Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in East Bay

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in East Bay? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Luna Ristorante - Concord

5.0

5 (474)

$30 and under

Italian

Concord

About the restaurant

“I’m the owner and the chef, so I’m always here,” he says in his lyrical Mediterranean accent. “It’s nice to do business with locals.”

Jacifi describes his menu as a blend of new and old: “You get old-school tastes with a modern presentation.” The restaurant specializes in northern and southern Italian standards like saltimbocca, chicken cacciatore, and risotto. But the eighteen-year-old Luna takes these familiar dishes very seriously. Redoune, partner and co-chef Hafid Tadri, and co-chef Habib Jacifi don’t so much replicate the old standards as define them.

Take the fettuccini with Bolognese sauce. Many restaurants make a Bolognese; few do it well. Like the sly smile on the lips of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous lady, this brick red sauce reveals a depth of character beyond its simple appearance. Carrots, celery, and onions add a layer of sweetness, while bacon contributes a sultry, meaty backbone.

Top review

andervip

Dined 3 days ago

Been coming here for years. Long before it was on the food-scene radar. Between the two of us we’ve tried all of the staples and love the seasonal dishes. A true diamond in the rough. Must go. 🇮🇹

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4.9

4.9 (412)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Fremont

About the restaurant

In the early 50’s, nestled in between the eucalyptus trees and rich farmlands of what is now Fremont, there came to be a friendly place where local farmers and their families could meet and share their stories.

Over the years, this unique hideaway became known for its splendid food and even an occasional drop or two of cider. It also became known as the town meeting place, where one could listen to the “Old Timers” tell many stories about life in the Old West, Mining in the Sierras, and the Wild & Wooly days on the Docks of SF.

Since what is now Warm Springs Blvd used to be the primary route between SF and Santa Cruz, many out of town visitors made this a favorite rest stop during their journeys. It was a place to get a good meal, quench ones’ thirst, and tell a few stories. As time went by, it was only natural that this delightful town meeting place came to be known, as it still is today, as Spin-A-Yarn.

Top review

Larry

Dined 3 days ago

Fantastic food and amazing service. The short ruib dinner was excellent.

Nonni's Bistro

4.8

4.8 (1288)

$30 and under

European

Pleasanton

About the restaurant

Come join us at Nonni's where you are part of the family. Our food is always made from scratch and is always from the heart.

Top review

sheri

Dined on Aug 22, 2024

Our food was very good. The service was excellent! Great ambiance. I will be back to try dinner.

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Popular dish

French Onion Soup

Passione Emporio

4.8

4.8 (178)

$31 to $50

Italian

Berkeley

About the restaurant

What does Emporio mean? It’s market where you can get a variety of things you need. Today in small villages in Italy, the Emporio is the center of life. Villagers visit the Emporio daily to socialize, share local happenings, and get their local fresh goods, cheese, pasta, sandwiches, and bread.

Passione is bringing a little piece of Italian small village life to you, here in Berkley. Our mission at Passione Emporio is to create a neighborhood restaurant that has the same feel of community and quality as old village Emporios. We source only the best local ingredients and craft them with traditional Italian recipes to make delicious food, with vegan options, along with an authentic array of Italian and locally sourced food and wine.

Our rotating wine bar offers a selection of Italian, Californian and European wines and beers with Prosecco at the center of the list to accompany Italian salami and cheese plates during happy hour.

Top review

Timothy

Dined on Aug 18, 2024

Great pizza and cozy location in West Berkeley. The service was fine. Although the pistachio gelato was fantastic, the cannoli was dry.

Mi Casa Grill

4.8

4.8 (38)

$30 and under

Mexican

Richmond

About the restaurant

Traditional Mexican & Latin American cuisine with a modern flare

Top review

MahaH

Dined on Aug 1, 2024

Great colorful food with good ingredients. Drinks are made with fresh lemon juice and can be adjusted for sweetness (I dislike sweet drinks so appreciate any bartender that’s willing to adjust). Jennifer was a great server and bartender. Will return, great option and looking forward to brunch. Only thing it can get loud if kids are in the restaurant so outside might be a good option if noisy.

