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Tamarindo Antojeria
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
468 8th St(between Broadway & Washington St)
Oakland, CA 94607
Neighborhood: Old Oakland
(510) 444-1944
Announcement
Bottomless Mimosas @ Saturday Brunch 11-2pm
Announced 6 days ago- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 3 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri 5 pm - 11 pm
Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
499 reviews for Tamarindo Antojeria
Review Highlights
"tacos de camaron, empanadas, elote asado, cilaquiles."
(in 28 reviews)
"A great place for small plates to share."
(in 68 reviews)
"The Guacamole con Totopos perfecto."
(in 11 reviews)
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498 reviews in English
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Review from wendy B.
Oakland, CA
2/6/2012
Delicious food, awesome atmosphere, great service!
everything we tried was delicious: fundido, guacamole, chilesquiles, plantains (amazing), pork spice torta, steak tacos, shrimp tacos, fish tacos.. everything was sooooo good... this is a very cute part of Oakland too, must check it out.
my new favorite restaurant -
Review from Debbie R.
Oakland, CA
Tamarindo Antojeria is a nice addition to this Old Oakland neighborhood - they did a great job giving a new face to that strange little vegetarian place that used to be at this location. I especially like the Mole de Tamarindo.. the chicken was absolutely fall of the bone and the mole sauce was perfecto. Also, their handmade corn tortillas are great. Crispy Tacos de Camaron is another good one. They also have daily specials - I enjoyed their Chili Rellenos (not your typical battered and fried kind) - stuffed with ground chicken, currants, nuts & spices served with a cream sauce and pomegranate seeds. If you're a flan fan, you gotta try theirs! It's dense, creamy, and custardy. Yum!
Pros:
-Updated traditional Mexican fare - innovative and contemporary twists on my favs.
-Nice quality of ingredients - consistently fresh.
-Ambiance - cool decor, nice lighting & clean!
-Service - Knowledgeable attentive waitstaff (thanks, Carlos!)
Cons:
-Too many small plates - I'm not crazy about menus where the number of small, single item plates outweigh the number entrees. A few more entrees would be nice or maybe offer an entree version of the small plates.
-Small Drinks - They have a nice selection of cocktails with great flavor combos, but for the price they are really small.
I will be back! -
Review from Brandon M.
Oakland, CA
1/26/2012
This place was good but it didn't blow my sombrero off. The margaritas were fantastic but small. The plates were good but small... nothing to shake my maracas for. The guacamole was fine but nothing to shower pesos over. The best part of the place was the vibe and the margaritas. I suggest hitting happy hour and taco tuesday.
adios mi amigos de comida. -
Review from Patrick G.
Alameda, CA
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'd give it 6 or 7 stars if possible. I can't say enough about how good my Pablano Torta was there. I would seriously eat 5 more of them for the next 2 days.
Service was good (nothing stood out except the waitress's beautiful accent).
My lunch partners had fish tacos which looked great and they both complemented the taste of them as well.
I will be back, and very very soon! -
Review from J E.
Oakland, CA
12/13/2011
I would really like to give 2.5 stars. This place was fine, but didn't blow my socks off. There is a similar place on Solano that is not as classy in terms of ambiance, but I enjoyed more. The building and the decor here is pretty wonderful. The service was very good. The napkins were paper-let's step it up a notch. That lack of detail really stood out since everything else was put together so nicely. Prices were reasonable...although if I'm spending that much on dinner I usually like some leftovers.
Marharitas were good. Rimmed with chili, which I didn't appreciate, but my dining partner did. Diners should at least be asked what they prefer. We got 5 small plates and the chilaquiles were my fav. I'm a veg and there are some veg-friendly items on the menu, and some if you ask they can make veg. Although there were a few plates I was interested in subbing vegetables for meat and they said they wouldn't because they have to keep the dishes authentic. Okay, I get it, but I'm also willing to pay a little extra to eat what I want. If you are veg, you have to order all small plates because the platters are all meat. Humph.
