Solano Grill & Bar
1133 Solano Ave, Albany, CA, 94706
Solano Grill & Bar Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Albany for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Albany for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Albany for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1133 Solano Ave
Albany, CA, 94706 - Phone (510) 525-8686
- Website https://www.solanogrillandbar.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Best Nights : Mon, Wed, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Marcus K.
This place came highly recommended from a good friend. Apparently she comes here pretty regularly and says that they have the best wine list around. Here is what I found on a Thursday night. There were about 30 tables and a small bar in the back. It was very quiet, just a handful of people in there when we arrived. Reservations were not necessary. Looked through a great wine list and ordered some sparkling wine to get us started. While the wine list is extensive, the list available by the glass is average. Ordered the paella (delicious!) and tuna steak (came with 2 veggies - a wilted salad and a wrapped rice - also delicious!). They had a few other veggie sides that were not on the menu so be sure to ask. Waiter brought out some fresh bread and wait for the food was not long. Waiter checked back frequently to make sure everything was good. Overall, service was fine. Ambiance was quiet and great for conversation. Food was delicious. Good for date night and bringing the family or outta town guests.
(4)T M.
is Solano Grill & Bar still open? I am trying to book a group and the phone rings off the hook.
(2)Jorge S.
We had an amazing time. Not because of the place or the food ( which was great) but because of the service- Freddy and Daniel are the absolute best. Had plans to go see a movie but tossed those plans so we could stay and be entertained by the two of them. Most fun I've had in a long time. .the raviolli and tiramisu were so good. We live 45 minutes away but we will be back to see the dynamic duo again
(5)Betty L.
Always love this restaurant. Solano Grill been on Solano for over 25years. Still keep up with quality , never disspoint! Loves everything!
(5)Kelly K.
My friend and I showed up a few minutes early but they welcomed us in and were very prompt and attentive with the service. The menu was great, not too long but hit every preference point on the head. The green goddess salad and brown butter mushroom ravioli were wonderful, and it doesn't hurt that they weren't shisty with their wine pour! Will definitely be going back
(5)Timothy Z.
Will not go back to this place. Chose their mushroom ravioli dinner plate. Got exactly THREE undercooked raviolis symmetrically arranged on the plate and all for $15.00. Needless to say I was insulted. Should have paid attention to the various "tells". Solano Grill is a relatively large restaurant a few doors down from theater with almost noone in it. Hmmm! Every restaurant nearby with lots of people inside, some standing outside. Timothy Z.
(1)B G.
What a great find! We were going somewhere else and happened to park in front of Solano Bar & Grill. We thought we would just check the menu and ended up staying for lunch. So many great choices. The atmosphere is lovely and you can easily hear your partner talk. The waitstaff were attentive, but the best part was the seafood chowder. The bowl didn't look big, but that is an illusion. Lots of clams, shrimp, scallops and potatoes. I'll admit, I scrapped the bowl with the fresh baked bread. Yum. We spilt the Oregon bay shrimp salad. The asparagus was perfectly grilled and seasoned. I greatly enjoyed the textures and tasted.
(5)Sara F.
Stopped in last night for a casual dinner with the fam and while I did not order the best dishes off the menu, the rest of the table all enjoyed their dishes immensely. I ordered the Miso Soup with Wonton, which was super salty and the Ahi Tuna Salad, the vinagrette was way too sweet and overwhelmed the Ahi. In other words, if you are trying to stick to your diet, this is not the best place for it.. The other dishes at the table included the Stuffed Trout with mashers, Southern Fried Chicken and Seafood Linguine - all looked and tasted marvelous!! The southern fried chicken came with three pieces of perfectly crispy chicken, mashers and green beans..generous portions! We finished with a Key Lime tart which was topped with fresh whipped cream and blueberries, divine. The wine list was pretty lenghty as well with good pricing. I will be back to try more. ~ Cheers!
(4)Daryl M.
Stopped here for a Monday night dinner with my wife and brother. We shared the portabella app, rib steak, seafood linguini, and the spring greens salad. All tasted excellent and were prepared very well. For desert we had the pot de Creme and pineapple tart - both were good but not exceptional. Our server was very attentive, courteous and helpful and the dining area was clean and pleasant.
(4)John P.
My wife and I dined here in October 2013, so maybe it's changed since then. But at the time, it was disappointing to see that the place was rather dirty. Dust was caked thickly on the ceiling fan and other fixtures, the carpets were badly stained and the wooden chairs were nicked up. The food was good and the service was very good, but the sad appearance of the place killed the experience for us. If they're letting customers see their dirty dining room, you have to wonder what the kitchen looks like.
(2)James K.
About once a week we walk to Solano Ave, San Pablo Ave or Berkeley for dinner. This week we revisited the Solano Grill and Bar. I can not wait to return here for another bowl of seafood chowder, crab cakes, and vegetable platter. Perfectly prepared veggies, beautifully presented and colorful. The Crab cakes rival the quality that I am used to getting in my hometown Philly. Lots of Crab and not too much bread. But the to die for Chowder had more fish in it than I have ever imagined being served. And it is pretty inexpensive for Solano Ave. Laurie and I shared an Organic Miexed Green salad this is very large, plenty for the two of us. Her Seafood Linguini also had heaps of seafood and was spiced up just right with the chili flake and tomato sauce.
(5)Brian O.
I don't want to trash this place, but I had such a bad experience here. Note- this has been one of my go-to lunch destinations where colleagues and I discuss business. Until now I've had very good experiences here. This review applies to this one visit on 9/26/2014. Service was horrible! It looked to me that the waiter might be spending to much time in the back partaking of an herbal substance. He spent a lot of time walking in circles. We were greeted and seated, and 15 minutes later I had to hunt for him and tell him we were ready to order. We put in our order and it took 20 minutes to get to the table. He had forgotten our drinks and had to be reminded. I ordered the portabella mushroom burger. I should have ordered road kill with a sauce of asphalt instead. The mushroom was so desiccated, that nothing would have saved it. Like a piece of rubber, and as big as a quarter. The marinade was also horrible. The waiter would mutter a "sorry" once in awhile that was delivered with no conviction. Naturally after the meal it was another 20 minutes to get the check, and I had to hunt him down again to find him. Yes, we checked the math in case he's made an error there, and left a tip that seemed appropriate for the service. There was no manager around to complain to so I'm doing what I always do- voting with my feet. It will be a cold day in hell before I have lunch there again. There is a superb informal restaurant a few feet up the street where I can get a superb portabella sandwich, and that's where I'm going next time. My suggestion for management? Give the bus boy the waiter's job since he kept us supplied with water and bread. Even if his English is rudimentary, he provides excellent service. As an aside, I just went to their web site so I could get contact info. It doesn't seem to have been upgraded for a long time. Management should be aware that Mother's Day was quite awhile ago, so that link should be taken down.
