Small, quiet place with excellent Spanish influenced light fare. Very, very vegetarian friendly.
Anastasia Z.
I must have missed something... right? Maybe it was an off day for them or for me? I went in to read with a bevvie and learned they were out of the seasonal latte, then ordered the house white and paid for it before they found out they were out of the house white, and out of the albarino as an alternative... Ended up with a glass of red that was just ok. Staff were nice and space is beautiful, so will try again and hope for the awesome experience others here describe. (Maybe it's just a better spot for food than for a quick drink?)
Terry Sok-Wolfson
Casual, hip bar that hosts rotating pop-ups on some nights and a house menu on other nights
Peter Hayes
The food and coffee here is fine. But we had a pretty strange experience last time we came in. We ordered coffee and sandwiches, got the coffee, waited for ten minutes, and only then were informed that they were “out of bread”. I was surprised that this took ten minutes to discover - we were the only customers. Couldn’t they just tell us before or shortly after we ordered and not waste our time?
Steve C.
I dropped in for lunch and had the Pinxto Plate with the vegetarian goat cheese, and the vegan "tuna" and "shrimp". They were really, really good - very well done and IMO would have been enjoyed even if you were a carnivore. The server was friendly and helpful - highly recommended!
Justin S.
During Oakland Restaurant Week 2020 I arrived at Cafe Encina for a late (2pm) lunch - thanks work meetings. Encina's ORW menu has three offerings which act essentially as meal sets w/discounts: 1. Classic Bikini Melt & Iced Tea or Soda, $10 2. Pinxto Plate & Draft Beer or House Wine, $20 3. Selection of one Bikini Melt & one Conserva (excluding octopus), $20. At the counter, I selected option 3, electing for the croque monsieur bikini melt and mackeral conserva for $20. The mackeral conserva arrived w/mackeral fillets in spiced olive oil w/a few pickles and bread. The portion size looks reminiscent of a tapa or a large snack. The mackeral itself seemed flaky w/o tasting too fishy. The olive oil had a bit of fish flavor, but mainly from the oils of the mackeral, not the annoying fishy flavor that people don't like. The crunchy, buttery, and center-soft bread deserves mention. The croque monsieur arrived w/side salad of arugula, roasted bell pepper, and vinaigrette. All tasted quite reasonable and delectable, though some may find it a touch salty. The croque monsieur had the same delicious bread served w/the mackeral conserva, though with additional hints of rosemary. $20 for a sandwich, side salad, and effectively an appetizer seems like a compelling value proposition.
Lynn Mladjov
We popped in randomly on an early Fri evening, and shared some yummy bites and good drinks
Steven Slater
Great drinks and decent local beer list. Atmosphere is dark and inviting.
Justin Brooke
Food was fresh and well made. The out door seating was quite nice. There's a decent selection of liquor from the bar. The overall atmosphere was very relaxing. I look forward to coming back here. Try the chorizo, it was delicious.
Yeu Jin Yoon
I love this place! Such good vibes here with tasty tapas and drinks. Try the vegan tuna. It’s sooo good. Also the stuffed squid! I can’t drink alcohol right now so I appreciate the selection of not too sweet yet delightful non alcoholic drinks as well (finding a decent mocktail is a real struggle). I can’t wait to go back and try the lattes during the day time.
Me and my friend came to have a quick light meal before returning to dance... we had the pinxtos (vegan tuna) and they were amazing!!!! The danish was awesome too... very cute place with warm energy and nice people. Will definitely come back again.
Dineve Ramirez
Amazing restaurant! Fun, great atmosphere, full of life and exactly what I needed. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting like me. See you guys next time!
Davon C
This place is awesome! Everything made fresh right in front of you. Unique menu items and drinks. The vibe is perfect. Quite and modern. This would be “my bar” if I lived here.
Miles Bianchi
Great snacks, great drinks and great people! The Spanish inspired tapas food menu really was well done and delicious. The vermouth selection is really unique and compliments the food nicely. Vibe is really laid back, not at all douchey.
Alice Hu-Nguyen
Cafe Encina brought us back to Espana with their offerings of pintxos (small snacks on bread), small plates, and vermouth. We loved the stuffed squid and mackerel with a spicy oil. They even have some vegan options- like the ‘shrimp.’ The space is inviting and bright, including a beautiful mural of Spanish oak leaves and an outdoor patio. We brought our little one and she also enjoyed a few bites! Can’t wait to go back for coffee and pastries when they open up for morning time.
