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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhoods: North Oakland, RockridgeMon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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I don't know how any place ever gets 5 stars. There is always something. Price, location, parking, food, service, who knows. But I go for the food so if the food is good I pretty much write off the rest. So this place has put my faith back in the restaurant industry. There are some many restaurants out there. The more I go to the more I feel like most of them suck.
This place DOESN'T SUCK!
All of the plates had a essence of care about them and there wasn't something on the plate that shouldn't have been there and there wasn't anything missing.
There were four of us and we started off with three Appetizers:
Bone Marrow with Cippolini Onions and Demi-Glace - It was good and great. The amount of bone marrow was lacking but the dish was great with the demi-glace and onions. Its almost impossible to go wrong with carmelized onions, beef fat, and demi-glace. Order it.
Pork Belly with lentils and a Poached Egg - Pork Belly could have been a little bigger and was overcrisped. I couldn't even cut through it with a serrated knife. They almost took all the fat out of the belly. Not amazing but its Pork Belly so I can't complain to much
Seafood Ceviche with ahi and shrimp - I liked the presentation although not original and was served with potato chips. I think it lacked acid and salt but otherwise it was good
For Dinner:
ME- I had the Pappardelle with braised lamb ragu. Makes my mouth water right now. I have to admit, good, really good. I could have eaten it till I was sick. Hint of garlic in every bite, not overpowering but lingering. Lamb ragu had a deep meaty flavor.
2-Pork Chop - perfectly cooked. Sauce had almost a smoky bacon taste.
3-Bouillabaisse - Orange Citrus flavor. Seafood looked to be cooked properly
4-Cassoulet with duck confit - There were no complaints so It was probably worth ordering. And there was none let so.........
Wines were decently priced and they had quite a nice variety. I had a spanish wine that escapes my memory for the moment but went well with my dish.
Service was what it always should be. Not overpowering, knowledgeable, respectful, competent, quick and helpful. I will be going back in the near future and years to come. Bravo WoodTavern for a job well done
Okay, let me begin by saying that I don;t usually have the opportunity to frequent restaurants like this. I don't have a huge income, and my boyfriend is a cal student, but we are both foodies, so on his birthday, he chose this as his birthday present, and we were both excited to try it.
Now, we got there before it opened for dinner and were told that there was not going to be any seats available since everyone had reserved seating. we were very sad...THEN, either the host or manager (not sure) revealed that they could in fact seat us, but we would "only" have an hour and a half to eat (before the reservation people arrived)---of course, we jumped at the chance. And man oh man, was that fortuitous.
We both ordered halibut on a bed of corn and (I think) bacon or pork belly...sounds like an odd combination, but i dont even think it is on the menu anymore, but months later, i still rememer it THAT fondly, so that's saving something. it was possibly the best thing I have ever eaten, and i dont even like pork THAT much. ahhhhh. Dessert was hazelnut ice cream/warm chocolate cake (if i am droolingly remembering this correctly).... let's just say that he took me to Bay Wolf for my bday and I took him here a month later, and we were much more impressed with Wood Tavern. ahhh. sooo good. will go back...with reservations next time! but considering we had none, we were treated really well, and managed to get in and get out in time for the people with reservations to arrive. just good luck! : D
Our first visit to Wood Tavern was a few months after they had opened. This is MY area, Rockridge, so I was hoping we would finally have a decent restaurant that was within walking distance. My first experience turned me off where I felt the value wasn't there, and every time we circled back to try this place I still shied away. Years later we finally give it another go- thank goodness for second chances!
Their once dry and overly done meat has now turned into juicy, flavorful cuts. Service has been sharpened and honed, the hostess got in her groove, and the cocktails and bartenders who make them are sleek and professional.
It's tough to get a table if you walk in during dinner hours; the bar seating has slightly better odds. We waited about 30 minutes with a glass of wine until a spot at the bar opened up. Not wanting a full meal's portion of food, I opted to share the octopus salad and the butcher's block, hoping JR would help me eat his share.
The octopus salad was fantastic- it's been a while since we had it so I can't recall what was on it, but the cephalopod was cooked and prepared perfectly- not rubbery but tender and full of flavor.
The Butcher Block, an assortment of charcuterie that was enough for four but I ended up eating nearly the whole thing, came with sweet toast points(I think it was brioche). Running out of things to put my piggy and ducky goodness on, I asked our bartender if I could get some more of the toasty goodness and they brought out another plate full a little while later, gratis!
JR's duck was succulent, juicy, savory, sweet, all the flavors you'd want in a well-prepared duck. I was already stuffed from the steady stream of piggy cholesterol I was transporting into my mouth, but I somehow managed to eat three slices of his duck breast. Clearly they have their meat-cooking skills down to a science. Gone are the days of dried out double cut pork chops and a weak Cuban sandwich, hello brined and finely cooked meats!
It's tough competition when you have La Farine a few doors down tempting you to make something delicious at home with such wonderful baguettes, and Star Meats up the street and their awesome butchers, but if you ever feel like a hearty meal with meat that's been expertly cooked, head to Wood Tavern.
I didn't even get to eat here - the hostess last evening was absolutely horrible, we couldn't even get a cordial hello and an answer as how long a wait, could we sit at the bar and eat, etc. She was too damn busy pouring sample wine for a couple standing around and then totally ignored everyone while chatting with them. Very poor representation!!Who wants to spend money at this establishment when you're treated as if you were in Denny's. I had invited a friend to come in from SF to try this place out. What an embarassment, we walked out and never again will I recommend or approach this place. There's way better service and cordial/friendly people elsewhere.
Nope, Wood Tavern is not just a place for old people!
Having strolled past this place on many a late afternoon and seen it absolutely stuffed to the gills with people north of 55 at around 4:30 or 5pm, I assumed that it must be one of those great "early bird special" joints well publicized on AARP web-sites, er... message boards. Do old people use the internet?
However I recently had the opportunity to cozy up to the bar here and enjoy a casual dinner and some absolutely slammin' cocktails. Served with panache uncommon in the 21st century, the bartender's skills are deep. When I asked for a favorite whiskey absinthe concoction -- the sazarac -- thinking that I would almost certainly stump the guy, he not only made me one of the best that I've ever had, but he made it with flair that involved fire, and a twist of his handle bar mustache.
