The food was surprisingly good. I had a ham and cheese sandwich that was fragrant and rich, grilled in butter and served with little peppers. We also ordered the oysters, fresh vegetables and steak frites. The produce was sourced from the Ferry farmer's market and extremely good, we ordered it twice. Not too many critiques, I loved the lowkey vibe and it was exactly what my group was looking for. Service was attentive but not overbearing or cheery, which I appreciate. One mild critique is the oysters were wonderful but pre-garnished, I prefer to season oysters myself, and I didn't think their choices elevated already good oysters, despite the aesthetic of the presentation. As others mention service charge is included, which I emphatically prefer because the last thing I want to do after treating myself to wine and oysters is contemplate the bill. We'll be back! read more

Positives: The food was very good, as was the attentive service. And they accept plastic payment. Instead of tipping, they add a 20% surcharge to cover both the front and rear of the house. Negatives: Very small venue, so reservations are a must. The menu is always in a state of flux, much of it in French (none of us are fluent), and only one lager beer on tap. On the spendy side of the spectrum. Editorial comments: First time visit, so I didn't really know what to expect, although I've had my share of trendy little restaurants. Upon arriving at the outdoor podium to check in, a young man in a paint spattered T-shirt greeted us and showed us our table. I wasn't expecting formal dinner wear, but is there such a thing as too casual? However, the food and service didn't disappoint. I don't eat mollusks or raw shellfish, but my catfish was excellent. The beer was OK. I would suggest reading the current menu prior to arriving if possible, so the ordering process isn't needlessly drawn out. Have your questions on the tips of your tongues, unless you're a regular who is familiar. Not in the greatest neighborhood, parking can be a challenge. We chose to take Lyft to and from, which turned out to be a good choice. Small. Bohemian. Uber casual-chic. Bring sun screen and a hat if you're seated outside. Background music was good, classic rock without rap or hip hop influences. Worried about being under-dressed? Don't be. You'll fit right in, and may be offered a job! read more

Perhaps one of my favorite wine bars in the bay?! Highlights: literally everything. The snails were divine (garlicky and the kumquat was so fun. It also come with bread!!) the scallops were also so yummy and we loved the wine we got (one white and an orange) Service and ambiance were great. I couldn't stop thinking about who else I want to take here next! Notes: we parked across the street by the fence and both our car and the car behind us got broken into so beware!! We were there around 7-8pm in April for reference. read more

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Small bites, complex but simple flavors, great wine -- enough said. This place nails the balance of doing a lot with a little. Will be back soon. read more

Snail Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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This was my second time at snail bar and it was such a vibe as always. Had a reservation, so had a cozy seat inside. Their menu is always changing, so it's constantly a surprise what we'll have. We had the snails, some oysters, a sausage dish, and sweet potato. Most standout (surprisingly) was the sweet potato. I loved the sauce and candied pepitas. Oysters were delicious as well and I'm not even an oyster girl! Snails were not as good as the first time I visited, but the cashew miso sauce it came with was so addicting. No issues with service this time either. But I'll call out that the first time I visited, our server was super warm and friendly and made for a special experience. Overall, a really cute wine bar with delicious food. It feels like you're in someone's living room it's so intimate. It is a bit expensive for what you get, but vibes are unmatched. read more

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Snail Bar had been on my radar for a while since I live nearby, and the lines are always out the door. I finally stopped by and was not disappointed. I didn't have a reservation, but I came close to opening time and was dining solo, which worked out perfectly. They do take walk-ins, though it would likely be tough with a larger group. The space is small and intimate, with bar seating for about 5-6 inside, a few small tables, and a limited outdoor area. Groups of six or more aren't allowed, which makes sense given the size. The service was excellent from start to finish. I asked the server for recommendations across the board and loved every suggestion. I was offered an orange-skinned contact wine that was fantastic and paired beautifully with the tostada, which was phenomenal. The tostada had the perfect crunch, and the sauce (I still don't know what it was) was so good I wanted it on everything. The fish was incredibly buttery and melted in my mouth. The oysters were good, but honestly, the tostada completely stole the show. I wanted dessert but was way too full, and they don't offer desserts to-go, so I'll have to come back which I'm more than happy to do. I was also intrigued by their wine club, especially since their wine selection is clearly curated with care. I ended up buying a bottle of the same wine I had with dinner. The wine club is popular and currently full, so I'm on the waiting list and excited to join when a spot opens up. read more

