Small Change Oyster Bar

My best friend said we had to check this place out when I was in town. Small Change is a cool and casual spot for good food and wine. I had oysters from Tómales Bay, so perfect. Fish and chips that were a good cut of fish with a light batter. And a glass of rose that tasted even better in the delicate stemware. The staff is very professional, warm and friendly. The outdoor seating is a plus.

Deborah Kuchar

My best friend said we had to check this place out when I was in town. Small Change is a cool and casual spot for good food and wine. I had oysters from Tómales Bay, so perfect. Fish and chips that were a good cut of fish with a light batter. And a glass of rose that tasted even better in the delicate stemware. The staff is very professional, warm and friendly. The outdoor seating is a plus.

Paul

Yeah this place is super fun. As far as oyster bars in the east bay I can’t think of a better spot. The decor is super cool sweet mix of modern meets east coast fishing house. The service was great and the oysters tasted great. When I come back I think I’ll try the fish and chips. The couple next to us got them and I was super jealous. The wine selection is also really good, small but it has 3 options for every type, what else do you need??? I’ve been here a couple of times now and will totally be coming back.

Alexis Ly

Came in on a Friday evening party of 4 - really impressed with this new restaurant ! The restaurant is super cute inside! Not a long wait for the patio. If you can, grab a seat outside! It's decorated really cute with sunshades and string lights and patio tables. They also have music playing outside which gives it a great weekend vibe. Fun place to come with friends to have a good time! Their wine selection is great - there's something that fits everyone's tastes. Oysters are so fresh and you can really taste the quality in them!! Fish and chips is a must and the Rockefeller oysters are the best broiled ones. Owner is super nice and knowledgeable on recommending wines based on our preferences!! I appreciated the help!

Isaac Jones

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Small Change Oyster Bar, it was an outstanding experience. The cozy and inviting atmosphere immediately made me feel welcome. The staff were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. I started my meal with a plate of fresh oysters, and they were absolutely divine. Each one was plump, briny, and full of flavor. It was evident that they were sourced with care. The oysters were served with a variety of accompaniments that perfectly complemented their natural taste. For my main course, I opted for the fish and chips. The fish was beautifully cooked, with a crispy golden batter that gave way to tender and moist flesh. The chips were perfectly seasoned and had a delightful crunch. It was a classic dish done right. Small Change Oyster Bar exceeded my expectations in every way. The quality of the seafood, the attentive service, and the inviting ambiance all contributed to a memorable dining experience. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for delicious seafood in a cozy setting.

Lauren Barmore

Had a great time trying out Oakland's newest oyster bar! They had two options for raw oysters, from California and Canada. Sadly I didn't get to try the michelada as the tap wasn't working when we were there. The oysters Rockefeller were excellent!

Bethany Thiele

Excellent fare all around. The oysters, fish and chips and wine we ordered were all delicious. The prices were about as high as you'd think for an oyster bar, but worth it for a night out. The servers were all very nice. I was think they're still finding their stride after opening, since we had a wrong order brought our table 3 times, but it wasn't a big deal and we ended up with the right food at the end.

Brian

Great food, service and atmosphere. Wine selection paired well with the seafood. Highly recommend this hidden gem in Temescal!

Amy Cranch

We loved Dona Tomas and were bummed it remained empty for so long. I don't know how Small Change had escaped our radar, but we're glad we found it for my bday. Smaller menus often mean the team can focus on doing a few things really well. Everything was yum — a dozen oysters, Caesar-ish salad, and fish and chips, which were the best, like ever! Not too breaded, over-fried, or greasy. Plus a crisp pils and white wine. Awesome patio vibe, esp w/live spinning on Wed. nights. And we spoke to the manager for a long time, who was super sweet. We learned they take a whole day to "caramelize" the chowder. I'll def get that next time — when I bring friends. Great place for dining w/friends!

Elaine Yang

Absolutely delightful. Raw and broiled oysters were both great (we usually go for raw only, but the combo was great. herbs and allium broiled were fantastic). Fish and chips, clam chowder, shrimp po boy were all delicious, and the patio makes for a lively and charming experience

An Pham

It was yummy and the oysters were delicious! Got the raw oysters, ceviche and the herby allium (aka garlic butter) broiled oysters. Hopefully they keep it up as they are open longer.

Always a good time. Oysters are worth every penny. Food is amazing as well. People are very sweet and kind. Simply lovely.

Was worried that the food would be over rated, but the clam chowder was way better than I expected. The oysters were delicious and the drinks yummy. Vibes inside are cute and there’s a nice sunny open back patio.

GREAT food and GREAT ambiance! The tomales bay oysters were amazing. The wine options were all great. Also LOVED the clam chowder and fish and chips. Had the pleasure of meeting the owner too and he is a gem of a human. Already gone 2x and have decided this is a place I want to be a regular at.

If you’re a fan of fresh seafood, crafted drinks, and an unforgettable ambiance, Small Change is a must-visit! From the moment you step in, the warm, welcoming atmosphere sets the stage for a truly exceptional dining experience. The oysters are phenomenal—perfectly shucked and bursting with briny goodness. Pair them with the house-made mignonettes or a glass of bubbly, and you’re in heaven. Beyond the oysters, the seafood offerings are next level. So happy to have Small Change in Temescal!