The food: uncompromising American simplicity. Great chicken, great, great shelfish stew.
Capping off the night was a run in with one of my all-time favorite waiters -- an ex-colleague from my own days on the track. Skilled, funny in a Chaplin sort of way, and always running around like he's about to miss his train, his name is Henry. There I am, eating my hash and I hear the famous cry "Give me a lane here boys! Working waiter, not a masterbator!"
Don't use his name though, he hates that. Just look for the guy who looks like he could be a goon who got bumped off in an episode of Nash Bridges and then tip well.
Two of us showed up on a Wednesday for lunch without reservations. We saw two empty tables, but were told they had been reserved so we sat at the bar. While perusing the menu, we were offered a table, so the staff was keeping an eye out for us.
We opted to share the Pigs and Figs salad, the Pastrami and the Chili Pork sandwiches. The server brought the salad already split into two mini plates--a nice touch of service. All components of this salad worked--savory, crispy pork slices, sweet figs, tangy blue cheese and spicy watercress.
It was my quest to find the best pastrami sandwich in the East Bay that led me here. This one turned out to be the best so far. The stack was so high that the juicy pastrami oozed out as I bit into the baguette. I had a finger-linking good time doing the housekeeping around the plate!
The pork sandwich was also nicely done. I can describe it as a fusion of Hawaiian Kalua pig, North Carolina pulled pork with southwestern chili and avocado.
We couldn't resist finishing the meal with their latte served in a monster cup.
Waitstaff was attentive. During lunch, we asked for extra pepper to go with the sandwiches and she brought two ramekins of chili paste and chili flakes, something she said was reserved only for the staff's meals. Noise level is high and the bar was well-stocked and busy.
If you come for lunch, stop by next door and pickup your dinner meat at Ver Brugge, veggies at Yasai and dessert at La Farine, all on the same block!
I've always wanted to try this place every time I had to go to Safeway for groceries, so when a friend treated me out here for my birthday I was ecstatic...but cautious. From the outside, it's got a nice simple elegant look with wide windows looking into the restaurant that begs citizens passing by to come in and say hello.
Upon entering you're immediately basked in a sea of dark rich bold colors. The chairs are all composed of beautiful dark red brown east indian rosewood and paired with lighter colored mahogany tables for an understated picture of wealth in simplicity. The walls themselves are light green and match perfectly well with the overall earthly colors of the restaurant. There is also an open view of the kitchen that gives a fitting background noise of sizzling oils that enhances the ambiance of the restaurant while waiting for the food.
It's rare that the love of one's craft can be felt from up top in the hats of the chefs to the lowly strings of the bus boy's shoes, but this place yearns to be different. The plethora of smiles and care from the hostess, to the bartenders, to the servers, and the chefs is infectious and inspiring to see as each person shows a love of their craft despite the differences in power, pay and duties. One feels well cared for in this tavern. However, no bigger care can be felt compared to the love of the chef, which can be tasted when sampling the food.
For an appetizer we had their "Pig N' Fig." This delightful dish of contrasting sweet and savory flavors was composed of a crispy pork belly that was paired with autumn figs and pt. reyes blue cheese while garnished with watercress,red onions and toasted hazelnuts. The pork was crispy and well caramelized on the outside while tender and soft on the inside. The Autumn figs provided a sweetness to help contrast the pork, allowing the eater to relive his experience of the first bite of the pork all over with each new bite.
For an entree I had the "Roasted Maple Leaf Duck Breast." This was a medium-rare duck that was roasted with spiced honey and served with wild rice mixed with roasted mushrooms and toasted hazenuts. Broccolini was served on the side. The duck was very tender and the juices of it's own fat could be tasted in very subtle flavors with each bite. Additionally, the outside skin was also well caramelized and added to the savory taste of the meat. The wild mushroom rice mix was an even bigger star tho. The infusion of mushroom flavor was intense and bold. Combined with the chewy texture of the wild rice, the flavors and sensations that could be felt were immense and sure to please any mushroom fan. The scattered toasted hazelnuts throughout the rice mushroom mix were also a nice surprise that acted like landmines that would randomly breakup the mushroom flavor with nutty complexion and allow the eater to truly appreciate this magnificent creation.
A second entree that we had was their bouillabaisse. This was a french seafood stew with halibut, clams, mussels and a mixture of carrots and celery. The stew itself was a rich autumn orange that had subtle hints of carrots and cream that could be appreciated amongst a huge flavor of delicious seafood. The halibut was perfectly cooked where each segment of meat would break with a little mechanical pressure. Of course, the texture between each segment was smooth to the tongue. The mussels and clams provided a nice change of texture with their chewier origins. Paired with the bread they provided, this delicious stew was a perfect warm hearty meal for the cold autumn weather.
Located on college avenue across the safeway and next to an assortment of artisan stores, this wood tavern deserves a small amount of your time...
...and you deserve it.
Definitely a fan- took the hubs there for his birthday dinner and it did not disappoint. The food was delish; I had the halibut with butternut squash risotto and the hubs had the flank steak. We also got the cheese plate, which was presented well. Service was great- they knew their dishes and they were on top of everything. I especially liked the decor- very intimate setting and the kitchen even looked cool.
lunch
crowd: late 30's and older
i had a shrimp ceviche type of sandwich that set the bf back about $11.
he had the burger and was happy. set him back $13 with all the extras (avocado, cheese, and bacon). lunch for the both of us came out to about $32 with tip. a bit spendy for lunch but definitely worth trying. service was normal, ordinary. our server didnt really come back to check on us but it was fine. someone filled our water every few minutes so that kept the bf happy. he usually drinks my water because they dont fill his up quick enough. this is when i can tell service is lacking. hostess was friendly and smiled.
we're gonna do test runs on fancy and if we like the places, we'll come back for dinner to fork out more money.
So tried about 10 times to get a reservation at Wood Tavern before we moved away from Oakland. I even tried getting a reservation 6 weeks in advance to no avail! Lucky for me, our good friend Cara Y. was able to secure us a table last weekend when we were visiting the Bay Area.
