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    The Terrace Room

    3.6 (610 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

    The Terrace Room Photos

    THE TERRACE ROOM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Terrace Room

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    Reviews With Photos

    Amanda D.

    We held our wedding ceremony and lunch reception at the Terrace Room, and couldn't have been happier with the result. We went with the Madison room to better suite our party size and budget, and elected table service for food. Planning: Candi and Byron were able to provide useful advice on what layouts and food options might be best, and the booking process was pretty straightforward. We were able to reserve slots for onsite meetings and tours, which made it easy for us to keep in touch and visualize the space accurately while planning. They also worked closely with us and our coordinators to make sure we were aligned on the schedule for the day. Meal Service: Portions were way larger than we had expected, and felt like a good deal for the cost. Guests were able to select from 3 options (we chose beef, fish, or vegetarian), and lunch service went at a great pace. Their staff were very attentive and service of everything, from snacks to main plates to champagne, seemed to go exactly as planned. Day-Of: Transitions between set up, the ceremony, lunch reception, and clean up felt super smooth. One of my favorite moments was walking down the aisle, and I distinctly remember seeing their team's happy faces when they waited to pull back the curtain to the entrance of the main room. Every interaction with their staff felt friendly and I appreciated how well organized they were. Atmosphere: The space is gorgeous! Our guests loved seeing all of the details of the interior design, and Lake Merritt looked stunning through the windows that day. I also personally really enjoyed the atmosphere of the venue, which felt elegant and intimate, but also really bright and lively with all the natural sunlight coming through the windows.

    Rudy G.

    We recently held a community swearing-in of a newly minted County Judge. What a great experience. Candi and Byron tended to every detail and made sure we were more than prepared. They took time to host us on-site ahead of the event and walk us through options and even offered recommendations when we were in need. The venue is charming and overlooks the lake. The chef and team went above and beyond. Our even involved dignitaries and the facility has a cute and convenient suite/green room off the main area which was a nice addition without any upsale. The venue is truly a gem of Oakland and we are already talking with family about the next event we can host here!

    We held our wedding reception at the Terrace Room. It is such a beautiful space, it made it so easy to have a gorgeous wedding without having to spend much on decor. The team was so helpful throughout the entire planning process - Candi and Byron were great and so easy to work with! The food was delicious, the service was amazing, and all of our guests had so many nice things to say about the location. We highly recommend the Terrace Room for a wedding celebration!

    We had our wedding at the Terrace Room in March and absolutely loved it. Candi and Byron were great to work with from the start and the whole team on the day of the wedding was friendly and professional. We liked the way the Terrace Room functions like a restaurant, meaning they handle the food and beverage and provide the tables, linens, etc. It was great not to worry about finding an outside caterer, hiring bartenders or dealing with rentals. Candi and Byron had lots of suggestions for how to make everything go smoothly and they coordinated well with our other vendors. The food was delicious and our guests enjoyed the bar. The space is so beautiful it hardly needs any decoration, which was great for us because we did our own flowers and decorations. The view over Lake Merritt is beautiful and we even had a double rainbow appear during our ceremony! Not sure the Terrace Room staff can be expected to make perfectly-timed rainbows happen again, but I recommend this venue anyway!

    Smoked Salmon Benedict
    Rome L.

    Bottomless and Benedict's Bottomless is always a win in my book, and then adding good food to accompany it completes the experience for me. I decided to stray away from my usual and go with the smoked Salmon Benedict, and I was not disappointed. The hollandaise sauce was so good I almost asked for an additional side of it for my potatoes. Can definitely see myself coming back here the next time I'm in the area to enjoy another breakfast/brunch with that great view over looking the lake.

    Blood orange margarita. Delicious
    Irene G.

    Our dear long time friends were celebrating their 26th Anniversary, so we wanted to take them out to dinner. I looked for a place in Oakland with a view, good ratings and feedback. It definitely had a beautiful view, the food was delicious and the band was great. We had a great night full of laughter. The service was good as well. This particular night the bartender made some strong drinks. I ordered a lavender tonic. Really pretty drinks but oh my it was strong. Our friend ordered a drink with elderflower in it. That was the best drink, delicious and refreshing. We were all satisfied with our meals. I definitely want to come back.

