We've been to a lot of tiki bars and this one ranks with the best. Not quite the lavish atmosphere of Smuggler's Cove or Hala Pele or as kitschy as Foundation but great neighborhood vibe, excellent drinks and plenty of seating. I'd knock off half a star for bar food. It's well-prepared but basically a bunch of fried stuff. Not tiki at all. But since some of the places we've been had no food at all, at least it was something to soak up the overproof rum. Tiki fan or just looking for a good place to grab a drink, you will be happy with Forbidden Island.

I can tell you that this is our favorite tiki bar in all California. My husband and I love it a lot. The drinks are amazing, and there are too many different options in the menu, I guess we tried all of them already , our favorite the "monkeypod" ( I guess its the correct name). The vibe is incredible, music, service, food 1000% recommended to visit, the servers are super friendly, we love that place, I wish to live more close, any time we plan to go we have to Uber to go back home, drinks are strong and sweet. DO NOT DRIVE AFTER 3 lol.

We arrived just before midnight, so the kitchen was closed. The place was packed. They were able to accommodate our party of 5. It had a nice vibe, and the staff was super friendly. The drinks were phenomenal. I'm looking forward to visiting this establishment soon.

Great atmosphere, plenty of COVID precautions. Definitely my favorite tiki bar I’ve been to! The fries are pretty great and the drinks are amazing! Make sure you make a reservation

Great place. Love the drinks. Waitress and bar tenders were great.

+6

A fantastic tiki bar in the Bay Area. Drinks are well made, staff is friendly, and the vibe is perfect. Sometimes they have live music (at least pre-COVID). You seriously can't go wrong with anything here.

Always a phenomenal time at Forbidden Island!! Excellent drinks, service, staff, and ambiance!!

I was impressed by atmosphere and long list of cocktails. Strongly recommend this place.

I sat outside but the guacamole and drinks were great. Try the fries with the Japanese bbq sauce!

Forbidden Island Tiki Bar is such a fun spot. I went as the designated driver and had the non-alcoholic versions of the colada and mai tai, and both were surprisingly delicious. The tropical décor is fantastic, with a great vibe both inside and in the outdoor seating area. I’ll definitely be back to try the full cocktails next time.

The most meticulously reproduced cocktails from the best of the best around the globe, this place is incredible. The owner has hand selected from 150 rums, selected original music, and even a small TV runs vintage shows in the corner. Make a reservation. It is nestled in a residential neighborhood so please keep the noise down till you are actually in the Island.

Went on a Saturday afternoon. Back patio was lovely, good shade, good vibes, very friendly and attentive service. We took our dog and the lovely staff brought him treats several times over. Drinks were delicious, I don't like too sweet and there were several options that fit my taste.

Tiki lounge in Alameda with classic decor. Focused on classic rum based drinks and some variations. The staff were attentive and made excellent recommendations. Not a restaurant at all, but they have basic food service. Chamborlada was a surprise favorite at the table. Drink menu is somewhat limited due to supply chain issues--no macadamia nut liquor :(. Making a reservation is a good idea as when we went on a Wednesday night there was only one table available.

The drinks here are so delicious! We really enjoyed having a couple drinks here the other night. I would definitely recommend everyone to try it. I had the Forbidden Island signature cocktail and the Pina colada with almond liquor. Both were so flavorful and mixed so well!

Visited this tiki bar on the 75th Anniversary of the Mai Tai. It was packed. Loved the polinesian-Disney environment. However, there are many bills on the ceiling that would make this place super flammable. Staff is friendly but were serving drinks slowly. Drinks are good (SF prices). Luis (bartender) treated us well.

+2

These island style drinks are top notch and super tasty. The staff is very attentive and smiley ☺️ try the Tradewinds mmmmm.....

