Date: 3/27/2026 Time: 7:25 PM 68° Cool My male companion asked where I wanted to have dinner this evening. I had a taste for Chilean sea bass. A search on this website resulted in Marica having it on their menu. He booked a 7:30 PM reservation for two. We arrived early. What started out as a not too pleasant experience for us was the attitude of the guy who greeted us when we entered the restaurant. Attitude bordered on rudeness (3 star). We somewhat tolerated it, not knowing what to expect next. The restaurant was filled with diners, and the only available seating was not far from the front door. Oh, the chill was in the air, and my not wearing a sweater and/or light jacket to stay warm had me shivering. I had to brave the element (LOL). Since there was no Chilean sea bass on their daily special menu, it took a little longer for my companion and I to peruse the menu, and decide what entrees we were willing to have. Usually I would order an Arnold Palmer as a beverage; however, this time I decided to be adventurous - reisling peach spritz please - to whet my appetite. My date had the Temescal pilsner. Eats: Grilled salmon arange ginger saffron blanc beurre, roasted potatoes and vegetables. Korean short ribs, honey garlic gochujang marinade, mashed potatoes and vegetables. Our meals were on point and bomb-diggity delicious. The arange ginger saffron was perfect with the carrot. It reminded me of glazed carrots. The green beans were fresh and not overcooked. Ooh, the Korean pork ribs were tender and that sauce was sweet and had a subtle kick of spiciness. (Definitely a perfect complement for the pork ribs.) I have to admit the chef knew how to burn. Food tasted so good that figuratively speaking y'all gotta slap the cook and his mama. Ambiance: Comfy and casual. Despite the dining area is small, still it is a great restaurant for dining on a Friday evening. From my perspective and vivid imagination with the indoor lighting, it exuded a romantic atmosphere. Only in my mind I can hear soft jazz in the background. What convinced me to give Marica a 5 star rating? It was none other than Enriqueta, our waitress. She was pleasant, attentive and so accommodating. The chef lost our order ticket; thus, the wait time for our meal took a bit longer than we anticipated. She came to the rescue and comped us with dessert - chocolate souffle with homemade vanilla ice cream. It certainly was a gesture of kindness to have my date and me smiling from ear to ear. Return visit? Yes, mos def...not the rapper for Chilean sea bass. Enriqueta said I can always call to find out what their daily special is. read more

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We made a reservation for Oakland Restaurant Week and decided on the black cod and the three course special menu which consisted of fresh corn and shrimp cream soup sweet and delish, Prince Edward Island Mussels my fave, claypot salmon with signature rice which had a real kick to it, especially the rice, followed by orange creme brulee, tangy and tasty. Service was attentive. Somehow though we ordered the black cod we got the oxtail but notified them immediately and they replaced it with the black cod and gave us a complimentary pannacotta for the mistake. Food was great, just wish there wasn't a quick to the special rice read more

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Recently came here NYE for the first time in over 6 years. Started with the fried calamari (my fav app of the night- garlicky, salty and crisped to perfection!!!), the mussels and the shrimp corn cakes. The mussels were good- nothing too fancy write home about BUT EXTRA brownie points for the warm baguette AND giving us more without charging us for it to soak up all the sauce!! The corn cakes were interesting- taste was 100% there just not what I was expecting in terms of a cornmeal pancake topped with shrimp. Moving on to entrees. My friend and I were bummed to learn that the menu we looked at on their website the morning of NYE was different from the menu we got at our NYE dinner. We were both looking forward to the scallops. We asked the waiter and she confirmed that the scallops they received that day were too small and so they had to take that dish off the menu. I appreciate then NOT serving really small scallops, but a little bummed nonetheless bc the online menu said differently. BUT, my friend and I ended up ordering the sea bass with almond romesco - the sea bass was cooked PERFECTLY. My friend had a lot of bones in hers but mine was fine! I didn't know what to expect from the almond romesco sauce- it tasted good, but I (personal preference) don't particularly care for big chunks of crunchy almonds in the sauce - but again, I think this is a personal preference so not docking stars/not impacting my review. The guys got the spaghetti and meatballs and oxtail. The oxtail was extremely small and my boyfriend left hungry, but he said it tasted good, just small. We ended the night with the chocolate soufflé (they didn't have the Grand Marnier on the menu) and the matcha crème brûlée. I am not a big dessert person, and personally I could've done without, BUT our table loved both. The chocolate soufflé was rich in taste yet light and airy. Eat this right away bc the soufflé deflated while we were all being too polite to be the first to dig in. And the matcha crème brûlée was executed perfectly and of the two, a little less sweet, so my preferred last bite of the night! read more

