When they say small plates, they really mean small plates. The food here is delicious, but the portions are a serious joke. They said the plates could be split between 2 people, but I'd say they're for 1. $7 for what's essentially half a chicken breast. $7 for 3 strips of eggplant. I will say they go heavy on the carbs and the rice and pita were enough for 3-4 people. Quality is good and the patio is nice which is why I gave 3 stars, but am always left feeling hungry after. read more

Unfortunately this place isn't what I wanted it to be. Loved Ba-Bite and was really happy when Pomella opened. It is painful to watch customers try to order from the confusing menu and the unwelcoming staff. We have had items missing from to go orders and the prices are just not worth what you get. I also am totally turned off by the gross reusable metal containers. Last time I ordered a beet salad to go and it was in one of those dumb containers and the whole ($16) side was no good by the next day because of all the holes in the lid. I bet most people throw the containers away instead of returning them. Oh and there is some sort of bag or packing fee on top of the already very expensive price. The food's just not that good to be nickel and dimed to death. read more

We ordered a delightful Hanukkah spread from Pomella and it totally exceeded our expectations in all ways. All of the dishes we ordered were excellently prepared, packaged and following their instructions to reheat left us with a tasty meal that was likely almost as good as eating there. The brisket tagine was standout -- tender, flavorful and hearty but well balanced with the preserved lemon and apricots. Delish! After we placed our order, one of their back of the house staff tested positive for COVID, which totally sent their operations into a mess. Their staff was slimmed down to the skeleton crew and despite all of the hefty protocols they followed to do right by their staff, customers and their business -- they clearly communicated what was happening and the entire situation was handled flawlessly from my perspective. Huge marks on customer service, in my book. I can't wait to go back and eat indoors with them. read more

Got take out: Cheese Stuffed Falafel and Pomegranate Eggplant Majadera were excellent, and the stuffed grape leaves had a unique tang to them. The Vegetable Tagine was less notable. Worked well for take out, as is generally the case with middle eastern. read more

We ordered the Passover Seder. It was amazing and delicious. The flavors were unbelievably good. I will order again. Hope you make the items a regular on your menu! Thank you for all your hard work read more

This place is amazing. I used to love Ba-Bite when I lived up the street from Piedmont and was so sad when I heard they closed. Their foods were always fresh, flavorful and delightful and seemed to be made with lots of TLC. I was thrilled when I saw Pomella and learned that it was just rebranded from Ba-Bite in a brand new space, still along Piedmont Ave near Donna Tomas. I ordered my old go to order - the arugula, cabbage, bean sprout, figs and goat cheese and decided to add the falafel in. My boyfriend got the Majadra Plate with the lamb sirloin, which I had never had but sounded very tasty. The order was ready in about 10-15 minutes and my boyfriend said the people there were friendly and pick up was easy (although it was a little hard to find initially). The food was just as good, if not better, than I remembered. My salad was so flavorful with a nice acidic touch from the cabbage and vinaigrette, the feta was creamy and wonderful, and the figs added the perfect contract to all of the other flavors. The baby kale was a nice substitute and I enjoyed some of the bitterness with the sweetness and acidity of the other ingredients. My bf's majadra plate was phenomenal - I didn't know what to expect initially and I don't usually order rice dishes but the rice and lentils were amazing, and the yogurt sauce and onions were just to die for. I think I'll likely get this next time I go (and I never thought I'd change my salad order). So happy to have this wonderful, healthy, fresh option and can't wait to make it a go to spot for 2021! read more

I have a love hate relationship with Pomella. I think the food is good. The price point has always been something to be desired. Even before it became Pomella and was Ba-Bite the prices were like outrageous. I should have known when I got the email about Thanksgiving pies to order at Pomella that it would cost a ton and be small. But I had faith. Well shit was I wrong. I went to go pick up my "full" size" sweet potato cheesecake this morning and was super excited. Until I got the cheesecake and was dumbfounded by the size. I was expecting a full size Cheesecake I mean the website said a full pie. Last time I checked a full pie is at least 9 inches. I'm not asking for a crazy Costco size pie. But wow. I was given this dinky pie. The staff looked at me like I was crazy when I was in shock and tried to tell me it was 7 inches. Again for $30 this is just a effing joke. Sigh why do I try..... I gotta remember when I go to Pomella the food is good but make sure I have at least a months salary available to spend and get a tiny portion. I'm sure it will taste good but unfortunately I cannot take this to a family thanksgiving and will need to go buy another pie to not look like a joke. Sigh read more

Pomella - Sweet potato cheesecake and my hand for reference. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

Everything about Pomella is excellent - the outdoor seating, the kind staff, and the delicious food! We always get the eggplant, and a few other things but had a larger family group today. Every single item was spot on - the pickles, pita, salmon and rice, cauliflower appetizer, falafel, schwarma and the drinks - so refreshing and not too sweet! We topped it all off with the rugelach- so fresh and some of the best I have ever had. Love that we have this spot in the east bay. read more

