50 Best American Restaurants near El Cerrito

“Best food and best service!“

“Great service and great food. Fast and friendly. I loved it!!“

“Long overdue review: Fat Apples is an institution, to put it mildly. It holds down a big corner on one of the best blocks in town, it’s always open when you need it, and the menu has just about anything you could want. Personally, I subsist on their drip coffee and tuna melts. A dozen cheese puffs is my favorite gift to give.
The staff are cheerful and helpful every single day. And the owners are just as kind and generous outside the restaurant. They’re active in the El Cerrito community and Chamber of Commerce, and they frequently donate cookies to local events. The cookies are always a crowd favorite, of course. My favorite part though? Bob Ross on the TV, all day. I mean, what more could a gal ask for than the calming nature of happy little trees in motion. We’re lucky to have this special place.“

“I'm gonna give this a 4.8 star, I got this delivered, the packaging was secured and properly done, yet came with no straw, the fries not that crunchy or anything but that's fine, the drink was a rootbeer, was watered down some but again it's delivered, the Burger itself was absolutely delicious, meat cooked perfectly, tomatoes cut nicely, the lettuce was a bit brown but that's nothing, the bottom bun was a little soggy but that's fine (again delivered) but over all amazing I would recommend this place 100% but do go inside, just so your food doesn't get soggy or drink get watered down. :)“

“Staff was friendly and the service of the food was delicious 🤤“

“DESPUÉS DE SER DISCRIMINADA EN EL DENNY’S DE EMERYVILLE CALIFORNIA NOS FUIMOS A CELEBRAR MI ESPOSO Y YO MI CUMPLEAÑOS AL DENNY’S DEL CERRITO CALIFORNIA Y NOS TRATARON SÚPER Y LA COMIDA NI SE DIGA QUEDAMOS ENCANTADOS, NORMALMENTE VAMOS A ESOS DOS DENNY’S PERO BUENO NO TUVIMOS MÁS FAMILIA PARA CELEBRAR MI CUMPLEAÑOS Y AL DE EMERYVILLE FUIMOS A DAR Y NO FINALICE BIEN MI CUMPLEAÑOS PERO SI RECOMIENDO EN EL CERRITO Y AHÍ TAMBIÉN POR QUE NO, SOLO FUE UN MAL DÍA DE ESA PERSONA“

“The food in this restaurant is delicious, I hope you have time to try it.“

“We had dinner there and the food was delicious…. The fried quail was the star. The starters were excellent. Very recommended restaurant“

“It was our first time and we were definitely pleased. Everything was delicious!“

“We walked in on NYE without a reservation and they graciously found us a spot in the bar area. Service was on point and staff were festively dressed! I love a crafty cocktail but most are too sweet. I had the Smokey mezcal cocktail 🍹. Perfection. Appetizers were delish as well. Perfect way to start our NYE celebrations.“

“Always an interesting experience and fun treat. Classic cocktails in a classic atmosphere. Service is on point! Food is innovative yet still comforting and familiar. Never disappointed.“

“Great food and ambience here!“

“What an amazing culinary experience! We had a three course meal. The waiter was very helpful, friendly and had great recommendations! I highly recommend this place if you're in San Francisco!“

“Great breakfast and fast service Thank you ♥️♥️“

“I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. I am a business owner a few doors down and I wandered in with a friend after work one night about a month ago. We were met with such incredible warmth from the staff and the environment itself, even without a reservation. We sat at the bar and were greeted by Josh, only to find out later that he is the owner. He made excellent recommendations on everything from our drinks to dessert. The bar didn’t feel isolated from the rest of the restaurant and guests, but rather was lively hub frequented by kitchen and serving staff and warmed by a smoldering wood fire. The coziest. We swooned for the poke appetizer, complete with house-made toasted, but not crisp, blue corn tortillas. The pork shoulder tacos—also to die for. I have to say though, that the star on the sidelines was the beans. I honestly didn’t know I could feel this way about beans…but I digress. Josh bounced around from table to table all night, never letting a single ball drop, making every guest feel like *his* guest. A pot de crème sealed the evening in perfect bliss. I’m back a month later with the same friend, eating different and somehow even more incredible entrees: ribeye, halibut and a rhubarb crisp for dessert. I scarcely ever take the time to write a review as I prefer to vote with my $ and my feet, but I simply couldn’t eat here again without taking the time to sing it’s praises. Eat here.“

“Always a superior fine American dining experience at Spruce. This place needs its Michelin star back...maybe add another. Our server, Michael, was incredible, and the tasting menu, from the Parker House rolls to the desserts was perfect.

