The Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill

We came on a Saturday morning and immediately knew something was off. The host stand was unattended. A man waiting there told us he’d been rudely instructed to stand there and had already been waiting 20–30 minutes with his child…without anyone returning. He finally gave up, took his kid, looked at us and said, “Good luck,” before leaving. We waited another five minutes. Still no host. A server eventually noticed us and told us we could go inside, so we walked toward the back of the restaurant, only to find two occupied tables total. That’s it. We asked the bartender if the restaurant was even open. He said yes. So let’s recap: the restaurant is “open,” staffed with 10+ employees, nearly empty, and yet guests are being left to stand at the host stand for half an hour? Then things went from incompetent to hostile. A staff member (apparently the host) aggressively confronted us with, “Why are you here? Who told you to come in?” despite us clearly explaining that a server had directed us inside. She forced us to walk all the way back to the host stand, dismissed our explanation, and claimed there was a party ahead of us. When we pointed out that the party had already left after waiting 30 minutes, she flatly said, “No, he didn’t.” (He did. We watched him leave.) She was slamming things, speaking to us with under her breath comments and just extremely rude for no reason. She then took a phone call, snapped “All of this is on the website,” and hung up mid-sentence before smugly escorting us back to the exact same table we were already standing at, obviously this is all about a power trip. At that point, I told our server we would only stay if we never had to interact with that woman again. The food? Fine. Not memorable. Certainly not worth $209 for breakfast paired with open hostility, chaos, and visible disdain for guests. The entire operation felt like staff who mentally quit months ago but still show up to clock in. Two tables. At least 10 employees. Endless confusion. Open resentment toward customers. Save yourself the money and the attitude. We won’t be back.

We went there for a lunch, party for 7, celebrating the wedding of my sister in law. The food was great and the atmosphere was great, but the most important part there was a issue and my mother in law was very disappointed, but they really make it happen, they were very good solving the issue and all the family was very happy. For me that kind of things matters more. 100% recommended

Only for the catering in our event. We opted for chicken and others had the salmon, beef. The chicken was a bit dry but still tasty. The shared veggies was a pleasant change to individual. The venue was nice overlooking Lake Merritt. Overall a great experience at the 100 person event. The appetizer was very good on skewered beef and veggie. Besides the catering area, the chalet had an excellent bar stool overlooking the lake. Friendly bar mates. As always, post wherever u end up. You never know who you will run into..

Great service and great atmosphere. That's why I gave 4 stars. Lovely seating everyone was nice . The food was pretty average. I enjoyed the appetizer the best calamari was fresh and fried just right. I order a dish without fish and the cook decided to replace it with another fish. Can't hurt him for trying however the fish would have nearly killed me 😆. The manager was ultra nice about it. Kevin was his name, great way to make up for the mix up . We left smiling and happy The hamburger that replaced the fish item was a good size and alot of toppings. I'd come back because everyone was so kind.

Food is fresh and made of high quality ingredients but there is a big problem: zero seasoning. Upon request they quickly provided a salt (old fashioned shaker that hardly worked and contained plain salt) & a decent pepper grinder. The service is attentive and the atmosphere is unbeatable. Definitely going here for the view but you may want to bring some sea salt & coarse ground fresh pepper in your purse.

Visited Lake Chalet last night and was extremely disappointed. It started when I was served an Aperol Spritz that was made incorrectly, very unbalanced and flat-tasting. I sent it back and requested a lavender lemon drop instead, which was just okay. We ordered the Brussels sprouts next, which ended up being the highlight of the entire meal—they were very good. Unfortunately, things went downhill again when our mains arrived. Both the roasted garlic butter crab and the ribeye steak came out cold to the touch and severely under-seasoned. Overall, it was a terrible experience, and I’m extremely upset that I wasted my money here.

Fabulous views. Great food. A nice place to hang out with friends for drinks.

This is such a beautiful place! Right on lake Merritt in Oakland you can't beat this scenery! Friendly staff, great food and amazing drinks 😎 My bartender was Diego, and he was amazing. He needs a raise!

My favorite spot always a vibe. ! I love it ! Food is amazing! My favorite spot . The service is epic and love how I am treated every time I come in I feel welcome .

