Limewood Bar & Restaurant

Thomas K.

Fantastic place, great service, tasty food and a brilliant view! You can validate the parking inside of the restaurant (up to 3 hours of free parking). Probably also a great place to sit down for coffee. On days with better weather you’ll also able to sit outside!

We sat on the deck around sunset. The drinks were sublime, the view even better. What a lovely evening Limewood provided for us. My friend's birthday was perfection. We will be back again and again. Also the first 2 hours of parking are free!

The food here is excellent. One mistake was made with our table's order, but a server corrected it quickly. I definitely recommend the steak frites. The oysters had good flavor, and the gluten-free cheesecake was much better than expected. The cocktails were good, but the espresso martini blew the others out of the water. (It's on the dessert menu, so if u like them, I recommend ordering it with or without dessert)

Danna Prosser

We sat on the deck around sunset. The drinks were sublime, the view even better. What a lovely evening Limewood provided for us. My friend's birthday was perfection. We will be back again and again. Also the first 2 hours of parking are free!

Trillè Galli

The food here is excellent. One mistake was made with our table's order, but a server corrected it quickly. I definitely recommend the steak frites. The oysters had good flavor, and the gluten-free cheesecake was much better than expected. The cocktails were good, but the espresso martini blew the others out of the water. (It's on the dessert menu, so if u like them, I recommend ordering it with or without dessert)

Grilled whole fish is great, crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. Scallops are very fresh and cooked to it’s perfect tenderness. Ordered lamb ribs as appetizer, it was a little dry. Overall the quality of the ingredients are spectacular. However the style of cooking is on a more traditional side, not as exciting and innovative. All dishes are safe choices and delicious, but I expected more surprise with this kind of price range.

The ambiance is nice, the customer service was great. The food was just ok. I had the chicken and pancake (subbed pancakes for French toast). I had a mock it tail which was delicious. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. I would definitely go back, probably for dinner next time.

Went for Sunday brunch. Staff was helpful and friendly. Though the Sunday breakfast buffet has not returned, the menu items were all good. I had a fried chicken and skillet bread with almond syrup, which was a delightful savory / spicy / sweet combo. Coffee was very good. Spectacular view to the City and the Golden Gate. Ambiance was comfortable but on the loud side. Overall, definitely a place to which I would return.

If you are planning to have dinner here (with reservations) be prepared for a crowded, noisy room made worse by people seated next you getting hammered and louder after each drink. Such a shame that the ambiance is like a corner singles bar at Happy Hour. The Claremont really needs to bring back the restaurant that used to be in the back before the Fairmont took over. The menu and the food are much better than the surroundings deserve. Last time having dinner here!

Connie He

Grilled whole fish is great, crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. Scallops are very fresh and cooked to it’s perfect tenderness. Ordered lamb ribs as appetizer, it was a little dry. Overall the quality of the ingredients are spectacular. However the style of cooking is on a more traditional side, not as exciting and innovative. All dishes are safe choices and delicious, but I expected more surprise with this kind of price range.

Eunique T

The ambiance is nice, the customer service was great. The food was just ok. I had the chicken and pancake (subbed pancakes for French toast). I had a mock it tail which was delicious. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. I would definitely go back, probably for dinner next time.

Dave Hill

Went for Sunday brunch. Staff was helpful and friendly. Though the Sunday breakfast buffet has not returned, the menu items were all good. I had a fried chicken and skillet bread with almond syrup, which was a delightful savory / spicy / sweet combo. Coffee was very good. Spectacular view to the City and the Golden Gate. Ambiance was comfortable but on the loud side. Overall, definitely a place to which I would return.

Erik H

If you are planning to have dinner here (with reservations) be prepared for a crowded, noisy room made worse by people seated next you getting hammered and louder after each drink. Such a shame that the ambiance is like a corner singles bar at Happy Hour. The Claremont really needs to bring back the restaurant that used to be in the back before the Fairmont took over. The menu and the food are much better than the surroundings deserve. Last time having dinner here!

