BocanovaThe food was very good asThe food was very good as was the service.
One complaint - the wine prices were the highest we have seen. The least expensive glass of wine was $11.00.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMA PleasureI have been to BocaNova a number of times and decided it was th perfect choice for the final dinner with friends visiting from the East Coast. Before they departed they said they wanted to take us out "somewhere good and close". BocaNova was chosen from the numerous choices we have in the area.
It did not disappoint. Aside from the very long wait at the bar for a cocktail the service was superb. The waitstaff was well coordinated with one another. The recommendations were reliable and delicious. All of the dishes were top notch. We enjoyed the evening so much and so did our guests. Thank you!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMRick's Super ClubHad a half off coupon for Rick's. it's 10-12 shared plates of interesting and ocotillo food from South America (on this night), fantastic wines and surprisingly interesting table mates ( yes, you have to share). Great as a special occasion or if you just want to spend $25 on an all-inclusive dinner. This is th best place to eat in Jack London Square and I work near here and have lots of experience with the options.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved it!Had a great lunch! The menu was varied and very interesting. There were 4 of us, and 3 of us had the 3 course, $20.00 lunch special, that included a choice from 2 items for the appetizer and main course. Appetizers were great, and for the main I had the roasted pork with white beans an salsa verde, delicious! 2 people had the scallops for their main course, pan seared and set on a bed of fresh fava beans and peas and they said they were perfectly done and delicious. Interior is contemporary but warm, and very comfortable. Great service and ambiance, location wonderful, and easy to get to from Marin, with underground parking nearby. Outdoor dining on a sunny day, looking at the bay, and the marina, would be ideal. We'll be back soon!6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMJack London Square EateryThis was our first visit to Boca Nova and won't be our last. The food was great as was the service. We learned about Boca Nova on Check Please Bay Area and it lived up to our expectations.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMFood tastes excellentThe ambiance is very nice, the service is very good, but the fantastic taste of the food is what makes Bocanova a top favorite for me. Steak, ribs, Mexican rice, jicama salad, quinoa salad all superb. My Midwest beef loving friend said its the best steak he's had in the East Bay. Of and leave room for the chocolate croissant bread pudding. Especially if you don't usually eat bread pudding, like me.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is one of the top 3 restaurantThis is one of the top 3 restaurants in Oakland. Go and appreciate the renewed spirit of Oakland. If you have not been to Oakland recently, you have not been to Oakland -- Jack London Square, Linden Street Brewery, Uptown. Go to Bocanova with someone you adore, share plates, enjoy conversation. If the black rice risotto is on the menu get it, same with the devilied eggs, any of the ceviche, and meats. Ask for Gerardo, the general manager, this man knows more about wine than you ever will. Tell him what you are eating, give him a price range and totally trust him -- he will bring you the best wine you can imagine and tell you all about what you are drinking ask about his wine club, which is the best deal ever. Can be crazy on weekends.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMInterestingI like going here as I am sure I will not be having things I make at home - Menu is very unusual and interesting ingredients are used well.5/27/2013 12:00:00 AMFood is goodWe have been here many times and the food has never disappointed us. The menu is both interesting and tasty.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food, Awesome ServiceWe were impressed with the great food, but even more so with the attentive and genuine service of the wait staff and hosts. We are definitely going back with kids and without.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome! (Again)This was our seventh or eighth visit to Bocanova and once again it exceeded our expectations. This time it was for a birthday gathering of close friends. The maitre d's were very accommodating, setting us up at a lovely table by the window. Despite the fact that there was a giant party going on on the other side of the restaurant, the service staff treated us like we were the only ones there. Let's face it, you can get great food at many places in the SFBA but for us, it's all about service, though we adore the food at Bocanova and have ordered almost everything on the menu. The mussels are my favorite - which shocks the heck out of me. Tonight we are returning again. Can't wait!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat FindThe food was great. The waitress had excellent recomendations and was very knowledgable about the dishes. I will definetly go back.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall, it was great. WeOverall, it was great. We all especially enjoyed the business lunch special. Drinks are a bit on the pricey side, however. But great dining experience and food was all excellent.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMI love this place.I've never had anything I didn't like here. Drinks, entrees, dessert, everything is amazing.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were overwhelmed with theWe were overwhelmed with the flavorful, yet subtle spices and accents to each dish. There were four of us each trying something different and we weren't disappointed in a single dish. The blending of south of the border spices added significantly to the appeal of everything we tried, from the oysters to start to the bread pudding for dessert.
