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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: UptownTue-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"Wonderfully surprised by this gem restaurant on Lake Merritt! I'm so excited such a great dining experience is so close to me. Tucked away…" read more »
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Beautiful and great tasing food. And i have to say... the service in oakland is COMPLETELY different that that in SF. I'm not complaining about SF but... OAK i so much more personable. You have to try it to understand.
Good was the:
Fois Gras
Butternut squash souffle'
Pan Seared Scallops..
Yup.. and again, friendly service to the 9's...
Flora, I do not adore-ya!
I decided to get out of my Chez Panisse induced K-hole and suggest a new spot for our family birthday dinners. After a yelp search I found 4 star rated Flora with well over 370+ reviews. I thought hey, this place must be really good. EEEhhhh, wrong answer!
When we sat down at 7, the place was packed. No bar stools, tables available. Service was very annoying, which was largely due to the low wait staff. Only 2 servers for everyone in the place!
After flagging down our waitress we were finally able to order.
For starters we shared, scallops with beets, poutine, grilled sardines, butternut squash souffle, and the escarole apple salad.
B - Escarole salad. Nicely dressed with huge chunks of blue cheese, toasted almonds, and sliced apples.
C Scallops with beets. The dish had absolutely no texture at all. soft scallops on top of soft roasted beets. A wierd combination if you ask me.
C- Butternut squash souffle. Tasted like an undercooked omelette, with no trace or taste of butternut flavor.
D- Poutine. I was so excited to try this french Canadian staple after watching this on No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain. What I got in front of me, looked nothing like what I saw. Slightly soggy fries, topped with t.v. dinner salisbury steak bits and brown goop. The gooey cheese curds was the best part.
F Grilled Sardines. Bony, fishy, oily, and soggy skin. Not anything like a fresh grilled sardine should taste like. I questioned the freshness of the sardine after the first whiff and first bite.
After our starters, I wasn't expecting much from the entrees, and Flora didn't disappoint in that aspect. We shared the Steelhead trout with roasted brussels and potato puree, Vegetable Panade, and Slow roasted Pork shoulder with Cassoulet.
C Steelhead Trout. The trout was unevenly cooked and lacked seasoning. Crispy dry jerky on top, and somewhat moist underneath. They may have sticked it under the top broiler for a tad too long.
D Pork Shoulder with Cassoulet. SUPER DRY and TOUGH pork shoulder. Slow roasted my ass!! I was gnawing on the pork like a dog on a milk bone. The cassoulet was mushy and had a consistency of refried beans.
D- Vegetable Panade. The waitress described it like a veggie bread pudding with cheese on top. Oh boy, that dish was interesting. Huge chunks of bread croutons soaked in an overwhelming amount of cream and butter mixed in with soggy butternut squash, chewy mushrooms, topped with a pool of oily cheese.
It's really a shame this place sucked so bad, because I was so ready and willing to support this local downtown eatery.
I'm happy to bump Flora up, as I think they've kicked up the service a notch.
I recently went for an impromptu dinner and drinks with a date. The restaurant was teeming with people heading to the Fox, so we sat in the lounge and ordered some cocktails. The crowd thinned out quickly, and the hostess sat us.
Burgers have been on the mind, so I got their house ground chuck, with carmelized onions and cheddar cheese. I've put a lot of effort into tracking down celebrated burgers, so having one all on the fly like was unexpected. It was great, though. Simple, affordable, filling, and actually medium-rare. Don't you just hate it when you ask for medium rare and it comes out pinkless?!?!
I fell in love with the caramel pudding, again, and the date gave me the last bite, so he got a kiss. xxxx
Flora makes me feel like I'm in an Edward Hopper painting, but on a date instead of drinking alone. This visit was definitely more memorable than the last, but perhaps it was the better company:)
I ate here not too long ago, and I can only actually recall one dish in vivid detail: the immaculate… Read more »
Lovely food (desserts as well), delicious drinks, attentive wait staff, nice ambiance....though loud and crowded. But, that's what happens sometimes. Parking around here is crap, but that's totally not the fault of the restaurant.
Our meal induced tears from my dining companion and, to be honest, the dessert even made me tear up a little. It was that good. I highly recommend enjoying your meal with someone who also believes that sharing is caring.
I came here with my friend Erin before a concert at the Fox Theater. Flora is conveniently located across the street from the theater and only a block from the 19th Street BART station.
I started with the trailer smash cocktail (bourbon, mint, lemon, maple syrup). I really enjoy bourbon cocktails and this one was perfectly balanced in flavor. It was small but packed a punch.
For our first course we shared the baked goat cheese salad with roasted beets, avocado, grapefruit and gem lettuce, dampened by a champagne vinaigrette. The salad was delicate and delicious.
