Nice ambience and variety of drinks. Loved the drinks menu a lot to choose from. I tried 5?level drinks n was not that boozy i felt they can add more alcohol i think. Good for nice first date, Kichen closed when we arrived around 11PM. The bar closes at 12PM on weekend too .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Colada
Mike Duigou
The drinks would get six stars, the food only four. It is nice to see how the cocktail menu continues to evolve and tantalize.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chi Chi, Rum Barrel, Tradewinds, Monkeypod
Jay R.
I'm always on the lookout for a good Tiki Bar and as I was in the Oakland area I figured I'd better find my way over to Alameda and check out The Forbidden Island. This was my first time here, and I have to say I was not disappointed. Nice atmosphere inside as well as an outdoor patio area, all nicely decorated. I had three drinks. Staring with a Navy Grog, which I thought was a little heavy on the lime juice for the first few sips but as the ice melted a bit it smoothed out and was quite good. Next was a Hemingway Daiquiri which was smooth from start to finish. Nicely garnished with a mango skin. I spoke with Mike, the owner, and asked for a recommendation for my third and final drink of the evening and he recommended the their signature "Forbidden Island " cocktail. I ordered one in one of their take home mugs. It was a bit sweet for my taste but not sickeningly or syrupy sweet. Overall a very nice cocktail. I ordered from their food menu. It was mostly just deep fried stuff. Typical bar food but fairly priced for what you get. If you're in the Oakland area it's definitely worth going!!
Cindy S
This place is awful and unwelcoming. Lots of entitled retired white people and non-existent service or friendliness. Choose any other bay area tiki bar.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Catherine L.
Nice place.they maintain the place.small but super unique once you are inside. & the ambience is superb. The appetizer is great, drinks as well.customer service is great too.
Pat C.
Table service is efficient and what you need. The choices of cocktails is excellent. Not very strong so don't hesitate. A great tiki bar if that's your vibe with a large back yard.
Ell B.
I arrived on a date with my boyfriend and we sat at the bar. We were greeted very passively mentioning what first we could not have on the menu- claiming a power control and assuming we wanted a drink that entailed about 6 - they are known for tropical so we wanted to go on a vacation. What happened next has taken me weeks to write because the treatment that followed from the staff directly has made me feel uncomfortable and sick to my stomach. After choosing a drink and some appetizers- the waiter had given us a bowl that was top rated and highly expensive, but the drink was almost entirely ice and the straw appeared to be broken. I asked the bartender ( working next to the one who had taken the order ) and he made me repeat what I said- mentioning that our straw for some reason had been broken. He respoonded with a flashlight to examine slower and seriously the straw. While this sounds funny to type- it was aggressive as I had taken a lot of courage to even mention it, with social anxiety, but he proceeded to bring back another straw that was so long it could have been a smaller version of a garden hose in real life, and a bundle of markers when I had politely asked for a pen. The reality was we had priced a meal that equated between food and drinks close to $100 dollars and were met with such cruel and unusual treatment. The original server came back, saw what had happened and proceeded to make us extremely uncomfortable and unwelcomed with further passive remarks. I couldn't believe that this is on cameras to this day and the ptsd from leaving with our heads like strawberries- is nothing short of absolutely atrocious behavior- and truly customer abuse in terms of misconduct. I have hoped to speak to the owners but with several messages, was not able to reach to further address the cruel and unusual behavior - will never return and hope the two men who made my extremely kind boyfriend and I on one of our only date nights- so uncomfortable. I truly hope this gets resolved.
John C.
Good drinks and good snacks. Very nice atmosphere. However, it is a bit on the expensive side. Final bill was much higher than I expected.
Queenstatusbabe
This was our first time visiting Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge. The service and atmosphere was amazing! Justin was our server and he was amazing! He suggested drinks and was very personable. I also want to compliment the team member who assisted us when Justin was on break/or with another guest. They have awesome team work. My daughter's and I will definitely return. Thank you for the nice experience!
Great Drinks. Miami Dave Knows his stuff. Some off the best drinks I have ever tasted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
aaron macholl-stanley
I showed up severely over served and they treated me kindly and gave some water and explained why I couldn't be served any further and I left like gentleman hopefully able to toss my hat in the threshold in the future.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ryan Talmadge
Note: Reservations required at night and 2 hr table limits.Came with friends for drinks during our stay in Alameda. Drinks are fairly priced, but were too sour for my taste.I was a bartender for almost a decade so maybe I’m too picky, but a lot of the cocktails I got lacked the balance I expect from tiki drinks.You should definitely come check it out, but check your expectations IMHO…
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Michanne Hoctor
Very fun place!Food would've rated a 5 however the drinks were not full, especially for the price.Super fun tiki bar.Yummy fried foods!
