Top Hatters Kitchen & Bar

Amazing birthday dinner. Was able to snag a Friday night rez with minimal notice. We ordered savoy doughnuts, tissue bread, a farmers box with cheese, oxtail and grits, sesame mochi, and the lemon zeppelis. Service was great, and our server was a delight. I found this gem by chance over a year ago and I was so glad I picked this for tonight. Truly tasty bites!

The Food is Great. The Atmosphere Is Beautiful and The Staff is Wonderful. I Would Definitely Recommend Top Hatter Kitchen and Bar. The Grilled Oysters With/Harissa Sauce Are My Favorite. 🤗🥰❤️💝🌿💚

Amazing place that I'm wondering why the hell have I not heard of it!! My wife and I were literally looking for a quick place to stop and get a cocktail and small bite before our kids football game down the street, and I can't believe we randomly stumbled onto Top Hatters! I consider us "foodies"...and this compares to Michelin rated restaurants we've been to. I loved the ambiance, the patio seating to the inside seating. The place was immaculately clean. The wait staff were perfect... polite, nice, but not overly involved. My only regret was not having more time to explore more of the dishes and cocktails! I should have taken more photos of our experience, but to be honest, I can't stand doing that. I love being in the moment and enjoying the experience. I will 110% be returning to here, and I will ensure I dedicate more time to the menu and cocktails. Recommend completely!

Rose Thomas

Wow, wow, wow! This place is amazing! We had 6 dishes and every one of them were superb. The seasonings were perfect, the ingredients combinations were creative and the plating was picture perfect. The service is top notch. The ambience is warm, eclectic, modern and inviting. Seating options both inside and out. Definitely worth a drive. You won’t be disappointed!

Brandon Ynayan

Just solid food all around! A pleasant surprise in San Leandro. The food is phenomenally curated. To me it's sort of wine bar-ish food with Asian inspired ingredients but with western technique. We ordered the tissue bread, halibut tartare, oxtail, mushroom course, beets and rice cakes. The rice cakes were my favorite. Service was great. Savan was really helpful. Indoor outdoor space with nice bar seating. Would most definitely come back.

Liann Amagan

Was meeting up a friend for a Saturday brunch and looked up places in San Leandro. Found a lot of reviews on this spot so I easily made a reservation on OpenTable for a Saturday for 2 at 12:00pm and it wasn’t too busy. I wasn’t sure where to park but there is street parking up front and it’s also located residentially but also very close to the freeway and there’s some parking nearby. Service was great, there were paper menus as well as a QR code to order on your phone. I asked the server for some suggestions. Since it was a weekend brunch we went with the rice paper rolls, grits and fried egg, banh mi bread pudding, and focaccia. The portions at first seemed small but it was a lot for 2 of us. I had to try their Vietnamese egg custard coffee and it was so strong and good. They definitely have unique fusion Vietnamese dishes and the egg and grits had a nice spicy kick to it if you like spice! Their focaccia was so nice and warm too. Overall it’s a nice vibe inside, variety of things to order for the entire family.

Foodie Traveler

There’s a little bit of magic tucked into downtown San Leandro and it goes by the charming name Top Hatters. Every visit feels like slipping into a favorite story: relaxed, welcoming, and just a touch whimsical. The moment you walk in you’re greeted by warm lighting, upbeat chatter, and a friendly tone—it’s the kind of place where you immediately sink into your seat and let the day slow down. The food is comfort with a wink. Plates arrive looking cheerful and smelling even better—crispy edges, bright herbs, and sauces that invite more bread. Whether you’re there for a leisurely brunch or an easy weeknight dinner, the menu balances familiar favorites with little creative twists that keep things interesting. Portions are generous in the best way: satisfying without feeling heavy. The desserts are the kind you’ll happily split and then secretly hope there’s enough left for a second helping. Service here feels personal, never rushed. The staff seems genuinely glad you showed up—attentive, friendly, and ready with a recommendation if you’re wavering. Drinks are mixed with care, from morning coffee that actually wakes you up to cocktails that pair perfectly with a relaxed conversation. If the weather’s good, snag an outdoor seating. Top Hatters is the kind of neighborhood gem that turns a usual meal into an event. It’s where you bring friends who are new to town, or come alone with a book and stay long after your plate is cleared. For me, it’s always a treat coming here—and I’m already looking forward to the next visit. If you want cozy vibes, good food, and no fuss, this place has it all.