(1)Juanito L.
"Meh, I've experienced better." Shouldn't that be three stars? Two out of five seems kinda chintzy, and I don't mean to say this is a bad restaurant. My parents love it and go often. On each of my two visits, there were a number of things that made me think, "Oh, I can imagine how this would go down on a Gordon Ramsay show." On my first visit (2011), I had an ahi dish that was intriguingly plated, but ultimately just trying too hard. Too foo-foo, too many flavors competing. It was very anti-Alice Waters. The fish and other ingredients were fresh and of good quality, though. (The salmon I was considering was farmed; I just went for the ahi without actually checking the list.) The second time (9/2013), they were out of blue cheese for the spinach salad, so we settled for parmesan, which really isn't equivalent. The whole salad was soggy and slightly wilted-in-the-bad-way. In hindsight, I wish I had sent it back, like my tablemate, whose request was respectfully honored. Service was pleasant but a little uneven; I was on the edge of asking for a refill of coffee, but no one was around, so I let it go. My calamari appetizer and the portobello fritters I tried were both excellent. Really, there's nothing terrible; I just have the feeling that the restaurant is operating at 85% of how good it could be.
(2)Michael M.
My wife, daughter and I were attending an art exhibit up the road and decided to stop here for dinner. What a wonderfully pleasant surprise this turned out to be. The main dining room, while somewhat small, is very well appointed and inviting. We were seated right away and the both owner and the waiter was at our table making sure we had something to drink;. It is not the most extensive menu I've ever seen, but there's enough variety to satisfy most palates. The have several fish selections for those less inclined to beef and chicken. My daughter opted for the salmon, my wife had the fried chicken and I went with the NY steak. Not one of us was disappointed. My steak was perfectly cooked medium rare and I had taste of my wife's fried chicken and it was wonderfully crunchy and flavorful. The only down point to evening, and it every so slight, is that my wife had a piece of chicken left and requested a take-home box. The waiter took her plate and forgot to bring back the chicken. We ended asking the kitchen staff directly so in the end it was no harm, no fowl.
(4)Laci S.
I couldn't wait to get home to review Solano Bar and Grill! After coming inside, I was nervous that it was too fancy for a family of 4, but we were promptly seated, and having our 2 kids in tow didn't seem to be a problem. Our waitress was so nice and said she would find crayons for them, and when she came back she had a few highlighters and pens because they didn't have any crayons. As a mom who was totally spent after a busy day, this meant so much! They have paper on the tables, so they were totally entertained while we waited for our food. They also brought out the kid's food first so that they could start eating... so nice! I felt like the waitress was very aware of our situation, and was totally on top of it. Onto the food: I ordered the steak, my husband ordered the pork chop, and my father in law ordered the fried chicken. All of us unanimously loved our meals! The prices were fair and again, the service was great. We will definitely be coming back!
(5)Barbara S.
My friend and I had lunch here today. We both ordered the Grilled Prawn Salad with Papaya and Avocado. We both thought that our salads were delicious. The bread, delivered to our table, hot, right from the oven, was crusty and also delicious. The service was friendly and professional. High recommendation!
(5)Alyss D.
For over a year, every Wednesday, I've had lunch at this restaurant and have had great food and service. They have now totally changed the menu and, although the service is still great, the food was nearly inedible. I usually order the Seafood soup (the best around) and a salad combination. Their lunchtime combos are no longer, and if you order separately, the price increase is $4 more. I would be happy to circumvent the price increase, by ordering the soup and sharing a salad, but the salad I ordered was dressed in an oily dressing without any taste and the pine nuts stale. I hope they go back to their old menu and only then will I return.
(2)Kelsey S.
Best fried chicken!
(5)Bill H.
I had the ahi tuna with wasabi aioli, coupled with steamed (?) spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. Everything was great, but the ahi was simply the best I've ever had. Beautiful fish, seared perfectly (still mostly raw) and spiced up just right by the aioli. Wow!
(5)Phuoc K.
I know it seems like one of your traditional old school neighborhood joints, and in many ways it is with it's good service and long time customers and such. but I think people expect this place to only carry bland boring food because it's an old school neighborhood place, when in reality it's one of the best sit down places to eat in albany/berkeley with a pretty good wine selection. I'm almost never disappointed with my meals here and I especially love their bi-monthly wine tasting events which are probably the best deals for a wine tasting in the Bay Area. For wine noobs and snobs alike, you get to try something like 15-20 different wines at each event and there are free horsd'oeuvres. WIN! all for $10 which can also be applied toward your wine order if you get 2 or more bottles. Double WIN!.
(4)Joy S.
I can see giving this place five stars if a second visit is as good as the first, for the moment, the four I've given are enthusiastic! I wanted a decent steak and a salad and one of my two friends wanted a non-seafood option. We live just off Solano Ave, so were debating the relative merits of neighborhood restaurants. On of us had been there before and liked it very much, so we decided to try it for a Saturday night out. In other cities in which I have lived, diners would have been more dressed up on a Saturday night in a restaurant of SG&B as it does have a simple but relatively dressy ambiance. I guess the casualness of most of the guests is more reflective of Berkeley/Albany culture than it is of the restaurant itself. Even the hostess, who was otherwise very professional and welcoming, was dressed down in casual slacks and a sweater that was more embellished sweatshirt than a classic pullover. I guess I've become an old fuddy duddy or something! The waitstaff was so nice and competent after my last couple of restaurant experiences in the past couple of weeks! I'd begun to despair that area restaurants no longer took responsibility for hiring and training people who provide good service. Thankfully, both of the young men who waited on our table were skillful, polite and good-natured. We were able to ask questions about the food and get clear answers, but they were also comfortable with a bit of joking without it going too far and losing professional boundaries. The more senior waiter impressed me when, asked by my friend to select a wine for her to go with her rack of lamb, he picked exactly the one I would have chosen off the restaurant's extensive wine list. I'm neither a wine snob nor an expert, just, of the three of us, I'm the one who has read up, tasted and knows a little bit about wines. That said, the SG&B's wine list is really impressive for a neighborhood establishment. The only thing I could wish for is that they offered a few more choices by the glass rather than by bottle only. Compared to other places, the available by the glass wines were limited and the selections seemed to have been made based on how safe (aka innocuous) they were. There just wasn't a single wine that would have complimented all of our meals enough to warrant a bottle. That's just a personal wish though and didn't detract from the food, which is what we had really come for! My New York steak was perfectly Medium Rare. In fact, it could have been used to illustrate what medium rare ought to be. The Bordelaise sauce was exquisite and in the right proportions. The asparagus was fresh, perfectly cooked and could have been trimmed a bit more as the lower stems were a bit woody. I subbed seasonal veggies for potatoes and they were also nice, fresh and pleasing. I started with a classic Caesar Salad that was as good as some of the better ones I've had, not the best ever, but close. Our light eater had the seafood chowder which came loaded with succulent shellfish. She made a major dent into the fresh bread brought to oyr table as well and pronounced both "excellent." The third of my companions ordered the rack of lamb and, when it came, I almost wished I had ordered it too, it looked so delicious. Browned almost crisp outside, meat clinging to those bones was succulent and juicy inside. She praised the sauce as well and surprised us by eating most of the vegetables and commenting that they too were tasty. We shared the dark chocolate pot au creme for dessert. Smooth, rich, dense, topped by a dab of whipped cream, it was an intense enough finish that all of us felt satisfied with a few luscious spoonsfull! I look forward to coming here again, possibly to try their lunch menu. It was a great evening with excellent food and outstanding service. This restaurant is a gem and I'm not surprised that it has stayed in business and become home to devoted regulars over the years. I just might become one of those myself!
