50 Best American Restaurants near El Cerrito

“Best food and best service!“

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

“Grabbed some breakfast and it was yummy! I would definitely come back to either dine in or get a pastry or two to go. I was a little confused on how dine in worked, and had to ask a guest about water refills but overall was satisfied with my meal and service. Got a cookie and pastry to go and those were very good too!“

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

“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. :)“

“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“

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

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

“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.“

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

“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 ♥️♥️“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Amazing dining experience. Worth the price“

“味道很不错值得尝试一下！😁😁😁“

“Really nice place. Highly recommended“

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

“Really enjoyed my 3 course prix fixe meal at Spruce. It had been a few years since I'd dined there and it was as good as I remembered. I had the som come over and suggest 2 glasses to pair with the meal and they were truly lovely. The waiter (Ryan) made me feel special the entire evening, and the chef even came out to greet me. I really enjoyed my meal there, thanks to the entire team, and can't wait to come back! Kind regards.“

“Affordable price, great taste“

“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.“

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

“I was celebrating my 75th birthday on June 23rd 2026 had the privilege of eating your food delicious we ordered chicken yams greens mac and cheese and he had oxtails falling off the bone remind me at home me and my five year old Grand and Grandpa was just delighted thank you for sharing I do hope that I pray that I'll be able to return at some point to San Francisco“

“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!“

“Had afternoon tea here twice; the first time for 2 persons, the second time for 3. Tea selection and the atmosphere was outstanding, service was ok.
During my first visit, the food for 2 was nicely presented on a tiered platter, beautiful and appetizing.
However on my second visit, I was very disappointed with the food presentation; a 2-person tiered platter was used to hold food for a party of 3. As a result, the food was literally piled on to the platter on each tier. This must be a presentation mistake which compromised our dining experience. The visual appeal was lost and somehow the food did not taste as good as the first time…😟“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“🌟 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“

“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!“

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

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

“This is everything I want from a deli, nothing more nothing less. My son loves the pastrami sandwich and always asks to come here. The Dutch Crunch is on a different level here… feels like a free upgrade to every sandwich tbh! In addition to the pastrami, I also love the Italian and the Ultimate Veggie sandwich. Haven’t tried the panini options but they seem popular bc people are always ordering it when I’m waiting for my order. Oh and huge chip selection is also a plus!“

“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.“

“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😋“

“A great burger. From my first year in the bay area there was something special about Nation's Giant Burgers, scattered around the East Bay. A juicy patty, cheese, with the fixings a nice clump of lettuce, onions and tomato, thick slab of cheese and pickles. Great thick fries, and pies.. seriously the best pie I ever had was at a Nation's. Their Strawberry Tart only offered when in season, is just large strawberries, a tasty almost shortbread crust and whipped cream. The one I had in 2001, days after 9/11, the strawberries were bursting with juice, almost like a jam, the skin barely holding, and. not too sweet, not too tart... In Plant City, Florida they have amazing strawberries.. previously the best I had ever tasted, but these, from a California Farm is what they said, are always going to be the best. �Other than their Strawberry Tart, I like their Banana Split, Banana Cream, Chocolate Cream, Pecan, Blueberry... well.. all of them. Never a bad choice. How I like my burger. Cheese, no dressing, grilled onions, light lettuce. Then I get hash browns and ham on the side (sometimes one egg also) and add them to the burger. Anyway. yes. 👍 more, again.“

“Good food, excellent service“

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

“The food was great, the service was amazing and staff very kind! Clean restrooms are a plus too! Thank you for the great food and great service!“

“The cold whipping wind threatened to derail our outdoor dining experience, but thankfully, we live in Alameda and we knew to bring jackets.

With that out of the way, we proceeded to enjoy a leisurely 2 hour dinner where every dish was expertly prepared and plated. The staff were attentive and checked in on us periodically.

We enjoyed the caesar salad with boquerones, the octopus and bay shrimp ceviche with leche de tigre, the duck confit and the the shoestring potatoes. We finished off the meal with a small citron tarte and some coffee.

Would recommend without reservation, but a reservation might get you seated indoors. :)“

“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.“

“Amazing Owner, beautiful atmosphere and thee most delicious food. All around a 10/10!“

“Quite possibly one of the best cheeseburgers I've had in a long long time. If they ask you how you'd like that meat done -- don't bother. It's all medium. I don't know why they ask. Still juicy though. 4 on food just because of that. A little pink would have made that a 5“

“This location is conveniently located in the middle of downtown Oakland. I regularly get the fries and grilled cheese sandwich. I love the milkshakes and strawberry lemonade. They also have nice staff and good service. Shout out to the store manager and the person helping me at the register, Jerome! I will be back for my usual.“