I was on the mood for shellfish, so I made it the mission for the day. Lucky for me, my close to Swans market that features The Cook and Her Farmer! They made my seafood dreams come true! Arrived here in the afternoon, took a look at the menu, and immediately knew I wanted that Fisherman's stew! So I ordered that, along with the small arugula salad, and a glass of red. Perfect. The arugula salad was absolutely delicious! I'm a sucker for a simple salad with a little cheese and a great vinaigrette. This was exactly that! So yummy. The Fisherman's stew was also great! A hoard Of mussels, clams, shrimp, fish, in a yummy broth. They accompanied this with some crispy bread. Absolute heaven! This was the perfect little lunch! I really loved sitting outside, eating some great food, and people watching a little bit. I'm sure I'll be back again very soon. read more

See all

This yummy spot in the Swan Market in old Oakland has delicious fresh seafood, soups, salads and giant poof big sandwiches. Stopped for lunch and shared a dozen fried oysters and had a delicious arugula salad with rainbow radishes. Even the iced tea was delicious. Decent prices and outdoor seating. It's a local gem. read more

See all

Had to try this place while going on an oyster bar hunt! They have quick service and they're very friendly. It was easy to give my order and find a spot to sit. The oysters were good! Seemed like they were freshly caught, and a decent size too. They are a bit on the pricier side, but it might be worth it for you! Give them a try if you're in the town! read more

Always get a hankering for their: - fried oysters - dredged in cornmeal, fried perfectly and the spicy aioli so creamy good - Memphis slaw, great crunchy vinegary slaw to balance out the richness of the dishes here Love this spot and so thrilled to have them close by, within my DoorDash range! read more

See all

I went out on a Monday for lunch and I'm glad I found this place. This California-style cuisine and emphasis on fresh ingredients drew me in. I ended up getting the Big Sur, a deliciously cheesy bite with chunky shrimp and a slight sweetness to balance the rich flavors. The only knock I have is that it was on the pricier side at $22. read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Big Sur melt - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

I met a friend for lunch at a food court that has several dining options. The seating is shared, and we ordered food from two different restaurants--this was one of them. The salad and sandwich were both pleasantly surprising in flavor. However, the oysters were not plump enough and had a bitter aftertaste. I will go back to try different salads and sandwiches. read more

See all

The cook and her farmer was so delicious. We came for Oakland's restaurant week. I couldn't believe that I had never tried this spot before but it was worth it. The service was quick and the specials were written out on a black board! Everyone was ordering oysters but we decided on the grilled cheese, salad and fries. The grilled cheese was some great crusty bread with a hint of sweet onions and lots of cheese. The salad was fresh with Parmesan, arugula, radish, vinaigrette. We sat outside and enjoyed people watching as we ate our delicious lunch as it's very spacious. I would definitely recommend you call trying out The Cook and her Farmer! I will definite be back to try the oysters! read more

See all

The best Oyster Po boy in town! Ive been coming here a lot when I'm in Oakland for years. It's self service and order at the counter. The service has always been bland... Very little smiles and super transactional. It's a market, so there are other vendors and restaurants inside. Let's get into the oyster poor boy. The oysters are always fresh, never over fried and placed in a bed of delicious slaw, pickles and a super special sauce. I call it the California version of an original New Orleans Po Boy!! You won't be disappointed!!! read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Oyster Po Boy - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

The Oyster Po Boy was good, but it was also 19.50 plus tax and tip etc. just for the sandwich a la carte. No sides, no drink. Nice presentation for the sandwich, there was also hot sauce on the table which I added to my po boy. There is no table service, you order at the counter and find a seat and they bring your food when it is ready. read more

I went to The Cook and Her Farmer on 4/28/26 on my birthday it was very good I had The Fisherman's Stew Pickled Vegetables House chips French fries Very good food read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Pickled Veggies - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Food was 4/5! Overall 3.5 because of the ambiance. Was craving oysters and wanted a casual fix--so glad to have found this place! This restaurant is a food market stall. Plenty of public seating indoors and outdoors. The service was pretty fast. You order at the counter and they give you a number stand and bring the food over. Because it was inside of a market, it definitely did not feel as clean and comfortable. So if you're expecting a nice sit down spot--this is probably not it. There were also flies flying around because the market was open concept, but that's expected! What we ordered: - Oysters: 5/5 they are surprisingly sooo fresh! We paid about $22 for half a dozen. These were great. - Mussels + Fries: 3/5 it was seasoned well and they gave PLENTY of mussels! Fries were also cooked to order and were hot and fresh. The mussel itself was decent but I feel like it could be more fresh. Overall decent. read more

See all

Had the grilled oysters and the Del Sur...both were delicious! Sat outside and it was busy but a nice area to Enjoy your meal. My lunch was delicious and please check out the cupcake spot next door! Day was made! read more