This is my go to restaurant in Oakland for brunch, lunch and dinner! I've come here for years and never made a review. This time I tried something new! Their service is always intentional, gracious, and knowledgeable. It sits right on Lake Merritt where you could have lunch and also ride the gondola or the pedal boats. You could dine inside the dining room or sit at the lively bar for happy hour. It's great for hosting banquets and dinner parties as well. Check out my Seared Ahi Tuna Bowl!! it was fresh, flavorful, and filling! I will order this again!

Ambience: 10 (Views! Decor!) Service: 7 (too few servers handling too many large groups Food: 10 We had a very nice time though I had to remind our server several times about a requested item that had not been delivered to our table. But overall it was a "five star" experience

Came here for their Oktoberfest brunch and was super impressed by the views and vibes. We came at opening time without reservations and waited about 20 minutes for a table for 2, so I highly recommend making reservations in advance. The host was very friendly and invited us to wait at the bar, but we opted to walk along the lake and listen to their band playing Bavarian music while waiting outside. Once seated, our server was very friendly and attentive. Everything we ordered from their Oktoberfest menu was very delicious! The restaurant was an easy and safe 5 minute walk down the street from the BART station, which was very convenient. The reason for one less star is that the event promised a costume contest and stein challenge with prizes, but it didn't seem like that was happening during the 2.5 hours we were there.

The beautiful views are unsurpassed. Food quality varies from 2 stars to 4 stars. Don't expect elegance or Michelin star food because it won't happen. Enjoy the beautiful restaurant and gorgeous views. Staff is friendly, but unfortunately not very efficient. I've noticed they seem to be understaffed as the service is around 2-3 stars at best. Not an inspiring review, but it deserves the 3 stars across the board it receives. Last thing.. Management will help out a bad situation. Thanks Monique.

Beautiful seating and great drinks! Food: The Food was great! We got well priced sliders and great drinks! The $5 sliders we recommend, especially the chicken one! Service: Worker was nice about splitting our bill between 5, and gave great and honest recs. Ambiance: the outdoor seating was beautiful!

VEGAN REVIEW No food options here, so we just got drinks. Those were tasty! Love the outdoor seating. Service was slow.

We came to Lake Chalet for dinner. The food was really good. We also had a beer and a margarita. The margarita was on the sweeter side with a salted rim. The food and drinks were delicious and the view of Lake Merritt waterfront t was peaceful and quiet.

Came for happy hour and it was amazing my bestie and I split 3 items from the happy hour menu and 2 drinks and it's amazing and affordable Definitely would recommend for happy hour the chipotle honey wings are amazing and the bird sliders are also a 10+

We went there for a lunch, party for 7, celebrating the wedding of my sister in law. The food was great, the atmosphere and service was great, but the most important part there was a issue and my mother in law was very disappointed, but they really make it happen, they were very good solving the issue and all the family was very happy. For me that kind of things matters more. 100% recommended

Visited Lake Chalet last night and was extremely disappointed. It started when I was served an Aperol Spritz that was made incorrectly--very unbalanced and flat-tasting. I sent it back and requested a lavender lemon drop instead, which was just okay. We ordered the Brussels sprouts next, which ended up being the highlight of the entire meal--they were very good. Unfortunately, things went downhill again when our mains arrived. Both the roasted garlic butter crab and the ribeye steak came out cold to the touch and severely under-seasoned. Our waiter disappeared for 30 minutes at a time which probably attributed to why our food was so cold coming out. The ambience was nice, but for some reason, they have all of the windows open, knowing that there was a rain in one storm outside? Overall, it was a terrible experience, and I'm extremely upset that I wasted my money here.

I have been very curious to try raw oysters for the very first time, and what better place to do it than at this spot offering $2 oysters during happy hour? I ended up ordering even more because they were that good(surprisingly)! The drinks were pretty good. The Cosmo was vibrant with a powerful kick of ginger. Perfect for ginger lovers, but be warned if you're not a fan! The lavender drink was simply divine and smooth. The service was top-notch; our server guided us with fantastic recommendations. This place is the ultimate destination for a fun date night or an unforgettable girls' night out!