Service, food and ambience were all on point at Marica. The staff is so nice, although it did seem like many of them were in training. Our server was pulling double duty, taking our order and bartending for the whole restaurant. It took a bit of coordination to order our entrees, which was a while after our apps came out. But overall, the we got our food and drinks out at a good pace. Dessert took a bit longer but we needed a break in between courses since our portions were so generous. Dishes - Twice Cooked Lobster is one of their signature dishes. The lobster was perfectly cooked. The vegetable medley was basic. Iberico pork chop was on the seasonal menu but it should be a regular staple. The chop was so tender and super flavorful. It was accompanied by a delicious mushroom risotto and a sweet and sour pepper relish-type component. The shrimp corn cake was a surprisingly large portion that had 4 mini pancakes and 4 large shrimp. There was a nice kick to the spices, and this could even be entree. I definitely want to mention they gave us quite a few extra items on the house - mixed salad, butternut squash soup and a panacotta. That was a nice touch and a great way to earn customer loyalty. My brother dined there previously and had the same experience. Parking is a bit challenging, which is par for the course for any restaurant area with street parking. So make sure you add a few minutes to give yourself time to find parking. read more

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IG: BoozieBrunch Recommendation Small establishment & perfect for couples. Nice ambiance, cheerful staff w/a very welcoming vibe. Mocktail & Cocktails 3outta5 They didn't blow us away but they were refreshing. Crostini 4outta5 Lots of flavor! The tuna tartare & uni danced nicely. Oysters 3.75outta5 They were good but I wish they'd been served w/all of the oyster liquor still in the shell. This was my first serving ever w/only mignonette on the side. Shrimp Corn-cakes 5outta5 Explosive flavor, shrimp cooked perfectly, absolutely delicious! Seafood Risotto 5outta5 She loved it! I tasted it & wanted my own serving! Everything was cooked perfectly! Twice Cooked Lobster 4outta5 The flavor combo was amazing. The cook was just a tad bit inconsistent. Nothing was under but the claw & knuckle meat were almost nonexistent due to being over. There wasn't much meat & for the price, I didn't expect a petite serving. The spicy green rice, green beans and creamy sweet potato were excellent accompaniments. Chocolate Soufflé 4outta5 Excellent, chocolaty dessert. The server said let the ice cream melt but it was a lil too frozen to do so. We really enjoyed it though. We enjoyed ourselves and look forward to returning! #GoTaste&See read more

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Marica is in a gorgeous neighborhood and offers a delightful culinary experience. I came with my sister for a celebratory dinner. We were happy that we were seated quickly despite not having reservations. I chose their early dinner special, which included a well-prepared salmon plate and a choice between soup or salad; I opted for the soup due to the cold weather, and it was delicious, featuring corn and prawns. The salmon was cooked to perfection, and all ingredients tasted fresh. The special also included a dessert, and I selected the matcha crème brûlée topped with powdered sugar and blueberries, which was the highlight of the meal. My sister enjoyed her braised oxtail, praising its rich flavor and balanced texture without excessive fattiness. read more

Marica - Braised Oxtail - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

Came here for an anniversary dinner, and the staff truly made it very memorable. This is a cute, intimate restaurant with an eclectic menu that has several seafood options. Immediately upon arriving, the staff greeted us promptly and was very friendly and courteous throughout our dinner. They definitely have attention to detail in terms of presentation and attentiveness to guests needs. There is a dinner menu and also nightly specials, so lots of options to chose from. Everything on the menus looked amazing, but we settled on the shrimp corncakes and the kumiai oysters as appetizers (special), the hawaiian ono (special) and the new york steak, and finished it off with the chocolate soufflé. Everything was delicious, and cooked to perfection. The steak was really delicious and cooked to perfection, in addition to the flavor being on point. I loved the intimate feel of this place, and they are great about making celebrations truly special. The price point is not too bad for the calber service and quality food you get. Parking is also not too bad and typically easy to find on the street. Definitely a spot to keep in your back pocket if you're looking for a a place with great food and ambiance. read more

