Came in here for a few cocktails. This place is flipping amazing! Toast feels very intimate yet you have your own space and people watching from the window seats is the best! Catie is a genius mixologist and a gracious host. She really makes you feel welcome and your happiness is her number one priority. A+++! Thanks, Toast! Cheers!
(5)
Karabella C.
Food and atmosphere are amazing! Went in and were quickly seated. The server was very nice and knowledgeable of the menu. Everyone was happy with the meal and service. We'll definitely be back. A great place to BART in, have some drinks with the girls, and maybe head out for a movie after. Highly recommended!
(5)
Mathilde A.
TOAST is pretty good. I went here for brunch with a friend on Sunday. We got the omelette and the pancakes. The omelette was a bit sad since I usually expect restaurant omelettes to be stuffed full of stuff. This one had a million onions and a teeeeeeny bit of cheese and mushroom. It was also incredibly oily-- don't get me wrong, I love butter but I don't really like my omelettes to actually be wet. The pancakes were yummy! Silver dollar pancakes are my absolute favorite, and this seems to be the only place in the bay area that actually knows what those are. I don't think the syrup was real Vermont maple syrup (didn't taste as flavorful), so I wish they would add that. Service was spotty. Some servers were totally great, but our actual server wasn't the best. We asked for a side of the citrus aioli for our potatoes and she said that she would be right back with it. 15 minutes later, after seeing her going in and out and to other tables, we just pulled someone else aside and asked. He was great and brought it right away, which was very nice. The best part is the outside patio-- it's really nice and perfect for brunch. So all in all, TOAST is solidly decent. Not the best brunch I've had, not the worst. I probably wouldn't come back again unless I was in the area and didn't have another option, but I would definitely give dinner a try.
(3)
Kai K.
I went to toast for a drink with my father tonight but was very disappointed. When we first were seated it took 20 minutes for them to take our order in an almost empty bar. After we ordered I was surprised when everyone who came in after Us Was being served but still we had no drinks. After 30 minutes of waiting we got up and left. One of the waitresses ran out after but it was too late to be reconciled. Did not help that we were the only POC in the restaurant and we received the worst service.
This place started my new obsession with nicoise salads. The one on their brunch menu is tasty! I like the patio option for dining but it was a bit too hot to sit outside the day I went. Inside is cute and offers a lot of seating choices. The marquee lights over the bar are neat too. I am curious as to what their dinner menu is like as brunch was very pleasing! Polite service here and walking distance from Rockridge Bart - always a plus.
(4)
Piyali F.
This place is a solid 3.5 stars. After having it bookmarked for months, I went last night with some girlfriends for dinner. We had a res and were seated promptly. The menu is extremely GF friendly which was great. We ordered a round of drinks (wine/bubbly) all priced about what you'd expect at $9+ (all cocktails were 10.50). The ambiance is awesome, little cottage-style building, really cute "BAR" sign lit up in the back, well decorated. I ordered the sardine app with beet hummus and a side of pickled veggies with aioli. Very tasty, although the sardine was actually the entire fish, VERY bony and little flesh. This really should've been described on the menu, as I wasn't interested in using my fingers to sift through fish bones that night. So although the presentation was lovely, that was nothing special but the accompaniments were delish. My friends got the the risotto and pork shoulder - didn't taste so can't comment on it but they enjoyed. The service was a little aggressive at first - multiple waiters/bussers trying to clear plates and take orders every few minutes (once, someone took my aioli away while I was still using it and my friend had to grab the person to get them to bring it back). Near the end of the meal though, we had to wait foreeeever for the check. We all had CCs laying out in front of us for 10+ minutes and finally had to flag someone down. Overall, good food but nothing esp memorable. On the pricey side, but would come back for a drink or a nibble, preferably during happy hour.
(4)
Frank K.
So last night I had an Opentable reservation at 9pm at Toast, was greeted by a guy who appeared to be a manager, who allowed us to sit either inside or outside. We chose outside, and was at first seated next to the entrance, but instead we chose to sit on the benches near the periphery where there were only 2 other guests. So we sat there, and sat there, and sat there, and waited for about 20min, a different hostess had brought us menus, but no water was brought to us, so I finally went inside to inquire, but my girl was already fed up and had gotten up to go inside, and we told the hostess we were just gonna sit inside, because it was literally about 30 min since we got there and we hadn't even been served water yet. So we go inside to the dining room section on the left, the hostess puts us in seats next to the window, but I'm pretty peaved at this point, and then lo and behold we sit there, and sit there and sit there again! until I again flag down the same hostess and am like can we get some water? The hostess was trying to be nice and apologized and was trying to get some sort of server to stop ignoring us, but to no avail, because by that time it was 40 min until the server finally addressed us, but my girl was up and ready to leave and go, and that's what we did, we went to Barney's across the street, but my girl and I were actually trying to pretend we were on our first date last nite, and she told the hostess that, I told her it really wasn't our first date but it would've been a disaster if it was. Later on and this morning the owner of Toast called me to apologize and offered to treat us to a meal. He was contrite and sincerely adamant that ignoring us was unintentional, that it had nothing to do with us personally or otherwise. He sounded very genuine and I accepted his apology, and I've changed this rating from a 1 star to a 3 because of it.
Ambience is very nice and hip but we were not impressed with food !! Burger was ok, nice combo with apples and Dijon mustard but meat was dry and to salty . Bread with dip was very good. Kale salad with tuna was flavorless, nothing to remember, didn't make any statement but just forgettable !!!! I definitely would expect a little more for the price !!!!
(2)
Esther A.
I dropped by with two friends for brunch the other weekend. It was nice out so we sat in the patio. We started off with some cocktails and decided to share our orders since the plates were single item dishes and we wanted a proper brunch. We ordered the following: - White bean spread toast - a great starter and reminded me of a hummus spread - Dutch baby pancakes with strawberries and creme fraiche - I've never had Dutch pancakes before (never seen anything like these when I was in Amsterdam) but they were surprisingly delicious. - Soft scramble eggs with toast - Mixed salad - Rosemary potatoes We enjoyed our orders but it's hard to decide on what I thought of Toast's offerings based off brunch items. The ambiance was great. However I would definitely return to try their dinner menu.
(4)
Nick V.
TOAST wins the honor of having the worst sandwich I have had in the past 5 years. Not an easy accomplishment by any means. Their "Pulled Chicken Cuban" takes the back of the toilet due to a nausea inducing mix of room temp chopped dark meat chicken, cheese, paprika aioli, soft sweet roll, avocado slices, green onions and "Un"-pickled shallots. The overall lack of texture, non-seasoning and room temp warmth went from kinda gross to disgusting by the end of the 1st sandwich half. I was nauseous for the next 2 hours following the meal. Other than a side of bacon there is a serious lack of proteins on the brunch menu forcing a move towards this one horrible sandwich if you lean towards meat dishes during brunch or lunch. I can't say that is a wise move or a business, but it's their business. Technically this might be a decent sandwich if some attention was paid to the ingredients. If it was actually roasted and "pulled" chicken with some seasoning, and not 2 day old Safeway rotisserie dark meat that was slimy from sitting around all day. If it had well-picked shallots for pop or something else pickled. If it had a mix of texture aside from baby food. Even if the bread was toasted it may have helped here. Any attn to detail could have helped elevate this. The rest of the meal was okay. Coffee was the highlight, then white bean spread, then potatoes. Service was closer to 12% worthy rather than a 15% standard which they auto charge you in the check. This was due to the 8 min wait for a drink order, flagging the waitress for coffee refills and lack of proactive server to server assistance across tables. Definitely NOT going back for breakfast or lunch ever again.
(2)
Gina T.
This place is awesome, fun and festive. Just an all around great atmosphere. From the servers to the bartenders...shout out to Meggie. She makes a "diva mule" her own concoction, that is full of many surprise ingredients. We were there recently with a large group for dinner. Everyone loved the place and couldn't wait to return to try other things on the menu. I would suggest pretty much anything on the menu. The meatballs as an appetizer were big and tender with a yummy tomato sauce topped with an Italian cheese. The Kale Caesar salad was amazing, some of the best dressing I have ever had. I would also recommend the pasta and the oxtails served on a bed of creamy polenta. Will definitely return soon.
(5)
Janice L.
The food was really good however the food is really expensive (for a college student on a budget). Their main courses range from $19-$30 while small plates are $8-13. The small plates did not make me full considering My appetite is small. The menu changes daily and I between meals. The soup I got was really good and so was their bread and balsamic vinaigrette. But I will not return until I make enough money to compensate for the cost of food.
(3)
Cath M.
**4.5 STARS** Wow... Oakland is making a run with SF restaurants! AND I'm getting sold... partly due to the FREE parking and parking vacancy in general! The girlfriend and I went here this past Friday (yes, it was crazy rush hour for the holidays) so thankful I managed to snag a reservation via opentable.com and was promptly seated upon arrival! Ambiance + setting: very open, modern, airy and the friend and I liked it! Service: friendly... we were fortunate to have Jana as our server and she catered to our alcoholic needs (yep, it was THAT kind of day!) Food: * marinated pacific sun olives = perfect to share for two peeps (this case, it was just me since my friend didn't eat olives) it was well seasoned and nice to munch while sipping some wine and waiting for our entrees. * warmed bread with california olive oil + 6 year balsamic vinegar = they used Acme bread so that's probably why they charged us $3... it was really good bread but I wished it was free! LOL :) Wishful thinking! * brown sugar brined pork shoulder steak, brussels sprouts, winter vegetables, polenta croutons, horseradish cream = my friend got this and she said it wasn't what she expected (more on the soupier side) and I think she was expecting more on the real pork shoulder looking dish. Nonetheless, she liked it... well seasoned and just the right proportion... the polenta croutons were delish! * grilled chicken breast, fennel confit, bintje potatoes, baby leeks, toasted almond cream = this was actually a little too big for me... it was good... the chicken was tender... thankfully NOT dry... and I ate half... since I was full. Overall... well worth checking out... Their wine list are awesome... their glasses side could use some more varieties. Prices are decent! Reason for the 4.5 stars... when they got way too busy... it was hard to track down anybody to get our check and so we had to ask the host or go up to the front for it and did the same when paying... but I'm hoping the next time I go back... that issue wouldn't be an issue since it's the holidays... I will be back!!! Jana: thank you for accommodating our wine needs!
(4)
Joji V.
Great place for brunch on a bright sunny day, but you'll be fighting for a spot in the shade if you wanna be outside. For those fair of skin i suggest you get in seated indoors. other than that this place makes great food. Service is slow but worth the wait in my opinion.
(5)
Greg F.
We really enjoyed the Bar, and snacks!!! Great calssic bartending.
(4)
Josh R.
The food was really good, and the ambiance was nice too. Our waiter was very helpful as well. However, we showed up early for our reservation, the place was nearly empty, and they put us right next to the kitchen/bussing area. Kinda puts a damper on a date. My girlfriend's drink was also way too strong as well.
(4)
Adriana M.
I am so happy my friend recommended this place for Sunday brunch. I have to admit, at first I was not excited or interested because I felt the name was kind of boring but that quickly changed. We sat outside, lucky for us it was not too busy so we were seated immediately. We started off with the Grapefruit Mimosas and they were delicious. I am not sure if it was fresh juice or not but it tasted fresh. We also ordered the bourbon spiked chicken liver pate. I love pate and I dont see it on brunch menus often so I had to order it and I am glad I did because it was amazing. For the main course we split the soft scrambled eggs and themixed greens salad. The eggs had tons of veggies like, peas, onions, spinach and came with garlic toast. The salad had strawberries and goat cheese. It was more than enough food for the both of us and they were both very flavorful. I hope I can come back soon to have drinks at the bar area, which looks super cute and chic. Over all, I was happy we came here and I plan to return soon.
(5)
Art H.
We celebrated our friend's 15th wedding anniversary here. Great location on College Avenue, with enough parking (although it was a Tuesday night.) Had a couple of cocktails at the bar, then set about dinner. Prompt service, friendly staff, good vibes all around. Some of the food was great. Quick deep fried chickpeas and kale salad were great, along with a seasonal sausage dish and chicken. The penne pasta was under flavored, and just slightly too al dente for the dense pasta form. The dessert cheese tray was disappointingly sparse, and the chocolate flourless cake was ho-hum. We were treated to complimentary glasses of bubbly, thanks for that!
Toast is kind of pretentious with its clientele which seem perfectly fine if not excited about small portions. The price point does not reflect the quality or quantity of the food. The customer service is fine and they are all nice mannered staff, but for the $60 i spent on an egg sandwich, two drinks, and a soup is kind of silly. If you enjoy great descriptive ingredients on a menu and the food that barely fulfills its own recipe or you stomach then have fun flushing your money down their toilet..
(2)
David T.
Just like sitting outside in perfect weather at a fabulous restaurant in North Oakland or maybe Berkley! Delightful fresh food. The menu changes daily, but everything I've had there on two trips has been wonderful. And great service!
(5)
Julie C.
Service is lacking, especially in the bar area. Whenever we go for drinks, we are almost always ignored. Though the setting is lovely, we will not be returning again!
(2)
Phillip D.
Ok, so here's the quick lowdown on this place. Cute, hipster place with lots of seating (both in the bar and restaurant area). They also have both Indoor and outdoor seating (latter is great if you have a dog or the weather is nice). Apparently the menu changes daily so you really don't know what you're going to get which is good from a variety standpoint, however, the menu options are about 4-5 for starters to main appetizers. Lots of drink options for the wine, beer, and non-alcoholics too which is always a +. We had Pork Shoulder and the Halibut. Flavorful - Yes. Amazing. Eh.. I've had better. Here's the thing, I don't want to wait 30-45 minutes for our food to cook and come out especially when the food isn't A-Mazing. I'll let it slide if it WOWed me, but it really didn't. We ended up passing on dessert because we didn't want to wait another 30-45 minutes for them to bring my dessert out. Plus why do that when you have Smitten a block away! I guess if you don't mind waiting an abnormally long amount of time for your food go ahead and try this place. Otherwise, lots of other great options nearby.
(3)
J.A. K.
Interesting to compare against The Barrel Room/Rockridge. The latter is one of our favs (we've had both the Spain/Portugal and France menus). Toast comes in a full level below. That said, Toast has some definite positives: White bean spread. The best dish they offer. Even carnivores will love the buttery smooth texture and taste of this. But it also has a negative: Toast Bar + Kitchen makes absolutely lousy toast. It's rock hard and much too thick. Melba toast is thin for a reason, guys. Chicken liver pate. Intense flavor, thinly spread on (the very bad too thick) toast. Had the crostinis been thinner, both this and bean spread would be 4 stars easily. Sweet potato-plaintain soup. Using the starchier white-fleshed sweet potatoes, very tasty with a drizzle of creme fraiche and caramelized diced plantains on top. Fettucine with vegetables. A nice version of pasta primavera. Pork tenderloin with Tokyo turnips and wild rice flavored with bacon. Almost, but not quite. Pork was cooked med rare as requested but there was no browning on the outside so it was bland. Turnips were lovely, wild rice was undercooked. No gravy meant nothing brought the ingredients together as a unified whole. Broiled skirt steak with grilled lettuces, onion rings, and chimichurri. Size was generous but medium rare came purple rare. Chimichurri was flavorful but grilled romaine just ended up greasy. as were onion rings. The surprise of the night was dessert: Chocolate bourbon cake, caramel sauce, whipped cream. Outstanding! This dessert alone makes the statement that the cliched molten lava cake should be buried RIP, immediately. Toast has a lighter menu than The Barrel Room. Cooking at TBR is heavier, more substantial; plus the menu for both wines and food changes every four months (it will be Latin American starting mid-April 2015). Toast is a more standard wine bar, a less ambitious concept where you drink what you know but don't get introduced to unusual wines from regions you've never heard of (the sommelier staff at TBR is superb, btw). Toast has a lighter, more open-air decor, and is bigger than Barrel Room. Conversely, the booths are so smashed together that our group of four kept knocking knees uncomfortably. The aisle are very wide; it wouldn't kill Toast to pull those booth seats apart a bit more! Overall: a nice casual spot, good for flexitarians. But if you're serious about wine and meaty food, The Barrel Room down the street is far superior in both concept and execution. Unlike many reviewers here, we had no problems with service, but although good it wasn't top-notch.
(3)
Katie Rose M.
My friend and I were walking up and down College, totally unable to decide what and where to eat, when we stumbled upon Toast. We ate on the outdoor patio and received prompt and friendly service. I started with a bloody mary and my friend had a grapefruit mimosa (yum.) The server who brought our drink said "You win the prize for asymmetrical haircuts" as we both have the sides of our heads shaved. (My friend lives in Spain, I swear we didn't copy on another.) Well, we got SO excited about winning a prize, the server felt like she wanted to actually bring us a prize and came back later with small sample of their appetizers: the white bean dip, almonds, and olives. Everything was so tasty! I ordered that smoked applewood bacon sandwich and my friend, who is vegetarian, ordered the same sandwich, but without bacon. Our other server kind of looked at her and said "Please let me make you a vegetarian sandwich. I am not going to bring you bread and tomato." So my friend was served a mozzarella, pesto, tomato and greens sandwich which was exactly what she wanted, she said the server read her mind. My sandwich was delightful. I thought it was going to be like a BLT, but the bacon was all cut up and mixed w cherry tomato halves, aioli, and greens. The bread was sooooo soft and delicious. I feel like I usually hurt the roof of my mouth when I eat BLTs because of the scratchy bread and bacon, so this was a lovely take on a favorite sandwich. We had another round of drinks, chatted with the server, and enjoyed the beautiful bay area weather.
(5)
R P.
Was originally kinda puzzled because I got the smallest pour in the history of the universe. But manager noticed and said they had brought out a tasting glass. He replaced it with a full pour of vino instead. Happy camper :)
(5)
Gypsy L.
Lovely atmosphere with great and knowledgeable staff. A maverick sever was awesome and helpful! Coming back as should you!
(5)
Teresa S.
My all-time favorite small-bite "foody" eatery. All around 5 star... menu choices, selection of wine, good cocktails, pleasant ambiance and best of all... great service!
(5)
Dinah C.
I was meaning to try this spot and finally did with a group for Sunday brunch. The first thing that caught my eye was the lack of sweet brunch options (one cinnamon roll option doesn't really count). I ordered the chorizo sausage dish and specified that I wanted the egg over hard. The waiter brought my two friends their dish and explained that mine was talking a while longer to cook the egg then proceeds to bring me the dish with runny eggs. My friends didn't enjoy their options either and agree that the best thing about this place was the side of potatoes. For the price and meal quality and portions, definitely not worth it!
(2)
Robin L.
Dear Amazing Culinary Fairy, Thank you for sprinkling your magic fairy dust over TOAST! From the gorgeous ambiance, to the excellent food, to the fantastic service, it just couldn't get any better! Please thank your colleague, the Open Table Fairy, for getting me a reservation that provided us with a perfect booth beneath their 99 bottle chandeliers. I was particularly impressed how those lights that are encased in the top half of cut bottles, match up to their water glasses (made from the bottom half of the bottles). And then the water bottles placed on the table is the whole bottle to pull everything together....it's the little things about your fairy magic: I just love it. And the food is certainly Woohoo! As good as it gets! I had the arugula salad with quinoa, beets and goat cheese in this light, tangy shallot vinaigrette which was delicious! Then I had the grilled chicken breast that was served with a little horseradish cream that knocked my socks off. As if it could get any better we finished with the boca negra which is a perfect chocolate torte of sorts and some truly special cheese. Also did you sprinkle fairy dust over Brooke, our server? She was perfect and reminded me of how great service can enhance a meal to over-the-top MAGICAL status! I will definitely be back. Sincerely, Robin L
(5)
Kim L.
Toast is one of several of my favorite restaurants in my neighborhood. It has a fun and airy atmosphere, a great decor and ambiance, and the food has been consistently good. Whenever I don't feel like being cramped in small space or having to wait for a table, crowded in front of the diners, staring at their plates and listening to their conversation, going to Toast making my spirit soar to the restaurant 's ceiling with its cool lighting fixtures... Last night I suggested my GF to meet me there for dinner. She was delighted with the place and the food. She said it was the best meal she had had in a long time...The cole slaw was fresh, the meat balls were delicious and the pepper crusted skirt steak was done perfectly rare to our liking. The bocca negra desert was incredibly light. The service could not be better: Attentive and friendly. However, a few minuses kept tugging at me: 1. Previous times, I had lunch or breakfast, never really had a need for bread so I was surprised to see the restaurant charging for bread. Being in a neighborhood where one can find great bakeries like La Farine, Semifreddi, La Fournee and great bread from the Market Hall, Acme bread should be the standard served along with glasses of water as at all other restaurants in Rockridge area. 2. Another disappointment is the coffee: cold when it came and even when I asked for a new cup, it came out just warm, not hot. I really don't know what the problem was. 3. With the restaurant's look, so cool and chic, the bathroom does not measure up to the same standard but only boringly functional. Anyway, even though Toast doesn't have nice bathrooms but it has nice heat lamps and red blankets on the patio for a cool night. Its coffee may not compare to Peet's or Blue Bottle coffee down the street but its cocktails will continue to knock my sock off. So Toast will remain high on my favorite list and of course I will come back with more friends.
(4)
Ron B.
Robustly priced fare and meager portions. Remember that this is a place for "supper", which is a light meal The execution and taste of what is served is not something that I would return for on College Avenue. Typical "Napa" inspired cuisine that can be found everywhere in California these days. The outdoor dining on the avenue was this restaurants main attraction for me. It has no rivals in that sense
(2)
Susan C.
This is not a spot for those looking to break a 2 week master cleanse because the portion size is modest but acceptable. You can easily bump up your food volume with some appetizers, dessert, or side dishes without breaking the bank. This is perfect for a light meal that is way more fun and interesting than "salad with grilled chicken dressing on the side." I have to say that everything here made healthy food really fun and really tasty! We had the fried chickpeas (perfect amount of hot salt and crunch); Romaine salad with sunflower seeds (super tender greens with a perfect amount of dressing); and shared a pork shoulder piece that had a marinade I would die for the recipe. The pork came with a side of 2 tender roasted corn on the cob and a zucchini strip and 3 bean salad that had my man actually thinking that zucchini was pasta. Kudos. If you have to watch your waist line, this is a great place to do it! The chef is on my list of people to recruit to be my personal chef when I hit the lotto. I will toast to TOAST kitchen + bar for the following: -Fun rustic decor -Very interesting menu of very healthy options -Top notch service and a chill approachable vibe -Reasonable prices for high quality ingredients and innovative food concepts.
(4)
Corey H.
Amazing staff: attention to detail, friendly, skilled and fashionable. Difficult combo to locate!
(5)
Faina L.
This place gets worse every time I come. Initially I liked it sbx it's ok for (overpriced) wine but a nice outdoor patio on a sunny day. The food is another story. They forgot our order, took hours to bring the entrees which were served cold, limp and greasy. Not a good presentation for fish. By the way it was a Sunday night and we were having 3 courses for 4 people. By the time our old cold fish came out we were practically only ppl left in restaurant. Their response? Free dessert. Live in the neighborhood but will not be back
(1)
Harry K.
i'm very glad you have an african american in your kitchen. however, it has no reflection on how you treat african americans who want to sit in the dining area. thank goodness we had reservations at another restaurant and were merely strolling down the street looking for a place to wait out the hour. we reduced our time there to a social experiment once it became obvious we were not going to be served. your staff has an issue with people of color. we did not get the smiles and welcomes that were offered to others. we were ignored. shame on you. may i suggest south carolina for your next store ...
(1)
Tyrone H.
The Chef Michael Woods sure knows how to whip up some great food! Bring the whole gang down here & have a ball! Overall amazing experience & customer service, especially from Meg!
(5)
JJ S.
I thought this was the Toast that I use to go to in Noe Valley. That Toast served breakfast all day and I was craving it. Overall I give them a 3. Service was great but the sausage I ordered took about 45 minutes to cook. Supposedly after 30 minutes of waiting the cook forgot to take the order. Why a 3? Well the items are over priced. The week before I ate at a very nice restaurant in the financial district and paying $25 for one entree or more was reasonable. I mean this was from one of the top chefs in the U.S. And the quality of their food was great. Now, here I spent $25 for a dinner plate with 2 Italian sausages that took 45 minutes to make. If you look at my pictures you would also question why it would cost $25. If I were to rate Toast for the service I got from the waiter it would be 5. She saw that j had two kids who were growing impatient waiting for the main dinner and only charged me for the entree and gave me the Mac and cheese and grilled cheese for free. The one highlight of our meal was their version of Mac and cheese. Not your regular macaroni pasta, it was made from spaghetti pasta. This was probably thee best or one of the best Mac and cheese I've had. I won't come back because this was too overpriced.
(3)
Sarah L.
Two stars for nice/clean ambience and that's about it. We went on a Saturday afternoon around 4pm when there were very few customers. Despite having minimal tables to wait, three servers were standing around the checkin booth giggling and chit chatting instead of getting us the requested extra acme bread roll (which is a total rip off to begin with and they completely forgot to ever bring it) or processing our check in a timely fashion. Glad we only stopped by for some appetizers and instead of a full meal.
(2)
Bonga W.
Expensive, very yummy, comfortable. It helped that I had just returned from NYC, so a $12 sandwich seemed normal. Bacon Sandwich was super yummy, and my partner had Ham Sandwich, also was great. Big enough for us to be well sated...I want to try dinner, see that it would be pricey, but the food is very well prepared.
(4)
Lane H.
My first time at Toast tonight with some friends who dine there frequently. We arrived before them and while we waited, we were approached by a staff member who offered to get us something to drink. And not in that "Can I get you a drink while you're waiting?" but more like "you look thirsty, I'm going to get you something." He came back with a beer for my husband and a glass of water for me. When our friends arrived we sat outside because they brought their dog. I stupidly wore a dress and instantly started to get cold as the sun went down. No worries, they have warm blankets for guests! Also, they lit up a heat lamp and brought it close to our table. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The waiter was not overbearing or overly chipper, he had a sense of humor and made small talk with us when he came round to check on us. We had coffee and dessert and it was all great and we never felt rushed to finish. During the meal the staff member who got us our first drink came round to see how things were and he was so warm and memorable that I was certain he must be the owner. I looked him up when I got home and found that he was the general manager, Todd O'Leary. Well kudos, Todd, I thought your customer service was fabulous and it definitely will be bringing us back to Toast. Besides, I hear you're a Kentuckyian - so is my husband. Maybe that's where you both get your warmth and personality.
(5)
Cindy C.
According to yelp, a 2 star rating is "meh, I've experienced better". That's exactly how I feel abut TOAST. We made a reservation for Easter Sunday, thinking most other places wouldn't fit a party of 5. When we arrived, TOAST was actually quite empty and remained that way through our experience. I had my mind set on a few dishes I saw on yelp. However, none of them were available. I had very little interest to try the other dishes on the menu - there were only 7 items! I opted for the omelet, which wasn't anything spectacular. I'll go with one of the many coffee or bakeries in Rockridge instead of coming back here. MEH!
(2)
Mary M.
Great selection of craft beers and unique cocktails. I ate a delicious sandwich with thick bacon, spinach, egg, and aioli. Sooooo good! Fun lunch break with outdoor tables and dog friendly.
(5)
Serina K.
Usually have a nice experience here but coming back today after a year or so I was super unimpressed with the service. The wait staff never greeted me and the host looked like a deer in headlights when I walked to the podium to be seated. It wasnt busy at all or I might understand the weirdness. Once seated no one came to take my order and I watched as the couple arriving after me were seated and greeted by a server, orders taken. Two glasses of water later, still nothing, just servers looking at me and walking inside. Maybe the automatic 15% gratuity on all parties has created a complacent staff, not sure, but I ended up walking out hangry. Knowing me I'll give them another try due to their vast whisky collection, but so far am put off.
(3)
Carrie S.
I've always been a fan of Toast. I used to live in the Rockridge area about a year ago and loved this place. So, this morning when I was looking for a place for brunch, we went out of our way to go to Toast. We arrived at 10:30am. Seated outside. Ordered food and drinks. So far so good. Then the drinks ended and the breakfast was over and we were ready to leave. 5 minutes goes by. 10 minutes go by. Our server never came back. Not a huge deal. We get up and ask for our check. Still it's fine. Then they bring the check and on the check is a 15% gratuity inclusive. WHAT? I've heard of this for parties of 6+... but, for a party of 2? Look, I always pay 18% - 20%, but to include the (optional) tip on my bill just left a bad taste in my mouth. Apparently, it must leave a bad taste in others mouths as well because when they bring the bill, they bring a little piece of paper with an explanation on why they are adding the (optional) gratuity. Really LAME, Toast. LAME. Sorry, I'm done with you.
(3)
Kamil K.
I wasn't too impressed with this place. We had a drinks and the cheese platter here. The cheese platter was wonderfully mediocre.Two small chunks of bland cheese, some honey and slice apple. Probably not worth $12. My friends cocktail was quite bland as well, I think it was the 'Lost City.' It was nothing special. I had the Scrimshaw Pilsner beer, once again, it was ok. On the positive side, the atmosphere near the bar is cool and the waitstaff was quite good and friendly. I would ultimately give this place 3.5 stars.
(3)
Sarah T.
Made a lunch stop here on our way to Santa Rosa for the weekend. We ordered the chicken liver pate, spicy pork meatballs and pulled chicken sandwich that reminded us of the vietnamese chicken banh mi. Quality of food was great and ingredients were very fresh. To drink, we went with the featured cocktail - very refreshing and paired well with our lunch. Service was great from the time we were greeted all the way through to the end of our meal. They offered a sweet complimentary snickerdoodle cookie at the end of our meal which was a nice surprise!
(4)
Katlyn M.
I went to Toast for the first time last week with three of my friends for drinks and some snacks. Usually one of my friends doesn't order a drink because she can't find anything that likes because she's quite picky ( doesn't taste like alcohol, doesn't taste like cough syrup, vaguely sweet, no carbonation. ) Our bartender Meg chatted with my friend Sarah to figure out what she does and doesn't like and made a drink especially for her. It was a cross between and arnold palmer and a mojito, and she named it the Princess Sarah Special. This was the first time that I have ever seen Sarah finish a drink. Props to Meg for figuring out Sarah's insanely picky palate. We also enjoyed the cheese plate, meatballs, and pickled veggies all of which were delicious. Our waitress and all of the wait staff were friendly and efficient. I returned Saturday for brunch and am happy to report that it was great too.
(4)
Cheryl J.
Fantastic place! Mixed drinks are unique and recipes are well thought out. Quality small batch liquors.
(5)
Lisa T.
Came here for happy hour, but it was only beer and margaritas. The margarita was whatever. I ordered a non happy hour drink, the La Vida fumada, which wasn't very good. I got their a little something fried, not very memorable. Took a long time for it to come out. I felt like they forgot about the food, until I reminded them. Service is fine, just food takes forever. Other random things to note: the napkins make my pants linty and there are no toilet seat cover. Overall, I wouldn't come back here again. But if you're looking for a nice patio place, this place has it.
(2)
Nadine B.
The inviting ambiance and comforting California cuisine offered at TOAST has made it a neighborhood favorite of mine. The atmosphere is a lovely balance between casual and romantic, without being pretentious, and the dishes are consistently fresh, seasonally inspired, and tasty. The food reminds me of a home cooked meal, always nourishing and satisfying, but never too rich. I prefer visiting TOAST for dinner, as their lunch menu is pretty much just sandwiches of which I am not a huge fan. I held back giving out all 5 stars mostly because of the service, which seems to be a bit too laid back. The food sits at the pass for far too long, and I have had to send back dishes after they arrived cold at my table. The waiters are usually pretty friendly, but service tends to be slow. Still, I will continue to visit TOAST regularly!
(4)
Nicolo P.
Fantastic spot with a decent little drink menu! Make it for dinner if you can! Beautiful outdoor seating as well!
(4)
Michelle D.
This place is more on the pricey side. But, 15% is added to the bill for tips toward the whole staff (so tipping is optional and would be for server only.) this place has a good wine selection and delicious (albeit small) food options. This place has a nice vibe, especially to sit outside on a nice day for brunch.
(4)
Daniel N.
Came here for brunch yesterday with a party of 5 and a baby in a stroller. The food was excellent and the staff very friend and accommodating. Only wish would be a few more drink options including some draft beers, but hey, you can't always get what you want...
(5)
Marie B.
I can't believe this slice of dining heaven is sooooo far away from where I live! ;) First, they are hugely customer centric ~ I called during lunch rush to ask about hosting a teeny tiny brunch for my daughter and her brides maids. The young woman took time to answer my questions AND happily made the reservation for one of the busiest times ...immediately following Thanksgiving. Second, the space is beyond adorable. Bright contemporary warm and incredibly comfy ~ including cutesy afghans to snuggle under while enjoying the lovely fall weather ...and charming touches like tables carved from drift wood and chairs that invite you to sit sip and savor Last but not least the food is divine! Oh dear where to start?! The White Bean Dip ...yum. The Biscuit ...Swoon!!! ...the Egg in a Basket made you wish for seconds with the yummy, perfectly toasted bread and the fantastic Brussel Sprouts ...salivating. Also the French Toast and Roasted Potatoes were divine. I'm a huge fan!! Move to Houston?! Pllllleeeeeeaaaaaase!!
(5)
Erin D.
i went here to celebrate my 30th birthday with a group of ladies, and was severely disappointed with how the management treated us! The servers (Farrah, Jeff, Ryan- ALL FANTASTIC!). We requested a sequestered area to dine as we tend to laugh a lot, and ENJOY our dinner with happy and yes, sometimes boisterous conversation. Once we arrived we ALSO offered to sit outside as to not disturb any other parties inside... we were shuffled into the front corner booth, and after approximately 15-20 minutes of sitting (waiting for appetizers) drinking champagne... the manager came over to brashly inform us that WE had lost HIM business. Now, I understand we are a loud group, HOWEVER, there is this little thing called tact...apparently the GM does not have this! I felt like a 5 year old child being scolded, for laughing, and enjoying our food (which was heavenly!!!). More importantly, the food is good- not NYC, Shanghai, Italy good- but good for the neighborhood and price. I will go back to Toast, but only during lunch or brunch time (I have friends who frequent the place, and have never had an issue- because the particular manager we encountered is not present during the morning/afternoon hours). THANK YOU to the AMAZING staff for welcoming us, making us feel happy, and taking care of our awkward, and embarrassing situation! Again, Farrah, Jeff, and Ryan- NAILED IT!
(2)
William M.
Great atomsphere! We come here often for wine and appetizers! Honestly there's not one item on the menu we haven't ordered that hasn't been great quality!
(4)
Meg M.
Super lippy hostess in a restaurant that was 1/4 Full on Memorial Day Sunday. I waited for 20 minutes on the patio, after checking in with the first (nice) hostess, and finally walked back inside to place my order at the hostess station. I asked what brand of coffee they served; hostess replied: regular and decaf. Frittata was overly salted, clearly reheated and cold in the middle (I thought I'd get fresh food!); coffee was lukewarm and stale. The second star is for the fresh field greens that came on the side of the frittata. The third star is because the manager came and spoke with me about the poor service and the cold food, and they brought water for my dog. They tried to make it better, but I wouldn't recommend the place and doubt I'll return. If you're looking for a good corner spot with a pretty patio to enjoy a cocktail, this might work better.
(3)
Elaine Y.
came here for ladies night out dinner. place was very cute and got great service. the steak i had was juicy and well prepared. would definitely come back for more. the drinks were well prepared and tasty. parking can be a pain so get there early.
(4)
Stefanie S.
DISAPPOINTED. CONS - 15% pre-tax service charge - honestly do they think that this gives them cart blanch for incredibly bad service? Party of four -a) one of our cocktails had to be remade 3 times b)appies were brought to the table for two of our party and an entree was brought for another - WRONG c)a 2nd bottle of beer was ordered, showing up 20 minutes later d)one of our party was still eating when his dinner plate was whisked away, with no 'have you finished'? PLUS, the food isn't that great. I don't know how they have kept their doors open for 4 years and expanded. In an area chock full of great dining experiences, TOAST needs to knock themselves out in every arena. I would never recommend this place to anyone, for any reason. Super crappy experience
(1)
eryn y.
Had a wonderful experience dining here in the bar. The bartender - I think her name was Meg? - she made sure we had everything we needed and we never felt neglected. She made the most delicious drinks, too. Highly recommend the Sunday Driver! Definitely order the white bean spread and brussel sprouts when dining in the bar. Go for the meatballs too, if you're feeling like you need more of a hearty meal. All in all a great experience and will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Mark A.
First, the positive. The staff did a good enough job and were quite courteous and prompt. The drinks were good and the atmosphere is nice, especially on a warm summer evening on the patio. Now, the reason for only two stars. My girlfriend and I were looking to split a dinner plate from the "supper" menu. We told the server this and asked about the pork meatballs, which she said were very good. They were good, but not great. And they were $12--for THREE MEATBALLS and a few leaves of arugula. When the server brought our "supper" we both looked at each other with incredulity. Seriously? I don't know how any restaurant could in good conscience charge that kind of money for a few very small (like the ones you can buy at IKEA) meatballs and some greens. I do not mind paying good money for a meal, but this was anything but. I cannot comment on the rest of the menu, but this dish should definitely be listed under starters or appetizers. Calling that plate "supper" and charging that kind of money is extremely misleading.
I agree w Ryan C. On 9/15/13, his review is spot on.. I'll just add that I really enjoyed the friendly unpretentious staff who took my silly over taxed brain in stride and gave us perfect recommendations that we really enjoyed. I apologize for being so un original however, their website also sums it up quite nicely and they deliver what is stated... "Featuring organically, locally + sustainably produced ingredients, small production wines + liquors, artisan cocktails, dishes for kids + adults alike, and gregariously gracious staff, TOAST kitchen + bar welcomes all. Eat. Drink. Be merry. Repeat."
(4)
SW S.
Toast seems to be a popular place and offers a small variety of finger food, starters and entres. Like 5 selections each. They are using 'winter' vegetables which is good. Their combinations of veges and chicken, pork or pasta is interesting but doesn't work. We shared the kale salad with almonds and goat cheese. The kale way overshadowed the other flavors. It was ok. The white bean spread with toast was very, very good BUT the toasts were buttered - dripping with butter - which seemed unnecessary since the white bean spread was rich and had olive oil in it. Plane toasts would have been perfect. While the kale salad needed salt, I had the pork shoulder which came onto of celery root, fennel and something else. Now, I love a good bag of potato chips - I love salt and will salt pizza - but the port dish was so salty, I almost sent it back. It was like someone had poured salt on instead of sprinkling it on. That combined with the overpowering of the root winter veges - there were too many flavors to make any of the flavors good. The port was variable in cooked perfectly and cooked too long/dry. It was a hard choice because there were only 4 entrees and the others did not sound good. One of the people in our party had been to this restaurant many years ago which it was smaller. Maybe it was better then? Disappointed.
(2)
JP C.
For a 3 stars I actually really like Toast. The drinks are good, the food is good, and I love the patio. I go there a lot because I can take my dog. It's a problem of timing. The first time I went, it took 20 minutes to put in drink orders, another 10 minutes to order our food. They were sold out of all but one entree and the people on either side of us both stormed out without food after waiting an hour. We left without order but figured they were just a new restaurant and hadn't worked out the kinks yet. We didn't go again for a year, but like I said, we go every few weeks now. It still takes forever, but your food does arrive. The problem is not with the servers. They work hard and are very nice. Things just need to change at the back of the house. My guess is that they are trying to up margins by hiring less kitchen staff than they need, but it's a tough business and my armchair quarterbacking could be way off.
(3)
abby k.
I want to like this place, I really do. I've given it three tries now, and each times something leaves me feeling disappointed. The first time was the best. We had a nice table, a polite, although somewhat inattentive server, but the food was hit or miss. The next time, similar experience, but the food was more miss, and I was served cold, raw stuffed trout. They were nice and gave us desserts on the house though. The last time was ridiculous. They were serving a burger which had pea shoots, goat cheese, bacon and some other exotic toppings that my son wasn't interested in. We asked if we could just get the burger without all of those things on it and they said no problem. Then we asked if we could have cheese and they would only give him goat cheese, no substitutions. I would have been fine with this except that they were offering a grilled cheese and a ham and cheese sandwich, so it wasn't a matter of not having cheese, it was a matter of no allowing us to have the cheese. I couldn't believe it! We pointed out that there seemed to be other cheese options, but they stuck to their guns, no cheese. It was so bizarre. So, I think that will be it for us. To many other options out there.
(2)
Vanessa J.
Happy ends at 6p...makes me sad... Food was delightfully fresh and delicious. I ordered the salmon and it was cooked perfectly. The staff was very friendly and everyone had that "all-hands-on" approach which I appreciate. They seemed to get much more busy later in the evening so I would highly recommend making reservations. The cocktails were creative and unique the only draw back was that they didn't have cranberry juice for a more traditional Cape Cod. The did offer tasting sizes for their wine as well as flights, which I will definitely have to do next time. The decor and overall feel is very industrial and contemporary with a mix of rustic pieces. I loved the little touches like using up-cycled wine bottles for both the water glasses and the indoor lighting fixtures. Outside seating is very large with plenty of space heaters and even cozy looking throws available to help keep the chill away. I can't wait to dine here again!
(4)
DeAnna T.
I am so super impressed with this place. I don't even drink, but I really love the food. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because, I do think it is slightly overpriced. I have met a friend here several times and just took my family here for the first time tonight. My 3 year-old is a little foodie, but still, I was skeptical about how it work for her. They get an A for kid friendliness. A server greeted her super sweetly by getting down on her level and chatting with her up and engaging her on a 3-year old level...first win. Second win, seating outside, jar of crayons and coloring page. 3rd win, the cheese plate with bread, apples and honey (on the dessert menu, but brought as a starter) And wow, to a reviewer that I saw was disappointed in the food. I don't get that, I have had only very good experiences with the food, I think it is actually quite comparable to the wood tavern (and good luck getting a reservation there!). I have had many things, including soups, salads, small plates and dinners and really have never been disappointed. Tonight, we had local salmon and slow cooked pork, which were both just jaw dropping. I love kale and the pork had pieces of kale and carrots in it that were cooked to perfection. Really stellar. Service was great, too!
(4)
Al W.
Expensive, average quality and not very comfortable. Very disappointed that the wine list started at $70.00 per bottle. Only alternative is a 1/2 carafe (about 16 oz).-or by the glass Menu is not particularly interesting or creative. Tried Toast twice. Sat outside the first time and had awful service. Suggest you pass on this restaurant.
(1)
Samantha R.
I brought my fiance here for his birthday dinner with some friends. The food, vibe, and service was good, but it was so loud I could hardly hear myself think. The building is not constructed very well and as a result there was is WAY too much noise bouncing off the walls. I had to yell just to speak to my fiance right next to me. Although the food was good, the portions were quite small. Less than an hour after leaving, all 4 of us admitted we were hungry and had to hit up a taco truck. It had a nice ambiance but there are better places to spend my money in the area.
(2)
Valerie I.
My husband and I was driving down College Avenue tonight looking for a place to eat when we spotted Toast. From the moment we stepped foot into the restaurant until leaving, our experience here was over the top. We had the option to eat inside or out and we chose to eat outside. The gentleman that seated us was also our waiter. He was exceptional. I wanted to sit near a heater and he moved one near me which made the dining experience very comfortable throughout the evening. Within a couple of minutes of ordering, our drinks and appetizers was at our table. Just before our dinner was served, the waiter brought me a throw blanket because it was starting to get a little chilly out. When our dinner was served, the food not only looked amazing - it tasted as good as it looked. It was the oven-roasted mary's half game hen, charred corn mash, asparagus, grilled peaches with savory plum sauce which had such a unique taste that I really can't remember when I had such an original dish. From the beginning to the end of our dinner experience, everyone in the restaurant was attentive to us. I definitely recommend Toast and I look forward to visiting this place again. Thanks goes to one of the best waiters I've ever had and everyone that helped my table for making our night out so rememberable... Cheers!
(5)
Teri B.
I will start with why I deducted stars. On a not very crowded, early Sunday evening, with 4 of us at the table, they (for reasons unknown) tried to rush us, - while others were still eating - by immediately removing the plate of anyone who seemed to be putting a fork down. Where I was raised, that's considered poor service. One doesn't remove plates until all diners are finished. What was worse was that they never even asked "May I take your plate?" (still rude, but at least offering an option.) The food was great, (both times... deliciously sublime) the service was fair (I was there once before, but had better service outside, this time was indoors). There was one young woman (employee??) who appeared to have no other job than to swan around looking bored and distracted, occasionally shuffling menus whilst doing her best to ignore our efforts to wave her down. I couldn't tell for sure if she worked there or was vamping in hopes of being 'discovered' a la Lana Turner? It was bummer to have such a lovely meal end on such an offensive note, the plates being whisked away one by one, as the other diners at the table were still enjoying their meals. I suppose you could say that it left a bad taste in my mouth.
(3)
R D.
The name is Toast. There are beautiful repurposed wine bottles all around and a huge drawing of a corkscrew on the wall. The menu says "drink more wine." I get the impression this place is all about the wine and having just come back from the original wine country (France) I was ready to do just that. We went during Oakland's Restaurant Week and was attracted by their preset menu advertising three courses with two wine pairings. Apparently everyone else in Oakland had the same idea and the place was packed--good for this neighborhood business; bad if you want to have a conversation. The beet, quinoa, goat cheese salad was the first dish and was good--nothing special to make this popular salad stand out from the many times I've eaten it and prepared it myself, but definitely good ingredients. Unfortunately, the wines advertised were not poured and the pours were tiny-- half what I'd expect. Cheers? This meal came on the heels of two fantastic Oakland Restaurant Week meals at Ozumo and Lungomare, where we didn't feel like we were in a cafeteria and given sips of what they had to offer.
(2)
Celeste N.
Why don't thy serve bread with their little meals? Sitting outdoors is wonderful but the food is slightly expensive for the amount and quality.
(3)
Jenna C.
This place is so cute! I met a friend here for a quick drink (picked her up at Rockridge BART - very close by), so I can't speak to the food. We sat in the bar area (which has the coolest sign!), which still provided table service. It was semi-crowded for a Thursday night, which is a good sign. I had a glass of pinot grigio, which was a generous pour and nice and refreshing. The server was very sweet and attentive with the water (always a plus). I'd love to return!
(5)
Rikki R.
Between the friendly staff, charming Sunday brunch guitar player, satisfying menu, and creative drinks, I really can't choose what my favorite part of TOAST is. We spent 3 hours there on a Sunday afternoon, and never once felt rushed or unwelcomed, so we opted to stay for dinner. Just go, you won't regret it.
(5)
Heather S.
Just had brunch there. It was pretty empty inside. The service was fine, took awhile on both food & drinks though. The chicken sandwhich was really disappointing. Almost NO chicken. Literally a few tiny pieces and ALL bread.
(3)
R K.
I came in here for my birthday last week, and I really enjoyed it. The pork meatballs are amazing, and the saffron risotto was unique and flavorful. The chicken was perfectly cooked, and I wasn't a fan of the bitter cabbage side, but the grilled peaches balanced out the flavor. Boca Negra dessert is a must, a gorgeous flourless chocolate cake that melts in your mouth! They make great cocktails here too. I feel they are a little on the pricey side, but their portion sizes are larger than I remember. It's a nice place to sit and have a meal or get a drink, and while that is bait for large obnoxious, noisy groups, it's often worth it.
It took me more than a year to finally come here, even though I live close by. There's something uninviting about the space -- likely because it's set off from the street -- but on a sunny day when they have the patio set up, it suddenly becomes inviting. The menu is stellar -- a wide range of shareable plates, generally with an Italian bent. We had bruschetta, pasta, lamb meatballs, and a couple of other dishes. Everything was good. The experience and menu reminds me a lot of Barbacco in the city, which is easily one of my favorite restaurants for a high quality but casual meal. So: great spot, sorry it's taken me so long to visit.
(5)
Rowena P.
Perfect spot for good drinks, simple meal, and gossiping with friends. Very accommodating & engaging staff, will definitely go back!
(4)
Ashley S.
I love coming here. The staff are always very friendly, the inside seating is always nice, but outside seating a nice Oakland evening can't be beat (plus they have heaters!) Mostly, I come here for the wine. And the champagne. And the delicious small plates. Toast is flat out a lovely experience.
(4)
Jennifer S. P.
Oakland Restaurant Week! Such a great find. I have been wanting to try this place ever since I moved to Rockridge, but I just did not have the push to go until Restaurant week came and I needed to make my picks. We ordered one restaurant week menu (three courses and pairings) and a few smaller sides from the menu. I am not cushioning this review. I was SO impressed by all aspects of the restaurant. Staff, Food, Presentation, Wine selection, time table on assistance. Literally one of the best restaurant experiences I have ever had. I will definitely be going back and I can't wait to try out their breakfast/lunch assortment. YOU MUST GO. Dish Picks: Celery Root Soup was so amazing. Mixed green salad with redwood hill farm fresh goat cheese and pumpkin seeds---the goat cheese was so fresh I tasted that on its own several times without the rest mmm.! Lastly, definitely try the chicken liver pate with a wine pairing. Small but delicious. ahhh...still dreaming about it.
(5)
Ryan T.
Been here about 4 times since moving to the Elmwood/Rockridge neighborhood 2 years ago. It's split into two main sections: a restaurant section and an appetizer/bar section. It's nice to have the second option when you still want a place to sit down and enjoy a cocktail and some delicious apps. The apps knock my socks off while the entrees, although still really good, leave me wishing I just ordered more appetizers. I'm always please with the wine here and the cocktail specials never cease to amaze me - delicious! Best thing about Toast: the SERVICE. Everyone here is SO nice and friendly but also very professional, making it feel like you're still at an upscale joint. PROS: Lovely service. Great cocktails. Better appetizers. Outside seating with heaters. Walking distance to BART if needed. Table seating in the Bar section. CONS: A little on the pricey side. The name "Toast" sounds like a breakfast place.
(4)
Hoppie B.
