The Saap Avenue — Restaurant in Oakland

A week ago, I got to check out this really great Laotian restaurant/bar conveniently located on Piedmont Ave in Oakland. I overheard a colleague mention that they were a mixologist here and after a mutually rough day at work- another colleague and I decided to check it out for happy hour. Did I mention Happy Hour is everyday from 5-8 pm (only at the bar) with it's own bar menu alongside the restaurant menu?

We were pleasantly surprised as we walked in- first off, we were able to find parking across the street on a busy Friday night so it made me feel safe to be able to see my car. The place seats about 50 people (both bar and restaurant). Lots of open windows- as you walk in you wait to be seated. We were delighted to see how many people were coming in and out- seemed like a lot of regulars including family, couples and friends. We even sat next to two friends who frequent here regularly and offered up some good food suggestions.

We sat at the bar and chose the following from the bar menu:

CRISPY VEGETARIAN EGG ROLLS- 5/5 The egg rolls were just as described- nice and crispy on the outside filled to the brim with fresh to order veggies and a sweet dipping sauce. This was our favorite dish.

GARLIC PORK RIBS My friend ordered these as I'm pescatarian- she loved them and ate them all!

CHIVE CAKE- Vegetarian 3/5 Personally not my favorite- I think it was a texture thing... a little gummy for me on the chew and filled only with chive. I would order the shrimp dish next time.

THE COCKTAILS See Daniel at the bar- he is passionate and so knowledgeable about spirits and mixing cocktails. I had the Miss Lemongrass as I asked for something light and my friend had the Kissing Lychee which was tasty (I had a sip). We even asked Daniel to make up a drink on the spot and he didn't disappoint.

COST- Pricing is very reasonable for the Happy Hour food menu- cocktails run about $14 so it can add up pretty quickly if you're ordering a few.

OVERALL AMBIENCE/EXPERIENCE The decor was really funky and aesthetically pleasing- I took lots of photos and videos. I will definitely come back to try the regular menu with my Mom. It's a cozy place to get a good meal, have some sexy libations or mocktails and meet some cool people and although it was busy- it never...

Saap Avenue is a gem on Piedmont Ave.

The restaurant/bar offers an inviting atmosphere with house music, Southeast Asian decor, and ambient lighting that sets the stage for a memorable evening. It caters to a diverse clientele, including young professionals and the sophisticated Piedmont crowd.

The bar at Saap Avenue hosts an eclectic crowd where you may encounter interesting locals, such as the owner of the holistic vet across the street, or Adam, who hosts the internet-famous Cynthia Lin, the YouTube ukulele teacher at his store, or Jon from the high end pizza shop next door. It has an unique ambiance for engaging conversations and making new connections.

One of the highlights of Saap Avenue is its happy hour, which runs from 5-8 pm every night (I've yet to see another happy hour that goes to 8). The half-priced appetizers, including Lao sausage, chicken wings, pork garlic spare ribs, chive cakes, deep-fried egg rolls, and crispy roti, with curry dip are perfect for sharing and sampling a variety of flavors. Ask for their freshly made chili oil and paste, but add sparingly as it can be hot as holy hell. We also ask for lettuce leaves with the lao sausage so we can make little burritos with the sausage, fresh onions, peanuts, and sliced ginger and the fresh sauces. (Not bad for $8).

The cocktails are also discounted during happy hour, and there is a generous 40% off their wine selection at the bar.

The cocktail menu at Saap Avenue features inventive takes on classic drinks, such as the Japanese Old Fashioned with a touch of honey and Drambuie, and the refreshing Basil Sour, which incorporates gin and fresh basil for a unexpected twist on the traditional Whiskey Sour.

The best part of Saap is the staff at Saap Avenue, including Linda, Chris, and Haley, and Kevin are warm and welcoming, adding a personal touch to the overall experience. Their expertise in crafting cocktails and their attentive service always contribute to an enjoyable and...

Tasty Laotian food with a nice tropical cocktail menu in a cheerful and colorful setting. This place has a pretty basic menu, and everything we tried was tasty enough but not exceptional. But the curries are nice, pleasantly spiced (not hot for American tastebuds).

I enjoyed the pumpkin curry a lot and the yellow curry with roti was also nice. The roti are not as knotty and substantial as they could be, they're more flat and flaky. There are some nice happy hour appetizers, like the chive cake and curry dumpling. I like my cocktail Coconut Fashion and the other cocktails looked cute and delicious as well.

The service and cleanliness could use some fine tuning. Our dishes weren't cleared and started to pile up and it's not a very clean establishment, even the staff were a little grubby. It was pretty busy so maybe it's tidier when it's not peak hours. It's also very noisy and it is family friendly, so if screaming children aren't your thing, you might feel overstimulated.

Overall I left feeling satiated and like my taste buds had a little party so why not give it a try if you're on Piedmont and feel like something casual,...