So hit or miss it's ridiculous. Had a friend ask to meet here, and I recalled years ago hating it so I tried to talk her out of it, but she insisted. I had the shrimp tacos -- eh, they're OK..nothing great but, a solid lunch, good place to meet up to eat. Couple of weeks pass, another friend wants to meet..I suggest Cesar.. and we had the Cesar salad. Didn't know that those bread crumbs were going to affect the texture so awfully. It really felt like we were eating sawdust. Our waiter was weird that day.. the whole experience was just off. I'd still meet here for lunch, it's not packed and good spot to sit and chill - stay away from those salads with breadcrumbs tho. Grody! read more

I am NOT feeling the new "Latino" menu at this place. Is the end near? There are so many mediocre Mexican restaurants near Cesars so why did they need to go there? Has the neighborhood gentrified that much? read more

Really yummy drinks (although a little pricey) and great location! Nice patio and outdoor seating that shares the parking lot with Walgreens. The food looked really good although I did not order anything read more

Went for happy hour (which is from 3-6) the other day. I ordered the "spicy" chicken wings which were definitely not spicy for the fact they were almost drowned in sauce. Not my favorite chicken wings but they weren't bad. My real rave about this place is I love the seating on the patio, they were great at giving me a bottle of water to drink, and I got a pint of Arrogant Bastard for only $4. How awesome is that? Definitely a place to relax while reading a book and having a beer. I would honestly rate it a 3.5 but I'll bump it up to 4 because there was nothing wrong with the restaurant other than I wanted spicier wings read more

Bar Cesar - The nachos with carnitas - Tapas Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Summary: Welcome to the Land of the Bland. Backstory: Nursing an instantaneous onset of anxiety spiked by a flat bicycle tire at 2:49pm, I was immediately drawn to Bar Cesar's promise of "Bottomless White Sangria" till 3pm. Knowing I'd still have to push the bike another mile or so post-Sangria, I had the foresight to order the $7 carnitas street tacos with a side of $4 retried black beans to absorb any negative side affects from my now much anticipated treatment. Mixed results drive my three-star review. As I sit slurping down my second 12 once mason jar of white sangria, I notice that the interior is 1980's fern-bar, minus the ferns. Tired. I also notice that I forgot about the taste of my carnitas street tacos even while I was chewing them. I'm used to roasted pork having such a distinct smell and flavor. Not this time. The avocado creme didn't contribute any flavor, either. The beans were similarly underwhelming. Just two crumblets of cheese on top of paste. Too bad! After shelling out ~$25 for this, I expected more from Bar Cesar, especially given the fierce restaurant competition on Piedmont Ave. Now I'm off to push that bike. read more

Bar Cesar - Carnitas street tacos, black refrained beans, "bottom less" white sangria. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

The people were very friendly but the food was inedible. Drinks were horrible. Used to love this place . However tonight It was horrible.

I have enjoyed spending time at Bar Cesar with my extended family, eating in the semi-private side room, which is always available. It has an amiable atmosphere and excellent service: great food, especially the ceviche, the corn on a stick, carne asada, and fish tacos. The drinks are phenomenal, in particular the pisco sour. read more

Fun atmosphere! Drinks and food are yummy! We love the separate dining area for large groups. Recommend the ceviche, elote, and cesar salad. Favorite drink is a maracuyá sour and of course the margaritas don't disappoint. Great place to watch and cheer for the Warriors!!! read more

Came here for the Afro-Cuban Music after having Happy Hour at a different location. So glad we did. The band was fantastic! The sangria was also so delish. We didnt eat because we were stuffed from 1st stop. But we had such a nice time listening to the music and watching people dance. The bartenders were great. Noticed a small room that you can close off w a drape. May consider this place for a small group gather. I like the location. Parking in the back lot. Lots of nice spots if you want to walk place to place on Piedmont Ave. I'll def be back! PS the sangria sneaks up on you so dont have too many! read more

Great for happy hour, even though the prices are not as low compared to the regular menu prices. It's a cool sports bar - I had the house red wine during happy hour which wasn't great, but well.. my hubby had a michelada made with Pacifico because they did not have Modelo or Corona. That was not included in the happy hour. I ordered artichokes for appetizers, these were delicious I have to admit! My hubby had carnitas tacos he said they were really good. Overall we paid $32 for the 2 drinks and 2 appetizers which are not really common happy hours prices but well, the vibe was cool, Angela the bar tender was super nice and friendly - she even gave us recommendations on where to go for Pizza (we went to Dopo which is just 5 min walking distance from there and was fantastic) so all good! read more

