Jojo

JoJo does not close until after New Year’s Eve. It says closed on the Unilocal profile … but there are a few more chances to get a JoJo fix before they close their doors. (And I hear they are making their famous Duck Confit for New Year’s Eve).
We went Friday night and everything was very good … except they made everyone wait outside in the freezing cold after 5:30. When it is cold out, 5:30 means 5:30. BTW: That goes for A Cote and Dopo too!
Well … JoJo will be very missed in the neighborhood. They make great French food and they have such a cute, romantic bistro. We shared a few dishes and a nice bottle of wine to celebrate my friend John’s birthday. Everyone there was sad that this was the last time we were eating at JoJo’s.
I would have gone more, except my husband never liked it here very much because they have only one choice for vegetarians and it is always the same thing. Oh well, there is one person that won’t miss JoJo. I know I will!
Good luck to the chef and team in your next endeavor!

Dear JoJo: We are just devastated to hear of your closing. Your restaurant has been our favorite to go to for any and every occasion — and we’ve tried a lot of restaurants all over the bay and in Yountville! Thanks for the immaculate attention to detail every time, and the amazing consistency; your food just bleeds the fact that you love what you do! And we love eating it. And of course, Richard, you always remember our names, what we love to order, and treat us like old friends.
We can only hope you will all be back for a bigger, better second act! We’ll miss you guys dearly until then.

The rumors are true… my heart aches.
Don’t go… so I can be assured a seat at the final curtain call.
I will miss you… as of 12.31.08 I will have to drive all the way to Buchon for my steak frites. I must go cry in my bowl of mussels.

I have to say that I am a fan of this place — quiet, romantic, delicious high-​calorie food, and I love that it’s a 5-​minute drive from my apartment… you rock, Oakland!
However, sad news. The word on the street is that JoJo will be closing its doors around the first of the new year.
Thanks a lot, douchebaggy ecomony. What else are you going to take from me, my first born? My cat? My lucky keychain that’s shaped like a plastic pelvis? Fie on you.
So get your JoJo on now… before they’re gone.

I found this place thanks to my fellow Unilocalers. What a nice little date place. It is quiet and small. The service was wonderful and the food was pretty delicious. Try the mussels for the appetizer! It is wonderful! I also had the flat iron steak. It wasn’t bad, but I am from Texas so therefore I might have an overinflated expectation of how steak should be. It is great little place and I’d definitely recommend it.

I’m taking away one star because of the service was lacking but the food was excellent.
We were sent away while the table was being cleared. That didn’t bother me too much but when the maitre d’ seats another 4 top and a 2 top in the same section within 2 mins of each other. The waiteress was overwhelmed.
Even though we were seated before the 2 top, they got drinks and bread within minutes. It took 15 mins before our table of four were able to but in our order, the table only had water.
Those water glasses were not kept full, had to ask and wait over 5 mins for a refill as well. Never had such uneven service here before.

this place is just so charming!
the atmosphere was simply lovely.
we started off with this heaping bowl of mussels. it was pure garlicky goodness!
my bf had the steak with fries and it was just diviine! the fries were perfectly crunchy on the outside. normally, i don’t like steak fries but these … i would order the fries alone. and the meat was perfectly cooked and simply… MMMMGOOD!
i had the yellowtail and mashed potatoes… the fish was perfectly cooked and the lemon sauce went very well with the fish. the potatoes were buttery perfection.
we had their chocolate soufflé… oh. soooo good. definitely would get this again.
all in all, i would come back again! not a very good place for groups, but great for a date or a dinner with a couple of girlfriends.

We went here again last night.
The host was friendly and warm and the greeting made us feel right at home. The waitstaff is excellent.
Food… superb. We had the pâté and the salmon with cream potatoes. Both were perfect. Good size portions. From there we had the duck confit was to die for! The Provencal seafood plate was outstanding. Again both were just perfect and nicely sized.
The Lemon Verbena custard was a real treat. Refreshing and rich.
A fantastic meal… again.
Enjoy!