For our entree we split the gnocci with chantrelle mushrooms, fennel, broccolini, pepato cheese and basil. The gnocci was melt-in-your-mouth delicious and the other ingredients added a nice depth of flavor without taking over the dish.
For dessert we split the caramel pudding topped with sea salt and whipped cream and accompanied by a rosemary pine nut cookie. The sea salt and rosemary add lovely flavor surprises. I wanted to order a dozen of those cookies to take home.
I am looking forward to bringing my honey here and tasting more of Flora's wonderful food and drink offerings.
I'm enjoying this recent restaurant explosion taking place in Oakland, it's much easier than going the B&T crowd in the City. Flora represents this group of restaurants very well.
The bar is well stocked and there is a wide variety of interesting cocktails on the menu. The food was very nice (the salted caramel pudding for desert was outstanding) and the service friendly and attentive. It wasn't quite at the knock my socks off level of Nopa, but it got the job done and I didn't regret spending a little more than I usually do for meal.
Flora is my newest reason to be completely broke and forever overweight.
I went last week for my friend Chuck's birthday, and BOY am I glad he has such good taste in food. Flora's is AMAZING!! The food is out of this world. The drinks are so unique and scrumptious - I recommend the Salt and Pepper (I prefer to say it like the former girl group, Salt N' Peppa), which is a grapefruit based drink with a salt and pepper rim and the Fish House Punch, which had some apricot liquor and deliciousness in it. The food - back to the food - was really, really good. I wasn't crazy about my meal, but that was my fault...I ordered the burger, which was a great burger, and everyone that has reviewed it is right - it is great...but compaaaared to the rest of the dishes? Don't get the burger. Spend the extra $5-$10 and get anything else on the menu. My friends had the Chantrelle Mushroom Risotto, the Pork Shoulder and the NY Steak....
Heaven in your mouth.
Also, the appetizers...everyone at the table ordered one, and they were all mind blowing. You could easily order one of every appetizer and drinks and be perfectly content and satisfied.
And then (a moment of silence please) the desserts...
really, there's just one dessert that needs to be mentioned because there is no way any other dessert could compare...
Sea Salt Carmel Pudding - 'nuf said.
I have an insane sweet tooth, but this....I will be dreaming about this for months!! You know when a dessert is so good you just kinda hold the spoon in your mouth to make sure you didn't miss anything, or just to ensure you've savored every morsel - this is one of those desserts. This dessert was so good I called my Mom to tell her all about it the next day, first thing when I got to work. It's one of those desserts I'm gonna look for on every dessert menu at every restaurant, and if they have something similar I'm gonna order it, try it and then tell my dining companions how that dessert didn't compare to the one at Flora.
That good.
So skip the lattes, and save those laundromat quarters this week boys and girls. Flora is totally worth the sacrifice.
Big, big fan of this place. I loved everything from the art deco design of the interior to the service to the food.
My friend and I started out with La Chouffe Belgian ales. I was really excited to see it on the menu because it's one of my favorite beers (watch out though, it's an 8% ABV - it's easy to down a lot of these because they taste pretty light...)
We weren't super hungry so we didn't get any appetizers. We did, however, get some bread to start and it was a huge portion. The bread was great though (Acme, so of course it was) and the butter was softened, which I always appreciate. I had the slow-roasted pork shoulder and it was fabulous. It tasted like a fancyish carnitas - the dry kind. It had a great char on it, the portion was generous and the poached egg was a welcome addition. I was a little nervous about the idea of pork + bean cassoulet + pistou but it really worked well together. My friend ordered the crispy chicken adobo. I think the dish was pretty good but it came with "sticky rice" that was more just like regular rice. Let's just say that mine was better. When in doubt, always go for pork!
We finished the meal off with the caramel pudding and honestly, I'm so glad we did. I was pretty full but our server convinced us to get the pudding. It was lightly salty, which was such a nice balance with the sweetness and creaminess of the pudding, and it came with a pecan shortbread cookie, which on its own might be a little too overwhelming with all the butter and richness but with the pudding - AWESOME.
Can't wait to go back to Flora. I can only imagine how yummy their brunch is. Mmmmmm.
P.S. I bumped Flora up to 5 stars because of the fact that they are committed to using local, seasonal and organic ingredients. Hooray for supporting local farmers and other local agricultural businesses!
In my opinion, it would have been a four-star experience had the service been quicker. In Flora's defense, however, our waitress was very nice and comped one of our appetizers because of the slow service.
I loved my "vicar in a tutu" cocktail, mostly because of its name, but it had other good qualities as well, such as getting me tipsy. My dining companion and I split the poutine (nice, but could have used a bit more flavor) and the butternut squash souffle (yummy and interesting). We each also had the hamburger, which was very good. Mine was cheese-less, which I regretted because my dining companion's cheese made the burger that much better.
Overall, a good restaurant with a cute atmosphere!
