Tapas Restaurants in Oakland, CA

“Had a fantastic lunch here last week. Paul was an amazing host and it was truly humbling to be graced by an E-list celebrity ;)

I got especially excited when I learned the kitchen is fully gluten-free. Everything we ordered was a banger, their food (and drinks!) absolutely delivered.

We’ll definitely be back for dinner next time we’re in town, and we can’t wait to try his wife’s restaurant (Jaji) too.

Thank you to the whole team at Parche + Paul, for sharing your culinary magic (and personality) with us.“

“Walk 10 minutes from MacArthur BART and you’ll find paradise in the form of a wine bar. Zach (head chef) and Emilio (line cook) are formerly of Verjus in San Francisco, and let’s just say we followed them across the bridge for a reason. Their expertise and attention to detail are evident in every bite — or sip! ;) On top of this, the service is impeccable. Our waiter, Nico, was a real gem! Thank God he moved from SoCal! Anyways, don’t take my word for it… you’ll just have to try this place for yourself!“

“The decor was festive and abundant in the best way possible, and the cocktails looked unique and curiosity-piquing. I narrowed my choices down to a Cafe Sua Daddy and the Soy Sauce Old Fashioned.

I love a savory drink and the sweet caffeinated espresso martini-esque drink had a thick blanket of just-salty-enough foam reminiscent of the salt cream that tops a boba drink. The Soy Sauce Old Fashioned catapulted me back to my childhood, eating slabs of tofu drenched in shoyu at my grandma's house. I loved the custom soy bottle presentation, it was just strong enough to tolerate being poured over a large rock while maintaining its flavor.

My partner had the Umami Tots and Mapo Tofu. I couldn't resist the siren song of some crispy potatoes dunked in chili oil cream, but managed to hold myself back on the tofu- even though it smelled amazing.

Can't wait to return and try the new seasonal drinks, along with more snacks.“

“Enjoy the atmosphere and the tasty food !“

“I was craving some pad see ew today and decided to try a new spot closer to the office, and I am so glad I found Rose Garden Uptown! It's only five minutes away, and the service was absolutely wonderful. My order was ready early, and the gentleman at the front was incredibly sweet.

Everything smelled so delightful on the way back, and the fried rice pork chop, sweet chicken, and beef pad see ew were all a perfect 10/10! I'm so thrilled to have found this wonderful gem, and it is definitely going to be my new go-to spot.

My only complaint is parking --parking sucks lol I had to drive around 3 times.“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Punchdown - Wine Bar + Bottle Shop delivers an exceptional wine experience with a thoughtfully curated selection, knowledgeable service, and a relaxed yet stylish atmosphere. Whether you’re enjoying a glass in-house or exploring bottles to take home, the quality and care are immediately noticeable.
The ambiance is warm, inviting, and effortlessly cool—perfect for casual tastings, date nights, or catching up with friends in a comfortable, wine-focused setting. It has a unique charm that makes every visit feel special.
The staff is friendly, attentive, and highly knowledgeable, always ready with great recommendations tailored to your taste. Their passion for wine truly enhances the experience.
If you’re looking for excellent wines, a welcoming atmosphere, and expert guidance, The Punchdown - Wine Bar + Bottle Shop is a fantastic choice. Highly recommended and well deserving of five stars! 🌟🍷✨“

“Excellent costumer service love their drinks and happy hour. Food is delicious I recommend it to have drinks !“

“The FOOD. The FOOD. The FOOD. The FOOD.“

“Some of the best happy hour oysters I’ve EVER had in the bay! Shucked perfectly, no stray shell bits or dodgy looking insides, and I love that it comes with real horseradish. I’ll be back just for these, but the other food and drinks we got were just as excellent.“

“Always a great time! congrats“

“Came here for Valentine’s Day expecting to indulge and try out the Chef Bar or Chef Table experience but those were not available at the time. We were informed there may be a Pri-fixe menu beforehand but that was not available that day either. We had no issues with that, but it would be preferable if they made sure they are able to offer the experiences that are available on the website. We ordered the wicked buns, Saigon give you wings, garlic noodle and the bo luc lac. The food was out very quickly.

🥙 Wicked Buns: The wicked buns were quite good. Truly cannot go wrong with some fried bao buns!

🍗 Chicken Wings: We really enjoyed the chicken wings as well. The fish sauce gives the wings a nice sweetness and makes them quite addicting.

🍝 Garlic Noodles: The garlic noodles had a nice char flavor to it. We could see them set it on fire from the bar, although we felt that the garlic noodles could have had a bit more salt and garlic in them. The shrimp also tasted frozen but they were still good.

🥩 Bo Luc Lac: We enjoyed the bo luc lac as well, it was cooked well and quite tender. It was very flavorful to the point it made us wish we had ordered the dirty rice with it.

🍹Cocktails: For drinks I asked the bartender what he recommended and offered to make me something. It wasn’t off-menu, but he made the Pillow Talks which had gin, calamansi and egg white in it. It had a nice flavor profile and balance and creaminess to the drink. I also ordered the Pandanmonium which is a pandan old fashioned which I really enjoyed. The drinks were quite fairly priced as well which I really appreciated.

Overall, I think the portion sizes can be a little small for the price, but the food is delicious and great. The drinks are also great and I would definitely come back for them!“

“First time there…food and drinks amazing.. will definitely go back..👍🏽“