How to Find the Best Restaurants in Oakland CA

How to Find Good Restaurants in the Oakland CA Area for Dates

Expensive restaurants can be a good way to make a great impression on a date but it's not the only way. Sometimes cheap restaurants in the Oakland Area that are also good restaurants can provide the best date setting. Follow these tips to help you decide on the best restaurants in the Oakland Area to take a date:

• Find local restaurants in the Oakland Area located in a spot that's easy for you and your date to find. You'll want to be sure there is street parking nearby or that the restaurants offer free parking or affordable valet parking. Call ahead to see if you can make dining reservations for busy evenings and weekends.

• Depending on the mood you want to set, find restaurants in the Oakland CA area that are cozy and romantic, or quiet restaurants that have the environment right for getting to know each other. Consider finding casual restaurants for casual dates.

• Find restaurants in the Oakland Area that have menus that will have choices you both will enjoy. Before you pick a Oakland Area restaurant, ask your date if he or she has any food preferences or needs, and find Oakland Area restaurants that can accommodate food allergy requests.

• It's important to find good restaurants in Oakland CA and the surrounding area that you can afford, but for a first date, the setting may be more important than the cost.

Finding Good Restaurants in the Oakland CA Area for Business Meetings

Many good restaurants in the Oakland Area welcome business luncheons and business dinners. Because you'll need to find a Oakland CA area restaurant that will meet the varied tastes of your employees and clients, see the following tips:

• Know the budget for your business luncheon or business dinner. Talk with the restaurant staff and find out if their prices fit your budget. Many good restaurants in the Oakland Area have a limited menu for corporate lunches that still provides good menu options to please a variety of dining tastes.

• Find out if the Oakland Area restaurants can seat you in a private room or dining area. This is especially important if you are having a speaker or addressing the group. The best restaurants in the Oakland CA area should let you visit the facility first to make sure it meets your needs before you book your business lunch or business dinner.

• After you've narrowed down the best restaurants in the Oakland Area that fit your business dinner needs, take a look at final considerations such as restaurant free parking or valet parking and convenience of the restaurant location.

How to Find the Best Restaurants in the Oakland Area for Leisure Dining

In many ways, it should be easier to find good restaurants in the Oakland CA area for leisure dining or relaxed evenings out than for other reasons. But it's still important to think about the following items to ensure that you have a relaxing time at restaurants in the Oakland Area.

• Both fine dining restaurants and casual restaurants in the Oakland Area offer relaxed dining. Look for good restaurants in the Oakland CA area that offer comfortable seating, moderate lighting and a wide variety of dishes and menu items.

• You may want to choose a fine dining restaurants or casual dining restaurants in the Oakland Area that have extensive appetizer menus and dessert menus.

• Since many fine dining restaurants and casual dining restaurants in the Oakland Area are popular for their unique atmospheres, find the restaurants that best suit your dining tastes for unique menu items, inviting restaurant atmosphere, friendly waitstaff, fair menu prices and comfortable seating.

Choose Good Restaurants in Oakland CA That Can Meet Your Expectations

To be sure you've chosen the best restaurants in the Oakland Area, it's wise to pick one from our list of the Top 10 Restaurants in the Oakland Area. Researchers at The Prime Buyer's Report have checked licensing, verified customer satisfaction and certified these as the best restaurants in and around Castro Valley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Sunol, Union City, Alameda, Mount Eden, Albany, Berkeley, Ashland, Russell City and Komandorski Village CA.

Questions to Ask of Good Restaurants in the Oakland Area
If you're looking to find restaurants in the Oakland Area for a special dinner or important night out, you may want to check out some details before you visit. Use the list below to help you find the best restaurants in the Oakland Area for you.

• Do the Oakland Area restaurants have parking nearby? Is it street parking or their own free parking lot? Do they offer valet parking? Is there an extra charge for valet parking or is it complementary valet parking?

• Are the Oakland Area restaurants easy to find and in a nice location?

• What is the dress code at each of the Oakland CA restaurants?

• Do each of the Oakland CA restaurants accept credit cards?

• Can these Oakland Area restaurants serve special dietary needs such as food allergies or gluten-free diets?

• Will you need restaurant reservations? What about on weekends or peak dinner hours?

• Can the Oakland Area restaurants accommodate large groups, small children or business meetings?

• Do these good restaurants in the Oakland CA area have liquor licenses to serve alcohol? If not, can you bring in your own bottle of wine or champagne? Is there a corkage fee and if so, how much?