I've tried hard to like this place because it's in my hood and the ambiance is very inviting but it's always a disappointment. The food is mediocre - the last salad I ordered there had croutons equivalent to Pepperidge Farm. The wine list is so-so, and the service is just OK. If I want to I truly enjoy good drink and food, I would cross the street and sit myself down at Wood Tavern.
(2)
Yoshika H.
Nice outdoor seating as well as indoor. Too bad they close fairly early on Saturday... Tried few dishes here which I will post some photos. Gabanzo beans or chick peas deep fried with capers were very nice and a steal at $5. The deep fried peppers were pretty good too. Their cocktails are superior.
(4)
B R.
Outstanding evening and fantastic meal. My dad and I stopped in to check out this new local spot and were both overwhelmed by the excellence of the evening. From the minute we walked through the door the staff worked like a perfectly synchronized Orchestra to make us feel welcome and meet our every need. The Mater Dei pointed out the three tables available for us to choose from to our liking. Immediately after we sat down a male staff person came to provide us place settings and a female wait person came to provide us with water glasses and poured our water. Every employee at toast was relaxed, friendly & utterly professional. The food was perfectly prepared and delicious. I had the scallops with kale salad and my dad had a pork chop. We shared the arugala salad and flourless chocolate scrumptiousness with creme fraiche and coffee for dessert. The decor was comfortable, rustic & hip. The only two details for improvement would be hotter coffee and the music overhead could be turned down a couple of notches. All in all this is a place to go!
(5)
Michi K.
Went back. Still in love. Totally different waitstaff, totally different menu (drinks and food alike). Totally nailed it. Totally worth braving BART. Totally worth a trip over the bridge.
(5)
Kenneth R.
Although I did like Toast, I somehow can't proclaim "I am on fan." My rating is 3.1416. There are definitely points in Toast's favor. This small establishment has a nice look and good vibe. Sitting down, one immediately feels comfortable. I came for dinner and thought that the meal was A-OK. I had a kale-based caesar salad with chopped egg and a bowl of braised beef. With the first course, I drank a Bokisch rose that was fine. Then I moved to an on-tap gamay that was probably the best wine on tap that I've had ever -- that wine was the high point of the experience. The salad and beef were OK but struck me as unremarkable. (Talk about jaded palates!) Our menus were sticky when they were brought to the table. They were less sticky when they departed, but my fingers got gooey while I examined the menu. (It's a bit dark in the room, so flashlights were supplied by the friendly staff while we examined the day's offerings.) Our server touched me gently on the shoulder when I ordered. (This used to be reputed to be a tip-raising gesture, but it often backfires nowadays.) I might well come periodically if I lived in the neighborhood. But I don't. I suspect it'll be a while before I return. When I do, it'll probably be for some drinks and light snacks with a friend.
(3)
Marck N.
I really enjoyed our evening here. My friends and I visited Toast for Oakland Restaurant Week. They offered a pre-fix menu of 3 dishes that each came with a wine pairing for $40. It was obviously the best deal as everyone in the restaurant was ordering it. We started our meal with the chicken liver pate, cheese board, and the salumi selection plate. All small bites were good. Of the cheese, I enjoyed the buttermilk blue affinee the best. From the salumi plate the prosciutto was very tasty. As for dinner, it was the mixed green salad, all day braise pork shoulder and the chocolate cake. I can't remember the wines served with each, but they were all excellent. For dessert, there was a choice of a dessert wine or whiskey. I chose the whiskey and it really helped complete the meal. The dinner menu prices are quite affordable, compared to the other restaurants in the area. A very good thing, as now I will make it one of my regular hangouts.
(4)
Ray R.
Great visit great place to catch a sandwich. Stopped by for lunch on a weekday. It was a pleasant day to add to that we got great service. Service = nice, smile and knows the menu. The food tasted fresh and delicious. Would I come back - YES. I brought it up in conversation and someone else had the same impression. Keep up the good work!
(4)
Kristi K.
Went there for brunch with friends for the first time. Had the best Kale salad with Tuna confit! We also ordered biscuits on the side, but they ran out and didn't have enough for all the orders so they comped us the two they had and also a cinnamon roll. Very nice...will definitely be back!
(4)
Nique F.
Love, love, love everything about this place. It's the wine bar of my dreams! If I lived any closer, I would need to find a liver specialist...stat. From afar it looks like a cute white cottage with charming bistro tables spilling onto the front patio, welcoming you to The Good Life. Inside you'll find a clean modern aesthetic that feels both classy and casual with jagged-cut wood tables, a cozy bar, and a chill soundtrack (a la Fiest / Citizen Cope). It's a very tempting pit-stop during a Rockridge stroll. The wine list seems to have something for everyone, by the glass or on tap. If you're with a group, it's worth going for a bottle or caraffe which are all well-priced. I do wish they had a happy hour, but they seem to be packing the house anyway. Make sure to try the Spanish "Cocca" bread (sort of a cross between cornbread and foccacia) Mmmm, savory carbo-liciousness. Toast is a darling addition to this hip little 'hood. I'll be dreaming of my next visit...
(5)
Chris L.
While the toast with the white hummus was not that great as the reviews claimed, everything else was excellent. They use fresh ingredients and everything was perfectly cooked and presently simply. This place is efficient and clean. I wish there were more places like this! They have tables outside complete with heat lamps and blankets if you were inclined to get cold. We sat inside and most of the tables are for parties of 2 or 4 and there is one communal table by the bar at the end. I saw there was a private dining room also. The service was pretty good and the staff were all friendly and knowledgeable. The mixed green salad with the grated Parmesan cheese, apples and honey vinaigrette was awesome. The homemade bread reminded me of Bouchon. The lamb meatballs were delicious and the tomato sauce on top was excellent and fresh, but overpriced at $12 for four small meatballs. The chicken entree was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside and the veggies were perfectly cooked. This is a good place for a light meal but not budget friendly for students.
(4)
Amanda M.
Thankfully I had made reservations for 9pm for 2 on a Friday night. The place was somewhat busy so our server not arriving after 10-12 minutes is acceptable. We ordered cocktails and I had the house made tagliatelle. I wasn't obsessed with my dish, but I think this place is worth another try... Maybe .
(3)
Ryan C.
Top three things I enjoy about Toast: Their blend of classy and casual. The feel of an upscale restaurant, with little of the pretense. Large, animal-friendly patio with blankets and heaters for cool nights. Simple and rustic design palette. Toast projects an easy, stylish vibe. Staff smoothly rotates in based on task and flow. Each time I go, I have moments with the host, waiter, sommelier, chef and busser, as well as other staff who fill in to maintain the pace. The fluid, subtle ballet is enjoyable to watch and receive. A menu built around limited, intelligent choices, for both food and drinks. I appreciate restaurants that focus on doing a smaller number of things well. This allows for a clear, confident menu, simpler ordering, stronger pairings, waiters with deeper and more meaningful understanding of what's on offer, and it all results in a better experience. Par for the Rockridge course are prices which feel like they could be lower. I may visit less often as a result, but I still stop in, now and then.
(4)
Melissa C.
The hubs made reservations at this spot for our Valentine's Day dinner...what a lovely spot for a special date night. Since this was Valentine's Day they only had the pre-fixed menu available which consisted of a cauliflower/split pea soup (creamny and delicious), choice of a beet salad with blood oranges or garden salad with mushrooms (we each chose a different one and both were freshly prepared with nice flavors), choice of lamb chops, a vegetarian pasta like dish, and steelhead fish (we chose the lamb and the fish...both cooked perfectly, full of great flavors and nicely presented), and finally dessert which was a chocolate type of cake with a bourbon sauce (amazing, the bourbon flavors went so well with the rich chocolate taste). Everything from start to finish was amazing. They also had a choice to pair the entrees with wine, but we opted to order cocktails from their craft cocktail menu...both of us ordered bourbon drinks and both tasted fantastic. They use square ice cubes and for those that know my previous reviews...that detail is what impresses the hubs and I when ordering a good drink. The ambiance of this little joint is romantic and comfortable but still modern. They do have a patio area with heat lamps and we saw that they provided blankets for those chilly nights. What a great little detail to offer outside diners. The service was friendly, prompt and fast...they refilled our water glasses without us having to ask and weren't overly attentive like some places are. This place is a great place to take a special date or to have a really nice evening out with friends. I wouldn't mind coming back in the future to try out their regular menu items.
(5)
Su C.
Tried this place a couple of times, but didn't particularly care for it. Place is near my house and I really liked the atmosphere, but food was just ok. Service was good. Outside seating was comfortable. Place is really popular.
(2)
Marie D.
I have no idea why this place only has 3 1/2 stars. I consider myself a total foodie and this is, hands down, one of the best places I've ever eaten! We started with the buratta with peaches and the baby greens salad. The presentation of both of these plates were stunningly beautiful, but nothing compared the the incredible flavors!!!! I, literally, could not stop making those "good food" noises! We weren't even hungry after those, but I had to try something else just because... Megan (our bartender/server who totally ROCKED ) suggested the carrot soup. Seriously ... unbelievable flavor!!!! The whole experience was so fabulous!! I can't wait to be back in the area to go again!!!!
(5)
Josh T.
Awesome, classy, cool, cozy - this place is a real gem. The decor is fun and sexy, the food - fresh and healthy, and in perfect sized portions. The waitress was the best part though - sweet, pretty, smart and top-notch service. The busboys could tone it down a little though. ;) Cocktails are out of sight too!
(4)
Chuck W.
Had a great brunch on Sunday, came in around 11am with no wait and was seated immediately. Ordered the soft scrambled eggs and pulled chicken sandwich, both were delicious. Unlike what other reviewers experienced, the service was excellent and swift, and they don't charge for refills on the coffee. One note about their menu choices though, it is light on the meat-centric dishes, but it's a nice change from a heavy meal last night.
(4)
Sarah S.
I just had one of the most amazing chicken dishes ever. Moist delicious chicken leg. Chock full of garlic, kale and carrots. Kale and garlic? Why don't I have more of it in my life? I could have eaten another chicken leg - but, it was just the right portion. The staff is friendly and pleasant, and even if I'm here a bit late, they're cool with me hanging out and enjoying the wine. And they love wine. Come late, to avoid the kids (sorry families, but I'm childfree for a reason) and settle down at the little bar, the booths (hard wood, so be prepared if you have a boney bum), or one of the cute tables with Eames style dowel legged chairs. A rotating seasonal menu, and a place to feel comfortable at. I just found my favorite spot in this area of Oakland.
(5)
Elizabeth V.
Looking for a good glass of wine and small bites for a pit stop before dinner? Look no further. Came here with a friend and decided to just do wine and white bean spread. Yumm yumm. The wine was great. The spread was delicious. The ambiance is awesome. The bar is decorated perfectly. The service is pretty good. Not my absolute favorite, but I'm definitely a fan. One critique, there is a white wine flight, but no red wine flight? Ummm, unacceptable. I need my red wine flight. I am looking forward to trying their Happy Hour. Until next time TOAST!
(4)
Michecia J.
Five stars for the grilled chicken dish, the pleasant waitstaff, and the ambiance. Went here Monday night after the host at Ramen Shop said the wait would be 1 hour. Gimme a break! This is not Manhattan, boo. And I don't see Gordon Ramsay or Jiro Ono anywhere to solidify why wait time would be in excess of 30 min on a Monday night after 8pm in Rockridge, CA - especially when RAMEN is being served..not steak. Toast, just down the street, stood and delivered. We got there just before 9pm and it was nearly empty. I know what you're thinking, I thought it too: shaaaakkkkyyyyy. But no. Grilled chicken was delish, ambiance was warm and inviting and made for a lovely, intimate dinner with a close friend. Let's toast to this kitch + bar being all to the good.
(5)
Ashley D.
Technically, if I could give this place 2.5 stars I would. But I'm picking the lower of that because I just feel it was a real let down because they have so much potential. Let me start off with the ambiance is great - which is probably why everyone is attracted to it in the first place. The outdoor seating area is very nice. Nowhere to go but up, right? Unfortunately wrong. First off, the place is definitely overpriced for what it is. They have marked up prices so much it's pretty ridiculous. I ordered a Cowgirl Creamery cheese plate - the only thing they added really was honey (and maybe some nuts) and it was way too overpriced, considering they didn't actually COOK anything. And even when they do, I think basically everything is overpriced on the menu. This is still Rockrige - not the Marina..yet (I hope). Also, the service is less than average. Several times I found myself wanting to get the waiter for him to be nowhere to be found. I can understand the wait on the actually cooked food to be long, but the wait on our drinks was also longer than I would like. I don't know if they need more staff or what? Anyway, I wanted this to be my go-to place since it's very convenient for me, but alas, even with the outdoor seating, the prices and service have precluded that.
(2)
Indigo L.
I really want to like this place but after 3 lunch attempts over the last year the wait to be fed is still so slow. This time it made me laugh when the hostess said "I know you guys are next in line for a table and I know there are tables but we have to keep a pacing to not overwork the kitchen..." Huh?? In response my husband said -"can we at least sit at our table, instead of waiting on the sidewalk?" She did seat us....we did get menus and our lovely waitress did bring our food... BTW - our food was already pre-made so I am not sure why it took 20 minutes to bring the dish. p.s. I am happy the other reviews are positive as I think this place should stay...it just needs to improve its "flow"
(3)
Cece G.
What I love about this restaurant is the fact that they change up their menu often... Each time that we've been over, the menu was never the same. As a chef, I love to try different concoctions from fellow chefs... And I must say, if you want your palates to be tickled , come to this place! The ambience is so cozy. There's seating al fresco ( outdoor) or if you want it a little more quiet... You can stay inside! Either way you will be greeted and served by young & hip servers! It reminds me of SUR in Hollywood! They are all friendly and very welcoming! Price wise? Very affordable! Portioning? Just right! You will be surprised, you would think the portions are small but Joyce & I always leave satisfied!
(5)
Vanessa S.
I had an appointment across the street from Toast and decided to come here before it to have an early dinner. I had come across Toast before and it had stayed in the back of my mind as a place to try. I am so glad I decided to finally try it out. I have nothing negative to say about it. The service was great, the food was EXCELLENT and the wine was delicious. I ordered the Crispy Petaluma Chicken Breast. The whole dish was filled with great flavors and the chicken was so crisp and juicy. I don't remember the wine I got and it's not on their menu online. It was a white wine, with an unusual name. It's definitely one I would like to get my hands on. Needless to say, I will be back here.
(5)
Laurie H.
I really like the atmosphere here - the options of the patio, the big room with the high ceiling and booths in the middle, plus the other room all seem to be good choices. I do think the menu options are too limited for those who don't eat red meat or poultry (another seafood item or two? or veggie item or two?). A bit pricey, too. But if someone wanted to go back, I'd meet them here again.
(3)
Byron L.
The service here is extraordinary. They were late at serving the appetizer we ordered so they gave us some free nuts and beans. We ordered the spread on bread. The bread was a little bit too crispy and tough. The spread was nice. The chicken tender was okay. Drinks were a bit pricey and the selection is not too big. But the ambience in this place is nice. I like the big log tables.
(4)
Al O.
Wow some of the worst service ... I really want this place to do well...it's the perfect little place the neighborhood needs .... But wow. Something needs to be done about the service. When you are flagging people down, anyone to take a drink order - Oye. The terrible device overshadows what could be a great neighborhood joint ... Or box & bells overflow place.
(2)
Jenna W.
Well I must say that the only reason I'm giving this place one star is because of the manager who is working that night. We had come in for a 30th birthday party with about 7 girls. We had told them when making the reservation that we tend to get a little loud and they should put us in the corner. We got there a little before our reservation and sat outside on their lovely patio to enjoy a glass of wine before our table was ready. Once we were seated we proceeded to order appetizers. Of course as we were waiting we started to talk and have a good time. Well apparently we were having to much fun for some of the other patrons. This is when the manager took it upon himself to ruin our night. Instead of politely asking us to try and keep it down, he proceeded to inform us that because of us and our noisy fun WE had LOST him two tables. This was before our apps had arrived, which just made it awkward. I have never been talked to like that by someone who was taking my money for a service! We were all so upset that we decided that we would get our apps and then leave (we would be the third table HE lost). Many of the other staff came to our table to apologize for him and say they didn't think we were too loud. The manager eventually came back to apologize as well, but by that time the damage was done. In the end he did end up comping the appetizers we had had, which sort of made up for his rudeness. Now the wait staff on the other hand was amazing!! They made us feel very comfortable before AND after the fiasco with their manager. It was their suggestion to comp us something, so we left them a very nice tip! If you like a quite, pretentious, no fun allowed restaurant this is the place!
(1)
Cori C.
Fresh local produce, quick service. Small portions, perfect for a snack or light lunch. Even wine can be ordered as a half glass or "taste", which I love. Outside seating w umbrellas for sun and heaters for cold. Menu appears to change monthly. Really enjoyed it.
(5)
Courtney S.
Toast is a friendly place to hang out with friends, or have a going away party for a beloved coworker -- which is why I was there. Our group was seated near the windows, that's a toasty spot to people-watch, enjoy a few plates, and talk about past good times. I enjoyed some crostini and a plate of average-sized meatballs, packed with flavor. The sparkling wine (can't remember which) was very tasty. All in all, a sad occasion made better by great service, great drinks, and wonderful surroundings.
(4)
Tam F.
I had the pleasure of indulging in a 6 course with wine pairings with some lovely women the other evening as part of a "BlackBoard Eats" deal. For $75 per person, we were treated like special guests and each course almost trumped the next. At first, I thought this place would be too loud to have a nice dinner as there was a large group there for happy hour. Once they left, it quieted down and though the seating is not the most comfortable on the tush, it was good for the back. Since I am not good at tracking wine and am better at food, I hope my friends will post their own reviews someday and may have a better memory on the wine. When we were seated we were all given glasses of water and a bottle to refill our own. We were also brought some house made olives-they were good, but a little less brined than I prefer but I couldn't stop eating them. This was a tasting menu so even though it was a lot of food, the portions were not huge and everything was served individually except for the first course. 1.Meats and 2 cheeses served on separate boards with the meat board consisting of some type of pork product I don't indulge in, some wonderful grain mustard and incredible pickled onions. The cheese board had 2 small triangles of cheese-one of a pungent brie and one of a sheep's milk cheese (like a Machego), some honey and a few pecans. (Wine: Rose') 2. Salad made with chickory, shaved (not sure what kind of cheese) and dried figs in a light but delicious dressing. The cheese and the figs paired well together but we all felt the chickory was way too overpowering as a green on its own. (Wine: ??) 3. Soup-romenesco. INCREDIBLE and one of the best soups I have had. It was rich in flavor but not heavy. It had a lovely goat cheese spread crostini as a garnish as well as some drizzle of oils. (Wine: ??) 4. Arugula, fennel and meyer lemon zest with a light vinagrette and anchovies. This was the least successful dish as the anchovies were served next to the salad criss crossed shaped sprinkled with a tiny bit of either paprika or cayenne. The skin on the fishies and they were very smelly. 2 of the 4 of us (not me) were brave and tried the anchovy-and the one of us who is a typical anchovy fan, was not a fan of this dish. (Wine: Savingon Blanc) 5. Ono with mashed potato(not sure what color) some lovely spinach. Parts of the ono were a little overcooked but when everything was combined as a perfect bite, it didn't much matter. (Wine: Red of some sort that I gave to my friend as it was too dry smelling for my taste) 6. Dessert. A tiny sliver of a sumptuous chocolate brownie looking mousse textured rich but not too rich bit of lovileness. It was served with some absolutely incredible caramel sauce and some housemade whipped cream. Fabulous way to end the meal. (Wine: Muscat and my personal favorite) This was definitely a fun and successful outing and something I would do again-especially with the lovely women I had as company.
(4)
Rachel W.
Happy hour alone is awesome! $6 martini's, and they use Hangar One vodka! The staff alone is amazing! They are so friendly that you can't help but come back!
(5)
Josephine L.
My friend and I had a quick lunch here before our hike. It was okay, but nothing particularly mindblowing. I had the baked rigate, which had far too many onions, and she got the pulled chicken sandwich, which was better. Service was spotty--sometimes friendly, sometimes not. The patio is a lovely spot though, and great for people-watching.
(3)
Krissie B.
This review is for brunch. While having a lazy Sunday, I suggested to my BF that we check out TOAST as I had recently moved to Berkeley and am a fan of the "College Ave" area. We made easy reservations on Open Table and headed to TOAST for a 12:30pm brunch. Surprisingly, parking was abundant and we were seated right away, albeit inside since it was a gorgeous day and all the outdoor tables were taken. We opted to not have cocktails, although the drinks looked terrific! He ordered a coffee and fried egg sandwich, while I had the Forget Me Not iced coffee and mini pancakes. Our server was great and steered me away from ordering another item as my pancakes would be sufficient. The fact that he did not up sell me was a plus and I definitely did NOT need the extra item as my pancakes were plenty! The BF and I enjoyed our meal thoroughly and he exclaimed that he would try to replicate the pistachio pesto on his sandwich. My pancakes (8 mini ones) were fluffy and light, and came with mascarpone, syrup, and strawberry jam on the side. We will be back for sure for their dinner and to try some of the cocktails.
(5)
Beefalo B.
We went here for brunch on 9/6/15. I have to give this place one star because I walked out feeling as naked as a freshly shorn sheep. I mean, we're talking completely fleeced! They charged $10 for a tiny piece of frittata. Seriously, it was gone in about three bites. It came with a little pile of organic greens on which, if I strained really hard, I could detect a drop of olive oil. I tried to shore things up by ordering a side of bacon, to the tune of an additional $5. I asked them to cook it crispy, but that word apparently means different things to different people, because they made sure mine was nice and limp. Add a cup of coffee, tax, and the mandatory service fee, and my brunch alone cost around $22. Look, if your customers are going to pay over $20 for breakfast, they shouldn't leave hungry. Everyone else at the table had the same experience (a tiny omelette, a puny sandwich, etc.). The total bill for our group was $187 and everyone left dissatisfied. It's not that the food was bad; the quality was just fine. But it's unconscionable for a restaurant to charge people like this and not deliver value for their money. I'll never go back.
(1)
Corinne Y.
Ate here for early dinner on Sunday during a "special event" which featured BBQ and live music. The concept seemed really great! But wait... We were seated at 3:20, and were told that the kitchen opens in "10 minutes", until which time we were welcome to order "small bites" from the bar. We made it clear upon seating that we would like the dinner menus as soon as they were available, but didn't get them until about 1-1.5 hours later at which time we were told, "These are fresh off the press." So, it was also then clear that they had no intention of serving us dinner until much later than when we arrived. Friendly staff, but dishonest. I would have preferred to hear from them, "We are not serving dinner until it is READY to be served, which will be at ------ time tonight. You are welcome to stay and enjoy what we are serving now until it is ready" Service continued to move like molasses ALL NIGHT! We wanted to have dinner and drinks within a reasonable time frame, and due to the slow service we didn't end up paying our bill until 6:30pm. It was ABSURD! I was told at one point when I asked the waiter where my drink was (I waited at least 30 minutes before saying something), "Oh, well I put the ticket in and I thought I saw it on the bar, so..." I'm not sure what he wanted me to tell him about HIS job, but I just waited for this to be solved without suggesting something to him. He seemed to want ME to help him out with this. I was confused. He returns in just a couple of minutes without a drink and then tells us it is comped. Drink arrived about 10 more minutes later. Food: Good. 50% meh and 50% pretty good. The BBQ, which they were featuring was just ok. Many things were underdone. The beans had about 15 minutes left in the oven, but were served anyway (we were comped for this). The mac n cheese noodle was also underdone. The flavor good, but texture lacking in both. We didn't want to complain about EVERYTHING, so this wasn't mentioned to them. Would I go back? NO! ...and I didn't even tell you about the first time I ate here.
Sitting inside or out on the patio, TOAST Kitchen + Bar is a relaxing brunch spot in the Oakland Rockridge neighborhood. The menu is farm fresh and natural. No artificial ingredients mean no Diet Coke for my friend Jonathan K. For six of us, the three White Bean Spread apps (with...toast) went fast. Kale salad was very kaley with enough roughage for the week LOL. My Smoked Applewood Bacon Bnh M on a roll was awesomely bacony and filling. It even included a fried egg. Cocktails were mixed by a cool bartender. My Bloody Mary went down fast! Our waiter soon warmed up to us and how could he not with six friendly guys to serve? Haha. We had a nice and relaxing brunch with good food. Great brunch choice.
(4)
Erin G.
Visit date: July 9, 2015 What I ate: Brussels sprouts, white bean dip with toast, fries and fried avocado, flat iron steak, lemonade First time? Yes. This place is bigger than I thought it would be. Super hip and trendy decor, but still very inviting. The staff is friendly and the menu is group / sharing friendly. The Brussels sprouts were crisp and salty. The potatoes were a little too large to be seasoned well and the sauce was definitely a downer. I think it was suppose to be chipotle like sauce but it turned out bitter, perhaps a bit heavy on the smokey flavor. The white bean dip was lemony and delightful atop the thin crunchy toasts. We ordered the flat iron steak medium well, but it came out well done. Turns out the waiter gave us the wrong dish and we didn't realize it until another waiter tried to give us more steak. Our plate came with asparagus and carrots, both of which were cooked to perfection and had slight sweetness. Our plate was suppose to come with mashed potatoes (I guess the person who's order we received had requested more veggies instead) so we inquired and they gave us a side order of the mashed potatoes! Most excellent! And well worth the wait; the mashed potatoes were so smooth and buttery.
(3)
David B.
Decent place to meet up with someone. I can't review the food as I had none, but the outdoor seating was a great place to gather and discuss. They did serve us drinks which were tasty, but I'm not sure I'd head back to this place if I were in town without another outside suggestion/recommendation.
(2)
Elly K.
A great night out in Oakland! On a nice night eat outside enjoy a glass of wine and people watch. Great food,great people! Enjoy!
(4)
Mac C.
The food was decent, but not great. -Warm bread and honey butter, more like hard cold bread -Trout salad was good but not amazing. -Bloody Mary was actually delish!! Service was terrible...2 of us went at 1 PM and the restaurant was not crowded at all, yet it took 40 minutes to get our food. Our server didn't check in is once and had a pretty sour attitude. Wouldn't recommend.
(2)
Joco F.
I'll be honest I've yet to dine here as I tend to use it as my waiting room for Ramen Shop. This is in no way putting the place down. If anything it has always been a pleasant surprise for me when I come in for a drink and some snacks before dinner. I'll admit I enjoy coming here enough that I should honor the place with a full meal sometime soon. From what I've experienced the cocktails here are top notch and the bar snacks are excellent. I especially like the fried brussels sprouts and the spicy meat balls. The drinks are seasonal but I really haven't had a bad one yet. If you ask for suggestions the staff will sometimes come up with an item not on the menu that they can whip up as well. Obviously by that statement I do enjoy the staff who is always friendly and attentive. I never feel rushed or neglected which is a big deal especially when you only plan to be there for a short time. Hopefully I'll dine here in the near future too and follow up on this review even more.
(4)
Matthew R.
We live down the block on Claremont and visit a few times a summer. They have a monopoly on sun filled patio seating in Rockridge, but I've just about had enough of their lackluster inattentive service. I wouldn't ordinarily object to their obligatory 15% service charge, but when the service is this shite, I do. I'd rather brave Barclays a couple of blocks down College.
(1)
Leo H.
Excellent staff, great wine, and fantastic ambiance. An urban oasis that charms you into slowing down, enjoying the company you're with, and lingering for another drink. Great staff sets the the tone. I never feel intruded upon, but they seem to be there just when a refill is in order. Delight is in the detail here. I'm thankful for this gem of a neighborhood spot.
(5)
Cheyenne A.
I Would give a 0 star if I could . Guys don't get confused about the rainbow flag they hanged there. It's just to at trample people to their business . So, me and my wife wanted to check out this place , we get in and the hostess looked us up and down, as if we did not belong there. They seem to put black people away form the white people tables , I know... It's so sad to even write this , but is the truth. I cannot say that all the hostess working there are bad people but, that's what happened to us . And the prices of the drinks ?... Not worthy guys . $12 Dolores for a glass of wine - that's OK but, they don't even fill your glass to the middle . They're rude . Not a good experience . PS: my wife is PISSED OFF !!!!
(1)
Michael S.
Nothing irritates me more than waiting almost 30 minutes just to get a drink order. As with most Rockridge eateries, it was cold inside. I've never heard of a 15% tip included for only a party of four which the waiter didn't even mention. Entrees were superb, and the main dining room was designed and decorated and a very unique and unusual way, but despite those pluses, I won't be going back.
(3)
Rich G.
My wife and I have wanted to try this place out since we moved to the neighborhood a few months ago and since we had a rare day off together, we decided we'd get some lunch. We walked in through the patio and waited at the front door for someone to help us, which took a minute as the staff was running around, preparing the restaurant. We asked to look at menus before we were seated and then we looked around for a few minutes for someone to seat us...all of which just felt a little awkward; sort of getting off to a rough start. The guy who sat us took our drink orders and promptly brought us our drinks - that was the last time we ever had any contact with the two or three staff working. We waited another 15 minutes to order before we decided to give up - I got up and talked to the bartender, the only person in the room, to get our drinks bill and $10 later, we left. We walked down the street to get some pizza at Zachary's - where we were greeted promptly - and paid for our food and drinks for....drum roll....$11. So, poor service and two drinks (an Arnold Palmer & a soda) cost $10? Or I could get a small meal for two with drinks for $11 and experience good service...hmmm, tough call.
(1)
Andrew K.
Alert: this is NOT the same Toast that's all over SF. This is cool trendy spot that is clearly a bar at night. Inventive short brunch menu. My parents loved their egg sandwich and pancake bites. Big issue - the cream for the coffee was straight up curdled - like South African Umqombothi style. And they brought out some new milk, but were hella nonchalant. It was seriously GROSS. Even so, good enough for a return visit and totally not overrun at a prime time on Sunday -- a rarity.
(4)
Vanilla P.
We came to Toast when it was a ticketed event - you buy X number of tickets to get different food items from the set menu. Nothing sounded great on the set menu (we had come for their regular dinner menu), so we went to the bar to figure out plan B. Taking a second to drink a cocktail and figure out plan B was a better part of my evening. One Le Vie en Rose later, I floated down College Ave to the Ramen Shop.
(4)
Izzy S.
I came here for dinner the other day and was very satisfied with the food. My friend started off with the squash with watermelon gazpacho (which he said he could have downed five of, because it was so good), and I had the arugula salad with figs and raspberries, which was extremely fresh and zesty. We both shared the meatballs (three pieces), which were delicious - very juicy with plenty of chunky tomato sauce. And as an entree, we shared the pork tenderloin. This had to be one of the most well-prepared pork dishes I've ever had - it was perfectly cooked (not dry at all) and was paired with an amazing fig sauce. We also subbed the mashed potatoes with corn mash (which was very accommodating of the chef), and it was spectacular! The atmosphere of TOAST is very relaxing, with a patio overlooking the main street. The service was very friendly and attentive. The food was a little slow to arrive, but worth the wait.
(4)
Liv A.
I'm really happy that Toast is a thriving establishment on College Ave. It's just what the neighborhood needs! I was happy to return there to meet up with a friend over a mid day glass of vino. There were surprisingly a lot of people still dining at 2pm from late weekend brunch. The front room was filled but they opened up the larger room just for us. We both ordered glasses of red ($8 each) with great recommendations from the waiter. Pours were generous. Since we both had lunch earlier, we just went with some olives ($4) to nosh on. Lovely decor and ambiance inside. Very cool signage at the bar and kitchen. Last time I sat out on the patio so didn't get a chance to see the interior. The servers were all so professional and friendly. Definitely planning to return another time to try some of their signature dishes.
(5)
Alicia O.
Nothing wrong with this mid-sized spot. I've been twice recently: once for an extended wine night with gal-friends, once with my brother, his fine ladyfriend and...someone we'll call my date? The service has always been friendly and attentive, the appetizers ample, the cocktails strong (necessary to make that "date?" thing better) and the vegetarian options plenty. I have a tendency to run into people I know here, which is always pleasant, and makes me think "My friends have very good taste!" If you're hemming and hawing with in Rockridge, and the line at Southie and Wood Tavern is making you want to cry, come here.
(4)
Matt M.
We got to Toast semi-regularly and always have excellent food and amazing service. Everyone there is so nice and friendly. But of course the food is most important - and it really delivers. Everything I've had there has been really interesting and tasty. They also have a fantastic wine/drinks menu - with stuff you don't see everywhere else. I highly recommend Toast. Definitely worth stopping in at if you haven't been before.
(5)
M K.
The drinks were poor, the food was boring, and the service was terrible. It looks cute but I'm not going back.
(1)
Robin T.
New fave bfast place in the bay. So often I feel that I have to compromise my responsible consumption, local (smaller carbon footprint) and organic values to eat out. This place really holds those values dear and keeps their prices reasonable (same as non-organic places in the area). I had the oyster mushroom & aged cheddar omelet with Rosemary potatoes, and ordered a side of the orange aoli. It was absolutely delicious, the mushrooms were cooked perfectly, preserving the delicate flavor. The potatoes were chunks but perfectly crispy and tender (which I found is a rare find with chunk potatoes). The aoli was dangerous. I can't wait to come back and try something else. Bravo!
(5)
Rita L.
3.5 stars. There was no wait when the bf and I strolled in around 8pm saturday night. In fact, surprisingly there were plenty of tables inside. We were greeted warmly, and our server had a really cheerful attitude, which always leaves me with a good impression of the place. We were seated in the "kitchen" dining room, and I loved the hanging lights across the ceiling. It had a cozy atmosphere, and plenty of booth-style seating. Nice place to go to meet with friends or for date night, but the only thing that was lacking was more patrons! There were a few other groups in that dining room, but it definitely did not have that warm lively buzz. It was quaint, quiet dinner. We had the bourbon spiked chicken liver pate, and the name suggests a more flavorful spread on the crostini than what it was. It had a hint of liver flavor and aroma, but it was a pretty mild pate. It was a decent appetizer, $5 for a plate of 3 crostinis with the pate already spread on, but I was a bit disappointed. I had the pork shoulder with kale and garbanzo beans (there was an abundance of garbanzo beans), and that was a very homey and hearty dish, exactly what I wanted at the time. The bf had the grilled chicken with wild rice, and the whole dish was just bursting with umami flavor. I couldn't figure out the taste, but could only describe it as umami because it was seasoned so well, without it being just plain salty, and the chicken was pretty moist. We were happy with our entrees except I wished the portion was a little smaller, and subsequently, a few dollars cheaper. The supper mains come out on a large plate, and I couldn't help but to eat myself silly. The menu is limited, but sometimes that's a good thing.
(3)
Jon C.
Great wine and beer. But you have to try the meatballs....holy smokes. Great patio on warm days too. You won't be disappointed .... Bring the kids or an appetite or both.
(5)
Rosie S.
Great wine and ambience, I haven't has a lot of their food so can't weigh in on that. I also like that they share their tips with servers and kitchen staff.
(4)
Roger E.
Late lunch at Toast hit the I-am-really-fussy-about-food spot. Recommended: old fashion tomatoes with pesto sandwich. The side exotic green salad did not need dressing because the greens were nakedly tasty.
(5)
K M.
Strolled into Toast by chance on a business trip, and had s fantastic experience. Behind the bar, Wilson was slinging some tasty drinks (and delightfully without hip bartender pretense). He was also joined by Meg, who was 50% waitress, 50% bartendress, and 100% entertainment. Great food, great ambience, spectacular food, and a nice location too. Worth stopping in. I'll be going back for sure!
(5)
Dan L.
The two of us came here for Valentine's Day dinner. Love the Rockridge location and combo of indoor and outdoor dining. Casual but pricey. For starters, we had the liver pate, and they were able to do a gluten-free crustini. Our entrees were scallops and steak, both were good. Boca Negra cake with caramel and a posset for dessert. Service was professional.
(3)
Caitlin B.
This review is for their events staff, not the food or restaurant. I was looking for a reception venue for my upcoming wedding. They do private events and we would have been a complete buyout. The space is gorgeous and the size was pretty perfect. I'd seen photos from another reception there and really liked them. I wrote an initial inquiry email to the private events staff member, and I received one follow up with the cost and no details about menus. I am planning the wedding from Chicago (from the Bay Area originally), and contacted other places due to the lack of detail. After a couple months, I decided I'd like to know what was included and arrange a time to come by and taste the food, but other than the auto away message I got while the person was on vacation, I never got a response to my multiple inquiries. If you're planning an event: beware the lack of communication!
(1)
Pamela G.
Shame on me for not having reviewed this place already! The atmosphere is great and the service is fantastic. I have dietary restrictions (for real reasons, people!) and our server was so willing to work with me on it. In the end, I had the chicken and it was AMAZING. Like I devoured the entire plate like an animal good. It was cooked perfectly-super juicy and tons of flavor. They have a great liquor selection to boot which makes this place even more awesome. I love this place so much I'm actually going back tonight!
(5)
Seana H.
I live in the area and love trying new spots. but Meh, I've had better is the perfect way to describe our meal. Cocktail was not great, protions were too small for the price. Expensive for a very underwhelming experience.
(2)
Clelia R.
I came here with my friend on a nice sunny day. The outdoor seating area is the nicest part. We ordered a bottle of Prosecco, (which was the most reasonably priced bottle) and it turned out to be good. I would give the food 2 stars, it's not bad but nothing special either. The portions could be bigger. I would advise going there mostly for the outdoor scenery, that's about it.
(3)
Laura A.
We've had amazing experiences every time we've been here. Good wine, amazing food, and fantastic indoor and outdoor ambiance, and it's a great place to bring our dog. Tonight a waitress accidentally dropped our food and even though we didn't mind, they treated us to wine and extra apps... They delivered them like beauty and the beast style! The management clearly values its customers! We'll keep coming back!
(5)
Lily H.
I came here recently with my best friend for a light supper before our concert at the Greek Theater. The food was excellent and the wine was great. Their wine flight is so flexible where you can built your own flight. We had quite a few of the appetizers to share and every one of them was delicious. The pork meatball was excellent and a must try. The overall atmosphere was laid back. They were attentive and ensured we were satisfy with our drinks and food through out the night. I would definitely be returning.
(4)
Markus N.
I've heard told there's food served here. I've heard it's good. I don't know from that, for each time I cross beneath that lintel all I see in front of me is BAR in lightbulbs, a not subtle siren song for my eyeballs. If Patti LaBelle were a siren she'd sing in the same key as the Toast BAR sign sings to me. Last night was the last night before Lent which begins at sundown today and I suppose I could have been indulging in what I've given up all day today but it seems dirty in a way to spend Ash Wednesday drunk with three cigarettes hanging out of my mouth. So the C Monster and I we partook of our lasts at Toast yesterday, crying a little and wondering what was so scary about this anyway? Goodness. At the bar they serve us whiskey and if it isn't Thursday or the weekend the bartenders can chat and help with the tastes and turn us on to their pretty good cross-section of possibilities. Matty was working last night. Matty cool. A fellow to our right was all scared by the Lenten plan but seemed as if he was giving it serious consideration and we made a date to meet back the Tuesday after Easter not to necessarily pick up right where we left off but for the fellowship. This is a sweet spot to meet friendly folks. Acoustically well-configured you can have conversational tones with these new friends and the others. One day I may venture to try their solid food. In between now and when that happens my 5 star liquid diet will be more than sufficient, thank you. Join me on the 22nd. We'll catch up.
(5)
Robert S.
Hey, this is a great joint. Brought some friends from Texas to the August 31 BBQ. Super friendly servers, finger-licking BBQ. A real Oak Town place, not College Avenue yuppified. Also, a cool set of jazz and blues by two guys on guitar and ukulele. Amen. Mac and cheese over the top!
(5)
Cynthia C.
TOAST is FABULOUS: *Staff, warm and just STELLAR on multiple levels, unobtrusive, intuitive, customer driven. Thanks for taking off the pickled veg, we didn't like it, you could tell and you made the effort without prompting. *Wine flights, I love all flights, I like to try bits of everything, whether it's solid or liquid *Desserts, AMAZING!!! Licked, the, plate, CLEAN!!! Get the Boca Negra. Best GF chocolate cake. The edges had a nice texture, rare to see that. *Gorgeous ambiance Improvements: have a larger selection of wine and dessert wine. But I don't care I love you just the way you are and your prices are completely reasonable too.
(5)
Rachel J.
"Well," says the hostess, "I suppose I could seat you, but you'd have to be done by 8:30. Are you gonna be done by 8:30?" My friends look at me and raise their eyebrows. Really?? their eyebrows say. "Sure," I tell her. We sit at our table and look at the menus. Why do they call dinner "supper"? Ahh, must be cuz they're fancy. The waiter uses 400 obscure terms to describe the wines. It is ridiculously ostentatious. Hello, friends, we are in Oakland! We order drinks. They never arrive. We order a medley of dishes - meatballs, winter vegetables with polenta, fried apples (?) They are all mediocre. (The fried apples are mixed with fried parsnips, btw, please beware!) We remind our waiter about the drinks. They still don't arrive. We give up. The bill arrives instead. It is super pricey. We don't even want the leftovers. We leave at 8:35 and almost expect them to say, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out!!!!" Next time: Zachary's.
(2)
Kalpesh J.
Made a brunch reservation for 11:30am... at 11am, (shout-out to the yelp / open table reservation process thru the app). It's a great spot if you're meeting friends from the city, since it's 2blks from Rockridge BART station, right in the middle of everything. There's probably 2hr residential street parking around the area, but I'm too lazy. Paid street parking, $2/hr on a Sat. Outdoor courtyard area is nice - it was busy, but the inside had space, and was really accommodating. It got busy with tables filling up inside around noon. Ordered a bunch of different things: White bean and toast - bean dip was good, toast was ok. Crispy potatoes and aioli - yes, it was good, get it. Arugula + Farro salad - very tasty, even had pomegranate Grilled cheese - you really can't go wrong with melted cheese and anything. Mimosas + cocktails - can't go wrong.\ I'm always looking for good brunch places convenient by BART for my SF city friends to come visit east bay. I've been to the other spots in the area (Crepevine and Rockridge Cafe); I'm glad I tried this place out - I'll be back.
(4)
Chelsey K.
Excited to try a new spot for happy hour, my boyfriend suggested we try Toast. The outside patio is a perfect spot to relax after a long day, but we didn't get the chance enjoy it because the person who greeted us at the door said "we are still recovering from a busy lunch so we aren't giving full service because we need to do dishes and clean". My boyfriend and I both work in the restaurant industry and couldn't believe our ears especially since he was just standing around when we walked in, showing no sense of urgency to get the place set up for the evening. Describing our experience as disappointing would be an understatement.
(1)
Leslie P.
I went here with a friend for lunch on a Thursday. We were a party of several "ladies who lunch" who settled into the various tables. Our table was of a very oddly rough-hewn wood, which was too narrow for dining, perhaps better suited just for having a drink and appetizers. When you lean a bit forward to eat, you could bump your head into the person opposite you. Very awkward! It was also noisy, due to the music, so we requested it be turned down, which they did. So, people, you can always ask to turn down the music and have some good conversation over food. Hopefully, it will be good, hopefully, it will be better than the sandwiches we had. I had the "deviled" egg salad. When I asked the server why the quotes, he said it was because the egg salad was "deviled" as in deviled eggs, that cumin was added. Say what? If you know anything about food and seasoning you will know that cumin is not a spicy herb. Deviled means "hot" as in hell, so some hot sauce, something spicy is in order. But this egg salad was about the most bland concoction I have ever had. Where were some minced onions, capers, a bit more celery crunch? Paprika? MIA. The pulled chicken was a bit better, but very soft, overcooked. To top it off, the buns were also soft and un-"toasted", which would have given the 'wiches some texture. As it is, we could have been toothless and still been able to eat these sandwiches. Not bad, but a few things could have bumped them up a notch or two. At the end of the meal, we were given two sorry looking chocolate streaked cookies. Not warm, not even warmed over, just two plunks of unappetizing staleness. That I could do without. On the plus side, Toast does have a nice ambiance, but with the high, beamed ceilings, I shudder to think how loud it is at night when it is full of raucous drinkers. The cork installation on the wall looked sort of lost and unbalanced, otherwise, the decor was smooth. I won't be going back.
(2)
Nick K.
Went on a Sunday food was really solid, had the all day braised pork shoulder, and a kale Caesar salad. The standout for me was the cocktail I ordered. Although I don't remember the name of it (which may speak to how strong it was) it reminded me of an old fashioned. Tried a taste of my girlfriend's Manhattan and it was perfectly made. Atmosphere: fair Price: My only critique was it was a bit high. Overall: Would definitely try it again and will certainly be back for a Manhattan.
(4)
Mansi A.
A nice little wine "lounge" (more of a casual restaurant, IMHO) in the Rockridge area, with a rustic interior of wooden tables appearing as if they were just made from trees, a concrete no-frills floor, and a sky high loft-like cieling. We thought the ambiance was super casual, yet chic with nice, dim lighting. Suitable for a date or a night out with the girls, Toast can be what you want it to be as long as you're looking for a good glass of wine and small plates/snacks. We started off with an Austrian Zweigelt wine. The cheapest on the reds wines by the glass menu, it was sweet and smooth, and most definitely enjoyable (just goes to show that "cheaper" wines are not necessarily bad wines). We shared the following snacks: - White bean spread with roasted garlic and toast: The hint of citrus flavor really brought out the white bean flavor! Served with crispy baguette toasts, this is a perfect bar snack/munchie while enjoying some vino. - Roasted asparagus bruschetta with herb ricotta and arugula: The herb ricotta was excellent with the arugula. I found it a tad odd that the asparagus was chilled as opposed to warm, but nonetheless, it was still tasty! I would've maybe preferred a slightly softer bread. - Chickpea farinata with cauliflower and mixed garden vegetables: Our venture into the unknown. Farinata turned out to be a thin pancake/crepe-like item made with ground chickpeas. Topped with the seasoned veggies, the dish was utterly amazing!
(4)
Bobby B.
The bar area is a bit bright. Decent drinks.
(3)
Warwick M.
This restaurant is new on the block but sadly they have already learnt some of the bad habits of restaurants that have been open a long time... to name one; the beverage glasses are packed with ice so that there precious little beverage in the glass. Overall, I would say that the main course was slightly better than mediocre. The chicken liver pate was delicious but served on two tiny pieces of sliced of toast... hardly enough to get a good taste of it and the lime dessert which was wonderful. Certainly not worth returning to.
(2)
Remy G.
I had a really bad experience here last week. Food was pretty good, but I can't even remember that. Dan or Don, the manager, was very unpleasant. A drink of mine, for several reasons, took a long time to arrive. 20 minutes passed between ordering it and it arriving. In fact, some of our food beat it to the table. When I shared that, he asked, "Have you ever been in service?" suggesting, that if I hadn't been in service, I did not have the authority to be displeased with our experience. He was very defensive, cut me off a few times and would not let up, trying to--I guess--make a point that my feelings were in the wrong. I understand that every place has an off night, or even an off table. But all most of us reasonable folks want is for the restaurant staff to be gracious, offer an apology, and to please let us get back to enjoying a night out. Believe me Dan or Don, I've been there in service work, and I know. But there was no graciousness the night we were there. I'm glad our experience was out of the norm for what most others have had to say bout it here, but there are too many other outstanding restaurants in that neighborhood to ever bother going back.
(1)
Gabriel B.
My date suggested Rockridge area of Oakland. College Avenue has a number of restaurants and bars. We were walking around and slipped into this place for a drink. We were seated outside by some heating lamps, and there was a red blanket on the chairs. I thought that was neat touch and hoped to be sharing it with my date as the evening progressed. (Unfortunately it never got that cold) We ordered the cheese plate and a buttermilk biscuit and prosciutto appetizers. I had a Vesper Martini,it was very well made, although I would have liked it to be colder. My date had a glass of Sauvignon blanc. The service was very friendly and helpful with her suggestions. I would definitely come back here, although I am curious about the other places in this area.
(3)
Geoffrey R.
Lively-upbeat, neighborhood new cuisine spot, with versatile seating in the bar or dining areas. Had a small plate of squid with cranberry beans and a light balsamic vinaigrette, delicious and full flavored with a tapenade compliment. Had the skirt steak with corn relish and more cranberry beans - dishes composed of a blend of strong complimentary flavors to entice the palate. Exciting cuisine! Finished with a light refreshing lime posset, blackberrys and almond brittle... Yummy! Would return, with excellent wines by the glass to chose from...
(5)
Meghan P.
I've been here 3 other times mainly for one glass of wine and don't recall the service being this horrible- if I did I wouldn't have suggested it when meeting up with two girlfriends early on a Thursday. While waiting for one friend the service was fine it was dead inside the restaurant, they brought us water and weren't annoyed we chose to wait. So we are all there, we ask what the happy hour wine/beer are- it's early. We get an unsure answer after she looks at the menu (mind you there are only 4 reds, 4 whites by the glass) Answer- garnacha and whatever the white IPA is...It's fine if you don't know, go double check rather than guess please. Drinks arrive, the garnacha we thought we ordered tasted so acidic we thought it turned. After looking around for 5 minutes and not making eye contact we finally got the hostesses attention. We tell her our drinks are bad way to acidic for a garnacha, she tells us it's actually not a garnacha because the happy hour wine was something else it's nero d'avola firriato which is supposed to taste like that. We send them back. I order a white wine and my friends order beer instead- only to learn that the happy hour beer is also not a white IPA but the Pilsner. It continues downhill with the small plates we ordered. Very frustrating and the experience took away from the point of the evening- which was to catch up with friends over a glass of wine. Instead it turned into frustration and we couldn't get out of there faster to head else where for another drink and food.
(1)
Yen P.
I like this place. The food and cocktails have been solid each time I've been here. Indoors smells a bit like cleaning products recently applied, at least the few times I've been here. Sit outside if you can... I think my experience and possibly star rating, would be a bit different is I had to sit inside. Service has been excellent; and food is very consistent, and good.
(4)
Lara W.