I also found several of the dishes a little too spicy for my palate and I generally enjoy some spice to my food-so fair warning if you don't like spicy food (they make no mention of this on the menu).
Came in about 7pm on a Sat and was slightly concerned because there was practically nobody there. By around 8 the place had mostly filled, but you definitely don't need a reservation. -
Review from Mateo L.
San Francisco, CA
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Honestly, I can't say with any sense of certainty how good our meal was. I think it was great. My friend arrived about two margaritas late, and by the time we sat down and ordered, I'd rounded third and headed for home plate.
What I remember: amazing Don Julio reposado margaritas. I think they put cayenne in the salt, which was great for the first couple and then may or may not have mattered after that.
What we ate: really really good guac, and a bunch of tapas-type thingys. There was a corn biscuit thingy with veggies and meats. There was something with shrimp? Tacos perhaps? A bowl of melted cheese, which helped absorb the tequila quite effectively. A spicy pork thing that was delish. Oh and amazing margaritas ...
The staff seemed very friendly. In fact I'm pretty sure I told them that I loved them, at least once. They brought me another margarita anyway, which was nice.
Despite the utter lack of sufficient bike parking, I was able to locate my bicycle, unlock it successfully, and even ride it without incident to the BART station. Yes, I woke up in Dublin when I needed to be in the Mission, but so what? That's what $80 cab rides are for, right?
I guess I'd recommend Tamarindo, but maybe you can invite me so I can confirm its existence ... -
Review from Jennifer L.
Oakland, CA
1/6/2012
Went here with friends on a Friday night. The atmosphere was chill, the staff was super friendly and helpful, the drinks were yummy and the food delish. I am looking forward to checking out their weekend brunch soon as the waiter described it with a look of longing in his eyes.
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Review from andrew j.
Oakland, CA
12/1/2011
OK... We live in a world of mediocrity but Tamarindo is a nest of excellence.
From the decor to the staff to the delicious food they have taken what is a fairly hacked and ordinary cuisine of Mexico and elevated it to fine dining.
Give this place a try. -
Review from Chris M.
Oakland, CA
1/16/2012
My wife resisted going here since in its previous incarnation, this place was quite a bit more swanky and standoffish. I don't care too much as long as the tequila selection is good and I get one when I ask for one. Fortunately the former has faded and the tequila selection is well-edited rather than overwhelming. The restaurant is (thank you!) open on Saturday afternoons and the natural light, high ceilings, and partially distressed tables provide a nice atmosphere. There was too much cabbage in it but I liked the fish tacos I had and was happy with the two reposado tequilas I had (you arguably *should* pay more for good tequila than good scotch, since it takes about 10 years to grow an agave plant but a couple of months to grow barley)
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Review from Shira H.
San Francisco, CA
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Let me start by saying this place is good. Really good in fact. But this is not the place you go for large portions. It is more of a Spanish tapas style. Which is great if you want to nibble, not if you're hungry. The drinks here are outstanding though--margaritas that are so so good. I will def. be back for happy hour drinks and snacks.
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Review from Bay Bite S.
Oakland, CA
1/20/2012
Everything about this place is great. Their menu has interesting takes on standard dishes. Some favorites include the PLANTAIN EMPANADAS and the CHILAQUILES (although a bit too spicey, they're worth it).
The service is always phenomenol - super friendly and accommodating. They even set up a cell phone charging station for me once.
The atmosphere is the perfect mix of fun and classy. -
Review from Tam F.
10/25/2011
I was lucky enough to have a marvelous lunch here with two fellow Yelpers. One I had never met and one I have known and enjoyed the company of for a while.
There are tons of reviews for this place but I will say I was surprised at how lovely the decor was even if the chairs were a bit uncomfortable. We all decided to share food and what we had was wonderful. I also had a margarita and was impressed that the bartender tasted my drink (little bit on a straw) before sending it out for consumption.
We all shared:
Guacamole and house made chips. I think this was the least successful of what we had.
-Shrimp Ceviche (this was the first time I had ever had ceviche and will order this again).
