Abstract Table

Restaurant · North

Abstract Table

Restaurant · North

1

2085 Vine St, Berkeley, CA 94709

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Highlights

Japanese-inspired fine dining with artistic plating and creative flavors  

Featured in Eater
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2085 Vine St, Berkeley, CA 94709 Get directions

abstracttable.com
@abstracttable

$50–100 · Menu

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2085 Vine St, Berkeley, CA 94709 Get directions

+1 415 754 9845
abstracttable.com
@abstracttable

$50–100 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 17, 2025

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‘Top Chef’ Season 16 Premieres Tonight With Two Bay Area Chefs - Eater SF

"Abstract Table, the permanent dinner series inside Oakland’s the Gastropig, will unveil its second art-influenced exhibit tomorrow night." - Janelle Bitker

https://sf.eater.com/2018/12/6/18129043/top-chef-season-16-premieres-bay-area-chefs-michelle-minori-brandon-rosen
View Postcard for Abstract Table

Justin Lee

Google
The servers are attentive. The octopus appetizer is very good but pricey for a small appetizer. The steak is the better entree. The venison is too tough and dry. I wish I had orders the trout - that looks pretty good. Overall, the ambiance and the service are very good. I want to try other small dishes. Perhaps I should have skipped the entree and only do the small dish and wine.

Mike Nolan

Google
An amazing treat for the gastronomic senses! Art is food and food is art at Abstract Table. The service is excellent and let the staff guide your experience as they can help you find what you are looking for... Take your time and enjoy every bite, sip and slurp! Yummy!

Faye

Google
It's hard to find it if you are not familiar with this area like me :( Like other reviewer mentioned that it's inside of GASTROPIG, you should looking for "GASTROPIG" sign, not "Abstract table", coz you wont able to find it lol Speak to their food, is totally abstract, the concept is great but somehow i feel the ingredient can improve more. Also the open kitchen is smoky during the whole dinner.

Seiyonne Suriyakumar

Google
A great find in Oakland. Chefs Andrew and Duncan have created a wonderful culinary experience by fusing unexpected combinations of food in a relaxed and warm setting. A must do!

Wally Chan

Google
Great service with a great smile food is so flavorful and delicious. Thank you Chef Andrew and Robert Dunstan for inviting me for this tasty Pop-up.

Thomas Lextrait

Google
I dined at Abstract Table on 7/9/22 at 8:30pm with my wife. This is pretty negative so I'll just keep it to the facts so readers can make their own judgement, although keep in mind it's not easy to put two toddlers to sleep, get a nanny, make a road trip to have a night out twice a year at a nice place. This was also my birthday. Restaurant isn't accountable for those of course, Im just saying I'm not out to visit all restaurants and blast them online. The setting was really nice, they have a beautiful patio. However it was pretty cold sitting outside (no indoor dining) and uncomfortable on steel chairs. There are rats running in between the tables and the waiter seemed used to it. The drinks menu has no cocktails and a very limited selection of wines. I had the $67 bison rib-eye. It was a very low quality piece of meat, I had to spit part of it. It was so salty it was essentially inedible, though given my hunger I still had half of it. The fries were also too salty, nearly inedible. To be clear I didn't ask for a discount or for any freebies, and I don't want anything for writing this. I don't complain for getting a free meal, I'm only trying to save people from visiting what's clearly a show, a hobby run by amateurs who make good looking food in a nice setting, charge Michelin star prices, and whose egos make them believe they're worth it.

Kirby Harris

Google
Food was incredible. I took my daughters for a daddy daughter dinner. We are regular fine diners and this is the first time the girls told me to post to let people know how good the food is. We started with the appetizers spicy scallop donut, ceviche fried soft shelled crab, cured and seared ocean trout. Our mains were Waygu beef with beet chips, ocean trout, quail with roasted blue corn grits . We all left happy. We’ve made reservations for next week already.

Marija Vidal

Google
Both the dining experience and the food are very disappointing for the price. There aren’t enough space heaters to keep everyone warm, water is served in plastic cups, the silverware came dirty, the seating is uncomfortable. Service was slow, and the food at best very bland. The trout was good, but the quail was dry, stunted, and poorly assorted. The scallops were borderline fresh. I am all for supporting local restaurants especially during the pandemic, but this experience was really terrible. To top it all off the portions are tiny for the price (had the flavors and combinations been intricate and well put together I wouldn’t mind but this wasn’t even the case). Not setting foot in this restaurant ever again.
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Alyson C.

Yelp
I came here for a birthday party with a pre fixe menu, and it didn't disappoint! The service was great, the outdoor setting is really cute, and we gobbled up our food! Very hefty on the avocado and a really yummy waffle. I would come back to check out their other menu items for sure. Only con; limited parking
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James K.