Lake Chalet by Lake Merritt If you know, you know. Right on the lake with that breeze and prime outdoor seating, this is where you post up to watch the scene and let the scene watch you. Happy hour wings hit the table at eight for $15. Light on count but big on flavor, with crisp skin, carrot and celery sticks, a smoky chipotle ketchup, and a herbed aioli that easily outshines ranch. Drinks pull double duty, tasting just as good as they look. A clean martini, a lemon drop twist, and a pink lemonade dressed with a dried citrus wheel and a strawberry. Brussels sprouts come out crackly with balsamic glaze and toasted almonds. Crab stuffed salmon brings real crab, scalloped potatoes, and asparagus cooked to that perfect tender snap. The Caesar salad is the truth with real anchovies, not the watered down version you get everywhere else. You come here for the view, stay for the vibe, and keep coming back until you have conquered the menu.

Bad service. Never coming back. The restaurant was less than 15% full during happy hour, yet the host refused to give me a table. I explained that my group (plus 3 only) was on the way and that I was ready to order food immediately, but they still declined. It was frustrating and disappointing, especially since I had chosen this location to host a happy hour with friends. Also, it was still an ask for small table vs a big table. Not sure if the host was simply having a bad day, if the restaurant has inflexible policies, or if there was something else at play (aka racism, i am middle aged indian woman). Either way, it left me with a very poor impression. I insisted, but in vain.. Never coming back again.

We had a gathering of friends during Happy Hour. The service was great and the drinks were on point! Had a wonderful time.

Hanging out back at happy hour with a 1/2 dozen oysters and a pisco on a perfect Oakland afternoon. Doesn't get better.

I have been to Lake Chalet countless times and I can say the food is solid...they have great happy hour and drinks. You really visit this spot for the vibes and views while sitting outdoors on the lake. It's a great place to being visitors and for special occasions. I have rented part of their outdoor section several times for work dinners. I have tried their sliders, seared catfish, fries and their Caesar salad...all have been solid! The service is hit or miss when it's crowded.

Service is slow but very polite and accurate. An uncontrolled yelling 3-year-old ruined the ambience -- and the patrons with that child appeared to be friends of management, who did nothing about the behavior. The food is always fresh, nicely prepared and tasty

We had such a lovely time at this place! The view of the lake is absolutely gorgeous - honestly, just sitting there looking out at the water made the whole meal feel special. Our server was really sweet and took great care of us. Lake Chalet feels like more than just dinner out - it's like getting a little mini-vacation right here in Oakland. The combination of great food and that stunning lakefront setting is hard to beat.

Walking Lake Merritt and worked up an appetite. Food was really tasty. Seafood was fresh and the oysters were good. Will be back again.

We waited to be seated over 45 min and the restaurant was empty on a Saturday. The menu needs work.

Decent happy hour with nice views of Lake Merritt. I've been meaning to check out Lake Chalet for ages and finally had the chance recently. My friend and I dropped by Friday around 4:30 for their happy hour. The whole restaurant is massive. There was plenty of bar, indoor, and outdoor seating. It was super chilly the day we came, but luckily the outdoor the outdoor seating is covered and has heat lamps, so we opted for that. I was hoping for a nice view of the lake, but the tarp blocked most of the view unfortunately. We each started with a drink. I had the hh prickly pear margarita for $10, and my friend had one of the hh beers for $6. I really liked my margarita... it's the best I've had in a while. All the flavors blended together nicely and it didn't feel like one ingredient was overpowering the others. For food, I got a half dozen miyagi oysters from Tomales Bay for $2 each. We also each got two sliders. I had the Prime Time ($6) with prime roast beef and the Cow ($5). I loved the oysters! Would definitely come back for them. The sliders were just okay. First of all, by the time they came out, it was already lukewarm and not hot. I preferred the Prime Time over the Cow as it comes with jus on the side for dipping. My friend tried their fried chicken slider and found it quite dry, as it doesn't come with any sauce. He was slathering ketchup with each bite. I would love to come back on a warmer day so we can get direct lake views.

We recently had a lunch for 12 people and everything from the seating to the service to the food was five stars. I am quite shocked at some of the poor reviews as our experience was stellar. We all agreed we would love to go back! Our food came out quickly and everything I ordered, came out perfectly and with pizzazz!

I highly recommend this restaurant. The servers are friendly and attentive and the food is awesome. Love the ambiance. Was here for our 42nd wedding anniversary in July and now back for the wife's b-day.