-Corn quesadillas with squash blossoms. These were mild and in order to make the perfect bite I put some of the shrimp ceviche in it and it was a heavenly moment.
-Tacos-both carne asada and carnitas. The carne asada was cooked to perfection, the carnitas was just ok.
-Sopas with a combination of rajas and some other stuff I can't remember-delicious.
Service was attentive, the company was marvelous and I scored a parking place right out front.
I look forward to coming back here sometime sooner rather than later. -
Review from Andrew C.
High ceilings, contemporary furniture, a few ethnic decorations. The decor was nice, but didn't seem particularly Mexican to me.
It's a Mexican "tapas" joint so the menu is mostly Antojitos (small plates), but I opt'd for one of their "Platos Fuertes" the Cochinita Pibil (Pork marinated in an achiote adobe sauce, steamed with bana leaves accompanied with white rice, deep fried plantains and hand made corn tortillas, $20) a dish from the Yucatan.
I started with one of their Tequila Cocteles, the Luna which has grapefruit and lime juices with silver tequila. It was a small pour in a martini glass and tasted watered down so I switched to beer; they have Negra Modelo on tap!
The Cochinita came out on a long rectangular plate (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and smelled delicious. The pork was tender and juicy. It was mildly spiced and I would have liked a little more heat. The hand made tortillas (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) while good overall, did not seem very freshly made with some hard edges on two of the four I was given.
I loved the rice! It was described on the menu as "white rice", but it was a fabulous garlicky pyramid of carbs.
Service was surprisingly poor for a 1/3 full restaurant. My server would disappear for long stretches of time. It took awhile to take my drink order after I was seated, then again to come back for my food order, and ordering my 2nd drink was an exercise in patience.
Prices seem a bit high, but it is a nicer atmosphere than your average taqueria.
Food: 4 stars
Service: 2 starsListed in: Al Pastor, Uptown Down Oakland
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Review from John Z.
My boss is a good guy. So when his birthday rolled around, I wanted to treat him to a nice b-day lunch. His first pick featured outdoor seating. But given the rainy forecast I asked for his second choice. A smile hit my face as he spoke his alternative -- Tamarindo. As a foodie-in-training and a lover of the Oakland dining scene, it's been my personal albatross to have never dined there.
Arriving at noon, two smiling hosts greeted us, and sat us within a minute. The interior's vibe is open, chic and comforting. Solid wood tables and chairs, stylish lighting and modern fixtures in harmony with the high tin ceilings and exposed brick walls of this classic Old Oakland building. Eclectic framed art of Mexican inspiration or origin peppered the walls. Frida Kahlo's works would feel right at home.
Our server, like the hosts, emanated cordiality and service. Upon hearing the specials, and scouring the menu, I wanted to sample a dozen things. My boss though, while a good guy, is also a cheap date. My "wouldn't you like to share some guacamole? Would you like something to drink? How about dessert?" were all declined. We both opted for three-taco plates, mine of Niman beef and his of the daily special pork. Nicely arranged on a rectangular plate and accompanied by two tubs of different salsas, the tacos were both simple and simply delicious. I washed mine down with an exceptional iced tea. My boss did the same with his water. Again, cheap date.
With still some room in my stomach, I pondered the urge for dessert against what Miss Manners would say about indulging while your guest does not. The menu's third dessert listed offered compromise -- a hot chocolate, with hints of chile and clove. Rich, amazingly flavorable and nicely satisfying.
My only complaint is I didn't sample more dishes. But, having now dined at Tamarindo, at least that albatross is gone. Though a new one has taken its place. "When are you going back?" it squawks. Shut up bird. I'll be back soon. -
Review from Ryan H.
Oakland, CA
12/1/2011
I have never been super impressed with Tamarindo and a recent experience there left me with the same bland taste in my mouth as usual.
The selection of restaurant was made by a friend. It was a birthday choice. The last experience I had at Tamarindo for a bday ended in a confrontation with a bartender that sent our server apologizing and running to mark off the check.
