Delicious food and very helpful service staff. They took their time explaining menu items and helped with recommendations. Architecture is nice and the wood table by the entrance is just gorgeous.
Mark Liu
This is our first time and pretty much the last.Service was excellent. It's not easy to find good servers in times like this.Food wise, not impressed at all.Grilled octopus - it's lukewarm. Grilled food especially seafood has to be fresh hot. Disappointed. $16 for 5 small piecesTempura mushroom - It's ok. Not bad but did not jump out at you.Hanger steak - a bit tough. 3 pieces only for the price. It's more expensive than Flemings or AlexanderGrilled quail - Highlight of the night, very nicely grilled.The selections are pretty limited on the menu.For the quantity and quality you are getting and the price you paid, there are plenty of better choices and better value out there.
sarah
Absolutely amazing experience. From the time we checked in for our reservation, service was very kind and thoughtful and everyone wanted to make sure we had the best time. Stunning dining spaces. Every corner beautifully designed making for an elevated experience. Depending on which spot you pick, you can be sure it will be a distinct experience. Food was stellar and our waiter was absolutely lovely, checking in on us and giving us excellent recommendations. It's been a while since a place swept me off my feet like Sekoya did! Can't wait to come back!
Servers and host treated us like stars for my friend's birthday, they even printed out special menus with her name and brought a little treat with a candle out with the dessert course! The back patio was delightful.
Stephanie F.
I booked a last minute reservation here for 7pm on Friday evening for an outdoor table. We were seated at an outdoor table in the back patio and to my surprise it was quite warm since its covered. We started off with a round of drinks. They were out of the milk punch, so I tried the Tropical Nights cocktail. It was beautifully presented, but I found it a little too sweet. It was like a liquid dessert! We started off our meal with the Parker House rolls...they were so soft and buttery! They tasted incredible with the whipped butter that was served. We then shared the tempura mushrooms, trout, roasted cabbage as well as the delicata squash and beets. The mushrooms were nicely fried, not greasy at all. We even got the non-mushroom eater to try them and she said they weren't bad at all. The trout was perfectly cooked. The skin had a nice crisp texture. The cabbage and the rest of the vegetables were very tasty but at $28, I thought it was a little steep for the price. The delicata squash and beets were fine, but not noteworthy. I would probably skip those next time. Our server was very nice and engaged in conversation but not overly so. All in all, it was an enjoyable meal and I would definitely go back again! Especially, for the Parker House rolls!
Jason L.
SOLID date night option... make your reservation through their website which will lead you to an OpenTable website. We originally booked an outdoor table, but we were told there was seating at the bar when we checked in. It was freezing the night we went, and although the outdoor seating had plenty of heat lamps, I wanted to check out the vibes inside. Bar area is well stocked and although not a ton of rare bottles on the shelves, there was still a great selection. If you look under the bar top, there are hooks to hang your purse. Staff was great from start to finish; mixologist/bartender knew the menu in and out and made some great cocktail recommendations. DRINKS *Bear Divide *Black Butte *El Matchismo *Pinot Noir - Windracer STARTERS *Bread Service *Kona Kampachi Crudo PLATES *Lamb Tartare *Dry Aged Smash Burger with Bacon Jam ENTREES *Bistro Filet Au Poivre SKEWERS *Spanish Octopus *Beef Tongue DESERT *Butterscotch Pudding Everything was well crafted, thought out, and obvious that the chef really put some effort into this menu. I can't say that one specific dish was the super star or a must have, but the beef tongue skewer was surprisingly really flavorful and tender. As you can tell by the number of items we ordered, the menu is designed so you can share and have little bites with other people that you're dining with, so expect to rack up a decent bill at the end of service if you wanted to sample different options on the menu. Definitely worth checking out.
