Just left here as a solo diner and the place was pretty much empty yet I had to get up to find my own condiments, and get up to ask for service. I order a rib eye steak that I'm positive was a basic sirloin. I asked for medium rare and it was medium with very little seasoning. You know if you have to drown it in A1 it isn't good. The garlic noodles were good but it was suppose to come with a salad according to the photo and it was French fries which I didn't want. It seemed more like a low grade Applebees experience than a historic well graded restaurant. From what I gather it's new Asian inspired ownership and that's definitely not what I went there for. Truly a bummer. read more

I'll just say this... This converted house on the water had all the makings of one of those places that just relies on its location and view, and falls short in the food and service. Went with a group of 7. All I know is they all loved what they had, everything from pastas to sandwiches. Service was friendly and attentive. (The one restroom and constant wait was a hassle though). I had fish n chips, a dish I love, but grow increasingly skeptical each time I order it, weary of over battered, soggy, where's the fish renditions? I'm happy to report that not only is the batter perfectly crisp and not over taking the fish itself, but the actual star of this dish may actually be the coleslaw! Note that I usually HATE coleslaw, and 10 times out of 10 it sits there in an untouched pile pushed far away in the corner. At Quinn's it is the perfect compliment to the crispy fried fish. It's not sweet and soggy, but crisp, tangy and a touch spicy. When I was done with my dinner, my plate was cleaned spotless! I've been thinking about this dish ever since, and will be returning soon! read more

It had been awhile since Id been to Quinn's and thought that Id introduce some friends to a new to them place. We chose a gorgeous day on the bay. Which we took full advantage of by sitting on the out door pub patio. Nothing really has changed since my last visit. Food is mediocre at best. Our service was excellent however. It usually is. We enjoyed our beer and brunch cocktails very much. I would not say come for the food. But definitely come for the view, the service and the drinks. Make sure to come on a nice day. Its well worth it. read more

Second time here. Just love the service, the food, and the atmosphere. This time we sat outside and the weather was just amazing. I had the fish and chips. AWESOME!! Pics this time!! read more

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Service was prompt and welcoming. The clam chowder was Stellar as well. Really liked the pirate ship style ambiance.

We went on a Monday night so there was plenty of space available. We ordered a bowl of chowder, the seafood ravioli and the fish and chips to split. We didn't ask for bread but was brought bread anyway with our chowder! Our server was great and very attentive. Everything was delicious. I was looking for chowder to have while we were in the Bay and this was the perfect fill! Would definitely come again. read more

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Quinn's Lighthouse....never lets us down. Great service, salty old school vibe, and quality seafood. What more could you ask for? Seems to be a popular gathering spot for JLS locals. I guess there's a bar upstairs. I've yet to venture up there. I'm super bad with names, but our waiter, who says he's been there 20+ years, is one of the best we've encountered. Which speaks volumes. (We see a lot of waiters.) I'm going to make a note of it the next time we go there, and try to give him proper credit. My recommendation....the steamed clams, New England style. The clams were decent sized and with a little warm bread for dipping, the perfect sized meal. My Bostonian Mother (rest her soul) would've loved this place. read more

Quinn's Lighthouse - Quinn's Lighthouse....Great service, salty old school vibe, quality seafood. - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

Stick to the drinks! Great view but food overpriced and poor quality The food here is really bad- heads up- I ordered a seafood salad - crab Louie and it was really off, old lettuce, the dressing was more like BBQ sauce the shrimp didnt taste fresh. Kids fries were cold- hard to screw up fries! read more

I use to come to Quinn's back in the day for good eats and drinks, because a family friend worked as a bartender here. I'm a Rt. Driver and now in this area everyday, so I thought I'd stop in to get a take out menu. I walked in and saw a gentleman dealing with the light fixtures in the downstairs dining room that was empty and asked him if there was a take out menu. He didn't speak english too well, but gladly let me know to go upstairs to the bar area and see the floor manager. When I went upstairs an older gentleman approached me and asked for my vaccination card right off the bat. No hello, can I help you or anything. I was a bit shocked and said, I won't be staying. I explained that I'm a Rt. Driver and would be in the area and might want to call in an order to pickup if I could get a take out menu. He gave me the restaurant menu to look at and said, I could look up the menu online, but prices probably wouldn't be the same. He said, I need to see your vaccination card if you want to sit inside or you can sit outside on the balcony. I let him know that I've been vaccinated and I do have a card, but again, I won't be staying. I was also wearing a mask the whole time I was there. He gave me a business card with the number to call in for an order, but I've yet to do so. It definitely was a very uncomfortable experience for me and I was surprised with the unprofessional customer service. Very sad, because I was looking forward to some great clam chowder and fish and chips. read more