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Omg food and service amazing!! Veggie crudite- literally perfect veggies with bomb sauce!! I felt like I could drink the sauce afterwards Shiotang oysters - passion fruit juice have it good flavor and acidity. I'm not a raw oyster person but me eating half of these is a testament to how good they are. These are some of the top raw oysters I've ever tried Scallop tostada - perfect! Creamy sauce and avocado, tender scallops, and with an Asian flair tastes like fish sauce and thai chili Snails - thick with great buttery sauce you can soak up with bread Cachapa- corn cake with cheese, tender, fresh, but a Lil lacking in flavor compared to all the others Blondie- warm and soft, served with creme fraiche and peaches, the perfect ending to the meal! Service was knowledgeable and polite, not overly friendly Overall I'd come back, it's a complete winner in my book with dishes being excellent or great only read more

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fabbbb food wine service everything. perfect experience. got a reservation to make sure we had a table inside. could b a perfect date spot or special dinner. read more

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Came here on a Monday night with a reservation. The workers were very welcoming. If we had any questions about the menu, they were able to answer it. For my table, we ordered two wine glasses, snails, Tostados, oysters, croquette, and affettati misti (prosciutto, persimmons, rutabaga, and pine nuts). To me most of dishes seem like appetizers, there's not really a main dish. It's a wine bar so having little appetizer dishes pairs well with the alcohol. My favorite dish was the Tostados and the snails. Both were super flavorful and fragrant and tasty! This place does have outdoor seating so if you do have a pet, you can dine outside. read more

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Disappointing experience--didn't live up to the SF Chronicle hype. I'm all about supporting small, local businesses, especially in my own city. After reading a glowing SF Chronicle article praising the food (specifically the steak frites) and atmosphere here, I couldn't wait to try it. Sadly, the experience fell far short of the hype. We started with the oysters, which felt overly complicated with too many competing flavors going on. The crudité plate was incredibly basic; the dip tasted like something you could buy pre-made at Trader Joe's. Then came the steak frites. The steak was not cooked to the medium-rare I ordered, and the "frites" turned out to be thick potato wedges instead of proper fries. Charging $6 for bread on top of that felt excessive and reflective of the inflated pricing here. The service only added to the frustration. In such a tiny restaurant, our server completely disappeared and it took multiple attempts just to get their attention. When they did appear, the attitude was standoffish. This indifferent service felt especially egregious given the mandatory 20% gratuity tacked onto the bill, regardless of party size. Our total bill for two adults and one child came out to a staggering $225--and that was with no drinks other than two 12-ounce Pacifico beers. If you are in the market for mediocre food, inflated prices, and detached service, Snail Bar fits the bill. Otherwise, look elsewhere. read more

Cute, corner restaurant predominantly serving guests outdoors; perfect for the weather right now, honestly. When you come here be sure to get the following items (my top 3 recommendations): - house made bread + butter - snails (DUH) - seasonal corn pancake with honey butter Trusttttttt me, it is WORTH IT. Staff was amazing too. Very speedy and efficient service. Love when servers work together to keep the spaces clean and organized as well. Great spot. read more

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The most adorable little wine bar in Oakland! It felt like summer in there with the rustic woods and abundance of fresh blooms. We tried: - acme sesame levain with cultured butter: I'm a bread girl through and through - butter was so creamy, and bread had a lovely crust and bouncy inner chew - perfect vegetables: the koji soy dip was the perfect creamy/umami balance to the crisp and refreshing veggies, which came in a beautiful rainbow spread of carrots, turnips, lettuce, potatoes, and asparagus (we felt like Peter Rabbit, in a good way) - ichiban oysters: I'm not a huge oyster fan, but these were delicious and probably the most well-seasoned oysters I've ever had. They were so fresh and that was enhanced by the ume ponzu, and then brought back by some savoriness from the sesame - dungeness crab lettuce wrap: such a beautiful bite and just simple delicious fresh crab - snails: my first time trying escargot! I was surprised to see that the snail shrinks significantly when cooked. They were smothered in garlicky buttery miso-y sauce so they went down just fine (like shellfish!) - crispy trout: again, simple well-done flavors. And very tender fish - Sammy's sundae: nothing says summer (even though it's spring) like blueberry and sunny citrus - so light and yummy - We also had everything with a light chilled wine! Our server made the perfect recommendation. I am grateful for how delicately and thoughtfully made each dish was :") read more

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Snails, oysters, and cheese plate were all outstanding: top tier! The wines were also excellent, and the service just fine. The wait staff seem like they are friends of the owners and come in when needed - they couldn't be nicer, really. This is a very expensive dinner out, and you probably don't want to be too hungry when you get there, as the plates are smallish for two people. A treat. read more

Unique and delicious. Different dishes that I haven't ever tried, which is something special considering all the amazing resturants the Bay Area has to offer. Definitely recommend and I will be returning. read more

Great food ....every dish was unique, immaculate vibe .. and above all great people!!!!

