Shockingly clean beer lines for a happy hour spot! Typical bar food.
Peace Love
Pretty good place and was my first time. Everything we ordered was great and the service was great as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Steven Sherman
To begin with, the food/dining experience at this restaurant has always been excellent. However, if you want your delivery order to arrive in an open bag, be sure to order from this restaurant.The restaurant responded, stating they would address the packaging issue promptly. This seems like an odd response since they've been delivering food for years and haven't considered the possibility that customers might want to receive their food delivered in a closed/secure bag.
Miss Strictlybusiness
A true Oakland gem. One of the best brunches in Oakland. (They also have great lunch and dinner options). I've been going to Portal for about 10 years or however long they've been open. I've eaten countless brunches and dinners here.The staff are super friendly and welcoming. Love ya Melvin!The food and drinks are always good. I truly wanted to write this review because this past October the owner, Melvin, and other wait staff went above and beyond in helping me surprise my friend for her birthday.They held our table, kept the party size secret when we entered, we all sang, and they gave her a Birthday crown. It was EPIC!Thank you so much Portal.Also, be sure to check out their themed game nights or watch a game on their big screens.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggs Benedict, Garlic Fries
Saturno
Everything was delicious, I don’t usually ask for chicken and waffles because is kind of difficult to found a good place for that, but here it was really good. They also have live music ☺️ good places to chill and eat.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken and Waffles
Sherry Lin
I visited Portals this weekend for brunch with my friend and absolutely loved it here! The food, vibes and customer service was absolutely amazing! Everything came out very quickly and was season to perfection! I would definitely be coming back here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak and Eggs, Chicken and Waffles
Sandra Luna
This small-ish restaurant has BIG TASTE. It was my first time there and I had the brunch chilequiles. WOW. The best I’ve ever had!!! My friend got the special surf & turf with filet mignon, eggs & prawns. It was a presentation fit for a 5-star restaurant. And she loved it. This place is awesome!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
deepbluegroove
Craft brew and bar food. Good stuff. Like the atmosphere here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Pablo Maggio
Excellent place to eat brunch. On Sundays it gets very busy, it's first come, first serve and they don't take reservations, so be patient because the food is worth it. Many times it is much faster to order at the bar if you do not want to wait for a table. The food is very tasty and varied. The attention of all the staff is correct and careful. Our waiter Melvin advised us about the food and gave us all the necessary instructions to make the best order. In addition to the food, they have draft beer, cider and something that caught my attention and comes out a lot are the mimosas. Definitely a place to return to again and again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
asj
was happy I could make a reservation for 8 people on a Sunday at 11am. Weather was perfect for outdoor seating. Host and servers were kind. Service very quick and responsive. Food was great and I loved the experience! thank you portal for accommodating our large group!
Great food. Amazing garbage bread and fries. Good location and vibe. Friendly waiters. Place has a gorgeous view of the Lake and adjacent tennis courts. Outdoor seating is definitely worth it for ambiance.However, they seem very very short staffed for Saturday brunch rush. They took an hour to take down drink orders and another half hour before they took food orders.Granted, we were a large table (15 people). But 1 and a half hours for taking down food orders was quite a surprise. People seated at other smaller tables were also waiting a really long time for food.People at our table were happy with the food. Steak, eggs and other orders were good. chilaquilles were average. Garbage bread is a MUST here.If only they had more than 2 waiters for an entire 50-60 people crowd on a rush afternoon they would be awesome.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Steak and Eggs, Garlic Fries
charlie wilson
Amazing garlic fries per usual and food however both the bar and the waiters in the back seem to be in a grumpy space and when being asked questions was very defensive and
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Rocko de socko
Ordered a burger medium, it was rare. The patty was raw in the middle, it wasn't even cooked all the way through. These people are clowns! If anyone working at Portal has a problem with this review, I live right up the street, I can come by and we can solve it in the street out front right in front of everybody. You think you can punk me out and I'm not going to do anything? Watch what happens
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Steve Brennan
Afternoon brunch was solid hit on my first visit to this place. Ordered corned beef hash with two eggs, perfectly prepared. Also gave the chicken and waffles a shot and wasn't disappointed. Fried chicken was spiced well and a good-sized portion. Excellent list of beers to choose from and definitely a motivating factor to return soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken and Waffles
Santrecheel Graham
The food is good quality. Drinks are terrible. This place is made for people who drink beer, as this is the drink they advertise and push the most. I tried to order a regular cocktail and was disappointed. Their drinks are not made from regular spirits. All cocktails are wine-based drinks that have zero flavor. Which was surprising to me because wine has flavor. So I'm not sure how a wine based drink was void of flavor. None of their drinks are mainstream cocktails. So please don't expect the taste of a margarita when ordering a margarita. The place itself is a little dirty looking. Flies everywhere, even on the inside of the restaurant. Water container had crumbs of some sort around the rim. So I didn't drink the water at all. I would revisit this place (for take out) only if other restaurants were closed and I didn't have a choice.
