On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: American (Traditional), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Rockridge, North OaklandMon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
"Good food cheap is the birthright of all bay area residents, and this new gem doesn't disappoint. Located right on the water in a…" read more »
Loading...
Somerset is always a backup for my family. They have a decent menu and variety for any taste palate, and they're open late.
I would say this venue is perfect for parties and events given their back patio, and catering services. Be sure to try their daily pizza's and the vegetable puff pastry, which i swear is to die for.
Melted goat cheese in a pastry? What more could you possibly want. Like a calzone, except healthy.
Not a huge fan of their wine selection, although i do see some of the same couples at the bar time after time.
Check it out, there are a number of fabulous restaurants in the bay area, so i wouldn't blame you for not seeing this place, but you should if you haven't.
Went for dinner with two friends last night (total of 4 people). Too expensive for what you get, very weird service, food is OK but not worth the price. I ordered the sole. The description sounded delicious, as it says the sole sits atop lemon/coconut rice. I tasted neither lemon nor coconut. It was more of an Uncle Ben's vegetable pilaf. My husband ordered the salmon - again great description, supposedly it sits atop a farro mix (he also received the Uncle Ben veggie pilaf).
Wines are very affordable and the house red at $7 is a good value. They have some strange idea that when you are paying for a $20-$30 entree you wouldn't want a real waiter/waitress. So you sit down and several people come by to ask if you want a drink. No one is your dedicated server. None of them are particularly good at customer service. Other odd touches - they provide you with a pitcher of water (nice) but don't actually ever pour the water for you. So when we went with a table of 4 people, they put the water on the table - we poured water for ourselves - the pitcher was empty. Then we had to wait for another pitcher.
They also really seem to want to rush you in and out - almost in a cafeteria style manner. No one asks you if you like your food or any regular niceties like that. It's just "Here's your menu - what do you want - here it is - let me take that - do you want dessert or coffee? See you." Very very odd. We didn't stay for dessert.
For the cash you put out for salad ($9), dinner entree ($20-$30), and dessert/coffee if you choose to do that - the service is nonexistant. I'm sure they are making cash hand-over-foot, as it seems there are 2 women who do EVERYTHING, from seating you to waiting on you to serving you to cleaning your table, making the coffee, and probably cleaning the bathroom (let's hope they washed their hands frequently).
In any case - we won't be going back.
Just back from brunch at Somerset with a couple of friends (and their chubby and delicious baby!) - it was the first time there for all of us, since (a) we wanted to try somewhere new (to us), and (b) we scored an OpenTable reservation w/no problem at all.
Bad News first:
- the service was a little slow (they weren't full - but they did have a couple of large parties), but otherwise good
- the water in the teapots wasn't as hot as we would've liked
Good News second:
- so, the lemon-ricotta pancakes really are AMAZING, and we shared 1 order for the whole table, but had I known...
- the french toast is also excellent, as were the egg dishes we tried, particularly the dungeness crab hash w/poached eggs
- in general, excellent food, beautifully plated, and served in a really nice atmosphere; definitely not a dive, but not TOO fancy, either (yay, no tablecloths!!)
- we didn't sit outside (a bit chilly today), but they have a gorgeous little patio/garden space out back, which I intend to try some time, because I think we'll definitely be back...
All in all, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place for brunch. It was relatively easy to get a table (even with a baby), we never felt rushed or crowded, the food was delish, and the atmosphere was nice.
People thought this was:
i checked this place out for the first time on Friday night. Supposedly, they have a back patio for outdoor dining in the warm weather. The goat cheese souffle was a stand out and the dirty martini was excellent, but the rest of the food was bland and uninspired. Everything on the menu sounded great, but the food didn't live up to the descriptions. The spaghetti carbonara was dry and lacked flavor and the fried chicken was fair, but not something I'd have again. This seems like a place I'd be happy to check out for a drink and maybe a shared appetizer, but not for dinner again. Outdoor dining is a favorite thing of mine, so I'll likely check out the back patio when spring/summer comes.
Oh, Somerset, sometimes you make it hard to love you. Mostly not, but sometimes...