(4)Doug C.
Stopped in here Monday night, March 31, 2014 with my significant other. Decent food. Comfortable table and ambiance. We both thought our server and busser did an uncommonly nice job. Gracious, patient, friendly, proactive, informed, and poised. Server's name was Arturo but didn't catch the busser's name. Thank you , gentlemen. Side note: Apparently the owner is also a wine merchant of some sort. Ask to see their reserve list if you want to marvel at a compilation of extremely high end wines.
(4)Margit C.
we'd been coming for lunch for a long time and always had the split order of fish and chips. Then we got tired of having the same thing so stopped being regulars, but it's a place I like to meet friends for lunch at. Arturo, the waiter, treats us like family and he knows the food and wine. We went there tonight and shared appetisers. The seared ahi tuna was melt-in-the-mouth, the calamari fritters were perfectly cooked and the steamed clams and mussels were excellent. These people care.
(5)Karen M.
Likes: salad was ok (i'm not a huge salad fan to begin with), the grilled miso glazed salmon fillet with fettuccini was delicious. i've tried almost all the desserts and my personal favorites are definitely the molten chocolate cake and fruit sorbet mm mm mm! Dislikes: waiting time for food to come out (but it was lunch hour...i'm nice that way LOL)
(4)Sydney M.
Second time I've come for lunch with a friend. Both times each of us ordered salads. I was quite pleased with the full size spinach salad, which was way larger than expected. It was loaded with figs, walnuts and cheese with just the right amount of dressing. My friend's iced tea was refilled with such frequent attention, he had to finally turn the waiter away. So all in all, good service, good food.
(4)Samantha S.
What a fabulous accidental find. I bopped in here for lunch while waiting for my car repairs. Excellent service...reasonable prices, and incredible soup and salad. I'll be back!
(4)Toni M.
A couple of months ago they instituted an "Value" Menu in addition to the regular menu, although we didn't learn of it until Alan had lunch there w/ a friend a couple of days ago. The value menu offers one special each day, a la carte for a nominal charge ($10.95 to $15.00 depending on the entree), $10 additional for a garden salad and special dessert, $15 extra for a bottle of wine that pairs w/ the entree. Sunday the entree is miso glazed Atlantic salmon, Monday it's prime rib, Tuesday, traditional seafood paella, Wednesday, braised beef short ribs and Thursday, fried chicken. We went tonight to check out the fried chicken, or at least I did. Alan had paella. We shared the portobello fritters and the warm spinach and pear salad. Both were excellent. My fried chicken came w/ whipped sweet potatoes and finely sliced cabbage that had been cooked like greens. The fried chicken was crisp and tender and juicy. A total winner, served on the bone like I like it. The sweet potatoes were naturally sweet, w/ the subtlest of augmentation. They tasted almost as if nothing had been added to them, although there was a little butter and some ginger. It was just the way I love them. The cabbage was good but a bit too salty for my taste. I will happily return for fried chicken on Thursdays, although the short ribs on Wednesdays are tempting too, not to mention the prime rib. In short, the value menu is a great idea.
(5)Orez H.
Have not been there in awhile, but last visits have been very good. Lunch menu was best choice but they no longer offer on weekends..........:( Fine dining w/ excellent presentation. Salmon on bed of noodles with perfectly cooked fresh vegetables, southern fried chicken are my favorites. Crime Brûlée is a must! Service is accommodating. Flexible menus for special functions/parties ---
(5)Stuart S.
Anything lees than 5 stars for this restaurant should be a criminal offense. I have been with friends or family 5 times now. Each time every dish has been prepared to perfection. On Saturday my wife and I had a salmon and a scallop dish each, a cocktail and dessert. Wait service is personable, efficient and friendly. You feel taken care of. One major complaint in restaurants is noise level. Not an issue here. You can hear people at your own table without fear of being overheard nearby but ambient noise is relatively low. An earlier visit I had paella which was as good as any I had had when living in Barcelona for 3 1/2 years. This is haute cuisine without being pretentious and with reasonable prices. Our entrees were $17.95 each and some are less. All in all a very pleasurable experience every time I go.
(5)Kathleen W.
I've been meaning to try this place for a long time now. They had me at "prime rib on Monday's". Last time I tried to come here for dinner, there was a really long wait - not so this past Saturday night. Having saved my parents almost 3K on their new car, we celebrated with dinner out. The place was practically empty - though it looks like it's seen much busier days. Our waiter was very friendly. Even though he brought and opened the wrong wine and wouldn't give it to me at a discount. Still, he made us all laugh and tried to card my mom. He didn't card me though ... the jerk. The portions were very hearty - Van had the lamb from the prixe fixe menu, mom had the basa, dad had the ribeye steak and I had the ahi tuna. All of it was very tasty. I didn't however care much for the vegetables that came with my ahi. Was it a garnish or was it edible?! Too much radish!! I think everyone is starting to spend a lot more cautiously with the recession that may last for YEARS (!?!) - and sadly I think it's restaurants like this that will be hit the hardest.
(4)Gabby R.