Impeccably done. While I will always remember this corner spot from my days of ballet lessons at nearby Shawl Anderson (it used to be Capizio), I couldn't have hoped for a better revival of the shop. Low lighting. Slick bar, side tables and center counter to perch yourself and bask in the glow of modern chandeliers. Chalk on the bathroom wall. Very superstitious? I came here for an event, so I haven't had a glimpse of the spot "on its own", on a Monday night (are they open Mondays?). However, when you're itching for a romantic bar that give wine the spotlight, this is exactly the kind of place you'd try to imagine, if your imagination is any bit as classy as mine. I had the flatbread with mushrooms and arugula, which was a great bite (but again, I have no idea if its a regular menu item). I don't eat meat so I had to get hyped about the desserts: a flourless chocolate cake and a persimmon pudding, both served in bite size pieces on crisp gingerbread (almond?) biscuits. Blame the "sexy-in-the-air" but I let slip my hyped up reaction to the flourless cake's goodness by telling the server that I wanted to hump it. I, myself, have no idea how I would do such a thing, especially since the idea just sounds like a chi-chi cliche of a movie already made for college students. So, I'll just eat it next time, and savor the fresh whipped cream exactly where it is--on top of a baked dessert. Date yourself, or someone else, here.
(5)
leahnora r.
Ahh love...Lets face it--when you are dining out with someone that makes you tingle all over, you can think a can of tuna limp noodle casserole dish with ketchup sauce and a glass of white zin from a box tastes like Russian caviar and Cristal Champagne. While staring deep into your lover's beautiful mesmerizing blue eyes all you can think is "pinch me I must be dreaming...." Alas...you begin to settle into reality (honeymoon is over) and your taste buds come back down to earth. That's when you realize that you eating a hostess cupcake, not lavender infused creme brulee. But all love is not lost...not if you come to Toast, which boasts not only a richness in fine wines and spirits, and sustenance, but an ambiance suitable to make any first date fall in love. My handsome man and I were celebrating a special occasion so we came here to have a little quality time. We instantly felt at ease with the soft ceiling lighting, complimented with a bold neon red display behind the bar. The hostess Meghan was very sweet and accommodating (when we had to push our reservation back "no problem"), and the waitress was extremely friendly and excited when we told her it was a special occasion. I could also tell by the way the employees interacted, that there was good energy bustling within. That's always a good sign to me. Everything is farm to table here, and it shows. Nothing is overdone, seasonings are used to enhance the flavors of the food, not overshadow them. Plates are small, but you feel satisfied with the amount of food when you have wine/cocktails to pair it with. I wouldn't say the prices are low, but they are about right for what you receive. My man was feeling generous and splurged on a pricier wine (it was superb) so that might have skewed our tab in the higher direction, but overall I'd say it was worth it. You can also order "tastes" of wine if you don't want to decide on one bottle and those range from 3- 6 depending on the size. I'm glad I listened to my boyfriend and let him make the decision on where to go to celebrate our evening. I couldn't have asked for a better service or surrounding. Just when I thought the honeymoon was over...he lifted me back into space again...Thank you to all at Toast for a memorable meal/night!
(5)
Sara S.
Went here for Sunday brunch for a friend's birthday. There were 4 of us and we were seated right away, but after that the service went noticeably downhill. The restaurant was not anywhere near full - there were only three other tables occupied when we arrived, but everything seemed to be moving at a snail's pace. Our main waiter took our order after a few minutes, but given the minimal amount of other diners, it took a long time to actually get our food. After we finished eating, our waiter was no where to be seen and it took a long time to get our bill, and then again, our bill with credit cards sat on the table for almost 15 minutes, waiting for someone to come get it. I was definitely confused by the wait staff - there were at least 5 people on the floor, and every single one of them helped us at some point. It was confusing enough for us and others that when I got up to use the restroom, a woman at another table tried to ask me a question as I walked by, thinking that I was working there. Food-wise, I was not super impressed. I was hoping for some more breakfasty/ brunchy items. There were a bunch of weird "side" dishes on the menu - bread with olive oil, roasted potatoes, a greens salad with yogurt - that don't constitute a full breakfast, but were mixed in with a few other more substantial things, so it was a bit confusing. Finally, I appreciate a good cup of coffee, but the only coffee served at Toast was pour-over - so it took a long time to get the first cup (as well as the second) and no free refills. I think it's fine if restaurants want to serve premium coffee that way, but it would be great to have a regular drip option.
(2)
Krystal A.
The five stars are for the chocolate chip cookies alone. They are only available during lunch. Get em' while they're hot!. The food here is tasty but a bit on the light side. Either that, or I'm just a fatty. I ordered the ham and cheese sandwich that was really good, but pretty pricey.
(5)
meshell c.
A quaint wine bar that does not serve coke. Ugh! We had wine and they had a wide variety and selection. I'm not much of a wine connoisseur but my date was and he recommended this place. I ordered the spicy lamb meatballs and that was a great appetizer to split. It's a bit on the pricey side. I liked the outside seating and the very open/high ceiling indoor seating. The waiters can be a bit friendlier. Both my date and I weren't really a fan of the service. Overall: Meh. It's cool, but not a place I'd bring my girlfriends to kick it and chat it up.
(3)
D B.
We had a fabulous dinner at Toast last night. Everything was perfect. We loved the inside decor but the weather was beautiful so we sat outside, friendly waitress, creative delicious cocktails and food. The only difficulty was trying to decide what to eat! We absolutely want to come back so we can further explore this creative and delicious menu.
(5)
Melanie C.
Quite the people-watching scene in Rockridge. Bring your pals, family or date, score a table on the patio, and there you have all the eye candy you could possibly want. I never realized how yuppie Rockridge was until planting ourselves there and watching everyone walk by on a weekend evening.
(4)
Ran D.
Great food, phenomenal service. Todd, the GM was very accommodating. Will def. be back.
(5)
susan m.
My husband & I discovered Toast some months ago, and have been there at least half a dozen times. The food is quite good and I wanted to give them a 4-star rating, but can't because the service is so hit-or-miss. For example, I had phoned them several weeks ago to make a birthday dinner reservation for a friend (I specified that it was her birthday, asked that her dessert be served with a candle in it, etc.). I was assured by the receptionist that this was noted in the reservation. We arrived for the birthday dinner where I, again, checked with the hostess to make sure this had been noted. Again, I was told "oh yes, we've got that down right here." So we have this pleasant meal and, after the plates are cleared, the waiter asks "would anyone like to see the dessert menu" with a blank look on his face. My intuition flickered at that point as I realized he had no clue that it was my friends birthday. After he took the dessert order, I quickly sought him out and, sure enough, he had "no idea it was your friend's birthday." That seemed odd, but I asked that he simply bring her dessert to the table with a candle in it. He replied "of course." After waiting a while, our erstwhile waiter brings our desserts with no candle and proceeds to look at my friend and say "I know it's your birthday but we have no candles." She was very graceful about it, but I was annoyed. Most restaurants standardly have candles for occasions like this, and I had made a point not once but several times that this was a birthday dinner & asked that a candle be put in her dessert. This is not rocket science and there was ample advance notice to easily have accommodated the request. Another time a few weeks back, 3 of us were at Toast for dinner. We all ordered at the same time, but one of the entrees (the meatballs) didn't make it to the table until 2 of our party were pretty much finished with our meals??? With absolutely no explanation for the lengthy delay...huh??? The devil is in the details and it seems like too frequently some of the details get dropped off the radar at Toast. As much as I like the food, this stuff will give me pause before I decide to go back, if I do.
(3)
Philip H.
Needed a place that was dog friendly, has a good wine and beer list, and tasty food. Thankfully we stumbled upon Toast! With the sun shining, a few glasses of wine and some shared small plates and entrees, a seat on Toast's patio was the perfect end to a long work week. With our dog in tow, we enjoyed the people watching, the attentive service, and the delicious food. The wine list is full of really tasty whites, reds, and sparkling wines all at a very reasonable price per bottle. I can honestly say the boca negra (flourless chocolate cake) changed my life! To see pictures of the food we ate (including that cake) you can see the write up at my food website below: eatsporkjew.com/restaura…
(4)
Jennifer A.
Just had cocktails and appetizers here, it was a great place to start the evening. While I didn't have a glass of wine, they seem to have a nice selection. Their garlic white bean spread is just as good as yelp has said. We also got cheese (goat cheese with blue rind, yum), and bacon cashews (they were only ok, would skip next time). Their flat bread was also really nice.
(4)
Cheryl J.
Tasty food, awesome decor and perfect staff. I would recommend reservations because their dining room is small. The outdoor patio is awesome too!
(5)
Jacqueline C.
We stopped here on a whim for lunch one day, in between running various errands. It was a surprisingly sunny late fall day, so we decided to sit outside. We had the lamb meatball sandwich, which was quite good. My companion, however, didn't think the meatballs were lamb (he thought they tasted like pork), which once he mentioned it, was believable, but I chose to believe that perhaps it was a mixture of pork and lamb. In any event, it was yummy. The service was friendly, but I don't think they were expecting so many people on a late fall day. When we arrived, it wasn't very crowded, but once things became busier, the waitstaff were hard to flag down. Had we been there on a lazy day, to slowly enjoy a glass of wine, we might not have noticed when the service began to slow down, but on a sober-errand running day, it was hard not to notice. I would probably come back for a glass of wine when I have more time on my hands. I will say this place is Rockridge kid friendly -- nearly every other table out on the patio had small children in the group.
(3)
Jenny S.
Had a few appetizers + drinks during Superbowl. Really nice ambiance! Cheers!
(5)
Jensyn H.
Toast is a must for my lady friends and me. Every time I am in the area, we stop by this classy spot for wine and small plates. With reasonable prices, friendly staff, and tasty plates, how could this place not be such a hit? The baked squash blossoms are served in a magnificent tomato cream sauce. I always find myself soaking the last bits of it in bread. Last time I found myself at Toast, I ordered the baby lettuce gems with watermelon radishes, which was sprinkled with a simple vinaigrette. It was exactly what I was looking for--something light that would not overpower my wine. As for the wine, we usually split a 500mL carafe of one of the wines on tap. I know, I know--wines on tap! Yes! So, you have the choice of the "Red Belly" (Skylark Red Belly Carignane/Syrah, North Coast 2009) or the "Ruby" (Andrew Lane Cabernet Sauvingnon/Gamay, Rutherford 2008). We always taste both and agree on the Ruby. The carafe is a great choice at a great price if you're going with a few friends and plan on having a few glasses. We split it between 3 ladies.
(5)
T S.
Oh wow. The entrees are kinda expensive at Toast, and last night there were only four to choose from. So after extensive deliberation, I ordered a dinner side salad for my meal. So my review here is for the salad. Yes, the salad. Just the salad. That's all. Salad. Ok, my review: When my salad arrived, it was visually appealing, with bits of yellow corn kernels and other colorful things. But biting into it, I found my salad to be suprisingly flavorless. Salt and pepper did not solve the problem. So if you are thinking of eating at Toast, and after perusing the menu are considering having the salad as your meal, as I did last night, I might recommend dining elsewhere, as I left Toast at the end of the evening somewhat unsatisfied by my meal. So here's what I'm thinking. I'm thinking after my company has their big IPO, I might be able to afford an entree here, and maybe I just might come back and submit a new review.
(2)
Thy N.
It pains me to give them so few stars, but in all honesty, the food is bland. We had the lamb meatballs, white bean spread, parmigiano-reggiano with truffle honey, chickpea farinata, and the roasted sole. We had a couple decent glasses of wine, but I was too disappointed in the food to care. The lamb meatballs were alright, as was the parm-reg (but how can you possibly screw up chunks of cheese drizzled with truffle honey?). Everything else was boring and tasteless. Sorry :/ Again, I take no pleasure in giving them this rating, as the space is super cute and the staff is sooo nice. Really, the service is beyond fantastic and I wouldn't mind coming back for a glass of wine. The food is just missing that "mmm" quality.
(2)
Elba G.
Amazing cocktails (I highly recommend the Ali Raja) and way friendly staff. Nice to go to a wine bar that isn't pretentious; everyone was really friendly. Place gets pretty packed on weekends, so I tend to go earlier in the day or during the weekday. Highly recommend the burrata as well. Never had food here that I didn't like.
(5)
Chris K.
Came here for lunch with girlfriends. We sat outside on the patio and it was lovely! We hadn't seen each other in a long time so we had a lot of catching up to do and our server was very patient with us as we trickled in and spent several hours enjoying lunch. I had a flight of white wines that was featured and each was delicious. We shared the olives and almonds as starters and portions were generous and tasty. For lunch I had the egg salad sandwich, the bread was amazing. A soft fresh french roll. Sandwiches come with a green salad and a chocolate chip cookie...not bad for $10 and the portions are huge! Our server was attentive without hovering. I would definitely return!
(5)
Happy N.
Service is always good and the French Rose on the wine list is superb.
(4)
Jen L.
I thoroughly enjoyed my Friday night experience. Highlights: + They accommodated a last minute party size change. + They accommodated our baby - the only family in the room apparently. + Fresh, industrial decor complete with chalkboard walls to leave discriminating messages of your fellow table mates for them to discover on the way to the bathroom. + Friendly, casual service. + DELICIOUS FOOD!!! We ordered the kale, sole, braised meat, and quail, and some salads. All were so good. The quail was some of the juiciest, most tender and flavorable meat I've ever had. And the sole was was cooked perfectly. SO good. Except... Lowlights: - Small portion size for the $$$. As in, we went to eat Ramen Shop afterwards. I will have to think hard about the next time I visit and ask my stomach how full it wants to be.
(4)
G T.
Love the wines here, and the outdoor patio that is toast-y (pun intended) warm.
(4)
Frank L.
A while ago I gave them a 3 star review after 3 or so visits of not so great. However, they've improved themselves! Yay! Very warm staff, great wines and excellent food! The only thing I don't understand is them serving horrible american coffee rather than espresso.
(4)
T A.
What a fantastic lil wine bar for a quick lunch with friends or even a lunch meeting for work. Atmosphere was not too loud at all and they had ample seating outside for more room. They start us off with some cheesy chunks in a sticky pool of crack, which they call Parmesano-Reggiano & truffle honey. Good lord.. why do you have to do that to your cheese? Drizzling it with truffle honey like some tasty slut nugget. It's absolutely delectable and probably one of the most delightful cheese appetizers I have ever tasted anywhere. I wish we had ordered more of that instead of the dinky cheese platter with 2 cheeses I didn't really like. Great selection of wines too..and great prices too with the option of a 'taste' for about $4 and a full glass for $7-$9, I'll definitely be coming back here.
(4)
Doctor G.
A very nice and trendy College Avenue/Rockridge restaurant. You walk in past a really nice and large outdoor seating area which must be great at lunch and on warm dinner evenings. The restaurant has a high ceiling and lots of dark wood, stark white walls, and a gigantic lighted sign that says "BAR" at the end of the restaurant where the bar is located. Our service was fine for dinner. We ordered a bunch of appetizers. The white bean on toast was OK. The pork meatballs were better. Not a big fan of the mustard greens and I'm not a pate fan, although I understood it was quite good. I had the roast chicken which consisted of a small thigh and leg. Excellent, but hardly enough food. Not a big fan of mustard greens and cold carrot puree. However, the Manila claims entree was super tasty. Liked the chocolate/peanut butter torte. It really didn't need the honey base - it was certainly tasty and sweet enough. Tough College Avenue parking. The Rockridge BART station parking lot is a long block away if you're there for dinner. I would eat here again.
(3)
Sky and Patty W.
Todd thanks for your call(s). This original review was actually left the day before you left the vmail apologizing for the error, the review would have been different if we'd received the call first. That said, thank you for the call and we certainly appreciate that mistakes happen, we're glad it wasn't just a misleading 'sample' menu as we were told that night. Thanks again for the call, not sure if we will be back or not, but we do appreciate your reach out.
(3)
Charith W.
The service is awesome. Best for weekday lunch. You get a warm, chocolate oozing cookie to wash down your sandwich. If the staff likes you they might even offer a shot of milk to go with it. The dinner portions are not big enough to satisfy my hunger. The most interesting staff are behind the bar. Talk with them.
(4)
Ada T.
Huh? I don't get it. I was so excited to try out Toast, with its good reviews and lovely sidewalk patio. But when I finally went, I found the food to be a disappointment. I was looking forward to the white bean dip, but it had little garlic flavor (which was advertised in the name of the dish) and the bread that came with it was SO HARD (TOASTY?) that it was unpleasant to eat. We also ordered the lamb meatballs and potato soup with carraway seeds. In both items, the spices completely dominated the dish. Finally, we also ordered the kid's mac and cheese, which turned out to be pasta in a very liquidy cheese sauce, not baked. It was extremely bland. I guess it's for children, but they still do have tastebuds. I can see this being a nice place to have a drink and catch up with a friend, but it's definitely wine first and food second. Also, the interior is super loud.
(3)
Janette R.
Nice place to get together for a glass of wine. Dogs allowed on the front patio. Great wine selection, but it's expensive by the glass and bottle. Be prepared to drop a minimum of $50 per person if you want to enjoy an evening here, and possibly go home hungry. The food is good, although portions are REALLY small. Service is pretty good.
(3)
Kenson K.
This place was not bad.The menu is simplistic so decisions about your dish won't be very confusing. We came during Oakland Restaurant week and did their sampling menu. For the opening, a nice salad with vinegrette. Quite tasty. I was a bit disappointed with the main course. It was a braised pork with chick peas. Not very flavorful, and I was a bit disappointed. For dessert, it was a chocolate torte. That was really nice. I have to admit that it was a good value for the entire menu which was $40 , and included a wine pairing with every dish. However, I'd be willing to give them a 2nd chance to impress me with another main course sometime down the way.
(3)
Derald S.
We've been here twice and the food was delicious both times. Came with a party of 6 for the New Year's Eve Prix Fix 4 course menu and it didn't disappoint. I'm always leery about prix fix menus as I prefer to order off a larger selection but I was stuffed silly and happy at the end of the meal. Good, friendly service and great for kids.
(5)
Peter G.
We really had an excellent experience here last night! We couldn't get into Box and Bells so were lucky enough to score a table (someone late for their reservation) next door at Toast. The manager is excellent, our waitperson (with the spikey mohawk) was outstanding, the decor and vibe...fantastic, and the food, superb! I had the "brown sugar-brined pork shoulder steak, sauerkraut, sweet potatoes and garlic aoili," my dinner-mates, the chicken. YUM on all fronts. No complaints on any level and can't wait to come back.
(5)
Elizabeth C.
One of my favorite places in Oakland, I've used Toast for: client meetings, impromptu drinks with friends, my 29th birthday party, a staff holiday party for a company I work with regularly, and wedding rehearsal dinners for clients. The cocktails are excellent, the wine list is incredibly approachable, the food is great and the staff is super friendly. It's also one of the few "nice" places in Oakland that's an easy walking distance from BART, so your city-based friends have no excuse not to make it out.
(5)
Matthew C.
Overall, disappointed. This place isn't bad. But it isn't good either. Food's ok, wine's alright. Service? Read on. I ordered four "tastes," or half glasses. Three were good, one wasn't. The cab franc smelled like corks. I gave it a minute to breathe, and it still stunk and tasted awful. The wine was very obviously badly corked, and confirmed by my date's excellent palate. When the waitress came by I told her I thought the wine was corked, and could someone please verify that it's corked, "just in case I don't know what I'm talking about" I add, trying to be polite. I watch as the waitress and some hipster kid behind the bar pour a taste, smell, drink, and find no fault with the wine. The waitress brings the wine back and informs me that, "the wine is fine, because it doesn't have that 'vinegar-y' taste." She sets the glass down, and leaves us to our meal. VINEGAR-Y!? Wow. That's like someone observing a critter run over on the road and killed dead, then stating, "That roadkill can't be dead because it doesn't smell weeks-dead." The customer is usually wrong. In this instance however, it's a wine & spirits industry professional with a decade of experience critically analyzing wine, versus a 23 year old working as a bar back. Pro tip for the service industry: You want customers to return? Make them happy. Even if they are mildly annoying. I won't be going back. p.s. Hey hipster kid, if you ever stumble across this review, look up "trichloroanisole." You'll learn something.
(3)
Hayes T.
Amazing brunch, wine on tap and super nice staff!
(5)
Buck M.
Mostly empty restaurant on a rainy Sunday morning but had to flag down a waiter for ordering, coffee refills, check, paying check. Limited menu, small portions. Look just don't go to a wine bar for brunch. Lesson learned.
(2)
Melissa G.
Giddy! That's what I feel when I have the opportunity to dine at Toast. Since my husband & I live a distance away, we don't get to eat at Toast very often, though we ALWAYS make a point to go when we're in town. This place just has something that feels (and makes us feel) SPECIAL. Our most recent server, Landon, was a total sweetie in his dedication to helping me find the perfect wine to suit my craving that evening....and as would be expected at a restaurant that can boast having one of the best wine lists in the region, Landon & I were definitely successful! The food is also magical. On our most recent visit for dinner, we had enough people in our group that we ordered nearly everything on the menu. My taste buds were in serious flavor heaven throughout the whole meal. I just can't get over creative, fresh ingredient combinations. The people behind the scenes at Toast are not just restaurateurs & chefs...they are flavor artists with amazing talent. Oh, and I love the light fixtures...equal parts functional and art pieces in and of themselves. What more can I say? I adore this place!!
(5)
Jule L.
Nice atmosphere complete with blankets and heaters, so sitting outside is pleasant even if it's chilly. The food was good, but if you're hungry go somewhere else as the portions are small and pricey. Wait staff was very good, pleasant and efficient.
(3)
German A.
Cheers! Great wine selection...excellent food, delicate, organic, fresh, and a friendly to go along!
(5)
Holly H.
Love the ambiance, the design, the menu, the bar. I'm not the biggest fan of the prices though. For the portion sizes, Toast could stand to lower the prices a bit. However, I will come back again because my meal was delicious. I ordered the roasted scallops. Amazing flavor. But again - pretty small - I think 3 scallops. Luckily I indulged in the cheese plate beforehand. I also love that they offer "tastes" or wine. Perfect for someone like me who sometimes likes a class of wine for 3 sips and then my taste buds reject the flavor. This gives me the option to try a few different whites and then move on to a red. I would recommend Toast for dinner over lunch. The lunch menu is rather limited for my taste, and I just think the dinner menu offers more quality - and delicious - options. Also a great place to come with friend for a few drinks at the bar.
(4)
Peggy L.
Worst LUNCH ever. Lunch menu was limited- the sandwiches were plain and overpriced. Ordered the "Grilled Cheese Heaven"- Roasted Poblano Chile, White Cheddar, and Pumpkin Seed Pesto." I was so disappointed when my order came- this grilled cheese sandwich came with no melted cheese. Didn't really tasted the pumpkin seed pesto. They should have called it a "Roasted Poblano Chile with bits of Cheddar Cheese Sandwich". I've had better Subway sandwiches. The reviews seem to be coming from dinner, but I'm traumatized and will not be coming here again.
(1)
Megan M.
Went here with some girlfriends. It was good! We got several of the smaller plates. What stood out for me was the grilled cheese sandwich- VERY good. The lamb meatballs didn't have enough flavor for me but I enjoyed the kale ceasar salad and the cheese board. The wine was decent, but I apologize as my friend ordered and I can't remember what it was called. I was a bit disappointed that we ordered a bottle, but because it was on tap they brought a carafe that only had 3 glasses of wine (there were 3 of us). A typical bottle of wine is four glasses of wine. We didn't necessarily need more, but I don't think they should call it a bottle if it isn't. If there were four of us I would have complained. It was a nice relaxed atmosphere and I thought the service was good. I wouldn't mind going back!
(4)
Clarke H.
Fun place. Innovative food and good bourbon.
(4)
Lillian L.
Came in here on a Friday night for a friend's birthday. This place is easy to miss when you're driving because it's so dimly lit. It's surprisingly loud for a smallish place, possibly b/c the concrete slab floors and other warehouse-like decor offer no sound absorption. It was hard to have a conversation indoors, but the patio seating outdoors with heat lamps and throws are a good alternative. While the braised pork shoulder was super tender and delicious, the rest of the food was just okay. For my money, I still prefer Wood Tavern or Chop Bar for a similar style of food done much better.
(3)
Stephen G.
Went with my wife and two friends on Saturday night. We were very pleased on all counts. Our fine appetizers included a kale dish and split pea soup. The equally good mains included steelhead salmon and braised pork shoulder. I'd read a few reviews saying that the mains were on the moderate size. I have a hearty appetite, but found the combination of a small plate appetizer and my main dish (the salmon) quite fine. The piece of fish was in fact pretty modest in size, but it also was pretty delicious and together with its sides and the appetizer meant that I had not desire for dessert. The pork shoulder looked to be a very decent portion. Even though I'm a former bartender, my own taste in mixed drinks just runs to very well chilled and dry vodka martinis. But I had an excellent and good-sized "tabi" something-or-other, a spiced gin with a couple of other ingredients, served up. Sorry I don't remember the exact mix, but it was a great blend of tart with a bit of sweet. In fact, I liked it so much that I had two of them (which is unusual for me). The other folks in our party were equally pleased with their own cocktails, including one cosmo on the sweet side and one cosmo on the tart side.. Service was also very fine: polite, prompt and informative - at one point the bartender stopped by to answer a question we had about a drink - without being overbearing. The restaurant comprises a good-sized bar area and the main dining room, of about equal size. Both were quite roomy, in that there were few tables right on top of each other. Many in the main dining room were booths that had lots of space in-between them and neighboring tables. I guess if the place is absolutely full the two-person tables running along one side of the wall might be a bit tight, but no tighter than other good restaurants. But even on a pretty busy Saturday night just a few empty tables meant that folks weren't crowded at all. The room is on the loud side, but not horribly so. So I'd describe it as comfortable rather than elegant or intimate. But again, lots of room between most tables, which is great. If in a group of four, I'd request one of the booths running down the middle of the main dining room. If in a couple, ask for the one booth by the window or as a second choice the other two-person table by the window. On top of all this, Toast has a pretty large outdoor patio that I think would be quite nice for a sunny day lunch or cocktail. I strongly recommend Toast. We'll be back!
(5)
Sara H.
Horrrrible. Overpriced and just plain watery bad. Ok, so the arugala salad greens were crisp. But the white dressing was just bleh. The fried fennel and carrots were decent--but how do you F up fried things??? The worst part was the pot pie. It felt like someone had saved a little bit of their indian curry dish from the night before and tossed in some croutons. And the portions were so small, we had to stop by for a slice of pizza on the way home for a grand total of $72 bucks for two people. (A salad, fried starter, two entrees, a cider and an organic cola--which was the best thing on the menu...and you don't cook cola). We actually thought about going to Southie--where we should have gone all along but for the outside seating that attracted us to Toast--for dessert, but there was a wait so we walked on to pizza and home. Truly disappointing.
(2)
Reenie M.
Went here for the first time this week. Food is amazingly good, well prepared, fresh, hot. Wine selection is unusual and fun. This would have been five stars except for a few things, starting with all the kids. The table on one side of me had an infant, needless to say a crying infant or we wouldn't have even noticed, and the table on the other side of us had three little kids who started the evening by jumping off the bench as soon as dad's back was turned. Even the wait staff had that 'oh no' look on their faces. They weren't completely out of control so I guess it could have been worse but I don't go to nice bar/restaurants thinking I will share my dinner ambience with little kids. I think the kitchen actually made pb&j for the kids. Maybe that is why people bring their kids here. Service was spotty - started out good, very attentive, then she abandoned us. Took our wine glasses without even asking if we wanted more wine. We did. Never asked if anyone wanted coffee. My friends and I are all about the 20% tip for great service but couldn't go over 15 for her. Only other criticism is the bench itself. If I ever come back, not likely but possible, I would choose the table with chairs.
(3)
Vicki L.
Great chicken dish and apps. Friendly service, nice vibe.
(4)
Candice P.
Came here for happy hour on a Friday. The venue looks even better in person than in pictures, and the outside seating area was perfect for a warm Indian Summer evening. But ambience aside, I wasn't impressed. I had two glasses of champagne and there wasn't a single thing on the menu I found appealing at all. If anything, I found it to be a bit pretentious. So we paid the tab and left to go eat dinner elsewhere.
(2)
Kitty T.
Very pleasant waitstaff. Very looooooong wait for the food and drink. We just ordered the apple cake desert and a mixed drink but the wait time for each item was over 15 minutes each. The apple cake was a bit dry. Sat at the patio while a musician was playing guitar. Nice ambiance.
(3)
Sarah F.
I had my 2nd fabulous Toast experience last evening. We enjoyed cava, kale caesar, arugula with chickpeas, scallops and lamb meatballs. YUM. The service is attentive and upbeat. You get the feeling that the folks that work there really like what they do. I will go again and again and want to sit outside next time where they have heaters and blankets to dine under the Rockridge stars.
(5)
Jodi B.
We came in for a light meal before a movie and were absolutely wowed by the experience. The wine list was well-edited and thoughtful and we were blown away by the food. Arugula salad with gravenstein apples and cucumbers was the perfect blend of pepper flavors and sweet notes. The melon, fig and burrata starter was refreshing and creamy without being cloying. The slow cooked pork entree was just as fantastic as the salmon, which was by far the best, most buttery salmon we've had in ages. And don't get me started on the dessert - a flourless chocolate torte on a bed of caramel sauce, served with homemade whipped cream. To. Die. For. Service was smart and attentive. It was such a wonderful experience. Kudos to the new chef - we'll be back for sure!!
(5)
Jill T.
We stop in here because we had an animal and needed to be out on a patio. I am glad we did, this place ended up being really good. There is a lot of competition in the area and place has risen to the occasion. The food was homey types of dishes with a modern up to date twist. The drinks were good, the food was very good, we were very happy! Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Satty M.
Went here on a Tuesday evening, primarily for drinks. We had a group of around 20. Service was slow, to the point of being ridiculous. The staff couldn't remember who was at the bar first. When I tried to pay and get my credit card back, I was ignored for about 10 minutes while the bar staff chatted to one another.. Oh, and to top it off, the $10 wine I has was awful. Needless to say, I drank water after the first drink (for which my liver thanks me) and won't be returning to experience the food. One star for whomever decorated, it's a lovely spot!
(1)
Patrick S.
Fun little place in Rockridge, almost hidden away in plain sight. They have marvelous "over 40 lighting" that makes everyone look and feel good. Nice short menu of small plates and snacks. Interesting wine selection and warm service. Loved it!
(4)
Rachel S.
Friendly staff, nice bar and comfortable bench seating. Fair prices for small plates.
(3)
Akvile H.
Looking for a great place to go on a date with someone special or to go catch up with a good friend over a fine glass or bottle of wine? Look no further my Yelping friend, Toast will provide you with a lovely ambiance and plenty of reasons to cheers and toast! It's a small but quaint and comfortable spot. The staff knows their wine very well, their very very friendly, and the appetizers are delectable. It's a chic yet comfortable wine bar and no matter if you're a novice wine drinker or a connoisseur, there is something for everyone here. I can't wait to come back in again!
(5)
Anastasia E.
This place BY FAR has the best outdoor seating in the Rockridge area! Great spot to meet a friend for coffee or ONE glass of wine...but head somewhere else if you get hungry or want to continue drinking. Menu is very small, with few options for vegetarians. Also too expensive for just so-so food. Service is always great though, so no complaints there!
(3)
Nate D.
In short: great service, pleasant patio setting, forgettable food. That a place like Toast can only earn three stars is as much a reflection of the competitiveness of the Bay Area restaurant scene as it is a reflection on the menu itself, but with so many other eateries to choose from, a place has to be either a) outstanding, or b) outstandingly cheap to merit a return visit, and Toast was neither. But if you just want dependable California-cuisine bar bite-type food and a nice spot to relax under the heat lamp on College Ave, it's worth a try.
(3)
Theresa B.
I went here with a good girlfriend for after work drinks and appetizers. The ambiance was PERFECT to say the least. The appetizers were the right portion amounts, for a good price, the ambiance was wonderfully relaxing, down to earth, yet chic, and the bottle we shared was delicious. A perfect way to spend an evening with a girlfriend and not go broke. For what you get, this place is a great deal.
(5)
Jennifer T.
I heart the ambiance and clean lines of this place. They have a wine special where for $5 you get a taste of the bartender's choice and if you can guess it, you get a free glass on your next visit. I guessed correctly, yay for me. The food was so delicious and the service was excellent. Food: Cheese Plate - holy cheese it was yummy. I'm a fanatic and this one is perfect. Sausage Pasta - spicy and delicious. Spicy Lamb Meatballs - sweet and spicy. I cannot even describe these to you. Just get them. They're pretty amazing. Halibut - moist and flaky. Dessert - I totally forget what I had but it was really good, ugh, sorry. We had 2 beers, 2 glasses of wine, the $5 taster and all of the above. The bill was around $140 w/ tip, pricier than many comparable SF restaurants, but we left happy and feeling indulged. I will be back.
(4)
Brittstar Stella Noir T.
So good, I've been back twice in one week. Love the ambiance, fresh menu, and the friendly staff. Sharlyn melon salad, pan roasted chicken and Boca Negra for dessert. Perfection in a meal.
(5)
Maggie T.
Came here during oakland's restaurant week. Nice ambiance, roasted chicken and the lamb dishes were really good!!
(4)
Ames B.
They had a deal for 25% off if you came in and told a knock-knock joke. Jokes on you Toast, I'm awful at telling jokes and I'm drinking your juice on the cheap! P.S. Do you want to know my joke I told them? Knock-Knock. Who's there? Wine. Wine who? Wine aren't you laughing at my jokes. I told you I'm no good at em!
(5)
Ashley J.
I wanted to love this place so much. I was really excited to try it, but it was just "OK" Pros" I really liked that they served wines from local wineries. The food was solidly delicious. Cons: The seating is a nightmare. Even with a reservation, we sat elbow to elbow with a couple we didn't know at the same table. Dating is hard enough, without having to have a couple you don't know on yours!
(2)
monica a.
When I called in the lady over the phone went out of her way to save a table for us, I told her we were only 15 mins out. She was really nice. When we walked in that sat us immediately. All is well, so far... We order drinks and food, Cheese Board, Halibut and Chicken. Our drinks came out at an average amount of time... I had to ask about our cheese board thirty minutes after ordering it...our food took an hour to come out. Our waiter came to check on us maybe twice to see how we were doing, the whole 1.5 hours we were there. Plus, they kept apologizing for how long it was taking, "they had a small kitchen." We got our bill and with tip it came out to $100. I was hoping they would have comped us something or given us a discount, but no. Bottom line, if you don't mind waiting for hours for good food that is extremely over priced then you will love this place.
(2)
Tom E.
Toast definitely hits a home run. It's got great food, and I appreciate how they keep their menu small and well controlled, so everything you order will be good. They've got great wine (duh!) and an ever-changing food and wine menu. It's on the higher side of affordable for a date or night out with friends, but absolutely worth the indulgence at least every few months. They also have great outdoor seating, so a glass of wine, some food, good company, we are lucky that Toast opened in Rockridge. One downside, and it's really a limitation of the space, is that if you're two people at a busy time you'll end up sitting next to another couple at least. That's true of many restaurants I think. For the price, I wish I had some more space for that romantic night, but I see they're expanding... so maybe there will be some more romantic 2-tops there. Either way, not a reason to miss it, because everything else is great.
(4)
rosanna c.
I'll give Toast the award for atmosphere, but I don't understand wine lounges that don't have flights. My favorite thing about visiting wine bars is that you get to taste a little bit of everything so you can build your palette and find what you like. Unfortunately at Toast, they only had 1 flight option of Oakland urban wines. I imagine I could go a few miles to those Oakland tasting rooms and get a tasting for free or at the most $10 so I wasn't compelled to take flight. Selection is also OK - about 10 whites and 10 reds. I remember a lot of CA and Italian wines, but none sounded really interesting. I think Toast is the perfect place for first dates or for new couples, but if you're looking to sample some wine, it's not here - unless you have the company card. Oh, and check in on FourSquare for a free amuse.
(3)
Jahan Z.
This is a restaurant that pretends to be hip and cool. We ordered three of their sandwiches ranging $11 to $14 in price. If you like overpriced inedible items soaked in oils and mayo with a side of Arugula, this is the place for you.
(1)
Jeffrey S.
After attending a Yelp event a few weeks ago here, my wife & I were so impressed that we came for dinner later that week. When we arrived at 6:30 PM on a Friday night, we were told that all the tables inside were already reserved. But, there was a table outside. Though we were originally skeptical, as it was a little cold already, the hostess assured us that the portable heaters would be sufficient; and if they weren't she offered us blankets, too. We did take her offer and were glad to do so. The heater kept us so warm, I even took off my sweater. Plus, the quiet ambiance of the patio was nice compared to the hustle and bustle of the inside dining room. My wife & I could have a quaint conversation over dinner without having to yell to be heard! I started off with a bottle of my new favorite wine, the Torley Fortuna sparking wine. After that, the appetizers and entrees followed. All the food was wonderful, but we had to end the night with the ultimate dessert, the flourless chocolate cake. When I tried this the other night, I could not believe that this was flourless. The cake was so light and fluffy, it was truly breathtaking. All in all, I can't help but highly recommend the Toast Wine Lounge. And when you go to the bathroom, make sure you leave a note on the chalkboard!
(5)
Michelle W.
Great cocktails... good tapas. Not too much of a selection to try from, but good to check out at least once. Close walk from the Rockridge Bart station.
(4)
Fzarond K.
Good start to an evening. Fun to arrange dinner off the menu. Maybe a tiny salad and another starter. Then a mid. Then share an entree. Or maybe 2 mids and a bunch of starters. Or maybe each an entree, or maybe just drink and snack. So many options, so fine tuned.
(4)
patricia p.
We went there for brunch on Saturday. I won't complain about the service, which was kind of slow even though the place was half empty. I also won't complain about the fact that the eggs, which were supposed to be soft boiled, were more on the hard boiled side. The main problem was the eggs were also cold, as in just out of the fridge cold. To me the fact that they don't take the time to even cook the eggs when you order them is kind of unacceptable.
(1)
Regina A.
This is a neighborhood restaurant for me. I was hoping I would love the place. I ordered the braised beef, which was good, but not outstanding. My guest ordered the halibut. It was raw in the middle, and we had to send it back (which the waitstaff did quite willingly.) Unfortunately, the bad taste left in my guest's mouth made him not want to continue eating the fish, even when the same piece of fish was recooked. As we left, he complained of a stomach ache, which continued into the evening. Other aspects of the restaurant were good. I suggest that anyone who orders the fish indicate that it should be cooked "well done". This may have been a fluke, but I don't think we will be returning to the place.
(2)
Charles A.
AWESOME experience at Toast. My wife and I recently stopped by after work on a Friday and had a couple of bar snacks and sampled some unique, delicious wines. The white bean spread with roasted garlic and paprika oil was a perfect accompaniment to the Jules Taylor Pinot Gris from New Zealand. We also sampled the boquerones with egg salad and toasted points with a glass of La Commanderie Queyret Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon from Bordeaux and, again, it was a spot on pairing of food and wine. Toast is the perfect spot with a warm ambiance, a knowledgeable and attentive staff, and a thoughtfully planned and well-executed menu by Chef Rebecca Boice.
(5)
Ed S.
Every dish and 3 of 4 drinks were exceptionally good. Vegetable-based fare stood out to us (eggplant especially) and meatballs were easily their equal. Pleasant service.... Superb food... What else could one ask for? Worth every dollar.
(5)
Gina W.
Rainy Sunday while running errands out decided to drop in for a light lunch. We ordered a albacore salad, lamb meatball sandwich and chicken pate sandwich. The interior looks really nice and comfy, somewhere I"d love to come back and enjoy a nighttime cocktail with some friends at. Salad was good .. sandwiches were tasty. A bit heavy with the arugula on both plates but I do enjoy some greens. The cookies are a nice touch. Overall would have to come back for dinner to get the full experience.
(3)
Petra C.
Such a friendly wine bar, much friendlier than Enoteca Molinari down the street. The host is always the first to ask about my day, chooses a great place for me and my friends. The wine by the decanter is a great idea, and their wine list is fairly priced and diverse. Lovely, spacious interior, and the nibbles are great too. And WONDERFUL edition to the neighborhood. It needed a place like this. And no one is snobby about the wine, and are happy to explain and make suggestions. VERY HELPFUL.
(5)
Jen M.
always such fun place to go, great food and wine. Must go if you're in the East Bay.
(5)
Kim H.
Went Sunday night with 4 adults and one 3.5 year old. Everything was wonderful and we all left extremely happy. The menu isn't large, but has a little of everything - veggies, meats, seafoods, desserts, etc - and all of the 10+ dishes we tried were great. The menu is creative and we got so absorbed in sharing, tapas-style, that we also ordered a few of the main dishes and split them across the group. People have said this is not child friendly and yes, I suppose that is true if your kid is one of those that will only eat fried chicken fingers. Our kid, however, very much enjoyed nibbling on the various things that came out, especially the bread, meatballs, chicken, carrots, green beans, and the flourless chocolate cake. The atmosphere at the restaurant is also lively and upbeat, so a kid will not disturb anybody (unless they are really obnoxious and unruly, but our kid stays in the booth and isn't loud). The cocktails were fabulous - simply delicious - and the beer and wine selection is solid and very reasonably priced. We thought this was a fabulous spot and will be returning.
(5)
j s.
Great location, nice food and wine menus, but the service was chaotic and disorganized. We came without reservations so I was willing to cut them slack, but the hostess said 3 times it would be an hour wait, but I doubted it since there were empty tables... so I persisted and what do you know, we were seated in 10 minutes. In the mean time I ordered wine at the bar and held open a tab, when we finally got seated the tab wasn't transfered to the table. We drank the wine I got at the bar and waiting for 20+ minutes to have a waiter stop in (still no menus), he swung by a few times and pretty much forgot everything we asked of him... in the end we called in an order to Noodle theory figuring it would take us an hour to get an orderve. to top it off when he fetched the tab from the bar for us (took about 10 minutes after asking) he just brought the receipt and no card... If they got themselves organized I'd be back, their food looked good and the location is great. Considering they have been open for 1+ years, the fact that they ran like a place in its first week was sad.
(2)
Alix W.
Lovely food, friendly service, but can you do something about the noise, people? I am okay with noisy restaurants, but this one is off the charts noisy. Like deafening, and I have no hearing problems. Just be warned about that going in, and you'll have a nice meal.
(3)
Richard B.
Wow, has this place changed. A new menu with very tasty entrees, drinks and appetizers. We had dinner outside on a nippy night, but they had the gas heaters going and provided blankets to wrap ourselves in. My entree was salmon and was cooked to perfection. It was a little too small for me. The pork chop was delicious and very ample size and a great value. The spicy almonds are great and the drinks are delicious. I would give it five stars but the stopped offering my favorite cocktail which was one of their most popular.
(4)
C T.
I really want to like this place. It has a great location, the outdoor patio is inviting and it feels upon walking in that you have stumbled upon a hip new spot. However, I have been there twice and there will not be a third time as on both times the same glaring problems presented themselves, and my wife and I left regretting the dinner and money spent. You would be MUCH MUCH better off paying a little more and going to Wood Tavern. The issue is not as much the food, it is decent, but with a limited amount of options (there are four entrees to choose from and roughly six "small plates") the presentation and delivery should be good to great, and it is flat out poor. On both occasions we ordered "appetizers" and "entrees" along with beverages - orders that would seem simple enough to accommodate. This is exactly what happened both times: 1. We had to remind the waiter to bring us our beverages, at least 10-15 minutes after ordering. 2. The appetizers came out randomly. My wife's salad came out in 5 minutes, before our beverages, and the lamb meat balls simply didn't come out until we asked for them AFTER receiving our entrees, a solid 30 minutes between each other. The first time I can accept it as a mistake, but a 2nd time, give me a break. There is something missing between the communication of orders to the kitchen and the preparation of the food. 3. The entrees stumbled out as well a good 5 minutes between each other, so we were left sitting wondering what happened to the second dish as the first one got cold. The entree my wife ordered which came first was the chicken leg/thigh with a bone and maybe is 1/2 a pound. For a $24/dish a $3-$4 piece of chicken is disappointing. 4. My wife is 5'8' 110 pounds and both times after eating two courses and a beverage left hungry, and the bill was $100+ All and All, not up to par for what it wants to be.
(2)
Erin Leigh M.
I thought it was pretty tasty. Nothing bad to say. The pate was delicious. The cocktail was great. Our main entrees weren't the best I've ever had. Came here on a whim for my anniversary. The ambiance is nice and cozy. I imagine it would be a great place to go for happy hour or something.
(4)
Shruti T.
Pricey but yummy! Great place to grab a class of wine- They have a great selection of wines- roses, reds and whites. The service is really great and I also enjoy the ambiance. The thing to get here though is the Parmigiano-Reggiano Nuggets with Truffle Honey. I promise, its amazing.
(4)
Celeste B.
Nice addition to the neighborhood, our server was wonderful, very accomadating, friendly and put up with the Tomfoolery of my clown posse. The food was tasty. We had the BLT which I enjoyed, others felt it was sliced too thick and fatty. They have a nice wine list and outdoor patio. I love the decor inside. Give it a try.
(4)
Debbie R.
Yeah, um.. not sure what all the hype is about here. I found Toast to be ostentatious in an austere sort of way. Okay, let me just say it flat out.. I just didn't like the gimmicky facade black on white austere decor/menu and the lack of substace and flavor in the the food. It seems, though, that this is the place TO BE if your a Rockridger, especially a Rockridge mommy with an expensive stroller and a need for a pricey glass of wine. The place was teaming with the baby brigade and trendies (odd combo). In terms of food.. my dinner companion had to send the lamb meatballs back twice to get them cooked to her preference (well done) and received an explanation from the chef that that being organic lamb (or whatever) there is a natural pink hue.. umm hellooooo, the pink hue is called medium rare organic or not! I had a completely flavorless pasta with roasted pork. In terms of prices.. I think they were okay consdering the neighborhood. I guess my biggest beef was the pretense. This place is a poser.
(2)
Zachary L.
Summary: Great atmosphere and brilliant service combine with an inventive wine list and menu for a really delightful wine bar/restaurant. I've been here a half dozen times now, and the experience has been consistently good, so I think I'm ready to write a review. I really love this place as a wine bar with the additional benefit of good food. On a sunny day when you can sit outside and get slowly tipsy in the sun with a good bottle of wine, this place deserves six or seven stars. WINE: The wine list is nothing if not interesting - there's a lot of care there, and I appreciate it. I can be picky about wine, but this list is balanced, affordable, and even in varietals that I'm not terribly eager for, they've managed to find delicious, and surprising, offerings. There's nothing flabby here. ATMOSPHERE: Okay, I've only ever sat outside. If it's cool out, they have little lap blankets, which is classy and comforting. They now have a fence, and it's set a little off College Ave - so when it's warm out, there's no better place to be in all of Oakland/Berkeley/Piedmont. SERVICE: The wait staff is probably the most friendly, fun group working anywhere on College Ave. They are knowledgeable, helpful, able, cheerful, and ready to share a joke. I can't say enough good things. It's like they're excited for you to taste everything.There aren't many restaurants where the staff adds so much to improve the experience. FOOD: The food is good - even great at times. The entrees, especially. Some of the small plates I can take or leave. (I guess some of us just don't 'get' parmigiano reggiano nuggets with truffle honey.) What I'm most encouraged by is to see that some of the things that I haven't liked have been taken off the menu - this tells me that they're paying attention. I think a good restaurant is always reinventing at least a quarter of its menu, and that seems to be happening at Toast. And to be honest, I never wanted to write a good review about this place - because I want to be able to drop in whenever I want and not wait for a table.
(5)
Gregory H.
Best Bloody Mary in the WORLD. Also, the staff is PHENOMENAL. I'm going every day of my life, forever.
The food was hit & miss. The staff treated us with disdain. For example, when we pointed out the "AUS" is the three letter code for Australia and that the wine with AUS was Austrian (which should AUT) we got a shrug. They even had SPA instead of ESP for Spain. Furthermore, the Austrian wine was terrible. And when we inquired about the carafe, we were told that they were 500ml just a little bit smaller than a bottle. Clearly, 500ml is a third smaller than 750ml. Also when we didn't order food every time we were asked we were ignored. When we finally got their attention, the response was "So you've changed your mind". Its almost as if the wait staff know that you have to be brain dead to pay such high prices for so little, average food.
(2)
Jan W.
LOVE LOVE LOVE. Went here on Saturday and it was quiet - probably due to the downpour taking place outside. The first thing that caught my eye was the modern decor. Well....rustic modern with exposed concrete floors, graphite painted walls with chalk drawings on them...heavy wood tables and modern lighting. Then the menu...my friend and I each enjoyed a wine flight which was very generous for tastes. The menu is small with small plates and sandwiches. I prefer a small menu since this typically means that the food is refined and I was not disappointed. I had a bacon sandwich with kale and aioli and then finished it off with a chocolate chip cookie. My lunch-mate had the grilled ham and cheese which looked amazing and was perfect for the weather. The service was well timed and the wait staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I would absolutely come here again and I look forward to enjoying it for dinner soon.
(5)
Caitlin L.
The perfect addition to Rockridge. Fantastic food, extensive wine list, beautiful ambiance, outdoor patio, AND kid-friendly?! What's not to love. I took my son to Toast for a date last night and I'm looking forward to going back. The staff couldn't have been friendlier and the food couldn't have been more delicious. I've never seen my son eat that much asparagus. The other highlights were chickpea "cornuts" and a chickpea patty with chard on the side called a panisse (sort of like falafel, but smoother, almost creamy). Truly a standout. The great thing about this place is it would be equally perfect for a date night with the husband, a night out with the girls, or as I experienced it, as the perfect place for an early dinner with my preschooler.
(5)
Morgan B.