We've been coming to Cook and the Farmer for years and always appreciate having a small, local spot like this in the community. I usually order the fried oysters with fries and a salad. It's been a go-to and consistently satisfying. This visit, I switched things up and tried the burger. The flavor was good and the meat was cooked well, but unfortunately the bun was pretty soggy, which took away from it a bit. The fries were still solid as usual. One ongoing challenge for us is the pricing. The fries are good, but feel a bit expensive for what they are. I also typically order wine, but it's hard to justify $15 for what feels like a half pour. I truly enjoy supporting small businesses and want to continue coming back, but it's tough when a fairly basic meal starts to feel like a splurge. Overall, still a place we've enjoyed over the years, just hoping the value matches the experience a little more closely. read more

The Cook and Her Farmer is one of those places that you can depend on. I went on Friday night with my Husband and we both left full and happy. We ordered the Big Sur melt, the kale salad with chicken, and a side of fries. The Big Sur is always a favorite and a must order! It's packed with shrimp and gooey with cheese. It was simply delicious. That was the standout for the night. Honorable mention to the veggie lasagna we ordered to go and took home to have a different night. It was the best veggie lasagna I've had in a long time, and my meat loving husband was happy too! Service was friendly and quick and eating outside on a warm evening was lovely. Looking forward to a warm summer night eating outside here soon. read more

I really enjoy going here for lunch on the days I go into the office. I usually order the burger because I really like that they cook it fresh and keep it simple. Their chips are also delicious and my go-to side with the burger. They can get busy sometimes, and since most things are made to order, it can sometimes take awhile for your food to come out, but it's expected with how fresh their food is. Great place for a group since they have plenty of seating, and if the weathers nice, you can even grab a seat outside which I recommend. read more

I came here with my wife for lunch. The service was okay. The mussels were good, my wife's sandwich was okay. This was Valentine's Day's read more

See all

First time at Swan Market. The Cook and her Farmer is located inside the marketplace and has seating both inside and outside. We opted for outdoor seats for late lunch/early dinner. They had a paella special I am bummed I didn't try, as my mussels with fries were rather lackluster and the broth was especialy lacking in seasoning. The Big Sur melt was a big hit. The mostarda flavor really popped with the various delicious cheeses and fresh shrimp. The fried oysters were also a menu standout. The bread pudding was on the dry side but had good flavor. I will definitely come again to try a few more items on the menu! read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Mussels - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

They're normally closed on Sundays, but we visited this past weekend for the Summer Jazz Brunch Series featuring Jazz Mafia musicians and a menu of delectable bites including shrimp and grits, grilled oysters, and buckwheat waffles. We had the big sur melt, raw oysters, and the daily sandwich special, as well as a delightful watermelon margarita and a michelada. Everything was tasty. I especially enjoyed the savory, crisp grilled cheese filled with yummy shrimp and melty cheese. It was quite a lovely setting. The outdoor seating near the live music was taken/reserved but the indoor seating had an open air feel, all of the tables available since the other businesses at Swan's Market are closed on Sundays. We waited about 45 minutes in line to order and 20 minutes for our order to be ready, but the farmer gave out some wine to waiting customers. And we got to listen to the awesome sounds of jazz musicians performing for guests, showcasing plenty of talent on that patio stage.  Besides the long wait time in the early afternoon, service was great, workers cleaning up the tables and keeping the place beautiful, and the staff was friendly and helpful, making everyone feel welcome. We had a pleasant time. read more

See all

Located in a busy market in Oakland with lots of other counter-service restaurants, The Cook and Her Farmer is a popular spot especially on warm, sunny weekend mornings. Most of the seating for this place is outdoors, and you have to find your own (so on a busy weekend morning, it can be difficult to find seating). That being said, there is often live music in this market which makes for a lovely surrounding for brunch. I ordered the avocado toast and fries and both were very tasty. The avocado toast comes with pickled onions and a heaping pile of greens. The fries were well-seasoned as well read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Avocado toast and fries - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

Bomb food and live music is on point! Went to see Iazz Mafia play a set. Such a great addition to the vibe and really fresh food.

