Millennium, Oakland CA

Best upscale dining in The Bay Area. Amazing food, beautiful plating, large portions, and service is well above average. What more can you ask for? Eating at Millennium is an all around great dining experience and they're very innovative with their menu. Everything I've tried has been outstanding, and the recent 2023 New Years Eve Menu was delicious!

Food was flavorless. Service was awesome. We got the burger and the pasta, and neither had any discernable flavor.
We also got the "focaccia" (they were mini buns) that tasted like something you'd get at safeway. I wondered if I had Covid!? Have I lost my sense of taste/smell? Nope, no Covid. The food has no flavor, and it was actually cold. I don't know what's up, but this was my second time here with the same impression, so I won't be back.people were very cool and kind.it's a bummer the place hasn't kept up with their reputation.

The food was really good as expected and as noted by all other reviews. The wait staff was very helpful. Decent ambience.

The one star is because of deceptive pricing. The online reservation says $65/head, the IVR on the phone says $65/head, the website says $68/head on Friday and Saturday. There is no price on the Menu provided in the restaurant but we were charged $125/head for the New Years eve dinner + tips. How would I even guess the price if they do not mention it anywhere! Luckily we can afford it, but it is still a big unexpected hole in the wallet.

Totally not worth it for the $125/head price and I would not have visited if they had made it clear at any point in time.

$100 gets you a 4 course meal with wine pairing. Portion sizing is generous and staff is very friendly. Definitely make a reservation. Menu is 6 starters, 6 mains, 3 desserts - a classic recipe. Crusted mushroom, BBQ tempeh and tandoori kabocha squash were unconventional but hit the spot. Accompaniments complimented the "meat" well and were visually appealing. Menu changes regularly but I will be coming back for more.

What makes this the most pleasant vegan experience I've had (now four times in as many months) ? No need to praise the food any further, as listing synonyms for "outstanding" is kind of an exercise in diminishing returns. But it's also the chill atmosphere and kind and down-to-earth staff, the unpretentiousness, the reliability, the regularly innovative menu (go on prix fixe nights, book early!). Can't be beaten.

This place will always be delicious without needing to check the menu first. There are rarely restaurants like this where I need to check beforehand. The chef understands how to put flavors together, and every dish is exquisite. I tried the non alcoholic orange creamsicle and cranberry shrub and both were really tasty and also complemented each other as the shrub wasn’t as sweet but still juicy

There was hair in 3 of my dishes. At first I assumed it was mine but finally checked and.it was not. I mentioned it after leaving a 35% tip on a $280 bill (happy thanksgiving) and saw later they knocked off like $15. I wasn't looking for a discount, I already paid - but $15 is kinda ridiculous, no?

The service was slow but helpful - maybe they were understaffed that night, it happens.

Lovely atmosphere.

Brik purse was bland, sopes were awesome, pumpkin bourbon was delicious. The apple cake (?) is worth visiting for, but beware of hair in it! Maybe ask for it on the side haha

First and foremost, I have to mention that I am not vegan or vegetarian and eat meat on the regular. However, all the negative stigma of "gross vegan food" was completely blown out of the water here!

The good was amazing and the service impeccable! Our server must have been the owner or something similar, because the power moves he pulled were something I'll always remember.

We were seated and I mentioned I'm trying to eat more vegan and what would be good for someone like me. He immediately recommended some dishes such as the calamari mushrooms. In fact, before he even returned to our table and recommended this, he already placed the order on the house! And added some other appetizers too! They were all great, and the mushrooms were absolutely delectable.

Then we ordered the three course meal and I asked for potatoes and the burger, he immediately shot my potato order down and said no, you can get potatoes anywhere here, and simply placed a different order for me. Boy was he right! The food was delicious!

The burger I ordered was super interesting! It was juicy and savory, definitely not meat-feeling, but it also definitely didn't matter! The flavors were not something I was used to, but it was very very well done. I would absolutely have it again!

The same goes for the apple pie we ordered, new and fantastic tastes! It was rich and sweet, and definitely impactful!

I would come back just for the server we had alone, I cannot express how highly I recommend coming here, the food and service is outstanding!

Solid neighborhoody plant-based food but clearly stuck in the early 00s in terms of presentation, flavors and vibe. Clearly outdone by newcomers like Wildseed in San Francisco.

I’ve been dining at millennium many years - since they in downtown San Francisco. Unfortunately tonight did not live up to the memories of past. Service was very slow - 2.5 hours and we still had to get dessert to go (and no cutlery). All in all a disappointing experience.

Dinner for 2 on 9/15/2022
My first experience here was very nice.

(Pros)
-Reservations were easy and the staff was welcoming
- Servers were informative, attentive
- Menu was unique and fresh
- Drinks were strong
- Dishes, glasses, silverware, tables and bathroom were clean
- Weekday dinner crowd was relaxed
- Lighting and over all mood was calming/comfortable
- Pickled vegetable appetizer; crunchy, fresh, tasty
- Tonkatsu eggplant main (pictured) Excellent; highly recommend if available!
- Potato fingerlings appetizer

(Cons)
- While eating my main dish, there were two small fragments that I found while chewing. They looked like small pieces of rock roughly the size of a grain of rice. Considering that the ingredients are said to be sourced from local farms, I'm wondering if this is a common experience.

Conclusion:
The food and experience were good enough to overlook the fragments found in my main dish. I will be returning to Millennium in the near future to try more of the eclectic cuisine the chef has to offer.

NOTE: I tried looking on the website for some kind of disclaimer that warns customers of possible earth material contaminants but found no such thing. It could have been an isolated incident. From personal experience cooking at home, it is understandable that vegetables will sometimes contain earth material well past the harvesting/cooking stage.

Thanks for having us!
- Santos

Exquisite and very deliciated selection to enjoy just by yourself or with loved onces, perfect atmosphere for any celebration.
I took my wife to celebrate our 25th anniversary with the company of our son, the rustic touch brings the sensation of an old mine with a history behind its walls and bar.
Great location on the Collage Ave.strip surrounded by other bars, restaurants, and stores to spend a relaxing time by walking and shopping.

Incredible! I've been wanting to come to Millennium for so long. I was finally able to go on my birthday. Started with the pickled veggies. Very fresh, flavorful with a good bite. I had the conchiglie pasta. Full of flavor. Nice nuttiness from the tempeh. Had the Halwa cake for dessert. I've never had anything like it. Very unique flavor. Hints of saffron, sweetness from the peach. The pomegranate molasses ice cream tied everything together. 10/10 recommend trying this cake alone!

Will definitely be returning.

Simply outstanding.

One of our top two most favorite vegan/vegetarian restaurants. Period. (The other is Gracias Madre in LA.)

The descriptions of every dish sound wonderful. It makes it very hard which one to choose.

And they are generous with their serving size. You actually come away full.

Highly recommended. With an out of way trip to eat here, if you value great vegan food.

Great vegetarian food at a very reasonable price point. The server was very friendly and informative and the place had a gentle buzz about it. Be sure to make reservations.

It took over 25 minutes to get our first drink, we were eating our second course before the wine came.
Eggplant was not cooked all the way, could not eat it, miso sauce that came on it was just as bad

Although we arrived without reservation host managed to sit us without na wait husband ordered tempeh & I chosen pasta dish. Entree, amazing oyster mushrooms, was my favorite. Overall great experience with an amazing attentive staff. Grateful for high end fully plant based dinner night… We enjoyed ourselves and will be back!