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510-735-9459
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5912 College Ave (at Rockridge area), Oakland, California, USA, 94618
Long-established restaurant and wine bar originally on 580 Geary St in San Francisco and relocated to Oakland in summer 2015. Upscale dining without a formal dress code. Open Mon-Thu 5:30pm-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm, Sun 5:30pm-9:30pm.
Category: Vegan, American, Organic, Beer/Wine, Fusion, Gourmet
Reviews (105)
First Review by Vegan Mom
Contributions +27
Great place for special event - Edit
I have enjoyed this restaurant since it was located in San Francisco. The ambiance definitely changed with the move across the Bay from more classy to casual. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoor is nice year-round, with heaters and blankets for comfort. It's fun to get a group together and do the tasting menu--though it is so much food. Good for special events; Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc. The dessert sampler is absolutely brilliant.
Contributions +99
very good upscale food - Edit
Fancy restaurant serving vegan only fare. Good cocktails and wine selection. Excellent service and food was well presented and delicious. I had the fried cauliflower and it was spectacular. Husband had the kofta and loved it. Ask for the complimentary sourdough bread and spread while waiting for your entrees.
Pros: classy, elegant food , good date place
Cons: pricey
Contributions +14
greasy/oily - Edit
I don't live in this area and waited over two years to try this resteraunt. For over 40.00 per person i was expecting some kind of wow factor but instead i was very disapointed!!
Everthing we tried was extremely oily or deep fried. Besides being unhealthy nothing tasted like it was created by a good chef. This was a 20:00 per person meal at best and it cost over double that!
Contributions +14
Amazing - Edit
From the service to the location and the delicious menue. Everything was simply perfect!! I was on a vacation trip to see my host family again after 20 years and this place was excellent. Unfortunately, I forgot the name of the Skatergirl who did an excellent job in servicing us. Thanks again and keep on shredding, you rock!!
Pros: delicious meals, great location, excellent service
Cons: none
Contributions +11
Dining with Non-Vegans - Edit
Our party of five had one vegan and one vegetarian and three others who usually eat meat. We all enjoyed the appetizers (peach flatbread and deep-friend mushrooms). The Torpedo Onion Flatbread was a hit because of the complexity of flavors. Very delicious! A suggestion for the menu is to provide a bit more information (or an information sheet that accompanies the menu) for non-vegans/vegetarians who might hesitant to order a dish because they are not familiar with all the ingredients.
Pros: Wonderful to have so many vegan options , Interesting combinations of ingredients in dishes, Very tasty food!
Cons: Confusing menu for non-vegans who are not familiar
Contributions +1004
The best vegan dinner ever - Edit
Don't miss trumpet mushrooms appetizer and hazelnut chocolate cake.
We will be back for sure, it was the best meal we had in a long time. We loved the trumpet mushroom appetizer with orange sauce and the hazelnut chocolate cake with salty caramel ice cream for dessert, they are to die for, we will definetely order them again next time.
We also tried mezze appetizer, main coffee portabella and tamale, all fresh and delicious.
The ginger beer and kombucha were excellent.
Portions were bigger than we expected. An appetizer and a main or a main and a dessert are enough for a hungry person. You can also share appetizers and dessert, which is what we did. :)
Staff is friendly, prompt and professional.
Just to get an idea of prices:appetizer 7-12$, main 20$, dessert 10$, beverages 5-10$, wines and cocktails. They offer 3 course menu for 38$/pers (appetizer, main,dessert) where you can choose from most of their dishes, but not all.
What a great dinner! We will be back for sure.
Contributions +16
Eh - Edit
I've only been vegan for four months, and it's generally pretty hard to find stuff I want to eat at normal restaurants. I love going to all-vegan restaurants since I can order whatever I want, and be assured it'll be 100% vegan. I was so excited to try Millennium--it has a reputation of being super fancy vegan food, but I was totally disappointed with nearly everything about this place.
To start, our table of four shared the house-made pickled vegetables. I was expecting something like asparagus--some kind of yummy vegetable, prepared in an unusual way. What appeared on the table was pickled cabbage, green garlic, and snap peas. With the exception of the snap peas, which were good, the rest of the plate was basically garnish that tasted soggy and terrible.
One in our party ordered the trumpet mushrooms to start. They were super soggy & greasy -- looked and tasted deep-fried. Way too heavy and felt like fast food.
