"Share each plate and get the "pommes frites."
(in 68 reviews)
"Well worth the trip to the East Bay just for the fries."
(in 41 reviews)
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À Côté
Rating Details »
Categories: French, Greek, Mediterranean
Neighborhood: North Oakland5478 College Ave
(between Forest St & Kales Ave)
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 655-6469
Holiday Closure. . .
A Cote will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
- Hours:
Mon-Tue. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Wed-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
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439 reviews for À Côté
Review Highlights
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This place has a fabulous atmosphere. It's small and warm but when you walk in there is an instant energy that feels both inviting & exciting. We sat in a tented courtyard out back and it still had that same opulent but approachable feeling that the front room had. Despite being cold and rainy outside, their outside seating remained cozy somehow.
The claimed that the food was tapas style but I've never seen tapas come in portions this big.
We had 2 cheeses (omg yum with figs, nuts & that amazing walnut bread that you can find at Trader Joes), the duck, & chicken saltimboca. The only food that fell a little flat was the carrot-parsnip soup that felt a little overspiced and may have been better in a smaller portion( yes, I just complained about a portion being too large).
Their drink list is another place where they shine. I had a fresh ginger cocktail that pretty much knocked me on my butt within a few sips.
This feels like a place where one would go to celebrate friendships. Good food, good service & an atmosphere that makes you feel like everything is right with the world.
AMAZING. Service was fantastic and the food was incredible. I love a restaurant that has both a crazy, fancy duck dish and french fries on the same menu. Highly recommend the salad, hangar steak and the fantastic flat bread with pancetta and fig! The truffle risotto was our least favorite. We also had a great Italian white that I probably wouldn't order again but was good with the risotto and flat bread.
Would definitely come back here again!
À Côté's warm, cosy ambiance, great beer and wine list, and exceptional food make it an ideal place to bring a date or small group of close friends, especially for late-night after-dinner indulgence. Plan on sharing everything, regardless of group size, since it's all about the tastes.
Some menu favorites:
- Mussels. The sauce is so ridiculously good, you'll dip anything you can in it until the bowl is bone dry.
- Butternut squash ravioli. Omg. Melts. In. Your. Mouth.
- Cheese plate. Comes with probably the best toasted almonds in town. The cheeses are always a good mix of hard and soft, and universally delicious.
- Pommes frites with aioli. That doesn't sound as bad for you as "French fries with mayonnaise."
The only reason this isn't a 5-star review is that we often get a weird vibe with the staff here. Everyone should just relax a la Chez Panisse. Perhaps it's nothing -- a misunderstanding or a figment of my imagination.
If you enjoy Cesar, check out À Côté, and vice versa.
Okay, again I'd give a 3.75 if possible.
The food is as it is described on the menu. I've never been disappointed with what I have ordered. They are also great for late night meals and have a nice back patio.
I think that they could reach a little farther on the menu,, but it is still good.
A down-to-earth restaurant serving fancy food. Looks like any old restaurant, is moderately noisy, but the jam that comes with the duck is delicious. Nice somewhat dimmed lighting, and open until ~midnight on weekdays.
Overall, a good choice.
They screwed up my reservation and the hostess was rude. Eventually things worked out after I spoke with the general manager, but OMG the obstinate hostess put a damper on the evening. Service is not a strong point for A Cote. Its a damn good thing they have good atmosphere and the food is decent. When I lived in the hood, I was a regular. I was so looking forward to going, but then to be treated with so much arrogance, I will have to think twice. I am going to start to look for a new favorite place.
This is one of my favorite places in my neighborhood. It's very chill, but high end. The acoustics are terrific, you can hear every word. I've had a great time there on dates, or with a group. Excellent service, and the food is always terrific, same with the drinks.
I highly reccomend it. Don't be afraid of the patio, it's well heated, and the service is just as good back there.
I really liked this place! Great service and great food. Portions aren't for the come-hungry-leave-happy type with big appetites, so beware!
Boyfriend and I came here on a double date with our friends. Cheese plate, sangria were the most memorable! The menu's always change every few months, so it's always a new experience!
Enjoy your time if you go here... it's well worth it! Dinner is served until late at 12am. Great cuisine, no snobbishness and late night meals? How awesome is that!
