Diners' Choice: American restaurants in East Bay

OpenTable

Updated 05 March 2025

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

Juanita & Maude

4.9

4.9 (1785)

$50 and over

American

Albany

About the restaurant

An intimate neighborhood restaurant, Juanita & Maude features Chef Scott Eastman's personal take on American Cuisine. The daily changing menu highlights classic dishes including Michelin Guide's top 5 hamburger in California. His refined comfort food is matched with seasonal craft cocktails and an international wine list.

Juanita & Maude's lively dining room or serene outdoor patio is the perfect spot for a night out, celebration or special occasion. Conveniently located near the corner of Solano and San Pablo Avenues.

Top review

Jodie

Dined 6 days ago

As always, amazing food and equally amazing service. It is truly a gem. Very creative food menu and equally creative cocktail menu.

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Brentwood

4.7

4.7 (50)

$30 and under

American

Brentwood

About the restaurant

Time counts at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we've continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ's a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ's to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back. We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we've put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better. So in many ways we haven't just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it's because of them we're continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts. Welcome to BJ's, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.

Top review

Valerie

Dined on 9 Feb 2025

Very busy but service was still great. Nice, friendly efficient. Only negative would be it too long to get our cocktails however it was very crowded also large party in back room so it's kinda understandable :)

Tri Valley Bistro

4.9

4.9 (407)

$30 and under

American

Pleasanton

About the restaurant

For parties greater than 8 guests for the weekend ,please contact the restaurant at (925)523-3815.
Thank you!

Tri Valley Bistro offers Creative Modern Californian American Cuisine including steaks, seafood, pasta and vegetarian options supporting gluten-free
and dairy free meals during dinner and brunch/lunch with a great wine selection and a tasteful weekend brunch selections and bottomless Mimosas

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 19 Feb 2025

Really great food. Nice decor and ambience. Super clean restaurant, great service as well. I definitely recommend this restaurant for a nice meal.

Spinning Bones

4.6

4.6 (311)

$30 and under

American

Alameda

About the restaurant

Spinning Bones is a California rotisserie Michelin Bib Gourmand rated restaurant that specializes in roasted meats with bold flavors. The focus of the menu is slow roasted meats: poultry, pork and beef, rotating on spits over high heat, and basting in their own natural juices. The rest of the menu is comprised of shareable appetizers, vegetarian side dishes, and healthier salads with vegan dressings. The principle of the menu is straight-forward: quality products that are prepared minimally and cooked thoughtfully. Spinning Bones is a brunch and dinner spot for Alameda people by Alameda people. It is a casual neighborhood restaurant open 5 days-a-week for sit down dining, take-out, and large party catering. Spinning Bones strives to be a common area for the residents of the East Bay to come together and engage in conversation and camaraderie over great food and drink.

Top review

Victoria

Dined on 23 Feb 2025

Fantastic restaurant! The food was exceptional, the service was great, and the ambiance welcoming. I had the veggie burger—best I’ve ever had. Seriously! I’ll be back, for sure. 🥰

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4.7

4.7 (2573)

$31 to $50

American

Orinda

About the restaurant

Casa Orinda has been serving the finest Western and Italian food in the area for the past 84 years. We are famous for our fried chicken, prime beef, and classic Italian pasta, chicken, and veal dishes -- everything being made from scratch in our kitchen using only the freshest, highest quality ingredients.

Our full service mahogany bar is a popular stop for locals and visitors looking for a nice refreshment and a hearty meal in a cozy, friendly atmosphere. We have three dining rooms, each with a slightly different character afforded by our hand-formed brass hearth fireplace, Western original art collection, famous antique gun collection, and alluring floral arrangements.

Top review

BeverlyVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Fried chicken is excellent! Many many menu items are the same.

