Me and a group of friends went to Au last night and the food was great, the service was amazing we had Shaw as our waiter and he provided the day's specials and recommendations. The Bar tender Moira I hope I got that right was also great she definitely knows how to make a good drink. Oh and we got to meet the Chef! He was kind and welcoming we had great conversations with all the staff we interacted with! So I can say over all the food was great the service was amazing and I would definitely recommend them and looks like we may be stopping by again this week to try other items. We had the 3-way combo Fish, Oysters, Prawns and Mac & Cheese and Collards. Photo below is my friends plate because I forgot to take a photo read more

Au Lounge - Fried Oysters, Prawns and Blackened Snapper, Brussels sprouts, Yams - Lounges Near Me - Oakland, California

The food and service was great. I'm definitely going back soon. We were a large group and everything was great.

Au Lounge has such a calm and classy vibe inside. It feels peaceful yet lively when you walk in. The servers are extremely accommodating and kind. And the food is divine! Chef Smelly cooks up plates that truly bring joy to your soul! They're also great for to go food. I recently stopped by for some sides to accompany my leftover ham and sheesh! They took me to another level. read more

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Not to be confused with the food at Smelly's (that is fantastic), I found the cocktails to be priced similar to all surrounding bars, but lacking the quality and balance that the surrounding bars provided. We were a table of six and the only people content on the drink they ordered were those that ordered a beer and a glass of wine. All of the cocktails fell flat. Not the fault of this place or Smellys, but I didn't like the aspect of having to have a separate bar tab and food tab while sitting in the same chair. I'd probably not get another cocktail from here if I came back. read more

Food was great and atmosphere was amazing. I stumbled across this place I thought it was a hookah lounge and before Covid it was. Hookah isn't served anymore but the food and vibes are very much present. The 90s playlist was everything if hookah was back this place would be perfect wh open air feel. read more

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It's always a vibe here. Great food. Great energy and the customer service is A1. Happy New Year.

This is my #1 GO-TO spot whenever I come to OAKLAND. The lounge setting has an upscale with an AT-HOME feel. The service is A1 bc of the love Chef Smelly puts into the food. Depending on the day, it's best to make a reservation or be prepared to wait. Either way, you won't leave disappointed. The delightful staff I've encountered has been his wife, hilarious son, dope ass security, and daughter whip'n up the tasty desserts. (I have YET to try) If you're a foodie like me, its best to ck out their social media page. They have delicious items on the low. Holla plates. Only when posted tho. The most recent visit was 5 Sept 24. Surprised I never left a review until now. I will be back. read more

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This place was okay .. I thought it was chef smellys but based off the service and food I must be mistaken. His presence is needed in this establishment.... read more

Great service really amazing atmosphere on this hot day. Please have grace with people in the back in the kitchen because it is truly a scorching day and probably will be for the next couple weeks. read more

Au Lounge - Cocktail menu - Lounges Near Me - Oakland, California

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Food is Amazing & Always accommodating when frequent in their restaurant I highly recommend for you to try them and give them your review

Had a great time at Au Lounge. Nice ambience, great music, and good service. Thanks for a great time!

Au Lounge was pretty good if you're in the neighborhood. The ambiance and food are great, the service was eh. We sat at the bar and the bartender was on his phone with ear buds in and I had to beg him to take my order. Asking about refills never happened or "would you like another drink?" The food was great. We had the fried chicken and the blackened shrimp with Mac n cheese and green beans. All of which was wonderfully flavored and tasted like it was cooked by someone who knew what they were doing. The service just needs a tune up. read more

The food, service, and ambience was amazing! Reservations were required. Parking was a little challenging. read more

Located in the end corner of 25th and Broadway is the nice AU lounge. Comfortable and close. Eclectic crowd and a great selection of music, art and good drinks for decent prices; stronger if you tip your bartender (wink). Parking is ok on the street, not too far of a walk. Private parties and events allowed with proper consultation. read more

Au Lounge - Birthday party at AU lounge for little cousin - Lounges Near Me - Oakland, California

Enjoy this place , started coming here a few years ago for a friend's birthday party and had a great time . Freindly staff , sanitizer available, sanitizing between customers. Best cocktails Also Delicious food via chef smelly . Fun atmosphere and great staff . read more

