There didn't seem to be enough waitstaff. It was very busy, as might be expected on Easter. But even so, the few servers were polite, friendly and helpful. The food was good. My omelet was wonderful and they kindly substituted fruit for potatoes. Some in my party would have liked some low carb options like salad or grilled veggies. One person complained the potatoes were greasy. The Boathouse normally has a seafood roll--but not at brunch. That was disappointing. Ambiance was great--on the marina on a sunny day was lovely. It's hard to reach the restaurant with question. Their voicemail says they will call back. They didn't in my experience. A lot of the items were quite expensive. Many could easily be made at home.
Gene Teichroeb
We ate and drank here for multiple meals over a 4 day stay in the hotel. The cocktails were good but not great. The atmosphere gets a higher rating for the view. Service is strange - nice enough people serving but they're also experts at not looking around at anything but their immediate task. They'll get to you - when they want to but, good luck getting anyone's attention when they're doing anything else. I've never seen people so skilled at avoiding eye contact, not hearing people saying excuse me, looking down at the floor as they walk between tables, etc. Now for the prices.... $32 for a double Woodford Reserve ?, $8 for a glass of tonic water, easily $50 - $80 per person for a couple of cocktails and some average appetizers. Crazy over pricing for average quality food and drink.Uodate: on the last morning of our stay we went down to the restaurant 20 minutes before the breakfast service was ending. The restaurant was empty, all the tables were cleared, and the staff was standing in a group talking. We asked if we could still get breakfast and the hostess, who never even got off of her chair, suggested that we go to the convenience shop and get food there because they needed to set up the restaurant for something. I asked if maybe we could get something for take out and one of the servers said, "yes - you should do that". While we stood there looking at the menu to decide, more people arrived asking of they could get breakfast and, I guess the staff gave up on turning people away because they led them to a table. We still thought we were supposed to just order take out until a very nice woman named Maraki came up to us and asked if we'd like to stay and sit at a table. She said she would set one up for us and it would be okay to stay and order food and eat there. After that, 3 more tables filled up with people coming in for breakfast and we received good service from Maraki until we were done. We were made to feel very much like we were an inconvenience to the restaurant staff until one of them had the decency to step up and treat us like paying customers who, by the way, spent $50 on breakfast for 2 people. This is what they are charging luxury hotel and restaurant prices for.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
waterstrider
Love this restaurant. It is quiet, relaxed. The service is friendly and the atmosphere chill. The drinks and food are at the level of outstanding bar food. Go for the atmosphere and enjoy the food.
Jennifer Chang
Mely made my birthday experience FUN! She is very outgoing, friendly and even assisted my friend with a gluten allergy. The chef happened to pop out and to let Mely know the " green curry mussels were 86'ed" as in sold out LOL. He was very kind and he even assisted with being super accommodating to my friends Gluten diet.We stayed till close and they let us do pur thing...the food was amazing & drinks we're even better..Thank you Mely!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
J. C.
I was here a few nights ago with some friends from out of town. Excellent views, service, and ambience, and one of the few places in the area that's open late on Sundays.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Jim
My wife and I liked the food and the service was excellent. However, we did not like a 20% tip being added to the bill without being asked (see image). We normally tip that amount, but like to think it is our decision. And to see a blank line for another gratuity is over the top.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad
We have been here before many years ago when we lived in the Bay. We were attending a function nearby and wanted to get some delicious cioppino. We ordered the calamari fritti, which was soggy and not even lightly crispy. We also had the delicious chicken Wings. I ordered a tall Cranberry juice with fresh squeezed lemonade, but they added fake lemon juice. They had a whole bowl of Lemons and limes. We shared the cioppino, the crab legs were fresh and delicious. Very little stew but they did give a nice toasted bread with it. We ordered the creme brulee, which was completely charcoal black and left a bitter gas taste in our mouth. The waitress was great, and did have them remake it but I lost our appetite for it. The ambiance was perfect. We were seated by the window, and watched the sunset. From the hostess to the wait staff, it was great. Sadly, our meal wasn't what we remembered.
Jazz Jenkins
Good prices hours are dumb?? good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
SorayaN
Made reservations for The Berkeley Boathouse to try it out. We were expecting a nice view and good seafood. They placed us in the middle of the restaurant when there were not many other diners, the shrimp and salmon were undercooked. The service was accommodating, but it took a lot of repeating for the orders to be understood. Both my husband and I got stomach aches. Will not be returning as it was mediocre at best and made us sick.
Not a good experience... Service was slow.. at $85 a person the food came out slow and was cold when it got to it. Soup was lukewarm. Just appeared that they were not prepared for Valentine's Day rush.
The Berkeley boathouse has definitely passed its prime. This was our first time dining there and we did based on previous reviews. However the food was good not great and definitely not worth the price tag. Glad we visited but not going back there again. Also parking is validated but if not, it's costly.
Michael Mancuso
It's like a secret location.. feels miles away from the city but it's 5 minutes off the highway..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jim Hix
OK a bit $$ but very good food my wife had the oxtails and I had the steak!! Awesome and well worth the price!!! The server was top notch a little talkative but funny and friendly... I believe his name is Roger he is a 7 star
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: San Francisco Bay Clam Chowder
MichaelE
The best thing about this restaurant is the view; directly on the water. When we went there it was a cloudy, stormy day, hence now view. But that is certainly not the restaurant's fault. Breakfast was fine; service was very nice.