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Delicious, amazing absolutely fantastic! Marica is a gem right on the Oakland-Berkeley border. We loved the fresh outdoor seating, the beautiful setting, and the incredible Thai cuisine. We'll definitely be back! read more

Marica - Pad Tai and Green Curry both with Chicken - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

SO GOOD. It's no wonder they've been around for over 25 years. From the moment we called to check if there was an open table everything just kept getting better. Complementary warm bread basket was so cozy and comforting as was the ambiance. We ordered the seafood stew and sea bass as well as a green salad. We devoured every last morsel of each dish. The service from everyone there was top notch and we can't wait to go back for more of everything and to try new dishes. read more

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Chili crab was delightful, as were the starters (Caesar salad and watch house point oysters). Great service and ambiance. Highly recommend for date night. Be sure to make reservations or walk in early for seating. And the desserts are perfect. What a beautiful evening. read more

Marica, was a "hurry and pick a spot bc I'm coming from work and I'm hungry" (my boyfriend haha) so I quickly came on Yelp to look for a seafood restaurant and stumbled upon a hidden gem in Oakland I am SOOOO glad I did! I quickly made a reservation for 2 and we drove over. It was mostly empty because they were closing at 9pm so I had already looked at the menu and ordered the FAMOUS seafood stew, a dozen oysters and my man ordered an amazing dish too. If you have not been here, run DONT walk to Marica. I have a thing for family owned small businesses and my family owns a small business in Chicago so I am glad our money went to Marica, last night. My boo had a beer and I had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, which was quite the pour, I was not disappointed or complaining at all. We ate, had a cute conversation and went home to rest after, with happy tummies and happy hearts. Please do not miss out on this spectacular restaurant with amazing food, friendly and kind service and sweet staff! read more

Marica - Seafood Stew - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

It was a weekday night, got seated immediately. The service was great overall but the food wasn't. We ordered the calamari which seemed like a half order. The oysters were decent. My date had the seafood stew which tasted like canned minestrone soup with some shrimp. I ordered the new york steak. It was very little, the butter was ice cold. I came to this place many years ago and remembering the food was great. The portions are so small now. Great staff, food not that great. read more

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Cute and cozy restaurant in rockridge. Had a few delicious things and a couple disappointments. Made reservations for 8pm on a Friday night, place was busy but not packed. We ordered the shrimp corn cakes, Caesar salad, and braised beef. Would highly recommend the beef and shrimp but the salad was not for me. Had a super fishy taste--much more than I'm used to. We had really wanted the fries but they were sold out. Overall, I would come back here--good price for the experience--I just won't be rushing back. read more

Came to this spot to celebrate a birthday. The vibe was a blend of cozy and casual but the service was super professional though out. We got to try a bit of the chefs pri-fixe as well as off menu items and I was impressed by the execution of it all. We started with their mussels and we loved dipping the bread in the broth. Super flavorful and fresh. We then tried their lobster rolls with a leek soup on the side. I thought the roll was a little creamy but the texture of the lobsters was amazing. Next was a fried soft shell crab which was very unique to me. I normally do not enjoy soft shelled crabs but the preparation of it really changed things for me. Also the shoestring fries were a fun side. Following up we had a large bbq prawn which was probably my favorite dish. Some might find it lacking flavor given how large the prawn was but the lemon was all I needed. Before dessert we ended with long life noodles with some perfectly cooked lamb. To end the meal I tried two desserts, the mousse and the soufflé. The soufflé is a must try. I love how the vanilla ice cream pairs with the interior of the soufflé. The panna cotta was also good if you're more into a tarty dessert. Overall I would highly recommend anyone looking for a good meal to come here. The service is attentive and the chef is very passionate about his art as it showed in all his meals. read more