Au Lounge - Long Island West and Hennessy sidecar - Lounges Near Me - Oakland, California

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A side of me likes to think that the partier in me has fully retired. But I learned quickly the other night, that this part of me will never die. It just becomes a different type of party as you get older. I thought I would never end up at a club again. And there we were, sweating like pigs on the dance floor as we danced our asses off. I would like to thank Au Lounge for helping me rediscover my love for dancing again. Sooooo basically.... this place is LIT! Straight FIYAAAAH! Hoppin', jumpin', crackin'; whatever verb that evokes happiness. Loved it to pieces! When we first arrived, you could hear the crickets chirping in the background. I had been here before in the past some years ago and never remembered it being so empty. That's when I realized that it wasn't even 10 yet. We sat at the bar and decided to order a few drinks. I had a Tequila Sunrise and a Cosmopolitan, both of which were potently delicious and cheap! Gotta love those good ol' bar dranks! The bartenders were wonderful. They also gave us shots of... ???? Well, whatever the hell it was; it was the smoothest friggin' alcohol that has probably ever lived. One might call this concoction a "creeper" of sorts because it basically tasted like lemonade but had the effects of patron. Now I'm wishing that I remembered what it was. By 11, this place was pretty packed. We b-lined it to the dance floor and threw DOWN! I'm sure I cut a few rugs up in there. My entire face was wet from all of the sweat dripping down! I literally felt like I had just spent 2 hours working out in the gym afterward. But it was so effing FUN! The DJ was seriously jammin'! He was spinning a mix of Caribbean, Afro-Caribbean, and West African hits. I felt like I was dancing for hours on end! We seriously had such an amazing time here. The crowd was so fun and hype. I loved that they kept one of the large windows open so that some fresh air could get in. You know how hot it can get once you start dancing with a crowd of people. Even though it was packed, it wasn't overly crowded and we could still move around comfortably. I hate when places are shoulder to shoulder. It just kills the mood instantly for me. Since we got in before 11, we didn't have to pay a cover charge. But, I think it's $5 or $10? Honestly, if I was coming to dance, I wouldn't have any problems paying it because the vibe is great and the DJ was on point. Some nights they have live performances here. It's a pretty nice space for live music and dancing. We didn't plan on coming here initially, but it was really the highlight of our night. I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a fun spot to dance. read more

Au Lounge - Cosmopolitan - Lounges Near Me - Oakland, California

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I really love this quiet spot located in downtown Oakland. All the food is cooked by the first business called, Smelley's. The food is very delicious and the tables are all dressed with white tablecloth as well. I would describe the ambiance friendly and relaxing; soft music in the background; very friendly hostesses as you enter; spacious seating for singles, small groups and very ideal for late evening dates. And I must also mention that even though this lounge operate under two separate businesses, the bar area and staff which operate as the second business really take care of you. The drinks are reasonable and you can always ask for their assistance to order your food. You may sit and eat at the bar and watch the large TV screens for sports and entertainment. I give them four stars. read more

The ambiance is nice, as is a restaurant that transforms into a nightclub/lounge after hours. My family attended the restaurant, and i must say it is really nice, quaint, and very intimate. We texted ahead of time for availability, and were promptly responded to. While it is a little pricey, the food was Great. The customer service, is where it is. As I've complimented everything up until this point, I sing praises on the service. Quick seating, all done with a welcome greeting and a smile, and EVERYONE is helpful. My only qualm about this place is, ‍ they didn't have the chicken waffle cheesecake I saw advertised online. BUT IT IS COMING. All in all, a great experience, in a great location, with delicious food, how can they not WIN WIN WIN NO MATTER WHAT! read more

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An absolute no in my book. I'm sad to leave a bad review but the hostess was rude as my friends and I walked to the bar and there was a lot of open seating. She remarked a few times about us not eating so we couldn't get a table, not just once, and was really condescending towards me when I asked whether or not we could sit in the dining room, in a way I could only explain as a micro-aggression. Everyone sitting in the dining room heard and looked awkwardly in our direction and my friends corroborated this afterwards without me bringing it up so I know I wasn't imagining it. Sorry boo, your customer service needs to improve. We are in the Bay Area. There are people of all backgrounds here. And you need to treat everyone with respect. read more

