PlumA great night at PlumPlum was a lot of fun. We sat at the kitchen-bar and watched the food being prepared. The staff was very engaging and took great care of us. Manfred, the executive chef, was particularly enjoyable, to talk to, to watch him prepare our food, and then eating what he prepared. It was my most enjoyable meal out in a long time. I will definitely go back. The menu is constantly changing, except for the burger, so with each trip I have something very different, and often things that I have never had before. It is a welcome addition to Oakland's Uptown neighborhood. It is also convenient for dining before attending events at The Sound Room, the Paramount Theater or the Fox Theater.6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall dining at Plum wasOverall dining at Plum was a very good experience. The space is very stylish without being over the top. The service was very good. We sat at the bar surrounding the kitchen and really enjoyed watching the work being done while we ate. The food was really wonderful. The flavors were complex and unique and sophisticated, but at the same time the food was very simple. Pork Loin, Cod, etc. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys food and welcomes a little surprise with each dish.6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecify seating when reservingWhen the two of us arrived for our reservation we were told we'd be sitting at the bar/chef's table. The host explained that any seating is considered in a reservation - which I think is kind of odd. Anyway, the host was able to switch us to a table for two. Going forward I'll have to remember specify "no bar". The menu is limited but the food is great!6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMFine dining at a reasonable priceFood is always so well put together here - fresh ingredients, not too much fat or oil, thoughtful pairings. They make great cocktails. The chef's table is great if you want to watch your dish get put together and learn a few tips from the pros. All around great experience.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat date nightWonderful food service and show.we were. Seated at the bar and got to enjoy all the dishes being prepared quite entertaing as well as learned a bit thank you6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMNear-PerfectWhat a great experience! We sat at the chef's bar, chatted up Chef and his team. Great experience from our perfect appetizers to the scrumptious dessert. We'll be back!5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazingI came with some Venezuelan friends and they LOVED it ♥5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary with friendsAt the last minute we changed our reservation from 4 people to 6 and they were very accomodating. Between the six of us, we had the squid appetizer, asparagus appetizer, green garlic/potato soup, pork entree and cod entree. We all sampled everything and the only thing I would change is for the cod to be less salty (& I'm a salt lover). Delicious!5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMNice ExperienceOur first time at Plum we were seated at the counter facing the open kitchen, where we got to watch Chef Wrembel, his obviously experienced crew of 3, and one trainee, execute during a busy dinner hour like a well oiled machine. The menu choices, though limited, were unique, flavorful, and well presented. Chef Wrembel and his staff were solicitous throughout, making sure the food was to our liking. Would return for a special occasion.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMNot a foodieEntree portions were small but well executed. Friendly ambiance. Person at the next table let me taste her squid ceviche style appetizer which was creative and excellent.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGourmet all the wayExcellent food prepared innovatively. Service excellent and wine list has wide selection boutique wines. The waiter was able to offer good guidance through the list. There is alsio a counter for dining that overlooks the open kitchen. Plum Bar next door is large with an innovative bar menu of delicious food. The vibe in both places is kind of hipster and the dining room music was a bit percussive, not relaxing.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMPlum is one of the very fewPlum is one of the very few restaurants that really delivers exquisite flavor combinations. Many restaurants think they know how to do this, but their dishes do not sing. Plum's dishes sing.
A bit pricey for the portion size, but I can deal.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent foodie find in OaklandI'm new to the neighborhood so I was thrilled to find Plum. Everything about our experience was excellent. I can't recommend it enough. It is worth a trip from SF too.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMYum!Small menu, but something for everyone. Loved the shared seasonal appetizers: asparagus; homemade ricotta and fava; butter lettuce. Hard seats are a minus, but service was a plus.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMRandom date nightTrolled OpenTable, found a spot at Plum. I had heard about it, but never made the time. Glad we did! Sat at the "Chef's Table", best seat in the house, especially if you are into the process. Talked to the cooks and got a really intricate perspective on the food and philosophy. Plum avoids tons of butter and cream which allows you to eat a 3 course meal and still feel good. Had a cold squid dish, and a farro with poached egg dish for starters. Had a cod dish and guinea hen for mains. Shared a half bottle of Peay Pinot and finished with a delicious chocolate tart and coffee. Every bite had tons of thought that went into the balance of texture, temperature, acid, and salt. Great meal. Haven't had food like that since last summer in Paris!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMa little treasureWhat a find. We loved it. Excellent food and the service was perfect and very pleasant.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWe will be back again soonfood and service were magnificent! Very inventive cocktails5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMYummy foodWe found wait persons very thoughtful and helpful about food allergies. We felt well cared for from the very start and even more as dinner progressed. Everything we ate was delicious. We both left feeling very satisfied and happy which is rare with such restrictive diets. Thank you to these wonderful young people.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious. . . food and wine were lovely at this neighborhood gem. Seating is hard wooden seats that are uncomfortable (at least to my dining party). Otherwise, a place to go back to again.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat flavors, small portionsI had the Butter beans and kale soup/goulash which had crunchy pieces of bread on top and was delicious. The appetizer mixed green salad had a unique tangy dressing and the apasragus was a great mix of flavor and crunch. However, the portions were all quite small. I am not a large eater, nor a large person, but I would have expected a bit more for the main course. The server was friendly , the food was excellent and the decor arty but low key. Oh, one more thing, maybe some pillows for the wooden benches?. The back of the seats was a bit too far away to lean against, I am 5'8" , so one had to slump to reach them (not such great ergnomics) and they were a bit hard against my boney spine. Thanks.