50 Best American Restaurants near Orinda

“Love the live music of the Ripplers And Secret Sauce!“

“Great Take and Bakes! Amazing cookies! Genuine Goodness is a special gem in the little town of Orinda.“

“Excellent! We had a great experience!“

“I have been here several times so far.

This place works well if you enjoy classic American food (Meatloaf, roast beef, pot roast, etc)

If you prefer other cuisines, this wouldn't work well for you.

When visiting I enjoy either Reuben sandwich and mashed potatoes or Meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Alongside a soup

My mom likes the roast beef sandwich with au jous sauce

My brother enjoys any Italian-American dishes like the classic Spaghetti and Meatballs.

To conclude, if you enjoy classic American comfort food this place works well for you.“

“We come here fairly often and really enjoy the food (steak frites, burger, burrata and salads are amazing) and cocktails. Unfortunately every time the thing we lament is the wine selection - neither of us have ever had a wine here we enjoyed, and we’re fairly easy to please with middle of the road options. The dessert menu always seems to focus on a lot of tarts, which isn’t our jam so we never have tried dessert despite many trips here. If they updated their wine menu this place would easily be five stars and my favorite restaurant on the island.“

“Always an interesting experience and fun treat. Classic cocktails in a classic atmosphere. Service is on point! Food is innovative yet still comforting and familiar. Never disappointed.“

“I loved everything about this place. The food was just the right amount and so creative.“

“I walked in with high hopes and with my group of friends. I walked out thinking the food was pretty good and the service was not great. Our server was gruff, condescending, and very inflexible when it came to splitting checks. The food was tasty and not as special as I was expecting. I'm not sure if I'll be going back.“

“Highly recommend the Duck Confit with good company and a nice red wine. You can’t go wrong with this combination. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Friends here visiting and found this gem of a place! Best thing is we didn’t have to go far! Food was delicious!“

“Tummy comfort food in great post-industrial space. Friendly service, craft cocktails. Good menu options and specials. Outdoor tables also available.“

“Outstanding restaurant, we have dined at Wood Tavern more times than I can recollect . We we rather disappointed recently when we called to make reservations for 4 for lunch on 2/25/2022 and were informed they only take reservations for 5 or more. Is this true ? If so they should so state on their web site.“

“Loved my birthday dinner tonight! Portions small for the prices in our opinion. A scallops main dish with 3 scallops is small. Drinks were amazing, decor fabulous and great service. My son had to go eat more food afterwards as he was still hungry. Bigger portions would be good. Loved everything else! Great choices, appetizers, main dishes and creative drinks were delicious. Kind of surprised knowing they knew it was my birthday that they didn't offer me a birthday "something" to make it special. For these prices I would expect something.“

“Screens at the entrance to place your order or a live person will take your order at the register. These screens were the easiest to use that I've ever found.

(On occasion I've given up trying to order at McDonalds and Habit because I found their screens too difficult).

I got cesar salad with chicken and avocado added, dressing is served on the side so it doesn't overpower the salad. Crisp fresh lettuce with no wilted bits. I ate about half at the restaurant and the rest at home. Sweet potato fries were very good. I ate all of those later as well. A friend got a basic grilled cheese and it appeared to me that it was prepared correctly.

Chairs make an absurd loud noise. Staff exceptionally professional, got me a bag and to-go lid instantly.

Make sure you TIP THE STAFF. They are hardworking and fast. You can tip on the screens and later, if you find the service to be exceptional (I did) then you can add additional cash to tip jar at the register on your way out

Plenty of clean, easy to use trash cans around. Very bright lights.

Wheelchair accessibility: Floor is smooth cement. I think it would be easy to enter using a wheelchair.“

“Such a delight to come here! A hidden little nugget of great food!

The service is impeccable!!!

My husband and I shared a breakfast veggie skillet with a side of toast. Definitely get the coffee! Ate everything too quickly to get pictures!“

“Love eating on the Sun porch and the refills on the ice tea!“

“First visit. Everything was delicious. Poutine fries, a side salad, and the Pittsburgh Cheese Steak. Will definitely be back.“

“Experience exceptional dining at Jack restaurant, where the waitstaff and bartender provide top-notch service with a smile. They take the time to ask about your meal and ensure that every detail meets your satisfaction.“

“This little “hole-in-the-wall” has potential to be a truly fantastic restaurant.

