Probably the best salmon I have ever had. Crispy outside and perfectly cooked inside, flavor was tremendous.Cocktails were great, and our server was attentive and very accommodating. Highly recommend this restaurant!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seared Salmon
Pauline Porter
Simply fantastic inside and out. Knowledgeable staff, helpful, patient, friendly. Beautiful building with many rooms for special occasion group reservations, or business dining.
Hilda alvarez
The burger was juicy with hints of fresh oregano. Burrata had a beautiful presentation with bright Citrus flavors. We had friend with a garlic allergy and they made something special for her, since what she wanted wasn't available. They even brought us dessert. The blackberry lemon curd cheesecake was perfect. Thanks again. We even forgot to take pictures!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Hamburger
GilbertoGil
Good food-we ordered several appetizers which more than satisfied 3 diners. Mussels (signature dish), wedge salad, deviled eggs, and pork ribs (delicious) We were just too full for the last meal, pasta with clams, so they let us cancel without charge. Very considerate! The cocktails were delicious as well and service was friendly and efficient we'll be back!
Beverly Roland
The food was amazing. We had the salmon, chicken Masada, and the chicken fried steak. All amazing! Substituted mashed potatoes for the fingerling potatoes at the server's suggestion. Great idea! It's kind of loud of a Saturday night, but it's a great vibe. Can't wait to eat there again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
FestivalGirl
Terrific service and food. Server was knowledgeable about the menu and offered great wine and cocktail pairing advice. There was ample street parking right out front, very comfortable and well trafficked area (lots of other shops and restaurants nearby). Views of Lake Merritt were very pleasant. Portion sizes were great too.
Regina McEvoy
Delicious dinner spot overlooking Lake Merritt with creative cocktails too, what more do you need?!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Deviled Eggs, Steamed P E I Mussels, Fries, Caged Heat, Chicken Fried Steak
Russell Kiel
We really enjoyed Sidebar. First, their Manhattans are fantastic, if you can nail a classic cocktail then we're off to a good start. I had three.We ordered the salmon and a salad and both were fantastic. The salmon was sitting on a bed of lentils (?), I think, but whatever it was was very good.This isn't the cheapest place in Oakland but I don't feel like we were ripped off, either. Also, the staff was exceptionally friendly and attentive, that's huge these days.
MichaelE
We had a great dinner with a very nice and accommodating server. The food was really exceptional (my first visit), flavorful, complex, and delicious. We wanted to sit outside (it was a very warm night) and the only outside tables are in front, on the sidewalk of Grant Street. It was about 6pm, traffic was extremely loud and a strong deep bass thumping from a close-by disco was quite nerving. But the food was good and the drinks were good and the service was wonderful and next time I will take a seat inside.
We had a reservation but it was a slow Thursday evening. Our host and server were exceptional. The appetizers were delicious and the entrees were divine! One of my favorite Oakland restaurants
Local gem. Great location on Lake Merritt. Welcoming, attentive, pleasant staff. Nicely curated menu. Everything was tasty. The salmon was delicious with just right veg on the side.
Oaklander
The relatively new ownership of this neighborhood restaurant has changed the decade old menu which was old and tired. Lots of variety on the new menu. Well prepared and imaginative food that incorporates in-season fresh ingredients. Tasty cocktails. Friendly and professional host/hostess and wait staff.
Ryan Dorrill
We had ribs and the burrata, along with a house made cocktail and a local beer. The ribs were excellent!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
tpsnyderca
Had a nice meal sitting at the chefs counter this evening. Overall, the food was good, but not quite up to the standard of Bardo just around the corner, owned by the same couple We tried the house pickles, the house, garden salad, the wedge salad, and the crispy pork ribs. The pickles were delicious. They were served with a side of goddess dressing and we’re just the right amount of sour with some other seasonings. The house salad was great came with the same goddess dressing, which is really good . The wedge salad is a meal in it’s self, more like half a head of lettuce, rather than a wedge. I felt that the blue cheese dressing was a little bit too sour a little bit too much vinegar, but overall enjoyed it. The ribs had a fairly tasty sauce, but overall I felt they were a little bit dry over cooked and not in a falling off the bone way so room for improvement there . I also tried both nonalcoholic cocktails on the menu . One was a Tea infused with tamarind, which I found to be very cocktail like in that a sip was enjoyable, but a sip was all you wanted at a time. The other one was sort of like a ginger beer, but the ginger flavor was too strong for my taste and I really like strong ginger beer. Overall, pretty good value for the money would go back .
MelissaG
Everything we ordered was perfect and delicious. We came here for our anniversary and they brought us a glass of champagne when we sat down. ? Very sweet! We had the pickled veggies and the crispy ribs to start. For dinner my husband had the mussels Veracruz and I had the salmon and risotto. For dessert the cheesecake. Very single item was fantastic! The sangria and the St. Olaf cocktail were also amazing. The service was top notch - everyone really made you feel welcome and came by at exactly the right time. The only issue we had was the noise level but that was due to a group of people on motorcycles going up and down the street showing off. Not the restaurant's problem. We will absolutely recommend this place as well as return anytime we're in town.
