Skates On The Bay — Restaurant in Berkeley

We visited for the first time. Visiting from Canada. Staying in San francisco.

From the start, the woman at the front, older woman with glasses and short height and short hair had a rude tone and not very pleasant to speak with.

The view was nice

The cars and parking lot weren't safe so we had to bring everything inside with us Shady parking So park at your own risk

Bathrooms were absolutely Disgusting!! I was shocked.

The place was almost empty [maybe 10 tables] on a weds afternoon [3pm] but still took way too long for the food to come to the table We had to inquire several times because we literally ordered 1 seafood dish and 1 steak, and it was 45 mins later with no updates

Our server was nice but not around much When we tried to get his attention he nodded or walked past us several times and didn't return But I saw him happily Check in and come to the table beside us at least 10x ...and only 2x to us.. and that too, when we made an active effort to get his attention and flag him down repeatedly every server and person there was actively avoiding eye contact when we tried asking for water or something important for our child

Tables around us recieved bread.. we did not.

Sushi was...ok [don't order it]

The watermelon and shrimp ceviche was nice

The shrimp and salmon was nice

Wagyu and potatoes - we ordered medium rare and it came ice cold , as if it was sitting for the hour long wait ... and blue [nearly raw] Asked to cook it to medium so it gets warmer the second time, it was nice

New Orleans bbq shrimp was ok. But $10 + tax and all other forced add-ons [mentioned below] for 3 tiny pieces of shrimp was absurd!!

ALSO, if you have any dietary restrictions, please ask about the items that are 'for the table' because they come with no explanation/description and ours eventually, after 45 mins+ of waiting, showed up with things we can't eat and had to request it be fixed This added to the time we were left waiting and it took an additional 20 mins for those 3 pieces of shrimp to come back :/

The creme brulee does not have a hard sugar crust that cracks. We asked the server he said 'we don't do that here' :/ ... which was an unusual thing to say because then it's just custard, not creme brulee and should be advertised as such It looked like they didn't care and the server tried to say they don't cook the sugar more than that even though the pictures others have posted looks different It also didn't taste good DON'T order it! [Pic for reference]

Key lime pie was ok. Still better than the custard in a dish. But not that much better

Also! BEWARE: They will charge a 5% 'living wage Surcharge' [Aka 'drip pricing] They have it in tiiiiiinyyy text at the bottom stating: 'A living wage Surcharge percentage will be added to the total of your bill. This is NOT gratuity, and is NOT meant to supplement or replace the server's gratuity '

In other words, the customer pays tax, gratuity, AND for the restaurant not wanting to pay employees enough for min wage and living... but they get to keep it. Thus, it's being forcefully added as an additional amount from the customer's bill BUT that amount is NOT going to the server either!

I've never seen this before and it's quite ridiculous!! The way it's added at in fine text is deceitful and the concept makes no sense either. If the fee is 'unavoidable' , then it should be added into the price of the food... not as a hidden fee with the title attempting to make it seem like it's for a 'living wage' but doesn't go to the server.

So on top of the food price, which isn't cheap, you're required to pay, by force: 5% living wage Surcharge Tax Gratuity [regardless of service]

I've dined at restaurants around the world, of all types, and for much more than what I paid here... however the entire experience felt forced and We felt neglected and treated poorly especially when we're paying a lot for ok food and subpar service, at best.

We won't be returning and would like to warn those who naively decide to dine here. There are better options. Not...

I do reviews to let people know about the service.. I take my reviews very serious!