This unassuming restaurant has been on my radar for a few years since reading that the former chef is now cooking at a great place in Portland that I like. We were roaming around Rockridge on a recent evening and decided to finally give it a try.
Of course, without reservations and on a Friday night, there was a horde of people waiting for a table. We bypassed the crowd and sidled up to the bar for a cocktail. Two drinks later we decided the bar was also a fine place to dine.
There are few places that stand out as far as excellent atmosphere. To me, that is secondary to the star of the evening; the food. However, A Cote really left an impression on me with its fabulous, warm setting, friendly staff and the large amount of regulars that came through the door. It seemed the bartender knew almost everyone and engaged in long conversations with each. It was a regular fine dining "Cheers" atmosphere.
I'll start with the cocktails. Some sounded strange on paper, but all went down easily and tasted fabulous. The El Pepino with muddled cucumber, gin and a splash of cran was a nice, refreshing summer drink and the Kentucky Cloister with whiskey, chartreuse, lemon and grapefruit was the oddest sounding combo, but worked well together.
In the spirit of small plate, tapas style dining, we ordered a little bit of everything.
Chanterelle and corn fritters with remoulade - great sauce and delicately fried fritters that were packed with corn.
Hazelnut crusted halibut - wasn't my favorite, the fish was kind of overdone.
Lobster mushroom flatbread - I've never seen a lobster mushroom before and let me tell you, it's a treat. The consistency is almost lobster-like and is orange in color, much like a lobster.
The food wasn't over the top, but I have to say, the overall dining experience won me over. This foodie is shocked that atmosphere trumped food and would still consider going back.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. I surprised my honey here for his birthday a few weeks ago, and we had a great time! We were a group of 6 on a Tuesday evening and were well cared for by the lovely hostess and our server, Eric. It was actually quite busy for a Tuesday night, so their extra attention definitely counted!
I wish I could provide more detail about the food that we had, but everything we tasted was flavorful. At Eric's recommendation, we shared plates, but we all thought afterwards that the portion sizes would work for individual entrees, depending on how hungry you are. The prices were more than fair - perfect for a nice evening out without blowing your budget!
When they did not have the Spanish red that we had wanted, Eric recommended that we try one of their German reds - delicious! We went through two bottles over the course of our evening. Everyone at the table raved about the food and the wine.
The atmosphere is intimate, but was buzzing enough that evening that we had no problem feeling festive. The lighting is beautiful - this place is great for groups or for date night.
Wonderful neighborhood locale and close enough to BART that any "out-of-towners" can walk there. Parking isn't too bad. We live just across the street, so in general we are always able to find parking any night of the week (just not on College Ave).
We'll be back just to share a drink and appetizer at the bar. Their specialty cocktails are delicious and expertly made.
Thank you A'Cote! You made my boyfriend's birthday beyond special. We can't wait to return.
A wonderfully splendid place that I can't wait to go back to! We were warmly received for a Monday night dinner in quiet Rockridge. Even on Monday, the place was reasonably full, but had a nice subdued atmosphere.
We were offered tap or sparkling water; I'm glad that tap was the first choice offered and you don't have to awkwardly ask for it. Unfortunately the water jug was never refilled during the whole night, despite being empty for quite some time. I got a stout beer and it was expertly poured. The person who brought it to the table was a little overenthusiastic: she said, "will you look at that! Looks like a dessert!" I thought that was really odd. Another time, a server passing by made "mm mm" noises (we didn't even have any food yet). How odd!
First dish: chanterelle and corn fritter. This was the low point of the night. The chanterelles were few and far between: I had to point them out to my wife. The corn was very fresh, but the batter was flavorless and they came sitting in a pile of a tartar-like sauce reminiscent of the County Fair. They could have used more mushrooms, or a combination of mushrooms, and the sauce could have been more complementary.
The mussel dish came next. The mussels were absolutely plump and delicious and we slurped them all up. As other reviewers have pointed out, this is really a dish to get. I've never had such good mussels! What a great way to get your seafood fix too, mussels being a "best choice" of seafood.