Small restaurant so reservation is a must. I guess it's more of a bar with drinking food than a dinner place. I would go here for lunch or an afternoon wine drink and mingle. Service was nice and fast. Great wine selection. They're all pretty reasonable price so i got a couple bottle to take home too. Food was good. Interesting menu. read more

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Came in with high hopes (it's been on my list for a while) and left genuinely stunned at how poorly run the night was. Within five minutes of sitting down, our server cheerfully told us he didn't actually work there -- a friend had asked him to "help out." That should have been the warning. What followed: three of our dishes were delivered to the table next to us, who happily ate them while we sat waiting. No one came back to check on us. No apology, no replacement in any reasonable timeframe, no acknowledgment. Meanwhile, the staff was very attentive -- to a group of their friends who appeared to be eating and drinking comped all night. That energy was the whole vibe: insiders eating free, paying guests as an afterthought. The kicker: the check arrived with a smile and a casual "20% service is included." Service for what, exactly? We watched our food go to strangers and never saw our server again until it was time to pay. I get that Snail Bar has a scene and a following. But charging guests a mandatory 20% for service that was, by any honest measure, not delivered isn't quirky or cool -- it's just bad business. There are too many genuinely great restaurants in the East Bay treating guests with care to spend money here. Won't be back. read more

Solid experience. Service was casual (in a good way) and the staff were knowledgeable and friendly. Came in for mostly drinks and apps - wine selection was interesting filled with varietals that weren't my favorite but you can tell they have a vision to pair with the food well (which it did). Food was great - warm delicious bread, oysters were crisp, clean, sweet, and trout tostadas were unbelievable and one of the best things I've had in a while. Will definitely be back to try more apps as we were told the menu is very seasonal. read more

Snail Bar - Trout tostadas - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Went back for a long overdue trip and it was amazing again. The crudite seems so simple but is so good with that mayo dip. Avocado tostada had mayo, avocado, some kind of spicy chili crisp, and I think dandelion greens and was spectacular. Crab lettuce wraps were so fresh and crisp. Burrata and snap peas on toast had the creamiest burrata with the snappiest peas and topped with edible flowers. Trout came with a risotto like I've never had before with each grain of rice perfectly al dente and coated in a luscious tomato like sauce and the freshest peas. Dessert was a passion fruit blueberry trifle with zesty passion fruit cream topped with a pastry cream and cookie crumbles for a crunch. Servers were so nice and friendly. Atmosphere is so quaint and relaxed. A really wonderful experience. read more

My friend took me here for my birthday dinner and I was completely blown away by the flavors. The bay is currently getting a heat wave but the restaurant was in the shade by 6pm. Our server was incredibly attentive and asked if we wanted water or wine refills often. We ordered a number of dishes and I loved them all! From the oysters with passion fruit mignonette, to the honey glazed squash tostadas, down to the crispy pork belly and halloumi skewers, each dish was a unique & unexpected flavor bomb. Even the crudité reminded me why I love being a Californian and having easy access to delicious produce. 10/10 will return again! read more

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Not sure what we got because my friend ordered everything for us. All the food is delicious but tiny portions and very expensive. I believe that after everything our bill was $90 per person for 3 people, and we only got a small carafe of wine to share for 2 people. we were so hungry still we went to jack-in-the-box after for some cheap burgers and fries. The organic orange wine though was delicious! first time having it and it was a great experience. Overall good food, great organic wine, but so expensive you'll leave here hungry still. PRO TIP: Make reservations. Second time trying to come here, first time my friend tried to take me and the wait was crazy long, second time she made reservations far in advance for a early seating table. read more

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Very cozy and tiny restaurant. Menu consists of small bites - mostly seafood. We ordered the snails, bread & butter, and petite plateau - which consisted of 6 oysters, 6 mussels, and 4 shrimp. All the seafood was very fresh and beautifully presented. The bread was warm and both crunchy yet soft. This is definitely a very pricy meal where you will likely leave the restaurant feeling hungry. I would say for what you're getting, it's pretty overpriced compared to other seafood restaurants on their caliber. read more