We went for the supplements, which I recommend as an actual additional course, rather than a substitute, as the tasting menu itself is so thoughtfully curated that you don't want to miss out on the chefs rhythm.

Decor remains relaxing and peaceful....my only quibble (and this is of ALL san Francisco restaurants) is that the pacing can feel a wee bit rushed, between courses, especially if you're used to fine dining in other cities, such as New York. But in terms of service, food, and atmosphere...
.no notes....just go!“

“Holy Schnike!!! The food is incredibly delicious, the non-seafood versions I am getting are the most amazing tastes. The Wines paired with the dishes are inspired and spot on.“

“Affordable price, great taste“

“The food inside is delicious and healthy portions. The service here is great too!“

“The view is comfortable and the dishes are exquisite. It is highly recommended.“

“Amazing dining experience. Worth the price“

“Another brilliant visit to Sorrel and Alex Hong continues to reign as my current favorite Chef! 🤘🏼If you haven’t been to Sorrel, go. Total genius.“

“My friend, Mike, who lives nearby with his wife, raved about it so much that my BF and I decided to come after a short trip to Marin. It was everything that he described and more. It was fantastic! Excellent food and atmosphere. Will definitely add to my list of favorites and will recommend to my Palo Alto friends!“

“🌟 NOPA San Francisco: A Bucket List Culinary Triumph! 🌟 Review by: The Bucket List Coach Webshow. I recently had the distinct pleasure of crossing a major culinary destination off my bucket list: NOPA San Francisco. My dining experience on December 12, 2025, was not just a meal; it was an absolute masterclass in hospitality and farm-to-table excellence. Exceptional Service: A Shoutout to Zach! From the moment we sat down, the experience was elevated by our server, Zach. He truly went above and beyond, anticipating needs and offering spot-on recommendations, making the dining experience feel incredibly special and seamless. A massive shoutout to Zach, as well as the entire Culinary team, Management team, and staff—the level of coordination and passion was palpable. Appetizers and Beverages: Instant Classics The meal kicked off with the Date and Pear appetizer, which was absolutely fantastic—a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and texture. And for the beer lovers out there, you must try the Honey Beer 🍺. I'm officially adding this to my personal "Beer Bucket List!" I will absolutely be recommending it to all my followers on my podcast and through my travel agency. Thanks to Woods Beer and Wine Company! The Entrée: Perfection on a Plate For the main course, I opted for the Duck, and it was cooked to perfection. Seriously, melt in the mouth- tender meat was phenomenal. The plate presentation was stunning, far exceeding my expectations—it was a true work of art. The side of Grapefruit and Vinaigrette Salad was the perfect accompaniment. It was one of the best salads I have ever had in San Francisco; the brightness of the grapefruit cut through the richness of the duck beautifully. Desserts: Celebrating National Cocoa Day! To celebrate National Cocoa Day Dec. 13th-I couldn't resist. I highly suggest partaking in the Hot Chocolate for a decadent dessert item—it was rich, velvety, and a perfect holiday treat. And if you still have room, the Cheesecake with Brown Sugar is another truly fantastic dessert that offers a wonderful, comforting finish to the meal. NOPA is more than just a restaurant; it's a destination. The ambiance, the incredible staff like Zach, and the impeccable, thoughtful food quality solidify NOPA as a must-visit spot in San Francisco. It earns its place on any serious foodie's bucket list Cindy Lee Podcast Host at Bucket List Coach Web Show & Founder of Bucket List Coach Travel Tours“

“Friends here visiting and found this gem of a place! Best thing is we didn’t have to go far! Food was delicious!“

“I I have been going to the Buena Vista Café in San Francisco since 1965. It is still the same wonderful place for the people from all over the world and the best Irish coffee you could ever want and a view of the bay. I love that place and all the people that work there and the food is good also“

“I loved everything about this place. The food was just the right amount and so creative.“

“I ordered a sandwich with two sides of gravy through Uber Eats for pickup. When I arrived, the chefs said my order had already been taken and refused to remake it, even though I showed my receipt. The manager came out and was very rude, despite me explaining I’m a regular customer who even picked up my annual Thanksgiving meal the day before. After accusing me of “screaming” (though I was speaking calmly over the loud music), they finally remade the order but shoved it at me and pushed me out. I live a block away and may give them another chance, but beware online pickup orders can get mishandled here.“

“tasting menu was amazing. service was top notch.“

“味道很不错值得尝试一下！😁😁😁“

“Had San Francisco Cioppino (Mussels. Clams, Crab, Cod, Prawns, Scallops and Garlic Bread that was the bomb). Only giving 2 thumbs up as I only have 2. Great food, great service!“