    2019 Restaurant week: yummy sticky toffee pudding
    Mariana D.

    Yasss first to enjoy the opening day for 2019 oakland restaurant week . We've been eye stalking this restaurant for a few years - I mean who can deny the awesome view of the newly renovated Lake Merritt, Supper club vibe , and the gorgeous hotel interior. Here's the scoop : - $40 pre fixe menu /// 3- course meal - highly recommend the dungeness crab cake with creole remoulade sauce ( yes , singular , you'll Get 1 but it was delish) - pass on the California yellowtail and the weird polenta cake (Uber dry and tasteless but I loved the creamed spinach) - YASSS to the moist sticky toffee pudding (less sticky and more spongecake-like ) AVOID: - pear Apple walnut crumble with vanilla gelato (tasteless not working the calories) - dry yellowtail and polenta Keep in mind : - street parking is limited - be cautious with your check - our server got real confused with splitting our checks and the calculations were wrong - lots of older people enjoy this place :-) - like music (you may not care for the screeching mic OR the musical genre but c'est la vie - happy Hour only on Wednesday and Thursday All in all- pleasant evening with my friend, enjoyed my cocktail, loved the appetizer, but I'm still on the fence about the entrees - seems like this place could be hit or miss !

    Burger and Bloody Mary
    Stefanie C.

    3.5 stars. My fiancé and I passed by Terrace Room several times on our walks around Lake Merritt. I always remarked how pretty it looks, so on the day he proposed, we went there for lunch! What a fun spot located inside the Lake Merritt hotel. Upon walking in that Sunday morning, there was a pianist playing lovely jazz music. We were seated without reservations. We could see the beautiful Lake Merritt in all it's glorious construction. Service was friendly, though actual production of food was a little slow. I started with a Bloody Mary and asked for it spicy. Not bad! Then I saw they had bottomless mimosas, but it wasn't a mimosa kind of morning. The burger caught both our eyes. It had comte and gruyere cheese, butter lettuce, red onion, cherry tomato, cornichon, dijonnaise and came with a side of potatoes. It was one of the most unique and delicious burgers I've ever had! The patty was juicy and fatty, though it had chunks of what felt like tendon that I had to spit out. But the remaining ingredients were on point. I'm glad my fiancé satisfied my curiosity to come here. It lived up to all my expectations, and I'm relieved I wasn't disappointed. Now when we go on our regular Lake Merritt walks, we'll look at the restaurant with fond memories of a special day. Looking at their calendar, I love that they have music and trivia nights. Sounds like so much fun, whether or not you're staying at the hotel.

    Trivia every Wednesday at 7:30 :)
    Audrey S.

    The ol' neighborhood bar kinda feels like a cliche of the past these days, especially in a big city sorta place like Oakland. Friendly neighborhood vibes are alive and well at Wednesday trivia nights at the Terrace Room though! To be honest, the food is pretty hit or miss. I've ordered the garlic fries a few times and had them come out gross and floppy sometimes, and other times crispy and delicious. The drink offerings are limited but adequate. I can usually find at least one good beer. It seems the beer rotates, so some days are better than others. Whether it's a good day in the kitchen or not, I keep finding myself having a great time here. The employees and the other clientele are friendly and the trivia questions are clever and fun. The old-timey art deco aesthetic and view of the lake are also welcoming. In addition to trivia, they have live music pretty often. Haven't been yet but looking forward to checking it out soon! Just gotta make sure to check their event calendar for cover charges

    Irish Coffee: Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Bailey's Irish Cream & Coffee ($9)
    Elena N.

    So randomly (during a night where maybe quite a bit of drinking was involved), the brunch crew and I talked about doing a bottomless brunch in the East Bay. (Most of us live in SF, but one resides in Oakland.) After looking around, we decided on The Terrace Room. (Partly cuz they take reservations.) I made one through Yelp about two months prior for a party of 8 on Saturday, April 20th at 12 noon. A few of us arrived early around 11:15am, so we started our unlimited bubbly in the bar area. *The Town Breakfast: 2 eggs any style, country potatoes, toast, choice of applewood smoked bacon, country ham, country pork sausage or Canadian bacon ($15) *Summer Scramble: seasonal local vegetables with white cheddar and of salad or country potatoes ($15) *Dungeness Crab Omelet: baby spinach, heirloom cherry tomatoes with salad or country potatoes ($21) x2 *Eggs Florentine: 2 poached eggs, sauteed baby spinach, tomato, English muffin and hollandaise sauce with salad or country potatoes ($15) *Classic Benedict: english muffin, hollandaise, Canadian bacon and choice of salad or country potatoes ($14) *Smoked Salmon Benedict: wild salmon, english muffin, chive hollandaise and choice of salad or country potatoes ($18) *Belgium Style Waffle: mixed berries, chantilly cream, and raspberry sauce ($14) *El Cubano: Smoked ham, roasted pork, Emmental cheese, pickles and American mustard with fries or salad ($12) *The Merritt Burger: with secret sauce, lettuce, tomato, pickle, red onions with fries or salad ($14) *Country Ham ($6) *Chicken Apple Sausage ($6) *Bottomless Mimosas ($15) x5 *Bottomless Bloody Mary's ($15) x2 *Irish Coffee: Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Bailey's Irish Cream & Coffee ($9) For the five of us who were early, we started with the bottomless mimosas and marys, a cubano, and a waffle in the bar area. They were also nice enough to give us complimentary mini muffins which were loved by all. The bar is kinda small and dark since it's away from all the windows, but the servers were very attentive and sweet. Once in the dining room, there are beautiful views of Lake Merritt. I was a pescatarian at the time, so I wasn't able to try the meat dishes. But they have plenty of seafood and veggie breakfast / lunch options, so I wasn't left hungry. All were pretty tasty and satisfied my hunger. Our server was also very good about keeping our drink glasses full which was much appreciated as sometimes bottomless refills can be a little slow. A fun place to grab brunch. And great views. Plus, I can never say no to a bottomless boozy brunch!