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome!!What a wonderful experience wehad. I had been to Coi and was a little disappointed as it was so much more formal than i was expecting. I hadn't visited Plum when it first opened because of that experience but too many people told me how great it was...how right they all were. We sat at the chef's bar/table- and wouldn't have had it any other way. We felt likes royalty without the formaility. The food was terirfic, the asparagus- amazing! I would go back in a heart beat- actually can't wait to go back.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMHigh expectations/mixed resultsPlum is a fine restaurant in up and coming Uptown Oakland. We enjoyed being there and the food was good. Some dishes were a little over-salted, but still tasty. The first glass of wine recommended by the server was very ordinary, but he made up for it with another from a bottle not on the by-the-glass menu. It also took 3 requests to get our bread and olive oil (delicious), and the party that sat next to us well after we arrived got theirs before we finally did. Only other complaint is the very hard wooden benches and chairs. Chairs are also heavy and hard to move. But a friendly, lively atmosphere made the dinner fun and worthwhile.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat burger, outstanding dessertThe Plum burger is super delicious, as was the housemade ricotta appetizer. But the real star of the evening was the chocolate tart with caramel and sea salt. One of those desserts you'll dream about for weeks to come! I find Plum's food a little fussy, but it is consistently good and didn't find the prices unreasonable.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMSecond visit, and it was asSecond visit, and it was as outstanding as the first. This is a "do not miss" restaurant on the Bay Area food scene.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMYou have to try this place!We dine out 3-4 times/month usually in SF. It was only because we were attending a show in Oakland that I chose a restaurant there. Plum was a wonderful surprise! The wine list is impressive; cocktails are imaginative and great tasting; appetizers and entrees were innovative and every bite revealed the complexity, interaction and melding of carefully selected ingredients. To round out our enjoyable experience, our server was attentive to getting us out the door to meet our show time schedule.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMA fabulous find for the mostA fabulous find for the most creative and beautifully presented food I have had since Cyrus closed. In fact the Rock Cod was the most memorable fish I have had in 50 years!I urge everyone who reads this to try this astounding restaurant in revitalized Oakland.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMAte at the chef's counterAte at the chef's counter for the first time. The cooks were all very nice in offering recommendations and explanations. New manager in training Russell was very personable and accommodating. A very pleasant evening. Thanks!4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe enjoyed the dinner -- IWe enjoyed the dinner -- I had the lamb; my guest had the duck. Service was speedy. Desserts were outstanding. We ate early before the theatre (with a reservation,of course), and the staff accommodated us without prompting.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMPlum is Phenomenal!This place is phenomenal. I sat at the chef's counter with my brother. We had incredible food, wine and service. The chef's were entertaining to watch and brought us special additional plates of food. The ambience was perfect-not stuck up but the food was totally fit for foodies. I will definitely go back. Everyone was so generous and the whole evening was perfect.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMGood times. We ate at theGood times. We ate at the end of the counter overseeing the kitchen staff, much hustle. Great homemade ricotta, fried oysters, lamb shoulder stew. We'll be back when we're in the neighborhood - close to the Fox Theatre.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMIt's really a lovely placeIt's really a lovely place for a simple, straightforward meal with excellent food. Not at all pretentious. Excellent wines, and they understand what they are serving. We've been there three times. No complaints!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMI love this restaurant. TheI love this restaurant. The food is always excellent and the service great.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Food and Staff RocksWe were looking for a place to catch an early dinner before heading to the airport hotel when we stumbled upon Plum online. The neighborhood around this restaurant has undergone a makeover which intrigued us to see urban renewal at work. Also, the menu on the website and restaurant photos looked interesting. The restaurant was quiet when we arrived so we had a choice of seats and chose to sit at a bar like area where we could see our food being prepared and talk with the kitchen staff. While our burger and lamb were excellent, we also enjoyed the friendly staff who explained a lot of what they were doing. My guess is that this would not be possible in the middle of a rush but we found it fun anyway.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, great service,Great food, great service, friendly place. Would recommend it to anyone. May become my Cheers spot in the Bay Area.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMThe menu has recently undergoneThe menu has recently undergone some revisions and they are all for the better. The food was spectacular. Lamb, duck, cauliflower, gnocchi, coconut cake. Every bite of each was amazing. Food lovers go and sit at the open kitchen and watch the magic.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely food but way too noisy.Lovely food but way too noisy. Not much point if conversation is part of what we go out for. We are glad to have tried Plum but won't be back3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMour first visit would definitelyour first visit would definitely go back, seating could use some improvement. Very hard and not great back support!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMA classy thing to do!Food great but took a long time for a cocktail to come and it came at the end of the meal- so we didn't drink it and they comped us the drink. That was the classy thing to do.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food with interestingGreat food with interesting combinations -- never thought I'd like rutabaga soup but it was wonderful!3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMPlum was amazing! CreativePlum was amazing! Creative and thoughtfully prepared, each dish was memorable. Pork belly , rye spaetzle appetizers were great. Rock Cod, lamb shoulder, duck confit, and burger were the four entrees devoured at our table.service was attentive but not intrusive. This is a place you will come back to again and again.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMPlum sat us at the Chef'sPlum sat us at the Chef's counter; my friend and I are a real handful...questioning every plate, dissecting each flavor and finally hearing the chef's input - what a special treat!Pork belly and duck confit spectacular with the local vineyard Zinfandel(Urbana). I was impressed by the perfect lil' pockets of Gnocchi glazed "crisply" on one side sitting in a perfect sauce of peas, pistachio and mint. Yummy!