Yelp
I came here with a friend for restaurant week and the table next to us suggested we add the mushroom cappuccino (soup), so we did. We also added the donut dish. The donut dish had a nice texture and a fresh seafood flavor. The mushroom cappuccino had purple powder which was aesthetically fascinating and the soup was full of umami. The tasting menu itself started with the crudo, which had a sweetness from the guava broth and a spicy kick from the onion and curry oil. The lovely balance of flavors and textures continued in the Caesar dish with crunchy leaves and the ikura bursting (literally) with deliciousness. The pork belly was hearty and comforting, with a plum sauce and plantains which paired well with the carignane. The smore was a fun spin on a classic sweet snack with a gooey marshmallow. Overall I had fun looking at and tasting the food here. I'd like to come back to try the fish, it smelled so good.
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Verenice B.

Yelp
This place was so refreshing, different, and delicious! Starting with that Carpaccio/raw steak item was amazing. Exactly what I wanted. The cappuccino was exceptional! Anytime I see that on a menu I will HAVE to get it from now. Wow. I had a really hard time choosing the main entree, but ended up going with the fish and wow I'm so happy I did! The spicy red sauce was EVERYTHING! And made me really happy that it was ACTUALLY spicy like the host said. That almost never happens. *Happy girl dance * Although the The soft shell crab wasn't my favorite (hence last time talk about) it was pretty tasty and unique... ate the whole thing. I love when I can eat the fried shells The wine selection was great! We had two different types of rose. We were seated outside so maybe thats why they didn't ask for vaccination card, but I was ready and willing. I've learned with drinks, any bill gets pretty high. This bill was worth it. Pre prepared to spend $$$ but be really happy!
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Andrew S.

Yelp
This is a great pop-up experience and I was glad to find them on Resy while looking for a special dinner spot in Uptown Oakland. Along my culinary journeys, I've spent a year doing 1-2 pop-ups in SF every week followed by a year of SF Michelin-starred and top restaurants and I'm really impressed by the seven course menu (it's Asian-Californian) the chef served that night. The first two dishes were just outstanding. Lots of lobster in that salad and the seafood cappuccino was just perfect. They basically foamed a combination of seafood and the resulting signature flavor made me want to lick the bowl. Incidentally, I'm a big fan of foaming - it's getting the essence without the calories. The other wow bite of food was the pork cheek - this was just soooo packed with flavor. The overall meal was really good though there were really minor things that could have pushed it from excellent to perfect. This is a semi-permanent pop-up located inside Gastropig. Service was good and the price point is really good given the quality of ingredients and the technique involved in each of the courses. With tax and tip, this was $125 but it's worth it, IMHO. Highly recommended for a nice business dinner or a date.
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Mary F.

Yelp
Wanted a non-Michelin, yet still fancy meal during ORW, which took us to Abstract Table. This was located at Gastropig, and the vibe was so...weird?? There were many others waiting for their names to be called and although we had a reservation it took us a while to get seated. We had a choice of the ORW menu or the usual menu- we just wanted a taste of what Abstract Table had to offer so we opted for the ORW menu. Silly but memorable experiences to be had! The plates were HUGE and the portions were oh so small, we wanted another meal after this one. The plating for the entree and dessert were beautiful, though. The first course was unique but could've had something to cut through the extra seafood-y taste. Was it worth it? Eh. It was a fun night for my partner and I but would not recommend or return.
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Christina G.

Yelp
I really wanted to like Abstract Table, but it was just ok - a little hit or miss for me and our table of four (plus a child). The service was attentive and friendly, and the atmosphere was nice at the Cafenated Coffee Company's outdoor garden eating area. The savory courses were fine tasting and cooked technically well, and "points" should be given for creativity in the menu. However, nothing really blew our minds and the desserts were not good. One of the desserts was a heavy cherry dumpling which was fine, but the other dessert was actively bad with a fatty cream and big piece of sesame pastry that was so hard that we struggled to break it into bite size pieces. It wouldn't break with a fork, and it didn't give when bitten with our teeth, so we ended up giving up on it. For the price point and the enticing photos I'd seen on their Instagram page, we expected more.
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Thomas L.

Yelp
I dined at Abstract Table on 7/9/22 at 8:30pm with my wife. This is pretty negative so I'll just keep it to the facts so readers can make their own judgement, although keep in mind it's not easy to put two toddlers to sleep, get a nanny, make a road trip to have a night out twice a year at a nice place. This was also my birthday. Restaurant isn't accountable for those of course, Im just saying I'm not out to visit all restaurants and blast them online. The setting was really nice, they have a beautiful patio. However it was pretty cold sitting outside (no indoor dining) and uncomfortable on steel chairs. There are rats running in between the tables and the waiter seemed used to it. The drinks menu has no cocktails and a very limited selection of wines. I had the $67 bison rib-eye. It was a very low quality piece of meat, I had to spit part of it. It was so salty it was essentially inedible, though given my hunger I still had half of it. The fries were also too salty, nearly inedible. To be clear I didn't ask for a discount or for any freebies, and I don't want anything for writing this. I don't complain for getting a free meal, I'm only trying to save people from visiting what's clearly a show, a hobby run by amateurs who make good looking food in a nice setting, charge Michelin star prices, and whose egos make them believe they're worth it.
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Lisa K.