Love Lake Chalet for outdoor and indoor drinks on Lake Merritt in Oakland! Great cocktails, wine selection, appetizers and very informed and friendly staff!

You can't beat the views and vibes here, especially on a nice and sunny day. This is NOT a foodie destination but it's a great place to sit for drinks and hangout.

The restaurant itself is elegant with a beautiful view of lake merrit. They have different places to sit with in the restaurant that allow different views to enjoy. The staff was nice and attentive. The prices are a little on the expensive side. I orderd a Salad and so did my 3 other coworkers. We waited about 30mns for them to bring out our salads! They have a small parking lot on the side and plenty of street metered parking. Since it is in Oakland try your best to not leave any belongings visible in the car. Hence the 3 stars. Lake Chalet overall is definitely a nice place to sit eat and enjoy with great company! First date vibes for sure. I'll stop by again and try out their other entrees.

Very hot day and the rude hostess seats us outside in the sun instead of the many available shaded spots and then is snooty about us sitting down before she finished clearing the other two of the four plates. Not sure what her deal was but she gave us enough reason to leave almost immediately.

Came here for dinner before catching a show at the Oakland Arena. We did not have reservations. We were seated within 5 mins. It was 90s in heat so we requested to sit outside near the water. We order some drinks which was delicious. Our appetizers came in on time and they were delicious. We order the hummus and the pita bread was delicious. The pita was toasted and the pumpkin seeds. We also order some of the their bread. The bread was fresh and toasted. It was delicious and we ate it with the clam chowder. Our dishes came in and they were all enjoyed by all of us. The salmon dish was mines and it was super buttery and tasty! The service was standard. Overall food was great.

Great views. We sat on the dock for brunch on a Saturday. Service was a bit slow (we were there maybe 1.5 hrs) but we were not in a rush. My friends ordered the fish tacos and gumbo and enjoyed it. The Caesar salad was good - we got it without protein but adding chicken or shrimp would make it pricey. We enjoyed the slaw on the chicken sandwich. Overall pretty standard brunch fare, good food that is priced for the views. One of the water glasses we got had to be returned because it still had smudges on it. It was not busy at all for brunch when we came over after a morning walk around the lake.

Great waterfront location and a place you can bring your dog to dine outdoors. Brie and crab stuffed salmon: B+ Salmon was super tender and I enjoyed the cheese and crab stuffing. Butter cake: B- Pretty sweet dessert. The cake is very satisfying to eat and the ice cream and berries are nice too. The dish is a bit one dimensional though, the cake mostly just taste of butter and honey. Service was a bit weird, we had multiple staff come over so it seemed a little disorganized especially when we asked for menus. But otherwise it was fine.

Had a wonderful lunch with friends, service and food was fantastic. The highlight of lunch was the lavender lemon drop, which I had 2! I had the ahi tuna nachos and they were out of this world. For my main I had the lobster roll and that was delicious. The ambience was excellent, sat outside overlooking the lake and listened to some great live music. What more can we ask for? A+ all the way.

It'd been a few years since my last visit. I had time today & dipped in. My first visit was in the evening & I sat in the bar area. I had no idea they had outdoor seating and that the place is as large as it is. It's really a beautiful location w/impressive landscaping. I asked for an outside seat and was seated on the dock. It was an absolutely beautiful day. If you're reading this and you're single, let's go to brunch! Service 4.8outta5 My server was great however the young Latin cat that served my dishes was so engaging. All he did was put my dishes on the table but he did so with a greeting & smile that quite frankly warmed my heart. I passed him as I was leaving and wished I'd had cash on me! Lavender Lemon-drop 5outta5 Absolutely delicious. I had two. Chowder 4.5outta5 It'd been nice to have been offered some cracked black pepper & had the oyster crackers on the side. But I can't lie, it was so damn good! Oysters 3outta5 The cocktail sauce tasted like ketchup & horseradish wasn't available. Three of them weren't cut away from the shell. 'Twas a bit of a disappointment. Stuffed salmon 2.6outta5 It started off so well. The asparagus swimming in the lemon-butter sauce tasted so good. There were a couple of the lyonnaise potatoes that were over cooked. I took a bite of the salmon, potato, crab, artichoke & Brie all together...Truly a shareable moment. Alas, the moment was stolen by the crab gill pieces. I couldn't finish what started out so beautifully delicious. No one's perfect, mistakes happen, I paid what was due & will return sooner than later. It's a great spot, for ANY occasion.