It was worth the wait....
The place has a very comfortable and homey feel to it. The setting and layout is similar to How to Cook a Wolf in Seattle. Not too many tables, a nice bar and an intimate feel.
I started out with a Blue and Red - a gin based cocktail that contains prosecco and muddled raspberries. I expected it to be on the sweet side, but it was refreshingly tart and crisp.
I started with a "salad" of figs, crispy pork belly and blue cheese. It was really good, but the blue cheese was really the dominant flavor in the dish. I found myself trying to knock some of it off so that I could get more of the pork belly and fig taste.
My entree was outstanding. I ordered the duck breast, which was cooked perfectly and laid upon yukon/cannelini bean puree. There was a cabbage salad with hazelnuts on the side. Actually that may have been my favorite part of the dish because it was such a suprise. It was almost a dry cole slaw with crunchy, sweet hazelnuts and just a touch of cherry sauce.
Mitchell started with the gnocchi - I got a couple of bites and was delighted. The gnocchi was light and with a perfect garlic infused flavor. For dinner he had the halibut which was also really good. Frankly there wasn't a dish at the table that I wouldn't have liked.
We did the cheese for dessert... yum!
The wine list is diverse with a good selection of wines by the glass as well as by the bottle.
Hopefully I'll be able to go back the next time I'm in town.
This is by far my favorite restaurant! The food is so good and I love the pate! The menu is always changing and very fresh!
Service is great, my only complaint was that during my 5 course meal a gentleman (host? manager?) strongly encouraged us to drink alcohol with our meal as if we weren't spending enough. Since I'm allergic I felt that the pressure was quite unwelcome. However it would never stop me from coming back, but it may if it kept happening though. None the less it's my favorite place,
Delicious food, incredible service, lovely atmosphere!!!
My girlfriend and I had been by Wood Tavern many times, and Rockridge is MY neighborhood as well, having gone to preschool up to junior high within a mile radius of college ave. So needless to say we were excited to get a chance to try this place out.
We went yesterday evening, which was a Weds. so there wasn't a large crowd in there, less than half full. We were passed several times by the wait staff without even a hello. Then a bigger burley man that appeared to be the manager came up to us and said "can I help you?" His body language whas like he was approaching some homeless guy off the street . Excuse me? Can you help me? Do you think I need to jump start my car? I responded by saying "uh yeah how about a table?" Then the fellow had this "oh dammit I fcuked up" look as he showed us to a table. We sat there for a moment, just letting what happened sink in and my girlfriend wanted to leave and we did, eventually ending up at Marzano's further up College which was excellent.
Now, I know this is the only negative review and it won't sway people at all, and even my parents vouch for this place, but I have to give it 1 star due to customer service. Maybe the guy just had a brain fart, but in any case, we had a great dinner at Marzano's.
Dinner tonight at the Wood Tavern was perfectly satisfying: local halibut with creamy polenta, paired with a nice riesling. My partner in crime had the steak, which I sampled, and found to be totally delicious. We finished the evening with Cole coffee and an amazing explosion of chocolaty goodness, topped with hazelnut ice cream. it's called "warm chocolate cake" but it is more of a flourless chocolate volcano eruption.
Shelley our server, was warm and helpful - able to answer all my questions and makes suggestions.
I wished for softer seats and a slightly quieter ambiance, but with such sumptuously satisfying food and great service, who can complain.
thumbs up.
My friend was in town and they couldn't decide what they wanted to eat and luckily, her friend's parents who she was staying with suggested this place and we were lucky to get a reservation literally an hour before because someone else canceled. We were really lucky that we got the reservation and the table was all ready for us when we arrived.
So, the reason I'm only giving 4 stars is because when we sat down, the waitress asked us what type of wine we wanted and we kindly declined and she gave us a 'mean' look and then again when we said we weren't going to order an appetizer or anything. I think paying what they charge for food, I shouldn't be getting that kind of service so taking away one star for that. When you pay more for food, it's almost expected that you get exceptional if not great service.
Anyway, we proceeded to order our food and it actually took a while so while we waited, we had their bread which was also pretty good. I'm usually not a fan of bread baskets but the one with the walnuts in it is really interesting. So we got our food, and let me just say that it was pretty darn amazing. I ordered the duck breast and it was great. The honey sauce was really good on the duck and the wild rice. One of my friends ordered the pork chop and it was HUGE! She is really tiny so proportionally it was a lot of food. So, the pork chop. I'm not usually a fan of pork but this pork was really tender and juicy with a charred crust on the outside.
The food is really great. But like I said, I didn't order wine, but they have a good selection on their menu. The ambiance is great...isn't super noisy so you can actually carry out a conversation. It has a really cozy home feeling to it that I also loved.
Make sure you plan ahead and get a reservation!
We celebrated my INCREDIBLE job offer last night with a night out at Wood Tavern.
Kudos to the bf for taking me to WT because I had been looking forward to dining here, and he went into awesome bf mode to get us in. At 5:30pm, we arrived with much of the restaurant empty. We wanted to make sure to have seats before the middle-aged Tuesday dinner crowd mobbed the restaurant. Unfortunately, we were placed next to two completely obnoxious women who got louder as the evening progressed. Even worse, they were barely decent to the staff.
Service was impeccable, and my drink was excellent. The bf ordered a signature cocktail called the Blue and Red or something to that effect, but it didn't excite my taste buds. It tasted like an lozenge the Chinese herbalist prescribed when I had a sore throat years ago when I was living in Asia.
We shared a "Bean-age a trois" which was light and hearty at the same time with an excellent almond/cheese-savory-dressing to the bean salad.
I was told the entrees are small so I ordered a rib-eye steak with frites. The bf got a halibut filet over creamed corn and relish. When they arrived at the table, I burst out laughing.
The rib-eye was big enough to feed 3 with a mountain of beautifully seasoned frites on the side. Tasty, perfectly cooked to medium rare, and well seasoned. The halibut was the star of the two entrees, though. Milky white, flaky and firm flesh with the sweetness of corn and tartness of the relish provided the most balanced and wonderful plate of fish I've had in a while.