There didn't seem to be enough waitstaff. It was very busy, as might be expected on Easter. But even so, the few servers were polite, friendly and helpful. The food was good. My omelet was wonderful and they kindly substituted fruit for potatoes. Some in my party would have liked some low carb options like salad or grilled veggies. One person complained the potatoes were greasy. The Boathouse normally has a seafood roll--but not at brunch. That was disappointing. Ambiance was great--on the marina on a sunny day was lovely. It's hard to reach the restaurant with question. Their voicemail says they will call back. They didn't in my experience. A lot of the items were quite expensive. Many could easily be made at home.
We ate and drank here for multiple meals over a 4 day stay in the hotel. The cocktails were good but not great. The atmosphere gets a higher rating for the view. Service is strange - nice enough people serving but they're also experts at not looking around at anything but their immediate task. They'll get to you - when they want to but, good luck getting anyone's attention when they're doing anything else. I've never seen people so skilled at avoiding eye contact, not hearing people saying excuse me, looking down at the floor as they walk between tables, etc. Now for the prices.... $32 for a double Woodford Reserve ?, $8 for a glass of tonic water, easily $50 - $80 per person for a couple of cocktails and some average appetizers. Crazy over pricing for average quality food and drink.Uodate: on the last morning of our stay we went down to the restaurant 20 minutes before the breakfast service was ending. The restaurant was empty, all the tables were cleared, and the staff was standing in a group talking. We asked if we could still get breakfast and the hostess, who never even got off of her chair, suggested that we go to the convenience shop and get food there because they needed to set up the restaurant for something. I asked if maybe we could get something for take out and one of the servers said, "yes - you should do that". While we stood there looking at the menu to decide, more people arrived asking of they could get breakfast and, I guess the staff gave up on turning people away because they led them to a table. We still thought we were supposed to just order take out until a very nice woman named Maraki came up to us and asked if we'd like to stay and sit at a table. She said she would set one up for us and it would be okay to stay and order food and eat there. After that, 3 more tables filled up with people coming in for breakfast and we received good service from Maraki until we were done. We were made to feel very much like we were an inconvenience to the restaurant staff until one of them had the decency to step up and treat us like paying customers who, by the way, spent $50 on breakfast for 2 people. This is what they are charging luxury hotel and restaurant prices for.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Love this restaurant. It is quiet, relaxed. The service is friendly and the atmosphere chill. The drinks and food are at the level of outstanding bar food. Go for the atmosphere and enjoy the food.
Mely made my birthday experience FUN! She is very outgoing, friendly and even assisted my friend with a gluten allergy. The chef happened to pop out and to let Mely know the " green curry mussels were 86'ed" as in sold out LOL. He was very kind and he even assisted with being super accommodating to my friends Gluten diet.We stayed till close and they let us do pur thing...the food was amazing & drinks we're even better..Thank you Mely!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was here a few nights ago with some friends from out of town. Excellent views, service, and ambience, and one of the few places in the area that's open late on Sundays.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
My wife and I liked the food and the service was excellent. However, we did not like a 20% tip being added to the bill without being asked (see image). We normally tip that amount, but like to think it is our decision. And to see a blank line for another gratuity is over the top.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad
We have been here before many years ago when we lived in the Bay. We were attending a function nearby and wanted to get some delicious cioppino. We ordered the calamari fritti, which was soggy and not even lightly crispy. We also had the delicious chicken Wings. I ordered a tall Cranberry juice with fresh squeezed lemonade, but they added fake lemon juice. They had a whole bowl of Lemons and limes. We shared the cioppino, the crab legs were fresh and delicious. Very little stew but they did give a nice toasted bread with it. We ordered the creme brulee, which was completely charcoal black and left a bitter gas taste in our mouth. The waitress was great, and did have them remake it but I lost our appetite for it. The ambiance was perfect. We were seated by the window, and watched the sunset. From the hostess to the wait staff, it was great. Sadly, our meal wasn't what we remembered.
Good prices hours are dumb?? good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Made reservations for The Berkeley Boathouse to try it out. We were expecting a nice view and good seafood. They placed us in the middle of the restaurant when there were not many other diners, the shrimp and salmon were undercooked. The service was accommodating, but it took a lot of repeating for the orders to be understood. Both my husband and I got stomach aches. Will not be returning as it was mediocre at best and made us sick.
Not a good experience... Service was slow.. at $85 a person the food came out slow and was cold when it got to it. Soup was lukewarm. Just appeared that they were not prepared for Valentine's Day rush.
Restaurantji Recommends
The Berkeley boathouse has definitely passed its prime. This was our first time dining there and we did based on previous reviews. However the food was good not great and definitely not worth the price tag. Glad we visited but not going back there again. Also parking is validated but if not, it's costly.
It's like a secret location.. feels miles away from the city but it's 5 minutes off the highway..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
OK a bit $$ but very good food my wife had the oxtails and I had the steak!! Awesome and well worth the price!!! The server was top notch a little talkative but funny and friendly... I believe his name is Roger he is a 7 star
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: San Francisco Bay Clam Chowder
The best thing about this restaurant is the view; directly on the water. When we went there it was a cloudy, stormy day, hence now view. But that is certainly not the restaurant's fault. Breakfast was fine; service was very nice.
Awesome BAR Hotel
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5