Vegan
American
Organic
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Fusion
Gourmet
Long-established restaurant and wine bar originally on 580 Geary St in San Francisco and relocated to Oakland in summer 2015. Upscale dining without a formal dress code. Open Tue-Sat 5:00pm-9:00pm. Hours reported to be irregular - call ahead. Last seating at 9pm.
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5912 College Ave (at Rockridge area), Oakland, California, USA, 94618
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- Reservations required
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Last update on 04 Oct 2022 by BexClark
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175 Reviews
First Review by Vegan Mom
kaduhacissej
Points +120
Spectacular - Edit
I was in SF for business, and was excited to be staying within walking distance to one of the most famous vegan restaurants ever! I was also looking forward to going to a fancy place, as being from Indiana, fancy places (even "regular" places) with vegan options are pretty limited.
Read moreI made a reservation, which they recommend, for just little old me very easily, actually just about an hour from booking it from their website.
I decided on the prix fixe menu, where you get an appetizer, and entree, and dessert for $42. I also got a wine pairing for each which was $13, along with a glass of wine to start off (don't judge, I had a long day at my work conference :)).
The starter wine (pinot noir from Envolve Winery) was absolutely delicious. I forgot what it was called and loved it so much I asked the server the name and she actually brought the bottle out so I could snap a picture. Her knowledge of the wine, winery, and back story of how Millennium came to serve the wine was impressive, to say the least.
I chose the grilled radicchio and fig salad to start. It was beautiful and delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed the wine pairing, even though I typically don't care for whites. It was not something I'd normally order, but I'm glad I gave it a whirl.
Next I got the fresh corn tamale. It also did not disappoint. The various sauces they had accenting the plate were outstanding. The wine pairing was again stellar.
Dessert was the most daunting choice of the evening, so I phoned a friend and talked it over with the server and finally decided on the brownie sundae. Holy delicious, Batman. That was one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth and I will remember it the most. The "wine" pairing for that was actually Irish coffee, which I was eager to try as I'd never had vegan Irish cream. It was also yummy, but the brownie sundae stole the show.
Overall, the service was OUTSTANDING, and the food and wine (and spirits) were amazingly delicious and worth the expensive price tag for the occasional visit.
Pros: Spectacular service, Delicious and beautiful food, Wine pairings
Cons: Expensive (but worth it)
Guest
KurtDavidHermansen
Points +193
The best gourmet Vegan Restaurant in the World - Edit
Whole food planted based bliss is what you'll enjoy at this inspired, delicious, gourmet eatery. The food is expensive given the seedy location, but once you are inside, the space is nice and the food is beyond delicous. Genius describes the pairings of ingredients, either that or years of experimentation. No other vegan restaurant comes close to the perfection served here.
Read morePros: Delicous, Gourmet, Quiet
Cons: Seedy neighborhood, not open for lunch, In a weird hotel
Guest
hcgeorge
Points +16
disappointing - and expensive! - Edit
Food wasn't great, expensive and the service was very poor. - Very disappointing experience :(
Read moreGuest
Vegtravel4
Points +319
sit at the bar! - Edit
I sat at the bar and ordered a gnocchi and a beer. It was around $30, which really wasn't bad. The gnocchi was unreal and delicious. If you sit at the bar, you don't have to feel bad about saving money by avoiding appetizers, dessert, etc. Lovely restaurant! I loved how the bar had vegan Irish coffee and other non-vegan cocktails made vegan. Yeah, it's not cheap, but it's a special occasion place.
Read morePros: delicious gnocchi, friendly bar service , extensive drink menu
Guest
Mitchycakes
Points +78
Awesome - Edit
My husband and I are both vegan and decided to eat here while on holiday in San Fransisco. Although it is quite expensive we decided to treat ourselves as we have never been to a completey vegan restaurant before.
Read moreIt was great to have a choice of about 7 starters, 7 mains and 5 desserts knowing they were all vegan. It was hard to choose as they all sounded lovely and offered quite a wide range of ingredients and tastes.
We both had the fixed price menu along with the recommended wines to go with each course. We were both very impressed with the presentation and the food was delicious.
Overall - service was good, presentation lovely, food awesome - it's just a shame it was far too hot in there and the seating was a bit close, but we would go there again and considering how good it was i don't think it was exceedingly expensive
Guest
kenvegan
Points +13128
Pricey / Good Food - Edit
I went with a friend to Millennium the other night. The last time I ate at this restaurant was over ten years ago. This restaurant is elegant in decor, and the service is good. we shared two dishes: a gnocci with vegetables dish, and a barbecued tempeh dish. The entrees are expensive, and I expect excellent food when I pay so much for an entree.
Read moreThe presentation on both dishes were what I would have expected.
My tempeh dish was just ok. I supposed I was expecting a better tasting dish for the price. My non-vegan friend ordered the gnocci. She didn't seem overly enthusiastic about her dish. I really love the atmosphere of this restaurant, but I think the menu could use some improvement.
