Commis

Superb execution on all fronts. The wine pairing was on point and the cocktails were aromatic. The food had surprising twists and turns- I particularly loved the smoked egg dish. The steak was masterfully cooked, and dessert was simple yet divine. All rounded out by a present and informed wait staff. Will definitely continue to return & recommend!

Dee Dee Pugh

I celebrated my 62nd birthday at Commis Restaurant, 2 Michelin star, with my adorably daughter and my wonderful sister, who hosted the dinner , and I can honestly say it was an experience unlike any I’ve ever had. This was my first tasting dinner at such an exquisite and beautiful restaurant, and it exceeded every expectation. The food was absolutely delicious, thoughtfully prepared, and beautifully presented. The drinks were exceptional, and the service was impeccable. Every member of the staff was attentive and warm, making us feel truly cared for throughout the evening. I especially want to mention our host, Brandon, who was incredibly welcoming, accommodating, and made the entire experience feel effortless and special. The atmosphere was intimate and elegant—slightly dark, but in a way that felt romantic and immersive rather than distracting. From start to finish, everything was exceptional. Thank you for creating such a memorable evening for a very special birthday. I truly hope I’m able to return again someday. This was a night I will never forget.

Ralph Tayyar

I went to Commis on my birthday. The food was amazing, creative and good mix of flavors. The atmosphere is very cozy and chill. Servers were all nice and they all wished me happy birthday. The chef come to the table for one of the dishes. One thing I wish had been better was the service: although the servers were kind, they rushed through explaining the dishes, which made the experience feel less refined compared to the level of attention I’ve received at other Michelin-starred restaurants.

Scott P. Hu

Commis is a place we’ve been wanting to try for awhile, so I booked a table for my wife’s birthday… First off, the communication by there host team is impeccable. They wanted to know if it was a special occasion and what dietary restrictions there are. Granted, this is a 2 Star Michelin rated restaurant, so this was to be expected. The service team was great and the Somm was entertaining. In terms of space, it’s very clean cut, nearly stark in decor. There is ample room between tables to carry on a nice conversation. We wished the seats were a tad more comfortable, but they were fine. As for the food, you really get to embark on a journey. A couple dishes were a miss from our standpoint, but not that they were bad, but just not our preference. The team likes to keep its patrons in suspense when it comes to “what’s next”, but it made it kind of fun too. The Pacific Oyster that started our dining experience was phenomenal! The slow poached egg dish, the trout, and the Scallion rice were highlights for us. All-in-all, it was a fantastic dining experience!

Derrick Johnson

I've always heard excellent things about it, but Commis really delivered on an exceptional experience, the irony is I've been watching all of the Michelin star shows on Netflix, where they talk about the service, the atmosphere and the food, and to see all of those blended together in this impeccable experience, was one of the best of my life. Thank you to the team at Commis.

bleep bloop

Simply put, Commis is a masterpiece. Had the privilege to indulge in their bar menu and was extremely happy with the experience. From the wonderful flavors created in the kitchen, the very kind and helpful staff down to the picture perfect plating and perfect execution of service. If you appreciate fine dining, you will love Commis.

Jeff Chalmers

What an experience. Definitely a bucket list item for a very special occasion. This was a 3+ hour gastronomical adventure. Each dish was perfectly prepared with flavors that just kept exploding. My favorite was the slow poached egg yolk (I don’t know how they do this). Service was attentive and although the tables were wood (not linen) I noticed that they surreptitiously wiped it down after each dish. The surprise was that there was a set of chopsticks at each place settings which were activated at around course 8 (the menu is 10 courses), when they bought a bowl of rice which was deliciously cooked and accompanied by a glass of bouillon to add some flavor as you devoured the rice. Overall a superb experience and well worth the ~$350 - $400 person price tab.

Porschephilia

Superlative. I cannot think when I’ve had a better time dining; staff was very friendly and engaging and informative. The food is simply amazing, and I personally absolutely love the bar dining experience. Came here with a good friend, cannot wait to come back and bring the wife.

