Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in East Bay

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2026

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in East Bay? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Baxters Restaurant & Bar

4.8

4.8 (264)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Benicia

About the restaurant

Baxters is a casual fine dining experience located on First Street in the waterside town of Benicia. We are known for our Beef Wellington and succulent Scallops.

Top review

TlGold

Dined 6 days ago

Baxters is a "Home Like Dining Experience!" You feel like you're with family! The good is fantastic and served hot which is very important to me. My goal is to try everything on their menu. It all looks and sounds delicious! We had Brunch yesterday! Garlic Shrimp & Grits, Crab Cake Benedict and Pancakes, Bacon & Eggs! ALL WAS Fantastic!!

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4.7

4.7 (128)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Oakland

About the restaurant

Housed in a spacious, wheelchair-accessible dining room, Almond and Oak serves as a gracious, independently owned neighborhood restaurant. With proper acoustics, good lighting, and attentive service, the restaurant is designed to make every guest feel like a regular from their very first visit.

Top review

BarbaraGold

Dined 6 days ago

We were celebrating a birthday and came for brunch. We started off with fluffy beignets which were perfect. It's a nice touch that they ask if you want powered sugar or cinnamon on top plus they provide some jelly. The two who ordered the steak sandwiches said they were perfect--not too thick, delicious and easy to eat. Although tasty I thought the fried chicken sandwich was too messy to pick up and was better to eat with a fork/knife. Service was friendly and helpful and we would come again.

Blossom and Root Kitchen

4.8

4.8 (299)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Danville

About the restaurant

Featuring plant based ingredients, elevated cooking techniques, a creative beverage list and a colorful ambiance with indoor and outdoor seating. Blossom & Root is the Tri-Valley dining destination for anyone curious about - or naturally inclined towards contemporary vegan fare with an "Eat Local" emphasis. Private dining is available. The pretty space is full of blue patterns and hues, with lots of plants (decorative and possibly edible). Featuring just as creative of a bar program as menu.

Top review

SandyGold

Dined 1 day ago

Love the Fall menu and especially enjoyed the sweet potato pie! My husband and I frequent B&R weekly and everytime, I order something different. This time I had the loaded mac and my husband had his staple caeser wrap; both were yummy. My other favorite are the alcohol-free healthy drinks. I usually have the blackberry limeaid but this time I had a blueberry lemon shrub…always delicious!

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Experience

Happy Hour 2:30-5:00pm Wednesday - Friday

Viridian

4.8

4.8 (6)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Oakland

About the restaurant

Located in Uptown Oakland, Viridian is a premier cocktail bar specializing in contemporary Asian-American cuisine and drinks. Since its 2020 debut, Viridian has garnered immense acclaim, including multiple Tales of the Cocktail regional nominations for Best New American Cocktail Bar (2020), Best U.S. Bar Team (2023), and Best U.S. Restaurant Bar (2023-2026).

Recognized as one of the "Best Bars in America" by Esquire and a "50 Best Discovery" establishment, Viridian is also among the SF Chronicle’s Top East Bay and Most Beautiful Restaurants lists. Beyond the bar, our team’s dedication to craft has earned honors from StarChefs and a 2023 James Beard semifinalist nomination for Outstanding Pastry Chef.

Featured in Forbes and Bon Appétit, we continue to push boundaries through innovative programs like the Red Envelope Pop-Up and high-profile collaborations with esteemed brands and hospitality establishments, including the World's Top 50 Bars.

Top review

Margy

Dined on Oct 19, 2026

Great food, exceptionally courteous welcoming service, very cool bar scene with full menu. Very imaginative drinks with exotic ingredients. This is a bar above bars< very finely curated beverages alcoholic and non alcoholic. Lively and enjoyable!

Metro Lafayette

4.7

4.7 (1900)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Lafayette

About the restaurant

Merging urban sophistication with a relaxed suburban attitude, Metro Lafayette is an all-occasion restaurant offering local, organic cuisine in a contemporary setting.

With the largest outdoor garden patio in the East Bay, you'll find diners enjoying our favorable weather year-round. The menu features an eclectic mix of dishes, such as Gnocchi Parisienne with roasted butternut squash, wild mushrooms, goat cheese & sage-brown butter; BBQ'd Oysters with chipotle-bourbon butter; Crispy Duck Confit Spring Rolls with sweet chili-garlic dipping sauce; Coq au Vin with wild mushrooms, roasted carrots, caramelized onions & potato puree; and Seared Sea Scallops on angel hair pasta with black truffle butter. With a raw bar serving oysters and tuna poke, full bar offering artisanal cocktails and 8 beers on tap, small plates, entrees, and weekend brunch, Metro offers something delicious any time of day.

Top review

SaraGold

Dined 2 days ago

I sat outside on the patio for lunch. Service was courteous and prompt. I had the beet salad which was nicely balanced with fennel and arugula and crunch from the candied pecans. I also had the chicken sandwich with apple cabbage slaws. Fries were hot and crispy, clearly freshly made. The chicken was also very crunchy and delicious. Prices are high but as expected for the area. $11 for a bottle of sparkling Evian water was a painful price. I would definitely go back.