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Reasonable higher-end Mexican-American/fusion fare. Thoroughly enjoyed lunch at Bar Cesar for business-meeting-appropriate Mexican. While ambiance and entrees lacked some of the je ne sais quoi of authentic Mexican, food was tasty and a huge step up from mass-market mainstreamed Mexican such as Chili's or Chevy's. Carnitas tacos lunch ($13.50) came with two well-provisioned corn tortillas (single layer) with a side of chips - $1 more for salad. Pork was moist and flavorful, but missed some of the greasy mouthfeel usually associated with the dish. $13.50 is probably too much for two tacos, but the amount of meat could reasonably have been distributed to a third taco, which makes it closer to reasonable. Sides were reasonable. Brussels sprouts with bacon was excellent, though not at all Mexican. Nothing special about shishito peppers or artichokes. Probably four stars as an American restaurant that just happens to serve Mexican-inspired dishes. Too bad the menu suggests they're really trying for the real thing - "almuerzos!" read more

Really love this place. Some interesting takes on classics that are always flavorful and filling, but never heavy or too greasy (caesar salad with candied pumpkin seeds, bacon wrapped dates with chorizo for example). Their cocktail menu is expansive and fun, and the ambiance feels intimate and lively. Also, really enjoyed our interaction with the manager last night - wry sense of humor. Good date night spot, but also will be taking my mom next time she visits - just a good staple to have in the neighborhood read more

Came here last Friday after my adventure on Bart. Honestly I wasn't too impressed. Everything was very small portions (yes I know it's a tapas place). I just didn't feel like they had enough variety for me to want to order more and more... We had the following: - salt cod & potato cazuela - this goes great with bread... - grilled natural top sirloin steak with guindilla pepper rice & mojo verde - gambas a la plancha with lemon & parsley relish - spicy tuna & egg sandwich: this was super oily. the entire bread was dripping with oil and it oozes oil when you bite into it... totally makes you feel like a fatty... - fideo pasta with clams, mussels, chicken, chorizo & shrimp in a chicken broth with peas & piquillos We also had the sangria which was good... our bill came out to be $60/pp which is kinda expensive since we weren't full yet. :p Probably will look for a place with bigger portions next time! :) read more

This is one of my favorite places to come with a friend and have a light dinner and wine. I have tried most everything on the menu, and the olives, the salumi and the creative crostini are my faves. Sometimes the food can be on the salty side overall, but since portions are tapas sized, it is not objectionable. I love coming here on a cold day, and seeing the roaring fire behind the bar makes me feel instantly cozy. I like the wine list, and the servers are knowledgeable and helpful in understanding your taste. They have a late night happy hour on Sundays starting at 10pm - nice to find a place open on a Sunday night, and the bonus-bonus of a happy hour rocks. read more

Happy hour times: 3-6 pm and 9-close daily Drink prices: $6 for a sangria, $6.50 for a mojito Bar food prices: $5 for spicy chicken wings and patatas bravas Verdict: Nothing special at all. The sangria didn't have a lot of alcohol and lacked a lot of fruit favors in it. Kind of tasted like a water downed punch with lots of ice. The mojito was very minty but again, had too much ice and not enough alcohol. The spicy chicken wings were okay - sauce was spicy, meat wasn't too dry, but it was a tad too oily for me...you can see the oil stains on the plate after you pick it up. The patatas bravas were pretty much like steak French fries to me. I liked how they were very potatoey and not salty, and had a chipotle aioli and mayo sauce drizzled on top. They didn't drench the fries in sauce either, so thankfully, the fries were not soggy after awhile! The place looked nice with mirrors and art decorations on the well, wooden tables, and lots of empty room, but not putting enough alcohol in my happy hour drinks and serving subpar bar food just doesn't cut it for me! read more

