- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Soizic Bistro - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants American (New) French, American (New) [Edit]
300 Broadway(at 3rd St)
Oakland, CA 94607
Neighborhood: Jack London Square
(510) 251-8100
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
121 reviews for Soizic Bistro
Review Highlights
"Dinner: COQ AU VIN and LAMB FILET MIGNON."
(in 8 reviews)
"My entree, the warm duck confit salad, blew my mind."
(in 6 reviews)
"...the Chocolate Torte and I had the Chocolate Pot de Creme."
(in 3 reviews)
Loading...
121 reviews in English
-
Review from Bruce B.
Costa Mesa, CA
8/24/2010
I have enjoyed this find for a few years. I have taken business clients for dinner and had lunch meetings at Soizic and surprised everyone with the food quality and service.
The menu is varied and offers everyone a choice of something they will enjoy.
Priced very well compared to Jack London Square eateries - I find this a welcome distraction from all those ambience centers as the focus is food - service and quality.
A wonderful value!
I am never disappointed here. -
Review from Porkchop P.
Oakland, CA
10/8/2007 ROTD 12/3/2007
For years I drove past this place and never went inside, which is too bad, because when I would drive past it was usually on the way to a pre-movie meal at some crappy Jack London Square chain restaurant.
Why did it take me so long to try this little gem?
Perhaps it was the name.
"SOY-ZICK? Why would I want to eat at "SOY-ZICK?"
Rhymes with "Coy prick!" or "Oy, sick!" or "Toy dick!"
Also rhymes with "Boy, lick!"
as in:
"Boy, if you don't lick the rest of this sweet corn puree residue from the soup bowl, I sure as hell will!"
or
"Boy, don't lick that saffron cream off your fingers like that! Here, use this piece of bread."
or
"Boy, keep ordering me these icy cold cosmos and when we get home I'll lick--."
Okay, so you get the picture.
Soizic has excellent food. In addition to the sublime corn soup and the succulent mussels in saffron cream, we had an unagi salad with tobiko, caramelized endive, and horseradish cream--best unagi I've ever had in my life! I had a wonderful eggplant dish which was layered with meaty oyster mushrooms and creamy goat cheese and served with a fresh tomato sauce that was almost like jam. The "boy" had the lamb tenderloin and raved about it.
I had a really nice cosmopolitan which was served in a frosted glass. I don't often order cosmos because they tend to be too sweet, but this one was tart and full of fresh lime, and a lovely rose-quartz color.
The service was very attentive and polite.
My only complaint was the less-than-tidy restroom and the bottle of Febreeze that I saw in there. Come to think of it, the restaurant smelled a little too Febreeze-y as well. But in my opinion, the rest of my experience here was so nice that none of that warrants the loss of a star.
One final note: when I called to make my reservation, I learned from the hostess that I'd been pronouncing the name wrong all along. Duh, it's francais. It's pronounced "SWA-zeek".
Now what the hell rhymes with that?Listed in: My ROTDs, Places I've Peed
-
Review from Gill C.
9/4/2009
Parlez-vous français? Je t'aime Soizic!
*For the record, I took Spanish in high school. :)
After getting my fill of beer and ice cream at the Eat Real Fest, Markus and I needed something more substantial to eat. M recommended one of his fav restaurants, and I was happy and eager to try. This place is easy to miss as it's not exactly in the located in the heart of Jack London Square. Just a few blocks up from JLS, on Broadway, you'll find Soizic amidst the industrial and residential area.
Surprisingly, there wasn't a wait for a table as we were warmly greeted by a hostess. I loved the ambiance, which wasn't stuffy at all, and more relaxed and somewhat romantical. Diners here were dressed both casual and dressy.
Soizic's cuisine is French, with Californian, Mediterranean and Asian influences. The menu has many wonderful dishes from traditional French dishes like Coq Au Vin, Ribeye Steak, Lamb, but also other pasta and fish entrees. There's also an extensive wine selection. After perusing the menu and listening to the daily specials, we decided on:
1) Squash blossom salad - Daily special and was so delectable. I'm sorry I didn't take pics of this lovely creation.
2) Penne smoked chicken with sundried tomatoes, sautéed onions, broccoli, parmesan cheese - Ok, are you ready for this? OH Mylanta, this was absolutely one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. It was a decent portion size, and the sauce was delish and savory with a kick to it. I loved all the ingredients, from the chicken, which was tender and moist; my fav veggies (sundried tomatoes and broccoli); cheese (enough said, as I'm a cheese freak). Seriously, what was there to NOT love about this dish? I savored every bite and my plate was practically clean (aside from the broth) when the server cleared it.
3) Halibut - Daily special, which M ordered. This fish was so light and delicate, but bursting with flavor. I forgot what the accompanying sides were, but M's plate was similar to mine at clearing time!
The desserts looked fabulous, but after eating dessert first (at the Eat Real Fest), we weren't feeling like ordering anything. However, the only exception would be if they had creme brulee, which they didn't. Hopefully, they'll have it next time!
We had an outstanding, friendly, and attentive server, Roland. Thank you for chatting with us and Soizic is very lucky to have you.
Bravo Soizic! I will return to this quaint French restaurant for more savory entrees, desserts, and wonderful service! BTW, prices aren't astronomical. OUI! OUI!!
Je t'aime Soizic!Listed in: Top Restaurants, Oaktown Eats
-
Review from Toni M.
4/17/2008
This is the third time we've had dinner here and we've never had a bad one. Last night we were seeing Billy Cobham and Friends (Kenny Barron, Randy Brecker and John D. Williams...some friends!) at Yoshi's and wanted to eat elsewhere for a change. We were greeted and seated by the hostess, who morphed into our server. She was a busy woman. I saw her mixing cocktails at the bar and we overheard her chatting w/ the couple at a nearby table about her plans for travel and education. She did a great job. We arrived about 6:15 to a restaurant w/ a few tables along the front wall filled. As we ate the place gradually filled, the 4 top next to us w/ rather loud, but interesting people. If you're going to be forced to listen to others' conversations it's nice if they're interesting, at least.
