Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Pinole

Kokkari never disappoints. The food was great and the service excellent.

Foreign Cinema is by far one of the best restaurants in San Francisco and throughout the years they have maintained the same quality level. The food is beautifully presented and the innovative flavors are a pleasant surprise to the palate. They have something for everyone. The crew is very well experienced and their recommendations for wine pairing is always right on. Don’t be surprised if they bring complementary dishes. We have been dining at Foreign Cinema since they open and we will continue visiting them.

Everything was wonderful (as usual) except our server. He wasn't pleasant or friendly. Previous servers knew we were there for our anniversary, said Congratulations, asked how long we've been together, took a picture of us etc. He had no interest in anything except getting our drink and entree order. Not a nice fellow or interested in making us feel welcome. Example; there was no napkin at my place setting and I politely asked for one. He walked by, put one on the table and said "here ya go" and kept moving. I said "thank you" but all I saw was the back of his head moving away. A good server would have offered an apology for the oversight, immediately corrected the mistake and said to the customer thanks for your patience and understanding (or something to that effect). He made me feel like I was bothering him. Contrary to our disengaged waiter there was a busser guy who was awesome! He was open and friendly, joyful, and accommodating. He liked his job and wanted to be helpful. Our actual server, not so much. My wife and I openly wished the busser was our server. If I knew the busser's name, I'd say promote him. The only time our waiter was even remotely kind was when he put the bill on the table. So, when it's time for the tip, guess what? He was very nice! Wow, imagine that...

Lunch today was lovely in all dimensions. The food was delicious and beautifully presented: a butternut soup accompanied by a thick melty grilled cheese, my friend's taco pizza with added jalapenos, and affogato for dessert- YUM! We ate upstairs in an attractive, cozy room overlooking College Avenue. Service was wonderful. Will return for lunch soon!

Great as ever. Pricey but worth it. Can’t beat the old school ambiance, beautiful setting and classic food served by real professionals.