Came in Sat. 3-30-24 for a early dinner about 4:40pm. The person at the podium said we are between services and asked if we had a reservation with a bit of an attitude. We did not and I asked if we still can be seated. She yet again seemed put off. She after looking over which looked like the reservations for a while asked if we would like a table or the bar. I responded table. She again seemed put off. She said dinner menu will be in effect in 15 minutes but they had another menu that would be available for the next 15 min. I said that's fine. I said can we sit at a table or what is available? She said sh could seat us. Now it's been 5 minutes and there was literally only people sitting at the bar. She ok. I asked if we could sit by the window and she said no. Those are for reservations later. Not a problem. Sat down with what looked to be a lunch menu that was valid for another 10 minutes or so. Wife and I were getting ready to choose something but I said why don't we just see what the dinner menu has and we can wait for 5 to 7 mins and have the full dinner menu to order from. I got up from the table and asked if I could please have the dinner menu to take back to my table. She said that with an attitude she will give me one in a few minutes. She could have literally reached down and handed me one in a matter of seconds because she was actually standing right next to them. So I went back to my table with my wife and waited for her to bring a dinner menu. Now we are a mere 5 min away til dinner service. She brought over the menus after we waiting some more. As she handed us the dinner menus she makes the comment " We normally do not hand out the dinner menus before 5pm ". Wow ! Thank you so much for handing me a coveted paper dinner menu 3-5 minutes before your big dinner service. My wife and I were literally the only ones sitting in the place ! Lmao. At that point we had enough. Thanked the host / hostess and apologized for such the inconvenience we caused......My wife dines at this place with her friends quite a bit. It was my first time. That most likely will be the last time for each of us. after the arrogant attitude and the feeling that we were not very welcome. We have dined at fast food restaurants to 3 Michelin star restaurants and never experienced anything like that.
Kimm B.
I don't order chicken out, BUT NOWWWWW! Here, it's tempting to order it every time but, the other items are so dang good...I never regret not getting it. I love the pastrami sandwich, rib eye, soups, salads... It's the kinda place, you just TRUST the chefs. The bad ass side car is IT and they treat you like they care about you
Max Kay
This is one of local boutique bar & restaurants in Oakland. This restaurant offers a tantalizing array of delicious dishes that are sure to satisfy any taste. The food quality is consistently great, with each dish bursting with flavor and made with fresh ingredients.While the food is outstanding, the same cannot be said for the service. Unfortunately, the service lacks warmth and friendliness, which can detract from the overall dining experience. Despite this drawback, the servers are generally efficient in taking orders and delivering food promptly.Consider this place pricy like $20 cocktails ($16+tip&tax!) and you'll be charged $2 per portion if you'd like to share a soup or salad for instance! You'd better just order the item and share within yourselves ?Overall, this restaurant is a great choice for those seeking delectable cuisine, but don’t expect the staff to go above and beyond in terms of friendliness. If you’re willing to overlook the average service for the sake of enjoying fantastic food, this place is worth a visit.Parking might be difficult with paid street parking though a Safeway parking lot close by. It has accessible entrance with accessible table. Could be kids friendly but not good for groups / meetups as indoor is relatively small.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Kayleigh Tompkins
Made my husband's birthday really special! Food was outstanding.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seared Day Boat Scallops, Grilled Rib Eye Steak
Lizzie L.
Chicken liver pate. Chicken liver pate. Chicken liver pate. That's all I can think about right now. The appetizer board with the ever so delicious chicken liver pate and the assorted cheeses. What a way to start a meal. Then there's the infamous Henry. The best server ever. Can't decide? Henry is there to whet your appetite with his culinary suggestions. Homemade desserts yummylicious.
Max K.