We came here on a whim this past Sunday evening for outside dining. I really enjoyed the ambiance. It was a beautiful hot day overlooking the water. Our waitress was friendly. Their music playlist I dug. Found a couple of songs I added to my own playlist. We ordered the fish & chips, a lemon drop, green salad & for dessert: lemon cake to share. The cake was moist & good. The lemon drop was cool. The entree came with cole slaw & fries. The entree was decent size portions. The fries, meh. The cole slaw was good. After eating everything, I was beyond full. All in all I would come back especially on a beautiful, warm day. You should try it yourself. It won't disappoint. read more

Quinn's Lighthouse - The scenery was relaxing - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

This has always been a grteat place to go after Sailing, or even just for a beer and some food. However they are closing after tonight. They have been unable to recupe after the Covid Mess. Scurvy Crew of Quinns: Thank you for many happy evenings. read more

We went here on a cold afternoon and found out it was just the remedy I needed for my cold. This was our 2nd time here at this restaurant as the 1st time gave us a great impression! The bloody mary's are definitely a factor in our return. Add that with a warm cup of delicious chunky clam chowder and some fresh bay air! Ah! It's tucked away which makes it all the more exciting - since it's a piece of a hidden gem! The location is by the Alameda-Oakland bay and they are situated inside of an historic lighthouse - a perfect blend and setting! No worries, parking is not an issue. We always (both times) get front street parking. We discovered the 2nd floor to be more of a Pub where you can eat peanuts and throw shells on the ground! Your views are of docked boats and the Bay inlet. You can sit inside or outside and I've personally loved both. One of the first things my boyfriend and I noticed were the awesome alternative/rock jams that makes you feel nostalgic. It's a great hanging out environment for a couple, friends, birthday celebration and families. I haven't explored the 1st floor yet but from a glimpse, the set up appears to be a little bit more formal - great for a romantic evening date. I can DEFINITELY say this is our go-to get away from the crazy city and we're MORE than looking forward to summer nights with the lights view here in a few months!!! Note: The older gentleman, tall, waiter provides excellent and attentive customer service! He's a hustler and pours more water for you before you even realize you need more. You'll know exactly who i'm talking about when you meet him! read more

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Wow! I am thoroughly impressed by this precious gem of a restaurant! I'm visiting my grandparents all the way from my new home of Chicago and I wanted to treat them to dinner to celebrate their October birthdays. I researched "restaurants on the water near Castro Valley" and I found Quinn's. Location, scenery, menu... check, check, check! I made a quick reservation on OpenTable. First off, the location is so perfect and charming. There are these old Victorian homes that now serve as office buildings that neighbor the restaurant. The marina is so quaint and cute. We enjoyed walking the grounds before our reservation time. We saw ducks, cats and schools of fish swimming. Parking is convenient on the street or the lot across the road. Service is excellent here. I missed our waiter's name, but he is the veteran server and he was so kind and wonderful!!! Totally attentive and informative. He was so sweet to my grandma and grandpa who were really enjoying themselves. Food was wonderful! New England Mussels - excellent Cheese Garlic Bread - rich and delicious I had the halibut special with ravioli, it was divine. My grandma had the seafood lasagna, it was amazing. My grandpa enjoyed the salmon filet with French fries and veggies. He is quite picky and he loved it! Dessert was the chocolate bread pudding - wow - it was delicious! I will forever recommend Quinn's to my friends and family when they are in the Bay Area. Such a wonderful experience, beautiful location and delicious food. read more

pretty good pub style place with an extensive menu right on the water (Embarcadero, Oakland) which makes for a nice marina view. typical burgers, sandwiches, some seafood, etc. decent but not extensive selection of local draft beers. free peanuts and you can throw the shells on the floor haha pro tip: sit upstairs where it's a little quieter and a better view read more

I was really hoping this place would be great. I order the coconut spawn and the plate looked so delicious but sadly it was so bland with no taste. The best food for me was the jalapeño poppers. read more

Quinn's Lighthouse - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

Good spot next to the water. Drinks and appetizers onbthe deck were nice. The staff seemed very friendly. read more

Quinn's Lighthouse - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

Used to love coming here. No longer. we tried to go for Sunday brunch and could not. They close the bottom floor and there is no elevator to the second floor. My wife is handicapped and can't walk up the stairs. This place is NOT handicap accessible. I am considering an ADA complaint against the restaurant. read more

Again...Amazing food and service! Kevin came out to meet us and Sergio's service was spot on. The restaurant got busier as the night went on. Come and enjoy! read more