We were looking for outdoor seating on a warm night and stumbled across Toast on College (in the corner space formerly occupied by some dance apparel store). What's to love: - Bottom line, Rockridge needed a place like this...casual gathering spot for drinks, eats and good conversation with friends. We enjoyed a bottle of champagne for $33 and most wines were $9-$14 by the glass. - Great vibe and decor, I'd call it urban rustic meets shabby chic (or whatever that means), but it's very comfortable, approachable and clean - Outdoor seating (5 tables) for those handful of nights when Oakland is actually warm enough - Dog friendly on the patio! - Assortment of small plates and a few entrees (still sharing worthy) so this can function as a happy hour or dinner venue. Our favorite of the night was the lamb meatballs (4 of them). Minor gripes: - The prices seem a bit steep given the small portion size (as other Yelpers have noted). Maybe if the order came with complimentary bread or olives I might not complain, but 4 lamb meatballs for $16 and I was still hungry. - Some of the dishes were a bit lackluster, but still okay. The pasta dish (recommended by our server) was underwhelming, as was the sandwich (was there meat in there? Or just bread and arugula). Both were still fine, but I would opt for another option on a second visit. Overall, great new addition to College Ave that will surely build a solid following once they nail down their menu items. I'll go back for the atmosphere and convenience, and the lamb meatballs (though one of our guests said the same dish at Camino Restaurant on Grand Lake is better).
(3)
Chrissy M.
Loved this place! Atmosphere, food, people, can't wait to go back!
(5)
K m.
I had dinner on Saturday night and was loved the place!!! It is very loud but very cool ! All the wait servers are hip and attentive! The food is tasty and different then other places. Towards the end of our dinner the owner or one of them came up to see how we were and when I said great were celebrating out friends bday and that being a hair stylist I will be telling all my clients about this place he then brought over a wonderful slice of cake with a candle. There is seating outside that I would love to try next time! I can't wait !!!
(5)
Michelle S.
"Toast - Drink More Wine". Well, cheers to that - gotta love a restaurant name and tagline that direct! Speaking of love, as I was preparing to write this post and trying to figure out exactly what attracted me (apart from everything) to this place, there it was in the food section of their website - Chef Peter Jackson's "wine country cuisine" menu. I love the wine country and Toast has done an excellent job bringing a bit of it to me. First, there's a generous selection of wines of course - by the glass, tap and bottle. The atmosphere is cozy, contemporary and so is their music selection, and the sunny patio complete with olive trees is very inviting. Then there's that "wine country cuisine" menu. Do NOT miss the white bean spread with roasted garlic and toast - featured here. It is rich, creamy and bursting with freshness all at the same time. I cook white beans a lot and could not figure out exactly what that fresh taste was. But now I know - a tiny squeeze of Meyer lemon just before serving. Genius! The spicy lamb meatballs with shaved pepato, burrata and fennel pollen with olive relish and asparagus salad with piquillo pepper vinaigrette and mimosa rounded out my first visit very nicely. And then I noticed something that might warrant another visit sooner rather than later - a few items on the menu listed as "kid's favorites". Wow, talk about researching and catering to your target audience. This is another great addition to the already awesome restaurant scene on College Avenue. And to that I say Toast - drink more wine!
(5)
Fatty A.
Came here for a meeting and had the scallops. Portions are small and the preparation of the "fresh catch of the day (scallops)" were served in some heavy cream sauce. Nasty.
(2)
Chris V.
This place is probably only good for it's "Bar Food" and the wine...although if you ask me, Bar Food sounds like it goes better with Beer. The wines we enjoyed at our table were only okay, as in we didn't mind coughing up 10-13 bucks for a glass. What really threw us off was the food pricing. Seven dollars for a tiny green salad that happened to be... well-dressed. That's it. Just the greens and the dressing. Seven smackaroons. I felt jipped. And fifteen bucks for a tiny shrimp salad felt like my teeth were being pulled. I could go on and on about each plate and nothing seemed to stick out that would indicate worthiness of such prices. Everything was just too simple tasting to have cost that much. Our $170 tab for three (5 glasses of wine and all of the bar dishes and cold dishes/salads; no entree/dessert), really felt like it should have been 120-130 bucks. I think my boyfriend and I will only come back to enjoy a glass of wine on the outdoor patio area. Come the cooler months and uglier weather, I think we'll go to Hudson's or Adesso.
(2)
Chris W.
Found them on Yelp and was intrigued because I hadn't been in the neighborhood for the past year so figured they were new. The space used to be a dance store and they've done a fantastic job flipping it. The dining experience was just meh though. My Dark & Stormy drink tasted watered down and the salad I ordered was just ok. When I asked about the vague Yelp checkin offer the waiter was pretty dismissive about it, so I think they should let their staff know or make a better offer because that was weird. I feel like I would only go back for some wine with friends and skip the dining bit.
(3)
bora o.
Very cool place. We stumbled onto it while we were visiting Rockridge for shopping. We ate outdoors with the two kids. They had crayons, drawing paper, and the whole nine yards for the kids. Very friendly service. AMAZING food! Seriously.. I am Turkish and love meatballs. I never ate meatballs this good. I had to ask the chef for the recipe. Wine menu was interesting. Lots of stuff I have never heard of before. I went there with the intention of sticking to water. Then one glass of wine, then two, then three!!! I thought all three glasses were great. I particularly loved the first "on tap" wine (the one at the top of the menu). Great value for money. Both my wife and I love wine. And this place has really interesting choices. I wish they didn't have a nice boutique women's apparel store next door. $80 lunch became $400 with wife buying a pair of boots from next door. We are renovating our home now. I asked the owner where she bought the tables inside. She said from her backyard. She chopped some of the wood and I guess put some protective cover. It really looks very cool. Overall, the ambiance and decor were beautiful. Until I visited Toast, my fav wine bar was Barrique in SF. Now it changed. THey conquered my heart with how they treated my kids. Highly recommend the place for a causal outing, serious dates, or even lunch with the kids.
(5)
Regina N.
3.5 stars....Great place to enjoy a glass of wine. Wonderful location. They have a wide selection of wines and I've been here a few times - all were delicious. However, food selection is okay - it could be improved. We had most of the dishes off the menu, some of the hot food was not so hot when it was served. Service was a bit slow, however it was a busy evening. We will definitely come back and try it out again.
(3)
Lauren C.
My mom and I have lunch together each Thursday, and love to try places with outdoor seating, so Toast was a great option for us. The lunch menu was simple but gave great options, and I was stoked to see that gluten-free bread was available for the sandwiches. Portion size was just perfect, and everything was tasty. We had great service, and loved being able to enjoy the beautiful weather on the patio, and enjoy the people-watching that College Ave provides! Didn't have any wine, since I was headed to the office afterward, but I look forward to coming for dinner soon, to try out the wine selection!
(5)
Matt C.
Our party of four all loved what we ordered, but the service was just really bad. The server was very polite and professional, but wasn't available. Our water glasses went dry and stayed that way. My dad's sandwich didn't come out with the rest of our food. My mom gave him half of hers to help things along. We all finished eating and his sandwich still didn't arrive, even after being told twice the sandwich was on its way. My dad ordered a second glass of wine that never arrived. We were comped the sandwich and cancelled the wine. I feel like we should have been comped half the meal and management should have come over and said something like, "I'm sorry, Joe is ill and Jane injured her elbow and we're unavoidably understaffed today." That didn't happen so we left pretty dissatisfied.
(3)
Brian S.
Went back for second visit and tried more of the wines and must say they have the best selection of wines of any East Bay wine spot. The prices are great considering the quality of the wines. Had a few more of the small plates and food is definitely solid, but the portions are a little on the small side. Met the manager at the end of the stay and seems passionate about the biz and being in Rockridge. With the terrace out front this will be a great Summer weekend destination!! Cheers!!
(4)
Nicole H.
Great food, good drinks, fun atmospher, excellent service! Will be back!
(4)
Jimmy C.
I was there for lunch the other day and what a pleasant surprise. It's a laid back place with nice atmosphere. The server was nice and attentive. Lunch menu is small but adequte. I had a chicken sandwich and it was pretty good. Overall, good first experience and I'll definitely go back again.
(4)
Maria L.
Not too excited about the waiters.
(2)
Miles H.
The outdoor patio is the only feature Toast has over Wood Tavern. Had great cauliflower soup with bee pollen to start-no gastro issues while I write this review! Meatballs are best menu item. We waited forever for Flank steak main entree and sure enough it was over cooked. When it came time to order an after dinner drink, it took 10 minutes and three staffers to explain the cognac aperitif. Staff is ill-trained. The wine is just ok, but why skimp on expanding the list as we live in the finest wine region in the country? Most selections look and taste like they came from Wine Mine down the street next to Highway 24. Finally, the dining room is great space but the two owners cheaped out by installing shoddy, nailed burlap panels on the walls for sound attenuation?! And they did this right next door to the sharp space of Box and Bells? Stick to cocktails and olives on the patio and hope that Paige waits on you. She's one of Oakland's food scene's best waitresses.
(2)
Catherine K.
My friend and I came here for a glass of wine and to just catch up. It is on the pricey side and the food selection is a bit limited, but what we did order was delicious! Overall it is a nice small wine bar.
(3)
Amy F.
The service was very friendly and good. They had a fun, and very unique drinks list and the waitress was very helpful explaining all the exotic ingredients and the way they taste. The food was pretty pricey for what you get. I am tired of restaurants that charge $18+ for an entree and all you get is a couple chunks of meat, a few veggies and broth. But the atmosphere was nice and the drinks and wine lists made up for the over priced and kinda bland food.
(3)
Deborah S.
So excited Toast has finally opened. Went here last night - amazing transformation- if you can recall the inside the old sf dance co store. It's much more open: who knew there was a slanted high ceiling?! I cannot wait for the next few days w sunshine to enjoy a glass along the patio area on college. I've always wanted better outdoor college ave seating! People watching + wine + sun = awe-some. Umbrellas for you wrinkle-prone folk. On to the wines- 4 of us tonight- they offered tastes which are always helpful in the decision making process, and the co-owner Kristen came by and described her favorites w the waitress chiming in on the others: we went red. My favs were the lagrein and definitely the hill- was it a cab/merlot? woah, so good. That is definitely going to happen again, perhaps today. It's a rotating wine menu w many small (and often local) batches, so what you like today will be gone tomorrow. So don't drink my Hill! The friends enjoyed the barbera, the hobo zin, the wren syrah. The charbono has an early chalky finish- I oddly didn't mind since it was brief and didn't linger- plus it reminded me of sweet tarts. Least fav might have been the gsm- toasty oak. Not that it was bad, just not as good as the others. Did not yet sample food. Oh, had a glass of the cava brut- i'm not a champagne chick, so cannot say much other than it lived up to being dry and bubbley (small bubbles). Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Julie S.
Excellent, strong-ass cocktails. You have been warned.
(5)
Jeffrey M.
Toast is wonderful. awesome parmesan cheese drizzled with honey appetizer and one of the best homemade bloody mary mixes I have *EVER* had. awesome bartender and great ambiance.
(4)
Shamala B.
The place has a wonderful atmosphere - great wine list, great food and it's ever pet friendly. I have been checking this place out from the outside for months now - and last week decided to take a few friends for apps and some wine. It was great - I also found a check in ad - free treat if you show it to the server. We got a scallop app.... yumm... All in all - a wonderful neighbourhood restaurant that I will go back for sure. I actually wish the wine list - especially the flight was a bit more vast so we could have shared different types with the group - other than that perfecto!!!
Toast is made for people with lots and lots of time on their hands (Not to mention $$ since everything was a little pricey)! The Reds we ordered definitely needed some aeration. Two hours would not have hurt at all by the time I received it. The wine prices were on par with any other wine bar I have been to, but I did not find anything exceptionally well done with the wine. The place is cute and styled very nicely for a low-key conversation. Now what happened with the food! They were selling onion toasted flatbread for $9? Am I missing something? It was relatively good, but for the price paid, I am still sore over the Coca. Never tempted to order food again. Not one of my favorite wine bars, but I am not exactly deterred from bringing polite company here. Oh yes, but there is one thing though. Please please please do not give us the complete end of the bottle. My companion could not swallow the last 3 mouthfuls because of the black specks. Definite loss in points.
(3)
Jamie T.
I stopped in here over the weekend -- the wine lounge is not quite open yet, but they have a little pop-up coffee shop at the moment as they finish construction, and I'm excited for this place to open soon. In the meantime, I tried their single-cup drip coffee (for $2 -- pretty good deal, considering the competition), with beans made by the same roasters as Cole Coffee (according to Toast's blog), and it was really good. They even had a nice selection of condiments for their temporary coffee shop, including turbinado sugar and agave nectar, yum. I also tried one of their cheddar scones -- I'm not sure where it came from, but it was delicious! The owner was around and mentioned they're planning a March opening for the wine lounge, which is not too far away. They'll have small production artisanal wines and small plates. There appears to be a good amount of remodeling to be done before then, and it smells like new construction at the moment so I don't know that you'd really want to hang out for long in the temp coffee shop, but the space looks like it could be really nice once it's finished, and it seems they already have some cool furnishings. It'll be fun to check this place out, hopefully in just a few weeks!
(5)
Melissa R.
Disappointed. Highly disappointed in Toast. I was hoping for a chill, relaxed night with my husband with some tasty bites and wine. Unfortunately, the service (or lack thereof) really put a damper on our night. Our server neglected us multiple times, and while the food was fine, we felt like second class citizens. The food, while decent to good, depending on the dish, was pricy and with a tab of $130 for two, I would have expected not to be ignored the entire evening by the waiter, who was more interested in putting silverware on tables than on customer service.
(1)
Kelly S.
Ate lunch here yesterday. We ate a salad and cheese platter. The service people were friendly but the food took forever. We were there for 1.5 hours for salad and a cheese platter. We asked for gluten free bread and the waitress brought us bread. We began to eat the bread and then she brought more bread. We said what is this for and she said it's the gluten free bread. We said well, what is the bread you brought us, we thought that was gluten free, she said no, that's just free bread. duh!! Are you for real? The bathroom is super dark. What is up with that? Feels weird and strange. This place is very pricey. It's not worth your time or money.
(1)
Frank L.
I was so impressed with the food at Toast Wine Lounge I can not wait to return. The staff was extremely kind and polite. The menu is organic and local where possible. The tapas are a perfect portion size to share. Our group enjoyed ftender quail, perfect cioppino, fresh winter greens, bavette steak and a few glasses of local wine. A 10!!
(5)
Helen M.
We really wanted to like this place because the location right in Rockridge. But given that there are so many amazing choices of restaurants in Oakland-- we won't be going back to Toast. The wine by the glass was the smallest pouring of wine I think I've had. The food was just OK. The entree was tiny. When I go out I want to leave feeling full, this didn't happen here. Service very good though. Prices high--but that's typical around here, and ok to pay but can find lots of better option....
(2)
Maria B.
My husband and I visited Toast with some friends over the weekend and it was enjoyable. I was the only one who had wine, and it was just OK (and heavy on the sediment). The prices seemed in line with most other wine bars. Everyone else had beer (all bottled); ironic, since there is a pub right up the block. We also had BBQ'd oysters, which were delicious albeit pricey, as well as olives, rosemary coca, and the white bean spread. Nothing here was outstanding, but it's a really nice space to sit outside on a sunny day and have a glass of wine. As it started to get chillier, and my friend and I were noticeably trying to warm up, the waitress brought us blankets, which I thought was a really nice touch. The service was a bit over attentive - cutting into our conversations frequently and trying to take our dishes away even though we weren't finished with our food. After the check came, no one came back to our table. I actually caught that I was overcharged for my wine (charged for a more expensive glass), but we never saw the waitress after she dropped off the check, so it was never corrected. Since it was only a dollar, I shrugged it off, but they should definitely be checking the bills before delivering the checks to the table. The interior of the wine bar is modern rustic; very cozy, comfortable, and filled with light. I love to sit outside when the weather allows, but I would come here for a glass of wine even if we had to sit inside. There is only one restroom here, so you can be waiting for quite a while if it's crowded, and the restroom is VERY dark, which was weird. Overall, it's a great addition to the neighborhood, but could use a bit of improvement. I'd still come here for a glass of wine if I had some time to kill or wanted a pleasant spot to hang out and chat with some friends.
(3)
Steve W.
We have been here at least 7 times in the past two years--this is our favorite restaurant in Oakland! The food is consistently well prepared, tasty and interesting and the wait staff are friendly and welcoming. Todd is always there to welcome us and check to make sure all is well and Jana is a wonderful server--gracious, funny and prompt. We especially like that all the staff work together as a team ensuring prompt personal service. A wonderful place to get away, relax, and feel pampered for the evening. And -- the wine choices and house special cocktails are fabulous! We love this restaurant and are never disappointed, incredible!
(5)
Gwyneth H.
I went to Toast for the first time last night. I really liked the space, although I thought they kept it a tad too dark. My dinner companion and I ordered one 'bar snack,' the salumi selection, and two small plates, which was plenty of food (if not a little too much) for the two of us. We had: - white bean spread (bar snack - $4): ah-ma-zing. Do not pass this one up. It was a bit citrusy, and topped with a great oil. Possibly my favourite of all the dishes we tried. We could have used more toast to go with the spread, but we made do with the bread that came out with other dishes. - salumi selection (prosciutto, salami, fra mani toscano - $15): really, really good - I especially loved the prosciutto. This also came with a tray of toasted almonds, pickled fennel, and mustard - I'm not really a mustard person, but the almonds and pickled fennel were great! - arugula salad ($9) - the balance of dressing and mint was good, but I find arugula a bit too bitter to really enjoy a salad in which it's the only green. (I'm also not really excited about figs.) Oh! This also came with warm rolls and olive oil for dipping - very yummy. - spicy lamb meatballs ($11) - these were not quite as spicy and flavourful as I was expecting, but they were still very good. I wasn't wowed by any of the wines we tried (three glasses between us; each a different wine), but I also didn't take any initiative in picking any of them. We were too full for dessert, but I'll be sure to save room next time!
(4)
Mayra S.
second time at toast and i am still enchanted by this adorable little wine bar. the wine alone is worth the trip! highly recommend the "alpha blend" on tap. the staff are beyond welcoming. my last visit was entertained by an impromtu blind wine test/tasting c/o the "sumo bun" waitress, as i called her. so much fun! like i say with every place i love, if only this place was in my neck of the woods...i'd practically live here! TOAST to that!!!
(5)
H T.
we came here for brunch after after shimmy pop today. for lunch, they have a bunch of sandwiches on acme bread. all 4 of us got the deviled egg sandwich, which came w/ a side of arugula salad and a delicious choc chip cookie. the sandwich one acme torpedo roll was delicious. a great place to enjoy the outdoors on a sunny day.
(4)
Richard G.
Disappointed. Very mediocre. We were there early and they were out of their signature white bean and garlic spread. Had to ask a couple of times for bread. The parmigiano nuggets were simply a few chunks of hard cheese with some honey- very blah! The roasted eggplant was a joke- four skinny little shriveled up strips of eggplant with no flavor- worth more like 10 cents than $10. The boquerones? -a little egg salad on hard toast- you can do much better yourself .(The ones at Fanny's Cafe are an order of magnitude better) The lamb meatballs were OK, but not enough to to make up for an otherwise boring, below average meal.
(2)
Marlein C.
I really have to say that I love these guys. Toast has become my favorite hangout. Every time I visit it's a memorable experience. Last night was no exception. Starting with Todd, the ever gracious host who gave me his seat at the bar, then proceeded to regale me with little known bits about his life with disarming candor. It was a bonding experience, truly. I shall not disclose the details. Moving on to Landon The Irrepresible. The perfect combination of puckish mischief and sexiness. A total sweetheart. Getting a hug at the door from him makes me feel like I just walked into a friend's home. Next up, Little Miss Sunshine. One can be taken in by her seemingly quiet and shy demeanor upon first meeting. Beware, this is a mistake. There is a sharp, discerning mind there, crafty even, waiting to torpedo your hopes of every winning a bet made with her. Spectacular hugger. Seriously. There's also Jack, Trois Piglet Preparer Extraordinaire. A man with a flair for all things pork (and tasty desserts) and a sweetheart to boot. I asked him to marry me (imagine the Recipe DNA our kids would have!) Ryan, a man of discerning culinary taste who gets up at the crack of dawn (even though he gets home after midnight) just to have breakfast with his girlfriend. Who says romance is dead? Last but not least, The Queen of All Things Drama, She To Whom All Must Bow Down In Reverence, Paige. (Can I kiss ass or what?) This is one kickbutt chick. How can the universe contain such charisma? It boggles the mind. Plus, I admire her taste in jewelry. Unique, is all I have to say. This is but a taste of the folks you will meet at Toast. They're as good as their fine wine and delicious food. Btw, I know I had a good time last night. Woke up this morning with flamenco midgets dancing in my skull and a conga line of clothing starting at my front door and ending at my bed. There are vague impressions of uproarious laughter, fine wine, spicy perfect meatballs and a discussion on the difference between cajones and cojones [HINT: if men had cajones instead of cojones, their briefs wouldn't fit]. I may have even written something about that on their bathroom wall. Apologies for whatever that may have been. Undoubtedly, I will be back.
(5)
Michael K.
Went last night with family and had a great time. Ordered a bottle of Greek wine Petra, which was amazing and some appetizers. Servers are really nice. In the past servers were a little snobby, but busboys were always great. This time had a great experience with all who worked there. Especially the woman behind the bar who described the Greek wine. Host was nice to comment on Greek wine and bring us extra foccacia. They were welcoming and I felt comfortable there. What a great combo for a neighborhood place.
(5)
Merrily W.
This is a nice place but it's just okay. The lunch menu was small and the service not so great. We were not brought bread or water, and the server did not check in or bring us our check in a timely manner. I had to ask for my cookie.my $13 sandwich was one piece of bread with some chopped veggies and cheese toasted onto it.bacon salad was just okay and mostly filler. We left hungry and unsatisfied. Ice tea was bottled--no warning about that. With so many great places in town, save your money for somewhere more satisfying. Hostess was very nice.
(2)
Josh T.
We visited this place for a first time and will return. The wine selection is great. The food was very good. The portions are small, which I really appreciate. The only thing that I would change are the tables. They are a natural wood one saw horses, but it causes an awkward sitting position. I suggest a wider configuration for the saw horses, as the table surface is very nice. After some good appetizers that we all shared, we then had a few main courses of a vegetarian pasta, flat iron steak (yum!) and another guest had the salmon. Everyone loved their main course. The desert sounded good.... it was not very tasty. The cake was a little dry, but they did have fresh made whip cream - which was good. This might be a better hang out place with wine and small plates to share. Parking was easy, but it could be a bear with the typical Berkeley street structure.
(4)
Adam K.
Great changing wine list, extremely knowledgeable staff, and outstanding service. My wife and I love this place.
(5)
Dani B.
Really enjoyed a night out at Toast. The wine selection by the glass was good, loved the interior decor with the wood tables (although be careful sitting... i banged my knee on the wood legs... ow). The patio looked cozy, although we sat inside. Think I'll try that next time. Service was pretty good, and also the owner said hello and was friendly. Food was tasty and not overpriced. Happy to see a cute new place like this and hope it does well. Only problem are the bad acoustics. The inside was SO LOUD that my friend and I had to practically shout to hear each other over the din, with a large group of ladies celebrating something in the middle of the room amping up the volume. Happy something, ladies. You were a festive bunch.
(4)
susan e.
Strange place! Nice enough if you're sitting outside on a sunny day. Otherwise, the inside is divided into two awkward spaces. One, the unimaginative and somewhat cold restaurant side, the other a large barn-like bar space. Felt like a mish-mash of design. We sat in the bar part and as someone else said, were confused by the service. We were never sure who our server was as so many of them dropped by. Service was pretty curt. We saw many large plates of food being served in the bar area yet when we asked two of the servers if we could order from the restaurant menu they said, 'No, you have to sit in the restaurant part to do that." When we asked why some people in the bar were being served from the other menu, one server said that you have to make special arrangements with the manager and that even he was confused by the protocol! Our bar food, an unevenly deep fried kale and onion rings (unevenly cooked and greasy), 2 small pieces of Acme bread ($3.50) and meatballs was overpriced for the size of serving. Probably wouldn't come back as there is so much fabulous food in distinctive places nearby.
(2)
chih l.
I gave a star because that's the minimum requirement. It took them over an hour to bring us the sandwich. They forgot one of the soup order and when it came, it was half sIze of the other order because they ran out of the soup, and they only been open for an hour. of course, no price adjustment on it. We checked in on yelp where it claim that we should get a treat from the chef. After asked three times, they never gave us the "treat" and we were told the chef didn't have time to make it. Both food and drink were over priced base on what you get. The service fairly lousy so I would not recommend this place. Oh, did I mention they serve their sandwich on stone cold French roll? Don't let the name "toast" fools you. Just wanted to reiterate my review. This place has a nice location and a nice staff. You can say this even if it was a park. But when it comes to spending $10-20 for a light sandwich, the expectation is that you'd get something more than 3" subway, but with an hour wait. Don't let the setting excuse the poor food. There's plenty of healthy offerings in the area, and certainly better management. I don't mind spending money on something original and delicious, but I would better be served by donating my $10-20 to someone who needs then to someone who is robbing me blind.
(1)
michelle w.
We finally tried out Toast last night. The food was delicious! We cleaned our plates! The service was wonderful. We both really enjoyed it. The front outdoor patio is pretty basic visually and it hadn't really drawn us in. However, once you get it inside it's much cozier than expected with some fun design elements. I'm so glad we gave it a go.
(5)
Ashley R.
I gave Toast another shot last week just for drinks and apps and had a fabulous time. Also, I got a nice email from the manager in response to my initial post looking for more info so she can follow up. Thank you!
(4)
adele m.
Snooty maitre'd (or whatever he was). We walk into a busy restaurant and he says "All staff are in a meeting." I say, but, look, everyone is eating. He says, dinner doesn't start until 5:00, a few minutes. I really just wanted to know how long it wou.ld be until we could order. He tells me, "Patience is a virtue." The food is overpriced. My salad was nothing special, my son's pasta was oily. Service ok. I had to go into the restaurant (from the pretty terrace) to find some sweetener so I could drink my tea.
(1)
Martin L.
We were there last night for my friend's birthday celebration. The ambience was fantastic and the small plates were delicious. The restaurant is very quaint and the staff is terrific. Look forward to our next return.
(4)
Saurin S.
Had white bean spread, and parmagianno with truffle honey. Hostess was excellent. Overall a good experience - for good wine and appetizers.
(4)
Karen K.
My husband and I ate at Toast several times recently when we were visiting from DC. Everybody was friendly and the food was excellent. The atmosphere was good and we enjoyed sitting at the bar. Hope to get back there next year.
(5)
Jake J.
I really wanted to like this restaurant. It is in my neighborhood, it is attractive and has outdoor seating. The food itself was quite good for our Sunday mid-day meal. Soup of the day was split pea - made perfectly, and the mixed green salad with cheese and quinoa was excellent too. Sandwich tasty. But there is this little matter of service. Our waiter was noticeably trained in some ways. He split the soup for us without asking after I mentioned we'd be sharing everything (although not the salad/sandwich). But after being seated and my friend using the restroom when he came back to take and order, the guy was nowhere to be seen after we were both back at the table. I had to walk to the bar and exclaim that we needed service! This was only greeted by a grin from the bartender. After the meal there was another LONG wait to get a check, even after I was "prairie dogging" for 5 minutes trying to find the elusive waiter. Then after paying cash and needing change, he took forever to bring that change and seemed to be chatting at the bar register with the other waitress and bartender. Wow. I feel badly for people who put a lot of care into a restaurant decor and menu and then hire such damaging employees. Or maybe it does not demand pity, but responsibility! Skimping on service and not training wait staff is inexcusable. I was very happy with the food at this place but the staff may someday soon make it "toast"!
(3)
Julia W.
High quality small plates, reasonable prices, great wine selection. Agree the concrete floor and echo make for a loud environment but overall definitely worth a return visit.
(5)
Thao T.
Chef's choice cheese and salami platter was delicious! As was the quail which tasted a little like duck to me and boyfriend said it's better than chicken. We also had the grilled cheese (too spicy for me) and the blue moki with yummy potatoes. I had the muscat bubbles drink which tasted like martinelli's apple cider, and I liked that. Place is a little overpriced, but it's worth trying at least once. They had cool cork art on the wall, kind of too high up which I think maybe most people don't notice it, but I thought it was neat
(4)
Amelia G.
Met an old co-worker here for after work wine and nibbles. Nice atmosphere, friendly server and a good selection of wine and food. We were there early (6pm) and the place was pretty empty, but was bustling by the time we left (8pm). We had a couple of glasses of white (can't remember what kinds, but the server helped us pick) and then a cheese plate, asparagus bruchetta and lamb meatballs. Not a cohesive choice for a meal, but everything was tasty and we enjoyed everything.
(4)
Jessica W.
I'm not a fan of community seating so that is my only real complaint. I don't like feeling like I'm on a date with strangers ;). The wine is great and the food is wonderful as well. The last time we went, we sat at the bar and that eliminated the community seating problem. All in all though, I recommend.
(4)
Courtney J.
The interior was well done, modern yet comfortable. Food was fresh and tasty. Great for a glass of wine and some nibbles. Everyone in our group rally enjoyed our mains and desert, but the appetizers were a bit underwhelming, maybe it was just the ones we picked. Can't wait to come back in the summer to sit out on the patio.
(4)
Suzanne S.
Todd, Brandon and Jack are amazing.... okay I just had to say that. They always remember us and are always accommodating! We live in the neighborhood and stop by Toast for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes, just a glass of wine and mac & cheese for our kid, school meetings, drinks and appetizers with friends and other times, date night for dinner. We always enjoy the ambiance and friendly faces. So happy to have Toast in the neighborhood!
(5)
Corinne S.
Toast is a fantastic neighborhood hangout; a perfect place to enjoy a sunny afternoon happy hour. They have a unique wine selection and delicious small plates (we loved the squash blossoms and scallop ceviche). The service was very attentive and welcoming to our group of moms and small babies- the waitress even grabbed a dropped pacifier and washed it off before returning it to my son. We look forward to returning and hanging out on either the lovely patio or stylish indoor restaurant! This is a great addition to College Ave.
(5)
Claire K.
An enjoyable meal. I wouldn't say it was the best dinner of my life (I can't remember what I had!), but I know it was good and everyone else liked their food. There aren't too many options for the main dish, so it isn't the best place for vegetarians or people with dietary restrictions/preferences. They gave us paper napkins. Strange...
(4)
Shereen K.
I can't speak for the interior, but a group of 5 of us sat outside and had a blast! Great wine, decent prices, solid appies. Wait staff ensured we always had our glasses full. If I find myself in Oakland again, I will definitely stop by! (I actually will stop by because they were out of peppers and supposedly it's a must try!)
(5)
Kevin E.
The concept is nice. Outdoor seating is nice. The servers were nice. That's all great but, if this were just a wine bar - its okay. But its offerings of food are Way Overpriced for the amount and the quality that you get. If you just want a glass of wine check it out and decide for yourself, but if you are going for food, you've many other options in the Rockridge neighborhood.
(2)
sugi j.
Dear Friends, If you like mediocre food and way, way overpriced wine, and a deceptive menu, then Toast Wine Lounge is definitely for you. Shame on you Toast and shame on you Chef Peter Jackson for defrauding your patrons. Here are the highlights: ***They will not accept a reservation unless you have at least 5 people--in other words, good luck to you if you and your partner wish to dine with another couple, make sure you bring the proverbial third (I mean fifth wheel). ***The menu is flat out fraudulent--we were charged $112 for wine that we thought would only cost us $28. How? Good question: at the very top of our menu on October 15, 2011 was the featured wines. The menu said "Featured Bottle: K&M Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2006 14." Since we are a fan of Oregonian wines we ordered the featured bottle then another thinking it was only $14 per bottle . . . boy were we wrong . . . apparently that was the PER GLASS PRICE. So instead of the $28 we expected to spend on wine we ended up spending $112. REALLY TOAST? Is this your idea of good business? I'm not impressed. I don't mind spending money on a good bottle as long as you tell me how much it costs up front. A prudent correction would be to just say $14 per glass. You are lucky if you're not reported to the BBB for defrauding consumers. ***And of course, there's the food. Their "amazing" grilled cheese sandwich lacked cheesed and was burned--if you like dry carcinogen filled cheese product then, this is for you. The steak special (we ordered two) was two small strips of meat on a bed of seasonal vegetables. It was good but, at the prices charged it should have been larger. If you are actually hungry, this menu is not for you. In short, I will not be coming back.
(1)
Jess L.
I came here on a Sunday evening to check out this new spot in my 'hood. Overall, the white wine ($7 glass) was great! The waitress suggested it and it was perfect. Ordered 2 plates (salad and a meat dish).. & this is where I think Toast gets it wrong. The portions were very very small and very overpriced. I think for the $9 salad I got 5 pieces of small asparagus. Granted, it was good, but really nothing I couldn't make at home (Olive Oil and Salt OHH LAA LAA). We walked out spending $45 on two glasses on wine and two dishes. I then walked to Hudson, also spent $45 and got a really big dinner salad and amazing pasta! Looks like I'll be going to Hudson more..
(2)
Gwenyth K.
Wine Tasting with Dogs and Discounts 1) Destination? This wine bar is not open yet, but are holding "pre-construction" parties by invite only if you pre-buy glasses of wine (vouchers). You have to go to their website to purchase them, and then you are automatically enrolled as a Toaster and they send you a private invitation to their next party to taste wine and the food menu at the construction site. Totally fun. With holding last star to see the place at the "post construction" opening - but excited so far. 2) Dogs? Has yet to be seen, but I'm assured of outdoor dog friendliness per usual Rockridge standards. 3) Discounts? Pre-purchased wine vouchers are discounted. Not to mention the amazing charcuterie samples at their events. toastwinelounge.com
(4)
Carla O.
Nice atmosphere but terrible service. I have gone twice, and both times it was like it was too much effort for the servers to take an order. They much rather talk amongst themselves. For the cost of the wine and food, the service is very poor.
(1)
Ryan M.
It is a rare thing when a place gets it just right: that easy blend of casual elegance, privacy and coziness, attentiveness and space. The atmosphere at Toast hits exactly the right note. I spent a long evening here watching families with children eat at tables while couples cozied to the bar and groups spilled from the main room onto the patio. All with a sense of harmony. This carried over to the food and wine. More of an eclectic mix of flavors and complements, the menus struck me as the kind of mix a friend would pull together to show you their favorites rather than try to pull off balance or perfection. And overall, I just found that to be pretty reflective of the overall style of the place: thoughtful, easy, elegant and fun. I couldn't recommend it more.
(5)
Leila G.
had a great birthday lunch today at Toast... although the best part was dessert - candies - yes candies.... yum on the dark chocolate carmel with bacon and salt! And the music was fantastic inside... (although they had no idea what was playing).
(4)
Jessica K.
The ambiance of this place is quite nice, although a bit loud inside. The staff is working really hard all the time and very friendly, but perhaps the business model is off because regardless of how hard they were working it still took 40 minutes to get our entree after our appetizers. When the food did arrive it was underwhelming. My perfectly cooked halibut was so salty I couldn't eat it. My husband's pork shoulder was good, but I'm not sure it was worth the wait. The wine was good and the wait staff very good at suggesting and bringing the wine. There are so many great options on College ave, not sure I would go back to this one for a $100 meal.
(3)
Greg T.
I'm going to be real here for a moment. We went to Toast. We went to State Bird the next week. We spent nearly a third more at Toast for a meal that was slightly to the good side of OK. Now, I get that Yelp isn't supposed to be some sort of 1v1 contest. it is not, I'm told, some sort of battle royal between hipster joints. Nobody is asking for some sort of binary contest, is what I'm getting at. Still, I'm struck by the contrast, and I can't get it out of my head any more than I can get the thin and overly-boozy eggnog from Toast out of my taste buds.
(3)
Kathleen G.
The atmosphere is casual and comfortable and the food is fresh, creative and fun. We really appreciated the selection of mocktails which were light and tasty. The service was excellent and friendly. Great way to spend an afternoon sitting in the sun and watching the world go by.
(5)
Amy R.
Lovely patio. Friendly. A good place to sit in the afternoon with your best friend.
(4)
Emma B.
Pretentious, overpriced but a nice looking place. I suggest you skip this one in favor of a restaurant that serves good food.
(1)
Sharon F.
So excited they are open! We stopped by Toast for drinks and dinner after work and we loved everything about it. First, the space is beautiful - open and contemporary. They have these amazing rough cut wooden tables that add a natural beauty to the minimalist space. The high ceilings are pretty and airy. Great music and overall just a great space to be in. The wine was great, as we expected it would be. We tried everything by the glass so we could sample. Our server was a great help in picking out wine. Then, we were blown away by the food. We started with the white bean dip drizzled with olive oil which was light and fresh. Next we had the spring asparagus with grated hard-boiled eggs which was delicate and delicious. The lamb meatballs were perfectly cooked - moist and flavorful. We had the cheese platter which came with wonderful garnishes like sliced figs, macarena almonds and a pepper jelly/chutney. We finished with the strawberry shortcake which had perfectly in-season ripe berries with a delicious caramel sauce alongside fresh whipped cream. Yum! We also noticed a couple of families with their young kids at dinner which was cool. There was actually a part of the menu with kid food options. We're always worried about bringing the kids to nicer places, but Toast seemed very welcoming, so next time we will bring the kids - especially to sit outside and enjoy the patio. This will definitely be a regular place for us. Loved it!!
(5)
C Tadao T.
excellent staff, fun outdoor atmosphere
(4)
Stacie D.
Decor - LOVE IT! Wine selection - great variety from small vineyards! Food - light, tapas sized appetiziers I've read a few posts that the food is pricey. I disagree. They use the quality ingredients from local sustainable farms. The lamb meatballs is all the proof you need! Add a glass of the Charbono and I was in heaven! Oh - and the kids menu...deelish! Love the flatbread! Looking forward to warmer summer evenings and the patio with a glass of crisp, white wine. Until then, I will continue to sip hearty reds and if it gets too chilly on the patio, the lounge has wraps/blankets. Toast - drink more wine... I think I will!
(5)
Celeste G.
Went here during wine and jazz. I liked the airy decor and interesting choice of blackboard walls. There was no where to sit so we had to stand outside. Bartender was knowledgeable and helped my boyfriend select his red. I went with my default pinot noire and it was delicious. Prices are pretty high but that's what you get for rockridge.
(3)
Susan A.
Do not come here for lunch!!!! The sandwiches are dry and minimal and hella expensive. I was terribly disappointed considering the many good reviews, but I guess they're for dinner.
(1)
Emily W.
Fantastic, unique wine list and tasty bites! Outside patio gets tons of sunshine and is a great place to spend a few hours on a beautiful day. I dig the inside too.
(5)
Katie B.
The food was delicious, the wine fantastic, and our server was very attentive. We also enjoyed the ambiance of the place very much.
(4)
Honest I.
Every item we got (we got about 6 different ones) was very tasty, and the service was great. And... their chocolate cake dessert was amazing! ("Almost-flourless" I think it was.) I highly recommend it!
(5)
Andrea W.
I went there with a friend who had worked there and she had nothing but nice things to say about it. We sat at the bar and got to benefit from Jen's wide range of wine knowledge. I first started with a glass of syrah on tap and that was good and all, but was blown out of the water by the amazing glass of tempranilo that Jen recommended. Oye vey, it was to die for! We ate well that night and ordered lots of things...the white bean spread with TOAST, polenta, winter greens and I ordered the poussin (chicken) with huckleberries, dandelion greens (I think) and fingerling potatoes while my friend got the pasta. The food was lip smacking good and I was so stuffed after eating my dinner. Of course though they just had to give us a slice of apple spice cake with caramel whip cream to push us over the edge into full blown food coma. I was so full and satisfied by the end of the meal. I also loved the decor and ambiance of the redwood tables and the chalk in the bathroom. Great night out, thanks Toast!
(5)
Rebecca F.
Really want this place to be good because it's close to my house, but it's let me down 2 times now. The food was really bad the first time but it was right after they opened so I kinda understand. But went again last night and found the servers to be pretentious. They blonde bartender was nice. I am sure I will give it another try at some point but I am not in a hurry.
(3)
Sue M.
I went here a bit late (9ish) for drinks and a bite. I left hungry and poor. Either our menu did not include the bigger plates, or I did not see them, but we ended up with very small portions at $15 a plate. A bit steep for an appetizer, even by Rockridge standards. The decor is great, but the portions need help.
(2)
Bob b.
We had a marvelous experience at this funky place. Great drinks, I had an Overland, a delicious bourbon-based drink. The lamb meat balls and the carrot soup were very special. Carrot soup is omnipresent on menus, but this was spicy and original. We will be back.
(5)
Chenoa J.
My daughter and I were visiting her new college and decided to stop for a bite to eat. We parked the car and across the street was this very inviting patio. We enter the garden and looked at the menu. It turned out to be Spanish, our lucky day! The service was excellent, the choices interesting and original. The presentation was lovely and the food reminded us of our years living in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. I would recommend Toast for a delightful experience.
(4)
Martina p.
Toast is a pretty cool place for a small snack (and I do mean small and I do mean snack . . . NOT MEAL!) and a pricey glass of wine. Here are the perks: Great wines Tastey food Great environment - you are sure to see a neighbor or old friend Super nice service - Landon seems to always be the server on staff and he is super friendly and cool and professional. Here's what can improve: Prices - wow, these "small plates" range from $12-$19 Serving Size - it's just really hard to get satisfied off plate sizes of 10 gnocchi or 4 meat balls for $16. Overall, it's a great place for a date night but could become alot better. I recommend trying it.
(3)
Ted S.
Hurray - Toast is open -- I have been jogging past the old Dance store location on College and Chabot for a month now watching the careful remodeling and last night had an opportunity to go for dinner -- and WHAT A TREAT!. I had a ceviche appetizer and wonderful short ribs, paired with two terrific wines -- but what made it a great evening was that the wonderful food was equaled by the warm welcoming staff and the ambience of this transformed space. Both of us left the dinner asking "why can't Oakland have more great places like this?" and also "when are we coming back!"
(5)
Gina B.
Toast has worked out its new restaurant kinks. Very tasty wine flights, mellow atmosphere, and the food is small portion but yummy. The service is so-so...come to unwind, not be served quickly.
(3)
L A.
Terrific evening with a delicious prix fixe six course tasting menu, including wine. Starters were hamachi crudo with a cilantro vinaigrette with diced avocado and grapes - super-fresh fish, nice balance of flavors. Next was a green salad with sliced green apple, pecans and and blue cheese vinaigrette- yummy! The chickpea farinata was an unusual preparation of a garbanzo-bean fritter topped with an assortment of roasted vegetables which included carrots, onions, cauliflower and asparagus. While not overcooked, the flavors didn't do anything for each other, it seemed rather pedestrian if not in concept then in execution. The next course for us was a duo of meatballs.Clearly there was pork and beef in them and some sort of panade to hold them together and they were served in a fresh-tasting, slightly sweet tomato sauce --- these were awesome and very savory. Next up was a good-size portion of roasted salmon with roasted potatoes. This is the only dish of the evening that I think was a miss and not because of the quality of the ingredients. The problem was that neither the potatoes nor the fish had any flavor - including salt! It seems nobody tasted the preparation before they made it for us.....The dessert was a light -as-air flourless chocolate cake served with a swirl of caramel and a spoon of whipped cream. We were licking the plate with this one! All in all, this was an excellent meal with wines appropriately paired for the flavors of each dish. I'm not much of a wine drinker, but that's what my companions reported, anyway! We had absolutely marvelous service by Landon and even met the owner who stopped by for a chat. We'd definitely go again!
(4)
Robert S.
Recently, I went to Toast with my wife and friends. The setting is quaint and well designed. It felt like a night out in a classy establishment with great food and service, but in a casual atmosphere. Staff was very attentive. We sampled all over the menu, items were all tasty and well presented. And what was exceptional was the wine pairings suggested on the menu with each course, exactly what you would expect from a wine bar. Who needs a sommelier (and the cost) when you have great recommendations right on the menu with each item? Worth the trip from San Francisco to the East Bay.
(5)
Greta B.
I love this place - have been frequenting since it opened. They have a great selection of unique and tasty wines, as well as some delicious food. However, I'm reserving a star because I feel like they've gotten a bit big for their britches. As I mentioned, I've been patronizing this spot for a bit, and have had some great interactions with staff, who've always been very willing to take the time to describe the wines and offer suggestions. But, last time I was in they were busy and a bit disorganized. We put our names down for a table, and sat at the bar in the meantime. We were told initially that there'd be a 20 minute wait. After about 40 minutes one of my friends checked in at the front, and we were then told that it would be an hour (from then). I felt like someone should've come to let us know that they'd grossly underestimated the wait time; but, no one ever came over to communicate with us - either before or after we inquired. At any rate, this is a lovely little neighborhood spot, with an nice outdoor space, which is hard to come by. I'll definitely be back, but will make a reservation next time!
(4)
Mike O.
I had high expectations for this place, and the decor is very attractive and inviting. But it goes downhill from there. I'll start with the food - just ok from our tables perspective - meatballs probably the best thing on the menu that we had tried. Portions are very small for the prices charged. I have no problem paying for quality, but I did not find the quality to be there (was there first official week open, so maybe it has improved). Now onto the wine. We tried a large variety of the wines among the five of us. I was disappointed in all of them (a fruit juice bomb rose, too minerally white, etc.). The red on tap was the best of the bunch. If you are a wine bar, every wine should be at a minimum very good. And the prices on the wines are no bargain. From a price to quality standpoint, this was again pretty poor. While I don't consider myself an expert in wine, I do think that I know a reasonable amount. I wish the owners well, and maybe I will give it try again sometime. There appear to be a number of Yelp reviewers who had a wonderful experience. Given how many great places there are to eat and drink in Oakland these days, I would doubt I will be back anytime soon though.
(3)
Stephanie B.
Great local spot to relax, have a drink and share some food. Food is great, servers are friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable. Lots of vegetarian options!
(5)
Hoo.asked. U.
Loved the wines, the service and the atmosphere. This is the 3rd time I've been there and every time, the food is pretty solidly disapointing. There is a lot of white bread, very small portions, and i walked out of there hungry, having spent $90 on food and drink for 2. Too pricey for what you get.
(1)
Jane D.
First of all, I eat here about twice a week. I work around the corner. I know many severs by name and as a former server I really try to tip well, not stay to long, and be a gracious guest. That said, the hospitality yesterday left something to be desired. The previous night I ordered the arugula salad. It was excellent. The food always is. I asked when I left if I could get it at lunch. My server said yes, that it was a side dish with the sandwiches at lunch. The next day at lunch I inquired and my server was nice about and checked with the kitchen. I heard the chef say NO. Mind you they had a different but yes still arugula salad on the menu. I reluctantly ordered that. Now please tell me why he couldn't have made that salad? The server said there wasn't enough prepped but come on. It was a side dish and a main dish. Bottom line is it ungracious. I worked as a server in very nice places for over a decade. NO was the last thing we ever told a guest. I will eat there again but I'm bummed they care so little.
(3)
Jennifer L.
Loved it! Enjoyed everything we ordered, waiter was great, sat outside...perfect date night. Definitely would come back. Would even bring the kids for a summer early evening.
(5)
Sarah J.
Convenient little wine bar is a great new addition to the College Ave block north of the Rockridge Bart Station. LOVE that they have a dog-friendly patio. Their wine selection is desirable and their food options are too. My take on this place is that it's pretty good, but could be better. First off, their wine list is good, but they could also offer more wine flights. The night we went, there was only one red option and on a hot summer night a white wine flight would have been more to my liking. Second, the waitstaff is a bit snobby and rude. I've sat in nicer wine bars in Paris and been treated better. Third, the food options were up to par in terms of food quality and presentation, but they were very small portions. The wine glasses were also small. A bill with four glasses of wine and a few snacks ran us $100, which isn't terrible, but a little high for Oakland and for a mid-week visit. I'll be back, but I'll be looking for improvements.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Music : Background Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jon G.
Came in here for a few cocktails. This place is flipping amazing! Toast feels very intimate yet you have your own space and people watching from the window seats is the best! Catie is a genius mixologist and a gracious host. She really makes you feel welcome and your happiness is her number one priority. A+++! Thanks, Toast! Cheers!
(5)Karabella C.
Food and atmosphere are amazing! Went in and were quickly seated. The server was very nice and knowledgeable of the menu. Everyone was happy with the meal and service. We'll definitely be back. A great place to BART in, have some drinks with the girls, and maybe head out for a movie after. Highly recommended!
(5)Mathilde A.
TOAST is pretty good. I went here for brunch with a friend on Sunday. We got the omelette and the pancakes. The omelette was a bit sad since I usually expect restaurant omelettes to be stuffed full of stuff. This one had a million onions and a teeeeeeny bit of cheese and mushroom. It was also incredibly oily-- don't get me wrong, I love butter but I don't really like my omelettes to actually be wet. The pancakes were yummy! Silver dollar pancakes are my absolute favorite, and this seems to be the only place in the bay area that actually knows what those are. I don't think the syrup was real Vermont maple syrup (didn't taste as flavorful), so I wish they would add that. Service was spotty. Some servers were totally great, but our actual server wasn't the best. We asked for a side of the citrus aioli for our potatoes and she said that she would be right back with it. 15 minutes later, after seeing her going in and out and to other tables, we just pulled someone else aside and asked. He was great and brought it right away, which was very nice. The best part is the outside patio-- it's really nice and perfect for brunch. So all in all, TOAST is solidly decent. Not the best brunch I've had, not the worst. I probably wouldn't come back again unless I was in the area and didn't have another option, but I would definitely give dinner a try.
(3)Kai K.
I went to toast for a drink with my father tonight but was very disappointed. When we first were seated it took 20 minutes for them to take our order in an almost empty bar. After we ordered I was surprised when everyone who came in after Us Was being served but still we had no drinks. After 30 minutes of waiting we got up and left. One of the waitresses ran out after but it was too late to be reconciled. Did not help that we were the only POC in the restaurant and we received the worst service.
(1)Carter J.
We had a wonderful time for my fiancé's birthday! The staff all around was so nice and accommodating of our large party throughout the night and was able to keep track of what everyone had and split the bill perfectly. Served our cake and were very personable and overall amazing! Thank you!
(5)Aneilia M.
This place started my new obsession with nicoise salads. The one on their brunch menu is tasty! I like the patio option for dining but it was a bit too hot to sit outside the day I went. Inside is cute and offers a lot of seating choices. The marquee lights over the bar are neat too. I am curious as to what their dinner menu is like as brunch was very pleasing! Polite service here and walking distance from Rockridge Bart - always a plus.
