Chez Simone

We read the reviews and we went anyway. The reviews are totally accurate and the experience was fun/​odd. My husband and I got there around 6 in the evening. When we walked in Simone asked if we had reservations and we replied that we did not. She said that she had no room for us (even though there was only one other group of people there) which caused a argument between her and the other lady that works there. I believe they were arguing in French but the result was that we were ultimately allowed to sit down. We were handed the the handwritten menu, which was difficult to read. When we asked any questions about the menu, Simone replied that we should just read the menu. I did come into the Chez Simone with the desire to win over Simone and make her like me. And the longer we stayed, the more friendly Simone became toward us. She even sat down at one point next to us and asked us how things were (which we promptly lied about and said it was delicious – keep on reading for my review on the food)…But the experience was fun – kind of felt like the Seinfeld episode of the soup nazi. Some other people that came were obviously regular and beloved to Simone and they were welcomed very differently than us. But again. I think part of the charm of this place is getting yelled at by Simone.
But… if you are going to go there for food, rather than to meet Simone, then I would go somewhere else. It is pretty expensive and it was not very good. The soup was burnt and our meal was under seasoned. It could have been a fluke, but I was not impressed. While I had a fun time and enjoyed the novelty of Simone, I don’t think I am willing to pay 90 $ to experience it again.
So if you are in the mood for a weird experience at a restaurant, go to Chez Simone. If you you are looking for delicious food, I would recommend another place.

I love this place, so much so that I don’t tell my friends about it because I like imagining it as my special place. In my experience the soup is delicious, the salad is good enough, but it is the entrees that are truly amazing (and the escargot!). The space place is charming, run entirely by Simone (she had a waitress working with her as well on Valentine’s day.) Highly recommended for a delicious, slow paced meal on a special occasion.

We just stopped by for a glass of wine at the restaurant this evening and plan to return for the fixed price dinner (only $ 15 — including a glass of wine!) tomorrow.
We loved reading Alex’s review from last April.
We also recommend this very charming and unique restaurant very highly! It’s a one of a kind treasure. Anyone with an appreciation of France will appreciate the very European experience of dining at Chez Simone.
Brian and Janet

If you’re looking for a quiet little gem of a restaurant, this is the place. The food is simple and excellent, reasonably priced, and worth returning for again and again.
I’ve been coming to Chez Simone for years with my friends and family, and I have always found Simone to be welcoming, gracious and genuine. I love her smile, and that she personally visits each table and talks about the food she has made for you. I wish more hosts were like her, and more restaurants created similarly nice and unassuming environments.
How is it a secret that if you walk into a french café with an older proprietress that you should smile and wish her bonsoir or bonjour? As to the negative reviewers, Simone is a good judge of mood, and will not treat you with kid gloves when you are in a nasty way and looking for an excuse to complain. My suggestion: put some positive energy out into the world and enjoy the feeling as it comes back to you.

Simone and her kitchen are a delightful experience. This place will appeal if you like out-​of-​the-​way, intimate spaces, spare portions of fine food created with quality ingredients at incredibly reasonable prices. Those of you looking for a restaurant model that features a bubbly hostess, raucous atmosphere or gigantic platters of milquetoast over-​salted food should go to Olive Garden or Chili’s instead. This place only seats 15 or so, and after reading some of these reviews, I for one am relieved that Simone’s impatience with obnoxious diners clears out the noisy deadwood that would otherwise distract from the wonderful experience we had.

Save your money. The food was bland. The best part of the meal was the salty butter on the bread. Thank goodness with tip the meal was only $ 40.

Stopped there on a whim and I must say what a hidden gem! Set off a balcony on the second floor of a building, this little bistro is in the trees tucked back in a little alley with art galleries. Its small and has an amazing atmosphere.
Simone, a 7g year old woman from just southwest of Paris is an amazing french chef– you’ll feel like she is your grandmother and she’s having you over for dinner. We had an amazing special for $ 15 that included a french baguette, salad, the most delicious crêpe I’ve had in the bay area, and a wonderful peach custard cake for dessert, not to mention red wine too.
If you’re from Montréal, don’t try to speak french to Simone. She will not understand a word you’re saying.

Stumbled upon this place by fluke. The owner Simone? Or the women cooking who seemed to be running the show was a cranky old women. I’m fine dealing with french people. I realize they can be arrogant. However, if your going to be a snotty Euro have a reason to be that way. Food was okay. Nothing to brag about.
I ate with two other people. One other couple was in the restaurant. They took forever to get are bill. Finally the other table asked for the bill. After arguing in the kitchen the other couple got their bill. We asked for the bill multiple times. I went to the kitchen counter, cash in hand and asked for the bill. Finally we got the bill.
Bottom line. Unimpressed. Skip it this place.