A great Oakland restaurant - will definitely return.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of Oakland's gems (one caveat)I love everything about Bocanova, except for one thing. They have a great ambience, great staff and great food. But don't bring a vegan. They have been resistant to add a vegan option to the menu. They will work you, but this is Northern California and no menu should be without an option for non-meat eaters.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMRecommended to shareEverything I've eaten at Bocanova has been excellent. I recommend coming with a group and ordering lots of different things to share, so you can really see the range of their offerings.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutely love this restaurantAbsolutely love this restaurant ! Be sure to order the Spanish rice.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMA good place.Overall, our dining experience was very good. However I thought the pacing could stand some improvements. The staff was very accommodating . Good show! I will dine there again.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMYumI had seen this restaurant featured on Check Please Bay Area. I like going to places I've never been. I'll go back here!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good food and decor.Very good food and decor. Menu is mostly small plates, which is good because you get to try a lot of things. But watch out, those little plates add up quickly when you get the bill. A bit pricey, but worth it for a special occasion.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Latin American inspiredGreat Latin American inspired food, wonderful Jack London Square location, and efficient service all come together for a delightful dining experience. Lunch on the outdoor patio overlooking the Oakland estuary is a nice way to spend an afternoon. Dinner inside the nicely appointed restaurant provides a fun evening. Above all, the food is imaginative and tasty.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat night outGreat food and even greater service! Our waiter Jeff gave us awesome suggestions and we were happy with all of them. We will definitely be back soon!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMWe definitely would return!We definitely would return! Our waiter was well informed regarding the flavors of the lobster and white shrimp ceviche mixed with passion fruit, habanero - not too spicy - just a tingle. The flank steak with chimichurri was served as requested - medium rare and hot - just off the grill. And the Seasoned Papas Fritas were so crispy good! For dessert we had the chocolate croissant bread pudding topped with mexican chocolate ice cream - so yummy. The only not so good was the sangria - too bland and no fresh fruit.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and drinks.We dined here for a birthday celebration and everything was perfect. The service was a bit slow but everyone was friendly. Heat lamps make their outdoor dining a delight- even for me, always cold! We will definitely go back.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother good experienceAs always, excellent food. The menu is a bit shorter which is probably good, because it permits focus. Great service from Jeff, our waiter. The only disappointment was the chorizo-encrusted sole, which was a bit dry & tasteless. We have been here many times & always enjoy it.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat night outEnjoyed our meal. They were very accommodating when we increased the guest count at the last minute on a Saturday night.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMJack London RisingThis is an excellent restaurant that is raising the interest in visiting Jack London Square. Great food three visits in a row. A modern warm decor, open, spacious feel, but not too noisy. Great place for larger groups. Service is very good.Parking easy in the JL Square lot, valet available. Good place to share dishes...not a tapas place but flavors and portions large enough youare so good you want to share. What has been delicious? Flank streak with chimichuri, pork loin, slow roasted pork tamale presented in a reconstructed way, scallops to fire for, good dressing on the green salad, roasted beets, a layered sweet potato dishes, and more. My foodie girlfriend said she would let me take her back often!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMbusiness lunchFound the food and service to be supportive of a business meeting. Quiet. Service attentive but not overbearing. Have been there for dinner before and found food and service to be excellent. Their corkage is inappropriate for comparables. Ask manager to remove5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMLast minute score!Made a reservation about an hour before and had incredible pork, sweet potato gratin and beets - add a beer, warm night and sunset and all is good!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is to die for absolutelyThe food is to die for absolutely delicious! However, it is extremely expensive. The type of place you reserve for a very special occasion. Definitely recommend for a birthday or anniversary.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMI darn well was there! :-)I love Bocanova and don't get over to JLS nearly often enough. I had dinner there the other night. Had a wonderful time. And then was informed by OpenTable that I hadn't shown up. LOL