We had ordered the frites and were wondering about them, but they came out a few minutes after the mussels. They were delicious but a lot of the pieces were really small--1-1.5 inches. The plate of frites was huge and I would have preferred a smaller portion without so many bits and pieces. We could not finish the frites, as good as they were. They offered us more bread for the mussel sauce before we asked...I bet everyone gets more bread for the mussel sauce. It is so good!!
Then came the hanger steak with butter beans and spinach. The butter beans were good but a bit of an odd pairing with the steak, since the steak is meaty and so are butter beans. The steak was topped with anchovy butter and was absolutely delicious. I ate two pieces of it without even thinking, then I realized I should slow down and enjoy it! It was gone before we knew it. I haven't had a steak in years, but this one was more delicious and tender than anything I can remember. I kept thinking about the steak the whole next day! I wish I had savored those first two pieces more.
I also ordered a French red wine from the extensive list. They have pretty much all imported wines, which seems a little pretentious for local-crazy Bay Area. The wine came in a nice glass and was great. They also have a bazillion other liquors and all sorts of drinks, making me wish I had more capacity for alcohol. Seems like it would be fun sitting at the bar next time.
For dessert, we ordered the nectarine/blueberry cobbler and the grape sorbet. I could not tell if there were any blueberries in the cobbler. My wife finally found a small shriveled one. It was pretty dark in there and the cobbler was great, but I wouldn't have called it blueberry. And for some reason they forgot the sorbet! I remember the server repeating sorbet to me, but it never came. We didn't want to wait since we had to catch the bus and you never know with the 51, so we didn't ask for it.
Service was pretty good and very friendly except for those odd misteps and strange culture. A busboy once asked "Are you still working on that?" which I feel is a phrase that should have long been banished from restaurants. It makes me feel like I'm doing a term paper.
This place has good tapas and really good Butternut squash ravioli. The Riesling that we got was also AMAZING! And the cheese plate comes with poached figs and it tasted great! We had to wait a while for a table, but it was worth it!
A gorgeous night for patio dining - garden setting - table for four.
Share or no share, you will order several items on the menu. Excellent servers who love serving as a team rather than 'let me get your server for you'. Perfect explanation of not exactly small plates but entree portions are not exactly large either, so have fun choosing whatever you feel.
First, a great selection of Belgium beer served in the appropriate logo'd glass...see my photos...the first test is always the pommes frites and mussels and both did not disappoint and it was easy street after that.
Great neighborhood, excellent ambience (ask for patio on a nice eve), friendly and intelligent servers, great deserts (sorry, no pics). Our out of town friends enjoyed it as much as we did.
GOBS! COME HERE FOR THE GOBS!
I first experienced A Cote during the Rockridge Out and About food festival and absolutely fell in love withe gobs. Correction: Pumpkin gobs. Pumpkin cake on the outside and whipped cream cheese filling on the inside. A little taste of heaven that will satisfy anyone's taste buds. Get them quick bc the menu is seasonal.
I love the majority of the dishes here, but, unfortunate, one of my friends who came with me is allergic to diary. Big no no. Everything had diary in it, from the little gem salad to the butternut squash ravioli to the lobster mushroom flat bread. The only thing my friend could eat out of the six dishes we ordered was the duck pate and the sardine crostini. That would have been nice except the duck pate had a disgusting layer of fat on top, a layer that we weren't advised before ordering. Likewise, the menu barely pointed out the high diary content of the food. The only one that did was the little gem salad, which we can inferred because of the bleu cheese dressing.
Other than that, the service and atmosphere was amazing. Try it, but be aware, it's on the pricey side.
Happy Eating, and watch out for the diary, people!
A Cote has one of the most beautiful bars in the whole bay area. I've had dinner there on occasion, but more times than not, I'll grab a seat at the bar. The bartenders, Michael and Mike, are outstanding.
We went in last week for a night cap after a wonderful dinner at Wood Tavern. At 8pm, there was only one seat open at the bar. Soon after, another opened up. My boyfriend enjoyed Brasserie D'achouffe, a lovely Belgium beer served in a 750ml bottle. I asked for a vintage port, and Michael found an incredible one from 1980. It was such a treat!
The food is great as well. But I just love sitting at the bar, enjoying the ambiance. We chatted with other patrons for quite a while. You feel as if you've been transported elsewhere. It's so warm and inviting. I'm so happy to live close to A Cote.