We cleaned our plates, and walked out of there completely satiated. I think I've met my red meat quota for the month of August, but I'll be back to try everything else.
This place was astonishing. My fiancé Alvin F. (whose review is below, and so I won't reiterate all that he said, but rather reference you to his review) and I wandered in here last night in search of some last-minute excellent food.
We were not disappointed in the slightest. The restaurant itself is a little awkward in its layout, I can see why it's marked "not good for groups," but for an intimate and unbelievable dinner for two to four people, it is superb. The waitstaff are all fabulous, very personable without crossing into the dreaded "How's everything tasting?" territory, the menu is clearly a day-to-day thing with a few selections all of which sound amazing and which provide a really nice variety, likely to satisfy anyone who wanders in, and our meal progressed in a way that felt wonderfully pampered and yet not so formal as to make us uncomfortable.
For example, when I ordered iced tea, I was brought a separate glass with extra ice and a teensy little ceramic pitcher of simple syrup to sweeten it to my liking. The silverware is not perfectly matched, but it is elegant and has a great heft, and is clearly actually silver. When they cleared the bread basket before our main courses, the waitress took a brief moment to brush the crumbs from the table with a cloth napkin, but didn't make a big deal out of it.
It was the little things like that which really added to the fabulousness of the experience and made the price of the meal feel absolutely worth it even before the food arrived. Of course, then the food got to us, and I would have paid even more for that incredible chicken. Also, the lime aioli that the waitress suggested for the fries and then brought out was dreamy. Absolutely amazing. I would never have thought of such a thing, but goodness. It won my little foodie heart.
I seriously recommend this place. Do please note Alvin's warnings about reservations -- we highly recommend you make one unless you are going in at an off hour. When we strolled in at about 4:45pm, we saw only one person at a table, but were told that all the tables were booked. We were lucky enough to be able to get the one table that wasn't reserved until 6pm (and they were awesome about only mentioning it at the outset and then never making any more noise about it, we made sure we were walking out the door at about 5:50) but it is clearly a popular location.
And rightly so.
I eat out. A lot. And I know good food when I see it. Or taste it. Or smell it. And I have to say...I think Wood Tavern was the best meal I've had for as long as I can remember.
I arrived on Friday a little earlier than my friend, so I put my name in for two at the bar while the hostess brought me a great glass of zin. We waited about 45 minutes (not bad for a packed restaurant at 7:30pm on a Friday with no rezzies) and sat at the counter overlooking part of the kitchen - cozy and somewhat upscale place with a casual, neighborhood atmosphere.
We split the pork belly appetizer and the prosciutto/blue cheese/hazelnut/fig salad and both were outstanding. The pork belly was rich but not over the top, and the sweet figs with the pungent cheese and salty meat was outstanding. For dinner, my friend had the duck breast and I had the pork chop - both delicious. The chop was served with corn, favas, etc. in a light marsala cream sauce - perfect balance of fresh summer veggies and a slightly rich sauce...mouthwatering. Really.
Not the cheapest restaurant in the East Bay but 2 glasses of wine, an app and an entree (no dessert) was about $65/pp. But seriously, the food, the ambiance and the service was SO outstanding I would make the drive any night from SF, wait an hour for a seat and throw down $$ for that meal again.
Outstanding.
The warm chocolate cake is not like ones you have had ad nauseum. Just trust me and eat it.
I don't write flowery reviews. I just tell you "good" or "bad" and you know I am right.
Wood Tavern is awesome. Its faults are not its faults . . . the wait for a table is a little too long? Well, the room is a certain size and no bigger. Is it worth the wait? Yes, it's that good.
Shannon (front-of-the-house) is excellent, energetic, and always friendly. Tony, the bartender, is great! And the kitchen crew turns out one spectacular dish after another . . .
Last night, Lynn and I stopped in around 7:00 pm. No reservations. But Shannon made sure we had our cocktails -- delicious! -- and we patiently waited until a table or the bar opened up. Finished our drinks, two at the bar came available, and all is right with the world . . .
Lynn started with Crispy Pork Belly "Lyonnaise" (with diced potatoes, frisée, and a poached egg, with a Banyuls vinaigrette, and chives), while I had a Summer Fig Salad, with blue cheese, hazelnuts, greens and a Balsamic reduction. Both were excellent.
For our entrees, Lynn had the fresh, housemade Rigatoni with a veal-pork Bolognese, Picholine olives, and Parmesan cheese -- always superb -- while I opted for the Pan Roasted Half Chicken served with fingerling potatoes, grilled radicchio, garlic confit, bread crumbs, and a lemon-rosemary jus. Some of the best chicken I've ever had this side of France!
At a bottle of 2006 Storrs Pinot Noir from the Santa Cruz Mountains, and it was as close to a perfect evening as you can get!
Outstanding service, great food and a hot spot. What more can you ask for? The pork belly and charcuterie are always fantastic. Best hot pastrami sandwich for lunch - NYC delis included. delectable yet not greasy fries. Always a seafood salad that is a sensation for the pallet.
Things that rated 5 STARS: Exceptional. Best ever had.
Service-efficient and courteous
The Bourbon Manhattan
The Crispy pork appetizer- Both my husband and I LOVED this dish.
The Duck- the duck is especially meaty, and the slaw accompanying it is perfect.
At it's best, the restaurant creates dishes that are exceptional, much better than the sum of it's parts.
Things that rated 4 STARS: Solid but not exceptional
The Tequila drink
Seafood stew- it's good, but does not particularly stand out.
Atmosphere is great, comfortable, and lively.
Warning- busy until 10, even on weeknights, so reserve if you can. Try to reserve a couple days in advance.
My girlfriend and I went here last night and we both agree we may have a new favorite East Bay restaurant as this place gives Flora a run for the money.
We had 7pm reservations, arrived about 10 minutes early, and were seated immediately after being greeted by the friendly hostess.
Our waiter was extremely helpful and accommodating to my girlfriends dietary restrictions as well as recommending items and describing in detail anything we had questions on.