Pros: Atmosphere
Cons: Food could be better for the price
Guest
eatinggreen
Points +608
Good for America, but not world class - Edit
Ok so we know that title is provocative but just calling it as we see it. The fact is, America just isn't known for its culinary prowess. Millennium is a very pleasant night out with its moody, 'something special' ambiance that somehow manages to avoid feeling uptight or pretentious. And some items on the menu are actually quite good, but overall it fails to ignite the imagination, particularly when it comes to the main meals, which American restaurants seem to really struggle with (Greens in SF and Pure Food & Wine in NYC both come to mind).
Read moreIf this is the best you've tried so far, try stepping a bit further afield... things get even better, that's a promise! (isn't it great being veg'n!??)
And FYI I'm not basing my review on just one trip, we've eaten here at least 5 times, probably more and over the span of several years... the verdict is always the same. On the balance of things, we'd say Crossroads in LA and Blossom in NYC are better in terms of options in the US.
Pros: Great vibe for regular or special nights, Some decent items, especially appetisers
Cons: Mains are boring and unrefined, Service is hit or miss
Guest
Nessy
Points +26
in love - Edit
As a 15 yer old vegan foodie this was the place for me. The quality, taste and service was amazing. The food.. Spectacular. A must to go to!
Read moreGuest
Malin
Points +33
ok food, not amazing - Edit
I had the raw taste menu and was not that impressed. The cucumber sallad and the avocado soup was really good. The entre was a sallad. It was good, but not amazing. Dessert was lame, peach per fair with frozen blackberrys that was almost impossible to get on the spoon(one big rock). Of what the others had I can recommend the Wellington and chocolate almond cake. I am being generous with four stars. Jose (our buzzer) made our night, so sweet and friendly! Wish we could have given him all the tips.
Read moreGuest
sglcklch
Points +3081
Underwhelming... - Edit
Millennium was pretty much the reason we booked our weekend trip to San Francisco. We missed it when we were in town a few years back, and I'd been dying to visit again just so I could eat here. My expectations were sky-high given all the wonderful words I had heard and read about it. I was looking forward to be mesmerized and dazzled, but only to be left scratching my head about the hype...
Read moreTwo of us shared three appetizers, two main courses, and a dessert:
Potato dumplings - The broth was bright and pleasantly tart thanks to the rhubarb, but it was barely warm. The dumplings were soggy as if they had been left in the cooking liquid for hours and didn’t have much flavor.
Black bean cakes - I had a hard time recalling what this dish was like because it was so unmemorable. All I could remember was two pieces of mediocre and tepid bean cakes with some nice tasting pickles on the side...
Arancini - The fried rice ball was creamy and gooey on the inside while crispy on the outside. The sauce was delicious. Best dish of the evening.
Phyllo purse - Looked good on paper but turned out to be a dud. There seemed to be a lot going on, but it didn’t work. The purse was stuffed with uniformly mushy ingredients that could use some texture. The turnip-white bean mixture on the plate was no better. The former were still firm from undercooking; the latter were the exact opposite - overcooked and too soft. The whole dish was a bit flat to taste and, again, lukewarm.
Spring dosa - Filled with chana masala style chickpeas and topped with spring onion tempura. It was pretty good, just not great.
Chocolate cake - Another disappointment. The cake was plain sweet, cloying so, without much chocolate flavor. The ice cream was middling. Portion was tiny. The $10 price tag was hefty.
We did also ask for the bread (apparently they would only give it out upon request), which came with a lentil spread. These were nothing to write home about - the spread was fair but the bread was a bit stale.
Overall, our dinner was quite a letdown. Service was okay, the setting was upscale and elegant, but the food was merely passable. The menu was refined and sophisticated, but the execution was lacking. One thing that struck me throughout the evening was the not-warm-enough food. I hate to say this, but compared to all the other fancy veg*n restaurants I’ve been to, Millennium didn’t really measure up. By no means was it bad, but I felt it could’ve been so much better. This is a 3 for me.
Pros: location
Cons: food
Guest
Justin Williams
Points +44
Horrible Service with Mediocre Food - Edit
I was not impressed with this establishment at all. The only good things I can say is that the host was extremely friendly and the busser Tino is a Rockstar.
Read moreThe food was Mediocre at best, and not worth the high price tag. I have no problem paying a high price when the food justifies it, but this is not the case at Millennium.
Our server, Sofia, was not friendly and barely did more than take our order. I don't think I saw her smile once. Actually I didn't barely saw her the entire meal. Tino, the busboy, did ALL the work. He brought out our food, refilled our drinks, took our plates, asked how we were doing. Sofia on the other hand was no where to be found for most of the evening.