Bardo Lounge & Supper Club

4.8

4.8 (733)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Oakland

About the restaurant

Recommended in the MICHELIN Guide for California 2021-2025. Located in Oakland’s historic Grand Lake District, Bardo is a neighborhood lounge and restaurant inspired by the comfort and camaraderie of a mid-century dinner party. Drawing on the celebration and elegance of old school entertaining, we envisioned a space for friends and neighbors to enjoy amazing food, cocktails, conversation and great music.

Our lounge is a swank living room, furnished with hand-picked finds from antique and vintage markets from Palm Springs to Portland. Our mezzanine dining room features a rotating menu of fresh, seasonal supper-fare with local and sustainably sourced meats, fish and produce. While we think the food, drinks and atmosphere are all great reasons to visit us, it’s the relationships with our friends, neighbors and guests that is the driving force behind Bardo.

Top review

maureen

Dined 2 days ago

I really love this place. The menu is always interesting and changing. I’ve eaten here 4 times, and always look forward to the deviled eggs and whatever soup they have for the night. Their specialty cocktails are pricey, and hit or miss for me. Make sure to designate you want a table, which I prefer over a sofa or the bar.

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4.4

4.4 (859)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Alameda

About the restaurant

Alley & Vine showcases the California bounty - beautiful produce, pristine seafood, livestock raised with care. Each cocktail is hand-crafted with a reverence for season and quality. The wine list is one of the most preeminent in Alameda, featuring both domestic & international options.

But most of all, Alley & Vine is a warm, welcoming place to enjoy yourself and the company of those you care about. Our team is a family and we want to care for you & yours.

Top review

GeraldGold

Dined on Oct 3, 2026

First time dining at Alley and Vine. The food and service were excellent. Started with biscuits which were delicious. Salads were very fresh and generous in portions. Our entrees were well executed and outstanding in flavor. All and all, a very enjoyable dining experience.

The Park Bistro & Bar

4.6

4.6 (1967)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Lafayette

About the restaurant

The Park Bistro & Bar showcases only the freshest, local and organically grown produce as well as naturally raised meats and line-caught fish. With a wholesome and earthy quality, many dishes elevate “comfort” food. Natural light from the romantic inner fountain courtyard, intimate alcoves, a large communal table and versatile private dining spaces. Rustic stone floors, natural wood tables, leather seating and an original art program create a warm and inviting, yet grand and inspiring, space that will create the most memorable dining experience in Lafayette. Reservations are for can be made for The Park Bistro or The Park Bar.

Top review

BuckGold

Dined on Sep 29, 2026

Our lunch was delicious my guest had the flat Bread and I had the chicken wrap. Both were served warm and promptly by our food server Jolene, Jolene is congenial ,friendly, knowledgeable and a delight o have as a food server. I had a very nice Bloody Maria and my guest had a glass of prosecco. All in all a very nice quiet and enjoyable lunch.

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Rubys & Roses Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (373)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Pleasanton

About the restaurant

Ruby’s and Roses is a new dining experience located in the heart of Pleasanton, California, offering an elegant atmosphere focused on American cuisine and craft cocktails. Perfect for those seeking a luxurious outing, Ruby’s and Roses impresses with delicious starters, mouth-watering entrées, and decadent desserts. The restaurant’s signature cocktails are expertly crafted to complement the menu, making it an ideal destination for a memorable night out. We also have happy hour Tuesday through Sunday 2:00pm-5:00pm.

We're also excited to introduce our new brunch menu, available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00p.m, featuring fresh and creative dishes designed to start your weekend on a delicious note.

Top review

Caroline

Dined on Oct 30, 2026

My daughter and I love having lunch outside & 🍾🥂 here once a month just to catch up and have a delicious 😋 meal.

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Popular dish

CHIMICHURRI LAMB CHOPS

4.5

4.5 (1405)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Oakland

About the restaurant

Family-owned and operated since 2008, MUA is a unique downtown Oakland restaurant known for its globally inspired comfort food, eclectic décor, local art, and lively atmosphere. Located in historic Auto Row, MUA offers a spacious dining room perfect for group dinners, date nights, celebrations, and intimate gatherings. Enjoy delicious food, wine, craft cocktails, and beer in a relaxed, artistic setting that reflects Oakland’s diverse culture. Conveniently located near the Fox Theater, Paramount Theatre, The Sound Room, and Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, MUA is an ideal spot for dinner and drinks before a concert, show, or special event. Founded by the family behind Berkeley’s Pastoral and Soizic at Jack London Square, MUA has welcomed locals, artists, and visitors for nearly two decades, creating a vibrant neighborhood destination for food, drinks, and connection in Oakland, California.

Top review

Marina

Dined 6 days ago

Always great! The tagine is to die for! All the selections are great. Could stand to up their wine game though.

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