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Marica's seafood stews were delicious--the kind of food that makes you slow down mid-bite just to register what's happening. Deep, briny broth, rich without being heavy, loaded with perfectly cooked seafood that tasted like it came straight out of the ocean and into the pot. Everything was layered: savory, a little sweet, a little wild, totally comforting. Messy, soulful, and unapologetically good. One of those meals where you're scraping the bowl and already plotting your return. read more

Marica - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

Love it, love it, love it! Everything about the dining experience my wife and I had on Halloween was perfect. The staff was extremely friendly, the decor in the restaurant is beautiful, I loved the 50s and 60s music that was playing and the food was the best I've had all year! We truly enjoyed the Seabass, the seafood stew, the mixed green salad and a mock tail . I honestly am very excited to return in the near future and highly recommend you stop in as well. read more

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Food was generally quite good except for the service from the waitress. She was the only waitress serving the whole dining room and she was extremely busy all evening. We asked for a straw and never got one. We asked about the ingredients in one of our dishes and she said she would ask the chef. Half an hour later, no response. We asked her again to ask, and still never got a response when we left. read more

Every dish we ordered was delicious! My TOP faves: Calamari, Salmon, and Korean ribs. Excellent customer service -- Waitress (sorry I didn't get your name but wavy hair and wears glasses) she was the best! Gave us new, clean plates and utensils for main course after we finished our appetizers. Wiped down our table before serving our dessert. Checked on us regularly but not bothersome. The restaurant is small but not crowded; cute place to go on a date. Street parking. Nice part of Oakland. read more

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Really nice dining experience. The food was fresh and flavorful, and the seafood dishes were especially good. Service was attentive without being too formal. read more

If I was just driving around, I would have missed this place for sure. Luckily, this was a recommendation a friend had. I ordered the Seafood Stew. It's labeled as having a 20-hour broth. Comes with shrimp, scallops, chicken and lobster. The broth is delectable. Levels of flavor to it. Comes with a crostini as well. It would have been nice if there was maybe a bigger chunk of bread. Perhaps even rice would be solid with it. They do have a drink menu. From what I remember, not overly extensive with a few cocktails, beer and wine. Ambience is nice. Very cozy inside. I can see it getting really packed. I would definitely try this place again if I'm in the area. read more

Marica - Seafood stew - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

I don't even know where to begin with my review on this restaurant. Everything is amazing. AMAZING!!! The service, the food.. oh my God the food. My husband and I kept passing this place on our way to restaurants further up College, but we finally decided to give it a try and boy were we in for a treat. This cute little establishment is the perfect size and I love the window seats and try to get them whenever I go now. I always ask for recommendations from the staff. They know what's good in the restaurant and they did not steer me wrong. That twice cooked main lobster....... AMAZING. The Cajun BBQ prawn.... oh my God, so good. Trying to decide between the rice and the mash is usually the hardest decision to make because both are exceptional. Definitely good for a drop in dinner or a date night. I love this place and I recommend. read more

Our server was friendly and helpful and responsive to our requests. Christopher Chung's signature Caesar salad was fabulous. Another favorite were the steamed mussels We had a fabulous night out read more

great atmosphere and service. delicious and fresh entrees and great cocktails! It was a great discovery read more

It's been three years since I came back and I was craving the seafood stew. Coming back, the recipe has completely changed and is not even close to what it was before. I couldn't even finish it. I was really disappointed and the chef who is supposedly the owner said the recipe has not changed. For the price, it's definitely not worth your time. We also got the Ahi plate which was fine but not their signature. Overall, I would not come back. Service was standard, no complaints. read more

My boyfriend and I came to celebrate his new job and had a delicious time per usual. Marica has come to be our go-to place for birthdays, anniversaries and any celebration really. The food is always on point as well as service. And the pricing is pretty good for the quality of food as well as portion. My bf was only slightly disappointed they ran out of the Twice Cooked Lobster for the day - slightly. He was debating between the Lobster and the Seafood Stew anyway so it made the decision easier for him. Seafood stew was delicious per usual. We tried some new items to us on this visit including the mushroom toast, the grilled prawns appetizer, the fries, and I had the sweet Korean pork ribs for the first time. I would easily get all the dishes again. The mushroom toast was a little pricey but honestly so good. The grilled shrimp was nice and tender (probably the least "creative" dish so I could skip next time). We'll absolutely be getting the fries again though because they're so crispy and fun to eat - and the mayo/aioli is so yummy with the fries! I'd definitely get the ribs again but I'll probably be doing the Twice Cooked lobster again on my next visit because it's a must every other visit! All in all, looking forward to the next excuse to come back to Marica! read more