    Emmalouise B.

    I really wanted to love The Terrace Room and give them a glowing review, especially after eyeballing the menu for so long and attending a Yelp event here a couple of months previously. My Husband and I returned for Brunch that I can only describe as a ''Womp womp'' experience. Great views yes but sadly not worth the price tag nor the drive. As it was nearing 1pm and I had just ran 15 miles fueled by just Greek Yogurt and a Banana I was freaking hungry and tempted by the Local Summer Fruit on the menu, described as ''local Apples and Plums, toasted Almonds, Pomegranate, Molasses, Mint'' it sure sounded delicious, what I got: EH. (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-terrace-room-oakland?select=2SEjcUG-nPsEE1AeyyueYg) To give an idea of side that is a SIDE plate it is served on. I'm not sure if I just got shorted or it was just bad Fruit but it all tasted the same.. Like Apple, overripe Apple to be precise. There was no hint of Plum nor the Pomegranate it described whether it be in the Molasses or otherwise, the menu was a little misleading. The Mint was the little sprig decorating it. Sorry, really not worth $8. The Brunch dishes we ordered were of a better size yet still a little pricey. My Husband had the Country Breakfast and asked to add a Sausage - $21 total (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-terrace-room-oakland?select=KCIPe3-hJh1YOlLNkdy2dA) The Muffin came with no Butter or Jam and the Potatoes were overcooked but otherwise my Husband said it was ''ok''. I had the Croque Madame - $16 (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-terrace-room-oakland?select=4R69PJyDdBLsgbONvIk6Kw) with slightly less crispy Potatoes and a huge amount of sauce. The sauce was good albeit overpowered the overall flavor of what should have been the star and I had to scrape half of the sauce to the side. The filling inside was ample yet not evenly distributed simply all pilled in the middle so that half of the Sandwhich was just Bread and Sauce. Service was passable and yes the view is nice but I'm afraid not somewhere I'm likely to return. 2.5/5

    The lobby
    Shayla B.

    Everybody loves a great view, and the Terrace Room has one of the best! Located on the corner of Madison and Lakeside Drive, the Terrace Room provides a stunning view of beautiful Lake Merritt! I came here some months ago for a Champagne tasting event, and while the event itself was fun, the wait staff seemed to be a little disorganized and the bar food was mediocre. The Terrace Room is located inside of the historic Lake Merritt Hotel which was built in 1927. Upon entry, you will easily be swooned by the timeless and elegant decor. It's reminiscent of an old Victorian home from the late 1940's. The interior has been immaculately maintained over the past 90 years! There's a small bar area with a TV and a large dining area that boasts one of the best views of the lake. Our group was a mix of young and older, and all different types of races. Unfortunately, I can't really say the same about the rest of the patrons. I found that most of the other patrons dining there were much older. There isn't anything wrong with this, but it just made me feel like I was in a senior home. Just a tad bit uncomfortable, but I guess with its' history, this place attracts more of an older crowd. Maybe I just came on an off night? Either way, I just made myself fit in accordingly. When I went to the bar, the bartender was kind of pushy and I felt a bit rushed. I eventually ended up moving to a table with the rest of the group and ended up being helped by another server. She was much more pleasant, but she did confuse our orders a few times. To her defense, there were quite a few of us there and some of us still had tabs open at the bar. The happy hour here is really awesome! They have happy hour from 5-10 Monday thru Thursday which is a happy hour lover's dream! I practically live off of happy hour deals, so this immediately drew me in. I ended up having a glass of Pinot Noir while I was there before I started the Champagne tasting. Our group ordered garlic fries, chicken wings, and a shrimp salad. I didn't taste the shrimp salad, but I enjoyed the garlic fries. They weren't overly seasoned, but they weren't anything super extraordinary. The chicken wings were a bit too salty for my taste. They served them with jalapeños which I thought was a bit different, but it did provide a bit of a kick. Aside from regular dining, the Terrace Room often has many different weekly events such as Trivia and live Jazz performances. I haven't yet attended an event here (other than the Champagne tasting), but I would like to in the future. I am looking forward to coming back soon to try them out for brunch and dinner. According to other reviews, it seems like that is where they truly shine. Overall, it was a pretty good experience and I will be coming back again!