But the food. Oh, the food. Well, I started w/ a Limoncello mojito and it was yummy!! Could have had another, but I had to walk. I ordered a spinach salad w/ goat cheese, cucumbers, red bell peppers, red onions, kalamata olives and sliced and toasted almonds. It was a marvelous blend! Alan had several bites and agreed. He ordered eggplant layered w/ oyster mushrooms, ricotta and goat cheese, roasted tomatoes and chard. It was accompanied by polenta but he substituted potato gratin as he doesn't like polenta. It was very good. I ordered the wild caught salmon which had a soy/sake sauce and was accompanied by nappa cabbage, Chinese eggplant, the tiniest vermicelli I've ever seen and carrot salad. I feel a wave of pleasure just writing the description, it was that good, perfectly done and beautifully balanced.
It was an easy walk back to Yoshi's for the show.Listed in: I Hella Heart Oakland
-
Review from Eric W.
8/9/2007
Soizic has got to be one of the strangest restaurants I have ever been to. Well, maybe not THAT strange, but it's certainly up there. The exterior is uninviting to say the least. Situated in a rundown looking old warehouse, Soizic is some type of European cuisine (I can't tell if it's French or Italian). It's not the kind of place I would venture into on my own free will, but since I was invited for a fellow Yelp member's birthday party, I had to give it a try.
Here's the breakdown:
Decor: Well, they did what they could considering the dilapidated warehouse setting. The faux European design is somewhat warming, but the ceilings are way too high, and it just doesn't feel cozy. To top it off, they have some of the weirdest pictures on the walls. A couple of the highlights include a wolf or Tasmanian devil having its milk sucked out by four little cubs, and a smiley cherub with two "you know whats." Furthermore, the paper thin replica paintings used in the attempt to block out the warehouse windows really don't help the cause.
Staff: Of all the waiters I have been to, Soizic probably has the least "wait staff looking" wait staff I have ever seen. Apparently, they must have just peeled off the orange jumpsuit after a hard day's work along the California highways, and headed straight for their night job. One of the servers reminded me of a younger version of Danny Trejo. They are also a bit loopy at times, taking forever to finally come around to take our order, but are quick to refill water and bread.
Management: I believe this European restaurant is run by or at least partly owned by a Korean family, which is very odd. In addition, while we were dining, I could hear and see a bunch of the daughters causing a ruckus, laughing and screaming as if they were in a soju bar. One of them even brought a dog into the restaurant. That certainly destroyed what little ambiance there was in the first place.
Food: Not being an expert on this type of cuisine, I can't provide any detailed commentary on it, but what I can say is that it filled me up, and I have no complaints. The fare is nothing to whoop and holler about, but I suppose for the price of around $12-20 for entrees, which is equivalent to what you would pay at most chain restaurants, it's more than adequate. Actually, let me restate myself. The portions do actually tend to be a tad on the smallish side, so if you are even the slightest bit larger than this slim, buck fiddy Asian dude, you might want to load up on the complimentary bread or order an extra appetizer. Also, be warned that the menu is quite sparse, but most of your typical meat items and salads are covered.
Location: It's right on Broadway, highly visible to all passers by along the street. Unfortunately, as stated before, with the unattractive exterior, even the bright blue neon sign isn't enough to draw people in. Luckily, if you manage to be sucked in, there is ample, safe parking all around. Remember, it's all free after 6 pm!
In closing, other than the fact that it has an identity crisis, coupled with the bland exterior and oddball decor, Soizic isn't half bad. Maybe it's not so strange after alI. I don't really mind the work release wait staff, as it adds more character to an otherwise vanilla experience. Would I come again? Sure, but probably not on my own though. -
Review from Tracy T.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2010
The exterior look and feel of this restaurant does not do it justice at all. I would have driven by here many times and would never notice it's existence. The inside is very unique and...different. The decor is very artsy with paintings, high ceilings, dark ambiance with candles, and a curtain hangs in front of the entrance (you have to sweep it to the side to enter or see the bar area). There is plenty of seating as well as a bar area and additional seating for private parties.
Appetizer
- Warm unagi: included grilled radicchio, watercress, wasabi tobiko, and horseradish cream. This dish was flavored well and quality was evident (no bones from what I recall).
Lunch Entree
- Salmon aïoli: with caper, roasted red pepper, vegetables, and polenta. The salmon was perfect. Crispy on the outside from being pan fried and moist on the inside. I wasn't really a fan of the polenta, it didn't really look too appetizing either (yellow mush). Polenta fries would have been a better side in my opinion.
Dessert
- Walnut tart with white pepper ice cream: the white pepper ice cream intrigued me to try this dessert. Subtle pepper flavor that I could barely taste, but you can definitely smell it. It was alright at most, I don't think I would order it again.
- Fruit crisp with vanilla ice cream: the fruit crisp consisted of some type of berry (cherry, perhaps?). It wasn't overly tart like I expected it to be (more on the sweeter side. Warm and delicious accompanied with ice cream/crispy granola. *Favorite*
Service was great, a little slow at times, but with great company we didn't notice it. Loved the fact that they didn't try to rush us and kick us out even when we probably stayed past their lunch time and all other lunch customers that surrounded us were no longer in sight. Their menu is not extensive with many options, but ingredients used taste fresh and they perfect their dishes. I would recommend their salmon and fruit crisp.
P.S. You can make reservations on their web site through Open Table.Listed in: American and fusion
-
Review from G Y.
San Francisco, CA
4/13/2009
This is a fantastic small to medium sized french restaurant that seems to still be a little under the radar, they way I like it. Soizic has a nice variety of french american cuisine, a decent wine list and a very cozy dining environment. I came here with my parents and my dad's old high school buddy. He even liked it. And he is a long time SF Telegraph hill, name dropping aristocrat who is used to dining at places like Fleur de Lys. And Soizic held up nicely.
