Found this hidden gem off B st. A real surprise considering the area. Given that I've grown up here I would have never thought I would see the day that I would hang out and dine in downtown Hayward. The atmosphere and intimate setting is ideal for a small group and especially a dinner date. The service was excellent and the bartender was also the host and waiter for the evening and he didn't skip a beat refilling and offering great advice for wine pairings. The food was perfect and my steak and sides were seasoned and cooked to my liking. The spinach was peppered and had a hint of lemon with the mash smoothly made. Wife had the rack of lamb paired with oven baked potatoes topped with risotto and four pieces of lamb. For starters we added an order of Cajun shrimp before the main course and a bottle of rosé on the recommendation of our kind server. Great night with the Mrs. A definite go to spot for fine dining. Be sure to call ahead for reservations given the size and limited seating. read more

See all

Just barely.ok Lots of potential. Good ambiance. Decent wine menu. Good menu description. That's where it ends... Poor execution. Specifically asked for my pork chop to be tender; especially based on other reviews of the chip being overcooked. Too bad they didn't listen. Chip was dry, hard, and difficult to eat. Wife's steak was just ok. No asking how things were by the staff. 2 glasees of wine, 2 beers, a pork chop, a steak, and a soup....total...$140 with tax and tip. read more

I don't often dine in Hayward and found this place via YELP. Party of 6. Nice menu. Varied selections, all solid. Decent service. Minor faux pas on serving the second bottle of wine. It was the same selection, but no tasting offered and 2nd bottle was poured into glasses containing 1st. (Snobbish of me). Tasty desserts. Very nice ambiance. Good location, just off of downtown. Overall, decent, not great, but above standard for the area. I'd recommend this establishment, if dining in Hayward. read more

I went with my husband to check out Neumanali for our anniversary. I had this place on my radar for years, and finally found the reason and opportunity to go. Well....both of us were thoroughly disappointed in this place. After reading many of the Yelp reviews, I was expecting good service. The service was terrible. There were four tables occupied in the place on an early Thursday evening (around 6:30). It took 10 minutes to get our menus, another 20 minutes to get our order, the bread was almost frozen, the wait staff was thoroughly inattentive. The thing is: the one waitperson working the floor was NOT that busy. In fact, we sat right next to the bar and I noticed he was often in conversation with a friend that was sitting at the bar. He didn't even come and check on us while we were eating to see if everything was OK. If we have to ask for fresh ground pepper on our salads, there's a problem. I paid $9 for a mediocre salad, and the guy didn't even come around and offer. As for our entrees, the ribeye was decent, the pork chop was dry. The sweet potato side with my pork chop was ice cold, although perhaps it was supposed to be. The french-pressed coffee was the best thing about the experience. C'mon people. We deserve better than this in the area. I noticed that no one else was being served well, either, but it didn't seem to bother them. And...why don't they sell wine by the bottle, but just by the glass when they have ample displays of wine bottles in their foyer? Is it just to make more $$$? I found this to be disturbing. I paid a LOT for this meal, and while the ambience was very pleasant and relaxing, I found that this place seemed to take advantage of a population desperate for fine dining in this area. When the service's best response time is bringing the check, that's when I know it's not a good situation. read more

I think we lucked into a dinner thanks to an Open Table error, but they still sat us instead of turning us away. We were thankful they did as the food was fabulous. We started with the prosciutto wrapped shrimp--which we then recreated for our own dinner with friends today--clams, and pear salad. The main courses were great and it was hard to pick a winner between the filet mignon, grilled rack of lamb, salmon, and scallops. Desserts were also quite tasty. read more