Mostly, you make me feel special. I walk in and you always greet me like an old friend. Your back garden is fabulous, perfect for a girls lunch. In the evening, your polished tables and flickering candles beckon so invitingly from an otherwise dead part of College. And the coconut cake? I would drive across half the state just for a piece of your coconut cake. I love that you have a full selection for those of us who don't drink. Every visit I try something new, from the huckleberry lemonade to the ginger augas fresca. Your menu reads like my favorite recipe box. And your fried chicken, your club sandwich, and your meatloaf were all divine.
But.
My salad last birthday? Bland and flavorless. With a tender, but cold biscuit.
My appetizer tonight? Watery artichokes in a rubbery batter.
My lamb? a perfect medium rare, but the accessories? The mango salsa, dried mushroom pudding, and warm mixed greens made a bizarre combination, like fruit loops on jerky with an acetaminophen sprinkle.
I'd like to take 1.5 stars. But I'm only taking one because the Mexican Hot Chocolate is the best I've had since that little cafe just south of Old Town 15 years ago. And the coconut cake.
People thought this was:
Best pancakes I've ever eaten (and I've eaten a lot)!
My wife and I met about 9 years ago in Berkeley. We've since moved down to SoCal, but brunch at Somerset made us want to move back up!
We found ourselves back up in the east bay with some time to scout out a brunch place on a Sunday morning. The criteria: had to be close to BART, had to have outdoor seating (the summer weather was perfect), had to have good reviews. Suffice to say, being seated on the patio was a nice treat.
What was absolutely MIND-BLOWING were the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes....a 10 out of 10. The Huevos Rancheros were about a 9, not far behind. But those pancakes....I almost needed a cigarette after eating those, and I don't even smoke.
Not sure how it rates for dinner or lunch, but the brunch was great. The service may have knocked down the experience from 5 stars to 4....they were just a little cocky, but maybe that's the crowd they have to deal with sometimes. Seemed family-friendly enough, they provide some nice little booster chairs for the little kids that clip onto the table, and there were a few families outside.
We loved Miss Millies in Noe so much. We moved just across the street about a month after they closed down! I have not yet been to Somerset but I am slightly devestated to see that they don't have the Churros that Miss Millies served. It was heaven. Why would they not continue to offer a piece of heaven?
Went here for brunch this morning and was pretty disappointed. My gf and I started out with the prosciutto, fig, and pear appetizer. This was my favorite part of the meal. Nothing really stood out, but the prosciutto, fig and blue cheese was a nice combination. The pear, I feel, would have been better off left out.
I had the dungeness crab hash and my girlfriend had the huevos rancheros. We ended up switching meals after a few bites, so I tasted a good portion of both, and found them both mediocre. The flavor was somewhat lacking in both.
In the crab hash, the ingredients failed to come together into anything more significant that a big pile of vegetables and crab. The carnitas in the huevos rancheros had a nice texture, but were weakly and uninterestingly flavored.
I also had one of their coffee drinks, can't remember what it was called, but it had espresso, chocolate, steamed milk, and one of a few choices of flavors. This was ok, but the coffee was just not bold enough, and it was far too sweet for my liking.
The main positive thing I have to say is the patio seating in the back is really nice. I'll give them that.
People thought this was:
This review is dedicated to Alison, my happy hour buddy moving back to Portland this weekend. You will be missed. And honestly, happy hours will never be the same.
Anyway, I went here last night for Alison's going away dinner and had a great time. We asked to sit outside and enjoyed their beautiful patio. It's covered by a huge trellis with wisteria growing all over and cute green tables are scattered about. Great place to eat and enjoy the long summer nights.
We started with the fruit and cheese plate, which had a great variety of cheeses and flavorful, fresh fruit. Our entrees were all delicious, too. (Well, verdict is still out on my husband's burger which he failed to eat, thanks to the 3 glasses of wine consumed prior to food delivery.) I had the Pasta Carbonara, and was a bit surprised by the egg-noodles (guess I didn't read the menu well), but enjoyed the dish overall. Alison had their mushroom ravioli and gave it a thumbs up as well.
