Cure What Ales You…read more This locally-owned restaurant is run by a Canadian expatriate couple, Tom and Teresa Lawrie, whose love of comfort foods and libations has borne two similarly named restaurants and a speakeasy, the Honeycomb Lounge, also in Livermore. This location is in one of my favorite quaint downtowns in the Bay Area, Livermore, and really delivers on the comfort food front with lots of creative riffs on American classics that will make your cardiologist shake their head in disappointment. The Good: * Happy Hour M-Fri 2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. * Outdoor dog-friendly seating * Online reservations and waitlist via Toast (access through their website) * Seasonal menus so there is always something new to try. * Friendly service * Full bar with signature cocktails, as well as local beers and ciders on tap. * The brisket dinner wasn't quite what I was expecting, as it was more of a pot roast than a BBQ classic, but man, it was one of the best pot roasts I've ever had. The beef was smoky, succulent, and melted in your mouth. The concomitant jalapeño mashed potatoes were a fantastic accompaniment, as you got all the flavor of the jalapeño but just enough heat to make it an excellently balanced dish. * The BBQ beans were more of a bean soup, but delicious and smoky nonetheless. The Meh: * Limited menu for vegetarians and vegans The Ugly: * Street parking can be tough to come by, especially on weekends, but if you don't mind walking, there is a free city-run garage on Maple St. that has tons of spots and is shaded from those hot Livermore summers. Conclusion: Great place to get drunk, fat, and happy. Need I say more? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

We had such a lovely dinner at Sons of Liberty Alehouse in downtown Livermore! The atmosphere is…read morecozy and welcoming, with comfortable seating that works well for both date nights and group dinners. We tried the Guava Margarita, Old Fashioned, and Espresso Martini--all were delicious. For food, the Artichoke Dip, Deviled Eggs, Southwest Salad, Fish Tacos, and Summer Pasta made for a great spread. Everything was flavorful and beautifully presented. A wonderful spot for dinner, cocktails, and a relaxed night out in Livermore. We'll definitely be back!

I had a mai tai the next time I came. I'm not a big drinker, but I do love the atmosphere here, so…read moredecided to try the Mai Tai since some Mai Tai blog said it was fantastic. I've never had one before, but it was really good. I like that their lime slice was really thick and I like the bundle of mint.

I'm honestly so disappointed with my experience here. I wanted to have an enjoyable evening but I…read morecouldn't get past my initial impression. Yes, I got here on a Saturday with no reservations. I definitely understood having to wait under those circumstances and I was okay with that. I was told it would be 20 minutes. What I want to focus on is that we were the next group to be seated. There was only two of us. Another group with 4 people walked in about 15 min later after us with no reservations but they were seated almost immediately. The hostess did not acknowledge us nor said anything. Awhile after that I counted 3 different groups leaving - a tota of 8 people. We waited patiently and kept waiting thinking we would be seated. 20 minutes slowly pass by, then another 5, then another 5.. I looked over and saw two tables completely empty. I was literally outside the door after about 45inutes and my phone buzzed. Come to find out that they had 3 open tables available the entire time. The decor is tiki themed along with the drinks however the music playing in the background was jazz. Not sure how that fits the theme. Also, the drinks averaged about $20 and small bites and desserts ranged from $13-$20. I'm torn about wanting to return here.

Came to The Black Cat on a Thursday evening with a friend before seeing a show at the Bankhead…read moretheater and it was a wonderful experience! We parked in the free parking deck - less than 5 min walk away - Livermore valley center parking. The space is super cute inside, they have so many cat decorations. Drinks were amazing! Off the menu we tried the Tropic equinox and the tamarind temptress. They have a full bar so I also got an aperol spritz and my friend got a fruity sour tequila drink. Not sure what exactly it was, but the bartender was super talented and can make any drinks based on what you like!! For food, we got the pickled vegetables, whipped feta, arancini and heirloom tomato toast. Our favorite was the whipped feta, it comes with foccacia bread and it was sooooo good. Would definitely come again.

