My friends and I had tix for October London concert at the Paramount theater. We made reservations to eat before the concert. Service was excellent! Our waiter took our order (without a note pad) and he did it perfectly. We enjoyed the atmosphere and most certainly the food! We will be back!!! Thank you for a wonderful evening. read more

I was a little hesitant about this place because the menu is very big. We walk in and their only two tables occupied,,, I start to wonder if this place is any good. Once we look at the menu I really get concerned, Typically a restaurant wirh a BIG Menu may struggle. This place is amazing the food was fast , hot and delicious. The bartender was great too Very Well Done read more

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The food and service is always great when we dine here with friends. Today my friends and I ordered the mussels appetizer without the chili as we don't like spicy food so we enjoyed the delicious mussels in butter sauce with foccacia bread. For dessert we ordered a key lime pie to share which was moist and light read more

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One of our go-to restaurants for many years. Excellent food, fantastic service and great atmosphere.

The chicken Alfredo wasn't great at all, a tad bit sour sauce and pasta overcooked not as al dente as should be. $24 before tax a rip off! Won't be back for this dish, stick to the crab sandwich it's a better value! It use to be good probably a new cook just not great, for that price eat at HOME read more

This place is definitely a hidden gem with their massive happy hour options and generous time frame 3-9pm. They are kid friendly with coloring pages, crayons, and a good kids menu. My kids have enjoyed the clam chowder soup (Fridays only), Mac and cheese here and we enjoyed the salads, chicken piccata, and rigatoni bolognese on separate occasions. Staff are friendly and attentive with water refills, checking up on tables, and to go boxes and the check. Several large TV screens with sports on for your entertainment and a nice bar area. read more

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Packed house on a Friday night. We arrived with a group. It took a while for them to get us settled but they honored the time we arrived and allowed a round of happy hour drinks. Nearby was another big party. The server was in fine form, cracking jokes, checking on us. The kale salad with blackened chicken was delicious. So was the yummy rummy cocktail. Shared some lobster ravioli and that was good too with sizeable chunks of lobster. Someone else ordered the black bean burger and loved that and others ordered the capellini pasta. So many good choices. I'd definitely return. read more

3-Star Review I visited Z Café today, January 23, 2026, around 11:30 AM. I was seated immediately and ordered a Bloody Mary and the crab cakes. The Bloody Mary took about 10 minutes to arrive. I specifically asked for it to be spicy, and unfortunately, it was not. When I order a spicy Bloody Mary, I expect heat built into the drink--not something that requires adding Tabasco at the table. It also lacked horseradish, which is a key component for depth and bite in a well-balanced Bloody Mary. Overall, the drink was mild and short on vodka presence, leaving it underwhelming given the expectations set by past reviews. The crab cakes had a nice sear, which was a positive, but the flavor fell short. Based on the description and overall vibe, I was expecting more Southern or Louisiana-style seasoning--bold, savory, and well-layered. Instead, the crab cakes lacked seasoning, salt, and overall character. The aioli could have used more flavor and seasoning as well, as it did little to elevate the dish. The result was a plate that looked good but did not deliver the Southern-inspired flavor profile I was anticipating. On the positive side, the restaurant was very clean, including the tables and floors, and guests were greeted as they entered. The space started to fill up as it moved into the lunch hour, and the atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable. This was my first visit. One thing worth noting: many of the Bloody Mary reviews I read appear to be quite dated, so expectations may need to be reset or updated. The televisions in the restaurant added to the casual brunch environment. Overall, the service and cleanliness were solid, but the food and drink lacked the bold seasoning and spice I was expecting. With stronger Southern flavor profiles and a truly spicy Bloody Mary, this could be a much stronger experience. read more

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I have been coming here for years with my husband. I finally decided to post this five star review because the cappellini with tilapia was to live for. The flavors were amazing. The tilapia was a perfect texture and deliciously moist. The shrimp were succulent and not overcooked. I will definitely order this again. My husband had the steak topped with shrimp, mashed potatoes and gravy. I tried his steak just for this review. And it did not disappoint. The steak was delicious, seasoned well, moist not overcooked. It's a family style restaurant and the service here is always amazing. The wait staff is attentive and they treat us like family every time we come!! Highly recommend this restaurant for lunch or dinner. It's never crowded here and you'll always get a table. read more