Went there last night . Great food and pretty reasonably priced I think (at least compared to the city). The mushroom soup is to die for (and you might if you think about the calories), the mussels and chicken in phyllo were also great.
".... i was sleeping so good up in dat bed last night i was dreamin i was a large piece of hard-crusted bread, and thomas jane wus dippin me in dat yummmie mussscule juice they serve... aa-oooh hunnie!!"
That's how good A'Cote's mussle's are.
WORD.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/9/2009
Ohhh Gaud... Hold on.. lemme sit down and clutch my pearls... lemme just say.... I long of those… Read more »
Enjoyed a wonderful evening of dining, drinks and friends.
We where seated in the patio area next to fountain. Ambiance went well with the weather.
Cocktails where delicious, variety ingredients mixed nicely for sipping and chatting.
We started with gazpacho topped with shrimp ceviche. Tasty.
Mussels, savory and bread must be used to scoop up the broth.
Ricotta stuffed squash blossom w/ pesto melted with each bite.
Grilled eggplant and caciocallo cheese on flat bread with a touch of tomato sauce. A must have nicely done.
Desserts & coffee
Servers very attentive.
A cote never disappoints
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/9/2008
Nice ambiance( rainy night and we were warm enough) , romantic, and exceptional service...waitress… Read more »
We'll be BARTing our @sses back across the bay specifically to eat dinner here.
And that, good Yelpers, is high praise indeed from a pair who sometimes balk at the PITA involved with navigating to restaurants more than a 7 minute cab ride away.
Great location on the Rockridge street front. Nice setting inside...in addition to sidewalk seating perfect for those warm Oakland summer days. The private booths and balcony in the back look like places where a lot of no-good can go down.
Very nice drink selection...beers, wine (including flights), and spirits from all over Europe...Spain, France, Italy, Belgium... Georgia! The country, not a little-bit-o-hot-hot state in the dirty south. I don't know anywhere else in the area where you can try Georgian wines. They have lots of grappa and ouzo.
Rib eye cooked to perfection, falling apart in your mouth, and the Moroccan wraps were pure genius. Kinda funny that the best fries I've found in Oakland were at this place...a twice cooked crispy plate of awesome.
Plates are small (except the fries), but you can order several and share. Be prepared to spend $60-90 for 2 people here with a couple of drinks.
A good night here:
Fritas, ouzo, grappa, rib-eye, riesling, fruit and cheese.
Imagine the aftermath.
Once again, I'm impressed, charmed and completely satisfied:
Mikey is back - bartenders who know you on first-name basis
Service with a smile - always
The menu was a great mix of flavors at a reasonable price
And... even a mistake is a great surprise - and we all know everybody makes mistakes, right? And when it happens here, you may broaden your taste pallet - live a little.
Eat here!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/7/2008
Once again, I'm impressed, charmed and completely satisfied:
Mikey is back - bartenders who know you… Read more »
Our waitress really made an effort to make sure that we were enjoying our food, and especially the wine. French fries are pretty good and steak is good quality. Cute place...nice ambiance
Cute little tapas place that's good for groups.
We went for a birthday party and shared a few plates that were unmemorable. The price wasn't too bad and the company was enjoyable so I had a great time regardless!
Creative tapas menu, but it's noisy, very dark... and crowded. My friend and I squeezed in on the long communal table to share a few playful dishes. I'd pass on the squash blossoms but the mussels are decent as is the rib eye.
The small dishes add up
Dinner for 2? $65
I have been coming here for years, and am never let down by the food, service, or ambiance. Great for occasions, dates, or just a special night out, A Cote always seems to leave me satisfied and even impressed. Tonight I celebrated my 5 anniversary with my man, and we had an amazing time. Everything from our drinks to desert were outstanding, and I think that we might have to come back soon just to experience everything we had again before the menu changes. If you prefer a little intimate peace an quiet, be sure to request a seat in the back.. if you like a lively atmosphere, stay in the front.
Kudos to the waitstaff who are always knowledgeable, enthusiastic about the menu, and attentive.
My indulgence has found a home.