• Do they provide restaurant take-out or restaurant delivery service in your region of the Oakland Area? Is there an extra charge for food delivery services?

Knowing the answers to these important questions will help you find the best restaurants in the Oakland Area, including Castro Valley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Sunol, Union City, Alameda, Mount Eden, Albany, Berkeley, Ashland, Russell City and Komandorski Village.

 

Etiquette At Good Restaurants in Oakland CA

Dining Out in Restaurants in the Oakland Area with Children

Many good restaurants in the Oakland Area can accommodate families with small children. If you have a toddler or an infant, ask the restaurant host or hostess for a high chair or a baby seat. Ideally, if your child begins to cry or becomes distracting to other restaurant patrons, it is important to take your child to the lobby or a quieter area where you can calm him or her without interrupting the other restaurant patrons.  This is especially important with fine dining restaurants (also known as "white tablecloth restaurants" in the Oakland Area).

Addressing Problems with Restaurants in the Oakland CA Area

If you don't like your meal or if your food was incorrectly prepared, the best restaurants in the Oakland Area will work with you to make you satisfied. Calmly and quietly describe the problem to your server so you don't disrupt other restaurant patrons. A great restaurant server will quickly replace the meal. If there is a problem, ask to see a restaurant manager.

Tipping Etiquette at Oakland Area Restaurants

The average tip at great Oakland Area restaurants is 15-20%. In cases where your restaurant service was exceptional, a 20-25% tip is appropriate.  

If you receive poor service at restaurants in the Oakland CA area, remember that it isn't always clear who is to blame. Many restaurant patrons want to know if they still have to tip the wait staff at restaurants if the service isn't good. First, give the restaurant staff a chance to fix the problem. Talk with your restaurant server and see if he or she can come up with a solution. You may also ask to talk with the restaurant manager. If you aren't pleased with how the situation was handled, leave a 10% tip and a short note describing your problem with the service at the Oakland Area restaurant. Only in extreme cases should you not tip your restaurant server at genuinely good restaurants in Castro Valley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Sunol, Union City, Alameda, Mount Eden, Albany, Berkeley, Ashland, Russell City and Komandorski Village.

Resources About Good Restaurants in Oakland CA

Regualtory Bodies & Trade Associations for Restaurants in the Oakland Area

ABC California Dept of Alcoholic Beverage Control (http://www.abc.ca.gov/)
CRA California Restaurant Association (http://www.calrest.org/go/CRA/)
NRA National Restaurant Association (http://www.restaurant.org/)
IH&RA International Hotel & Restaurant Association (http://www.ih-ra.com/)
GRA Green Restaurant Association (http://www.dinegreen.com/)
CSRA Council of State Restaurant Associations (http://www.israe.org/)
BIRA Best Independent Restaurants Association (http://www.bestindependentrestaurants.org/)
BBB Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.com/)

Media Related to Restaurants in Oakland CA
Beverage Digest
Beverage World
Bon Appetit
Chain Leader
Chocolatier
Everyday Food
Fast Casual Magazine
Food Arts
Food Management
Foodservice Equipment & Supplies
Gourmet
Modern Baking
NRN Nation's Restaurant News
Pastry Art & Design
Pastry's Best
QSR Magazine
Restaurant Business
Restaurant Finance Monitor
Restaurant Hospitality
Restaurant Report
Restaurant Startup & Growth
Restaurant Wine
Restaurants & Institutions Magazine
Retail Baker
Cooks Ingredients
Sante Magazine
Saveur
SLAMMED Magazine
Specialty Food

 

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for Top Ten Restaurants in the Oakland Area within the following zip codes:

94661, 94701, 94712, 94662, 94537, 94540, 94543, 94557, 94604, 94613, 94614, 94620, 94623, 94624, 94609, 94607, 94610, 94611, 94612, 94615, 94617, 94618, 94619, 94621, 94566, 94588, 94577, 94578, 94579, 94580, 94586, 94587, 94606, 94705, 94708, 94709, 94546, 94552, 94568, 94608, 94536, 94538, 94539, 94555, 94542, 94605, 94603, 94602, 94601, 94560, 94551, 94550, 94545, 94544, 94541, 94501, 94704, 94703, 94702, 94710, 94707, 94706 and 94502

 

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for Top Ten Restaurants in the Oakland Area within the following cities:

Castro Valley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Sunol, Union City, Alameda, Mount Eden, Albany, Berkeley, Ashland, Russell City and Komandorski Village