Late review from Fall 2021: The Bay Area will always hold a special place in my heart as it was the first place I moved to after finishing my undergraduate degree. After relocating to Southern Nevada earlier in the year (2021) from the East Coast, my first travel priority was returning to the East Bay to visit family and explore the area. I covered a lot of territory during the trip and went as far south as Monterey and as far north as Napa Valley. In terms of food, I personally found Oakland the most dynamic and fascinating due to restaurants like The Cook and Her Farmer. The Cook and Her Farmer is a cafe and oyster/wine bar located inside Old Oakland's Swan's Market, and it was my favorite meal of the trip. The restaurant is Black-owned and appears to be a mash up of coastal influences from the Gulf South and California. Service during my visit was phenomenal. I dined en plein air and throughly enjoyed the vibe during the lunch hour when other diners and foot traffic through the area appeared to be a diverse mix of locals, both blue and white collar professionals, and other tourists. The oyster po boy I had was also one of the best ones I've ever had! The oysters were plumb and well-seasoned, and I thoroughly enjoyed the generous serving of garnishes on top of the sandwich that provided both acid and freshness to balance out the heavier ingredients. read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Oakland's Own Oyster Po' Boy - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

I have been craving for mussels & fries and found this place in the old Swan's building. Nested among many vendors, this kiosk is the place. I ordered at the counter and had a seat at the counter with the street behind me. My sole mission was the mussels so looked no further. In addition, I had their home made lemonade. The mussels and fries took a bit before delivery. They looked great. It came with a remoude (mayonnaise) sauce. I couldn't decide whether I liked the fries more with that sauce, ketsup or straight up except that I wished it was crispier. The star for this meal was the mussels, it also included toasted French bread which is great for dipping into the broth of white wine, garlic, pepper and shallot and found the broth heavy and slightly bitter. The mussels were cooked well except for one that didn't open. The service at counter was as expected, they took your order and delivered your order. Pleasant experience will try other dishes in the future. read more

See all

I thought it would be a fancier restaurant so I was surprised you order at counter, take a number and sit on metal stools at wood benches and bus your own plates and get your own water But, the food is really good. The fish stew and the Big Sur (shrimp grilled cheese) were excellent. The oysters were fresh and great $75 You need a code to use restroom 12th street bart is 4 minute walk read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Big Sur melt shrimp and cheese - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

The atmosphere and outdoor environment is very enjoyable; however, it's definitely pricey. I had the oyster Po boy which was delicious. Next time I'll ask for less greens because they were overwhelming and I took most of them off my sandwich. I like the taste of the mixed greens and pickles way too much. read more

I visited this restaurant recently, and it technically is one of multiple restaurants contained within a food court type area in Oakland. There is a good amount of seating, and when I went on a Thursday there were plenty of areas to sit. You essentially just order from the front, and they'll give you a number to indicate that they'll bring the food over to you. The service was nice and quick, as I was able to get my meal within 5 minutes or so. For my items, I decided to try out the fried oysters and the Big Sur Grilled Cheese as I had seen those recommended. While the fried oysters were good, I do think that they are pretty pricy for what you get as they only give around 4-5 pieces. The Big Sur sandwich was pretty interesting, as it had shrimp in the grilled cheese sandwich itself. The sandwich was a decent portion size and the flavors were pretty good, so you can't go wrong with it. This is a nice restaurant to check out if you're in the Oakland area, although it can be a bit pricy for certain items. read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Fried Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Sadly only had a few times via doordash, so can't say much about the environment, but the food was pretty good. If you're into pâte, they put a fuckton of it on their chicken liver toast. The kale salad is good and very filling and got me plenty full. Oyster poboy is pretty good, but i wish there were a few more oysters. Would definitely dine-in next time. read more

Came on a Saturday evening to grab a bite with my husband. I really like this place! A true gem in downtown Oakland. It's a part of a food court so it isn't a "proper" restaurant, but don't let that stop you. Very cute oyster and wine café with a nice selection of coastal fare. Everything is seasonal, locally sourced and delicious! I don't think I've had anything here that I didn't enjoy. On this visit, we ordered: - Market Salad: my husband ordered this and I had to stop myself from eating it all. It was really really good. A bunch of fresh seasonal veggies and leafy greens, perfectly dressed in a really delicious goddess dressing. You can add a protein of your choice and my husband (the genius that he is) asked if they would but duck confit on it!! Luckily they said yes, and now this is my new favorite salad. - Big Sur Melt: a delicious blend of melty cheesy goodness toped w/ gulf shrimp and green onions (I think they also threw in some arugula). All served between 2 slices of nicely toasted levain covered in more cheese (shavings). It came with a few olives on the side which were tasty (but I almost wish it came with a pile of pickled veggies instead; just to add a bit more acid to balance out the rich savory sandwich) - Seasonal Sangria: liked it! Tons of tasty fruit Will be back of course. read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Market Salad w/ Duck Confit - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Well it's located inside Swan's market alongside other casual cafe. This is famous for oyster bar / seafood. Though sandwiches/salads are also great. Certainly kale salad (kale, cabbage, herbs and quinoa) are very delicious and healthy. You can easily customize with your choice of protein! It's more of self service in a shared area when you seat yourself with indoor and outdoor options. read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Kale salad w/added grilled chicken - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