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Popular dish

Casa's Famous Fried Chicken

Haus Of Chefs

4.5

4.5 (33)

$31 to $50

American

Oakland

About the restaurant

Haus of Chefs is an innovative concept that pairs culinary talent with a ready-made professional kitchen, inside an upscale restaurant with a full bar.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 2 Mar 2025

Made a last-minute reservation for me and my daughter. We were greeted and seated immediately. The location of our table was a little too close to the door so they gladly moved us to a nice little alcove in the front near the window where it was warm and beautiful. Our server Lele remembered all of our requests gave really good recommendations for menu options And invited us to come back for taco Tuesday. We will be back! The chef for Sunday brunch came out and greeted us. Everything we ordered was amazing the gumbo, the catfish and waffles with peach cobbler butter, and the shrimp & grits all full of flavor and brought out in a timely manner. I even ordered some gumbo to go from my mom and she loved it. Thank you to the entire staff and owner for making Mommy Daughter brunch amazing!

Grand Lake Kitchen - Lake Merritt

4.6

4.6 (685)

$30 and under

American

Oakland

About the restaurant

May and David Wasem's flagship location Grand Lake Kitchen location offers American classics and warm hospitality. An all-day cafe specializing in brunch and dinner! Maximum party size for regular reservations is 8 at Lake Merritt and 15at the Dimond location.

Grand Lake Kitchen at Lake Merritt has a full bar, bustling dining room, outdoor patio, take-out counter, and The Bubble Room (private dining)

Top review

burny

Dined on 19 Feb 2025

Fabulous food… the best. And fabulous service Highly recommended.

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Experience

Happy Hour - Weekdays from 3pm-6pm

Bull Valley Roadhouse

4.7

4.7 (2932)

$50 and over

American

Port Costa

About the restaurant

Old Country Road meets Bay Area Farmer's Market. Enjoy unforgettable dinner and drinks at the renowned Bull Valley Roadhouse, featuring elegantly hearty American dishes and expertly prepared cocktails in an old world atmosphere. Located in the picturesque town of Port Costa, BVR is a magical and convenient getaway, discovered and influenced by its community. The establishment has operated as a restaurant and bar since 1964, opening in October of 2012 under new leadership.

We accept online reservations for parties of 8 or fewer guests on Weds-Fri 5-9pm, Sat 12-9pm, and Sunday 11am-8pm. For parties of 9 - 14, please call 510-787-1135 and parties of 15+ email events@bullvalleyroadhouse.com

Top review

Andrew

Dined 3 days ago

There chef is amazing, the food was so great. The decor is timely for sure.

BackDoor Bistro and Wine Bar

4.7

4.7 (174)

$31 to $50

American

Vacaville

About the restaurant

BackDoor Bistro and Wine Bar focuses on sustainable, ethically sourced cuisine. Local farms produce as much as possible of the produce and ingredients for BackDoor Bistro. Its menu changes seasonally for varied options that change with the seasons and the bounty of surrounding farms. This restaurant also offers local beer, wine and artisanal cocktails for delightful pairings.

Guests can start their meals with bites and appetizers like the Polenta Fries with Cilantro Lime Crema, the Crispy Thai Brussels Sprouts. or the Seasonal Seared Spanish Octopus. They can then move onto the crowd-pleasing Stempler Creek Beef Burger, the Coconut Lime Bouillabaisse, or the hearty Southern Style Fried Chicken which is served Tuesday-Thursday nights.

The gorgeous patio is surrounded by plant life and set aside a bustling courtyard. The dining room is charming yet elegant. BackDoor Bistro has been voted best spot for a date night for many years for a reason!

Top review

Rhema

Dined 2 days ago

My moms 60th birthday deserve a great dinner celebration. So glad we found this spot. Cute spot. Great drinks. Appetizers were that - great appetizers - a tad small for the piece. However the rest of the meal and drinks were great! Would go back for dessert

Grand Lake Kitchen - Dimond

4.6

4.6 (273)

$30 and under

American

Oakland

About the restaurant

May and David Wasem's second Grand Lake Kitchen location offers the same uplifted American classics and warm hospitality as you've come to expect from the original but in a larger, more accessible and central location of the Dimond District in Oakland. An all-day cafe specializing in brunch and dinner! Maximum party size for regular reservations is 15.

GLK Dimond houses a spacious dining room, full bar, two outdoor patios (dog friendly), private dining room, take-out counter, and retail wine and gift store

Top review

Judy

Dined 6 days ago

Our salads were delicious and the service is great.

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