The service we had was alright, but nothing special. I definitely found the bartender friendlier and more upbeat than the table service. In regards to pricing, I felt they could afford to drop it down a notch. While some dishes were what one would expect from a restaurant in the Rockridge area, others seemed incredibly marked up. Regardless, the overall experience was great and I would definitely go back. Next time, maybe for brunch.
People thought this was:
After going to Barclay's down the street for a burger, my friend and I walked over here for a… Read more »
Comfort Food that heals you with a dose of Buttermilk buscuits. Loved the seabass best of all. I've had better fried chicken but I'm from Texas so I wasn't expecting much.
I would definitely come back, especially to try their prix-fixe special offered sun-thurs!
The food at this place is ridiculously good.
It is fairly expensive, but not prohibitively.
The menu is really interesting and offers both comfort food and exciting new options that you may have never considered before.
Everyone raves about the baked eggs dish, and for good reason, it is delicious.
However, try the prime rib hash. It is positively scrumptralescent.
I will say that the service is not always top notch.
Very slow sometimes, but the food is always good.
Do you like to go out on Saturday night and have a few drinks ? Maybe more than a few ? This is a great place to go on Sunday morning. It will soak up all that alcohol and you'll leave ready for either a nap or a drink. You can take care of that drink before you leave. I recommend the pomegranate mimosa or the bloody mary.
If I lived near SanFran, then I would totally be a regular at this restaurant. I was visiting some family in the bay area and ate a lunch at this place, and let me say the experience was great. I don't think I've ever been to a place that hand makes their bread on the spot. I had a house burger with fries, and both the burger and the fries were delicious. The place is a little pricey but in my opinion worth every penny. I don't think I've ever tasted a burger quite like this one.
The place also has an excellent atmosphere with a beautiful patio. The service was fast enough, and the owner Gary Rizzo is a great guy. If I lived near SF, I would definitely eat here again.
We loved Miss Millie's back in the day, and Somerset is just as good. So far we've had dinner at Somerset twice, once off the normal menu and once for Thanksgiving, and it was terrific both times. The ambiance and the food were perfect. On one occasion the service was slow to start, but it seemed to just be an initial issue with that waiter. The cocktails deserve special mention; lots of great combinations, and they seem to change them up regularly -- I'm sad to see that the El Capitan's not listed anymore; it's similar to a Cable Car: http://marriedwithdinn... -- but there are lots of other drinks to choose from.
Note that Somerset is convenient to BART, which is another plus.
The food and service were fine. The reason I would recommend it is for the lovely patio in back. Very romantic.
This place is lovely overall. Nice classic american food full of flavor. Everytime I have been here with my boyfriend it has been nice and romantic. Although it is a small place it doesn't feel too crowded. The reason why I didn't give it all 5 stars is because of the wait staff. They don't seem to know anything about the food, or the wine for that matter. It is almost like they are glorified bussers. I wish they had more of a foodie like me to really explain their specials.
Despite the lack of knowledge from the wait staff... the food here is wholesome, fresh and very tasty. I would reccomend it to lovers of classic all american dining.
People thought this was:
Lovely plush surroundings and good service made for a good meal before a Fleetwood Mac concert at Oracle Arena.
The $25 dinner special (appetizer, main course, and dessert) really hit the spot. A butter lettuce salad with blue cheese and oil and vinegar dressing on the side was fresh and delicious; chicken and dressing with steamed veggies was perfect, and the coconut and banana sorbet for dessert was just the thing for my sweet tooth.
A glass of Riesling washed it all down. Yummy!
People thought this was:
D and I have known each other more than 30 years. Back then, I thought he was a friend with "bennies"; he thought he was a boyfriend, which probably explains why he was so upset every time I'd bring around a new guy. I couldn't understand why he threw up whenever we went out.
He was always a great date and a great friend, and after 3 decades, he still is, but we share a certain fuzzy-headedness (let's see, the 70's? I can't imagine why) that makes us somewhat less than completely on top of things.
Like the other night, when we were driving back and forth on College Ave, looking for "that great restaurant that is a little house" for my birthday dinner. Thinking that we had the same place in mind, after 5 trips and a few phone calls to friends (why isn't Yelp on my phone), we were nearing the end of East Bay restaurant service, and damn hungry.