I was dismayed at the lack of current reviews when I was looking for a place to eat tonight. Luckily we took the chance and decided to return to this location. I had formerly eaten here 10+ years ago, so it was time to see what their current offerings were. Back story: If you look at the review I left yesterday, you will see that I had a hellish car repair experience. I got a migraine yesterday to top it off, so we decided that it was time to have a nice dinner out on Saturday. We originally were going to visit another location, but their complete lack of reviews and the appearance of an AARP convention inside made us walk up the street. Now no offense to old people, but you guys tend to have differing needs in restaurants. I knew that we were taking our chances visiting a Solano Ave. establishment on a Saturday evening at 6:30 without a reservation. What can I say but I like to live on the edge sometimes? We were told by the hostess that the wait would be about 20 minutes. Since there is a bar in the back, it's not a big deal to have to wait for a table. It's a FULL BAR might I say (hence the name Solano Grill and Bar--duh). We were feeling creative in the cocktail department and everything was done to accommodate our requests! The hostess even went behind the bar to try and assist in the process. The results were generous and not watered down whatsoever. After a few sips off of the drinks, we were seated (far sooner than the original estimate). Our servers were prompt and knowledgeable. I had the spinach salad with rack of lamb, and my partner had the paella. The appetizers had generous portions and tasted great. Our entrees were also better than we expected. My lamb has a nice crust on it and didn't taste "lamby" at all. My only complaint, and thus not five stars, was that my veggies weren't piping hot. The hostess is a lot more than someone seating people who want to dine. We saw her behind the bar, at the tables, and in the kitchen making sure everything was "just so." That attention to detail is lacking in most of the mid-level restaurants we visit. She made sure our dinner was to our liking and gave specific recommendations for our desserts. Most dining establishments have the same five things they serve for this portion of the meal. Not this place. They had selections I have NEVER SEEN BEFORE. I had the dark chocolate martini. It was a layer of dark chocolate on a bed of caramel custard. That description doesn't do it justice. The custard wasn't too sweet and gave just enough of a salty taste to offset the chocolate. My partner had the creme brulee, which came with berries in a hazelnut shell thingy. I would expect this type of quality and presentation from a much more expensive location. I just can't say nice enough things about this restaurant. I wanted to try everything on the menu! The art on the walls is interesting, their wine list is expansive, and the staff goes beyond helpful. I recommend calling for a reservation though. I will definitely return!
(4)George T.
Wonderful restaurant! Fancy food at reasonable prices. Seafood chowder is the best in California! And great desserts, too!
(5)Carol H.
I have been coming to Solano Grill & Bar for years and it never disappointed me. I came again last night and tried their New York steak special. We were first served by some warm bread (this is the only restaurant that I could get fresh soft warm bread every time when I come) Appetizers: Steam Clams and Mussels: They are cooked with tomato sauce. Portion is not too big. House Garden Salad: it's a bit toward the sour size but tastes good with the cranberries. Me: NY Steak ($15.95) included 1-1/2 palm sized NY steak with Chimichurri Sauce, vegetables and fresh potato fries. The portion is huge..if you've ever been to House of Prime Ribs in SF...the steak size is about the size of the prime ribs. I especially like the Chimichurri Sauce...it's perfect match with the steak. BF: Roasted Lamb racks. We both love the sauce. And the lamb was cooked to medium rare as we request. It's so tender. After the dinner, we also get a special coupon -- Buy 1 entree, get the 2nd one at just $5. I strongly recommend this restaurant to you. I am sure you will like it.
(5)Chira E.
Boo to you SG&B! My mother and I had 5p reservations (not that they were necessary, place was empty) when we get there at 5 the door was locked. We could see people inside, but we waited so long that we went back to the car to wait for the door to be unlocked. The door was unlocked and the other party of 2 that was also waiting went in ahead of us. When we entered the restaurant there wasn't anyone at the hostess stand. There were several employees that looked at the now 4 people waiting but never said anything. A woman clearly looked at us as she put her apron on then she went behind the bar. Not even an "I will be with you in a moment"! We decided to go elsewhere. So, while sitting in the car in front of SG&B before leaving we see the same woman now at the hostess stand. We called and voiced our dissatisfaction with the service and we were told that we were probably not acknowledged because she was the only one there that spoke English...huh???? BTW SG&B you may want to take down that cheesey painted sign on your window advertising your Monday night dinner special. Makes you look like a Sizzler!
(1)Ray B.
In the past, I liked this place for good food and value. Went for lunch today, had pulled pork sandwich plate. Well, call it dreadful. The (salty) pulled pork saturated the bun with grease and I could even squeeze more grease out! I pointed out the problem to the waiter who did offer to change the soaked bun, nothing more. Over-salted but otherwise good fries, so-so coleslaw, wonderful Pilsner tap beer. Well, at least the beer was good. I won't be back.
(1)Gail N.
This review is JUST for the monthly Wine Tasting event that is hosted here. And trust me, when you're trying to learn how to be a wine connoisseur in this kinda economy, this is EXACTLY where you want to be! 5 Stars! Why? Just $10 for about 25-36 tastings of high quality vintage wines -- this includes hor dourves as well. Typically 5-6 vintages are out here sampling wines of all variations. And overall, the wine sampling people are very knowledgable and happy to share basic wine-tasting tips and stories with you. (Especially when their tables aren't as crowded). This month has offically been my 4th wine tasting event here, and today has by far been my favorite: champagnes, sparkling and dessert wines! =). The crowd is definitely on the older side as it seems to draw in the local residents (50's+)...except for our small group (early 20's), but whatever -- everyone is friendly and chill. And when you're on your 10th sip of wine...no one really cares. Everyone's a happy kid on the inside =). Hooray for Wine Tasting! Thanks Solano Grill & Bar for hosting these wonderful events!
(5)joe k.
A friend and I decided to meet half way between where I live in Marin and her in Oakland so we agreed to Albany for lunch. I picked this place because of the Yelp ratings and what the hell it was lunch. Well we were very pleasantly surprised at the servings and the quality. We both had Salmon and it was outstanding. Best of all it was really good portion size. I always get pissed when I spend $020-30 bucks for a piece of grilled salmon and it is tiny. Well this was a big slice and cooked to perfection. (My other complaint is the overcooking of fish) We both had the peach salsa on top and with the rice along with sweet potato as a side. We could not have been happier with our selection. They brought some hot bread to the table which was made on site and just delicious. I will go back as I was pleased with the service, food and prices.
(4)Emmy F.
Don't know why this restaurant doesn't have more reviews with higher ratings--our New Year's Eve meals here were some of the very best we have had anywhere. We especially enjoyed the fabulous Smoked Salmon/ Tempura Crudités Salad (I wish I'd taken a picture of it to post on FB), the surf'n'turf (my husband said some of the best fish and beef EVER), and the unbelievable Dungeness Crab & Shellfish Stew with mustard green-wrapped rice, which I almost passed over. Again, wish I'd photographed it. Everything was beautifully prepared and presented. Very memorable food, and the service was outstanding, too. So glad we finally came. We'll be back soon and often.