Simple, sublime, superb continental food served in a warm, elegant and inviting environment – Jojo’s brings a bit of the Provence to Oakland’s upscale Piedmont district.
The brainchild of chef/​partners MaryJo Thoresen and Curt Clingman, this small café took its chances opening next to the renown Bay Wolf Restaurant. Not to worry, the Bay Area is filled to the brim with epicures and gastronomes who know their frisee from their fennel, and appreciate the overall vision and aesthetic of this outstanding café.
Accompanied by a friend who is by far one of the best cooks in the Bay Area (and that’s no small boast) we let the chefs send their favorites, and they did not disappoint.
We started with a fluffy, lighter than air soufflé infused with the subtlest of smoked salmon flavor — made possible by soaking a grilled salmon skin in milk used for the soufflé. ‘Twas very nearly nirvana. Innovative French cuisine born from a waste-​nothing attitude — the mother of invention in every country kitchen.
Next, Mary Jo and Curt sent out a plate of perfectly seared, and succulent to the point of seduction scallops, sitting atop a mound of fluffy, perfectly seasoned mashed potatoes, with a scattering of green and yellow string beans. I nearly licked the plate clean.
Friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive in just the right balance, JoJo’s staff lends the intimate, yet surprisingly spacious café the ambiance of a French countryside café — in the heart of Oakland.
Tres bien!

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Oakland. And I don’t generally like French food but this is country French!
You get personal attention with the service. I went here for my 5 year anniversary with my honey and we had such a wonderful time. The food was delicious. The chef is great at making simple and sublime dishes. Especially the appetizers. Wow. The wine they suggested went wonderfully with our meal and we were just so happy with everything.
Plus, the chocolate soufflé was HEAVEN.

My girlfriend and I came here for her birthday last night. We started with the mussels cooked in rose and shallots and she had the yellow-​fin tuna with lemon-​caper aioli and I had the duck confit with lima beans and lentils. I was torn between the steak with fries and the duck so we got an order of fries with the mussels! :)
The mussels were good, but nothing remarkable. Didn’t taste any rose. My girlfriend commented that it was pretty much like the mussels we make at home and she was right on with that; we were expecting something different with the rose mentioned. The fries were very good. Crunchy on the outside (maybe a touch overcooked) and still soft on the inside. I’m guessing they were twice-​cooked.
The main courses definitely impressed us.
The tuna, which we were told would be «medium-​rare» was more on the rare side, and that’s a good thing, IMO. it was seared about ¼″ on all sides with a juicy red center. The aioli added a nice flavor. I’m not a big caper fan, but it definitely was a subtle addition here.
The duck had a very, very crisp skin and very little fat. Some small sections were a little dry, but that was the minority and the juicy veggies underneath took care of that. I love lentils and the combo of the duck, lima beans, and lentils was just great.
We shouldn’t of had drinks before dinner because we could barely finish the bottle of 1999 Corbieres, Boncaillou. This was a nice flavorful wine. Not too fruity. Strong flavors, but not overpowering for our dishes.
Service was good, but odd as it seemed like we got more attention from the hostess than the waitress who took our order, and we weren’t close to the front entrance, but maybe that’s how they roll.

This is a great little date spot. Walked in on a stormy February evening following a soak and a massage down the street at Piedmont Springs. Once I entered Jojo, I immediately felt very welcome and comfortable. Both the ambiance and service were impeccable. Food was very nicely executed… we ordered the mussels and a small salad to start with, followed by steak frites. I loved everything we ate with one exception… the mussels were overpoweringly briny, but then again, I don’t eat mussels very often, so maybe that’s just how they’re supposed to taste. The wine list was great, with some unusual little gems… we both loved the wine we ordered.
Overall, the restaurant exuded a sophisticated and elegant, yet casual and welcoming vibe. I’d definitely go back.

Had dinner here last week with 5 friends and had a great time. The staff was outstanding. They were funny, intelligent, patient plus they actually listened to us and responded quickly to any/​all of our needs.
The food was great, I had the Steak Frites, which seemed to be the favorite choice at our table. This was our first time there and will not be the last.

Never had a bad experience at Jojo. The staff are always warm and inviting, and I enjoy the banter with Richard, the host. I’m a big fan of meat, and so I often get the steak frites. However, the bread pudding with roasted vegetables makes me want to return to my vegetarian days and spend the rest of my paychecks at Jojo.
A plug for dining with a kid, Fiona, our 5 year old, has been going with us to Jojo since she was around 3.5. They’ve always been great about it, and that’s rare in a fine dining experience.
Must haves are the tart, I’ve had the mushroom one a million times, and recently had an onion/​olive setup that was unnerving. Soups are always good as well. I put my plugs in for the entrees above.
Oh, and the desserts, seriously folks, have dessert. You’ll want to order too much food. Resist. Save room. Mary Jo (partner and pastry chef extraordinaire) can do no wrong in the dessert department.
Enjoy.