Food was great with a lot of options including meals for vegans. Service is very good and food comes quick. On a nice day, the deck overlooking the estuary is really nice place for lunch or dinner. read more

I love this place and have gone here since high school! That goes to show how old I am! ;-) I totally recommend this place but make sure you make an appt. You can even make an appt using 'Opentable'!! Very convenient! We took my 11 year old son and he liked his kids hamberger meal and fries for only $5.99 and chocolate shake. My husbands huge portion of the jambalya was very good and it had the rice instead of the pasta. I had the lobster alfredo pasta which was very generous on the lobster meat. I could not finish like my husband. I have had their ceasar salad and its whole baby romaine lettuce with just the right amount of dressing and croutons. You have to ask for a side of anchovies as it tastes so good together. The place has happy hour at their bar upstairs. Decent priced drinks and good for small groups. You would never know this was located here unless you were a local. There is plenty of parking on the street. Eaten many items here throughout the years. Love that its by the water docks so you can see the sunsets or boats drifting away.. Will be coming back again... read more

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Customer service is 7.5/10 not friendly but somewhat attentive. Our server took our clam chowder away while we were still eating it and we said we weren't done. I don't know if he had hearing problems or if its because the loud environment. Clam chowder 8/10 needed more clams and potatoes. Our pasta was scallops, sausages and chicken but for some reason it had fish bones. 7/10 read more

Quinn's Lighthouse - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

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Kevin gave excellent service on 10/10/22, great suggestion on that King style burger! Great vibes here, will return. read more

Quinn's Lighthouse - Excellent service here on Tuesday at about 5pm. Recieved a table with bay view, beer, and appetizers promptly. Will return and recommend! - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

Great atmosphere, good food, excellent drinks and friendly, efficient service. Came here on a date with hubby on a Saturday evening. There was ample parking along the street and in the large lot across the road. We had a reservation but there were just a few diners there when we arrived at 6ish (it was more or less a full house when we left). It's such a cute place with just the right amount of kitsch in its decor to make it fun but not garish. Downstairs is mainly dining and upstairs is a bar with baskets of peanuts (you throw shells on the floor) with a veranda overlooking the water across to coast guard island. It's one of those places you can dress as smartly or as casually as you like and it wouldn't matter. Our waiter was friendly and efficient and was very good at communicating when our main courses would be arriving to be sure they arrived hot and we were prepared for them (and that we had enough time to finish the bucket of mussels). He also kept checking in on us without being intrusive. The menu is pretty exciting. We decided on a bucket of mussels to share, and I had the blackened catfish (which I highly recommend 5*s) while my husband had the Boogaloo jumping prawns (3*s not bad). Mine was a generous serving with two catfish filets one on top of the other with a side of red sauce with lots of small lobster chunks in it, a cheesy polenta cake and some steamed veggies. It was incredibly delicious but I couldn't finish it all. My husband's Boogaloo prawns was more average with sausages, prawns in a not spicy red sauce except when he bit into a stray jalapeno, served with rice and steamed veggies. I also had a glass of wine and he had an IPA. It was a great evening which we ended with a little walk along the marina taking in the sunset. We'll definitely be back to try the upstairs bar - I have an eye on those burgers. And maybe next time we may even bring the kids! read more

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I took my family from Michigan here on Dec. 23rd, 2019. My grandson was so excited when he said, "They have clams!". All six of us enjoyed the steamers and the fish, too! What a wonderful evening! Tom from Alameda read more

It was not good... the fish and chips were super oily and it was very basic flavors for the price we paid. The stuffed salmon just didn't sit right and the vegetables were like basic frozen kinds read more

Enjoy beautiful views of the marina while you scarf seafood and drink cocktails. The lower level is the dining level, the upper is sort of a sports bar with peanut shells all over the floor. The upstairs does have an outdoor balcony however! The Light House cocktail is excellent, and they do have a good selection of wine varieties. The Childrens menu is pretty good and includes chicken fingers and Mac and cheese but also coconut prawns. The downstairs seems to be peanut-free, but the upstairs bar has peanut shells all over the place. Recommended: half bucket clam and mussels, the 8oz buffalo burger, and the mint rack of lamb. There are a few happy hour specials (like $3 house wine on wednesdays) so check in often! read more

Quinn's Lighthouse - Half bucket defeated!! - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

I live down the street so I don't know why it took so long to try Quinn's out but it was okay... nothing spectacular to write home about, but I love the view of the water and location of Quinn. The prices are a bit high for what seems to be regular food. $20 for some pasta is a little extreme, but guess it comes with the territory in terms of location. I'll have to come back and try again, because all I had was the fried ravioli. read more