The chocolate tart was the perfect topper to my BIRTHDAY dinner.
Thank you Plum!3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful find! Lovely ambiance,Wonderful find! Lovely ambiance, surprisingly creative and delightful food. Plan to return soon.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a great birthday dinnerHad a great birthday dinner here. Spaetzle were tender and flavorful with charred cabbage and apple slices, rated one of the best dishes ever by my discerning son. Burger was excellent, juicy and flavorful. Rock cod was cooked perfectly and served with tender fava beans and fennel. Desserts did not disappoint. Serving waiter was excellent though bar was a bit slow and initial glass of wine was turned. Waiter quickly and unquestioningly replaced it. Sit at the "Chef's table" to watch the chefs at work in a smooth dance.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had such a great time.We had such a great time. We went on a Wednesday and the two of us sat at the chef's counter and had a front row seat to watch Chef Manfred and his crew. He was incredibly friendly and gracious, answering our questions and making sure we were happy. His enthusiasm and exactitude were fun to watch. It was a good idea for us to get there early-ish (6:30) so that it was quiet enough for us to be able to chat with him. The staff was also incredibly nice and knowledgable.
And the food! We ordered 4 appetizers -- the cauliflower, the beef tongue, the spaetzle, and the pork belly. They were all delicious and beautifully presented. The chef also gave us a sample of the rutabaga soup -- what a nice surprise!3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWe sat at the bar and it wasWe sat at the bar and it was fun to watch the chefs prepare the dishes. The pork belly dish was outstanding, as was the duck confit. However, the onion risotto was a little bit underwhelming and plain. It really needed something else. But the service was great, and the ambiance was nice, and I would definitely go back!3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful all round, apartWonderful all round, apart from the fact that we had a couple sitting next to us, who spoke VERY loudly! As the tables are so close, it really disrupted the flow of our own conversation. This is something that is not really under the restaurant's control, apart from maybe moving tables further apart.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMA memorable experienceHaving dinner at Plum was a wonderful treat. I was greeted very warmly (by a man who I think is probably the owner). I arrived early so went to the Plum bar. The atmosphere is inviting, with gorgeous lighting and a subtle but very interesting decor. I liked the images of incandescent light bulbs behind the bar and the shelves with what appeared to be miniature replicas of science lab equipment. Made me think of scientific discovery, while watching the bartender made me think about alchemy and wizardry. My martini was perfect! Later on, dinner with my friend was also perfect. While some patrons may be unhappy with the small portions, I was delighted with the delicious and beautiful food and great wine. A memorable experience.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent meal! My fiancéExcellent meal! My fiancé brought me for my birthday and it was an absolutely delicious meal. The service was a little uneven, but every dish we had was fantastic, and the cocktails were incredible.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMUptown Oakland up-and-comer?Tucked away on Broadway in Uptown Oakland, Plum offers inventive dishes and a decent selection of spirits. My wife and I chose the beef tongue carpaccio and winter (rutabaga) soup for appetizers. Both were delicious, but the carpaccio was the standout. For our main courses, we had the halibut and risotto. The halibut, with fingerling potatoes and greens, was somewhat plain and overcooked to the point of dryness over most of the filet. The risotto was cooked to perfection, but was also seasoned somewhat timidly - a little oregano, please? All in all, we enjoyed Plum, perhaps a little less than Camino or Duende or even Chop, but we will certainly return. Overlooking the fish, solid four stars.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMMy friend and I had a lovelyMy friend and I had a lovely experience at Plum this weekend. We were greeted warmly and provided with some bubbly to ease our short wait while our table was set. Our waiter was attentive and patient, as it took us a while to figure out the game plan...and he looked a little like Robert Downey, Jr., which is always a good thing. We appreciated that he took really great care of us. The food was extremely yummy across all the dishes we ordered. I have been to Plum a few times. The place isn't inexpensive, but I have consistently been served great food. It is one of my Oakland favorites.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AM