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.“

“Comfort hofbrau food in a working class dining room setting. They serve freshly prepared carved meats, such as roast turkey, roast beef, corned beef, pastrami and baked ham with sides like mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and cut corn. They have a grill that serves burgers and hot sandwiches too. Large portions - Good value for the money.“

“Excellent! We had a great experience!“

“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.“

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

“The food inside is delicious and healthy portions. The service here is great too!“

“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.“

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

“This is everything I want from a deli, nothing more nothing less. My son loves the pastrami sandwich and always asks to come here. The Dutch Crunch is on a different level here… feels like a free upgrade to every sandwich tbh! In addition to the pastrami, I also love the Italian and the Ultimate Veggie sandwich. Haven’t tried the panini options but they seem popular bc people are always ordering it when I’m waiting for my order. Oh and huge chip selection is also a plus!“

“The service was amazing from start to finish, and the food was absolutely delicious. The cocktails were delightfully boozy and well-crafted, making them the perfect complement to the meal. Dessert was especially memorable, with multiple layers and components that came together in a unique and interesting way.

My only regret is not calling ahead for a reservation on a Friday night, as the restaurant was understandably busy. I'll definitely be planning ahead next time because I will absolutely be coming back!“

“Beeryland is absolutely fantastic. I've been coming here for the star trek trivia for almost two years. The adult slushies are yummy, and so is most of the food. I don't know if the kimchi grilled cheese is still on the menu, but it's a divisive item. My friends like it but I despise it. Use caution. As you can see by the state of my AmInal Fries (yes the spelling is correct), I am one happy customer. Four stars on the atmosphere because the bathroom could use a facelift, but it is a bar. Cheers!“

“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.“

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

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

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!“

“Hands down best food, their tomato soup is to die for and their grilled sandwiches pair perfectly. They also have amazing sweet potato fries. We had amazing service from Larisha. I would recommend this to any one in the mood for a delicious meal!“

“Really enjoyed eating here. We were seated pretty quickly and the service was great throughout our visit. The food was delicious and everything came out fresh and flavorful. I also liked that the portions were just right and not overly large. Overall, a great experience and I would definitely come back.“

“This is one of my very favorite restaurants in Martinez. I love the window seat when I can get it. Love the charming privacy it lends itself too. The service is amazing; especially if you get Darlene! She is friendly, efficient, clearly loves what she does! You are greeted as if your a long lost friend! The food is so fresh and very tasty. I've never had a bad meal in this place. They bring free bread with a balsamic dip to the table that is so good. I could drink the dip. Lol. Their CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD, DELUXE DUNGENESS CRAB MELT, GEMELLI PASTA WITH ROASTED SEASONAL VEGETABLES, AND THEIR COASTAL LINGUINI, (I substituted with chicken.) are some of my favorites. All theirs food is off the hook! Their prices are just slightly higher than the average; however, their food is great quality and they give a huge portion. They have live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. I've not been there on those nights. I feel quite confident that it just adds to the already charming atmosphere.

Just love, love, love this place.

If you only have one place to eat at in Martinez, this is it!

XO“

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

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

“I was there yesterday and had the Killer BLAT I didn't know if I would like it but turns out I loved it and I will return it was so good. It's a great place that you have to try.“

“I am slowly working my way through the whole menu the sea bass was excellent today so was the salmon my friend enjoyed I've had the braised beef and we both had the chicken tenders we will continue to enjoy what is offer especially those new items that just came in. chef Raul and the crew know what they're doing very lovely outing every time“

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

“What a lovely surprise to find such tasty, healthy food so close to home, friendly staff, on time! Lightly cooked but high-protein and *yummy*“

“Walking by, I always thought this place was abandoned. It’s not, it just opens 4-8. After 2 years I finally went to try their food. My burger was delicious. Service was good, family own/run. A good amount of customers for a Thursday evening. Will be back when Im craving bar-ey food.“

“Yeah, it’s an awesome little Dinner with the great menu service was great and had some large portions had to take some food to home with me and that’s pretty rare for me I had classic club sandwich. It was very good and my wife had the veggie omelette which she finished in no time so must’ve been very good..“

“We come by almost every Friday and have lunch at Cato's. The staff is extremely friendly and the service is top notch! It's always rejuvenating to be at Cato's and start our weekend with good food, tasty beverages and a few good laughs with the welcoming folks that work and patronize the Ale House.“

“Outstanding in every possible way. Best fried fish I’ve ever eaten, and everything on the tasting menu was excellent: the corn bread, salad, boiled peanuts, shishito peppers, hushpuppies and beans and rice. So much care has been put into the details, from the food to the atmosphere to the lighting.“

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

“I love Zs cafe. Its like going to Cheers. The staff is warm and friendly. The food is great and so are the cocktails. Big shout out to Pia who makes the best drinks in town! The owner of Zs, Medhi has created a little piece of heaven in Oaklad.“

“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.“

“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.“

“what a wonderful place to have breakfast I have not tried their lunch yet but it was so good and the portions are really big I really enjoyed myself with my family.“

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

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

“My only prior experience with Commis' culinary output was tracking their takeout format during the pandemic, making this my first opportunity to witness the menu executed in its native environment.