Forrest Spellman

Recently tried Top Hatters and was impressed with the food and service. We came for lunch on a sunny day, so enjoying that outside on their patio was excellent. Cocktails were creative and visually appealing, but it was really the food that impressed me. We tried the grilled oysters, donuts, vermicelli bowl, dumplings... really enjoyed the buttery finish on the oysters and would recommend getting pork with the vermicelli bowl. Those savory, and smokey flavors really added to the dishes. The dumplings were pretty great though the strong sausage-esque ground pork eliminated some of the more subtle flavors in the broth and spices. I also thought that the donuts could do with a bit more savory notes, such as though they have bacon I couldn't pick up the taste in each bite. Perhaps a nice sauce to pair alongside them would have been great. Also, the service was excellent, checking in and ensuring the food was to our liking and our drinks were full. Thanks had a great meal here.

Ellis Ott

The food here is so impressive! This quiet neighborhood farm to table is San Leandro’s hidden gem. The cuisine focuses on fresh, hand harvested produce from a local farm, so dishes are ever changing with the seasons. There is a lot of Vietnamese influence going on. They started doing brunch on the weekends and I gotta say everything I’ve tried was delicious! Chef DanVy loves her work and it shows.

J. Bea.

My family and I went here on a Sunday, so we got the weekend menu. My favorites among appetizers and entrees we ordered are: Grilled Galangal pork skewer, Pork Belly with peasant rice, Rice Vermicelli bowl, Grilled Chipolata. They have unique blend of spices and seasoning. Best of all, they are a fusion of different tastes from different countries… It satisfies your taste buds without making your stomach feel too full/ heavy… that’s what I like… Cory, our server, as well as the other servers are all nice and friendly. The place has a relaxing atmosphere… they have big clear glass windows at the front, so the place gets lit by natural lighting from outside… the place is also decorated with beautiful plants… they also have patio at the front… I give 5 stars for this restaurant… Thank you Top Hatters 😊

Vivian Huang

A hidden gem in San Leandro. A cute restaurant with amazing food! Prices are reasonable, taking into account the creativity and freshness of their food. They sat us even though we arrived the minute they were closing to prep for dinner time.

Glenn Reynolds

Three of us had dinner on a week night. They have a reputation for stunning cocktails and they exceeded expectations. Food presentation is beautiful. We were seated immediately and the staff was excellent at explaining and making recommendations. What sets this restaurant apart are interesting dishes that are perfectly executed. The quality of the food was excellent. The flavor contrasts And blending really hit the mark. The seating both inside and out is charming and welcoming. I found the actual temperature to be on the cold side so bring a sweater. We paid $60 per person.

Sharon Ross

Amazing birthday dinner. Was able to snag a Friday night rez with minimal notice. We ordered savoy doughnuts, tissue bread, a farmers box with cheese, oxtail and grits, sesame mochi, and the lemon zeppelis. Service was great, and our server was a delight. I found this gem by chance over a year ago and I was so glad I picked this for tonight. Truly tasty bites!

Ann Jackson

The Food is Great. The Atmosphere Is Beautiful and The Staff is Wonderful. I Would Definitely Recommend Top Hatter Kitchen and Bar. The Grilled Oysters With/Harissa Sauce Are My Favorite. 🤗🥰❤️💝🌿💚

Morgan Josephson

Amazing place that I'm wondering why the hell have I not heard of it!! My wife and I were literally looking for a quick place to stop and get a cocktail and small bite before our kids football game down the street, and I can't believe we randomly stumbled onto Top Hatters! I consider us "foodies"...and this compares to Michelin rated restaurants we've been to. I loved the ambiance, the patio seating to the inside seating. The place was immaculately clean. The wait staff were perfect... polite, nice, but not overly involved. My only regret was not having more time to explore more of the dishes and cocktails! I should have taken more photos of our experience, but to be honest, I can't stand doing that. I love being in the moment and enjoying the experience. I will 110% be returning to here, and I will ensure I dedicate more time to the menu and cocktails. Recommend completely!

D B

Modern dining located in a former haberdashery. Their menu is constantly changing, and features some incredible seasonal dishes and cocktails. I strongly recommend making a reservation as they tend to get busy, especially on the weekends. The staff did an incredible job with service. They use a QR code system where your place order from your table, and they bring the dishes out to you one by one. Overall, I found it to be useful because you can order when you want and close out when you're ready, all while keeping contact with staff to a minimum.