We ordered a Michters Rye-lentless and Sundowner for drinks and both were excellent. Our appetizers consisted of the Crispy Pork Belly "Lyonnaise" and the Heirloom Tomato Salad without the cheese, and again, both were perfect. I sampled two of the cheeses and was happy with both. For the main course I ordered the Grilled Double Cut Pork Chop and my lady ordered the Burger without cheese. Both of the entrees were cooked perfectly and we couldn't have been happier with them or the Manhatten I received from the bar. I tried the Lemon Posset for dessert and while it probably pushed me over the edge of how much food I should have had that night, there's no regrets.
3 drinks, 2 appetizers, 2 main courses, and a dessert for $115 (not including tip) seemed more than reasonable for such great food. Obviously not the kind of place you can afford to eat at all the time, but I can't wait to save up for a little bit to go back and try some of the other mouth watering options I saw all over the menu.
I really want to point out that the service from everyone from the hostess to the people collecting empty plates was top notch. Everyone was extremely friendly and attentive and I really appreciated it.
This is one of the best Berkeley restaurants to bring a date to. Fabulously lively atmosphere drenched in warm affectionate colors. But more importantly, the friendliest service EVER -- I was a walk-in, but the hostess treated me as if I were a long time patron. Had a glass of wine at the counter, light conversation + people watching, and the time flew by...
++ | Roasted Maple Leaf Duck Breast |
This is the juiciest, most flavorful duck breast. I used to say that East Asian countries cooked duck the best, but I've changed my mind after trying this dish...
-- Beef Bone Marrow
Overrated. It's probably novel to most, but for those who've had Korean Oxtail Soup.. the tiny tasteless scoops of marrow can't even begin to compare.
You MUST make reservations in advance -- otherwise look forward to eating at 9:30pm.. although I'll admit that it was worth the wait.
My FAVORITE new place for a burger. SO GOOD. The fries: perfect.
The joint is a little loud, but the interior is gorgeous.
OMG, such a good burger!
We went in tonight, with no reservations, simply looking for a spot at the bar for cocktails. The hostess was so sweet, she delivered our drinks to the sidewalk as we waited. The owner delivered our refills, as we continued to wait. What service!
We were initially offered a table, but the bf really wanted a spot at the bar, so we waited some more. But it was SO worth waiting for! We had the pork belly appetizer, the roasted chicken entree, more beer and wine, and then some port (after a very nice port tasting, to make sure they had what I was in the mood for).
The service was exceptional from the moment we walked in. The meal was second to none. I can't imagine having enjoyed anything more.
It is so nice to see a local spot packed on a Wednesday night. A girlfriend and I walked in around… Read more »
This place is a very good reason to visit Oakland. I go to a lot of bistro-type restaurants but this is one is special. I had the rib eye steak frites which was one of the best steaks I've ever had. My mistress ordered the Halibut which blew us away. I don't even really like fish but I couldn't get enough of her dish.
Add to that, the wait staff was excellent - not too intrusive or too negligent.
Deee-li-ciousss. Even after a 45 minute wait on a Friday at 5:30, it was well worth it. Wine - excellent for an $8 special, spicy sausage and white bean soup - fantastic, heirloom tomato and burrata - perfect, and rigatoni with pork and beef bolognese - quite tasty.
I enjoyed my entire experience here from hostess to bartender. I'll definitely be back.
So my parents, myself, and my honeypie decided that this year's tandem birthday celebration (myself and Papa Cara are 4 days apart - he's still never completely forgiven me for making him miss the 1975 NBA final game where the Warriors came back and took the title...sorry, Dad) would be held at the much lauded Wood Tavern in Rockridge.
There's a reason it can be hard to get in for a dinner at Wood Tavern. The food is damn good, and so is the service. I'd been there on one other occasion just after they opened, for a glass of wine and a cheese plate, and had been dying to get back for a full meal ever since.
I kicked off the meal by celebrating my renewed love of gin (thank you, Sidebar!) with a "Gin-Germain" cocktail - Gin and St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur with an orange twist, served up. Delicious. Mama Cara, who is a margaritaholic, went with the "Sundowner" - Herradura Silver, orange/lime juices, and a touch of Sombra Mezcal.
We started the business of eating by ordering the butcher block, which contained portions of Fromage de Tete, Whiskey-Chicken Liver Pate, Duck Rillettes, and Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork-Guanciale Terrine. I sampled a bit of each, and decided that by far my favorite was the terrine. It was amazing in both flavor and texture, and was a lock when paired with a bit of the fennel mustard that accompanied the plate.
I moved on to the wild arugula salad with asparagus, shaved fennel, toasted almonds, and a dusting of parmesan, served with a meyer lemon vinaigrette. This was the only miss of the evening for me. For the portion size, the salad was light on the toasted almonds and asparagus (I only found one small piece of asparagus spear buried in my nest of arugula. It was delicious...just wish there had been more). I also found the arugula to be difficult to negotiate, due to the overwhelming weediness of the stems. However, my father declared his Chopped Romaine Salad with quinoa, peas, mint, cucumber, and feta, served with a basil vinaigrette to be an A+ culinary moment for him.
The shining moment of the meal for me was my main course of Sauteed Alaskan Halibut, served with Prosciutto di Parma, English Peas, Spring Onions and Chervil, all atop the most gorgeous Parmesan Polenta. I'm listing each component with a capital letter because it was THAT good. Halibut was perfectly cooked, parmesan polenta was silky and delicious, each component of the dish played so well against one another - I don't remember the last time I had the pleasure of putting something so luxurious in my mouth (insert obvious dirty joke here). It was really an exquisite dish.
I wasn't the only one who was loving their meal - Mr. Cara raved about his grilled pork chop with bacon, sauteed peppers, Yukon gold potatoes, sweet corn, and marsala cream sauce. I snuck a bite, and it was indeed lovely. Papa Cara enjoyed his pan-roasted half chicken, but said that Bellanico's still wins by a slim margin because he loves that they serve their roast chicken with lemon. Mama Cara indulged in the Niman Ranch Burger, but could only finish half after attacking the charcuterie at the beginning of the meal.
