Pier 29 Restaurant In Alameda

It was a hot night and we thought a dinner on the patio overlooking the harbor would be great. Well, the view was great. That's the good news. The food was pricey and when it was delivered the presentation was horrible. The salad looked a few days old and very poorly prepared. The cook (can't call him/her a chef) needs to learn that presentation is half the battle if you want people to enjoy the meal. The calamari was fried in god knows what and the rice that accompanied it tasted like chemicals. A few vegetables were dumped on the plate as an afterthought. Overall the food was very poorly prepared and presented. The waitress never came back to ask how things were - probably didn't want to hear. We will never eat there again and will not recommend it to our friends. Too bad, as the place has lots of potential. Oh yeah the bread was sliced through and we wondered if it was left overs from other customers. The waitress assured us it wasn't, that they just sliced it up to make it easier to eat. However, none of the slices matched the piece next to it. We decided to pass on the bread. Overall NOT a good experience. more

I've been going to this restaurant for years, well before it moved from its Oakland location into Alameda. New ownership took over several years ago and the change was noticeable. Service has spiraled downward. The wait staff is often very slow, it's rare they come back to check on you. They are also generally irritable and sometimes downright rude. There is only one waiter that I really like because he's friendly and actually smiles. But even with the staff and ownership issues, I just love the food here. It's simple, American style food. I don't think the food is worth paying full price but the early bird specials are really fantastic deals. Right now, the prices are good Mon - Thurs, 3-6pm and Fri - Sun, 3-5pm. I tend to eat a late lunch here just to take advantage of the fantastic early bird prices, $12.95 or under for the entree, soup or salad, side dish and even a small dessert. The teriyaki steak is my personal favorite, the sauce is just delicious and the meat always tender and cooked perfectly. There is also a great veggie pasta dish for vegetarians/vegans. If you're looking for a romantic restaurant with great service, pass on this place. If you are looking for good food at a great price (early) then this might be the place for you. Pros: Delicious food, great early bird prices Cons: Slow and sometimes rude service more

I eat at Pier 29 occasionally, because it is a favorite of a friend. The food is OK, I'd say a little more expensive than the quality calls for. portions are fine, temperature of food is also OK. \r I live a few blocks away and sometimes use a cane to walk. I don't always need it, so sometimes I tend to forget it. We were eating outside one time several months ago and I left my cane leaning against the railing next to my seat. Half way on my walk home, I realized I forgot the cane. I didn't want to go back as it would have made my walk too long. I called the restaurant as soon as I got home and told them I forgot the cane and would drive over to pick it up. They told me it wasn't there and basically refused to go look for it. They never called me back about it either.\r I will probably go there again, but only because my friend really likes it. They have absolutely no consciousness about what it might mean to lose your cane, and were rude, besides. Pros: Food is pretty good. Cons: Lack of concern for needs of customer. A little too expensive. more

Was looking for somewhere close to take my daughter for her 19th birthday. Read some recent reviews and all was good., should have read more! I had made a reservation for a window seat and it was confirmed we would have one. Got there and the lady at the desk asked us to wait then a gentleman came over. Thought he would be taking us to our table however he took us outside to the patio. Seating on the patio was steel chairs and table. Told him we had a reservation and we had in fact seen tables with reserved signs on them. He then led us back inside another into another dining room, not the one we entered through. This room was okay but know near as nice as the room we enter. He pointed to a seat and left. A server brought us 3 menus for 6 people and placed the extra table settings on top of the menus. There was also only 2 waiters on the side we were on. When one came over, we were told there wasn't enough menus so we had to share. We ordered drinks and an appeitizer while we looked at the menus we were sharing., drinks came 10-15 minutes later then the appetizer about 10 minutes later. In the 20-25 minutes we waited for our food, we became focused on watching their ""seating"" arrangements. They definately have some sort of selective seating practice going on. Plus, whenever someone was ""lead"" outside then back in, it was by this gentleman they called over. Everyone seated on the ""other"" side was done by the woman who was at the desk. Now, ""our"" side did have a mixture of people (including white), however the other side did not. Our party was very well dressed but my grandson was wearing a jacket with a hood and my daughter has her very long hair in braids. Don't know if these were the reason we were ""lead out but it was the only difference we could see. The whole time my grandson kept saying that we should pay for our drinks and leave because they were treating us ""funny"". We should have.\r \r After all of this, the food was even worse! Don't go!! more

I was hesitant to try this restaurant after reading the other reviews, but it was the most convenient location for a group of us to meet. I couldn't disagree more with the reviews that said the service was bad. In fact, we marveled at how incredibly attentive the wait and bus staff were. Our beverages were barely half empty before someone would magically appear and do a quick refill. The service reminded me of that you'd receive at a 5-star restaurant -- everyone was so attentive and it seemed liked we had two or three people assigned to our table. Our waitress even heard me mention about something someone got me for my birthday recently, so she ended our meal with a hot fudge sundae on the house to celebrate my birthday. We all were stunned by the efficiency and pleasant demeanor of all who worked there. The food was very very good -- we ate breakfast and even my very picky friend from England devoured hers! Highly recommend this place!! Pros: Great service, good food, lots of parking Cons: Unsightly view of the Oakland docks more