The food is french, fused with california cuisine. I had the soup puree. It was absolutely delicious. If you come here, try their soup du jour. Also I had the penne chicken pasta. It was very well prepared. Others had the filet mignon which was also quite good. I only deducted one star for the slow pace. But it was the end of the evening, and they patiently waited as we were the last to leave.
They are passionate about good cuisine at Soizic, and it shows. We all had a nice meal and left happily into the night. Soizic has survived the times (dot com boom and bust), and still remains a great Oakland restaurant. -
Review from Chiquita y.
Emeryville, CA
5/3/2007
I really want to cry that our almost 3 years of reimbursed nightly restaurant dining is almost at an end, especially because now Soizic is going to be out of our price range, except for special occasions. Au Revoire, mes Amis!
Gorgeous surroundings, lovely food, somewhat uncomfortable banquette seating. Really gracious servers. They're even nice to my 11 year old, but then she's a pro at fine restaurants by now.
Less than two weeks to go until our eviction--oh, hell.Listed in: Eat. here. now.
-
Review from Scooter G.
San Francisco, CA
2/4/2007
Every visit I have made to Soizic has been a dining experience like no other. Consistently five star dining.
Unpretentious outside decor, warm eclectic atmosphere inside.
Menu that takes your tastebuds to a place that you savor for days after....most memorable meal experience. Anything on this menu will not disappoint. Wine list that fits all types.
The owner is very friendly and there is a gal there that is a tiny blond who is the best server. Very attentive to customer request making my guests evening very enjoyable.
Please keep doin what your doin...Listed in: Gay Gals guide to dining…
-
Review from Linda C.
7/20/2007
I think something that a lot of people overlook about a restaurant is its ability to provide cost-value in their menu, as well as still maintain a certain quality of food. For example, some restaurants have fantastic food, but charge astronomical prices, and some restaurants charge astronomical prices but don't have the corresponding quality of food - I can think of a couple places already, but we won't go into that. All I have to say is, just because its EXPENSIVE, does NOT mean its good...
With that said, what I can say about Soizic is that I think they are deserving of their ZAGAT Rating and their Michelin Star, and the cost-value and quality of their food corresponds. The menu generally doesn't change but I think has a good variety of staples with one or two rotating entrees, which is completely fine by me. The entrees are amply porportioned and have simple, clean tastes - not too much "frou-frou-ness" or confusing flavors. I think some restaurants try too hard to do "fusion" and yeah, it just DOES NOT work sometimes. Simple and not too confusing is welcomed at times and can be quite refreshing! :)
I had the opportunity to sample a large variety of dishes, but I'll only briefly go into the dishes I sampled....still, this is going to be a long review, because I tend to do that, but ...bear with me, and here goes:
Belgian Endive Salad
A little oily, but nonetheless tasty with a good mix of pears, greens, walnuts, and just enough cheese to give a good salty flavor. Pears brought back a little sweetness and the greens gave it a good refreshing crunch. I'd choose this over Truffle Oil Salad.
Truffle Oil Salad
A little too much cheese for my tastes but the truffle oil was tasty and, what can I say, I really like salad, so this was good.
Grilled Rib-Eye Steak
This was a very very nicely done steak; not too tough or chewy, but not so tender that it didn't have any texture. Cooked medium rare - I could have had it a bit more RARE, but its alright because restaurants usually cook it a little more medium anyways...just the right amount of veggies and potatoes in a nice sauce. The cheese sprinkled on top enhanced the flavors. I really liked this one.
Daily Special - Seared Daybot Scallops
A lot of companions had this one, and everyone seemed to like it. Nicely seared with a good chewy, meaty texture.
Chicken With Porcini Mushroom Sauce
This was surprisingly good; I have a tendancy to think "Meh, Chicken, it all tastes the same." However, maybe it was the sauce but the chicken was tender and the sauce was neither too salty nor too bland. Just right.
Three Flavors of Sorbet
The scoops could have been bigger, but I liked this because it wasn't too sweet as some sorbets tend to be. They were more on the icey side, but I tend to like less extreme tastes, this was refreshing though. Served with pears.
Ginger Custard w/ Cookies
Didn't have much ginger taste, but the custard was smooth, and again, not too sweet. The cookies were crunchy and tasty and overall was good. I liked the candied ginger (i think) but I would like to taste more of the Ginger flavor, which is what the custard is named after! :)
Other Dishes:
Penne Pasta, Eggplant, Pastoral Salad, Lamb Filet Mignon
These were all pretty good too. The standout here has to be Lamb Filet Mignon and the Eggplant. The Lamb had no aftertaste, which is a mark of nicely cooked lamb, and the eggplant was just tasty :)
Overall, a four stars. However, I went with a big party and was told by companions (I arrived late) that service was a bit curt towards the beginning. However, the time I was there I thought service was alright but that may be something they would like to work on. Nonetheless, I had a fantastic night, and the food was deserving.
Nicely done Soizic, I'll be coming back again! -
Review from Chris T.
Hayward, CA
2/11/2008
I went with a group of friends for a birthday, we came to Soizic and was surprised by the food for value at this restaurant, typically I am familiar with the common pattern of restaurant creates good food, gets recognized by the zagat or Michelin guide, prices go up and they rest on their laurels and the food goes down. I am pleased to say that my experience to Soizic avoids that pit fall. The prices for the dishes was reasonable and the flavor and execution in the dishes were spot on.
The warm duck confit salad has a nice piece of crispy duck, good amount of fat and meat to the dish. The bitterness of the crisp greens and the salty warm bit of bacon offers a strong contrast to the vinaigrette. The pears paired well with the other elements in the dish, clean simple flavors, every ingredient served a purpose.
Their eggplant main dish had oyster mushrooms, ricotta and goat cheese; this vegetarian dish tasted heavy, rich and meaty, and was not overcooked to a slimy mush. The polenta was to die for. I could just eat polenta all night and be happy with that....
