Mad Oak

Great staff, solid drinks, and good bar food. Dogs are welcome! And on Tuesday nights they have the best trivia I've ever been to. The host is genuinely smart and creative, not to mention funny. Love this place!

Very nice venue, lots of beers on tap. Garlic fries smelled really good. Very good for small get togethers.

No parking but very cool, casual vibe. Nice mix of professional people. Happy Hour prices and offerings are fabulously priced and taste great. Trivia is FUN.

Great service, great food, great vibes. Definitely check this place out.

Came in on a Monday when there wasn't any food service (for now). The bartender made tasty margaritas and was very welcoming + friendly! We'll be back :)

Mad Oak is my trivia bar on Tuesdays (best trivia in Oakland, imo)! They have an extensive drink selection, including hot and cold and non-alcoholic options. I tried most of their food options and definitely have my favorites on the menu- I would go for a corn dog and loaded fries if youre here for the first time. If you're coming for an event, show up 15-30 minutes early to secure yourself/your group a table.

Nicole Powell

The doorman on Saturday, January 10 around 8pm was exceptionally helpful and kind.

nayre

Came in on a Monday when there wasn't any food service (for now). The bartender made tasty margaritas and was very welcoming + friendly! We'll be back :)

To Niya M Scott-Smith

No parking but very cool, casual vibe. Nice mix of professional people. Happy Hour prices and offerings are fabulously priced and taste great. Trivia is FUN.

Sabrina Buster

This is one of my go-to bars. I enjoy the food, the drinks, the atmosphere and especially the bartenders. A really nice place to take a friend/s.

Matt Pagel

Great staff, solid drinks, and good bar food. Dogs are welcome! And on Tuesday nights they have the best trivia I've ever been to. The host is genuinely smart and creative, not to mention funny. Love this place!

Such a great place for casual trivia and a beer with friends. Went on a Tuesday night and was surprised with how busy it was — tons of good energy paired with an expansive outdoor patio (don’t forget your jacket though, it got cold!) made for a great evening. I’d give it five stars, but the chips and salsa were a bit disappointing — the salsa came in a little paper sample cup, which was hilariously small for a side meant to serve 4. Otherwise, things were great — especially the expansive beer and cider menu. We also ordered the nachos, and they were well received by everyone. One last thing to know — the place cleared out immediately after trivia was over, so expect to pack up and head out by 9:30pm.

I used to go this bar pre-pandemic when I worked in Oakland. The place was heaving especially on a sunny day. My most recent trip was at 2PM on a Wednesday. It is pretty close to the Oakland Museum. It has a large outdoor area including another level. We got carded and our IDs put through some machine to validate authenticity. We ordered a mango slushie with tequila which was perfect for the hot day. Great place for big groups. I didn’t try the food this time. Last time, Lumpia company had a pop up. They also used to have decent bar food.

Wings were on point, caesar salad good enough for a bar. Overall nice atmosphere inside outside and on the roof.

Matty Easton

Such a great place for casual trivia and a beer with friends. Went on a Tuesday night and was surprised with how busy it was — tons of good energy paired with an expansive outdoor patio (don’t forget your jacket though, it got cold!) made for a great evening. I’d give it five stars, but the chips and salsa were a bit disappointing — the salsa came in a little paper sample cup, which was hilariously small for a side meant to serve 4. Otherwise, things were great — especially the expansive beer and cider menu. We also ordered the nachos, and they were well received by everyone. One last thing to know — the place cleared out immediately after trivia was over, so expect to pack up and head out by 9:30pm.

Kay Bee

I used to go this bar pre-pandemic when I worked in Oakland. The place was heaving especially on a sunny day. My most recent trip was at 2PM on a Wednesday. It is pretty close to the Oakland Museum. It has a large outdoor area including another level. We got carded and our IDs put through some machine to validate authenticity. We ordered a mango slushie with tequila which was perfect for the hot day. Great place for big groups. I didn’t try the food this time. Last time, Lumpia company had a pop up. They also used to have decent bar food.

Kevin F

Wings were on point, caesar salad good enough for a bar. Overall nice atmosphere inside outside and on the roof.

Love mad oak! Just wish they had some more vegan options. The shroom burger is alright but a Beyond Burger would be better. Some black bean tacos or something would be nice. There’s not much to eat here if you don’t eat animals.

