Mägo

Enjoyed a lovely night out with a friend for a belated birthday dinner. Did the 7 course tasting and beverage pairing. All was delicious.

+4

Amazing food and drinks. They change their tasting menu daily! Food was fresh, unique, and I love how the chef incorporates seasonal vegetables. A new favorite spot.

Always so amazing! Our group got almost every cocktail on the menu as well as some N/A drinks and we were blown away! The preset menu had some strong South American influences, which was lovely. An eggplant arepa, shortribs with plantains and peppers. The menu is always changing, so I’ll be back! The patio is super cute and I felt fine with a light jacket on at night.

Loved the full meal & drink pairing. Everything in the 8-dish prix fix was absolutely excellent, but the arepa was truly magical. Compositions were inventive, yet flavor profiles were clean. The photo was of an octopus bite, representative of the care they put into presentation. The night I was there featured a smoked radicchio that I swear tasted exactly like pulled pork. Highly recommend this place!

This exceeds expectations and is an incredible value. Talent in every corner of this restaurant from design, beverage, service and culinary talent. This is 10 stars out of 5. If you’re on the fence, dive head first into this spot.

+5

Beautiful restaurant with great food. Loved the variety of the dishes and presentation. Will definitely come again !

+6

Chef Mark makes a mean 7 course meal, and the pairings are very well done. I hope they continue to have the non-alcoholic pairing as well.

My favorite restaurant in Oakland. Incredibly inspired cooking with a menu that changes daily. Well worth the price, it’s some of the most creative and delicious food you’ll find anywhere

+1

Incredible meal. The food is delicious and has a distinct point of view. Beverage pairings were thoughtful and interesting. Service was fun and attentive. Great value for the quality and experience. I highly recommend.

+5

Impressed with the testing menu! I’m not familiar with Colombian cuisine, so I can’t speak to how well it is incorporated into the dishes. But I can say that they were ALL delicious, with unique combinations of flavors and obviously high quality and flavorful NorCal ingredients, as touted. Everything was well- seasoned, prepared, and presented. Also, the staff was attentive and informative (and I daresay also good-looking). I will return for more!

+2

Beautiful presentations with a bountiful mix of beef, fish, octopus, and pork with two desserts to end the meal. The cocktails are masterfully made. One is refreshing with another that has a kick of spiciness. The ambiance is a bit casual with the open kitchen layout. You can see how your food is prep. The smokey smell from the bbq pit gives the food much more flavor. The service is prompt and always available. I would wholeheartedly recommend it for those special nights or if you want to dine by yourself.

+2

The food was off the hook, hella creative and delicious. The service was incredible, they took excellent care of us and even gave my partner a special birthday flan. Definitely recommend for a special night out, or just treat your damn self and let great people take care of you.

The Mago 2024 Oakland Restaurant Week suggestion was well calibrated and inviting. The atmosphere in this beautiful restaurant is serene and yet minimalist and well thought. You will appreciate the attention to detail and the presentation of the meals and beverages. Tasteful and modern. We loved it.

+2

My family and I drove from more than 50 miles to dine at Mägo for my birthday. It was very well worth it. The tasting menu was well crafted, with a good combination of plates and a hint of Caribbean/South American touches. We sat at the chef's counter and had a front row seat to the kitchen, watching the orchestration that goes into delivering the dishes. Highly recommended!

Came here during restaurant week and I already want to come back. Non alcoholic pairing was one of the best I’ve had so far. The food was also excellent. Menu was portioned well and I left full but not overly. Very friendly staff who spent time at our table with brief but memorable conversations.

After coming for some a la carte food and drinks I knew I had to come back for the tasting menu. I can say that it did not disappoint. Every bite showcased the creativeness and incredible flavors cooked up by the chefs…right in front of you in their kitchen concept. The NA pairing was also a phenomenal selection of fun and exotic flavors including some small batch and locally sourced items.

What an amazing tasting experience! So many Latin American ingredients and dishes presented in new and exciting ways. Each dish was better than the next. The pairing was perfect. Will be dreaming of the rock cod, the arepa, the rice pudding, the coconut rice ball, the sake, etc etc Lovely and welcoming service too. Everything was perfect. Definitely get the kitchen counter seats to watch the action!