This experience was better in service, but the same bland food seemed to pour out of the kitchen. The tortilla soup was very disappointing. The plantains were average or just above. The portions were small even for tapas tastes, and the bar drinks were average. I'd stick with tequila, a beer and maybe a taco at this joint. Anything else is a risky and pricey roll of the dice. -
Review from christine l.
Oakland, CA
11/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Again... why don't they have half star options for us reviewing? A solid 2 1/2 stars here.
The place is cute and cheery. I read that the service was bad, but that wasn't the case for me. Maybe it was because we went after the lunch rush on a Monday, but there were only a handful of us there.
So for the first time ever I didn't order any drinks *gasp* so I can not tell you how the margaritas were and this review is on the food served alone.
We got the Guacamole de Totopos - it was good, but I really wish the chips were fresh. The salsa that it came with had a good kick. Definitely more than the normal gringo can handle so be careful.
Taco de Camaron- a deep fried shell with possibly room for a shrimp and a half. But they pack it with lettuce, tomato, and some queso but I found it hard to eat and not with a ton of flavor.
Torta de Pescado- if I were to come back, this is what I would order. Lightly fried while still maintaining the flakiness of the fish. It comes on a super soft roll with some good sauces dripping off of it.
I would definitely come back and try the drinks. I know that they had fresh pineapple juice that day. -
Review from Portia R.
Oakland, CA
12/3/2011 1 photo
YUM.
Food Presentation, Taste, Selection: A+
Decor and Ambiance: A+
Perfection. -
Review from alex p.
Oakland, CA
10/22/2011
Food was okay, but service was so bad. We had a large group but I called them an hour ahead of time to let them know. They said ten of us would be no problem. I knew it was going to be pricey and I was okay with that but what I had a problem with was how small the portions actually were. They also had a really hard time getting all the food out on time or at all. I got my meal after everyone else had already eaten, I also got my drink much after everyone else and had to remind the waiter when four of our drinks didn't come out. If you are going to charge prices like this then please have the efficient service to back it up.
It was a birthday dinner and people didn't want to be rude and eat before the birthday boy, but since there was about fifteen minutes from the time they started bring out our food until they finished it was pretty hard to do. My brother's $17 mole was super cold by the time he got to it. And again, this wasn't counting my meal which came after everyone else's plates had been cleared away.
Maybe an okay place for a date night, but not a good place for larger groups. -
Review from Victor G.
Oakland, CA
9/27/2011
Tamarindo Antojeria made an appearance selling just 2 items.
locale: eat real festival 2011 (9/25)
sampling: pulled pork taco with sauce(4)
-fresh pork, crispy taco shell
-some veggies, salsa medium (self serve to taste)
-didn't seem special
frijoles refritos:
-taco just seem blah. contrast chioptle's 3 tacos @2, very flavorful.Listed in: Food stands/vendors @farmers…
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Review from Kellee K.
Castro Valley, CA
9/23/2011
I really want to love this place but it is becoming increasingly difficult.
I keep going back for the food (it's terrific!) but the service is pathetic and seems to be getting worse with each visit. I'm pretty easy to please...just follow these few simple steps and I'll be back:
1-come to my table within 2 minutes of me sitting down and take my beverage order - 10 minutes is unacceptable and it has happened more than once
2-bring me the beverage within a few minutes of that
3-don't charge me for extra corn tortillas when I order the melted cheese app. Three tortillas are not enough for an app being shared by 4 people
It would be a crying shame for the poor service to kill this place -
Review from Melissa B.
Oakland, CA
11/28/2011
Beautifully plated food, warm+modern latin surroundings in a further expanded space then they originally had, great staff, in old town Oakland, AND they have a killer mezcal cocktail with pear cactus juice. Cocktails alone are excellent, but better with delicious food.
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Review from Pam S.
9/16/2011 2 Check-ins Here
When I think of Tamarindo, my heart and mind goes back to my New Year's vacation when my (now ex) boyfriend and I went to Costa Rica. I really wasn't a fan of Playa Tamarindo (not as much as Playa Samara). The (now ex) BF and I tried to come here during his last visit, but they were closed for remodeling.