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We were a party of 6 celebrating my belated bday and 4 of 6 of us girls' were first time dinners at Marica. I had marked this restaurant on my "to try" list. We had an early reservation at 5:30pm and the noise level went from minimal to very high within 1.5 hours, to the point that it was painfully loud. The waitstaff and servers were very friendly and attentive. I think either the Chef and or the owner came over to greet and check on us too We ordered one of the set menu with swordfish as the main entree with a Cesar salad and the chocolate soufflé topped with vanilla bean ice cream = very satisfyingly yummm. We started with the fresh cut (very thin) shoestring fries and 12 raw oysters. The fries were fun and addicting to munch on but the oysters were just ok. A bit on the fishy side and not as sweet as I was expecting. The calamari appetizer was so delicious, we had to order a second one, bonus that they are served with a mixed green salad. The jumbo prawns over corncakes (pancakes?) were good but not the "wow" taste factor that we were hoping for bc it is their own unique starter. I do say that the jumbo prawns were cooked perfectly = moist and juicy. We also ordered short ribs over risotto, and the seafood stew. Cooked flavorful and tender but very short on the short ribs. The broth for the seafood stew was too sweet for our taste. We prefer savory and tangy over sweet broth. The delicious seafood portion and variety was generous enough for all six of us to share. We always enjoy dipping bread into any kind of stew but the extra bread we ordered, French baguette slices were cold and almost stale. The rich risotto, crispy shoestring fries and the well seasoned calamari were the best tasting items that we ordered. Those are the dishes that would bring us back, including the 3 desserts offered on Saturday's menu. We ordered one of each: (another) chocolate soufflé with vanilla ice cream topping, Panacotta with a red berry compote top layer garnished with blueberries (favorite of the 3), and the crème brûlée. Usually I'm a crème brûlée fanatic but the Panacotta happily surprised me. I do want to try their mushroom toast, lobster bisque, lobster rolls and bread pudding. *To the Marica staff, thank you very much for being so nice and thoughtful. read more

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I absolutely love this place. The food is consistently delicious staff are wonderful and welcoming, the ambience makes every visit very special When I make a reservation, I am so excited to go back there. Love the food and staff read more

We somehow found the high-quality, reasonably priced, extremely delicious, family restaurant of our dreams! As an East Coaster, observing the vibe and hearing about the same family who has owned the establishment since 2000 just givessss authentic. Then the food came out! O-M-G! Must haves: Calamari (it's lightly breaded and pairs so well with the side salad), as well as the Achiote Shrimp app! For dinner the salmon and Day boat scallops were awesome! Scallops were cooked perfectly succulent and bouncy fresh. Asparagus was a nice touch, not overcooked with just the right amount of crunch. Do you like Pesto? Do you hate Pesto? Well, try the Pistou! It's an amazing complementary sauce that will surprise diners on both sides of the Pesto spectrum. Didn't have a chance to try dessert, maybe next time! If you're lucky enough to get Thomas as your server then consider yourself lucky, and maybe go play the lottery later because your stars are aligned!!! Thomas is awesome! We'll be back every 6-8 weeks when we visit Oakland :) read more

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Second time we've eaten there in the last two months. Each time was great. First time I got the lobster. This time the price fix swordfish. Side of shrimp corn cakes. Creme brule and chocolate souflee for desert. Generous servings. They don't try to fill you up with cheap carbs and skimp on the costly protein. Space between tables. And noise level reasonable. read more

The food was absolutely AMAZING - we got the muscles, lobster roll, soft shell crab, prawn, and pork with pasta. Everything was flavorful and you could tell each sauce was uniquely designed for the dish. For dessert we got the souflee, crème brûlée, and panna cotta - best desserts we've had in a long time! The area is street parking but we didn't have trouble finding a spot. Also, shoutout to the kind owners and wonderful staff. The staff is so attentive and helpful. The chef is so passionate about cooking and side note, his wife does amazing flower arrangements. A perfect atmosphere of good vibes, food, and beautiful flowers to celebrate any occasion! read more

