Sheena N.

Support Laney Culinary students and come here for your next date night! Their menu changes every week and they only serve dinner on Wed/Thurs nights 5-6:30 when school is in session. We came on their Lebanese/Persian night and their South American night. I liked their Lebanese night a little better but both times we came, the food was amazing. I am so impressed with the beautiful plating and the advanced understanding of flavor and texture combinations the students are able to display in their work. Some of the highlights for us from our last visit were the ceviche and whole roasted trout dishes. Dinner includes 3 courses (appetizer, main, dessert) and an amuse bouche for $25 pp. There is no taxes or tips I believe because you are dining at school so be nice to the staff!

Paul B.

Okay, I take back everything negative that I said previously. Laney Bistro is great! It turns out that the IT department at Laney is not good at following through with website requests and didn't update the calendar. Just make sure it's not a campus holiday and that classes are in session before you go. We had a fabulous dinner tonight! The food was delicious and elegantly presented. The menu was nicely thought out and available to preview on the website. The halloween-themed desserts were fun and delectable. The prix fixe offering is three courses plus an amuse bouche for only $25! The value for the quality is just off the charts. I'll be coming back again and again.

Mark J.

The Laney Bistro on the Laney College campus in Oakland is a hidden gem! Located near the estuary that fills Lake Merritt with water from the Bay, it is operated by the Laney College Culinary Arts Department and is staffed by students cooking in the kitchen and waiting tables. The Bistro serves a prix fixe three course dinner on Wednesdays and Thursdays. It's the training ground for budding chefs and restauranteurs; many of the top Bay Area chefs have trained here. At a flat fee of $30 for food and beverage (not including service), it's a bargain! I visited on Wednesday March 19th and the food and service were both outstanding! I thought I would have the trout but the server, Danni, suggested I try the ratatouille saying it was her favorite. I'm glad I did...it was delicious. The bulb of fried goat cheese looked like a Christmas tree ornament on top of the veggies, beautiful and savory. The mushroom soup was so yummy I went back the next night and got it again as carry out. If you are looking for an inexpensive way to enjoy truly gourmet food, the Laney Bistro is your joint.

Russell N.

This has got to be one of the best kept secrets in Oakland - a real treasure! The food is delicious, presented beautifully and incredibly inexpensive! All the work is done by students of Laney College under the direction of Chef Chantal Martin. Currently (September 6 - November 18, 2023) they are serving dinners on Wednesday & Thursdays only from 5:00pm - 6:30pm. Each week they offer dishes from a specific country or region. Last week (their first this season) was for China, this week was Japan and Korea. Next week (9/20&21) will be Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. After that is , in order, India, France, Italy, Spain, Greece/Turkey, Lebanon/Persia, Africa, Caribbean, Mexico and South America (on 11/17&18). No dinners will be served on 10/18 or 11/23/23. This week's meal was a real bargain at $25 for a 3 course dinner plus an Amuse! With each course you can choose from several dishes including vegetarian options. It began with a beautiful eggplant Amuse on a mushroom/vegi base. My chosen first course was called an appetizer but could easily have been a main course - a Korean Crab Gimbap which were toasted seaweed rolls of fresh crab, soy-roasted Portobello mushrooms and many other goodies. It was delicious! My main course was a Chicken Ramen dish (I totally forgot to take a photo!) but, though a bit small was quite tasty. It had all the ramen goodies including the soft boiled egg, ginger-poached chicken, noodles, etc. I opted for the cutely named Fluffy, Jiggly Japanese Cheesecake. I was surprised upon Googling to learn that this is a real thing. It was soft and rich and quite tasty. You can check out their menu which seems to be updated on the actual day of the dinner at: https://laney.edu/bistro/menu/ Even if you do not know what you are going to have or what country it is from, this place is worth a try. The only difficulty may be finding it on the Laney College Campus. It is beautifully situated right on the Lake Merritt stream to the bay just south of the college's swimming center. Here is a Google Map link showing you it's location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Laney+Bistro/@37.7960405,-122.2622961,513m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x808f87ed6a6d104d:0x61ffcb19382dcc68!2sLaney+College!8m2!3d37.7945491!4d-122.261122!16zL20vMDUwOXE0!3m5!1s0x808f87339962e3eb:0xb3ea27c363cfa2c6!8m2!3d37.7956065!4d-122.2620727!16s%2Fg%2F11cmy6p6m1?entry=ttu Pro Tip: They do not include a space for a tip when you pay by credit card. The servers, however, will be overjoyed if you tip them directly.