+6

One of the very oldest, original, tiki bars. Atmosphere for days. Amazing service. Drinks are stellar. Bar food is reasonably good and just the sort you'd expect. (Coconut shrimp, egg rolls, etc)

This was my first time here, it was very fun, really glad we got a booth, the staff was great, the drinks were fabulous. I'll definitely go back when I'm in town.

We need more tiki places. This one is a shining example of a great tiki bar. I’ve never left thirsty feeling like I’ve needed more

Wonderful tiki bar. Gorgeous back yard. Booths. Long bar. Solid menu of classics and unique creations. Worth the trip.

Heck yeah. Everything about this place is awesome. Put faith in your server and let them craft your cocktail.

One of my favorite spots! Staff is so friendly and drinks are amazing!

Probably the second best tiki bar in the Bay area. The drink menu keeps evolving but the bartenders can make you a classic tiki drink as well. Hard to beat the atmosphere, there are a few booths, a few tables, and a long bar in the dimly lit interior and a fairly large patio area out back. Food options are limited to fryer snacks, but we're here for the drinks. The patio closes at 9 due to neighborhood noise restrictions.

Dazed as you pull your head out of the sand, you'll be glad that you washed up on this forbidden island. The drinks are spectacular, the ambience perfect! They even expanded outside so you can enjoy a cocktail in the sun.

Wow! What an incredible Tiki bar! This place has it all: good atmosphere, good drinks, and most importantly excellent people. This establishment stands head and shoulders above the other tiki establishments in the Bay Area. Try the Java Jungle for a fun mix of rum and coffee.

Awesome place for some drinks. Small but nice. I just wish they played reggae music there but I guess the theme is all 1950s 1960s but other than that it's a great place definitely will return

Very cool experience... Friendly staff. Great drinks. You need to have a Mai Tai and then a rum tasting flight.

Nice drink menu with fun atmosphere. They really have the COVID thing down - open and well spaced seating and great service! It gets busy but they take reservations. Definitely recommend booking ahead if you’re visiting over the weekend. Snacks are also great! The fries were amazing!!

Outstanding tiki experience! The best “Painkiller” cocktails. Highly recommend it for a fun experience. This place is a gem.

On our 3rd day of a Bay Area tiki bar crawl, we found ourselves at Forbidden Island. I can not speak highly enough of their cocktail program. Our group had 8 different drinks and each one was phenomenal! The staff geeked out with us about all things tiki and the owner even took time to chat. I would be in serious financial trouble if this was in my backyard. 10/10

Great tiki bar with inside and outdoor spaces, make a reservation for indoor seating! Small food menu, which includes several vegetarian options, and extensive tiki drink selection. We go here often and the staff is welcoming and friendly. There’s always good music and I highly recommend checking it out!

Awesome place to grab a drink to pretend to be in a tropical 🏝️. Great vibes. Go when the weather is a little humid, breezy and warm,😃

Ohmygod! A Tiki Bar I didn't hate! They were super friendly and the drinks were delicious! The decor is on point and the crowd isn't obnoxious. We went around 10 on a Friday and while there wasn't anywhere to sit, it still wasn't uncomfortable. And the people that worked there didn't seem put out that they were working at a Tiki Bar. They seemed to enjoy it!

+2

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Always wanted to come here, and definitely worth it! Cocktails are delicious and STRONG! Haha, Great place for a tik bar! Who knew they had food! Made it even better, But the service was awesome! Definitely have to come back again. 😊

+1

Great vibe, friendly service, yummy coconut shrimp & huge drink variety (Old Cuban, Zombie & Rum & coke)! First time, thought so would check it out with a friend on a Wednesday night-surprisingly it was pack, had to wait for a seat to clear up. Not sure why this place has such low stars. Would love to take my husband here !

This place has a great vibe. Pretty drinks, strong drinks, tasty drinks, I have no complaints. Great place to be with a fun atmosphere. The food is decent and very reasonably priced. I got fried coconut butter shrimp and mozzarella sticks which were good. Definitely a great place to check out with friends.