Fine dining in Hayward? I know, I'm still questioning myself about this. It's an unexpected surprise well worth the effort to check out. My friend and I literally stumbled upon this unassuming, perfectly manicured Victorian home while on our way to Buffalo Bills. I had read reviews about this place for years so it was natural for me to ask him to go in to check it out. We were immediately impressed from the décor and menu and were seated near the patio entrance. After putting in our order for the warm goat cheese salad, the clams, the oxtail and the scallop entrees, we then had to figure out our wine. We went with a young Bordeaux, that they were fortunately out of, for our waiter presented an excellent 2007 Bordeaux replacement, luckily at the same bottle price, though the vintage was more superior than our first pick. Safe to say, we had no problem finishing off that bottle of wine during our meal. I won't go in to a more lengthy detailed account of our fantastic meal, so the highlights: the chorizo sauce for the clams was the best pairing I've ever had for these sweet little bivalves; the correctly seared scallops had this sweet potato mash with maple syrup that made me reminisce of a happier (pancake xoxo) time; and their espresso for their affogato was the perfect end to an amazing meal. Honorable mention to the tender oxtail that was so succulent that it was only appropriate for me to suck those bones dry. This place is highly recommended for a sure fire way to get your date (who is not paying) to put out. I will be back. read more

Great for intimate gatherings. While in San Fran. We had a family dinner here. Group of 14. Food was on spot and lovely atmosphere. The kitchen did close at 8pm so I recommend it for early dinners. read more

We are SO glad Neumanali has come to Hayward. It is nice to be able to go to a nice bistro/wine bar type of place, order somewhat gourmet food, have an extensive wine list and to be able to enjoy live jazz (on certain nights). While it is just a bit more pricey than I expect, the complex flavors in the dishes show a sophisticated palate in the kitchen. The staff is helpful and friendly, and despite being a wine bar, we have no problems describing the type of wine we like, giving the waitstaff our budget, and then being presented with the loveliest choice of wine. They even offer to replace the bottle if it's not to our liking. The food - well, the salads range from the simple to the complex. The steak, rack of lamb and the duck have all been more than we expected. They are usually stacked on top of the selected starch and vegetable, so you don't always see what you're eating - but the flavors will just melt in your mouth. Desserts are a little pricey, but the quality of ingredients used clearly stand out and so, make it worth ordering. Maybe it's just our timing (usually Fri/Sat nights), but this restaurant seems to attract well-heeled, older (mid-50s) clientele. This is fine, but almost every time, we've been treated to a loudmouth who's had too much to drink and needs to take their conversation outside. It's a small place, so if you get a choice of tables, make sure your fantastic meal isn't soured by the nearby company. read more

Lovely, and not just Hayward lovely. The wine collection looks impressive (I'll have to return after work hours to sample), and everything I sampled was good. Kinda spendy, mind you, but standouts included the cobb salad ($12 at lunch), which was well worth the price; perfectly dressed, nicely portioned, and with well-cooked chicken and delicious bites of bacon. I'd forget the goat cheese salad, and go with the veg panini if you're going meatless. Service is hit or miss, but that could have been the party-of-16-effect. read more

I've only been here for the wine bar (the food is too expensive for me to buy, unless it is a special occasion...), and I was very impressed. I have been back since and each time was a very pleasant experience. The wine is awesome and the bartenders have been very friendly. You can try the wine before you buy (and since they are at least $8, you better like what you're buying), and for someone just getting into the wine scene, it's great to be able to try different things without committing to buying a whole bottle or going to a winery and only being able to sample the cheap stuff. They also have beer, which my friends tried on one visit. What I'd really like to try is their family style dinner they have once a month, and when I get a chance, I'll update this. They also have live music on occasion and the upstairs is rentable. Plenty of parking in the back and on the street, and it is right across the street from the Hayward BART station. read more

This place really is unusual for downtown Hayward. I grew up in Hayward, and to me it was always pretty lame. It's only been recently that the downtown area is really up and coming. I went here for a nice meal, and was not disapppointed. They do meat here very well. I had the lamb. They had live music and great wine. It's very small so is has a very intimate feel about it. When we went, they only served beer and wine, so if you're wanting cocktails, you're out of luck. It's so nice to see Hayward changing in a good way. I'd love to see more restaurants like this pop up. read more

I loved this place until last summer they switched the menu on me. It wasn't the same. So I have not been back since... But, I heard they switched it back. So I will be going back. The breaded goat cheese was great. But my favorite was the rack of lamb! I hope they brought them back.... :) A bit over priced... When you can go to S.F. And find just as good for less.... But, I love the atmosphere and the quiet dining experience they provide from a not so lovely Hayward. It's a diamond in the rough. It will make you feel like you are not in Hayward any more! Loved it! read more