(5)Morton D. P.
I've been going to the Solano Grill for at least 10 years, mostly for lunch. It has a pleasant atmosphere, the food is good, and the prices reasonable. I love their Ahi tuna sandwich with guacamole and salad. Seafood chowder is excellent. Service is friendly and, unless their very crowded, prompt. Easy on-street parking.
(4)Kyra R.
After reading some yelp reviews and got recommendations from my friends who've eaten here before, I decided to have my birthday dinner here. They were very accommodating for a party of 14 of us and attentive. Service was great and the food was delicious. We tried Monterey Calamari Fritters, it came in a cone. Portabella Mushroom Fritters, if you like mushroom try this. Grilled Rib Eye Steak, can't go wrong with the eye of the rib I'm sure to be back to try the other entrees. The only con is that the location is on a pretty busy street and parking is very difficult at times, so be patient.
(4)Liz S.
I have eaten here a couple times and it has been very tasty. When I was there last week, the menu featured a Thai style seafood soup that was OUTSTANDING. The broth was the perfect balance of citrus, sweetness, and spice and it was loaded with shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels and fish. It was so good that I ordered a bowl of it as take-out the following night. Moreover, the service was excellent. My meals must be gluten-free and the waitstaff was very knowledgeable about which dishes contained gluten and which could be altered (like the soup) to exclude it. The owner/manager even brought out the blue cheese from the kitchen so that I could double check the ingredients. My only negative comment is the the rib eye steak was a little bland after the phenomenal soup. In any case, this is a great place for an upscale meal that is not ridiculously expensive.
(4)John D.
I ate here for Valentine's Day and it was horrible. A price fix menu of $40. a person not including drinks, was not even worth $15. The food was tasteless, even the dessert was not good if you can believe it. I ordered the molten chocolate cake and it was not even warm and it takes like urine smells. I guess it was suppose to have raspberry flavor but the mixture was awful. I shouldn't have eaten it but I did. I ordered a decaf coffee after dinner and they didn't bring it until after I was done with dessert. I said, it's too late, forgot the coffee. The waitress complained, "But I will have to re-do the bill". I told her she should have brought the coffee with dessert then. Unfriendly staff and hostess, medicore food at best and way over-priced. I feel ripped off.
(2)Tatian G.
Interesting place... Great food. No one in the restaurant on a Friday at 6pm. How strange. We found out they've been there for 18 years, so I guess they must be doing pretty well. I would definitely come back, and I hope more people do, too. We had a party of six and found the service to be very good (no surprise there), and the owner to be quite gracious. We had a toddler with us, and the owner went out of his way to say hi and to bring us a free fruit plate for our son. The in-house painter on Friday nights is a bonus, as well. Overall, it was quiet and peaceful, and we had a leisurely three-course meal. I had the vegetarian "dirty" rice with grilled shrimp added on. It was delicious - somewhat reminiscent of a Chinese stir fry, but high quality and cooked very well. For dessert, the vanilla creme brulee, which was PERFECT. Yum. The asian-inspired dishes sound a little strange on the menu (it's a "grill and bar"), but every one of them was enjoyed by my companions. The fifth star is missing because the restaurant is missing ambience with a brightly lit dining room without many people in the chairs.
(4)Paulringo M.
I love this place and have been coming here for many years and they have options for pescaterians and vegeterians like myself. i started off with the ahi tuna appetixer plate which was beautifally presented with a mustard aioli sauce with veggies under the fish, which i savoured and loved. then i got the seafood linguini which was excellent as there were more shrimps then i can count and oysters and fish. the bread here is to die for and they serve both whole grain and white bread as well. for desert I had the creme brulet which was good and comes with fruit which is also tasty. service was excellent and so was the food. very nice paintings as well. even though it dosent matter im very glad they changed the decor of the place. for awhile it used to have the feel of a matlock episode in the 80's with it's purple and light green sprinkled walls, even the decor is good now.
(5)Eileen E.
I went to Solano Bar & Grill for my Dad's birthday with my family and everyone loved, loved what they ordered! I chose this restaurant because the menu is very extensive, the prices are good, and I wanted an unpretentious and comfortable atmosphere. I would say this place definitely fit what I was looking for. The best part about this restaurant is that the menu features all of the favorites: steak, chicken, lamb, duck, fish, and pasta, along with some specialty dishes. Everyone should be able to find something to fit their tastes. Here's a link to the dinner menu: solanogrillandbar.com/me… . I ordered the seafood paella and it was very filling and well prepared. Plus, the prices are good and the portions are decent. My only complaints would be the decor in the restaurant looks like it hasn't been updated for a while and we didn't have very good service. The carpet is pretty threadbare and our waitress would disappear for long periods of time. But to be fair, I came on the 100th birthday of the city of Albany, so they had a lot of people eating outside that needed to be taken care of. I will definitely want to come back!
(4)Chum L.
A couple of friends and I decided to go have dinner at the S G& B before watching Lust, Caution next door. One of my friends gets there early and secures a table and then is promptly ignored until the rest of get there. He is sat at a window seat that is pushed up against a wall. The waiter comes and takes our order, we get a round of hennessy sidecars that is good, but not exactly made correctly. No worries, we continue to order our dinner. I'm splitting my caesar salad and we get an order of the fried mushroom appetizer for the table. After ordering, we hear the waiter gasp and we follow his eyes to the exterior of the restaurant where I observe a bum standing up from sitting position and now adjusting his pants. Omigawd, did I witness someone using the area between two parked cars as his own bathroom? And was it the waiter that involunantarily point it out to us??? Umm, gross... way to start a meal. Our salads are served and I immediately find a hair in my half of the salad. Luckily the waiter was assisting the table next to us so I waited for him to finish with them and then I descreetly showed him the hair. He then proceeded to pick up the plate and stare at the hair for what seemed liked eons.... um, it's not going to go away if you stare at it, get it away from me. This is about the time where an arm of ants has decided to join our group. However, they are harmless and pretty much ignore us as they march up and down the wall that we are facing. The rest of the meal comes with out incident, we even have time to have an after dinner drink. The food is good, not great, on the plus side, the servings are very substantial. But I still have to take off stars for the bad drink, the hair in my salad, waitier bringing attention to the bum's activity outside, and the ants.
(2)James Y.