This is one of local boutique bar & restaurants in Oakland. This restaurant offers a tantalizing array of delicious dishes that are sure to satisfy any taste. The food quality is consistently great, with each dish bursting with flavor and made with fresh ingredients. While the food is outstanding, the same cannot be said for the service. Unfortunately, the service lacks warmth and friendliness, which can detract from the overall dining experience. Despite this drawback, the servers are generally efficient in taking orders and delivering food promptly. Consider this place pricy like $20 cocktails ($16+tip&tax!) and you'll be charged $2 per portion if you'd like to share a soup or salad for instance! You'd better just order the item and share within yourselves Overall, this restaurant is a great choice for those seeking delectable cuisine, but don't expect the staff to go above and beyond in terms of friendliness. If you're willing to overlook the average service for the sake of enjoying fantastic food, this place is worth a visit. Parking might be difficult with paid street parking though a Safeway parking lot close by. It has accessible entrance with accessible table. Could be kids friendly but not good for groups / meetups as indoor is relatively small.
Lupita G.
BEST STEAK IN THE BAY The bartender Wesley/ west ( can't remember he's name ) best bartender hands down - remembered our names and conversations we had last time we came . He even remembered our drinks 10/10 next time I come and don't see him Im walking out . Recommend sitting on the bar .
LizzieL
WT never disappoints. We live in SF, but will make the trek over the bridge to be graciously taken care of by our favorite server H-E-N-R-Y! Who is the bomb! Henry's suggestions are always spot on! Thank you for having us!
Kat N.
Always a great consistent option in SF. It's normally hopping. No idea why it was so empty on a Friday night. We had an awesome dinner with great ambiance and service. Hope people keep supporting our great restaurants in Sf.
Jacinta K.
My neighborhood, and it's too good for me now. lol. Love this spot, but uggh not the owner but the patrons, and some "staff " will make you feel unwelcome and uncomfortable if you're "black". Though shiieet I love the restaurants the owner has in the town. Talk about Yummy!!
The food and service here were amazing last night! The Appetizers, Beet Salad and best of all the Grilled Double Cut Pork Chop was the best I've had! The Chop was cooked perfectly, sauce and sides outstanding!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Double Cut Pork Chop
chris
I was surprised to see a line of people waiting to get in for lunch on a Thursday afternoon. The restaurant opened precisely at 11:30 and we were quickly seated. Our server did a great job pacing the meal and answered all our questions. The food was delicious and interesting. It's a definite go back
Tim C.
If you enjoy "elevated comfort food", this maybe your spot. They have warm rustic atmosphere and excellent service to match. Keep in mind that they mix it up a bit by having different lunch, mid-day, and dinner menus. My suggestion for dinner, try 4 courses, in this order. Cheese plate, Soup/Salad, Main, and Dessert. No suggestions, they are all good, you will love them all :) Also, Don't forget to pair it all up with a super yummy and fresh cocktail.
Nadia C.
It's been a while since I've dined here and I was so excited to come back. From my last experience a few years ago, it was amazing! Sadly, that was not the case yesterday. I recommended Wood Tavern to my work colleagues who were visiting from out of town. I arrived first and was greeted by the hostess, who was very nice. When i got seated, and the rest of my party arrived, we were waiting an incredibly long time for the waiter to greet us. We had several people come by every now and then to fill our water but when the waiter came, he didn't even tell us his name and that he'd be serving us. I ordered a cocktail and it was incredibly sweet for my liking. My other colleague arrived late and when it was time to order, she had asked about the "secret" vegan menu. She has food allergies and is vegan and had called in prior asking about accommodations with the menu. The person she spoke to was very nice and said to just ask the waiter and they would be able to make arrangements. When it was her turn to order, she asked the waiter about the vegan menu, he immediately shut it down and said no. She had explained her situation and so he went to ask the chef what was available. He came back letting her know that there was a vegan mushroom risotto cooked with water. She ordered that but when it came, she got a bowl of vegetables. He didn't address that and with my colleague constantly struggling to eat out due to her allergies, she didn't think it was worth it to bring it up. This is incredibly disappointing to hear. Additionally, the entree I received was almost inedible. I ordered the burger as medium rare but the burger was basically mooing at me. Fries were beyond salty. The only good think we ate was the appetizer - we ordered a few meats and cheeses. Overall, not a good dining experience, esp when I raved about this place to my out of town guests. For how expensive Wood Tavern, you expect top-notch service and delicious food. I won't be returning here as this left a negative experience.
Dianne N.
