Special night for 30th wedding anniversary. Got the price fixe earlybird special and it was…read moredelicious and a good deal! Service was attentive and helpful, the room is pretty from the outside and prettier from the inside. Very good salads, healthy, tasty, and the safron salmon with potatoes and vegetables was delicious. Hit all the notes, and left open the spaces too. Excellent cooking and serving. We both went for Creme Brulee and weren't sorry. Good wine selection, 1 glass each, and good decaf with dessert. There's a lot of competition on this end of College Ave, Marica are top-tier, on par with the now closed, and missed, "Oliveto". A place to take anyone for a very special meal.

At Merica, my partner and I were met with service staff who were warm, courteous, speedy and…read moreresponsive. The restaurant space is well-lit, has plenty of indoor seating and seems suitable for a date or casual get-together with friends. My partner would give the food a five-start rating for its simplicity, generally flavorful, with spicy sauces and THE BEST guacamole! He had the Korean spare ribs and mash potatoes. He found the ribs to be fall-off-the bone tender, with potatoes that were more whipped than mashed alongside a carrot puree. I, on the other hand, had the New York Steak and au gratin potatoes. Though I wanted to enjoy my entree, I found the New York Steak to be unfortunately chewy and with too much fat. The au gratin potatoes could have had more crispy layers but tasted mediocre. Though I'd only rate this first experience with three stars. the service staff DID win us over and could potentially be the reason I'd be open to giving it another try.

There's nothing NOT to love about this place!…read more I made a reservation for date night, as we've wanted to try this place for awhile. The atmosphere is cozy and casual and the service staff are really friendly. In terms of food, we started with a dozen oysters, the smoked trout dip, and the boquerones. The smoked trout dip was outstanding!!! Loved the flavor of it! The Boquerones was also delicious... the oysters were all fresh and can be ordered with horseradish and hot sauce (I think it was Crystal). For mains we ordered the steamed mussels and the grilled shrimp. The mussels were good, though on the smaller side, and the shrimp was delicious, buttery and garlicky. Great combo! To finish I had the Key Lime Pie which was done in a bowl. Great lime flavor and not overly sweet. Overall, a fantastic experience and we will definitely return!

Update: I waited over two weeks hoping Salty Pearl would honor its promise. Instead, I got silence…read more The only thing "salty" was the customer service. If you read other 1-2 star reviews to will find that the owner has a pattern of blaming and harassing customers for their honest reviews instead of having accountability. Thankfully, my bank refunded the charge. Ironically, the best customer service I received came from the company processing the payment--not the restaurant. If accountability matters to you, dine elsewhere. After spending nearly $300 to celebrate my birthday, I had hoped the owner genuinely wanted to make things right. The follow-up was even more disappointing than the birthday lunch itself. After my original Google review, the owner publicly wrote: "Please email me directly... I'll comp your entire meal, no questions asked." I reached out exactly as requested, thanked him, accepted his offer, and asked what information he needed to process the refund. Instead of receiving a direct response, the conversation shifted to why I had posted a public review before contacting the restaurant privately and how it affected his business. I wasn't looking to debate my experience--I was simply taking him up on the offer he had publicly made. I followed up with one straightforward question: whether the promised comp was still on the table. Despite following up, I never received a direct answer. I understand that restaurants don't have to refund every unhappy customer. What changed my rating from 3 stars to 1 star wasn't just the disappointing birthday lunch--it was the difference between the public promise and the private follow-through. For me, how a business handles a complaint is just as important as the original dining experience. ---- I chose The Salty Pearl to celebrate my birthday and left feeling pretty disappointed overall. When making my reservation through OpenTable, I noted that it was my birthday and requested a stroller-friendly table. Unfortunately, neither request seemed to be acknowledged. Similar to what other reviewers have mentioned, there was no recognition of the birthday celebration at all. As a parent, I specifically requested a table with space for a stroller. Instead, we were initially seated next to a large party with virtually no room for one. When I brought this up, I was told to leave the stroller at the other end of the restaurant, which wasn't practical since I needed easy access to my baby's essentials. To their credit, they eventually moved us to a different table, but the interaction felt reluctant rather than accommodating. The service was also extremely slow throughout the meal. While I don't mind dishes arriving one at a time, the pacing felt excessive. There were long stretches of waiting between items, and we frequently had to flag someone down for assistance. The bartender wasn't particularly friendly, which added to the overall experience. The final straw was dessert--we waited so long that we eventually canceled it and left. As for the food, it was a mixed bag. The clam chowder was good, and I enjoyed the Caesar salad. The dressing was light and well-balanced, though I didn't think the extra $8 for the sardines was worth it. The lobster roll was underwhelming, especially given the price. The tuna crudo was just okay and noticeably smaller than it appeared in the photos, and the ceviche was missing hot sauce. The steamed mussels were decent, but the focaccia served alongside them felt like the wrong choice. A crusty sourdough or another crisp bread would have been much better for soaking up the broth. The focaccia was simply too soft. We also ordered the "$12 oysters with the purchase of a bottle of wine" special. After doing the math, I'm not convinced it's much of a deal. Overall, I came in with high expectations, especially after hearing comparisons to Little Shucker. After trying both, I'd choose Little Shucker every time. The food there is more flavorful, portions feel more generous for the price, and the overall experience exceeds expectations rather than falling short of them. Unfortunately, what should have been a special birthday dinner ended up feeling underwhelming from both a service and value perspective.