And remodeling they did. It is a BEAUTIFUL space.
Even better- the food and drinks. I had the Tamarindo margarita- and it was probably one of the best in my life.
On top of that was the food.
A unique Pico de Gallo, tostaditas, and a very spicy meat dish served in a baguette.
Although the food was fantastic- what stands out is the decor and service. It's definitely worth a stop. -
Review from Adriana V.
Berkeley, CA
9/9/2011
The environment's beautiful and spacious. They've got those super-trendy visible-filament lights, and pretty flowers in tall vases when you enter.
Maybe this would be a good place to entertain out-of-town guests who a) have no palates and b) want to start a restaurant in Old Oakland. If this establishment can make it there, _any_ restaurant that is willing to slather on the pretense and high prices can.
The food is overpriced and undergood. The service is seriously mediocre.
I ordered two appetizers; the fella ordered a main. We both left hungry. I would have ordered a third appetizer, but the size and flavor of both of mine were too small, and the price too big, so we ended up eating second dinner (chicken salad and greek yogurt) out of the fridge.
The first appetizer that I had was enchiladas with a squash (?) pipian. They were alright, but seriously small for the amount of money ($10?)
The second appetizer that I had was the plantain empanadas. They were absolutely horrible. I made it through one, and the fella (who was still starving from his main--I ordered the second appetizer a bit late) ate the second one. The fella didn't seem to mind it, but the fella doesn't have the world's most sensitive palate. I, unfortunately, do: the plantains were beyond ripe to the point of sweetness. They were ripe to the point of rotting, and the farmer's-type cheese in them was off. The oil that they'd been cooked in was at too low a temperature, so they were somewhat greaselogged. A low point of an already not-great meal.
One star overall, for a bad trifecta of too-high price, too-small portions of meh food, and too-underwhelming service. Plus one star for their mole being really tasty and their bathroom being very clean. -
Review from Justin K.
Hayward, CA
8/9/2011
The smallest amount of food I have ever been given at any restaurant. I understand the small portions idea, but this was a new level of small. Wow, the disappointment when my food arrived! I should have stayed home and eaten three crackers! or half an apple for dinner!
On the positive, it did look very nice inside, the taste of the food was good, but I would not go back. -
Review from B. C.
Oakland, CA
12/6/2011
Wah I wanted to love it here because it looked so cute, but alas only two stars. The atmosphere was a big plus, as was the food presentation.My primary gripe is with the food and drinks. The margs were $9 and essentially came in a glass the size of two shot glasses. I kid you not, I took three sips and it was gone. The chips and guac, also $9 I believe, was similarly lacking in size. My girlfriend and I each had three bites and...gone. The rest of the food was beautifully plated, but simply lacking in flavor and I ended up having to add a ton of salt. I will stick will be sticking with Dona Tomas for the time being.
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Review from Ben B.
Oakland, CA
11/3/2011
Waited an hour and fourty minutes, and gave up on getting a table. Incredible.
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Review from Jodie B.
San Francisco, CA
8/7/2011
Happened to be in Oakland for the evening, so upon recommendation from my girlfrend at work, I decided to check this place out! The food was excellent and the service was super friendly.
I had the plantain empanadas, the tostaditas and the sopa azteca...all were tasty, but my favorites were the tostaditas. Yum!
Also, the tamarind margarita was an interesting flavor for the evening :-)
I'd go back. :-) -
Review from Vanessa S.
Oakland, CA
11/10/2011 6 Check-ins Here
This is one of my new favorite places in Oakland. I've been here a few times now and I really like their mixed drinks especially their margaritas. The food is pretty good, too. I'm actually not too crazy about their tacos. I'm not sure what it is, but I've had better. And the other thing about this place is that I think it is a little pricey for what you get. I like the ambiance here and the prices won't stop me from coming. I'm already looking forward to coming back!
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Review from Erick G.
Mountain View, CA
8/4/2011
I get it. People give this place high reviews because they are rooting for Old Oakland. Why not?