Popped in with a friend while hungry on a Saturday — we used to live in the area, but had never been.
The space is cute enough, tucked in an alcove off Piedmont, but almost immediately, there were problems. The stooped, thick-​accented owner — Simone — seems to be too old to continue working at the place, because every ten minutes or so, she was taking sit breaks. Her one employee present seemed to be both cook AND the only waitress. She seemed positively uninterested in anything.
Most of the specials and menu were handwritten on some copy paper in a barely legible arthritic hand. While we tried to decipher it, we watched a grumpy-​looking couple attempt to finish up — it seemed the Chez didn’t take cards, but was unable to break a $ 10 bill. Uuuhhh.
The food came slowly. The coffee was alright, the French onion soup was reasonably tasty, but the salads sported unchopped pieces of lettuce, and little else. Bland.
Another couple arrived, and in a surreal twist, Simone hobbled over, barking orders — and attempted to make room for them behind us by grabbing our table and trying and scoot it away, rattling all our servingware, claiming that my friend was «too big» and «took up too much space.»
We were LIVID. What the everloving hell!
Once the new arrivals were settled, though, we were all but forgotten. Simone tried to be attentive, but mostly bossed her cook/​waitress around in French, and replied with a hard-​of-​hearing «EHHH???» whenever my friend or I spoke.
Payment was the worst. I discovered that I had lost my bank card, and when I explained this to Simone (Five times, in increased volumes between «EEEEHH??? EHH??») she snorted and proclaimed that I «…should not lose.»
Thanks, Simone. Thanks, that was very helpful. If only I had known!
After an hour and a half, once payment was done, we were out the door without a word.
Bottom line: Owner Simone is cranky and rude, and while she might have been fantastic in the past, that point has long since passed. This place is seriously understaffed, uninspired, and broken, and I really regret being the one who suggested it.

«Hello, we’d like to make a reservation for 7: 4 adults and 3 kids.»
«Whaaat, whaat??»
En Francais dans le texte: «bonjour, une reservation pour 4 adultes et 3 enfants…»
In English: «What time… What name…» etc.
…
We climb the stairs and we arrive.
«Oh, you have a stroller…»
«We can fold it.»
«Sorry, it’s a bit small here. We don’t do kids.»
Us, leaving: «What? That’s just so rude… And it’s illegal.»
«No, it isn’t!»
Us, angrily: «You want to find out?»
…
Here’s Simone for you: a cranky old French lady.

Truly a hole in the wall… or hole upstairs. Find it above the flower shop, see pictures for help.
Feels like a French mother’s kitchen. Cute decorations with strings of light and homemade tablecloths and curtains. Hanging pots in the kitchen. Very small, about 8 close tables that seat 2 people each. We came at 1:30 pm and were the only ones there on a weekday.
Chef Simone has a strong French accent and speaks Frenglish (I made that up since I don’t actually know what French/​English mix is: P). I had a hard time understanding her but fortunately my friend who took French could.
Menu is handwritten. We got a savory crêpe, an omelette, and the soup of the day for 3 people. It was just enough food to make us content, but would probably be not enough food for normal people. Even Simone thought we ordered too little, and «chastised» us for trying to save money/​not spending enough money lol. She tried to get us to order dessert, but we politely declined.
I know French food is supposed to be expensive… this is definitely not like Chez Panisse expensive, more like La Note prices (but completely different from La Note, mind you).
Cute/​interesting experience, would only come back with someone who sorta knows French and appreciates French food more.

What a find! My teenage son, husband and I had a lovely lunch at Chez Simone today. First off, the bread was delicous and so fresh. We then had a fantastic pâté, one of the best I’ve ever had. Our main courses, onion soup gratin, spinach quiche and beef crepes were all so flavorful. Really, really good French food, but without the heaviness that can accompany this cuisine.
The restaurant itself is quaint and charming. Simone, the owner and chef, is a wonderful hostess who was very attentive and made us feel very welcome. The prices are very, very reasonable. When you consider that you are getting delicious, high quality French food, the prices are actually a steal.

I have been coming to Chez Simone since I was a baby (I now live across the country and come here every time I visit). Simone runs this restaurant by herself with one or two servers on any given day, and moved here from France over 20 years ago. She makes THE best coque au vin I have ever had (French travels included), and amazing claffouti. Her restaurant is nestled up above a flower store and some shops, and is a true diamond in the rough. Well worth the visit every time I come!

Hadn’t been there in a while because I moved out of the area.
Stopped by a couple weeks ago with a friend and we both loved it.
We had champagne with lunch and Simon’s omelets were amazing!!!
The onion soup was the bomb!
Simple, good food by a woman who knows what she is doing in the kitchen and seems to enjoy it.

