Talk about a wise use of limited square footage, and you will probably cite American Oak. It would be great if the owner can hire more sober supervision, if they reopen. Most of the people that work here are very good at waiting on customers. How many rotten apples does it take to spoil everything? I'll tell you; 1. I avoided that 1. My Yelp friends had a very disappointing encounter here. So this became a last resort when other local spots were packed or closed. American Oak can get a full house at times. Probably because the drinks are good. I never ate here. It was better to be unworried about having a negative encounter when I'm trying to conclude a beautiful, or exhausting day. Outdoor seating, upper deck interior seating, main dining areas seating, bar counters seating, and lots of open floor space for mingling. The parking garage is less than a block away, for the times when curbside parking is filled. This is Downtown Alameda. There are even activities for entertainment nearby. The subsequent business is sure to be another restaurant/bar. We'll see! With luck, it will be a well managed place with good people, good food & drinks, and fun! I don't like going to places that get negative reviews from my friends because I feel like I have to be in high alert mode, and scrutinizing every little thing
Keanna H.
- Cute location with indoor and outdoor seating. While it's long and narrow, it's pretty spacious. - Be prepared to have your proof of vaccination ready when you check in with the host/ess. Highlights -The cornbread tastes like home. The honey butter takes it up a notch. - The roasted cauliflower is perfectly cooked and topped with garlic. You'll gum or mints after eating this. - the grits are just mm mm mmm. Thick, creamy and cheesy. Get them and don't question it. - The brownie with peanut butter whipped cream is just WOW. It's warm, chocolatey, and decadent without being too dense. I would eat this every day if I could. Our server Annie was very knowledgeable of the menu, helpful, and friendly. We plan to go back very soon.
Cassandra Zeballos
Had the fish of the day which was a cod and it was all so bland. Even the little gem salad was too.
Jessica L.
Quick Summary - Great ambience for a date, a casual night out with friends, or just a weeknight dinner. Nice upstairs waiting area where you can get drinks while you wait to be seated. Good service and good food! Truffle Fries: Crispy, fluffy fries and really good truffle flavor too! It's a bit pricey, but worth a try. Chicken and Grits: Honestly, I wasn't expecting to like this so much, but I REALLY enjoyed this. Super tender chicken served with an amazing gravy, Parmesan (?) grits and some veggies on the side. I didn't find it too heavy, which was clear from my plate which was absolutely scraped clean. I'd come back for this dish alone, although I don't remember it always being available.
Kendolyn H.
First time here. Sat at the bar. Food was amazing. Drinks were nice. Will be back! Found this place randomly on Yelp. The place seems cute for a date night or solo dining.
Hideki Kimura
Our server Dallas was very cheerful and provided excellent service. I recommend their truffle fries but I have to admit the steak I ordered was a bit too fatty. Otherwise, no complaints.
Rikk Streng
Came here for a whiskey and food tasting. It’s a fun place, and the tasting host is very professional and entertaining.
Daniel A.
One of my favorite spots to come for a GOOD drink! The old fashioned never disappoints and the staff here is amazing! Tip: Add bacon to your mac n cheese and go for the truffle fries!
Y C
Fried chicken sandwich, chicken wings, and truffle fries! 2 delicious drinks to top it off! Indoor seating requires you to show proof of vaccination. You're welcome to sit outside if you're not vaccinated or dont have proof. They do have a QR code to get your digital vaccination proof. Parking is always tough in this area.
Michael R.
First time coming to this spot. It was in the raffle of the random selections of our Friday night dinner. SO HAPPY! The meatloaf was fire, with a crispy edge to resemble a loaf of bread (brilliant) and the carrots and mashed potatoes. Mmm! But... to top it all off was my server, Lauralee. Not only was she sweet but she was honest. She anticipated my needs and was consistent in checking up on me. Her recommendations were on point. That bread pudding, y'all! The entire staff was great. I did not catch his name but the food runner was very friendly in making conversation. Thank you staff of AO. We WILL be back.
Enjoyed the whole experience.. food was top notch and the drinks were plentiful . Will stop by again soon.
Anna Carolina de Castro
My husband and I went at night to celebrate his birthday eve, ordering beers, hot wings and mac & cheese, conclusion we were satisfied only with the starter, so we decided to order entrees for kids so there is no food wasted and we were denied by chef of the establishment, as we were not with a child. In conclusion, we asked for the bill and went to another restaurant! ?
Marilyn M.
If you want a good cocktail, no, a really good cocktail, come here, the bartenders are so good , and knowledgeable. I can recommend the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned! Delicious!
Anwesha D.
Came here for post dinner drinks- amazing ambience and the bartender went above and beyond in making us the most delightful drinks. Not only did he give us samples of a few different whiskeys, he made sure the grapefruit was freshly squeezed in what might be the mezcal paloma I've ever had. Service was impeccable and loved the whole experience can't wait to come back for dinner.
Jen A.
American Oak, you're overpriced and you ain't that good... I never leave a bad review, but sheesh!Service was okay, but the food was really unremarkable. We got the gem salad which included a few frozen baby shrimp, a couple pieces of old lettuce and a few radishes and maybe some trader joes salad dressing for $15. More than lackluster. Then we got the burger, definitely frozen with a bunch of Lawry's seasoning. They even charge $2 for pickles... it didn't even come with a tomato. Fries were frozen. We won't be back and I'd bet money this restaurant won't be in business in a couple years. The only star comes from the $5 house white wine.
