When looking for a wedding venue, someone recommended the Rockafeller Lodge in San Pablo. "San Pablo" I thought wants to get married there? Living in San Pablo, I never knew there was such a nice spot. As soon as you walk thru the gate, it's like you are no where near a city! Trees and flowers covering the whole place. It is so cute! The lady and her daughter who run it are very friendly and helpful! Another big reason I choose to get married here, they let you make payment until it is paid off, of course the whole thing has to paid off 2 weeks before the big day, but there is nowhere else that let's you make payments. Plus included with the venue is the food, which was really, really good. We picked out the tri tip and the chicken. Which everyone at our wedding complimented! I got married in 2005, since then I have heard that the rates have gone up, but even so...I would think that it still couldn't be that much. I would recremend this place to anyone looking for a venue for a wedding/reception! read more

We, The Northern California Cruisers Classic Car Club have held our Christmas Parties here the last 6 years.........it is the perfect place for our party..the decorations are so festive....Debbie and her staff are terrific with the setting up and the catering. Delicious foods! We always have a grand time! read more

I'd give it six stars if possible. The Lodge is beautiful, the food tasty and the entire staff professional. If you are planning a party or wedding this is the place to go!! read more

We had our wedding here 3 weeks ago and people are still commenting on how much fun they had and what an awesome place the lodge was. The food was good, the service was amazing - especially Dale and the bartender. Thank you so much Debbie and Jonathon. You made our day better than we even imagined. read more

I was not married there, but they catered my wedding in Sonoma. I was utterly at a loss as to how to cater a wedding in such an expensive area, but when I saw the prices my friend was paying for wedding, I quickly booked them as my off-site caterer! I could not find a single caterer that did not cost at least twice as much. We were able to have a wedding that was twice as elegant and with much better food than my sister-in-law did for the same price! The food was wonderful, especially considering the price. My friend's wedding at the lodge, just a month after mine, was lovely. The facility really is beautiful, and there weren't the traffic noise issues I've encountered with other such wedding facilities. It really is a little oasis in a not so lovely area. My mom liked the catering so much that we'll be holding my brother's upcoming memorial luncheon at the lodge. I think it's a great choice for this-- all the plants and water will be much more soothing than having it at a restaurant and is a better choice than having it in home. I know my friend's father plans to do the same once his terminally ill wife passes. Debbie was great with helping me plan everything and I love their old golden retriever Sierra Bear!! It's silly, but I look forward to having a cuddle with her at my brother's memorial luncheon. read more

I had my wedding at this venue this past January 15th and it was beautiful. I call it the "Secret Garden". From the outside of the place you would not think that there was a gem behind the wooden fence! Debbie and her catering staff were excellent and very professional. Debbie is very timely and she makes sure everything is in order to the "T". We had a stress-free experience with this place. But there was one thing... We did not get a chance to taste test the food before hand, and we were sort of worried about it, but I tell you the food was delicious!! All of our guest was very pleased. I still have people from our wedding event inquiring who catered our food. We told our friends that the venue had there own catering service on site. This place is 2 thumbs up!! read more

Nice place for events. Charming. The garden is beautiful. A unique and memorable place.