View from that lovely second story patio: Five stars! Beautiful, perfect for enjoying the water on a sunny day. Sippity sippage: Three stars! The prices are right and the bartenders are pretty damn friendly. Waiting staff service: Four stars! Food: Don't come hungry. My mom suggested taking a dip, dash and dive down ol' hobbity-skotch-'em-goop memory lane to Quinn's Lighthouse. "Y'remember, that used to have the peanuts all smashed up over the ground??" But of course mom! So we headed on over to find out whether the peanuts were still spread out in abundance and the food was still meh. (Yup to both!) Our server was having a hard time with the group at the next table (a crew of very well behaved 2-year-olds who just couldn't figure out how to get their 42-year-old parents how to use their table manners) so we didn't fault her for going missing from our section for a while. She needed a break. "And it's not like we came to Quinn's for the food..." to use my mother's verbiage. Because my mama ain't raise no fool and her mama ain't raise no fool and my great-great-Grandma passed before I got a chance to meet her but I'm pretty sure I've seen this movie before... And it don't involve our roles being fulfilled by some damn fools. That is to say... Quinn's food is garbage. Except that with garbage you might get some variety and there's a very strong likelihood in a country where nearly fifty percent of our produce and one-third of "all foodstuffs" is discarded (scary statistics y'all, we gotta do better!) that you will find perfectly edible and potentially even delicious (minus the whole sitting in the trash aspect...) food in the garbage. So Quinn's may not even be on that level yet. However, come for the view and a brew on a sunny day and you will never be disappointed. read more

Food was adequate, the pears in the salad were cut so tiny & so soft they were just mush & not enough greens or cheese . Fettuccine Alfredo , berry cheese but flat flavor even after adding black pepper. Calamari was ok . Service was it rude, but as flat as the food , not friendly almost like we were a bother even if we were the only two people at 3:PM , busboy was very attentive trying to make up for the waiters flatness . But, the worst was that we had to call from the parking lot because we could not see a ramp or way in with a wheelchair . Some one come down and showed us to a special elevator , It would make more sense to have it marked. By then we had put my wheelchair back in the car and I used my walker ( a hardship to use) We were able to only eat on the first floor , to many stairs to the second floor & no elevator . We wanted a window table with the water view , we were tal there was only one table reserved for " handicap " with a camera in case anything happened to me . No apologies, take it or leave it . I dint want to embarrassed my lunch date , so I gracefully said agreed . So no view , no good service & overpriced pasta . Never an other visit or recommendation . read more

Great Food Great Service I wanted to Watch Football and they had games playing they went out of their way to try and get me the Patriots !!!

The days of Lobster Bisque are long gone. "Those were the good old days." You might want to rate and review the upstairs bar separately from the downstairs part of this restaurant because they are worlds different. I stopped being a regular customer a few years ago when the clam chowder was served loaded with sand. If that happens again, I'll totally discontinue their main menu. I get the feeling that employees here probably have no other option for employment. And although I recognize a few employees from the best of times, they seem like they are insincerely being dedicated to this restaurant. Personally, I no longer order anything fancy. I stick to the basics these days at Quinn's. read more

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Oh Quinn's. Poor, poor Quinn's Lighthouse. I've been here several times over the past several years, mostly as a guest for some sort of function but never of my own accord. Everyone sort of just knows it as this creaky, damp place where the food is overpriced, kinda gross, and the service is poor. I mean just look at the burger in their cover photo. Also, if you're allergic to peanuts - this classy establishment let's people throw shells on the floor. I have since moved out of state and just contacted them to see if they could accommodate a birthday party I'm planning and flying in for. It's for someone turning 78 and the crowd isn't really into fancy dining or properly seasoned food and we need a lot of space so I thought Quinn's definitely ticked these boxes. However, the best part is when my partner was on the phone with the 12 year old manager. She explained what we were looking for and the boy-manager's response was, "That's lit," to which she responded with heavy silence so that he could sit with himself. He then told us that we didn't want to rent out the top floor because he could make "so much more money by leaving it open" and "pushing some tables together for us." Needless to say, we opted out and will be putting down a deposit at a hotel restaurant nearby. I'll be sad to miss out on stepping on peanut shells and eating jiggly, unseasoned steak but maybe next time Quinn's. read more

Excellent menu and service. Tucked away from traffic and congestion on the water. The Lighthouse has nice ambiance with a relaxing vibe and view of the bay. This is a favorite restaurant and bar. Simple but such a nice atmosphere. Friends that have shared this experience also liked the flow and vibe at Quinn's Lighthouse. I LOVE THIS PLACE read more