Don't worry. I'll be back. Your food is too good to hold a grudge.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGood food, service and atmosphere.Good food, service and atmosphere. Always happy with the results.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was one of those OaklandIt was one of those Oakland nights when you can sit outside and enjoy the sunset. I love the happy hour with the small bites and drinks.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were a group of 9 women.We were a group of 9 women. Food was very good, interesting. Service was also very good. This is our 3rd time here (as a group) over the course of the past 3 years and it is enjoyable each time we go.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMImpeccable service, inventiveImpeccable service, inventive and flawlessly prepared pan American menu, surprisingly intimate atmosphere in a beautifully designed space: outside and inside dining equally rewarding experiences.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMThey were very accommodatingThey were very accommodating with my no fat, no sugar diet regimen. Food was exquisitely prepared and presented....flavors danced on my palate even with elimination of fat and sugar. Loved that they had a dessert for health minded diners....meyer lemon sorbet with quinoa crisp....GO BOCANOVA! Will be returning Friday, 4/19/13 with my daughter.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMI have eaten at Bocanova manyI have eaten at Bocanova many times and have always enjoyed both the food and the environment but I must say that my lunch of Carnitas Tacos on Monday was the BEST meal I have had there....it was delicious....service was very good as well.....4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMVery well managed restaurant.Very well managed restaurant. Plenty of help and attentive staff.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMwe sate at a table in thewe sate at a table in the smaller room that was not close to other tables so it was very quiet. the food was fabulous, ceviche and ahi tuna!!!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFood is very good. Nice OaklandFood is very good. Nice Oakland waterfront location. Had a very pleasant outdoor lunch. Friendly service. We will be back.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a great place for lunch!What a great place for lunch! Or a Group! Or a couple! The atmosphere is welcoming, staff well informed, service great, and all 5 of us thought our meals were great. Not difficult to hear at all--at least at lunch. Look forward to going back again.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutely great unique foodAbsolutely great unique food - Latin fusion. Just a lot of fun4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMFood presentation and flavorFood presentation and flavor is excellent...service has always been just right. Great Bloody Mary for brunch!4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMLocation, food, ambienceWhat a great evening with friends at a restaurant that we'd none been to. From the service to the food to the view...excellent. Tasty creations on the menu that are all approachable and yet unique, flavors that allow the food to shine, no heavy sauces just enough to enhance the flavors. A truly delicious meal that I look forward to having again!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWas a great experience andWas a great experience and very friendly staff and quite competent.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMDon't Miss Bocanova!We keep going back and back to Bocanova. We discover something "new" each time. A favorite!4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMOUTSTANDING....Chez PanisseOUTSTANDING....Chez Panisse had a fire and we lucked out by changing our reservation to Bocanova!!4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExceeded expectationsFood was really great. Had the quinoa salad with duck confit, papas fritas and the braised lamb shank main dish. All were very tasty, and I would order them again. I like the design and architecture and the ambience of the place. Was there on a Sunday night and it was not very crowded so noise was not an issue. have no idea what it would be like if it were full, which I imagine it gets given the great food and location - right on Jack London Square so many of the tables have views of the water. Service was attentive.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWe are so glad this restaurantWe are so glad this restaurant chose the Jack London Square area. The food and service are just perfect. Not to be missed is the Quinoa Salad with Duck Confit--amazingly delicious.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AM