Swan's Market has been a staple in Old Oakland for a long time!!!…read more I used to come here long before my Yelp days quite often. There used to be live music here sometimes (I think there still is, sometimes) and the market has small restaurants and even a place to buy uncooked food, Parking in Old Oakland can be a challenge depending on when you come, But this place has indoor and outdoor seating available, and the vibe here is very Oakland!!

Gotta love the consistency of good places to eat and hang with friends/co workers…read more This is it...a goto spot with good food, variety and many friendly people. If you need somewhere to go, not sure what you want to eat and want options then come to Swans. Most of the eateries are consistent, but a few of them change every few years. All the food is good and they take pride in quality & presentation. Whether you want something sweet, savory, rich or whatever you can find it here. There is indoor/outdoor seating & too many choices not to make this a place to visit.

It's been years since the last time I stopped into this Italian Deli/Sandwich shop. Ratto's has…read moreapparently been around since 1897. They have a modest but solid selection of Italian deli meats (Serrano ham, prosciutto, pancetta, etc), pasta, olive oil, vinegars, and a couple specialty jams (calabrian chile orange, etc) - basically all you'd need for a gourmet charcuterie board meal or snack. Last time I was here, picked ip a bottle of nicely aged balsamic vinegar from Italy, which has lasted me for a couple years. Today, decided to try one of their specialty Italian sandwiches with a shot of expresso on the side... and Mama Mia was the sandwich absolutely amazing! I highly recommend the Jamon Serrano & Manchego sandwich ($14.50). It comes with shaved ribbons of serrano ham, 1/5 inch thick slice of aged manchego cheese, a creamy spread of chevre goat cheese, chopped/marinated artichokes and arugula greens on a crusty/crunchy baguette (between half to a full foot long). I practically finished this within 10 minutes - it was so good! The expresso shot ($3.25) was also a good pairing for me. Loved the aroma, made from nicely dark roasted beans. Inside the venue there's shelves on the back wall, with Italian dry goods, oils, vinegars, jams, etc for sale. Seating indoors is about 5ish tables for 2 or more. Outside sidewalk has a couple tables too. Located on the corner of 9th & Washington St, mostly metered street parking in this area and a small hourly parking lot across the street.

There's nothing that's not delightful about Ratto's. From the friendly staff to the clean layout…read morefor the people watching of the tasty, tasty food, it's all good. Attached in a picture of today's special: a chorizo and manchego sandwich. Delightfully tasty, it was a total morning pick-me-up. Punchy, unexpected flavor, and a good portion. If you find yourself in or near Old Oakland, step on in and enjoy!

Great food Great service…read more Great ambiance 10/10 recommended This a a great place to enjoy with friends and family!

The food was amazing and the staff was very kind! It was all very flavorful and delicious! Highly…read morerecommend!

Food / Taste / Portions = B+ Service = A…read moreAmbience = A Solid dinner from start to finish with great value for the money. We'll be back!

Theres no really qualm I have with this place. Service was good, garlic noodles were good but very…read moreTop Ramen-y. It's a restaurant. However, with so many dining options out there, it just doesn't stand out in my mind and likely won't make it near the top of my list

Viridian on Broadway Uptown, one of the most awarded bars in the country and it earns every…read moremention. Esquire best bar, World's 50 Best Discovery, Tales of the Cocktail nominated year after year. Got the Tomato Beef which is their signature, savory and bright and not what you expect from a cocktail, in a good way. Soy Sauce Old Fashioned is the move if you want to understand what they're doing here. Umami tots with chili crisp sour cream disappeared immediately, Szechuan salt and pepper wings were the best version of that dish ive had in Oakland. The whole room feels like a Wong Kar-wai film set which sounds like marketing until you're actually sitting inside it. Get there before the line on weekends, worth every minute either way

I've gone four times and each time it's been soooo hard to pick a responsible number of cocktails…read more They have so much variety and a lot of unconventional combos; the staff is very good about helping guide you to something that matches your preferences, but everything I've tried there was really good. The bites are generally really good too, though I wasn't a huge fan of the chili cucumbers. Try the Tomato Beef cocktail-- it's really yummy! The Li Hing Ramos is a good go-to if you like egg white drinks, and the seasonal milk punch has always been good. The ambiance is very cool, not bright inside, but bright colors, very hip. Great date night spot.

