Laney Bistro

Fantastic way to eat gourmet food at a very moderate price. Meals are a fixed price (pris fixe) of $30 w/ ability to choose from at least 2 appetizers, 3 entrees and 2 dessert options. The food is delicious. My only complaint is that specialty beverages and desserts are often too sweet.. otherwise, this spot is Fantabulous!!! They have a loyal following and the dining room fills up. Dining “window” is 5pm to 6:30 and the service is great! Tonight we had salmon with sautéed greens and navy beans.. expertly seasoned and delicious!

Holy cow that food was good! Each course had perfect flavor and impressive presentation. The creme brulee offered as a dessert option was perhaps the best I've ever had.

Absolutely delicious meal, lovely service and a great cause!

A great place for learning, and the food there is very nice. The instructors keep a high standard for their students and it reflects in the food and service. A lot of great memories, and this will always be in my top 5 restaurants.

Ok... this place is a trip. When you walk in, it presents as a standard sit down lunch spot with some class that you expect to find near downtown Oakland. White paper table coverings, cloth napkins, server staff in all black attire, and nice decor. What this is, however, is a culinary program run by Laney College with students preparing the food. Monday to Wednesday is a standard menu and every Thursday and Friday rotates through a different world cuisine. I've been here about a dozen times and tried a number of different dishes from around the world. The food can be hit or miss. Usually hit, but the price is where it is at. Every entree here is between $8 and $12. Appetizers or salads are $6-$8. The dishes would be $20-$30 at a normal (non culinary school) restaurant like this. Don't expect fast or excellent service. The manager is often running around trying to coach and train the server staff, who I assume may be students as well? Either way, this is one of the best deals you can find in the City or the Bay. Top quality recipes and ingredients for rock bottom prices. How can you go wrong?

Had a fabulous lunch at Laney Bistro! From appetizers to main course and dessert. First time here and will be coming back. Manager Julie was amazing including all the staff!

Great food at great value with good ambiance! A hidden gem and cannot wait to go back another week to try their rotating menu.

Absolutely and pleasantly delicious! The food is great as well as the service. Very professional and love the energy and atmosphere from the staff.

Where chefs in training learn hospitality. A good deal with friendly service and interesting dishes. The grape almond gazpacho was amazing!

Tania Leonian

Absolutely delicious meal, lovely service and a great cause!

Ben Lupinetti

Holy cow that food was good! Each course had perfect flavor and impressive presentation. The creme brulee offered as a dessert option was perhaps the best I've ever had.

Titia Anon

Fantastic way to eat gourmet food at a very moderate price. Meals are a fixed price (pris fixe) of $30 w/ ability to choose from at least 2 appetizers, 3 entrees and 2 dessert options. The food is delicious. My only complaint is that specialty beverages and desserts are often too sweet.. otherwise, this spot is Fantabulous!!! They have a loyal following and the dining room fills up. Dining “window” is 5pm to 6:30 and the service is great! Tonight we had salmon with sautéed greens and navy beans.. expertly seasoned and delicious!

Anna Kim

Great food at great value with good ambiance! A hidden gem and cannot wait to go back another week to try their rotating menu.

Genaro Lopez

Had a fabulous lunch at Laney Bistro! From appetizers to main course and dessert. First time here and will be coming back. Manager Julie was amazing including all the staff!

allena cayce

Absolutely and pleasantly delicious! The food is great as well as the service. Very professional and love the energy and atmosphere from the staff.

Neville

Ok... this place is a trip. When you walk in, it presents as a standard sit down lunch spot with some class that you expect to find near downtown Oakland. White paper table coverings, cloth napkins, server staff in all black attire, and nice decor. What this is, however, is a culinary program run by Laney College with students preparing the food. Monday to Wednesday is a standard menu and every Thursday and Friday rotates through a different world cuisine. I've been here about a dozen times and tried a number of different dishes from around the world. The food can be hit or miss. Usually hit, but the price is where it is at. Every entree here is between $8 and $12. Appetizers or salads are $6-$8. The dishes would be $20-$30 at a normal (non culinary school) restaurant like this. Don't expect fast or excellent service. The manager is often running around trying to coach and train the server staff, who I assume may be students as well? Either way, this is one of the best deals you can find in the City or the Bay. Top quality recipes and ingredients for rock bottom prices. How can you go wrong?

Ja-Zhen Toh (gardenofthorns)

A great place for learning, and the food there is very nice. The instructors keep a high standard for their students and it reflects in the food and service. A lot of great memories, and this will always be in my top 5 restaurants.

Jon Wilson

Where chefs in training learn hospitality. A good deal with friendly service and interesting dishes. The grape almond gazpacho was amazing!

Delicious, artistic and luscious food. Some orders got lost but all in all very nice. They ran out of the popular choices. Go early.

Emily Odza

Delicious, artistic and luscious food. Some orders got lost but all in all very nice. They ran out of the popular choices. Go early.

I had the opportunity to eat here on our students' opening night for fall 2024. The students were professional, they did a great job keeping service flowing smoothly and managing their tables, the music complemented the menu, and the food was good! I really enjoyed the ginger creme brulee! 😊 I gave four stars, because there's always room to learn and grow. Keep up the good work!

What a cool little find. This bistro is run by students learning the trade--the prices can't be beat and it's clear they are putting their all in the food. Can't wait to show this off to other people.

Great experience - such a neat, hidden gem. The culinary students at Laney entirely staff the restaurant and they do an excellent job.

In all my years of random classes at Laney how was yesterday my first time at the Bistro?! Of course there are some leniencies that must be allowed given the nature of the place like off/slow service, mistakes here and there, and some inconsistencies, but the value is amazing and the food is worth the required leniencies.

Debra Goldentyer

What a cool little find. This bistro is run by students learning the trade--the prices can't be beat and it's clear they are putting their all in the food. Can't wait to show this off to other people.

Alyssa Arnold

I had the opportunity to eat here on our students' opening night for fall 2024. The students were professional, they did a great job keeping service flowing smoothly and managing their tables, the music complemented the menu, and the food was good! I really enjoyed the ginger creme brulee! 😊 I gave four stars, because there's always room to learn and grow. Keep up the good work!

Alicia von Kugelgen

Great experience - such a neat, hidden gem. The culinary students at Laney entirely staff the restaurant and they do an excellent job.

Shannon Kelly

In all my years of random classes at Laney how was yesterday my first time at the Bistro?! Of course there are some leniencies that must be allowed given the nature of the place like off/slow service, mistakes here and there, and some inconsistencies, but the value is amazing and the food is worth the required leniencies.

Only reason why this place gets 1 Star is because of the food. Everything else was terrible, the service was horrible and the host and waiters were rude. Just wasn’t organized all around. Do not recommend!

nicolette nesmith

Only reason why this place gets 1 Star is because of the food. Everything else was terrible, the service was horrible and the host and waiters were rude. Just wasn’t organized all around. Do not recommend!