I used to let the person that was waiting on me know that I was going to do a review on their service just being a caring person so that they would get five stars, just want to make someone smile and make them happy for the day and give them recognition. I was informed not to inform people that I’m going to do a review, but just to go there anonymously and dine I went to Skates I did not let the person know that I was going to give them a review the service was not up to par i’m not saying that the waiter was rude… The food that I received was so beautiful on my last review, but (I let them know that I was doing a review) I told the waiter I was going to do the review because he started off bad… he saw my husband raise his hand for something and we looked and keep going the other way more than twice. . I informed the waiter I was going to do a review on him his whole attitude changed for good. OH… I deleted the review because it was not a fair review.. I gave him five stars because he changed his game. But it wasn’t a sincere review. I apologize to my viewers was just trying to give the guy a chance.! Skates on the bay is in a very beautiful location. I will give you five stars for that but the service that I have gotten in the past when I didn’t do reviews was horrible. The burger that they gave my spouse yesterday look like a five-year-old prepared it, the bread was toasted too hard. The bun was beat up. The fries were dark some French fries were light the burger was so small my dinner I ask for the chicken Hesaid it was a large portion. It was so little it look like a Cornish hen half of one .. you know Cornish hens are small I was given potatoes, which is against my diet. I told them no carbs just give me extra vegetables they did that wrong. It was just all bad. . You should’ve seen how big the burger was when I told the waiter I was doing a review…. I am so shocked at the difference I should’ve took a photo I was so angry I got up from the table and left…. I was floored at the presentation. I would never do another review and tell the person that I am a secret shopper because you don’t get the true experience when you give a person heads up, I will not dine at Skates on the bay ever! I walked out my spouse said he didn’t want the burger He wasn’t satisfied with the presentation either .. I felt insulted that’s how bad the food looked…. , I went to the front desk told the manager she told me how sorry she was she didn’t offer me any solution at all, but told me how sorry she was she said she was said she was a new manager and she went to get her regional manager who was in the back, but will not come out. She didn’t even offer me a solution to fix the problem. I am a woman of color and I’m just asking that everyone be treated the same for me I’m done with Skates. I saw something that turned my stomach. The customer service was horrible. They did not care at all. Skates on the bay is expensive. I dine at very exclusive restaurant and I don’t mind paying the price when she told her regional manager who wouldn’t even come out from the back, I’m floored and surprised at the service that I got… people stop spending your hard earned money at restaurants that Dont render the service that is due to you as a consumer. I was so upset I didn’t even take a photo of the food I could not believe the presentation 😫 the truth is very painful at how people are treated. I will never give another person heads up on me being a secret shopper I will simply come to your business and dine and see how I’m treated to my hurt I learn the truth about the presentation, the customer service, and how they view people differently when you come in to a public place to dine. I got the best Service ever when I said, I was doing a review the portions were larger. My server was more attentive. He smiled more laughed more … catered to me more, but it was all fake.

Melissa Katz is the general...

For $100+ per person, our bill was $194 not including tips yet, even though we were not happy - we still gave a $26 tip. And never come back.

We were here tonight 4/12/25 res 7pm to celebrate a birthday and we left a note when we made the reservation (don’t bother, no one acknowledged it here unlike other restaurants). We’re locals not tourists, and FYI in the Bay Area, there are MANY good to great restaurants to choose from with good food and service, especially for a $200+ dinner for 2.

Start to finish our honest review based on our experience and yes we dine out weekly.

1. The lady (hostess) is not friendly or welcoming at all.
2. We had to ASK for the littlest things (table bread came after our appetizer when we asked for it, our water glasses were EMPTY and only refilled after we asked for it and he wasn’t too happy like we waved him down for water?!
3. Do not order their The Unveiling “showstopper cocktail” $34 for 2 was not impressive at all. Nothing to see there.
4. The food!? The Ora King salmon was not worth the price because we couldn’t taste the difference from the regular salmon. The lobster Mac n cheese $20 came out LUKEWARM!? The prime rib was not as tender compared to other restaurants at the same price or even cheaper and with better service.
5. We had to looked for and waved down our waiter every time! One only possible excuse would be this restaurant is understaffed BUT that doesn’t excused the (lack of) not at these 3 dollar signs restaurant. And no the ocean view isn’t worth it. Again there are lots of other places to spend your hard earned money.
6. When we asked for to go boxes, the waiter didn’t bring a bag for 2 boxes lol really $200+ bill and not even a bag!? Oh we had to take our mac n cheese and half of the prime rib home because lukewarm dishes got too cold to eat fast.
7. The lady who delivered our entrees wow she spoke 2 words, the entrees - not friendly at all.

So….the view of the water is NOT worth the prices and poor services from start to finish. Pictures do not show our experience, the only good dish was the $27 for 6 oysters appetizer and even that we have better elsewhere for better service at...