(4)Piyali F.
This place is a solid 3.5 stars. After having it bookmarked for months, I went last night with some girlfriends for dinner. We had a res and were seated promptly. The menu is extremely GF friendly which was great. We ordered a round of drinks (wine/bubbly) all priced about what you'd expect at $9+ (all cocktails were 10.50). The ambiance is awesome, little cottage-style building, really cute "BAR" sign lit up in the back, well decorated. I ordered the sardine app with beet hummus and a side of pickled veggies with aioli. Very tasty, although the sardine was actually the entire fish, VERY bony and little flesh. This really should've been described on the menu, as I wasn't interested in using my fingers to sift through fish bones that night. So although the presentation was lovely, that was nothing special but the accompaniments were delish. My friends got the the risotto and pork shoulder - didn't taste so can't comment on it but they enjoyed. The service was a little aggressive at first - multiple waiters/bussers trying to clear plates and take orders every few minutes (once, someone took my aioli away while I was still using it and my friend had to grab the person to get them to bring it back). Near the end of the meal though, we had to wait foreeeever for the check. We all had CCs laying out in front of us for 10+ minutes and finally had to flag someone down. Overall, good food but nothing esp memorable. On the pricey side, but would come back for a drink or a nibble, preferably during happy hour.
(4)Frank K.
So last night I had an Opentable reservation at 9pm at Toast, was greeted by a guy who appeared to be a manager, who allowed us to sit either inside or outside. We chose outside, and was at first seated next to the entrance, but instead we chose to sit on the benches near the periphery where there were only 2 other guests. So we sat there, and sat there, and sat there, and waited for about 20min, a different hostess had brought us menus, but no water was brought to us, so I finally went inside to inquire, but my girl was already fed up and had gotten up to go inside, and we told the hostess we were just gonna sit inside, because it was literally about 30 min since we got there and we hadn't even been served water yet. So we go inside to the dining room section on the left, the hostess puts us in seats next to the window, but I'm pretty peaved at this point, and then lo and behold we sit there, and sit there and sit there again! until I again flag down the same hostess and am like can we get some water? The hostess was trying to be nice and apologized and was trying to get some sort of server to stop ignoring us, but to no avail, because by that time it was 40 min until the server finally addressed us, but my girl was up and ready to leave and go, and that's what we did, we went to Barney's across the street, but my girl and I were actually trying to pretend we were on our first date last nite, and she told the hostess that, I told her it really wasn't our first date but it would've been a disaster if it was. Later on and this morning the owner of Toast called me to apologize and offered to treat us to a meal. He was contrite and sincerely adamant that ignoring us was unintentional, that it had nothing to do with us personally or otherwise. He sounded very genuine and I accepted his apology, and I've changed this rating from a 1 star to a 3 because of it.
(3)AJ T.
I have mixed feelings about this place. So, my rating may not be on the dot. My friend and walked in and was greeted by a rude man who worked at the restaurant. The inside of the restaurant was a little loud so we couldn't really hear. The man greeted us, and without knowing what he said I asked for a table for 2. He seemed upset because we didn't great him back or seem to have answered his question. From his behavior I was guessing he was asking how we were doing. I immediately said sorry, and that we were well. However he made it very awkward by giving us rude attitude as if he didn't want to serve us. Anyhow, while we waited for our seats, another couple walks in and they reacted the same way as we did but he was extremely kind to them. This was a very odd note to start our dinner on. Luckily our direct server was very accommodating and offered excellent wine suggestions that went well with our food. On to the food... Brandy-spiked chicken liver pâté, toast- You get four pieces of toast with a generous amount of pâté on each piece of toast. The pâté itself was delicious, so delicious that it was so rich and 2/person was enough. It's the type of food you eat that if you eat too much of it, you'll feel sick because of the richness of the food. Spicy pork meatballs, tomato sauce, baby arugula, pecorino sardo- This was not spicy at all. But, it was still good. The meatballs were nicely cooked and drenched with a flavorful sauce. Three meatballs about 2" in diameter came with the plate. The pairing with arugula was nice, however I wish there was a little more pecorino sardo, which was drizzled above one meatball. Fettuccine and asparagus (not actual name on menu, forgot exactly what it was)- This plate included fresh and soft fettuccine noodles that may have been made in-house. This dish left nothing to the imagination. It was very bland and the only thing that I tasted in this plate were the snap peas. What made this plate a failure was it's price, $19. I felt like it was a complete waste. My overall thoughts: I didn't feel comfortable during this restaurant experience. This has to do with the way my friend and I were first greeted. Ambiance is nice, especially if you sit outside on a nice day. This place is pricey for what they serve or at least for what I got.
(2)Zeljka K.
Ambience is very nice and hip but we were not impressed with food !! Burger was ok, nice combo with apples and Dijon mustard but meat was dry and to salty . Bread with dip was very good. Kale salad with tuna was flavorless, nothing to remember, didn't make any statement but just forgettable !!!! I definitely would expect a little more for the price !!!!
(2)Esther A.
I dropped by with two friends for brunch the other weekend. It was nice out so we sat in the patio. We started off with some cocktails and decided to share our orders since the plates were single item dishes and we wanted a proper brunch. We ordered the following: - White bean spread toast - a great starter and reminded me of a hummus spread - Dutch baby pancakes with strawberries and creme fraiche - I've never had Dutch pancakes before (never seen anything like these when I was in Amsterdam) but they were surprisingly delicious. - Soft scramble eggs with toast - Mixed salad - Rosemary potatoes We enjoyed our orders but it's hard to decide on what I thought of Toast's offerings based off brunch items. The ambiance was great. However I would definitely return to try their dinner menu.
(4)Nick V.
TOAST wins the honor of having the worst sandwich I have had in the past 5 years. Not an easy accomplishment by any means. Their "Pulled Chicken Cuban" takes the back of the toilet due to a nausea inducing mix of room temp chopped dark meat chicken, cheese, paprika aioli, soft sweet roll, avocado slices, green onions and "Un"-pickled shallots. The overall lack of texture, non-seasoning and room temp warmth went from kinda gross to disgusting by the end of the 1st sandwich half. I was nauseous for the next 2 hours following the meal. Other than a side of bacon there is a serious lack of proteins on the brunch menu forcing a move towards this one horrible sandwich if you lean towards meat dishes during brunch or lunch. I can't say that is a wise move or a business, but it's their business. Technically this might be a decent sandwich if some attention was paid to the ingredients. If it was actually roasted and "pulled" chicken with some seasoning, and not 2 day old Safeway rotisserie dark meat that was slimy from sitting around all day. If it had well-picked shallots for pop or something else pickled. If it had a mix of texture aside from baby food. Even if the bread was toasted it may have helped here. Any attn to detail could have helped elevate this. The rest of the meal was okay. Coffee was the highlight, then white bean spread, then potatoes. Service was closer to 12% worthy rather than a 15% standard which they auto charge you in the check. This was due to the 8 min wait for a drink order, flagging the waitress for coffee refills and lack of proactive server to server assistance across tables. Definitely NOT going back for breakfast or lunch ever again.
(2)Gina T.
This place is awesome, fun and festive. Just an all around great atmosphere. From the servers to the bartenders...shout out to Meggie. She makes a "diva mule" her own concoction, that is full of many surprise ingredients. We were there recently with a large group for dinner. Everyone loved the place and couldn't wait to return to try other things on the menu. I would suggest pretty much anything on the menu. The meatballs as an appetizer were big and tender with a yummy tomato sauce topped with an Italian cheese. The Kale Caesar salad was amazing, some of the best dressing I have ever had. I would also recommend the pasta and the oxtails served on a bed of creamy polenta. Will definitely return soon.
(5)Janice L.
The food was really good however the food is really expensive (for a college student on a budget). Their main courses range from $19-$30 while small plates are $8-13. The small plates did not make me full considering My appetite is small. The menu changes daily and I between meals. The soup I got was really good and so was their bread and balsamic vinaigrette. But I will not return until I make enough money to compensate for the cost of food.
(3)Cath M.
**4.5 STARS** Wow... Oakland is making a run with SF restaurants! AND I'm getting sold... partly due to the FREE parking and parking vacancy in general! The girlfriend and I went here this past Friday (yes, it was crazy rush hour for the holidays) so thankful I managed to snag a reservation via opentable.com and was promptly seated upon arrival! Ambiance + setting: very open, modern, airy and the friend and I liked it! Service: friendly... we were fortunate to have Jana as our server and she catered to our alcoholic needs (yep, it was THAT kind of day!) Food: * marinated pacific sun olives = perfect to share for two peeps (this case, it was just me since my friend didn't eat olives) it was well seasoned and nice to munch while sipping some wine and waiting for our entrees. * warmed bread with california olive oil + 6 year balsamic vinegar = they used Acme bread so that's probably why they charged us $3... it was really good bread but I wished it was free! LOL :) Wishful thinking! * brown sugar brined pork shoulder steak, brussels sprouts, winter vegetables, polenta croutons, horseradish cream = my friend got this and she said it wasn't what she expected (more on the soupier side) and I think she was expecting more on the real pork shoulder looking dish. Nonetheless, she liked it... well seasoned and just the right proportion... the polenta croutons were delish! * grilled chicken breast, fennel confit, bintje potatoes, baby leeks, toasted almond cream = this was actually a little too big for me... it was good... the chicken was tender... thankfully NOT dry... and I ate half... since I was full. Overall... well worth checking out... Their wine list are awesome... their glasses side could use some more varieties. Prices are decent! Reason for the 4.5 stars... when they got way too busy... it was hard to track down anybody to get our check and so we had to ask the host or go up to the front for it and did the same when paying... but I'm hoping the next time I go back... that issue wouldn't be an issue since it's the holidays... I will be back!!! Jana: thank you for accommodating our wine needs!
(4)Joji V.
Great place for brunch on a bright sunny day, but you'll be fighting for a spot in the shade if you wanna be outside. For those fair of skin i suggest you get in seated indoors. other than that this place makes great food. Service is slow but worth the wait in my opinion.
(5)Greg F.
We really enjoyed the Bar, and snacks!!! Great calssic bartending.
(4)Josh R.
The food was really good, and the ambiance was nice too. Our waiter was very helpful as well. However, we showed up early for our reservation, the place was nearly empty, and they put us right next to the kitchen/bussing area. Kinda puts a damper on a date. My girlfriend's drink was also way too strong as well.
(4)Adriana M.
I am so happy my friend recommended this place for Sunday brunch. I have to admit, at first I was not excited or interested because I felt the name was kind of boring but that quickly changed. We sat outside, lucky for us it was not too busy so we were seated immediately. We started off with the Grapefruit Mimosas and they were delicious. I am not sure if it was fresh juice or not but it tasted fresh. We also ordered the bourbon spiked chicken liver pate. I love pate and I dont see it on brunch menus often so I had to order it and I am glad I did because it was amazing. For the main course we split the soft scrambled eggs and themixed greens salad. The eggs had tons of veggies like, peas, onions, spinach and came with garlic toast. The salad had strawberries and goat cheese. It was more than enough food for the both of us and they were both very flavorful. I hope I can come back soon to have drinks at the bar area, which looks super cute and chic. Over all, I was happy we came here and I plan to return soon.
(5)Art H.
We celebrated our friend's 15th wedding anniversary here. Great location on College Avenue, with enough parking (although it was a Tuesday night.) Had a couple of cocktails at the bar, then set about dinner. Prompt service, friendly staff, good vibes all around. Some of the food was great. Quick deep fried chickpeas and kale salad were great, along with a seasonal sausage dish and chicken. The penne pasta was under flavored, and just slightly too al dente for the dense pasta form. The dessert cheese tray was disappointingly sparse, and the chocolate flourless cake was ho-hum. We were treated to complimentary glasses of bubbly, thanks for that!
(4)Scott V.
Outstanding food and service! We went on a Sunday night and the joint was hoppin'. The (roasted?!?!?) radishes accompanying the hanger steak are one of the best things ever. Also, try the pâté, the "something fried," the olives, and the acme bread: all delicious. One last thought: totally dig the Halloween decorations.
(4)Tim S.
Toast is kind of pretentious with its clientele which seem perfectly fine if not excited about small portions. The price point does not reflect the quality or quantity of the food. The customer service is fine and they are all nice mannered staff, but for the $60 i spent on an egg sandwich, two drinks, and a soup is kind of silly. If you enjoy great descriptive ingredients on a menu and the food that barely fulfills its own recipe or you stomach then have fun flushing your money down their toilet..
(2)David T.
Just like sitting outside in perfect weather at a fabulous restaurant in North Oakland or maybe Berkley! Delightful fresh food. The menu changes daily, but everything I've had there on two trips has been wonderful. And great service!
(5)Julie C.
Service is lacking, especially in the bar area. Whenever we go for drinks, we are almost always ignored. Though the setting is lovely, we will not be returning again!
(2)Phillip D.
Ok, so here's the quick lowdown on this place. Cute, hipster place with lots of seating (both in the bar and restaurant area). They also have both Indoor and outdoor seating (latter is great if you have a dog or the weather is nice). Apparently the menu changes daily so you really don't know what you're going to get which is good from a variety standpoint, however, the menu options are about 4-5 for starters to main appetizers. Lots of drink options for the wine, beer, and non-alcoholics too which is always a +. We had Pork Shoulder and the Halibut. Flavorful - Yes. Amazing. Eh.. I've had better. Here's the thing, I don't want to wait 30-45 minutes for our food to cook and come out especially when the food isn't A-Mazing. I'll let it slide if it WOWed me, but it really didn't. We ended up passing on dessert because we didn't want to wait another 30-45 minutes for them to bring my dessert out. Plus why do that when you have Smitten a block away! I guess if you don't mind waiting an abnormally long amount of time for your food go ahead and try this place. Otherwise, lots of other great options nearby.
(3)J.A. K.
Interesting to compare against The Barrel Room/Rockridge. The latter is one of our favs (we've had both the Spain/Portugal and France menus). Toast comes in a full level below. That said, Toast has some definite positives: White bean spread. The best dish they offer. Even carnivores will love the buttery smooth texture and taste of this. But it also has a negative: Toast Bar + Kitchen makes absolutely lousy toast. It's rock hard and much too thick. Melba toast is thin for a reason, guys. Chicken liver pate. Intense flavor, thinly spread on (the very bad too thick) toast. Had the crostinis been thinner, both this and bean spread would be 4 stars easily. Sweet potato-plaintain soup. Using the starchier white-fleshed sweet potatoes, very tasty with a drizzle of creme fraiche and caramelized diced plantains on top. Fettucine with vegetables. A nice version of pasta primavera. Pork tenderloin with Tokyo turnips and wild rice flavored with bacon. Almost, but not quite. Pork was cooked med rare as requested but there was no browning on the outside so it was bland. Turnips were lovely, wild rice was undercooked. No gravy meant nothing brought the ingredients together as a unified whole. Broiled skirt steak with grilled lettuces, onion rings, and chimichurri. Size was generous but medium rare came purple rare. Chimichurri was flavorful but grilled romaine just ended up greasy. as were onion rings. The surprise of the night was dessert: Chocolate bourbon cake, caramel sauce, whipped cream. Outstanding! This dessert alone makes the statement that the cliched molten lava cake should be buried RIP, immediately. Toast has a lighter menu than The Barrel Room. Cooking at TBR is heavier, more substantial; plus the menu for both wines and food changes every four months (it will be Latin American starting mid-April 2015). Toast is a more standard wine bar, a less ambitious concept where you drink what you know but don't get introduced to unusual wines from regions you've never heard of (the sommelier staff at TBR is superb, btw). Toast has a lighter, more open-air decor, and is bigger than Barrel Room. Conversely, the booths are so smashed together that our group of four kept knocking knees uncomfortably. The aisle are very wide; it wouldn't kill Toast to pull those booth seats apart a bit more! Overall: a nice casual spot, good for flexitarians. But if you're serious about wine and meaty food, The Barrel Room down the street is far superior in both concept and execution. Unlike many reviewers here, we had no problems with service, but although good it wasn't top-notch.
(3)Katie Rose M.
My friend and I were walking up and down College, totally unable to decide what and where to eat, when we stumbled upon Toast. We ate on the outdoor patio and received prompt and friendly service. I started with a bloody mary and my friend had a grapefruit mimosa (yum.) The server who brought our drink said "You win the prize for asymmetrical haircuts" as we both have the sides of our heads shaved. (My friend lives in Spain, I swear we didn't copy on another.) Well, we got SO excited about winning a prize, the server felt like she wanted to actually bring us a prize and came back later with small sample of their appetizers: the white bean dip, almonds, and olives. Everything was so tasty! I ordered that smoked applewood bacon sandwich and my friend, who is vegetarian, ordered the same sandwich, but without bacon. Our other server kind of looked at her and said "Please let me make you a vegetarian sandwich. I am not going to bring you bread and tomato." So my friend was served a mozzarella, pesto, tomato and greens sandwich which was exactly what she wanted, she said the server read her mind. My sandwich was delightful. I thought it was going to be like a BLT, but the bacon was all cut up and mixed w cherry tomato halves, aioli, and greens. The bread was sooooo soft and delicious. I feel like I usually hurt the roof of my mouth when I eat BLTs because of the scratchy bread and bacon, so this was a lovely take on a favorite sandwich. We had another round of drinks, chatted with the server, and enjoyed the beautiful bay area weather.
(5)R P.
Was originally kinda puzzled because I got the smallest pour in the history of the universe. But manager noticed and said they had brought out a tasting glass. He replaced it with a full pour of vino instead. Happy camper :)
(5)Gypsy L.
Lovely atmosphere with great and knowledgeable staff. A maverick sever was awesome and helpful! Coming back as should you!
(5)Teresa S.
My all-time favorite small-bite "foody" eatery. All around 5 star... menu choices, selection of wine, good cocktails, pleasant ambiance and best of all... great service!
(5)Dinah C.
I was meaning to try this spot and finally did with a group for Sunday brunch. The first thing that caught my eye was the lack of sweet brunch options (one cinnamon roll option doesn't really count). I ordered the chorizo sausage dish and specified that I wanted the egg over hard. The waiter brought my two friends their dish and explained that mine was talking a while longer to cook the egg then proceeds to bring me the dish with runny eggs. My friends didn't enjoy their options either and agree that the best thing about this place was the side of potatoes. For the price and meal quality and portions, definitely not worth it!
(2)Robin L.
Dear Amazing Culinary Fairy, Thank you for sprinkling your magic fairy dust over TOAST! From the gorgeous ambiance, to the excellent food, to the fantastic service, it just couldn't get any better! Please thank your colleague, the Open Table Fairy, for getting me a reservation that provided us with a perfect booth beneath their 99 bottle chandeliers. I was particularly impressed how those lights that are encased in the top half of cut bottles, match up to their water glasses (made from the bottom half of the bottles). And then the water bottles placed on the table is the whole bottle to pull everything together....it's the little things about your fairy magic: I just love it. And the food is certainly Woohoo! As good as it gets! I had the arugula salad with quinoa, beets and goat cheese in this light, tangy shallot vinaigrette which was delicious! Then I had the grilled chicken breast that was served with a little horseradish cream that knocked my socks off. As if it could get any better we finished with the boca negra which is a perfect chocolate torte of sorts and some truly special cheese. Also did you sprinkle fairy dust over Brooke, our server? She was perfect and reminded me of how great service can enhance a meal to over-the-top MAGICAL status! I will definitely be back. Sincerely, Robin L
(5)Kim L.
Toast is one of several of my favorite restaurants in my neighborhood. It has a fun and airy atmosphere, a great decor and ambiance, and the food has been consistently good. Whenever I don't feel like being cramped in small space or having to wait for a table, crowded in front of the diners, staring at their plates and listening to their conversation, going to Toast making my spirit soar to the restaurant 's ceiling with its cool lighting fixtures... Last night I suggested my GF to meet me there for dinner. She was delighted with the place and the food. She said it was the best meal she had had in a long time...The cole slaw was fresh, the meat balls were delicious and the pepper crusted skirt steak was done perfectly rare to our liking. The bocca negra desert was incredibly light. The service could not be better: Attentive and friendly. However, a few minuses kept tugging at me: 1. Previous times, I had lunch or breakfast, never really had a need for bread so I was surprised to see the restaurant charging for bread. Being in a neighborhood where one can find great bakeries like La Farine, Semifreddi, La Fournee and great bread from the Market Hall, Acme bread should be the standard served along with glasses of water as at all other restaurants in Rockridge area. 2. Another disappointment is the coffee: cold when it came and even when I asked for a new cup, it came out just warm, not hot. I really don't know what the problem was. 3. With the restaurant's look, so cool and chic, the bathroom does not measure up to the same standard but only boringly functional. Anyway, even though Toast doesn't have nice bathrooms but it has nice heat lamps and red blankets on the patio for a cool night. Its coffee may not compare to Peet's or Blue Bottle coffee down the street but its cocktails will continue to knock my sock off. So Toast will remain high on my favorite list and of course I will come back with more friends.
(4)Ron B.
Robustly priced fare and meager portions. Remember that this is a place for "supper", which is a light meal The execution and taste of what is served is not something that I would return for on College Avenue. Typical "Napa" inspired cuisine that can be found everywhere in California these days. The outdoor dining on the avenue was this restaurants main attraction for me. It has no rivals in that sense
(2)Susan C.
This is not a spot for those looking to break a 2 week master cleanse because the portion size is modest but acceptable. You can easily bump up your food volume with some appetizers, dessert, or side dishes without breaking the bank. This is perfect for a light meal that is way more fun and interesting than "salad with grilled chicken dressing on the side." I have to say that everything here made healthy food really fun and really tasty! We had the fried chickpeas (perfect amount of hot salt and crunch); Romaine salad with sunflower seeds (super tender greens with a perfect amount of dressing); and shared a pork shoulder piece that had a marinade I would die for the recipe. The pork came with a side of 2 tender roasted corn on the cob and a zucchini strip and 3 bean salad that had my man actually thinking that zucchini was pasta. Kudos. If you have to watch your waist line, this is a great place to do it! The chef is on my list of people to recruit to be my personal chef when I hit the lotto. I will toast to TOAST kitchen + bar for the following: -Fun rustic decor -Very interesting menu of very healthy options -Top notch service and a chill approachable vibe -Reasonable prices for high quality ingredients and innovative food concepts.
(4)Corey H.
Amazing staff: attention to detail, friendly, skilled and fashionable. Difficult combo to locate!
(5)Faina L.
This place gets worse every time I come. Initially I liked it sbx it's ok for (overpriced) wine but a nice outdoor patio on a sunny day. The food is another story. They forgot our order, took hours to bring the entrees which were served cold, limp and greasy. Not a good presentation for fish. By the way it was a Sunday night and we were having 3 courses for 4 people. By the time our old cold fish came out we were practically only ppl left in restaurant. Their response? Free dessert. Live in the neighborhood but will not be back
(1)Harry K.
i'm very glad you have an african american in your kitchen. however, it has no reflection on how you treat african americans who want to sit in the dining area. thank goodness we had reservations at another restaurant and were merely strolling down the street looking for a place to wait out the hour. we reduced our time there to a social experiment once it became obvious we were not going to be served. your staff has an issue with people of color. we did not get the smiles and welcomes that were offered to others. we were ignored. shame on you. may i suggest south carolina for your next store ...
(1)Tyrone H.
The Chef Michael Woods sure knows how to whip up some great food! Bring the whole gang down here & have a ball! Overall amazing experience & customer service, especially from Meg!
(5)JJ S.
I thought this was the Toast that I use to go to in Noe Valley. That Toast served breakfast all day and I was craving it. Overall I give them a 3. Service was great but the sausage I ordered took about 45 minutes to cook. Supposedly after 30 minutes of waiting the cook forgot to take the order. Why a 3? Well the items are over priced. The week before I ate at a very nice restaurant in the financial district and paying $25 for one entree or more was reasonable. I mean this was from one of the top chefs in the U.S. And the quality of their food was great. Now, here I spent $25 for a dinner plate with 2 Italian sausages that took 45 minutes to make. If you look at my pictures you would also question why it would cost $25. If I were to rate Toast for the service I got from the waiter it would be 5. She saw that j had two kids who were growing impatient waiting for the main dinner and only charged me for the entree and gave me the Mac and cheese and grilled cheese for free. The one highlight of our meal was their version of Mac and cheese. Not your regular macaroni pasta, it was made from spaghetti pasta. This was probably thee best or one of the best Mac and cheese I've had. I won't come back because this was too overpriced.
(3)Sarah L.
Two stars for nice/clean ambience and that's about it. We went on a Saturday afternoon around 4pm when there were very few customers. Despite having minimal tables to wait, three servers were standing around the checkin booth giggling and chit chatting instead of getting us the requested extra acme bread roll (which is a total rip off to begin with and they completely forgot to ever bring it) or processing our check in a timely fashion. Glad we only stopped by for some appetizers and instead of a full meal.
(2)Bonga W.
Expensive, very yummy, comfortable. It helped that I had just returned from NYC, so a $12 sandwich seemed normal. Bacon Sandwich was super yummy, and my partner had Ham Sandwich, also was great. Big enough for us to be well sated...I want to try dinner, see that it would be pricey, but the food is very well prepared.
(4)Lane H.
My first time at Toast tonight with some friends who dine there frequently. We arrived before them and while we waited, we were approached by a staff member who offered to get us something to drink. And not in that "Can I get you a drink while you're waiting?" but more like "you look thirsty, I'm going to get you something." He came back with a beer for my husband and a glass of water for me. When our friends arrived we sat outside because they brought their dog. I stupidly wore a dress and instantly started to get cold as the sun went down. No worries, they have warm blankets for guests! Also, they lit up a heat lamp and brought it close to our table. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The waiter was not overbearing or overly chipper, he had a sense of humor and made small talk with us when he came round to check on us. We had coffee and dessert and it was all great and we never felt rushed to finish. During the meal the staff member who got us our first drink came round to see how things were and he was so warm and memorable that I was certain he must be the owner. I looked him up when I got home and found that he was the general manager, Todd O'Leary. Well kudos, Todd, I thought your customer service was fabulous and it definitely will be bringing us back to Toast. Besides, I hear you're a Kentuckyian - so is my husband. Maybe that's where you both get your warmth and personality.
(5)Cindy C.
According to yelp, a 2 star rating is "meh, I've experienced better". That's exactly how I feel abut TOAST. We made a reservation for Easter Sunday, thinking most other places wouldn't fit a party of 5. When we arrived, TOAST was actually quite empty and remained that way through our experience. I had my mind set on a few dishes I saw on yelp. However, none of them were available. I had very little interest to try the other dishes on the menu - there were only 7 items! I opted for the omelet, which wasn't anything spectacular. I'll go with one of the many coffee or bakeries in Rockridge instead of coming back here. MEH!
(2)Mary M.
Great selection of craft beers and unique cocktails. I ate a delicious sandwich with thick bacon, spinach, egg, and aioli. Sooooo good! Fun lunch break with outdoor tables and dog friendly.
(5)Serina K.
Usually have a nice experience here but coming back today after a year or so I was super unimpressed with the service. The wait staff never greeted me and the host looked like a deer in headlights when I walked to the podium to be seated. It wasnt busy at all or I might understand the weirdness. Once seated no one came to take my order and I watched as the couple arriving after me were seated and greeted by a server, orders taken. Two glasses of water later, still nothing, just servers looking at me and walking inside. Maybe the automatic 15% gratuity on all parties has created a complacent staff, not sure, but I ended up walking out hangry. Knowing me I'll give them another try due to their vast whisky collection, but so far am put off.
(3)Carrie S.
I've always been a fan of Toast. I used to live in the Rockridge area about a year ago and loved this place. So, this morning when I was looking for a place for brunch, we went out of our way to go to Toast. We arrived at 10:30am. Seated outside. Ordered food and drinks. So far so good. Then the drinks ended and the breakfast was over and we were ready to leave. 5 minutes goes by. 10 minutes go by. Our server never came back. Not a huge deal. We get up and ask for our check. Still it's fine. Then they bring the check and on the check is a 15% gratuity inclusive. WHAT? I've heard of this for parties of 6+... but, for a party of 2? Look, I always pay 18% - 20%, but to include the (optional) tip on my bill just left a bad taste in my mouth. Apparently, it must leave a bad taste in others mouths as well because when they bring the bill, they bring a little piece of paper with an explanation on why they are adding the (optional) gratuity. Really LAME, Toast. LAME. Sorry, I'm done with you.
(3)Kamil K.
I wasn't too impressed with this place. We had a drinks and the cheese platter here. The cheese platter was wonderfully mediocre.Two small chunks of bland cheese, some honey and slice apple. Probably not worth $12. My friends cocktail was quite bland as well, I think it was the 'Lost City.' It was nothing special. I had the Scrimshaw Pilsner beer, once again, it was ok. On the positive side, the atmosphere near the bar is cool and the waitstaff was quite good and friendly. I would ultimately give this place 3.5 stars.
(3)Sarah T.
Made a lunch stop here on our way to Santa Rosa for the weekend. We ordered the chicken liver pate, spicy pork meatballs and pulled chicken sandwich that reminded us of the vietnamese chicken banh mi. Quality of food was great and ingredients were very fresh. To drink, we went with the featured cocktail - very refreshing and paired well with our lunch. Service was great from the time we were greeted all the way through to the end of our meal. They offered a sweet complimentary snickerdoodle cookie at the end of our meal which was a nice surprise!
(4)Katlyn M.
I went to Toast for the first time last week with three of my friends for drinks and some snacks. Usually one of my friends doesn't order a drink because she can't find anything that likes because she's quite picky ( doesn't taste like alcohol, doesn't taste like cough syrup, vaguely sweet, no carbonation. ) Our bartender Meg chatted with my friend Sarah to figure out what she does and doesn't like and made a drink especially for her. It was a cross between and arnold palmer and a mojito, and she named it the Princess Sarah Special. This was the first time that I have ever seen Sarah finish a drink. Props to Meg for figuring out Sarah's insanely picky palate. We also enjoyed the cheese plate, meatballs, and pickled veggies all of which were delicious. Our waitress and all of the wait staff were friendly and efficient. I returned Saturday for brunch and am happy to report that it was great too.
(4)Cheryl J.
Fantastic place! Mixed drinks are unique and recipes are well thought out. Quality small batch liquors.
(5)Lisa T.
Came here for happy hour, but it was only beer and margaritas. The margarita was whatever. I ordered a non happy hour drink, the La Vida fumada, which wasn't very good. I got their a little something fried, not very memorable. Took a long time for it to come out. I felt like they forgot about the food, until I reminded them. Service is fine, just food takes forever. Other random things to note: the napkins make my pants linty and there are no toilet seat cover. Overall, I wouldn't come back here again. But if you're looking for a nice patio place, this place has it.
(2)Nadine B.
The inviting ambiance and comforting California cuisine offered at TOAST has made it a neighborhood favorite of mine. The atmosphere is a lovely balance between casual and romantic, without being pretentious, and the dishes are consistently fresh, seasonally inspired, and tasty. The food reminds me of a home cooked meal, always nourishing and satisfying, but never too rich. I prefer visiting TOAST for dinner, as their lunch menu is pretty much just sandwiches of which I am not a huge fan. I held back giving out all 5 stars mostly because of the service, which seems to be a bit too laid back. The food sits at the pass for far too long, and I have had to send back dishes after they arrived cold at my table. The waiters are usually pretty friendly, but service tends to be slow. Still, I will continue to visit TOAST regularly!
(4)Nicolo P.
Fantastic spot with a decent little drink menu! Make it for dinner if you can! Beautiful outdoor seating as well!
(4)Michelle D.
This place is more on the pricey side. But, 15% is added to the bill for tips toward the whole staff (so tipping is optional and would be for server only.) this place has a good wine selection and delicious (albeit small) food options. This place has a nice vibe, especially to sit outside on a nice day for brunch.
(4)Daniel N.
Came here for brunch yesterday with a party of 5 and a baby in a stroller. The food was excellent and the staff very friend and accommodating. Only wish would be a few more drink options including some draft beers, but hey, you can't always get what you want...
(5)Marie B.
I can't believe this slice of dining heaven is sooooo far away from where I live! ;) First, they are hugely customer centric ~ I called during lunch rush to ask about hosting a teeny tiny brunch for my daughter and her brides maids. The young woman took time to answer my questions AND happily made the reservation for one of the busiest times ...immediately following Thanksgiving. Second, the space is beyond adorable. Bright contemporary warm and incredibly comfy ~ including cutesy afghans to snuggle under while enjoying the lovely fall weather ...and charming touches like tables carved from drift wood and chairs that invite you to sit sip and savor Last but not least the food is divine! Oh dear where to start?! The White Bean Dip ...yum. The Biscuit ...Swoon!!! ...the Egg in a Basket made you wish for seconds with the yummy, perfectly toasted bread and the fantastic Brussel Sprouts ...salivating. Also the French Toast and Roasted Potatoes were divine. I'm a huge fan!! Move to Houston?! Pllllleeeeeeaaaaaase!!
(5)Erin D.
i went here to celebrate my 30th birthday with a group of ladies, and was severely disappointed with how the management treated us! The servers (Farrah, Jeff, Ryan- ALL FANTASTIC!). We requested a sequestered area to dine as we tend to laugh a lot, and ENJOY our dinner with happy and yes, sometimes boisterous conversation. Once we arrived we ALSO offered to sit outside as to not disturb any other parties inside... we were shuffled into the front corner booth, and after approximately 15-20 minutes of sitting (waiting for appetizers) drinking champagne... the manager came over to brashly inform us that WE had lost HIM business. Now, I understand we are a loud group, HOWEVER, there is this little thing called tact...apparently the GM does not have this! I felt like a 5 year old child being scolded, for laughing, and enjoying our food (which was heavenly!!!). More importantly, the food is good- not NYC, Shanghai, Italy good- but good for the neighborhood and price. I will go back to Toast, but only during lunch or brunch time (I have friends who frequent the place, and have never had an issue- because the particular manager we encountered is not present during the morning/afternoon hours). THANK YOU to the AMAZING staff for welcoming us, making us feel happy, and taking care of our awkward, and embarrassing situation! Again, Farrah, Jeff, and Ryan- NAILED IT!
(2)William M.
Great atomsphere! We come here often for wine and appetizers! Honestly there's not one item on the menu we haven't ordered that hasn't been great quality!
(4)Meg M.
Super lippy hostess in a restaurant that was 1/4 Full on Memorial Day Sunday. I waited for 20 minutes on the patio, after checking in with the first (nice) hostess, and finally walked back inside to place my order at the hostess station. I asked what brand of coffee they served; hostess replied: regular and decaf. Frittata was overly salted, clearly reheated and cold in the middle (I thought I'd get fresh food!); coffee was lukewarm and stale. The second star is for the fresh field greens that came on the side of the frittata. The third star is because the manager came and spoke with me about the poor service and the cold food, and they brought water for my dog. They tried to make it better, but I wouldn't recommend the place and doubt I'll return. If you're looking for a good corner spot with a pretty patio to enjoy a cocktail, this might work better.
(3)Elaine Y.
came here for ladies night out dinner. place was very cute and got great service. the steak i had was juicy and well prepared. would definitely come back for more. the drinks were well prepared and tasty. parking can be a pain so get there early.
(4)Stefanie S.
DISAPPOINTED. CONS - 15% pre-tax service charge - honestly do they think that this gives them cart blanch for incredibly bad service? Party of four -a) one of our cocktails had to be remade 3 times b)appies were brought to the table for two of our party and an entree was brought for another - WRONG c)a 2nd bottle of beer was ordered, showing up 20 minutes later d)one of our party was still eating when his dinner plate was whisked away, with no 'have you finished'? PLUS, the food isn't that great. I don't know how they have kept their doors open for 4 years and expanded. In an area chock full of great dining experiences, TOAST needs to knock themselves out in every arena. I would never recommend this place to anyone, for any reason. Super crappy experience
(1)eryn y.
Had a wonderful experience dining here in the bar. The bartender - I think her name was Meg? - she made sure we had everything we needed and we never felt neglected. She made the most delicious drinks, too. Highly recommend the Sunday Driver! Definitely order the white bean spread and brussel sprouts when dining in the bar. Go for the meatballs too, if you're feeling like you need more of a hearty meal. All in all a great experience and will definitely be coming back!
(5)Mark A.
First, the positive. The staff did a good enough job and were quite courteous and prompt. The drinks were good and the atmosphere is nice, especially on a warm summer evening on the patio. Now, the reason for only two stars. My girlfriend and I were looking to split a dinner plate from the "supper" menu. We told the server this and asked about the pork meatballs, which she said were very good. They were good, but not great. And they were $12--for THREE MEATBALLS and a few leaves of arugula. When the server brought our "supper" we both looked at each other with incredulity. Seriously? I don't know how any restaurant could in good conscience charge that kind of money for a few very small (like the ones you can buy at IKEA) meatballs and some greens. I do not mind paying good money for a meal, but this was anything but. I cannot comment on the rest of the menu, but this dish should definitely be listed under starters or appetizers. Calling that plate "supper" and charging that kind of money is extremely misleading.
(2)Jeff G.
Biggish prices and smallish portions would sum up my experience at Toast tonight. I ordered a $10 glass of rosé, and it was a barely acceptable amount at that price; yet the wine was delicious. I also ordered the arugula salad with melon, which was moderate in flavor, not remarkable, but tasty enough. The bigger disappointment was the chicken with (not warm) mashed yams. Some of the chicken was borderline dryish, and it was also a smallish piece--rather on the stingy side for a $24 entree. The chicken was accompanied by about five stringy sautéed broccoli greens--giving the plating an even more paltry vibe. Overall, it's the mismatched portions versus prices (~$94 before tip for two of us) that bring my review down to two stars, which would have been three stars for good (not great) flavors.
(2)Mardi S.
I agree w Ryan C. On 9/15/13, his review is spot on.. I'll just add that I really enjoyed the friendly unpretentious staff who took my silly over taxed brain in stride and gave us perfect recommendations that we really enjoyed. I apologize for being so un original however, their website also sums it up quite nicely and they deliver what is stated... "Featuring organically, locally + sustainably produced ingredients, small production wines + liquors, artisan cocktails, dishes for kids + adults alike, and gregariously gracious staff, TOAST kitchen + bar welcomes all. Eat. Drink. Be merry. Repeat."
(4)SW S.
Toast seems to be a popular place and offers a small variety of finger food, starters and entres. Like 5 selections each. They are using 'winter' vegetables which is good. Their combinations of veges and chicken, pork or pasta is interesting but doesn't work. We shared the kale salad with almonds and goat cheese. The kale way overshadowed the other flavors. It was ok. The white bean spread with toast was very, very good BUT the toasts were buttered - dripping with butter - which seemed unnecessary since the white bean spread was rich and had olive oil in it. Plane toasts would have been perfect. While the kale salad needed salt, I had the pork shoulder which came onto of celery root, fennel and something else. Now, I love a good bag of potato chips - I love salt and will salt pizza - but the port dish was so salty, I almost sent it back. It was like someone had poured salt on instead of sprinkling it on. That combined with the overpowering of the root winter veges - there were too many flavors to make any of the flavors good. The port was variable in cooked perfectly and cooked too long/dry. It was a hard choice because there were only 4 entrees and the others did not sound good. One of the people in our party had been to this restaurant many years ago which it was smaller. Maybe it was better then? Disappointed.
(2)JP C.
For a 3 stars I actually really like Toast. The drinks are good, the food is good, and I love the patio. I go there a lot because I can take my dog. It's a problem of timing. The first time I went, it took 20 minutes to put in drink orders, another 10 minutes to order our food. They were sold out of all but one entree and the people on either side of us both stormed out without food after waiting an hour. We left without order but figured they were just a new restaurant and hadn't worked out the kinks yet. We didn't go again for a year, but like I said, we go every few weeks now. It still takes forever, but your food does arrive. The problem is not with the servers. They work hard and are very nice. Things just need to change at the back of the house. My guess is that they are trying to up margins by hiring less kitchen staff than they need, but it's a tough business and my armchair quarterbacking could be way off.
(3)abby k.
I want to like this place, I really do. I've given it three tries now, and each times something leaves me feeling disappointed. The first time was the best. We had a nice table, a polite, although somewhat inattentive server, but the food was hit or miss. The next time, similar experience, but the food was more miss, and I was served cold, raw stuffed trout. They were nice and gave us desserts on the house though. The last time was ridiculous. They were serving a burger which had pea shoots, goat cheese, bacon and some other exotic toppings that my son wasn't interested in. We asked if we could just get the burger without all of those things on it and they said no problem. Then we asked if we could have cheese and they would only give him goat cheese, no substitutions. I would have been fine with this except that they were offering a grilled cheese and a ham and cheese sandwich, so it wasn't a matter of not having cheese, it was a matter of no allowing us to have the cheese. I couldn't believe it! We pointed out that there seemed to be other cheese options, but they stuck to their guns, no cheese. It was so bizarre. So, I think that will be it for us. To many other options out there.
(2)Vanessa J.
Happy ends at 6p...makes me sad... Food was delightfully fresh and delicious. I ordered the salmon and it was cooked perfectly. The staff was very friendly and everyone had that "all-hands-on" approach which I appreciate. They seemed to get much more busy later in the evening so I would highly recommend making reservations. The cocktails were creative and unique the only draw back was that they didn't have cranberry juice for a more traditional Cape Cod. The did offer tasting sizes for their wine as well as flights, which I will definitely have to do next time. The decor and overall feel is very industrial and contemporary with a mix of rustic pieces. I loved the little touches like using up-cycled wine bottles for both the water glasses and the indoor lighting fixtures. Outside seating is very large with plenty of space heaters and even cozy looking throws available to help keep the chill away. I can't wait to dine here again!
(4)DeAnna T.
I am so super impressed with this place. I don't even drink, but I really love the food. The only reason I am not giving it 5 stars is because, I do think it is slightly overpriced. I have met a friend here several times and just took my family here for the first time tonight. My 3 year-old is a little foodie, but still, I was skeptical about how it work for her. They get an A for kid friendliness. A server greeted her super sweetly by getting down on her level and chatting with her up and engaging her on a 3-year old level...first win. Second win, seating outside, jar of crayons and coloring page. 3rd win, the cheese plate with bread, apples and honey (on the dessert menu, but brought as a starter) And wow, to a reviewer that I saw was disappointed in the food. I don't get that, I have had only very good experiences with the food, I think it is actually quite comparable to the wood tavern (and good luck getting a reservation there!). I have had many things, including soups, salads, small plates and dinners and really have never been disappointed. Tonight, we had local salmon and slow cooked pork, which were both just jaw dropping. I love kale and the pork had pieces of kale and carrots in it that were cooked to perfection. Really stellar. Service was great, too!
(4)Al W.
Expensive, average quality and not very comfortable. Very disappointed that the wine list started at $70.00 per bottle. Only alternative is a 1/2 carafe (about 16 oz).-or by the glass Menu is not particularly interesting or creative. Tried Toast twice. Sat outside the first time and had awful service. Suggest you pass on this restaurant.
(1)Samantha R.
I brought my fiance here for his birthday dinner with some friends. The food, vibe, and service was good, but it was so loud I could hardly hear myself think. The building is not constructed very well and as a result there was is WAY too much noise bouncing off the walls. I had to yell just to speak to my fiance right next to me. Although the food was good, the portions were quite small. Less than an hour after leaving, all 4 of us admitted we were hungry and had to hit up a taco truck. It had a nice ambiance but there are better places to spend my money in the area.
(2)Valerie I.
My husband and I was driving down College Avenue tonight looking for a place to eat when we spotted Toast. From the moment we stepped foot into the restaurant until leaving, our experience here was over the top. We had the option to eat inside or out and we chose to eat outside. The gentleman that seated us was also our waiter. He was exceptional. I wanted to sit near a heater and he moved one near me which made the dining experience very comfortable throughout the evening. Within a couple of minutes of ordering, our drinks and appetizers was at our table. Just before our dinner was served, the waiter brought me a throw blanket because it was starting to get a little chilly out. When our dinner was served, the food not only looked amazing - it tasted as good as it looked. It was the oven-roasted mary's half game hen, charred corn mash, asparagus, grilled peaches with savory plum sauce which had such a unique taste that I really can't remember when I had such an original dish. From the beginning to the end of our dinner experience, everyone in the restaurant was attentive to us. I definitely recommend Toast and I look forward to visiting this place again. Thanks goes to one of the best waiters I've ever had and everyone that helped my table for making our night out so rememberable... Cheers!
(5)Teri B.
I will start with why I deducted stars. On a not very crowded, early Sunday evening, with 4 of us at the table, they (for reasons unknown) tried to rush us, - while others were still eating - by immediately removing the plate of anyone who seemed to be putting a fork down. Where I was raised, that's considered poor service. One doesn't remove plates until all diners are finished. What was worse was that they never even asked "May I take your plate?" (still rude, but at least offering an option.) The food was great, (both times... deliciously sublime) the service was fair (I was there once before, but had better service outside, this time was indoors). There was one young woman (employee??) who appeared to have no other job than to swan around looking bored and distracted, occasionally shuffling menus whilst doing her best to ignore our efforts to wave her down. I couldn't tell for sure if she worked there or was vamping in hopes of being 'discovered' a la Lana Turner? It was bummer to have such a lovely meal end on such an offensive note, the plates being whisked away one by one, as the other diners at the table were still enjoying their meals. I suppose you could say that it left a bad taste in my mouth.
(3)R D.
The name is Toast. There are beautiful repurposed wine bottles all around and a huge drawing of a corkscrew on the wall. The menu says "drink more wine." I get the impression this place is all about the wine and having just come back from the original wine country (France) I was ready to do just that. We went during Oakland's Restaurant Week and was attracted by their preset menu advertising three courses with two wine pairings. Apparently everyone else in Oakland had the same idea and the place was packed--good for this neighborhood business; bad if you want to have a conversation. The beet, quinoa, goat cheese salad was the first dish and was good--nothing special to make this popular salad stand out from the many times I've eaten it and prepared it myself, but definitely good ingredients. Unfortunately, the wines advertised were not poured and the pours were tiny-- half what I'd expect. Cheers? This meal came on the heels of two fantastic Oakland Restaurant Week meals at Ozumo and Lungomare, where we didn't feel like we were in a cafeteria and given sips of what they had to offer.
(2)Celeste N.
Why don't thy serve bread with their little meals? Sitting outdoors is wonderful but the food is slightly expensive for the amount and quality.
(3)Jenna C.
This place is so cute! I met a friend here for a quick drink (picked her up at Rockridge BART - very close by), so I can't speak to the food. We sat in the bar area (which has the coolest sign!), which still provided table service. It was semi-crowded for a Thursday night, which is a good sign. I had a glass of pinot grigio, which was a generous pour and nice and refreshing. The server was very sweet and attentive with the water (always a plus). I'd love to return!
(5)Rikki R.
Between the friendly staff, charming Sunday brunch guitar player, satisfying menu, and creative drinks, I really can't choose what my favorite part of TOAST is. We spent 3 hours there on a Sunday afternoon, and never once felt rushed or unwelcomed, so we opted to stay for dinner. Just go, you won't regret it.
(5)Heather S.
Just had brunch there. It was pretty empty inside. The service was fine, took awhile on both food & drinks though. The chicken sandwhich was really disappointing. Almost NO chicken. Literally a few tiny pieces and ALL bread.
(3)R K.
I came in here for my birthday last week, and I really enjoyed it. The pork meatballs are amazing, and the saffron risotto was unique and flavorful. The chicken was perfectly cooked, and I wasn't a fan of the bitter cabbage side, but the grilled peaches balanced out the flavor. Boca Negra dessert is a must, a gorgeous flourless chocolate cake that melts in your mouth! They make great cocktails here too. I feel they are a little on the pricey side, but their portion sizes are larger than I remember. It's a nice place to sit and have a meal or get a drink, and while that is bait for large obnoxious, noisy groups, it's often worth it.
(4)Peebee J.
blah. A restaurant that calls itself toast should not charge for bread and olive oil. No! The food was amateur and the environment was nouveau hipster. Which, if the food was good, I wouldn't mind, but the emphasis was on the cocktails and décor and it should have been much better.
(1)Laurence W.
It took me more than a year to finally come here, even though I live close by. There's something uninviting about the space -- likely because it's set off from the street -- but on a sunny day when they have the patio set up, it suddenly becomes inviting. The menu is stellar -- a wide range of shareable plates, generally with an Italian bent. We had bruschetta, pasta, lamb meatballs, and a couple of other dishes. Everything was good. The experience and menu reminds me a lot of Barbacco in the city, which is easily one of my favorite restaurants for a high quality but casual meal. So: great spot, sorry it's taken me so long to visit.
(5)Rowena P.
Perfect spot for good drinks, simple meal, and gossiping with friends. Very accommodating & engaging staff, will definitely go back!
(4)Ashley S.
I love coming here. The staff are always very friendly, the inside seating is always nice, but outside seating a nice Oakland evening can't be beat (plus they have heaters!) Mostly, I come here for the wine. And the champagne. And the delicious small plates. Toast is flat out a lovely experience.
(4)Jennifer S. P.
Oakland Restaurant Week! Such a great find. I have been wanting to try this place ever since I moved to Rockridge, but I just did not have the push to go until Restaurant week came and I needed to make my picks. We ordered one restaurant week menu (three courses and pairings) and a few smaller sides from the menu. I am not cushioning this review. I was SO impressed by all aspects of the restaurant. Staff, Food, Presentation, Wine selection, time table on assistance. Literally one of the best restaurant experiences I have ever had. I will definitely be going back and I can't wait to try out their breakfast/lunch assortment. YOU MUST GO. Dish Picks: Celery Root Soup was so amazing. Mixed green salad with redwood hill farm fresh goat cheese and pumpkin seeds---the goat cheese was so fresh I tasted that on its own several times without the rest mmm.! Lastly, definitely try the chicken liver pate with a wine pairing. Small but delicious. ahhh...still dreaming about it.
(5)Ryan T.