The lamb filet mignon was cooked perfectly to a medium rare, flavorful and not gamy at all, the potato gratin was good, but I liked the polenta more...
Chocolate torte, was decadent and rich, the creamy mocha sauce helped break up the decadent chocolaty flavor of it.
The ginger custard was really rich, almost spicy in flavor, not like a cinnamon spice more like a biting into garlic spicy, the cookies were OK to, a little too much powdered sugar.
The pecan tart was good, but most people were horrified by the thought of a white pepper ice cream, I was more intrigued. The cold mouth feel along with a subtle peppery backbone created a interesting experience and worked with the pecan tart.
Their cocktails are good as well, they do offer a weekly special cocktail as well. I had a great time dinning here, the servers were at the careful balance of being attentive but not overbearing where they would interrupt the conversations we were having to fill our water glasses after every sip. I thought it was a nice balance of being trendy but not comfortable, I'll definitely be back soon! -
Review from Seamus M.
San Francisco, CA
3/30/2007
It has been a rough week, meeting after meeting, long days and painful travel; the Director and I needed a treat. We needed something easy, so we walked down the street to Soizic. It was nearly perfect, I am giving it five starts based on this visit, but we have eaten here a half-dozen times and never been disappointed.
We walked in and were seated immediately, it was not that busy, I had the mixed green salad, with the special porkchop, accompanied with a glass of Medoc. I could feel the stress of the week melting away. The Director had the asparagus soup, which I tasted and was fantastic, then the ravioli. We split the fruit crisp, which was good, the crisp part was not crisp enough, but the fruit was perfect. It seems most Bay Area restaurants treat dessert as an after thought and Soizic is little better than most.
This is my favorite restaurant in Jack London Square, by far, and is one of the best in Oakland. The wine and desset pushed the bill up fairly high but it was a tough week.Listed in: Staying sane in Oakland
-
Review from s y.
Oakland, CA
3/7/2008
Update* 8/12/08 I went here tonight, and the grilled peach and frisee salad was slamming. What's not to love about the hot peach, prosciutto, goat cheese, frisee and kale pesto mix? The mussel soup was delicious, surprising, unusual. I love Soizic. They're weird and good. Food I can't, and wouldn't think of making myself; that is, food I want to pay for.
********
I must be getting old, because one of the things I loved about the place was that our dinner party could actually, gasp, talk without having to strain to hear or be heard. I loved the whimsical, art-sy interior, which doesn't seem take itself too seriously. Our waitperson was perfecto--not pushy, but present, helpful and not snobby.
The meal highlights:
* butternut squash salad--crazy mix of frisse, squash, kale pesto, cheese and pomegranate;
* warm duck confit salad--nice mix of endive, spinach, duck, red-vinegared-red-cabbage;
* lamb filet mignon--PERFECTLY pink-rare perfection, with potato gratin, delicious grilled shitakes, some greens and a really nice sauce
* scallops--sauce a teeny, tiny bit salty, but scallops done to perfection
* butterscotch pudding with cookies--shockingly not too sweet
Relaxed ambiance, not too crowded, no hipsters in sight(!) and good sized portions. Not stuffy at all. Pretty decent prices. Could space the tables differently. Even though the portions were pretty huge, I ate every single scrap of food and plan to go back for more! -
Review from brewgirl b.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2009
I was quite happy with my muscle soup, served with fennel, taters and spinach in a saffron broth. The bowl is huge, so expect a lot.
Did not like the duck confit salad at all. In fact, it was kind of disgusting. I was sucked into ordering it because of the bacon, but the different ingredients--including duck, red cabbage, spinach, pears and almonds--just didnt work well together.
The Australian ginger beer was quite yummy, and the chocolate dessert, which was the texture of a dense mousse was lovely.
Service wasnt bad, but we came in at the end of lunch, so I think the wait staff was looking forward to closing up shop until din-din. -
Review from Blade L.
Oakland, CA
8/15/2007
My boss Rhoda and my webmaster Kitty and I went to lunch at Soizic Bistro after a business meeting. I had once arranged an engagement party at this restaurant several years ago, and I found the owner very difficult to work with in making plans. If the owner ever decided to answer my calls, he would be curt and obnoxious. He would never, ever return a phone call and his attitude was consistantly that he could not be bothered. And I have heard complaints from others who have tried to arrange a party for one of our senators. I do not recommend private parties at this establishment in any way. After having to deal Mr. Rude Snotty Pants, I vowed to never step foot in his restaurant again.
Unfortunately, I was out numbered at choosing where to dine, and I wasn't in the mood to make a fuss. We arrive at the restaurant, and Mr. Rude Snotty Pants sat us down at a table immediately. It is the middle of August and Mr. Snot Pants was wearing black knee high leather boots with his pants tucked into them, oh so avant-garde. What an idiot. Have you ever seen old episodes of SNL and there is the guy who holds his thumb and pointing finger up in front of his face and puts the view of random people in the background between his fingers and "crushes" them?? This is what I want to do to Snotty Pants; but I don't because I'm with mentally mature co-workers, and they would think I'm crazy. But, inside I already pinched off my arched enemy's head 10 times.
Any way, I look around and the decor is what I remembered, very eclectic and I'd hate to say it, but interesting. There is unusual artwork everywhere and bits of this and bits of that all over the place. It is not sophisticated, and it is not cohesive in any way, but there is always something different to look at in every corner.
Our waitress is quick and efficient and we have menus in hand right away. There are about five or six entrees to choose from and about three or four salads. The soup of the day is white corn chowder. I chose the chowder and a simple pasta dish of chicken and broccoli with roasted dried tomatoes. Rhoda and Kitty order some kind of salad.