Probably the best salmon I have ever had. Crispy outside and perfectly cooked inside, flavor was tremendous.Cocktails were great, and our server was attentive and very accommodating. Highly recommend this restaurant!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seared Salmon
Simply fantastic inside and out. Knowledgeable staff, helpful, patient, friendly. Beautiful building with many rooms for special occasion group reservations, or business dining.
The burger was juicy with hints of fresh oregano. Burrata had a beautiful presentation with bright Citrus flavors. We had friend with a garlic allergy and they made something special for her, since what she wanted wasn't available. They even brought us dessert. The blackberry lemon curd cheesecake was perfect. Thanks again. We even forgot to take pictures!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Hamburger
Good food-we ordered several appetizers which more than satisfied 3 diners. Mussels (signature dish), wedge salad, deviled eggs, and pork ribs (delicious) We were just too full for the last meal, pasta with clams, so they let us cancel without charge. Very considerate! The cocktails were delicious as well and service was friendly and efficient we'll be back!
The food was amazing. We had the salmon, chicken Masada, and the chicken fried steak. All amazing! Substituted mashed potatoes for the fingerling potatoes at the server's suggestion. Great idea! It's kind of loud of a Saturday night, but it's a great vibe. Can't wait to eat there again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Terrific service and food. Server was knowledgeable about the menu and offered great wine and cocktail pairing advice. There was ample street parking right out front, very comfortable and well trafficked area (lots of other shops and restaurants nearby). Views of Lake Merritt were very pleasant. Portion sizes were great too.
Delicious dinner spot overlooking Lake Merritt with creative cocktails too, what more do you need?!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Deviled Eggs, Steamed P E I Mussels, Fries, Caged Heat, Chicken Fried Steak
We really enjoyed Sidebar. First, their Manhattans are fantastic, if you can nail a classic cocktail then we're off to a good start. I had three.We ordered the salmon and a salad and both were fantastic. The salmon was sitting on a bed of lentils (?), I think, but whatever it was was very good.This isn't the cheapest place in Oakland but I don't feel like we were ripped off, either. Also, the staff was exceptionally friendly and attentive, that's huge these days.
We had a great dinner with a very nice and accommodating server. The food was really exceptional (my first visit), flavorful, complex, and delicious. We wanted to sit outside (it was a very warm night) and the only outside tables are in front, on the sidewalk of Grant Street. It was about 6pm, traffic was extremely loud and a strong deep bass thumping from a close-by disco was quite nerving. But the food was good and the drinks were good and the service was wonderful and next time I will take a seat inside.
We had a reservation but it was a slow Thursday evening. Our host and server were exceptional. The appetizers were delicious and the entrees were divine! One of my favorite Oakland restaurants
Restaurantji Recommends
Local gem. Great location on Lake Merritt. Welcoming, attentive, pleasant staff. Nicely curated menu. Everything was tasty. The salmon was delicious with just right veg on the side.
The relatively new ownership of this neighborhood restaurant has changed the decade old menu which was old and tired. Lots of variety on the new menu. Well prepared and imaginative food that incorporates in-season fresh ingredients. Tasty cocktails. Friendly and professional host/hostess and wait staff.
We had ribs and the burrata, along with a house made cocktail and a local beer. The ribs were excellent!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a nice meal sitting at the chefs counter this evening. Overall, the food was good, but not quite up to the standard of Bardo just around the corner, owned by the same couple We tried the house pickles, the house, garden salad, the wedge salad, and the crispy pork ribs. The pickles were delicious. They were served with a side of goddess dressing and we’re just the right amount of sour with some other seasonings. The house salad was great came with the same goddess dressing, which is really good . The wedge salad is a meal in it’s self, more like half a head of lettuce, rather than a wedge. I felt that the blue cheese dressing was a little bit too sour a little bit too much vinegar, but overall enjoyed it. The ribs had a fairly tasty sauce, but overall I felt they were a little bit dry over cooked and not in a falling off the bone way so room for improvement there . I also tried both nonalcoholic cocktails on the menu . One was a Tea infused with tamarind, which I found to be very cocktail like in that a sip was enjoyable, but a sip was all you wanted at a time. The other one was sort of like a ginger beer, but the ginger flavor was too strong for my taste and I really like strong ginger beer. Overall, pretty good value for the money would go back .
Everything we ordered was perfect and delicious. We came here for our anniversary and they brought us a glass of champagne when we sat down. ? Very sweet! We had the pickled veggies and the crispy ribs to start. For dinner my husband had the mussels Veracruz and I had the salmon and risotto. For dessert the cheesecake. Very single item was fantastic! The sangria and the St. Olaf cocktail were also amazing. The service was top notch - everyone really made you feel welcome and came by at exactly the right time. The only issue we had was the noise level but that was due to a group of people on motorcycles going up and down the street showing off. Not the restaurant's problem. We will absolutely recommend this place as well as return anytime we're in town.
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