Turns out he was thinking of the Bay Wolf (I coulda told him where THAT was!), and I was thinking of a restaurant which no longer exists, apparently. Given that his car was overheating, we decided to hoof it, and Somerset beckoned as the first civilized looking place for a gal in heels.
I didn't expect much, especially since it looked like the entire staff had left and the busboys were running things. But they took our picky martini orders with equanimity, and I ordered a goat cheese souffle salad and mussels. They were both quite lovely, the cheese souffle, was a perfect translation of that French word for "breath", the lightest sigh of a cheese item, with nice greens and whatnot. The mussels were fresh and sweet, almost a surprise for a Thursday evening, as I had considered myself a bit brave for ordering them in a new-to-me place.
D had a duck dish that was very good, and a pumpkin bread pudding for dessert - I was much too full, but the bite I had was nicely spicy and not overly sweet.
I think it would be a bit nicer with a few more people in it, but for our purposes, the quiet was just the ticket.
and no one threw up.
I guess I've lost my touch.
People thought this was:
When you walk into Somerset your shoulders drop and feel like you're coming home for a home cooked meal. The decor is very traditional with wood panels, and beautiful hard wood floors. Unfortunately, this is the only good thing I have to say about my dining experience here.
The wine list is very mediocre, and could be paired better with their menu choices. I was not to impressed with my Sea bass selection, as the chef went a little to heavy with the salt.
The service really needs to improve here. The evening when we were there, they only had three wait staff for 18 covers, which is a little short staffed for that many tables. Never really got the waiters attention when we needed something. I was not to impressed with the overall experience.
People thought this was:
Some places just feel...well, old. Not the decor...the clientele. There is something so innately unadventurous about this place that I knew this would be the ideal place to take my dear eighty-year-old father to Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, I know I'm two months late with this review, but the restaurant just didn't resonate with me much except for the fact that my dad - not the pickiest of eaters - enjoyed his turkey with the trimmings.
Y'see, my mom died over twenty years ago, and we never got back into the groove of a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal. My mom did everything that the Kraft commercials said to prepare - slice the cranberry gelatin out of the Ocean Spray can with a serrated knife, put Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup and Planters almond slivers on top of the broccoli, and mix a lot of Half-n-Half into the Potato Buds. After she died, my dad would get a whole turkey with the fixings from a hofbrau in San Leandro. It just wasn't the same.
Somerset has that suburban 1960's feel to it, especially on a crowded Thanksgiving afternoon when lots of baby boomer adults brought their aged parents - even if it is nicely appointed in dark woods and burnished gold. For reasons I don't quite understand, they had two seatings that evening, but it wasn't as if they were serving just turkey. The menu offered a number of entrees beyond the bird. It wasn't cheap either. Both of us went for the $10.50 Beet Salad, the $24 Traditional Turkey Dinner, and the $8 Pumpkin Custard. Why they didn't simply offer a prix fixe is beyond me.
My dad was happy. That's all that really matters. Me? I think I'm gonna buy me a can of cranberries and insert a couple of slices between two slices of Wonder Bread.
FOOD - 3 stars....the kind of food a dad would love
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...nicer than you would think for a place with such a pedestrian menu
SERVICE - 2.5 stars...so very slow with a weak return rate
TOTAL - 3 stars...maybe they should put plastic over the chairs
People thought this was:
I've been going here since it was "Miss Millies" in Noe Valley. Well, I moved the East Bay and eventually they followed, changing the name to Somerset along the way. I'm happy to note that the menu basically stayed the same -- California Comfort is probably the closest it comes as a genre. The interior is awesome -- cozy dark wood with a great bar, and a very light airy patio, which is great for brunch.
I've probably eaten most everything on the menu, and I feel Somerset is best doing salads (all are great -- especially anything involving beets or tomatoes), savory tart type things, fried chicken, vegetarian stuff, and pork in any form.
I really enjoy brunch here -- the curried tofu is amazing (I sort of hate eggs), and the applewood smoked bacon is the best in the bay area. Breads and pastries are a high point of any meal here, as are the drinks, which are expertly prepared.