Arrived slightly behind schedule due to a minor orientation error on approach from the west. The prominent exterior 'Commis' signage is actually positioned over a secondary doorway—blocked by a rope and obscured by a black curtain—which I mistakenly flagged as the threshold. After waiting until 5:06 PM, I stepped further east down the sidewalk to discover the actual entrance. Once inside, check-in was seamless. I was engineered into a stunning table boasting an uncompromised, direct line of sight into the kitchen —an ideal vantage point for observation. For those driving, district parking is highly efficient; there is an open lot a three-minute walk away completely integrated with the ParkMobile app.

The dining room operates with high aesthetic intent. The table setting is beautifully minimalist, accented by fresh floral arrangements. Ambient audio consists of low-profile, rhythmic electronic beats without discernible tracking, allowing the focus to remain on the room’s acoustics. Notable property asset: the restroom features neatly folded, reusable linen cloths, a detail I always inspect and appreciate.

The beverage program opened strong with a well-balanced cocktail featuring a flawless, hyper-clarified ice block cleanly monogrammed with the house branding.

Plating geometry across the board was visually stunning. Certain courses were deployed using a strict three-point presentation matrix on the table, showing deliberate service choreography.

The clear peak of the engineering here is their legendary signature dish: the slow-poached egg yolk resting in a malted cream base with smoked dates and crisp alliums. It is a brilliant study in texture—velvety, rich, and profoundly comforting. This singular dish justifies the entire booking.

From an operational standpoint, the pacing of this meal was exceptional—easily ranking in the top five dining experiences I have tracked globally. The kitchen and floor staff maintained a hyper-focused, synchronized posture throughout the multi-hour window. Service movements were fluid, deliberate, and entirely free of friction.

Crucially, the clearing of empty plates was immediate, and successive courses materialized without a single dead gap. Staff check-ins were frequent but entirely non-invasive. This baseline pace never wavered, holding perfectly steady even as the dining room reached peak capacity later in the evening. A masterfully managed system.“

“we love the vibe, service and menu at GLK on Grand and have been going there for years. On our last visit we were surprised by how salty the food was. I think the cooks are overly generous with salt. Both our brussel sprouts and the scallops were really over salted. Next visit we will be sure to order low/no salt, and send back anything that's too salty.“

“Great local eatery with delicious beers and wonderful taps. Joe, the owner, is one of the most sweetest guys you’ll ever meet. Highly recommend!“

“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.“

“best sushi and cheap!!! will come again!!!“

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

“Very good food nice place and relaxing atmosphere 👏❤️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
D.Monaghans On The Hill delivers an exceptional dining experience with hearty, flavorful dishes, generous portions, and a welcoming atmosphere that feels like a true local favorite. Every meal is well-prepared, satisfying, and consistently delicious.
The ambiance is warm, relaxed, and full of character—perfect for a casual night out, meeting friends, or enjoying a comfortable meal in a friendly setting. It has that classic neighborhood charm that keeps guests coming back.
The staff is friendly, attentive, and efficient, ensuring smooth service and a pleasant experience from start to finish. Their hospitality adds to the overall enjoyment of the visit.
If you’re looking for great food, a cozy atmosphere, and reliable service, D.Monaghans On The Hill is a fantastic choice. Highly recommended and well deserving of five stars! 🌟🍽️✨“

“delicious ice cream and everything“

“All the food was incredible, I had the potato hash and delighted in every bite. The sweet potato pancakes were delicious and the candied bacon (made on site) were exquisite.
Even the drinks went above expectations we tried the blueberry lemonade and sorrell and both were amazing.
The staff are super friendly and I would definitely recommend Cafe Noir to others.“

“Copper Skillet Courtyard is a great spot for breakfast or lunch. We recently stopped in for breakfast and found the atmosphere warm, comfortable, and welcoming. We were seated right away and given menus, and there’s also a large board featuring daily specials that’s worth checking out. Our friendly waitress greeted us promptly and brought our coffee and tea soon after. Our order of an omelet and huevos rancheros arrived without much wait and were both delicious. Overall, it was an excellent dining experience, and we’d gladly return.“

“We arrived here shortly after opening on a Sunday morning and we were seated immediately. We had the vegetarian omelette and hash brown hill along with an Americano. The omelette was 5/5 and well seasoned. The hash brown hill was hearty and deftly seasoned. We really enjoyed the Americano! The dining area is welcoming. We will be back.“

“Lovely venue and great service!“

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