No need to say too much - great service. Amazing food. Neat location. The waiter/owner of this joint made excellent recommendations for dinner and they did not disappoint. Definitely going back. Pork chop!! Salmon!! Trout!! All were delicious. read more

I really enjoyed this place the times I had went. I know it is hard to find and park at, the whole look of this restaurant just doesn't seem right for Hayward, but its our gain. First of all, it is an old Victorian house near the Hayward Bart Station. They have great appetizers, wonderful entree dishes and a nice chocolate dessert. If you have the time and money (they are rather pricy) I would check it out. read more

We were impressed! Cute little wine bar & restaurant on the ground floor of a historic building. The neighborhood wasn't sketchy as some say (or perhaps that is subjective since we live in San Leandro lol) The wine was great, we ordered an 09 chardonnay and a 2012 rhone. Mussels were delicious!!! As an entree we got the trout which was very good as well. Service was good. although it was only 1 waiter, he did a good job in working the restaurant. We will be going back for sure! read more

I will say that is is the best food that we have had in Hayward upon moving here. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown Hayward, next to the Lucky's grocery store. (Our server told us that long ago, the raised victorian building originally was where the Lucky's is now.) There aren't many choices for evening dining and Neumanali is superb. The service was absolutely perfect, Our salad with the little pan fried goat cheese and mixed greens was delectable. Upon finishing, the spicy Cajun shrimp came out; the sauce had just enough spice and enough left over tomato chunks to sop up bread with. We ordered steamed clams too; which were awesome but we couldn't finish them. Our entrees, mine baked trout with thin sliced cauliflower and sprinkled with almonds atop was all toasty and perfectly put together. It had an artistic look to it as well... thin-shapes of flowerettes dangling like a spiderweb over the juicy trout. My fiance's rib-eye steak was almost like butter... I don't eat steak but he offered so I snuck in a bite. His came with buttery greens and smashed potatoes. Really great horseradish dolloped on top, falling over the side. We almost ordered the flourless cake but alas our tummies received the best of us and we paid our bill (under $100 with even two glasses of wine, amazing), chatted with our server and went on our merry way. *(Sorry no picture this time, it was too dark in there to take a shot of the trout I was eating however, my man did have our server shoot us when our entrees arrived) read more

Went here about a year ago, steak was very good. Then I went again this time, steak tasted disgu

I came here for my birthday dinner. The food is good here, but food takes FOREVER to come out. I don't know if they were understaffed that day. They only had 1 guy as the host, server, and busby. They also ran out of the goat cheese appetizer, at 8pm on a Friday, which is odd, because it's peak dinner time. Instead, we got the prosciutto wrapped prawns, which were pretty good, but you only get 4 for $18. For my entrée, I got the filet mignon. The pasta that it came with was ok. But the sauce went well with the filet. My bf did tell them it was my birthday, and we got a free cheese cake slice, which was nice. Overall, the food is good here, and does have that napa feel to it. There's also a parking lot in the back. Only thing this place needs to improve on is the speed of their service. read more

Cant believe i havent tried this place or discovered it. The restaurant is in an old victorian home. Very nice and cozy and perfect place for a nice dinner date. No need to drive to the city or santana row! Service was good but the food is even more awesome. My boyfriend and i were seated and i ordered a mocha. Probably one of the best mocha i ever had! House bread was brought over and it could be heated or toasted but it was fresh. We started off with the spicy shrimp. Which was full of flavor and really good. Burst of flavor in your mouth. For our main entrees my boyfriend ordered the filet minon that came with asparagus and mashed potatoes. Very good dish to try. I ordered the rack of lambs which was my first time trying it. The meat was tender and cooked to my liking. Came with a rice pilaf thing and sliced potatoes. Defin a flavor dish and all dishes were wonderfully presented. Id defin come back on a nice day and sit at the patio area! read more

See all

Took my girlfriend here twice for her birthday, as this is just about the fanciest place in Hayward. It almost doesn't fit, as it resembles a Napa eatery more than something you'd find downtown. Can fill up fast for reservations, so sign up early. Pretty pricey, but the food is very good. One server is basically the jack of all trades, as he seats you, takes your order, and serves you. He only doesn't serve at the bar, it seems. The prosciutto wrapped prawns are really good, highly recommended. The ribeye is a a standout, and I believe just about the only thing I've ordered here. The service, since it's a one-man show, is just slow. Be prepared to give yourself almost 2 hours from entering to exiting, and you'll be in for a good dining experience. And bonus--if you go early on a Saturday night, you'll just about be the only person in there. read more

