American Oak
| Address: | 2319 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda, CA 94501, USA |
| Phone: | +1 510-521-5862 |
| Site: | americanoakalameda.com |
| Rating: | 4.5 |
| Working: | Closed 5–10PM 5–10PM 5–10PM 5–11PM 5–11PM 5–10PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 12
EV
Evelynn Chiu
After having visited American Oak twice, I am now finally leaving a review... Whilst struggling between a 3 and 4 star, I decided we need more whiskey lounges/places and so it gets a 4 star. American Oak is one of the few places that offers a whiskey flight in the area, a wide selection of different types of whiskey, and a barhop somewhere in the restaurant who knows his whiskey (the nice man with the beard)! THE FIRST VISIT: We got a table downstairs since we wanted something to munch on. The man with a large beard chatted us up for a bit about whiskey and we settled on a smokey tasting flight and some truffle fries. The truffle fries were yummy as they are usually, but nothing super exceptional. We didnt get to try the dinner options there, so no comments on that. THE SECOND VISIT: We went upstairs to their cocktail lounge area that is basically free seating. There was one lady serving the whole upstairs and she seemed overwhelmed even though it wasnt busy. It took a very long time for us to order, but the cocktails and drinks came out super quick. She was very professional and nice to us which we really appreciated. My boyfriend is not normally a fan of bourbon because of how sweet they usually are, but given that American Oak IS an American whiskey bar and restaurant, he decided to give bourbon another chance. Totally taken aback by how good his choice of drink was, hes completely reconsidered his opinions on bourbon. I, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed their cocktails. Despite the Honey Ryder being a tad too sweet, their Tennessee mule was probably the best rendition of a Moscow mule Ive ever tried!
SA
Samantha Berg
This place was fine for a last minute find while driving through Alameda, but Im not sure Id make it a destination. Came in on a Friday night around 8:30pm as a party of two. Despite seeing a bunch of open tables, we were told itd be about a 30 minute wait. We gave our names and then walked upstairs to the cocktail lounge. Before we could sit down, however, the waitress came over to tell us our table was ready. Im not sure I understand, but hey, Im not complaining. We were seated outside on the patio, where there were heaters nearby and blankets on every chair. Thankfully it was a pleasant evening and we didnt have need for either one. I ordered the bison burger, my friend had the fried chicken sandwich. The sandwich came with asadero cheese, which he was weary of, and our server was not able to accurately describe or allay his concerns. In the end, it was fine, but itd be nice to be able to ask about ingredients in a dish and get a solid answer. My bison burger was nice and rare but exploded its juice everywhere when I cut into it, making for a soggy plate. The cheese on top was beyond melted and nearly reduced to nothing instead of that thick, stringy, melty deliciousness I usually hope for. The fries were a mixed bag, some soggy, some hard, some perfectly done. I asked for BBQ sauce and ranch on the side, and neither were quite right. The ranch had decent flavor but was incredibly watery. The BBQ sauce had some weird flavor to it and was too thin as well. Definitely bummed, as this place had promised when we walked in. I wont be running back.
WI
wilder mata
This was a little impromptu birthday dinner with the wifey that was inspired by our fantastic first visit. The food was fresh and made quality ingredients but the preparation was not. I ordered a medium burger, it was most definitely on the rare side, its ok because I eat my steaks rare. Wife ordered the fried chicken sandwich, the breading on the chicken sandwich was falling off the fries were not crispy either. Im thinking either the fryer temperature wasnt turned up properly or fried goods werent fried that long. I usually dont hesitate to send stuff back but the server was never there. Half way through our dinner our whole section cleared, he was not swamped by any means. I slipped our server assist/runner some money because he was making the server look like a patron.
YV
Yvette Ngo
This restaurant has a great atmosphere. The bar is intense, shelving bottle after bottle of alcohol. They have a good cocktail menu and their food menu seems seasonal. I ordered the butternut squash soup, which was delicious. It was flavorful and had a crunch to it (topped with pecans). They also drizzled some sort of sauce on it to add a different dimension. I had the roasted Brussels sprouts which was flavored with lemon and a bit of garlic, salt, and olive oil. Last, I had the truffle parmesan fries, which were good but couldve been better in my opinion. They have happy hour until 6:30pm but only on their drinks.
ER
Eric Rosete
I normally like the food here, but the last time I went I got the burrata and toast and the toast was so hard it was inedible. Like someone toasted hardened stale bread. When I asked the server if the bread was supposed to be this hard, he told me thats how it is. He didnt bother to check the bread, which I left 3/4 uneaten. I wish he had because if thats how theyre serving it, someones going to lose a tooth. Nice server, but a bit dismissive to a legitimate concern.
JU
Justin Warren
Pretty good food and drinks are decent, but kinda expensive for what it is. The romaine salad especially. $12 for what the description made me think was a Cesar salad, but it was just a bunch of chopped romaine, burnt croutons, and vinegarett. The wings are utterly drenched in sauce. The corn dogs are delicious and the burratta and toast is good. The drinks are what really shine here.
JE
Jerreau Taylor
Visually stunning interior with excellent and knowledgeable service (important when dealing with whisky). Short, but well executed menu delivered on all courses. Food was great. Whiskey was better. Only one criticism: the lighting. Atmosphere is key, but functionally, it is too dark in the dining room to read the menu. Eyestrain was a concern as the evening progressed.
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Tiffany Keller
Hands down, my favorite spot for craft cocktails on the island. More whiskey/bourbon/scotch than you can shake a stick at, which in and of itself makes me love this place. Knowledgeable bar tenders and servers who are passionate about what they serve. Truffle fries, brussel sprouts and reuben sandwich are some of my favorite menu items. Dont miss out on this gem.
DA
Dana Wedel
I love Whiskey and Bourbon and this is definitely one place to go in the Bay Area to get both. Flights of whiskey and Bourbon are on the menu and appetizers and main dishes to go with them. Join their tasting club and get notified when they have special events and when you have tasted a certain amount of their whiskeys you get gifts!
MI
Miles Lester
Our go to for nighs out. A Treat Yo Self establishment! Hundreds of whiskey and distilled options, 12 cycling house cocktails that are crafty and appealing, also they finish stuff in their wood fired oven. No seasoning or salt at the table needed here, cooks are on point and Ive seen many of the staff here for years.
E.
E. Thomas
The food, ambiance, and hospitality of this place was EVERYTHING! This would be my permanent hang out if I lived in the area! I forgot my waiters name; thin build, long blonde hair...he kind of floats when he walks....super nice, patient, and knowledgeable.Thanks for a great evening!
BO
Bobby Battista
I had the ribeye with truffle french fries, and both were delicious. The bar tender was great - attentive and a great conversationalist. My girlfriend brought me here because its one of her favorite restaurants, and I can see why. Also note the massive liquor selection :)