The service was great The food was superb. Service was top…read morenotch! We really love the experience. I would highly recommend

Bartender Bella was amazing! She showed us great service, especially to my girlfriend visiting from…read moreout of town, showing the real Oakland hospitality. Y's choice definitely should be your go to spot if you are new to the town.

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.

Le Marine Fish and Grill, inside the Emeryville Public Market, easy spot to walk past and not…read morenotice but glad i didnt. Got the 3 piece fish and chips, wild caught cod in a british style beer batter, comes out actually crispy not that soggy sad batter you get at most places. Mediterranean spices in there too which you dont expect but it works. Subbed the garlic fries, correct decision. Tartar sauce is housemade and you can taste it, asked for extra and they didnt make me feel bad about it. Clean setup, fast counter service, good option when youre in the market and dont want to commit to a full sit down situation. 5 stars, best fish and chips in Emeryville and its not really close

Great service and I like the location because you can get drinks or desserts from other…read morerestaurants. I got the fish and chips. The fish tasted fresh, with a great batter crust. The tartar sauce was horrible though- tasted like straight mayonnaise. The fries were just okay. I'll try it again but with sweet potato fries.

Fantastic food, great service and wonderful back patio. Their oysters are fresh and sourced well…read more ClearLovely restaurant.

I really wanted to like this place because we need a good oyster spot in this neighborhood. Here's…read morea quick breakdown: Came here for Mother's Day to try some place new. Walked in. No one greeted us. Wasn't sure where to go. Went to the register. Waited a minute for someone to come out. Ordered the clam chowder, dozen oysters and fish & chips with a glass of mystery orange wine. Decided to sit outside in the back patio. Table was dirty from previous guest which usually doesn't bother me be ut little things started adding up. Service took a while. Oysters came out first. 20 min. They were fresh and delicious. Just enough to get the palette opened up. $46 though? Way overpriced but was willing to overlook since it is Mother's Day. Next up - clam chowder, 10 min after they took the tray for the oysters. Smallest bowl I ever saw. Flavor was good. Temperature was luke warm. Broth was thin. $10. Not worth it. Last was the fish and chips. 10 min after picking up the chowder bowl. Portion looked good enough to make up for the small clam chowder, except it was under seasoned. Fish texture was a bit dry too. Fries were meh. Between the overall vibe...the overpriced items...the time between dishes...and the lack of flavor, I will continue my search for an oyster spot in this neighborhood.