“Celebrated my husband’s birthday at the Chocolate Factory Dinner. Really fun, interactive, very tasty and sooo inventive. Loved the food and wine pairing. We will be back!“

“They’re kind of expensive.. 20$ for a two piece and a side if crazy, we can get the same at a gas station.. but the chicken was very flavorful, the yams were good and I got Kool aid which was good.. the best thing was the caramel cake.. very flavorful and most“

“Loved my birthday dinner tonight! Portions small for the prices in our opinion. A scallops main dish with 3 scallops is small. Drinks were amazing, decor fabulous and great service. My son had to go eat more food afterwards as he was still hungry. Bigger portions would be good. Loved everything else! Great choices, appetizers, main dishes and creative drinks were delicious. Kind of surprised knowing they knew it was my birthday that they didn't offer me a birthday "something" to make it special. For these prices I would expect something.“

“Last Saturday we ordered a lot of food from the melt. The whole crew was working overtime and we all ordered multiple items and the crew absolutely killed it. Lady working the cashier was absolutely amazing. Sweetest lady ever. The cooks were amazing and they have a very good crew working. The only names I received were Mar, Janeka, Dom and Tone but everyone was incredible and we definitely will be back.“

“Absolutely delicious. The staff was awesome. Consuelo couldn't have been more friendly! Great experience. Highly recommend 😋😋“

“My favorite food is everything on the menu“

“Outstanding restaurant, we have dined at Wood Tavern more times than I can recollect . We we rather disappointed recently when we called to make reservations for 4 for lunch on 2/25/2022 and were informed they only take reservations for 5 or more. Is this true ? If so they should so state on their web site.“

“Food was good! Atmosphere was fun!“

“Amazing!! A San Francisco must.“

“Fab bar with a great range of booze and really friendly and helpful staff. Took the time to discuss UK vs USA measures and jiggers with me - fascinating!“

“Great environment, lively, and tasty food!“

“Phenomenal Service specially from Rachel shes amazing. For me the Food was great and tasty. I love the Lobster Bisque Soup it was creamy and tasty.
Caesar Salad was good too. The Sea Bass fish was tasty but its a Small portion fish but taste awesome.

Creme Brulee was good.
The coffe latte was just Ok liek normal average latte.
Ambiance was awesome, price was reasonable, i love the design of this restaurant, very elegant, classy, its huge and bright, unique.❤😋“

“The food was not worth the money for me, neither the taste nor (specifically) the portions.

But you know you have to try to hit the ‘famous’ brunch spots when you can I guess.

Though you know what - I enjoyed the beermosa - something different to try!

Specifically, I felt the French toast left a lot to be desired. Fruits were fresh and tasty though. Potatoes were lacking too.“

“YESSSSS. Nearly perfect. I’m from NJ. I grew up on NYC and Philly Italian delis and boars head delis everywhere. I believe that access to a respectable deli is a basic human right. Yet every deli on the west coast manages to screw up a very simple staple food item… the sub, the hoagie, the grinder… whatever you wanna call it. NOT brothers deli. They have a solid list of ingredients and allow totally custom sandwiches. They have semolina (sesame) rolls. They have mortadella, they let you order fresh mozzarella or roasted red peppers on your sandwich. They don’t try to put pastrami on an Italian sub. I could go on and on.

They. Do. It. Right. Period. Go and get you some!

For the owners: soppressata and hot coppa (capicola) would be epic additions to the menu. Please stay in business. I need you.“

“One of my San Francisco Bay Area Secrets..., that is no longer a secret.

Great Bar and Restaurant; old school making drinks (yes, heavy on the alcohol), a wide selection of worldly beers on the menu, a few beers on tap, and a good selection of amount of food that comes out of that kitchen of theirs.

I have been going to the Warehouse since I was a child, when my parents would take me there for dinner way back in the 1980s. Plus, there is a 11-foot tall polar bear, with another black bear for photography. Next door (random hours) is a clothing, antique store and on Sunday's (spring and summer months) is a live band.

If not live music, there is a jukebox with a very wide selection of music to choose from (with cash or on-line), only one (1) pool table, but because there is so much history in that place, there is no need for any activities like pool.

Overall, one of the best drinking holes in the Bay Area. We Love the Warehouse and shall never go to long without a visit.“

“Fantastic food - reasonably priced and great service! Tasha was amazing!“

“I must say i had high hopes but the meal was tasteless but my friends had too much salt. I wanted to like it. Wont return, wont recommend. ☹“

“Good service and good food😋“

“Nice bar and really like the roof fan“