Cute restaurant, wasn't busy when we were there. Service was nice and fast. Very friendly waitress. I don't think reservation is needed. Food was mid. Nothing memorable, wouldn't come back for the food and drinks. Spaghetti and meatballs: 7/10 pretty decent. Grilled shrimp: 4/10 the texture of the shrimp was interesting. Very dry. Flavor was good though. Seafood stew: 3/10 just terrible. The seafood was cooked pretty ok. The fish was good but the flavor was not it. It didn't taste like any seafood stew I have ever had before and not in a good way. It was weirdly sweet? I liked the crostini it came with though. Do not recommend this dish at all. Drinks were ok. Wouldn't come for the drink either. read more

Marica - Seafood Stew, grilled shrimp, Spaghetti & Balls - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

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Delicious! We use to go all the time when they served the mini lamb chops, but COVID came and our lamb chops left. But they still have other food that is delicious! read more

I came here with my wife on a Friday night not sure what to expect. They seated us right away in the rear corner of the room, which we appreciated (for the privacy). Unfortunately, there was a family of four seated next to us who were hacking their brains out and coughing in our direction, so we requested to change tables. They were accommodating and let us move without hesitation. The positives about this place is it has a nice ambiance (casual but inviting) and the manager is very friendly, caring, and engaged. She handled the feedback about the food very well and even comped us for dessert. I appreciate her doing that and hearing us out about the food, which was subpar for a place like this. Everything we ordered had something notably wrong with it. I ordered the lobster meal and most of the meat was rubbery and overcooked. The tortilla it came with was burnt but the asparagus was cooked well. Everything was either overseasoned (the lobster) or drastically underseasoned (this weird fennel and spinach puree). The seafood medley my wife ordered had a strange and bland broth which tasted mostly like olive oil. All of her meats were overcooked and flavorless. She just struggled to eat it and her bread was also burnt. Even the comped crème brûlée was practically frozen at the base and warm at the top. The inconsistent temperature was a bit odd. They also flambéed the sugar for too long. I'm not trying to be picky but I left feeling disappointed by the food. I expected better. The manager informed me that they were training a new cook so that might have been the issue. Although the management was professional and handled our grievances well, I probably won't return here for a very long time. I'd like to check out other places in the Bay Area and find some good lobster restaurants. read more

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This is a fantastic restaurant the seafood is delicious and fresh and all the dishes are generously portioned unlike most restaurants these days. The staff could not be more warm and welcoming which is also a refreshing change from many Bay Area restaurants. And Marica is quiet without a lot of background music and loud noise. Only thing is I wish they didn't have I wish they had other crème brûlée flavors like the Grand Marnier not Matcha which I'm not a fan of But Highly recommend! read more

I am a server here at Marica and wanted to update the photos for our current menu. The daily specials change every day! read more

Marica - This is the current menu! - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

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The food was delicious. We cleaned our plates. Service was excellent and staff were very helpful and friendly. It's a perfect date night spot. Would love to return for another meal. read more

The food was pretty good - I particularly enjoyed the seafood stew and they were generous with the bread and butter for the table. The staff seemed a bit overwhelmed on a weeknight, although it is not a big place so I wonder what the underlying issue was. I did wish they had more fresh seafood offerings on the menu, i.e., oysters on half shell and carpaccios. That said, I do look forward to coming back when I'm craving seafood in this area. read more

Marica - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

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Came for lobster, they were out. The service was excellent! Food Outstanding! Will be back to try the Twice Cooked Maine Lobster! read more

Marica - Lamb chops & Steak - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

What a lovely spot! We had dinner there last night--five of us enjoyed a range of dishes. I had the salmon--spectacular, and even the green beans (I am not a vegetable person) were excellent, with a pesto garnish. I highly recommend Marica! read more

Had dinner there for the first time last night. Selected Chilean Sea Bass in a Soy-Fresh Ginger-Fresh Chili Pepper Broth in a hot pot with Green Rice garnished with Grilled Carrot and Green Beans! It was delicious. Service was very good and there was a pleasant neighborhood bistro vibe. read more