept clearing plates before we were actually done which made us feel rushed. Server was great though. read more

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This is a neighborhood gem that I have been going to for years. I have always had great food and drinks. The atmosphere is on point and the service is wonderful. They have been this consistent year after year. If you haven't tried it, it is worth going. read more

A'Cote is definitely one of my go to spots. I've been coming here for 15 years. Food is always incredible and service always solid. The menu is all put together. Ingredients always seem to be high quality. Their cheese plates are always on point. While I don't drink, their drink menu looks great too. I generally prefer sitting outside and have always enjoyed their patio. Which is covered and really well maintained. The interior is quaint and has good spacing between tables. I appreciate the low lighting. read more

Everything here is fire. Personal favorite was the Mussels (not pictured) but the ceviche was also delicious. The pollo was cooked to perfection-- great crisp on the skin and the house made ranch and hot honey were a great compliment. The steak here is always delicious but that Gratin was to die for. Service was also phenomenal, our server "Tino" provided great recommendations. 10/10 read more

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Hostess Delilah made our experience here! She was accommodating, kind, and made us feel like home. Food was excellent and would absolutely go back. read more

Made dinner reservations for 6:30pm on a Wednesday evening. It took a while for the server to come and take our order but she made sure to check-in on us throughout the meal. Started with the happy hour special - mussels and pomme frites with two glasses of wine (we chose one white and one red. My partner enjoyed the white wine more than the red since it was crispier in taste. Mussels were good and the sauce was yummy! Fries were crispy and went well with the mussels. We also tried the Peach and prosciutto flatbread, which had a nice contrast of sweet and savory. Lastly, we got the scallops with gnocchi; scallops cooked to perfection and gnocchi was soft and pillowy with a delicious sauce. Ambiance is lovely with dim lighting throughout the restaurant. Highly recommend the food as everything we tried was great! read more

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I have been going to À Cote for over twenty years. It has long been my favorite restaurant. I love the ambience and the service and the food. I've recommended it many times to friends. I had never had a bad dish in the place until last night. It's always been a little pricey, but I did not mind. My friend and I went last night, shared a mixed salad which was great, flatbread that was quite good, and a thick salmon steak which was raw in the middle. We asked them to put in under the broiler a little longer. It came back over-cooked. It was resting a on a bed greasy sautéed greens which were rather tasteless. My friend had two glasses of wine. I drank bubbly water. Then the bill came: $160, with tip $200. I know prices have gone up thanks to Trump, but this is ridiculous. It seems like their prices are almost double what they used to be. Frankly, I'm still reeling from sticker shock. Will I return? Probably not, and that is a drag. I feel disloyal writing this, but it seems like the À Cote I've loved so long is gone. read more

Atmosphere, servers and food all align to deliver a fun and memorable meal. It smells delicious and woodsy and we were greeted so warmly the first time we went that we felt like regulars. This is our new family birthday spot! read more

I've been coming here for easily over a decade and find the food very reliable and good. It's hard not to get the mussles and frites because they make them so well. read more

Came for dinner after an event in SF. We had taken Bart so I wanted to find a nice restaurant within walking distance to the rockridge station. Lots of reservations available even for a Saturday evening. Food was delicious, our server was super friendly, and the ambiance is great-a bit moody. My bff and I stayed and talked over a cheeseboard, pizza, and dessert. What a treat. read more

Ambiance is fabulous. Think romantic, dim warm lighting, twinkle lights, red walls and a maroon floor. Great place for a date or an intimate dinner. The food is decently good, too - not amazing, but good. We tried a bunch of things, the highlight being Pearl Couscous Pilaf with Fennel, Lemon & Spinach, Red Cerignola Olive Relish. The downsides are the loud music - hard to hear yourself, let alone the person across the table from you - the price tag (dinner for two will run you at least $200), and the slow service. It gets really packed, no matter which night of the week, and there just aren't enough servers to go around. Still, Worth a return visit for sure. read more

À Côté is the perfect spot for a special dinner night in Oakland. It's definitely on the pricier side, but the quality of food and overall experience make it worth it. We came with a group and got to try a variety of dishes. The pasta was a bit of a miss for me, but everything else really stood out. The steak was cooked beautifully, the fish was flavorful and fresh, and the salad was simple but well done. The highlight? The chocolate pot de crème--so rich and smooth, and the perfect way to end the meal. Parking was pretty easy with residential street parking nearby. Would definitely come back for a special occasion. The vibe, the food, and the service all hit the mark. read more