Talk about a wise use of limited square footage, and you will probably cite American Oak. It would be great if the owner can hire more sober supervision, if they reopen. Most of the people that work here are very good at waiting on customers. How many rotten apples does it take to spoil everything? I'll tell you; 1. I avoided that 1. My Yelp friends had a very disappointing encounter here. So this became a last resort when other local spots were packed or closed. American Oak can get a full house at times. Probably because the drinks are good. I never ate here. It was better to be unworried about having a negative encounter when I'm trying to conclude a beautiful, or exhausting day. Outdoor seating, upper deck interior seating, main dining areas seating, bar counters seating, and lots of open floor space for mingling. The parking garage is less than a block away, for the times when curbside parking is filled. This is Downtown Alameda. There are even activities for entertainment nearby. The subsequent business is sure to be another restaurant/bar. We'll see! With luck, it will be a well managed place with good people, good food & drinks, and fun! I don't like going to places that get negative reviews from my friends because I feel like I have to be in high alert mode, and scrutinizing every little thing
- Cute location with indoor and outdoor seating. While it's long and narrow, it's pretty spacious. - Be prepared to have your proof of vaccination ready when you check in with the host/ess. Highlights -The cornbread tastes like home. The honey butter takes it up a notch. - The roasted cauliflower is perfectly cooked and topped with garlic. You'll gum or mints after eating this. - the grits are just mm mm mmm. Thick, creamy and cheesy. Get them and don't question it. - The brownie with peanut butter whipped cream is just WOW. It's warm, chocolatey, and decadent without being too dense. I would eat this every day if I could. Our server Annie was very knowledgeable of the menu, helpful, and friendly. We plan to go back very soon.
Had the fish of the day which was a cod and it was all so bland. Even the little gem salad was too.
Quick Summary - Great ambience for a date, a casual night out with friends, or just a weeknight dinner. Nice upstairs waiting area where you can get drinks while you wait to be seated. Good service and good food! Truffle Fries: Crispy, fluffy fries and really good truffle flavor too! It's a bit pricey, but worth a try. Chicken and Grits: Honestly, I wasn't expecting to like this so much, but I REALLY enjoyed this. Super tender chicken served with an amazing gravy, Parmesan (?) grits and some veggies on the side. I didn't find it too heavy, which was clear from my plate which was absolutely scraped clean. I'd come back for this dish alone, although I don't remember it always being available.
First time here. Sat at the bar. Food was amazing. Drinks were nice. Will be back! Found this place randomly on Yelp. The place seems cute for a date night or solo dining.
Our server Dallas was very cheerful and provided excellent service. I recommend their truffle fries but I have to admit the steak I ordered was a bit too fatty. Otherwise, no complaints.
Came here for a whiskey and food tasting. It’s a fun place, and the tasting host is very professional and entertaining.
One of my favorite spots to come for a GOOD drink! The old fashioned never disappoints and the staff here is amazing! Tip: Add bacon to your mac n cheese and go for the truffle fries!
Fried chicken sandwich, chicken wings, and truffle fries! 2 delicious drinks to top it off! Indoor seating requires you to show proof of vaccination. You're welcome to sit outside if you're not vaccinated or dont have proof. They do have a QR code to get your digital vaccination proof. Parking is always tough in this area.
First time coming to this spot. It was in the raffle of the random selections of our Friday night dinner. SO HAPPY! The meatloaf was fire, with a crispy edge to resemble a loaf of bread (brilliant) and the carrots and mashed potatoes. Mmm! But... to top it all off was my server, Lauralee. Not only was she sweet but she was honest. She anticipated my needs and was consistent in checking up on me. Her recommendations were on point. That bread pudding, y'all! The entire staff was great. I did not catch his name but the food runner was very friendly in making conversation. Thank you staff of AO. We WILL be back.
Restaurantji Recommends
Enjoyed the whole experience.. food was top notch and the drinks were plentiful . Will stop by again soon.
My husband and I went at night to celebrate his birthday eve, ordering beers, hot wings and mac & cheese, conclusion we were satisfied only with the starter, so we decided to order entrees for kids so there is no food wasted and we were denied by chef of the establishment, as we were not with a child. In conclusion, we asked for the bill and went to another restaurant! ?
If you want a good cocktail, no, a really good cocktail, come here, the bartenders are so good , and knowledgeable. I can recommend the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned! Delicious!
Came here for post dinner drinks- amazing ambience and the bartender went above and beyond in making us the most delightful drinks. Not only did he give us samples of a few different whiskeys, he made sure the grapefruit was freshly squeezed in what might be the mezcal paloma I've ever had. Service was impeccable and loved the whole experience can't wait to come back for dinner.
American Oak, you're overpriced and you ain't that good... I never leave a bad review, but sheesh!Service was okay, but the food was really unremarkable. We got the gem salad which included a few frozen baby shrimp, a couple pieces of old lettuce and a few radishes and maybe some trader joes salad dressing for $15. More than lackluster. Then we got the burger, definitely frozen with a bunch of Lawry's seasoning. They even charge $2 for pickles... it didn't even come with a tomato. Fries were frozen. We won't be back and I'd bet money this restaurant won't be in business in a couple years. The only star comes from the $5 house white wine.