The service has always been slow , but I feel the food makes up for it. It's just not a place you rush through, deal with it! And after 10+ years of waiting for more water, I know what I'm in for! It's actually a step up from the Noe Valley days.
Is it overpriced? Hard to say. Yeah, you pay a lot, but I feel the food is worth it. I don't run here for a quick bite, but for a lingering three drink brunch, or a night out dinner, it's hard to beat.
Oh, how I wanted to love this place, as its' predecessor (Miss Millie's) was one of my favorite moderately-priced brunch and dinner destinations in SF. Perhaps my expectations were just too high, but it just didn't live up to it. The food was just flat, and the atmosphere much less intimate.
I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying this place on their own, but given the so many fine selections that the Bay Area has to offer, I don't think I'd recommend it, either.
I wanted to check out Citron instead, considering I'm in "recession mode" this place was a bit more reasonable in price and it still fared well with the Yelpers who have Yelped this spot. I came here as another usual Sunday Morning Brunch with la madre, only to find her pickiness in food to be just as hard to appease (she dislikes French food compared to Italian), weird but different strokes for different folks I guess.
We walked inside and unfortunately it took a good 10 minutes before we were seated. After being seated, we got our menus and took a good 15 minutes before they came back and took down our orders which were the following:
Drinks:
-1 order of Mango Tea
-1 order of Hot Mexican White Chocolate
Dishes:
Salad:
-1 order of the Somerset Nicoise Salad Grilled- consists of: Ahi tuna, grilled asparagus, toybox tomatoes, butter lettuce, feta cheese,
fingerling potatoes, cooked eggs, mixed olives, balsamic vinaigrette
Entrees':
-1 order of Prime Rib Hash: -consists of: diced up sirloin steak, and assortment of sauteed' mushrooms, peppers, onions, and a bunch of other stuff I cannot recall (no pdf files on brunch menu).
-1 order of French Toast Baguette- consists of: Bananas, Maple Syrup, Butter on the side, with toasted Baguette
The drinks, were of opposing ends of the spectrum. The mango tea was alright but nothing special. While the white hot chocolate, was probably the best thing I've tried in a while (perhaps a future order is necessary) in regards to hot beverages.
The Salad, the best salad offered thus far for its priced. The Ahi was seared just right, and the balsamic vinaigrette made the Feta Cheese more memorable ( I think I'll cook this at home more often).
The Entrees': Usually when I go out, I love eating steak but I chose to take the healthier route (minus the baguette). But the baguette was alright, although I need to learn how to make better French Toast (filled ones even). Whereas the prime rib hash was filling for my mom, and she took the rest home since her appetite is easily filled. It was a nice vibe overall, and the conversations dispersed from Pilates, Conspiracy Theories of 911, to what's the best wine in Napa today?
However what took my original rating of a four down a notch, was the service. We weren't always attended to, let alone we felt our patronage wasn't appreciated as much as it should have been compared to other tables being serviced. This Hybrid of Mexican meets French meets American Contemporary is well to do spot, but the service definitely needs polish? Entiende por favor (poor spanish speaking skills for the loss)?
People thought this was:
Had a great brunch here a few weeks ago with a couple of my girlfriends. I ordered the baked eggs, which were amazingly cheesy and delicious, and my friends ordered the chilaquiles and the lemon ricotta pancakes. I had a couple of bites of each dish, and liked those, too.
Service was fine, the space is absolutely lovely, and I'll bet that the patio is delightful during the warmer months.
My only gripe is this: the minute I walked in the door, I noticed that the restaurant had a fishy smell. Kind of off-putting, no? However, the smell dissipated the farther back we walked into the restaurant, so all was forgiven. Nevertheless, not the best way to welcome guests.
People thought this was:
This review only covers the bar...we have yet to try the restaurant.
After dinner on Friday night, we were all ready to head over to Barclay's for a beer...or three. But when we walked by the window on the way to the door, we saw it was so crowded that there was nowhere to stand, let alone sit and enjoy a brew. On our way, we passed Somerset and peeked into the bar area. It looked quiet, intimate and warm without being stifling. Being able to actually carry on a conversation with the person you're with at a reasonable volume? Sounds like a win to me. (God, I feel old actually typing that out!)