Spencer Tinsley

This is hands down my favorite fine dining restaurant I have been to. Every dish was so beautifully crafted and left me wanting more. The wine pairing had a few sakes which was interesting. I'm not a wine expert but the wines/sake felt like they enhanced each dish quite a bit. I would recommend doing the pairing with this. The best dish was the poached egg with bread. We bake a lot of bread at home and I'm mad that I have never made a loaf as good as what they had. Theirs was soft, light, and fluffy with a thin crunchy crust. Perfect. Dipping it in the poached egg dish is something I still think about a week after eating it. I only have 4 stars for the atmosphere because the seating area is nothing special (compared to other restaurants at the same price point. It's still very very nice). It's a small area and while the kitchen is open, the tables don't have a good view of what's going on. Compared to a place like Birdsong where you sit around the open kitchen in a huge room with high ceilings. Regardless, this is definitely a place I will visit again. They do seatings at the bar which is significantly cheaper than the full dinner but still has the same type of food. If you want amazing food that is more budget friendly, then that is a good option for folks. We are planning to try that next time.

Squirrel Friend

I contemplated going to Commis for a while because of the bad rap that the city of Oakland has been getting. When I decided to go, I must have gone when the stars were not aligned. The restaurant was hot. There was probably something wrong with the AC? Maybe the restaurant tried to be environmentally friendly? There was also no coffee to go with desserts, but the restaurant kindly complimented my cocktail. However, the quality of the food makes up for all those little mishaps. Love the food here. ❤️❤️❤️The food is actually on par or even better than that of some of the 3-star that I have been to (please feel free to check my other reviews for receipts). Some of the cherished flavors are of South East Asian cuisines. The most memorable courses were sea bream, egg yolk, bread, and rice. A5 wagyu is a must add-on for a full experience with the rice dish. I got a glass of French Chardonnay that went well with the food, but wine list can use some more exotic and high-end options for by-the-glass. Servers were extremely nice and attentive. They do not overwhelm or bore you with unnecessary information about food and wines but are ready to spill when asked. Commis is totally worth a trip to Oakland. Even when you do not really want to.😜

Maribel Mullins

One of the best restaurants we've been to. Everything was delicious! If you're into drinks, get the Ode to the Farallons - it was really tasty and I'm still thinking about it (salty/sweet in a good way). We got the tasting menu. I was able to get one regular and one vegetarian menu. Both were incredible! Our meals were better than several 3-star restaurants we've been to. Commis is easily on our top 5 best restaurants ever.

Marissa Reed

Superb execution on all fronts. The wine pairing was on point and the cocktails were aromatic. The food had surprising twists and turns- I particularly loved the smoked egg dish. The steak was masterfully cooked, and dessert was simple yet divine. All rounded out by a present and informed wait staff. Will definitely continue to return & recommend!

Amit Gupta

Food amazing. Service over the top. Really enjoyed the experience. Would definitely come back. There is a vegetarian option for the full dinner tasting, but I think the superior experience is likely the standard non-vegetarian option. Great cocktails available if wine paring is not your thing. Very memorable.

Extraordinary food, fully deserving of its two Michelin stars. The 10 course tasting menu is a must, and is mainly focused on seafood. It is inventive and masterful. We were there for 3 1/2 hours enjoying some of the best food I've ever eaten. The staff were knowledge, precise and very friendly - not always something you get at high end restaurants. The wine pairing is highly recommended, with a wide range of unusual wines, that complement the food so well. It is eye-watteringly expensive - we paid $500 per person all in, but it is worth it. Thank you to all the staff at Commis for a truly special experience.

Best fine dining experience I've had. Extremely balanced dishes, even the ones you don't prefer, but you can respect the work and fine tuning that went into it. Chef owner is obviously very talented. It is not easy to earn let alone maintain Michell stars.

We liked the food and the overall vibe here. We went for the 10 course tasting menu. A few dishes were outstanding while others didn’t really land. The whole dinner ended up being about three hours with quite a bit of waiting between courses, which felt a little too long. This was our wedding dinner and even though I had called ahead to let them know, no one acknowledged it at all. For a two Michelin star place, that felt pretty surprising and a bit disappointing. Drinks-wise, the wine list was excellent but the cocktails were just okay. My only other gripe was with the substitution. Since I don’t eat red meat, they swapped the one meat dish for fish. The menu already leaned heavily toward seafood, so it would have been nice to get something different like chicken or duck. On the plus side, the price is very reasonable for a two star restaurant. That said, based on the overall experience, it felt more like a one star level than two.