A diamond in the rough. It's like a small patch of Napa sown into Hayward. This is a lovely little restaurant with great food and good service..truly a gem in the area. The few negatives are hardly worth mentioning so I'll leave them out and just say that Neumanali is a perfect place for a date night, special occassion or if you're in the mood for couple glasses of wine and a cheese plate after work. Highly recommeded! read more

Found this place on yelp while looking for a place to celebrate my wedding anniversary, and I am so glad I found it. I was very surprised to see a place like this in Hayward. The food was great, the service was excellent and the restaurant was cute and romantic. My husband loooooved this place even more than me haha. I definitely recommend! ps: make sure you make a reservation. read more

This restaurant is special. My girlfriend and I celebrated our four year anniversary at Neumenali, and we both feel that we couldn't have made a better choice. Hidden inside a beautiful Victorian house is this small romantic restaurant with great food, wine, and service. We sat down at around 7pm near a window, and the bartender (who is also the waiter and bus boy) asked why we chose to eat there, and when we told him, he immediately started lighting tea candles at our table. As the sun went down the candles made the dinner unbelievably romantic. The atmosphere alone is enough to make Neumenali a great restaurant, but they have the food to push them to another level. The warm goat cheese salad satisfied an urge that I didn't even know I was in need of satisfying. We ordered every small plate on the menu and every one was a stand-out of fresh-sophisticated-delicious flavors. The restaurant is very pricey, which is the only reason for the 4 stars instead of 5. Aside from that, I believe everyone should grab their loved one and plan your next romantic outing at Neumenali in Hayward. read more

Wonderful and beautiful spot in downtown Hayward. We have the warm goat cheese salad, olive plate, porkshops, ribeye, and flowerless cake. The service was great and the food was delicious! Will definitely come back. read more

Good food. Good location. Jazz music. Romantic. Why not 5 stars? The dessert wasn't all that :( Save it for special occasions...a bit pricey! read more

Nice place, good service, but 2 star food at 4 star prices. Perhaps I will try it again for lunch - it is bound to be more affordable read more

I had to comment again because I had the best dish here Saturday. I had the Greek Chicken which was just huge!!! It was so GOOD!!! Cooked perfectly. It is boneless except for a small wing bone. The topping was so flavorful, esp the sweet sauteed cherry tomatoes. My only sadness is that next time I will not be getting it again, for I promised myself I would try the pork chop because the photos are amazing. Though it was so good I may have to get it as take out soon! I also tried their spicy Cajun shrimp, so good! And again, a big serving for what is what I consider an appetizer. Though next time I am going to go back to their steamed clams which are so sinfully decadent. Their bread by itself is not great but I seem to always have it covered in one of their decadent sauces which makes it perfect for that job. My husband got their Caesar salad which was fine but was a bit bland. I was surprised because sauces seem to be the chef's forte. He also had a so tender filet on pasta which was perfectly cooked. We had a peaceful dinner until a party of 8 was seated right next to us. The only down of the evening, not that they were too loud but 8 people having fun is just loud. No fault of the restaurant though. The service was a bit slow in parts but the restaurant was almost full and there was only one server who was going as fast as he could. He is very professional, a bit stiff perhaps but can crack a smile! read more

Had dinner on a week day evening a week ago. Great ambience and delicious food with food but impersonal service which detracted from the dining experience. Poor service was noted in several recent reviews. One male person handled the dining room of ten tables in an officious manner . He was also the maitre 'd. There was no gracious welcome. The food was delivered without comment, nor did he ever check on how the evening and was going . Had to ask for refills of our water glasses. The plates were removed from our table without comment. I ordered dessert and coffee, my friends weren't ask if they wanted coffee. The dinner bill was placed on our table without comment and when it was paid, the credit card was returned to the table without comment or a thank you. He seem offended when I suggested he need more help.I would have preferred a talking robot serving us over the impersonal experience received. Always wanted to try this restaurant, did it. not again. read more