This place sells itself! I cannot say enough good things about this place! We came here at dinner time on a Friday night before the dinner rush. Executive Summary: Service:5/5 Flavor:5/5 Depth of menu:5/5 Good for groups:4/5-get here early Returning again:5:5 I'm not Michelin qualified but I had a Michelin star experience. If there was one item on the menu, I have not had in my plethora of bread I've consumed was the Khachapuri. Straight from the oven this dish is brought to your table still warm and piping warm just enough to cook the freshly cracked egg that slowly encapsulates the inside of the warm bread, it is worth every calorie! This is a must dish from this place. Enjoy! read more

À Côté - Crispy squash blossoms - French Near Me - Oakland, California

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Have had a number meals over the years but was caught off guard by this charge for a dirty martini. We ordered well vodka. When the bill came I noticed a $5 charge for the drink. When I asked for an explanation the waiter indicated the $13 was for the vodka and the extra $5 was to make the drink. WTF? Isn't that the job of the bartender?? Unbelievable. Never seen this at any bar or restaurant. read more

We had the Seared Scallops with Yukon gold potato puree, Jimmy Nardello pepper relish, and nasturtium. A nice entree with delicate flavorings. The scallops were cooked perfectly, the service was prompt and friendly, and the atmosphere was relaxed. I could see myself coming back soon. read more

À Côté - Seared Scallops with Yukon gold potato puree, Jimmy Nardello pepper relish - French Near Me - Oakland, California

A friend of mine and I visited for the first time recently. Both of us had wanted to try it. Neither one of us regret it and we were so happy that we got to experience this wonderful place. First of all, the atmosphere is lovely. It definitely reminds me of a French bistro. It was very cheery and very nice low lighting with candles. Wait staff was amazing. They were all in a synchronized groove and we never wanted for anything. Checking on us a lot without bothering us, which is the perfect combination. Bringing us exactly exactly what we needed at the right time as far as silverware, replacing plates, etc. So much care and attention! Also, their knowledge of the food reminded me of being in Europe as well. They knew the menu very well and helped us make really good choices. They had an imported wine combination special, which was a half glass of red and a half glass of white, which looked like a rosé, but tasted very refreshing and not too sweet. It complemented our meal perfectly. We had the kale salad with strawberries, marinated olives, and halibut. The menu is very inspired by what's in season and the variety is lovely. For dessert, we had.the rhubarb cheesecake! It was more complex than just rhubarb and cheesecake but I forget the details. I just know that we almost fought over the last bite. Everything is served family style and we really enjoyed that because we got to share a lot of food. I can't wait to go back! read more

Love this spot! We had a reservation, even for a weeknight. We were seated quickly. We sat outside, in the parklet. It was a lovely late summer evening and it was beautiful outside. We ordered drinks and a few dishes to share. Everything was delicious, especially the salad and the flatbread with figs and pancetta. Service was impeccable. I'd come back again! read more

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Delicious mussels, great service, delightful back patio! Really enjoyed our dinner there!

The tables are way too close. I was having a conversation with everyone around me because you couldn't possible only focus on just your table. Out waiter was not friendly. We seemed to be a bother to him. I had the special, which was egg salad. It was flavorful, but the bread seemed a bit stale. The roasted tomatoes were fantastic though!! I just want a more relaxed experience where I'm not bumping into the table next to me. read more

I really enjoyed the ambience of this place! Went for my boyfriend's birthday and it was a perfect high-end casual restaurant. The server was absolutely the sweetest and helped us throughout the entire night. Mussels and Frites (8/10): Loved the seasoning on the fries with the dipping, and the mussels sauce was also great for dipping. Lamb Chop (8/10): The tzaziki sauce was also very good! Good option if you're into lamb. Hangar Steak (9/10): The red onion soubis along with the romesco sauce was sooo flavorful with the steak. Spring Linguine (8/10): Loved how fresh the pea shoots made the pasta and the slight crunch from the fava beans. Definitely a more simple linguine and wasn't very al dente which I personally enjoyed. read more

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Had Valentine!s dinner at A Cote'. Food was great & nice, romantic ambience. The V day cocktails were spot on. Great for dates. read more

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