Alison
It was a very soothing atmosphere - nice decor with an emphasis on natural materials, tasty and innovative food with great cocktails, and efficient, courteous service. Just a note that the open table price listing of $30 and under is misleading. The entrees were all over $30 each, basically. We had a starter each (two people), two fish (trout) entrees, a single shared mousse dessert and two cocktails each for $230 before tip. The doughnut and chicken liver starter was a real highlight - unexpected and just delicious. The milk punch cocktail isn't milky as such, it's very refined and interesting flavor profile. Again, delicious. It was such a nice place to sit and talk in a good atmosphere and enjoy some well thought-out food and drinks. Definitely going back!
Service was not up to par. We ordered the squash soup and it was a mere splatter of squash puree on a large bowl. After we complained to the server, he said chef said ‘this is how it is.' Nothing was done to compensate for our disappointment. However the server wanted to tell us that he made the beautiful table. Not sure if this was to distract us from our complain or trying to sell us his furniture. We tried all 3 skewers and they were good, the mushroom tempura was too greasy, grilled quail and Mary's chicken was good. Steelhead trout and burger was okay. Lastly, desserts (chocolate ice cream and tres leche cake) were underwhelming.
Melissa P.
Omg wow even on a Thursday night this spot was packed! Love how Sekoya is bringing an even more lively atmosphere to Cal Ave, they got beautiful decor and perfect dimly lit ambiance for a full dinner or nightcap. Also can we have a moment for how cute the forks are here, adorable!! Thankfully I made a reservation for 8:15pm, however we were sat at a communal table right by the door even though we saw open tables elsewhere. Cocktails are about $20, very creative flavors and loved the selection; overall on the pricier side as you are definitely paying for presentation and ambiance. Also $5/oyster is very steep for a place like this, although yummy I can't say it's worth it. Service was also a bit slow and I was without a water cup for most of the time spent there until I flagged down a server.
Daisy T.
TLDR; More like 4.5 stars. Great food, attentive service, beautiful interior, but the prices are a bit steep (reason for the docked star, probably deserving of only half a docked star). Came with a group of six for happy hour (or as they call it, Amber Hour) on a Saturday. You can make a reservation - we got the tree table, which seemed more comfortable than the lounge table that also accommodates this group size. The decor of this restaurant is amazing, moodier vibes and elevated. It would be great for a celebration if you're looking for something nicer. The service is phenomenal. They will ensure your glass of water is never empty. Sadly we didn't catch our waitress' name, but she was always nearby and always so kind. They even changed our plates, which I feel like doesn't happen often. Off the happy hour menu, we tried all the food - that means oysters, burrata, popcorn, burger (with bacon jam), mushrooms, and every skewer. We also got two cocktails off this menu, out of a total of eight. Off the regular menu, we also got the chicken liver mousse app. The most notable dishes were the oysters, chicken liver mousse, mushrooms, beef tongue skewers, and the burger. We got one of everything (except the skewers which is priced per skewer, so we got 3 each, one for each couple), and we ran back the mushrooms, beef tongue skewers, and burger. I loved my Tropical Nights cocktail. But don't get me wrong - we enjoyed everything. I feel like it's rare for every dish and cocktail to hit, so I was elated. My only gripe is the price. We came for happy hour, and while I was not expecting this happy hour to be in the $7-12 range per dish at all, our bill came out to $505, which includes automatic gratuity for our party size. I would come back though, now that I know my favorites.
I love the drinks here and the ambience! The food is pretty good too but I would go back specifically for drinks. Our waiter was so nice and said they could make drinks just based on our preferences so that's why we stayed for 4 hours lol on president's day (monday night, it wasn't crowded).
Michelle H.
The ambiance of the restaurant is inviting with its stunning interior, and the service is commendable. The drink selection is exceptional and clearly the highlight of the dining experience. On the food front, the skewers and chicken liver mousse were the best, but the burger and several other dishes were just average. My interaction with the host was less than ideal. In summary, while the restaurant excels in its drink offerings and ambiance, the culinary experience and some service elements leave room for improvement
Elena C.