I’ve been wanting to try this two Michelin star spot for a while, mostly held back because it’s a bit out of the way. Finally made it, and first impressions were great! the space is beautiful, and the interior design really stood out to me. Everything felt thoughtful and calming. The service was also very professional. All the staff were in suits and clearly well-trained, which made the experience feel polished. As for the food, it focuses more on flavor and texture rather than creativity or visual presentation. It’s not the kind of michelin meal that surprises you, but the dishes were solid. I especially appreciated their wine pairings—very well chosen. One suggestion: it would be nice to see more artistic thought in the plating, maybe with unique ceramics that elevate the experience and to include a small printed course list or QR code, so guests can better follow each dish’s components. All in all, in a region with limited fine dining options, this place is still worth visiting, but there’s definitely room to grow in both creativity and overall execution.

We had the 4 course bar menu, combination of dishes was very inventive with mostly Asian influences. Personaly i didn't enjoy the wine pairing flavors were just a bit off. Overall a enjoyable dinning experience.

Its a 2 Michelin restaurant, fine dining experience. The service was top, the serves had high attention to detail and explained each dish, they kmew the menu and drinks well and could give you good explanation of it. They were well dressed. It's a small space restaurant bit spacious for each couple (this is more a couple dining experience than a group setting). Total of 10dishes ,they were intricate and detailed. Each dish came with its own utensils. As to flavor it was unique and interesting more acquired taste. Too many raw dishes for my liking. This restaurant goes more Japanese themed even their cocktail is mainly Japanese alcohol. The best for us was the rice and duck dish. It would be a good try since its Michelin but maybe not for more times unless they have new menu. The dining experience would be round about $350 plus per person depending if you have add one and how many drinks you have.

Great, but was expecting even better. Everything was subtle, with good products, great balances. I really liked how the vegetarian menu was paired with the default menu. But not sure I'll remember this experience as much as other similar restaurants. Also, rather disappointed with the wine pairing, not impressed with any wine (just by the unusual origins), and surprised to get only one red wine. Service was efficient (maybe a bit too obsequious). The place rather quiet and providing good privacy.

Stopped in at the bar for a short tasting experience during a work trip. The service was among the best I've ever received and the atmosphere was upscale but approachable. Overall, the food was tasty, but far from what my expectations were from reading other reviews and from a 2-star establishment. The bread was truly phenomenal, but everything else lacked the "wow" factor. I'm wondering if the full tasting menu would have been more interesting - I would probably stop in again to try their full experience.

Amazing dining experience - minus the short, rude Hispanic host at the front door. Besides him, the food was amazing and we loved the bar tasting menu. Cheap for a nice sample of the chefs cuisine and personality at $100 per person. Can’t wait to come back for the full dining experience, nonetheless!

Shashanka Rao

We liked the food and the overall vibe here. We went for the 10 course tasting menu. A few dishes were outstanding while others didn’t really land. The whole dinner ended up being about three hours with quite a bit of waiting between courses, which felt a little too long. This was our wedding dinner and even though I had called ahead to let them know, no one acknowledged it at all. For a two Michelin star place, that felt pretty surprising and a bit disappointing. Drinks-wise, the wine list was excellent but the cocktails were just okay. My only other gripe was with the substitution. Since I don’t eat red meat, they swapped the one meat dish for fish. The menu already leaned heavily toward seafood, so it would have been nice to get something different like chicken or duck. On the plus side, the price is very reasonable for a two star restaurant. That said, based on the overall experience, it felt more like a one star level than two.

Xina Walsh

We had the 4 course bar menu, combination of dishes was very inventive with mostly Asian influences. Personaly i didn't enjoy the wine pairing flavors were just a bit off. Overall a enjoyable dinning experience.

