New American Restaurants near Orinda, CA

“Excellent! We had a great experience!“

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

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

“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“

“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’ve recently cut out all dairy and pretty much all meat, although I will make an exception for special occasions and eat meat seldomly. anyway the options here are delicious if you’re a vegan! Their menu is full of tasty choices. U couldn’t be happier with my recent door dash orders“

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

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!“

“I’ve recently cut out all dairy and pretty much all meat, although I will make an exception for special occasions and eat meat seldomly. anyway the options here are delicious if you’re a vegan! Their menu is full of tasty choices. U couldn’t be happier with my recent door dash orders“

“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*“

“​Yard House at The Veranda is always buzzing! Reservations are definitely a must, even on weekdays; though if you’re lucky, you can find open seating at the bar around 3 pm or 15 minutes before 6 pm 😆
We had the chicken lettuce wraps and calamari off the happy hour menu, and both were delicious. Great food, great vibe, and fantastic service!“

“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 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.“

“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.“

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

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

“The cold whipping wind threatened to derail our outdoor dining experience, but thankfully, we live in Alameda and we knew to bring jackets.

With that out of the way, we proceeded to enjoy a leisurely 2 hour dinner where every dish was expertly prepared and plated. The staff were attentive and checked in on us periodically.

We enjoyed the caesar salad with boquerones, the octopus and bay shrimp ceviche with leche de tigre, the duck confit and the the shoestring potatoes. We finished off the meal with a small citron tarte and some coffee.

Would recommend without reservation, but a reservation might get you seated indoors. :)“

“Great burger and truffle fries. Its a great spot on fridays for karaoke.“

“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.“

“This was our first brunch at Batch and Brine and it was so delicious! Im not sure why we’ve only been for dinner?! We will be back soon for brunch! Chicken and waffles with fresh fruit were a hit!! They make their own pastrami and use it for hash! Every bite of pastrami was so tender, meaty, and flavorful. I prefer it to any corned beef hash. It was Father’s Day and very busy but the staff were all individually friendly, calm, organized, attentive and really worked well together as a team! They really had some very special items on the menu (mimosa flights etc). I can’t wait to try pastrami sandwich for lunch/dinner. Burgers are always reliable, juicy, flavorful and substantial. Excellent fries, salads, tacos and cocktails!! Recommend 100% for a casual but well crafted menu, indoor/outdoor seating and friendly attentive service!“

“They're always so nice to me here! Mama loves the craft cocktails and the book curations. We live nearby so it's a favorite neighborhood hang, and we appreciate all the thought that went into the menus.“

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

“open mic Tuesdays and the food and atmosphere!“

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

“Fast food that doesn’t give you indigestion! (5/5 Green Stars) On the downside – the items (e.g., fries) are not dripping in fat. On the plus side, the items are not dripping in fat! It may take a while to get used to the healthier version of fast food, but think of it this way – it’s actually nourishing your body instead of poisoning it. The signature burger, made from organic quinoa and mushrooms is so much better for you than a burger made from meat. Same deal for the planet, with organic and 100% plant-based ingredients. I’m giving Next Level Burger 5/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact for the following reasons: • 100% plant-based. Obvious major benefits to animals, society and the planet. • Organic ingredients. Again, benefits to the planet and society. • All packaging, down to the straws, is compostable. That’s the best way to manage the waste stream for this kind of restaurant. • Next Level has supported groups like BLM and Covid healthcare workers. • Founders advocate for plant-based food to deal with climate.“

“We had lovely cocktails, the Sunday Edition and Popular on Payday umm We then shared their special ribeye with smashed potatoes and asparagus... excellent... and their always popular ribbon pasta .. delicious as well. We expected to bring more home ... but too good to stop ! Thanks East End!“

“I had the chicken Alex had the pork loin both cooked to perfection �“

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

“Food was great and drinks was great.“

“They have a guest dock. Good food.“

“Great variety of tasty dishes on the menu and the food was delicious! I loved the “secret” specials - you need to ask to find out what they are. Fun cocktail options. And, all of the dessert options were awesome! My fav was the cheeseburger - YUM! I would definitely go back!“

“Treated my parents to a lovely dinner from Kiana for their 50 th wedding anniversary!!! Everything was delicious!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Delicious food and cocktails.“

“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.“

“I had the jerk chicken, amazing flavors and super tender. Large servings, excellent food and a great atmosphere. Definitely going 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.“

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

“good drinks, good food, friendly service, outdoor dining, i'll be back“

“Saw Jay Rich here, The food was pretty good well seasoned and the drinks were flowing, the waitresses were fast and responsive the whole show. Waiting on luenell to headline a show.“

“Had the Italian style sandwich here..... Really solid sandwich. What really got me though is the cook gave me this fantastic in-house made habanero sauce then I just ended up dunking over every bite I was absolutely in love with it. Really cool to sit at the counter and watch them cook, chef was such a friendly dude and the server as well! Really enjoyed the vibe of just hanging out and eating my meal“

“Not many vegetarian options, but the one you have is the best ever🤩“

“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.“

“Excellent food and owners! Always fresh.“

“Amazing food and service. The flavors were amazing and delicious. The beets appetizer were very good. The Lamb Kabobs are excellent. Inspiration of this restaurant is from Middle East, Africa and California as per the owners comments. We loved all the menu and the trout and Lamb bastila were the highlights“

“Great place to have dinner! Absolutely enjoyed the trivia night they had. The garbage bread is a must try! The penne pasta is delicious. The burgers are perfect! Let’s not forget the chips and the salsa. Everything was great! Service was superb.
Definitely made my family happy to eat here before we headed out in the morning.
We will be back next time we come out here.“

“awesome drinks, ambiance and some good food.“

“Recently enjoyed a fabulous dinner at Postino's The food was wonderful, and the service excellent. It was a perfect al fresco dining experience“