Been here about 4 times since moving to the Elmwood/Rockridge neighborhood 2 years ago. It's split into two main sections: a restaurant section and an appetizer/bar section. It's nice to have the second option when you still want a place to sit down and enjoy a cocktail and some delicious apps. The apps knock my socks off while the entrees, although still really good, leave me wishing I just ordered more appetizers. I'm always please with the wine here and the cocktail specials never cease to amaze me - delicious! Best thing about Toast: the SERVICE. Everyone here is SO nice and friendly but also very professional, making it feel like you're still at an upscale joint. PROS: Lovely service. Great cocktails. Better appetizers. Outside seating with heaters. Walking distance to BART if needed. Table seating in the Bar section. CONS: A little on the pricey side. The name "Toast" sounds like a breakfast place.
(4)Hoppie B.
I've tried hard to like this place because it's in my hood and the ambiance is very inviting but it's always a disappointment. The food is mediocre - the last salad I ordered there had croutons equivalent to Pepperidge Farm. The wine list is so-so, and the service is just OK. If I want to I truly enjoy good drink and food, I would cross the street and sit myself down at Wood Tavern.
(2)Yoshika H.
Nice outdoor seating as well as indoor. Too bad they close fairly early on Saturday... Tried few dishes here which I will post some photos. Gabanzo beans or chick peas deep fried with capers were very nice and a steal at $5. The deep fried peppers were pretty good too. Their cocktails are superior.
(4)B R.
Outstanding evening and fantastic meal. My dad and I stopped in to check out this new local spot and were both overwhelmed by the excellence of the evening. From the minute we walked through the door the staff worked like a perfectly synchronized Orchestra to make us feel welcome and meet our every need. The Mater Dei pointed out the three tables available for us to choose from to our liking. Immediately after we sat down a male staff person came to provide us place settings and a female wait person came to provide us with water glasses and poured our water. Every employee at toast was relaxed, friendly & utterly professional. The food was perfectly prepared and delicious. I had the scallops with kale salad and my dad had a pork chop. We shared the arugala salad and flourless chocolate scrumptiousness with creme fraiche and coffee for dessert. The decor was comfortable, rustic & hip. The only two details for improvement would be hotter coffee and the music overhead could be turned down a couple of notches. All in all this is a place to go!
(5)Michi K.
Went back. Still in love. Totally different waitstaff, totally different menu (drinks and food alike). Totally nailed it. Totally worth braving BART. Totally worth a trip over the bridge.
(5)Kenneth R.
Although I did like Toast, I somehow can't proclaim "I am on fan." My rating is 3.1416. There are definitely points in Toast's favor. This small establishment has a nice look and good vibe. Sitting down, one immediately feels comfortable. I came for dinner and thought that the meal was A-OK. I had a kale-based caesar salad with chopped egg and a bowl of braised beef. With the first course, I drank a Bokisch rose that was fine. Then I moved to an on-tap gamay that was probably the best wine on tap that I've had ever -- that wine was the high point of the experience. The salad and beef were OK but struck me as unremarkable. (Talk about jaded palates!) Our menus were sticky when they were brought to the table. They were less sticky when they departed, but my fingers got gooey while I examined the menu. (It's a bit dark in the room, so flashlights were supplied by the friendly staff while we examined the day's offerings.) Our server touched me gently on the shoulder when I ordered. (This used to be reputed to be a tip-raising gesture, but it often backfires nowadays.) I might well come periodically if I lived in the neighborhood. But I don't. I suspect it'll be a while before I return. When I do, it'll probably be for some drinks and light snacks with a friend.
(3)Marck N.
I really enjoyed our evening here. My friends and I visited Toast for Oakland Restaurant Week. They offered a pre-fix menu of 3 dishes that each came with a wine pairing for $40. It was obviously the best deal as everyone in the restaurant was ordering it. We started our meal with the chicken liver pate, cheese board, and the salumi selection plate. All small bites were good. Of the cheese, I enjoyed the buttermilk blue affinee the best. From the salumi plate the prosciutto was very tasty. As for dinner, it was the mixed green salad, all day braise pork shoulder and the chocolate cake. I can't remember the wines served with each, but they were all excellent. For dessert, there was a choice of a dessert wine or whiskey. I chose the whiskey and it really helped complete the meal. The dinner menu prices are quite affordable, compared to the other restaurants in the area. A very good thing, as now I will make it one of my regular hangouts.
(4)Ray R.
Great visit great place to catch a sandwich. Stopped by for lunch on a weekday. It was a pleasant day to add to that we got great service. Service = nice, smile and knows the menu. The food tasted fresh and delicious. Would I come back - YES. I brought it up in conversation and someone else had the same impression. Keep up the good work!
(4)Kristi K.
Went there for brunch with friends for the first time. Had the best Kale salad with Tuna confit! We also ordered biscuits on the side, but they ran out and didn't have enough for all the orders so they comped us the two they had and also a cinnamon roll. Very nice...will definitely be back!
(4)Nique F.
Love, love, love everything about this place. It's the wine bar of my dreams! If I lived any closer, I would need to find a liver specialist...stat. From afar it looks like a cute white cottage with charming bistro tables spilling onto the front patio, welcoming you to The Good Life. Inside you'll find a clean modern aesthetic that feels both classy and casual with jagged-cut wood tables, a cozy bar, and a chill soundtrack (a la Fiest / Citizen Cope). It's a very tempting pit-stop during a Rockridge stroll. The wine list seems to have something for everyone, by the glass or on tap. If you're with a group, it's worth going for a bottle or caraffe which are all well-priced. I do wish they had a happy hour, but they seem to be packing the house anyway. Make sure to try the Spanish "Cocca" bread (sort of a cross between cornbread and foccacia) Mmmm, savory carbo-liciousness. Toast is a darling addition to this hip little 'hood. I'll be dreaming of my next visit...
(5)Chris L.
While the toast with the white hummus was not that great as the reviews claimed, everything else was excellent. They use fresh ingredients and everything was perfectly cooked and presently simply. This place is efficient and clean. I wish there were more places like this! They have tables outside complete with heat lamps and blankets if you were inclined to get cold. We sat inside and most of the tables are for parties of 2 or 4 and there is one communal table by the bar at the end. I saw there was a private dining room also. The service was pretty good and the staff were all friendly and knowledgeable. The mixed green salad with the grated Parmesan cheese, apples and honey vinaigrette was awesome. The homemade bread reminded me of Bouchon. The lamb meatballs were delicious and the tomato sauce on top was excellent and fresh, but overpriced at $12 for four small meatballs. The chicken entree was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside and the veggies were perfectly cooked. This is a good place for a light meal but not budget friendly for students.
(4)Amanda M.
Thankfully I had made reservations for 9pm for 2 on a Friday night. The place was somewhat busy so our server not arriving after 10-12 minutes is acceptable. We ordered cocktails and I had the house made tagliatelle. I wasn't obsessed with my dish, but I think this place is worth another try... Maybe .
(3)Ryan C.
Top three things I enjoy about Toast: Their blend of classy and casual. The feel of an upscale restaurant, with little of the pretense. Large, animal-friendly patio with blankets and heaters for cool nights. Simple and rustic design palette. Toast projects an easy, stylish vibe. Staff smoothly rotates in based on task and flow. Each time I go, I have moments with the host, waiter, sommelier, chef and busser, as well as other staff who fill in to maintain the pace. The fluid, subtle ballet is enjoyable to watch and receive. A menu built around limited, intelligent choices, for both food and drinks. I appreciate restaurants that focus on doing a smaller number of things well. This allows for a clear, confident menu, simpler ordering, stronger pairings, waiters with deeper and more meaningful understanding of what's on offer, and it all results in a better experience. Par for the Rockridge course are prices which feel like they could be lower. I may visit less often as a result, but I still stop in, now and then.
(4)Melissa C.
The hubs made reservations at this spot for our Valentine's Day dinner...what a lovely spot for a special date night. Since this was Valentine's Day they only had the pre-fixed menu available which consisted of a cauliflower/split pea soup (creamny and delicious), choice of a beet salad with blood oranges or garden salad with mushrooms (we each chose a different one and both were freshly prepared with nice flavors), choice of lamb chops, a vegetarian pasta like dish, and steelhead fish (we chose the lamb and the fish...both cooked perfectly, full of great flavors and nicely presented), and finally dessert which was a chocolate type of cake with a bourbon sauce (amazing, the bourbon flavors went so well with the rich chocolate taste). Everything from start to finish was amazing. They also had a choice to pair the entrees with wine, but we opted to order cocktails from their craft cocktail menu...both of us ordered bourbon drinks and both tasted fantastic. They use square ice cubes and for those that know my previous reviews...that detail is what impresses the hubs and I when ordering a good drink. The ambiance of this little joint is romantic and comfortable but still modern. They do have a patio area with heat lamps and we saw that they provided blankets for those chilly nights. What a great little detail to offer outside diners. The service was friendly, prompt and fast...they refilled our water glasses without us having to ask and weren't overly attentive like some places are. This place is a great place to take a special date or to have a really nice evening out with friends. I wouldn't mind coming back in the future to try out their regular menu items.
(5)Su C.
Tried this place a couple of times, but didn't particularly care for it. Place is near my house and I really liked the atmosphere, but food was just ok. Service was good. Outside seating was comfortable. Place is really popular.
(2)Marie D.
I have no idea why this place only has 3 1/2 stars. I consider myself a total foodie and this is, hands down, one of the best places I've ever eaten! We started with the buratta with peaches and the baby greens salad. The presentation of both of these plates were stunningly beautiful, but nothing compared the the incredible flavors!!!! I, literally, could not stop making those "good food" noises! We weren't even hungry after those, but I had to try something else just because... Megan (our bartender/server who totally ROCKED ) suggested the carrot soup. Seriously ... unbelievable flavor!!!! The whole experience was so fabulous!! I can't wait to be back in the area to go again!!!!
(5)Josh T.
Awesome, classy, cool, cozy - this place is a real gem. The decor is fun and sexy, the food - fresh and healthy, and in perfect sized portions. The waitress was the best part though - sweet, pretty, smart and top-notch service. The busboys could tone it down a little though. ;) Cocktails are out of sight too!
(4)Chuck W.
Had a great brunch on Sunday, came in around 11am with no wait and was seated immediately. Ordered the soft scrambled eggs and pulled chicken sandwich, both were delicious. Unlike what other reviewers experienced, the service was excellent and swift, and they don't charge for refills on the coffee. One note about their menu choices though, it is light on the meat-centric dishes, but it's a nice change from a heavy meal last night.
(4)Sarah S.
I just had one of the most amazing chicken dishes ever. Moist delicious chicken leg. Chock full of garlic, kale and carrots. Kale and garlic? Why don't I have more of it in my life? I could have eaten another chicken leg - but, it was just the right portion. The staff is friendly and pleasant, and even if I'm here a bit late, they're cool with me hanging out and enjoying the wine. And they love wine. Come late, to avoid the kids (sorry families, but I'm childfree for a reason) and settle down at the little bar, the booths (hard wood, so be prepared if you have a boney bum), or one of the cute tables with Eames style dowel legged chairs. A rotating seasonal menu, and a place to feel comfortable at. I just found my favorite spot in this area of Oakland.
(5)Elizabeth V.
Looking for a good glass of wine and small bites for a pit stop before dinner? Look no further. Came here with a friend and decided to just do wine and white bean spread. Yumm yumm. The wine was great. The spread was delicious. The ambiance is awesome. The bar is decorated perfectly. The service is pretty good. Not my absolute favorite, but I'm definitely a fan. One critique, there is a white wine flight, but no red wine flight? Ummm, unacceptable. I need my red wine flight. I am looking forward to trying their Happy Hour. Until next time TOAST!
(4)Michecia J.
Five stars for the grilled chicken dish, the pleasant waitstaff, and the ambiance. Went here Monday night after the host at Ramen Shop said the wait would be 1 hour. Gimme a break! This is not Manhattan, boo. And I don't see Gordon Ramsay or Jiro Ono anywhere to solidify why wait time would be in excess of 30 min on a Monday night after 8pm in Rockridge, CA - especially when RAMEN is being served..not steak. Toast, just down the street, stood and delivered. We got there just before 9pm and it was nearly empty. I know what you're thinking, I thought it too: shaaaakkkkyyyyy. But no. Grilled chicken was delish, ambiance was warm and inviting and made for a lovely, intimate dinner with a close friend. Let's toast to this kitch + bar being all to the good.
(5)Ashley D.
Technically, if I could give this place 2.5 stars I would. But I'm picking the lower of that because I just feel it was a real let down because they have so much potential. Let me start off with the ambiance is great - which is probably why everyone is attracted to it in the first place. The outdoor seating area is very nice. Nowhere to go but up, right? Unfortunately wrong. First off, the place is definitely overpriced for what it is. They have marked up prices so much it's pretty ridiculous. I ordered a Cowgirl Creamery cheese plate - the only thing they added really was honey (and maybe some nuts) and it was way too overpriced, considering they didn't actually COOK anything. And even when they do, I think basically everything is overpriced on the menu. This is still Rockrige - not the Marina..yet (I hope). Also, the service is less than average. Several times I found myself wanting to get the waiter for him to be nowhere to be found. I can understand the wait on the actually cooked food to be long, but the wait on our drinks was also longer than I would like. I don't know if they need more staff or what? Anyway, I wanted this to be my go-to place since it's very convenient for me, but alas, even with the outdoor seating, the prices and service have precluded that.
(2)Indigo L.
I really want to like this place but after 3 lunch attempts over the last year the wait to be fed is still so slow. This time it made me laugh when the hostess said "I know you guys are next in line for a table and I know there are tables but we have to keep a pacing to not overwork the kitchen..." Huh?? In response my husband said -"can we at least sit at our table, instead of waiting on the sidewalk?" She did seat us....we did get menus and our lovely waitress did bring our food... BTW - our food was already pre-made so I am not sure why it took 20 minutes to bring the dish. p.s. I am happy the other reviews are positive as I think this place should stay...it just needs to improve its "flow"
(3)Cece G.
What I love about this restaurant is the fact that they change up their menu often... Each time that we've been over, the menu was never the same. As a chef, I love to try different concoctions from fellow chefs... And I must say, if you want your palates to be tickled , come to this place! The ambience is so cozy. There's seating al fresco ( outdoor) or if you want it a little more quiet... You can stay inside! Either way you will be greeted and served by young & hip servers! It reminds me of SUR in Hollywood! They are all friendly and very welcoming! Price wise? Very affordable! Portioning? Just right! You will be surprised, you would think the portions are small but Joyce & I always leave satisfied!
(5)Vanessa S.
I had an appointment across the street from Toast and decided to come here before it to have an early dinner. I had come across Toast before and it had stayed in the back of my mind as a place to try. I am so glad I decided to finally try it out. I have nothing negative to say about it. The service was great, the food was EXCELLENT and the wine was delicious. I ordered the Crispy Petaluma Chicken Breast. The whole dish was filled with great flavors and the chicken was so crisp and juicy. I don't remember the wine I got and it's not on their menu online. It was a white wine, with an unusual name. It's definitely one I would like to get my hands on. Needless to say, I will be back here.
(5)Laurie H.
I really like the atmosphere here - the options of the patio, the big room with the high ceiling and booths in the middle, plus the other room all seem to be good choices. I do think the menu options are too limited for those who don't eat red meat or poultry (another seafood item or two? or veggie item or two?). A bit pricey, too. But if someone wanted to go back, I'd meet them here again.
(3)Byron L.
The service here is extraordinary. They were late at serving the appetizer we ordered so they gave us some free nuts and beans. We ordered the spread on bread. The bread was a little bit too crispy and tough. The spread was nice. The chicken tender was okay. Drinks were a bit pricey and the selection is not too big. But the ambience in this place is nice. I like the big log tables.
(4)Al O.
Wow some of the worst service ... I really want this place to do well...it's the perfect little place the neighborhood needs .... But wow. Something needs to be done about the service. When you are flagging people down, anyone to take a drink order - Oye. The terrible device overshadows what could be a great neighborhood joint ... Or box & bells overflow place.
(2)Jenna W.
Well I must say that the only reason I'm giving this place one star is because of the manager who is working that night. We had come in for a 30th birthday party with about 7 girls. We had told them when making the reservation that we tend to get a little loud and they should put us in the corner. We got there a little before our reservation and sat outside on their lovely patio to enjoy a glass of wine before our table was ready. Once we were seated we proceeded to order appetizers. Of course as we were waiting we started to talk and have a good time. Well apparently we were having to much fun for some of the other patrons. This is when the manager took it upon himself to ruin our night. Instead of politely asking us to try and keep it down, he proceeded to inform us that because of us and our noisy fun WE had LOST him two tables. This was before our apps had arrived, which just made it awkward. I have never been talked to like that by someone who was taking my money for a service! We were all so upset that we decided that we would get our apps and then leave (we would be the third table HE lost). Many of the other staff came to our table to apologize for him and say they didn't think we were too loud. The manager eventually came back to apologize as well, but by that time the damage was done. In the end he did end up comping the appetizers we had had, which sort of made up for his rudeness. Now the wait staff on the other hand was amazing!! They made us feel very comfortable before AND after the fiasco with their manager. It was their suggestion to comp us something, so we left them a very nice tip! If you like a quite, pretentious, no fun allowed restaurant this is the place!
(1)Cori C.
Fresh local produce, quick service. Small portions, perfect for a snack or light lunch. Even wine can be ordered as a half glass or "taste", which I love. Outside seating w umbrellas for sun and heaters for cold. Menu appears to change monthly. Really enjoyed it.
(5)Courtney S.
Toast is a friendly place to hang out with friends, or have a going away party for a beloved coworker -- which is why I was there. Our group was seated near the windows, that's a toasty spot to people-watch, enjoy a few plates, and talk about past good times. I enjoyed some crostini and a plate of average-sized meatballs, packed with flavor. The sparkling wine (can't remember which) was very tasty. All in all, a sad occasion made better by great service, great drinks, and wonderful surroundings.
(4)Tam F.
I had the pleasure of indulging in a 6 course with wine pairings with some lovely women the other evening as part of a "BlackBoard Eats" deal. For $75 per person, we were treated like special guests and each course almost trumped the next. At first, I thought this place would be too loud to have a nice dinner as there was a large group there for happy hour. Once they left, it quieted down and though the seating is not the most comfortable on the tush, it was good for the back. Since I am not good at tracking wine and am better at food, I hope my friends will post their own reviews someday and may have a better memory on the wine. When we were seated we were all given glasses of water and a bottle to refill our own. We were also brought some house made olives-they were good, but a little less brined than I prefer but I couldn't stop eating them. This was a tasting menu so even though it was a lot of food, the portions were not huge and everything was served individually except for the first course. 1.Meats and 2 cheeses served on separate boards with the meat board consisting of some type of pork product I don't indulge in, some wonderful grain mustard and incredible pickled onions. The cheese board had 2 small triangles of cheese-one of a pungent brie and one of a sheep's milk cheese (like a Machego), some honey and a few pecans. (Wine: Rose') 2. Salad made with chickory, shaved (not sure what kind of cheese) and dried figs in a light but delicious dressing. The cheese and the figs paired well together but we all felt the chickory was way too overpowering as a green on its own. (Wine: ??) 3. Soup-romenesco. INCREDIBLE and one of the best soups I have had. It was rich in flavor but not heavy. It had a lovely goat cheese spread crostini as a garnish as well as some drizzle of oils. (Wine: ??) 4. Arugula, fennel and meyer lemon zest with a light vinagrette and anchovies. This was the least successful dish as the anchovies were served next to the salad criss crossed shaped sprinkled with a tiny bit of either paprika or cayenne. The skin on the fishies and they were very smelly. 2 of the 4 of us (not me) were brave and tried the anchovy-and the one of us who is a typical anchovy fan, was not a fan of this dish. (Wine: Savingon Blanc) 5. Ono with mashed potato(not sure what color) some lovely spinach. Parts of the ono were a little overcooked but when everything was combined as a perfect bite, it didn't much matter. (Wine: Red of some sort that I gave to my friend as it was too dry smelling for my taste) 6. Dessert. A tiny sliver of a sumptuous chocolate brownie looking mousse textured rich but not too rich bit of lovileness. It was served with some absolutely incredible caramel sauce and some housemade whipped cream. Fabulous way to end the meal. (Wine: Muscat and my personal favorite) This was definitely a fun and successful outing and something I would do again-especially with the lovely women I had as company.
(4)Rachel W.
Happy hour alone is awesome! $6 martini's, and they use Hangar One vodka! The staff alone is amazing! They are so friendly that you can't help but come back!
(5)Josephine L.
My friend and I had a quick lunch here before our hike. It was okay, but nothing particularly mindblowing. I had the baked rigate, which had far too many onions, and she got the pulled chicken sandwich, which was better. Service was spotty--sometimes friendly, sometimes not. The patio is a lovely spot though, and great for people-watching.
(3)Krissie B.
This review is for brunch. While having a lazy Sunday, I suggested to my BF that we check out TOAST as I had recently moved to Berkeley and am a fan of the "College Ave" area. We made easy reservations on Open Table and headed to TOAST for a 12:30pm brunch. Surprisingly, parking was abundant and we were seated right away, albeit inside since it was a gorgeous day and all the outdoor tables were taken. We opted to not have cocktails, although the drinks looked terrific! He ordered a coffee and fried egg sandwich, while I had the Forget Me Not iced coffee and mini pancakes. Our server was great and steered me away from ordering another item as my pancakes would be sufficient. The fact that he did not up sell me was a plus and I definitely did NOT need the extra item as my pancakes were plenty! The BF and I enjoyed our meal thoroughly and he exclaimed that he would try to replicate the pistachio pesto on his sandwich. My pancakes (8 mini ones) were fluffy and light, and came with mascarpone, syrup, and strawberry jam on the side. We will be back for sure for their dinner and to try some of the cocktails.
(5)Beefalo B.
We went here for brunch on 9/6/15. I have to give this place one star because I walked out feeling as naked as a freshly shorn sheep. I mean, we're talking completely fleeced! They charged $10 for a tiny piece of frittata. Seriously, it was gone in about three bites. It came with a little pile of organic greens on which, if I strained really hard, I could detect a drop of olive oil. I tried to shore things up by ordering a side of bacon, to the tune of an additional $5. I asked them to cook it crispy, but that word apparently means different things to different people, because they made sure mine was nice and limp. Add a cup of coffee, tax, and the mandatory service fee, and my brunch alone cost around $22. Look, if your customers are going to pay over $20 for breakfast, they shouldn't leave hungry. Everyone else at the table had the same experience (a tiny omelette, a puny sandwich, etc.). The total bill for our group was $187 and everyone left dissatisfied. It's not that the food was bad; the quality was just fine. But it's unconscionable for a restaurant to charge people like this and not deliver value for their money. I'll never go back.
(1)Corinne Y.
Ate here for early dinner on Sunday during a "special event" which featured BBQ and live music. The concept seemed really great! But wait... We were seated at 3:20, and were told that the kitchen opens in "10 minutes", until which time we were welcome to order "small bites" from the bar. We made it clear upon seating that we would like the dinner menus as soon as they were available, but didn't get them until about 1-1.5 hours later at which time we were told, "These are fresh off the press." So, it was also then clear that they had no intention of serving us dinner until much later than when we arrived. Friendly staff, but dishonest. I would have preferred to hear from them, "We are not serving dinner until it is READY to be served, which will be at ------ time tonight. You are welcome to stay and enjoy what we are serving now until it is ready" Service continued to move like molasses ALL NIGHT! We wanted to have dinner and drinks within a reasonable time frame, and due to the slow service we didn't end up paying our bill until 6:30pm. It was ABSURD! I was told at one point when I asked the waiter where my drink was (I waited at least 30 minutes before saying something), "Oh, well I put the ticket in and I thought I saw it on the bar, so..." I'm not sure what he wanted me to tell him about HIS job, but I just waited for this to be solved without suggesting something to him. He seemed to want ME to help him out with this. I was confused. He returns in just a couple of minutes without a drink and then tells us it is comped. Drink arrived about 10 more minutes later. Food: Good. 50% meh and 50% pretty good. The BBQ, which they were featuring was just ok. Many things were underdone. The beans had about 15 minutes left in the oven, but were served anyway (we were comped for this). The mac n cheese noodle was also underdone. The flavor good, but texture lacking in both. We didn't want to complain about EVERYTHING, so this wasn't mentioned to them. Would I go back? NO! ...and I didn't even tell you about the first time I ate here.
(2)Julie G.
Whoa......! They should rename it 'SALTED' or 'Super Saliferous'. We had dinner here the other night on the earlier side of the evening and we experienced excellent service from everyone. The restaurant did become busy by the end of our dinner, so we didn't see our original server as much, but it seems the entire staff steps in to assist each other. The space is large with three different areas to dine, including a lovely patio area. The decor is very thoughtful with kind of a warm industrial feel featuring recycled glass bottles as light fixtures and drinking glasses. We started with some appetizers and ordered a bottle of Rosé on a good recommendation by our server. I ordered the Brussels sprouts since they were mentioned in another review. I couldn't even taste the Brussels sprouts beyond the flavor of 'way too much salt' with hints of vinegar to intensify the saltiness. And it didn't get any better among the other small plates : arugula & frisée fig salad = salty, the ceviche = salty (even eating it without the salted potato chip). After that I asked the server, if the kitchen would hold the salt on the main courses (the trout, pork tenderloin & lamb meatballs) and the food was much better, more flavorful. How I wished I'd said something sooner, such as 'check the salt shaker, you've got it on pour and not shake!' I ordered the 'boca negra' for dessert: a flourless chocolate cake with caramel sauce, strawberries and whipped cream. It was super delicious and definitely recommended, but wouldn't you know it came topped with a sprinkle of 'fleur de sel'.
(3)Jerry C.
Sitting inside or out on the patio, TOAST Kitchen + Bar is a relaxing brunch spot in the Oakland Rockridge neighborhood. The menu is farm fresh and natural. No artificial ingredients mean no Diet Coke for my friend Jonathan K. For six of us, the three White Bean Spread apps (with...toast) went fast. Kale salad was very kaley with enough roughage for the week LOL. My Smoked Applewood Bacon Bnh M on a roll was awesomely bacony and filling. It even included a fried egg. Cocktails were mixed by a cool bartender. My Bloody Mary went down fast! Our waiter soon warmed up to us and how could he not with six friendly guys to serve? Haha. We had a nice and relaxing brunch with good food. Great brunch choice.
(4)Erin G.
Visit date: July 9, 2015 What I ate: Brussels sprouts, white bean dip with toast, fries and fried avocado, flat iron steak, lemonade First time? Yes. This place is bigger than I thought it would be. Super hip and trendy decor, but still very inviting. The staff is friendly and the menu is group / sharing friendly. The Brussels sprouts were crisp and salty. The potatoes were a little too large to be seasoned well and the sauce was definitely a downer. I think it was suppose to be chipotle like sauce but it turned out bitter, perhaps a bit heavy on the smokey flavor. The white bean dip was lemony and delightful atop the thin crunchy toasts. We ordered the flat iron steak medium well, but it came out well done. Turns out the waiter gave us the wrong dish and we didn't realize it until another waiter tried to give us more steak. Our plate came with asparagus and carrots, both of which were cooked to perfection and had slight sweetness. Our plate was suppose to come with mashed potatoes (I guess the person who's order we received had requested more veggies instead) so we inquired and they gave us a side order of the mashed potatoes! Most excellent! And well worth the wait; the mashed potatoes were so smooth and buttery.
(3)David B.
Decent place to meet up with someone. I can't review the food as I had none, but the outdoor seating was a great place to gather and discuss. They did serve us drinks which were tasty, but I'm not sure I'd head back to this place if I were in town without another outside suggestion/recommendation.
(2)Elly K.
A great night out in Oakland! On a nice night eat outside enjoy a glass of wine and people watch. Great food,great people! Enjoy!
(4)Mac C.
The food was decent, but not great. -Warm bread and honey butter, more like hard cold bread -Trout salad was good but not amazing. -Bloody Mary was actually delish!! Service was terrible...2 of us went at 1 PM and the restaurant was not crowded at all, yet it took 40 minutes to get our food. Our server didn't check in is once and had a pretty sour attitude. Wouldn't recommend.
(2)Joco F.
I'll be honest I've yet to dine here as I tend to use it as my waiting room for Ramen Shop. This is in no way putting the place down. If anything it has always been a pleasant surprise for me when I come in for a drink and some snacks before dinner. I'll admit I enjoy coming here enough that I should honor the place with a full meal sometime soon. From what I've experienced the cocktails here are top notch and the bar snacks are excellent. I especially like the fried brussels sprouts and the spicy meat balls. The drinks are seasonal but I really haven't had a bad one yet. If you ask for suggestions the staff will sometimes come up with an item not on the menu that they can whip up as well. Obviously by that statement I do enjoy the staff who is always friendly and attentive. I never feel rushed or neglected which is a big deal especially when you only plan to be there for a short time. Hopefully I'll dine here in the near future too and follow up on this review even more.
(4)Matthew R.
We live down the block on Claremont and visit a few times a summer. They have a monopoly on sun filled patio seating in Rockridge, but I've just about had enough of their lackluster inattentive service. I wouldn't ordinarily object to their obligatory 15% service charge, but when the service is this shite, I do. I'd rather brave Barclays a couple of blocks down College.
(1)Leo H.
Excellent staff, great wine, and fantastic ambiance. An urban oasis that charms you into slowing down, enjoying the company you're with, and lingering for another drink. Great staff sets the the tone. I never feel intruded upon, but they seem to be there just when a refill is in order. Delight is in the detail here. I'm thankful for this gem of a neighborhood spot.
(5)Cheyenne A.
I Would give a 0 star if I could . Guys don't get confused about the rainbow flag they hanged there. It's just to at trample people to their business . So, me and my wife wanted to check out this place , we get in and the hostess looked us up and down, as if we did not belong there. They seem to put black people away form the white people tables , I know... It's so sad to even write this , but is the truth. I cannot say that all the hostess working there are bad people but, that's what happened to us . And the prices of the drinks ?... Not worthy guys . $12 Dolores for a glass of wine - that's OK but, they don't even fill your glass to the middle . They're rude . Not a good experience . PS: my wife is PISSED OFF !!!!
(1)Michael S.
Nothing irritates me more than waiting almost 30 minutes just to get a drink order. As with most Rockridge eateries, it was cold inside. I've never heard of a 15% tip included for only a party of four which the waiter didn't even mention. Entrees were superb, and the main dining room was designed and decorated and a very unique and unusual way, but despite those pluses, I won't be going back.
(3)Rich G.
My wife and I have wanted to try this place out since we moved to the neighborhood a few months ago and since we had a rare day off together, we decided we'd get some lunch. We walked in through the patio and waited at the front door for someone to help us, which took a minute as the staff was running around, preparing the restaurant. We asked to look at menus before we were seated and then we looked around for a few minutes for someone to seat us...all of which just felt a little awkward; sort of getting off to a rough start. The guy who sat us took our drink orders and promptly brought us our drinks - that was the last time we ever had any contact with the two or three staff working. We waited another 15 minutes to order before we decided to give up - I got up and talked to the bartender, the only person in the room, to get our drinks bill and $10 later, we left. We walked down the street to get some pizza at Zachary's - where we were greeted promptly - and paid for our food and drinks for....drum roll....$11. So, poor service and two drinks (an Arnold Palmer & a soda) cost $10? Or I could get a small meal for two with drinks for $11 and experience good service...hmmm, tough call.
(1)Andrew K.
Alert: this is NOT the same Toast that's all over SF. This is cool trendy spot that is clearly a bar at night. Inventive short brunch menu. My parents loved their egg sandwich and pancake bites. Big issue - the cream for the coffee was straight up curdled - like South African Umqombothi style. And they brought out some new milk, but were hella nonchalant. It was seriously GROSS. Even so, good enough for a return visit and totally not overrun at a prime time on Sunday -- a rarity.
(4)Vanilla P.
We came to Toast when it was a ticketed event - you buy X number of tickets to get different food items from the set menu. Nothing sounded great on the set menu (we had come for their regular dinner menu), so we went to the bar to figure out plan B. Taking a second to drink a cocktail and figure out plan B was a better part of my evening. One Le Vie en Rose later, I floated down College Ave to the Ramen Shop.
(4)Izzy S.
I came here for dinner the other day and was very satisfied with the food. My friend started off with the squash with watermelon gazpacho (which he said he could have downed five of, because it was so good), and I had the arugula salad with figs and raspberries, which was extremely fresh and zesty. We both shared the meatballs (three pieces), which were delicious - very juicy with plenty of chunky tomato sauce. And as an entree, we shared the pork tenderloin. This had to be one of the most well-prepared pork dishes I've ever had - it was perfectly cooked (not dry at all) and was paired with an amazing fig sauce. We also subbed the mashed potatoes with corn mash (which was very accommodating of the chef), and it was spectacular! The atmosphere of TOAST is very relaxing, with a patio overlooking the main street. The service was very friendly and attentive. The food was a little slow to arrive, but worth the wait.
(4)Liv A.
I'm really happy that Toast is a thriving establishment on College Ave. It's just what the neighborhood needs! I was happy to return there to meet up with a friend over a mid day glass of vino. There were surprisingly a lot of people still dining at 2pm from late weekend brunch. The front room was filled but they opened up the larger room just for us. We both ordered glasses of red ($8 each) with great recommendations from the waiter. Pours were generous. Since we both had lunch earlier, we just went with some olives ($4) to nosh on. Lovely decor and ambiance inside. Very cool signage at the bar and kitchen. Last time I sat out on the patio so didn't get a chance to see the interior. The servers were all so professional and friendly. Definitely planning to return another time to try some of their signature dishes.
(5)Alicia O.
Nothing wrong with this mid-sized spot. I've been twice recently: once for an extended wine night with gal-friends, once with my brother, his fine ladyfriend and...someone we'll call my date? The service has always been friendly and attentive, the appetizers ample, the cocktails strong (necessary to make that "date?" thing better) and the vegetarian options plenty. I have a tendency to run into people I know here, which is always pleasant, and makes me think "My friends have very good taste!" If you're hemming and hawing with in Rockridge, and the line at Southie and Wood Tavern is making you want to cry, come here.
(4)Matt M.
We got to Toast semi-regularly and always have excellent food and amazing service. Everyone there is so nice and friendly. But of course the food is most important - and it really delivers. Everything I've had there has been really interesting and tasty. They also have a fantastic wine/drinks menu - with stuff you don't see everywhere else. I highly recommend Toast. Definitely worth stopping in at if you haven't been before.
(5)M K.
The drinks were poor, the food was boring, and the service was terrible. It looks cute but I'm not going back.
(1)Robin T.
New fave bfast place in the bay. So often I feel that I have to compromise my responsible consumption, local (smaller carbon footprint) and organic values to eat out. This place really holds those values dear and keeps their prices reasonable (same as non-organic places in the area). I had the oyster mushroom & aged cheddar omelet with Rosemary potatoes, and ordered a side of the orange aoli. It was absolutely delicious, the mushrooms were cooked perfectly, preserving the delicate flavor. The potatoes were chunks but perfectly crispy and tender (which I found is a rare find with chunk potatoes). The aoli was dangerous. I can't wait to come back and try something else. Bravo!
(5)Rita L.
3.5 stars. There was no wait when the bf and I strolled in around 8pm saturday night. In fact, surprisingly there were plenty of tables inside. We were greeted warmly, and our server had a really cheerful attitude, which always leaves me with a good impression of the place. We were seated in the "kitchen" dining room, and I loved the hanging lights across the ceiling. It had a cozy atmosphere, and plenty of booth-style seating. Nice place to go to meet with friends or for date night, but the only thing that was lacking was more patrons! There were a few other groups in that dining room, but it definitely did not have that warm lively buzz. It was quaint, quiet dinner. We had the bourbon spiked chicken liver pate, and the name suggests a more flavorful spread on the crostini than what it was. It had a hint of liver flavor and aroma, but it was a pretty mild pate. It was a decent appetizer, $5 for a plate of 3 crostinis with the pate already spread on, but I was a bit disappointed. I had the pork shoulder with kale and garbanzo beans (there was an abundance of garbanzo beans), and that was a very homey and hearty dish, exactly what I wanted at the time. The bf had the grilled chicken with wild rice, and the whole dish was just bursting with umami flavor. I couldn't figure out the taste, but could only describe it as umami because it was seasoned so well, without it being just plain salty, and the chicken was pretty moist. We were happy with our entrees except I wished the portion was a little smaller, and subsequently, a few dollars cheaper. The supper mains come out on a large plate, and I couldn't help but to eat myself silly. The menu is limited, but sometimes that's a good thing.
(3)Jon C.
Great wine and beer. But you have to try the meatballs....holy smokes. Great patio on warm days too. You won't be disappointed .... Bring the kids or an appetite or both.
(5)Rosie S.
Great wine and ambience, I haven't has a lot of their food so can't weigh in on that. I also like that they share their tips with servers and kitchen staff.
(4)Roger E.
Late lunch at Toast hit the I-am-really-fussy-about-food spot. Recommended: old fashion tomatoes with pesto sandwich. The side exotic green salad did not need dressing because the greens were nakedly tasty.
(5)K M.
Strolled into Toast by chance on a business trip, and had s fantastic experience. Behind the bar, Wilson was slinging some tasty drinks (and delightfully without hip bartender pretense). He was also joined by Meg, who was 50% waitress, 50% bartendress, and 100% entertainment. Great food, great ambience, spectacular food, and a nice location too. Worth stopping in. I'll be going back for sure!
(5)Dan L.
The two of us came here for Valentine's Day dinner. Love the Rockridge location and combo of indoor and outdoor dining. Casual but pricey. For starters, we had the liver pate, and they were able to do a gluten-free crustini. Our entrees were scallops and steak, both were good. Boca Negra cake with caramel and a posset for dessert. Service was professional.
(3)Caitlin B.
This review is for their events staff, not the food or restaurant. I was looking for a reception venue for my upcoming wedding. They do private events and we would have been a complete buyout. The space is gorgeous and the size was pretty perfect. I'd seen photos from another reception there and really liked them. I wrote an initial inquiry email to the private events staff member, and I received one follow up with the cost and no details about menus. I am planning the wedding from Chicago (from the Bay Area originally), and contacted other places due to the lack of detail. After a couple months, I decided I'd like to know what was included and arrange a time to come by and taste the food, but other than the auto away message I got while the person was on vacation, I never got a response to my multiple inquiries. If you're planning an event: beware the lack of communication!
(1)Pamela G.
Shame on me for not having reviewed this place already! The atmosphere is great and the service is fantastic. I have dietary restrictions (for real reasons, people!) and our server was so willing to work with me on it. In the end, I had the chicken and it was AMAZING. Like I devoured the entire plate like an animal good. It was cooked perfectly-super juicy and tons of flavor. They have a great liquor selection to boot which makes this place even more awesome. I love this place so much I'm actually going back tonight!
(5)Seana H.
I live in the area and love trying new spots. but Meh, I've had better is the perfect way to describe our meal. Cocktail was not great, protions were too small for the price. Expensive for a very underwhelming experience.
(2)Clelia R.
I came here with my friend on a nice sunny day. The outdoor seating area is the nicest part. We ordered a bottle of Prosecco, (which was the most reasonably priced bottle) and it turned out to be good. I would give the food 2 stars, it's not bad but nothing special either. The portions could be bigger. I would advise going there mostly for the outdoor scenery, that's about it.
(3)Laura A.
We've had amazing experiences every time we've been here. Good wine, amazing food, and fantastic indoor and outdoor ambiance, and it's a great place to bring our dog. Tonight a waitress accidentally dropped our food and even though we didn't mind, they treated us to wine and extra apps... They delivered them like beauty and the beast style! The management clearly values its customers! We'll keep coming back!
(5)Lily H.
I came here recently with my best friend for a light supper before our concert at the Greek Theater. The food was excellent and the wine was great. Their wine flight is so flexible where you can built your own flight. We had quite a few of the appetizers to share and every one of them was delicious. The pork meatball was excellent and a must try. The overall atmosphere was laid back. They were attentive and ensured we were satisfy with our drinks and food through out the night. I would definitely be returning.
(4)Markus N.
I've heard told there's food served here. I've heard it's good. I don't know from that, for each time I cross beneath that lintel all I see in front of me is BAR in lightbulbs, a not subtle siren song for my eyeballs. If Patti LaBelle were a siren she'd sing in the same key as the Toast BAR sign sings to me. Last night was the last night before Lent which begins at sundown today and I suppose I could have been indulging in what I've given up all day today but it seems dirty in a way to spend Ash Wednesday drunk with three cigarettes hanging out of my mouth. So the C Monster and I we partook of our lasts at Toast yesterday, crying a little and wondering what was so scary about this anyway? Goodness. At the bar they serve us whiskey and if it isn't Thursday or the weekend the bartenders can chat and help with the tastes and turn us on to their pretty good cross-section of possibilities. Matty was working last night. Matty cool. A fellow to our right was all scared by the Lenten plan but seemed as if he was giving it serious consideration and we made a date to meet back the Tuesday after Easter not to necessarily pick up right where we left off but for the fellowship. This is a sweet spot to meet friendly folks. Acoustically well-configured you can have conversational tones with these new friends and the others. One day I may venture to try their solid food. In between now and when that happens my 5 star liquid diet will be more than sufficient, thank you. Join me on the 22nd. We'll catch up.
(5)Robert S.
Hey, this is a great joint. Brought some friends from Texas to the August 31 BBQ. Super friendly servers, finger-licking BBQ. A real Oak Town place, not College Avenue yuppified. Also, a cool set of jazz and blues by two guys on guitar and ukulele. Amen. Mac and cheese over the top!
(5)Cynthia C.
TOAST is FABULOUS: *Staff, warm and just STELLAR on multiple levels, unobtrusive, intuitive, customer driven. Thanks for taking off the pickled veg, we didn't like it, you could tell and you made the effort without prompting. *Wine flights, I love all flights, I like to try bits of everything, whether it's solid or liquid *Desserts, AMAZING!!! Licked, the, plate, CLEAN!!! Get the Boca Negra. Best GF chocolate cake. The edges had a nice texture, rare to see that. *Gorgeous ambiance Improvements: have a larger selection of wine and dessert wine. But I don't care I love you just the way you are and your prices are completely reasonable too.
(5)Rachel J.
"Well," says the hostess, "I suppose I could seat you, but you'd have to be done by 8:30. Are you gonna be done by 8:30?" My friends look at me and raise their eyebrows. Really?? their eyebrows say. "Sure," I tell her. We sit at our table and look at the menus. Why do they call dinner "supper"? Ahh, must be cuz they're fancy. The waiter uses 400 obscure terms to describe the wines. It is ridiculously ostentatious. Hello, friends, we are in Oakland! We order drinks. They never arrive. We order a medley of dishes - meatballs, winter vegetables with polenta, fried apples (?) They are all mediocre. (The fried apples are mixed with fried parsnips, btw, please beware!) We remind our waiter about the drinks. They still don't arrive. We give up. The bill arrives instead. It is super pricey. We don't even want the leftovers. We leave at 8:35 and almost expect them to say, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out!!!!" Next time: Zachary's.
(2)Kalpesh J.
Made a brunch reservation for 11:30am... at 11am, (shout-out to the yelp / open table reservation process thru the app). It's a great spot if you're meeting friends from the city, since it's 2blks from Rockridge BART station, right in the middle of everything. There's probably 2hr residential street parking around the area, but I'm too lazy. Paid street parking, $2/hr on a Sat. Outdoor courtyard area is nice - it was busy, but the inside had space, and was really accommodating. It got busy with tables filling up inside around noon. Ordered a bunch of different things: White bean and toast - bean dip was good, toast was ok. Crispy potatoes and aioli - yes, it was good, get it. Arugula + Farro salad - very tasty, even had pomegranate Grilled cheese - you really can't go wrong with melted cheese and anything. Mimosas + cocktails - can't go wrong.\ I'm always looking for good brunch places convenient by BART for my SF city friends to come visit east bay. I've been to the other spots in the area (Crepevine and Rockridge Cafe); I'm glad I tried this place out - I'll be back.
(4)Chelsey K.
Excited to try a new spot for happy hour, my boyfriend suggested we try Toast. The outside patio is a perfect spot to relax after a long day, but we didn't get the chance enjoy it because the person who greeted us at the door said "we are still recovering from a busy lunch so we aren't giving full service because we need to do dishes and clean". My boyfriend and I both work in the restaurant industry and couldn't believe our ears especially since he was just standing around when we walked in, showing no sense of urgency to get the place set up for the evening. Describing our experience as disappointing would be an understatement.
(1)Leslie P.
I went here with a friend for lunch on a Thursday. We were a party of several "ladies who lunch" who settled into the various tables. Our table was of a very oddly rough-hewn wood, which was too narrow for dining, perhaps better suited just for having a drink and appetizers. When you lean a bit forward to eat, you could bump your head into the person opposite you. Very awkward! It was also noisy, due to the music, so we requested it be turned down, which they did. So, people, you can always ask to turn down the music and have some good conversation over food. Hopefully, it will be good, hopefully, it will be better than the sandwiches we had. I had the "deviled" egg salad. When I asked the server why the quotes, he said it was because the egg salad was "deviled" as in deviled eggs, that cumin was added. Say what? If you know anything about food and seasoning you will know that cumin is not a spicy herb. Deviled means "hot" as in hell, so some hot sauce, something spicy is in order. But this egg salad was about the most bland concoction I have ever had. Where were some minced onions, capers, a bit more celery crunch? Paprika? MIA. The pulled chicken was a bit better, but very soft, overcooked. To top it off, the buns were also soft and un-"toasted", which would have given the 'wiches some texture. As it is, we could have been toothless and still been able to eat these sandwiches. Not bad, but a few things could have bumped them up a notch or two. At the end of the meal, we were given two sorry looking chocolate streaked cookies. Not warm, not even warmed over, just two plunks of unappetizing staleness. That I could do without. On the plus side, Toast does have a nice ambiance, but with the high, beamed ceilings, I shudder to think how loud it is at night when it is full of raucous drinkers. The cork installation on the wall looked sort of lost and unbalanced, otherwise, the decor was smooth. I won't be going back.
(2)Nick K.
Went on a Sunday food was really solid, had the all day braised pork shoulder, and a kale Caesar salad. The standout for me was the cocktail I ordered. Although I don't remember the name of it (which may speak to how strong it was) it reminded me of an old fashioned. Tried a taste of my girlfriend's Manhattan and it was perfectly made. Atmosphere: fair Price: My only critique was it was a bit high. Overall: Would definitely try it again and will certainly be back for a Manhattan.
(4)Mansi A.
A nice little wine "lounge" (more of a casual restaurant, IMHO) in the Rockridge area, with a rustic interior of wooden tables appearing as if they were just made from trees, a concrete no-frills floor, and a sky high loft-like cieling. We thought the ambiance was super casual, yet chic with nice, dim lighting. Suitable for a date or a night out with the girls, Toast can be what you want it to be as long as you're looking for a good glass of wine and small plates/snacks. We started off with an Austrian Zweigelt wine. The cheapest on the reds wines by the glass menu, it was sweet and smooth, and most definitely enjoyable (just goes to show that "cheaper" wines are not necessarily bad wines). We shared the following snacks: - White bean spread with roasted garlic and toast: The hint of citrus flavor really brought out the white bean flavor! Served with crispy baguette toasts, this is a perfect bar snack/munchie while enjoying some vino. - Roasted asparagus bruschetta with herb ricotta and arugula: The herb ricotta was excellent with the arugula. I found it a tad odd that the asparagus was chilled as opposed to warm, but nonetheless, it was still tasty! I would've maybe preferred a slightly softer bread. - Chickpea farinata with cauliflower and mixed garden vegetables: Our venture into the unknown. Farinata turned out to be a thin pancake/crepe-like item made with ground chickpeas. Topped with the seasoned veggies, the dish was utterly amazing!
(4)Bobby B.
The bar area is a bit bright. Decent drinks.
(3)Warwick M.
This restaurant is new on the block but sadly they have already learnt some of the bad habits of restaurants that have been open a long time... to name one; the beverage glasses are packed with ice so that there precious little beverage in the glass. Overall, I would say that the main course was slightly better than mediocre. The chicken liver pate was delicious but served on two tiny pieces of sliced of toast... hardly enough to get a good taste of it and the lime dessert which was wonderful. Certainly not worth returning to.
(2)Remy G.
I had a really bad experience here last week. Food was pretty good, but I can't even remember that. Dan or Don, the manager, was very unpleasant. A drink of mine, for several reasons, took a long time to arrive. 20 minutes passed between ordering it and it arriving. In fact, some of our food beat it to the table. When I shared that, he asked, "Have you ever been in service?" suggesting, that if I hadn't been in service, I did not have the authority to be displeased with our experience. He was very defensive, cut me off a few times and would not let up, trying to--I guess--make a point that my feelings were in the wrong. I understand that every place has an off night, or even an off table. But all most of us reasonable folks want is for the restaurant staff to be gracious, offer an apology, and to please let us get back to enjoying a night out. Believe me Dan or Don, I've been there in service work, and I know. But there was no graciousness the night we were there. I'm glad our experience was out of the norm for what most others have had to say bout it here, but there are too many other outstanding restaurants in that neighborhood to ever bother going back.
(1)Gabriel B.
My date suggested Rockridge area of Oakland. College Avenue has a number of restaurants and bars. We were walking around and slipped into this place for a drink. We were seated outside by some heating lamps, and there was a red blanket on the chairs. I thought that was neat touch and hoped to be sharing it with my date as the evening progressed. (Unfortunately it never got that cold) We ordered the cheese plate and a buttermilk biscuit and prosciutto appetizers. I had a Vesper Martini,it was very well made, although I would have liked it to be colder. My date had a glass of Sauvignon blanc. The service was very friendly and helpful with her suggestions. I would definitely come back here, although I am curious about the other places in this area.
(3)Geoffrey R.
Lively-upbeat, neighborhood new cuisine spot, with versatile seating in the bar or dining areas. Had a small plate of squid with cranberry beans and a light balsamic vinaigrette, delicious and full flavored with a tapenade compliment. Had the skirt steak with corn relish and more cranberry beans - dishes composed of a blend of strong complimentary flavors to entice the palate. Exciting cuisine! Finished with a light refreshing lime posset, blackberrys and almond brittle... Yummy! Would return, with excellent wines by the glass to chose from...