Came to The Black Cat for some pre-dinner drinks and a snack and I'm so happy we stopped in. It's a…read morerelatively small space so I think reservations might be a good idea for a busier time. We were there at 5:45pm on a Saturday and only a couple tables were taken up so we got a spot no problem. I ordered the dirty Greek martini with no vermouth, which was basically a dirty vodka martini with feta brine and olive oil. It was smooth and mellowed out with the savoriness of feta and olive oil. Savory girls, this one's for you! My friends both enjoyed their tamarind tequila cocktail and the non-alcoholic blackberry sage smash. We ordered the whipped feta which came topped with wine-soaked pluots, aleppo pepper, and fermented honey. This was absolutely to die for when scooped up with the fluffy, warm pita on the side. My friends and I have not been able to stop talking about this appetizer. It is what every bread and dip should strive to be - simple yet well-executed, with layers of contrasting flavors and textures. I can't wait to come back, our waitress was so friendly and fun, the food and drink menus have much to be explored, and the ambiance is intimate yet relaxed. What a great spot in downtown Livermore!

Food, service & ambiance was amazing!!! Out waitress Jill was the bomb & took care of us!!!…read more The portions are unbelievable, we ordered the roasted brussels sprouts, French onion soup & catfish po-boy sandwich!!! I had to take the sandwich home because I was full from everything else!!! I didn't take a pic of the Po Boy since it was pkge to go. When I got home & tasted the fish, it was unbelievable, the fish was much bigger than the bread, it could have been 2 sandwiches, YUM!!! Will be back!!!!

10/10 I will be coming back! The space is beautifully and thoughtfully decorated- the ladies taking…read moreour orders and serving the dishes are so very kind and they give great suggestions! The price is just right for the meal you are receiving. It was all sooo delicious- thank you! PS. - there country potatoes are IT!!!! They are seriously a must try item - trust me; you won't regret it ;)

Lovely little restaurant near downtown. We went around 5:30 on a Friday and sat on the patio…read moreimmediately. Prices are pretty reasonable for the quality. Food was good; we had the shrimp and skirt steat salad. Very friendly waitstaff.

delicious apps, drinks, dinner and dessert with attentive service. definitely a great local place…read moreto check out!

came here for my birthday back in April! (didn't realize I never posted the review)…read morefood was delicious & has their own twist to it. we also had patatas bravas which I loved! always a classic I get when in Spain :) food did take some time but I believe it was a Friday night! seating outdoors & indoors, looks like it fills up really quickly tho. there were nice booths inside.

Cute interior for a date! Service was attentive and kind. Came here saturday for lunch and was…read moreseated immediately However, food was not memorable and had cheap portions. Seafood Paella had a great flavor but was not crunchy and skimpy overall. For $46 dollars, Id expect there to be way more and cooked perfectly. Wine pour was even more skimpy. The fried cod was good with the aioli but nothing revolutionary

hog island high water oysters (2), onion fritto and fonduta, radiatora, campanelle, buttermilk…read morepudding what a cute little date night spot! (or fancy little place for the girls!) i loved the decor, great historical building with a fresh clean interior. lots of candles and wooden accents. the staff was attentive but not intrusive. they made some suggestions since it was our first time here. loved their vibe and the way the restaurant was run. food was great! very fresh and enough for a single serving per person. i don't recommend sharing because i loved my food and didn't want to share! i would skip the fritto and try another appetizer. it was just ok. oysters were fresh and worth the price. the radiatori was surprisingly fresh and great for say a lunch. loved the combo of corn and ricotta! campanelle was heavier, good for dinner, had a few fat strings but i'm not complaining.

We were really looking forward to trying Range Life, especially because getting a reservation was…read moresurprisingly difficult. Unfortunately, the experience did not live up to the hype. Even before our visit, the staff we spoke with on the phone came across as rude and unhelpful. Thankfully, once we were seated, our waitress was very nice, attentive, and probably the best part of the experience. The food, however, was very disappointing. My wife ordered the steak medium-well, but it came out medium-rare, which was frustrating because her requested temperature seemed to have been completely ignored. I ordered the Marin Coast Halibut. The fish lacked seasoning to the point that I had to ask for salt just to give it some flavor. The sauce was also completely cold, which made the dish even less enjoyable. For a restaurant at this price point, I expected much better execution. For dessert, we tried the Milk & Honey. It sounded interesting, but the honeycomb component basically tasted like hardened sugar and was overwhelmingly sweet rather than adding anything special to the dessert. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and our waitress provided good service, but between the difficulty getting a reservation, the unpleasant phone interaction, improperly cooked steak, and disappointing food, I don't understand the high ratings. For the price and reputation, we expected a much better meal. Unfortunately, I don't think we would return.