Snail Bar - Petite plateau - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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This place is such a cool hidden gem! I Love snails, escargot when it's done right and this place does it right! Come on, the name says it all. Got here right when they opened so we got a table super fast (best time to show up without a reso). We ordered the world famous snails, half dozen of oyster, corn pancake and a bottle of red bubbles. While wait for our food and sippin our bubbles, the ambiance really brought me back to Paris. The food was out of this world, some of the best I've had anywhere. They weren't kidding about world famous. If you're adventurous, come try this place because it fantastically put together. Love it read more

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I ate here before and liked the food and the experience, so I decided to go again, this time they had a popup and it was bad. There were very long delays between the dishes, and the ingredients felt cheap in every single one. The main dish was pasta with meatballs, the worst I've ever had. I'm sure any home cook could make a better version of it. The wine pairing was fine, but the wines themselves were cheap and poured in amounts smaller than you get at a basic wine tasting. On top of that, the person who poured us wine clearly had no idea what she was pouring, saying things like "Here, I brought some varieties for you" and then for the next dish, "Here are some more varieties, I think from Switzerland..." I paid $450 for a dinner that should cost maybe $50. A 20% tip was included, but they hinted that we should leave extra. Never coming back. read more

Great food, all the dishes were delicious and carefully made. Cute location. Good service. Nice wine. Kind of wildly expensive tho.

Oh the snail bar.. waited two hours the first time I went, the food was decent but didn't think it was worth it at the price point. Didn't go back for a quite a while and next thing I noticed was that reservations became much more available all of a sudden. Recently visited on a weekend night and the place was not crowded at all. The menu seemed much more limited this time, and unfortunately nothing outstanding. I almost felt like there was nothing to choose from. Everything was slightly above meh for the price point, and the snails are nothing to write home about. Also in case this wasn't clear, they use canned snails - I personally don't mind it other than the pricing, but do what you will with that info. Each dish also took forever to come out, we had one small dish at a time shared among the 4 of us and it really felt odd. The only thing I slightly liked was the grilled cheese at the end, which is kind of sad to say out loud for a restaurant that started as a highly coveted wine bar with interesting menu items. Maybe come for like, an afternoon bite, if you're not hungry at all? Idk, unlikely to return again unless strongly suggested by other people. read more

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I did not stay, Host guy gave really uncomfortable vibes when I asked for a physical menu in lieu of the QR code. Some people have vision issues and rather read off papers. Nonetheless I opted to read the menu off the wall which he very reluctantly suggested. It was really awkward, as if he was being forced to work here or something. I've passed by this place dozens of times as it's en route to our usual Restaurants off telegraph, and have always wanted to check it out. One seated by the same person at the stool closests to the front door, door frame less than a foot from my shoulder, another employee asked if I had any questions. She was very patient as I asked about the menu and explained certain options are seasonal and accommodations (instead of Ham & cheese) she said grilled cheese was also available. But by that time the first employee vibes had already made me feel uncomfortable enough to just leave. THAT WAS EFFIN STRANGE AF. This was April 4th 2025 6:30pm read more

Came here for a double date around 6:30pm. There was no space inside for us, a walk-in, so we sat outside. I was surprised there was an option to still sit outside, despite the bad weather. The water was splashing against the windowsill, creating puddles on our table. Unfortunately, they were unable to close our window without doing it from the inside, encroaching on another table's space. We dealt with the wet table for a while. Crudités - The flavor of the dip was lovely. It reminded me of the Kewpie sesame sauce. The vegetables were locally sourced. Shellfish - For four people, we were able to have one bite of each item. That was clam, muscle, and scallop. For the price, it was pretty expensive in my opinion. The scallop had a fresh fruit salsa. everything was to see despite it being pretty much 20 bucks for a few bites of food. Ebelskivers - Small tasty pancakes that weren't too sweet. They were fluffy. I think they were 10 pieces per order, or about two pieces per person for our group of four. I think this would make more sense as a dessert. Although there was some savory component of it. We got a bottle of sweet orange wine at the recommendation of the server. We all loved it. I forget the name, but it felt dangerous being 14% in consideration of how easy it was to drink. Overall this place had a cute vibe to hang with friends, but I don't think it was worth the $225+ bill for what we got. It wasn't the most comfortable experience either. We hit another restaurant right after. read more

Uh, no. Ridiculously expensive for tiny portions and tiny drinks too. Who drinks 4 ounces of beer? That's a shot. Trying hard but not making it. Atmosphere a bit dingy for the prices. read more