Pros: -delicious rack of lamb cooked to perfection with lots of flavor -delicious scallops and that sweet potato purée was a great combo -great bread and delicious balsamic vinaigrette olive oil dip -parking lot -romantic dimly lit room Cons: -service was very slow and that's probably due to the fact that there is only one waiter who is also the host -he never offered to pour us our wine or stop by our table to ask how we are liking our food (which I saw him do with other parties and is standard etiquette in restaurants, especially since they consider themselves "fine dining") -pork chop was dry... asked for more sauce and he just explained that it's just from the jus ... Total cost: $160 after tax and tip for a salad, 3 entrees, and a bottle of wine white. read more

This was my 4th trip to this delightful venue in downtown Hayward. We also lucked out because they have live music on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. I think the instrument was a marimba, but don't hold me to that! The music was primarily 40s standards with a little bossa nova tossed in. The odd thing is that while this is a lovely wine and beer bar, I drink neither (is that called an anomaly?). However, the bartender gently took my uneducated palate by the hand-or would it be tongue-and poured a little something white and fruity for me. I have no idea what it was but it was delicious! Given the recent rainy turn to the weather, the atmosphere was very cozy and inviting. For once, we sat in the first floor dining room, as opposed to the patio or the 2nd floor (which houses an art gallery). The dining room is small-don't ask me how many it seats; it's small! The service was wonderful; the staff was uber-friendly and accommodating. The menu is seasonal, so repeat visits are never dull. We had butternut squash soup-perfectly seasoned. Followed by an appetizer of prawns tightly wrapped in prosciutto, garnished with a spring mix and thin pear slices. Divine. The entree was braised shortribs (boneless) attended by Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, and cabbage something (I didn't eat that). Scrumptious. The waiter even gave us an extra dish of potatoes because we were splitting the entree. The potatoes were warm and so good, it was crazy. Don't you hate it when the potatoes come and they're instantly cold? Also enjoyed at the table was a Caesar salad and a pork chop with autumnal baby vegetables that was completely gobbled up by the diner. The ribs were spectacularly tasty. I don't usually eat ribs because I don't like to make a mess in public, but the boneless nature made them tidy and easy to eat. We were all too full for dessert, but the items looked extremely inviting. Bill for 3 people, including a 20% tip and liquor: $130.00. Important factoids: they have a tiny parking lot; but there's also free street parking. The bar doesn't carry hard liquor. Reservations for dinner are recommended. One shared bathroom is all that's available in terms of facilities. On weeknights, the last seating is at 8:30. read more

Hayweird?? Yes! A surprising find! Quaint, Victorian home transformed into a cute and cozy little restaurant and bar. They really paid attention to the details - like art, great lighting, personable staff, candles, paint, decor, flowers, all the way down to the smell of their handsoap. They also host special events like seasonal dinners, wine tastings and private events. I love their garden, too! Good food, although it can use a little tweeking, and it was quite pricey. Had an amazing fig and bleu cheese appetizer here once. Some quality wines & cocktails, too. Thumbs up! read more

See all

At least they are trying! The service was better than the food. There may be some trouble in the kitchen at Neumanali. I received Steak Fries with my order of Mahi Mahi, which was over cooked. Also, there was nothing close to a vegetarian entree on the menu. What are we in Fargo? Neumanali is well appointed - albeit small, and has a good selection of wines. I found it to be a little over-priced, but if you are local it's a option that doesn't involve a drive to SJ, Berkeley, or SF!! read more

"SURPRISE!" is what we yelled out when we celebrated a friend's recent surprise 30th bday here. If it wasn't for her sis planning the event, I wouldn't have known about this gorgeous spot in Hayward. "It looks like a house!," my boyfriend stated as we neared the quaint Victorian-styled building. The party was upstairs--the warm fireplace in the entry way greets you as you enter the 2nd floor. Decorated with little round tables overlooking the street and richly colored leather sofas, the restaurant's feel was unique. We were ushered into the main part where 2 grand tables were lined with candles and white crisp linen napkins. "YUM!" was what I was thinking as I bit into my steak. Juicy and flavorful, it was very good, but a bit pricey. The appetizers and veggies were just okay, but the dessert made up for what they were lacking. Service was wonderful and personal, I'd definitely come back again!! read more