Shockingly clean beer lines for a happy hour spot! Typical bar food.
Pretty good place and was my first time. Everything we ordered was great and the service was great as well.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
To begin with, the food/dining experience at this restaurant has always been excellent. However, if you want your delivery order to arrive in an open bag, be sure to order from this restaurant.The restaurant responded, stating they would address the packaging issue promptly. This seems like an odd response since they've been delivering food for years and haven't considered the possibility that customers might want to receive their food delivered in a closed/secure bag.
A true Oakland gem. One of the best brunches in Oakland. (They also have great lunch and dinner options). I've been going to Portal for about 10 years or however long they've been open. I've eaten countless brunches and dinners here.The staff are super friendly and welcoming. Love ya Melvin!The food and drinks are always good. I truly wanted to write this review because this past October the owner, Melvin, and other wait staff went above and beyond in helping me surprise my friend for her birthday.They held our table, kept the party size secret when we entered, we all sang, and they gave her a Birthday crown. It was EPIC!Thank you so much Portal.Also, be sure to check out their themed game nights or watch a game on their big screens.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggs Benedict, Garlic Fries
Everything was delicious, I don’t usually ask for chicken and waffles because is kind of difficult to found a good place for that, but here it was really good. They also have live music ☺️ good places to chill and eat.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken and Waffles
I visited Portals this weekend for brunch with my friend and absolutely loved it here! The food, vibes and customer service was absolutely amazing! Everything came out very quickly and was season to perfection! I would definitely be coming back here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak and Eggs, Chicken and Waffles
This small-ish restaurant has BIG TASTE. It was my first time there and I had the brunch chilequiles. WOW. The best I’ve ever had!!! My friend got the special surf & turf with filet mignon, eggs & prawns. It was a presentation fit for a 5-star restaurant. And she loved it. This place is awesome!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Craft brew and bar food. Good stuff. Like the atmosphere here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Excellent place to eat brunch. On Sundays it gets very busy, it's first come, first serve and they don't take reservations, so be patient because the food is worth it. Many times it is much faster to order at the bar if you do not want to wait for a table. The food is very tasty and varied. The attention of all the staff is correct and careful. Our waiter Melvin advised us about the food and gave us all the necessary instructions to make the best order. In addition to the food, they have draft beer, cider and something that caught my attention and comes out a lot are the mimosas. Definitely a place to return to again and again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
was happy I could make a reservation for 8 people on a Sunday at 11am. Weather was perfect for outdoor seating. Host and servers were kind. Service very quick and responsive. Food was great and I loved the experience! thank you portal for accommodating our large group!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food. Amazing garbage bread and fries. Good location and vibe. Friendly waiters. Place has a gorgeous view of the Lake and adjacent tennis courts. Outdoor seating is definitely worth it for ambiance.However, they seem very very short staffed for Saturday brunch rush. They took an hour to take down drink orders and another half hour before they took food orders.Granted, we were a large table (15 people). But 1 and a half hours for taking down food orders was quite a surprise. People seated at other smaller tables were also waiting a really long time for food.People at our table were happy with the food. Steak, eggs and other orders were good. chilaquilles were average. Garbage bread is a MUST here.If only they had more than 2 waiters for an entire 50-60 people crowd on a rush afternoon they would be awesome.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Steak and Eggs, Garlic Fries
Amazing garlic fries per usual and food however both the bar and the waiters in the back seem to be in a grumpy space and when being asked questions was very defensive and
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 3
Ordered a burger medium, it was rare. The patty was raw in the middle, it wasn't even cooked all the way through. These people are clowns! If anyone working at Portal has a problem with this review, I live right up the street, I can come by and we can solve it in the street out front right in front of everybody. You think you can punk me out and I'm not going to do anything? Watch what happens
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Afternoon brunch was solid hit on my first visit to this place. Ordered corned beef hash with two eggs, perfectly prepared. Also gave the chicken and waffles a shot and wasn't disappointed. Fried chicken was spiced well and a good-sized portion. Excellent list of beers to choose from and definitely a motivating factor to return soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken and Waffles
The food is good quality. Drinks are terrible. This place is made for people who drink beer, as this is the drink they advertise and push the most. I tried to order a regular cocktail and was disappointed. Their drinks are not made from regular spirits. All cocktails are wine-based drinks that have zero flavor. Which was surprising to me because wine has flavor. So I'm not sure how a wine based drink was void of flavor. None of their drinks are mainstream cocktails. So please don't expect the taste of a margarita when ordering a margarita. The place itself is a little dirty looking. Flies everywhere, even on the inside of the restaurant. Water container had crumbs of some sort around the rim. So I didn't drink the water at all. I would revisit this place (for take out) only if other restaurants were closed and I didn't have a choice.