Wow, I think I'm in love. How can you not fall for this gorgeous place with beyond-attentive service and mind-blowing food?!? We came here with our foodie friends on a Saturday at 5pm to discover it was still happy hour. Their Amber Hour runs from 4-6pm on Friday & Saturday, featuring exclusive drinks and $1 to $4 off select food items. We went to town and, over the course of 2.5 hours, ordered 7 different cocktails and shared 12 different dishes. There wasn't a single bad dish, so choosing a favorite was seriously difficult. But if I could only pick 3, I'd go for: #1: Beef tongue. You get three chunks of beautiful meat that will melt when it hits your mouth. The sweet soy and togarashi added a yummy flavor that will have you crave more. #2: The quail. The bird was fall-of-the-bone tender, well seasoned, and the accompanying sauce hit the spot. The marinated mushrooms were so delicious I could devour an entire bowl of them. #3: Chicken liver mousse. If you ever had a Berliner in Germany, the sweet donut holes will taste very familiar. But that mousse and the cherry sauce was divine. It was so good I was willing to embarrass myself in public and lick that darn plate clean. My only gripe is that there aren't enough donuts to scoop out all the yumminess. The tropical nights cocktail was exciting. You essentially get two separate flavor profiles by taking a sip with and without the foam. I highly recommend trying it. We had a blast and can't wait to come back soon.
Allie G.
Unique dishes in a cool setting! My friend had made a dinner reservation at Sekoya in advance. When we arrived, I was immediately impressed by the well-designed interior and attention to detail. I loved the rope-like lighting fixture above the bar and the unique live-edge wooden table near the entrance. Even the plates matched the theme, with a tree stump-like print on them. Our menus were also customized to say "Happy Birthday!" on them, since we had indicated the occasion in the reservation. For drinks, I tried two of Sekoyas three mocktails - the Mango Daze and Coconut Julius. Both were tasty in different ways. The Mango Daze had some sourness to it, and the Coconut Julius was more sweet and tropical. My friend said her Winter Slushy was very good, too. For food, we ordered a bunch of plates to share - the Oysters, Grilled Quail, Beef Tongue Skewers, and Lamb Tartare. The Oysters were very unique and came with smoked trout roe and ponzu foam on top. I didn't dislike the foam, but it did overpower all the other flavors, which wasn't ideal. The Grilled Quail was very tasty, and went well with the roasted grapes and pickled mushrooms. I do wish that the bones had been removed though. The Beef Tongue Skewers were fantastic! We each got one since these would've been trickier to share. The texture was so soft and the flavors were delicious. The Lamb Tartare was my other favorite item - such a unique dish and so well executed. For dessert, I ordered the Butterscotch Pudding and my friend got the Chocolate Gelato. However, they first brought out complimentary Teeny Tiny Triple Chocolate Cookies with a birthday candle, which was such a sweet touch. The cookies were tasty, but the other two desserts stole the show. The Butterscotch Pudding was rich and delicious, and I loved the crumble on top. The Chocolate Gelato was also amazing. Service was quick and professional and overall, this was a great dinner!
Prasiddha H.
I had a chance to try Sekoya for my fiancés birthday and I really enjoyed it and loved it thoroughly! The food was fresh and unique with lots of flavors which I enjoyed. The ambiance was upscale and cozy and perfect for a date night or girls night out! The service was well timed and our meal came out well spaced out. For our food we ended up ordering: * bread service - this was delicious, warm and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The butter went perfectly. We also got the whipped mascarpone which had a tougher flavor but personally the butter was my favorite! *kona kampachi crudo - this was super fresh and delicious, I loved the coconut dashi and the crispy tempura that came with it as if added so much texture and flavor * Mary's chicken - this was cooked I two ways, fried and roasted and came with lots of veggies which was nice and refreshing. I wouldn't say this dish was out of the world but I liked that it was light and simple *crispy beans - this was crunchy and yummy and the avocado sauce with it went really well together. Enjoyed all the flavors! * tres leches - I think this was the name of the dessert, but I absolutely loved it!!! Cake with the chocolate and the berries was absolutely divine and we could not stop eating it!! For my fiancés bday they also gave us these delicious mini cookies with a candle.... It was super sweet and thoughtful, we enjoyed every single bite! Overall solid restaurant with good food and flavors!