Most of us ordered the Cauliflower as a main course -- and again, it was very greasy and soggy. Just way too heavy -- too much oil.
Overall the food experience was similar to how I feel after eating fast food.
The servers repeatedly placed our dishes in front of the wrong people -- not that big of a deal and I probably wouldn't have paid much attention to this, but since the food was so terrible, I noticed the poor service a bit more.
For four people, and no alcohol, our meal was over $200. At those prices, I expect much better food and service. I unfortunately will not be returning to this restaurant. Very disappointing. I hate to write a negative review, but this experience was that bad that I felt it merited this review. Sorry. :-(
Contributions +26
Great special occasion spot - Edit
Asked my parents to take me here as a treat for my 21st birthday. They're omnivores but enjoyed their meals even more enthusiastically than me! Great for trying new flavors at a fancy place.
Pros: Great service, Serves alcohol
Cons: Expensive
Contributions +80
Back with a Vengence - Edit
I was so thrilled that Millennium reopened it's doors, regardless if they moved to a new city. It was always my favorite "special occasion" restaurant and now it still can be. I went recently with my mom and husband and was happy to see that 1) we could get a table without reservations (we called for days and never got through to anyone nor did anyone ever return our voice messages) 2) the new location is fantastic and cozy 3) the overall vibe is slightly more casual but the food is still great. I was really happy with the food and our server was super nice. When I'm back in the back I'll definitely be going back.
Pros: romantic atmosphere, great location in Rockridge, great food
Cons: parking was a pain, making reservations was hard, pricey
Contributions +2144
Good but not overly-impressed - Edit
This place gets a lot of hype. It was good, but not great and not impressive.
Pros: All vegan
Cons: Expensive
Contributions +44
fabulous - Edit
Went here today for brunch. The menu is not extensive but everything we tried was delicious. The service was great and there was a lovely jazz band playing too. I will definitely be going back while here in the area. The beet Bloody Mary was a tasty and unique twist on an old classic.
Contributions +164
Noisy and Overrated - Edit
I have to admit I went to the Millennium with very high expectations. Unfortunately, most of them were not met. The person at the reception was very arrogant and "cold", feeling welcome definitely feels different. Our waiter was nice and helpful but not very thoughtful in particular. The food was very good indeed, but it was not as great as expected. Some of the vegetables hat a black crust from being fried too long. The only real highlight was the dessert. We ordered cocktails which also were good, but not special, and the bar tender served them without a napkin, causing quite a mess with the condensed water on our table. In my opinion, this is a beginner's mistake. It was far too noisy and crowded which made the dinner experience not very pleasant. All in all there is much ado about nothing regarding this place.
Pros: Good, creative food, Great desserts
Cons: Noisy, crowded, cold atmosphere, Partially arrogant and unfriendly staff
Contributions +22
Delicious and creative - Edit
Went here with meat-eaters and all of us loved it. I like that they don't try to mimic meat, they simply showcase plant foods the way they are meant to be tasted. A lovely experience.
Contributions +152
Great vegan/vegetarian food, service and ambiance - Edit
Like its prior incarnation in San Francisco, Millennium, now in Oakland, is a great place to eat. Very good vegan & vegetarian food, and more small plate style than in SF. Great mocktails & deserts as well.
Pros: creative menu, gourmet food, small plates
Cons: expensive
Contributions +785
Love the new location - Edit
While I was never at their original location, the Oakland location was fabulous. We opted for the $38 3 course prix fix menu (available Sunday to Wednesday). All meals were delicious. The stand outs were the king oyster mushrooms, Brussels sprouts and tempeh dish. The desserts were a bit weaker but I preferred the sundae over the pumpkin cheesecake. A fabulous meal, possibly the best vegan one. Kudos to Millennium for a fabulous meal.
Reservations are highly recommended. The place was packed on the Sunday dinner.
Pros: Excellent good, Creative dishes, Fix price menu
Contributions +25
Rare treat - Edit
I never miss a chance to eat here when in San Francisco Had a great time sitting at the bar, when I didn't have a reservation, and was alone that weekend.
It was so enjoyable to order anything I saw on the menu, without having to worry about plant based diet.
Sometimes it's better than others , but I've never been disappointed.
Pricey and worth it.
Avoid table in back by kitchen.
All in all, I love this place.
