Eh, 2.5 stars. I would like to come back to this place int he summertime when it is warmer and we can sit outside at the tables with a nice view of the water. But I was not too impressed this past weekend when three of my friends and I stopped by from some drinks. Be careful of the windy roads, especially in the dark! There are a lot of tight turns through the woods and no lights once you get off of the freeway. This place really seems to be off the beaten path until you get to Port Costa. I like the idea of this place. It is spacious enough. One one side is the bar with some pool tables and on the other side is the dining room. We opted for the bar first. They have a decent selection of beers and specialty drinks. A couple of us were a little hungry and asked the bartender if we could order an appetizer or munchies at the bar. He said no, that food had to be ordered in the dining room. Uhh...okay? So we get our beers and move to the dining room. When we see the menu, everything is $17.95 and up with the exception of the salad bar. The only items available were things like steaks, lobster, etc. No smaller plates or appetizers. When we asked the waitress if there were any other options, she said we could order smaller items like hot dogs and nachos at the bar! Wait a minute, the bartender said we couldn't order at the bar? The waitress responded with, 'Oh, sometimes he just says that if he is really busy and doesn't want to take the time to put in an order. Maybe if you bat your eyes at him he will do it for you." Uhh...okay? I shouldn't have to 'bat my eyes' for a service they should be providing because the bartender 'doesn't feel like providing.' This kinda miffed me. A couple of my friends got a rather large plate of food that was good, but definitely couldn't be finished. I'd like to come back, but I better make sure I eat first unless I want to spent $25 for a monstrous plate of food I can't eat. read more

Just came for a cocktail and to see how quirky this place was. It did not disappoint. This is a place you have to be looking for and once you find it you'll wonder if you're in the right place. The drinks are strong, the company eclectic and the view is great. If you're close by drive on down and check it out read more

Warehouse Cafe - New American Near Me - Port Costa, California

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This place is amazing. I've never eaten here, but the beer selection, together with the atmosphere is fantastic. Port Costa is miniscule, but its eclectic aesthetic really makes it worth a walk around. The big down side is the meth addicts showing off their loud motorcycles. It isn't really a cafe per se, either, so don't come looking for coffee. There used to be a great restaurant across the street but last time we visited, it was in decline. Maybe that's changed? read more

It would take Jack London or Kerouac to adequately describe how this warehouse - it truly is a warehouse - can be such an inviting place to visit. The old brick building is enormous, half of it is abandoned or sealed off, and the rest is bar -- a real life "build it over here, Bob" bar. The floor's all crooked. Short people can't get served on the bay side of the bar. Bartenders wouldn't see them. If you order the right drink, the bartender will ring a bell. Can't beat that. They have hundreds of beers. I got a cooler tour. Wow. They've got a dinning room with the biggest round wooden tables you'll ever see. And there's a bear. And the outside is the best. You can choose to sit on a slab of concrete, or on a taller slab of concrete. When live music plays, we bring our own chairs and set up in the yard. The massive Port Costa public parking lot is an extention of the bar so there's always room. If you're on a Harley, you have found home. Harley sweet home. If you like wide open spaces and the freedom to stroll through history wihen you're out clubbing, you've found home. Check out the old theater sign in the yard. What does it say? I have also stayed on many occasions at the Burlington Hotel of sorts across the street. I think it's still open for business. They might even rent you a room cheap across the street if you drink too much and can't drive home. I've been coming to the Warehouse since Juanita ran the place. I think I found it by accident in 1980. I lived in Berkeley and read an article that said "You can live your entire life on San Pablo Boulvard." It wrote about all the stores through five cities. I decided to drive the entire length of San Pablo on my Honda motorcycle. I started in Oakland and ended in Port Costa. Those were the days. Adviso: If you get freaked out easily by the thought of celebrating in an actual warehouse, don't come. This is no frills entertainment. Bring your fishing pole. You can walk to the the waterline and drop a chair. read more

I have 2 words for you: Howie and beer. Howie is the delightful bartender who greeted the three of us when we walked in on a Thursday night around 6 and had no idea what to expect. The first time at the bar for all of us, and we were the only ones there at the time. Oh my gosh. How I love Howie. Charming, personable, and downright adorable! This place has atmosphere for days. There is the famous polar bear and a bunch of other stuff to look at on the walls. And beer. Beer, beer, and more beer. I don't know how many they have, but bunches and bunches from many different microbreweries. I didn't know what I wanted, I just told Howie I liked wheat beers, and he gave me some good suggestions. I would love to see what this place is like with a lot of people there. Loved the patio. We chilled out there for a bit and watched sailboats on the Carquinez Strait. It was our first time at the Warehouse but it most certainly will not be our last! read more