Bar Cesar - Spicy Chicken Wings - Tapas Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Stopped here with the family for brunch and was really happy with the food and how quickly we were seated and served. It was a little loud but they gave us a seat near the back close to the restrooms so that was good since we had small children in our party. The food was absolutely amazing and was on the table in 5 minutes from the time we placed our order! I only have two complaints, one being I felt a bit hovered upon once we started finishing up with our plates with someone coming by to grab each plate as it was cleared. The second that we had to go find the waiter to pay the check, not fun with two wriggling kids ready to leave. Otherwise a great time with delicious food! read more

Bar Cesar - Amazing Brunch - Tapas Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Una rica 'Noche de Salsa' en bar cesar. Enjoyed a good, local beer at this well spaced restaurant on Piedmont Ave. where the music was fantastic for the monthly salsa night. Can't wait to return and try the food. Street parking, ample bathrooms and nice decor too! read more

Bar Cesar - Anthony Blea's friends John Santos and Peruano Oscar - Tapas Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Not cheap, but pretty good and beautiful presentation. Good happy hour price on oysters and the tacos were good. I recommend the spot for small bites and drinks. 3.5-3.75 read more

Bar Cesar - Tapas Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

First-time brunch visit. The Paloma was among the best I've ever had--not sweet but not dry, with a perfect citrus balance. And wow, the chicken flautas (2) were really delicious and came with a light dousing of crema fresca and guacamole (which I normally hate) on a bed of lettuces, shredded cabbage, and thin pickled onion that bf ate like it would be his last meal ever. French toast was pretty good, with berries and chantilly cream that wasn't overwhelming. Bf liked his huevos rancheros, which came with tasty roasted potatoes. Service was a little slow, and I guess the coffee isn't bottomless and is served in tiny cups to boot -- why?? So that part sucked. Since the rest was pretty good, I would give 3.5 stars if I could. read more

My boyfriend and I were craving raw oysters and the last time we were here, they were so good, so we came back for more. But after being seated and glancing through the menu, we were disappointed to see that raw oysters weren't on the menu anymore. We asked one of the severs just to check and she said no. So disappointing since this location was one of the few places that had good raw oysters that were petite, creamy, and cleaned well. We didn't want to just walk out even though we only came here for the happy hour oysters so we ordered some food. We ordered the chips and three salsas, avocado lime tortilla soup, carne asada tacos, and pork tacos. The chips and three salsas were decent. The chips were really salty if you ate it alone so make sure you dip it with one of the salsas. There was a really spicy one, a tomato sauce looking one, and a green tomatillo salsa. I liked the green tomatillo salsa the best. The avocado lime tortilla soup was my favorite. I really like foods that are lemony and this tortilla soup hit the spot. It was so simple yet so good. I pretty much ate the majority of it. The carne asada tacos were ok. Maybe I'm not used to the taste of this particular taco or how they made it but I wasn't a fan. On the other hand, the pork tacos were much better. It was juicy and had a sauce with the pork. We also tried the sangria. I thought it was pretty good considering that I don't drink. Overall, 3.5 out of 5. read more

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Excellent service from the owner who comes by to serve us, and the food itself is great: the Baja and carne asada tacos are very good.

Great food, great service! I would recommend starting with the diablita drink (a perfect mix of mezcal and jalapeño) an order of guacamole with chips, and order the crispy shrimp tacos. So good, I am addicted to it! read more

Forget the so-so reviews on this place. Here's your guide to a perfect lunch here: Stop by on a nice sunny afternoon...get a table on their patio. Start with a glass of their excellent sangria. Get some tapas (ie eggplant flatbread, patatas, bocadillo). Don't forget a glass of '03 Domaine de Monteils. Get the check & head over the Fenton's Creamery down the street for sundaes...You're golden! read more

YUM-O! My girl friends and I came here for lunch and ordered 4 tapas dishes to split. Salmon, shrimp, sausage, and cod. All items were delicious and I didn't feel like I broke the bank afterwards. I love that the windows opened up into the patio space and the large farmer's table in the middle of the restaurant was a nice touch. I'll be back. read more

Bummer. I have been here before and enjoyed myself, but eh. The food isn't so great. It does have a nice atmosphere--low lighting and all. And last time we had a waitress that wasn't very nice, in fact she was kinda rude (an asian woman with long black hair). The sangria was tasty though, so that's a plus. Ultimately, I could get tasty cocktails somewhere else and not have a rude waitress. So yeah. . . read more