The staff is really nice, but the food is barely edible for the price. I also tried the tres leches cake, and it was pretty hard and cold. I'm not sure if I just didn't get what they are known for, but this wasn't for me. 1 saffron Rice bowl and 1 slice of tres leches is $27 read more

Pomella - Saffron Rice Plate with Eggplant $15. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

I was hanging with my friend in Oakland and we were both feelin pretty hungry, so after Yelping a few places, this spot caught my eye. My friend had actually been here before and highly recommended it. She was right. It was so yummy and truly hit the spot. I ordered a falafel in Lafa bread (Middle Eastern Flatbread) and wow just wow. The ratio of all the ingredients was perfect (hummus, falafel, cabbage salad, shirazi & lemon-tahini sauce). Plus, it is pretty rare to find good falafel in the US and this falafel was fantastic! I'm definitely a fan. The lafa was not the best I've ever had but it was still tasty. We also ordered the Hot Eggplant Mezze (pomegranate eggplant served with yogurt-tahini sauce). This dish was also incredible! The flavor was so unique. Would order both items again in a heartbeat. Need to come back here and try more items on the menu! read more

Over priced food. Few morsels of chicken with a lot of rice... in the chicken shishlik. Unlike other mediterranean food, no fresh green salads or veges in the entre. Very unsatisfying. read more

Just had the best bite of falafel I've ever had in my life! This is my new go to spot for lunch. I had the chicken pita and beet salad yesterday and liked it so much we decided to have lunch again today. We ordered the chicken tagine, cauliflower salad and falafel hummus plate and love how flavorful and fresh everything is. The falafel had perfect texture and was not dry or grainy. New fav! read more

Love love love the food. PRAYING please add a vegetarian combo with hummus, falafel, tzatziki, salad... all the dips. Right now I have to add on and it adds up so fast!!! Easy to spend $40 on lunch. read more

Have eaten here twice now and I'm pretty sure their food releases endorphins! So damned good and filled with SO much love! Dare I say the best food on Piedmont Ave? Hell yea I said it..I mean it too! Like I'm ready to go back over there and slap the chef just so I don't slap my mama! That saffron rice plate is so good...I have had it twice..once with fried cauliflower and last time with grilled eggplant.. both were great, eggplant was the BEST though. They put a tahini sauce on top and you have options for a green or red schug sauce...both were too curry tasting for me so I prefer without. Their hummus is so pillowy and drizzled with oil and somethin red and pine nuts. Not super crazy about their pita so I eat hummus at home and with flatbread. Also tried the falafel balls...super crispy texture and full of flavor. The ONLY thing I can even minorly complain about it lack of salt used in all their dishes.. but I appreciate it because I can buy it for mom and not hear how salty it is.. Salt can be added..I like salt! My friend had their chicken tagine and she swore her meal was better than mine..which may be true but my meal was fantastic! I think about ordering from Pomella almost daily..we finally ordered again last weekend and I just wanted to pass out again from the deliciousness. Thank you Pomella, we needed you here! xoxo read more

2 years later and I finally came back to Pomella to get there Tahini Rice plate with Salmon, Cheese Falafels and the Baklava. Unfortunately they made some changes to the tahini rice plate that definitely made a difference I did not like, for instance what happened to the slices of grilled Tomatoes and whole grilled green onions that would compliment the tahini rice plate? What I got topped on my plate tonight was boiled veggie shreds...budget cuts I assume. not to mention the almond baklava was not fresh because it tasted of last weeks batch due to it lacking the flakiness and being a bit soggy. But At least the cheese falafels were still as delicious as always and the Lemonada was on point as well. read more

Food is fresh and delicious and they have their takeout game down to a science! Service is friendly and efficient- my visit left me full and happy! I had the wild mushroom soup that was on special and the hot eggplant mezzo. Considering the fact that mushrooms and eggplant are my all time favorite vegetables, I may be a tad biased but they were DELICIOUS! Look forward to returning soon! read more

I've been curious to try Pomella and so got a few items delivered to try. I got the chicken tagine, hummus, and falafel. I reheated the tagine to make sure it's hot, and it was scrumptious. The chicken just fell apart and the broth was rich and went well with the saffron rice. The hummus was thick, creamy, and full of flavor. The falafel was crunchy outside and center slightly fluffy and airy. read more

Good food, but stopped going there when they started charging $25 corkage for bringing your own wine (and the only wine they offer is in cans). - Dan B. read more

Truly fantastic food at Pomella. So tasty, fresh, and healthy. Love the chicken, salmon, salads, and desserts

