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Palmetto, Oakland, CA

Palmetto

4.7
4.7
386 Reviews
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Palmetto, located across the street from the historic Fox Theater, is a restaurant and bar featuring New American cuisine and classic cocktails in a hip and welcoming atmosphere.
Palmetto's kitchen, under Chef Manny Bonilla (The Kon-Tiki, Hawker Fare), creates shareable plates that are packed with flavor inspired by his East Bay upbringing and his Filipino and Salvadoran heritage.
Traditional dishes like steak tartare, shrimp cocktail and ribeye steak are enhanced by citrus, spice, and exotic fruits and herbs.
Palmetto's cocktail program, curated by Beverage Director Jeanie Grant, brings together fresh ingredients and beautiful spirits to create new flavors and lighthearted takes on classics. Guests are encouraged to explore a range of spirits from around the world.

Reservations are for dinner only and bar seating is available on a first come first serve basis.

Join us next door (Thursdays through Sundays) at our sister bar, The Kon-Tiki Room at Palmetto.


Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 14 times today

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Californian, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon, Thu, Sun 5:30 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:30 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (510) 817-4002
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Manny Bonilla
  • Private party facilities
    Please call us at 510 817 4002 for parties of 10 or more. Thank you!
  • Neighborhood
    Oakland
  • Cross street
    Telegraph Ave at 19th st.
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    19th St. Oakland Bart Station.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Offers

  • Vermouth Happy Hour

    Multiple dates available
    Sun - Mon - 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM,Thu - Sat - 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    Come join us Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 5:30 to 7 for our Vermouth Happy Hour. We feature a selection of refreshing vermouths from around the world, some offered on the rocks while others are served spritz style. Small bites are also on the menu. It's a perfect way to end a work day or kick off a meal at Palmetto, Vermouth Happy Hour is available at the bar and at seated tables.

    Vermouth Happy Hour Photo

What 386 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • East Bay

    Best Service

  • East Bay

    Contemporary American

386 Reviews
  1. Sarwar23

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall1food2service2ambience2
    We went here here before a concert at Fox Theater. The drinks were not great nor was the food. The little gems salad was so salty we couldn’t finish it. After sharing a meal and one drink each, we spent over $100. The service was also not great. We won’t be back. Very sad because on a Saturday night in a great location, this place had the chance to be amazing!

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  2. JPAgustus

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    The corn, fries, and salad was absolutely delicious! The trout and steak were good entrees. Drinks were solid!

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  3. TheMix

    San Francisco

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on September 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Ok…my new fav in Oakland. EVERYTHING was sooo good! The greeting was friendly, the table was comfortable, the server was great-explained everything and was efficient. We started with cocktails and fries. Fries tell you how the rest of the meal will be, and these were perfect! Then…the tempura corn on the cob….0mg-they even brought towelettes! Then we shared mussels-in some delicious cream sauce we wanted to slurp up or ask to bottle to go, then the pork chop-perfectly cooked, the chicken (enough for 2-3 people), the ahi tuna-seared just right so mostly raw, and the king trumpet mushroom—which was a very pleasing and beautiful main course. Couldn’t skip dessert, so shared this thing called a Concord grape cobbler which was served on a small cast iron skillet. It was so buttery and yummy we couldn’t finish it. One of the best meals in months! Can’t wait to return!

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  4. JasonM

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 31, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great experience! Loved the food, the drinks, and the staff. We'll be back!

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  5. OpenTable Diner

    Austin

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 30, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Everything was really good. Food was a little bit on the salty side but it’s not like it wasn’t good or anything. Overall we had the best time there and would come back again!

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  6. Campion

    Las Vegas

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    What a fantastic meal. Nothing missed. Favorites included Tempura Corn, Braised Greens, Hamachi Crudo. We will return!

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  7. MichaelS

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    One hundred million thousand stars. Give Cat a raise!!!

    Is this helpful?

  8. EmilyN

    Seattle

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great experience! Just a bad neighborhood. Unfortunately my car got broken into when it was parked just across the street.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    Great food and decent service. Waitress was super helpful with ordering for our number of people - wasn’t overselling so we didn’t feel ripped off even though it’s a more expensive restaurant.

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  10. bsue

    Denver

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food and drinks were delicious and the service excellent b!

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  11. HarryV

    San Francisco

    23 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on August 18, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Small plates, limited menu…………………………………………………z……..

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  12. Brad

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 17, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    Their new tapas-style menu was fantastic. Our service was wonderful. My one piece of feedback is drinks, while palatable they aren't the most balanced.

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  13. AliyahH

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 16, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Great for a cute date! Birthday dinner or night out for drinks. The dinner menu is unique and very delicious. They have something for every diet.

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  14. JATP

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Extremely pleased with every single dish we tried. 5 stars definitely!

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  15. Starlight77

    San Francisco

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 9, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    I was so happy to see a new restaurant in this space. The environment is super art deco Miami meets the inner city. Drinks are very inventive, spirit forward and a unique mix of flavors. The Little Gem Salad, New York Steak and mussels are amazing. Where Palmetto shines is desert!! Holy moly panna cotta and sea salt chocolate cookies with sweet cream. WOW. Cherry on top.

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  16. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on August 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and amazing service. We will be going back. Highly recommend the steak!

