First visit to Oakland and this small brightly colored clean open layout restaurant, reserved on…read moreOT, great full window views of street, paid parking in front, and both lunch and dinner menus. 5/5 Paul the Great, both Host and Waiter, made me feel right at home explained specials on menu and recommended some great Oakland places to visit. 10/10. Please ask for Paul when you visit. The delicious reasonably priced entrees cooked by the owner/chef included Dominican salad and Pico Pollo served with little wait.5/5. I will definitely visit again!!

We had an absolutely exceptional experience at alaMar Dominican Kitchen in Oakland! From the…read moreincredible food and delicious drinks to the warm, attentive service, everything was truly outstanding to the ambiance and creative decor brought authenticity and warm welcoming . My husband complimented Chef Nelson on the amazing food, and we were so pleasantly surprised when Chef Nelson came out to greet us personally. He was incredibly kind and gracious, and even treated us to a special creation of his own. That personal touch made an already wonderful experience even more memorable. You can truly taste the passion, creativity, and love that goes into every dish. The flavors were incredible, the drinks were fantastic, and the hospitality was top-notch. We're already looking forward to bringing our folks from Brentwood, Pittsburg, and Antioch to alaMar so they can taste and experience it for themselves. Oakland has a real gem here! Thank you, Chef Nelson, and the entire alaMar team, for such an amazing experience. We'll definitely be back!

Located in Au, two establishments are run here for Chef Smelly's and the bar. So orders at the bar…read moreare separate. It was quite crowded and I just sat on the counters looking out onto the street, which was fine. It kind of took awhile to get the food, but it was worth it. Platters were big and sharable. Got the combo plate with fried chicken, fish, fried oysters, and Garlic noodles. All really good, seasoned well, and not too salty. Service was friendly. I hear the oxtails on the weekend are really good. Will try to come back then.

Very rude customer service. Also never has a few seafood items in stock. It says at the front door…read moreto wait to be seated and there was no server in sight. Since I have sat at the bar before I sat myself at the bar and grabbed my own menu. There was a gentleman sitting next to me wrapping up his meal and the restaurant was half full and I finally saw the server running tables and I still patiently waited since I saw she was the only server working. The older lady server preceded to acknowledge every other customer including the gentleman next to me and when a customer came in for a pick up she looked past me to acknowledge him and never once told me she would be right with me. After 15 minutes I ended up leaving the restaurant and going down the street to Y's Choice which has great service and plenty of items in stock on their menu. Would not recommend it here!

We came as a party of 7. Great ambiance for happy hour!! $1 oysters and fun drinks (but we didn't…read moretry this time). Note that there is a limit to 30 oysters per table. I really like how they let you build your seafood experience exactly how you want it, from the type of seafood to the seasoning and spice level. The only thing was I think the spice level could've been kicked up a notch. Our table ordered a mix of oysters, garlic noodles, Cajun fries, shrimp, crawfish, mussels, which came with corn, potatoes, sausage and hard boiled egg! The seafood was fresh and the sauce coated everything nicely without being overwhelmingly salty, and the corn and potatoes soaked up all the seasoning. All for a very reasonable price if you get the combo, which comes in 3 different tiers! The oysters were a standout--fresh, briny & I loved all the different sauces like horse radish and cocktail on the side. I do wish the fries were a bit more crispy and could've gone heavier with the Cajun seasoning, but that's personal preference. The atmosphere is casual, lively, and perfect for big groups. If you're looking for a customizable seafood boil with fresh oysters, fun drinks, and plenty of options to build your ideal meal, Rockin Crawfish is definitely worth a visit

I was very disappointed with my recent takeout order. Before placing my order, I specifically asked…read morewhether the crawfish were live, and the waitress told me they were available. Based on that conversation, I expected fresh live crawfish, which was available Tuesday when I ordered from DoorDash the previous time. After I got home and opened my order this time. it was clear that the crawfish had been frozen. If the restaurant serves frozen crawfish, that's fine, but customers should be given accurate information when they ask directly about the product right? I feel misled because I relied on what I was told when making my purchase. Transparency is important, and I hope the restaurant does a better job communicating with customers about whether their crawfish are live or previously frozen. VERY DISHONEST BUSINESS SMH.

Chef Smelly's delivered on the one thing that matters most: the food…read more My wife ordered the fried corn, collard greens, mac and cheese, half crab, and blackened shrimp. I had the salmon, fried prawns, mac and cheese, and cabbage. Everything we tried was flavorful, fresh, and cooked with care. The standout items were the blackened shrimp and the crab. The butter sauce covering the crab was absolutely delicious and packed with flavor. The salmon was cooked exactly the way salmon should be--moist, flaky, and tender. Too many restaurants overcook salmon and dry it out in the center, but Chef Smelly's got it right. The fried prawns paired perfectly with their sweet chili sauce, which was a nice change from the usual tartar sauce. The sides held their own. The mac and cheese was creamy with great texture, and while I won't call it the best I've ever had, it was very good. The cabbage was excellent, but the collard greens were the real surprise. They reminded me of my mother's homemade greens, and that's not a compliment I give lightly. If you're from the South, you know how hard it is to find greens that taste like they came from someone's family kitchen. The service was attentive, friendly, and hospitable throughout the meal. More importantly, the food was consistently good from start to finish. Bottom line: Chef Smelly's is worth the visit. Great flavor, quality ingredients, and food that feels like it was made with pride. We'll definitely be back and would gladly recommend it to others.