It is the building that Flora is in that creates the magic here. The beautiful Art Deco building, in the very core of urban Oakland, has shining sliver and blue Deco lines that cascade like a waterfall from the roof to the sidewalk. You are in for a real treat if the Fox Oakland lights and sign are on and shine thought the window. I could sit here for hours and dream of the Oakland that was, not the Oakland of today.
I love the building and I will be back for the cocktails.
I met my friend L here and we both ordered the Bulldog Smash a delightful blend of Bulleit bourbon, fresh stonefruit, and orange Curacao served over the rocks with a sprig of mint.
I must have it again
Hit the bar for a friend's birthday last Saturday night after a loooooong day at work. Yes, that's right: work on a Saturday. So clearly I was ready for some fabulous cocktails!!
While the service was just as good as before, and the cocktails were just as good as before... the bar bites were TERRIBLE. Flora, in a city where it's difficult to find a fried potato I didn't like, your french fries were some of the worst, soggiest, blandest fries I've ever met. And couldja think about sprinkling them with parm or making an interesting aioli to go with 'em, if you're charging $5 for them? C'mon.
And don't even get me STARTED on the mini corn dogs. Well oops, now I'm started. Soggy, wet, batter that didn't stick to the dogs. Lame. Batter that pulled off the dog, so you'd get all the batter in one bite, leaving the dog separate. Lame. No exciting dipping sauce. Lame. $8 price tag. SUPER lame.
The one bright spot in all of this was the homemade chips with sour cream and onion dip. They were tasty. But the chips could've been crispier and the dip could've had more flavor.
If I go back for cocktails, I'll make sure I'm not hungry.
Went here after the riots to support Oakland businesses. Apparently, everyone else decided to as… Read more »
ART DECO RESTAURANT WITH IMPRESSIVE COCKTAILS
This review is only for the bar.
I met my adventurous friend T here for a late afternoon cocktail. I just love the retro feel of the Art Deco building. We found a seat at the bar and had to move a couple of times because the seats were sticky. I could tell a lot of thought went into designing the drink menu.
Bulldog Smash
We both ordered the Bulldog Smash. It consisted of Bulleit bourbon, fresh stonefruit, and orange curaçao over the rocks with a sprig of mint. It was excellent but the glass was too small and the drink disappeared too quickly.
Late afternoon was the perfect time to drop by here. We had a great conversation and watched the cooks prepare for the evening dinner.
When I walked into Flora last night, I was greeted by art deco design, high ceilings, and a lively restaurant.
The hostess, a fetching Rashida Jones lookalike, advised that there was a thirty minute wait. While that is normally more than I'd like to wait, I also hate to walk into a restaurant and immediately walk out. We sat in the lounge area and had a couple of cocktails while waiting for our table. I only wish that one of the servers or a hostess would have told us that we could seat ourselves at the counter, because quite a few spots opened up before our table.
The food itself is acceptable. We started with a potato chowder. A bit thin for my taste, but at least it didn't come out of a can. The yellowtail crudo was decent, but lacked the buttery taste that you'd get at a sushi joint. My pan seared striped bass was quite tasty. The bottom of the bass was encrusted but was a bit too tough. The rest of the fish was quite moist and tasty. The burger looked pretty good, but honestly it reminded me of a Carl's Junior Six Dollar Burger at three times the price.
The food was good, but for the price...ehhhh. Next time we come back it's going to be strictly for their specialties. Cocktails and dessert.
I appreciated that they have different things on the menu, everything from steak to burgers to chicken adobo. Service was pretty slow, and the waitresses were hard to peg down.
That yellowtail crudo was the best non-sashimi raw fish I've had in a while! The steak was very nicely prepared, right down to the perfectly medium-rare meat and the crispy baked crunch to my gratin potatoes.
Definitely a cool scene, worth checking out if you're in the area.
Compliments to Dona Savitsky and Thomas Schnetz (the creators) and chef!
As soon as you walk in, you'll feel like you just went back in time. Think Prohibition Era with the art deco and waiters with suspenders minus the mobsters running the joint.
One of the partners took Yao Y., Claudia O. and I. here for lunch. I heard it was a "white tablecloth, sit down place" so I instantly thought... ohh fancy. And it was. We had reservations and we were seated right away. They don't have an extensive menu but our boss said that everything was really good. Their wine list was much longer, but since none of us were big alcohol drinkers, we ordered sodas. Not just any sodas though; this place only served sodas from vendors who still use cane sugar. We got the following: Mexican Coke, Boyland Cream Soda, Boyland Black Cherry Soda and Boyland Diet Cola. I have to say, it was very good soda.