This small plates bistro has shed the Mediterranean opulence in its decor while retaining the depth of flavor of the cuisine and languorous ambiance optimal for a romantic evening. I wouldn't take just anyone here though, it's an expression of true adoration. Make it special and it will count.
For a first date, the excellent bar will help lubricate any potential awkwardness. The spectrum of spirits will make your head spin, and the shaking skills of the barkeeps even more so. No one's left behind; oenophiles be sure to try a flight or two of the exotic, unique varietals.
As for the menu, you can do the ol' close your eyes and point, and it'll be fantastic. Fan of bivalves, the mussels are not to be missed. Neither is the lovely patio on a balmy night! Hot weekend tip: DINNER SERVED UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
It's always poppin', so just OpenTable it up, and you'll be good to go!
Always love eating at this place. Amazing food, colorful drinks and great service! A great place to celebrate your best friend's birthday! Nice patio in back. Great atmosphere. What more do you want?
I've enjoyed Acote for years! Ideal for dates and great conversation with friends. I wouldn't recommend with kids, although the staff is very kind.
Get the muscles! Yummy! I'm still thinking about it..hmmmmm. I'm hungry. Also try the flat bread pizza. They don't call it a pizza though. They have a fancy smancy name for it. Do not try the qual and the steak dinner, my bf was very dissatisfied. But I will come back for those yummy muscles!
I came here for dinner a while back. The atmosphere would have been quaint and cozy had it not been so crowded! Our party of five waited about 45 minutes for a table, and spent most of that time standing cramped in a corner of the bar area. That wasn't great. The establishment seems to be better suited for couples and small groups.
When we got seated, the waiter was very helpful and attentive. He proved his worth, assisting our indecisive group in ordering by offering helpful advice. I always enjoy the tapas format, and the curious blend of French and Mediterranean dishes made everyone happy. Eating here was expensive for poor kids like us, but we all walked away happy that we splurged here; all willing to do so again some day in the future.
I love A Cote...honestly it is one of my favorite EB eateries but our relationship didn't start out that way...I actually attempted to eat here several times and was denied because I was not clever enough to figure out how to score a seat without a reservation (yes, I am impulsive and don't plan these things)...
How to score seating at A Cote...
Don't be the guy (or gal) that makes reservations well in advance. Arrives promptly, only to find that you're going to have to wait because they just sat your table and then gets all bent out of shape...this is your fault; you played by the rules...bad move skippy...do not pass go, do not collect $200.
Instead, think about sitting at the bar...Think on it some more and realize that while you're waiting for your table, and getting more annoyed about waiting, a couple has just come in, waited for a moment and then found seating at the bar...they are going to get the last of the reindeer goat cheese ho-hah that you have been salivating over...sucker!
Don't become bitter and annoyed and about this; don't start to envision making a stink about not being seated, telling the hostess where she can stick her sign-in sheet (BTW, what you just had in mind; that's not physically possible - really, it's not)...
Instead, take my advice and skip the whole BS reservation/wait for a table thing and be smart. Head straight for the bar (you're going to go there first anyways you big lush) and stay there.
Enjoy some none to subtle circling, jockeying and positioning for a pair of seats at the bar...get your loom on...it's fun...just don't take it to the level of the homeless guy licking the window as you eat but definitely don't be unobtrusive - the thing about people in Rockridge is that they have to be made to want to leave - think yuppie squatters...Looming also serves to mark the territory from the inevitable interloper trying to snake your claim (seat stealing cougars, you know who you are).
A little judicious looming with an accompanying cocktail generally results in a pair of seats opening up in 10-20 minutes which is just enough time to have seen someone serve what you want to eat and to be ready for your second round of cocktails or so...
A Cote...definitely one of the places to eat in the EB - 5 Stars all day long...it might be sacrilegious but, I actually like the menu at A Cote better that Ad Hoc...high praise indeed.
Definitely try the Mussels to start and finish with Coupe Cote...
I went there last week for dinner with an other foodie. We had a great time. Everything was off the hook.
We had Fried Sardines. I would have never tried this at home but I now have a great idea to play with. Creamy and Crispy at the same time and not overly salty fatty or fishy.
I saw the wood burning over and I love Mushrooms, so I asked the Sous Chef Nick if he could whip up a special Pizza for me.
He suggested the House made Salami and all I can say is DAMMMM!
