La Loulou — Restaurant in Oakland

Disappointed at Lalou: Pretension Over Hospitality

As a food critic who has spent years celebrating the artistry of cuisine and the warmth of hospitality, I was genuinely looking forward to experiencing Lalou in Oakland—a place touted as a stylish French-inspired wine bar. Unfortunately, my visit was marked by a striking contrast between aesthetic ambition and an astonishing lack of grace, generosity, or charm.

Let’s start with the portions: minuscule. While I appreciate the elegance of refined plating and the concept of small plates, there is a fine line between refined and ridiculous. At Lalou, that line is crossed. One can only suspend disbelief so far when faced with a dish that amounts to little more than a garnish, priced as if it were a full entrée at a Michelin-starred restaurant. If you enjoy leaving a wine bar still hungry (and annoyed), this is your place.

Even more egregious, however, was the attitude of the owner. During my visit, I witnessed her rolling her eyes—not subtly, but dramatically—at a customer’s simple request. She proceeded to speak openly and disparagingly within earshot of patrons, a behavior that felt not only unprofessional but deeply unwelcoming. The air of condescension in the room was almost as thick as the overpriced syrah.

Compare this to Amélie Wine Bar in San Francisco—a venue that exemplifies everything Lalou lacks. At Amélie, every bartender greets guests with enthusiasm and genuine warmth. You feel like a welcomed friend, not a burden to be tolerated. The pours are generous, the staff knowledgeable without arrogance, and the experience is inviting from start to finish. It's no wonder people return to Amélie time and time again.

Lalou may have curated an attractive space and an ambitious concept, but until it learns the fundamentals of hospitality—respect, generosity, and humility—it remains a place I cannot recommend. Dining out is not just about what’s on the plate. It’s about how you’re made to feel. And at Lalou, unfortunately, that feeling...

This is such a fun new addition on Piedmont Ave! Right beside the office, this can be a little dangerous for too frequent happy hours. I have managed to taste almost half of the wine list up to now (yes, I’ve been almost every day since they are open), and every wine is a fun surprise. It shows that they have all been thoughtfully picked to bring a big variety.

The food is really good. These a small perfect bite to accompany to wines while you’re waiting for dinner! The cheese plate has been accompanied by honey or jam - which brings a fun twist to sweet and salty. Being gluten free, I love that they have good GF crackers as well as delicious olives.

The prices are fair (I would even say that the champagne is priced on the low end). There is even an option for flights where you can have a tasting of 3 different wines to equal to a full glass!

The staff has been super lovely on every occasion. The owner is also always there and greets you as though you are a friend! I’m excited to see this new establishment flourish to ensure we keep a nice and fun wine bar in our...

The five of us went on a Thursday night around 6 and it was already lively. We tried sitting inside but it was a tight squeeze and really loud. We sat outside and one of us went to order. The food was quite delayed because I guess they were busy. We ordered a bottle of Sancerre which arrived promptly. Four of us were French natives and we found the wine and most of the food to be delicious. The onion soup was well seasoned with a perfect amount of Gruyère on top. The cup size was minuscule though. Also, the smallest and the tastiest quiche I’ve ever eaten. The salmon tartine was very tasty and well portioned. The cheese plate was perfect but the olives were tasteless and the nuts were stale. We were given napkins with silly sayings on it , mais franchement étant un resto français, ils auront pu nous servir avec qq mots français. Sinon, it was a...