So I'm sad to say we have been sleeping in this place over the last 6 years! Had no clue it even really existed although I drove past it plenty of times! I honestly thought it was a new establishment until I found out it's been here for a long time! One of my favorite parts of this place was the interior architecture. You can tell from all the crown molding this building has history and has been around a long time! I love it! To me it has a story and I wish I knew what it was. The food is also delicious. I wish I would have known sooner plus they have a super good happy hour menu! We will be back to try that soon. The service was top notch however, we did come when they had literally just unlocked the doors so it was just the two of us. We will have to go back during busier hours and see if it's still as good. All in all definitely worth a try! read more

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Amazing food and service. What would make it better if the bread they served was toasted haha read more

Z Cafe & Bar - Blackened Chicken Alfredo Pasta - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Holly Smokes! Wow! I legit been passing this place up for seriously a year plus now. Finally decided to try it and OMG the blackened chicken Alfredo pasta is out of this world! I ordered it for the first time last week, came back today and ordered it again. Not only was it better than the first time, it is legit the best Pasta I've tried in this entire area! Must try 10/10! Can't wait to try the rest of their menu! read more

Z Cafe & Bar - Blackened Chicken Alfredo Pasta - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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I wanted to get some takeout for lunch, so I ordered ahead via Grubhub for a mushroom risotto and sweet potato fries. While it's named a cafe, it has a pretty large food selection, and is really more of a full service restaurant, not just a place that sells coffee/tea and sandwiches or pastries. My order was ready 15 minutes earlier than my scheduled pick up time according to the text I received. Once I got there, it was a brief wait and then I was smoothly handed over my order, which was packaged in sealed boxes to help prevent food from spilling. The sweet potato fries were pretty good, I just wish they were slightly crispier since the moisture in the box made them get less hard while I was carrying them home. As for the risotto, it was quite yummy, I haven't often seen it and it satisfied my craving for it. It's decently savory but also has a slight sour kick. read more

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$21 for a bacon cheeseburger that was so plain-tasting!! They also charged $2 for a side of ranch. Those are insane prices. The insanity spurred me to write my first Yelp review. On the plus side, the bathrooms were clean and they refilled our waters quite frequently. read more

I wanted to eat here after my wedding and the owner provided a room for my wedding party with beautiful decor! The food and drinks were delicious! Thank you so much read more

Z Cafe & Bar - The Bride enjoying the cocktails - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Our waiter was so friendly. Food was very prompt and delicious. Great vibe and great drinks

Street parking Happy hour from 5 to 9 includes drink n food service are polite and friendly food are ok I ordered the slider pork it's not fresh my next order fried chicken n fries looks appetizing read more

Z Cafe & Bar - Fried chicken - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Food Service and Ambiance was amazing The chef, Victor, made an amazing vegetarian gnocchi. When I say perfect deliousus bite I meant it. read more

Z Cafe & Bar - VEGETARIAN GNOOCH. - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

This is my third time here. If I lived in Oakland, this would be my SPOT!! The last time I came up from LA, I came here two days in a row. The first time, I got the mushroom risotto and sat at the bar absolutely gobbling up the bread and butter . The vibes were AMAZING. I didn't talk to anyone, but everyone around me seemed to know each other. All the patrons. All the bartenders and waitstaff. Everyone was talking and laughing, and it felt so familiar, some how. I grew up as an only child to a single parent, so I'm not sure why being surrounded by all these people felt like home, but it did. The next night, I just ordered garlic fries to go. Tonight, grilled cheese and garlic fries. My 20 second interaction with the man who handed me my food was just...so...peaceful. I don't know how else to explain it. He just had a calm energy. This whole place has good energy. I am a HOMEBODY who just likes to be at home, by myself, no people. I never go out. But there's something about this place. (Oh, annnd the food is delicious, which is important too.) read more

Stopped by Z Cafe & Bar for dinner with a friend and it was a nice experience. We initially considered the happy hour menu, but it had limited food options. We both ordered the chicken piccata, and it was pretty good and the portion size was great too. Customer service was great, although the restaurant was quite busy. Parking was a bit of a challenge for me, but there is street parking available nearby. read more