Yelp
We went to abstract table as our last minute wedding anniversary celebration dinner. Last minute because we lazy and typically low key. I called in advance and apparently the owner picked up. No problem getting a reservation, and when we arrived thirty min later, there were quite a few tables available. When I had called back to cancel because I realized there was raw fish on the pre fix menu, he told me that it can easily be replaced with cooked scallop and can torch the beef tartare. Very appreciative of these kinds of accommodations for those with perhaps a less sophisticated palette :) We did the five course meal for $65 per person (kind of wish we opted for the seven course for just $20 more because the beef rib did look more substantial). Each dish was unique and we especially liked the wagyu brisket, beef broth, micro salad dish. But it is literally a single slice of thinly cut brisket. That said, the combination was delicious and interesting the broth was in a solid state. The favorite is the night was the dessert - grilled mochi butter cake. Literally only two small bites but it was heavenly. But yes, that was the general theme - the tiniest of portions but delightful to the taste buds. But we expected that going in! The only fail was the lime popsicle. I kind of wish the server explained the intent for each dish and how the flavors were picked. But also appreciated that no one was hovering over us. I say it's worth checking out for a special occasion and if you want to try new flavors without all the uppity vibes that some places might have. It kind of reminds me of a more elevated and expensive Mr. Pollo in the mission.
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Vasudha R.

Yelp
The portion sizes are extremely small and incongruous with the menu pricing. As other reviews have mentioned, my party and I had to get another round of dinner after leaving the restaurant since there was no way the portion sizes counted as a filling meal. For that reason alone I would caution you against making a reservation here. The restaurant is a pop-up that is located in Caffenated Coffee Co. You can tell that it's a coffee shop, not an upscale dining restaurant, from the ambience. I was not expecting to be seated at clanky metal tables and rickety chairs for a restaurant that says it's fine dining. I think the furnishings could be upgraded to higher quality materials. The shaved scallops were meh and I would not recommend them. The lamb and trout were flavorful and well executed. The staff is the redeeming characteristic of the location and they are very pleasant to interact with.
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Falisa C.

Yelp
I have been here a few times and each experience has been enjoyable. The dishes are complex with delicate flavors. Some very creative pairings in play like the anchovy crusted lamb with fennel and pear salad herb sauce or a squid ink dressed salad. My favorite for this month is the sake poached mussels with strawberries. The sweet and tart with the savory broth complimented extremely well with each other. The uni cream with the black garlic rice that went with the ocean trout was also memorable. Only thing is plating-wise for some of these dishes - it could use a little umph. Overall the dishes here are delicious, I can't wait to see what's on the next menu.
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Eric L.

Yelp
The food isn't quite as molecular gastronomy inspired as I would have liked, but the plating of the food is divine and rivals Atelier Crenn. The food isn't quite that spectacular, but it's pretty good and the portions are more substantial than you'd expect.
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Jeffrey N.

Yelp
Spectacular anniversary dinner. Artistic presentation, beautiful flavors, lovely service.
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April A.

Yelp
Delicious food and friendly service! The vegetarian dishes were especially good. The roasted roasted corn chowder "cappuccino" and a smoked lions mane mushroom were outstanding. The restaurant is located thru a cafe, in the garden behind the shop. You'll be surrounded by an eclectic assortment of plants from manzanita, lemon balm and mint to succulents, flowering maple and anthuriums. Dress code is casual, street parking was easy to find, I recommend stopping by!
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Kati H.

Yelp
Wow, I was thoroughly impressed by both the price and the quality of the food. The portions for appetizers are small, but they are unique and reasonably priced. We expected all of the dishes to be small after reading some reviews, but the steak was HUGE. It worked out perfectly - we got to try a lot of fun dishes and finished the evening with a beautifully cooked steak. At first we were shocked that the steak had sauce on it, but as soon as we tasted it we basically would have been fine with it drowning in it, as it was a very earthy mushrooms sauce that added a serious amount of depth to the dish.
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Faye L.

Yelp
It's hard to find it if you are not familiar with this area like me :( Like other reviwer mentioned that it's inside of GASTROPIG, you should looking for "GASTROPIG" sign, not "Abstract table", coz you wont able to find it lol Speak to their food, is totally abstract, the concept is great but somehow i feel the ingredient can improve more. Also the open kitchen is smoky during the whole dinner.
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Quyen T.