Anyway, the decor: rich, dark wood. Very inviting. The vibe: a bit snotty, but sometimes, that's OK. Based on these two things, I expected an extensive wine list. Unfortunately, it was anything but. Very pedestrian offerings, and overpriced at that. The bar did sport some impressive tequila choices (bonus for Chinaco and Corzo!), but otherwise, its just your run-of-the-mill bar. The only thing that was a little strange was that the SAME JAZZ SONG played on repeat for the entire time we were there, which was over an hour.
I did order their dark chocolate cake for dessert, which was *delicious*. Not sure if we'll be back to try the food based on our bar experience. This place is OK. Not great, but not terrible by any means.
"Sorry I'm late."
"Oh, it's okay. Do you want a glass of wine?"
"No, I don't drink, it doesn't mix with my meds and if I drink I will die."
Oooooohkay. Welcome to the beginning of my "date" here. Wow, I do know how to pick em, or rather http://Match.com does, but anyway, let's talk about the restaurant instead of the um, date. Yeah, good idea.
So the place is totally adorable and located on a cute and quaint little street in Rockridge. This was my first time to this area and I never even knew it existed until my date, who I think might have various strains of OCD and doesn't believe in mirrors and doesn't disclose his last name, invited me here. Did I mention he had a light up Frisbee in his bag too?
I had a glass of the Rioja to start and it wasn't the best Rioja I've ever had, but I won't hold it against the place as it did the trick to get me through my time here. I also tried a Cab that was better and paired that with their mac n cheese. I had to order this dish, because c'mon, it's mac n cheese and how can you not order mac n cheese. It was actually pretty good and I liked the browned top with the breadcrumbs. Nice touch.
We also shared the beet salad which was tasty and on the whole I really enjoyed this place. Had this been a good date, the ambiance and charm would have really added to the fun, but when you are on a date with a nice enough guy who happens to be a self proclaimed feminist with issues up the wazoo, I'm afraid no setting can make that love connection happen.
Internet dating, gotta love it.
People thought this was:
Fun place for Sunday brunch. Service is a little slow but the food is good. Loved the lemon ricotta pancakes and the open face crab sandwich was piled with fresh crab meat. The baked eggs was a little heavy and the eggs a little over cooked for a warm Sunday afternoon but i can see myself ordering it on a cold winter day.
I'm writing yet another update because I finally tried their brunch. My family and I ordered:
-huevos rancheros
-lemon-ricotta pancakes with blueberry compote
-Giant cobb salad
-artichoke torte
-I forget what my dad got, but he probably didn't notice what any of us got either. Wait, was my dad even there?*
Of note were the coposition of the huevos rancheros (eggs on the side, heaps of saucy meat), the perfect texture of the lemon-ricotta pancakes (of a divine spongeyness but a bit too sweet - order the blueberry compote on the side) and the flaky, incredible crust on my tart, tangy, satisfying torte. Somerset is so much tastier than other neighborhood options for a few bucks more.
*oops, issues poking through.
People thought this was:
This place is so much quirkier* than I originally thought. Our second visit, on a busier Friday… Read more »
I have to apologize because this review is LONG overdue! My girlfriends and I came here for brunch back in August (maybe?) and LOVED it!! My coffee loving friend LOVED the bowl of coffee - that is actually A BOWL!! We all loved our entreess as well - unfortunately, I can't remember what we had ... but the pictures we took of our food make me want to go back!!
A few words about Somerset: GOOD .... YUMMY .... CHEESEY (in the food sense).... CAFFINATED
People thought this was:
For those of us who remember Ms. Millies, it's safe to say you might be a tiny bit disappointed but I'd still encourage you to give Somerset a try. Yes, it's lacking the neighborhood charm that Ms. Millies had and it's lacking the heaping portions that Ms. Millies served up and perhaps the prices are a few bucks higher but the quality is still the same. There is no other place I'd rather go for a large huckleberry lemonade mimosa, pumpkin bread pudding and crab hash.