My corn chowder came, and it was sweet, rich and very tasty. Snotty Pants has hired a great chef and the cooking from the kitchen is what saves this restaurant. My Penne pasta comes and it is light, tangy and delicious. The pasta had the perfect consistency. To show my appreciation, I should have burped in Snotty Pant's face. Rhoda and Kitty enjoy their salads that looked to be smothered in slivered almonds. Girls eat differently than boys.
We leave satisfied, and I mentally "crush" the head off Snotty Pants one more time before we exit. So go ahead and eat there, pinch off you know who's head there, but don't plan big parties there because you'll have to deal with an A-hole.
Speaking of A-holes, the owner of Everette & Jones, across the street is a work of art as well (biotch). I will never eat at Everette & Jones again, the owner is racist, and if you are not African American there, you don't count. It must be that area that brings out the worst in restaurant owners. -
Review from Adam R.
Oakland, CA
6/26/2007
Another underrated star of the Oakland Restaurant scene.
Inventive dishes, fast pleasant and competent service in a nice atmosphere.
I had a interesting eggplant and goat cheese dish stuffed with oyster mushrooms that was served with polenta and chard. Very good.
Only complaint was that the cocktails were a bit pricey, but, hey what isn't these days! -
Review from Michelle L.
Oakland, CA
8/19/2008
We have been here three times now, and have yet to be disappointed. However, after reading y'all's reviews I learned two new things: 1) They have a Michelin star (how did I miss that???) and 2) I have been saying "soy-chick". eeek!
Let me qualify by saying my boyfriend is extremely picky and hard to please. Of late, his increasing dissatisfaction with restaurant meals had led us to cook more at home and go out less. After a bit of insight, we decided we were simply in a rut, going to the same places again and again, and decided to explore a bit more. With this in mind, we ate at Soizic a few weeks back, on a last minute whim.
Even though it was last minute, and the height of the dinner hour on a Saturday, we had no trouble getting a table. In fact, the place seemed rather empty, which we discussed with some concern after we left, as we would hate to see this place become another casualty of the crappy economy. Anyway....
We are in the habit of ordering several appetizers/salads to start, then splitting an entree. It saves us both money and calories in the long run, and definitely served us well here, as Soizic's portions are quite generous. No thimbleful of food with a few dots of sauce will arrive at your table here... the bowl of soup was a REAL bowl, the salads overflowed their plates and the steak was more than enough for both of us.
We started with the white corn soup. I love corn soup and I was not disappointed. It was flavorful without being heavy and sweet without being cloying. Also had the exact right amount of black pepper and my partner and I fought over the dab of creme fraische swirled delicately on top.
Next up was the belgian endive and grilled peach salads. (When we were there, the grilled peach salad was available as an appetizer; now I see it on their menu as a dinner entree.) The endive salad was perfectly dressed and complemented by the pear/cheese combo. The grilled peaches were done to a turn, served warm with smoky grill accents but still firm and sweet. We fought over this one too, dabbing up the dressing with pieces of soft sourdough.
Then came the rib eye steak. We asked for it medium rare and that's how it came. Dizzyingly delicious with a small blob of Silton balanced nicely and melting into enticing little rivers down the nooks and crannies of the steak. We ate slowly, savoring every bite, but it was gone all too soon.
We finished up with the ginger custard, selected for ginger's purported digestive benefits. It was smooth and mild, but I would have liked just a little more ginger kick.
Neither of us drink wine so we could not comment on Soizic's extensive wine list. However I would like to say that we shared each dish, the waiter always set us up with fresh plates and silverware, and yet we were never charged a "split plate" fee. It's our custom to simply place the plate of food in the middle and we each eat off the same plate (bourgeois? probably but it works for us). Some people have posted trouble with the service, but it was exemplary for us, and we have found it to be a function of how busy the restaurant is. At New Year's Eve they were mobbed and the service was definitely not as good as it was this time, but still not bad enough to be offensive or off-putting.
We had liked to think of Soizic as one of our little secrets for when we want across-the-board good, fresh, sustainable food creatively conceived and flawlessly executed. But from the looks of it our secret is out. Great date place, and within walking distance of several clubs. Check it out, you won't be sorry. -
Review from K G.
Oakland, CA
10/19/2009
Service - A
Food - A+
Wine list - B+
Decor - B-
Cocktails - A
Friday night = date night around my household. Recent dates have included Wood Tavern (a favorite of ours), Oliveto, A Cote, Flora, Pizzaiolo, Dona Tomas, Marzano, Bocanova, Dopo.
Though we have been talking about it for years, we have never been to Soizic. We have had friends tell us to go there, we have parked in front and, at the last minute, changed our mind - but we have never stepped inside until tonight. I guarantee, it will not be our last time.
Here's the story:
Friday night... no reservations. We walked in, fingers crossed that they'd have space for us and they did. While they set a cute corner table for us, we checked out the menu. To be honest, after looking over the menu, we almost walked out. It's not that it looked bad, but it just didn't look that exciting. Together with the facts that we were able to walk in without a reservation and that the decor is a bit dated (really ugly 90s track lighting, a carpeted floor (!), industrial looking ceiling tiles and an ugly material on the bench seating) AND the menu didn't excite us, we were about to leave when the really friendly waiter called us over and told us our table was ready. So, we gave it a shot. So glad we did.
Okay, so then we sat and began looking over the nitty-gritty of the menu. I have to say, I was NOT happy that they were serving farmed salmon instead of wild (even if it was Loch Duart - Monterey Bay Aquarium still says "NO" to farmed salmon). The other thing I got all high-horsey about was the unagi on the menu (http://www.montereybay...). That said, I was excited about the chanterelles and the specials of the night - lamb tagine and butternut squash soup.
The wine list was interesting and the sommelier helpful in matching a wine to the food we ordered. We were also excited by the $15 corkage fee. Groovy.
Oh, and throughout the evening, the service was excellent - attentive, informative, friendly, funny. The timing of the food was good - very quick.