And what would a birthday dinner be without dessert? My father and I topped things off with the strawberry-rhubarb crisp (we are cut from the same cloth when it comes to desserts - if there is a fruit cobbler/crisp/slump on the menu...that's what we're ordering), while Mama Cara and my honey (both chocoholics) split the warm chocolate cake with hazelnut ice cream.
Food aside, the service was fabulous. Attentive but not intrusive (yes, Mike Z., I went there), as well as friendly wine recommendations and expert knowledge of the menu items without pretension. Just an all-around great experience that made getting another year older that much less painful.
side note:
My born-and-raised-in-Boston husband would also like me to give a special shout-out to his Bostonian-brother-in-arms, Wood Tavern's executive chef, who has imbued the menu with such items as "Wicked Good Seafood Stew," and "The Southie Affogato."
Hmmm... don't know how helpful this'll be, but here goes...
Was here a long time back (Nov 08). But I'm still thinking about it. I can't say I remember a thing I had, but what I keep thinking about is that I was just so happy there! Everything was great. Our party of four was very pleased. Service was great, atmosphere nice, but definitely remember loving the food! It was my and my visiting twin's birthday, so we would be extra picky. And we were both very pleased. Besides, I just moved here from NYC last year, and my brother and mother were visiting, so was certainly hoping (against all odds) to impress. And they were! That's not an easy task either. Must say too that the place was not pretentious at all, and I like that!
Just thought I'd add my kudos to this great restaurant
The normal guideline is that she must order red meat when I do, because if she doesn't she'll be looking at my plate with envy.
So it was with that in mind that she ordered the rib eye. I ordered the roast chicken. The guideline doesn't always apply in reverse, although we agreed we'd share some just in case.
The chicken was good. Flavorful and juicy, in a delicious sauce. I had a bite of rib eye and that was also very good, but I was keeping to my chicken. Confident that there was no food envy.
Not so. The chicken was so good that halfway through the meal, we swapped plates. This was partially because I ordered some horseradish aioli for the fries and found that it pushed the rib eye over from delicious to eyes rolling into the back of your head.
A couple of notes:
It's not $$$ spendy at all, it's a solid $$. Put it this way, the rib eye was the same price that you'd get at any chain steak restaurant, and the quality doesn't even compare.
It seems to be very popular and not that big. We got a table by walking up, but they politely requested that we'd need to be done by 6. This was a Sunday at 4:45. Note the date of this post, that the next day was labor day so it was probably more like a busy Saturday, but still, they got packed as we ate and there was a line forming at 6pm. You will want to make a reservation unless you are coming in on an off hour.
The staff was very friendly. Ready with the recommendations, refills, without being pushy (even though we were told upon entering that they had tables free until 6pm, we were never urged to leave, not even passively-aggressively, in fact we were the ones that rushed ourselves out). They definitely have some regulars, with a manager type coming out and saying hello to a couple of people at different tables by name, asking how they've been, as he passed by.
Words cannot describe...I...Talk...Can't...Explain...Food....Go od.
My Mom and I came in here after 5 and it was super packed. We were vying for a position at the bar since they were booked for resies, but the hostess, the wonderful, gracious, beloved sweet hostess was able to seat us at a table for two. The Fine Dining Gods must've been smiling down upon us.
First of all, you know I had to get my drank on with something called a Berry Buddha, Vodka with mashed strawberries, mint and lime juice...it's a creeper. After I was sufficiently belligerent it was onto the Whiskey Chicken-Liver Pate to start. Let me just say that I HATE liver, my Aunt once forced me to eat a KFC fried chicken liver and it took me an hour and a half. But liver in pate and foie gras form are the only exceptions. It came with brown mustard, chopped up pickles, capers and toasted baguette pieces drizzled with olive oil to shmear it all on. Great starter to cleanse the palate.
Onward Ho! to the Crispy pork belly with green lentils, spinach and poached egg. It's like Taqueria Chicarone minus the greasy bag it comes in. Very Yummy. And then....then, the Coup De Grace, yes it came pre-dinner, the Roasted Beef Bone Marrow over toasted brioche, roasted garlic, pearl onions and point reyes blue cheese demi glace. Two consonants and one vowel...WOW. The bones came situated atop the brioche, floating in a red sea of blue cheese demi glace. Side note: When I die, I want to be buried with a doggie bag full of this amalgam divineness, so I'll' have something proper to offer the Gods. I could eat this butt booty naked in an ice storm standing on one elbow while singing and excerpt from Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody..."Nothing really matters, nothing really matters...to me.." And believe me, it wouldn't.
And since I came this far, I mine as well go on even though everything hereafter seems inconsequential. Dinner, Ribeye with a veal reduction and steak frites. The steak was slightly overcooked but still really juicy, and the little itsy bitsy cute little pinky fries were doing the backstroke in the veal reduction sauce. Damn Good.
Dessert, warm chocolate cake with hazelnut ice cream chocolate and caramel sauces and a buttermilk panna cotta. If I weren't surrounded by a restaurant full of people and halfway civilized, I would've shoved my face in the chocolate cake making growling noises as I ravenously tore through it. The buttermilk panna cotta, tasted like cheese cake in custard form, definitely something not to be slept on.
It's a rarity that you dine at a restaurant where everything was pretty much to your liking and fortunately I was able to experience one such a place this evening. Eat here, you'll' be glad you did.
Just came for lunch, but ready to make it back for dinner. I believe we had a ceviche starter (may have been a special for the day). Different setup than normal but executed perfectly. Nice twist on a classic app. I tried all 3 sandwiches, but my fav was the hot pastrami. Definitely the best I have ever had. Very reasonable prices, easy street parking & warm, inviting vibe.
This morning was an unsettling morning for me. My oldest kid (son) turned fifteen making me feel even more like a complete fossil when this non-morning person dragged her sorry rear out of bed in order to get his first grader brother to school on time. My morning commute was an unusual nightmare: one lane closed on the Park Street Bridge made outgoing traffic a parking lot in terms of leaving Alameda's main island. When I finally did get on the freeway, I felt like I was in that scary High School Driver's Education class movie "Blood on the Highway." Things luckily have gone uphill from there and I can warmly thank Wood Tavern for most of the positive change.