Chalet. There were three of us. two appetizers, hummus and artichoke dip. we all wanted a glass of sparkling rose- so why not get the bottle? save a few bucks? Well, imagine our surprise when the bill arrived and it was over $168! Not only did the glass of rose cost $18 each- the bottle was upcharged to $107! a total and complete SCAM! I've never before dined in a place that sells bottles for more than it costs for 4 glasses of wine. We even consulted with the waiter before ordering and he did not explain the bottle would be MORE! The bartender lied and said this business squeezes six, 6 glasses out of each bottle- LIES! never again- I hope this place shuts down. I'd rather it be popeyes fried chicken than this farce of an experience. BTW, the service was hit and cold. We did not have a dedicated wait staff and had to constantly look around for water, ice, attention, The check...

Starting with the positives: the restaurant is beautiful, the lakefront views are stunning, and our waiter was incredibly kind! Unfortunately, the experience started off on a bad note. After checking in with the hostess we weren't given any direction on where to sit. We arrived at the same time as another party who requested to sit outside and followed the hostess out to the back. She seated the other party and did not seat us. So, we chose what seemed like open bar seating. A staff member approached us with a surprisingly hostile tone and told us we could not sit there. Fine not a problem! I explained that the hostess hadn't told us where to sit, he replied, "Well, I'm telling you now," but offered no further guidance. A manager (i'm assuming?) then came over and began questioning whether we had checked in. As two younger fems, the interaction felt unnecessarily dismissive. I've worked in service and understand off days happen, but this made it hard to fully enjoy. I hope it was just a one-off, but I likely won't be returning.

We love the lake setting and come here a few times a year. This evening, the outside area was already closed so we were taken upstairs by the tall, thin host with dyed hair from the front desk. He wanted to put us at a table just inside the entrance. We hesitated and asked if we could sit further inside the restaurant and if possible near a window. While we vacillated for a minute or two, he lost patience, said Yes you can sit anywhere, and just walked away, taking the menus with him. Not a good start to the evening. Afterwards, as I walked alone past him, I said quietly and calmly that we are regular customers and that I wished he hadn't been so unwelcoming and unfriendly. His response? "Thats your opinion." Having a job in customer service, and as a host, means being a host and offering customers a service. This isn't a good fit. That's your opinion

Probably one of the most frustrating experiences I've had at a restaurant. I came to have a nice dinner after an extremely stressful week with 2 of my girlfriends. I ordered my food and it just so happed to be the same as one of my friends at my table(there were only 3 of us) my friends got their food and my food still hadn't came. Our server hadn't come to check in on our table after the food until they had almost finished their food. I let him know that my food hadn't come and my friends were almost done. I am assuming he somehow did not hear our food order even though he took us individually. He went to go put the order in and by that time my friends were done with their meal. He came back and dropped my food off to me in a to go container and didn't even apologize. I was still charged full price for everything. I had to go and find a manager and tell him what happened. He said he was new to the restaurant and he would go and talk with the server. The end felt very unresolved to me and did not feel good at the end. I am very understanding to servers because I used to be one. However the restaurant was less than half full and there were multiple servers on the floor. It was extremely unacceptable to me My friend even had to refill her water cup with her personal water bottle because no one came to check in on us

View 10/10 & food 4/10 Ordered : Ceviche trio: lacking flavor but fresh, fish & chips : food portion, tater sauce could use some spice. lastly, blacken fish tacos: 2 tacos with the smallest pieces of fish for such large tortillas, mango salsa was good. Order an ice tea and $13 mocktail! Other than the view I won't be back for food. I used to work as a waitress for years, Antonio was great other than never asking us how the food was tasting

