Commis is Chef James Syhabout’s two-MICHELIN-star tasting-menu restaurant on Oakland‘s Piedmont Avenue. Since opening in 2009, it has grown into what Yelp describes as the only two-star restaurant in the entire East Bay (Yelp). Diners come for precise, seasonal New American cooking without crossing the bridge to San Francisco.
Dinner is a seasonal 10-course menu built on Northern California ingredients and a mix of modern and classic technique (Commis). The dining room is lit by glowing glass pendants and candlelight, with dark furniture and bare walnut tables. Plan to stay 2.5 to 3 hours (OpenTable). The bar serves the same 10-course menu and puts you closer to the open kitchen, where cooks plate each course in full view (OpenTable).
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Book well ahead through the restaurant’s reservations page or the MICHELIN Guide. Weekend and holiday tables go first. Midweek seatings offer the best odds. Couples who enjoy watching the cooks work should request the bar, which is often easier to secure. Share any dietary restrictions when you book.
Arrive early to walk Piedmont Avenue’s cafés and shops. Mountain View Cemetery, with its sweeping bay views, sits at the avenue’s north end. MacArthur BART is a short rideshare away, and street parking tightens on weekend evenings.
When planning your Oakland travel guide or comparing verified restaurants and american restaurant in Oakland, pair this stop with standout local spots including Sonesta Emeryville – San Francisco Bay Bridge, Chabot Space & Science Center, Moxy Oakland Uptown, and The Wolf (nearby).