A Hidden Gem in Downtown Oakland! Stopped by this cute little restaurant on 28th and Broadway and had such a wonderful experience! My girlfriends and I made a 2 p.m. Friday reservation for three, and everything went perfectly. Parking was easy, the seating was comfortable, and the atmosphere was just right for a relaxing afternoon. Our server Mona was super attentive and made sure we had everything we needed the whole time. The clam chowder was rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious, and the kale salad was fresh and full of flavor. The food was top-notch, and the service couldn't have been better. This place is truly a little hidden gem -- great food, great people, and a great vibe. Highly recommend! -- 99 read more

This place is a hidden gem & for some reason not many people know about it but the food is amazing, the service is fantastic and you can also do events there. Don't miss out on the spot! Once again the food is amazing, almost anything your order is going to be fantastic! Kudos to the owner for knowing what he's doing and the cooks and the great people of service here. Very friendly atmosphere! read more

Great staff , great comfort food , great architecture and beautiful chill sultry decor . Mona and team was a great host and took care of us and prepared our meals ahead of time as we had to make it to the comedy show next door . Thank you , such a great experience ! Personable , friendly and most yummy food read more

Portions small and not exciting Service is nice and friendly No real ambiance, restaurant is clean and well manicured read more

The food was great...the burger and sweet potato fries were the best! The salad was yummy. The service was friendly and the over feel of the place was comfortable. It was also convenient to park read more

Classy - beautiful bar, restaurant and building - safe - welcoming- outstanding drinks, food and top shelf service. These are some of the best qualities I think of when I think of Z's or describe the location to others. This is a hometown-classy, relaxed bar that is just beautifully decorated inside, from top to bottom. Elegant and welcoming. The staff is just as welcoming and remember your name and drink! There are plenty of seats throughout the restaurant and even some outside. Any drink you can think of, they will make it and BOOM, it'll be amazing too! Their bartenders are good mixologists. Refreshing and delicious. Now; their food....ohhhhh weeeee, all of it is delicious! Their wings are always on point and the sliders too! The good thing is on different days, they have different deals so you can try everything on their menu. Their bread and butter is always fresh! Literally. I would see them drop the bread off fresh every morning to the restaurant. They offer their restaurant and services for venues and events and I HIGHLY encourage you to have your future parties held at Z's. Whether you just want to get away for a drink or two and sit while people watching or involved in a conversation or just relaxing you will want to come hang at Z's and I promise this will be your new hangout. Easily located on the corner of 28th and Broadway, there is plenty of parking on both 28th and 27th, but just as anywhere in the Bay Area, please be mindful and lock your cars and do not leave valuables in your car. There is ADA seating and restrooms. read more

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Let's start by saying that Mehdi and his staff are the best My niece was looking for a place to have her wedding reception, mind you with zero days to spare, and Mehdi was very gracious and accommodating for such short notice. I got the impression that that's who he is as a person. Everything was set up in a private room and on time. I was told that the pot roast, ribs and lobster ravioli were seasoned well and tasted delish! We were able to enjoy ourselves without feeling rushed. Thanks again, Mehdi, Mona and crew for helping us make the bride and groom's day a little more special. read more

Food portions great! The waitress was super kind and very welcoming! The Ambiance of the restaurant was good! The taste of the food was overall wonderful will come back, when I'm in town again! Thank you! read more

Z Cafe & Bar - I had the lobster ravioli! The taste and combination of the ingredients were really good! - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

First time here and well worth the visit. A varied menu where all 6 of us had choices. GREAT service by Leemarr - he memorized all 6 meals, drinks, and any other asks and all was served exactly as ordered. And just genuinely nice. You don't see THAT anymore. Cocktails were above good levels, pork ribs fell off the bone, specialized garlic fries were crisped just right, and the onion rings had a light and fluffy batter.Multiple burgers ordered were great. Lively, comfortable , open, and warm atmosphere. 100% would come back! Solid 4.7! read more

Z Cafe & Bar - Cattle Burger with sweet potato fries. - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Had lunch today, for 2 at Z in Oakland. Never been before. Very impressed with the overall look and decor. Street parking for us was about 1/2 block away. Z reminded me of my favorite restaurants in New York and San Francisco. Welcoming staff, friendly service, very good food. Between the two of us we tried the BBQ ribs appetizer, Mississippi pot roast, onion rings, and crab salad sandwich. We ordered a glass of the Coppola Merlot and the Mojito. Both were great. First time at this restaurant and we will definitely return. read more

Unfortunately, we must've been too hungry to take photos of the food for this review, but we had a food experience overall. We tried the burgers with fries, and they were pretty good. The fries were crispy and golden, and the burger was big and fresh. It just needed a little salt, but once we put on our chef's hat and added some seasoning, it was perfect. The service was fine, nothing special. We were just expecting it to be more refined. read more

Outstanding service, great vibe, delicious and reasonably priced food, varied menu! Wish I would have discovered it years ago!