As for the entrees, Claudia and I ordered the Burger with McAdamn Cheddar Cheese and fries, Yao ordered the Soup of the Day (I forgot what it was) and the Yellowtail Sashimi, and our boss got the Sear Beef Tataki. OMG, the burger was mouth-wateringly juicy. You don't even need to put condiments! And the fries were amazing. It could give In-And-Out a run for its money. Claudia agreed with me. I can't vouch for Yao and our boss, but they said they were both happy with their meals.
We were already satiated with lunch, but as women, you know we had to look at the dessert menu. Our boss got the Caramel Pudding, Yao got the Peach Tart and Claudia ordered the Sundae. I was planning on sharing with Claudia so I just ordered their E. Guittard Hot Chocolate, mainly because it had "housemade marshmallow."
I got my hot chocolate and it was huge! It totally reminded me of Serendipity's Frozen Hot Chocolate in NY. Yao and Claudia tasted it and both agreed that it tasted very good and made with real chocolate. And the housemade marshmallow was very yum-yum delicious. It tasted very different from store-bought marshmallows; no processed sugar so it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet. Obviously enough, I had no room to share the sundae with Claudia. Fortunately enough, she liked her sundae so much, she didn't need my help. At the end of our lunch, we all agreed that it was great food and all of us were extremely satisfied. And on a similar note, Claudia and I found a great burger place that's very close to work.
What I like most about this place was you get the "fine dining" but with a casual, fun feel experience. Although this place is very expensive to dine on a regular basis, I am glad to know that I'll always be happy whenever I come back here. And me coming back for a repeat visit is a given. =)
Ahh, Flora.
I just love this restaurant. The moment you step into the place, you can't help but smile. The atmosphere makes you feel mischievous in the exuberant Roaring Twenties style. Bring on the champagne. I'm ready to kick my heels up and do the Charleston.
My friend and I had a 6pm reservation before the concert. We started our meal with pickled beets, crottin and arugula with a glass of champagne as we watched the crowd slowly gather in front of the beautifully restored Fox Theatre across the street. The crottin was perfectly ripened and went very well with the beets. I was feeling adventurous, so I got the chicken adobo. Well, to be honest, I didn't think the dish was properly executed in the overall texture (especially the rice), but it did have a very good balance as far as the flavor. Unfortunately, we didn't have any room left in the stomach, so we skipped the dessert. But our meal was excellent. What really topped off the dinner was our server. She was PERFECT. She was attentive, friendly, but not overly friendly, understood the menu, great timing and just so pleasant. And that is why I am giving the 5 stars even though my entree was not perfect.
I recommend you make a reservation and to avoid slow service, make it an early dinner :-)
The key to Flora, in my opinion, is the bar. I even know a table server, and she's a great girl; but the bar is the reason to come here. I don't mean that the food isn't worth eating, quite the contrary. I mean the aesthetic of Flora -- the whitewashed tile and black trim 40's deco chic meets hipster cool -- is embodied in the cocktails and "mixologists" in charge.
Going on vacation to South Carolina made me crave Flora. I am officially a spoiled wanker, because all I wanted on a Tuesday night was a Thaddeus Mule or Pegu Club; or at very least a well-made manhattan or martini. The closest I came to a "cocktail" had pineapple juice in it, and no I didn't drink one.
My wife brought me here for the first time on my birthday over a year ago. We had reservations and sat at a table. Service was fine, and though the tables are a little cramped there wasn't much to complain about. The cocktails were great, the food was very good. However, that's the last time I sat at a table, and the last time I will if I can help it. I get the feeling my pork shank with cracklins and marrow bone would've tasted better had I been watching the suspendered bartenders muddling and mixing and measuring, entranced by the labor and precision. And if I'd had a measured cup of the chimichurri-bread salsa instead of the tablespoon served.
That burger is something else, too. I am very, very picky about my burgers, and Flora beats Luka's by a hair... not a literal hair, don't worry. Well-seared even at rare, great bread, and not much else to get in the way.
I brought a good friend to Flora for his 40th birthday brunch (requirement for brunch = full bar) and made an absolute pig of myself. He ordered a frittata fully forgetting that he hates eggs... well, I can't let that go to waste! Nearly two months have passed and I can still taste the warm goat cheese and egg-roasted fresh cherry tomatoes. And my memory's pretty shitty.
Twice I've stopped in for a drink and ended up staying four-plus hours, ordering half the small plates and a few mains. They are equally skilled with hearty carnivorous proteins and veggie/vegan-geared faire. I remember a trio of beans one friend could just not stop talking about, or fingering... lustfully... before devouring each individually.
On and on and on. Why are you reading this? Just get off your ass and go have a drink!
I previously did a short write-up of Flora for Oakbook magazine, so this is kind of a more detailed addendum.
As much as I love Oakland, finding a really great, fresh, two or three-star restaurant can be challenging. Flora is the right mix of innovative, upscale dishes in a comfortable, lively and, yes, hip environment.
Our first time at Flora was good but not memorable. But all the wife wanted for her birthday was foie gras. How could I say no to that?
