
Pier 29 Waterfront Restaurant & Bar
1148 Ballena Blvd, Alameda, CA 94501
About Pier 29 Waterfront Restaurant & Bar - steak house in Oakland, California
Steak & seafood star in this family-friendly restaurant with a full bar, patio & waterfront views.
Customer Review Summary
Pier 29 Waterfront Restaurant & Bar offers stunning views of the San Francisco skyline and Alameda Harbor, which enhances the dining experience. Many diners praised the quality and seasoning of seafood dishes like the spicy scallops, shrimp, and oysters, highlighting the freshness of the ingredients. Outdoor seating on the deck is particularly enjoyable, adding to the relaxed ambiance of the restaurant. However, there were several complaints regarding food quality, with some dishes described as bland, poorly executed, or overcooked, such as the clam chowder and salmon. While the service was generally noted as friendly, a few experiences indicated inconsistency in food preparation, leading to some disappointed diners. Overall, the restaurant enjoys a strong appeal due to its location and views, but improvements in food quality and consistency are needed to enhance the dining experience further.
Key Features
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great dessert
- Great wine list
- Sports
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Happy hour drinks
- Happy hour food
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Small plates
- Wine
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Romantic
Crowd
- Groups
- Tourists
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
Parking
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
Customer Reviews
Rating Distribution
Tim Fagundes
Really enjoyed finding this spot right at sundown. The view of the San Francisco skyline being back-lit with a sunset set the tone for a good meal. Had the spicy scallops and shrimp and my friend had a nice piece of Salmon. Each was cooked nicely and both were well seasoned. I would recommend either and found a bunch more on the menu that I want to try. Also great view of the local Alameda Harbor on one side, and a view of the Aircraft carrier on the other.
Chas S
We had a very nice table outside on the deck looking at all the boats. The food was really good we started with oysters and we had shrimp and everything was just what it should be. Also the wine was the house variety and it was really good. We will definitely come here again
An Abe
came in for a cup of coffee, was given excellent service, shook hands with one of the servers, and left with a smile on my face. the views of the nearby docks from inside the dining room only accentuated my great and relaxed experience. will definitely be coming back for dinner soon.
Deena Donk
Came here for a lunch with a group and was very excited to try out a new place! The view is absolutely beautiful. The waitstaff was kind, but I was so let down by the food. I started with clam chowder. When it was brought to me I could just look at it and tell it was too thick. It tasted strongly of flour and there were barely any clams in it. Some of the celery in it was oddly tough as well. I had about 2 bites and was done. That was all I could muster. I had ordered the salmon with shrimp cream sauce as my main. The salmon was overcooked, but it was seasoned well. The cream sauce wasn't too bad but the shrimp tasted frozen to me. For paying almost $40 for lunch I would have expected higher quality food. I hope this place just had an off day, I would love to come more often because the view was so beautiful. But they maybe need a different chef.
Erik Kolacek
I've been a customer for decades, going back to when you could eat dinner and gaze out at the Park Street Bridge. We recent took mama bear for Mother's Day brunch, and everything was absolutely perfect. Friendly service, really nice customers, beautiful views (both of the bay and the harbor), and truly delicious food for a reasonable price. We ordered generous entrees for four, three mocktails, three rounds of oysters, and a big 'ol dessert, and only paid $200. The oysters were to die-for, btw. Do not miss them while they're on the menu! All in all, we had a sweet, memorable, fun, Mother's Day, and will likely remain loyal customers for life.
Britany Huizar
We were expecting something completely different. The food was extremely disappointing. We ordered a shrimp cocktail, fried calamari and shrimp and chips and everything was flavorless unseasoned extremely bland.. the shrimp cocktail will give nightmares. Please see photo. The view is beautiful and this place has a lot of potential but the food is lacking and reminds me a lot of Chinese food… do not recommend
J C
The food was bland, but the seafood was fresh. Its location is ideal for the restaurant, plenty of parking space available, right by the water. However, the restaurant needs a major upgrade. The price is similar to other nicer restaurants in Emmeryville that’s also by the water. The calamari I believe is bear battered. Needs more flavor, but at least it tasted fresh. My crab Louis salad is like any other I’ve had. Nothing special.
Md Shahnur Arefin
The seats have a fantastic view. At starter, we had calamari and shrimp fry. Additionally, the teriyaki salmon in the dinner was superb. Due to its proximity to the harbor and shore, the restaurant may draw large crowds.
Location
Contact Information
Hours of Operation
Price Range
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