Top Hatters Kitchen and Bar

Overall, I agree with most of the reviews that came before mine: it is a goldmine for where it’s located. A few notes: the table was sticky and my plate wasn’t perfectly clean, and there was one other sanitary issue. In addition, there were no toilet seat covers in the bathroom. Yikes. (And I am totally willing to edit this review if these items are addressed.) As far as the food goes, compared to restaurants of a similar price range, it fell a little short. They are simple dishes which feel a little overpriced. Not terribly complex, but fresh. We ordered the watermelon salad, oxtails and grits (needed to be served hot), grilled oysters and (underwhelming) savory donuts. Drinks were pleasant but we think the dish-ware could have been more advanced/fancy for the price. Customer service was good and friendly, though there was lack of personal connection (i.e. QR code). This is a missed opportunity to really make this place truly worth going back to.

Unexpectedly beautiful atmosphere that I would not have expected to find in San Leandro. The restaurant is right off the freeway, but has a beautiful patio and naturally lit interior that conveys peace and calm. The food and cocktails placed emphasis on the simplicity of fresh ingredients, but felt on the lighter side and are not really made for sharing beyond one other person.

I've been super excited to try this place out for the past 2 years. Upon arrival getting seated took a while. They seem a bit short staffed which I get these days. But wow, I must have waited at least 10 minutes to be seated and had to end up looking for the rest of my party on my own. The woman proceeded to the kitchen and at no point went to look around for the rest of the people I was trying to locate. I would have rather she said go ahead and locate your party yourself. Some really great flavors in everything we ordered. Loved the tapas style so we were able to try just about everything. The spare ribs, potato cake and tissue bread were phenomenal! Drinks were yummy, wish I'd ordered another. The mochi dessert I really need the recipe. I wanted to lick that plate clean. Beautiful decor, unexpected for the outside setup. Really pleased with my visit here aside from the hostess. Will definitely recommend!

Three of us had dinner on a week night. They have a reputation for stunning cocktails and they exceeded expectations. Food presentation is beautiful. We were seated immediately and the staff was excellent at explaining and making recommendations. What sets this restaurant apart are interesting dishes that are perfectly executed. The quality of the food was excellent. The flavor contrasts And blending really hit the mark. The seating both inside and out is charming and welcoming. I found the actual temperature to be on the cold side so bring a sweater. We paid $60 per person.

We are a family of three including a 13-yr-old. We popped in having only heard of Top Hatters and driven by it so many times. No reservation, just a walk in and we were sat in minutes, even had a choice between inside and out. Got lucky. We sat outside. It's a concept menu that's not very kid friendly--but we managed. I don't mind QR ordering, though I've only seen this ordering method at comedy clubs. The menu is very imaginative, and descriptive, though it's tough to know if it will be enough food to satiate. The raw oysters were medium sized with an overwhelming taste of citrus--not extraordinary. Our small plate was tender meat bites wrapped in Viet herbs with a dipping sauce (see photo). These were a great way to get the palate jump started. The Kohlrabi Salad offers fresh flavor and crunch as well. Our main dish was a medium-sized Rockfish (see photo). The presentation is impressive, and the flavor pulls through from skin to bone. We were impressed how meaty and hardy the fish was, made for great fish wraps using the herbs and lettuce. Of all the sauces, the tamarind paired best with everything. Our 13-yr-old loved the short rib, especially the ramen that it comes with. We got lucky, but the short rib is likely the only thing I'd say is kid-friendly. The front of the menu explains in great detail why they choose to use a QR code for ordering. One of the reasons stated it makes for fewer ordering mistakes. However, we were given the wrong side to our fish and I was left scrambling to my phone to double check. They fixed it, but it was strange I was the one who had to check the order. Service was very friendly and we were checked on by multiple people. The food and drink were well made, flavorful, and satisfying. However, as others have mentioned, it is tough to justify the price point when there are other options nearby that offer more variety.

We are absolutely obsessed with this place! They have unbelievable drinks, oysters, everything on the menu is absolutely fresh and delicious. The owner and her Vietnamese family's recipes really are unique and special. They are super warm and every time we have had service we love our server. The entire staff feels like a big family vibe and we love the feeling of being there. We love the ambiance and the decoration. Highly recommend this place, don't sleep on this incredible gem in the Bay Area It's one of the best places to eat in the East Bay. If not the greater Bay Area! Don't forget to order the rice cakes and the donuts They are absolutely superb.

The location is a little strange! Park in the residential neighborhood around the corner. Definitely definitely make a reservation. I was really excited to try this place, and it didn't disappoint. We shared a bahn mi sandwich, the crispy rice, the savory donuts, and then the emoji for dessert. I'm normally not a huge fan of ordering with a QR code, but I understand that they have to do what they need to because of staffing shortages. It went smoothly, and we got our food within a reasonable time. Service was polite and professional, and the ambience is nice.