    Bloody Mary
    Wendy C.

    EXCELLENT service. We arrived before most of our party so we stared with bottomless mimosas and bloodys. The best part is that you can switch between the two and it's the same price. We had a party of 6, and to be totally honest, the food took almost 45 minutes to arrive. However, our waiter was hustling, he was literally running sometimes. He was super friendly and gave the non-bottomless mimosa drinkers free refills since we had to wait so long. The mimosa was HUGE and not messing around, definitely strong but worth the money for sure. Really good spicy Bloody Mary too! Once the food came it was absolutely delicious. I got the Florentine scramble, it had a huge amount of garlic sautéed spinach, broiled cherry tomatoes, and delicious Hollandaise. The potatoes were also excellent. The lake View was beautiful and the complimentary muffins were really good too! We'll be back if we ever want a nice brunch. It's a little expensive maybe, but good price for great service and beautiful scenery.

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    My son's wedding was at the Terrace Room. Fabulous venue!...Great service, excellent food, courteous and friendly staff.

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    You've left us to eat Lake Chalet's overpriced Sizzler-esque cuisine. When are you opening again?

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    Page 1 of 16

    Ask the Community - The Terrace Room

    Is this strictly an event venue or are you open to the public as a restaurant?

    Thank you for your question! We only host private events. We don't have a public restaurant at this time.

    What time does brunch end on Saturday and Sunday?

    We close at 1:30pm on Saturdays and 2:30pm on Sundays

    Do you guys serve bottomless mimosas during the week?

    HI Nancy, unfortunately we do not have bottomless mimosa throughout the week. We have bottomless mimosas and bloody Marry's on Saturdays and Sundays for brunch only.

    Will regular dining be available April 21st or is the Easter buffet the only option?

    Where do you park your car?

    Parking is Street Parking only. There is a small lot on 15th and Madison (pass the Scottish Rite Temple). Most guests find parking within a 2 block radius of our venue.

    Do they play live music here during brunch?

    We do have a piano player who perlodically plays on Saturdays and Sundays.

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    Almond & Oak - Shrimp & Grits w/ shrimp gravy, scallions, poached eggs ($21) + Chive Scrambled Eggs w/ applewood-smoked bacon, potatoes ($19)

    Almond & Oak

    4.4(434 reviews)
    1.0 miGrand Lake, Lower Hills
    $$

    I'm not sure if I was just extremely craving brunch after a long night out the day before but I…read moreloved this place! I would highly recommend making a reservation if you can as it can get packed. We got lucky and called in a few hours before for our large party of 10 and another party had cancelled. It's a very open space with a modern rustic atmosphere. Our server was very accommodating and checked in frequently to make sure we had everything we needed. We ended up getting bottles of champagne for the mimosas at the table before settling in and ordering our individual meals. I ended up ordering the chive scrambled eggs. The eggs were scrambled to perfection and that bacon??? Just the right amount of crisp. I almost ordered extra because it was that good. Also, do NOT sleep on their housemade hot sauce. I put it on my eggs and it gave it the extra kick I needed because I love spicy food. I also ordered the french toast to split with my friend for a little sweet treat to go with my savory meal. I didn't enjoy this as much but mostly because it's a different take on french toast and I was craving a classic version. Still good but just know that it might not be what you expect. When I'm in Oakland again, I'll definitely need to circle this one back or even check out their lunch or dinner menu.