Yelp
It's nice to have a restaurant like this in Berkeley. The outdoor greenhouse is beautiful, the wait staff is attentive and the food is good. The portions for the apps were small but the food was tasty. It isn't cheap -- this meal below plus 3 glasses of wine = 200 bucks. But it was a pleasant date night and we will always support Berkeley institutions. The garlic ice cream was interesting. I wouldn't have guessed that it was garlic!

J M.

Yelp
Every time I read a Yelp review that says "food was fine, but over priced," I always default to thinking, "you cheap b*stard, you're just not used to the high prices of fine dining." So I will preface this review by saying we have eaten at many Michelin starred restaurants, and have happily paid the price for an outstanding meal. We were super excited because the menu looks so creative and inventive, but the food was about a 6/10 in my book (5 being satisfactory). The meal was fine, it had good flavors, but... definitely not on par with the prices. Nearly $70 for the bison and $55 for the fish. At those prices I expect a meal that is exceptional, and it was just... not. We left feeling pretty underwhelmed. However the service was friendly and attentive, and the food came out quickly. I think they did a great job with the outdoor setting. The tables and chairs are casual, which does not bother me at all. Beautiful hanging succulents and chandeliers. Good spot for a date night if you're OK with spending $$$$ on an average meal.
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Cynthia B.

Yelp
Casual Atmosphere, Refined Dining. We opted for an early reservation at 6:15 for 4 and had our choice of tables, but by 7:30 the restaurant was full. The 5 courses at $65 were substantial and artfully presented. Every bite was delicious. Had we been hungrier, going for the $20 extra for the next two courses would have been sensational as the chefs were featuring two favorites: duck and prawns. Wooden tables, place is noisy when packed. Glassware are jam jars for all beverages. A bottle of water is on the table. No bread service. Corkage $25. We found street parking. Very casual restaurant yet the food is elevated and artistic. We truly enjoyed it and recommend a visit.
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Angel F.

Yelp
We came here during the Oakland restaurant week but we ended up getting one of the regular tasting menus. When we first got there, they just told us a bunch of stuff was already out, especially from the beverage list, even though the list is really not that long. We were a little bit disappointed because it seems odd that so many things are out at the beginning of the night. They claimed that they usually get restocked on Friday, but it feel likes they could have been more prepared for the first day of the restaurant week, or any day in general really. Overall we are pretty happy with most of the courses from the tasting menu especially the appetizers, great flavors and presentation. However, for the dessert, it seems like the ice cream has already been melting for a while by the time it got to our table. Not sure how that happened. The meal was not bad overall, and we ended up paying about $100 / person for the menu plus a glass of wine. But with so many things not available and food not serving at the right time, it doesn't seem to be worth the value.
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Jeannette W.

Yelp
Food was good. Innovative and flavorful. Plates were definitely pretty. It would have been nice if the dishes were served warmer but I think the ingredients cooled down as a result of the labor inensive plating. For the price, the ambience could have been better. I definitely could have done without the six diners standing on chairs throughout the whole meal taking photos. Good thing I wasn't on a romantic date. I should just be glad at least it wasn't cold like other reviewers mentioned, right?
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Bryan M.

Yelp
We came here last weekend at the recommendation of a coworker. Originally we had reservations for their 8:30pm seating but they contacted me early Saturday to see if I could come in earlier which was amazing. We couldn't get there until 7ish but they said no worries and were extremely flexible ... A+ customer service before we even got there. When we arrived the place was about 3/4 full but had a great ambience and environment. We were met by a friendly employee and seated quickly. As a disclaimer, I'm definitely not a foodie, and to be honest I was a bit scared by the menu but I'm always looking for new things to try. I will say their menu and food did not disappoint! The 7 course menu was the perfect amount of food and all the flavors and combinations were on point. My personal favorites were the Chicories Salad, Heirloom Carrot and the Goose dish was amazing. I would definitely recommend trying this place out. It's very reasonable for the experience and not that well know so you shouldn't have any issues getting reservations. It sounds like they'll be adding some additional seatings during the week after the holidays which will be great.
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Bridge M.

Yelp
Friendly service, wonderful hidden garden environment, and creative dining. Andrew and team work very hard and are always looking to innovate; so there's bound to be a "miss" every once in a while. But on the whole every meal I've had here has had at least one moment of surprise/culinary inspiration that will keep me coming back to discover what the team has created next. Perhaps not the go-to place if you're looking for something super-consistent (there are other places I'd recommend for more no-nonsense perfect execution dining), but if you're up for an adventure I definitely recommend. They are also great at working with private/group events, even developing custom menu items!
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Tim W.