You know the prefab strip mall restaurant chains that throw a pile of antique bric-a-brac on the walls for "instant character"? It helps them to a point, but this place is what those places are trying to be. It gives an experience that grew out of time and place, that only exists in this place. You can absorb it from the dusty carnival carvings, oversized glass-enclosed booths and padded seating, joke signs and novelties like boxes of "pecker pasta", and oddities like the giant taxidermied polar bear. (It scared my dog when I carried her up close.) For extra insight, browse the Wikipedia history for Contra Costa, CA. At one time it was a landing for the largest sidewheel paddleboat ever built, a ferry for rail cars of the transcontinental railroad. It made this an important spot as America's busiest wheat-shipping port. Wiki briefly mentions a "colorful and violent" history that goes along with the mid-19th-century former brothel (now hotel) across the street. (The only street.) That's quite a background for a town with population of 190. You don't have to research it though, you might also soak it up from the conversation at the bar. I heard that the Warehouse Cafe building was the first fireproof building of its kind for storing wheat, which helped it survive several major fires and earthquakes until now. The owner has a Czech background. That goes with the wall signs that reminded me of Prague, Wiki's mention of 24% czech-american population in town, and the abundance of more than 400 kinds of beer. The clientele is biker-friendly. For music, they like both kinds... country and western. (The pool players treated us to Toby Keith and Johnny Cash). 10-12 of us were on a 60-mile bicycle tour, doing a loop from North Berkeley to Martinez and back. This was our lunch stop. Speaking of food, there's a few less than glowing reviews here on Yelp (I'd say a single-street town is not a place to be overly picky though). I thought they did fine and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially after hard riding. For those who got drinks, they offered all-you-can-eat clam chowder and chili. We also had 7-8 sandwich choices for lunch, and the French Dip was popular with our bike crew. The mixed drinks list was incredibly tempting. I probably should have stayed with 1 of 3 things (a beer, chowder, or a sandwich), but it was too tempting to have it all on this stop, so I pigged out after 20 miles of riding. (It put me on the verge of a food coma, and that's a big mistake when the next part of the trip was a punishing climb up the hills to nearby Carquinez scenic trail, with 40 miles left to get home.) Price wise, it's not small-town cheap, it's just reasonably priced for a unique out-of-the-way destination. I thought my lunch was well worth it, and no more expensive than an average restaurant in the city. The tank of live lobsters indicated they have more pricey dinner options as well. It was nice of them to let me carry my small dog inside, past a big sign that said No Dogs. I brought her to the bar to ask if it was OK, and they loved her. When I put her down on-leash I got a brisk but not-unfriendly warning not to let her run around (expect some personality with the service.) The next part of our bike trip was another attraction you can only get here, Carquinez Scenic Trail. It seemed built for car traffic but the road was so windy and out of the way, that it wasn't possible to maintain well, with parts of the road collapsing off the cliff. It's now blocked off only for biking or hiking, and it's really worth a visit if you're nearby. There's tons of reasons to make a day trip with a pit stop at Warehouse Cafe. It's a memorable place I highly recommend. read more

I am new to the area and this bar on my list of places to try. Super glad I did, It is all the fun of a dive but so much more space. The bartenders where personable and at-tentative. Felt right at home with our school flag hanging from the rafters! I'll definitely come back read more

Way overpriced. Food was decent but I could've gone to Ruth's Chris for that amount of money and had way better food.

My husband and I have been sharing the same grim mood, so it was time to explore. Preferably cheaply, as money (or the lack thereof) is a major contributor to the grim-itude. I found the Warehouse in Port Costa (a town I'd never heard of, even though it's less than 5 miles away) while scanning Google maps. Near the water, check. Near railroad tracks, check. Food, booze, never been there, polar bear - check, check, check, che...polar bear? Honey, get in the car. How to describe the feel of the place? I first flashed on "From Dusk 'til Dawn", and I almost expected to turn the corner to find a scantily-clad Salma Hayak doing her sexy snake dance. Wishful thinking on my part. Although the cafe part is only open on Fridays and Saturdays, there is bar food. In my experience, "bar food" is usually an oxymoron. Not here! The turkey sandwiches were super tasty, and they behaved themselves throughout the entire digestive process. We enjoyed our sandwiches and drinks (I had a sneaky awesome California Lemonade served in a mason jar) in a weird little round structure made of dark wood and glass with a spectacular view of the polar bear. As we munched and worked on getting pleasantly un-sober, I tried to think of what else this place reminded me of. Backstage/storage for an old theater, maybe. There is crushed velvet draped from the ceiling with layers of dust on the folds, and big, spindly iron wall sconces. There are cobwebs. I usually want to fix things - especially beautiful and odd things - but not here. The way it is is just...perfect. I was strongly tempted to write a bad review, just to keep it from getting too crowded. I like it too much, though. Whoever runs such a cool place deserves the business. read more

