Skates on the Bay
| Address: | 100 Seawall Dr, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA |
| Phone: | +1 510-549-1900 |
| Site: | skatesonthebay.com |
| Rating: | 4 |
| Working: | 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 11AM–10PM 10:30AM–11PM 10:30AM–9PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 6
JA
Jaynelle Bell
Third year holding party at Skates. Party was to start at 6:30. Normally we get to come in one half hour to an hour before the event to set up. When we arrived to set up another party was in our space. Employees tried to usher us away from the space entrance and told us that the other party had been told that they had to be out at six. Six came and went and they were still inside the room. At 6:20 my party and I entered the space and started trying to set up. Waiters were in the room trying to vaccum and set up the room for our party. Eventually at 6:30 the other party members left the space because there was now no where left for them to stand and congregate and stood outside the entrance questioning my guest as to what kind of party we were having. Several times waiters and the event coordinator walked by grumbling at me and my guest for coming into the space while the other party was still loitering around. She did nothing to make those other people leave so we could set up our party. Just kept grumbling at me about having a contract in her safe that said my party started at 6:30. It was 6:45 and my party had not started because the room was not set up. My party did not start at 7:00 and it did not start at 7:15. It was nearly 7:20 when the first of my guest were allowed to enter into the room. Waiters were still in the space trying to set up the tables. Because we started nearly an hour late, we had to cut short our traditional champagne toast (and because the waiters had served all of the champagne before we got to that part of the program) and everything felt cramped and rushed. I was told several times "at least your guests are having a good time." It was not their responsibility to see that my guests were having a good time, I was their customer and I was not having a good time. At the end of the night, they overcharged me for 4 bottle of wine that they did not serve and they tacked on a 3% surcharge to subsidize their health insurance. I am self insured and no one subsidizes my health insurance. To say I was not happy is an understatement. No apology was, or has been, forthcoming from the event coordinator or Skates. As far as she was concerned it was my fault for "showing up here with all those people."
KA
Kathy Rudge
We were really looking forward to having dinner with friends at Skates but I have to say I was very disappointed in the food. The views were amazing and the wait staff was very friendly. I ordered the halibut and I have to say it was the worst piece of halibut I have ever had. In fact, I think they may have run out of halibut and served some other type of fish. After our dinners were served it took our waitress a while before she came back and asked how our food was. I told her I thought my halibut was undercooked and asked to have it cooked more. She told me that they normally cook the fish so its medium rare. Okay, so when they brought the halibut back it was still translucent looking. Normally Halibut is white and flakey, the fish I had was translucent even after cooking it more. My dish was served with quinoa and spinach. The quinoa was way overcooked and had the consistency and flavor of mushy, soggy Thanksgiving stuffing. My husband had a salmon dish and another friend had the fish and chips which were both good. The crème brulee for dessert was also good.They ended up not charging me for my meal but I have to say it was very disappointing.
DA
Darryl Lavender
Every time I go to Skates, I love it more and more. Sunday brunch after church is my favorite time to go, but it is also my favorite spot to take visitors/tourists and friends on special occasions. The staff is friendly, attentive, and seem to love making your experience enjoyable. The cocktails are top-shelf and expertly made and served to order. The menu is vast and the selections endless no matter what your taste. If you have the opportunity to enjoy one of Skates buffets, you will never go anywhere else to eat. Me and my friend love to sit along the perimeter against the glass or at one of the interior raised booths. The perimeter tables are favorites so you best request one via a reservation if you expect to get one of these. The clientele is diverse and dress is business casual, but Ive seen people in jeans too. The views of the San Francisco Bay are outstanding and different with every visit, night or day. Just an all around wonderful place to share some time, a drink and a meal with one or a group of friends.
BA
Baker al-Hiyari
I had a very disappointing experience having lunch at Skates on the Bay. While the staff were very pleasant, courteous and friendly, the food was disappointing. The Boston clam chowder felt basically like a potato soup. it was tasteless and full of potato chunks. The timing and spacing of the food service was terrible. The nice waiter brought both my appetizer and the entree at the same time !!! I had to send the entree back and instead of making a fresh plate, they returned the same stale plate of fish and chips back to me after 15 minutes. The food was stale, over fried and the greens on the plate were burnt from keeping the plate under the food light heater for 15 minutes. The food was expensive and deficately overpriced for the the quality I received.
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A Private User
You pay for the view. Prices were high for the level of food. Food was good but nothing exceptional. However, our service was terrible. The waiter was very friendly, perhaps to try to cover his lack of attention to his guests. We will not go back. Menu noted suggested beer or wine with each meal. However, they do not carry the suggested beer. And waiter fell short....did not serve the beer that was ordered; did not check back after serving the meals; one meal needed to be sent back & we sent 2 waiters to find our server which took several minutes; 2 cups of tea were served with luke warm water; we couldnt find waiter to get hot water; he served a 2nd pot of luke warm water; he fogot to bring the "doggie bag". He made no apologies for any of the above.
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A Private User
You cant beat the view at this waterfront restaurant. You can see the Bay, Richmond and Golden Gate Bridges, fog permitting, all from one place. Ive been seated right next to floor to ceiling windows nearly every time Ive been there. Thats why I go there...not for the food. As long as you have that expectation, youre fine. Its average food - not gourmet food, and I didnt find the prices unrealistically high. Service has been good 6 out of 7 times Ive been there, which is probably reasonable. As long as you dont have real foody people in your party who expect perfection, its a nice place to take people from out of town. Afterwards, you can walk out on the Berkeley pier and see all the fishing going on all the way down the pier.