What an adorable find. The homemade chips are 10/10 and a really good size portion. The pickle plate was different and had some unfamiliar flavors that I really enjoyed. The outside seating area here was so quaint and cute with a decent amount of seating. Kudos to the man taking orders, running everything and also preparing drinks and food, he never seemed overwhelmed but kept churning dishes out. The chicken liver toast was a special that I had to try and my only note (more so personal preference) was there was entirely too much pate on the toast - I couldn't do it all but I did what I could because the pate was absolutely delectable. The avocado toast was my second choice and it looked so good, also piled high though. The prices felt very reasonable for the quality and portions provided. I'm actually shocked this place wasn't more packed - definitely an underrated Oakland find. read more

See all

Highly underrated restaurant Tasty menu, generous portions as part of Swan's Market. Prices aren't low but they are reasonable in my opinion. read more

Located in downtown Oakland, this place is part of what looks like a food court. This reminds me of a cafè that's also an oyster and wine bar serving coastal inspired cuisine with a touch of southern influence. They work with local organic farms that include: dairy, meat and fish. We ordered the fried oysters and mussels. The oysters were fried to perfection and served an aioli dripping sauce. The oysters were the perfect combination of salty and sweet white the perfect breading. The mussels were simmered in a beer, garlic broth that was also delicious. The broth could be used again for a seafood pasta dish. If your in the mood for oysters in downtown Oakland this is your place. read more

See all

Food is absolutely delicious!!! This place should be showing 5 stars!! Fresh and perfectly cooked. Flavors go so well together. Great music and patio. read more

See all

The Cook and Her Farmer always delivers fresh food and quality ingredients. I am always impressed by the flavors and extra care they take with their offerings. Service is always kind, and knowledgable. I enjoying dining on their patio on warm afternoons. Old Oakland is so beautiful. read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Decent. The place (Swan's Market) is odd. On a Saturday evening: nobody's here. Burger was good. Chips were excellent. Mussels: quite spicy. read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Burger, house chips - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Ever had service and food so bad that you wanna cry ? Spending 80 plus on food that's not even quality sucks . Service took forever poor chef looked overwhelmed . The chorizo dish was blah disappointing and expensive for what the liver pate was not it either no flavor bland besides the few pieces of salt they added . The mussels and fries were okay i tasted more wine then any other flavor it was so bland. It was such a disappointment. read more

The Cook and Her Farmer - Seafood Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Excellent place! Great quality food accompanied by a delicious taste. I went with three friends, we sat out on the outdoor patio. The seating is gorgeous, as you are immersed in a garden, which is very cooling and relaxing in the summertime. Went during the weekend and busy but nevertheless the service was fast and very friendly waiters! read more

One of the best restaurants in the Bay Area. Try the kale and quinoa salad with duck confit, fried oysters, bread pudding, seafood stew. Everything is good and they really know what they are doing. I had grilled oysters on Fat Tuesday. Insane. Not cheap but I am happy to support these cooks and workers and this neighborhood. read more

Ok, so this is an oyster bar but I've been coming here for YEARS for the BiG Sur Grilled Cheese. I'm telling you, best grilled cheese on this side of the Bay Area. I wouldn't lie to you! Anyways.... This time I tried the oysters and also the mussels. Whew! I've been missing out. How is the whole menu fire?? Wow! read more

See all

Monday lunch time. I wanted to give this spot a try after I see all these reviews about the oysters, seafood stew. This open restaurant it's located inside the open market on 9th street just a bit pass Chinatown. I love the garden setting with all the different vegetation and banana trees. Definitely very serene to sit in for lunch. I wanted to go light for my lunch so ordered the small arugulas salad, 1/2 DZ oysters and a glass of white wine 6oz pour with tips was $56!!! WTH?! Anyways, what drives me crazy is when you slurp down on a raw oyster you do not want to choke on shells. I don't understand why if this is their specialty item, why wasn't it clean properly so customers do not have to deal with broken shell pieces in their mouth. That ruins the oyster experience as you are having to pick small Pieces of shell off your mouth and food. So the oysters today was not very enjoyable due to all the shells. Two the salad was tiny and didn't fill me up at all. It was literally a small bowl of green salad. Was this meal worth the money? I probably should have waited until HH at The District across the street for their $1.50 oysters. Definitely not what I expected for the price and Value. Overall the experience was OK. I hope they clean their oysters better next time. read more

See all

The food was overpriced and barely mediocre. I ordered the shrimp ceviche and the kale salad with fried oysters. I thought the ceviche didn't have much flavor and needed more salt. The salad was fine but the fried oysters were too oily for my liking. If I had not paid as much, I would be less disappointed. Please note, and this may be noted in other reviews: the place is inside a food hall. I thought I was going to a restaurant. It's more of a casual dining place and there are other food options there. read more