Love the experience here. The food and service are amazing. We ordered a wine pairing as well. My fiance is vegetarian and they also have a vegetarian menu available as long as you inform them in advance. We're both amazed by food + experience! We had a great night there!

Amazing experience as always. We always sit at the kitchen counter as we love to watch everyone in action and see the excellent teamwork. Mark is a magician with both the food and his team. We had the tasting menu with pairings and the supplement. We love that the menu changes frequently and always has unique combinations and flavors. Each pairing is well thought out and balanced to bring out flavors in both the drink and the food. The team makes you feel very special and explains each item as they come to you. Mark, Rachel, Emily, Stephen, and crew never disappoint with their food, drinks, and atmosphere. Go there now!

The people at Mägo just get it. One of the best meals I've ever had in Oakland. We'll be dreaming of the Pickled Mackerel Caesar Salad forever. Not only that, but every dish one upped the one that came before it. Many of the items cooked on this charcoal grill that you see them cooking in front of you. The entire staff, from chef to server were world class people. It was such an awesome experience. My partner has an allergy to Strawberry and not only did they accommodate for that in one of the desserts, but she argued that it was probably better tasting than the strawberry version. I tasted both, she was wrong, but pick your battles, right? I cannot wait to come back. Also -- the cocktail I got was so freaking good. All in all, the best time to go to this restaurant was yesterday, the second best time is today. If you can, go.

The menu rotates so no point calling out specific dishes. Everything was beautifully balanced and portioned. Service was very friendly and warm. I asked them to slow down service so I could enjoy each course and they happily obliged. Left feeling satisfied but not too full. Ask for table 16 at the chef's table so you can people watch. Definitely go for the beverage pairing menu.

Wow. Incredible and unexpected. An absolute steal of a meal when compared to its peers. Cocktails were top notch, the service was great and the dishes were unique, charming, and delicious. The pairing menu was fun and on point. I will return asap before everyone discovers this gem and prices skyrocket/reservations become impossible. Thanks for the lovely meal!

Alejandro Troccoli

My family and I drove from more than 50 miles to dine at Mägo for my birthday. It was very well worth it. The tasting menu was well crafted, with a good combination of plates and a hint of Caribbean/South American touches. We sat at the chef's counter and had a front row seat to the kitchen, watching the orchestration that goes into delivering the dishes. Highly recommended!

Naj B

After coming for some a la carte food and drinks I knew I had to come back for the tasting menu. I can say that it did not disappoint. Every bite showcased the creativeness and incredible flavors cooked up by the chefs…right in front of you in their kitchen concept. The NA pairing was also a phenomenal selection of fun and exotic flavors including some small batch and locally sourced items.

E Lee

Came here during restaurant week and I already want to come back. Non alcoholic pairing was one of the best I’ve had so far. The food was also excellent. Menu was portioned well and I left full but not overly. Very friendly staff who spent time at our table with brief but memorable conversations.

Silva Skenderi-Brown

What an amazing tasting experience! So many Latin American ingredients and dishes presented in new and exciting ways. Each dish was better than the next. The pairing was perfect. Will be dreaming of the rock cod, the arepa, the rice pudding, the coconut rice ball, the sake, etc etc Lovely and welcoming service too. Everything was perfect. Definitely get the kitchen counter seats to watch the action!

Kirsten T

Love the experience here. The food and service are amazing. We ordered a wine pairing as well. My fiance is vegetarian and they also have a vegetarian menu available as long as you inform them in advance. We're both amazed by food + experience! We had a great night there!

Meryl Bailey

Just wonderful - everything a tasting menu should be. The food and service were outstanding. This is our new special occasion place.

Barbara Brownell

Amazing experience as always. We always sit at the kitchen counter as we love to watch everyone in action and see the excellent teamwork. Mark is a magician with both the food and his team. We had the tasting menu with pairings and the supplement. We love that the menu changes frequently and always has unique combinations and flavors. Each pairing is well thought out and balanced to bring out flavors in both the drink and the food. The team makes you feel very special and explains each item as they come to you. Mark, Rachel, Emily, Stephen, and crew never disappoint with their food, drinks, and atmosphere. Go there now!