Delicious food and very helpful service staff. They took their time explaining menu items and helped with recommendations. Architecture is nice and the wood table by the entrance is just gorgeous.
This is our first time and pretty much the last.Service was excellent. It's not easy to find good servers in times like this.Food wise, not impressed at all.Grilled octopus - it's lukewarm. Grilled food especially seafood has to be fresh hot. Disappointed. $16 for 5 small piecesTempura mushroom - It's ok. Not bad but did not jump out at you.Hanger steak - a bit tough. 3 pieces only for the price. It's more expensive than Flemings or AlexanderGrilled quail - Highlight of the night, very nicely grilled.The selections are pretty limited on the menu.For the quantity and quality you are getting and the price you paid, there are plenty of better choices and better value out there.
Absolutely amazing experience. From the time we checked in for our reservation, service was very kind and thoughtful and everyone wanted to make sure we had the best time. Stunning dining spaces. Every corner beautifully designed making for an elevated experience. Depending on which spot you pick, you can be sure it will be a distinct experience. Food was stellar and our waiter was absolutely lovely, checking in on us and giving us excellent recommendations. It's been a while since a place swept me off my feet like Sekoya did! Can't wait to come back!
Servers and host treated us like stars for my friend's birthday, they even printed out special menus with her name and brought a little treat with a candle out with the dessert course! The back patio was delightful.
I booked a last minute reservation here for 7pm on Friday evening for an outdoor table. We were seated at an outdoor table in the back patio and to my surprise it was quite warm since its covered. We started off with a round of drinks. They were out of the milk punch, so I tried the Tropical Nights cocktail. It was beautifully presented, but I found it a little too sweet. It was like a liquid dessert! We started off our meal with the Parker House rolls...they were so soft and buttery! They tasted incredible with the whipped butter that was served. We then shared the tempura mushrooms, trout, roasted cabbage as well as the delicata squash and beets. The mushrooms were nicely fried, not greasy at all. We even got the non-mushroom eater to try them and she said they weren't bad at all. The trout was perfectly cooked. The skin had a nice crisp texture. The cabbage and the rest of the vegetables were very tasty but at $28, I thought it was a little steep for the price. The delicata squash and beets were fine, but not noteworthy. I would probably skip those next time. Our server was very nice and engaged in conversation but not overly so. All in all, it was an enjoyable meal and I would definitely go back again! Especially, for the Parker House rolls!
SOLID date night option... make your reservation through their website which will lead you to an OpenTable website. We originally booked an outdoor table, but we were told there was seating at the bar when we checked in. It was freezing the night we went, and although the outdoor seating had plenty of heat lamps, I wanted to check out the vibes inside. Bar area is well stocked and although not a ton of rare bottles on the shelves, there was still a great selection. If you look under the bar top, there are hooks to hang your purse. Staff was great from start to finish; mixologist/bartender knew the menu in and out and made some great cocktail recommendations. DRINKS *Bear Divide *Black Butte *El Matchismo *Pinot Noir - Windracer STARTERS *Bread Service *Kona Kampachi Crudo PLATES *Lamb Tartare *Dry Aged Smash Burger with Bacon Jam ENTREES *Bistro Filet Au Poivre SKEWERS *Spanish Octopus *Beef Tongue DESERT *Butterscotch Pudding Everything was well crafted, thought out, and obvious that the chef really put some effort into this menu. I can't say that one specific dish was the super star or a must have, but the beef tongue skewer was surprisingly really flavorful and tender. As you can tell by the number of items we ordered, the menu is designed so you can share and have little bites with other people that you're dining with, so expect to rack up a decent bill at the end of service if you wanted to sample different options on the menu. Definitely worth checking out.