We got married here 6/30/13 and it was really great. All the things you worry about when choosing a wedding venue, all those hidden costs like security, corkage fees, table linens etc.etc., not a problem here. Debbie and Jonathan were very down to earth, efficient and nice people to work with. They don't try to con you with hidden pricing, nor do they charge extra for stupid things. They tell you straight up what the cost is, and it is by and far the BEST deal out there. Of course, it depends on what you're looking for. We found them on herecomestheguide.com. Our wedding was kind of casual in some ways (we had the ceremony at the beach), but still formal in other aspects. It was not black tie- this venue is a garden lodge, so it has a rustic chic charm to it. However, the chiavari chairs (free), white table linens, folded napkins in the water goblets made everything look beautiful and formal. We had name cards with a Great Gatsby/Art deco theme that also dressed up the tables, succulent favors, and test tube vases. Features: - Rental fee was waived, normally $600 for Sunday. It was four months away, so I guess they just wanted to book it, we were pretty ecstatic :) - Party Time Catering. I think they can lower their costs because of the on-site catering. They are by and far the cheapest at min. $17/head for dinner (without gratuity, cake cutting) , but their food is quite delicious and there is quite a selection even with the basic menu. It includes something like three different salads, rolls, mixed steamed vegetables, garlic mashed potatoes, vegetarian lasagna and some herbed chicken breast thing. I really loved their strawberries and almond whipped cream- so elegant and tasty. They had balsamic orange slices and some interesting salads with pears, etc. It's not salmon and kobe beef or some kind of crazy gourmet meal, so if that's what you want, go somewhere else (or you can ask them to try doing it- I think they're open to it). Other than that, the food is solidly good and elegant enough for a wedding dinner. Other people told us they liked the food, thank God. :) - Service was really great to work with. Jonathan and Debbie weren't there the day of, but I think it was Janet who was helping and anyway the staff was really sweet. We did our own flowers and the van with the flowers arrived late, so we were scrambling to get them in the vases and on the tables. The staff stepped in right away and helped. My reception coordinator (a good friend) said they were really sweet. I found it easy to call/email and get a hold of Jonathan or Debbie, which was good since I had a lot of questions for seating arrangements, last minute additions, etc. - The space is rustic. It's not as charming or up-to-date as Pinterest, and has a few weird/outdated/kitschy items in places, but not really noticeable. What is noticeable are the garden grounds which have a stone fountain with a statue in the middle, small waterfall pond, stone and wood benches, a gazebo and meandering brick paths. The covered walkways with vines and twinkle lights are very charming, esp. at night. I had a short engagement and made and designed the decorations, but this place is nice enough that you don't have to spend a lot of money in flowers, etc. to decorate it or light it. Some streamers and bunting, and you're good. - it seats about 100 indoors and 150 indoor/outdoor. In the winter, they have a tent over the "dance floor" area. The dance floor is not smooth wood, but an outdoor tiled patio, so it's not for crazy ballroom dancing, but it works. - Area. We were a little concerned about neighborhood noise or it being unsafe for people to park in the streets or drive to the venue. It is right off of the 80 freeway, so don't trudge through Richmond, just take the 80 freeway. I didn't think the drive there was sketchy or bad. It wasn't ritzy, but it wasn't scary either. Once you're inside, you don't feel like you're in San Pablo because of the trees and garden. They also have about 20 parking spaces for family, elderly and disabled. - Clean-up. They gave us our entire deposit back, even though some candle wax had dripped on the floor and might have been hard to clean up. But they were very reasonable and warned us of the potential cost (like $20), but then ended up not charging anything. They clean up for you, so you can be out by the time limit. - Wedding ceremony. We didn't opt to do it here, because we wanted to get married on the beach (which was a logistical pain in the neck), but it would have been really nice and easy to do it here. You can rent the gazebo and chairs to set out in the garden, don't remember the prices, but they are reasonable and include setting up the chairs, etc. They still let us take pictures in the gazebo without renting it. In short, I would highly recommend this place as a great value and unique rustic charm. read more

Had my wedding reception here. It has beautiful wood floors and a brick fireplace built with some of the bricks from the great San Francisco quake and fire. It's got a lot of history. It's one of the most reasonably priced places to throw a party in the Bay Area and they really know what they are doing! They host weddings year round and we had a really great experience working with the mother daughter team who runs the place. They have a great caterer too, and a menu to fit all budgets also they have been hosting parties and weddings there for years and are very professional. This historical landmark was once a hunting lodge owned by Rockefeller himself. The garden is lovely with a white gazebo, fountains, trellises and flowers. They throw more then weddings there, they also do Retirement parties, or Anniversary parties whatever you want to celebrate. Check out the website for more details. read more

The former hunting lodge of one of the rockefellers is a lovely space in the middle of bum fuck san pablo! who'd thunk! the gounds are lush with flowering plants a little stream runs through it and a nice little gazebo for wedding ceremonies. I attended a wedding and reception there in summer 06. The ceremony was held outdoors in the evening. It got a bit chilly but otherwise it was very nice. The actual lodge (indoors) seems fine if you are expecting less than 100 guests. there were at least 175 to 200 guests at this wedding. Anytime one has to get up AND walk 10 steps to let someone go by is not cool ie the joint is too CROWDED!!! the dinner was buffet style and was aight as far as mundane banquet menus go. There was limited seating on the patio (should have been more) If you are having an intimate reception for say about 60 people, this is a nice place.ANy more than 60 go to the park! The facility has been around a long time the owners need to invest in some decent banquet chairs and tables. Fix the floor too! holla read more

I got married at the Rockefeller Lodge 1 week ago, and I couldn't be happier with my experience! We wanted a more rustic, intimate feel to our wedding, and this venue fit the bill perfectly. Furthermore, they are very budget friendly! We opted to have our wedding on a weeknight, and only had to pay for catering, no room rental! That saved us about $1500+ right there! We were a little concerned when we learned that Debbie and Jonathan would be out of town the day of our wedding, but our replacement coordinator Janet stepped up and knocked it out of the park! She was a great bartender, and very helpful! The Lodge is so romantic and picturesque, perfect for pictures! Everything turned out great, and all of our guests were mentioning to us what a wonderful time they had, and how surprised they were to find such a nice place in the middle of an admittedly not great neighborhood. It's like a little oasis! If you are a budget-conscious bride or groom, looking for some place unique but classy to get married, I recommend the Rockefeller Lodge. No regrets from this bride! read more

Really great location to have a wedding. It was super affordable and food was awesome. The staff were so professional. Only downside is having the music indoors and dancing outdoors. The speakers have to go in front of the glass door, so the sound doesn't project well. But I would have an event there again any day. Loved it!!! read more