Seriously, if you rate this restaurant over three stars, you're giving a lot of confidence to future average restaurateurs...
When the chips that come with your guacamole are stale, it's not going to be a good start...
The food is not bad; it just doesn't make me want to return. The Spinach Salad was awful; looked like it was composed by an amateur.
I venture off to a new restaurants really wanting to like them. I want to go back! But, I definitely won't be returning. The fact that the prices were high and the portions were small was irrelevant!
Unfortunately, the service didn't help their cause. -
Review from Augusto L.
Emeryville, CA
6/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Quick Overview:
- Prices: Moderate but a bit high for Mexican food
- Environment: Beautiful - classy and very modern
- Staff: Great and attentive
- Food: Tasty and beautifully served
My friends and I walked in and were very impressed with the environment. The restaurant is beautifully designed, very modern pieces with a mixture of cool authentic Mexican pots here and there. They were also playing an old Mexican movie on the projector. Mexican cinema was great back in the 50's!
Once seated, the service was amazing. Our glasses of water never went empty. The waitress was patient and recommended great drinks and plates to our party of 7. Big thumbs up for the service!!
Food, spectacular. We ordered a variety of appetizers or basically went tapas style. Aside from the mini enchiladas, those lacked taste, the rest of the plates were delicious. The fish tacos were probably my favorites. The ceviche was great! The shrimp tacos were scrumptious, the guacamole was savory and the handmade tortillas were to die for.
Drinks, begin with the Mescalito! Big, big thumbs up! The smokey flavor is great and the orange juice gives it a bit of a sweet taste that is not to overwhelming.
Prices, are a bit high for Mexican food but regardless, the quality you receive is well worth it! Come here for great food, a great ambiance and superb service!
This is a perfect spot for a group of friends. As for a date, it's good but it's not very intimate. -
Review from Winnie C.
Oakland, CA
8/23/2011
Beautiful environment, nice, calm, and relaxing.
I had a great time here, they also offer sidewalk seating.
However the Taco Tuesdays are a little strange. They have someone in the back putting meat on tortillas in what really looks like an alleyway. $2 per, If it was $1, it would be MUCH better.
Also, their margaritas are perfect. Tasted like a delicious sweet lemonade, but it got me buzzed! -
Review from Ieesha M.
Chicago, IL
6/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Traditional, authentic, delicious! Wow, I was quite impressed with Tamarindo. I loved the atmosphere and everything we ordered was quite superb. We had the platanos fritos and shrimp tacos to start. For drinks, I tried the Margarita del Dia which was a yummy Jalapeno Pineapple Margarita as well as the Luna, a grapefruit and tequila drink. Yum!
For the main course, we had the mole chicken and flank steak, both were very tasty -- although I must say you can probably get full off of appetizers and small plates.
Service was just right, we didn't feel rushed at all, it was a great casual dinner with tasty food, well-made drinks and an overall great ambiance. I'm definitely a new-found fan of this place! -
Review from Jennifer Y.
Oakland, CA
8/29/2011
Yummy food but too expensive.
It's a small plates kind of place but I don't think they made that very clear. The boyfriend and I ordered the ceviche, the steak tacos, and the quesadilla with flowered squash.
The salsa and guacamole were spicy, very very spicy and I didn't like that at all.
The ceviche was good and fresh but it came with a whole 3 narrow chips. It was hardly enough for the ceviche which to me, didn't really seem worth it for the price (I believe it was $9?) The tacos were good but they were just cubes of steak that were very tender and juicy but nothing else spectacular. The quesadilla was an interesting combination that I'd never had before.
All in all, I'd probably come again to give it another try since the food was pretty good and we'd just wandered in. The service was decent as well, I didn't expect much after reading the reviews about the poor service. -
Review from Sarah H.
Concord, CA
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent food. Very pricey. Friendly people. But very pricey. Did I mention pricey?
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Review from Shannon L.