Let me open this review with the statement: STOP SERVING OCTOPUS!!! These are highly intelligent creatures that belong in the ocean—not on our plates!!! This is barbaric, retrograde, offensive…. I HATE to see this happening at a Hotel I have been visiting since childhood!!! Not withstanding the above, the Claremont Hotel is always a special treat. The classic hotel has stood the test time. Views from the Limewood Restaurant tucked into the front corner of the hotel are breathtaking and in good weather the deck is fabulous.

I'll start with the good. The food was good, but not great. There were very few vegan friendly options. The meals are bare bones, so an omelette or eggs doesn't come with toast. The prices were a lot for the quantity and quality of the food. The atmosphere is gorgeous. Sweeping, panoramic views of the bay, indoor and outdoor seating, and nicely designed bar and dining. Now, the service is not great. If I'm being honest, it's pretty terrible. Inattentive, slow, and neglectful. We had to chase down our waiter multiple times to get our order in. We had to chase down the manager to find our waiter to get our check. We heard customer after customer complaining about the service. This really needs to be addressed for the quality of the hotel and the expectations for the price.

Emily Loughran

Let me open this review with the statement: STOP SERVING OCTOPUS!!! These are highly intelligent creatures that belong in the ocean—not on our plates!!! This is barbaric, retrograde, offensive…. I HATE to see this happening at a Hotel I have been visiting since childhood!!! Not withstanding the above, the Claremont Hotel is always a special treat. The classic hotel has stood the test time. Views from the Limewood Restaurant tucked into the front corner of the hotel are breathtaking and in good weather the deck is fabulous.

John Moos

I'll start with the good. The food was good, but not great. There were very few vegan friendly options. The meals are bare bones, so an omelette or eggs doesn't come with toast. The prices were a lot for the quantity and quality of the food. The atmosphere is gorgeous. Sweeping, panoramic views of the bay, indoor and outdoor seating, and nicely designed bar and dining. Now, the service is not great. If I'm being honest, it's pretty terrible. Inattentive, slow, and neglectful. We had to chase down our waiter multiple times to get our order in. We had to chase down the manager to find our waiter to get our check. We heard customer after customer complaining about the service. This really needs to be addressed for the quality of the hotel and the expectations for the price.

We went to the brunch. Top view in the Bay. Food and service were above average. Pancakes were great, but I was unimpressed by the skinny bacon, rank tasting water, and slightly inattentive service.

Great location and views, and the food photographs well, but a very middle of the road experience besides those two. Oysters in particular were a miss - bland, as they were drained of their liquor, and we had to ask our server to get one more as only eleven oysters arrived on the platter. Ceviche was nice on a warm day, as was the charcuterie selection. This particular visir we had to ask a *third* server to close us out, as our original server disappeared for the last forty minutes of our visit, and the other server in our section was pleasant but never actually brought the check either.

This is a tough experience to grade. All of the food and drink was excellent. The highlights were the bone marrow tartare, the scallops, and the roast pork. Lowlights include the disorganized service; orders mixed up, dishes delivered haphazardly, dishes arriving in duplicate, etc. The wait staff were extremely kind and friendly, but it seemed like they were having an off night (maybe they are understaffed? having a suddenly huge "post-Covid rush? I don't know). Dining at this level is about more than just the food, and unfortunately, Limewood did not live up to expectations.

Dorian Cartwright

We went to the brunch. Top view in the Bay. Food and service were above average. Pancakes were great, but I was unimpressed by the skinny bacon, rank tasting water, and slightly inattentive service.

James Kwok

Great location and views, and the food photographs well, but a very middle of the road experience besides those two. Oysters in particular were a miss - bland, as they were drained of their liquor, and we had to ask our server to get one more as only eleven oysters arrived on the platter. Ceviche was nice on a warm day, as was the charcuterie selection. This particular visir we had to ask a *third* server to close us out, as our original server disappeared for the last forty minutes of our visit, and the other server in our section was pleasant but never actually brought the check either.

