Skates on the Bay

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100 Seawall Dr
Berkeley, CA 94710

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(510) 549-1900
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Skates on the Bay - Berkeley, CA
Skates on the Bay - Berkeley, CA
Skates on the Bay - Berkeley, CA
Skates on the Bay - Berkeley, CA
Skates on the Bay - Berkeley, CA
Skates on the Bay - Berkeley, CA
Skates on the Bay - Berkeley, CA
Skates on the Bay - Berkeley, CA
Skates on the Bay - Berkeley, CA
Skates on the Bay - Berkeley, CA
Reviews
( 21 )
( 16 )
( 3 )
( 10 )
( 6 )

Best

The food is just as good as the view! The salmon is delicious!

Worst
1

Several trips to this TGI-Fridays-on-the-Bay merit a warning: Of three attempts we had one edible entree and two entrees removed from the bill. We persisted because we're patrioti...

great views, but EXPENSIVE 11/18/2006

The food here is decent, but way too expensive.... you could find better seafood in the Bay Area for much less money. The view is beautiful, but not worth the prices. The decor could use an update. Pros: view, view, view Cons: price & decor more
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Great view and service, good food 10/30/2006

Obviously you're coming here for the view. I've been here several times, and the service has been great. Each server has been attentive but not overbearing. Would be better if they personally knew the menu in detail and could make definite suggestions, but whatever. The food has been pretty good, not great. I suppose it is slightly overpriced if you look at it that way. My personal thing is that I'm going here for the view and whoever I'm with, the rest is secondary. Pros: View, service Cons: Pricey more
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Poor service, cold food - you're paying for the view (in more ways than one) 10/14/2006

We arrived to find they'd lost our reservation (they blamed their computer - don't they always?). They kept us waiting in the bar for almost 45 minutes for a table, even though there were clearly plenty of tables free when we did finally sit down. The hostess was totally unapologetic for this, so I assume this was a ruse to get us to buy more drinks.\r \r In short, our experience before we even got any food almost spoiled the entire evening for us.\r \r The food, when we finally got to eat any, was variable. Crab cakes were good, but over-priced. Oysters not very fresh, and the condiment sauces were pre-applied to try to hide this. One of the four main courses was almost completely cold when it arrived. Vegetable accompaniment to the main courses was over-cooked.\r \r This is the second time I've been here. I didn't have the table trouble the first time, but the food was extremely disappointing on that occasion as well. I made the mistake of giving them a second chance.\r \r Would I recommend these clowns to a friend? Hell No! Pros: Nice view Cons: Poor service, variable food quality more
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Why settle for average? 6/2/2006

The food at Skates is on par with room service at any Marriott-type hotel in any midsize city in the US. If you're a foodie, stay away. Yes, the view is fantastic. But that's about all Skates has to offer that is in any way different. For a better value, have a drink at Chevy's down the street in Emeryville, which has the same view, then head to one of Berkeley's real restaurants for a food experience worth your money - anywhere on North Shattuck (near Vine) ought to do. Pros: view Cons: average food, poor service, noisy more
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Nice View All Around 4/12/2006

Nice view all around. My fiance took me there for my birthday the first time, and we had a great seat by the water, though it was busy. But the waiter was nice, and the Prawns with rice and veges were great. The second time, we sat inside because it was really busy, but the people were nice again. And the food this time around was just as good. If you like sweet and flavored dishes, try the Salmon with caramalized berries, it's not on the main menu but try it if you see it as a special. We loved it and we're going back there again! Pros: Views, Food, Service Cons: Crowded at times more
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Sunday Bloody Mary Sunday 2/19/2006

On a Sunday at noon, with no reservation we were immediately seated at a window overlooking the bay. I got the best perfectly made (no ""mix"") Bloody Mary. Perfect hair o'the dog. A cheese omelette, perfect potatoes and toasty foccacio bread completed the breakfast. I have lived here almost a year and never been, but Skates saved my life from the worst hangover I have ever had. I really don't think there is anywhere else in the east bay serving bloody mary's with a breakfast/brunch menu, so I know I will be back and hopefully not as hungover as I was yesterday! Next time I want to eat without wearing my sunglasses! I highly recommend! By the time we left around around 1:15 there was a line of about 8-10 people, so I would call ahead next time just in case! Pros: Awesome Bloody Mary, Wonderful Brunch Menu, Spectacular Bay View more
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Service makes up for Food 2/8/2006

Somehow, the starters here are always good(but unoriginal) but when it comes to entree it comes up way short. My risotto was terrible, NOT RECOMMENDED. Very bland, not thorougly cooked, and the seafood in it was horribly bland too. However.. when it came to the service, it was.. interesting. It was somewhat unprofessional, but nevertheless enjoyable. The staff was very accomodating and friendly, brought out candles/lighter/plates for our cake, sorted out confusion on the bill. All in all, not recommended simply bc the food is overrated and not worth it. Service was great. :) Pros: service, parking Cons: food more
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Great Food, Beautiful Sunset Dinner location 12/1/2005

We've been going to Skates for over 3 years now, they have delicious food and great service. They also recently renovated their kitchen. My recommendation is to make reservations in advance. It's the perfect spot for a romantic dinner occassion. I've gone there for anniversary and birthday dinners. I normally just make my reservations through OpenTable.com and include a note for a table by the window right as the sun is going down. Also, if you arrive before your reservation, you can take a walk along the pier that runs along the side of the restaurant before your dinner to unwind and if you leave at night you can sometimes see a family of racoons along the rocks. Pros: gorgeous ocean view, good food, good service Cons: its cold at night, can get noisy by bar more
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Romantic setting for couples 11/9/2004

