Delage — Restaurant in Oakland

Delage is more than about just having good sushi, it’s the dining art and experience makes it memorable. Each plate is an art piece: It recalls me the season, the scent, the sound, and who you’re with at the moment.

I have always wanted to try a modern Japanese cuisine with my husband together. This place was beyond my expectation. The atmosphere was cozy and comfortable - unlike a fancy restaurant that keeping people distance, the light and space feels just right for having a conversation and enjoy a drink together.

My husband and I had the Omakase $65 per person with 8 course meal, then we added 2 more custom orders:

Omakase • House Treat : Bite Size Soy Sauce Cooked Toro

1. Cherry Tomato Salad
2. Chef’s choice: 2 Pieces of Sashimi
3. First set: 4 pieces of Sushi • House treat: Yuzu and Watermelon Shaved Ice Custom Order: Duck Egg Chawanmushi
4. Toumorokushi : Tofu, Takesumi Chip, Corn Moose
5. Duroc Pork Tenderloin
6. Second Set: 4 pieces of Sushi Custom Order: Uni Dong
7. Organic Tofu Miso
8. Ichigo Srawberry Ice Cream with Pistachio & Choco Chip.

All the sushi are served with perfect temperature, very clean taste, and the vinegar was mixed perfectly with the rice which really enhance the sweetness of the fish. This is why I love Sushi more than Sashimi. It’s amazing to be able to taste such a clean authentic Japanese sushi in the Bay Area.

MUST TRY: Toro sushi and the Hokkaido Uni are top notch, superb quality. The Toumorokushi is such a creative plate, you’ll be amazed by the textures and the balance of the overall flavors.

TIPS: This place is best for party below 4 people without infant / young children. Expect 2 hours meal time. I found Delage through Airbnb experience, but it’s better to RSVP through Delage’s official website. The cancellation fee is cheaper if you or your party had to cancel the appointment within 24 hours of your reservation. The booking system is flexible so you can edit the RSVP 24 hrs in advance. Book the earlier time like around 5:45PM on weekends. Parking is easier and you’ll get to visit the restaurant before the sun goes down. Though the street parking is free after 6PM on weekend, you can check out some nice shops around this area. Menu changes seasonally.

SERVICE: Professional, Japanese and English fluent.

BONUS: I love Mama chef. Smiley, and hard working. It’s my first time seeing women preparing sushi in person :-)

Definitely coming back. Highly...

What a complete gem! I took my son here for his 17th birthday, and we both were baffled that it didn’t have Michelin stars yet! It has been recognized by Michelin Guide which is absolutely deserved. The female sushi chef was so artistic and graceful in her presentation! She is a master at the sushi bar! We felt we were looking in a window of her heart and soul and allowed to experience her passion for the art of sushi and fine dining. The setting was so peaceful. Each course was thoughtfully prepared to combine just the right flavors and to create a work of art on the plate. The precious waitress was so professional and prompt! We didn’t feel rushed, nor did we feel the timing drag. She was careful in taking care of each person dining to make it the best experience. Everything about this place is so well choreographed that our evening moved along seamlessly and left us eager to come back!! I appreciated the mix of both raw fish sushi, and cooked fish, along with salads and soups; all that brought traditional Japanese fare right to our plates with color and creativity in the presentations. The dessert was the final wow factor. Its purpose might have been simply to seal the flavors of the meal with a lightly sweet and healthy finish, but it was phenomenal. Fresh fruit and a beautiful pomegranate butterfly, with a healthy fermented rice yogurt that is full of nutrients. There is care here from beginning to end both in service and fare. I’m expecting to see a...

Disappointing experience and waste of money. Two waiters were training as sushi chefs and took turns. They clearly don't seem fully comfortable making sushi—one struggled constantly with rice grains stuck to her fingers and they took a long time. I fully support training chefs but not for the same full price of $125. Feels dishonest frankly. The waiter chefs and even the head chef for dinner were reading notes cards to introduce us to the fish for the nigiri. Service was sloppy: Pouring too much water in the teapot so that it spilled onto the counter, dropping the soy sauce spoon several times, a nigiri toppling over on the plate as they were serving, Bathroom situation seemed like a shared bathroom with a local market and area smelled like smoke and weed. Presentation was sloppy—drops of extra soy sauce on the plate for instance They ask for payment (including tip) before they even serve you. Nit: the QR code and sharpie for the table number made the experience feel less like fine dining Food was disappointing. Examples: The yuzu soup was awkward to eat from and the crackers that were supposed to add a crunchy texture were soggy. The items wrapped in bamboo leaf were dry and lacked in flavor. The garnishes on the nigiri overpowered the taste of the fish, some of which tasted fishy and not fresh. And it goes on.

I've been to better places in SF that are cheaper or comparable in price for far better food and service. Save your money and...