Yelp
As others have mentioned, Abstract Table is actually located inside "GastroPig". I came here as a party of 4 with a reservation at 8:30PM, but despite the reservations we still weren't seated until around 9:00PM. I wouldn't fault them for that but... We came for Oakland restaurant week, and read ahead that there were several menus available. There was a 3 course meal available, along with a 5 and 7 course menu if you so wished. However, what we didn't know beforehand was that the whole table can only choose one menu; no mix and match, nothing! I would've liked to try some of the other dishes, but I knew that a few of my party members weren't big eaters so we all settled on the 3 course meal. The food in particular wasn't bad, but the size of the dishes were so small that it always left you wanting more. I liked how the scallops were naturally sweet, and the short rib was braised pretty well. However, I walked away still hungry after paying $40 + tax + tip!
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Beau G.

Yelp
The food is both inventive and excellent. Abstract Table is absolutely worth a visit, just know that everything other than the food is kinda incomplete. The servers and the location will need improving to reach a true five star level. I really hope these chefs are able to move to a permanent location some day, and if so you'll be able to say "I remember when this place was run out of the back of a coffee shop."
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Jiahui L.

Yelp
Seafood cappuccino (5 stars): this was probably my favorite thing of the night. This was a lovely rich buttery seafood bisque. Could sip it all night Scallop (4 stars): fresh sweet thinly cut scallop with lime curd and roe. Really like the concept of this dish, just a little too much curd to scallop ratio Eggplant (4 stars): whole roasted, with a hint of smoke, served with a ponzu yogurt and honey. A little too sweet but liked the ponzu yogurt Torched trout (5 stars): this was just second to the seafood cappuccino as my favorite dish. The trout was so tender, almost like smoked salmon. Went really nicely with the earthy sunchokes Smoked coconut cream pie (3.5 stars): really enjoyed the smoked coconut cream, but the crust was unfortunately not very crispy or flaky Service was really friendly! They had a great outdoor set up with a long overhead heater supplemented by several individual heat lamps. Would like to try them out tasting menu style. Was able to easily make a reservation via opentable the morning of for Friday dinner

Laura W.

Yelp
Came in October for my friend's birthday. This has been on my list to try for a special occasion. So I will say that I read the reviews about the rats and yes, indeed, they are an issue. Luckily, we had dogs with us that kept them at bay. It was a little unnerving, but it is directly behind a grocery store, so understandable. The outdoor space is super cute, has heaters above. Service was attentive at the beginning but lacked a little at the end but overall was solid. Food was good! The clams were some of the BEST I've ever had and would go back for those. The fish was a little salty.
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Natasha K.

Yelp
This was a fun experience. I was looking forward to connecting with other customers at a communal table with my husband, however, turns out we were the only customers that night! I definitely was not expecting that. We figured "hey, at least that means we should get great service." -- which we did. Our server was prompt and attentive and it was clear that she knew the dishes well. She explained each one she brought and was very professional. We opted for the 7 course meal and ordered a glass of champagne (which I enjoyed even more because it was in a mason jar). Each dish was a piece of art. They were tiny portions (more like a sampler/tasting menu) so for those with large appetites, don't expect to be super full afterwards. I would like to see the menus change more frequently so that we can return again soon. I hope more pop-ups like this continue to showcase the molecular gastronomy skills that exist amongst some of this city's finest chefs.
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Jenn D.

Yelp
If you're looking for this place, it's inside The Gastropig. A little signage would have been helpful. Came during Oakland Restaurant Week, and we were initially only presented with the beverage + ORW menu. I knew they have other 5 and 7 course meals, so we asked to see the other menus. We wanted to try multiple things since it was our first time here. When we went to place our order of two 5 course and two ORW 3 course meals, though, they said we all have to order from the same menu, per the chef. Nowhere did it state on the ORW website, on OpenTable, or on the printed menu that we all have to order the same thing. I would be ok with this, if you got OPTIONS for the courses in your menu, so everyone didn't have to order the exact same dishes. I've been to other restaurants participating in ORW that state on the website that everyone has to order from the ORW menu (e.g. Mägo, and they had course options). Fine if you know ahead of time that's what you're getting into, but it sucks to be surprised after you've made a reservation, been seated, and ordered your drinks. If I had known, I wouldn't have booked a reservation here. Since they wouldn't accommodate serving two different prix fixe menus to a table of 4, we all got the OWR menu. Presentation: elegant, aside from being served the main on an Alamosa Gray floor tile. Taste: delicious Portions: small Price: not worth it Service: ok. It was fine until we wanted the check because we had finished our meal and we could see parties waiting to be seated. Probably took about 10 minutes to flag someone down. By the time we left, our whole party was still hungry. We had to go somewhere else to get a second dinner because no one was full/satisfied, and we're not all big eaters. Only come here if you know everyone in your party wants to eat all the same dishes, and you're ok with eating off floor tiles as plates.
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Joyce S.