Evan Calip

The people at Mägo just get it. One of the best meals I've ever had in Oakland. We'll be dreaming of the Pickled Mackerel Caesar Salad forever. Not only that, but every dish one upped the one that came before it. Many of the items cooked on this charcoal grill that you see them cooking in front of you. The entire staff, from chef to server were world class people. It was such an awesome experience. My partner has an allergy to Strawberry and not only did they accommodate for that in one of the desserts, but she argued that it was probably better tasting than the strawberry version. I tasted both, she was wrong, but pick your battles, right? I cannot wait to come back. Also -- the cocktail I got was so freaking good. All in all, the best time to go to this restaurant was yesterday, the second best time is today. If you can, go.

Vivek Nair

The menu rotates so no point calling out specific dishes. Everything was beautifully balanced and portioned. Service was very friendly and warm. I asked them to slow down service so I could enjoy each course and they happily obliged. Left feeling satisfied but not too full. Ask for table 16 at the chef's table so you can people watch. Definitely go for the beverage pairing menu.

Gabriel Sinkin

Wow. Incredible and unexpected. An absolute steal of a meal when compared to its peers. Cocktails were top notch, the service was great and the dishes were unique, charming, and delicious. The pairing menu was fun and on point. I will return asap before everyone discovers this gem and prices skyrocket/reservations become impossible. Thanks for the lovely meal!

Alan Hsu

Incredible meal. The food is delicious and has a distinct point of view. Beverage pairings were thoughtful and interesting. Service was fun and attentive. Great value for the quality and experience. I highly recommend.

Really, really excellent food and service! We splurged by adding the drink pairing to our tasting menu order and were really impressed by how cohesive the entire experience was, everything was delicious and well paced. They obviously put a lot of thought and effort into their dishes and the experience of their guests.

Food was phenomenal, but service is knocking my review down a star. We arrived for an 8:30 pm reservation for a birthday dinner, and were informed that our table was unavailable because the previous party was late. This has never happened to us at ANY restaurant, ever. We were offered either bar seating or the patio, and opted for the patio, which was more secluded but…definitely a very average patio. Although the initial experience was sour, the food was almost enough to make up for it. Every course was so unique, filled with wonderful flavors and textures. Highlights were the apple ceviche with a maple leaf cookie, the super tender pork main course, and the frozen arequipe. The arequipe in particular is a dessert I will remember for a really long time — the perfectly balanced apple compote with the creamy dulce de leche semifreddo, topped with a delicate crunchy wafer. Overall, would definitely recommend this place for the food, but the ambience and service was certainly lacking and needs work.

+3

The place is super cute and it was nice watching the chefs at work. Pretty much everything was cooked super well. Halibut was perfect. The pork was roasted to perfection. I was just a bit confused regarding the salt baked carrot. It was SUPER salty. Not sure if they forgot to wash the salt off or if it's meant to be that salty and you are supposed to nibble it to enhance the other food? The corn cake though was my favorite. The arepas tooooo. So good!

+2

Very much enjoyed the vegetarian tasting menu I had. Changes every day so pictures may not align with future visits. I'm extremely picky so I was very nervous coming for my anniversary and not knowing the menu beforehand. Ended up enjoying it a lot though.

+2

Great atmosphere with a wide open kitchen and a cool, high-ceilinged space. Beverage pairing was excellent, especially the cocktails (wasn't as impressed by the wine pairings). Dishes were all good, but only some were "great", in my opinion. Lamb shank in particular was a bit too rich, with large globs of fat, and no side dishes to cut through it at all. Standouts were the arepas and the blood orange sorbet. Would go again, but I'm not expecting a Michelin star just yet.

Visited with 3 other friends and overall consensus was that the food was really good but it fell a bit below our expectations. For me personally I felt the service was a bit lacking, something about our main waitress was off and when they brought the dishes didn’t feel real effort to explain what we were eating. Like I said, we enjoyed most of the food and in particular the pork and the chocolate cake were spectacular, but the men in our party did leave a bit hungry afterwards. Ambiance was nice and had a very chill casual vibe, and I also loved our drinks. I might come back just for the bar and have a few snacks but not sure if I’ll re-do the tasting menu experience.