We love oysters and the diverse cultural foods we can enjoy in the Temescal area of Oakland. Owner of "Small Change Oyster Bar", Brandon, has done a great job of bringing some "fun", "delicious" seafood to this area. Our intentions of stopping in for a glass of wine and a few oysters turned into a longer stay and dinner! The menu is small but creative enough to have several different dishes to enjoy (loved the Crab Louie salad and ceviche). The service staff was engaging and informative. They also offer a nice selection of wines on the menu. Sitting on the back patio was casual and a great place to relax and enjoy some delish seafood. Looking forward to returning.

Great oyster bar. Food came out fast and everything was excellent. Super fresh oysters, delicious ceviche, moist and lightly battered fish fry, and awesome cocktail sauce with the shrimp cocktail. Nice people working there too.

Ali Inal

Always a good time. Oysters are worth every penny. Food is amazing as well. People are very sweet and kind. Simply lovely.

Karen Chin

Was worried that the food would be over rated, but the clam chowder was way better than I expected. The oysters were delicious and the drinks yummy. Vibes inside are cute and there’s a nice sunny open back patio.

Barbara Jovanovic

Amazing food and vibes! Everyone that works there is SO nice and the oysters were truly the best I've ever had. Don't miss out on their fish and chips either!

Haley Swanson

If you’re a fan of fresh seafood, crafted drinks, and an unforgettable ambiance, Small Change is a must-visit! From the moment you step in, the warm, welcoming atmosphere sets the stage for a truly exceptional dining experience. The oysters are phenomenal—perfectly shucked and bursting with briny goodness. Pair them with the house-made mignonettes or a glass of bubbly, and you’re in heaven. Beyond the oysters, the seafood offerings are next level. So happy to have Small Change in Temescal!

Tayler Walters

GREAT food and GREAT ambiance! The tomales bay oysters were amazing. The wine options were all great. Also LOVED the clam chowder and fish and chips. Had the pleasure of meeting the owner too and he is a gem of a human. Already gone 2x and have decided this is a place I want to be a regular at.

This place certainly has potential and it’s very early days so hopefully they will improve in a couple of areas. We got the fish and chips and Caesar salad, both were a good size and splitting each was the right decision for us. Both were very reasonably priced. We also ordered a dozen oysters which were featured on the menu. The waiter informed us that it was dealers’s choice so they pick which is fine, but when he brought the oysters, we asked the waiter what they were and were told that he doesn’t really know much about Oysters so couldn’t tell us. At a minimum he could’ve gone back to the bar and gotten that information. I don’t think we’ve gone to a restaurant with oysters as a primary option where we were not given information about what we were getting. We also found the oysters themselves to be not the best. All of them were quite briny, but none of them were creamy like a good oyster can be. So bottom line, the owner needs to train his staff and understand when people are paying $48 for a dozen oysters that they expect both quality and information. I will try the restaurant again after they’ve settled in, but hopefully they’ll take the suggestions to heart as I’m wishing them success

I wasn’t impressed. Oysters weren’t great. Didn’t love the wine. Soup was watery. Sampled some other bites too and it didn’t feel elevated or special. For the price we paid, might as well go to the wolf where the quality matches the price. Service was AMAZING, however. Really great personalities and good energy was the saving grace here.

Love having a seafood spot in Temescal. They have some work to do on the value proposition here — or maybe they are still figuring out what kind of restaurant they want to be. I’m all for spending $48 for an entree and $23 for a glass of wine — but when the entree is a tiny lobster roll on a hot dog bun, and the atmosphere is old picnic tables, paper napkins, and super loud auto-tune music, it feels … a little off. Would love to see them elevate the atmosphere to match the pricing.

Les Frieden

This place certainly has potential and it’s very early days so hopefully they will improve in a couple of areas. We got the fish and chips and Caesar salad, both were a good size and splitting each was the right decision for us. Both were very reasonably priced. We also ordered a dozen oysters which were featured on the menu. The waiter informed us that it was dealers’s choice so they pick which is fine, but when he brought the oysters, we asked the waiter what they were and were told that he doesn’t really know much about Oysters so couldn’t tell us. At a minimum he could’ve gone back to the bar and gotten that information. I don’t think we’ve gone to a restaurant with oysters as a primary option where we were not given information about what we were getting. We also found the oysters themselves to be not the best. All of them were quite briny, but none of them were creamy like a good oyster can be. So bottom line, the owner needs to train his staff and understand when people are paying $48 for a dozen oysters that they expect both quality and information. I will try the restaurant again after they’ve settled in, but hopefully they’ll take the suggestions to heart as I’m wishing them success

Courtney McCulloch

I wasn’t impressed. Oysters weren’t great. Didn’t love the wine. Soup was watery. Sampled some other bites too and it didn’t feel elevated or special. For the price we paid, might as well go to the wolf where the quality matches the price. Service was AMAZING, however. Really great personalities and good energy was the saving grace here.

Darcy Lincoln

Love having a seafood spot in Temescal. They have some work to do on the value proposition here — or maybe they are still figuring out what kind of restaurant they want to be. I’m all for spending $48 for an entree and $23 for a glass of wine — but when the entree is a tiny lobster roll on a hot dog bun, and the atmosphere is old picnic tables, paper napkins, and super loud auto-tune music, it feels … a little off. Would love to see them elevate the atmosphere to match the pricing.

Fred Omelet

This place ought to change their name from "Small Change" to " Nickel and Dime". I just paid $70 for a pint of beer, 6 oysters, and a (small) caesar salad LOL

Tofer Mai

On our weekly date night and decided we would stop and try this place. The place was relatively empty so we thought it pretty easy to get in. We stood there and waited for 5 minutes with the blonde bartender making eye contact and proceed to turn their back and clean the glasses. Preferred if they were closing to just acknowledge us instead of turning away.