We chose this venue for our wedding and got lots of compliments. We were looking for a place that was beautiful, unique, and classic but also not too formal and just really comfortable. Rockefeller Lodge fit the bill for us. As I see it, there are some HUGE positives to this place: 1 - It's got some history. If you don't want a generic hotel wedding, or to go to a place like the Claremont and pay through the nose, this is a great alternative. 2 - It's a pleasant surprise. Yes, the neighborhood is not the best, and no, your guests won't enter it through an enchanted-looking forest or a long, winding road through the mountains. The big plus there though is that you drive through a pretty blah looking suburb into this secluded secret garden. Lots of people seemed really delighted with this "find". 3 - You have to use their catering. To some, this may seem like a negative, but their food is very good and extremely well priced, and you don't have to mess around with setting up tastings or outrageous catering fees. After calling a place that was on the preferred list for a venue I loved in SF that quoted me $150 pp not including alcohol, linens, service or anything else BUT food, this was a huge relief. 4 - The prices are VERY reasonable. Although my husband and I could have afforded a more expensive wedding, we want to put money aside for the future, so we didn't want to blow our entire nest egg. Although there are a few add on charges, those are pretty straightforward, and the cost of the venue and food was actually in the realm of what we wanted to spend. They also allowed us to bring our own alcohol - we ended up with a lot left over, but it was still less expensive than ordering a bar service with the catering. 5 - The staff is awesome. Everyone there was very professional while also being very warm. Robert, our host, was very good about keeping us updated about what was happening during the wedding without stressing us out with details. Jonathan and Debbie were also fantastic through the planning process. I found the staff at some of the larger, more expensive venues in the Bay Area to be far less pleasant, prompt or professional. That's a big part of the 5 stars. The only real cons I can think of are the potential for street noise and uneven floors in places, but both were non-issues for us. So, especially if you're like us and you want some green space and a unique, cozy, yet elegant, place for your wedding that won't break the bank, Rockefeller Lodge is worth a look. read more

I had my wedding there in October. This location was not on our venue list as I was unaware of it but after a recommendation from a friend who had her wedding there my then fiancé and I decided to check it out. We were blown away by how quaint and cozy the place was and the friendly service we received. After much contemplation and debating this was picked as our wedding venue. I was scared and concerned mainly about the food since they cater but there is no tasting before hand. You pick a menu and hope that it comes out as yummy as it sounds. Fast forward to the wedding day and all of our guests couldn't stop raving about the food. I unfortunately only had one bite of my plate due to how busy I was but I'm super happy and satisfied that my guests loved the food, service and location. If you're contemplating using this area for your wedding or hosting any kind of special event and want to make it a memorable one then I definitely and highly recommend the Rockefeller Lodge and Party Time Catering. Thank you to Jonathan, Debbie and the entire staff for making it a special day for my husband and I. read more

EXCELLENT staff, food, hospitality, and overall site. We were just married here on July 7, 2012 and this place was great! They were very flexible and understanding and worked with us throughout the whole process of planning our ceremony and reception. We will definitely use this place again and recommend them to anyone else we know! read more

I just got married here a few days ago. Overall, the staff, Debbie and Jonathan were very friendly and helpful! The venue is a little small, the floors are old and uneven, and the venue overcharges for every little detail. Over all the venue is nice, the food is good and the service is nice also, the only major issue is that the area is very ghetto! And there is not a lot of parking for guests. read more

Had our wedding here at the Rockefeller.. everything turned out great.. food was delicious.. the only downfall was that we were left with A BUNCH of beer.. I walked by where they had the beer in an ice bucket and it was empty, so I assumed there was so no more.. to my surpeise.. we had a TON of chilled beer to take home.. I would suggest you stay on top of the staff to make sure they're filling the buckets with drinks.. other than staff not being too attentive, everything was good read more

I attended a wedding here a few years ago and I fell in love with the place. We got married in February and we planned everything in 3 months. We had a small ceremony and had the officiant marry us there in front of our family and close friends. We had about 100 people and had all the tables full to the back of the room. There is more seating outside for more guests so its perfect for a summer wedding when it's not to cold. Jonathon and Debbie were so wonderful to work with, they were on top of everything and answered every question We had. The place itself is beautiful inside, it may not look like it from the outside but it certainy has its spots for wedding pictures. There's a small dance floor so when it got time for our first dance we decided to do it outside under the lights so everyone was able to see (you can't really see from the back tables to the dance floor) it was perfect! And we ended up staying dancing outdoors. Everyone had a blast, food was delicious. Prices are very reasonable so if you're planning on having a small wedding definetly come check this place out its perfect for any occasion. read more

I loved it. The venue was exactly what we were looking for, something nice and small for our very small and intimate wedding. The staff was nothing short of AMAZING! Our time line for our wedding was moving a little quicker than we expected, but the staff was able to read the situation and the crowd and go with it, and do so with a friendly smile. The bride had trouble with the bustle of her dress and one of the caterers help her out and fixed the dress. I consiter that going above and beyond the call of duty. The way i see it, it was an overall great time, would i recommend this place to anyone? DEFINITELY!. Also, we have had nonstop comments about the food, everyone loved it, especially the rosemary chicken, and the pesto pasta, which they packed up the left overs for us and sent us home with. LOVED IT!!!! read more