TIPS: I’m pretty sure Chez Simone is open for dinners on Fri-​Sun (not the other days) but call to check. Bring cash or a local check, as she doesn’t accept credit cards.
I’ve been coming here on and off for maybe 6 years. The food is basic French food, like you’d find at a friend’s house, not at a fancy restaurant. It’s simple, flavorful, and served homestyle (usually a veggie or small side comes with it even when that’s not listed on the hand-​written menu). Simone, an older French woman, does the cooking and she has 1 – 2 others there to help her out serving. cleaning etc. We always end up chatting with her; she’s an interesting lady who has been cooking for 30+ years.
Oh and in case you were wondering about the cat: The boy kitty («Big Boy») is now at her home. She says he’s retired. :)

We had a really sad dinner there recently. Maybe it was just an off night, but it was really lacking in flavor. We ordered French Onion soup – hard to find the cheese and there was no flavor; we added salt and still no flavor – just flat like watered down. Pâté was fine, just sufficient. My husband had the Chicken Coq au Vin and again, no flavor. He added some salt, but still very flat and bland. I had the seafood crêpe which was adequate. I thought there might be some shrimp and crab in it but it was just a nice white fish, a few pieces and a delicate sauce. I was not thrilled. I think the best part was the steamd broccoli and carrots and mashed potatoes… we were really disappointed. I feel bad about writing this review because maybe it was a bad day for her, but this was our experience.

Beware, this is not French Laundry. If you enjoy valet parking, plush dining, fancy service, cocktails and gourmet cuisine, don’t bother: this place isn’t for you. Neither is it If you’re a picky eater or have special needs let’s be honest. Just go to Cesar down the street — which is a great option by the way.
If on the contrary you like good old French home cooking in a cute secluded authentic place owned by a true immensely lovable — with an edge — French lady: this place could become one of your favorites.
Go with an open mind and be ready to travel. After the first glass of vin de table, you will forget you’re in Oakland. Just remember you are ‘chez simone’ so please act as if you’re a guest in her house, which you pretty much are… Relax, be friendly, and you’ll have a great time. Remember to order in a reasonable amount of time: last time I was there there were only a couple of copies of the menu…
I’m giving it 5 stars because it’s unique in its genre. And for the love birds, the patio is very romantic in its own way.
Bön appetit!

I’ve been coming here for 31 years now. Back when I lived off Piedmont Avenue and then afterwards when I lived in Montclair and now that I live in Berkeley, I visit whenever I have a job in Oakland.
Even though Simone warms her meals up in the microwave, they are all cooked in the French tradition and then allowed to rest before being served. I go for her Coq au Vin, Beef Burgundy or Ratatouille along with a glass or two of red wine. I get a salad every time because her salad dressing is amazing. And then she almost always has a fruit clafoutis (sp?) which is 5 stars.
Her handwritten menu is close to unreadable, service is slow when it gets busy and she can be hard to understand in her high-​pitched voice, an English thickly wrapped with her French accent. Simone and her restaurant are not for everyone as you can tell from some of the other reviews and if she doesn’t like you for whatever reason, she will let you know. It took years for her to even say hello to me, but I don’t go there for companionship.

This is what I call, a «homestyle» restaurant. It’s not big, it’s not fancy.
This is a cozy family kitchen run by Simone and her waitress. The do-​it-​all French patron doubles as a cook and the owner. If you show interest in her, she will come and chat with you.
The food has its positives and negatives. The French Onion Soup Gratinee is awesome, but the menu is quite limited, and the quality is slightly above average. I have no complaints about the food.
The service also has its positives and negatives. The waitress tends to not know the menu, so you have to be patient with her. Perhaps this is your excuse to chat up Simone.
The atmosphere, like I said, is cozy. When it’s warm, you can sit out on the patio. When it’s cold, stay indoors in the «house».
The big kicker about this restaurant is that it’s cash only. I’ve been there several times, and every time I go, I would forget that it’s cash only. Luckily, there is a Citibank around the corner.
In summary, the Gratinee French Onion Soup, the homey décor, and the chance to chat with Simone in my Franglais is enough for me to rate it a 4-​star restaurant.

My experience at Chez Simone was similar to that of eating at a friend’s house, thanking her profusely, and making a mental note to suggest pot luck the next time I’m invited. I’m not surprised that Simone’s humble food and eccentric, very «French» way about her has garnered regulars that have kept her around so long. But I can say that it’s not for me.
Chez Simone is in a darling location down a vine-​rimmed alley, but the restaurant itself does not seem properly cared for — it desperately needs updating, if only to put some stuffed seat cushions over the old deflated ones from the 80’s that are, practically speaking, uncomfortable.
I am happy to have had the opportunity to dine here, because I didn’t know places like this — chef operated, truly home-​cooked, no frills food — still existed in Oakland. I like that this place is successful enough to continue operating. But for me personally, nearby Gregoire offers up so much more in food, service and atmosphere (even for a mostly «take-​out» place), and actually tastes fresher, for a slightly lower price.
To comment on previous reviews, our crepes were made to order and I didn’t hear a microwave. Slow night?