+1

Weeknight tasting menu 85pp I think pretty worth it w/o drink pairings I tried some of the nonalcoholic pairings and while interesting non blew me away. First time trying Colombian cuisine so don’t have great frame of reference but I thought the flavors were strangely nostalgic! Non of the mains stood out and I didn’t rly enjoy the first two small bites. but sweet treat girl forever and loveddd both desserts. Honestly would not be mad if they just did 7 courses of dessert🥹 they also game us a lil marshmallow at the end. GIRLIES: the kitchen is super cool and open concept but this means your hair will smell like campfire so plan your hair washing schedule accordingly ***

A casual Colombian restaurant that gets serious with the tasting menu. Fun beverage pairing that includes wine, sake, and cocktail. Service is adequate, but they are learning and trying. The weekday tasting menu is probably a better deal. It costs more on the weekend. ---- The mission statement on the website sounded admirable: The tasting menu is cheaper on the weekdays to make it more accessible. We were seated at the chef's counter, which offers a direct view of the kitchen. We quickly decided on the tasting menu and the beverage pairing with an add-on Dungeness crab dish. After a relatively long period of waiting, we were presented with the food. There are some highlights! But sometimes, I wonder if some dishes need an extra boost of flavor. First were the finger foods. We love the plantains that contrast brilliantly with charged allium. The arroz de coco brought to mind arancini but with a thin crust and coconut flavor. The tostada with amberjack brightened by the kiwi. The arepa was flavorful and puffy, but the butter beans seemed lacking. A general complaint: Please give us a wet napkin or something to wipe our fingers after finger foods! The larger format blue shrimp was cooked to perfection, but the veins were in some pieces. The achiote ponzu was amazing, but the romanesco might be a tab overcooked. Dungeness crab guacho, honestly, is a little disappointing. The components are done well, and it is an homage to the regional dish, but it just tasted...fine. The fish dish was a counter-example of that. I am not sure if there is a traditional dish where it drew inspiration, but it was an elevated dish that we thoroughly enjoyed. The cilantro and pineapple spread that came with the bread had such a bright flavor we couldn't have enough! The grilled pork is definitely the highlight of the evening. It was carefully tended by a chef over the grill, and it was flavorful and juicy. The carrot was grilled slowly until it was almost dehydrated. The intense sweetness and texture worked very well with the pork. The first dessert course, the banana custard, was terrific. The sweetness was counterbalanced by the subtle sweetness from the caramel. The dish was not overpowered by bananas, which so often is the case. The coconut and lime foam on the top provided a contrast and relief from the custard. The final dessert course was a bit too sweet and heavy for us. We were told that it was inspired by mole. I like the concept. Overall, we enjoyed the food. For a meal at this price point, maybe we expect a little more. However, I saw a kitchen with a mission that served some brilliant dishes. I saw service staff striving to be better despite some oversights. Maybe Mago needs to think about where it wants to position itself, but I am rooting for them.

Food: 4/5. Most dishes taste great with their unique flavors, except the ling cod. It is way too salty. Service: 4/5. The waitstaff attempted to provide attentive service, but due to a shortage of staff and a high volume of customers, service was kinda limited. Great ambience and charming decorations in the restaurant 5/5. Overall it’s a nice experience dining in here.

Ideally, a 3.5/5. My friend and I visited Mägo during the Oakland Restaurant Week (priced at $65 pp). From outside, it looked like a regular building, but once inside, Mägo offered a charming atmosphere. The indoor area had a warm, intimate feel with soft lighting, perfect for a quiet dinner. They also have a back patio with heated lamps, making it a versatile spot depending on your preference. They also had blankets for us to use because the weather was extra chilly and rainy. Their patio area is mostly covered, so you should be fine if it starts raining unless you are seated at the table we were at. Our table was slightly exposed to the outside elements, and with the strong winds, we could definitely feel the drizzle, but it wasn't a big deal. We just moved our seats, and we were fine afterward. The food had its ups and downs, but unfortunately, the service significantly impacted the overall experience. Our Restaurant Week tasting menu, which consisted of only 4 courses, stretched out to a staggering 2.5 hours. This slow pace put a damper on the evening, especially considering the number of courses. The menu itself was an interesting mix. The jicama, rhubarb, feta bunuelo, and radicchio starter had intriguing flavors, but the execution felt a little disjointed. The bunuelo was hard like a brick and wasn't much cheesy. I liked the rhubarb, but my friend wasn't a fan. The ling cod, maitake "ajiaco", capers, and avocado were pretty good, with the ling cod cooked perfectly and the maitake mushrooms adding an earthy depth. The avocado was a little salty, but it came on the side, so it didn't really impact the overall flavors of the dish. All in all, it was a great dish. The beef carne asada was a bit of a letdown. While the asparagus and black garlic were interesting accompaniments, the beef itself wasn't as consistent, and some pieces were a bit dry. The pan de coco with plantain butter (an additional $8) was phenomenal (MUST TRY). It was a delightful combination of sweet bread and creamy plantain. We devoured this in no time. I'm still dreaming about it. 🤤 The torta de zanahoria (carrot cake) with rum raisin and cinnamon was another great dish that delivered a classic carrot cake flavor with a boozy twist. All the textures and flavors complimented each other really well, and the cold ice cream on top really took this dessert to the next level. Overall, Mägo has a lovely ambiance and some creative menu ideas. However, the incredibly slow service significantly detracted from the experience. While our dinner started off with some okay dishes, it definitely ended on a high note.