Fremont, CA
5/6/2011
Move over Mr. Rogers, Old Oakland is my new favorite neighborhood. Just far enough from ghetto downtown (and I have complete rights to call it that since I used to work in that area), it's secluded and feels safer. If it only it were a tad more populated, this is the kind of neighborhood I would want to live in.
To celebrate cuatro de Mayo, I decided to mosey on over to Tamarindo. Unfortunately, Yelpers' pics don't show just how open and modern the space is and how it just puts you into a relaxing mood. You can sit at the L-shaped bar, the couches, or a table. There are two rooms only partially separated by a wall. I literally feel like I could sit here with a friend and just talk forever.
For the occasion, I got the Paloma Margarita which has grapefruit soda (aka Squirt) in it. It's still pretty darn good and before I knew it, I emptied that clay cup. By the way, the clay cup keeps it cool.
We ordered a bunch of items from the happy hour menu which were really little. Food portions for smaller folk for sure.
-Plantain empanadas: The filling consists of mushy bananas and black beans.
-Guacamole: Small portion and they give you about 6 chips.
-Plantains: This was actually ordered on accident so they just gave it to us for free. Unfortunately with this and our plantain empanadas, it was just too much sweet.
-Shrimp tacos: Very dense. They melt a thick layer of cheese on the inside bottom of the taco and fill it with guacamole.
-Elote: This must be a naturally grown corn because it was really small. They cut it in half so you can share it. I couldn't really taste the peanut sauce but whatever was on it was spicy!
Overall, there were select items on the menu that I would come back for but I just love this area! Hip and happening. -
Review from Irene F.
Oakland, CA
1/7/2012
The Luna and Mezcalito drinks were very good, both had hints of smokey Mezcal and good flavors overall. The appetizers were ok. What really ties this spot together for me are the decor and design: the orchids, ceiling, ferns and the faucets. Great attention to detail. And, they project movies onto the wall for diners.
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Review from Meta K.
Oakland, CA
7/29/2011
Holy smokes, the drinks here are amazing! I'm honestly not much of a tequila fan, but I nearly fought my husband over the last sips of margarita. The tamarind margarita was spicy, unique and savory. None of that surgery sludge you get with pre-made mix. And the jalapeno pineapple margarita? Brilliance! However, not so brilliantly ordered along side spicy salsas and snacks. We learned that the hard way...
The food was more of the snack variety (largeish small plates) but everything we had was tasty. The chiliqueiles were more like glorified nachos, but considering how happy we were with the libations, we could look past that.
Good for a night of dressed up Mexican food, but really, you just want to get your drink on here. -
Review from E G.
Pinole, CA
7/18/2011
Great decor and decent food but I was not blown away with the menu. Wish they had more creative drinks.
A friend ordered a drink that tasted like petrolium (barf) when we asked to exchange it the waitress was not accomodating. Apparently good customer service is not their priority. Other places would have been quick to recover. -
Review from Maria C.
San Jose, CA
11/11/2011
I love this place! This is the 2nd time we've been here. It is a great spot to hit before a show at The Fox.
Good food and great service.
We got the guacamole, the empanadas and the rib eye tacos. All were fantastic. I wish the guacamole was about three times as big it is so good. Their sangria is delicious. I really wanted to give them five stars but the mexican hot chocolate did me in. It was far too spicy. I couldn't even drink half of it. There was definitely a lot of chile powder in it. And we are no spice wimps, but neither of us could handle it. -
Review from G R.
San Francisco, CA
For Oakland I expected better Mexican food. Sure it's artisanal and all but it could be better given the prices they charge for the small portions.
The expanded bar section looks cool but it's a limited bar and the selection is fine, nothing amazing. I did like they had Victoria Beer, first I've seen it since they started importing the beer to the states.
The food, like I said portions are small and that's fine as long as well executed and the kitchen needs work. The queso fundido was burnt when they brought it to the table, half of the cheese was stuck to the dish and hardened quickly. The fish taco was fine, nothing spectacular.
I'll let the restaurant evolve more before I go back, may hit the bar but skip on the table service.
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