Pros: Good wune, Good vibe, Super good vegan food
Cons: Got to get reservation
Contributions +50
underwhelmed, maybe it's changed since - Edit
Note- this review is dated and should be taken in that context accordingly.
I went to millennium back in the early 2000s without any expectations or idea of what it would be like. I was completely underwhelmed by the flavor of the food. The presentation was ok, the atmosphere and service were decent. For what I had it was drastically overpriced. I'm not very fru-fru or wine-and-cheese so maybe this isn't my scene. The food was definitely not a mind blowing experience though.
Pros: decent atmosphere
Cons: expensive, food was average
Contributions +58
Spectacular - Edit
I was in SF for business, and was excited to be staying within walking distance to one of the most famous vegan restaurants ever! I was also looking forward to going to a fancy place, as being from Indiana, fancy places (even "regular" places) with vegan options are pretty limited.
I made a reservation, which they recommend, for just little old me very easily, actually just about an hour from booking it from their website.
I decided on the prix fixe menu, where you get an appetizer, and entree, and dessert for $42. I also got a wine pairing for each which was $13, along with a glass of wine to start off (don't judge, I had a long day at my work conference :)).
The starter wine (pinot noir from Envolve Winery) was absolutely delicious. I forgot what it was called and loved it so much I asked the server the name and she actually brought the bottle out so I could snap a picture. Her knowledge of the wine, winery, and back story of how Millennium came to serve the wine was impressive, to say the least.
I chose the grilled radicchio and fig salad to start. It was beautiful and delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed the wine pairing, even though I typically don't care for whites. It was not something I'd normally order, but I'm glad I gave it a whirl.
Next I got the fresh corn tamale. It also did not disappoint. The various sauces they had accenting the plate were outstanding. The wine pairing was again stellar.
Dessert was the most daunting choice of the evening, so I phoned a friend and talked it over with the server and finally decided on the brownie sundae. Holy delicious, Batman. That was one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth and I will remember it the most. The "wine" pairing for that was actually Irish coffee, which I was eager to try as I'd never had vegan Irish cream. It was also yummy, but the brownie sundae stole the show.
Overall, the service was OUTSTANDING, and the food and wine (and spirits) were amazingly delicious and worth the expensive price tag for the occasional visit.
Pros: Spectacular service, Delicious and beautiful food, Wine pairings
Cons: Expensive (but worth it)
Contributions +121
The best gourmet Vegan Restaurant in the World - Edit
Whole food planted based bliss is what you'll enjoy at this inspired, delicious, gourmet eatery. The food is expensive given the seedy location, but once you are inside, the space is nice and the food is beyond delicous. Genius describes the pairings of ingredients, either that or years of experimentation. No other vegan restaurant comes close to the perfection served here.
Pros: Delicous, Gourmet, Quiet
Cons: Seedy neighborhood, not open for lunch, In a weird hotel
Contributions +14
disappointing - and expensive! - Edit
Food wasn't great, expensive and the service was very poor. - Very disappointing experience :(
Contributions +120
sit at the bar! - Edit
I sat at the bar and ordered a gnocchi and a beer. It was around $30, which really wasn't bad. The gnocchi was unreal and delicious. If you sit at the bar, you don't have to feel bad about saving money by avoiding appetizers, dessert, etc. Lovely restaurant! I loved how the bar had vegan Irish coffee and other non-vegan cocktails made vegan. Yeah, it's not cheap, but it's a special occasion place.
Pros: delicious gnocchi, friendly bar service , extensive drink menu
Contributions +30
Awesome - Edit
My husband and I are both vegan and decided to eat here while on holiday in San Fransisco. Although it is quite expensive we decided to treat ourselves as we have never been to a completey vegan restaurant before.
It was great to have a choice of about 7 starters, 7 mains and 5 desserts knowing they were all vegan. It was hard to choose as they all sounded lovely and offered quite a wide range of ingredients and tastes.
We both had the fixed price menu along with the recommended wines to go with each course. We were both very impressed with the presentation and the food was delicious.
Overall - service was good, presentation lovely, food awesome - it's just a shame it was far too hot in there and the seating was a bit close, but we would go there again and considering how good it was i don't think it was exceedingly expensive
Contributions +6135
Pricey / Good Food - Edit
I went with a friend to Millennium the other night. The last time I ate at this restaurant was over ten years ago. This restaurant is elegant in decor, and the service is good. we shared two dishes: a gnocci with vegetables dish, and a barbecued tempeh dish. The entrees are expensive, and I expect excellent food when I pay so much for an entree.