    Came here for lunch with a friend at 1 PM on a Saturday. We came 15 minutes late after our…read morereservation because of parking and they were understanding of it. As soon as you walk in, you're hit with the smell of a campfire from the oven. The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous with an Art Deco design. The ambiance is cozy but elevated. Benedict (buttermilk biscuit, dungeness crab cakes, marinated swiss chard & beet greens, herbed hollandaise, poached eggs & mixed greens): I'm not a huge benedict person because they can feel heavy, but this one was fantastic. I loved the textures and flavors of the crab cakes pairing with the greens and vegetables. It felt balanced and not too creamy or exhausting to eat. It definitely stands out from the run-of-the-mill brunch benedict. Vegetable Hash (roasted sweet potatoes, garnet yams, sunchokes, cauliflower, cremini mushrooms, celery root & onion, savoy spinach & poached eggs): This was also delicious and also set itself apart from the standard brunch hash. I loved the different vegetables in it besides being just potatoes and onions. The mushrooms and root vegetables worked really well together. Everything was well-seasoned. I'm glad we ended up choosing these dishes even though neither were my original top choices (I decided on the menu with my friend). It made me feel like you can choose anything and it'd be a banger. We were quite full from these dishes, and we forget we also ordered beignets to come out last. They were fluffy and mostly air (but not in a bad way). The service throughout the meal was good. We were checked on from time-to-time and our waters were refilled, although I wish the water glasses were a little bigger. One small thing to note was that we were given the check while we were still eating, even though the restaurant was still seating people despite it being close to closing time. Unsure if/why we were rushed like this. Overall, this was a memorable brunch spots I've been to in the Bay (dare I say one of the best?). We left smelling like a campfire. I would recommend it.

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    4.4(2.6k reviews)
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    $$

    Special night for 30th wedding anniversary. Got the price fixe earlybird special and it was…read moredelicious and a good deal! Service was attentive and helpful, the room is pretty from the outside and prettier from the inside. Very good salads, healthy, tasty, and the safron salmon with potatoes and vegetables was delicious. Hit all the notes, and left open the spaces too. Excellent cooking and serving. We both went for Creme Brulee and weren't sorry. Good wine selection, 1 glass each, and good decaf with dessert. There's a lot of competition on this end of College Ave, Marica are top-tier, on par with the now closed, and missed, "Oliveto". A place to take anyone for a very special meal.

    At Merica, my partner and I were met with service staff who were warm, courteous, speedy and…read moreresponsive. The restaurant space is well-lit, has plenty of indoor seating and seems suitable for a date or casual get-together with friends. My partner would give the food a five-start rating for its simplicity, generally flavorful, with spicy sauces and THE BEST guacamole! He had the Korean spare ribs and mash potatoes. He found the ribs to be fall-off-the bone tender, with potatoes that were more whipped than mashed alongside a carrot puree. I, on the other hand, had the New York Steak and au gratin potatoes. Though I wanted to enjoy my entree, I found the New York Steak to be unfortunately chewy and with too much fat. The au gratin potatoes could have had more crispy layers but tasted mediocre. Though I'd only rate this first experience with three stars. the service staff DID win us over and could potentially be the reason I'd be open to giving it another try.

    Photos
    Marica - Another shipment of lobster in for the weekend. Limited quantity for a few lucky people who can get this drop!

    Another shipment of lobster in for the weekend. Limited quantity for a few lucky people who can get this drop!

    Marica - Marica Seafood Stew

    Marica Seafood Stew

    Marica - Short ribs

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    Short ribs

    Kitava - Power bowl with crispy chicken

    Kitava

    4.4(276 reviews)
    1.6 miNorth Oakland
    $$

    There isn't much that needs to be said about kitava besides "I'm obsessed"! I thoroughly enjoyed my…read moremeal and experience at kitava. The restaurant itself is super cute, and the ordering process is a breeze. The staff were super friendly, and the food came out quickly. I love a good self-serve water station, and they get extra points for having a delicious cucumber water! I was so impressed by the freshness and quality of the food, especially since everything was gluten free. My boyfriend and I both chose the "build your own bowl" option. In my bowl, I chose: - cauliflower rice - crispy chicken - charred broccoli - brussels sprouts - ponzu ginger sauce First of all, my bowl was phenomenal. Every single element was delicious and flavorful. I highly recommend everything I got. It was my perfect bowl! My boyfriend chose: - jasmine rice - paprika chicken - charred broccoli - chimichurri mushrooms - pickled onions - jalapeño lime dressing His bowl was also so delicious. I thought that the chicken tasted like a better, higher quality chipotle chicken. The ingredients were so fresh tasting, and the jalapeño lime dressing was so good. I also wanted to give their desserts a try, so we went with the dark chocolate chip cookie. This was the most "gluten free" tasting thing out of everything we got. The texture of the cookie was unlike normal cookies, but that didn't bother us much. The cookie itself was more on the "less-sweet" side, and was packed with rich dark chocolate. While not exactly my thing, it's worth a try for true dark chocolate lovers! Overall, I was so impressed by kitava. It is the perfect option when you want something healthy and fresh, but do not want to sacrifice flavor. I was absolutely be back!