Something that hasn't been mentioned yet in the 303 reviews of Wood Tavern is that everyone working there (at least today at lunch) could READ MINDS! That could be an unsettling experience for some but since everyone on staff ranged from "impossibly cute" to "hot and handsome" on the attractive and politeness scale, I felt like a queen bee. Is there actually a restaurant worker database that has a psychic section? If so, Wood Tavern has hired their employees from it.
The host warmly and sincerely greeted me. After that welcome, his face lit up the place when I asked how he was doing. I was promptly seated and given lunch and drink menus. I was dining alone since I have a standing weekly appointment in Rockridge but after one look at the menu, I wished I was there with a few friends so that I could share additional things. There were so many delicious cheeses and smoked meats listed, I wanted to sample from a small platter with friends. I wanted to share some of that infamous porkbelly everyone keeps raving about, but alas, this was just not the day.
I settled on the Fresh Rigatoni Main dish, which was a large portion of perfectly cooked al dente rigatoni with a veal-pork Bolognese sauce, decorated with Picholine olives and Parmesan cheese. How could the chef know that I really like true al dente texture (unlike many Americans), a perfect tomato based Bolognese, with a perfect dusting of parmesan and olives? He was psychic, I'm just saying. This kind of dish would cry if it knew it wasn't going to be chased down with some decent red wine. I settled on a "Malbec" red from Patagonia, Argentina. For an 8-dollar glass, I was happy to receive a very generous pour. The rigatoni was probably happy to see the generous pour as well. They were a nice combination and have since gotten happily married in my stomach.
There was something perfectly orchestrated about the service. It was almost like watching some kind of team exercise in slow motion. The servers, bus staff, hosts, bartender were constantly making eye contact with each other and the customers as they circulated doing their "Psychic Cosmic Dance."
I couldn't finish my huge portion of pasta and it was quickly whisked away and boxed up. I'm not even a dessert person (but I'm up to a real good Meyer's Lemon anything!) but the whole dessert menu looked heavenly still. Just sayin' again!
Food: 5 stars for the dish. Minus one star for not having more vegetarian options. It might ruin a hot date if you bring a vegetarian love prospect.
Ambiance: 4 stars. Light, airy. Maybe a little loud and crowded but that's because it's so popular.
Service: 5 Psychic Stars
Wood Tavern, you got yourself another fan. I ordered the Sautéed Alaskan Halibut, and let me tell you, I've never enjoyed fish like this before. Beautifully cooked, and very tasty. The fish fell apart once you put your fork through it and was incredibly moist. The bed of creamed corn that the fish lay on complemented the fish surprisingly well. I'm usually a meat guy, but I'm so glad I actually tried the fish. The portions were not stingy at all. I left the restaurant feeling very full. As for the place itself, the dining area is a bit crowded and you sit very close to the other tables. The food and the friendly staff more than make up for that and I had a very enjoyable experience. 4 Stars!
I came here with my bf on a Monday night. I had called ahead to reserve a table for two with no luck, but was told they had counter seating on a first-come, first-served basis. We took a chance, arriving at 8:15, and were lucky enough to immediately grab two open bar seats. I'm sure this isn't the norm, as the place was packed, even on a Monday. If you don't want to wait, I recommend reserving a table a day ahead.
But if you have to wait, it's worth it.
The bartenders who waited on us were attentive to our dining needs and also quite witty, which made the dining experience fun. My bf and I shared three dishes - the Chopped Romaine Salad and Pork Belly starters, and the Duck Breast entree with Napa Cabbage. All three were delicious and we cleared each plate in no time at all. For dessert, we tried the Blueberry-Peach Crisp with Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream. That was also devoured in record time.
If you don't like crowds or noise, this may not be the place for you, although my bf and I had no trouble hearing each other and were still able to carry on a conversation. If you like great service and great food, definitely give this place a try, but remember to reserve your table in advance.
I LOVE THIS PLACE. From the food, to the service, to the mis-matched antique flatware, there's nothing not to like at Wood Tavern.
I went solo for lunch on a Friday off from work. I cozied up with a book, surrounded by the local housewives, power-lunchers, and elderly folks (complete with fanny packs, no joke).
I started the day off with The Woody, a bloody mary made with horseradish (the right way if you ask me). It came with a Czechvar chaser as a pallet cleanser-- a nice touch. For my meal, I ordered the Butcher Block and the Chopped Romaine Salad. I often fantasize about the butcher block.... it is THAT GOOD. The pate is my favorite on its own. The terrine and the head cheese pairs perfectly with the mustard and pickles. I was pleasantly surprised how well the salad accompanied the butcher block. A winning combination for me!
About halfway though the butcher block, I was down to my last crostini, and before i could look up to flag someone to ask for more, the owner (i think) came by with another plate of crostini, free of charge. It's like he read my mind... impressive.
Finished the meal with a root beer float-- the beer mug was frosty and served with a tall spoon (as it should be). I found the ice cream to be a little icy-- probably as a result of pre-prepping the mugs with the ice cream and leaving it in the freezer for quick service. But that didn't matter since I was already so happy with everything else.
Props to the host/bartender who said to me: "next time I'm going out to lunch with you, because you know how to do lunch." :) I might take him up on that offer.
Wood Tavern is truly a gem and I'm so lucky to have it down the street from me. I have been there a handful of times now and it never disappoints. If you consider yourself a foodie, you MUST go.
I've eaten here a couple of times and feel I now have correctly bench marked the experience. I always book a reservation since the wait times can be a little long. Last nite was no exception. At 8pm the hostess was demurring people with an anticipated 1hr 20 minutes. It's good food, but not that good. It did clear out around 9pm, but they were still seating at 9:40pm. Scenewise was mostly snappy casual but one guy did show up in shorts (BOO! hiss) It can get very LOUD at times, so don't envision a quiet intimate dinner here. The tables are set very close together, and sometimes you're nearer your neighbor than your date/company. But the space has a good energy and a happy crowd of patrons.
I like eating at the bar and watching the staff prep drinks etc. Everyone is super friendly and nice. The service is attentive but not overwhelming.