Yelp
The dishes themselves are absolutely stunning and very fine dining. However, the food did not taste as good as it looked. It was good, but there were quite a number of issues with balance, seasoning, and temperature. I don't think I would go again. Service overall was really really slow. Servers were kinda whatever. If felt like a really long time in-between courses, especially since the dishes were quite small. The whole experience was about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Ambiance: Kinda weird because the food reads fine dining, but everything else is really casual, from paper napkins to basic silverware. I get that it's a popup but if you're putting down $60 for a bottle of wine, I would expect that it be poured in a wine glass and not a mason jar. It just throws off the experience. 1st Course: Oyster scallop, squid, leek, citrus, starfruit I think the starfruit in our dish was substituted with mango. It was not a good substitute though because the dish became quite sweet, imbalanced, and was quite one note on the texture. I think if we had the starfruit, it would have helped with the texture and balance issues. 2nd Course: Shrimp scallop dumpling This dish came lukewarm. It was kinda whatever. Nothing special. Not sure what purpose the avocado powder had on the dish. 3rd Course: Sea bean, guava, pineapple black sesame wafer, chili-yuzu vinaigrette. This one could have been really good. I think this dish just had the wrong proportions of ingredients. There was a lot of pineapple and there wasn't enough sea bean, so you couldn't really get good bites for the entire dish. Sometimes it was just pineapple and therefore too sweet. 4th Course: Ashen octopus, chicharron, passionfruit coconut pearls. I didn't like or get this dish. Not really tasty 5th Course: Wild boar belly, mango nectar, poached carrot. This dish would have been good if the boar belly were seasoned correctly. It was soooo under-seasoned. Otherwise it would have been a great dish. 6th Course: Braised goat, pigeon peas, kabocha curry, smoked chili. I liked this dish but that thai chili had no business being on the dish. It would be too spicy for the majority of people. It had good enough heat without it. I felt like the thai chili was just for presentation and unnecessary. 7th Course: Hawaiian cinnamon buckwheat cake, which chocolate-lime mousse. I liked this one a lot. No complaints except maybe it would be better with slightly more cake.
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Stacey W.

Yelp
This place was underwhelming. It managed to bring together all the stereotypes that plague fine dining without the main frill: good food. A for presentation, but C for actual taste. The food was either too salty or too bitter, and the textures did not work together. At one point, a fellow diner and I exchanged looks over the trout and she said to me with a crinkled face, "really bitter, huh? I guess you get what you pay for." In my opinion, I did not get what I paid for. Not only was the food not delicious, but the portion sizes were ridiculous, even by fine dining standards. The "third course," an "intermezzo," was actually an amuse-bouche, except the single bite did not amuse my bouche one bit. Every other course, I finished in 2 (little) bites. And the 2 bites never left me wanting more. The pacing was also really slow. It took us a good two hours to get through the whole menu--which would be fine if not for the fact that we could not have been eating for more than 20 minutes of it (remember what I said about how few bites were in each portion?). By the time we paid our bill we were dying to get outta there BECAUSE WE WERE STARVING. We bee-lined to True Burger, where we each got a cheeseburger because--no joke--after a five-course meal, we were ravenous. All things considered, I guess my fellow diner was right; "you get what you pay for," and in the world of fine dining, $50 is not a lot. But this wasn't fine dining, only its negative stereotypes--toddler-size portions, obscure ingredients with a bonus hit of cultural appropriation--without the amazing food you'd expect of a fine dining experience.
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Makenzi C.

Yelp
This was a great experience! We did the 6 course menu for Fine Dining on Paper. Their wine list was great (always important). We started off with some sparkling rose. The first course was soup that was absolutely delicious. It was one of my favorites. We also had two surprise courses in the dinner which was a fun treat! One was lamb on smoked cauliflower purée with eggplant. This was my favorite dish of the evening. Definitely worth checking out! They have a lot of fun dinners coming up!
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Flavia K.

Yelp
Beautiful, delicious and creative food. It was a fabulous surprise, price very accessible for that quality of food, I highly recommend! The theme for this season is Atolls, focused on all the things that live in and around atolls, star fruit, octopus, goat.... beautiful colors, spices and textures, from first plate to 7th plate!
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Yelper A.

Yelp
Seriously the most amazing seafood cappuccino I've ever had. Amazing chef and super high quality food.

sandi l.

Yelp
Creative complex tastes. Interesting use of trays and paper in fine dining. Loved the fresh mushroom soup. Roasted beet was so pretty with the crunchy seaweed granola. Bok Choi salad had a red pepper kick with sweet Asian pear. Delicious trout with pickled cucumber. It did not need the bitter arugula purée underneath. Beef cheek was tender and sweet. Could've been warmer. Ditto for the lamb. But the lamb on the roasted cauliflower purée was a favorite. Now that pannecotta dessert was spectacular. Great combination of tastes and textures. Can't wait to try the next installation.
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Sarah J.

