The Fireside Lounge — Restaurant in Alameda

Nice place, terrible opening band. Service was prompt and friendly, food was decent (margherita pizza had a lovely crispy crust but was a bit too salty). Halloween decorations were creative and fun, almost everyone was in costume, which was super fun. However, a very disappointing opening band - Ledbetter and His Best Bets. They bragged about not having rehearsed, which felt like a slap in the face after we paid a cover for the live music. And their lack of effort really showed in their performance. The band used the same arrangement and rhythm for every song - i.e., all six musicians played together at medium-high volume throughout every song, creating a monotonous similarity. Only one person sang, which added to the monotony, and he forgot the words several times, even on songs he himself wrote. Their cover of Joe Cocker's "Feelin' All Right" was competent, but all the other covers sounded the same, and the original songs were uninspiring. We had to leave before the second band played so no...

Ah, Fireside, once our cozy, post-Alameda hangout. We came back for nostalgia and a couple of beer… and got a live-action NatGeo special instead.

After being served by the bartender with short curly hair (who apparently moonlights as a bouncer), we sat outside because, gasp, we had our kids with us. Kids needed a bathroom, wife took them in, and BOOM! Curly McYells-a-Lot storms out like she just spotted poachers in the savannah. Accused us of jeopardizing their precious liquor license, like we smuggled a keg in a stroller.

Apologies flew, but then backup arrived, Sidekick Screams-a-Bit, because clearly this was a Code Red situation. Eventually the owner emerged, and we politely suggested that if you're gonna guard your license like Fort Knox, maybe hire a pitbull, not a hyena on espresso.

Used to be a place for cold beer and good vibes. Now? It's where customer service goes to die.

Pro tip: If your kids have to pee, maybe just train them to hold it...

Remember I was born here and the Fireside has changed hands repeatedly, yet they do often have decent live music. .....it's a nice quiet place but it is a bar so with groups as always it can get boisterous, again it is a bar, there is a great Mexican Calafia next door and the bar encourages ppl who are hungry to go next door, buy or order from bar, and eat it there in the bar....across the street is the famous NATIONS BURGER joint, either or is fine inside Fireside. ......still one pool table, but can't recall if a fireplace is still intact, I don't frequent bars anymore but about ten months ago I...