What a cool joint! Definitely out of the way, but well worth the drive. Great food, and good drinks. One of the most eclectic places i've been to. This is just plain of those places you have to try for yourself. read more

5 stars for uniqueness. They have a giant polar bear, lobsters, a nice view on a warm evening. good food and great drinks. Good for groups and a fun outing. Its an adventure going down into port costa. View of the bay and benicia from the patio. I think there was some kind of swingers meeting at the hotel across the streat one night we were down there. Mysterious and cool. read more

I love this bar, I love Jeannie wack a weenie, she'll show you why lol. Great live bands, fun people and all drinks are all Doubles! What more could you ask for. PS- don't overdose on the free popcorn, it's addictive :D read more

Went here a few weeks ago. I rarely walk into a place, and turn around and walk out. Bad vibe. Really bad. Like something happened here once and the energy is stuck there (and no, I don't believe in ghosts, nor have I ever experienced anything ghostly). Maybe I have now. Who knows, maybe it's the ghosts of hangovers past. So try it for that. read more

Not only were the drinks and food great, the atmosphere was interesting, a true Conversation Piece, and the staff were friendly and attentive. When enjoyed laughing and talking with other customers as well. And overall great place to hang out. read more

WHAT WORLD DID I JUST STEP INTO. First impressions, there is a giant polar bear murdering a seal in a glass case. This place looks like a curiosities shop from 1920. There are plenty of drink selections and some of the better views of the sunset sitting right on the water. Now that I have some more free time, I plan on making this place a frequent stop. I am still trying to figure out how to swim or zip line over the water from benicia to the bar. Working on it. read more

This is my spot! My friends and I live scattered between Antioch and Port Costa and this is our meet up. I don't know very many bars that have the amount of character or space that The Warehouse does and I wouldn't have it any other way! I had my birthday celebration here this year and the staff was more than accommodating (although, this might be because I'm their favorite :P.) Both Larry and Howie always take care of me and my friends and they always have a laugh to share or fun to poke. The drinks are pretty stiff and very cheap and, even though we've been coming here forever, I JUST tried the "Cheese on a Board" cheddar dish and the cheese was SO good. Seriously. I dream about it. The outdoor space is awesome on a nice Bay Area night and they allow doggies and smoking out there which is a must! If you're into an eclectic, inexpensive and interesting night out this is the place to go! Come out, tip the bar staff, and if you see my friends and I at the corner round table, come say "what's up!" read more

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So my parents were just at this place earlier tonight and it went terribly. My mom only had two drinks but they did a piss poor job at making them and essentially just gave her straight alcohol. She passed out in the restaurant and had to be taken to the hospital for alcohol poisoning. Her blood alcohol level was 2.2 from just two drinks. Don't trust these people. read more

My favorite bar in the whole bay-area. Love riding the motorcycle down there in the summer time and relaxing!

Most obscure and unique bar I've ever seen. There's a giant stuffed polar bear (as in, a polar bear that was once living), crazy decorations and a hodge podge of different types of tables. They serve food twice a week and on Sundays you get free food with your beer. And the beer...well their menu has over 200 different types! Didn't get to stay long as it was a short stop for me, but the ambiance and menu designate it a must return. And, the bar tender was really cool. read more

This is an off the beaten track adventure that will provide a lot of entertainment. The place is on the water and the beer selection is awesome, the people watching is delightful and the decor is like nothing you have seen (think bear, big bear). Go check it out, have a beer, lunch, you will know what I am talking about. read more

Great time for a Sunday afternoon, sitting outside on this gorgeous day listening to the band and enjoying the great scenery. great beer selection. Fun Time!!!! Just a fun place to chill. read more

Very interesting place; half antique store, half dive bar, half "lakeside" patio. We stopped in after walking the Bull Valley trail to Port Costa for a summer beer and quick bite to eat. They have hundreds of beers to choose from (although only a few on tap) and the cheeseburger was actually really tasty despite clearly being from a frozen pre-made patty. We sat on the patio overlooking the bay (well technically there's a parking lot and railroad track in between) and sipped Great White wheat with our burgers. Tap beers are $4 and the burger was $9. Nice that without many options for food and drink in this one-street town this one delivers! Bet the bar is a lot of fun at night too... read more