FRESH is the first word that comes to mind.... this little gem is tucked away on piedmont ave and has a great little outside seating area.... i got the chicken and lamb rice plates and both were pretty good... flavors were great (with a little salt to bring them out) and it was a pretty filling portion.... the meats were cooked perfectly... rice nice a fluffy... veggies had a great grill on them.... a really nice light lunch.... strawberry lemonade was great.... definitely a place i will visit again... i didn't feel heavy after eating their food at all which is a major plus.... it was nice to sit outside for a little bit and have lunch in a quiet corner... staff was super nice and helpful... menu looked great... i heard their salads are awesome... can't wait to try a few more things on their menu... read more

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This is by far the most flavorful Mediterranean food I've tried in the Bay. We ordered the eggplant Majadra and the chicken majadra. The eggplant itself was bursting with spices, and the majadra was wholesome, and delicious, and all things great:) The chicken majadra was well-seasoned and excellent as well. The dishes were also surprisingly light, although plentiful. We've been back a couple times at this point, and hope to keep that tradition going. Can't recommend Pomela enough! read more

Delicious and fresh quality food. Great, fast service. Good portions and variety!!!

Just rating the Baklava and parking. Baklava 5 stars, parking "Meehe" ‍ It's Oakland so I'm not sure why I expected anything different but I do/did. On the plus side I got in a nice 1/2 mile hill hike to get my Baklava. Tried waiting patiently for a parking spot in the lot but gave up and parked a couple blocks away where I found a spot. read more

I don't often review but thought I should this time. Our food was very tasty and enjoyable. The disappointment was in the portion size for the Fried Cauliflower appetizer. The portion was insufficient. The image on the site was a bowl full and we received approximately 10 florets. They were yummy but value for cost was quite low. I will post a picture. read more

Pomella - Super tasty but portions are deficient. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Oakland, California

I am a fan of the now-closed Ba-Bite and truly want to love Pomella just as much. The food is still delicious. But here is my dilemma. Apparently, in my sleep or what have you, I've shrunk down to Lilliputian size. Pomella has just delivered a thimbleful of everything that I gleefully ordered--and because I am six inches tall, it's all too much. If you are of normal size, and want to spend $50 for a Lilliputian picnic, well...I will leave this review here. read more

I tried many dishes at this high rated restaurant. The eggplant and lamb were fantastic. Both were flavorful and delicious. The zucchini salad was good although it needed better dressing. The quinoa and beet salad was terrible and undercooked. Shirazi was standard fare. Veggie Tagine was OK. The baklavi was not crispy but the pannacotta was great. Beet salad was fine but nothing special. It gets three stars because the food is inconsistent, prices are high and they nickel and dime you, even charging for hot sauce. Pitas, while homemade, are $2 each and entrees don't include them. It adds up fast! When I called about discounted pricing for larger orders, the owner told me to order more dishes. I spent $140 on food for 3 adults and 4 kids, and we had no leftovers. Overall, while good for a couple dishes, the combo salad at Holy Land blows this place out of the water any day and is 1/3 the price. As an aside, I'm troubled by the owner's aggressive responses to this review. Update: I received hate messages via Yelp after posting this review and am lowering it to one star from 3 as a result. read more

A bit overpriced. You can tell the ingredients are fresh and good quality, but some items feel way up charged. Some of the food is filling, and some dishes leave you feeling something to be desired, and then you end up throwing away $10 for something you don't want to eat more than once. The location is pretty hidden inside a tiny parking lot that has very limited parking on some days, and I've had to wait for my order to be prepared in the hot sun once (if I ever go again, I'll make sure to bring my car sun shade lol). Other than that, the exchange is seamless, I appreciate the extra effort of being safe. Customer service is ok depending on who you get (Girl with colored hair was having an attitude when there was a misunderstanding with my order). All in all, it's a good place to try for authentic cuisine, but it seems only privileged folk like to frequent this place and Pomella isn't afraid to take advantage of that. I also hear that Mica has a bad temper, despite everyone seemingly praising her for the good person she is. I'm just glad Doña is open again, I don't feel pretentious vibes whenever I go eat there. read more

I was disappointed by the food here. I got the chicken shishlik rice plate and the food tasted like it was microwaved...it had a funk. This is a cute place to come together with friends, and the outdoor seating is great for all times of the year, but, I don't know if I'd come back... read more

Everything I've ordered from Pomella has been incredibly delicious every time, and that's been a lot in the last 6 months as their offerings have expanded. Considering the challenges of opening a restaurant during covid, Mica and her staff should get more than 5 stars for taking care of their customers with healthy, amazing food in to-go packaging that is compostable. (That really puts to over the top for me, as I tend to balk at getting takeout because of all of the packaging). I think the portions are generous, so I am excited to always have leftovers. I am a sucker for Pomella's salads and high quality meat dishes. I've ordered with friends and for groups and had raves about the tagine, cheese-stuffed falafel, fried cauliflower, various mezze, I could go on and on. And the desserts! They deserve their own paragraph. House-made desserts with in-season fruit are fantastic. I don't even really have a sweet tooth, but I've become a sucker for the cheesecake and also the panna cotta because they are not overly-sweet. Pomella is just about the only place where I indulge in dessert, so definitely save room for some. Do yourself a favor. Order from Pomella and tell you friends about your awesome neighborhood Israeli place. read more