This place is so cute!! My husband and I ordered the picnic charcuterie board and it was the…read moreperfect size for us two. The box was beautifully put together with a lot of care and the flowers were such a cute touch! The cheese is very tasty. We loved it! It would be nice to eat it there at their table or as take out to eat at a park or just at the lake a walk away! We will definitely come back for more. They also have super cute little Knick knacks around the store to purchase and even make a cute gift basket. There's cookbooks, hot sauces, honey, jam, crackers, candles, cute hair clips and cheese related books. They also have cards and candles...perfect for a little birthday gift!! Would definitely come again and recommend others support this business. My impression based on the box I received today is that the owner puts a lot of love and care into the store and the boxes she creates.

The quality of the meat and cheese was exceptional. Beautiful presentation. The added herbs and…read moreflowers made it so pretty and special. When I at first received my medium sized board I thought it looked a bit small for the price. However, one I brought it to my event and it was settling among the other options..... I realized how special it was and was ok with the price, the quality is unmatched and totally worth the splurge. I will be back!!

racist. the male cashier racially profiled me. I had shopped at Nature's multiple times without a…read moreproblem, but it only takes one racist encounter for me not to support a business. I went in one night to buy a couple things. I even asked the cashier to help me find the items in the store that I was going to buy because I couldn't find them. when we're at the check out counter, he asks me if he can look inside my bag to make I sure I didn't steal anything. I ask him if he is serious. he says yes. I kindly tell him that yes he can check my bag, but that once he does he will lose a customer because I don't support businesses that racially profile customers. he says he's not racist and then proceeds to tell me stories about people stealing. I assure him I'm not a thief and that I don't care about his reasoning. if he has an issue with customers coming into the store with bags (I had 1) he should ask everyone (not only Black customers) to leave their bag at the counter while shopping. I would have left my bag at the counter without a problem if he had asked. but, again, I let him know he has my permission to look inside my bag. but that once he did, he would lose a customer. he did check my bag and got a look at my takeout box from the Korean fried chicken spot. What I was gonna buy at Nature's grocery story that evening I left on the counter and I haven't been back since. during my interaction with the cashier, a white woman walked in and shopped.q I imagine that she had no problems not if every customer is not asked to show their bags or leave their bag at the counter, it's a shame because its a block or so away from my apartment and I love the idea of supporting a mom and pop's business, but I don't support racial profiling. it happened to me, so I know other Black people have gone through it at Nature's and it's unacceptable.

This place isn't the cheapest, but it has healthy products, and with quality produce. The store is…read morea bit crowded, but it has more shelves than you can imagine. The staff is kind, they have a wishlist that people can write into. I'll return for things here and there, I liked the place

Always go there to buy meat for hot pot. Prices are extremely reasonable and service is always…read moregood. It looks ... interesting from the outside, but go in and get your meat!

We ordered frozen hot pot beef and oxtail. They were really nice and answered all of our…read morequestions. And Wow! What a bargain fot quality meat!

As someone of German descent, who grew up in Lodi, CA (back then, a large German community), this…read moreplace takes me back in time to the excellent sausage shops of my youth. These are meticulously made sausage! I've chatted with the owner, and he was mentored by an experienced, traditional sausage maker back in the day. There's a lot of different types of sausage to choose from. Everything I've tried is top notch. If you're looking for a very properly made sausage, at a great price for the quality, this is the place!

Great meats and excellent service I drive from Monterey…read morecounty to Oakland to get your meats. My family and friends loved your meats and sausages.

* They were not lying!!!!! This chicken can go extremely hot and spicy, but they also have…read moredelicious crispy sandwich options for when you're not feeling like ya wanna die today ** Staff is always chill, open to give you the scoop of their sauces, spice and history. It really still has that corner spot vibe of a Oakland community hub *** The vibrant colors, original art pieces and Loud music all around is as fun and overwhelmingly cool as their food ***** this is one of THE spots I always recommend folks to check out something truly Oakland

The name of this place makes me laugh. It's fun to say and a nice stop of the way to Oakland Pride!…read moreNot sure if it's always this way, but there was no indoor seating; it was only outdoor picnic benches along the outside with ordering at the door. It's very casual. Service was ok, but they seemed a little confused or maybe new? Anyway, I got the bone-in quarter dark chicken, medium heat level since I wasn't sure how hot they would go. The bright red chicken comes in a box atop white bread and pickles. The crust (it broke off in chunks) was delicious and not too spicy, and the chicken fresh and tender. I also got a side of greens which was tasty and decent, though not a standout dish. I would definitely come here again.