An Unforgettable Birthday Celebration in Downtown Livermore!…read more We came to Locanda Wine Bar in downtown Livermore on a Friday evening to celebrate my wife's birthday with friends, and we had an absolute blast! The vibe here is lively, fun, and vibrant. Reservations are definitely highly recommended since it gets so popular. The entire staff is awesome, but a massive shout-out goes to our waitress, Ashley--she was fantastic and provided incredible service throughout the entire night! We ordered a wide variety of dishes to share, and every single one was a hit: * Fritto Marechiaro: A wonderful mix of fresh calamari, jumbo prawns, sliced zucchini, and artichoke hearts. Everything was fried to a light, crispy perfection and paired wonderfully with the signature Locanda Capri sauce. * Pane e Olive: Crisp, fresh baguette from local Wingen Bakery served alongside Locanda's classic olive tapenade. Rich, savory, and the perfect starter bite. * Fiori di Zucca: Delicate zucchini blossoms stuffed with creamy ricotta and mozzarella, served over a rich marinara sauce. These were absolutely delicious and melted in your mouth. * Penne alla Vodka: Tender penne pasta tossed with smoked mozzarella, Parmesan, and cracked pepper in a rich, creamy vodka pink sauce. Yummy and comforting! * Parmigiana di Melanzane: Mamma Carmela's famous eggplant parmigiana layered with melted mozzarella and tomato sauce. Hearty, warm, and bursting with authentic Italian flavor. * Pollo Piccata: Tender organic chicken breast served in a bright, zesty lemon-butter sauce with Sicilian capers, accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes and rainbow baby carrots. * Branzino Locanda: Fresh Mediterranean seabass filet lightly breaded with panko and topped with a bright lemon sauce, served with velvety mashed potatoes and rainbow baby carrots. Delicately crispy on the outside and wonderfully flaky inside. * Polpette della Mamma: Homemade beef meatballs cooked to tender perfection, served in a rich marinara sauce with Parmesan cheese and crisp crostini for dipping. Warm, comforting, and packed with flavor. * Beet Salad: A crisp, refreshing mix of wild baby arugula, mixed greens, sweet golden and red beets, tangy goat cheese crumbles, and juicy blood orange slices. * Espresso Martini & Wine: The drinks were top-tier. The espresso martini was amazing, bold, and perfectly balanced. We also ordered a bottle of Collefasani Bacchanalia Falerno del Massico Bianco D.O.C., which was served perfectly chilled--crisp, refreshing, and not too sweet. * Almond Cheesecake: For dessert, we treated ourselves to the almond cheesecake. It was rich, creamy, and served with fresh strawberries and whipped cream--the ideal sweet note to wrap up the night. Overall, it was a fantastic evening filled with great energy, outstanding hospitality, and incredible food. I highly recommend Locanda Wine Bar for a celebration, a night out with friends, or a memorable family meal!

Atmosphere was amazing. The outdoor vibe was so good…read more Salads were very good. I especially liked my ribs plate. Filling yet not too salty. The spinach side was very good. Service was very good. Will come again. Street parking was a bit hare. But heard there was a parking garage close by.

Saturday brunch with some ladies and this place is pretty much empty…read more If you love watching plans land and depart while enjoying casual dining, this is the place for you. Obviously be prepared with the plane noises. I enjoyed my visit here. It's a tad overpriced for the quality of food but it's expected. Service was great. Place is big. Lots of chairs n tables indoor and outdoor. Parking lot across the street is huge.

The service here was absolutely atrocious!! Over 25 minutes for a weak drink is unacceptable!!…read more The band they had was fantastic along with the spinach artichoke dip!

Ordered Take Out…read more OMG! Far and away the worst burger experience in my (60 something yo) life. I ate maybe 4 or 5 bites and said I can't do this. This is garbage on a bun! The salt content was ridiculous. The beef tasted like freezer burnt, years old ground whatever. And I ate several bites before I said to myself "I hope I don't get sick!" Never, ever again!

This was the perfect place to luck to on my birthday. The dj was a vibe. The crowd was fun,…read morediverse, album also laid back. They had a small food menu you that was well priced. I got a shot and a tasty Paloma. The Paloma even had a little light in it to celebrate the occasion! The bar tenders where the ish! Thank you for making my night!