It was a very soothing atmosphere - nice decor with an emphasis on natural materials, tasty and innovative food with great cocktails, and efficient, courteous service. Just a note that the open table price listing of $30 and under is misleading. The entrees were all over $30 each, basically. We had a starter each (two people), two fish (trout) entrees, a single shared mousse dessert and two cocktails each for $230 before tip. The doughnut and chicken liver starter was a real highlight - unexpected and just delicious. The milk punch cocktail isn't milky as such, it's very refined and interesting flavor profile. Again, delicious. It was such a nice place to sit and talk in a good atmosphere and enjoy some well thought-out food and drinks. Definitely going back!
Service was not up to par. We ordered the squash soup and it was a mere splatter of squash puree on a large bowl. After we complained to the server, he said chef said ‘this is how it is.' Nothing was done to compensate for our disappointment. However the server wanted to tell us that he made the beautiful table. Not sure if this was to distract us from our complain or trying to sell us his furniture. We tried all 3 skewers and they were good, the mushroom tempura was too greasy, grilled quail and Mary's chicken was good. Steelhead trout and burger was okay. Lastly, desserts (chocolate ice cream and tres leche cake) were underwhelming.
Omg wow even on a Thursday night this spot was packed! Love how Sekoya is bringing an even more lively atmosphere to Cal Ave, they got beautiful decor and perfect dimly lit ambiance for a full dinner or nightcap. Also can we have a moment for how cute the forks are here, adorable!! Thankfully I made a reservation for 8:15pm, however we were sat at a communal table right by the door even though we saw open tables elsewhere. Cocktails are about $20, very creative flavors and loved the selection; overall on the pricier side as you are definitely paying for presentation and ambiance. Also $5/oyster is very steep for a place like this, although yummy I can't say it's worth it. Service was also a bit slow and I was without a water cup for most of the time spent there until I flagged down a server.
TLDR; More like 4.5 stars. Great food, attentive service, beautiful interior, but the prices are a bit steep (reason for the docked star, probably deserving of only half a docked star). Came with a group of six for happy hour (or as they call it, Amber Hour) on a Saturday. You can make a reservation - we got the tree table, which seemed more comfortable than the lounge table that also accommodates this group size. The decor of this restaurant is amazing, moodier vibes and elevated. It would be great for a celebration if you're looking for something nicer. The service is phenomenal. They will ensure your glass of water is never empty. Sadly we didn't catch our waitress' name, but she was always nearby and always so kind. They even changed our plates, which I feel like doesn't happen often. Off the happy hour menu, we tried all the food - that means oysters, burrata, popcorn, burger (with bacon jam), mushrooms, and every skewer. We also got two cocktails off this menu, out of a total of eight. Off the regular menu, we also got the chicken liver mousse app. The most notable dishes were the oysters, chicken liver mousse, mushrooms, beef tongue skewers, and the burger. We got one of everything (except the skewers which is priced per skewer, so we got 3 each, one for each couple), and we ran back the mushrooms, beef tongue skewers, and burger. I loved my Tropical Nights cocktail. But don't get me wrong - we enjoyed everything. I feel like it's rare for every dish and cocktail to hit, so I was elated. My only gripe is the price. We came for happy hour, and while I was not expecting this happy hour to be in the $7-12 range per dish at all, our bill came out to $505, which includes automatic gratuity for our party size. I would come back though, now that I know my favorites.
Restaurantji Recommends
I love the drinks here and the ambience! The food is pretty good too but I would go back specifically for drinks. Our waiter was so nice and said they could make drinks just based on our preferences so that's why we stayed for 4 hours lol on president's day (monday night, it wasn't crowded).
