A bright and inviting neighborhood spot, Top Hatter Kitchen and Bar serves up beautifully presented international dishes that are a treat for the senses.
"San Leandro’s most thrilling and ambitious restaurant of the past couple of years, Top Hatters has leaned into chef-owner DanVy Vu’s Vietnamese heritage, adding things like banh mi and rice vermicelli bowls to its menu. The constantly changing menu runs the gamut from oxtails and grits to mussels with green curry, best enjoyed on the patio." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff
"This ambitious restaurant leans into chef-owner DanVy Vu’s Vietnamese heritage with a constantly changing menu that runs the gamut from oxtails and grits to mussels with green curry." - Dianne de Guzman, Clair Lorell, Paolo Bicchieri
"A stone’s throw from the 580 but seemingly a world apart, this handsome locale—ensconced in the arbored suburban quietude of San Leandro—offers a uniquely pleasurable experience. Husband-and-wife co-owners Matthew Beavers and DanVy Vu opted to honor this fixture’s former life as a family-owned hat shop by keeping the name—and the well-crafted cocktails are also dubbed with nods to millinery.Chef Vu leads the kitchen, and her skillful contemporary combination of Vietnamese and Californian flavors is tantalizing. Crunchy seared rice cakes come packed with savory goodness, and meltingly tender braised oxtail over creamy grits have unusual depth. For a pillow-soft landing, finish with the signature lemon-ricotta zeppole, offered with a trio of luscious sauces." - Michelin Inspector
"Top Hatters is located in a suburban pocket right off I-580 in San Leandro, and it’s a destination restaurant you should have high on your hit list. This place has a menu best described as “whatever’s in season,” and it’s filled with so many creative hits. The savory donut is decadent, with scallion, bacon, and parmesan mash inside. The roasted cauliflower and crispy maitake mushrooms are showered with shoestring sweet potatoes. And the slow roasted brisket with wine-soaked grapes is one of the most tender briskets to land on our table ever. By the time one of the large plates arrive, like the impressive whole-grilled trout with nuoc cham, fruit slices, and herbs, you’ll have realized this: Top Hatters (and their gorgeous patio) is where you want to be for date nights, family dinners, birthdays, and everything in between." - Lani Conway
"Husband-and-wife co-owners Matthew Beavers and DanVy Vu opted to honor this fixture’s former life as a family-owned hat shop by keeping the name. Chef Vu leads the kitchen, and her skillful contemporary combination of Vietnamese and Californian flavors is tantalizing." - The MICHELIN Guide