We came here for drinks and enjoyed every second. The drinks were tall and delicious. They do serve food but I don't know what. Service was friendly and professional. Next time I'm getting some food!

+5

Whoa! Every time I go there I say “only have one drink” but that never happens and I leave saying “thank god I can walk home (sorta). 🥴” The Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge offers a captivating escape into a world of exotic ambiance and tropical delight. From the moment you step through the doors, you're transported to an island paradise with its intricately designed decor, complete with bamboo, thatch, and tiki carvings. The menu boasts a wide array of expertly crafted cocktails, each a unique concoction of flavors that transport your taste buds to far-off shores. The staff's enthusiasm and knowledge about the tiki culture further enhance the experience, making every visit a memorable journey. Whether you're a tiki enthusiast or just seeking a vibrant and immersive night out, the Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge promises an enchanting getaway that's hard to forget. Absolutely, the highlight of the Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge experience is undoubtedly their exceptional signature drink. Crafted with precision and artistry, this beverage embodies the essence of the tiki culture and the lounge's unique charm. Served in a stunning vessel adorned with tropical garnishes, the Forbidden Island Signature Drink is a delightful blend of flavors that encapsulates the spirit of the lounge itself. It's a must-try for anyone looking to fully immerse themselves in the enchanting world of tiki indulgence.

Tiki bars done right are a great joy of mine. I have become a connoisseur of sorts after visiting bars across the country and amassing a tiki mug collection. Forbidden island is not the best of these but it is executed very well and the drinks are good. One of the other big positives is that the staff is so friendly. Go check it out!

Forbidden island is my Jam! I even celebrated my birthday here with my Bay Area Best Friends. Hurricanes and MaiTais for everybody. The staff is super friendly and the food is splendid (always order the coconut shrimp Yummm) 😍 If the weather is nice make sure you enjoy the back patio for good vibes and great sunshine.

We always have a great experience here. The staff are so friendly and helpful and the drinks are great! We particularly love the navy grog and the colada with macadamia nut liquor added.

Best Mai Tai's period. Coolest Tiki Bar ever. It's best to make reservations. They have an outside patio but inside is the best. Put a dollar on on the ceiling!

Best Tiki Bar in the area! The owner is a Greek-American and truly amazing! I really love the atmosphere, both inside and out, and the cocktails are fantastic!!!! This has become my favorite place!!!

Amazing place, best tiki bar I've been to period. Good vibes great staff with a soul and personality. No legit 'meals' but the snacks are tasty and complement the theme well. If you're going alcohol free they do have an assortment of their drinks that you can get sans booze which is awesome (no weird side menu) and those are honestly great in their own right too! Try to come here every time I'm in the area :D

I have been visiting for over 15 years and definitely a lot has changed as everything does. What has remained the same is every drink prepared is lovingly crafted and in my experience the wait staff are on top of things and very nice (big shot shout out to Autumn who we've worked with for many years). I think the outdoor space is nice but the indoor space is where I feel at home. I've spent hours playing games there, enjoying the otherworldly feeling of the tiki bar, and drinks. It was for many year our perfect escape. It was the place where nothing else could bring me down. I miss it.

Meticulously crafted historically accurate Tiki drinks with carefully curated music makes for a journey back in time to 1960s Hawaii

Forbidden Island is a fun, small and accessible alternative to the larger tiki bars in the bay area. The drinks are creative and delicious (try the Ryetious Coup if you want to branch out from rum based drinks!!) and tasty bar snacks. Pair this with a welcoming atmosphere, cozy and protected back patio and prices that won't make you wince at the concept of going for a spontaneous night out, and you've got yourself a hell of an option. If you're ready to have the equivalent of a quiet night in for tiki, this is your spot. Don't miss it.