Yelp
A true gem in the Bay Area. The food is unlike anything you'll eat at any other restaurant, let alone during shelter in place. Attention to detail, presentation and cleanliness! Which is so important to me especially now. We ate in a beautiful open garden setting and I can't wait to go back again!
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Patrick M.

Yelp
Very unique. Creative... great use of spices This was a a winner. Not what you would have thought Patrick

Tommy A.

Yelp
A wonderful dining experience with flavorful and creative dishes. Abstract Table is really pushing the boundaries with unique food combinations that will expand your mind. Excellent service and a great outdoor dining experience. Perfect spot for a nice date.

Oliver W.

Yelp
To echo other reviews, food was over salted when it could've easily been used to enhance the flavors instead of compensating for creative content. The menu read pleasantly entertaining and photos viewed on the internet expected an artful presentation, intriguing, sophisticated yet realized unsatisfactory & disappointing platings yielding an overload of salt displacing a potential great last meal in Berkeley. Chez Panisse was half the price and ten times better! Do not go here.
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Kara Q.

Yelp
I am absolutely blown away by my whole experience tonight! The Abstract Table is serving at Caffeinated Coffee Co. as of this month, and there is a beautiful garden patio to sit at while you eat (and the tables are social distance friendly)! Chef Andrew prepared the most incredible meal I've had in YEARS. And my server Max was prompt, polite, and friendly all while wearing a mask his whole shift. I love this place and I'll definitely be coming back for many date nights to come! First, I ordered the sparkling rosé, which was perfect with every dish. I started with the Hamachi Crudo and Ceviche which were so purely crafted. The high quality of ingredients is obvious as the fish melts in your mouth and all the components on the plate bring a beautiful evolution of flavor. Im typically not a fan of roe, but MY GOD that was my favorite part of the Crudo besides the fish itself! The eggplant brought a tangy earthy element that balanced the richness of the roe and the acidity and sweetness in the sauce. The ceviche has equally diverse flavors that hit the palette more directly. There's juicy, ripe watermelon, pickled daikon, and cool sliced cucumber, all working together with fresh octopus to create a bright, refreshing bite. The portions are perfect for a multi-course meal, which was exciting for me because I get full so quickly and I was dying to try as many dishes as I could! For my main course I had the Crispy Chicken Confit, and let me tell you- THAT was the most succulent, perfectly spiced, and balanced dish I've ever had. I got a good sized piece chicken that just fell right off the bone when pulled with my fork. The spices are aromatic and bold, yet mild so as to not overpower the other flavors of the dish. Cauliflower purée with heirloom carrot jus was not enough! I could have eaten a box of just that by itself! So creamy and warming to the soul. There was also an unexpected component of granola! And it worked so perfectly with juicy chicken and creamy cauliflower. I'm not kidding when I say Chef Andrew and his team know exactly how to put together some of the most unique and delicious flavor combinations you've never heard of. I give these wonderful people a hearty 5+ stars, and high recommendations to anyone in need of a spectacular meal. My thanks for a perfect night, chef!
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Parinaz A.

Yelp
Delicious food with a lot of creativity. It's a very unique and wonderful culinary experience. We had everything on the menu and they all tasted amazing. Highly recommend this place.

Kerry K.

Yelp
Giving a generous 5 stars to counter the two ignorant children who each for some reason felt compelled to blame the restaurant and to give it 2 stars because they didn't understand how tasting menus work, and who managed to feel aggrieved by a modestly priced but limited restaurant week menu when half their party was too brokeass to pay for even the cheaper regular tasting menu. These children are so sheltered that, despite knowing the exact address and location of the restaurant, they whine because the signage wasn't prominent enough for them to avoid even a moment's confusion. Poor babies! No wonder restaurateurs have such a love/hate feeling about restaurant weeks. They may bring in new customers but often those customers are culinarily clueless while being so millennially egocentric they consider themselves entitled to share their uninformed opinions with the world, as if this is some kind of public service. Their opinions should be given as much weight as the boor in the museum looking at a Jackson Pollack painting who says "you call that art? my kid could do that." This is an intriguing pop up with flashes of real creativity in composition and presentation. Some of our dishes in the 7 course menu were both innovative and exceptionally delicious; a couple were less successful, at least to our tastes. Nevertheless the chefs are developing a distinctive style that, if you are interested in food, you will enjoy experiencing yourself, and the project as a whole is worth your support.

Nikhil S.

Yelp
Incredibly creative and delicious food. The mushrooms and steak were the best I've ever had.
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Robert A.