Excellent food excellent service good atmosphere enjoyed my Dining experience with AU

Super chill place thats quite small but has a cool vibe to it with music that makes that makes you want to dance. Beers are cheap and no cover charge. Right on the corner across the street from MUA and good option to hang out after dinner. I would like more seating or at least chairs since there is very little inside. Bouncers and friendly yet take their jobs seriously. Check it out. read more

Gotta support a local business with heart & soul. If you crave fresh seafood, garlic, butter & generous portions, then you'll love just about anything on the menu. Look at any of Chef Smelly's IG or FB posts and you'll get reeled in, just like the pics of him actually catching the fresh fish! It's a whole vibe. read more

Au Lounge - Waiting for the food coma. - Lounges Near Me - Oakland, California

I was in town from NYC I wanted to check out AU for dinner. The menu looked great and so did diners' plates when I walked in. Since I was alone, I sat at the bar. The bartender was very kind and attentive. I didn't get her name, but her service was delightful. I wanted to order food, but I then learned that the bar and the food service are somewhat separate. Thus, the bartender had to leave her post to find a server so I could place my order. When a server finally arrived, it was actually the hostess, who informed me that the restaurant was shortstaffed and she took my order. 40 minutes later I still didn't have any food. When I requested the check from the bartender, the hostess was surprised that hadn't receive my dinner which was an appetizer and two sides. The hostess was apologetic then attempted to rectify the matter. She was told that the food will take five to ten additional minutes because they had to deal with a large party. I declined to wait any longer. Other patron's seem to enjoy the food it's too bad that I didn't get to enjoy mine. The drinks were bomb though which is why I'm giving AU two stars instead of one. read more

AU lounge is where I feel at home! I miss the pre-covid life so much and most of what I think of is AU Lounge. The staff make me feel welcomed always. The music is the best!!! Afrobeats, reggae, world music, etc. chef smelly has his pop up here and they have AMAZING energy for every event. The location is perfectly located across the street from Mua. Since the pandemic, they have been holding very mindful restrictions, and also making room for us to party outside! I can't wait to go back! *check for Mek and Dagmawi as they're full of smiles and hospitality! read more

Hello I went to AU lounge on Thursday I ordered shrimp oysters greens and macaroni and cheese she charged me $53 with the gratuity added the credit card charge was $1.65 which the merchant was supposed to pay I was surprised it used to be my favorite place but after paying $53.65 I will never go back for four oysters for shrimp a small bowl of macaroni cheese and greens this is why black businesses are it's hard to stay open I will never go back and that used to be my favorite place. read more

6/30/2020 4.30pm I REALLY hate to have to leave an upset review, because the food is amazing... however, what I found pretty much turned my appetite off. Again it hella sucks, cause I like the food. I made sure to get in line early (about 3:30 pm) because the line can get insanely long if you show up too late. Place opened around 4:15; I ordered the fried platter: fish & prawns with chili garlic sauce, mac, and garlic green beans ($33)... grabbed a mason jar margarita ($16) to go as well. Order number 09. Yay. So I get home & settle down to Netflix & my food.. after a couple of swigs from my drink, I happened to notice something funny that (I thought) was stuck to the outside of the jar. Nope. A dead gnat just chilling at the bottom of my drink. Now my appetite is ruined, and I wasn't even halfway done with my food. Since they evidently don't wash/rinse glassware before serving, I can't take chances on anything from the kitchen. I'm gonna miss the food from there. I have no issue with the price; however for that much.. hold the bugs. read more

I was joining some friends for dinner. Was about to go to MUA (which is across the street) but they wanted to stay where the DJ was on a Friday night. The DJ was jamming and the crowd was small and manageable. Apparently, they have a guest chef 3x's a week and he prepares fresh seafood. We ordered a humongous platter of shrimp, crab legs and garlic noodles and it was legit the BEST flavor I've ever had on crab legs. Garlic was coming out of my pores the next day but it was SO worth it. The prawns were huge and smothered with garlic and buttery goodness. I tucked a napkin in my shirt and got to work. We sat in the lounge portion where there weren't real dinner tables so I had to go to work on the crab legs and noodles with my plate on my lap. So much flavor. The drinks left a bit to be desired but the food was the highlight. The constant line of customers apparently thought so too. read more