This second trip to Flora was a whole new experience. Highlights include:
- Salt and Pepper cocktail -- A crazy weird delicious mix of bitter grapefruit, gin and a black salted rim.
- Absinthe -- An alcoholic novelty worth trying at least once.
- Fried Jimmy Nardello peppers and fromage blanc atop thick, crusty, toasted bread. Creamy, crunchy with silky vegetation.
- Yellowtail crudo -- Good not great. The fish was fresh (and oddly ice cold) but was missing salt and acid. Bland.
- Seared foie gras atop a crispy corn waffle accompanied by a scoop of savory/sweet corn ice cream. WOW! This was the best dish by far. I'm so glad my wife and I each ordered our own. If this is on the menu, do not get one to split. Be greedy. Get your own.
It goes without saying the decor is sultry, glossy, art deco eye candy. It feels modern, even futuristic, like the 30s are back with a lighter, brighter feel. High ceilings and *huge* vintage print make you say, "Oo!"
For Oakland residents who are looking for a place that'll change their friends' attitude about Oakland, Flora is it.
Because the Bay Bridge was closed, I had to limit my lunch choices to the East Bay, which these days is not so bad. Decided to go back to Flora, where I had a fantastic louis salad some time ago, to see if it was just as good. And it was--perfect louis dressing, impeccably fresh little gems, avocado, prawns, egg and bay scallops. Possibly the best louis around these days. Went well with a glass of riesling and some of that wonderful Acme bread
This place is super cute! I give this place 3.5 stars. My hubby and I were catching a show at Fox theater and were hesitant to eat here, so we tried to find another location, but there was nothing. We shrugged and walked in to give them a shot. I noticed they had the business cards from Tacubaya and asked if it was the same owner. Indeedy it was... holy hell we are in for a treat!
Our waitress was adorable! She was very helpful, knowledgeable made excellent recommendations. My husband had the white cheddar and caramelized onion burger... YUMMY... and I had the pork pozole. It was amazing. I marked them down a tad because $24 was a little steep for pozole. It was in no means bad, but it seemed a bit much being you could get the same thing for $15 (top). The drink menu is very imaginative and offers many refreshing choices. They also offer Blue Bottle coffee in a coffee press. One other thing is they didn't let the coffee sit enough so it was a little weak. Other than that everything was FAB! The price is a little steep, but well worth it for a special occasion locale!!!!
My family would consider themselves foodies and in a good way, we enjoy eating and my brother is a wonderful chef. For his birthday we decided to try Flora, he and his girlfriend had been there before and it was not too far from them.
I was moved by the decor, inside and out but a little thrown off by the noise level. Redemption was made when I reviewed the cocktails and dinner menu and was eagerly awaiting a laundry list of appetizers.
Scallops are a dream for me, I try them at any restaurant that offers Day Boat or Diver. So scallops it was, along with an order of the sardines and foie gras to share amongst those of us that were not vegetarian.
Disappointment is an under statement on the scallops. Not only was there no need for so much lemon marmalade but they were SO TOUGH. I thought there may have been a hockey team somewhere in the room and they were trying out a new puck. It was terrible. The sardines were also over cooked and lost that sea saltiness that makes them so divine.
Dinner was good, the steaks were cooked very good, the seasoning was just right.
Service, oh service. Here's he thing, if you're going to serve prices at these rates at least try to compliment that with the staff. With one of five people completed with dinner, the bus boy came over and removed the plate. Really? Do we not wait until everyone is done to remove a plate. Secondly, it's not rocket science to know that you server from the right side of the diner and remove from the left. It's also not too difficult to learn to stack plates and secure knives under the forks. Do you dear bus boy want a knife in your lap, I think not.
This is a tough call, star wise. The food was delicious (the salad, of all things, was one of the best I've ever had) and the service very good. I have loved this building for years, even when it was vacant or for all intents vacant, and the classy diner vibe is great. The problem is that for a $30 lunch I should leave either very full or very buzzed.
I could have eaten more. And I didn't have a drink.
So while I would go back it would probably be for just a drink. And maybe a burger.
Flora is a beautiful restaurant with tons of ambiance, and although it was packed at 8:30 p.m on a weeknight., the service was very good. I started with a Kill Devil cocktail ($10; an orange-flavored drink w/ rum, benedictine, curacao, two types of bitters, etc...) which was WAY too strong -- both in terms of alcohol and the orange flavor. Very disappointing. The soup of the day (curry and roasted red pepper) was excellent however. I then had the N.Y. Strip w/ homemade Worcestershire, horseradish cream, and potato gratin, which was perfectly done and had a very nice flavor. But about 1/3 of the steak was pretty fatty, and for $31 I expect a little better. We finished with the carmel pudding ($8), which was outstanding.