Zaya Thai Pantry

4.8

4.8 (92)

$30 and under

Thai

Danville

About the restaurant

Upscale Thai restaurant with full bar located in in the back of the clock tower building in downtown Danville. We offer a lot of gluten free options and also vegetarian options are available per your request. Spicy level can be adjusted from mild to Thai spicy. You can select indoor-outdoor seating

Top review

Liz

Dined 3 days ago

Been here many times and food is always excellent.

Chianti's

4.6

4.6 (775)

$30 and under

Italian

Brentwood

About the restaurant

In its chic and inviting eatery, Chianti's Ristorante serves classic Italian fare with passion and know-how. Appetizers include the prawns sautéed in a white wine pesto sauce, toasted bruschetta and the salmon carpaccio with mozzarella and capers. Chianti's Ristorante's house specialties include the hearty meatballs with spaghetti in a peppery tomato sauce, the baby manila clams with linguini, the chicken gorgonzola with apples, mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes and the Italian sausage cannelloni. A vast selection of vegetarian dishes abound, with options like artichoke stuffed ravioli, pasta primavera and the classic eggplant parmesan being just a couple of the tasty highlights. Enjoy Chianti's Ristorante's luscious tiramisu, made with espresso drenched ladyfingers and mascarpone cream, with a rich cup of cappuccino. For a wonderful night out filled with authentic and delicious Italian cuisine, Chianti's Ristorante does it best.

Top review

Patty

Dined on Sep 8, 2024

Excellent service. Generous portion sizes. Great presentation. Very good flavor.

MUA

4.5

4.5 (1352)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Oakland

About the restaurant

MUA is known for its open atmosphere, eclectic décor, art events and, of course, its delicious food. Ideal for large parties or intimate gatherings, the spacious dining room creates a relaxed, casual vibe for guests to enjoy their meals. A large selection of wines, cocktails and beers make MUA a great spot for an evening out with friends.

Family owned and run Mua was one of the first restaurants to open in what was then Auto Row in Oakland, in 2008. After their first 2 restaurants, Pastoral in Berkeley (first opened in 1982 while still students, 37 in the architecture program at Cal and San-Ju painting at SFAI) then later Soizic (Jack London Square, 1996), they wanted to shift gears from heavily curated menus to more comfort-based fare catering more to the eclectic and artistic community in Oakland. Today you’ll find people of all ages and backgrounds, from Too Short to Jerry Brown.

Top review

Betsy

Dined 2 days ago

The servers and the DJ. Absolutely amazing appetizers

Experience Burma

4.5

4.5 (169)

$30 and under

Burmese

Pleasanton

About the restaurant

Our restaurant provides unique Burmese Asian fusion made by very experienced chefs. We are very pleased to bring our cuisines to Pleasanton Downtown Area and neighboring towns. We hope to serve the customers not only to give extraordinary services but also our culture and food.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Jul 27, 2024

Wonderful experience and staff! Very friendly and enthusiastic! We had a super great time!

The Brass Door

4.2

4.2 (907)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

San Ramon

About the restaurant

Our menu features USDA Choice, Midwestern, Corn Fed Beef, fresh seafood, fresh pasta, spectacular soups and salads and daily "blue plate" specials. Prime Rib is our specialty.
We are "the local meeting place" for business and social events in the San Ramon Valley. It is a place where generation after generation of families has come to meet friends and family. It is a place where newcomers to the valley soon become old friends.
The Brass Door, formerly known as the 8/5 Club, was established by Howard Schlesinger in 1946. It was originally a six-stool bar and 20-person dining facility. Schlesinger's son, Mickey, and his partner Dick Basso bought the club in 1955. Soon after, they renamed the club The Brass Door. Over the years, the partners expanded the facility to include a 20-stool bar, 50-seater cocktail lounge and a dining area for 160 guests. Following a brief closure in 1994 due to a fire, the restaurant was rebuilt from its original location.

Top review

Chris

Dined on Sep 8, 2024

Great food and drinks... Service was SLOW and it wasn't crowded. But food and drinks made up for the long wait.

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