    Came here on the rec of a friend who told me she thought I'd like it. It's about a 24 min drive and…read moreI thought about ordering online for pick up, but it showed it'd only take 10 mins online and I wanted it fresh and crispy so I decided to order when I got there. I will say, if you have somewhere to be *ORDER ONLINE*. I got there and was told to order from the self serve tablet (I could have done this on my phone ahead of time), but I put in my order and sat down to wait for it. At the 22 min mark, the two groups of two behind me got their food before I did, so I went up to the worker behind the bar and asked if my order was ready and I was told mine would be next. All in all- took 32 mins. So again, if you have somewhere to be- order ahead! Food was good. Could definitely tell it was made fresh to order - not only because it took some time but because my friend cauliflower came out PIPING hot. Lots of oil drippings, so if that isn't your thing, may not be for you, but I will say that it was my fav bite. This was a good restaurant- I would say 4 stars for the food alone. BUT if you're in a pinch, either order online or maybe save this spot for when you have more time. Also- I know that good quality food is pricey, this place is no exception. But you pay for what you get and the quality is better than that of fast food.

    Photos
    Kitava - Inside

    Inside

    Kitava - Hummus w/ Soft Egg & Sesame Togarashi

    Hummus w/ Soft Egg & Sesame Togarashi

    Kitava - Banana walnut pancakes

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    Banana walnut pancakes

    Mua - One Pound Rib Eye Steak

    Mua

    3.9(4.1k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$

    It is good to come early 5:30 pm to have better parking and enjoy the ambience before it got too…read morecrowded. We started with a round of drinks: Crazy Pisco, lemon drop, MUA lemonade, Faction pale ale. Appetizers to include crab cakes, and the BEST TASTING BRUSSEL SPROUTS aka " brown butter brussel sprouts. You must order these. Our entrees included a wonderful slow cooked lamb shank(enough for 2 people), crab po boy with tons of fries and fried chicken. We finished off our evening with pineapple cake, bread pudding, and an almond cake all exceptionally delicious. We were provided with excellent service from Val.

    Another evening in beautiful Oakland with my colleagues (7 of us) at dinner at Mua. JR was our…read moreserver and JR was top notch with personality and helpfulness when it came to our food allergies (vegan and gluten free). Upon looking at the menu, I wanted everything! I'm not even kidding. Everything sounded great. The space is really cool as well inside with lots of that local art you know and love in the Oakland area. I ordered a margarita to start. Yum! For apps, we ordered the guac and chips alongside the fried calamari. I partook in the guac and chips, fresh and delish. Calamari was not gfree. For my main entree I split a beet salad with one of my colleagues, I can't say no to a beet salad. Then I ordered the mussels...which were so good. I loved the aioli on the top of the fries. I also had a bite of my colleagues coleslaw...and I will say it was the best non mayo based coleslaw I've ever had! Not kidding! It has red onion, green pepper, and cilantro. For dessert since it's always a must on a biz trip, we ordered crème brûlée and a sorbet. The brulee was as expected and perfect to end the night. Will definitely be back!

    Photos
    Mua - Interior

    Interior

    Mua - No Cheese Mac n ' Cheese

    No Cheese Mac n ' Cheese

    Mua - Baby girl (top left), Bismarck (green one), La capilla

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    Baby girl (top left), Bismarck (green one), La capilla

    Sun Moon Studio - Taiwanese sausage on steamed brioche

    Sun Moon Studio

    4.9(47 reviews)
    1.5 miWest Oakland

    It is just so incredible, the environment is so authentic and clean! We came here to celebrate my…read moregraduation, and the team made it unforgettable. Alan, Sarah, and the rest of the staff were remarkably warm and welcoming. To make the occasion even more special, they treated us to extra desserts and snacks including their delicious house-made mochi and fresh French fries! Every single dish was incredible, and I honestly couldn't pick a favorite if I tried. I can't wait to come back and try the other seasonal menu!