The music is always good, the drinks and different types of beer liven things up, but the truly incredible thing is the Cuban salsa parties on the second and third Sundays of each month. If you want a friendly atmosphere, flavor, and joy in these times of fascism and fear, Mad Oak Bar 'N' Yard is the place.

Yury A. Astudillo

The music is always good, the drinks and different types of beer liven things up, but the truly incredible thing is the Cuban salsa parties on the second and third Sundays of each month. If you want a friendly atmosphere, flavor, and joy in these times of fascism and fear, Mad Oak Bar 'N' Yard is the place.

Patrick Beger

Love mad oak! Just wish they had some more vegan options. The shroom burger is alright but a Beyond Burger would be better. Some black bean tacos or something would be nice. There’s not much to eat here if you don’t eat animals.

Ts Lu

No wifi. When I asked for wifi they sent me to the library. Understandable. Seems a good place tho.

Shawn Cranshaw

This place was ok. The food options leave something to be desired. Yeah & the beer selection kind of sucked but all in all. I still will give it three stars just because.

The food was decent here. I ordered the nachos and the chicken tenders. However, I tried to use a dessert coupon that I got from the Mad Oak website which gives a dessert with a minimum purchase of $20 and was denied. The person taking the order said they don't take those and left it at that. I'm not sure why it's on the website if I can't use it even when following the terms of the coupon. The order was $20 and there was no other explanation from the employee aside from them not taking my coupon.

Rachel Liu

The food was decent here. I ordered the nachos and the chicken tenders. However, I tried to use a dessert coupon that I got from the Mad Oak website which gives a dessert with a minimum purchase of $20 and was denied. The person taking the order said they don't take those and left it at that. I'm not sure why it's on the website if I can't use it even when following the terms of the coupon. The order was $20 and there was no other explanation from the employee aside from them not taking my coupon.

Bartender messed up my order, told me the replacement drink was “on the house,” and then still charged me for it. Check your receipts. Disappointing and untrustworthy.

On Super Bowl Sunday 2026, I witness one of the most horrific customer service experiences ever and later got a taste of that service. A man was sitting next me eating his foods chicken tenders and fries. Karlee (who identified herself as the manager later) went up to this man with tenders and said you ordered these tenders but you took someone else’s food and proceeded to take the tray of food them a was already eating. She said you take these tenders and I’m taking this tray because you took someone else’s food! She did not give him the grace of making a mistake or take any responsibility for giving him the wrong food. If you know how Mad Oaks food service works you know that they give you a buzzer with a number and you self service pick up your food but there is staff there. You give them the buzzer they give you the food. It was actually the staffs fault that he had the wrong food. And what was she going to do with the already eaten food?! What she did was demeaning and mean spirited. Later, my buzzer rang and I went to the window to pick up my food Karlee was there and there was another man there. I said which one is mines- he said I can’t see I don’t have my glasses. He then would not make a decision on which tray was mine. Karlee comes up I asked her to tell Me what tray of food was mine because I did not want to experience what she had just did to another customer. She said well you’re holding the buzzer upside down. Your number is 55 so this is your food. I will never forget how she treated that man and I will never go to Mad Oak again.

Have tried to go here a few times now and the service here absolutely terrible, it's always the same bartenders this Latino man this woman and maybe two other gentlemen, all of which lackluster incustomer service. Was stuck waiting at the bar for the staff to finish their afternoon shot with each other, there was five people behind a bar with literally no one in line waiting for a drink but myself, and instead of offering help all five people decided to take a shot within themselves and not focus on their customers instead. The location is great, the food can be cheap, service is always terrible, I would avoid this place.

Danni Swavey

Have tried to go here a few times now and the service here absolutely terrible, it's always the same bartenders this Latino man this woman and maybe two other gentlemen, all of which lackluster incustomer service. Was stuck waiting at the bar for the staff to finish their afternoon shot with each other, there was five people behind a bar with literally no one in line waiting for a drink but myself, and instead of offering help all five people decided to take a shot within themselves and not focus on their customers instead. The location is great, the food can be cheap, service is always terrible, I would avoid this place.

Paper Gains

Seriously watered down beer! Serious attitude from staff. Scanning every ID and told 'so they can share with police in case of trouble.'