The presentation on both dishes were what I would have expected.
My tempeh dish was just ok. I supposed I was expecting a better tasting dish for the price. My non-vegan friend ordered the gnocci. She didn't seem overly enthusiastic about her dish. I really love the atmosphere of this restaurant, but I think the menu could use some improvement.
Pros: Atmosphere
Cons: Food could be better for the price
Contributions +320
Good for America, but not world class - Edit
Ok so we know that title is provocative but just calling it as we see it. The fact is, America just isn't known for its culinary prowess. Millennium is a very pleasant night out with its moody, 'something special' ambiance that somehow manages to avoid feeling uptight or pretentious. And some items on the menu are actually quite good, but overall it fails to ignite the imagination, particularly when it comes to the main meals, which American restaurants seem to really struggle with (Greens in SF and Pure Food & Wine in NYC both come to mind).
If this is the best you've tried so far, try stepping a bit further afield... things get even better, that's a promise! (isn't it great being veg'n!??)
And FYI I'm not basing my review on just one trip, we've eaten here at least 5 times, probably more and over the span of several years... the verdict is always the same. On the balance of things, we'd say Crossroads in LA and Blossom in NYC are better in terms of options in the US.
Pros: Great vibe for regular or special nights, Some decent items, especially appetisers
Cons: Mains are boring and unrefined, Service is hit or miss
Contributions +20
in love - Edit
As a 15 yer old vegan foodie this was the place for me. The quality, taste and service was amazing. The food.. Spectacular. A must to go to!
Contributions +21
ok food, not amazing - Edit
I had the raw taste menu and was not that impressed. The cucumber sallad and the avocado soup was really good. The entre was a sallad. It was good, but not amazing. Dessert was lame, peach per fair with frozen blackberrys that was almost impossible to get on the spoon(one big rock). Of what the others had I can recommend the Wellington and chocolate almond cake. I am being generous with four stars. Jose (our buzzer) made our night, so sweet and friendly! Wish we could have given him all the tips.
Contributions +980
Underwhelming... - Edit
Millennium was pretty much the reason we booked our weekend trip to San Francisco. We missed it when we were in town a few years back, and I'd been dying to visit again just so I could eat here. My expectations were sky-high given all the wonderful words I had heard and read about it. I was looking forward to be mesmerized and dazzled, but only to be left scratching my head about the hype...
Two of us shared three appetizers, two main courses, and a dessert:
Potato dumplings - The broth was bright and pleasantly tart thanks to the rhubarb, but it was barely warm. The dumplings were soggy as if they had been left in the cooking liquid for hours and didn’t have much flavor.
Black bean cakes - I had a hard time recalling what this dish was like because it was so unmemorable. All I could remember was two pieces of mediocre and tepid bean cakes with some nice tasting pickles on the side...
Arancini - The fried rice ball was creamy and gooey on the inside while crispy on the outside. The sauce was delicious. Best dish of the evening.
Phyllo purse - Looked good on paper but turned out to be a dud. There seemed to be a lot going on, but it didn’t work. The purse was stuffed with uniformly mushy ingredients that could use some texture. The turnip-white bean mixture on the plate was no better. The former were still firm from undercooking; the latter were the exact opposite - overcooked and too soft. The whole dish was a bit flat to taste and, again, lukewarm.
Spring dosa - Filled with chana masala style chickpeas and topped with spring onion tempura. It was pretty good, just not great.
Chocolate cake - Another disappointment. The cake was plain sweet, cloying so, without much chocolate flavor. The ice cream was middling. Portion was tiny. The $10 price tag was hefty.
We did also ask for the bread (apparently they would only give it out upon request), which came with a lentil spread. These were nothing to write home about - the spread was fair but the bread was a bit stale.
Overall, our dinner was quite a letdown. Service was okay, the setting was upscale and elegant, but the food was merely passable. The menu was refined and sophisticated, but the execution was lacking. One thing that struck me throughout the evening was the not-warm-enough food. I hate to say this, but compared to all the other fancy veg*n restaurants I’ve been to, Millennium didn’t really measure up. By no means was it bad, but I felt it could’ve been so much better. This is a 3 for me.
Pros: location
Cons: food
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