À Côté, located on College Avenue in Oakland, has been a neighborhood hotspot for over a decade. This cozy and charming restaurant serves small plates inspired by Mediterranean cuisine with influences from classic French food. I’ve been coming to this restaurant for years since they consistently serve tasty food.

À Côté’s menu always has certain dishes such as their pomme frites (french fries), mussels cooked in pernod, croque-monsieur (ham and cheese sandwich), and two types of flatbread. Since most of their dishes are small plates, it’s a great place to share numerous items to try different things.

Pomme Frites with Aioli (8/10).

House Cured Salmon Gravlax with Buckwheat Blini, Meyer Lemon Dill Crème Fraîche, and Watermelon Radishes (7.5/10).

Arugula Salad with Fried Polenta, Pine Nuts, and Agur Blue Cheese Dressing (7/10).

Kabocha Squash Gnocchi with Black Cabbage, and Chestnut Fontina Cheese Sauce (7.5/10).

Prawn and Chorizo Flatbread with Red Bell Peppers, Red Onions, and Manchego Cheese (8/10).

Ganache Glazed Caramel Pot de Creme with Salted Caramel, and Pecan Lace Cookie (6.5/10).

Warm Gingerbread Cake with Roasted Pears, Pear Caramel, and Vanilla Ice Cream (6.5/10).

My favorite dishes of the night were the house cured gravlax, gnocchi, flatbread, and of course the pomme frites. The house cured gravlax was a great appetizer served with buckwheat blini, refreshing meyer lemon and dill crème fraîche, and spicy yet sweet watermelon radishes. The kabocha squash gnocchi melted in my mouth with creamy rich Fontina cheese sauce and earthy pieces of chestnuts. The flatbread with spicy chorizo, sweet prawns, and sharp Manchego cheese was extremely satisfying with a delectable cheesy soft yet chewy crust. Lastly, the pomme frites with aioli are always a winner at À Côté!

Overall I’d rate À Côté at a 7.5/10 for always serving delicious food at a reasonable price.