Big Mike our bartender was a genius with the bozz.
Will I go back? YES!!
Who wants another dating metaphor?* Yeah, I never get tired of those either.
So A Cote is that educated, handsome, witty fellow that all your friends love. He puts on a fantastic show, doesn't he? Guess what. Not so much substance underneath it all. Turns out he's not so passionate about the things that count. And he might actually be gay. Basically, there's no hope of longevity in this one.
Likewise, A Cote puts on a beautiful show. From the covered patio to the curved, popular, sexy bar, A Cote is a place you want to dine in. You love it when you're there. And then the food comes. And you can't help but wish it was better.
I haven't had A Cote's dessert, so I can't judge how well the metaphoric man would do in bed. Probably great**, given how good the drinks are. So A Cote starts off and finishes well, you could say, but for a pricey tapas dinner, I'll be ordering my entrees somewhere else.
*Did you know that being single rots your brain to a certain extent? I am just learning this now...
** Unless he is actually gay, in which case I wouldn't hope for much excitement. Only because I'm a woman. I'm sure gay sex is great. Argh...foot...in....mouth....
"not that there's anything wrong with it"
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/23/2008
It took me way too long to get into this restaurant. What a romantic, linger-worthy, delicious… Read more »
Always a fun selection of cocktails and wines by the glass (including flights) and delicious, non-pretentious (but interesting) food. Cozy ambiance, too. All around, my favorite place on College Ave. and maybe even in the East Bay.
After many non-eventful visits, hubby and I experienced a major problem with service recently. I e-mailed the restaurant and they made it right instantly. How great is that?
You ever have a friend in the Mafia? Yeah, well me neither..
But I do know someone that is on staff here at 'A Cote' and let me just take you back to a famous moment from Goodfellas to give you an idea of how my night unfolded: http://www.youtube.com... ... I felt like Karen Hill in this scene..and it felt FABULOUS!
Only my date was a chick and she didn't even have to drop 20's to anyone to get the respect that she received.
After about the 3rd member on staff came to kiss my pal's pinkie ring, I shook my head and asked what the hell was going on. She informed me of her status and if I were a dude, let's just say she would have gotten some last night. Muy impressivo! ;)
We ate food that I can't pronounce but, it breaks down like this:
French Fries w/ailoli - Ham & Cheese finger sandwiches (best cheese ever) - Mushroom & Potato Flatbread (that tasted like flavor-filled slivers of heaven on a flaky crust) and Flank Steak on some gigantic, flavorful beans.
It was a fancy spread that, when ordered, my friend had to translate it from French to English for my gringo ass.
Everything was perfect!!
Our host and waitress were both up on the wine selections and offered great suggestions to pair with what I was eating - they started us off with some pink bubbly. Then there was the sangria cocktail that was pretty damned tasty & very girlie. Then a light and sweet Riesling..and for dessert, a tasty Port that paired well with my chocolate wonderland of dessert.
When I dived into my dessert, I turn into a beaten down lil chocolate bitch. It was the Coup D' Acote or something fancy like that.
I wanted to curl up in a corner somewhere private, swatting everyone away and screaming "Mine Mine Mine" while shoveling homemade chocolate ice cream, caramel whipped creme, toffee flakes and brownies that I am sure were made of nothing but chocolate and butter. I see someone posted a pic of this dessert and my stomach is churning for just 1 more bite.
I had to get a take-out box for the rest of my dessert, because I could not finish this in public. Oh no... this is one of those desserts where you need a lil privacy..ya need that private place to allow tears of joy to stream down one's face, rock back n forth and maybe hum a lil tune as you indulge. I seriously waited till around midnight so my dinner could digest a lil just so I could have some more dessert and fall asleep with that being the last flavor on my palette. Was I surprised by 2-3 extra brownies and whipped creme when I opened my to-go box? Well, yes I was thanks to my mafioso-like connections.
I feel honored to be the guest of A Cote's Dessert Diva. This was one of the most memorable dinners I have had in a really long time.
I still have a tiny brownie chunk waiting for me in my fridge and if I can make it last 2 more days, I will.
If not..I have a general idea where this chick lives and if I gotta stand on every corner in her neighborhood screaming her name with a pound of butter & chocolate in each hand.. I'll do it.