OMG....this is a definitely a hidden gem. I'm afraid if people knew, I wouldn't be able to get a seat. I'll be going every week. The food and quality is amazing. The presentation is upscale. A one biter (amuse bouche), appetizer, entrée and dessert for $25 with no tax. Yes, please. What a steal. Menu changes weekly. Open Wed/Thurs 5-6:30 pm. As of spring 2024, Wednesdays are busy but Thursdays are half empty fir some reason. I recommend getting there latest 5:30 since can take up to 1.5 hrs to go through the courses Bathroom is very nice too! Tips Fall semester is their international menu Spring seems more your typical contemporary cuisine Bring cash since you tip with cash and not on the card. It's not true there's no tip. It's based on your discretion.

Al L P.

Bistro at Laney college. Open during the school semester for dinner. Prix Fixe menu that includes appetizer, entree and dessert. All preparations are done by student chefs under the direction of Dept. Chair Chef Chantal Martin. Beyond good.

Oscar Humberto L.

I am currently a student at the Culinary Arts program at Laney, and even though some of us didn't get to have the experience of dine-in customers, I can tell you the teachers made everything possible for us to at least we were serving customers! This is my las semester, and honestly I am so sad because I am going to miss coming to the bistro, cooking and at the same time chatting with my classmates from our different stations. The food is never bland, and I as a Mexican can accept that their mexican food is very good! I will definitely go back some day when the dine-in is back!

Yekaterina B.

The Laney Bistro is no longer great....it's amazing!!! Where else could you get the most fantastic chicken wonton soup, fresh arancini with melted mozzarella and French dip sandwiches all in one place at a price that a student can actually afford? Nowhere else but the Laney Bistro. Their desserts are fantastic, showcasing international flavors, gluten free and vegan options for $3.25 per dessert!!! Everyone should eat here and support the amazing students and culinary program right here in our own backyard. In a neighborhood that is becoming more and more expensive to live in and eat out in, this is truly a place that everyone should feel proud to eat in. Go Laney!

Meitchy W.

I am excited to say that Laney college bistro is better than any bistro I've experienced. The food was delightful and on time the service was excellent. I rate Laney's bistro a five star though they are students they are professionals at what they do.

Mike L.

Laney Bistro is a restaurant staffed by Laney College's cullinary program students. I went there not really sure what my expectations would be but I left impressed. I ordered a bacon and cheese stuffed turkey burger with a side of fries. The burger was lean and juicy and the fries were awesome. The burger was $9.50 and in my opinion it was worth it. The restaurant was laid out nicely with real napkins and the dishes were presented very well. The servers were timely and responsive. I took pictures of the five or so desserts which they displayed on a table. They looked pretty delicious but I didn't have time for dessert. I'll try this place again.

Ralph D.

I actually like eating here cause it's close by all my classes and I don't have to leave the campus, it's all students serving you and the the teaches are cool cause they check in on you and how's everything going. Service was nice, lol cause i think they are being graded for it, The food is great but the only flaw is, time for their open hrs. Please extend it longer, it's great experience but definitely coming back again

Neville V.

Ok... this place is a trip. When you walk in, it presents as a standard sit down lunch spot with some class that you expect to find near downtown Oakland. White paper table coverings, cloth napkins, server staff in all black attire, and nice decor. What this is, however, is a culinary program run by Laney College with students preparing the food. Monday to Wednesday is a standard menu and every Thursday and Friday rotates through a different world cuisine. I've been here about a dozen times and tried a number of different dishes from around the world. The food can be hit or miss. Usually hit, but the price is where it is at. Every entree here is between $8 and $12. Appetizers or salads are $6-$8. The dishes would be $20-$30 at a normal (non culinary school) restaurant like this. Don't expect fast or excellent service. The manager is often running around trying to coach and train the server staff, who I assume may be students as well? Either way, this is one of the best deals you can find in the City or the Bay. Top quality recipes and ingredients for rock bottom prices. How can you go wrong?