Tonight we celebrated our anniversary at Pier 29 in Alameda, CA. Even after reading the reviews listed on line...we still chose to eat there for our first time. We were pleasantly greeted and promptly seated by the window so we could see the boating activities and people walking by. Our waitress was prompt, pleasant and anxious to please us...she did not know it was our special day. Our food was served promptly, proportioned nicely, not salty or over seasoned at all, and the temperature was fine... We selected food off the 'early bird' menu as well as the regular dinner menu. We were content and not hungry for more when we left. Our table was cleared of dirty dishes quickly and quietly. We could have lingered over coffee, but instead chose to walk around the boats returning to the docks and then watch some para-sailing.\r \r We would definitely return and tell others to try Pier 29, too. The '4 star' restaurant was filling up more by 6-6:30pm yet no oone had to wait to be seated. We saw some people eating there for the first time, but most we talked with had been there many times and were very happy with food, service and cleanliness. I must say it was clean, attractive, and also was clean in the restroom. Enjoy! Pros: overall restaurant was very clean; food was appropriately seasoned;service was very good Cons: no flowers or candles on the tables to dress them up a little. more

Tried to eat at pier 29 twice. First time we left after a 15 minute wait at the table for our order to be taken.\r Figured we'd try again on Mothers Day. When checking in they could not find our reservation. I was told it couldn't possibly be their mistake because they had a system for reservations. What was this high tech system, a notebood and pencil. 'You see, your name isn't there, you must have call a different restaurant'. As it was obvious they considered this my problem I asked if a could then make a reservation which was greeted with a smug, 'well, that's an interesting statement, I thought you said you had a reservation. No we're booked up'. I'll note that the restuarant was half fill (or maybe half empty) at the time. It was, btw, the owner of this fine establishment with whom I was speaking. The contempt for their clients starts at the top at this place.\r At any rate, I hope your experience there is better. It was strike two for me and I don't intend to go for a third pith. more

One of the worst restaurant experiences I've ever had! Brought 12 family members to enjoy the Early Bird Special on an otherwise beautiful day. From the get-go, we were treated with down right hostility, as if we were doing them a favor by eating there. We made a reservation and arrived at 5:00 pm and were scolded that we should have been there by 4:45, even though the add in the Alameda Phone Book says the Early Bird goes to 5:30. Our waitress was rude and hasty and acted as if she couldn't wait for us to get out of there. Our 2 bottles of wine that we ordered with dinner came out after we were already finished. The food was luke warm and medicocre at best and the portions small. I will never go back...why would I? Pros: Good parking Cons: Rude service, lack of warmth or hospitality, cold food, small portions more

One thing first of all....the fish in their fish and chips is VERY good. The thick fries are terrible...order the thinly sliced ones. The Petralie Sole both my friend and I ordered, was tasteless...the caper sauce was great, but without it....well, it would have been a waste. The service was good. DON'T go there for brunch. Nobody cares about you and they make you wait forever. Also, SODA..NO FREE REFILLS, which is unheard of today. On the Early Bird specials, the dessert offering is terrible. The pudding is served as if someone just plopped a blob in a small dish...no whipped cream...terrible presentation here. Being on the water in one room and being able to see out to San Francisco in the other, makes the ambience very nice. Once again, recommended for the fish and chips. Pros: Ambience Great.....Early Bird Specials at $12.95, is great Cons: Lacking in taste in some dishes more

Our family has enjoyed Pier 29 Restaurn for many years. I am now 36years old and grew up going for lunch with my Aunt for all our special occassions. I now take my children there. Has always been kid friendly (assuming your children have some manners). Lots of food options. We have followed Pier 29 through its location and ownership changes over the years. Never feel rushed if we want to sit and visit for awhile after eating. Service is always good. At times the restaurant is very busy, but the staff always manages to make you feel important. Highly recommend Pier 29 whether it be for a special occassion, a casual dinner, or a business lunch. Pros: atmosphere, location Cons: busy at certain times more

1) Getting seated was not bad but, waiting for our coffee AND water was.\r \r 2) Our waitress seemed like she rather be out on one of the boats in Ballena Bay than at work! She didn't smile much and she kept reaching over my plate which is a major NO NO, I mean it would have been just a little juusssst a little different if she said excuse me buttttt nope, just kept reaching over it!!!!!\r \r I was there last weekend and have to say my cooking is much better. At least I use potatoes from the produce department and not the frozen isle and I serve my breakfast with a smile!!!\r \r I DO NOT rec?om?mend EATING HERE!! Pros: I didn't have to pay, thank goodness!!! Cons: Wasted gas driving there! more