First off, the restaurant is a cool, funky space that definitely has “Parisian” vibes, but not in a traditional sense. The bar is beautifully back lit with green lights and has cool Polynesian themed frescos.

The service was good and attentive. We sat at the bar and had great conversations with the bartender. She was a great conversationalist!

The food was great.. we started with half a dozen Beau Soliel Oysters which came with a horseradish mignonette. We followed that with the smoked trout pate which was probably my favorite dish. My wife and I both ordered the Crab Salad for our mains as they ran out of the Smoked Petrale Sole. It was good but the portion was tiny and at $39 I was hoping for more… it was more portioned like an appetizer. We finished off with the chocolate tart which was also delicious.

This place is close to receiving 5 Stars, but portion size needs to be addressed. Plus, having only three entrees and running out of one limits what can be ordered.“

“Amazing Owner, beautiful atmosphere and thee most delicious food. All around a 10/10!“

“This is what we had tonight but, they have excellent food and service every time.“

“Been coming here since 1977. Always great food and adult beverages. Best is fried zucchini!!!!“

“I’ve enjoyed visiting Sunrise Bistro for breakfast. The convenient parking and manageable wait times make it a hassle-free spot for breakfast or brunch. I’ve tried a few dishes, like the carnitas and eggs, but my favorite by far is the smoked brisket and hash, which has become my go-to order. The only area for improvement would be the coffee. Better quality coffee and fresh creamer would really elevate the breakfast experience. Overall, it’s a nice place to dine in for breakfast or brunch.“

“This is my favorite restaurant in Oakland! The food is amazing and so are the cocktails. The vive is is unreal!!!“

“It’s where I send everybody who hasn’t eaten there. Darlene is one of the waitresses. She is wonderful. The food is out of this world fresh organic drinks very good. Been there many times going back tomorrow with people who’ve never eaten there.“

“Og lunch box fan here, I always got 2 hot plates with salads on the side. (Guess who). Anyway this menu features the world's best meatloaf that was available at the lunch box at one time.Always do delivery with dinnerhouse, huge portions and killer to go plates that are totally reusable.Had the spaghetti as well sauce was to die for.Impossible to go wrong here.“

“They have a breakfast special sign outside, I asked about it after waiting to see if they'll offer the special, they held out the menu for me to "view" it, so I was unable to get a photo. Odd. Everyday is a different special. Got no water but did order a hot chocolate. This is a very pricey place, at around 17.95 a plate. My toddler kept seeing the sign and wanted to come so we made the best of it and got the special, which was a sandwich and a single pancake on the side.“

“We had dinner there tonight (3/14/24) for the first time and we will be back. Two of the most interesting and truly delicious sandwiches we have ever eaten. I can't remember what mine was called, but it had chicken (roasted perfectly), sauerkraut, cheese and other awesome stuff on a grilled rye bread that was excellent. My bride had the turkey sandwich and loved it. But the star of the show were the Tater Tots. Perfectly crisp with BBQ sauce to dip them in and then into some wonderful real bacon bits. Every tot stayed crisp from the first to the last. The meal was worth every penny and more. Get into the Alameda location and try it. You won't be sorry. PS: The only bad part for me is that we live in Seattle and won't be back down until May. But you can bet I will be eating here then.“

“Well prepared menu, staff are fantastic“

“This hidden gem was delightful! Everything was delicious, from the lemon and cucumber flavored spa water to the crème brûlée.“

“Great place to have dinner outside at day and night“

“great service and hospitality love there food will always come back .“

“This was my first time here, and I'm so glad that I visited. I ordered the double smash burger, which was delicious and juicy. The order came with seasoned fries. The atmosphere was simple, no fuss, and the service was quick.