    Sun Moon Studio, West Oakland, 4 tables, 12 seats, one Michelin star, SF Chronicle best new…read morerestaurant in the Bay Area. Got a reservation six weeks out to the minute because thats how this works and it was worth every second of the effort. 13 course tasting menu from two Benu and Per Se alums, Alan Hsu and Sarah Cooper. The Taiwanese sausage course stopped the table cold. Monterey spot prawn with tofu was precise and clean. Dry aged duck had this depth that just doesnt happen without real technique. Every course earned its place. The space is a converted garage in an industrial block, white hanging cloths from 20 foot ceilings, four wooden tables. Completely unpretentious for a restaurant operating at this level. 5 stars, one of the best meals ive had anywhere. Set your alarm for noon exactly six weeks before you want to go

    Photos
    Sun Moon Studio
    Sun Moon Studio - Liberty Duck

    Liberty Duck

    Sun Moon Studio - Egg custard tart with salmon roe

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    Egg custard tart with salmon roe

    Portal Oakland - The Moon is Made of Cheeseburger

    Portal Oakland

    4.1(1.9k reviews)
    0.5 miEast Oakland
    $$

    A fantastic, unfussy, charming wedding reception venue for a smaller wedding group…read more My now-spouse and I had been struggling to find a good covered outdoor wedding reception venue that fit our budget, allowed external catering, and was small enough for the 50-ish guests we were expecting -- it seemed like every "wedding venue" felt overly fancy and was better suited to a 100+ person group. But then we found Portal! We're not fussy people, and we loved the more down-to-earth vibe of their patio. Plus, it's got heaters and an extendable cover, which was exactly what we wanted! The previous owner, Kevyn, was great to work with, as was the current owner, Mona. We decided to rent the patio and have Portal provide drink service and dishes, but we knew that we wanted a specific restaurant (which doesn't have its own seating area) to provide the food. Kevyn and Mona were both totally down for that, and completely helped us bring our vision to life. There was space for our 50 guests to sit, for the buffet, plus enough space left over for a small dance floor area. Really perfect for our group. Amber, their bartender and events coordinator, deserves a particular shout-out. She worked with my spouse and me to come up with three custom mocktails that fit our taste preferences and even thought of cute love-themed names for all of them! She really went above and beyond for it, having a mocktail tasting for us and even sourcing a non-alcoholic champagne to use for n/a mimosas and in one of the mocktails. It was a wonderful experience, and Amber was a joy to work with. She the one making the mocktails (and alcoholic drinks for guests who wanted them) during the reception, and we heard constant compliments. I imagine we'll be back for anniversary brunches in the future :)

    I haven't been here in a while, but I have always enjoyed coming here. The mini burgers are…read moredelicious and so are the garlic fries. There is many other items on the menu, but these are the items that I recall at this moment I will update soon if I have another opportunity to revisit the menu or have another visit. Until then, enjoy!

    Photos
    Portal Oakland - Corner Seating

    Corner Seating

    Portal Oakland - Grilled Chicken and Jalapeno Burger

    Grilled Chicken and Jalapeno Burger

    Portal Oakland - BBQ Chicken Wings

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    BBQ Chicken Wings

    Pomet - KLINGEMAN Pork Coppa Chop w/ roasted K&J ORCHARDS quince, LONELY MOUNTAIN french shallots, pork jus ($58)

    Pomet

    4.4(246 reviews)
    1.6 miPiedmont Ave, North Oakland
    $$$

    An enjoyable dinner at Pomet with food highlighting farm-to-table ingredients directly from K & J…read moreOrchards in addition to other California family-owned farms. When you dine with foodies who don't mind indulging you get to try a variety of items from: STARTERS :: TURNIP TOTS - crispy exterior with an unexpected creamy interior. Recommended by Cherylynn N to get and glad we did! :: SQUID INK PASTA with Dungeness crab - perfectly cooked pasta with a wonderful acidic yet briny broth - piece of leg meat crab. Of course, wish it had more :: PAPPERDELLE with duck sugo - wide noodles perfectly al dente with rich tomato based, red wine duck ragu with a slight kick from black pepper. Comfort food MAINS :: BEEF SHORT RIB - wonderfully tender and like butta. Definitely sous vide and finished off with some smoke. Served with some Korean Gochujang, red-leaf lettuce and sliced pickle daikon to be eaten like a wrap - FAVE dish. NOTE: They alternate this dish with the Klingeman pork chop so wasn't a Thursday option. :: BLACK COD - miso braised with yuzu broth Perfectly cooked, easily flaked that just melts -in-the-mouth! We ordered a variety of desserts: decadent budino, refreshing pomegranate sorbet, and a rich sticky toffee pudding. All worth a try but the cake for the sticky toffee pudding was a tad dry. The accompanying rich buttery toffee sauce poured on top was lick the plate worthy. SERVICE - our server, Daniela was amazing. Answered multiple questions and educated us on some items. Friendly, patient and true professional. All staff inviting and on point. Highly recommend a visit and expect to pay $$$ but well worth the splurge. Service charge is 20% gratuity (confirmed with our server) automatically added to the bill for a party of 3. We added 5% more for the great experience! Metered parking (until 6pm) in the lot behind. Range of casual to dressy attire