Amazing restaurant the man over the phone even got my name, right when I set a reservation for March 6th!! I highly suggest going to this place. The people over the phone are very friendly from my one minute of time speaking with him I highly suggest this restaurant

Got here a little early on a Friday. The place filled up pretty quickly, but was nice an comfy for the first hour. Tables are on a 90 min turn time for 1-2, or 60 minutes for 3-4 during peak times. Strong merch program, wonderful drinks. Honestly my second favorite tiki bar in the Bay area of the 6 I visited. Definitely get the signature drink in signature mug. Having corn dogs was great fun. Large back patio and bar. Absolutely will be back.

+6

Artemis Huntsman

This is a super cute bar, would love to try it out in the summertime when able to sit outside where there is much more space! But tons of cool stuff to look at inside too. The drinks have a skull rating for strength of alcohol and they are NOT kidding lol the Mai Tai was super strong so I definitely preferred my sweeter 1 skull drink that was easy. Chips to guacamole ratio was perfect and the chips warm and crispy. Staff nice. $60 for everything pictured including tax + tip

Amy Harris

My girlfriends & I absolutely loved being able to come and visit before & after our trip to visit the hot tub boats today. The staff was so kind & welcoming to us, the drinks were superb & the location was so convenient, we couldn’t have asked for anything more. I recommend the Monkeypod drink above all else. We can’t wait to visit again, thanks for having us!

Andito Vega

I do not live here, but I think I found my spot when I come to visit. I beleive our cocktail expert's name was Kathryn but I'm not sure as we forgot to ask her directly before we left. She was a great host and all the drinks were delicious. Next time I may try a barrel. The food was good. The chips with guacamole and also the nuggest were great. Skip the corn dogs lol, you're here for drinks anyway. The vibe was hella cool.

Migy Thebeast

The atmosphere is light and feels like you're on vacation, friendly staff that is very attentive. Drinks are to die for . Rule of thumb try something different every time you visit. Food wise is not bad but it is limited to deep fried fair again not bad at all just look limited. Every rum can be served like a cocktail (mai tai , daquair,or a ti tea ) for a 3 dollar charge. Very cool Merch,from tiki mugs to bowling shirts. Come with the intention to relax and enjoy your visit to the Island .

Kip Abell

This place rocks! I’ve been several times and will continue coming back. Great cocktails, great bar food, great atmosphere, and servers that are always happy and helpful. Make a reservation in advance if you can though. It fills up.

Katherine Keel Leary

We tried to book a table using their online reservations and when nothing on a Saturday was open, I called to check availability. We were graciously told that they would make room for our party of four and when we arrived 15 min later, we were seated quickly. Our server was as professional and considerate as he was handsome! We were given excellent recommendations for amazing drinks that were at once well balanced, creative, and well executed. 10/10 - we will come back every time we are in the area! Thank you, Forbidden Island!

Stormy F

Always a blast with delicious drinks and a wonderful staff who is fun and attentive to needs! Don't know what you want? Ask for a recommendation! You won't be disappointed!

Arianna Clyde

What can I say, this place is amazing. The drinks are incredible, and I really appreciate the skull and crossbones indicators that show how strong they are. More than once at a different tiki bar, I’ve made the mistake of not realizing how strong a cocktail was until I was halfway through. We love Justin (aka Miami Dave). He makes innovative cocktails, and I think the recent menu changes, including some of Justin’s originals, were a big improvement. Really all of the bartenders are great. Drinks can run a little higher than a standard cocktail bar, maybe by a dollar or two, but they’re creative, delicious, and absolutely worth it. The bar food is totally reasonable, and the ambiance is fun. We love bringing friends from out of town because it's always a hit, and we’ll definitely keep going back.

Cathrin Finney

This is an excellent tiki bar. Great drinks--huge drinks menu of diverse offerings. Good food--not a huge food menu, but if you are hungry, you will not starve! The service is excellent. Top notch staff. Decor 10/10. Bring a buck to tuck into the ceiling!