Small, quiet place with excellent Spanish influenced light fare. Very, very vegetarian friendly.
I must have missed something... right? Maybe it was an off day for them or for me? I went in to read with a bevvie and learned they were out of the seasonal latte, then ordered the house white and paid for it before they found out they were out of the house white, and out of the albarino as an alternative... Ended up with a glass of red that was just ok. Staff were nice and space is beautiful, so will try again and hope for the awesome experience others here describe. (Maybe it's just a better spot for food than for a quick drink?)
Casual, hip bar that hosts rotating pop-ups on some nights and a house menu on other nights
The food and coffee here is fine. But we had a pretty strange experience last time we came in. We ordered coffee and sandwiches, got the coffee, waited for ten minutes, and only then were informed that they were “out of bread”. I was surprised that this took ten minutes to discover - we were the only customers. Couldn’t they just tell us before or shortly after we ordered and not waste our time?
I dropped in for lunch and had the Pinxto Plate with the vegetarian goat cheese, and the vegan "tuna" and "shrimp". They were really, really good - very well done and IMO would have been enjoyed even if you were a carnivore. The server was friendly and helpful - highly recommended!
During Oakland Restaurant Week 2020 I arrived at Cafe Encina for a late (2pm) lunch - thanks work meetings. Encina's ORW menu has three offerings which act essentially as meal sets w/discounts: 1. Classic Bikini Melt & Iced Tea or Soda, $10 2. Pinxto Plate & Draft Beer or House Wine, $20 3. Selection of one Bikini Melt & one Conserva (excluding octopus), $20. At the counter, I selected option 3, electing for the croque monsieur bikini melt and mackeral conserva for $20. The mackeral conserva arrived w/mackeral fillets in spiced olive oil w/a few pickles and bread. The portion size looks reminiscent of a tapa or a large snack. The mackeral itself seemed flaky w/o tasting too fishy. The olive oil had a bit of fish flavor, but mainly from the oils of the mackeral, not the annoying fishy flavor that people don't like. The crunchy, buttery, and center-soft bread deserves mention. The croque monsieur arrived w/side salad of arugula, roasted bell pepper, and vinaigrette. All tasted quite reasonable and delectable, though some may find it a touch salty. The croque monsieur had the same delicious bread served w/the mackeral conserva, though with additional hints of rosemary. $20 for a sandwich, side salad, and effectively an appetizer seems like a compelling value proposition.
We popped in randomly on an early Fri evening, and shared some yummy bites and good drinks
Great drinks and decent local beer list. Atmosphere is dark and inviting.
Food was fresh and well made. The out door seating was quite nice. There's a decent selection of liquor from the bar. The overall atmosphere was very relaxing. I look forward to coming back here. Try the chorizo, it was delicious.
I love this place! Such good vibes here with tasty tapas and drinks. Try the vegan tuna. It’s sooo good. Also the stuffed squid! I can’t drink alcohol right now so I appreciate the selection of not too sweet yet delightful non alcoholic drinks as well (finding a decent mocktail is a real struggle). I can’t wait to go back and try the lattes during the day time.
Restaurantji Recommends
Me and my friend came to have a quick light meal before returning to dance... we had the pinxtos (vegan tuna) and they were amazing!!!! The danish was awesome too... very cute place with warm energy and nice people. Will definitely come back again.
Amazing restaurant! Fun, great atmosphere, full of life and exactly what I needed. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting like me. See you guys next time!
This place is awesome! Everything made fresh right in front of you. Unique menu items and drinks. The vibe is perfect. Quite and modern. This would be “my bar” if I lived here.
Great snacks, great drinks and great people! The Spanish inspired tapas food menu really was well done and delicious. The vermouth selection is really unique and compliments the food nicely. Vibe is really laid back, not at all douchey.
Cafe Encina brought us back to Espana with their offerings of pintxos (small snacks on bread), small plates, and vermouth. We loved the stuffed squid and mackerel with a spicy oil. They even have some vegan options- like the ‘shrimp.’ The space is inviting and bright, including a beautiful mural of Spanish oak leaves and an outdoor patio. We brought our little one and she also enjoyed a few bites! Can’t wait to go back for coffee and pastries when they open up for morning time.