    I've been to Pomet at least seven times, usually with my boyfriend, and I've always had a good…read moreexperience. Because of that, I chose it to celebrate two of my friends' birthdays on April 11. I was genuinely excited to treat them to a beautiful dinner. That's not what happened. From the moment we sat down, something felt off. We had just come from the Alvin Ailey show and were catching up, so we were taking our time. Still, it felt like we were being rushed. The pacing of the food made no sense. The salad came out quickly, which was fine, but before we even started it, two fried dishes hit the table. I asked directly if they were trying to rush us because I've been here many times and that has never happened. The response I got felt dismissive, like I didn't understand how they serve their food. I do. This was different. By the time we got to the fried dishes, they were cold and not good. And honestly, they didn't seem hot when they first came out. That pretty much set the tone. The pasta came later and was also cold. At that point, I asked to speak with the owner. I've met her before when I've come in with my boyfriend and she's always been warm and present. This time I was told she was busy, and while I could see she was in the back of the house, she did not appear so busy that she couldn't step away briefly to address a guest who was clearly disappointed. No one ever came back to follow up. The main dishes didn't recover anything. The cod had no flavor and was cold. The pork chop was tough, fatty, and just not good. It didn't feel like the same kitchen at all. What made it harder to ignore was looking around the room. Other tables were getting a completely different experience. Food coming out properly paced, hot, and with attention. Our table felt like an afterthought, especially after we raised a concern early on. At one point, someone offered to take two dishes off the bill. I appreciated the gesture, but that wasn't the issue. I wasn't trying to get anything for free. I was trying to give my friends a really nice birthday dinner. This is a Michelin-recognized restaurant, which is exactly why I chose it. I've known them to deliver. That's what made this experience so disappointing. It felt rushed, disorganized, and careless. I don't know what's going on there right now, but it was not the same experience I've had before. I won't be going back. PS. Normally I take pictures, but didn't because the food was that disappointing!

    Photos
    Pomet - Inside area

    Inside area

    Pomet - Korean Fried Duck Leg w/ honey garlic soy glaze, seasonal house pickles ($24 + $3 radish kimchi)

    Korean Fried Duck Leg w/ honey garlic soy glaze, seasonal house pickles ($24 + $3 radish kimchi)

    Pomet - Ugly Mushroom Caramelle w/ SHARED CULTURES kombu garlic miso, breadcrumbs ($24)

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    Ugly Mushroom Caramelle w/ SHARED CULTURES kombu garlic miso, breadcrumbs ($24)

    Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt - Bowl of Persian Cucumbers

    Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt

    4.0(1.5k reviews)
    0.7 miLower Hills
    $$

    Stopped by Grand Lake Kitchen for brunch this sunny weekend and it really hit the spot. The food…read morewas delicious and it felt like the perfect kind of meal for a relaxed weekend morning. I ordered the turkey club and it was honestly huge. You can see in the photo how big it is compared to my hand. It was stacked and super satisfying, the kind of sandwich that definitely fills you up. We also shared a deviled egg and some fried zucchini to start, which were great little bites before the main dish. The zucchini was crispy and light, and the deviled egg was simple but really good. I paired everything with a mocha latte that was perfectly balanced and honestly superb. Overall it was a ten out of ten brunch moment. Between the sunny weather, good coffee, and really satisfying food, it was exactly what we were looking for. Definitely one of those spots I would come back to for brunch again.

    This was me and my husband's first time at the restaurant and the food here was excellent…read moreeverything was very good and flavorful. I gave it to stars because the service was really bad. Our waitress took very long to even acknowledge us, didn't person herself to be very friendly, and lacked any attentiveness to us as customers. We had to ask other people for things like refills on our drinks, condiments, etc. She didn't ever really try to check to see how things were going after the food was served and we had to ask someone else to pay. Unfortunately considering this experience my husband doesn't want to go back and I hate that for us because the food was really good.

    Photos
    Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt - Dining room

    Dining room

    Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt - Savory French Toast tastes awesome when you break the egg yolk over the toast.

    Savory French Toast tastes awesome when you break the egg yolk over the toast.

    Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt - Dozen Donuts, equivalent to four full sized donuts

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    Dozen Donuts, equivalent to four full sized donuts

    The Terrace Room - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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