Came here for lunch after a recommendation from someone. We're not from here, drove here from…read moreSonoma County on a Friday afternoon. It was a little hard to find because the bldg had a sign that says "AU" and not the actual name of the restaurant. We were greeted as soon as we got to the front and were seated right away. The ambiance was nice. The place was clean. We opted to get the hot honey chili prawns for an appetizer and it was pretty good. Hubby got his fried catfish w/ collard greens and yams. I got the fried red snapper w/ the mac n cheese and yams for our main entree. The food came pretty fast and hot. Pretty big servings also which made it ok since they priced each at $31. The fish tasted great, the only problem was they switched our fish. The yams were good and collards were ok. Mac n cheese we didn't really care for. Excellent service and I would say the food was ok. **I ordered the red snapper w/ mac n cheese n yams and my husband ordered catfish w/ collards n yams. I ended up w/ the catfish and he was given the snapper. We were halfway w/ our meal when he said I think u have my catfish. Not saying anything bad about the restaurant, it's just our fish was not with the correct sides and we had it mixed up. ** Both fish were cooked to perfection and tasted great. Just the sides were just ok.

The Food Game never disappoints! The best decision I made was when I decided to meal prep with…read moreAnanda. Her food is tasteful, healthy and never boring. You get a variety of different flavors and authentic dishes. All the ingredients are healthy and fresh. Since meal prepping with The Food Game I've continued to lose weight and my energy level is high. Healthy comfort dishes, you can't go wrong!

Ananda is amazing and her food is out of this world!!! My favorite item is the Asian Cajun Seafood…read moreBoil which I first had at FoodieLand. It was so good I ordered 2 pans of it for Thanksgiving and not a single shrimp or potato was left! I also LOVE the weekly meal prep and I have lost almost 4 pounds in 1 week. This woman is the truth and her clean eating meal prep has helped me tremendously in my everyday life as well as aid to my overall physical health! Don't miss out!!!

I've been here twice in the last month (March 2026) and everything has been excellent: the food,…read morethe service, the vibe inside, from the artwork to the music to the comfy couches along the side where you can just chill over dinner with a friend or a lover;-). The bar is substantial if you are alone and just hanging out. We had a party of 7 people last week - celebrating the sale of my sister's Oakland condo - and had to reconfigure our seating for the friend who came last minute, which was done cheerfully. The set up of Calabash allows for large groups easily. We came early (5:30pm) so we had the place to ourselves for the first half hour. Their specialty cocktails are very nice. Unfortunately the wine selection is limited (I think they'd run out of some and hadn't restocked) but we were happy with the cocktails, which include non-alcoholic options. For Vegans, there are a few great items: there's a roasted brussel sprouts & cauliflower combo that is delicious (might be a little spicy for some, but not for me!); plantain; rice & peas. And for non-meat eaters, the salmon dish and the shrimp dish (an appetizer) are both excellent. I can already tell that Calabash will be my go-to spot in Oakland. I live in San Francisco, which has no authentic Caribbean dining spot, unless you count Meski (Warriors' Draymon Green's new spot), which technically is "Ethiopian-Dominican fusion". Also the price point of Calabash is much more budget-friendly than Meski. One final note is that it is black-owned, so if you care about supporting our community of Black-owned businesses, this is a no-brainer. I'm just sayin'...

Have come here before and ordered different dishes/appetizers before but tonight, I was craving the…read moreoxtail. There was a party going on and it was busier than usual for a weekday. Part of my group was already there when I arrived and it wasn't an issue to find street parking. I ordered the Kingston Sunset for my "cocktail". Comes with Prosecco, Sorrel, and Bitters. Had to keep it fairly light for a work night. It tasted delicious and perfect for what I needed for the evening. Their drinks are really good and they don't skimp on the liquor when I usually order cocktails with liquor it in it, so if that's what you're going for, you won't be disappointed. I ordered the oxtail entree with rice and plantains. My oxtail was cooked perfectly like it usually is. Can never go wrong with ordering this dish. It's my go to when I come here, though I've had other dishes here, it's my favorite. They didn't have the scotch bonnet pepper hot sauce which goes really well with it. If you know, you know! I opted to try the crystal hot sauce just so I had something. It was better than nothing. The oxtail is already good without it, but I love the extra kick! One of the owners/investors happened to be sitting down with the private party/event at the table near ours and came to see if we needed anything which was really nice of him. Love the food/drink, music and vibes here. Come and check them out if you get a chance!