Gary, the owner is terrific!! Although, his wait staff has gotten a bit slow and they could be a wee happier looking. The end result is that I always leave satisfied and full. So get over your Ms. Millie comparisons and swing by Somerset.
DELICIOUS! That is the word I would use to describe this restaurant. From the ambiance to the food to the service with a smile. The only downside is how long it takes-kind of hard to have a lunch that lasts almost 2 hours when it is the kind of lunch you only want to last for 1 hour!
Had the grilled cheese sandwich-yep, sounds lame, but let me tell you, this thing knocked my socks off. Perfectly grilled bread with 2 cheeses (one being a goat cheese), sundried tomatoes and grilled onions. PERFECTION. I had the tomato salad with it-it was good with nice flavor, but not the best I have had.
I can't wait to come back here someday for another good lunch or dinner or brunch..Yep, I think I just can't wait to come back here!
People thought this was:
I went for dinner and was very disappointed. All of the food was really bland.... I am someone who doesn't like salt that much but even I was reaching for the salt shaker to add *something*. The clientele was mostly 60+, so maybe they like blander food? And the prices were way too high for that quality of food. However, the drinks (both cocktails and wine) were good. I would go back for the bar, but not dinner. And I may try brunch since that sounds like their strong point.
Lemon ricotta pancakes!
Also, the wait staff was friendly and helpful. which I guess should be a given but often is not.
My prime rib hash was ok, or slightly better. A little more watery then I wold have liked. The house made walnut bread was nice, warm, and able to soak up the extra sauce from my hash. The mango bread was tasty as well, though had I know it had nuts in it I wouldn't have ordered it (the gf is allergic) and gone with the prosciutto and figs instead.
Speaking of the gf, her lemon ricotta pancakes were fairly amazing. in fact I'll no longer be excepting any pancakes not made with ricotta.
Somerset Restaurant is one of those places you just keep returning to, as the service, the owner, Gary Rizzo, the chef, are all involved totally in your culinary experience!
I have never had a bad meal at Somerset. The atmosphere is romantic and yet feels like home. The food is to die for.... each meal is exquisitely cooked, served, and presented. Great wines, what else could a girl ask for?
Gary Rizzo is the best... he really cares and now we will be having Somerset as our CATERER FOR OUR WEDDING!!!! We are so happy... the menu is delicious and reasonably priced.
I wish I could give Somerset a 10 star.... but you can see that I, my fiancee, and my friends keep going back and back, and back... to Somerset.
We love you, Wendy Burch and Jon Steel
We dined here last night, and I didn't really have an expectations since I didn't even know what kind of food they have or anything like that. I just knew it was a little bit "fancy". I ordered the sea bass and he got the pork chops, and my sea bass was good. He said it was a bit on the bland side, but he's not a fan of the fishies!
The service was great. They refilled my water without asking, and the waitress was attentive.
I would definitely come here again. :)
what is WRONG with all of these yelp bitter betties? COME ON. this place is awesome! i have been here for dinner and brunch. one night at dinner, i had the most amazing salad with avocado, grapefruit, beets, and gorgonzola. i have imitated it on numerous occasions at home. that night i also had the mushroom puff pastry with gruyere....jaw droppingly delish.
this is the first and only place that i have had a "straight up" martini (albeit made with grapefruit absolut) but it did make me feel really sophisticated. sorry, i still cannot sip straight booze. unless it's patron. or covered in mayonnaise.
as for bruch, equally tummy stuffing and extra points because i got to eat out back in their adorable garden patio. i had a fatty slice of quiche that contained sun dried tomatoes, artichokes, and olives. the crust was thick and buttery and it came with a side salad and breakfast bread. i ordered the house-made multi-grain english muffin and took it to go. this tummy doesn't hold quite as much food as i would hope. it was delicious toasted the next day with butter.
over all, a solid restaurant offering california comfort food. i'm sorry if you just don't get it. my only reservation is that once i came here on a date with my boyfriend and the ambiance felt really weird- they were playing wagner or something equally third reich and we felt sort of out of place.