Fun place with great sandwiches and a cozy environment. Location is ideal for walking from anywhere in Rockridge.
Came in Sat. 3-30-24 for a early dinner about 4:40pm. The person at the podium said we are between services and asked if we had a reservation with a bit of an attitude. We did not and I asked if we still can be seated. She yet again seemed put off. She after looking over which looked like the reservations for a while asked if we would like a table or the bar. I responded table. She again seemed put off. She said dinner menu will be in effect in 15 minutes but they had another menu that would be available for the next 15 min. I said that's fine. I said can we sit at a table or what is available? She said sh could seat us. Now it's been 5 minutes and there was literally only people sitting at the bar. She ok. I asked if we could sit by the window and she said no. Those are for reservations later. Not a problem. Sat down with what looked to be a lunch menu that was valid for another 10 minutes or so. Wife and I were getting ready to choose something but I said why don't we just see what the dinner menu has and we can wait for 5 to 7 mins and have the full dinner menu to order from. I got up from the table and asked if I could please have the dinner menu to take back to my table. She said that with an attitude she will give me one in a few minutes. She could have literally reached down and handed me one in a matter of seconds because she was actually standing right next to them. So I went back to my table with my wife and waited for her to bring a dinner menu. Now we are a mere 5 min away til dinner service. She brought over the menus after we waiting some more. As she handed us the dinner menus she makes the comment " We normally do not hand out the dinner menus before 5pm ". Wow ! Thank you so much for handing me a coveted paper dinner menu 3-5 minutes before your big dinner service. My wife and I were literally the only ones sitting in the place ! Lmao. At that point we had enough. Thanked the host / hostess and apologized for such the inconvenience we caused......My wife dines at this place with her friends quite a bit. It was my first time. That most likely will be the last time for each of us. after the arrogant attitude and the feeling that we were not very welcome. We have dined at fast food restaurants to 3 Michelin star restaurants and never experienced anything like that.
I don't order chicken out, BUT NOWWWWW! Here, it's tempting to order it every time but, the other items are so dang good...I never regret not getting it. I love the pastrami sandwich, rib eye, soups, salads... It's the kinda place, you just TRUST the chefs. The bad ass side car is IT and they treat you like they care about you
This is one of local boutique bar & restaurants in Oakland. This restaurant offers a tantalizing array of delicious dishes that are sure to satisfy any taste. The food quality is consistently great, with each dish bursting with flavor and made with fresh ingredients.While the food is outstanding, the same cannot be said for the service. Unfortunately, the service lacks warmth and friendliness, which can detract from the overall dining experience. Despite this drawback, the servers are generally efficient in taking orders and delivering food promptly.Consider this place pricy like $20 cocktails ($16+tip&tax!) and you'll be charged $2 per portion if you'd like to share a soup or salad for instance! You'd better just order the item and share within yourselves ?Overall, this restaurant is a great choice for those seeking delectable cuisine, but don’t expect the staff to go above and beyond in terms of friendliness. If you’re willing to overlook the average service for the sake of enjoying fantastic food, this place is worth a visit.Parking might be difficult with paid street parking though a Safeway parking lot close by. It has accessible entrance with accessible table. Could be kids friendly but not good for groups / meetups as indoor is relatively small.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Made my husband's birthday really special! Food was outstanding.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seared Day Boat Scallops, Grilled Rib Eye Steak
Chicken liver pate. Chicken liver pate. Chicken liver pate. That's all I can think about right now. The appetizer board with the ever so delicious chicken liver pate and the assorted cheeses. What a way to start a meal. Then there's the infamous Henry. The best server ever. Can't decide? Henry is there to whet your appetite with his culinary suggestions. Homemade desserts yummylicious.