Yelp
We have been interested in this place for a while and never made it in till restaurant week gave us a great excuse. We loved it. Yes, you're having a tasting menu experience in a lunch spot. BUT everything about the night was professional but more importantly well executed. The restaurant week menu didn't feel like a cheapie cop out- 3 solid satisfying courses that was more than enough plus interesting enough to make me want to go back for more. Wines were delicious and generous. Truthfully I'm a little afraid of the full menus because I saw a lot of food going to tables having them and Im not sure (though willing to try) I can do it. We shall see. Kudos to all the staff for giving us a fun date night. Love any restaurant who apologizes to me for my wait on seating me when I arrived 10 virgo minutes early and I was seated on time.

Christine W.

Yelp
Went for restaurant week and though the one bite of the appetizer was delicious and two bites of the braised short rib a bit sweet for me, I still enjoyed it. Dessert was another small bite of a rich chocolate cake. All in all, the food was good, not amazing, but just good. But the minuscule portion size is outrageous. Who ever heard of spending close to a hundred dollars and still being hungry? We went to a different restaurant right after for another delicious meal. Maybe they skimped down for restaurant week as their usual menu has a 5 or 7 course menu and maybe that will provide 7 or 9 bites off food and might fill someone's belly enough for a meal. But I won't be returning.
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Adriana B.

Yelp
Three ways to describe the food 1. Flavor bomb 2. Food porn 3. Phenomenal This was such an amazing experience,. I'm looking forward to the menu change in the next month. Came here on a Saturday night, at 6 and thankfully they didn't begin serving the food right away. That gave me sometime to settle in and observe, chat over some wine and become familiar with the space. Funny thing is I've always wanted to eat at the gastropig but haven't made it here, just yet. Where do I begin?The presentation on all the dishes were outstanding. I was trying to choose between the 7 courses which was my favorite but I truly couldn't decide. Starting off with the soup, the torn paper bowls gave it a really artistic flare hence the fine dining on paper. I was impressed with every dish, the space was clean the kitchen was open, the food came out in good timing, overall it was a great experience. Second course was a salad that had sooo much flavor notes of acidity, savory, crunchy texture, and just the right number of cravable bites. The tables were set with beautiful flowers, the servers were all polite, the atmosphere was really intimate. You can tell a lot of time and preparation went into developing the bold flavors of the menu for example the chardness on the eggplant was really inspiring because my date said she didn't like eggplant at all but enjoyed it with the lamb I believe it was. Creative concepts such as fish Carmel sauce! Sounds unheard of but it was very tasty with the granola paired with a beet as the 3rd course. Next I believe we enjoyed the thinly sliced trout dish that I think was visually the most appealing. The color contrast on all the dishes make for great photos but this one stood out because it felt like a summer treat right in the middle of the the chilly Bay Area. I think these guys are on to something. I can't remember if the lamb or the beef cheek was next oh... can't forget the intermezzo which was a tiny tomato with a green onion garnish, a sauce and shaved purple yam. All of the combinations seem like mystery basket ingredients from the tv show chopped but, they all come together beautifully. Honestly I was impressed because the blending of so many different flavors struck me as odd but noooo... the asian influences were all highlighted. I'm raving about all the dishes but the panacotta for dessert took the cake. There was so much going on... I wanted another one!! There were people with professional cameras taking pics of the food, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and overall I had a grand time. Will be back soon :)

Christie d.

Yelp
What a surprise. The $85 7-course tasting menu was a great deal and terrific experience. We had a delicious meal, wonderful service, everything was just a delight! The portions were perfect size. We all left VERY satisfied and, to be clear, we are not dainty eaters. Oakland continues to impress. No need to go to the city when Oakland has impressive culinary experiences like Abstract Table.
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Maya-Luisa G.

Yelp
Waste of money - literal one bite portions, freezing restaurant. Go to Taco Bell instead :(
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Richard P.

Yelp
2 stars is probably generous. The wild boar belly we were given was inedible touch and uncuttable. No one could have finished the two pieces were given. At $70, the course tasting menu was inexpensive. There were no stand out courses accept maybe the desert. It was a lot of pomp but just didn't taste good. Leak ash sounds fancy. Good job making it. I had it last week at Narisawa in Tokyo and it was amazing. It was just an over reach of needless technical try at Abstract Table. I have to assume the chef's aren't tasting their own food. Maybe it was better when they started. I would not return and can't recommend it even at what I consider a very reasonable price.

Tin R.

Yelp
1st experience here was on Father's Day 6/20. My husband and I indulged in the 3 course prix fixe meal along with our 11mo old son. The food was excellent! We were so thankful that we were able to enjoy a yummy meal with our son, thanks for making us feel welcome. We loved everything so much we came back 5 days later to try their dinner menu tonight...again, outstanding! Looking forward to our next Abstract Table meal.