Chef Smelly's food is amazing!!!! The grilled oysters are absolutely delish... the ambiance and music selection gets you groovin... the wait staff is very friendly and funny. We got to meet and take a picture with the legend himself "chef smelly" he made sure our food was perfect.... read more

Great owners Great music the African Diaspora meets here. A woman friendly and safe spot. Experience "Coming to Africa" Oak-Town style

If you love carbs like I do... Hands down the best homemade Mac and cheese in the bay. The garlic noodles are beyond amazing. Will definitely be back here soon to try other dishes. read more

This is a great place to meet women of course. Some of the most beautiful come here. The drink prices are good and does not break your bank after a Friday or Saturday night. During sports game this place gets really packed and live. Also Chef Smelly cooks his great food over here during the day, another reason to give AU a shot while here in Oakland. read more

This place serves Red Stripe. That's a win for me. Sometimes you gotta keep it simple. It's probably because it was First Friday when I went here, but it was very crowded inside but was there around 10PM so there wasn't a line to get inside. There's a $10 cover fee, but the DJs inside were playing some good raggae, raggaeton, afro-carribean type music. It does get too crowded to even move or dance which was my only complaint about this place. Music was great though and it seemed they had some guest DJs from out of town. read more

This place is the absolute truth! Had a little bit too much of a good time the night before with some coworkers and forgot my backpack. I was in a state of panic the whole day as I had priceless items in there. Come to find out that they rescued it and got it back! I love you guys so much and thanks to all the honest staff. read more

ive been to this place once in middle of the week and I really enjoyed this food!! The food is great. BUT THE SERVICE IS INSANE!! I came back this place today (Sunday) and I was waiting for the WAITER FOR MORE THAN 15 minutes the girl(waiter) with curly blond hair just ingnored me And didn't serve me at all I didn't get even water! and you cant barely hear anything in this place people are yelling like in radio. wont come again for sure! read more

Good music and atmosphere was really busy probably due to it being first Friday. Chef smiley did the food mind you I came for the food all the great ig reviews and raves. I order the platter which was a mix of everything the prawns where great abs flavorful the garlic noodles had none too little garlic, the corn had some fish batter or something on it once I took that off the corn was good the chicken was dry the steak was soft and juicy but a little to pink for me the steak and lobster fries were the bomb seeing how there was$100 on top of waiting over an hour and half and i only enjoyed 2/3 of the things was very disappointed this was my first and probably last time read more

I looooove this place. Not much going on during the middle of the week which is the day I brought my best friend for her birthday but the deejay and the bartender are both awesome. It sits in the heart of downtown Oakland so be prepared to circle around many times to look for parking. Shot of Hennessy is ten bucks. read more

Chef Smelly Is Hands Down The Best Seafood Chef in The Entire Bay & Great Customer Service!!!

Great djs! You can relax and have a good time with out a huge price! Bring a crew, or come just you! The vibe is oakland friendly. As locals know. Always in the area, to stop thru and shake my ass for a few! I love their local djs! read more

HORRIBLE service! The Bartender is the absolute worst ever! She has no customer service skills she single handedly kills the vibe here. Never again unless she is gone! She needs a new profession. read more

So I've been holding off on writing this review. Partly because I'm lazy and write for a living so I have to be really compelled to write a review. I'm very critical of soul food, barbecue and desserts. So I arrive early because I know the lines are a hot mess. 3 people are ahead of me. I only order sides. I've been to his place before and had it and it's good. But I only wanted sides. I got garlic noodles garlicky string beans and Mac and cheese. Everything was good. The garlic noodles I could not taste the garlic but I love noodles so I was good. My only issue was I had to wait an hour to pretty much get my food. Again I only ordered sides. Now it would not be an issue if the food was piping hot. It was warm . The main meal I got from another place was warm by the time I got home. You would think if u only order sides it would be faster. Nope not by a long shot. I will try him again in the future. But for me it was the long wait to only get warm food. read more