Jaclyn Wang

Weeknight tasting menu 85pp I think pretty worth it w/o drink pairings I tried some of the nonalcoholic pairings and while interesting non blew me away. First time trying Colombian cuisine so don’t have great frame of reference but I thought the flavors were strangely nostalgic! Non of the mains stood out and I didn’t rly enjoy the first two small bites. but sweet treat girl forever and loveddd both desserts. Honestly would not be mad if they just did 7 courses of dessert🥹 they also game us a lil marshmallow at the end. GIRLIES: the kitchen is super cool and open concept but this means your hair will smell like campfire so plan your hair washing schedule accordingly ***

Eugene Chen

A casual Colombian restaurant that gets serious with the tasting menu. Fun beverage pairing that includes wine, sake, and cocktail. Service is adequate, but they are learning and trying. The weekday tasting menu is probably a better deal. It costs more on the weekend. ---- The mission statement on the website sounded admirable: The tasting menu is cheaper on the weekdays to make it more accessible. We were seated at the chef's counter, which offers a direct view of the kitchen. We quickly decided on the tasting menu and the beverage pairing with an add-on Dungeness crab dish. After a relatively long period of waiting, we were presented with the food. There are some highlights! But sometimes, I wonder if some dishes need an extra boost of flavor. First were the finger foods. We love the plantains that contrast brilliantly with charged allium. The arroz de coco brought to mind arancini but with a thin crust and coconut flavor. The tostada with amberjack brightened by the kiwi. The arepa was flavorful and puffy, but the butter beans seemed lacking. A general complaint: Please give us a wet napkin or something to wipe our fingers after finger foods! The larger format blue shrimp was cooked to perfection, but the veins were in some pieces. The achiote ponzu was amazing, but the romanesco might be a tab overcooked. Dungeness crab guacho, honestly, is a little disappointing. The components are done well, and it is an homage to the regional dish, but it just tasted...fine. The fish dish was a counter-example of that. I am not sure if there is a traditional dish where it drew inspiration, but it was an elevated dish that we thoroughly enjoyed. The cilantro and pineapple spread that came with the bread had such a bright flavor we couldn't have enough! The grilled pork is definitely the highlight of the evening. It was carefully tended by a chef over the grill, and it was flavorful and juicy. The carrot was grilled slowly until it was almost dehydrated. The intense sweetness and texture worked very well with the pork. The first dessert course, the banana custard, was terrific. The sweetness was counterbalanced by the subtle sweetness from the caramel. The dish was not overpowered by bananas, which so often is the case. The coconut and lime foam on the top provided a contrast and relief from the custard. The final dessert course was a bit too sweet and heavy for us. We were told that it was inspired by mole. I like the concept. Overall, we enjoyed the food. For a meal at this price point, maybe we expect a little more. However, I saw a kitchen with a mission that served some brilliant dishes. I saw service staff striving to be better despite some oversights. Maybe Mago needs to think about where it wants to position itself, but I am rooting for them.

