Barclay's
Oakland, CA 94618-1385
Phone: (510) 654-1650
- Hours:
- Mon-Sat 11am-11:30pm, Sun 10am-11:30pm
Editorial Review for Barclay's – by Tom Geck
The Scene
Located just below street level, an outdoor patio sits at the entrance. The bar itself is spacious with classic American tavern features: dark wood tones, green plaid carpet, neon beer signs. One big-screen TV is usually on with Bay Area sporting events. Two dart boards are tucked away in a corner and are routinely in use. People tend to come in groups and boisterous conversations abound. Bartenders are beer savvy and will make suggestions if you are bewildered by the long list.
The Draw
This is a beer drinker's playground with 30 rotating beers on tap. Equal parts bar and grill, it draws folks on their lunch break on weekdays. The menu ranges from simple quesadillas to pan seared mahi mahi. Weekend nights get a bit rowdy with people trying as many beers as they can handle.
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Insider Tips
Parliament Beer Tasting ClubFor a mere $5 membership, get a card and begin affiliation with the club as a member of the House of Commons. After tasting 50 different beers, you graduate to the House of Lords, and so on.
SelectionIn addition to mainstays like Anchor Steam, you'll find unique beers, like Arrogant Bastard. Pitchers are available.
Drink DealsHappy hour is weekdays (11am-6pm) with $1 off most brews and well drinks.
User Reviews for Barclay's
04/28/2008 Posted by dazzle13
This place has it all. Great beer selection, awesome waitresses, many TV's, and great food. Order the chicken and pepperjack w/ avocado, and you won't be disappointed. Make sure you get it with chips instead of the fries. The staff know their stuff, and won't steer you wrong. Somewhat hard to get a table, and it can be noisy, but it is a great place full of locals, and the college crowd.
Pros: greatest beer selection I've found so far in Oakland; kid friendly (not that I have one.. yet)
Cons: Noisy-
03/04/2007 Posted by ckyelland
I have to admit, for years I always pegged Barclay's as a sort of cruddy Cal student bar with a kitchen. I finally gave in a few years ago when my usual sports bar closed down during football season. My initial assessment was totally unfounded. While Barclay's gets plenty of the student-frat-jock crowd, they're well-balanced by local families and a large crowd of eccentric regulars. Their beer selection is incredible, ranging from pilsners to stouts (you can order in several different sizes, which is great if you like to sample lots of different beers). The kitchen that I first thought was probably limited to serving up deep-fried dust bunnies actually cranks out an amazingly tasty array of higher-end pub food. Their bacon cheeseburger with shoestring french fries is some of the best bar food I’ve had. The waits can be long during game days and peak hours, but the service is always friendly and accommodating. If you’re a smoker, you can eat/drink outside on their sunny patio area. Great local hangout if you’re looking to grab a beer and a casual meal. If you're looking for mixed drinks, skip Barclay's - they're limited to beer and wine.
Pros: Good food and great beer selection; friendly service; nice local atmosphere, good for watching sporting events
Cons: Parking is usually terrible; waits can be long on game days or during peak hours; noisy
