Review: Commis (Oakland, Ca.| 2 michelin stars)

since I was going to be in the bay area for a wedding, i decided to get in town a day early and have a nice meal to get settled in for the weekend. I decided on Commis in Oakland.

I sat at the chefs counter and had the tasting menu as well as the wine pairing. All in, I spent 360 USD for what ended up being 13ish courses with 8 beverages.


onion financier, great start full of umami

the oyster was extremely crispy while still maintaining a custard like texture in the middle, no complaints with any of the amuse bouches

tomato tart, a nice palate cleanser before the meal really started

mackerel, really balanced and the broth made from the fish spine marrow was so luscious yet cut perfectly by the citrus

one of my favorite courses. extremely bright and fresh. the fermented pea ice with the smooth curd and the crisp redwood tips and snap peas was really pleasing.

potato, caviar, leeks. gib me all of it

another little snack, very ginger forward meatball with a chewy tapioca skin. really interesting texture

squash, uni, and dried abalone. the most decadent squash casserole

the egg. commis most famous dish and it didn't disappoint. served with their house sourdough and an insane cultured butter. i was pretty drunk by this point so this was like fricking crack. ridiculously good.


halibut. cooked perfectly. bright corn veloute and a nice acidic salsa for balance. really nice transition from the heavier previous courses.

Lamb course, started with broth and then sous vide loin, crispy sweetbread, and a glazed rib with lavender. the rib was a little too sweet for my liking. probably my least favorite course


smoked honey ice. nice palate cleansing fruit-forward dessert. not too sweet.

strawberries. i love the year-round growing season the bay area is afforded. made me think of late spring. really good finish.


Overall, I think Commis is worthy of its two-star distinction. impeccable service, really excellent food, and relatively a bargain. Highly recommend for those in the area.