(5)Meghan P.
I've been here 3 other times mainly for one glass of wine and don't recall the service being this horrible- if I did I wouldn't have suggested it when meeting up with two girlfriends early on a Thursday. While waiting for one friend the service was fine it was dead inside the restaurant, they brought us water and weren't annoyed we chose to wait. So we are all there, we ask what the happy hour wine/beer are- it's early. We get an unsure answer after she looks at the menu (mind you there are only 4 reds, 4 whites by the glass) Answer- garnacha and whatever the white IPA is...It's fine if you don't know, go double check rather than guess please. Drinks arrive, the garnacha we thought we ordered tasted so acidic we thought it turned. After looking around for 5 minutes and not making eye contact we finally got the hostesses attention. We tell her our drinks are bad way to acidic for a garnacha, she tells us it's actually not a garnacha because the happy hour wine was something else it's nero d'avola firriato which is supposed to taste like that. We send them back. I order a white wine and my friends order beer instead- only to learn that the happy hour beer is also not a white IPA but the Pilsner. It continues downhill with the small plates we ordered. Very frustrating and the experience took away from the point of the evening- which was to catch up with friends over a glass of wine. Instead it turned into frustration and we couldn't get out of there faster to head else where for another drink and food.
(1)Yen P.
I like this place. The food and cocktails have been solid each time I've been here. Indoors smells a bit like cleaning products recently applied, at least the few times I've been here. Sit outside if you can... I think my experience and possibly star rating, would be a bit different is I had to sit inside. Service has been excellent; and food is very consistent, and good.
(4)Lara W.
Impeccably done. While I will always remember this corner spot from my days of ballet lessons at nearby Shawl Anderson (it used to be Capizio), I couldn't have hoped for a better revival of the shop. Low lighting. Slick bar, side tables and center counter to perch yourself and bask in the glow of modern chandeliers. Chalk on the bathroom wall. Very superstitious? I came here for an event, so I haven't had a glimpse of the spot "on its own", on a Monday night (are they open Mondays?). However, when you're itching for a romantic bar that give wine the spotlight, this is exactly the kind of place you'd try to imagine, if your imagination is any bit as classy as mine. I had the flatbread with mushrooms and arugula, which was a great bite (but again, I have no idea if its a regular menu item). I don't eat meat so I had to get hyped about the desserts: a flourless chocolate cake and a persimmon pudding, both served in bite size pieces on crisp gingerbread (almond?) biscuits. Blame the "sexy-in-the-air" but I let slip my hyped up reaction to the flourless cake's goodness by telling the server that I wanted to hump it. I, myself, have no idea how I would do such a thing, especially since the idea just sounds like a chi-chi cliche of a movie already made for college students. So, I'll just eat it next time, and savor the fresh whipped cream exactly where it is--on top of a baked dessert. Date yourself, or someone else, here.
(5)leahnora r.
Ahh love...Lets face it--when you are dining out with someone that makes you tingle all over, you can think a can of tuna limp noodle casserole dish with ketchup sauce and a glass of white zin from a box tastes like Russian caviar and Cristal Champagne. While staring deep into your lover's beautiful mesmerizing blue eyes all you can think is "pinch me I must be dreaming...." Alas...you begin to settle into reality (honeymoon is over) and your taste buds come back down to earth. That's when you realize that you eating a hostess cupcake, not lavender infused creme brulee. But all love is not lost...not if you come to Toast, which boasts not only a richness in fine wines and spirits, and sustenance, but an ambiance suitable to make any first date fall in love. My handsome man and I were celebrating a special occasion so we came here to have a little quality time. We instantly felt at ease with the soft ceiling lighting, complimented with a bold neon red display behind the bar. The hostess Meghan was very sweet and accommodating (when we had to push our reservation back "no problem"), and the waitress was extremely friendly and excited when we told her it was a special occasion. I could also tell by the way the employees interacted, that there was good energy bustling within. That's always a good sign to me. Everything is farm to table here, and it shows. Nothing is overdone, seasonings are used to enhance the flavors of the food, not overshadow them. Plates are small, but you feel satisfied with the amount of food when you have wine/cocktails to pair it with. I wouldn't say the prices are low, but they are about right for what you receive. My man was feeling generous and splurged on a pricier wine (it was superb) so that might have skewed our tab in the higher direction, but overall I'd say it was worth it. You can also order "tastes" of wine if you don't want to decide on one bottle and those range from 3- 6 depending on the size. I'm glad I listened to my boyfriend and let him make the decision on where to go to celebrate our evening. I couldn't have asked for a better service or surrounding. Just when I thought the honeymoon was over...he lifted me back into space again...Thank you to all at Toast for a memorable meal/night!
(5)Sara S.
Went here for Sunday brunch for a friend's birthday. There were 4 of us and we were seated right away, but after that the service went noticeably downhill. The restaurant was not anywhere near full - there were only three other tables occupied when we arrived, but everything seemed to be moving at a snail's pace. Our main waiter took our order after a few minutes, but given the minimal amount of other diners, it took a long time to actually get our food. After we finished eating, our waiter was no where to be seen and it took a long time to get our bill, and then again, our bill with credit cards sat on the table for almost 15 minutes, waiting for someone to come get it. I was definitely confused by the wait staff - there were at least 5 people on the floor, and every single one of them helped us at some point. It was confusing enough for us and others that when I got up to use the restroom, a woman at another table tried to ask me a question as I walked by, thinking that I was working there. Food-wise, I was not super impressed. I was hoping for some more breakfasty/ brunchy items. There were a bunch of weird "side" dishes on the menu - bread with olive oil, roasted potatoes, a greens salad with yogurt - that don't constitute a full breakfast, but were mixed in with a few other more substantial things, so it was a bit confusing. Finally, I appreciate a good cup of coffee, but the only coffee served at Toast was pour-over - so it took a long time to get the first cup (as well as the second) and no free refills. I think it's fine if restaurants want to serve premium coffee that way, but it would be great to have a regular drip option.
(2)Krystal A.
The five stars are for the chocolate chip cookies alone. They are only available during lunch. Get em' while they're hot!. The food here is tasty but a bit on the light side. Either that, or I'm just a fatty. I ordered the ham and cheese sandwich that was really good, but pretty pricey.
(5)meshell c.
A quaint wine bar that does not serve coke. Ugh! We had wine and they had a wide variety and selection. I'm not much of a wine connoisseur but my date was and he recommended this place. I ordered the spicy lamb meatballs and that was a great appetizer to split. It's a bit on the pricey side. I liked the outside seating and the very open/high ceiling indoor seating. The waiters can be a bit friendlier. Both my date and I weren't really a fan of the service. Overall: Meh. It's cool, but not a place I'd bring my girlfriends to kick it and chat it up.
(3)D B.
We had a fabulous dinner at Toast last night. Everything was perfect. We loved the inside decor but the weather was beautiful so we sat outside, friendly waitress, creative delicious cocktails and food. The only difficulty was trying to decide what to eat! We absolutely want to come back so we can further explore this creative and delicious menu.
(5)Melanie C.
Quite the people-watching scene in Rockridge. Bring your pals, family or date, score a table on the patio, and there you have all the eye candy you could possibly want. I never realized how yuppie Rockridge was until planting ourselves there and watching everyone walk by on a weekend evening.
(4)Ran D.
Great food, phenomenal service. Todd, the GM was very accommodating. Will def. be back.
(5)susan m.
My husband & I discovered Toast some months ago, and have been there at least half a dozen times. The food is quite good and I wanted to give them a 4-star rating, but can't because the service is so hit-or-miss. For example, I had phoned them several weeks ago to make a birthday dinner reservation for a friend (I specified that it was her birthday, asked that her dessert be served with a candle in it, etc.). I was assured by the receptionist that this was noted in the reservation. We arrived for the birthday dinner where I, again, checked with the hostess to make sure this had been noted. Again, I was told "oh yes, we've got that down right here." So we have this pleasant meal and, after the plates are cleared, the waiter asks "would anyone like to see the dessert menu" with a blank look on his face. My intuition flickered at that point as I realized he had no clue that it was my friends birthday. After he took the dessert order, I quickly sought him out and, sure enough, he had "no idea it was your friend's birthday." That seemed odd, but I asked that he simply bring her dessert to the table with a candle in it. He replied "of course." After waiting a while, our erstwhile waiter brings our desserts with no candle and proceeds to look at my friend and say "I know it's your birthday but we have no candles." She was very graceful about it, but I was annoyed. Most restaurants standardly have candles for occasions like this, and I had made a point not once but several times that this was a birthday dinner & asked that a candle be put in her dessert. This is not rocket science and there was ample advance notice to easily have accommodated the request. Another time a few weeks back, 3 of us were at Toast for dinner. We all ordered at the same time, but one of the entrees (the meatballs) didn't make it to the table until 2 of our party were pretty much finished with our meals??? With absolutely no explanation for the lengthy delay...huh??? The devil is in the details and it seems like too frequently some of the details get dropped off the radar at Toast. As much as I like the food, this stuff will give me pause before I decide to go back, if I do.
(3)Philip H.
Needed a place that was dog friendly, has a good wine and beer list, and tasty food. Thankfully we stumbled upon Toast! With the sun shining, a few glasses of wine and some shared small plates and entrees, a seat on Toast's patio was the perfect end to a long work week. With our dog in tow, we enjoyed the people watching, the attentive service, and the delicious food. The wine list is full of really tasty whites, reds, and sparkling wines all at a very reasonable price per bottle. I can honestly say the boca negra (flourless chocolate cake) changed my life! To see pictures of the food we ate (including that cake) you can see the write up at my food website below: eatsporkjew.com/restaura…
(4)Jennifer A.
Just had cocktails and appetizers here, it was a great place to start the evening. While I didn't have a glass of wine, they seem to have a nice selection. Their garlic white bean spread is just as good as yelp has said. We also got cheese (goat cheese with blue rind, yum), and bacon cashews (they were only ok, would skip next time). Their flat bread was also really nice.
(4)Cheryl J.
Tasty food, awesome decor and perfect staff. I would recommend reservations because their dining room is small. The outdoor patio is awesome too!
(5)Jacqueline C.
We stopped here on a whim for lunch one day, in between running various errands. It was a surprisingly sunny late fall day, so we decided to sit outside. We had the lamb meatball sandwich, which was quite good. My companion, however, didn't think the meatballs were lamb (he thought they tasted like pork), which once he mentioned it, was believable, but I chose to believe that perhaps it was a mixture of pork and lamb. In any event, it was yummy. The service was friendly, but I don't think they were expecting so many people on a late fall day. When we arrived, it wasn't very crowded, but once things became busier, the waitstaff were hard to flag down. Had we been there on a lazy day, to slowly enjoy a glass of wine, we might not have noticed when the service began to slow down, but on a sober-errand running day, it was hard not to notice. I would probably come back for a glass of wine when I have more time on my hands. I will say this place is Rockridge kid friendly -- nearly every other table out on the patio had small children in the group.
(3)Jenny S.
Had a few appetizers + drinks during Superbowl. Really nice ambiance! Cheers!
(5)Jensyn H.
Toast is a must for my lady friends and me. Every time I am in the area, we stop by this classy spot for wine and small plates. With reasonable prices, friendly staff, and tasty plates, how could this place not be such a hit? The baked squash blossoms are served in a magnificent tomato cream sauce. I always find myself soaking the last bits of it in bread. Last time I found myself at Toast, I ordered the baby lettuce gems with watermelon radishes, which was sprinkled with a simple vinaigrette. It was exactly what I was looking for--something light that would not overpower my wine. As for the wine, we usually split a 500mL carafe of one of the wines on tap. I know, I know--wines on tap! Yes! So, you have the choice of the "Red Belly" (Skylark Red Belly Carignane/Syrah, North Coast 2009) or the "Ruby" (Andrew Lane Cabernet Sauvingnon/Gamay, Rutherford 2008). We always taste both and agree on the Ruby. The carafe is a great choice at a great price if you're going with a few friends and plan on having a few glasses. We split it between 3 ladies.
(5)T S.
Oh wow. The entrees are kinda expensive at Toast, and last night there were only four to choose from. So after extensive deliberation, I ordered a dinner side salad for my meal. So my review here is for the salad. Yes, the salad. Just the salad. That's all. Salad. Ok, my review: When my salad arrived, it was visually appealing, with bits of yellow corn kernels and other colorful things. But biting into it, I found my salad to be suprisingly flavorless. Salt and pepper did not solve the problem. So if you are thinking of eating at Toast, and after perusing the menu are considering having the salad as your meal, as I did last night, I might recommend dining elsewhere, as I left Toast at the end of the evening somewhat unsatisfied by my meal. So here's what I'm thinking. I'm thinking after my company has their big IPO, I might be able to afford an entree here, and maybe I just might come back and submit a new review.
(2)Thy N.
It pains me to give them so few stars, but in all honesty, the food is bland. We had the lamb meatballs, white bean spread, parmigiano-reggiano with truffle honey, chickpea farinata, and the roasted sole. We had a couple decent glasses of wine, but I was too disappointed in the food to care. The lamb meatballs were alright, as was the parm-reg (but how can you possibly screw up chunks of cheese drizzled with truffle honey?). Everything else was boring and tasteless. Sorry :/ Again, I take no pleasure in giving them this rating, as the space is super cute and the staff is sooo nice. Really, the service is beyond fantastic and I wouldn't mind coming back for a glass of wine. The food is just missing that "mmm" quality.
(2)Elba G.
Amazing cocktails (I highly recommend the Ali Raja) and way friendly staff. Nice to go to a wine bar that isn't pretentious; everyone was really friendly. Place gets pretty packed on weekends, so I tend to go earlier in the day or during the weekday. Highly recommend the burrata as well. Never had food here that I didn't like.
(5)Chris K.
Came here for lunch with girlfriends. We sat outside on the patio and it was lovely! We hadn't seen each other in a long time so we had a lot of catching up to do and our server was very patient with us as we trickled in and spent several hours enjoying lunch. I had a flight of white wines that was featured and each was delicious. We shared the olives and almonds as starters and portions were generous and tasty. For lunch I had the egg salad sandwich, the bread was amazing. A soft fresh french roll. Sandwiches come with a green salad and a chocolate chip cookie...not bad for $10 and the portions are huge! Our server was attentive without hovering. I would definitely return!
(5)Happy N.
Service is always good and the French Rose on the wine list is superb.
(4)Jen L.
I thoroughly enjoyed my Friday night experience. Highlights: + They accommodated a last minute party size change. + They accommodated our baby - the only family in the room apparently. + Fresh, industrial decor complete with chalkboard walls to leave discriminating messages of your fellow table mates for them to discover on the way to the bathroom. + Friendly, casual service. + DELICIOUS FOOD!!! We ordered the kale, sole, braised meat, and quail, and some salads. All were so good. The quail was some of the juiciest, most tender and flavorable meat I've ever had. And the sole was was cooked perfectly. SO good. Except... Lowlights: - Small portion size for the $$$. As in, we went to eat Ramen Shop afterwards. I will have to think hard about the next time I visit and ask my stomach how full it wants to be.
(4)G T.
Love the wines here, and the outdoor patio that is toast-y (pun intended) warm.
(4)Frank L.
A while ago I gave them a 3 star review after 3 or so visits of not so great. However, they've improved themselves! Yay! Very warm staff, great wines and excellent food! The only thing I don't understand is them serving horrible american coffee rather than espresso.
(4)T A.
What a fantastic lil wine bar for a quick lunch with friends or even a lunch meeting for work. Atmosphere was not too loud at all and they had ample seating outside for more room. They start us off with some cheesy chunks in a sticky pool of crack, which they call Parmesano-Reggiano & truffle honey. Good lord.. why do you have to do that to your cheese? Drizzling it with truffle honey like some tasty slut nugget. It's absolutely delectable and probably one of the most delightful cheese appetizers I have ever tasted anywhere. I wish we had ordered more of that instead of the dinky cheese platter with 2 cheeses I didn't really like. Great selection of wines too..and great prices too with the option of a 'taste' for about $4 and a full glass for $7-$9, I'll definitely be coming back here.
(4)Doctor G.
A very nice and trendy College Avenue/Rockridge restaurant. You walk in past a really nice and large outdoor seating area which must be great at lunch and on warm dinner evenings. The restaurant has a high ceiling and lots of dark wood, stark white walls, and a gigantic lighted sign that says "BAR" at the end of the restaurant where the bar is located. Our service was fine for dinner. We ordered a bunch of appetizers. The white bean on toast was OK. The pork meatballs were better. Not a big fan of the mustard greens and I'm not a pate fan, although I understood it was quite good. I had the roast chicken which consisted of a small thigh and leg. Excellent, but hardly enough food. Not a big fan of mustard greens and cold carrot puree. However, the Manila claims entree was super tasty. Liked the chocolate/peanut butter torte. It really didn't need the honey base - it was certainly tasty and sweet enough. Tough College Avenue parking. The Rockridge BART station parking lot is a long block away if you're there for dinner. I would eat here again.
(3)Sky and Patty W.
Todd thanks for your call(s). This original review was actually left the day before you left the vmail apologizing for the error, the review would have been different if we'd received the call first. That said, thank you for the call and we certainly appreciate that mistakes happen, we're glad it wasn't just a misleading 'sample' menu as we were told that night. Thanks again for the call, not sure if we will be back or not, but we do appreciate your reach out.
(3)Charith W.
The service is awesome. Best for weekday lunch. You get a warm, chocolate oozing cookie to wash down your sandwich. If the staff likes you they might even offer a shot of milk to go with it. The dinner portions are not big enough to satisfy my hunger. The most interesting staff are behind the bar. Talk with them.
(4)Ada T.
Huh? I don't get it. I was so excited to try out Toast, with its good reviews and lovely sidewalk patio. But when I finally went, I found the food to be a disappointment. I was looking forward to the white bean dip, but it had little garlic flavor (which was advertised in the name of the dish) and the bread that came with it was SO HARD (TOASTY?) that it was unpleasant to eat. We also ordered the lamb meatballs and potato soup with carraway seeds. In both items, the spices completely dominated the dish. Finally, we also ordered the kid's mac and cheese, which turned out to be pasta in a very liquidy cheese sauce, not baked. It was extremely bland. I guess it's for children, but they still do have tastebuds. I can see this being a nice place to have a drink and catch up with a friend, but it's definitely wine first and food second. Also, the interior is super loud.
(3)Janette R.
Nice place to get together for a glass of wine. Dogs allowed on the front patio. Great wine selection, but it's expensive by the glass and bottle. Be prepared to drop a minimum of $50 per person if you want to enjoy an evening here, and possibly go home hungry. The food is good, although portions are REALLY small. Service is pretty good.
(3)Kenson K.
This place was not bad.The menu is simplistic so decisions about your dish won't be very confusing. We came during Oakland Restaurant week and did their sampling menu. For the opening, a nice salad with vinegrette. Quite tasty. I was a bit disappointed with the main course. It was a braised pork with chick peas. Not very flavorful, and I was a bit disappointed. For dessert, it was a chocolate torte. That was really nice. I have to admit that it was a good value for the entire menu which was $40 , and included a wine pairing with every dish. However, I'd be willing to give them a 2nd chance to impress me with another main course sometime down the way.
(3)Derald S.
We've been here twice and the food was delicious both times. Came with a party of 6 for the New Year's Eve Prix Fix 4 course menu and it didn't disappoint. I'm always leery about prix fix menus as I prefer to order off a larger selection but I was stuffed silly and happy at the end of the meal. Good, friendly service and great for kids.
(5)Peter G.
We really had an excellent experience here last night! We couldn't get into Box and Bells so were lucky enough to score a table (someone late for their reservation) next door at Toast. The manager is excellent, our waitperson (with the spikey mohawk) was outstanding, the decor and vibe...fantastic, and the food, superb! I had the "brown sugar-brined pork shoulder steak, sauerkraut, sweet potatoes and garlic aoili," my dinner-mates, the chicken. YUM on all fronts. No complaints on any level and can't wait to come back.
(5)Elizabeth C.
One of my favorite places in Oakland, I've used Toast for: client meetings, impromptu drinks with friends, my 29th birthday party, a staff holiday party for a company I work with regularly, and wedding rehearsal dinners for clients. The cocktails are excellent, the wine list is incredibly approachable, the food is great and the staff is super friendly. It's also one of the few "nice" places in Oakland that's an easy walking distance from BART, so your city-based friends have no excuse not to make it out.
(5)Matthew C.
Overall, disappointed. This place isn't bad. But it isn't good either. Food's ok, wine's alright. Service? Read on. I ordered four "tastes," or half glasses. Three were good, one wasn't. The cab franc smelled like corks. I gave it a minute to breathe, and it still stunk and tasted awful. The wine was very obviously badly corked, and confirmed by my date's excellent palate. When the waitress came by I told her I thought the wine was corked, and could someone please verify that it's corked, "just in case I don't know what I'm talking about" I add, trying to be polite. I watch as the waitress and some hipster kid behind the bar pour a taste, smell, drink, and find no fault with the wine. The waitress brings the wine back and informs me that, "the wine is fine, because it doesn't have that 'vinegar-y' taste." She sets the glass down, and leaves us to our meal. VINEGAR-Y!? Wow. That's like someone observing a critter run over on the road and killed dead, then stating, "That roadkill can't be dead because it doesn't smell weeks-dead." The customer is usually wrong. In this instance however, it's a wine & spirits industry professional with a decade of experience critically analyzing wine, versus a 23 year old working as a bar back. Pro tip for the service industry: You want customers to return? Make them happy. Even if they are mildly annoying. I won't be going back. p.s. Hey hipster kid, if you ever stumble across this review, look up "trichloroanisole." You'll learn something.
(3)Hayes T.
Amazing brunch, wine on tap and super nice staff!
(5)Buck M.
Mostly empty restaurant on a rainy Sunday morning but had to flag down a waiter for ordering, coffee refills, check, paying check. Limited menu, small portions. Look just don't go to a wine bar for brunch. Lesson learned.
(2)Melissa G.
Giddy! That's what I feel when I have the opportunity to dine at Toast. Since my husband & I live a distance away, we don't get to eat at Toast very often, though we ALWAYS make a point to go when we're in town. This place just has something that feels (and makes us feel) SPECIAL. Our most recent server, Landon, was a total sweetie in his dedication to helping me find the perfect wine to suit my craving that evening....and as would be expected at a restaurant that can boast having one of the best wine lists in the region, Landon & I were definitely successful! The food is also magical. On our most recent visit for dinner, we had enough people in our group that we ordered nearly everything on the menu. My taste buds were in serious flavor heaven throughout the whole meal. I just can't get over creative, fresh ingredient combinations. The people behind the scenes at Toast are not just restaurateurs & chefs...they are flavor artists with amazing talent. Oh, and I love the light fixtures...equal parts functional and art pieces in and of themselves. What more can I say? I adore this place!!
(5)Jule L.
Nice atmosphere complete with blankets and heaters, so sitting outside is pleasant even if it's chilly. The food was good, but if you're hungry go somewhere else as the portions are small and pricey. Wait staff was very good, pleasant and efficient.
(3)German A.
Cheers! Great wine selection...excellent food, delicate, organic, fresh, and a friendly to go along!
(5)Holly H.
Love the ambiance, the design, the menu, the bar. I'm not the biggest fan of the prices though. For the portion sizes, Toast could stand to lower the prices a bit. However, I will come back again because my meal was delicious. I ordered the roasted scallops. Amazing flavor. But again - pretty small - I think 3 scallops. Luckily I indulged in the cheese plate beforehand. I also love that they offer "tastes" or wine. Perfect for someone like me who sometimes likes a class of wine for 3 sips and then my taste buds reject the flavor. This gives me the option to try a few different whites and then move on to a red. I would recommend Toast for dinner over lunch. The lunch menu is rather limited for my taste, and I just think the dinner menu offers more quality - and delicious - options. Also a great place to come with friend for a few drinks at the bar.
(4)Peggy L.
Worst LUNCH ever. Lunch menu was limited- the sandwiches were plain and overpriced. Ordered the "Grilled Cheese Heaven"- Roasted Poblano Chile, White Cheddar, and Pumpkin Seed Pesto." I was so disappointed when my order came- this grilled cheese sandwich came with no melted cheese. Didn't really tasted the pumpkin seed pesto. They should have called it a "Roasted Poblano Chile with bits of Cheddar Cheese Sandwich". I've had better Subway sandwiches. The reviews seem to be coming from dinner, but I'm traumatized and will not be coming here again.
(1)Megan M.
Went here with some girlfriends. It was good! We got several of the smaller plates. What stood out for me was the grilled cheese sandwich- VERY good. The lamb meatballs didn't have enough flavor for me but I enjoyed the kale ceasar salad and the cheese board. The wine was decent, but I apologize as my friend ordered and I can't remember what it was called. I was a bit disappointed that we ordered a bottle, but because it was on tap they brought a carafe that only had 3 glasses of wine (there were 3 of us). A typical bottle of wine is four glasses of wine. We didn't necessarily need more, but I don't think they should call it a bottle if it isn't. If there were four of us I would have complained. It was a nice relaxed atmosphere and I thought the service was good. I wouldn't mind going back!
(4)Clarke H.
Fun place. Innovative food and good bourbon.
(4)Lillian L.
Came in here on a Friday night for a friend's birthday. This place is easy to miss when you're driving because it's so dimly lit. It's surprisingly loud for a smallish place, possibly b/c the concrete slab floors and other warehouse-like decor offer no sound absorption. It was hard to have a conversation indoors, but the patio seating outdoors with heat lamps and throws are a good alternative. While the braised pork shoulder was super tender and delicious, the rest of the food was just okay. For my money, I still prefer Wood Tavern or Chop Bar for a similar style of food done much better.
(3)Stephen G.
Went with my wife and two friends on Saturday night. We were very pleased on all counts. Our fine appetizers included a kale dish and split pea soup. The equally good mains included steelhead salmon and braised pork shoulder. I'd read a few reviews saying that the mains were on the moderate size. I have a hearty appetite, but found the combination of a small plate appetizer and my main dish (the salmon) quite fine. The piece of fish was in fact pretty modest in size, but it also was pretty delicious and together with its sides and the appetizer meant that I had not desire for dessert. The pork shoulder looked to be a very decent portion. Even though I'm a former bartender, my own taste in mixed drinks just runs to very well chilled and dry vodka martinis. But I had an excellent and good-sized "tabi" something-or-other, a spiced gin with a couple of other ingredients, served up. Sorry I don't remember the exact mix, but it was a great blend of tart with a bit of sweet. In fact, I liked it so much that I had two of them (which is unusual for me). The other folks in our party were equally pleased with their own cocktails, including one cosmo on the sweet side and one cosmo on the tart side.. Service was also very fine: polite, prompt and informative - at one point the bartender stopped by to answer a question we had about a drink - without being overbearing. The restaurant comprises a good-sized bar area and the main dining room, of about equal size. Both were quite roomy, in that there were few tables right on top of each other. Many in the main dining room were booths that had lots of space in-between them and neighboring tables. I guess if the place is absolutely full the two-person tables running along one side of the wall might be a bit tight, but no tighter than other good restaurants. But even on a pretty busy Saturday night just a few empty tables meant that folks weren't crowded at all. The room is on the loud side, but not horribly so. So I'd describe it as comfortable rather than elegant or intimate. But again, lots of room between most tables, which is great. If in a group of four, I'd request one of the booths running down the middle of the main dining room. If in a couple, ask for the one booth by the window or as a second choice the other two-person table by the window. On top of all this, Toast has a pretty large outdoor patio that I think would be quite nice for a sunny day lunch or cocktail. I strongly recommend Toast. We'll be back!
(5)Sara H.
Horrrrible. Overpriced and just plain watery bad. Ok, so the arugala salad greens were crisp. But the white dressing was just bleh. The fried fennel and carrots were decent--but how do you F up fried things??? The worst part was the pot pie. It felt like someone had saved a little bit of their indian curry dish from the night before and tossed in some croutons. And the portions were so small, we had to stop by for a slice of pizza on the way home for a grand total of $72 bucks for two people. (A salad, fried starter, two entrees, a cider and an organic cola--which was the best thing on the menu...and you don't cook cola). We actually thought about going to Southie--where we should have gone all along but for the outside seating that attracted us to Toast--for dessert, but there was a wait so we walked on to pizza and home. Truly disappointing.
(2)Reenie M.
Went here for the first time this week. Food is amazingly good, well prepared, fresh, hot. Wine selection is unusual and fun. This would have been five stars except for a few things, starting with all the kids. The table on one side of me had an infant, needless to say a crying infant or we wouldn't have even noticed, and the table on the other side of us had three little kids who started the evening by jumping off the bench as soon as dad's back was turned. Even the wait staff had that 'oh no' look on their faces. They weren't completely out of control so I guess it could have been worse but I don't go to nice bar/restaurants thinking I will share my dinner ambience with little kids. I think the kitchen actually made pb&j for the kids. Maybe that is why people bring their kids here. Service was spotty - started out good, very attentive, then she abandoned us. Took our wine glasses without even asking if we wanted more wine. We did. Never asked if anyone wanted coffee. My friends and I are all about the 20% tip for great service but couldn't go over 15 for her. Only other criticism is the bench itself. If I ever come back, not likely but possible, I would choose the table with chairs.
(3)Vicki L.
Great chicken dish and apps. Friendly service, nice vibe.
(4)Candice P.
Came here for happy hour on a Friday. The venue looks even better in person than in pictures, and the outside seating area was perfect for a warm Indian Summer evening. But ambience aside, I wasn't impressed. I had two glasses of champagne and there wasn't a single thing on the menu I found appealing at all. If anything, I found it to be a bit pretentious. So we paid the tab and left to go eat dinner elsewhere.
(2)Kitty T.
Very pleasant waitstaff. Very looooooong wait for the food and drink. We just ordered the apple cake desert and a mixed drink but the wait time for each item was over 15 minutes each. The apple cake was a bit dry. Sat at the patio while a musician was playing guitar. Nice ambiance.
(3)Sarah F.
I had my 2nd fabulous Toast experience last evening. We enjoyed cava, kale caesar, arugula with chickpeas, scallops and lamb meatballs. YUM. The service is attentive and upbeat. You get the feeling that the folks that work there really like what they do. I will go again and again and want to sit outside next time where they have heaters and blankets to dine under the Rockridge stars.
(5)Jodi B.
We came in for a light meal before a movie and were absolutely wowed by the experience. The wine list was well-edited and thoughtful and we were blown away by the food. Arugula salad with gravenstein apples and cucumbers was the perfect blend of pepper flavors and sweet notes. The melon, fig and burrata starter was refreshing and creamy without being cloying. The slow cooked pork entree was just as fantastic as the salmon, which was by far the best, most buttery salmon we've had in ages. And don't get me started on the dessert - a flourless chocolate torte on a bed of caramel sauce, served with homemade whipped cream. To. Die. For. Service was smart and attentive. It was such a wonderful experience. Kudos to the new chef - we'll be back for sure!!
(5)Jill T.
We stop in here because we had an animal and needed to be out on a patio. I am glad we did, this place ended up being really good. There is a lot of competition in the area and place has risen to the occasion. The food was homey types of dishes with a modern up to date twist. The drinks were good, the food was very good, we were very happy! Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Satty M.
Went here on a Tuesday evening, primarily for drinks. We had a group of around 20. Service was slow, to the point of being ridiculous. The staff couldn't remember who was at the bar first. When I tried to pay and get my credit card back, I was ignored for about 10 minutes while the bar staff chatted to one another.. Oh, and to top it off, the $10 wine I has was awful. Needless to say, I drank water after the first drink (for which my liver thanks me) and won't be returning to experience the food. One star for whomever decorated, it's a lovely spot!
(1)Patrick S.
Fun little place in Rockridge, almost hidden away in plain sight. They have marvelous "over 40 lighting" that makes everyone look and feel good. Nice short menu of small plates and snacks. Interesting wine selection and warm service. Loved it!
(4)Rachel S.
Friendly staff, nice bar and comfortable bench seating. Fair prices for small plates.
(3)Akvile H.
Looking for a great place to go on a date with someone special or to go catch up with a good friend over a fine glass or bottle of wine? Look no further my Yelping friend, Toast will provide you with a lovely ambiance and plenty of reasons to cheers and toast! It's a small but quaint and comfortable spot. The staff knows their wine very well, their very very friendly, and the appetizers are delectable. It's a chic yet comfortable wine bar and no matter if you're a novice wine drinker or a connoisseur, there is something for everyone here. I can't wait to come back in again!
(5)Anastasia E.
This place BY FAR has the best outdoor seating in the Rockridge area! Great spot to meet a friend for coffee or ONE glass of wine...but head somewhere else if you get hungry or want to continue drinking. Menu is very small, with few options for vegetarians. Also too expensive for just so-so food. Service is always great though, so no complaints there!
(3)Nate D.
In short: great service, pleasant patio setting, forgettable food. That a place like Toast can only earn three stars is as much a reflection of the competitiveness of the Bay Area restaurant scene as it is a reflection on the menu itself, but with so many other eateries to choose from, a place has to be either a) outstanding, or b) outstandingly cheap to merit a return visit, and Toast was neither. But if you just want dependable California-cuisine bar bite-type food and a nice spot to relax under the heat lamp on College Ave, it's worth a try.
(3)Theresa B.
I went here with a good girlfriend for after work drinks and appetizers. The ambiance was PERFECT to say the least. The appetizers were the right portion amounts, for a good price, the ambiance was wonderfully relaxing, down to earth, yet chic, and the bottle we shared was delicious. A perfect way to spend an evening with a girlfriend and not go broke. For what you get, this place is a great deal.
(5)Jennifer T.
I heart the ambiance and clean lines of this place. They have a wine special where for $5 you get a taste of the bartender's choice and if you can guess it, you get a free glass on your next visit. I guessed correctly, yay for me. The food was so delicious and the service was excellent. Food: Cheese Plate - holy cheese it was yummy. I'm a fanatic and this one is perfect. Sausage Pasta - spicy and delicious. Spicy Lamb Meatballs - sweet and spicy. I cannot even describe these to you. Just get them. They're pretty amazing. Halibut - moist and flaky. Dessert - I totally forget what I had but it was really good, ugh, sorry. We had 2 beers, 2 glasses of wine, the $5 taster and all of the above. The bill was around $140 w/ tip, pricier than many comparable SF restaurants, but we left happy and feeling indulged. I will be back.
(4)Brittstar Stella Noir T.
So good, I've been back twice in one week. Love the ambiance, fresh menu, and the friendly staff. Sharlyn melon salad, pan roasted chicken and Boca Negra for dessert. Perfection in a meal.
(5)Maggie T.
Came here during oakland's restaurant week. Nice ambiance, roasted chicken and the lamb dishes were really good!!
(4)Ames B.
They had a deal for 25% off if you came in and told a knock-knock joke. Jokes on you Toast, I'm awful at telling jokes and I'm drinking your juice on the cheap! P.S. Do you want to know my joke I told them? Knock-Knock. Who's there? Wine. Wine who? Wine aren't you laughing at my jokes. I told you I'm no good at em!
(5)Ashley J.
I wanted to love this place so much. I was really excited to try it, but it was just "OK" Pros" I really liked that they served wines from local wineries. The food was solidly delicious. Cons: The seating is a nightmare. Even with a reservation, we sat elbow to elbow with a couple we didn't know at the same table. Dating is hard enough, without having to have a couple you don't know on yours!
(2)monica a.
When I called in the lady over the phone went out of her way to save a table for us, I told her we were only 15 mins out. She was really nice. When we walked in that sat us immediately. All is well, so far... We order drinks and food, Cheese Board, Halibut and Chicken. Our drinks came out at an average amount of time... I had to ask about our cheese board thirty minutes after ordering it...our food took an hour to come out. Our waiter came to check on us maybe twice to see how we were doing, the whole 1.5 hours we were there. Plus, they kept apologizing for how long it was taking, "they had a small kitchen." We got our bill and with tip it came out to $100. I was hoping they would have comped us something or given us a discount, but no. Bottom line, if you don't mind waiting for hours for good food that is extremely over priced then you will love this place.
(2)Tom E.
Toast definitely hits a home run. It's got great food, and I appreciate how they keep their menu small and well controlled, so everything you order will be good. They've got great wine (duh!) and an ever-changing food and wine menu. It's on the higher side of affordable for a date or night out with friends, but absolutely worth the indulgence at least every few months. They also have great outdoor seating, so a glass of wine, some food, good company, we are lucky that Toast opened in Rockridge. One downside, and it's really a limitation of the space, is that if you're two people at a busy time you'll end up sitting next to another couple at least. That's true of many restaurants I think. For the price, I wish I had some more space for that romantic night, but I see they're expanding... so maybe there will be some more romantic 2-tops there. Either way, not a reason to miss it, because everything else is great.
(4)rosanna c.
I'll give Toast the award for atmosphere, but I don't understand wine lounges that don't have flights. My favorite thing about visiting wine bars is that you get to taste a little bit of everything so you can build your palette and find what you like. Unfortunately at Toast, they only had 1 flight option of Oakland urban wines. I imagine I could go a few miles to those Oakland tasting rooms and get a tasting for free or at the most $10 so I wasn't compelled to take flight. Selection is also OK - about 10 whites and 10 reds. I remember a lot of CA and Italian wines, but none sounded really interesting. I think Toast is the perfect place for first dates or for new couples, but if you're looking to sample some wine, it's not here - unless you have the company card. Oh, and check in on FourSquare for a free amuse.
(3)Jahan Z.
This is a restaurant that pretends to be hip and cool. We ordered three of their sandwiches ranging $11 to $14 in price. If you like overpriced inedible items soaked in oils and mayo with a side of Arugula, this is the place for you.
(1)Jeffrey S.
After attending a Yelp event a few weeks ago here, my wife & I were so impressed that we came for dinner later that week. When we arrived at 6:30 PM on a Friday night, we were told that all the tables inside were already reserved. But, there was a table outside. Though we were originally skeptical, as it was a little cold already, the hostess assured us that the portable heaters would be sufficient; and if they weren't she offered us blankets, too. We did take her offer and were glad to do so. The heater kept us so warm, I even took off my sweater. Plus, the quiet ambiance of the patio was nice compared to the hustle and bustle of the inside dining room. My wife & I could have a quaint conversation over dinner without having to yell to be heard! I started off with a bottle of my new favorite wine, the Torley Fortuna sparking wine. After that, the appetizers and entrees followed. All the food was wonderful, but we had to end the night with the ultimate dessert, the flourless chocolate cake. When I tried this the other night, I could not believe that this was flourless. The cake was so light and fluffy, it was truly breathtaking. All in all, I can't help but highly recommend the Toast Wine Lounge. And when you go to the bathroom, make sure you leave a note on the chalkboard!
(5)Michelle W.
Great cocktails... good tapas. Not too much of a selection to try from, but good to check out at least once. Close walk from the Rockridge Bart station.
(4)Fzarond K.
Good start to an evening. Fun to arrange dinner off the menu. Maybe a tiny salad and another starter. Then a mid. Then share an entree. Or maybe 2 mids and a bunch of starters. Or maybe each an entree, or maybe just drink and snack. So many options, so fine tuned.
(4)patricia p.
We went there for brunch on Saturday. I won't complain about the service, which was kind of slow even though the place was half empty. I also won't complain about the fact that the eggs, which were supposed to be soft boiled, were more on the hard boiled side. The main problem was the eggs were also cold, as in just out of the fridge cold. To me the fact that they don't take the time to even cook the eggs when you order them is kind of unacceptable.
(1)Regina A.
This is a neighborhood restaurant for me. I was hoping I would love the place. I ordered the braised beef, which was good, but not outstanding. My guest ordered the halibut. It was raw in the middle, and we had to send it back (which the waitstaff did quite willingly.) Unfortunately, the bad taste left in my guest's mouth made him not want to continue eating the fish, even when the same piece of fish was recooked. As we left, he complained of a stomach ache, which continued into the evening. Other aspects of the restaurant were good. I suggest that anyone who orders the fish indicate that it should be cooked "well done". This may have been a fluke, but I don't think we will be returning to the place.
(2)Charles A.
AWESOME experience at Toast. My wife and I recently stopped by after work on a Friday and had a couple of bar snacks and sampled some unique, delicious wines. The white bean spread with roasted garlic and paprika oil was a perfect accompaniment to the Jules Taylor Pinot Gris from New Zealand. We also sampled the boquerones with egg salad and toasted points with a glass of La Commanderie Queyret Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon from Bordeaux and, again, it was a spot on pairing of food and wine. Toast is the perfect spot with a warm ambiance, a knowledgeable and attentive staff, and a thoughtfully planned and well-executed menu by Chef Rebecca Boice.
(5)Ed S.
Every dish and 3 of 4 drinks were exceptionally good. Vegetable-based fare stood out to us (eggplant especially) and meatballs were easily their equal. Pleasant service.... Superb food... What else could one ask for? Worth every dollar.
(5)Gina W.
Rainy Sunday while running errands out decided to drop in for a light lunch. We ordered a albacore salad, lamb meatball sandwich and chicken pate sandwich. The interior looks really nice and comfy, somewhere I"d love to come back and enjoy a nighttime cocktail with some friends at. Salad was good .. sandwiches were tasty. A bit heavy with the arugula on both plates but I do enjoy some greens. The cookies are a nice touch. Overall would have to come back for dinner to get the full experience.
(3)Petra C.
Such a friendly wine bar, much friendlier than Enoteca Molinari down the street. The host is always the first to ask about my day, chooses a great place for me and my friends. The wine by the decanter is a great idea, and their wine list is fairly priced and diverse. Lovely, spacious interior, and the nibbles are great too. And WONDERFUL edition to the neighborhood. It needed a place like this. And no one is snobby about the wine, and are happy to explain and make suggestions. VERY HELPFUL.
(5)Jen M.
always such fun place to go, great food and wine. Must go if you're in the East Bay.
(5)Kim H.
Went Sunday night with 4 adults and one 3.5 year old. Everything was wonderful and we all left extremely happy. The menu isn't large, but has a little of everything - veggies, meats, seafoods, desserts, etc - and all of the 10+ dishes we tried were great. The menu is creative and we got so absorbed in sharing, tapas-style, that we also ordered a few of the main dishes and split them across the group. People have said this is not child friendly and yes, I suppose that is true if your kid is one of those that will only eat fried chicken fingers. Our kid, however, very much enjoyed nibbling on the various things that came out, especially the bread, meatballs, chicken, carrots, green beans, and the flourless chocolate cake. The atmosphere at the restaurant is also lively and upbeat, so a kid will not disturb anybody (unless they are really obnoxious and unruly, but our kid stays in the booth and isn't loud). The cocktails were fabulous - simply delicious - and the beer and wine selection is solid and very reasonably priced. We thought this was a fabulous spot and will be returning.
(5)j s.
Great location, nice food and wine menus, but the service was chaotic and disorganized. We came without reservations so I was willing to cut them slack, but the hostess said 3 times it would be an hour wait, but I doubted it since there were empty tables... so I persisted and what do you know, we were seated in 10 minutes. In the mean time I ordered wine at the bar and held open a tab, when we finally got seated the tab wasn't transfered to the table. We drank the wine I got at the bar and waiting for 20+ minutes to have a waiter stop in (still no menus), he swung by a few times and pretty much forgot everything we asked of him... in the end we called in an order to Noodle theory figuring it would take us an hour to get an orderve. to top it off when he fetched the tab from the bar for us (took about 10 minutes after asking) he just brought the receipt and no card... If they got themselves organized I'd be back, their food looked good and the location is great. Considering they have been open for 1+ years, the fact that they ran like a place in its first week was sad.
(2)Alix W.
Lovely food, friendly service, but can you do something about the noise, people? I am okay with noisy restaurants, but this one is off the charts noisy. Like deafening, and I have no hearing problems. Just be warned about that going in, and you'll have a nice meal.
(3)Richard B.
Wow, has this place changed. A new menu with very tasty entrees, drinks and appetizers. We had dinner outside on a nippy night, but they had the gas heaters going and provided blankets to wrap ourselves in. My entree was salmon and was cooked to perfection. It was a little too small for me. The pork chop was delicious and very ample size and a great value. The spicy almonds are great and the drinks are delicious. I would give it five stars but the stopped offering my favorite cocktail which was one of their most popular.
(4)C T.
I really want to like this place. It has a great location, the outdoor patio is inviting and it feels upon walking in that you have stumbled upon a hip new spot. However, I have been there twice and there will not be a third time as on both times the same glaring problems presented themselves, and my wife and I left regretting the dinner and money spent. You would be MUCH MUCH better off paying a little more and going to Wood Tavern. The issue is not as much the food, it is decent, but with a limited amount of options (there are four entrees to choose from and roughly six "small plates") the presentation and delivery should be good to great, and it is flat out poor. On both occasions we ordered "appetizers" and "entrees" along with beverages - orders that would seem simple enough to accommodate. This is exactly what happened both times: 1. We had to remind the waiter to bring us our beverages, at least 10-15 minutes after ordering. 2. The appetizers came out randomly. My wife's salad came out in 5 minutes, before our beverages, and the lamb meat balls simply didn't come out until we asked for them AFTER receiving our entrees, a solid 30 minutes between each other. The first time I can accept it as a mistake, but a 2nd time, give me a break. There is something missing between the communication of orders to the kitchen and the preparation of the food. 3. The entrees stumbled out as well a good 5 minutes between each other, so we were left sitting wondering what happened to the second dish as the first one got cold. The entree my wife ordered which came first was the chicken leg/thigh with a bone and maybe is 1/2 a pound. For a $24/dish a $3-$4 piece of chicken is disappointing. 4. My wife is 5'8' 110 pounds and both times after eating two courses and a beverage left hungry, and the bill was $100+ All and All, not up to par for what it wants to be.
(2)Erin Leigh M.
I thought it was pretty tasty. Nothing bad to say. The pate was delicious. The cocktail was great. Our main entrees weren't the best I've ever had. Came here on a whim for my anniversary. The ambiance is nice and cozy. I imagine it would be a great place to go for happy hour or something.
(4)Shruti T.
Pricey but yummy! Great place to grab a class of wine- They have a great selection of wines- roses, reds and whites. The service is really great and I also enjoy the ambiance. The thing to get here though is the Parmigiano-Reggiano Nuggets with Truffle Honey. I promise, its amazing.
(4)Celeste B.
Nice addition to the neighborhood, our server was wonderful, very accomadating, friendly and put up with the Tomfoolery of my clown posse. The food was tasty. We had the BLT which I enjoyed, others felt it was sliced too thick and fatty. They have a nice wine list and outdoor patio. I love the decor inside. Give it a try.
(4)Debbie R.
Yeah, um.. not sure what all the hype is about here. I found Toast to be ostentatious in an austere sort of way. Okay, let me just say it flat out.. I just didn't like the gimmicky facade black on white austere decor/menu and the lack of substace and flavor in the the food. It seems, though, that this is the place TO BE if your a Rockridger, especially a Rockridge mommy with an expensive stroller and a need for a pricey glass of wine. The place was teaming with the baby brigade and trendies (odd combo). In terms of food.. my dinner companion had to send the lamb meatballs back twice to get them cooked to her preference (well done) and received an explanation from the chef that that being organic lamb (or whatever) there is a natural pink hue.. umm hellooooo, the pink hue is called medium rare organic or not! I had a completely flavorless pasta with roasted pork. In terms of prices.. I think they were okay consdering the neighborhood. I guess my biggest beef was the pretense. This place is a poser.
(2)Zachary L.
Summary: Great atmosphere and brilliant service combine with an inventive wine list and menu for a really delightful wine bar/restaurant. I've been here a half dozen times now, and the experience has been consistently good, so I think I'm ready to write a review. I really love this place as a wine bar with the additional benefit of good food. On a sunny day when you can sit outside and get slowly tipsy in the sun with a good bottle of wine, this place deserves six or seven stars. WINE: The wine list is nothing if not interesting - there's a lot of care there, and I appreciate it. I can be picky about wine, but this list is balanced, affordable, and even in varietals that I'm not terribly eager for, they've managed to find delicious, and surprising, offerings. There's nothing flabby here. ATMOSPHERE: Okay, I've only ever sat outside. If it's cool out, they have little lap blankets, which is classy and comforting. They now have a fence, and it's set a little off College Ave - so when it's warm out, there's no better place to be in all of Oakland/Berkeley/Piedmont. SERVICE: The wait staff is probably the most friendly, fun group working anywhere on College Ave. They are knowledgeable, helpful, able, cheerful, and ready to share a joke. I can't say enough good things. It's like they're excited for you to taste everything.There aren't many restaurants where the staff adds so much to improve the experience. FOOD: The food is good - even great at times. The entrees, especially. Some of the small plates I can take or leave. (I guess some of us just don't 'get' parmigiano reggiano nuggets with truffle honey.) What I'm most encouraged by is to see that some of the things that I haven't liked have been taken off the menu - this tells me that they're paying attention. I think a good restaurant is always reinventing at least a quarter of its menu, and that seems to be happening at Toast. And to be honest, I never wanted to write a good review about this place - because I want to be able to drop in whenever I want and not wait for a table.
(5)Gregory H.
Best Bloody Mary in the WORLD. Also, the staff is PHENOMENAL. I'm going every day of my life, forever.
(5)Chris N.
We've been to Toast twice in the last two weeks. Based on previous reviews, we were a bit apprehensive, but after our visits we're thinking they've really listened to customer input , are working through the inevitable startup issues and settling into to something special. The overall vibe is very laid back and comfortable. You can sit outside on the patio or in the a-frame restaurant "cottage". The cottage is furnished with cool natural wood tables and a bar area (I think they only serve wine and beer -- no hard liquor). The food is really tasty. Earlier reviews mentioned "pricey" a lot. We didn't think that at all. Starters like bread toasts with a white bean spread were only $4. Entrées were from $13 to $15 if I remember (cheaper than their competition on College). The food was delicious. For starters, we had the bread with white bean spread, a really great cheese plate (three cheeses with almonds, quince paste and a brandied cherry) and one of the green salads (with blue cheese, radish slices and nuts). For mains, we had the hanger steak (so good), the lamb meatballs (definitely recommend), a vegetable risotto and a chicken dish in a red pepper sauce with pumpkin seed pesto (great potential but a little blander than I would have liked). The service both times was friendly and attentive. We're so glad that Toast is here in our neighborhood and will definitely be back.