Everything about this place was great except for one server who had a bad attitude. The lady tending bar was super nice though and made up for it. She was slinging some delicious cocktails! Great vibe, good appetizers.. looking forward to returning on that one server's day off. =)
Cool bar if you're ever in Alameda.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Nice ambience and variety of drinks. Loved the drinks menu a lot to choose from. I tried 5?level drinks n was not that boozy i felt they can add more alcohol i think. Good for nice first date, Kichen closed when we arrived around 11PM. The bar closes at 12PM on weekend too .
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Colada
The drinks would get six stars, the food only four. It is nice to see how the cocktail menu continues to evolve and tantalize.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chi Chi, Rum Barrel, Tradewinds, Monkeypod
I'm always on the lookout for a good Tiki Bar and as I was in the Oakland area I figured I'd better find my way over to Alameda and check out The Forbidden Island. This was my first time here, and I have to say I was not disappointed. Nice atmosphere inside as well as an outdoor patio area, all nicely decorated. I had three drinks. Staring with a Navy Grog, which I thought was a little heavy on the lime juice for the first few sips but as the ice melted a bit it smoothed out and was quite good. Next was a Hemingway Daiquiri which was smooth from start to finish. Nicely garnished with a mango skin. I spoke with Mike, the owner, and asked for a recommendation for my third and final drink of the evening and he recommended the their signature "Forbidden Island " cocktail. I ordered one in one of their take home mugs. It was a bit sweet for my taste but not sickeningly or syrupy sweet. Overall a very nice cocktail. I ordered from their food menu. It was mostly just deep fried stuff. Typical bar food but fairly priced for what you get. If you're in the Oakland area it's definitely worth going!!
This place is awful and unwelcoming. Lots of entitled retired white people and non-existent service or friendliness. Choose any other bay area tiki bar.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Nice place.they maintain the place.small but super unique once you are inside. & the ambience is superb. The appetizer is great, drinks as well.customer service is great too.
Table service is efficient and what you need. The choices of cocktails is excellent. Not very strong so don't hesitate. A great tiki bar if that's your vibe with a large back yard.
I arrived on a date with my boyfriend and we sat at the bar. We were greeted very passively mentioning what first we could not have on the menu- claiming a power control and assuming we wanted a drink that entailed about 6 - they are known for tropical so we wanted to go on a vacation. What happened next has taken me weeks to write because the treatment that followed from the staff directly has made me feel uncomfortable and sick to my stomach. After choosing a drink and some appetizers- the waiter had given us a bowl that was top rated and highly expensive, but the drink was almost entirely ice and the straw appeared to be broken. I asked the bartender ( working next to the one who had taken the order ) and he made me repeat what I said- mentioning that our straw for some reason had been broken. He respoonded with a flashlight to examine slower and seriously the straw. While this sounds funny to type- it was aggressive as I had taken a lot of courage to even mention it, with social anxiety, but he proceeded to bring back another straw that was so long it could have been a smaller version of a garden hose in real life, and a bundle of markers when I had politely asked for a pen. The reality was we had priced a meal that equated between food and drinks close to $100 dollars and were met with such cruel and unusual treatment. The original server came back, saw what had happened and proceeded to make us extremely uncomfortable and unwelcomed with further passive remarks. I couldn't believe that this is on cameras to this day and the ptsd from leaving with our heads like strawberries- is nothing short of absolutely atrocious behavior- and truly customer abuse in terms of misconduct. I have hoped to speak to the owners but with several messages, was not able to reach to further address the cruel and unusual behavior - will never return and hope the two men who made my extremely kind boyfriend and I on one of our only date nights- so uncomfortable. I truly hope this gets resolved.
Good drinks and good snacks. Very nice atmosphere. However, it is a bit on the expensive side. Final bill was much higher than I expected.
This was our first time visiting Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge. The service and atmosphere was amazing! Justin was our server and he was amazing! He suggested drinks and was very personable. I also want to compliment the team member who assisted us when Justin was on break/or with another guest. They have awesome team work. My daughter's and I will definitely return. Thank you for the nice experience!
Restaurantji Recommends
Great Drinks. Miami Dave Knows his stuff. Some off the best drinks I have ever tasted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
I showed up severely over served and they treated me kindly and gave some water and explained why I couldn't be served any further and I left like gentleman hopefully able to toss my hat in the threshold in the future.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Note: Reservations required at night and 2 hr table limits.Came with friends for drinks during our stay in Alameda. Drinks are fairly priced, but were too sour for my taste.I was a bartender for almost a decade so maybe I’m too picky, but a lot of the cocktails I got lacked the balance I expect from tiki drinks.You should definitely come check it out, but check your expectations IMHO…
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Very fun place!Food would've rated a 5 however the drinks were not full, especially for the price.Super fun tiki bar.Yummy fried foods!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sweet Potato Fries, Coconut Shrimp
Everything about this place was great except for one server who had a bad attitude. The lady tending bar was super nice though and made up for it. She was slinging some delicious cocktails! Great vibe, good appetizers.. looking forward to returning on that one server's day off. =)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Forbidden Island