My family and I went here again after viewing the Oakland Zoo Christmas Lights show. Thus, we weren't really dressed up for it (we were all wearing layers of clothes; puffy jackets and beanies - you name it, we were wearing it ~ it was freezing outside!) I'm just thankful that we had with us my bro-in-law who happens to be the token white (British) guy along with the nephew and the entire family in tow (sans the boy ~ finals for college). We didn't get a whole table b/c our group was large, we were then divided into two tables. Food: loved the shrimp gumbas (if I'm spelling it right?) creamy and tasty. The steak wasn't bad either, the blue cheese on top was a nice addition. The fries were awesome, crispy, thin, just the right stuff all together. My family ordered a bunch of other stuff but due to the chaotic surrounding that I was in, I didn't have much of an appetite. I mean imagine a 16 month kid running around, smiling sometimes crying, a Brit guy following the kid around, my Mom going back and forth to our table to taste our food, sis coming over so we could taste her Irish Coffee (which was actually good ~ on par with Buena Vista in the city). See, chaos. Service: kinda snotty (though one server who was bringing out the food was friendliest out of the bunch, always chatty and just a nice guy) but the rest, perhaps it was b/c we had a baby and we were all over the place, or we weren't dressed up for the place, kinda just didn't care. I mean they served us all right but with some kind of hesitant, I could tell they weren't really happy to serve us but eh, it was their job. Note: people here really get dressed up...a la SF scene. Maybe it's the weekend, or maybe it's time to pair up due to the holidays, but my gosh, some of the outfits of the ladies coming in (solo by the way) were just "dang, I can't believe she's wearing that" -- all my sis-in-law and I can say was: "wow, how can she wear that when it's freezing outside?!" I would say that my first time here, which was Aug. 2007 ~ was a better experience, better food, and larger quantity (for a tapas place) ~ hooray for recession! read more

Please be advised that I'm writing this one as a comparison to the Berkeley location. Decor -- nice but nondescript Service -- opportunity for improvement Food -- similar to the Berkeley location which is lovely Ambiance - did I mention the food? read more

Good food, micro plates (even for tapas), horrible service. That's the short version. Here's the long version: We went here for dinner on a Sunday evening with another couple. We were seated quickly and our drink orders were taken. But, we had no silverware. Flagging down a waiter was a challenge. We started off with the duck tacos with guacamole and arbol salad. They were super tiny, but juicy and packed with flavor. Not a good value at $7.50 for two. The two fish tacos were about the same. Delicious, but tiny, about half the size of the ones found at Rubio's. I was seriously shocked at how little fish was actually in the taco (and YES, I've been to many tapas places before - I know they are supposed to be "small plates" but this is ridiculous!) The fish tacos were seasoned with a radish slaw, coriander, and aioli. The clams, mussels, and mahi mahi was one of our favorites. The coconut-based sauce was rich and scrumptious. The grilled garlic bread went well with this. The other favorite was pollo asado, which was garlic-herb marinated chicken with green rice and grilled scallions. The chicken was well seasoned and even the white meat was tender. Portion size was actually not too bad, but this was a bit more expensive at $16.00. We also got the patatas bravas, which are long fried potato sticks covered with a spicy tomato sauce and aioli. Sort of like steak-cut fries. they are quite tasty, but the sauce is rather spicy. Decent serving size, but $8.75 for fries seems a bit steep. We should have gone for the fried calamari, which was only a buck more! Our pals ordered the Rattlesnake cocktail, which had Old Overholt Rye, St. George absinthe, maple, and lemon. I tried a sip - didn't seem too strong and the absinthe flavor was subtle and not overpowering. The other drink was the Samba Star, which contained cachaca, prickly pear, cointreau, and muddled lime. He was disappointed that the drink was bright magenta - a touch too feminine for his taste! :) The place has a sports-bar atmosphere and the bar area seemed busy. If you want to check this place out, I'd recommend going for happy hour, otherwise it's too expensive for a regular meal. We didn't eat much and it was about $15-$20/head. Also, dress warmly, since the indoor seating is open to the outside. read more