J

If you wanna feel like youre in Hawaii or another tropical island with great drinks, coconut shrimp and guac then come here. Every inch of this place is well decorated and feels like youre on vacation. My friends and family come here regularly. They also have mocktails :) also they have a special menu for sundays.

Maurice Ramirez

For my Alameda Restaurant Week coverage, I couldn't skip Forbidden Island, which might be the best place to have a drink in Alameda. It's the most fun spot without a doubt. The bartenders are salty in a good way, adding character to the experience. The tiki statues and garden out back create an immersive atmosphere. Just watch how many drinks you have - you might find yourself underwater if you're not careful with their potent cocktails.

+1

Matee Manakitivipart

Cozy and enchanting tiki lounge 🍹 Looks can be deceiving, their outside looks somewhat plain and dive-ey, but the inside is literally a whole different world. Their tiki ambiance is one of the most charming out there, with creative and tasty drinks to match. I love visiting with friends to just take in the laid back atmosphere and enjoy the evening. Forbidden Island has a particular vibe that no other tiki bar seems to share, definitely worth a visit!

Crystal Sims Old email

Posted a review already. Just incase it didn't show I will do it again:) My husband found this little place while I was on a travel nurse assignment. It is a fun and quirky place. Both indoor and outdoor seating, large variety of fun tiki drinks, small bites menu. They were setting up for a DJ. You can do a walk-in, but reservations are highly recommended.

+10

Sharmili Roy

Woooo what an ambiance. Lovely place. Small but cute. Do reservations before you go otherwise getting a table will be difficult since it's always full. Loved their drink menu and many options. My favorite was Chi Chi. The side food was good to Guatemala with chips that were so fresh and the fries were very crispy. The service was not that great since . We asked for a spoon and they got us almost after an hour. Otherwise this place is a must go place.

+7

Francesca Thomas

Cute little bar in a residential area. If you drive by too quickly, you might miss it. I visited with a few friends on a Saturday evening and had a very nice time on the outside patio. I tried the chambolada and the rum barrel and one friend tried the hurricane. All of the drinks were good and the atmosphere was nice and relaxed. I highly recommend reservations.

+6

Kelly Drake

Very fun and wild place. Their drinks are awesome but their food is fair. Nice outdoor heaters cut the chill. Staff and servers were excellent. We were lucky to find street parking across the street. Highly recommend getting reservations!!!!! Their Monkeypod was the best drink we tried, yummy. Excellent selection of drinks. I can not wait until we can return.

+25

The tropical tiki like setting was exotic and fun place to share drinks such as mai tai's and Navy Grog. The tasty drinks were potentially powerful so you we'll get buzzed right away and should not drive afterwards. Food was just bar food like corn dogs and chicken wings so not a place for dinner.

The service is the highlight of this neighborhood tiki bar. There is limited seating so make a res. There is a back garden but not as fun as the bar. The TV with Gilligan's island in the background is a cute touch.

The tiki vibes here are on point! The drinks are strong, creative, and beautifully presented—loved the Mai Tai. The place gets packed, so service can be slow, but the bartenders know their stuff. The decor is awesome, like stepping into a retro island escape. Only downside? It’s not a food spot, so don’t come hungry.

I love themed bars and tiki bars are among the top of my list. This place is fairly small, but we were able to squeeze ourselves at the bar. We got the scorpion bowl to share and before you drink it, they sprinkle cinnamon to make the flames go up like magic. The scorpion bowl is cool because it's large bowl that you drink out of with giant straws. Not sure how much alcohol was in this because I didn't feel that drunk afterwards, but it tasted really good. Only get this if you like punch and sugar because it's pretty sweet. Overall, the drink is good and it has a fun tiki atmosphere with dollars hanging from the bar roof for some reason.

Felt like I just walked into the Regal Beagle with Jack Tripper. Cool vibe. Intimidating Top Shelf. With that said, drinks are not cheap. The bar nosh selection was very limited. Actual chicken wings would have been nice. Drinks were creative and the servers and manager/owner-looking guy was helpful in making suggestions. My only ding was that mgr/owner guy, in my opinion, became a little too comfortable with us and seemed to forget the proprietor/consumer relationship. I’ll leave it at that. Would I return? 7/10 chance.