Brenda's is easily one of my favorite places for a good brunch. I've been to the San Francisco…read morelocation several times, and the Oakland location is also great--and quite a bit bigger. The food is consistently good. I especially love their fried chicken. We've tried several different dishes, and there really hasn't been much that I didn't enjoy. My daughter absolutely loved the chicken tenders. They're not your typical heavily breaded chicken strips--they have their own style and flavor that makes them stand out. The everything is also excellent, the biscuits are fantastic, and I really enjoyed the cornbread. And, of course, you can't go to Brenda's without trying the beignets. Those alone are worth ordering. Overall, Brenda's is just an awesome place to have brunch. Great Southern-style comfort food, plenty of choices, and food that actually lives up to the reputation. I've also been to Brenda's Meat & Three, and that's another really good spot. Highly recommended. If you're looking for a great brunch, Brenda's should definitely be on your list.

Brenda's runs a right ship, serving delicious New Orelans-inspired fare in an elevated yet…read morewelcoming atmosphere. The Kale salad with grilled tofu was way over my expectations and was enough for two meals ez.

This place is certainly a staple in oakland. They've been consistent with their food for as long as…read moreI've been going and there service is friendly. There aren't many places you can get catfish and man is it worth it!! Not only the catfish but the snapper and prawns are amazing as well. Love the portions. I think you get your moneys worth of seafood. Potato salad is my go to as the side option. fries are great too! Love the tartar and hot sauce they use!

Overcooked fish, expensive, and long wait…read more Spotted this place while nearby and decided to try it. I was very disappointed. The fish n chips were BAD. The fish was rubbery and thin.. The fries were okay and extra sauce was an extra cost. Not coming back.

Grabbed a Tuesday lunch outside the home office today in the Haus of Chefs…read more Went for the burrito bowl with the blackened chicken. Great salad, better chicken. Very flavorful! The beans and rice are red beans and rice, so good. Also, they really fill the bottom of the bowl with them so if you don't finish the bowl you've got another meal side to go! Can't wait to try another dish.

Omg!!! If you haven't been to Jusla for Soul Food Taco Tuesday, you're seriously missing out…read more Chef's creations are super creative, bold, and absolutely worth the hype. Here's the Vibe * We had the grilled oysters to start (YES), and I went for the fried lobster tacos--yummmm. Perfect balance of crispy, creamy, spicy, and fresh. * Sadly, they were out of their popular oxtail and spicy short rib tacos (thanks to that graduation crowd), but that just gives me a reason to go back. * I love that this spot supports pop-up chefs and local Black-owned businesses--you can feel the passion in every bite. Logistics & Details * Located inside Haus of Chefs (they're open Saturdays and Tuesdays only). * The bar is run separately by the owner, and it's fire--solid cocktails like the Creamy Espresso Martini or California Dreamin' round out the meal. * Don't miss the full dinner menu--Salt & Pepper Bronzino and the Jambalaya Rigatoni are next on my list. If you're in Oakland and want something soulful, flavorful, and full of love, this is your go-to Taco Tuesday move.

It's a great place to eat. Very good food and service I would recommend eating thereread more

After scouring the bay for a seafood boil I hadn't been to before, I picked out this place based on…read morethe viet tag and relatively high rating. My partner and I really love seafood boil, and we both came up in cali where viet seafood boil was the ultimate satisfaction for a seafood craving. Coming here, it was really disappointing-- not that we had high expectations, we really wanted to like it and gave it an honest try. The #1 combo with 1lb respectively of crawfish, shrimp, + mussels + potato + corn and bread looked to be the best value and a bit of a classic choice, and we decided on the crazy sauce, hot spicy level. The sauce was spicy, sure, but it was runny(not in a good way), lacking in distinguishable flavor, oily, and didn't seem to want to stay/embed itself in the seafood at all. The crawfish had the essence of having been obviously frozen, the shrimp was mostly fine but small comparatively, and the mussels genuinely made me a bit concerned for my health. Beyond half of them being false and having no mussel in them, the rest appeared as if they had died and were cooked dead. Some tasted as such too. Strange, almost repulsive aftertaste. Then, they really gave us a singular potato. The corn (also singular) I had recognized as a frozen variety which I had once as a child. The kind with crazy gummy type texture. The bread was obviously just the banh mi bread(the restaurant also serves pho and probably is the primary appeal), which isn't a bad thing, it just felt lazy and perhaps is reflective of the attitude towards the preparation of the food. I really don't like writing negative reviews, and honestly the service we received was very attentive and kind, but I felt compelled to write this because it is a bit of an insult to seafood boil and a sure disappointment to anyone who enjoys it. I really wish the business well and hopefully the pho is good and can carry the restaurant. Best of luck!