Amazing food definitely try out the grilled oysters!! The staff were super nice and helpful. The…read morescenery was also amazing by far the best place I've been to in San Francisco

Ferry Building Cornerstone Does Great Seafood by the Bay…read more Who doesn't want excellent seafood in a cazh sit-down resto by the waterfront? Said nobody. Welcome to Hog Island Oyster Co., which hits all the wickets at SF's Ferry Building, and where the eats are so good, even a former local will go to it again and again. What did we get? 1. Oyster Bar Mix. You can mix different raw oysters, and we got the locally sourced Sweetwater with its mild buttery flavor and the saltier Narragansett Bay from the East Coast. Best of both worlds for a happening contrast of flavor. The house made mignonette was on point, being just the right amount of mild sourness. Absolutely recommend but also with some cocktail sauce. 2. New England Style Clam Chowder. My favorite kind of clam chowder, we had several different riffs on this during our most recent road trip through NorCal. And the is one was by far the best. It's a happening dish with a lighter broth but so tasty nonetheless, being not too salty and still creamy enough. The potatoes weren't mushy but still had some good mouthful, not starchy. The clams cooked perfectly and fresh. Overall seasoning was good and well balanced. Definite recommend. 3. Shrimp Po' Boy. One of the best I have had. Shrimp was decent size and batter was crunchy but plump and moist with good and not overpowering seasoning. Bread also had excellent crunchy crust and soft interior. Not a huge amount of slaw for extra flavor, but it's okay before the shrimp got to shine. Comes with snappy fries dusted in Cajun seasoning and organic Heinz ketchup (nice tomato flavor comes though and not overly syrupy sweet for a refreshing dip). Recommended. A great eatery worth visiting when you're in town. Also worth a detour from the usual touristy Fisherman's Wharf. Maybe catch a bite on the way to Sausalito on the next visit. But as always, Yelpers, give this one a try if you haven't already. Even if you're a local.

Amazing service. The atmosphere is the best. Right when you walk in it feels so relaxing. Can't…read morewait for another special dinner with my wife. 10 star's

You'll never go broke overestimating the bad press the City of Oakland gets both locally and…read morenationally. Yes, crime is up, homelessness is out of control, the A's, Warriors and Raiders left. At some point you have to worry about the elephants at the Oakland Zoo moving to Las Vegas. Enough. Let's talk about an independent Oakland institution that hopefully isn't going anywhere. Scott's Seafood in Jack London Square, celebrating their 50th anniversary. . Yes, Oakland is the home of the Black Panthers and the Hells Angels but it's still a city where business is done everyday: Oakland is still the home of major Fortune 500 companies like Clorox, and the University of California makes its headquarters here. Plenty of high-tech companies too like Pandora call Oakland home. And the Port of Oakland ain't going anywhere. So you need a place fora business lunch: That's Scott's. When you walk in, it's all business. Private booths, crisp linen tablecloths, and great views of the Alameda Estuary and the giant container ships. Great spot to watch the sunset too. Just the kind of deal making place you'd find Willie Brown, or Jerry Brown, or Tim Brown for that matter. Servers dress in button down shirts and ties. No nose rings or purple haired servers here. They know their business, and their menus, and their wines. Of course Scott's isn't only for the business crowd. It's a place to go to celebrate milestones. Anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, etc. My wife and I came to Scott's for her birthday on a Tuesday night: Even on a relatively slow night, Scott's still had a piano happy hour (our pianist actually played with The Temptations) I started off with clam chowder, which was excellent, piping hot and served with plenty of warm Boudin sourdough from San Francisco. (Sadly no more Colombo in Oakland anymore, another town favorite gone). My wife ordered the oysters which our server (a longtime vet of 11 years) suggested splitting a dozen both raw and Rockefeller, which came meaty and cheesy with plenty of creamed spinach: it was a great choice. Be warned slurping your oyster with Scott's homemade horseradish is like taking a fastball from Dave Stewart; the Oakland native and Athletics pitching ace, upside the head. I ordered the cioppino which came steaming hot with toasted crostini and cracked Dungeness crab. . Fantastic. I've had cioppino lots of places but as Johnny Cash famously said while playing A Boy Named Sue across the Bay at San Quentin "I've fought tougher men, but I really can't remember when." I might have had better cioppino than Scott's but I can't remember when either. My wife got the petit filet mignon and lobster tail. I'll order the filet next time, Buttery and perfectly cooked. We topped it with white chocolate cheesecake and an on the house raspberry sorbet. Wasn't a cheap birthday dinner but like head coach John Madden of the Oakland Raiders famously said "when you played the Raiders, you knew you'd been in a game." When I get my credit card statement it'll be a hefty charge but it'll remind me of how good a meal I had. Did I mention brunch is back at Scott'? OK. Now I did. Here's to another 50 years for Scott's. Thanks for reppin' The Town.