Friendly staff and fun decor. My drunk wasn't half bad either. I had a Boo Loo and it was plenty strong. Nice to have a little gem like this on the island.

+2

This tiki bar was fun. Very cool decor. Great drinks! Good ambiance. Friendly staff, despite that It got real busy on a Friday night. Got to enjoy the ouside scenery. Only downfall was that the outside patio closed early because the residential neighborhood. I get it. Will definitely return again. The waitress with the red moo moo and red-framed glasses earns 8 stars. She was wonderful!!

Went there on Sunday afternoon with some friends and the inside wasn't open yet, they were only serving outside. They have a really cool outdoor area but the seats weren't really that comfortable to me. They have more comfortable seats but only for reservations. Drinks were delicious and the staff was great, very nice people!

Very Tiki. Ceiling was covered in bills, which is didn't really like the look of. The drinks were fine but you definetly need to like rum. Rum was in everything. Happy hour menu was decent. Lighting was a bit dark, seats were comfortable. I do recoend it for a quick place to stop, probably not somewhere I'd spend many hours though.

Popped in around 2:30 on Saturday and got a quick seat at the bar. My partner got the Forbidden Island special, I got the Rum Barrel - both were tasty drinks. Bar food did the job but was nothing special. Mozz sticks pretty straight forward, gratefully cooked all the way through. Coconut shrimp was more crumb covering that coconut. We sat inside but would have chosen the patio if given another chance. It got packed almost immediately with larger birthday parties.

Great decor and atmosphere to boot. Servers were fast and friendly made our party feel welcomed. This is a awesome spot to check out for only the drinks. Very tasty and well balanced drinks. The food is very average and definitely would skip. Id recommend eat and then come here for drinks.

Turnstyle Vintage Group

Really cool tiki bar atmosphere, love the menu that uses 1-4 Skulls on their menu to denote the strength of the cocktails. Service was good, though a bit aloof, I almost felt talked down to? As a veteran of the wine & spirits industry, I appreciate authentic enthusiasm for new methods of creating beautiful cocktails! I don't love clipped or snide descriptions of their methods, assuming that one wouldn't understand anything about their process. That said, I know that the servers and bar were gearing up/ prepping for a big event that evening, so forgiveness and understanding of the challenges is totally necessary. I recommend this place for its liveliness and dedication to creating innovative and delicious cocktails. Just Go there. It's a good place.

Mary Freilich

Cute place. Went at 5:00 and would have needed a reservation to get a table inside. Our host let us sit at a booth since we were there just briefly before a flight. Drinks were delicious and our host did an amazing job explaining the favorites. The food was ok. Coconut shrimp was good. Hummus was good but pita chips were not great (out of a box). Opportunity to upgrade this part of the dish.

Aakash Mhankale

Nice ambience and variety of drinks. Loved the drinks menu a lot to choose from. I tried 5💀level drinks n was not that boozy i felt they can add more alcohol i think. Good for nice first date, Kichen closed when we arrived around 11PM. The bar closes at 12PM on weekend too 🥲.

+35

-A 20% tip Place was great, host was polite. But... Our server had a stick up his attitude the whole evening. Entitled, eyerolling, you know the type. Tossing passive aggressive details about Hawaii, the tropics, and bartending in deflection to questions regarding the drinks. Being both Hawaiian and a bartender I don't appreciate an entitled attitude from someone who apparently knew little of either. But, I shrug it off with a smile because I am from hospitality. For the last offense: the server runs our card and states: "There's a $33 service fee." Me: "A service fee?" Server: "Yes" then hits zero percent tip and offers receipt. Gratuity comes for being treated with class. And fixed additional charges are described BEFORE transactions. As a bar, I'm sure you know this. To those who feel indisputably entitled to 20% of your sales, regardless of your service, this is for you.