Olivia

I’ve been wanting to try this two Michelin star spot for a while, mostly held back because it’s a bit out of the way. Finally made it, and first impressions were great! the space is beautiful, and the interior design really stood out to me. Everything felt thoughtful and calming. The service was also very professional. All the staff were in suits and clearly well-trained, which made the experience feel polished. As for the food, it focuses more on flavor and texture rather than creativity or visual presentation. It’s not the kind of michelin meal that surprises you, but the dishes were solid. I especially appreciated their wine pairings—very well chosen. One suggestion: it would be nice to see more artistic thought in the plating, maybe with unique ceramics that elevate the experience and to include a small printed course list or QR code, so guests can better follow each dish’s components. All in all, in a region with limited fine dining options, this place is still worth visiting, but there’s definitely room to grow in both creativity and overall execution.

H H

Its a 2 Michelin restaurant, fine dining experience. The service was top, the serves had high attention to detail and explained each dish, they kmew the menu and drinks well and could give you good explanation of it. They were well dressed. It's a small space restaurant bit spacious for each couple (this is more a couple dining experience than a group setting). Total of 10dishes ,they were intricate and detailed. Each dish came with its own utensils. As to flavor it was unique and interesting more acquired taste. Too many raw dishes for my liking. This restaurant goes more Japanese themed even their cocktail is mainly Japanese alcohol. The best for us was the rice and duck dish. It would be a good try since its Michelin but maybe not for more times unless they have new menu. The dining experience would be round about $350 plus per person depending if you have add one and how many drinks you have.

Sylvain Francois

Great, but was expecting even better. Everything was subtle, with good products, great balances. I really liked how the vegetarian menu was paired with the default menu. But not sure I'll remember this experience as much as other similar restaurants. Also, rather disappointed with the wine pairing, not impressed with any wine (just by the unusual origins), and surprised to get only one red wine. Service was efficient (maybe a bit too obsequious). The place rather quiet and providing good privacy.

Jason

Stopped in at the bar for a short tasting experience during a work trip. The service was among the best I've ever received and the atmosphere was upscale but approachable. Overall, the food was tasty, but far from what my expectations were from reading other reviews and from a 2-star establishment. The bread was truly phenomenal, but everything else lacked the "wow" factor. I'm wondering if the full tasting menu would have been more interesting - I would probably stop in again to try their full experience.

Kartier

Amazing dining experience - minus the short, rude Hispanic host at the front door. Besides him, the food was amazing and we loved the bar tasting menu. Cheap for a nice sample of the chefs cuisine and personality at $100 per person. Can’t wait to come back for the full dining experience, nonetheless!

XY S

Overall a quite (3.5-point) disappointing food experience (Feb 2025 menu). Service was good, no complaint. Servers were nice enough to help me pack my unfinished dishes. Had the full tasting menu and portion overall was big. First four courses are fine (three small bites, raw fish appetizer, caviar and daikan radish, and slow poached egg yolk with bread). But the main courses of the Feb 2025 menu was unsatisfactory. The steamed sole was accompanied with tasteless/no flavor beautifully green veggie sauce - which in my opinion could be cooked with shrimp sauce to add up the ocean/seafood flavor/feel to the sole fish. Scallop and its ham flavor sauce are good; but not sure what the foam-ish food on the left side was trying to convey. The liberty farm duck dish was the worst - the sausage was creative and acceptable; but the duck piece had skin with thick layer of fat not cooked well (tastes like eating fat directly) and there were a lot of meat fascia not removed (hard to chew; the worst medium /medium rare kind of meat I had); I dont know why the prune was there warmed either - as a plate cleanser, it is too warm; as a kind of saurce to add flavor to duck, it is hard to chew. The rice pot and sweets are fine (especially like the last three small bites). Except for jasmine ice cream, the chef could possibly consider remove the either the bitter grapefruit skin taste thing on the top or the sour pomelo meat on the side - because with all together, this desert had too many flavors (sweet, bitter and sour all together, tasting weirdly like biting the whole pomelo without peeling). If I have to go again, I would pick the short bar table menu - includes majority of the acceptable or tasty appetizers but not that many unpredictable main courses. Overall unlikely to go again because the performance of the menu was unstable to me. Sincerely (no offense) recommend the chef to take time to job shadow/learn Beijing/Cantonese roasted duck or French duck cooking skills.