Cocktails - a fun and interesting list. I must say, it's pretty rare for me to order one of the house cocktails at restaurants because I find them too frequently to be overly sweet & overly complicated. This time, however, I was drawn to one that had rye whiskey and something unexpected in it (sorry I can't remember - elderflower liqueur maybe?). It was delicious. Oh, and the bar was super cute - very french feeling. I could see myself getting very cozy hanging out there for a while.
Okay, so I've covered decor, cocktails, wine, & service. Now, on to the food.
We ordered a chanterelle mushroom salad, the special of the night butternut squash soup, the special of the night lamb tagine, and the spinach ricotta ravioli. Let's put it this way - we asked for another serving of bread so that my husband and I could mop up every drop of everything on our plates. The food was divine. I must say, I can be kind of hard to please - I often find that dishes need more salt or more acid or more depth, but every single thing we ordered was perfect. Perfectly prepared, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. Even dessert did not disappoint - guinness ice-cream anyone? Wow.
The long and short of it is that I frequently leave restaurants thinking, "I could make that at home and it would taste better." Not tonight. Soizic's chefs would kick my butt in the kitchen. So, I will happily return to Soizic again and again. -
Review from Irene S.
Castro Valley, CA
7/20/2007
On the outside, the restaurant does not grab a lot of attention, but once we stepped inside, we noticed that the restaurant was nicely decorated and the tables were spaced out nicely.
Our waiter was very helpful and straightforward in describing the menu and answering our party's questions. Our party of four ordered quite a few different dishes, and all were very well put together and delicious. For the quality, we found the prices quite reasonable.
The major plus for me is that this restaurant is not noisy. As we walked out, we realized that it was actually next to a club blasting hip hop music. The sound insulation must have been pretty good because we were unaware until we stepped out. Soizic was a nice place to have a good dinner and enjoy conversation without difficulty. The good food and service has earned return visits from me in the future. -
Review from Christine D.
Oakland, CA
5/10/2008
I took my momma here for her birthday. One, because it's near my hood, and two, because it's in my hood and it's not fast food/chain. It's unexpected to see a pretty nice place inside after seeing the exterior. The crowd was mostly 40's, a mix of Asian and white for the most part.
Here's what we had to eat:
Appetizer:
SMOKED TROUT SALAD with Belgian endive, oranges, dried cranberries, and aoli
This was flavorful, but skimpy on the trout, to the point that we forgot what we had ordered until I finally got a piece of trout halfway through!
CRABCAKES: pretty normal crabcakes
Main course:
RIB-EYE STEAK (naturally raised) with mustard sauce, stilton cheese and pistachio; served with potato gratin and vegetables
Very good, but a tad heavy on the mustard when eaten with the stilton. They cook it the way you like and it's not overdone, which I appreciate.
LAMB FILET MIGNON with Madeira sauce, potato gratin, grilled shiitake mushrooms and watercress. Really tender, very nicely done.
Dessert:
Some chocolate cake thing. I would pass on this. I expected more in the area of dessert excellence from a French restaurant.
Good bread though! Soft and warm.
I would go back again for sure. -
Review from Christina S.
Costa Mesa, CA
Using the nifty little iPhone Yelp app we found this place. It's located in Jack London Square.. First impression was it has good ambiance. We got in about 6pm and the crowd had just begun trickling in. The service here is outstanding! The menu well being that it was a French restaurant I was looking forward to Escargot. Was a little disappointed when I saw that it was not on the menu.. We started off ordering some wine and ordered the Sauteed Chanterelle. French feta cheese on a toast which was really good..
For my entree I went with the Coq Au Vin my other half ordered a salmon dish. Honestly, I was not really impressed with the Coq Au Vin... I have had it many times in the past and I was really disappointed in the sauce. It was to my taste bland. I wanted to like this place but just was not impressed at all and based upon all of the wonderful reviews here I was not left feeling that way. The bf did however like his entree..
Now, dessert... We split the the Ginger Custard and that was amazing. We got out of here just under $100..
NOTE: I know that this has nothing to do with the restaurant at all.. BUT.. If you are a Kings of Convenience fan or Whitest Boy Alive fan or an Erlend Oye fan then take a peak at the chief... The one at least working that night we were here resembles Erlend! -
Review from Joanne Y.
11/25/2008
Pretty good bread and butter. I ate almost an entire dish... and that's a compliment since I don't normally eat bread and butter at restaurants.
I had the Rib-Eye steak, medium-rare, while my boss had the scallops special. The steak was very tender and cooked perfectly. I didn't really dig the Stilton cheese on top and I don't know if I consider the pistachios on top of the steak a very good compliment to the overall dish. I think I would have preferred the steak without those extras. The sides were decent, and the potatoes it was served with were pretty good, too. Again, there's something missing in the savoriness that makes the dishs not exactly "hit the spot" ...maybe it's the healthiness they are more conscious of.
The scallops were deliciously seared, but could use more flavor, as with the rest of the items on the plate. They had this cool broccoli-cauliflower hybrid vegetable... but it just tasted like a lighter version of cauliflower. We also had the squash soup, which was decent, but could also use more richness in flavor.
Overall, nice looking and pretty delicious dishes but pricey for the portions. -
Review from Quyen T.
Berkeley, CA
2/8/2007
I really enjoy this restaurant, particularly the lobster ravioli. It is, indeed, a very unexpected find in Jack London Square. Across the street is fried chicken and Barnes & Noble, but don't understimate Soizic based on its location. The wine selection is good, the ambiance is great, and the food is quite tastey. The location can be somewhat ghetto, but the restaurant stands up with the rest of them.
Make reservations because it can get crowded. However, I've been to Soizic even on Valentine's Day with reservations ahead of time and it's been great. Never disappointed.
Service is also pretty good. They are attentive to your needs and that, in and of itself, is worth paying for. I think we paid around $100 for the two of us (that includes a salad or starter for both of us, entree, dessert, as well as a glass of wine for each). It's a decently romantic restaurant, so you can definitely take your betrothed here.Listed in: Romantic Eats!