People thought this was:
3.5 stars. I shouldn't drink with Koreans anymore because doing so results in 4 hour meals where not enough food is eaten, although plenty is ordered, conversations I barely remember and then a cab ride back to Oakland where I had to listen to the driver talk about the bailout so we didn't fall asleep and end up abandoned or murdered somewhere.
The next morning, I decided to end my friend's visit on a good note. The Rockridge Festival was going on and I'd read good things about Somerset so we came here and were seated immediately. Unfortunately, we couldn't get a table on the patio because it was reserved for a wedding reception. It looked nice though.
We had the pumpkin custard, an omelette and the crab melt. The pumpkin custard was the best thing we had, particularly the bread in the middle of it, and so good with coffee. The sandwich and omelette were fine but not anything special.
The place is pretty in a classic, white tablecloth kind of way and the service was perfectly acceptable. My search for the perfect brunch place in Oakland continues...
People thought this was:
My mom, husband, and I all had Thanksgiving dinner here tonight. Everything was wonderful. We started with the crab cakes and beet salad. My mom had the lamb and I had the steak. Hubby is a vegetarian and they at first did not have any vegetarian meals on their special Thanksgiving menu but after I made my reservation I called and asked them about it. They were very sweet and accommodating. They were willing to make him anything he wanted. I requested their mac and cheese from their regular menu. He really enjoyed it. To finish our meal we shared pecan pie and homemade ice cream, We brought our own special bottle of wine that my husband and my mom shared - a bottle of my favorite De la Montanya wine, a Cab, my mom's favorite. That made the night a little more special even if I could only have a sip of the wine.
I have a lot to be thankful for!
People thought this was:
I was planning a reunion of sorts for folks from my master's program. I needed a restaurant that could accommodate 20 of us on a Sunday for Brunch, had decent parking and wasn't too far for those from either side of the bay. After checking-out yelp Somerset seemed to fit the bill.
Fast-forward to today...we were seated in the dining room (the patio looked lovely, but our party was too large to be seated outside). Service was relaxed but our water glasses always seemed full and food arrived quickly after ordering. I had the french toast which was pretty good, although a little heavy on the egg for my taste. I also had a mimosa that had excellent fresh-squeezed orange juice. Everyone in the party enjoyed their food and got exactly what they ordered *phew*!
I would definitely plan another get-together here, although it might be nice to sit on the patio next time if it were a smaller group. They were also baby friendly...they had high-chairs and there were quite a few other small children other than my daughter dining as well.
People thought this was:
Cocktails, brunch, mothers day, oh my! Our table wasn't quite ready but that was okay because we had bloody mary's at the bar. We moved on to bellini's out side on the back patio because the weather was so nice. I ordered the dungeons crab which was oober good. Tip: Bart is a short walk away.
My husband and I are always looking for new places to have lunch, and I really mean Always! We found the Yelp reviews, and decided to check it out. I didn't even know this place existed, and I frequent the block a lot, with several bars being nearby, and ice cream across the street.
I really like the decoration and atmosphere. The warm cherry wood makes you feel right at home. I ordered the most requested open face crab and avocado sandwich with the tomato salad. Yummy! Real big chunks of crab were delicious, and even with the warm melted cheese, the sandwich seems healthy, as it is all fresh, with none of the usual mayonnaise concoction that accompanies crab sandwiches. My husband had the pulled pork sandwich and broccoli and bacon salad. He couldn't believe he had never thought of that type of salad, his two favorite things, broccoli and bacon! The pork sandwich was soo good, gooey and just that right amount of bbq taste. Delicious!
It was a very nice lunch, and I enjoyed sitting and enjoying my warm apple cider while listening to the Xmas music and looking at the sparking twinkle lights.
We are definitely going back for dinner, and saving room for the delicious looking dessert!
Prix Fixe Menu $28 with wine
Neighborhood: Gourmet Ghetto
Sea Salt Open New Late Night…
Berkeley, CA
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Rockridge
Category: Local Flavor
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Claremont
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Get your day's nutrition at any of these Bay Area…
Is there anything better than ordering breakfast…
A girls gotta eat and shop! My top picks when I…
Places I go (and would never go again) in…
Restaurants, bars, and other spots in the greater…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
My Breakfast Spots in and around California come…