Overall a very nice night. Next time I'll try a different drink.
Food: Good, but not great. I had a chicken dish that was just fine, but nothing spectacular.
Drinks: GREAT. A great variety off their cocktail menu, really different combinations. I love drinks with clean, fresh flavors like mint, basil, or cucumber, and they had a wide variety of this type.
Great location also, as it's right down the street from the Fox so is perfect for a pre or post concert meal.
Wonderful place. Five star food for sure; great servers; lovely evening.
But: VERY noisy. Slow service.
Overrated. All out enthusiasm inexplicable.
Do not order the "eggplant cotlet". I probably should have expected it to be the 3(!) deep fried eggplant strips that I got, but really, I think I might have been able to do something more interesting with that at home with my modest means and limited cooking talent and not pay 20$.
I wonder why so many restaurants in town serve the same bread (I believe its ACME). You'd probably recognize it, it looks really excellent - it has the appearance of a stem-shaped baguette - but is really very mediocre - no crust to speak of. Anyway, Flora does too, and coming to think of it, it does match very well with the eggplant entree.
Starters were OK, so was the Grouper (more prosciutto would have probably placed that dish as the highlight of the meal).
Actually 3.75.
Flora is a very cool addition to the renovated part of downtown Oakland. Their cocktails are superb - 5 stars for them. My wife ordered procuitto (sp?) wrapped grouper, which was amazing but it had some bones in it. I ordered the steak, and it was solid. Carmel pudding is good for dessert, but it wasn't the second coming or anything.
Minor gripe on waitstaff. They are super friendly and diligent enough, but they never describe your dish. The gave us the cheese plate, but never told us what the cheeses were. For everything, it was just sorta "here you go." Its a nice enough place, so I expected a little color commentary.
If you want good cocktails, a good scene, and solid food, Flora is a good place to head. Thank you for opening a good restaurant in this area also.
i've never been good enough to get a table there. but i've sat at the bar a few times and:
buffalo, the old bartender there, he made us flaming homers. i mean flaming moes. we even brought in our own cough syrup and strawberry juice, he brought the blow torch. we also tried home made drinks called the John Cougar MellanCampari and Maker's Mark and the Funky Bunch.
the best time to go there to get drunk is like 9:30pm on a tues. something like that.
good things i've eaten include:
a bread pudding with a volcanic explosion of creamy stuff, home made moon pie and vanilla shake, home made cup cakes, mac n cheese, fries, some cheese and veggies on some toast.....everything is good to me. well.......ok lemme just tell y'all:
since i've never properly dined there you didn't hear it from me, but some of my friends have said that the food is ok, but it doesn't quite live up to the level of quality that exists with the desserts and drank.
omg go there and order a Corpse Reviver NOW
3.5 stars
after full day consisting of gluttony, walking around, and consuming large amounts of etoh, i was famished. it's funny, no matter how much you've already eaten, when you drink...you inevitably get hungry again...
my dining partner and i walked into flora at 9pm...had reservations but decided to sit at the bar...
we started with the foie gras on top of a corn waffle, fresh blackberries and blackberry reduction sauce, carmel corn, and a funky ice cream that tasted like garlic...the foie was yummy (but not as good as la folie) and it went well with the contrasting texture of the corn waffle, but found the waffle to be a bit too sweet...and the ice cream...hmmm...one taste was enough...
halibut ceviche and corn chip twists: nice tender chunks of halibut, sliced carrots, celery, radishes, italian flatleaf parsley, and lime juice...little too heavy handed on the lime...thought the fish and ingredients were fresh...but...just okay in taste
penne mac and cheese: thought it was a bit on the boring side and the disappointment of the night...it was basically penne pasta with melted emmanthaler cheese...was expecting a little wow factor...something more like michael mina's decadent version with white truffle oil...
posole rojo: garnished with julienned cabbage, sliced radishes, cojita cheese, and a squeeze of lime...yum...as good as what you'll find in mexico...almost as good as the bowl of posole i had at dona raquel in puerto vallerta...
and to finish off our meal...the carmel pudding with whipped cream, sprinkle of maldon salt and shortbread cookie with pinenuts...was slightly hesitant as i thought it might be coyingly sweet...but, to my surprise...it was actually really good...not too sweet...the maldon salt adding a nice bite to the creme brulee-esque texture of the pudding....the shortbread cookie was nice as well...
and to really make flora indelible...on the way to our car...there was the grossest looking piece of dread lock i have ever seen...so now, anytime i see dreadlocks, i will forever be reminded of the meal i had at flora...