Hannah Jin

Food: 4/5. Most dishes taste great with their unique flavors, except the ling cod. It is way too salty. Service: 4/5. The waitstaff attempted to provide attentive service, but due to a shortage of staff and a high volume of customers, service was kinda limited. Great ambience and charming decorations in the restaurant 5/5. Overall it’s a nice experience dining in here.

ayush kalani

Ideally, a 3.5/5. My friend and I visited Mägo during the Oakland Restaurant Week (priced at $65 pp). From outside, it looked like a regular building, but once inside, Mägo offered a charming atmosphere. The indoor area had a warm, intimate feel with soft lighting, perfect for a quiet dinner. They also have a back patio with heated lamps, making it a versatile spot depending on your preference. They also had blankets for us to use because the weather was extra chilly and rainy. Their patio area is mostly covered, so you should be fine if it starts raining unless you are seated at the table we were at. Our table was slightly exposed to the outside elements, and with the strong winds, we could definitely feel the drizzle, but it wasn't a big deal. We just moved our seats, and we were fine afterward. The food had its ups and downs, but unfortunately, the service significantly impacted the overall experience. Our Restaurant Week tasting menu, which consisted of only 4 courses, stretched out to a staggering 2.5 hours. This slow pace put a damper on the evening, especially considering the number of courses. The menu itself was an interesting mix. The jicama, rhubarb, feta bunuelo, and radicchio starter had intriguing flavors, but the execution felt a little disjointed. The bunuelo was hard like a brick and wasn't much cheesy. I liked the rhubarb, but my friend wasn't a fan. The ling cod, maitake "ajiaco", capers, and avocado were pretty good, with the ling cod cooked perfectly and the maitake mushrooms adding an earthy depth. The avocado was a little salty, but it came on the side, so it didn't really impact the overall flavors of the dish. All in all, it was a great dish. The beef carne asada was a bit of a letdown. While the asparagus and black garlic were interesting accompaniments, the beef itself wasn't as consistent, and some pieces were a bit dry. The pan de coco with plantain butter (an additional $8) was phenomenal (MUST TRY). It was a delightful combination of sweet bread and creamy plantain. We devoured this in no time. I'm still dreaming about it. 🤤 The torta de zanahoria (carrot cake) with rum raisin and cinnamon was another great dish that delivered a classic carrot cake flavor with a boozy twist. All the textures and flavors complimented each other really well, and the cold ice cream on top really took this dessert to the next level. Overall, Mägo has a lovely ambiance and some creative menu ideas. However, the incredibly slow service significantly detracted from the experience. While our dinner started off with some okay dishes, it definitely ended on a high note.

The dishes were underwhelming for the week that we went. The first 5 dishes are bland and lacking flavor, moreover with very basic ingredients. The mini arepa dos not come close to what we ate across South America. Maybe we were unlucky that just this week’s menu selection is below average / not to our taste.

I had high hopes for Mago! But i really think my experience there was average. They only have 5 course menu, the portions are relatively small. I’m a small person with a small appetite and the food was enough for me. Not so much for my friend. We had tomatoes with garlic milk, arepas, lamb, broiled yellow tail, and frozen avocado for dessert. We also got fried yuca and a couple drinks at an additional cost. My favorites were tomatoes, arepa, and the dessert. The lamb was really smelly and fatty, and i didnt like it at all. The fish was just fine. A big complaint i have was theie timing. Overall, they were pretty slow in every thing. It took forever for the drinks to come and the time between each too meals was too long. So long that we both lost appetite and didnt eat half of the food with excitement. The staff was very nice and the interior was charming and cosy.

+6

We were quite excited to get the full Chef tasting. Items are very intricately prepared and presentation is very nice. For $105pp tasting with a $75 drink pairing - there is not enough food provided. Also, only a few food items stood out and some of the drink pairings (e.g., Sherry were off). We've done several other chef tastings like this and have never left the place wanting more.

This was really just okay. We did the tasting menu with the wine pairing for a total of $500 for 2 people including tip. The food was perfectly fine, but nothing stood out. The drinks were perfectly fine, but nothing stood out. The service was very mixed - the sommelier was lovely, but our waitress gave the impression that we were slightly inconveniencing her by eating there. Some of the dishes were a bit weird - a VERY tangy passionfruit ice cream with an otherwise nice dense cake-like thing and a flavourless sauce. The opening amuse bouche was... Okay. There was a very undercooked or even raw filled squash that was extremely strange. The cold soup was unbalanced. The wine pairings were often a bit mismatched with the food. The best dish was probably the pork. For $250/head, you can do a LOT better in the area. Don't come here.