Wasn't impressed coming into this place. Saturday afternoon, barely any customers, construction going on outside, and the interior of this place needs a lot of work. Still, I had a great lunch. I started with a peppermint chocolate fizz drink that was freakin' awesome. It was like a chocolate soda. My family and I just shared a bunch of things. The clam chowder was better than your average. There weren't a lot of potatoes but there was plenty of seafood in it, including giant pieces of scallop. The shrimp salad sammich was the least appealing item we had. It was too messy to hold up, but still, it had plenty of shrimp and a creamy chile aoli. We also got a ribeye steak which was a little fatty but it was covered in a rich herb butter and was cooked to a perfect medium rare. Finally, we also had the special of the day which was seafood ravioli covered in a chipotle sauce. The sauce gave it a little kick and it wasn't overly creamy or rich. Absolutely delicious! So the service was great, the food was awesome, but the restaurant's atmosphere could use some help. I still definitely recommend this place if you're looking for something good to eat. I'll be going back for sure.
(4)Tam F.
My parents really, really like this place. I can say, it is pretty good. Nice, friendly service. Decent menu and good food. Nothing spectacular, but it makes my folks happy and it is unpretentious with cloth napkins.
(4)E E.
My family just ate dinner here a week ago. The food was tasteless. What they called paella looked and tasted like cream of wheat with a reddish tint. The crab cakes took too many gulps of wine to push down. The lamb was gamey and the salads were salad bar quality. This place has gone down hill. What has happened to a once good eatery. Don't waste your time or your $$$ here. Lots of other good eateries on the ave..
(1)Floyd S.
This is a wonderful restaurant. One of our favorites for family and friends. The food is great and staff is outstanding. Cozy, quiet, and very accommodating. I have also hosted parties there in an area separated off the main restaurant. It has always been a hit.
(5)Bren F.
The food was good, however the service was not. I can't say it was completely bad, however all it takes is one person (in this i think it was the manager) to just ruin it. Our waitress was sweet and quick and got our order to us quickly, but this other older woman was just RUDE. Very bad service. She gave my cousin attitude for no reason. She did not handle a simple request to move a table well at all. Bad service once and i'll never go back. Plus, the place was not all that clean. The floors could use some polishing and the carpet a good shampoo. I also will not recommend it to any of my family or friends. There are plenty of other restaurants in the area.
(2)Karen C.
A wonderful restauant. A good place to take relatives you want to impress but it won't break the bank. Good food with great presentation.
(4)Miles L.
Well, this was my first and probably last experience here.... but here we go..... Our Ahi appetizer would have been good.... but the ahi was kinda fishy. Usually whenever i eat raw fish the goal is to not have that fishy aftertaste.... I don't know, i guess this isn't a sushi restaurant. fine. Paella was about 2.5 stars out of 5. Really unimpressive but not horrible. Miso Salmon...... the fish was okay. The pasta was gooey and the pesto cream sauce was rather bland and disappointing. there were a few vegetables here and there on the plate. they were okay. The best thing there was the bread and butter. it killed. It was "prime rib monday"...... perhaps I should have taken that route?
(2)Scott A.
I have driven by this establishment countless times. I thought that it must be some sports bar or something. They really should change their outside image. Suprisingly nice inside considering what I was expecting. Our food was above average. My salmon was a generous potion and pretty much ideally cooked. I had it without sauce and think that it is most likely best eaten this way. The salad was also decent. Above average but not top of the line. The dessert was also good. Although the flavour of my bread pudding was very good, it had the consistency of oatmeal. The server suggested a wine that was excellent. There is a pretty nice wine list. I probably would have given this place 3 stars but our server Cortnee was so exceptional that I had to add another star. She was fast, friendly and genuine. We couldn't have asked for a better server.
(4)Trevor N.
Not exactly what I picture when I think of a bar & grill. certainly more upscale. When i was thinking burgers and wings, this place was all table clothes and fine dining. I ordered the chicken, it was very tasty, over sliced potatoes. But honestly, there wasnt much zing to my experience, and for the kind of money i'd end up spending here, I'd rather go elsewhere.
(3)Kevin I.
I give this restaraunt five stars for the combination of price, food quality, and wine selection. They have upscale choices on the menu for all meal times, but at a non-San Francisco price. Ask the wait person for the premium wine list and you will be blown away. Honestly, a better selection of hard to get wines and older vintages than nearly any other establishment in the Bay Area - and not at those crazy mark ups. When we've been there for breakfast with the kids, the owner has frequently given us free fresh fruit for our young ones.
(5)Don T.
It's surprising how many positive reviews this restaurant has received considering the bizarre experience that we had there last night. My wife and in-laws went there for the first time and were eager to try the prime rib special and check out the restaurant. My wife went to the restroom and we were waiting for my father-in-law to arrive, so they seated two of us at a four top. An older guy in a sweatshirt and baseball cap came to the table and said he would take some of the settings off the table. What? I assumed that he knew my mother-in-law and was goofing with us, but when it became apparent that she had no idea who he was, we were left to ask him who he was. He finally said he was the owner! And then he proceeded to have a random (and very long) conversation with us. He wasn't unpleasant, it was just weird. Fast forward to the server bringing our drinks- one of the wine glasses had old lipstick on the rim. Yummy. No big deal- we poured the wine into a clean empty glass that was already on the table. Part Three: My wife ordered the prime rib special- it also included a salad and dessert. Three bites into the salad, she sees an ANT walking across the side of her plate. She squishes the ant, flicks it off the plate and shrugs it off as a fluke. You can see the Yelp rating quickly losing stars at this point. Final Straw: The Portabello Mushroom Fritter (recommended by the owner) arrives. It looks and tastes very good....until we're about half finished with it and I see a GREEN BEETLE crawl out of the vegetables in the middle of the plate. Keep in mind, this wasn't a dead bug, but a live bug that crawled out of a pile of spinach. It was about a half inch long and was very much alive. We all drop our forks and summon the nearest server to report the infestation. The owner comes over, picks up the plate, heads to the kitchen pass-through window and immediately starts yelling at the cook. Our server was nowhere to be seen and the other server was standing by the kitchen watching the cook get yelled at. No one came to our table to sort things out. We were all grossed out. My father-in-law dropped a twenty on the table to cover the bar tab and we told the nearest server that we were bailing. Needless to say, we'll never be going there again. It's understandable that these things occur with any restaurant, especially with salads and uncooked veggies, but the thing that really disappointed us was the way the staff and owner handled (or didn't handle, in this case) the matter. Poor management and poor hygiene. Yuck.
(1)Shinny L.
This place is gooood. I've been here twice and enjoyed it both times. The seafood is excellent, as are their fresh noodles. The lunch is reasonably priced (boo hoo, wish I could go there for lunch more often!) and to this day I still remember the after dinner latte I had there four years ago...