Gabriel Sinkin

This is a tough experience to grade. All of the food and drink was excellent. The highlights were the bone marrow tartare, the scallops, and the roast pork. Lowlights include the disorganized service; orders mixed up, dishes delivered haphazardly, dishes arriving in duplicate, etc. The wait staff were extremely kind and friendly, but it seemed like they were having an off night (maybe they are understaffed? having a suddenly huge "post-Covid rush? I don't know). Dining at this level is about more than just the food, and unfortunately, Limewood did not live up to expectations.

The kids menu says kids under 5 eat free. But then we found out when we received the bill that that is only for hotel guests. That detail is buried in the fine print. Didn’t love the “gotcha” tactic.

I’ve been going here for 7 yrs for the view, the smash burger (big reputation on that), and inherent elegance. Clearly there is a new chef and new menu. That’s ok, I’m a foodie. Change is good. However, I only order the smash burger at the Limelight, and it went from a 10 score to a 4-5. The new Chef does not even know what a smash burger is. It was awful as burgers go. I was so embarrassed by bringing my friend from Chicago for a burger meal. I’m still a fan of the Limelight, but coming from a family of a few chefs, you can’t butcher an American burger and get away with it.

Staff was great, atmosphere and views are spectacular as always and worth coming back for. I don’t like putting places on blast but just expected better from the food. I’m normally not that guy but I think they can do better. The fried chicken was fantastic. Everything else we ordered (cocktails, pasta, burger) was extremely ok and not worth the price. Seems like don’t really care about the quality of the flavors or ingredients but charge top dollar. The $38 pasta had sauce on it that was burnt and sat under the heat lamp for a few minutes by the time it got to me I had to cut it like a pie. sent it back, no question from server (great service). Ordered the burger in its place and took 20 minutes to get. Place wasn’t packed, but I get it, sometimes people get in the weeds. A $30 burger should be solid. This was bland and overcooked with some underripe/hard slices of heirloom tomatoes and fries that were more lame than in-n-out. Pretty much inedible…

Look im an ex professional baseball player Willie Mcgee which really means Nada, I,ve dealt with situation which I precived that the service wasn't on par with the food are the atmosphere which was good i was told. But this day it was my daughters birthday in which she is a black girl. Her and my wife and my other 3 daughters went out to celebrate this occasion at a supposedly respected restaurant named limewood in Berkeley Ca, address 41 tunnel rd Berkeley, Ca 94705. I understand that the service guy didnt give them the same respect that all the others he services received its not hard to be professional I did it for twenty something years. In treated all people the same. Now I wasn't there but my daughter left there with tears in her eyes, not good. If it was because he thought we weren't going to tip are other reasons who knows now days. I was told by my wife that the management adjusted the bill but that doesn't do anything for her tears SAD.

Sofia Faruqi

The kids menu says kids under 5 eat free. But then we found out when we received the bill that that is only for hotel guests. That detail is buried in the fine print. Didn’t love the “gotcha” tactic.

Maureen Perou

I’ve been going here for 7 yrs for the view, the smash burger (big reputation on that), and inherent elegance. Clearly there is a new chef and new menu. That’s ok, I’m a foodie. Change is good. However, I only order the smash burger at the Limelight, and it went from a 10 score to a 4-5. The new Chef does not even know what a smash burger is. It was awful as burgers go. I was so embarrassed by bringing my friend from Chicago for a burger meal. I’m still a fan of the Limelight, but coming from a family of a few chefs, you can’t butcher an American burger and get away with it.

Sean Flynn

Staff was great, atmosphere and views are spectacular as always and worth coming back for. I don’t like putting places on blast but just expected better from the food. I’m normally not that guy but I think they can do better. The fried chicken was fantastic. Everything else we ordered (cocktails, pasta, burger) was extremely ok and not worth the price. Seems like don’t really care about the quality of the flavors or ingredients but charge top dollar. The $38 pasta had sauce on it that was burnt and sat under the heat lamp for a few minutes by the time it got to me I had to cut it like a pie. sent it back, no question from server (great service). Ordered the burger in its place and took 20 minutes to get. Place wasn’t packed, but I get it, sometimes people get in the weeds. A $30 burger should be solid. This was bland and overcooked with some underripe/hard slices of heirloom tomatoes and fries that were more lame than in-n-out. Pretty much inedible…