Stopped in with a few work colleagues and went for the 12-course tasting experience (I opted for beverage pairings as well). The atmosphere and service were nice and casual, which was appreciated by my colleagues. The sommelier was very knowledgeable about the beverage pairings and spent time chatting about some of the more interesting pairings. The food was decent, but in my opinion, wasn't reflective of the price point of the experience. Every protein was cooked pretty well but I did find that several of the courses were underseasoned or slightly unbalanced. Highlights for me were the charred yam and apple sorbet.

Olivia Grace

This was really just okay. We did the tasting menu with the wine pairing for a total of $500 for 2 people including tip. The food was perfectly fine, but nothing stood out. The drinks were perfectly fine, but nothing stood out. The service was very mixed - the sommelier was lovely, but our waitress gave the impression that we were slightly inconveniencing her by eating there. Some of the dishes were a bit weird - a VERY tangy passionfruit ice cream with an otherwise nice dense cake-like thing and a flavourless sauce. The opening amuse bouche was... Okay. There was a very undercooked or even raw filled squash that was extremely strange. The cold soup was unbalanced. The wine pairings were often a bit mismatched with the food. The best dish was probably the pork. For $250/head, you can do a LOT better in the area. Don't come here.

Jason

Stopped in with a few work colleagues and went for the 12-course tasting experience (I opted for beverage pairings as well). The atmosphere and service were nice and casual, which was appreciated by my colleagues. The sommelier was very knowledgeable about the beverage pairings and spent time chatting about some of the more interesting pairings. The food was decent, but in my opinion, wasn't reflective of the price point of the experience. Every protein was cooked pretty well but I did find that several of the courses were underseasoned or slightly unbalanced. Highlights for me were the charred yam and apple sorbet.

Came here to celebrate my wedding anniversary with my husband who is a big foodie. We were really excited to visit Mago but were sadly disappointed. I’ll start with the good though - the service! We were there the celebrate our anniversary and on arrival were congratulated and were served a complementary dessert at the end as well! Our waiter was sweet, attentive and knowledgeable. The mid - the food. Presentation was great but my husband and I felt that the dishes lacked flavor. We weren’t blown away by any of the dishes, honestly my husbands favorite dish was a pear with jalapeño on it. Nothing blew our mind, or made us want to come back… The con - we came mid-week (Tuesday) for at 7PM dinner reservation. 7PM with two kids is honestly early for us to get out, and we felt rushed towards the end. We started the night with a cocktail and moved to a bottle of wine halfway through the prefix menu. Important to note we were seated on the bar of the open kitchen. Halfway through the bottle and before we were served dessert the kitchen crew is cleaning up in our faces. Fully brooming the floor, scrubbing the counters, even having an after work beer in front of us. It’s not even 9PM! We felt rushed to finish our bottle of wine and eat the desserts. We noticed it says the restaurant closes at 8:30, but then don’t start a new round of service at 7 if your crew is going to start cleaning up in front of clients (and it’s not cheap!) and our waiter even went home and we didn’t know who to ask our check or make our tip out it. This completely ruined the night. We could have been okay with the sub par food since we have a good evening and the experience was cute, but have the restaurant do the work they should do when the doors are locked in front of Our face after paying so much money was disgusting. To make it worse, there were tables behind us who didn’t even get served their dessert yet, so we can’t even blame it on ourselves for “over saying”. Also music was really soft, felt like we had to speak in whispers.

Popped in for Restaurant week and opted for their $75 4 course tasting menu. The hostess was very kind and charming which built up the anticipation for the rest of the night. However, once we were served our cocktails, fear began to creep in. My friend’s tasted like chilled pickle juice when the menu said there was pineapple and all sorts of tropical flavors. Mine was decent, not great but decent. We were then served a gazpacho as our first course. The experience was like spoon feeding ourselves vinegar. I love a vinegary taste, but this wasn’t pleasant at all. Then onto the Cod… It was over seasoned and just tasted like pure salt. Purely disgusting and indigestible. Thankfully, the steak with black garlic purée was delicious. However, the plating was funny with one asparagus split into three. How generous. You also can’t go wrong with dessert which was pretty and pleasant. In all, for its price point, I was deeply unimpressed and saddened at the steep letdown this night turned out to be. We had high hopes when making the trip out all the way to the East Bay, but were sent home crushed. Thanks.

