The Oakland — Restaurant in Ferndale

The Best Neighborhood Bar! My boyfriend and I moved to Ferndale about a year ago and have been spoiled by The Oakland. We find it hard to order, and in fact have stopped ordering cocktails, aside from a dirty martini, and have stuck to beer while out at other establishments because they just do not compare to what The Oakland has to offer. The primary allure to the place was that it was hidden and had the appeal of an old time speakeasy; as far as decoration, lighting, and dress. Now, it's the staff and product that keeps us coming back for more! Everything they make is fresh and made in-house. You can bet that a larger portion of the menu offers cocktails that have been created by those who work there and if nothing on the menu appeals to you don't worry because they'll make you something special. I must warn you; you wont love every item on the menu, but don't let that stop you from trying something different! Collectively, my boyfriend and I have had every cocktail The Oakland has ever made in the past year; we look forward to their new menus but know that we can always order our favorites as long as the ingredients are fresh and available; right now mine is Pushing Daisies, a more recent creation by one of the staff (for those of you who want something light and refreshing) and my boyfriend is always fond of The Old Fashion, which is much stronger. The staff is friendly and always ready to offer help, and you can always find the manager running around with the rest of them. If you go (and you should make it a point to) please limit your phone use! The place is very dim lit and the bright face-light of your iphone is less than pleasurable. If you need to bring it out to see the menu or make sure your friends can find the place, cool. Otherwise, enjoy your company, enjoy the drinks, and, if you can, sit at the bar and watch the artists do what...

They know how to make a drink. The only way you'll get one you don't like is if you pick wrong according to your tastes. I've been going here since I moved to the area many years ago, and have always enjoyed my time.

Recently, they implemented a mandatory 22% gratuity no matter the group size. I'm a good tipper, but this rubbed me the wrong way. I don't feel I received a level of service enough to necessitate a 22% tip, but it didn't matter, because that decision was made for me. Water cups went empty for awhile, and it took upwards of ten minutes to get refills on our drinks.

A lack of agency when it comes to gratuity leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I have no way of showing whomever waited on me that I appreciated their service/presence. When I asked about the added gratuity (I realized this could be perceived as being combative, so I tried to ask in a very relaxed tone), I was told to "direct any questions to the back of the menu" in a very dismissive fashion. No eye contact, and a very quick exit from the wait staff made me feel ignored and disrespected for asking what I thought was a simple question.

Unfortunately, I feel as though I must but The Oakland on ice until I see a change in policy, which is a bummer, because it's a great place to catch up with friends while enjoying a...

My sister and I visited on Saturday night (with a reservation) & it was slightly disappointing. We didn't drive super far, but it's almost an hour drive from where we live...but with the Christmas themed drinks & atmosphere we made it a planned event for us. We were seated right by the door, and when we asked if we could move to another location the hostess gave us a sigh and an eye roll. We were immediately turned off, and the vibes sunk real low for us after that. We decided to just stay in that spot since it was very clearly a hassle even though she then tried to say that it wasn't, the place at that time was pretty empty as well. We got our $16 drinks in chipped up mugs, which when you're going somewhere like this for the experience and aesthetics...kind of a bummer. The drinks themselves were good, and we made light of the situation....but overall not the best experience & I wouldn't go back for a repeat of this. I also agree with another reviewer about the 22% gratuity that is automatically added to your bill being a little ridiculous when you're a party of two. I know the industry can be unfair when it comes to bad tippers, but typically that's something done once your bill gets to a certain...