Came to Oakland to have my vehicle service and while walking looking for a coffee place found this establishment thinking it was just a restaurant. We started with couple black coffee the taste could of have been fresh from earlier but my tastes buds said it tasted burn and that it has been seating for a while there, we order the blackened tilapia $20 the plate served with rice, steam vegetables the couple things that made me think that it was not fresh since the restaurant stated in their menu "Daily Special: fresh ingredients of the day" which it was very interesting that the avocado salsa was not that fresh as it is stated neither the coffee, I believe the avocado salsa was a leftover and mixed with partially a fresh one, I took the plate to the bar where the waitress was chatting with her coworker and I asked her if I the cook can make a fresh avocado salsa since this one is presenting black abraded yellow of the avocado it doesn't look fresh. She rolled her eyes and no a simple apology she took the plate to the cook and from my table I was able to see the kitchen and the cook opening a brand new avocado and make the salsa, waitress brought the plate back to the table with an offended face and again no a simple apology but the avocado looked much much better fresh as it should. Customer service now in days is truly, truly, very poor for an establishment of two decades, facial expression said a lot. Ambiance it's nice very classy music a very decent volume that you can keep a conversation without yelling at each other. After this I don't think we will be back and for sure need to find a place for good fresh and not burned cup of coffee and with a good humble customer service. read more

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Service was quite bad, was pretty much ignored even though the place was empty. Food was bland. Would not come back. Nice atmosphere though.

Great Salad food, staff is friendly and accommodating. I had the Cesar Salad with grill chicken, I enjoyed the meal.

Having recently moved near the lake and wanting new places to eat without always having to make a reservation, this place checked all the boxes. The only negative take away I have is parking but it's not high on the scale because it took us no time to find a spot right near the restaurant doors. Setting the scene, it was early evening on a Saturday, a little bit before 8pm. We found parking right on the side street next to the restaurant front doors. Once inside the establishment we were greeted immediately and I was able to choose where I wanted to sit due to it not being crowded (mind blown on why it wasn't). Minutes after we received our seats/menus, we were brought waters & our drink order was taken. The cocktails were amazing and their happy hour really does make you happy! After giving the menu a nice look, we decided on fries, crab cakes and the lobster ravioli. Realizing that my husband and I would be sharing, our waiter went above and beyond and asked if we wanted the ravioli brought out on two plates (Thank You, so sorry I didn't get his name). The kitchen did a beautiful job in taste and quality while preparing the food! For dessert my husband got the bread pudding which was so good I barely got any so I had to order the flourless chocolate cake. Although I don't shy away from flour, that cake made me reconsider my life choices lol. It definitely was great with the fresh cup of coffee I had to accompany it. With the service, the food and the ambiance we will definitely be regulars at The Z Bar! read more

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Came here for a late lunch It's better than I expected Crab cake is crispy outside and packed with real crab meats, very fresh and tasty HH drinks are $1 off, no discount on food Garlic fries are delicious filled with garlic aroma Drink is ok. Off the street parking read more

Z Cafe & Bar - Caesar chicken salad Crab cake Garlic fries Conspiracy - Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Z Cafe has pretty decent food, great selections and reasonable prices. The service is just okay.

Came here per recommendation of a fellow Yelp buddy. They have happy hour from 3-9PM daily. There are so many vodka-based drinks to choose from! My friend comes here for their lobster ravioli, which is comfort food at its finest and their blackened tilapia entree definitely hit the spot. The tiramisu in a cup was the perfect way to end the night. Service was attentive and down-to-earth. Our host, Pia, was so amazing, attentive, and down-to-earth. Very cool place to grab some grub, grab some happy hour drinks, and chill. read more

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New to the area. Love Z bar and café. They take very good care of the businesses in the area. Salads are fresh and good. Lots of different appetizers to choose from. read more