(4)Sam W.
I've been here for weekday lunches a couple of times. The menu is good, with fresh well prepared dishes and daily specials. The staff is very attentive and professional. The clientele seems to skew toward retirees (I'm in my 30s), but I still felt comfortable. Quiet and upscale, good for conversation over a long meal. Prices weren't much higher than noisy dives on Solano, but food, ambiance, and service was much better. Recommended!
(4)Mari V.
We've been eating at Solano Grill a long time. Sometimes the food is good, sometimes mediocre, sometimes poor. The good times, of course, are what has kept us coming back. But this last grade D dinner may very well be our last after all these years! The one thing we could always count on being good was the fresh fish. But last night our Hawaiian Ono was charred and dry as a bone! It was served with pineapple "salsa" and sour cream (?!) on an odd mix of zuccini and cut up roast potatoes. The whole experience was sad since my friend stayed over especially to have their ono on the last day of the special. Only the seared tuna salad, while somewhat skimpy and pricey at $8.95, kept us from giving last night an "F." The owner has not been in recently. Maybe the cooks do better under her eye. But now that SG has failed us in the one area where we could be sure of a good meal, I don't think we'll be back.
(2)Colleen P.
This place has some very delicious seafood. I had the seafood chowder & the prawn sandwich, yummy goodness. So tasty & fresh & the price was very reasonable/inexpensive. Definitely give this place a try when your on Solano Ave.
(5)Peter H.
This is a nice, somewhat dressy place to go. It tends to be frequented by an older crowd, but the atmosphere and decor is quite nice. The prix fixe is truly the way to go; as the entire menu rotates frequently, prix fixe is an excellent way to make sure that you're getting what the chef considers his very best to offer. While you're at it get the wine flight, as the multiple awards indicate it tends to be quite good. The staff are knowledgeable and helpful, and give excellent recommendations.
(4)Stephen C.
The decor in Solano Grill and Bar is a little bit past its prime, but the food is absolutely excellent. We've been a handful of times and have never left disappointed. Their dinner prices are fair, but it's a bargain at lunch. We went again this past weekend, and it appears they have a brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday (instead of their lunch menu on Saturday). You'd expect to pay a bit more for the quality of their dishes (they have a brilliant ahi tuna sandwich) . All of their seafood is uber-fresh and prepared in a way that enhances and accents the flavor, instead of drowning it out in sauce or spices. The ahi tuna sandwich is really terrific - nice, big cut of tuna; seared just right on the outside...
(4)Sherry L.
Don't let the dull storefront fool you... this place makes delicious food! The two times I've been here have been such a treat. The spicy prawn sandwich. The sirloin burger. Both were light, fresh, and yet just full of flavor. Even better, the servings are huge and can almost feed two. I see myself becoming a regular.
(5)Kimi M.
This is my new favorite restaurant. My husband and I ate here with my visiting mother-in-law and it was the perfect place. A nice meal, quiet surroundings, no crazy line or scene. It all boils down to the fact that the dishes are superb. It's an Asian fusion menu done right. Portion sizes are great, service is attentive, presentation is beautiful. The name of this restaurant and the decor doesn't do this place the justice it deserves. But, on the other hand, it also goes with the general solid un-pretentious yet fully yummy vibe of the place. Highly recommended. This will definitely be a regular spot for us from now on.
(4)Christine H.
Somehow this has become the "go-to" restaurant for all my celebrations and events lately, so I've ended up trying almost everything on the menu. One big reason to come here is to try their seafood chowder. It's probably the best I've had: the clams, mussels, tender scallops and shrimps...so good! Once, I even tried ordering another soup from the menu but our waiter suggested I stick to the chowder, which he described as "something special." I'm also a big fan of their perfectly cooked salmon dish with the creamy pesto fettuccine, but other entrees like the pork chops and burger are also good choices. If you have room, the deserts are always yummy and beautifully adorned.
(4)Eliot K.
This continues to be our favorite for both family meals (Christmas Eve) and romantic nights out with my wife. They are so nice there, and the food is incredible.
(5)Jean S.
This place is great. They try to always use local, fresh and organic veges. It's a great value for a fantastic meal. Sometimes they are understaffed for lunch and the wait can be long though. It's my favorite default "I want a nice meal but don't want to go bankrupt". It's definitely worth a try!
(4)Greta C.
Though I've never eaten here for dinner, my mom and I love this place. The overall atmosphere is quiet and relaxing and it's usually never crowded around noon. Their dishes are delicious, especially the salmon with fettuccine, and all the waiters we've had so far are very friendly and helpful.
(5)Richard W.
This review is based on eating dinner here 3 times in the last 6 months. Each time I am more impressed. For good quality food at a reasonable price this is one of the best in the Berkeley-Albany area. Fresh salads. The Marinated Center Cut Pork Loin with a Five Spice Apple Relish, Raspberry Chipotle Glaze, Corn Hash and Seasonal Vegetables is my favorite. The service is attentive without being intrusive. This is a great place to bring relatives or friends from out of town who want good food in a relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended!
(5)Juanita M.
I ordered the Paella. The portions weren't very big but it was an interesting paella, lots of different stuff in it. It was ok, not the best I have had, but not the worst. However, it was about five dollars more than it should be. The person I went with got the salmon, which was pretty good. It's not a bad place.. However, it just isn't good enough to justify spending 40 dollars for two.
(2)Marni F.
I live close by and really enjoy the food at the Solano Grill & Bar. It is affordable, casual and really good. I have a few favorites but recommend asking for them to make the hot and sour soup - it is divine.
(4)Michael K.