This place deserves a field trip with many eccentric individuals. I was in awe the whole time - although nothing came of the date, i'm glad i was introduced to this place. read more

This is a cool hole in the wall! Amazing beer selection, cocktails in mason jars and an eclectic crowd too. They have some funky and interesting decor inside, and dogs are welcome on the patio. Great watering hole for a summer day. read more

I've had dinner here a couple times (seafood, of course), and I've also arrived here a few times on the back of a Harley. The place is so alive with character as well populated with interesting characters. My only issue was the restroom. read more

Music was good sitting out on the patio in the sun sipping on a stiff gin and tonic...for $8.00 it should be. Bar staff are wasted. Some people lit up smoking weed at our table. Not cool. Smoke in the parking lot next time. However, ordered two steak sandwiches, brought the ticket to the cook. Was told 10 minutes. Went back in 10, was told I had 3 orders ahead of me by same cook. Went back in 15, was told come back in 5. For a total of 40 mins. When i picked up my oder i put my gin &tonic on yop of the buffet counter turn to the tip jar and put in a couple of bucks. I turned back to the counter and my gin &tonic where gone. The staff chef was grining, i smiled and asked what happen to my drink. Hey but t head I'm giving you a tip and your trying to swipe my COCKTAIL. WTF! Steak was like beef jerky, tough to chew, bread was stale. But the small bag of lay potato chips on the side was fine. Come on 12 bucks !!!! and this is the best the cook can do. How about fries or bake potato. Next time we'll eat before we get there at the Home Buffet in San Pablo. Same price and I can eat all the well cook food that they offer. Or maybe set up a BQ in the parking lot like some other people did.This dive needs BAR RESCUE -John Taff! Bathrooms were a pig's stall. Had to hold my breath. The pungent smell of urine was obnoxious. Use to go here when it was Juanita's place. What a let down. And yes they have a bear in a glass case. wooppee do. How about better food, and clean bathrooms and bar. read more

The polar bear is awesome but the poor baby seal it's looming over has seen better days. So have some of the women frequenting this bar.

Favorite bar ever - food is also awesome. New Orleans get away feel! Must visit Port Costa at least once if you're ever in the area

Great place to be casual and just hang and play pool, with the hugest selection of beers anywhere around. My beef is with the food menu - nothing under $20 a plate, mostly right around $25 a plate. 5 star prices at a casual, dirt on the floor, dust on everything, chug down a beer and play some pool hang out??? If I wanted to pay that much for dinner I'd go to SF. So if you're hungy for more than just beer and you're on a budget plan to split something. read more

I was really taken back initially by how much in a time warp this place really looked, however after I let my guard down and got comfortable I had a great time. The dsrinks really are great, and generous in size and liquor! The surf and turf here was pretty damn good as well! read more

LOTS to look at, awesome beer selection, stout mixed drinks, Internet jukebox, a pool table and food. Oh, and interesting locals.

Well, if you like to drink (all drinks are a double) and if you like dive bars, you will like this place. I did not. The parking lot was dirt and dust, the interior is full of "memorabilia"? that hadn't been dusted in years...it was filthy....there are stuffed dead animals everywhere, two bears and a bunch of heads of things...gross...I went there to see an awesome Zydeco band.... and they did not disappoint. But the area in front of the stage was also dirt and weeds and run down picnic tables with little to no shade. The shaded side of the stage with cement was full of a lot of inebriated people. Aside from a few hippie types, and a friendly female bartender who I got two cokes from, I found the red neck vibe uncomfortably edgy and when walking to the restaurant across the street with my two 16 year old Japanese exchange students a group of drunk bikers were cat calling. I should have researched it before I took them there to hear the band. I will never go to Port Costa again. On my way back to the freeway I saw a porch proudly sporting a confederate flag. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. read more

It's like a museum for drunks. The big bar room has lots of seating and some really cool artifacts all around to spark conversation. I like sitting at the benches on the raised platform during warm summer nights, watching the boat traffic. When its not so pleasant, you can sit inside at the bar, or around the original round table used by the League of Nations in the early 20th century, or inside a New York subway turnstile (sans doors). If anything catches your eye, just ask the bar tender about it. Oh yea, great beer selection, of course. read more