-
Review from Tito Y.
Emeryville, CA
5/12/2007
What a nice memory Soizic Bistro will bring to me. The elegant flavors, and its immaculate attention to detail. The entire room reads urban love, taken to another degree. I hope to return and try to experience eating at the bar next time. I've been to Soizic about ten different times, and not once has it failed me.
Want a no B.S. downtown experience, this is the place to go.Listed in: Top Tried and Trued Dining
-
Review from Sean S.
Oakland, CA
2/2/2006
A hidden, often overlooked Gem in the City of Oakland.
French-Cal fusion that is well done with a seasonally changing menu and generally friendly wait staff.
The previously mentioned asian guy withcowboy boots is the very artsy owner who takes to bussing the tables when needed. He is very nice and offered me a sample of some wine he was thinking of ordering while I was waiting at the bar.
This is an excellent place to bring a large group or for an intimate occasion. They charge a silly room fee for upstairs where none of the amenities are any better than downstairs.
Yet the food is really topnotch and very, very vegetarian friendly. Nothing outstanding about the restrooms, other than they are clean. -
Review from Kat H.
San Jose, CA
10/6/2008
Super food, super wine, super atmosphere. Very romantic and not too loud so you can have a nice conversation and look into eachother's eyes without some guy yelling obnoxiously next to you. (However, there was a customer who would burp/hiccup every time he walked by our table?)
We started with some champagne because we were celebrating a birthday and I mentioned this to our waitress. This actually went really well with our creamy mussel soup. The bread was perfect for dipping as well. Delicious.
For our entrees, coq au vin and warm duck confit salad. Very satisfying and wonderful. I had the Soivic Syrah with the salad and it was really good.
The flourless chocolate torte came with a candle on top because our waitress remembered the birthday. This was the fluffiest flourless torte I have ever had--it tasted just like a cake but richer. Sooo good.
Definitely a new favorite. -
Review from Victoria R.
San Jose, CA
8/31/2006
So, I saw the asian guy with the ponytail and cowboy boots. After reading these reviews, he was who I was looking for when we first arrived.
We were seated immediately. My friend and her husband go there occassionally. This would be mine and my husbands first time.
I ordered the caesar salad and the Salmon for the entree. The caesar salad was nothing special. Though I finished all of the salad, I've had better ones. The salmon was delicious. It was nicely paired with this somewhat light sweet soy sauce mix and noodles on the side.
My husband had the steak. For him, he thought the steak was just ok. I tasted his layerd pototoes, which was sliced like it was in a casserole. That was delicious too!!
Desserts were inexpensive - eery dessert was $4.50
A Pecan Tart with White Pepper ice cream ( I didn't like the ice cream, just not use to that)
Chocolate Torte
3 scoup sorbets
Some type of custard.
etc.
As far as our waiter - he had no personality, pretty dry and unfriendly, but he did do his job. He needed to have a smile on his face.
The outside of the restaurant will fool you. Inside is done real nicely. -
Review from Molly G.
Oakland, CA
6/5/2010
Boyfriend and I came here for dinner before his surprise birthday party and had an amazing time!
It was dark and sexy. The food was phenomenal. Our server was wonderful. Everything was timed just so. We got nice and drunk on an organic Rioja.
Say what you want about Jack London, this place is a "petite bijou"! -
Review from Edmund L.
Oakland, CA
2/10/2010
Not the best, neither the worst around.
Mussel soup was slightly over-salted; otherwise, it's not bad - pretty creamy with decent flavor.
Butternut squash was fair and the side ingredients did not help to bring out the best of the dish.
Main course was coq au vin, sea bass, and duck confit. The flavor of chicken and duck was okay, but I wasn't able to taste the subtleness expected from French cuisine. I did happen to like the sides along with the entrees because it was kept simple - fresh and not heavily seasoned.
I think I had an okay experience with this place. For next time, I will probably explore somewhere else new, but I wouldn't oppose to a second try. -
Review from Racha L.
Los Angeles, CA
3/30/2008
So the coveted FIVE stars, from an O.G. Star Belly Sneech!!!
It was a Saturday night so the place was packed. I HIGHLY recommend reservations, and you still may wait a bit, but that is what the bar is for!
I had the SPINACH-RICOTTA RAVIOLI with shiitake mushrooms, leeks, white corn and tomatoes in a vegetable broth, topped with grilled prawns - it was AMAZING, and that is an understatement. It was an oral seduction of my palette....yeah I said it.
Might I add the martinis were SPOT ON!!! Service, some of the best I'd had in Oakland- even on an off night. (They ran out of napkins and proper wine/martini glasses) This is the spot to have your dinner before walking around the corner to Yoshi's for your show! This is a GREAT date spot, the dim lighting with a french boudoir feel. Ask for a spot in one of those sneaky little corners. -
Review from Will T.
Concord, CA
12/26/2009
Mua's sister. The view from Broadway is deceiving, see the neon blue lighting. This is about four blocks from Jack London Square, it's actually closer to 880 than the water. Looks like a beat closed down bar. But on the side street, the real entrance greets the patron, inside is just right, lighting is moody and the draped velvet entrance feels like a VIP access at the exclusive nightclub. High ceiling, Asian art in the right places, unique childish art that is the Mua trademark, and onto the food.
Butternut squash cup of soup, excellent, hot through and rich. Lamb filet and corn polenta were decent enough, presentation was top shelf. Sea bass special with lemon accent over greens at $22 a plate not a value. Pasta was so-so. Out the door at $140 for four guests eating one entree each without any drinks. Nothing to write home about, but certainly what I was expecting, nothing more, nothing less. I won't be patronizing Soizic on a regular basis, but if in the area, it's the top 5 restaurant in Jack London Square area and is a spot for special guests or occasions that allow for air and talk without inhibition. Yoshi's and the Fat Lady are equal or better for experience and value. A welcome addition to Oakland and "Jack London Square" on Broadway. Sister location, Mua, in Uptown Oakland at 26th and Broadway for drinks and tapas. -
Review from Shib W.
