Top Hatters Kitchen & Bar

I can’t stop telling people about this restaurant! It’s hip, chic, but accessible - perfect for San Leandro. Went with a openness to try recommendations and was not disappointed in the slightest with what our waiter suggested. We loved the tissue bread, savory donuts, street corn, rice cakes and scallops. All had wonderful combinations of flavors and textures. The cocktails were excellent and the dessert donuts were great too. All around wonderful experience.

Food is very very different. Which at times was refreshing and adventurous, but also not relatable and many times I did not know what I was eating. The star was the savory donuts with bacon. The rice cake was good. The chutney on the prawns was way too minty. Cocktails were weak and the service was terrible. As the review in the Chronicle said food started coming before our cocktails, two dishes in fact. When the second dish came we asked for our cocktails from a separate waitress that took our order. She immediately came back with them, were they waiting at the bar? The wait staff tried to explain dishes but seemed not well versed or experience. Hopefully things will improve. The patio seating was delightful as we were able to carry on a conversation very easily. On our way out through the restaurant the noise level was extremely high.

Too Hatter is a beautiful restaurant bathed in sunlight and greenery somehow hidden below the 580 but conjured into this world out of a dream not possible in the densely packed streets of San Francisco. I had a terrific Mai Tai and whatever Chard they had on tap with the oxtail, chopped clams, ricotta donuts, and something panna cotta like for dessert. It was all delicious with great friendly service and I’ll be back to check in soon. Also, I pulled up and parked across the street with minimal effort and the commute from Oakland took all of 10 minutes.

On a balmy evening try sitting outdoors, where it’s quieter (good for conversation) and there are ample heaters. All dishes I’ve had so far (in 2 visits) are excellent. But it’s the ones that are complex combinations of multiple flavors, textures and ingredients—like a whole bowlful of different, dazzling amuse bouche—that are most delightful to the palate...like the rice cakes dish or the panna cotta dessert (the latter to my mind is better even than the famous donuts). My dinner partner raved about the smashed crepe salad. We loved the chopped clams (a hearty portion) too even though neither of us thought we liked clams that much (our server wisely recommended it). The portions are on the modest side but pay attention and linger over them for maximum gustatory effect. I plan to take all my friends here.

An excellent experience!

Terrific new place in San Leandro. Food was inventive and distinct -- we enjoyed every morsel! We loved the outdoor patio and the service was warm and attentive but never intrusive. Lovely cocktails. A bit pricey for the neighborhood but worth the splurge.

Really good; hectic service (things came out weird order, and some stuff was mixed) but they warned us before hand not like we where surprised.

This restaurant was a VERY NICE surprise! Beautifully decorated inside and great atmosphere! But the best part is the food and the people. Amazing customer service from the busboy, the server and the bartender! Even the owner came to say hello. The food was amazing, oxtail and the shrimp. The bread is a must have!

We are definitely coming back.

We finally have a place in San Leandro to brag about and take our San Francisco visitors.
Thank you DanVy and team.

Great new neighborhood place with exquisite food. We’ve had the entire menu and excited to see it change seasonally. The owner/chef is very welcoming and humble. Don’t miss the clams, oxtails, and of course the doughnuts - the savory and the sweet.

Wonderful place. Amazing flavors and atmosphere. New go to.

Wonderful food and great service!

One of the best kept secrets in san leandro. Nice, clean and amazing food

Menu is innovative and combines microwaving layers of flavor in unique and delicious ways. There is a Vietnamese influence but is in no way traditional Vietnamese food. The dinner cost $80 + drinks and tip. So it was a good value for the food quality.

First time here. The staff are superb and super friendly without being clingy. Very laid back vibe. Cool location with the building being an old hat factory. Nice call on keeping the original sign. The cocktails are excellent. Very original. All the food we had was well prepared and tasty. My only picky issue is that the menu does not have any more typical fare. Everything is very creative which is fun but sometimes you just want to know you are getting something you are familiar with. I know I know. Then I shouldn't go but the pate is worth it alone. Would it be too much to ask to offer a burger or a nice salad with chicken? I will go back regardless.

Another outstanding dinner with our friends. Second time here and super good again. Started with chopped clams, head on shrimp, ricotta doughnuts, and bread with fresh dill and fennel. Entrees of oxtails with polenta, and scallops with risotto. Finished with panicotti. We’ll be back and make sure you make a reservation. They also have outdoor seating.

Excellent experience. Food was delicious. Service was exceptional.

Very creative dishes prepared well. Attentive service. She's done a great job of renovating the sure.

Food served was out of sync to the table. Salad arrived very late compared to meal and it the guest main course. Had to remind staff of the tissue bread order

Great service - great food - very friendly staff. Great service - great food - very friendly staff.

This delightful new indoor/outdoor dining spot is situated at the former location of a venerated hat store.
It has loads of lovely windows, a spacious patio and an inventive Asian/Nouveaux fusion menu.

The Hemp Seed and Hen of the Woods Pate was divine. It was rich n smooth and plentiful and beautiful. The pickled veggies and fruits made perfect compliment.