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
we went here right before a show at the Fox Theater...that place rocks...and so do the Monsters of Folk...well, they're good at making music, but maybe not good at making up band names.....but i digress...
the food was really good...i was a bit apprehensive because i ate at dona tomas a few weeks ago, and that particular meal was pretty awful. clearly they are paying more attention to their newest business venture. we had the butternut squash souffle, which was awesome! could have done with a bigger portion, but it was good nevertheless. then we had the escarole salad with walnuts, persimmon, pecorino cheese, and this pomegranate vinaigrette...again, very good. the gnocchi was excellent too.
i would have liked to try some more of their food, but we were kinda in a rush.
the service was pleasant....maybe not the most consistent in terms of timing (i.e., the people who sat down 15 min after us were almost finished with their mains before we got ours...). i actually like long, drawn out meals if i have the right company (i did), but we were kinda late for the show, so that's the only reason i noticed....our waitress was really nice though, so it's all good...
i wish we had more time and a bigger appetite, but i think i'll be seeing many more shows at the Fox, so i'll definitely hit Flora right before.
another nice, fancy bar on telegraph. they have plenty of signature cocktails here. it took me awhile to decide what to order. the first drink i ordered was named "vesper". it had rum, vodka, lillet, and other stuff in it. it was served like a martini and was very strong. the 2nd drink i had was the "gin daisy". it seemed to be the drink of the night on this particular evening. it was very good. not as strong as the vesper, but still strong and much tastier. most cocktails were about $10. not bad for a place like this.
they also have food here, and people say it's fantastic. we only ordered the homemade potato chips w/sour cream & onion dip. it was very good, fried perfectly. the dip was fresh and creamy.
the service we had was great and i really loved the atmosphere and decor. i will definitely come back here again, maybe for a meal next time.
Style, skill, and attention to detail are what makes this place great. Even the ice cubes in my gin and tonic were well thought out. I tried corn dog bites, a burger, scallops, mac n cheese, and a variety of cocktails. Everyithing was pretty fantastic.
I also really dig the suspenders.
Overall, Flora is good.
I had the slow cooked pork, and it was very good. My wife had the macaroni and cheese, and the scallops, both of which were good.
The service was great. Very attentive. Our server was really attractive, and very friendly. Actually, now that I think about it, all of the servers were hot.
The prices were a tiny bit high. The only entree under $20 was the hamburger, which is a little bit lame for a place that isn't serving top notch food.
Came here the other night with some friends. Loved the ambiance atmosphere whatever. the cocktail and beer list was fabulous!!! our server was very prompt and knowledgeable of the menu. however the menu seemed limited. portions were kind of small. my grlfriend got the scallops which were pretty bland,my buddy got the fish and chips which he enjoyed quite a bit. i got the chicken adobo which was bland and very small. The best part was the desert. caramel pudding with sea salt and creme fresch. super delicious. overall guess this place was just ok. i's go back for the bar...definetely
Remember the term pronounced, "tora'p from the flora'p" (tore up from the the floor up)? Well Flora......yeah, nothing like that....but isn't it always nice to take a stroll down memory lane once in a while.
OMG, this Flora intro is LAME...which is the complete opposite of what I thought of this amazing restaurant. On an aside, I'm really lost for how to yelp something when I don't start it w/ a song lyric...at any rate, Flora needs no help in gaining attention. While the food is pricey, it perhaps has the best food in Northern California.
Came here w/ my friend the other night for apps. We shared a shrimp cocktail which had perfectly chilled and deveined shrimp amidst this coctail sauce that was both flavorful and crunchy as some sort of green was mixed in. That was a prelude to the ahi tuna appetizer I had next, which had the most deliciously seasoned and marinated ahi paired with sweet potato chips that I believe arrived with a strange light and sound of music surrounding it (last part might be a slight embellishment).
And all of that was nothing in comparison to that which was the caramel pudding; it tasted like a burst of caramel salt water taffy but had the consistency of creme brule. I had 4 little bites, which I savored as individual moments of bliss. I have just never tasted anything like that....ever!
So Flora deserves better than I've given it in this Yelp. The food is fantastic, the dessert is even better and I will absolutely be back.
Walked by this place maybe a ma-ILLION times and always thought to myself, "hmm... That place looks like a great place to go. It looks like a cool diner with really good chefs and probably a slammin' drink list. Hmmm... yeah I should go in there sometime soon."
Fi-INALLY checked this place out last night for the min corn dogs (Uhhhh.. YUM.), burgers, and a bottle of wine (which we brought, SORRY, come back later for the drink list review), and lemme just say that this is the BEST RESTAURANT in the UPTOWN AREA FOR SURE. I'm actually super suprised that I haven't been urged to go here from foodie friends who live in the area. This place should really have more of a buzz around town about it, but don't worry, Flora, your secret is NOT safe with me.
We sat at the bar. The place definitely has the modern diner appeal with all the waiters in suspenders and the waitresses... um, 50's hot looking???? Service was good and the clientele was local attractive outstanding-citizens-brigade types. I will come again and again and AGAIN. Just wait till this wedding is over and you're going to find me here every night. Flora is my new favorite uptown attraction for SURE.