PMS is a bitch and you just can't go around messing with my emotions with brownies THAT tasty right at my fingertips.
Hands down, THEE best restaurant on College Ave!
This is also my favorite place in the East Bay for solo dining. I had a great dinner at the bar last night: crispy frogs' legs with basil remoulade, grilled flat-iron steak with a cardoon-potato gratin and watercress salad, and a side of Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus, and Vidalia onions with fresh fava "skorthalia." And a nice piece of aged Basilicata goat cheese for dessert.
As is often the case there, I tried some delicious wines I'd never heard of before, a 2007 Citluk Vranac from Mostar (Herzegovina) and a 2004 Plantaze Vranac "Pro Corde" from Montegegro. Worth dropping by to check out, they're only $7 for a taste flight.
Thank you Uncle Sam for the stimulus!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/20/2009
The back patio here is my favorite place for a romantic dinner, and they have my favorite wine list… Read more »
Good pomme frites- I was eyeballing the ones that fell on the table top. Our server was really friendly and knowledgeable. The atmosphere was pretty. Our food came promptly and most of it was good except for the rhubarb tartlet w/ strawberry ice cream. The ice cream was good. The tartlet wasn't. It's a soggy, sour and slightly warm pancake.
Overall, it's a good place and I'll be back!
Years ago, when I first moved to San Francisco, I got a job in the Oakland hills. At Christmas and birthday time, A Cote gift certificates were widely given as gifts. I have [sadly] had a gift certificate to A Cote for 7 years and never used it until the other night.
I don't go to Oakland. Really. Since I stopped working across the Bay Bridge, and remember only the afternoons where it would take me 3 hours to cross the bridge because of some crash or jumper, I really would rather not have to cross it for anything (no offense, East Bayers).
Was hanging out with this guy the other night, mentioned the gift certificate, and he said, "Let's go!" (It's a somewhat free night, of course he said that!).
Made an 8:30 reservation (apparently they don't take reservations between 7 and 8), and hopped on BART. It's an easy walk from the Rockridge station, and there's ample people watching/window shopping opportunities along the way (just look out for the myriad of kids and dogs on the sidewalks).
We sat at the table at the front, by the bar...a great table with lots of room, if you're claustrophobic and don't like coziness, this is the place to sit. We started with the bubbly, me with the prosecco, him with the rose. We ordered the mussels, the croque monsieur, the pommes frites (um, the 1/2 order, I can't even imagine what the full order must have been like), and finished with the mushroom flatbread.
Everything was delicious, the wine selection was outstanding, and the ambience was lovely. The service was sweet and unobtrusive, and we never felt rushed. We over-ordered (for us), and didn't leave room for dessert, but the entire experience was pretty great...for Oakland ;)
Skimming the menu outside the shop, I was persuaded by an entering patron who saw me reading -- "you won't be disappointed," he assured me. I was initially deterred by the exotic descriptions on the menu and by the prices that ended in whole numbers (e.g. "13" instead of "12.95") -- but boy am I glad that patron was right!
Ideally, you should order 2 dishes per person -- we ordered 8 total for four people and it worked out nicely. The titles on the cocktail menu were intimidating, as we had terrible French accents, but they were worth the price we paid -- not too strong, not too weak; and flavoured nicely.
The dishes that stood out were the pommes frites with aioli, the ricotta-stuffed squash blossoms, and the vegetable pasta (it tastes like hand-made pasta =]). It was as close to perfection as possible.
I understand that the menu changes regularly. I'd like to see what A Cote has to offer when other dishes are in season. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Rockridge and perhaps the SF Bay area.
I moved from Oakland to LA about a year ago and still have fond memories of A Cote which was my favorite East Bay restaurant...There really isn't one single thing that stands out about A Cote...but there are so many little things that I love about this place: the ingredients are always fresh and in season, the menu is constantly changing, the food comes out extremely fast, the flavors of every dish are well thought out and well executed, the portions are generous and the prices are affordable, there is a wide variety of wines to choose from which are also very reasonably priced, the decor and layout of the restaurant evoke a very cozy, comforting feel etc etc...To me, this is the perfect restaurant for a date or to meet some friends for drinks...