Parking: Depending on time of day, parking can be difficult.“

“1111 Solano is a new location for this restaurant. Previously near Craneway and before the pandemic in Point Richmond. Same chef, same staff, and same excellent food and service.“

“Mama’s is always fabulous! Great food, great people. What more can you ask for??“

“One of the best restaurants in Elmwood (4/5 green stars) It’s so easy to walk right by Summer Kitchen without even noticing it. It’s a narrow shopfront with just a few tables outside and it’s easy to miss as you ponder ice cream and other offerings from neighbors. Well, take it from me – forget ice cream and get a baked item from Summer Kitchen instead! Or try a pizza, or an egg salad sandwich – possibly the best egg salad sandwich you’ll ever have. But if you are limited for time, try one of the fresh fruit pastries (galette) – they seem expensive at $12 but they are big enough for two and totally worth it! I’m giving Summer Kitchen 4/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. The positives are obvious – most of the ingredients are organic and locally sourced. Everything is made from scratch and there is transparent sourcing of the meat and fish (Mary’s free-range chicken, etc.). There are a reasonable amount of vegetarian options and you can definitely find some vegan dishes too (salads, sandwich, pasta). Summer Kitchen could make the biggest environmental impact by scrapping beef from the menu – replacing it with plant-based alternatives, ideally. Beef has a carbon footprint of around 10 times that of chicken and over 100 times that of pea protein, on average. If everyone one the planet ate 1 lb. of beef per week (the US average), total greenhouse gas emissions would increase by one third! I’ll write a post illustrating all of this soon on the Green Stars Project. So I really appreciate that Summer Kitchen makes more effort than the vast majority of restaurants on improving sustainability so that’s my suggestion for the biggest opportunity for improvement – cut the beef.“

“The place is very dated but tje food was good. I had a double cheeseburger (no mayo or mustard), cooked perfect and plenty of fresh veggies. I didn't really care for the thicker fries but would try their onion rings next time. A bit pricey though, mine came to just a few pennies under $21.“

“We love MSK and have been enjoying family dinners here for a couple years now. It’s kid friendly but fancy enough for foodie parents. It’s family owned and strives to carry local seasonal ingredients.“

“Loved my evening here whilst over from England visiting friends . Live music was great!“

“Z Cafe is a wonderful restaurant. The food is basic and delicious. what a joy to read a menu without having to pull out my phone to look up every other word. Portions are generous and reasonably priced. The kitchen is willing to accommodate special requests. The staff is warm, friendly and attentive without being overbearing or obsequious. Last night I have the Cattle Burger, which included a side of fries. The fries were crispy and the burger prepared as I requested. In my book, Z Cafe gets a 10 out of 10.“

“Lovely venue and great service!“

“Duo Grill is my go-to brunch spot in town. The food is excellent! My favorites are the Hash Brown Hill, the Salmon Scrambler and the Corned Beef Hash. I always leave so satisfied and excited for my next meal. The staff are all incredibly attentive and kind. Love this spot so much!“

“Camarones 🍤 coconut muy deliciosos me encantaron“

“This spot is the most absolute amazing food and drinks and service out there. Every single food item I had has been outstanding!“

“Definitely recommend this place! first time here and I can't wait to come back next time I'm in Berkeley!! Food is delicious!“

“We had dinner there tonight (3/14/24) for the first time and we will be back. Two of the most interesting and truly delicious sandwiches we have ever eaten. I can't remember what mine was called, but it had chicken (roasted perfectly), sauerkraut, cheese and other awesome stuff on a grilled rye bread that was excellent. My bride had the turkey sandwich and loved it. But the star of the show were the Tater Tots. Perfectly crisp with BBQ sauce to dip them in and then into some wonderful real bacon bits. Every tot stayed crisp from the first to the last. The meal was worth every penny and more. Get into the Alameda location and try it. You won't be sorry. PS: The only bad part for me is that we live in Seattle and won't be back down until May. But you can bet I will be eating here then.“

“This place has an amazing menu, served in record time by the friendliest staff. We have been going here for years and have never left less than satisfied. Their bad days are better than good days for most places

Kid-friendliness: My kids love this place.“

“Loved our lunch today ! Bison stew with fry bread and bison meatballs. Hibiscus tea was awesome. Staff was so incredible. Busy and very full today. Great atmosphere.“

“Amazing food with a really cool vibe inside. I usually go with the fiesta omelet with hash browns and wheat toast. The staff is awesome and make you feel right at home. This is a great place to go for breakfast or lunch to relax and enjoy a good meal.“