The Octopus n Potatoes was good. I prefer my octopus a bit less cooked but otherwise it was fairly tasty and plentiful.

The Chopped Clams and Herbs were good too but the Herbs need to be julienned tether than chopped. The House made rice cakes were savory and plentiful.

This was our first trip here for some snacks and a drink.
This menu invites more exploration.

The Game Hen and Roasted Pork Platters are calling me back.

Nice resturant but after finishing appetizers we ordered next course. My wife's came and nothing for me. She finished and still nothing. Mentioned to our waiter and after another 20 minutes we asked for the check. They did bring my order to take out and did not charge me. We will go back.

The food is very inventive and well done. The portions are in the small side but the quality of the ingredients is so high, it’s understandable.

This is exactly the kid of place that would fit in Oakland or SF and I’m so happy the owner chose to have the restaurant in San Leandro.

The mushroom & hemp seed pâté was delicious. Very filling for being vegetarian.

My grandmother & I both loved the fried shoestring parsnips on the hen of the woods entrée. Sweet & savory.

Our server was very gracious and accommodating.

I've been here several times already and love this place. Food is delicious and the presentation is beautiful. Service is great

Beautiful place with amazing food. Must try the cauliflower and hen of the woods dish. Love the clams, hang salad and spicy lentils and yams. Drinks are delicious as well.

It was a birthday celebration and everything was terrific.

Best new neighborhood restaurant. Fantastic menus, great service, beautiful ambience.

Wonderful new restaurant in San Leandro. Menu selections are NOT your meat and potatoes variety. We've been their twice. Portions are great for sharing. The Kitchen Garden salad is very tasty. Oxtail and grits was a small but very flavorful. Grilled Octopus, not for everyone, but we enjoyed it. But don't leave without having the Buttermilk Panna Cotta with tallow Short bread served with frozen peaches or grapefruit. Truly refreshing. Garth

My two young adult children were visiting from out of town and it will be my son’s 30th birthday so I wanted to take them to a nice meal and stay local here in SL. Sitting in the patio was awesome as it was a beautiful night. The server was gracious and our drinks came right away. I had been to Top Hatters about a month ago and had a good dining experience as far as menu items. I looked forward to my kids trying the stuffed cabbage rolls and an item called Birdnest something or other. Both items were not offered as items rotate. Because the items are unique both my kids asked me to order for all of us. The tissue bread was ordered 2x and that was good as was the hand salad however the other items I wouldn’t order again; oxtail gulf prawns and the hen in the woods which is a cauliflower dish. After tasting all three of the dishes I was disappointed. There wasn’t anything in the flavors that made me want to chow down. I ate one prawn and let my kids eat the remainder which they did. They were polite and said it was good but didn’t rave about the meal. I should mention we shared the ricotta donuts with the chocolate Earl Grey dipping sauce and those were delicious. I was excited about sharing my first experience at Too Hatters with my kids but unfortunately that didn’t in the second visit. I’m happy Top Hatters is here in SL but I’m not sure I’ll be returning anytime soon. I understand about menu rotation however there are draw backs when customers come in for favorites and they aren’t offered. I consider Top Hatters a limited menu so rotating two items off is significant and it personally left me feeling limited in my choices. It was order the oxtail or order the brisket and that was it for protein. I should say the Cocktails were good particularly the Bonnet Rouge

The dishes are creative and delicious. Cocktails inventive and also delightful.

Great addition to San Leandro food scene! Great venue, delicious dishes to share, incredible desserts and to top it off, the prices are very reasonable. We will definitely be back soon!

Great service and friendly, helpful staff. The food is adventurous but everything was delicious. We had the fried okra, the hand salad (loved the dressing), the octopus and the scallops. The octopus was meaty with great flavor from the grill. For dessert we had the mini doughnuts with dipping sauces. The chocolate sauce was to die for. The only complaint is that the sun was so bright it became uncomfortable and we had to change tables. This was handled graciously by the staff but they need shades.

Lovely setting, excellent service, tasty and unique dishes - maybe a tad too unique. However, the portions of everything we ordered were absurdly small for the price, more like appetizers - definitely not shareable which is what they encouraged. We actually ended up going home and eating sandwiches and dessert because we were literally starving. Gate to be harsh, but I have my doubts that this restaurant will be able to last unless changes are made.

Such a welcome addition to the neighborhood!
Tasty, interesting dishes, yummy cocktails, friendly service and great ambiance- what more could you ask for?!

Interesting and eclectic menu. Delicious cocktails (I tasted three tho only had one to myself). The server knew the menu well and was enthusiastic about recommending. Overall great experience. Will be back.

Creative and exquisite presentation of bursting flavors in every dish. The cocktails were expertly mixed to arrive at a perfect balance. It was an unexpectedly amazing culinary experience from the first drink to dessert in a serene, yet exciting setting. San Leandro just got its best restaurant! Enjoy!

Already have recommended to friends & plans to return! Absolutely loved it.

Delicious food and drinks! Staff was attentive and friendly. Patio seating was wonderful, they have heatlamps if you get cold. Can’t wait to go back!

Solid but not special.