After strolling around Lake Chalet, we saw this restaurant and decided to have lunch here. Despite being Labor Day, it wasn't too packed and we got to pick the table we wanted as a walk-in. We shared these dishes: Mussels & Frites ($16.00) +Good portion of plump mussels +Fries were crispy, perfectly salted, and not greasy +The green aioli was so good! Local Petrale Sole Piccata ($28.00) +Sole had a light crispy batter +Asparagus was fresh and lightly charred +Mashed potatoes were smooth -There were capers present, but there wasn't a lot of Lemon Butter Sauce present. Grand Seafood Linguini Provençal ($36.00) +Plenty of seafood: There were calamari, clams, mussels, salmon, scallops, and shrimp. +Linguini was cooked al dente -This was very tart, and we wondered whether the lemon juice from the sole was accidentally added here... Guava Creme Brûlée ($9.00): We all agreed that this was one of the best creme brûlées we've ever had. +Crispy, caramelized sugar top +Creme brûlée tends to be on the heavier side, but the tropical flavors from the guava, mango, and passion fruit made it light and refreshing. Side notes: 1.) The green aioli from the mussel dish was a great pairing with the sole. 2.) Adding the leftover bacon and onions from the mussel dish onto the mashed potatoes from the sole dish transformed them to the next level! 3.) 4% Lake Chalet Surcharge is added to your bill. *Verdict: Now that I'm writing this review, I'm shocked that the rating is so low. Our server was so sweet and provided us with recommendations. In addition, that view was amazing! I want to come back for brunch as well as the creme brûlée and fries with green aioli!

Service was great. Food was good and great view. Would return. Excellent valet service

Another place that has great food and great ambience, oysters, and champagne on a Sunday couldn't have done it any better sat outside by the water and the day was beautiful. This is a must go to.

The view of Lake Merritt was pleasant while dining. The Grand Sangria was very delightful and the fried chicken with biscuits and macaroni salad was quite delicious. The service was a little slow. We were seated almost 15 minutes before we were attended to and we had to track a wait staff down to get service. The service was very pleasant once we received it.

Love how we were accommodated to be seated outside even our if our reservation says indoor seating. They were very flexible. Food was very fast and good.

Went here to attend our company's and our partners' Appreciation Dinner Gathering Before going to this place, I wondered if it's owned by the same owner of Beach Chalet in Ocean Beach in the city. So, the moment I arrived at this restaurant, I immediately asked one of the staff to confirm the relation of Lake Chalet and Beach Chalet, and the staff confirmed that these two are owned by the same company and that made ne happy. Great location with a view, amazing, hospitable and joyful staff. Food was amazing toi. Will definitely come back here

Visited Lake Chalet for my birthday celebration. Food and drinks were amazing! Our waiter Ricardo made my special day even better. Thank you for the amazing service.

10/10 food, experience, and ambiance! Ricardo made our night so special. The staff is extremely attentive, the food is fabulous, and our night was perfect :)

Well we wanted to stop and have a quick bit and adult beverage at the bar on a Saturday evening at 7 before walking across to see Dolores. 2 young hostess greet us and look at us as we had something dripping from our clothes. We pointed to the bar in which both said bar is full, I asked outside is ok and their response was SAME. We asked for a table and was a 45 minute wait. We look around and no one was waiting, no one on their phone telling their party they are here and waiting for the table. We scan the room and the area across the hostess area was empty. Guess they didn't want or need our business. We headed to Mad Oak where the place was busy and gave us good service without second guessing us. I know its hard to maintain and retain employees but com'on we are giving you business. There no event happening, it wasn't during the brunch rush so honestly don't know what it was.

In the days of old, when I was young, handsome, and slim, I used to glide like a gazelle 2 miles around Lake Merritt, swiftly passing by the historic Boat House which now houses the Lake Chalet Seafood Bar and Grill. After parking the car near Lake Chalet, I was complaining about the short walk to the entrance. The restoration of the Boat House was beyond measure, making a perfect setting for me and my cousin as we sat on the deck, enjoying the Lake and views. Lake Chalet has a great Happy Hour menu that satisfied our lite afternoon snack needs. Whilst taking in the views and listening to the music, we thoroughly enjoyed our snacks of Prime Rib Sliders, Truffle Fries, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Blackened Fish Tacos, and Prickly Pear Margaritas, for digestive purposes. I most definitely will return to Lake Chalet as it was a perfect spot to hang and chill.

The outdoor seating absolutely makes the entire experience. I love the outdoor seating - you're seated basically on the dock with a view of the water and it's always a great place to sit. The service was decent, nothing too crazy. We ordered the half chicken and the boathouse burger - found them both to be well cooked, fresh, and filled with lots of flavor!