Best Seafood Restaurants in Orinda

The food is exceptional. Always generous portions and fresh quality. The hostess went out of her way to find us the perfect table to celebrate our Mother’s 90th birthday. Her caring attitude really set a happy tone for the entire evening. Our waiter is Jameson. He made our night even better. Great suggestions, great pairing ideas. Complete awareness of our wants and needs. So happy to have had this waiter for the second time in a row in a 6 month period. I believe it speaks well of the management that the staff remain for extended periods.

The wife and I recently dined at Skates by the Bay for lunch to celebrate her birthday. The ambiance, food, and service were excellent. The wife ordered the Lunch Box Special. It includes soup or salad, and an entree, vegetables, and starch. And it is an excellent value for a two course lunch. The wife selected clam chowder soup, and Blackened rockfish for her entree. She commented both were delicious. and the fish flavorful, and perfectly cooked. I opted to order off the regular menu. A cup of clam chowder, and a bowl of steamed clams. Both were delicious. Our server, Jay, provided excellent and attentive service. Jay was very knowledgeable of the menu, and recommended the steamed clams. When I mentioned to Jay it was the wife birthday, to our surprise, Jay brought out a complimentary desert. A perfect ending g to an excellent dining experience. The restaurant is right on the water, and has a million dollar view of San Francisco Bay. Free parking lot a few steps away from the restaurant. I highly recommend Skates by the Bay for an excellent dining experience. It is one of our favorite “go to” restaurants whenever we are in the Berkeley area. Great for a special occasion, or dinner after a Cal game. GO BEARS!

Fabulous food and service! We ordered the “let us cook for you” service and wine progression. Every course was impeccably prepared and presented. Since it was our anniversary, we started with a delicious champagne that had the flavor of garden fruits, like pear and apple. Not being champagne sophisticates, it was a delicious treat, and the wines that followed were all similar treats. Our server, Sanera, other wait staff and sommeliers were as excellent as they were friendly. We will definitely be back!

Kim was an awesome waiter. I'm a local who entertained some cousins who were visiting from Greece. Everything was spot on. I'm glad I picked this place. It checked all the boxes.

Everything was good but nothing mindblowing, which I would expect given how expensive everything was.