They serve a wide range of cocktails and wine, reasonably priced, with some fun signature drinks. The appetizers that I sampled were all a decent size and delicious. Smokey grilled octopus tossed with olive oil and lemony garlic, salmon crudo with citrus-fennel slaw and avocado, and my favorite roasted meaty beef marrow bones with garlic pearl onions and brioche. My mom had the fromage de tete (head cheese) and pronounced it deliteful.
The main courses are hearty and can be shared. My sister and I generally order more appetizers and then split a main for a wider variety.
The double cut pork chop is humongous, brined and grilled to perfection.
Last nite we had the ribeye which was very tasty, served up with a mountain of crispy shoestring fries.
Dessert list was ok, my mom chose the Warm Chocolate Cake with
Hazelnut Ice Cream, Chocolate & Caramel Sauces which was good but my sister found it a little sweet. Might be nice to have a bitter accent.
I had a couple of the cheeses which were served with spicy almonds, honey and apple slices.
Pierre Robert: French Triple Crème Cow's Milk Cheese
Valdeon: Cow's Milk Blue Cheese
We left satisfied and happy. I'll definitely eat here again.
I was expecting a treehouse (or cabin theme) with a deer head as a trophy and maybe a fireplace for good times sake. This little brunch getaway of a spot is situated actually in a small town called Piedmont (smack dab in between Oakland and Berkeley). One Saturday Morning, quite a while back I came here with some old friends to catch up and grab some brunch. The previous time we wanted to check this place out during New Year's Day and sad to say it was closed, but not this time.
Looking inside, can only remind you of the type of lifestyle would be Cal Grads (or alumni) prefer after their hard work and maintenance of a family. Small neighborhood, family oriented, and an abundance of mom and pop shops about. Walking inside and being seated, this nice restaurant brings out the Sideways Effect in Me; age 50; post grad, with probably a wine addiction and horrible hairline (watch the movie Sideways, its a good one).
Our waitress Shelley was serving us this hour, handed out the menus and within a good 15 minutes we were ready to eat:
Drinks
-Waters all around
-1 pint of Speak Easy Ipa
-1 glass of Pinot Noir, Loring Wine Company, "Clos Pepe Vineyard", Santa Rita Hills, 2006
Appetizer/First Dish
-1 order of Crispy Pork Belly; Consists of: Salt Pork Braised Green Lentils, Spinach and Poached Egg.
Sandwiches/Burgers/Main Dish
-1 order of Hot Pastrami Sandwich; Consists of: Emmenthaler, Dijon-Horseradish Dressing
-1 order of Niman Ranch Burger with Fries; Consists of: Served on La Farine Baguette with All the Fixin's w/ Added Cheese and Bacon.
-1 order of Duck Leg Confit; Consists of: Frisée, Spinach, Quinoa, Fuji Apples, Pancetta Vinaigrette, Sherry Gastrique
Let's start off with the beverages. The Ipa my good friend Nick ordered, was decent but not satisfying to his thirst. I on the other hand, decided to get saucy with the Pinot Noir as suggested by the waitress as one of her personal favorites. It was dark and filled with complexity, but like all Reds, it gives me this seductive aroma and taste before I go head first into food coma.
The Crispy Pork Belly, was probably the MVP for me the entire night. All it is, is the poached egg + Crispy Pata (Filipino version of Pork Belly). Reminds me the next time I have that, I need to fry up a sunny side egg or something for the artery one-two knockout combo. As the egg yolk seeps into the crispy exterior, the tender meat inside was moist, and delightful for the pickings. (should have ordered two).
My companions enjoyed their burgers and pastrami sandwich. But the one thing they couldn't get over was the overload of greasiness with the food. They enjoyed the fries, but that's all they could comment on. As for my Duck Confit, it would have been good but the duck leg wasn't probably the best part to eat in my opinion ( I much prefer the breasts). I had a sudden case of short term amnesia, when I couldn't even recall the yellow texture that had a complexion similar to rice (Quinoa). Their vinaigrette wasn't overpowering, while the organic vegetables served its purpose to balance the meal.
Overall we paid, over $82.00 with tax and tip. Was it all worth? Perhaps had I gotten a second serving of that Pork Belly. All in all a decent experience. The service was consistent and friendly all the way through, the atmosphere was relaxing considering it was brunch hour. Otherwise, if I ever return it would only be because of the dinner menu being a bit more appetizing.
Easter burger. Yum.
I've been wanting to dine at Wood Tavern for nearly two years. Finally it was time to foray out to the wilds beyond SF. Over the bridge and into Oakland, we found parking on the street a few yards down from the front door. Walking in to be seated immediately, we liked the space. High ceilings gave the room a sense of volume. The dark wood and multi-hued walls avoided what could have been a manly clubby environment. Modern and cool but not cold. The crowd was young, old, families, singles...everybody. The mood was casual and funn.
I ordered the soup...a red lentil and chorizo soup. My guest ordered a salad of chopped lettuce, red onion, quinoa, cucumbers and a lovely vinaigrette. They both rocked. I ordered an ale and waited for our entrees.
We'd watched dishes come out ahead of ours...pork chop, steaks, chicken...but we both wanted our Easter burger (served on La Farine Baguette with All the Fixin's)...medium rare burgers with bacon and cheese (avocado on hers) with mounds of fries. We were both starving and we went with basic instincts. The burgers arrived and were perfect. (Please get better mustard than Grey Poupon...I've been asked to relay the message.)
Service was fine, ambiance great, food quite nice and easy parking. Doesn't get much better.
4.5 stars
Why is everyone so nice here? I think I'd stepped into an alternate world where everything wasn't total FUBAR all day long.
Really, everything was perfect. The food is delicious, the vibe was cool, and again, staff is way nice. From their obvious good moods, I'd wager that everyone on staff is getting laid on the regular. These people are HAPPY.
Anyway, best meal I've had in the East Bay.
Happy Hour, Tuesday-Sunday,…
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
Sundays & Mondays NFL Ticket
Neighborhood: Old Oakland
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: French
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: American (New)
Berkeley, CA
Category: Caterers
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