I think that Skates is a wonderful restaurant, a bit expensive but worth it for good food! we went on a Friday night at about 6:00 pm. Our waiter was very promt in getting drinks and appetizers.The food was exquisite!!! The only thing we had to wait for was......The sun to set on a wonderful evening! Pros: parking, Food, Sunset more
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Noisy and disappointing 11/6/2004

We went on a Saturday night after a Cal football game, so the place was packed and perhaps not at its best. The place was too noisy for relaxed conversation and we were seated far from the windows and couldn't enjoy the view at all. The server was quite good, but he had too many tables to be attentive. The food was uneven in quality, though artfully presented. All in all, a poor value. Bring your own wine if you go, the mark-up was outrageous. Pros: Good parking more
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Bad food, bad service 10/10/2004

I'm a local so I want so badly to like this place. Recently we booked a large group for a special brunch at Skates. Our food came out in batches, about 25 minutes apart, so by the time everyone got their orders, everything was cold. Turns out the ""dishwasher broke"" but why wouldn't they tell us this earlier? And not apologize? It's sad really... Pros: view, location Cons: , inexperienced staff, timing more
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we ran out of focacia bread 9/22/2004

the waiter told me that he ran out of focacia bread but other wiaters gave to other people who walked in later than us! we had to change order 4 times because ""we ran out of that dish today"" and waited nearly an hour to get our food usually Skates isn't like this but the fact that they don't even think about accomodating for us that day got me upset even the dishes that came out was substitued with whatever they had left over. look, if you ran out of asparagus don't substitute them with brocoli. if you don't have 80% content of the menu, you guys should not take any more customers. Please... bottom line, don't go there for a bit late dinner, make an appointment for at 6 or 7 but not 8:30 and if happen to go there just sit at the bar and order bar food Pros: good parking, good bar Cons: , understaffed, they runOut of food more
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My Favorite Restaurant in the Bay Area 6/17/2004

My husband and I have been going to Skates for years! Sometimes we get dinner or sometimes we hang out in the bar with a drink and wait for the sunset. Everytime we go, it is like being on a mini-vacation. The view is incredible, the food is wonderful and the service has been great. Although I'd like to keep this place all to myself, I would highly recommend that if you are in the area to stop by. The view in itself is worth a million bucks! more
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Incredible view, too industrial 4/19/2003

This would be a perfect place if the dining room were half the size. The view is one of the best you'll find. The food strives to be upscale. And the staff is very friendly, if inattentive. But the whole experience feels scripted, and the staff going through the motions. With as many tables as they have to serve, it's probably impossible to make it feel personal. Too bad. more
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""The Worst service ever"" 4/14/2003

The service was terrible. The waiter didn't even refill our drinks all night, didn't come by once to see if we needed anything else after the food was served. The food and service wasn't worth the price we paid for. Cons: Price, Service more
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Where have you been 2/25/2003

We were recommended to Skates and can't believe we've been around the bay area and didn't know of this goldmine. The service was great from the host to the busser who actually said hi and bye. The view is the best I've ever seen. We will now be recommending this restaurant to everyone we know. Pros: View, View, Service more
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This is dining 1/24/2003

My wife joined me for drinks at Skates and we decided to have dinner. It was incredible from salad to (I can't believe we ate it) dessert. There was a lot of food and we just kept on eating. It was too good. We truly dined and not just had dinner. Pros: Ambiance, Service, Scratch margaritas more
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Brunch is the Best 1/22/2003

We just heard that Skates is now open on Saturday for their brunch. The only problem we have is whether we go Saturday or Sunday or both. We've been there for dinner too and our favorite is brunch. They have the best bloody mary's and everything we've tried is excellent, the homeade bread is worth it. Pros: Cinnamon bread, View, All food more
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New to Berkeley 1/22/2003

My family just moved to the East bay and my neighbor told us we had to go to Skates and we will return again and again. The food was innovative but not quirky and my daughter(vegetarian) was impressed by having food on their menu and the chef came by to make sure everything was great. As we left a manager genuinely cared about our experience and thanked us and told us to call him for our next reservation, Mark. We'll call Pros: Warm staff, Delicious food, unbelievable view Cons: too long to return more
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Maybe our new favorite 1/22/2003

We've now been five times and have we been taken care of; food. and service impeccable(one small glitch). I recommend this restaurant to everyone I know and have even told my mother she has to dine there. I'm not sure where some of the other reviewers have dined, it certainly wasn't at Skates!!! Pros: View, Server, Food more
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Menu for Skates on the Bay


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Editorial

  • In Short
    As one of the few upscale eateries in the Berkeley Marina, this surf-and-turf restaurant packs its dining room nightly with those looking to enjoy dinner with a view. Tasty...

  • 9/7/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon- Sat 11:30am-3pm Sun 10:30am- 3pm Hours: Mon- Thurs 5-10pm Fri 5-10:30pm Sat 4-10:30pm Sun 4-10pm : Mon - Fri 4-6pm after 10pm
  • Payments: American Express, Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Berkeley Marina
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