Ambiance is amazing. We came to watch the game so we sat upstairs in the bar. They don't have just one giant tv to watch, but several small tvs. At a single table the patrons may be watching different tvs, but it works. You are welcome to ask them to change the channel, but make sure you know what channel you want. They serve all you can eat peanuts. If you have a peanut allergy this isn't the place for you. The shells cover the floors. The food is also very good here. The only turn off was the sign about being conditional in their being open the day we went. read more

Service sucks! Waitress has no emotions and is unfriendly. It's took forever to get our food and when we were realizing it, she came over and asked again "what did you order" she forgot to put our order in! 45 mins later we finally got our food. I had ordered the fish & chips which was ok. Not as crispy as I liked for it to be but it was ok. The fries were basic and cold and pretty generic, I had to put salt on them for it to be edible. My friend had gotten the jambalaya which was really good and I wish I had gotten it becuase it was better then what I got. It was filled andoudille sausage, chicken and shrimp. I wasnt feeling well and didn't get a drink. We had sat upstairs which was open seating and the bar area. Drinks were $3 from 6-9 which isn't bad and they had outside seating as well, which I didn't get a chance to check out so, I guess I would try this place out again. read more

Quinn's Lighthouse - This was outside of the restaurant before you walked in - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

Service was good and the food was excellent. We were five for dinner and everyone was satisfied. We will definitely go there again.

Our group of friends had been meeting at Quinn's for years for birthdays and just to get together for years and were so saddened when it closed. And we were so happy when they reopened! Tonight was our first chance to try out the "new" Quinn's. The experience was mixed, but that is understandable given that the new owners are just getting things going. I HOPE they will read this review so they can focus on what needs to be improved. The service was the biggest problem. One friend commented "I don't think the new owners have ever run a restaurant before". I know, OUCH. The kitchen DOES seem to know what it's doing and for the most part the food was pretty good. One friend had the linguini and said it was great. Others had fish and chips, very good. The calamari appetizer...not so much. A couple of us had the Vietnamese rice plates and the garlic noodles. They were very good. We were a party of nine arriving around 5:30 on a Saturday, hardly anyone there. But even after everyone was seated no one came to ask us if we wanted to order drinks! I really WANTED to order a cocktail but after waiting so long I lost interest. There went a bunch of $$$ NOT on the tab!! That was true for several people in our party. It took a long time for anyone to come and take our order, period. One of us had to go and GET the young woman to ask her to please take our order. She said she had never waited tables before. No problem, we are an understanding group. After our meal no one asked if we wanted to see a dessert menu, more $$$ lost from the tab! Please, owners, train your staff to be more attentive or you won't get a lot of return customers! Once we ordered our food came it out pretty quickly, thank goodness. But you could see the process of getting the food delivered to tables was pretty disorganized. I'd hate to see what would happen if they were busy. We'll give Quinn's another try in a few months and hope they can work out the kinks. My husband isn't a big fan of Vietnamese food and hopes they will offer more American fare over time. They've also installed a big screen TV in the downstairs which blocks part of the beautiful view-I guess it's for Karaoke? Maybe they are planning on making most of their money from parties where people drink a lot and sing Karaoke, so they aren't putting a lot of attention into the dining experience. I hope not. read more

Not a bad restaurant, just below average. And the slightly higher price point doesn't help, though being on the water is nice and the sunsets can be quite beautiful to see during dinner. I had the shrimp pesto pasta, which was drowned in a very thick pesto sauce that somehow had very little flavor. And the shrimp are the very tiny, dime-sized shrimp that are completely bland. In fact, the shrimp detracted from the pasta in my opinion. For being a restaurant on the water I had expected better in the way of seafood. My party also had the mussels and the fish & chips. The former was alright but nothing to get excited about. The latter had a light and delicious breaded fish with mediocre fries. Again, I expected the seafood options to be better, but it was sufficient. Right now I'm looking out at the sunset from a window table in the restaurant and it's truly all about the view. That's what you're paying for. So if you aren't looking for a view and want good food at a reasonable price, best to go elsewhere. read more

Quinn's Lighthouse - This is what you're paying for when you come here, not the food. - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

Sergio our "Dining Consultant" took excellent care of us! The jambalaya, the mocha creme brulee, and the caramel and espresso Van Gogh slammed!! Oh and the view wasn't bad either! This will be our new Cheers! read more

Quinn's Lighthouse - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

Terrific atmosphere and view!!! The Bloody Mary wasn't the greatest but the Lighthouse cocktail was terrific. My husbands beef ravioli was the best of the three meals we ordered. The Stew was just ok. read more

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