Meh! Considering how they cause tenants to file lawsuits and move out of the upstairs apartments they aren't a good business. They only care about their restaurant. Food isn't worth the price and neither is how they could care less of the community read more

My wife and I stopped by Snail Bar on a Friday evening for an impromptu date night. When we arrived at 4:00 p.m. -- right as they opened, we were lucky enough to snag the last indoor table without a reservation. All in all, Snail Bar is totally worth the hype. Yes it's expensive, yes you won't be full after your wine and a few small bites, but the food is well worth the price of admission. Every dish that we ordered I could easily see on the menu of a Michelin starred restaurant. We ordered the wagyu tartare, the bread and butter, the tempura eel, and of course, the snails. It's honestly hard to pick out a favorite dish because every bite was so delicious. If you've never had snails before, you owe it to yourself to try them out here. The buttery goodness that drenches the snails is pure gluttony. Use the bread to soak up every last drizzle of the garlic butter. As far as drinks go, wine is the way to go, as Snail Bar positions itself as a wine bar. I would highly recommend checking out the bottles available on the shelf inside: you'll be pleasantly surprised at how affordable some of the bottles are, some even being in the low $20s. I see a lot of reviews complaining about the mandatory 20% tip but it is what it is: now that you're aware of it, you can mentally prepare for it. Would I stop by regularly to Snail Bar? Probably not, due to how pricey the small bites are. However, Snail Bar is perfect for a date, special occasion, or catching up over a few glasses of natural wine. read more

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I've been going to Snail Bar since they opened. It has changed. They used to not take reservations for small parties. Now you kind of need a reservation. If you're going to walk in, do it at opening time; 5:00. It used to be a bit expensive but not too bad. Now I would call it pretty expensive. Maybe the ingredients and preparation has escalated. However, it's not really affordable for me and I won't be going back. They don't take cash, only cards. I'm told this is becoming more common. Given the price and changes I liked the food but I didn't love it. I didn't see snails on the menu... Just saying. The service was very good, and that was nice. The experience was not outstanding, which it used to be. read more

Great service, solid wines, amazing snails!! So much buttery goodness experienced when eating here. A must try with indoor and outdoor seating. Food comes in a timely manner and best of all the staff is very warm and welcoming. read more

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Love how they change their menu up. Keeps it exciting. Small and intimate space but love the vibe. Great service and good food. Its a gem read more

Snail Bar - Oysters - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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From service to the quality of food everything was a 10/10 definitely my new neighborhood favorite! read more

Snail Bar - Petite plateu - Wine Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Snail bar is such a special restaurant! I love their food and the ambiance. I've been many times and it never ever disappoints! Excellent service and great vibes all around. Highly recommend! read more

If you are not dying for snails or natural wines which I imagine is the places only redeeming value, do not go. The menu is extremely limited and may be an after thought since snail bar emphasizes its natural wines. We went there for dinner and this is not a dinner destination. read more

Ive visited snail bar a few times and each time have unfortunately left disappointed. The food, while delicious is really small portion wise.. so if you're going for dinner you will definitely need to spend about 100-150 a person to have a decent meal. The vibes are solid for a glass of wine and a snack, but I wouldn't pick it as a dinner spot. read more

There were literally 6 items on the menu when I walked in. I didn't see any other seafood/shellfish being offered besides oysters on the half shells. $27 for 6 was a bit on the high side. I paid for bread n butter $8, and a glass of gear head sparking rose Syrah. total $83.xx I don't even know how the tap got so high or this place is just overpriced compared to where I can get a dozen kumamotos for like$24! Anyhow, the oysters were fresh and sweet as expected but other than that I didn't get to try anything else I saw on all these pics from Yelp. Due to the limited menu tonight. No hamachi or snails. Maybe an OFF night? read more

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I've been wanting to come to Snail Bar for a few years now, but never found an opportunity to. One random Monday, my friend and I decided to check it out after work. We arrived around 6:30pm and were able to quickly snag a place in the outside parklet. We each got a glass of their orange wine and got an order of the snails, Petite Plateau (shellfish sampler), some cheesy egg/flan-like dish, and the scallop crudo. Everything was very tasty. Outside of the scallop crudo (which was tasty but nothing special), I would order everything again if I could. The snails were a surprise hit! Definitely order some bread so that you can sop up all the garlic butter! This is not a cheap meal, but you can definitely taste the quality behind their ingredients. Can't wait to come back! read more