This is one of local boutique bar & restaurants in Oakland. This restaurant offers a tantalizing array of delicious dishes that are sure to satisfy any taste. The food quality is consistently great, with each dish bursting with flavor and made with fresh ingredients. While the food is outstanding, the same cannot be said for the service. Unfortunately, the service lacks warmth and friendliness, which can detract from the overall dining experience. Despite this drawback, the servers are generally efficient in taking orders and delivering food promptly. Consider this place pricy like $20 cocktails ($16+tip&tax!) and you'll be charged $2 per portion if you'd like to share a soup or salad for instance! You'd better just order the item and share within yourselves Overall, this restaurant is a great choice for those seeking delectable cuisine, but don't expect the staff to go above and beyond in terms of friendliness. If you're willing to overlook the average service for the sake of enjoying fantastic food, this place is worth a visit. Parking might be difficult with paid street parking though a Safeway parking lot close by. It has accessible entrance with accessible table. Could be kids friendly but not good for groups / meetups as indoor is relatively small.
BEST STEAK IN THE BAY The bartender Wesley/ west ( can't remember he's name ) best bartender hands down - remembered our names and conversations we had last time we came . He even remembered our drinks 10/10 next time I come and don't see him Im walking out . Recommend sitting on the bar .
WT never disappoints. We live in SF, but will make the trek over the bridge to be graciously taken care of by our favorite server H-E-N-R-Y! Who is the bomb! Henry's suggestions are always spot on! Thank you for having us!
Always a great consistent option in SF. It's normally hopping. No idea why it was so empty on a Friday night. We had an awesome dinner with great ambiance and service. Hope people keep supporting our great restaurants in Sf.
My neighborhood, and it's too good for me now. lol. Love this spot, but uggh not the owner but the patrons, and some "staff " will make you feel unwelcome and uncomfortable if you're "black". Though shiieet I love the restaurants the owner has in the town. Talk about Yummy!!
Restaurantji Recommends
The food and service here were amazing last night! The Appetizers, Beet Salad and best of all the Grilled Double Cut Pork Chop was the best I've had! The Chop was cooked perfectly, sauce and sides outstanding!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Grilled Double Cut Pork Chop
I was surprised to see a line of people waiting to get in for lunch on a Thursday afternoon. The restaurant opened precisely at 11:30 and we were quickly seated. Our server did a great job pacing the meal and answered all our questions. The food was delicious and interesting. It's a definite go back
If you enjoy "elevated comfort food", this maybe your spot. They have warm rustic atmosphere and excellent service to match. Keep in mind that they mix it up a bit by having different lunch, mid-day, and dinner menus. My suggestion for dinner, try 4 courses, in this order. Cheese plate, Soup/Salad, Main, and Dessert. No suggestions, they are all good, you will love them all :) Also, Don't forget to pair it all up with a super yummy and fresh cocktail.
It's been a while since I've dined here and I was so excited to come back. From my last experience a few years ago, it was amazing! Sadly, that was not the case yesterday. I recommended Wood Tavern to my work colleagues who were visiting from out of town. I arrived first and was greeted by the hostess, who was very nice. When i got seated, and the rest of my party arrived, we were waiting an incredibly long time for the waiter to greet us. We had several people come by every now and then to fill our water but when the waiter came, he didn't even tell us his name and that he'd be serving us. I ordered a cocktail and it was incredibly sweet for my liking. My other colleague arrived late and when it was time to order, she had asked about the "secret" vegan menu. She has food allergies and is vegan and had called in prior asking about accommodations with the menu. The person she spoke to was very nice and said to just ask the waiter and they would be able to make arrangements. When it was her turn to order, she asked the waiter about the vegan menu, he immediately shut it down and said no. She had explained her situation and so he went to ask the chef what was available. He came back letting her know that there was a vegan mushroom risotto cooked with water. She ordered that but when it came, she got a bowl of vegetables. He didn't address that and with my colleague constantly struggling to eat out due to her allergies, she didn't think it was worth it to bring it up. This is incredibly disappointing to hear. Additionally, the entree I received was almost inedible. I ordered the burger as medium rare but the burger was basically mooing at me. Fries were beyond salty. The only good think we ate was the appetizer - we ordered a few meats and cheeses. Overall, not a good dining experience, esp when I raved about this place to my out of town guests. For how expensive Wood Tavern, you expect top-notch service and delicious food. I won't be returning here as this left a negative experience.
Fun place with great sandwiches and a cozy environment. Location is ideal for walking from anywhere in Rockridge.