Best Casual Restaurants in Oakland

Our first experience will not be our last! We live a few hours away and planned a weekend getaway. Everything from the ambiance, service, and food was impeccable! Check in and valet were seamless. Sitting on the swings waiting to be called to our table was a total vibe! We were seated below the bar right at the entrance. At first I had really wished we were upstairs but the food and ambiance made me forget right away! We started with the bread board appetizer which was delivered by one of the managers, Shakur. This impressed me because he was interacting with the guests and you could tell he wanted to make sure our experience was satisfactory! The breads were delicious and the spreads were perfect compliments! I had the haddock and my husband had the lobster mac and cheese. We were expecting small portions for the fine dining price—we were WRONG! We were shocked at how much food arrived and we had to box up a big portion of everything (appetizer, meals, dessert) that we ordered. To finish, we had to order the Pittsburgh cookie table! Were the cookies the best cookies we’ve ever had? No. Am I still glad we ordered it? Absolutely! I especially liked the heart shaped cookies. They were delicious! I must try brunch next!

The food was delicious and fresh. Excellent pasta texture and fabulous desserts! We will be back.

A warm friendly spot on a grey rainy and dreary evening. Made it for happy hour for cocktails at a good price to start the evening. The jerked chicken was well seasoned, cooked just right and remains one of my favorites. The combination of the chicken, jalapenos, pineapple and greens is fantastic. Something new this time was the Key Lime Tart, which is definitely a keeper.

I went to Soba for my birthday celebration. The service was warm and welcoming. The absolutely delicious, high quality food was served in ample portions. The cocktails were wonderful and creative. We tried things from every section of the menu and everything was a success. Soba has landed high on my "Return to" list.

Food is creative and delicious - atmosphere is sunny and bright, but quiet enough to converse. Excellent value.