The beginning of our dining experience was a bit awkward, given the cramped entrance. We were either getting in the way of the waiter or hovering over someone trying to enjoy their meal.
Once we sat down, service was friendly and attentive. We sat in the back area, which was nice, intimate and romantic.
The salad trio (made up of a pickled cabbage mixture, broccoli/​chicken combination and bulgar wheat/​spelt) was not very tasty and not worth getting. We also ordered the mushroom/​goat cheese tart which was okay – just okay. For entrees, I got the scallop and clam stew which was tasty. The scallops were cooked very well, perfect texture. The peas were a little overwhelming. My husband got the flat iron steak with anchovy butter. The steak itself and salty, crispy steak fries were delicious! The butter, however, was not a favorite – better to get it on the side than over the steak. The dessert was amazing! We got the chocolate soufflé cake with a coffee/​caramel/​vanilla crème. It would’ve been even more amazing if the soufflé was warm… mmm…
Overall, it was a good dining experience. But, unlikely we’ll go back for anything more than dessert and coffee.

This is one of my favorite East Bay restaurants and is a place I like to go for special occasions. The food is amazing! I order the steak nearly every time because it’s ridiculously good. The anchovy butter sauce with the steak is rich and decadent, but somehow I still manage to eat the entire steak. Mary Jo’s desserts are out of this world. I’m a fan of custards and hers are remarkable.
My mom and I went together once and she pointed out that all of the servers were smiling — and not the fake «I have to smile as part of my job» smile. Service has always been great and they all seem happy to work there.

I love love love this place! It is a perfect little French bistro! When you go here, you must go all out and get every course, because it is worth it! Do not go here unless you are willing to spend a least $ 100 for both you and your companion.
If Duck is ever on the menu here, GET IT! They make an amazing Duck Confit and their side dishes are always outstanding.
Last time I went, my boyfriend ordered the butternut squash bisque which was their only disappointment to date.
This place could be a little cheaper, but it is still worth it to me to come, because the food is outstanding!

It’s been a while since I’ve been to JoJo but it’s certainly one of the more memorable restaurants I’ve been to.
I like how the kitchen is open for everyone to view and you can see how hard the chefs are working to make your meals just right.
Yes, this place is cozy as you would expect for a French bistro would be in the Bay Area. Our waitress was kind and attentive and wasn’t afraid to let us know that I’d made a great wine pairing. (I believe the wine was a Scherer ’04 Merlot — one of the best wines I tasted since it’s one of the only wines I can remember trying).
The lady at the time had the steak with fries and she devoured that dish in a few minutes. You know the meal was special when that girl only muttered a few words during dinner. I had the duck which was cooked to perfection — tender and juicy with a slighty crisp skin.
If you’re in the East Bay and want to impress a date or significant other, it’d be real difficult to go wrong here!

Ok, so… I’ve been wanting to try this restaurant for several years and I finally made it over there. It’s very cozy, maybe a bit too cozy considering my honey is 6’5…eekah! We were seated RIGHT next to the hostess stand… forget having ANY privacy whatsoever. However, the food was pretty nummy and the Clafoutis — Summer Berry Tart — dessert was scrumptious! OOOOOO la laaaaaa, baby! *stares off into la la land* …
Oh hey, sorry! I’m back *shakes head and returns from daydream*
Reason for the rating? The food was 3+ stars, the dessert 5, the privacy a 1 and the overall experience I think averages to a 4. The dessert really did hit the spot… mmmmmm…*drool*

This is simply my favorite place to eat. I just love the combination of neighborhood feel, superb cuisine, and friendly staff.
If you are looking for the type of «wow-​factor» that involves cages of colored sugar and balloons of frozen yuzu juice, truffled foie-​gras triple cholesterol bombs, or other such ostentatious monstrosities, this is not your place. The «wow-​factor» here comes from simplicity, fresh local ingredients, and exquisite preparation.
While the menu doesn’t change that often (my one minor gripe), the reason lies simply in the fact that regulars, of which there are many, wouldn’t let it happen. The flat iron steak frites with anchovy butter is just too good to take off the menu. Whatever the fish is on any given night, it is worth ordering as the fish entrees here are as good as you will find anywhere. This is one of the few places that I will leave waxing poetic about a simple green salad. Oh, and the crab and goat cheese tart and the trio of little salads…
Most will tell you not to miss the chocolate soufflé cake. They would be right. However, I think the custards are even better. The orange-​anise-​vanilla custard that occasionally pops up on the menu is unbeatable and completely unlike anything elsewhere. Jojo is also one of the few places to regularly offer some lighter dessert options, like the mini bread pudding with baked apricots.
If you don’t like it, 1) you are wrong, and 2) send me your leftovers.