Arielle Albert

Came here to celebrate my wedding anniversary with my husband who is a big foodie. We were really excited to visit Mago but were sadly disappointed. I’ll start with the good though - the service! We were there the celebrate our anniversary and on arrival were congratulated and were served a complementary dessert at the end as well! Our waiter was sweet, attentive and knowledgeable. The mid - the food. Presentation was great but my husband and I felt that the dishes lacked flavor. We weren’t blown away by any of the dishes, honestly my husbands favorite dish was a pear with jalapeño on it. Nothing blew our mind, or made us want to come back… The con - we came mid-week (Tuesday) for at 7PM dinner reservation. 7PM with two kids is honestly early for us to get out, and we felt rushed towards the end. We started the night with a cocktail and moved to a bottle of wine halfway through the prefix menu. Important to note we were seated on the bar of the open kitchen. Halfway through the bottle and before we were served dessert the kitchen crew is cleaning up in our faces. Fully brooming the floor, scrubbing the counters, even having an after work beer in front of us. It’s not even 9PM! We felt rushed to finish our bottle of wine and eat the desserts. We noticed it says the restaurant closes at 8:30, but then don’t start a new round of service at 7 if your crew is going to start cleaning up in front of clients (and it’s not cheap!) and our waiter even went home and we didn’t know who to ask our check or make our tip out it. This completely ruined the night. We could have been okay with the sub par food since we have a good evening and the experience was cute, but have the restaurant do the work they should do when the doors are locked in front of Our face after paying so much money was disgusting. To make it worse, there were tables behind us who didn’t even get served their dessert yet, so we can’t even blame it on ourselves for “over saying”. Also music was really soft, felt like we had to speak in whispers.

Ysabelli R Cusi

Popped in for Restaurant week and opted for their $75 4 course tasting menu. The hostess was very kind and charming which built up the anticipation for the rest of the night. However, once we were served our cocktails, fear began to creep in. My friend’s tasted like chilled pickle juice when the menu said there was pineapple and all sorts of tropical flavors. Mine was decent, not great but decent. We were then served a gazpacho as our first course. The experience was like spoon feeding ourselves vinegar. I love a vinegary taste, but this wasn’t pleasant at all. Then onto the Cod… It was over seasoned and just tasted like pure salt. Purely disgusting and indigestible. Thankfully, the steak with black garlic purée was delicious. However, the plating was funny with one asparagus split into three. How generous. You also can’t go wrong with dessert which was pretty and pleasant. In all, for its price point, I was deeply unimpressed and saddened at the steep letdown this night turned out to be. We had high hopes when making the trip out all the way to the East Bay, but were sent home crushed. Thanks.

We had a very underwhelming experience at Mago. The food was just good most of the time, sometimes too greasy and a couple of plates had way too much salt. to the point were we couln't finish it (the white fish plate and the meat were too salty). While the experience overall was not horrible, Mago pretends to be at a level they're clearly not, cruelly lacking of subtlety. For this, it is such a bad value. For a $300+ meal, you can get a way better experience at a Michelin stared restaurant (I'm talking night and day difference). The service was friendly but very slow. The couple of drinks we had, though, were good. While I love a wood fire smell, it was so strong at Mago that I had to wash all my clothes and hair coming back home. I definitely don't recommend Mago.

Maud Sanchez Cuevas

We had a very underwhelming experience at Mago. The food was just good most of the time, sometimes too greasy and a couple of plates had way too much salt. to the point were we couln't finish it (the white fish plate and the meat were too salty). While the experience overall was not horrible, Mago pretends to be at a level they're clearly not, cruelly lacking of subtlety. For this, it is such a bad value. For a $300+ meal, you can get a way better experience at a Michelin stared restaurant (I'm talking night and day difference). The service was friendly but very slow. The couple of drinks we had, though, were good. While I love a wood fire smell, it was so strong at Mago that I had to wash all my clothes and hair coming back home. I definitely don't recommend Mago.