The ambiance of the restaurant is inviting with its stunning interior, and the service is commendable. The drink selection is exceptional and clearly the highlight of the dining experience. On the food front, the skewers and chicken liver mousse were the best, but the burger and several other dishes were just average. My interaction with the host was less than ideal. In summary, while the restaurant excels in its drink offerings and ambiance, the culinary experience and some service elements leave room for improvement
Wow, I think I'm in love. How can you not fall for this gorgeous place with beyond-attentive service and mind-blowing food?!? We came here with our foodie friends on a Saturday at 5pm to discover it was still happy hour. Their Amber Hour runs from 4-6pm on Friday & Saturday, featuring exclusive drinks and $1 to $4 off select food items. We went to town and, over the course of 2.5 hours, ordered 7 different cocktails and shared 12 different dishes. There wasn't a single bad dish, so choosing a favorite was seriously difficult. But if I could only pick 3, I'd go for: #1: Beef tongue. You get three chunks of beautiful meat that will melt when it hits your mouth. The sweet soy and togarashi added a yummy flavor that will have you crave more. #2: The quail. The bird was fall-of-the-bone tender, well seasoned, and the accompanying sauce hit the spot. The marinated mushrooms were so delicious I could devour an entire bowl of them. #3: Chicken liver mousse. If you ever had a Berliner in Germany, the sweet donut holes will taste very familiar. But that mousse and the cherry sauce was divine. It was so good I was willing to embarrass myself in public and lick that darn plate clean. My only gripe is that there aren't enough donuts to scoop out all the yumminess. The tropical nights cocktail was exciting. You essentially get two separate flavor profiles by taking a sip with and without the foam. I highly recommend trying it. We had a blast and can't wait to come back soon.
Unique dishes in a cool setting! My friend had made a dinner reservation at Sekoya in advance. When we arrived, I was immediately impressed by the well-designed interior and attention to detail. I loved the rope-like lighting fixture above the bar and the unique live-edge wooden table near the entrance. Even the plates matched the theme, with a tree stump-like print on them. Our menus were also customized to say "Happy Birthday!" on them, since we had indicated the occasion in the reservation. For drinks, I tried two of Sekoyas three mocktails - the Mango Daze and Coconut Julius. Both were tasty in different ways. The Mango Daze had some sourness to it, and the Coconut Julius was more sweet and tropical. My friend said her Winter Slushy was very good, too. For food, we ordered a bunch of plates to share - the Oysters, Grilled Quail, Beef Tongue Skewers, and Lamb Tartare. The Oysters were very unique and came with smoked trout roe and ponzu foam on top. I didn't dislike the foam, but it did overpower all the other flavors, which wasn't ideal. The Grilled Quail was very tasty, and went well with the roasted grapes and pickled mushrooms. I do wish that the bones had been removed though. The Beef Tongue Skewers were fantastic! We each got one since these would've been trickier to share. The texture was so soft and the flavors were delicious. The Lamb Tartare was my other favorite item - such a unique dish and so well executed. For dessert, I ordered the Butterscotch Pudding and my friend got the Chocolate Gelato. However, they first brought out complimentary Teeny Tiny Triple Chocolate Cookies with a birthday candle, which was such a sweet touch. The cookies were tasty, but the other two desserts stole the show. The Butterscotch Pudding was rich and delicious, and I loved the crumble on top. The Chocolate Gelato was also amazing. Service was quick and professional and overall, this was a great dinner!
I had a chance to try Sekoya for my fiancés birthday and I really enjoyed it and loved it thoroughly! The food was fresh and unique with lots of flavors which I enjoyed. The ambiance was upscale and cozy and perfect for a date night or girls night out! The service was well timed and our meal came out well spaced out. For our food we ended up ordering: * bread service - this was delicious, warm and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The butter went perfectly. We also got the whipped mascarpone which had a tougher flavor but personally the butter was my favorite! *kona kampachi crudo - this was super fresh and delicious, I loved the coconut dashi and the crispy tempura that came with it as if added so much texture and flavor * Mary's chicken - this was cooked I two ways, fried and roasted and came with lots of veggies which was nice and refreshing. I wouldn't say this dish was out of the world but I liked that it was light and simple *crispy beans - this was crunchy and yummy and the avocado sauce with it went really well together. Enjoyed all the flavors! * tres leches - I think this was the name of the dessert, but I absolutely loved it!!! Cake with the chocolate and the berries was absolutely divine and we could not stop eating it!! For my fiancés bday they also gave us these delicious mini cookies with a candle.... It was super sweet and thoughtful, we enjoyed every single bite! Overall solid restaurant with good food and flavors!