Alameda, CA
4/25/2006
Very nice menus always, just on the edge of ambitious but never over it. The salads are always perfectly dressed and presented, which is a decent litmus test as to how much care is exercised in the kitchen.
As for the eccentric owner, it's great that he's always around. I am sure that is what keeps the quality high and consistent for both food and service. Great wines at consumer-friendly prices. -
Review from jessica m.
Fort Collins, CO
3/4/2008
Sometimes I get really bitter about places that have frou frou food that's too cute to eat; Soizec isn't one of those places. The food was pretty but also demanded that you consume it!
We both had fish as our entrees and it was exceptional.
The interior is so much prettier than you imagine from the blue neon sign. My only complaint is that I find the place a bit stuffy- literally- not just full of old folks, which it also is.... and now I'm an * ! -
Review from Rachel B.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 12/21/2009
I've been here in the past and haven't loved it, but my visit last weekend changed my mind. I was there for a big family dinner, and all of the food I tried was pretty solid. Highlights included the rib-eye steak, the lamb fillet mignon, and the fish special. They all came with a sauce that was a little on the heavy side, but I'll forgive them that since it tasted pretty darn good.
The waiter was a saint in dealing with my family (not easy, believe me) and recommended a nice wine (somehow I'm in charge of ordering wine with my family though, which is a little stressful for me, since I don't really know much about it, so I always appreciate a waiter who can talk wine with me).
And, if you're confused about what kind of food it actually is (French? California? Mediterranean? It's so hard to tell) - they describe themselves as "French, with Californian, Mediterranean and Asian influences." Just to make sure they've got everything covered, I guess.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/15/2007
This is a weird place. What kind of food is it? Asian fusion? Continental? All of the above?… Read more »
-
-
Review from ashley d.
El Sobrante, CA
10/15/2008
Great service. Good food. Good dessert =)
The atmosphere is interesting, with lots of things to look at. I had the Spinach-Ricotta Ravioli. Delicious; light and flavorful yet quite filling.
The flour-less chocolate dessert was scrumptious, my only complaint is I wish I had it for dinner AND dessert...!
The waiter was accomodating and swift. -
Review from Richard D.
Oakland, CA
7/31/2008
I've been coming here on and off since it opened. We'll go here when we are with our friends from Alameda as it's very convenient for them.
We've never had a bad meal at Soizic. The food has always been well prepared, with fresh ingredients. It's been mostly good, but just not terribly memorable or outstanding. The worst part of any meal here has been the service. It has been great... and awful. Luck of the waitstaff draw.
Enjoy. -
Review from Judy T.
Oakland, CA
2/11/2009
I'd been here a couple of times for holiday lunches, where the food and service were good and the prices were decent, but I'd never been here for dinner.
Finally, after many not-so-subtle hints (and making the reservation myself because if you want something done right, you have the wife do it), the hubby and I went to Soizic for our anniversary dinner. Everything was wonderful, from the second we walked in the door until the moment we left and the illusion of being in a French bistro disappeared. (Hello, Jack London Square!)
The generous portion of the mussel soup appetizer was absolutely delicious, as were our steak and lamb dishes. Service was just attentive enough without being overly bothersome. All the hubby had to do was tilt his head *just* so, and our waiter was at our table side.
We loved everything about that evening and will definitely be back! -
Review from Kathleen G.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2009
What a find in industrial downtown Oakland. This place is owned by the folks who opened Mua, and you can totally see the resemblance you walk in the doors. Rustic, eclectic French decors is charming and relaxing without being pretentious.
The service was really nice, and the servers generally knowledgeable about the wines (a nice selection of affordable French whites), and lovely.
I did have an initial subpar pour of wine, I have to be frank, but I think our careful and relentless scrutiny of the glass and general lack of bonhomie caused the waiter to raise the bar on pour deux.
Also, what's with the no- bartender on Friday nights? You can't advertise designer cocktails and then expect your already beleagured wait staff to prepare a gimlet in between their job. Either 86 the spirits and pay someone to mix them. -
Review from Dawn L.
Oakland, CA
6/26/2010
I couldn't have asked for a better place for our first date......I was running a little late that night so I ended up taking more time to find parking than actually getting there! The entrance isn't on Broadway, like I expected (but then again, I was running across the street in high heels, trying to make it before the light changed so I may not have really been paying close attention to the entrance!), but I found the door soon enough. I walked in and the entrance is curtained off, creating a foyer of sorts to help block wind. I pushed aside the heavy red velvet curtains and found my date sitting at the bar chatting with the host (he later told me that I made quite an entrance through the curtains).
This was our first date and actually the first time we were meeting in person so the nerves were on full alert. The host was great - joking around and giving me a little grief for being late - but it definitely helped us break the ice. The food was excellent - I had the salmon (an asian fusion style) and he had braised short ribs. Nothing left on either plate.....my salmon was a tad salty for me, but I tend to under salt rather than over salt. Still delicious though, and I ate it all. We were there for a couple of hours - combination of great food, great service, and great ambiance made for an unforgettable first date. When we finally decided to call it a night, there was one other couple still there....and from the look of it, they were on a first date as well!
4 solid stars for the restaurant - an extra half star for excellent service/staff/environment and I'm throwing in a little bit more for sentimental value. :) We will definitely be back! -
Review from megg l.
Alameda, CA
10/23/2008
Yet another nice restaurant to have a party at. I handled arrangements in 2001 for a company party we had here. The boss pointed me in the direction of Soizic and pushed.
I leaped.
Did not fall.
Soizic picked me up and held my hand as I nervously hammered down details on big night for a new employee. Wonderful people to work with, yummy food, and private room.
I've since handled another party there and been back for bites over the years. I've always had quite a pleasant experience and would definitely eat here again.
