Skates On The Bay

Reviews

• RR

  Rashidi

  2 days ago
  5.0
  Skates has a nice, laid back, upscale feel. The weather was perfect, the sunlight hit the glasses just right, I think heard some Frank Sinatra playing in the background. I had some peach side cars, perfectly made, lobster bisque to start my meal with fish and chips for the main. The food was not spectacularly tasty but the combination of the the service, ambiance and food put together makes it a quality experience. Thomas was our waiter, I believe he also was tending the bar, a prompt and polite server. 2👍🏾
• JP

  Joseph Penafiel

  6 days ago
  5.0
  Skates on the bay is a must stop for me whenever I’m in the east bay. You cannot beat this view, the food, the service, and ambiance is all top notch. Sandwiches and steaks are all cooked deliciously.
• KB

  Kate Bezugley

  Jan 2, 2026
  2.0
  My friends from San Francisco brought me here, and as a Canadian I hate to say it, but this place just isn’t it. The food lacked flavour and was very underwhelming. For over $40 a dish, I expected something memorable — but it fell flat. The bathroom was unacceptable: no toilet paper and water covering the floor. Service was mediocre at best, with us needing to repeatedly ask for refills despite our server walking past several times. Definitely not worth the price.
• KB

  Koala Bear

  Jan 1, 2026
  1.0
  Ridiculously poor service from start to finish. The plates and spoons were dirty, and even the table and high chair were not clean. We went on a quiet day when the restaurant was half empty so they were not busy at all. However, The waiter was unfriendly, never smiled, and moved extremely slowly while appearing completely inattentive. The staff showed no interest in cleaning the dirty table and chairs. there were obvious food leftover on the high chair. I wonder why they did not notice. Also lots of tiny strange unknown pink particles were spread out on the dining table. I had to wipe all the table and chairs myself, yet the waiter was just standing next to the table knowing that we requested the area to be cleaned. We still tipped them but WTH… The food was equally disappointing. The seafood was prepared in the worst possible way—simply overloaded with salt and pepper. Despite knowing we were dining with children, they used excessive seasoning, primarily just black pepper, making the dishes too spicy for the kids to eat. One waiter brought a set of clean plates to our table at some point without talking to us at all. While we were about to use them, another waiter came to took these clean plates away. It was not only confusing but showing how disorganized this restaurant runs. All of these implied that they could very likely make all kinds of mistakes while preparing your food. Paid almost $200 to take home the disappointment and frustration. It felt like eating at a third-world street stall while paying six-star hotel prices. We will never return. If the view was what you care about, you could go anywhere around without having to step into this disappointing place. The view is all free of charge and free of distress.
• MS

  Martin S

  Dec 26, 2025
  4.0
  We visited Skates on the Bay for Christmas lunch, so it wasn’t the typical dining experience - but from what locals say, this restaurant tends to be busy no matter the day. The setting is undeniably stunning: perched right over the water with sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge, it’s hard to beat the atmosphere. The food was good overall, and while the presentation was fine, the experience had a bit of a “factory output” feel during this high-traffic holiday period. One detail we really appreciated was the elegant glassware, which added a nice touch to the table. Service was friendly and knowledgeable, though interactions were minimal - likely due to the holiday rush. Pricing leans toward the expensive side, which is worth noting if you’re planning a visit. In short: beautiful location, solid food, and courteous staff, but expect a bustling environment and premium prices.

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