Went here with two girls, including one vegetarian and another that does not eat red meat. We were, by far, the youngest people in the building, with the exception of maybe one of the busboys. I was excited about the long wine list (which included bottles from a few vineyards I've visited in Sonoma), but being the gentleman that I am, allowed the psuedo-wino in our party choose. She picked a riesling. Lame. Knowing that I would be sucking down an ultra sweet german riesling, I ordered the duck. I love duck. Yes I do. It came with "seasonal vegetables." A judge on top chef would have ripped this guy a new one. It was a duck breast sliced and drizzled with a black currant sauce...mmmmm berries. One side of the duck was more cooked than the other (the left side was really rare and the right was verging on well), which I would usually dislike, but in this case, was kinda cool, as I got to work from one side to the other, choosing pieces by how rare they were. Not exactly traditional, but I'm a scientist at heart and enjoyed the sampling opportunity. Moreover, the "seasonal vegetables" included: bok choy, broccoli, carrots, onions, twice-cooked potatoes, corn, some sauteed spinach and a huge pile of arugula, topped with dried cranberries. I enjoyed the plate, but there were so many flavors and textures going on in it that it would be pretty hard to go wrong. As I picked my way through the meal, I kept finding new things under the arugula. it was kinda like a scavenger hunt. On a plate. I mean, honestly, what "season" has all of those vegetables being harvested? One of my companions had the salmon, and on her friend's (a waitress there) suggestion, replaced the pasta with potatoes. She liked it. I had a bite of the salmon, and it was tasty. Not as good as the duck, but its salmon, what do you expect? The other companion (the psuedo-wino) had some pasta dish that I didnt really care to try. She also had a salad that looked pretty good. Can't really comment on those. She complained (to us) that the waiter was pretentious. I told her to shut up and drink her grape juice, in slightly more appropriate terms. Next time I go here, I'm leaving the annoying veggie-eating, sweet wine-schwilling, waiter-harassing, conversation-dominating, ugly dress-wearing friend of my date, at home. Overall, this place seemed like a great place......to bring my parents.
(3)Christina B.
I had a wonderful meal at this restaurant, but I especially enjoyed the service and friendliness of , Minky, our waitress. She added to the pleasure of our dining experience. Christina B
(4)Amy P.
This is our favorite restaurant in the Berkeley/Albany area. We've been to more famous, trendier restaurants but we always come back to Solano Grill and Bar and are constantly reminded by how delicious the food is, how pleasant the atmosphere is (it's quiet., you can actually have a conversation without yelling) and how wonderful the staff/service is. Full bar, excellent wine list. If you like fish and seafood you can't go wrong and my husband loves the rack of lamb. The seafood chowder is amazing with large chunks of fish and seafood. We've eaten so many of the dishes here ...the seafood paella, the scallops, the miso glazed salmon... and the portions are very generous. Tonight we had the dark chocolate pot de creme for dessert and it was out of this world. The food is upscale asian/fusion - lots of grilled fish and meat - but the value is excellent and the food absolutely delish. One of Solano Ave's finest.
(5)Winnie H.
I used to LOVE this place until one day last year. We were the frequent customers there almost weekly. Love their brunch menu. Inexpensive and tasty. One Sat as usual we returned for another yummy brunch. The waiter saw us and immediately said "I think you forgot something last time". He came back and showed us a bill that they thought we didn't paid. WTF??? I said "oh no we did paid every single time we ate here". He then left and came back with the owner's wife. She said we don't have any record of you paying this bill. I was getting pissed and thank god for the iphone. I then immediately log on to my bank account and found the transaction from the same day and same amount at this restaurant. I showed them the charge and they said "oh okay it just we couldn't reconciled the amount". Dude that's not my problem. I can't believe they held on to that and approached us with this BS when we returned like a month later. I don't believe any restaurants would do such a thing. Since then I have never returned!!!!!!!
(1)Josh O.
I've been here a couple times and always been impressed. Good food, good service, kinda dated decor.
(4)K K.
This place is a hidden gem. They have delicious fresh food and one of the most elegant creme brulees. Elegant fusion food. The portabello mushrooms and crab cake are always excellent. And, they have an award winning wine selection. Great local chef.
(5)Victoria M.
awesome Paellla
(3)Craig I.
the weekly prix fixe menu is a great way to go here...soup/salad, entree and desert for $30 (the menu changes about every week). otherwise i really liked the rib eye with potatoes au gratin (i'm a meat and potatoes guy). this place is a little on the pricey side, but is a good, quiet, relaxed atmospehere and the wait staff is very friendly.
(3)Tina L.
Great food, great price, mediocre service. We started with dungeness crab cakes (2 pieces, $11.95) that were very good, not too greasy, and with a delicious salsa. The table also had Caesar salads ($4.95) that were 4 large pieces of romaine lettuce topped with Parmesan, an anchovy, and light dressing (it was nice and delicate) and the soup of the day, which was a tomato shrimp soup ($7.95) that looked good. My friend and I each ordered the paella ($15.95), which had shrimp, scallops, some sort of white fish, mussels, sausage and clams, topped with artichoke hearts. It was VERY yummy, just spicy enough for my taste with rice that was not too mushy. The only complaint is, neither of us found crab or lobster meat in our dish, altho the menu claimed they were in there. My other friends had the miso glazed salmon with curry pesto pasta ($15.95). The salmon was good but didn't really stand out, while the pasta was very good. The wine selection was decent, not extensive but varied, and for decent prices. We got a bottle of Vero Burgundy for $30. The reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because our waiter was EXTREMELY annoying and pushy. Our friends ordered 2 normal cokes, and the waiter kept pushing them to have rum, tequila, or some sort of alcohol in it. And each time he delivered cokes/refills, he would pointedly say "cokes, with no rum" in a "you guys are cheap and not worth my time" kind of way. When none of us got dessert, he made this surprised expression and questioned us on that, again making me feel like I was dealing with a used car salesman. If it weren't for him, it would have been a perfect evening. The ambiance was nice and quiet, but as someone pointed out the decor is a bit old.
(4)Ann W.
We have been coming here for about 7 years. But we live in Pinole so we don't like to drive that far on a week night. Weekends are for Walnut Creek or the City. So we don't get here too often. 1st thumbs up, they greet you, our waiter shakes our hand and recognizes us. Automatically says, cozmo and an anchor steam? Smart server. I end up having two cozmos before dinner. I've never had to wait for service. Once we are seated, he makes our drinks and brings them himself and takes our appetizer order. Have to have the deep fried calamari for appetizer the sauce is more a marinara so we ask them to put some hoarsradish in it. They had a Tiger Eye ahi tuna tempura dish for a long time and I always ordered it. It's not on the menu currently. I receive emails with notifications about wine tasting/paring or specials coming up. I replied to one recently and mentioned we love our server (Arturo) but miss the tempura dish. The owner responded within an hour and said call her ahead of time and she will prepare it. So the next day we made reservations. We got an ample plate with the tempura rolls and love the julian/slaw veges on top of mashed potatoes. Our guest ordered their Thursday special (southern fried chicken) and he said it was the best. I do agree desserts are not so hot. We never order dessert, it came with the New Years Eve price fixe but wasn't very good. Their special came with dessert and it was dry. Other than that, I don't care what is on the walls we sit near the glass block wall anyway and I'm paying attention to who is at my table. Parking is hard but if you come from the freeway and before you make the turn from San Pablo ave onto Solano you can usually get a spot right at the corner. They are just up 1/2 a block from there.
(5)