Thank god for our 8 o'clock reservation--because Saturday, Flora was hoppin'!!
I finally convinced guy to join me for dinner with the promise of a good drink and tasty dessert and Flora totally came through.
I have officially fallen off the vegetarian wagon thanks to thier lovely seafood appetizers (shrimp cocktail and a scallop dish, both yummy). For dessert we both loved the afogato (esspresso shot with vanilla ice cream)!!
....and lastly, do try the cocktail menu--Gin Daisy where had you been all my life!?
Look at you. Look at me.
LOOOOOK.
Seriously. Look.
See me? See my 4 gorgeous friends? See our $350 bar tab. See us. Look. See how well heeled we are. See how friendly our smiles are? See how we are just looking for a good time. See? Look again. LOOOK! See how cute we are? srsly. look.
Cuz we ain't coming back.
Your rules RUINED the night for us. We were ready to have a grand old time. We were starting an art project. We were treating our sad girlfriend torn from a recent a breakup to a DELICIOUS night on the town.
You smooshed us in the lounge. Wouldn't let us order any food except corn dog bites. Sorry. If I was in a dive bar I might. MIGHT want $9 corn dog bites.
You were adamant Flora, that we COULD NOT ORDER FOOD. The restaurant was packed and we were starving. Just bend the god damn rules. Who denies semi-drunk girls trying to be responsible some GD food?
Then we moved to the bar. No one offered to carry our drinks. Our server threw a fit because he was going to miss out on a tip and nearly refused to transfer our tab.
(Jigga what? No food and we have to PAY TWICE and go THROUGH THAT SCENE TWICE? no.)
Then we couldn't have an extra stool. So one friend stood. Even though at this point the restaurant was emptier and had plenty of empty stools.
(P.S. Thanks for watching me move the stool and then telling me to move it back. Assholes. Didja need a show?)
You, Flora, and YOUR RULES can SUCK IT.
Two Stars for Chris the Bartender. If he ever moves restaurants we will track him down and hang by his side ALL NIGHT. Love the bartenders.
No Stars for Service.
And sometimes, Dear Flora, that is what REALLY counts. I will suck down mediocre over priced food if it's served with a smile. But good food with a sneer. No Thanks.
A4MNT (And 4 my next trick) I will now trash talk the way you treat people in every class I teach all across the Yay Area and New York.
Ya hurd?
I first discovered this place through my former co-workers, who were especially keen on the desserts and cocktails. The yelp review highlights also were keen on the dessert and cocktails (as well as the art deco aesthetic, which was indeed cool).
So what do I do? I go there for lunch and get a sandwich with no dessert or cocktail.
My friend informed them that he had to leave in 45 minutes, and would like the bill with the meal if possible.
They were quite accomodating of this request, and brought out the food surprisingly fast - quicker than needed, and it showed. My greens were overspiced and my sandwich was overdressed. It wasn't bad food, but tasted more like something you'd get at a small sandwich shack for half the price.
My friend's salad appetizer was significantly overpriced - $10 for 3 figs and a bunch of greens? This seems like the type of place that started out affordable then raised prices unnecessarily once it became popular.
I probably still would go back for desserts and cocktails, but not to eat. While it's true that its the only restaurant of its kind in this area of Oakland, I'd rather pay half the price and go to one of the many delicious ethnic eateries.
Honestly, I'm surprised to see so many great reviews for this place. I've been here twice and I have to say, I was not impressed.
The first time I came here was just for drinks and some appetizers with a couple of friends. I had a trumer pils and the corn dog bites. My friend had the shrimp cocktail. Our drinks took FOREVER to come. I understand if it's busy, but I mean, how long does it take to open a beer. I don't know if it was the waitress or the bartender, but I've worked in many restaurants and waiting 10 minutes or longer for a beer is simply unacceptable. The corn dog bites were not very interesting. The shrimp cocktail was good, but shrimp cocktail is pretty hard to mess up.
I went back here a second time, this weekend, for my friends mothers birthday, and again I thought they fell short. The appetizers we had (goat cheese souffleé, scallops, and yellowfin tuna) were actually quite good. They did however bring us two scallops when we had ordered a scallop and a tuna, but were quick to correct their mistake. For dinner I had the potato gnocchi with chanterelle mushrooms and fennel. My boyfriend had the striped bass and a side of mac n cheese. The gnocchi was very disappointing. The sauce tasted like chicken broth with too much salt and pepper. The bass was pretty good, but again I thought it was over salted. Overall I thought the food was under seasoned, but over salted. The steak the birthday girl ordered was delicious however it was cooked rare when she asked for medium rare. When there are so many great restaurants in the bay area why go somewhere that is over priced and over amped?
Neighborhood: Old Oakland
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Uptown
Category: American (New)
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