When Ba-Bite disappeared, we were heartbroken to lose the best menu in the neighborhood. And then our wishes came true - Pomella was born - a reincarnation of our past favorite! A friend from out of town (who, immediately upon arrival, asked if we could go to Ba-Bite for lunch) joined me to check out Pomella. She had the quinoa butternut squash salad; i had the cabbage fig salad. Both were fantastic hybrids of filling and refreshing. What most stands out, though, is the incredible customer service. Liz took care of us at the window (during covid), responding to our questions and indecision with extreme patience and deeply kind generosity. i can't wait to return -- the cheese-filled falafel atop the cauliflower salad is calling my name. (And i recommend the tagine once it's not so hot outside!) Lots of sunny and shaded seating options, too! Very possible to have a safe, spatially-distanced casual gourmet experience here any day of the week. read more

Although under a new name, It's nice to see the old Ba-Bite restaurant re-open on Piedmont Ave. Decided to order the butternut squash salad and a side of falafels stuffed with cheese. Everything was really good. The portion sizes were smaller than what I remember but this could be because it's take out only. They have a nice outdoor dining area which is adjacent to the backside of the Dona Tomas restaurant . Looking forward to post COVID-19 dining experience. read more

Always loved Mica's food. Freah, light and healthy. Excited to the day after COVID to see her doors and heart fully open. read more

This is a pandemic review of this restaurant. I tried take out from here for the first time tonight and I will definitely be going back. I got the chicken with rice meal, hummus and pita and then a rugelach for dessert. All of it was truly delicious and well worth it. Love this food. The chicken and rice came with a delicious white sauce - thinking it was yogurt based - but not totally sure and really loved that. We did not stay to eat there but you totally can - they have a very safe outside set up there - tables outside on a patio that are a safe distance apart. Go to this place. read more

In love with the salads here! Creative, healthy and very filling. The butternut squash, quinoa, arugula with pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries is my favorite. My husband loves their hefty falafel wraps and one of our kids likes the humus and chicken plate that comes with a generous container of carrot and zucchini sticks for dipping. Service is fast and friendly and the pitched fiberglass and wood beam awning gives the outdoor seating a soft filtered light that makes dining relaxing and pleasant. It's our new favorite in the Piedmont Ave neighborhood. read more

So glad they are back in the area. The humus is one of the best ever and the butternut squash arugula salad is the best. Although I do always ask for an extra dressing. Anyway you won't be disappointed. read more

Absolutely delicious food and excellent service. My only wish is that I lived closer! Will definitely tell friends and get back there when in the area! read more

Pomella is the bigger and better of inception of Ba-bita, with great outdoor seating. The food is still great and visually appealing. My latest favorite is the beet salad with ras el hanout and walnuts. There ginger and glove of the ras el hanout pairs well with the earthy taste of the beets while the walnuts give a nice crunch. Another favorite is the Yemeni Coffee which is spiced with ginger. Aside from my current go tos, I have to say that I've always been super impressed with how moist and well cooked all their meat options ( chicken, lamb and salmon) are. It's really easy to dry out chicken or undercook/overcook salmon but their's never are. Fair warning though 5-7is peak ordering hours so you might be waiting 30-40 minutes for food. read more

We got a big, multi-course Chanukah dinner and were pretty underwhelmed overall. The salad was mostly greens but the apples in it were very nicely spiced and cinnamon-y and the blue cheese vinaigrette dressing was nice. The matzah ball soup broth was good, but the matzah balls were only fair and had way too much herb flavors in them. The root vegetable salad was not great and the brisket was OK but quite fatty. The latkes were the highlight of the meal but they were nothing too special (though the applesauce on the side did taste like cinnamon apple pie filling which was tasty). read more

Wooow!!! Been feeling a little uninspired by takeout recently but this was such a wonderful meal. We got the butternut squash composed salad (sizeable! I kept half for the next day), summer corn salad, kefta mezze (standout winner of the meal), falafel, saffron lemon shrimp, lamb sirloin mezze, hummus plate, pita, rice, and fruit crisp. Everything was awesome and super fresh, tho on second thought the hummus was maybe a bit underwhelming flavor-wise. Loved that they use reusable metal containers that you can have picked up or you can drop off. First time experiencing "dispatch", cool concept, loved not having so much plastic waste from takeout. read more

Very good. Had the chicken wrap. Fresh ingredients and friendly staff. Would absolutely go back and try a few more menu items!