We love coming to Forbidden Island and especially enjoy the Chamborada. I would say though that I really hate the debit card penalty here and the fees that get pulled out of your account immediately that then take a few days to come back into your account. My partner and I shared a duo cocktail together that had a $300 ($300!!) deposit fee for the glassware that it was served in, plus another fee since a debit card was used. We ended up totaling a $66 tab, but over $300 in deposit fees. I implore the management here to find a better system that doesn’t feel so predatory on peoples bank accounts. We just paid rent this week and wanted to go out for a drink or two, but it ended up leaving my partner with only $15 in their bank account until the deposit will come back to us after the weekend. I’m just really disappointed to deal with this each time we want to go to Forbidden Island because we truly do enjoy it here. Not everyone has credit cards or wants to use them for going out, an alternative solution to this would be so great to see.

Ok. Old and not real tidy. Very cool atmosphere. Drinks were expensive and ok.

They cater to your regulars. And walk-ins don't get the same sort of welcome vibe- if you will. Drinks are strong. Seating is limited. The decorations are nice, but the bar itself seems really dirty.

Very cute place although seating indoors is SUPER DARK lol outside seating worked better for me. You enjoy the beautiful Alameda weather, and good music. Friendly staff I ordered 1950s zombie it was strong as described tasted ok, not a fan of the syrups they used tho. Overall cute spot, wouldn’t come here if you don’t like strong drinks or coconut 🥥 I found that a lot of drinks have coconut in them.

This place had an interesting aesthetic. The inside is quite dark. Drinks a little on the pricey side. Not the usual full bar variety; they focus mainly on their branded specialty cocktails.

Small but ok tiki bar. Definitely a good spot for locals from what it seemed. Place had a very funky smell about it when I walked in which was unpleasant. Their signature cocktail, the zombie village, was very tasty but service was slow

+6

Max Upp

Amazing drinks and super cool inside atmosphere. The experience though was lacking. We called ahead and were on the list for our party and then were sent to the outside deck on our arrival which was very cold and quiet. After a bit we were invited inside where it felt like the real experience started. Overall a mid experience kind of time with a lot of potential.

+1

Nice Vibe, slow service, food is average. We like Tiki drinks, so we drove all the way from Pleasanton to check out the place after seeing the good reviews!!!!.. We ordered 5 drinks..you hear me 5 drinks with different mix..All of them taste the same with less or more liquor percentage and super sugary taste.

Booked a reservation for this place for 6. One friend cancelled at the last minute and they seated us at a small booth which was cramped for 5 big guys. There was an open lounge area which would have more comfortably sat us but we were directed to the booth. Was hard to get service. There seemed to be one server for 20 tables. We ordered 3 rounds of drinks over the course of 2 hours and were told we had to leave because the next group was coming in 20 minutes. We spent 25 minutes trying to get the check but the server never came and didn't notice me signaling. Never would have come to this spot if I'd expected this kind of service, which is why I'm leaving the review. Not a 4.5 star place. 2 stars. Updating this based on response from the owner: To be fair, we were walked over to the lounge area, then it seemed some discussion was had between staff and we were moved back toward the booth. The lounge area looked like it could sit more than 6 so I assumed it was being held as well, which is why I did not ask to be seated there. However it was unused the entire time we were there, leading to me including that fact in my review. There were 5 people on staff at the bar, but only 1 server. I'm sure I could have been more assertive in getting the attention of the host, but otherwise, during that period, everyone was busy.

Love that they have outdoor seating and heat lamps but that's about it. $18 for a hot spiced cider is on the high side and 48 minutes between getting one drink dropped off and having a server check in on my single self at the outdoor seating makes one feel like an afterthought instead of a priority. I'm not sure how the three other parties (consisting of 3 or more people) were checked in on, but my experience as a solo person was definitely subpar.