Seems like a potential setting for a 1996 action-comedy-horror film, so of course bring a loved one and the possibilities are endless. I didn't have the balls to stay late into the evening primarily because I do not like having my life-blood sucked out of my body through over-sized incisors no matter how hot she may be...well..unless she does it over the course of at least a few years and calls it "getting better." Being so close to the water reminded me of The Lost Boys~ sigh~ I loved that movie. I am sure this place gets "crunk" or whatever is the white people equivalent and I also bet its a lot of fun. We went during the afternoon and it was very quiet...a little too quiet, but it was still fun to get out of Crapa-Napa and venture yonder. I was talking to some old dude a few days after our trip about the Warehouse Cafe area and he was telling me that it has always been sort of a destination spot for those seeking a brief glimpse of The Freakdom. Vampires really don't bother me but you can bet whenever you get a few of those loose characters around, not to mention the Cafe's reasonably priced and delicious buffet, at least a couple Werewolves are soon to follow and I am absolutely intolerant, and without exception scared shitless of those bastards. I am not racist, I just have my limit to what I feel is an acceptable amount of body hair/odor, heavy breathing and lack of manners that I can stand. Italians kinda bother me too but there isn't time here to get into that. "I may be a bastard, but I'm not a fuckin' bastard" read more

Lunch there last Saturday. 3-4 stars for atmosphere. Great bar with loads of beers to choose from. Cool bartender... pretty brunette 40-50ish. Reminded me of my Aunt Shirley. Anyway my rating is based on food. We arrived 11:30 ish but lunch isn't served until '12-ish' or when they feel like opening. Friendly service but the menu leaves a lot...5 or 6 items only. Burgers were o.k. and my mom enjoyed the steak sandwich. I'd give 2 1/2 stars if possible. read more

Back in the day my now hubby took me here for a date....dinner and then a night stay at the Burlington Hotel across the street. That was back in '99 and I still love going there today. It's an awesome bar packed with cool people and a ridiculously large selection of beer- and it makes it the perfect spot!!! Port Costa is filled with history and its one of the best hidden dives around! ;) If you're looking for a great time- check this place out. Even the oddities store inside is cool! Just go.... have you left yet??? See you there!!! read more

Beer, beer, & more beer! I absolutely love this place. If it's your first visit, ask for a quick tour of the beer cooler...it will give any true beer lover a warm feeling inside. I don't remember the exact number, but there were something like 400 different types of beer to choose from, and it is my personal goal to try them all. I've never actually eaten here, though I've heard its good. Just make sure to have a driver...that road is far too difficult to navigate with beer goggles. read more

I'd leave no stars if possible ! Tonight me and about 7 of my friends came here like we have multiple times in the past.. The older bartender came over to us and asked for all of our IDs. We all are between 21-24 . She checked them all and one friend had left his ID so she asked him to leave he property since she can't tell if he's 21. Our friend proceeded to walk out and go back to his car. The women continued to say that if she catches any of us outside with anyone under 21 she would take our drinks and call the cops. We all said okay won't happen. She continued on rambling that she doesn't feel like babysitting us and told us she decided to not serve us because she didn't want to add more work for helself having to go outside and check if people were underage. We all stated he left and not sure why she is having an issue. She responded "nope you guys can leave now or I'll call the police" I stated "you just checked all of our IDs and we are all over the age of 21, if it would be better we will all just stay inside while having drinks. She again said nope leave my property I will call the police.. so we all walked out and a friend stated go ahead and call the police because we came into your bar 5 minutes ago with valid Ids and you're refusing to serve us for absolutely no reason. None of us were rude or making comments towards her. We simply sat down gave our IDs and tried order drinks until she decide to kick us out for nothing. I will never come back here. The service was horrible and that women is crazy. She acted as if she was on drugs and flashed in a single moment. You're a horrible person lady and you just lost a lot of money you were about to make for you "property"!!!! read more

A fantastic atmosphere and great service for a Saturday night. Friendly clientel and great view.

I had gone up to the Warehouse for my birthday lobster for years, highlighted by some gorgeous little waitress picking up the poor cooked beast from the plate and twisting him apart into manageable hunks. This time, it was rent in the kitchen (after I'd specified that it be done at table), minus several parts. But wait,..the scissors supplied didn't work on the claws (great for chicken parts, though!) so she gave me this flea-market quality RUSTY hinged cracker! Not only inadequate, like the scissors, but sheer junk. So, it really doesn't matter how good the rest of the menu is, or that Gina the bartendress is gone, or the Port Costa is a cool place (if dusty from biker traffic on weekends). I'm phoning the county health department. read more