So, leave it to me to go to a Tapas-centric restaurant and just order a regular old entree....However, that being said, it was overall a tasty experience here. Service was attentive and I ordered the portobello mushroom sandwich. It had some nice seasoning to it and extra props for it coming with avocado. The fries it came with her, eh, just kind of shoestring fries with some herbs sprinkled on it-but the sandwich itself was more than enough. My boyfriend ordered the salmon and he just kept saying "this so good, so good, so good." So there you have it. Casual atmosphere and seemed a little bit more spacious and airy than some of the other places to eat in that section of Piedmont Ave. A solid 3-wouldn't go out of my way to come back but it did the trick for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. read more

I eat at Bar Cesar once per week every week, and can wholeheartedly recommend it. The food is consistently good, and the atmosphere perfect for a nice yet casual, frill-free night on the town. Favorites include the popcorn chicken, shishito peppers, and brussel sprouts. My wife gets the steak and veggies, and both are consistently good. The beverage menu is solid, and I can recommend the "del jefe" margarita. I knock one star because sometimes the small things are overlooked. (e.g. water is only produced when requested; inconsistent level of service) Regardless, if the menu strikes your fancy and you are looking for a casual yet fulfilling dining experience, Bar Cesar is well worth it. read more

My sisters and I came here on recommendation of our coworker and we shared a few items. They weren't bad the food was okay but not so sure if it really wow'd me. The drinks are good and strong so that was a plus. Not too sure if I'd be back. read more

this is a regular spot for my friend and I. If you want good, strong drinks, come here! The food is average, not too many options for the non red meat/pork eater.. i think they only have a taco dish that is JUST chicken, not a mixture of chicken and pork, which is a little disappointing. but hey its tapas so im not going to hold a grudge. So, if you want a place to hang with friends over great drinks, here is your place. Update: I confirmed with a waiter the other night that the chicken tinga used for the nachos is JUST chicken. I was always so confused because before they told me it was a mixture, but now I can scarf them down without any hesitation. read more

I live in the neighborhood and have loved this place for years... For it's space and drinks. Great bar, good drinks... So I don't mind paying a little more. But I find myself going over less and less because of the dinner menu. Expect to pay a lot or leave hungry. Tacos are now 3.5 each and they are tiny. A taco salad, which is good, is 11 (I have a hard time paying 11 for a salad) There are a few entrees that go for 15 -19 ... None very inspiring... Fish tacos (yes... More tacos) on the dinner menu are the best at 17. The enchiladas were just ok... For 17, I want more than ok. We ordered the asparagus the last time we actually ate there and, although it was good... There were only 4 stalks of asparagus under a pile of chorizo and an over easy egg. We asked for some chips to eat the chorizo on and were charged an extra $1...I was appalled. So these days... We go have our drink (instead of 2-3 times a week, it's usually just Friday now) and as we are enjoying our drinks and the space... We ponder where we would like to eat... I hope the dinner menu gains some variety and great flavor again. I miss the taco soups, the paella, the tortas ( which they may have on their lunch menu), the sopes.... And I could go on and on... read more

All I can say is wow. We were seated immediately by a man named Victor and he catered to our every need throughout the night. I swear he is clairvoyant. He knew what we wanted before we even knew!!! The food was great but seriously Victor is the bomb-diggity. Coming back just because I want him to know what I need. read more