If you haven’t yet made the pilgrimage to Top Hatters in San Leandro, cancel your dinner reservations in the city and get yourself to this unassuming neighborhood gem immediately. What we experienced here was nothing short of a religious culinary experience, the kind that makes you question why you ever settled for anything less. We started with the savory bacon donuts, and let me be clear: these are not your average sweet breakfast pastry. These are, without hyperbole, the most delicious savory bacon donuts ever made for human consumption. Perfectly crisp exterior, impossibly light interior, with smoky, salty bacon woven into every bite. I would wait in line in the rain for these alone. Next came the mushroom and hemp seed pâté—earthy, umami-rich, and impossibly smooth. Then the marinated beet salad with olive oil whipped ricotta. Heaven on earth. The ricotta was so light and luscious, so unabashedly French in its sensibility, that I closed my eyes after the first bite. Every element on the plate had a purpose, and together they sang. The mussels in green coconut curry arrived in a delicate, sweet broth that begged to be sopped up with bread. Each mussel was plump, perfectly cooked, and bathed in that fragrant, gently spiced curry. Delicate yet deeply satisfying. And then, dessert. The Labneh mousse was a masterclass in restraint—light as air, barely sweet, with just enough brightness to reset the palate and send us floating out the door, already dreaming of our next visit. We were there for lunch, and the dining room was quiet, almost meditative. The staff was helpful and warm, but it was the kitchen that truly commanded attention. Every dish that emerged was plated with extreme care and passion, the kind of intention you can taste. This isn’t just cooking; it’s artistry. What makes Top Hatters so remarkable is the setting. It feels like a local spot, the kind of place you’d pop into on a Tuesday. But the food? The food belongs in the finest dining rooms of San Francisco. The presentation, the creativity, the quality—it’s world-class, full stop. The dining room itself is modern, clean, and comfortable. No pretension, just a beautiful stage for the food. Five stars, no question. Top Hatters, you have our hearts. And our appetites. We’ll be back very, very soon.

We came here to have a little celebration for just the two of us after we got engaged and the food was delicious and they treated us very well! The oxtail was tender and flavorful, the purple broccoli salad had a delicious char on it, and the halibut tartare was so good. The service was excellent! I highly recommend it.

I was greeted immediately upon entering the restaurant. Once seated I was instructed on how to order. You scan a QR code and place your order on an app. I had the savory doughnuts as an appetizer. If they had more bacon they would have been perfect. For my main dish I ordered the grits with a fried farm egg. It was delicious. The vegetables on top were cooked perfectly and the chilli oil gave it a nice kick. For dessert I had the lemon ricotta zeppole with the Earl Grey chocolate ganache and the lemon curd omg it was good. The Earl Grey chocolate was so good. I have not tasted anything like that before. I had a very good experience at Top Hatters. I would definitely go back.

I've been super excited to try this place out for the past 2 years. Upon arrival getting seated took a while. They seem a bit short staffed which I get these days. But wow, I must have waited at least 10 minutes to be seated and had to end up looking for the rest of my party on my own. The woman proceeded to the kitchen and at no point went to look around for the rest of the people I was trying to locate. I would have rather she said go ahead and locate your party yourself. Some really great flavors in everything we ordered. Loved the tapas style so we were able to try just about everything. The spare ribs, potato cake and tissue bread were phenomenal! Drinks were yummy, wish I'd ordered another. The mochi dessert I really need the recipe. I wanted to lick that plate clean. Beautiful decor, unexpected for the outside setup. Really pleased with my visit here aside from the hostess. Will definitely recommend!

We really enjoy Top Hatters ... Had dinner for my wife's BD and some friends.

Overall, I agree with most of the reviews that came before mine: it is a goldmine for where it’s located. A few notes: the table was sticky and my plate wasn’t perfectly clean, and there was one other sanitary issue. In addition, there were no toilet seat covers in the bathroom. Yikes. (And I am totally willing to edit this review if these items are addressed.) As far as the food goes, compared to restaurants of a similar price range, it fell a little short. They are simple dishes which feel a little overpriced. Not terribly complex, but fresh. We ordered the watermelon salad, oxtails and grits (needed to be served hot), grilled oysters and (underwhelming) savory donuts. Drinks were pleasant but we think the dish-ware could have been more advanced/fancy for the price. Customer service was good and friendly, though there was lack of personal connection (i.e. QR code). This is a missed opportunity to really make this place truly worth going back to.

Sonya

I was greeted immediately upon entering the restaurant. Once seated I was instructed on how to order. You scan a QR code and place your order on an app. I had the savory doughnuts as an appetizer. If they had more bacon they would have been perfect. For my main dish I ordered the grits with a fried farm egg. It was delicious. The vegetables on top were cooked perfectly and the chilli oil gave it a nice kick. For dessert I had the lemon ricotta zeppole with the Earl Grey chocolate ganache and the lemon curd omg it was good. The Earl Grey chocolate was so good. I have not tasted anything like that before. I had a very good experience at Top Hatters. I would definitely go back.