(5)Nigel M.
The food was hit & miss. The staff treated us with disdain. For example, when we pointed out the "AUS" is the three letter code for Australia and that the wine with AUS was Austrian (which should AUT) we got a shrug. They even had SPA instead of ESP for Spain. Furthermore, the Austrian wine was terrible. And when we inquired about the carafe, we were told that they were 500ml just a little bit smaller than a bottle. Clearly, 500ml is a third smaller than 750ml. Also when we didn't order food every time we were asked we were ignored. When we finally got their attention, the response was "So you've changed your mind". Its almost as if the wait staff know that you have to be brain dead to pay such high prices for so little, average food.
(2)Jan W.
LOVE LOVE LOVE. Went here on Saturday and it was quiet - probably due to the downpour taking place outside. The first thing that caught my eye was the modern decor. Well....rustic modern with exposed concrete floors, graphite painted walls with chalk drawings on them...heavy wood tables and modern lighting. Then the menu...my friend and I each enjoyed a wine flight which was very generous for tastes. The menu is small with small plates and sandwiches. I prefer a small menu since this typically means that the food is refined and I was not disappointed. I had a bacon sandwich with kale and aioli and then finished it off with a chocolate chip cookie. My lunch-mate had the grilled ham and cheese which looked amazing and was perfect for the weather. The service was well timed and the wait staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I would absolutely come here again and I look forward to enjoying it for dinner soon.
(5)Caitlin L.
The perfect addition to Rockridge. Fantastic food, extensive wine list, beautiful ambiance, outdoor patio, AND kid-friendly?! What's not to love. I took my son to Toast for a date last night and I'm looking forward to going back. The staff couldn't have been friendlier and the food couldn't have been more delicious. I've never seen my son eat that much asparagus. The other highlights were chickpea "cornuts" and a chickpea patty with chard on the side called a panisse (sort of like falafel, but smoother, almost creamy). Truly a standout. The great thing about this place is it would be equally perfect for a date night with the husband, a night out with the girls, or as I experienced it, as the perfect place for an early dinner with my preschooler.
(5)Morgan B.
We were looking for outdoor seating on a warm night and stumbled across Toast on College (in the corner space formerly occupied by some dance apparel store). What's to love: - Bottom line, Rockridge needed a place like this...casual gathering spot for drinks, eats and good conversation with friends. We enjoyed a bottle of champagne for $33 and most wines were $9-$14 by the glass. - Great vibe and decor, I'd call it urban rustic meets shabby chic (or whatever that means), but it's very comfortable, approachable and clean - Outdoor seating (5 tables) for those handful of nights when Oakland is actually warm enough - Dog friendly on the patio! - Assortment of small plates and a few entrees (still sharing worthy) so this can function as a happy hour or dinner venue. Our favorite of the night was the lamb meatballs (4 of them). Minor gripes: - The prices seem a bit steep given the small portion size (as other Yelpers have noted). Maybe if the order came with complimentary bread or olives I might not complain, but 4 lamb meatballs for $16 and I was still hungry. - Some of the dishes were a bit lackluster, but still okay. The pasta dish (recommended by our server) was underwhelming, as was the sandwich (was there meat in there? Or just bread and arugula). Both were still fine, but I would opt for another option on a second visit. Overall, great new addition to College Ave that will surely build a solid following once they nail down their menu items. I'll go back for the atmosphere and convenience, and the lamb meatballs (though one of our guests said the same dish at Camino Restaurant on Grand Lake is better).
(3)Chrissy M.
Loved this place! Atmosphere, food, people, can't wait to go back!
(5)K m.
I had dinner on Saturday night and was loved the place!!! It is very loud but very cool ! All the wait servers are hip and attentive! The food is tasty and different then other places. Towards the end of our dinner the owner or one of them came up to see how we were and when I said great were celebrating out friends bday and that being a hair stylist I will be telling all my clients about this place he then brought over a wonderful slice of cake with a candle. There is seating outside that I would love to try next time! I can't wait !!!
(5)Michelle S.
"Toast - Drink More Wine". Well, cheers to that - gotta love a restaurant name and tagline that direct! Speaking of love, as I was preparing to write this post and trying to figure out exactly what attracted me (apart from everything) to this place, there it was in the food section of their website - Chef Peter Jackson's "wine country cuisine" menu. I love the wine country and Toast has done an excellent job bringing a bit of it to me. First, there's a generous selection of wines of course - by the glass, tap and bottle. The atmosphere is cozy, contemporary and so is their music selection, and the sunny patio complete with olive trees is very inviting. Then there's that "wine country cuisine" menu. Do NOT miss the white bean spread with roasted garlic and toast - featured here. It is rich, creamy and bursting with freshness all at the same time. I cook white beans a lot and could not figure out exactly what that fresh taste was. But now I know - a tiny squeeze of Meyer lemon just before serving. Genius! The spicy lamb meatballs with shaved pepato, burrata and fennel pollen with olive relish and asparagus salad with piquillo pepper vinaigrette and mimosa rounded out my first visit very nicely. And then I noticed something that might warrant another visit sooner rather than later - a few items on the menu listed as "kid's favorites". Wow, talk about researching and catering to your target audience. This is another great addition to the already awesome restaurant scene on College Avenue. And to that I say Toast - drink more wine!
(5)Fatty A.
Came here for a meeting and had the scallops. Portions are small and the preparation of the "fresh catch of the day (scallops)" were served in some heavy cream sauce. Nasty.
(2)Chris V.
This place is probably only good for it's "Bar Food" and the wine...although if you ask me, Bar Food sounds like it goes better with Beer. The wines we enjoyed at our table were only okay, as in we didn't mind coughing up 10-13 bucks for a glass. What really threw us off was the food pricing. Seven dollars for a tiny green salad that happened to be... well-dressed. That's it. Just the greens and the dressing. Seven smackaroons. I felt jipped. And fifteen bucks for a tiny shrimp salad felt like my teeth were being pulled. I could go on and on about each plate and nothing seemed to stick out that would indicate worthiness of such prices. Everything was just too simple tasting to have cost that much. Our $170 tab for three (5 glasses of wine and all of the bar dishes and cold dishes/salads; no entree/dessert), really felt like it should have been 120-130 bucks. I think my boyfriend and I will only come back to enjoy a glass of wine on the outdoor patio area. Come the cooler months and uglier weather, I think we'll go to Hudson's or Adesso.
(2)Chris W.
Found them on Yelp and was intrigued because I hadn't been in the neighborhood for the past year so figured they were new. The space used to be a dance store and they've done a fantastic job flipping it. The dining experience was just meh though. My Dark & Stormy drink tasted watered down and the salad I ordered was just ok. When I asked about the vague Yelp checkin offer the waiter was pretty dismissive about it, so I think they should let their staff know or make a better offer because that was weird. I feel like I would only go back for some wine with friends and skip the dining bit.
(3)bora o.
Very cool place. We stumbled onto it while we were visiting Rockridge for shopping. We ate outdoors with the two kids. They had crayons, drawing paper, and the whole nine yards for the kids. Very friendly service. AMAZING food! Seriously.. I am Turkish and love meatballs. I never ate meatballs this good. I had to ask the chef for the recipe. Wine menu was interesting. Lots of stuff I have never heard of before. I went there with the intention of sticking to water. Then one glass of wine, then two, then three!!! I thought all three glasses were great. I particularly loved the first "on tap" wine (the one at the top of the menu). Great value for money. Both my wife and I love wine. And this place has really interesting choices. I wish they didn't have a nice boutique women's apparel store next door. $80 lunch became $400 with wife buying a pair of boots from next door. We are renovating our home now. I asked the owner where she bought the tables inside. She said from her backyard. She chopped some of the wood and I guess put some protective cover. It really looks very cool. Overall, the ambiance and decor were beautiful. Until I visited Toast, my fav wine bar was Barrique in SF. Now it changed. THey conquered my heart with how they treated my kids. Highly recommend the place for a causal outing, serious dates, or even lunch with the kids.
(5)Regina N.
3.5 stars....Great place to enjoy a glass of wine. Wonderful location. They have a wide selection of wines and I've been here a few times - all were delicious. However, food selection is okay - it could be improved. We had most of the dishes off the menu, some of the hot food was not so hot when it was served. Service was a bit slow, however it was a busy evening. We will definitely come back and try it out again.
(3)Lauren C.
My mom and I have lunch together each Thursday, and love to try places with outdoor seating, so Toast was a great option for us. The lunch menu was simple but gave great options, and I was stoked to see that gluten-free bread was available for the sandwiches. Portion size was just perfect, and everything was tasty. We had great service, and loved being able to enjoy the beautiful weather on the patio, and enjoy the people-watching that College Ave provides! Didn't have any wine, since I was headed to the office afterward, but I look forward to coming for dinner soon, to try out the wine selection!
(5)Matt C.
Our party of four all loved what we ordered, but the service was just really bad. The server was very polite and professional, but wasn't available. Our water glasses went dry and stayed that way. My dad's sandwich didn't come out with the rest of our food. My mom gave him half of hers to help things along. We all finished eating and his sandwich still didn't arrive, even after being told twice the sandwich was on its way. My dad ordered a second glass of wine that never arrived. We were comped the sandwich and cancelled the wine. I feel like we should have been comped half the meal and management should have come over and said something like, "I'm sorry, Joe is ill and Jane injured her elbow and we're unavoidably understaffed today." That didn't happen so we left pretty dissatisfied.
(3)Brian S.
Went back for second visit and tried more of the wines and must say they have the best selection of wines of any East Bay wine spot. The prices are great considering the quality of the wines. Had a few more of the small plates and food is definitely solid, but the portions are a little on the small side. Met the manager at the end of the stay and seems passionate about the biz and being in Rockridge. With the terrace out front this will be a great Summer weekend destination!! Cheers!!
(4)Nicole H.
Great food, good drinks, fun atmospher, excellent service! Will be back!
(4)Jimmy C.
I was there for lunch the other day and what a pleasant surprise. It's a laid back place with nice atmosphere. The server was nice and attentive. Lunch menu is small but adequte. I had a chicken sandwich and it was pretty good. Overall, good first experience and I'll definitely go back again.
(4)Maria L.
Not too excited about the waiters.
(2)Miles H.
The outdoor patio is the only feature Toast has over Wood Tavern. Had great cauliflower soup with bee pollen to start-no gastro issues while I write this review! Meatballs are best menu item. We waited forever for Flank steak main entree and sure enough it was over cooked. When it came time to order an after dinner drink, it took 10 minutes and three staffers to explain the cognac aperitif. Staff is ill-trained. The wine is just ok, but why skimp on expanding the list as we live in the finest wine region in the country? Most selections look and taste like they came from Wine Mine down the street next to Highway 24. Finally, the dining room is great space but the two owners cheaped out by installing shoddy, nailed burlap panels on the walls for sound attenuation?! And they did this right next door to the sharp space of Box and Bells? Stick to cocktails and olives on the patio and hope that Paige waits on you. She's one of Oakland's food scene's best waitresses.
(2)Catherine K.
My friend and I came here for a glass of wine and to just catch up. It is on the pricey side and the food selection is a bit limited, but what we did order was delicious! Overall it is a nice small wine bar.
(3)Amy F.
The service was very friendly and good. They had a fun, and very unique drinks list and the waitress was very helpful explaining all the exotic ingredients and the way they taste. The food was pretty pricey for what you get. I am tired of restaurants that charge $18+ for an entree and all you get is a couple chunks of meat, a few veggies and broth. But the atmosphere was nice and the drinks and wine lists made up for the over priced and kinda bland food.
(3)Deborah S.
So excited Toast has finally opened. Went here last night - amazing transformation- if you can recall the inside the old sf dance co store. It's much more open: who knew there was a slanted high ceiling?! I cannot wait for the next few days w sunshine to enjoy a glass along the patio area on college. I've always wanted better outdoor college ave seating! People watching + wine + sun = awe-some. Umbrellas for you wrinkle-prone folk. On to the wines- 4 of us tonight- they offered tastes which are always helpful in the decision making process, and the co-owner Kristen came by and described her favorites w the waitress chiming in on the others: we went red. My favs were the lagrein and definitely the hill- was it a cab/merlot? woah, so good. That is definitely going to happen again, perhaps today. It's a rotating wine menu w many small (and often local) batches, so what you like today will be gone tomorrow. So don't drink my Hill! The friends enjoyed the barbera, the hobo zin, the wren syrah. The charbono has an early chalky finish- I oddly didn't mind since it was brief and didn't linger- plus it reminded me of sweet tarts. Least fav might have been the gsm- toasty oak. Not that it was bad, just not as good as the others. Did not yet sample food. Oh, had a glass of the cava brut- i'm not a champagne chick, so cannot say much other than it lived up to being dry and bubbley (small bubbles). Can't wait to go back!
(5)Julie S.
Excellent, strong-ass cocktails. You have been warned.
(5)Jeffrey M.
Toast is wonderful. awesome parmesan cheese drizzled with honey appetizer and one of the best homemade bloody mary mixes I have *EVER* had. awesome bartender and great ambiance.
(4)Shamala B.
The place has a wonderful atmosphere - great wine list, great food and it's ever pet friendly. I have been checking this place out from the outside for months now - and last week decided to take a few friends for apps and some wine. It was great - I also found a check in ad - free treat if you show it to the server. We got a scallop app.... yumm... All in all - a wonderful neighbourhood restaurant that I will go back for sure. I actually wish the wine list - especially the flight was a bit more vast so we could have shared different types with the group - other than that perfecto!!!
(4)Winé C.
Toast is made for people with lots and lots of time on their hands (Not to mention $$ since everything was a little pricey)! The Reds we ordered definitely needed some aeration. Two hours would not have hurt at all by the time I received it. The wine prices were on par with any other wine bar I have been to, but I did not find anything exceptionally well done with the wine. The place is cute and styled very nicely for a low-key conversation. Now what happened with the food! They were selling onion toasted flatbread for $9? Am I missing something? It was relatively good, but for the price paid, I am still sore over the Coca. Never tempted to order food again. Not one of my favorite wine bars, but I am not exactly deterred from bringing polite company here. Oh yes, but there is one thing though. Please please please do not give us the complete end of the bottle. My companion could not swallow the last 3 mouthfuls because of the black specks. Definite loss in points.
(3)Jamie T.
I stopped in here over the weekend -- the wine lounge is not quite open yet, but they have a little pop-up coffee shop at the moment as they finish construction, and I'm excited for this place to open soon. In the meantime, I tried their single-cup drip coffee (for $2 -- pretty good deal, considering the competition), with beans made by the same roasters as Cole Coffee (according to Toast's blog), and it was really good. They even had a nice selection of condiments for their temporary coffee shop, including turbinado sugar and agave nectar, yum. I also tried one of their cheddar scones -- I'm not sure where it came from, but it was delicious! The owner was around and mentioned they're planning a March opening for the wine lounge, which is not too far away. They'll have small production artisanal wines and small plates. There appears to be a good amount of remodeling to be done before then, and it smells like new construction at the moment so I don't know that you'd really want to hang out for long in the temp coffee shop, but the space looks like it could be really nice once it's finished, and it seems they already have some cool furnishings. It'll be fun to check this place out, hopefully in just a few weeks!
(5)Melissa R.
Disappointed. Highly disappointed in Toast. I was hoping for a chill, relaxed night with my husband with some tasty bites and wine. Unfortunately, the service (or lack thereof) really put a damper on our night. Our server neglected us multiple times, and while the food was fine, we felt like second class citizens. The food, while decent to good, depending on the dish, was pricy and with a tab of $130 for two, I would have expected not to be ignored the entire evening by the waiter, who was more interested in putting silverware on tables than on customer service.
(1)Kelly S.
Ate lunch here yesterday. We ate a salad and cheese platter. The service people were friendly but the food took forever. We were there for 1.5 hours for salad and a cheese platter. We asked for gluten free bread and the waitress brought us bread. We began to eat the bread and then she brought more bread. We said what is this for and she said it's the gluten free bread. We said well, what is the bread you brought us, we thought that was gluten free, she said no, that's just free bread. duh!! Are you for real? The bathroom is super dark. What is up with that? Feels weird and strange. This place is very pricey. It's not worth your time or money.
(1)Frank L.
I was so impressed with the food at Toast Wine Lounge I can not wait to return. The staff was extremely kind and polite. The menu is organic and local where possible. The tapas are a perfect portion size to share. Our group enjoyed ftender quail, perfect cioppino, fresh winter greens, bavette steak and a few glasses of local wine. A 10!!
(5)Helen M.
We really wanted to like this place because the location right in Rockridge. But given that there are so many amazing choices of restaurants in Oakland-- we won't be going back to Toast. The wine by the glass was the smallest pouring of wine I think I've had. The food was just OK. The entree was tiny. When I go out I want to leave feeling full, this didn't happen here. Service very good though. Prices high--but that's typical around here, and ok to pay but can find lots of better option....
(2)Maria B.
My husband and I visited Toast with some friends over the weekend and it was enjoyable. I was the only one who had wine, and it was just OK (and heavy on the sediment). The prices seemed in line with most other wine bars. Everyone else had beer (all bottled); ironic, since there is a pub right up the block. We also had BBQ'd oysters, which were delicious albeit pricey, as well as olives, rosemary coca, and the white bean spread. Nothing here was outstanding, but it's a really nice space to sit outside on a sunny day and have a glass of wine. As it started to get chillier, and my friend and I were noticeably trying to warm up, the waitress brought us blankets, which I thought was a really nice touch. The service was a bit over attentive - cutting into our conversations frequently and trying to take our dishes away even though we weren't finished with our food. After the check came, no one came back to our table. I actually caught that I was overcharged for my wine (charged for a more expensive glass), but we never saw the waitress after she dropped off the check, so it was never corrected. Since it was only a dollar, I shrugged it off, but they should definitely be checking the bills before delivering the checks to the table. The interior of the wine bar is modern rustic; very cozy, comfortable, and filled with light. I love to sit outside when the weather allows, but I would come here for a glass of wine even if we had to sit inside. There is only one restroom here, so you can be waiting for quite a while if it's crowded, and the restroom is VERY dark, which was weird. Overall, it's a great addition to the neighborhood, but could use a bit of improvement. I'd still come here for a glass of wine if I had some time to kill or wanted a pleasant spot to hang out and chat with some friends.
(3)Steve W.
We have been here at least 7 times in the past two years--this is our favorite restaurant in Oakland! The food is consistently well prepared, tasty and interesting and the wait staff are friendly and welcoming. Todd is always there to welcome us and check to make sure all is well and Jana is a wonderful server--gracious, funny and prompt. We especially like that all the staff work together as a team ensuring prompt personal service. A wonderful place to get away, relax, and feel pampered for the evening. And -- the wine choices and house special cocktails are fabulous! We love this restaurant and are never disappointed, incredible!
(5)Gwyneth H.
I went to Toast for the first time last night. I really liked the space, although I thought they kept it a tad too dark. My dinner companion and I ordered one 'bar snack,' the salumi selection, and two small plates, which was plenty of food (if not a little too much) for the two of us. We had: - white bean spread (bar snack - $4): ah-ma-zing. Do not pass this one up. It was a bit citrusy, and topped with a great oil. Possibly my favourite of all the dishes we tried. We could have used more toast to go with the spread, but we made do with the bread that came out with other dishes. - salumi selection (prosciutto, salami, fra mani toscano - $15): really, really good - I especially loved the prosciutto. This also came with a tray of toasted almonds, pickled fennel, and mustard - I'm not really a mustard person, but the almonds and pickled fennel were great! - arugula salad ($9) - the balance of dressing and mint was good, but I find arugula a bit too bitter to really enjoy a salad in which it's the only green. (I'm also not really excited about figs.) Oh! This also came with warm rolls and olive oil for dipping - very yummy. - spicy lamb meatballs ($11) - these were not quite as spicy and flavourful as I was expecting, but they were still very good. I wasn't wowed by any of the wines we tried (three glasses between us; each a different wine), but I also didn't take any initiative in picking any of them. We were too full for dessert, but I'll be sure to save room next time!
(4)Mayra S.
second time at toast and i am still enchanted by this adorable little wine bar. the wine alone is worth the trip! highly recommend the "alpha blend" on tap. the staff are beyond welcoming. my last visit was entertained by an impromtu blind wine test/tasting c/o the "sumo bun" waitress, as i called her. so much fun! like i say with every place i love, if only this place was in my neck of the woods...i'd practically live here! TOAST to that!!!
(5)H T.
we came here for brunch after after shimmy pop today. for lunch, they have a bunch of sandwiches on acme bread. all 4 of us got the deviled egg sandwich, which came w/ a side of arugula salad and a delicious choc chip cookie. the sandwich one acme torpedo roll was delicious. a great place to enjoy the outdoors on a sunny day.
(4)Richard G.
Disappointed. Very mediocre. We were there early and they were out of their signature white bean and garlic spread. Had to ask a couple of times for bread. The parmigiano nuggets were simply a few chunks of hard cheese with some honey- very blah! The roasted eggplant was a joke- four skinny little shriveled up strips of eggplant with no flavor- worth more like 10 cents than $10. The boquerones? -a little egg salad on hard toast- you can do much better yourself .(The ones at Fanny's Cafe are an order of magnitude better) The lamb meatballs were OK, but not enough to to make up for an otherwise boring, below average meal.
(2)Marlein C.
I really have to say that I love these guys. Toast has become my favorite hangout. Every time I visit it's a memorable experience. Last night was no exception. Starting with Todd, the ever gracious host who gave me his seat at the bar, then proceeded to regale me with little known bits about his life with disarming candor. It was a bonding experience, truly. I shall not disclose the details. Moving on to Landon The Irrepresible. The perfect combination of puckish mischief and sexiness. A total sweetheart. Getting a hug at the door from him makes me feel like I just walked into a friend's home. Next up, Little Miss Sunshine. One can be taken in by her seemingly quiet and shy demeanor upon first meeting. Beware, this is a mistake. There is a sharp, discerning mind there, crafty even, waiting to torpedo your hopes of every winning a bet made with her. Spectacular hugger. Seriously. There's also Jack, Trois Piglet Preparer Extraordinaire. A man with a flair for all things pork (and tasty desserts) and a sweetheart to boot. I asked him to marry me (imagine the Recipe DNA our kids would have!) Ryan, a man of discerning culinary taste who gets up at the crack of dawn (even though he gets home after midnight) just to have breakfast with his girlfriend. Who says romance is dead? Last but not least, The Queen of All Things Drama, She To Whom All Must Bow Down In Reverence, Paige. (Can I kiss ass or what?) This is one kickbutt chick. How can the universe contain such charisma? It boggles the mind. Plus, I admire her taste in jewelry. Unique, is all I have to say. This is but a taste of the folks you will meet at Toast. They're as good as their fine wine and delicious food. Btw, I know I had a good time last night. Woke up this morning with flamenco midgets dancing in my skull and a conga line of clothing starting at my front door and ending at my bed. There are vague impressions of uproarious laughter, fine wine, spicy perfect meatballs and a discussion on the difference between cajones and cojones [HINT: if men had cajones instead of cojones, their briefs wouldn't fit]. I may have even written something about that on their bathroom wall. Apologies for whatever that may have been. Undoubtedly, I will be back.
(5)Michael K.
Went last night with family and had a great time. Ordered a bottle of Greek wine Petra, which was amazing and some appetizers. Servers are really nice. In the past servers were a little snobby, but busboys were always great. This time had a great experience with all who worked there. Especially the woman behind the bar who described the Greek wine. Host was nice to comment on Greek wine and bring us extra foccacia. They were welcoming and I felt comfortable there. What a great combo for a neighborhood place.
(5)Merrily W.
This is a nice place but it's just okay. The lunch menu was small and the service not so great. We were not brought bread or water, and the server did not check in or bring us our check in a timely manner. I had to ask for my cookie.my $13 sandwich was one piece of bread with some chopped veggies and cheese toasted onto it.bacon salad was just okay and mostly filler. We left hungry and unsatisfied. Ice tea was bottled--no warning about that. With so many great places in town, save your money for somewhere more satisfying. Hostess was very nice.
(2)Josh T.
We visited this place for a first time and will return. The wine selection is great. The food was very good. The portions are small, which I really appreciate. The only thing that I would change are the tables. They are a natural wood one saw horses, but it causes an awkward sitting position. I suggest a wider configuration for the saw horses, as the table surface is very nice. After some good appetizers that we all shared, we then had a few main courses of a vegetarian pasta, flat iron steak (yum!) and another guest had the salmon. Everyone loved their main course. The desert sounded good.... it was not very tasty. The cake was a little dry, but they did have fresh made whip cream - which was good. This might be a better hang out place with wine and small plates to share. Parking was easy, but it could be a bear with the typical Berkeley street structure.
(4)Adam K.
Great changing wine list, extremely knowledgeable staff, and outstanding service. My wife and I love this place.
(5)Dani B.
Really enjoyed a night out at Toast. The wine selection by the glass was good, loved the interior decor with the wood tables (although be careful sitting... i banged my knee on the wood legs... ow). The patio looked cozy, although we sat inside. Think I'll try that next time. Service was pretty good, and also the owner said hello and was friendly. Food was tasty and not overpriced. Happy to see a cute new place like this and hope it does well. Only problem are the bad acoustics. The inside was SO LOUD that my friend and I had to practically shout to hear each other over the din, with a large group of ladies celebrating something in the middle of the room amping up the volume. Happy something, ladies. You were a festive bunch.
(4)susan e.
Strange place! Nice enough if you're sitting outside on a sunny day. Otherwise, the inside is divided into two awkward spaces. One, the unimaginative and somewhat cold restaurant side, the other a large barn-like bar space. Felt like a mish-mash of design. We sat in the bar part and as someone else said, were confused by the service. We were never sure who our server was as so many of them dropped by. Service was pretty curt. We saw many large plates of food being served in the bar area yet when we asked two of the servers if we could order from the restaurant menu they said, 'No, you have to sit in the restaurant part to do that." When we asked why some people in the bar were being served from the other menu, one server said that you have to make special arrangements with the manager and that even he was confused by the protocol! Our bar food, an unevenly deep fried kale and onion rings (unevenly cooked and greasy), 2 small pieces of Acme bread ($3.50) and meatballs was overpriced for the size of serving. Probably wouldn't come back as there is so much fabulous food in distinctive places nearby.
(2)chih l.
I gave a star because that's the minimum requirement. It took them over an hour to bring us the sandwich. They forgot one of the soup order and when it came, it was half sIze of the other order because they ran out of the soup, and they only been open for an hour. of course, no price adjustment on it. We checked in on yelp where it claim that we should get a treat from the chef. After asked three times, they never gave us the "treat" and we were told the chef didn't have time to make it. Both food and drink were over priced base on what you get. The service fairly lousy so I would not recommend this place. Oh, did I mention they serve their sandwich on stone cold French roll? Don't let the name "toast" fools you. Just wanted to reiterate my review. This place has a nice location and a nice staff. You can say this even if it was a park. But when it comes to spending $10-20 for a light sandwich, the expectation is that you'd get something more than 3" subway, but with an hour wait. Don't let the setting excuse the poor food. There's plenty of healthy offerings in the area, and certainly better management. I don't mind spending money on something original and delicious, but I would better be served by donating my $10-20 to someone who needs then to someone who is robbing me blind.
(1)michelle w.
We finally tried out Toast last night. The food was delicious! We cleaned our plates! The service was wonderful. We both really enjoyed it. The front outdoor patio is pretty basic visually and it hadn't really drawn us in. However, once you get it inside it's much cozier than expected with some fun design elements. I'm so glad we gave it a go.
(5)Ashley R.
I gave Toast another shot last week just for drinks and apps and had a fabulous time. Also, I got a nice email from the manager in response to my initial post looking for more info so she can follow up. Thank you!
(4)adele m.
Snooty maitre'd (or whatever he was). We walk into a busy restaurant and he says "All staff are in a meeting." I say, but, look, everyone is eating. He says, dinner doesn't start until 5:00, a few minutes. I really just wanted to know how long it wou.ld be until we could order. He tells me, "Patience is a virtue." The food is overpriced. My salad was nothing special, my son's pasta was oily. Service ok. I had to go into the restaurant (from the pretty terrace) to find some sweetener so I could drink my tea.
(1)Martin L.
We were there last night for my friend's birthday celebration. The ambience was fantastic and the small plates were delicious. The restaurant is very quaint and the staff is terrific. Look forward to our next return.
(4)Saurin S.
Had white bean spread, and parmagianno with truffle honey. Hostess was excellent. Overall a good experience - for good wine and appetizers.
(4)Karen K.
My husband and I ate at Toast several times recently when we were visiting from DC. Everybody was friendly and the food was excellent. The atmosphere was good and we enjoyed sitting at the bar. Hope to get back there next year.
(5)Jake J.
I really wanted to like this restaurant. It is in my neighborhood, it is attractive and has outdoor seating. The food itself was quite good for our Sunday mid-day meal. Soup of the day was split pea - made perfectly, and the mixed green salad with cheese and quinoa was excellent too. Sandwich tasty. But there is this little matter of service. Our waiter was noticeably trained in some ways. He split the soup for us without asking after I mentioned we'd be sharing everything (although not the salad/sandwich). But after being seated and my friend using the restroom when he came back to take and order, the guy was nowhere to be seen after we were both back at the table. I had to walk to the bar and exclaim that we needed service! This was only greeted by a grin from the bartender. After the meal there was another LONG wait to get a check, even after I was "prairie dogging" for 5 minutes trying to find the elusive waiter. Then after paying cash and needing change, he took forever to bring that change and seemed to be chatting at the bar register with the other waitress and bartender. Wow. I feel badly for people who put a lot of care into a restaurant decor and menu and then hire such damaging employees. Or maybe it does not demand pity, but responsibility! Skimping on service and not training wait staff is inexcusable. I was very happy with the food at this place but the staff may someday soon make it "toast"!
(3)Julia W.
High quality small plates, reasonable prices, great wine selection. Agree the concrete floor and echo make for a loud environment but overall definitely worth a return visit.
(5)Thao T.
Chef's choice cheese and salami platter was delicious! As was the quail which tasted a little like duck to me and boyfriend said it's better than chicken. We also had the grilled cheese (too spicy for me) and the blue moki with yummy potatoes. I had the muscat bubbles drink which tasted like martinelli's apple cider, and I liked that. Place is a little overpriced, but it's worth trying at least once. They had cool cork art on the wall, kind of too high up which I think maybe most people don't notice it, but I thought it was neat
(4)Amelia G.
Met an old co-worker here for after work wine and nibbles. Nice atmosphere, friendly server and a good selection of wine and food. We were there early (6pm) and the place was pretty empty, but was bustling by the time we left (8pm). We had a couple of glasses of white (can't remember what kinds, but the server helped us pick) and then a cheese plate, asparagus bruchetta and lamb meatballs. Not a cohesive choice for a meal, but everything was tasty and we enjoyed everything.
(4)Jessica W.
I'm not a fan of community seating so that is my only real complaint. I don't like feeling like I'm on a date with strangers ;). The wine is great and the food is wonderful as well. The last time we went, we sat at the bar and that eliminated the community seating problem. All in all though, I recommend.
(4)Courtney J.
The interior was well done, modern yet comfortable. Food was fresh and tasty. Great for a glass of wine and some nibbles. Everyone in our group rally enjoyed our mains and desert, but the appetizers were a bit underwhelming, maybe it was just the ones we picked. Can't wait to come back in the summer to sit out on the patio.
(4)Suzanne S.
Todd, Brandon and Jack are amazing.... okay I just had to say that. They always remember us and are always accommodating! We live in the neighborhood and stop by Toast for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes, just a glass of wine and mac & cheese for our kid, school meetings, drinks and appetizers with friends and other times, date night for dinner. We always enjoy the ambiance and friendly faces. So happy to have Toast in the neighborhood!
(5)Corinne S.
Toast is a fantastic neighborhood hangout; a perfect place to enjoy a sunny afternoon happy hour. They have a unique wine selection and delicious small plates (we loved the squash blossoms and scallop ceviche). The service was very attentive and welcoming to our group of moms and small babies- the waitress even grabbed a dropped pacifier and washed it off before returning it to my son. We look forward to returning and hanging out on either the lovely patio or stylish indoor restaurant! This is a great addition to College Ave.
(5)Claire K.
An enjoyable meal. I wouldn't say it was the best dinner of my life (I can't remember what I had!), but I know it was good and everyone else liked their food. There aren't too many options for the main dish, so it isn't the best place for vegetarians or people with dietary restrictions/preferences. They gave us paper napkins. Strange...
(4)Shereen K.
I can't speak for the interior, but a group of 5 of us sat outside and had a blast! Great wine, decent prices, solid appies. Wait staff ensured we always had our glasses full. If I find myself in Oakland again, I will definitely stop by! (I actually will stop by because they were out of peppers and supposedly it's a must try!)
(5)Kevin E.
The concept is nice. Outdoor seating is nice. The servers were nice. That's all great but, if this were just a wine bar - its okay. But its offerings of food are Way Overpriced for the amount and the quality that you get. If you just want a glass of wine check it out and decide for yourself, but if you are going for food, you've many other options in the Rockridge neighborhood.
(2)sugi j.
Dear Friends, If you like mediocre food and way, way overpriced wine, and a deceptive menu, then Toast Wine Lounge is definitely for you. Shame on you Toast and shame on you Chef Peter Jackson for defrauding your patrons. Here are the highlights: ***They will not accept a reservation unless you have at least 5 people--in other words, good luck to you if you and your partner wish to dine with another couple, make sure you bring the proverbial third (I mean fifth wheel). ***The menu is flat out fraudulent--we were charged $112 for wine that we thought would only cost us $28. How? Good question: at the very top of our menu on October 15, 2011 was the featured wines. The menu said "Featured Bottle: K&M Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2006 14." Since we are a fan of Oregonian wines we ordered the featured bottle then another thinking it was only $14 per bottle . . . boy were we wrong . . . apparently that was the PER GLASS PRICE. So instead of the $28 we expected to spend on wine we ended up spending $112. REALLY TOAST? Is this your idea of good business? I'm not impressed. I don't mind spending money on a good bottle as long as you tell me how much it costs up front. A prudent correction would be to just say $14 per glass. You are lucky if you're not reported to the BBB for defrauding consumers. ***And of course, there's the food. Their "amazing" grilled cheese sandwich lacked cheesed and was burned--if you like dry carcinogen filled cheese product then, this is for you. The steak special (we ordered two) was two small strips of meat on a bed of seasonal vegetables. It was good but, at the prices charged it should have been larger. If you are actually hungry, this menu is not for you. In short, I will not be coming back.
(1)Jess L.
I came here on a Sunday evening to check out this new spot in my 'hood. Overall, the white wine ($7 glass) was great! The waitress suggested it and it was perfect. Ordered 2 plates (salad and a meat dish).. & this is where I think Toast gets it wrong. The portions were very very small and very overpriced. I think for the $9 salad I got 5 pieces of small asparagus. Granted, it was good, but really nothing I couldn't make at home (Olive Oil and Salt OHH LAA LAA). We walked out spending $45 on two glasses on wine and two dishes. I then walked to Hudson, also spent $45 and got a really big dinner salad and amazing pasta! Looks like I'll be going to Hudson more..
(2)Gwenyth K.
Wine Tasting with Dogs and Discounts 1) Destination? This wine bar is not open yet, but are holding "pre-construction" parties by invite only if you pre-buy glasses of wine (vouchers). You have to go to their website to purchase them, and then you are automatically enrolled as a Toaster and they send you a private invitation to their next party to taste wine and the food menu at the construction site. Totally fun. With holding last star to see the place at the "post construction" opening - but excited so far. 2) Dogs? Has yet to be seen, but I'm assured of outdoor dog friendliness per usual Rockridge standards. 3) Discounts? Pre-purchased wine vouchers are discounted. Not to mention the amazing charcuterie samples at their events. toastwinelounge.com
(4)Carla O.
Nice atmosphere but terrible service. I have gone twice, and both times it was like it was too much effort for the servers to take an order. They much rather talk amongst themselves. For the cost of the wine and food, the service is very poor.
(1)Ryan M.
It is a rare thing when a place gets it just right: that easy blend of casual elegance, privacy and coziness, attentiveness and space. The atmosphere at Toast hits exactly the right note. I spent a long evening here watching families with children eat at tables while couples cozied to the bar and groups spilled from the main room onto the patio. All with a sense of harmony. This carried over to the food and wine. More of an eclectic mix of flavors and complements, the menus struck me as the kind of mix a friend would pull together to show you their favorites rather than try to pull off balance or perfection. And overall, I just found that to be pretty reflective of the overall style of the place: thoughtful, easy, elegant and fun. I couldn't recommend it more.
(5)Leila G.
had a great birthday lunch today at Toast... although the best part was dessert - candies - yes candies.... yum on the dark chocolate carmel with bacon and salt! And the music was fantastic inside... (although they had no idea what was playing).
(4)Jessica K.
The ambiance of this place is quite nice, although a bit loud inside. The staff is working really hard all the time and very friendly, but perhaps the business model is off because regardless of how hard they were working it still took 40 minutes to get our entree after our appetizers. When the food did arrive it was underwhelming. My perfectly cooked halibut was so salty I couldn't eat it. My husband's pork shoulder was good, but I'm not sure it was worth the wait. The wine was good and the wait staff very good at suggesting and bringing the wine. There are so many great options on College ave, not sure I would go back to this one for a $100 meal.
(3)Greg T.
I'm going to be real here for a moment. We went to Toast. We went to State Bird the next week. We spent nearly a third more at Toast for a meal that was slightly to the good side of OK. Now, I get that Yelp isn't supposed to be some sort of 1v1 contest. it is not, I'm told, some sort of battle royal between hipster joints. Nobody is asking for some sort of binary contest, is what I'm getting at. Still, I'm struck by the contrast, and I can't get it out of my head any more than I can get the thin and overly-boozy eggnog from Toast out of my taste buds.
(3)Kathleen G.
The atmosphere is casual and comfortable and the food is fresh, creative and fun. We really appreciated the selection of mocktails which were light and tasty. The service was excellent and friendly. Great way to spend an afternoon sitting in the sun and watching the world go by.
(5)Amy R.
Lovely patio. Friendly. A good place to sit in the afternoon with your best friend.
(4)Emma B.
Pretentious, overpriced but a nice looking place. I suggest you skip this one in favor of a restaurant that serves good food.
(1)Sharon F.
So excited they are open! We stopped by Toast for drinks and dinner after work and we loved everything about it. First, the space is beautiful - open and contemporary. They have these amazing rough cut wooden tables that add a natural beauty to the minimalist space. The high ceilings are pretty and airy. Great music and overall just a great space to be in. The wine was great, as we expected it would be. We tried everything by the glass so we could sample. Our server was a great help in picking out wine. Then, we were blown away by the food. We started with the white bean dip drizzled with olive oil which was light and fresh. Next we had the spring asparagus with grated hard-boiled eggs which was delicate and delicious. The lamb meatballs were perfectly cooked - moist and flavorful. We had the cheese platter which came with wonderful garnishes like sliced figs, macarena almonds and a pepper jelly/chutney. We finished with the strawberry shortcake which had perfectly in-season ripe berries with a delicious caramel sauce alongside fresh whipped cream. Yum! We also noticed a couple of families with their young kids at dinner which was cool. There was actually a part of the menu with kid food options. We're always worried about bringing the kids to nicer places, but Toast seemed very welcoming, so next time we will bring the kids - especially to sit outside and enjoy the patio. This will definitely be a regular place for us. Loved it!!
(5)C Tadao T.
excellent staff, fun outdoor atmosphere
(4)Stacie D.
Decor - LOVE IT! Wine selection - great variety from small vineyards! Food - light, tapas sized appetiziers I've read a few posts that the food is pricey. I disagree. They use the quality ingredients from local sustainable farms. The lamb meatballs is all the proof you need! Add a glass of the Charbono and I was in heaven! Oh - and the kids menu...deelish! Love the flatbread! Looking forward to warmer summer evenings and the patio with a glass of crisp, white wine. Until then, I will continue to sip hearty reds and if it gets too chilly on the patio, the lounge has wraps/blankets. Toast - drink more wine... I think I will!
(5)Celeste G.
Went here during wine and jazz. I liked the airy decor and interesting choice of blackboard walls. There was no where to sit so we had to stand outside. Bartender was knowledgeable and helped my boyfriend select his red. I went with my default pinot noire and it was delicious. Prices are pretty high but that's what you get for rockridge.
(3)Susan A.
Do not come here for lunch!!!! The sandwiches are dry and minimal and hella expensive. I was terribly disappointed considering the many good reviews, but I guess they're for dinner.
(1)Emily W.
Fantastic, unique wine list and tasty bites! Outside patio gets tons of sunshine and is a great place to spend a few hours on a beautiful day. I dig the inside too.
(5)Katie B.
The food was delicious, the wine fantastic, and our server was very attentive. We also enjoyed the ambiance of the place very much.
(4)Honest I.
Every item we got (we got about 6 different ones) was very tasty, and the service was great. And... their chocolate cake dessert was amazing! ("Almost-flourless" I think it was.) I highly recommend it!
(5)Andrea W.
I went there with a friend who had worked there and she had nothing but nice things to say about it. We sat at the bar and got to benefit from Jen's wide range of wine knowledge. I first started with a glass of syrah on tap and that was good and all, but was blown out of the water by the amazing glass of tempranilo that Jen recommended. Oye vey, it was to die for! We ate well that night and ordered lots of things...the white bean spread with TOAST, polenta, winter greens and I ordered the poussin (chicken) with huckleberries, dandelion greens (I think) and fingerling potatoes while my friend got the pasta. The food was lip smacking good and I was so stuffed after eating my dinner. Of course though they just had to give us a slice of apple spice cake with caramel whip cream to push us over the edge into full blown food coma. I was so full and satisfied by the end of the meal. I also loved the decor and ambiance of the redwood tables and the chalk in the bathroom. Great night out, thanks Toast!
(5)Rebecca F.
Really want this place to be good because it's close to my house, but it's let me down 2 times now. The food was really bad the first time but it was right after they opened so I kinda understand. But went again last night and found the servers to be pretentious. They blonde bartender was nice. I am sure I will give it another try at some point but I am not in a hurry.
(3)Sue M.
I went here a bit late (9ish) for drinks and a bite. I left hungry and poor. Either our menu did not include the bigger plates, or I did not see them, but we ended up with very small portions at $15 a plate. A bit steep for an appetizer, even by Rockridge standards. The decor is great, but the portions need help.
(2)Bob b.
We had a marvelous experience at this funky place. Great drinks, I had an Overland, a delicious bourbon-based drink. The lamb meat balls and the carrot soup were very special. Carrot soup is omnipresent on menus, but this was spicy and original. We will be back.
(5)Chenoa J.
My daughter and I were visiting her new college and decided to stop for a bite to eat. We parked the car and across the street was this very inviting patio. We enter the garden and looked at the menu. It turned out to be Spanish, our lucky day! The service was excellent, the choices interesting and original. The presentation was lovely and the food reminded us of our years living in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. I would recommend Toast for a delightful experience.
(4)Martina p.
Toast is a pretty cool place for a small snack (and I do mean small and I do mean snack . . . NOT MEAL!) and a pricey glass of wine. Here are the perks: Great wines Tastey food Great environment - you are sure to see a neighbor or old friend Super nice service - Landon seems to always be the server on staff and he is super friendly and cool and professional. Here's what can improve: Prices - wow, these "small plates" range from $12-$19 Serving Size - it's just really hard to get satisfied off plate sizes of 10 gnocchi or 4 meat balls for $16. Overall, it's a great place for a date night but could become alot better. I recommend trying it.
(3)Ted S.
Hurray - Toast is open -- I have been jogging past the old Dance store location on College and Chabot for a month now watching the careful remodeling and last night had an opportunity to go for dinner -- and WHAT A TREAT!. I had a ceviche appetizer and wonderful short ribs, paired with two terrific wines -- but what made it a great evening was that the wonderful food was equaled by the warm welcoming staff and the ambience of this transformed space. Both of us left the dinner asking "why can't Oakland have more great places like this?" and also "when are we coming back!"
(5)Gina B.
Toast has worked out its new restaurant kinks. Very tasty wine flights, mellow atmosphere, and the food is small portion but yummy. The service is so-so...come to unwind, not be served quickly.
(3)L A.
Terrific evening with a delicious prix fixe six course tasting menu, including wine. Starters were hamachi crudo with a cilantro vinaigrette with diced avocado and grapes - super-fresh fish, nice balance of flavors. Next was a green salad with sliced green apple, pecans and and blue cheese vinaigrette- yummy! The chickpea farinata was an unusual preparation of a garbanzo-bean fritter topped with an assortment of roasted vegetables which included carrots, onions, cauliflower and asparagus. While not overcooked, the flavors didn't do anything for each other, it seemed rather pedestrian if not in concept then in execution. The next course for us was a duo of meatballs.Clearly there was pork and beef in them and some sort of panade to hold them together and they were served in a fresh-tasting, slightly sweet tomato sauce --- these were awesome and very savory. Next up was a good-size portion of roasted salmon with roasted potatoes. This is the only dish of the evening that I think was a miss and not because of the quality of the ingredients. The problem was that neither the potatoes nor the fish had any flavor - including salt! It seems nobody tasted the preparation before they made it for us.....The dessert was a light -as-air flourless chocolate cake served with a swirl of caramel and a spoon of whipped cream. We were licking the plate with this one! All in all, this was an excellent meal with wines appropriately paired for the flavors of each dish. I'm not much of a wine drinker, but that's what my companions reported, anyway! We had absolutely marvelous service by Landon and even met the owner who stopped by for a chat. We'd definitely go again!
(4)Robert S.
Recently, I went to Toast with my wife and friends. The setting is quaint and well designed. It felt like a night out in a classy establishment with great food and service, but in a casual atmosphere. Staff was very attentive. We sampled all over the menu, items were all tasty and well presented. And what was exceptional was the wine pairings suggested on the menu with each course, exactly what you would expect from a wine bar. Who needs a sommelier (and the cost) when you have great recommendations right on the menu with each item? Worth the trip from San Francisco to the East Bay.
(5)Greta B.
I love this place - have been frequenting since it opened. They have a great selection of unique and tasty wines, as well as some delicious food. However, I'm reserving a star because I feel like they've gotten a bit big for their britches. As I mentioned, I've been patronizing this spot for a bit, and have had some great interactions with staff, who've always been very willing to take the time to describe the wines and offer suggestions. But, last time I was in they were busy and a bit disorganized. We put our names down for a table, and sat at the bar in the meantime. We were told initially that there'd be a 20 minute wait. After about 40 minutes one of my friends checked in at the front, and we were then told that it would be an hour (from then). I felt like someone should've come to let us know that they'd grossly underestimated the wait time; but, no one ever came over to communicate with us - either before or after we inquired. At any rate, this is a lovely little neighborhood spot, with an nice outdoor space, which is hard to come by. I'll definitely be back, but will make a reservation next time!
(4)Mike O.
I had high expectations for this place, and the decor is very attractive and inviting. But it goes downhill from there. I'll start with the food - just ok from our tables perspective - meatballs probably the best thing on the menu that we had tried. Portions are very small for the prices charged. I have no problem paying for quality, but I did not find the quality to be there (was there first official week open, so maybe it has improved). Now onto the wine. We tried a large variety of the wines among the five of us. I was disappointed in all of them (a fruit juice bomb rose, too minerally white, etc.). The red on tap was the best of the bunch. If you are a wine bar, every wine should be at a minimum very good. And the prices on the wines are no bargain. From a price to quality standpoint, this was again pretty poor. While I don't consider myself an expert in wine, I do think that I know a reasonable amount. I wish the owners well, and maybe I will give it try again sometime. There appear to be a number of Yelp reviewers who had a wonderful experience. Given how many great places there are to eat and drink in Oakland these days, I would doubt I will be back anytime soon though.
(3)Stephanie B.
Great local spot to relax, have a drink and share some food. Food is great, servers are friendly and the atmosphere is comfortable. Lots of vegetarian options!
(5)Hoo.asked. U.
Loved the wines, the service and the atmosphere. This is the 3rd time I've been there and every time, the food is pretty solidly disapointing. There is a lot of white bread, very small portions, and i walked out of there hungry, having spent $90 on food and drink for 2. Too pricey for what you get.
(1)Jane D.
First of all, I eat here about twice a week. I work around the corner. I know many severs by name and as a former server I really try to tip well, not stay to long, and be a gracious guest. That said, the hospitality yesterday left something to be desired. The previous night I ordered the arugula salad. It was excellent. The food always is. I asked when I left if I could get it at lunch. My server said yes, that it was a side dish with the sandwiches at lunch. The next day at lunch I inquired and my server was nice about and checked with the kitchen. I heard the chef say NO. Mind you they had a different but yes still arugula salad on the menu. I reluctantly ordered that. Now please tell me why he couldn't have made that salad? The server said there wasn't enough prepped but come on. It was a side dish and a main dish. Bottom line is it ungracious. I worked as a server in very nice places for over a decade. NO was the last thing we ever told a guest. I will eat there again but I'm bummed they care so little.
(3)Jennifer L.
Loved it! Enjoyed everything we ordered, waiter was great, sat outside...perfect date night. Definitely would come back. Would even bring the kids for a summer early evening.
(5)Sarah J.
Convenient little wine bar is a great new addition to the College Ave block north of the Rockridge Bart Station. LOVE that they have a dog-friendly patio. Their wine selection is desirable and their food options are too. My take on this place is that it's pretty good, but could be better. First off, their wine list is good, but they could also offer more wine flights. The night we went, there was only one red option and on a hot summer night a white wine flight would have been more to my liking. Second, the waitstaff is a bit snobby and rude. I've sat in nicer wine bars in Paris and been treated better. Third, the food options were up to par in terms of food quality and presentation, but they were very small portions. The wine glasses were also small. A bill with four glasses of wine and a few snacks ran us $100, which isn't terrible, but a little high for Oakland and for a mid-week visit. I'll be back, but I'll be looking for improvements.
(3)