Came in for lunch today with husband and son. We were pleasantly greeted and promptly seated at a table of our choosing. Our server was Gustavo who did a fine enough job. Although not a bad experience in the least, I don't know if I would be in any hurry to return. My rating is based on the points below: 1. The guacamole & chips were tasty, especially the chips and salsa, but the guacamole was much too salty. The avocado and any spices that were added into the guacamole were overshadowed by the saltiness. 2. My salmon BLT was tasty--good quality salmon, but no visible bacon which made us wonder where is the "B" in the "BLT"? Also, using a baguette for this sandwich was not a smart choice. The roof of my mouth was irritated by my biting into the baguette, and the chewiness in the crust made it more difficult to take a bite--a torpedo roll would have been a smarter choices since softer breads go well with the softness of the salmon. P.S. I thought the menu had indicated torpedo roll as the bread, but my sandwich definitely was on a baguette. 3. My son ordered the brisket taco but was served a brisket sandwich instead, which he didn't bother to return since the sandwich looked good. He enjoyed it very much and although he claimed he wasn't hungry and that he'd only have iced tea, he contentedly consumed the whole sandwich. His only comment besides that it was tasty was that it was a tad too salty, just as he felt the guacamole was... 4. My husband ordered the portobello mushroom sandwich. He enjoyed half of his sandwich and then he and I switched to have the second half of each other's sandwiches. As I said, he enjoyed his half of that sandwich. I didn't...which surprised me because I've ordered many a portobello sandwich at different establishments and I've never not liked it. This sandwich had too many strong and competing flavors going on alongside the portobello which had its own balsamic flavoring. The pesto and mustard clashed with the mushroom even after I scraped off the pesto the best I could. Mustard was dolloped on so heavily that it dripped out of the sandwich along with mushroom slices... 5. We all were asked if we wanted salad or chips on the side; we all chose salad. Little did we know we were to be charged an additional $1 per side salad which unfortunately was overdressed and obviously lacked freshness given the number of unappetizing wilted lettuce leaves. So yes, although we had a pleasant enough meal together, I would not be in any hurry to return for a meal. This is not a place that showcases the freshest ingredients, nor any cooking finesse and creativity that would warrant charging their high prices. Thanks for reading, and hope the restaurant will make some adjustments... read more

I sat at the bar tonight. I ordered a beer and fish tacos which was all good. Both bartenders who helped me were nice. The tacos were good. Here's the reason for the one star. As I was eating, the male bartenders got very loud and boisterous at the end of the bar away from me. Even that was okay. I asked for my bill and the bartender nodded. Next thing I know he comes over to me with this gift card from an ice cream store. I think he's giving it to me but can't imagine why. Turns out he thinks I gave it to him for payment. WTF?? First I hadn't even gotten a bill yet, so would not have given him any sort of card. I told him I'd never seen the gift card before and he looked right at me and said, in an accusatory tone, "Where else would I have gotten it?" I was shocked! I told him I'd like my bill. He walked away, and went to the other end of the bar where he and another bartender looked at me and the gift card and started laughing! He ended up bringing my bill but no apology or anything. I gave him my VISA, left him no tip and got the hell out of there. I've been there a lot but will never go back, except to ask for the manager to tell him about this experience! read more

This place has such terrible service you almost wonder if they don't care if they stay in business. The food is okay, but the service is shockingly terrible. They NEVER answer their phone during business hours. Ever. They are missing so much business in takeout, not to mention that every other restaurant picks up their phone. Their servers act like they were pulled out of bed and told that they have to act as wait staff for a day as punishment. You'd have no idea that this is actually a job they agreed to do and get paid for. I've been there multiple times because it's close to my home and convenient, but every single time it's the same deal with the service. Is just so terrible it ruins everything else. They could do so much better. They should look around and question why their big restaurant is constantly closer to empty than full and get actual management in there that act like they have an interest in running a successful restaurant. read more

My mom and I came here on a Friday night and ordered the quinoa salad (which we shared), fish tacos (me) and chicken mole (mom). Food is good but not amazing. Service is decent despite the restaurant being busy. Main downside is the noise. I wouldn't be opposed to coming here but probably wouldn't choose to come here on my own. read more

First time here, and really liked it! The hostess even sat us at the bar, which in other places, they just "sit anywhere you like." Our bartender greeted us right away, and was attentive all evening. The house margaritas he made us were great; definitely could taste the tequila! My fiancé ordered the chicken tacos off the happy hour menu and he really enjoyed them. Then we ordered the guacamole which was also delicious. The bartender even offered to get us more chips because we still had guacamole leftover. Looking forward to coming back soon. read more

Bar Cesar - Tapas Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Went with a friend for Valentine's Day. The restaurant itself is very modern with a lovely atmosphere. Our server was polite as well. The margaritas were very strong and poorly mixed I think. The food was ok except the oysters which were VERY GOOD. They were clean and fresh. What stick out was the accompaniments! Not your average mignonette and horseradish. No sir! The Happy Hour doesn't offer much of a deal as previous posters have mentioned. After receiving and tasting all of our food we were glad to not be paying full price just the same. Would potentially return just for the oysters. Not even going to lie. Just those though, nothing else. Oh and the guac was good too. So maybe those two things. read more

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