    Is this helpful?

  17. GeoffW

    San Francisco

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 30, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Great. Service was perfect. Loved the cornbread and the cocktails.

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  18. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 28, 2023

    overall4food3service4ambience5
    The decor and ambiance are great, very cute retro vibes. The customer service was also very great! They’re really responsive via OpenTable. I accidentally booked the reservation for the wrong date and had to update the reservation size and they were very prompt and timely in their response. The staff was also very friendly and checked on the group throughout the service. The downside was that the meals too a while to come out, we felt like the food tasted mediocre we all tried something different. The exceptions were the Chicharrones chicken, little gem salad, and muscles which was a hit with our group. Overall it’s worth trying!

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  19. AaronS

    San Francisco

    13 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on July 28, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Definitely interesting and unique dishes. Our favorite were the cornbread and pork chop. Oh and the cocktails were very yum.

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  20. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 25, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Absolutely Amazing experience. I would return for sure

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  21. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 23, 2023

    overall2food4service2ambience2
    Went for dinner for my birthday, before a show across the street with my Wife. We were dumped off at a booth across from a propped open door and the server pay station. The menu was never explained, nor were we told of any specials or recommendations. Drinks were muddy and tasted wrong. Only plus was that the Mushrooms were the Bomb! Thanks for the pen!

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  22. GlennK

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on July 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food, great service.

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  23. MaryGo

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I enjoyed this meal in this space and with this wait staff. My food was delicious!

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  24. AllyM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This place was so great. The flavors POPPED. We loved the Hamachi Crudo and shrimp cocktail. But the real winner was the NY strip--specifically the sauce. It's a bit spicy but we loved it that way. I loved Palmetto and can't wait to go back.

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  25. Tori

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 28, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    The ambiance is probably my favorite thing about Palmetto. The lighting, foliage and music are really nice. The food is pretty good too, my friends and I absolutely love the mussels. I never liked mussels before and these are probably the ones I’ll eat tbh. My only wish is that it was served with pasta lol everything is served family style and shareable. The cornbread was also smackin

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  26. CeciliaK

    New York Area

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing customer service and food was comforting and really delicious. Really great wine selection. The vibe and decor were the cherry on top!

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  27. Eddie

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Very good vibe. Our server (Tamarra) was very attentive and a very nice person. The food was fantastic and timely. I will definitely make another visit there!

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  28. Local23

    Hawaii

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    10/10 would recomend, the food was AWESOME, our server may have quite possibly been the best server we've ever had. She was AWESOME. GO HERE BEFORE A SHOW AT THE FOX

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  29. Alycat

    New York Area

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on June 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I'd forgotten all a bout this place. I was a fan of Flora, its previous incarnation, and hadn't gotten much of a chance to check out Palmetto before the pandemic. Extremely happy this restaurant survived. There's fantastic service, well balanced cocktails and an expansive menu full of goodies for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. The portions are also really spot. Lastly, I appreciate the ethnic diversity of the customer base, something thats becoming harder and harder to find in Oakland.

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  30. Lisa

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful Father’s Day dinner, excellent cocktails, wonderful food, love the new share menu. We will be back soon!

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  31. JulesG

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fabulous food and service! Very busy, but they kept things moving efficiently. Great cocktails. The tempura corn on the cob is AMAZING.

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  32. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This is my second time here and improve it. I enjoy the friendly staff and the braised greens & cornbread.

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  33. DavidW

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful meal. Interesting menu... loved the escargot and the mussels.

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  34. BellaB

    San Francisco

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 15, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Relaxed retro vibe, quality food, amazing service and bustling energy

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  35. EllenF

    New York Area

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 12, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    We had a lovely evening and enjoyed the service and food very much. We will come back.

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  36. EllenG

    San Francisco

    17 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on June 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I’ve been to this restaurant twice before and it never disappoints. This time we ordered the Prime Rib (Wednesday special), and it just melted in your mouth. Cocktails were yummy as well. Try the corn bread!

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  37. CulinaryMuse

    San Francisco

    39 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    39 reviews

    Dined on June 7, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    We hadn't been to Palmetto since 2021 when it first had opened after the world shutdown. It was the perfect choice to return for a pre-theatre meal before a show at The Paramount. Food and service were spot on! Highly recommend.

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  38. MRyder

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Charming, interesting, innovative menu, upbeat staff, GREAT tableside manner, excellent food, perfect amount and pacing of attention, equal degrees of fun and quality: high!

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  39. Arftango

    San Francisco

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on June 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Our server was spot on with her recommendations. It’s a unique menu and meant to be shared. Tried the corn, chicken and mussels and each was a wow experience. The location across street from the Fox Theater where we had tickets to an event later was great. Great service, great food and fun atmosphere.

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  40. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The hostess, our waitstaff were above and beyond. Food and wine great. Wonderful experience.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

Palmetto is rated 4.7 stars by 386 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 14 times today
Google Map for Palmetto

1900 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Telegraph Ave at 19th st.
  • Neighborhood
    Oakland
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Mon, Thu, Sun 5:30 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:30 pm–10:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Californian, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    19th St. Oakland Bart Station.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Manny Bonilla
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (510) 817-4002
  • Private party facilities
    Please call us at 510 817 4002 for parties of 10 or more. Thank you!
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