This place is adorable & the service is spot on! Im a foodie who loves a great food find. The food was perfect portion size & delicious. Between the wine, great ambiance & awesome food... I will definitely be coming back! read more

I would have given five stars if only it were in a safer neighborhood. The restaurant is right next to bart which is great! Except- there are interesting characters wandering around that made me feel a little scared to walk by myself. The restaurant itself was fab- beautiful, romantic decor with a fantastic menu. I had the trout with toasted cauliflower and was very impressed! It was seasoned really well and the crispy cauliflower was unbelievable. My friends had the salmon and chicken and were both pleased. The chocolate torte was good- not great, but good. JD our waiter even offered to walk me to my car (parked down the street quite a ways down so I was a little nervous about walking by myself so late at night) so my guests could be on their way! I will be back. read more

Re-heated curry and daal, clearly microwaved. The worst thali -in taste and presentation- I've experienced in bay area. Yet they charge $16!

For one this place is in a house next to Bart. Second everything here is extremely over priced as well as not up to par. There was one waiter who kept rushing us. For the price it's simply not worth for location and food. read more

My husband and I came here to celebrate our anniversary. They start b bringing you some bread with a balsamic olive oil dipping sauce which had crushed garlic inside, delicious! We ordered a bottle of vueve clicquot, smooth and crisp. My husband had the rack of lamb and I had the salmon. He had never had lamb before and wasn't sure how to have it cooked, the waiter gave him some advice and man were we glad he did! Lamb was soft and well seasoned, so good. Salmon was fresh and tasty as well. We will definitely be back! read more

It amazes me that the owners were able to see the need and the desire for a restaurant like Neumanali's the be opened in the Hayward area... especially on B Street. Just down from the bus terminal. The building was moved to the current location because the owners loved it so - the Victorian really adds to the swanky level of the experience, since Neumanali's is not cheap. It's definitely a special occasion restaurant, so wear a pretty dress and make your man comb his hair. Our food was great, but the wine selection was excellent. Really just a great restaurant for quiet conversation, romantic evenings, and life celebrations. read more

This was such a great surprise to find in Hayward and literally a few blocks away from the house. We had 8:30 reservations on our 11 month anniversary. We walked in and immediately transported to a quaint restaurant in San Francisco. But with out driving the 30min, finding parking and paying bridge toll. The restaurant had a few patrons mostly near the bar sippin on some wine and chatting about the days events. We where met by the host/waiter and quickly seated near the rear of the restaurant. They had soft jazz playing which set the mood with the colorful art hanging on the walls and soft light throughout the restaurant. We first started off with the Warm Goat Cheese Grilled Pear Mixed Green Salad. They where happy to split the salad for both of us. The Goat cheese was covered in a panko bread crumb which was crispy on the out side and gooey in the inside. The grilled pears still had a crunch to them which paired well with the mixed greens and light citrus vinaigrette. The salad also had candied walnuts which we both agreed that regular toasted walnuts would have been best. It was just to sweet since the pears where pretty sweet too. We then had the Mushroom Bruschetta with Truffle Oil. The toast was warm and crunchy. The button mushrooms seared in a high heat which created crispy edges and the warm truffle oil perfumed the dish. I would of preferred a mixed mushroom instead of having button mushrooms. Maybe some chanterelle or trumpet mushrooms. Something a bit more exciting. But this dish was still a good starter to have. We then had our main dish which I had the special of the day. Ox Tail and Polenta. The Ox tail was braised and simmered for hours which was fall off the bone goodness. It came with a creamy polenta and a deep rich demiglac sauce. I do not order Ox tail often but this was a sure winner. For desert I ordered the Homemade Chocolate Truffles. So rich, chewy, and decadent. That was a perfect closer to a great meal. This is such a hidden GEM. You would never imagine to find a restaurant like this in Hayward. After our meal the waiter gave us the history of the restaurant and how it was a family owned establishment. This has been in business since 2003. We where more surprised when the chef came out and she commented on how she heard it was our first time at the restaurant. We had some small talk wished us well and reminded us not to be strangers. We will definitely come back. Its nice to escape the mediocre restaurants around this area. Neumanali's is and escape to the city without even crossing the bridge. read more

See all