Allan

We are a family of three including a 13-yr-old. We popped in having only heard of Top Hatters and driven by it so many times. No reservation, just a walk in and we were sat in minutes, even had a choice between inside and out. Got lucky. We sat outside. It's a concept menu that's not very kid friendly--but we managed. I don't mind QR ordering, though I've only seen this ordering method at comedy clubs. The menu is very imaginative, and descriptive, though it's tough to know if it will be enough food to satiate. The raw oysters were medium sized with an overwhelming taste of citrus--not extraordinary. Our small plate was tender meat bites wrapped in Viet herbs with a dipping sauce (see photo). These were a great way to get the palate jump started. The Kohlrabi Salad offers fresh flavor and crunch as well. Our main dish was a medium-sized Rockfish (see photo). The presentation is impressive, and the flavor pulls through from skin to bone. We were impressed how meaty and hardy the fish was, made for great fish wraps using the herbs and lettuce. Of all the sauces, the tamarind paired best with everything. Our 13-yr-old loved the short rib, especially the ramen that it comes with. We got lucky, but the short rib is likely the only thing I'd say is kid-friendly. The front of the menu explains in great detail why they choose to use a QR code for ordering. One of the reasons stated it makes for fewer ordering mistakes. However, we were given the wrong side to our fish and I was left scrambling to my phone to double check. They fixed it, but it was strange I was the one who had to check the order. Service was very friendly and we were checked on by multiple people. The food and drink were well made, flavorful, and satisfying. However, as others have mentioned, it is tough to justify the price point when there are other options nearby that offer more variety.

N'Dozie Matingou

I've been super excited to try this place out for the past 2 years. Upon arrival getting seated took a while. They seem a bit short staffed which I get these days. But wow, I must have waited at least 10 minutes to be seated and had to end up looking for the rest of my party on my own. The woman proceeded to the kitchen and at no point went to look around for the rest of the people I was trying to locate. I would have rather she said go ahead and locate your party yourself. Some really great flavors in everything we ordered. Loved the tapas style so we were able to try just about everything. The spare ribs, potato cake and tissue bread were phenomenal! Drinks were yummy, wish I'd ordered another. The mochi dessert I really need the recipe. I wanted to lick that plate clean. Beautiful decor, unexpected for the outside setup. Really pleased with my visit here aside from the hostess. Will definitely recommend!

Luong Dang

We really enjoy Top Hatters ... Had dinner for my wife's BD and some friends.

Minea Herwitz

Overall, I agree with most of the reviews that came before mine: it is a goldmine for where it’s located. A few notes: the table was sticky and my plate wasn’t perfectly clean, and there was one other sanitary issue. In addition, there were no toilet seat covers in the bathroom. Yikes. (And I am totally willing to edit this review if these items are addressed.) As far as the food goes, compared to restaurants of a similar price range, it fell a little short. They are simple dishes which feel a little overpriced. Not terribly complex, but fresh. We ordered the watermelon salad, oxtails and grits (needed to be served hot), grilled oysters and (underwhelming) savory donuts. Drinks were pleasant but we think the dish-ware could have been more advanced/fancy for the price. Customer service was good and friendly, though there was lack of personal connection (i.e. QR code). This is a missed opportunity to really make this place truly worth going back to.

The food is really amazing. The ordering is via a QR code so the service inevitably suffers a bit, we waited 35mins for our entrees from the time we placed the order, everyone around us was seated after us but received their entrees before. Had they taken our order personally instead of a QR code, the staff would have noticed that our order had been forgotten or whatever the hold up was. We ended up asking them to check, and it seemed they only fired our food after we asked. All this could be alleviated by having full service wait staff. I will stress again though, the food is really really good, and I will come back for those savory grits with the mushrooms. And I will come back for the Bahn Mi for lunch 👍

Cheryl R

I think they would be good on other days but don’t dine here on a Sunday. They were sold out of everything, after ordering and food came out they told us one of our entrees was out so had to reorder something. Kitchen closes for dinner on a Sunday which does t make sense. Expected for price a better dining experience. They did comp the meal that was extremely late because they were OOS. Sad we celebrated my mom’s bday here, expected a better food option experience. Contacted restaurant before posting and they said they are short staffed and they didn’t have enough ingredients from the farm to table market. My suggestion is to be closed on Sundays vs doing a dinner service where the kitchen closes at 7pm, it’s confusing

SS

We went here today (8/21) for dinner for the first time, with another couple (who were our hosts) who are regulars at this place. The fish was very good. And the presentation was lovely, and that’s the reason 4 stars for the food. Service: Our hosts being regular patrons of this joint, mentioned if they could be seated at a certain spot, and was very passively told by the restaurant staff, I’m the only server, so you’ll be seated there (where the others were). Then our hosts requested paper hard copies of the menu, and was again told by the staff, I’m the only server, and so use the QR code for the menu and ordering. Again there was a request placed for a physical menu, after being reminded again that “I’m the only server” the paper menus were placed on our table. Our drinks were delayed, and when asked (thinking maybe they were delayed, the server said “they’re on the way” all this while walking away. For being in the Michelin guide and “fancy” this is unacceptable. I wouldn’t have felt bad at all for any of the above had the this server showed any sincerity or regard for the patrons. She could’ve just had a smile and said something to the effect that sorry we’re short staffed today etc… The only reason we didn’t just walk out of the door is cause we were guests. We will not be visiting this place again.