When it was time for dessert, she dropped the menu at the table and walked away without saying word. She had an attitude that seemed as if she felt she was too good to be waiting on us. I will not be returning to this establishment and would suggest you find somewhere else to eat for a good veg*n meal.
Greens is great if you want upscale, and you can't go wrong at Pena Pachamama.
Pros: Tino
Cons: Food, Sofia, Service
Guest
unoclay
Points +61
It was decent. Not epic but decent. - Edit
I eat vegan and veg all over the world. This restaurant aspires to high society, small plates, fine dining. Decor is great and a very tasteful place. Good beer list.
Read moreMaybe i wasnt in the perfect mood for smaller plates, but it didnt blow me away. It was good, for certain. However, my meal wasn't super-remarkable...just tasty and "fine".
I'd recommend it to anyone, with the caveat that you may end up spending a lot of money if you're feeling super-hungry, and some dishes may be more distinctive than others.
Guest
Soul2Soul Educare
Points +1102
Elegant Vegan Dining - Edit
We dined here a couple of years ago when we visited San Francisco and had loved it. We decided to go back again this year during our road trip across the country. We loved it once again! If you're looking for a real elegant experience in vegan dining this is the place for you. All the dishes are not only deliciously prepared but they are a work of art to look at. It is pretty pricey though but then you are paying for the gourmet food and the beautiful presentation of the food. The service was okay. The food isn't anything you could throw together in your kitchen. Their dishes take hours to prepare. I know because I bought their cookbook a few years ago. I love this place.
Read moreGuest
veggieriga
Points +660
Great every time - Edit
I have been eating here for years as I previously had to travel to SF a lot for work. The food is always wonderful, and the service is also great. In my opinion, it's the best vegan restaurant in the US. It's a bit expensive, but I usually just get a main course, so it is somewhat reasonable; although sometimes I splurge and get an appetizer and dessert. In any case, it's well worth the price and highly recommended. I also have one of the cookbooks and also recommend them.
Read morePros: amazing gourmet vegan food, fantastic atmosphere, friendly staff
Cons: a bit expensive, only open for dinner
Guest
sparedes
Points +24
best vegan food I've ever had - Edit
I wish I lived here so I could try the entire menu. The food was the best tasting vegan food I've ever had in a restaurant. The price is higher than some restaurants, but reflects the quality of the food appropriately. The restaurant itself was very nicely decorated, and service was excellent. I can't wait to come back on my next trip!
Read morePros: best food ever
Cons: gourmet food prices (but fair!)
Guest
Docmartin9
Points +50
Really good - Edit
Great atmosphere. Interesting flavor combinations. If you are in a hurry the service will feel a bit slow.
Read morePros: fine dining, wine list, all vegan
Cons: slow service, pricey
Guest
Pete- old energy
Points +57
Creativity - Edit
Reading the other reviews makes me think that some of the folks are less creative, or else the chef was just not in his/her best form that night. We found it to be one of the best restaurant experiences of our lives. Each dish had a variety of flavors that made sense. My entree consisted of a pastry, with a creamy cashew center, with wonderful mushrooms, carrots, an numerous other vegetables. The desert was outstanding, being their mainstay desert consisting of a chocolate cake, with a creamy toping that was heavenly. The service was superb. She knew how to explain each dish we considered, and guided according to our preferences.
Read moreThe setting was not the highlight, but more than adequate. The prices, which were on the high side for vegan dishes, was well within expectations considering the care which went into the creations.
Our strongest recommendations go to Millennium.
Guest
no whey!
Points +214
Mecca - Edit
Okay, I admit that I put off writing this review simply because it has a huge reputation in the vegan community, and in my eyes it completely lived up to its reputation. Basically, the food was so incredibly good that I am lost for words. But I'll try..
Read moreWe made a reservation, and ended up grabbing a spot that opened at the bar instead, which was convenient. The restaurant is located in a weird fancy Best Western, but that didn't take away from the classiness to me.
The bartender made a good cocktail and was an attentive server too. He even knew some people in Nashville where I'm from (wha??) My friend and I split every dish we ordered. The black bean torte is the bomb, and the Brussels sprouts were amazing. I honestly can't name everything we tried, but everything was exciting and delicious. I won't lie- my friend who eats a regular omnivore diet was not as impressed as I was. But in fairness, I was in heaven, so that's a tough emotional state to match.
The "Little girls dream of their wedding day" cliché is an accurate comparison to the "little vegans dream of the day they get to eat at Millenium" cliché I'd heard about. Yes, it's hyped and fancy and pricey, but frankly, it's hard to find vegan places of this quality, so it's 100% worth checking out. I loved it.
Pros: Inventive flavors, Vegan mecca, Srsly
Cons: small plates, price, blahblah
Guest
elm
Points +49
Simply Wonderful - Edit
Although we are now raw organic vegans, Millennium in Geary Street San Francisco is a heavenly place to eat. The food changes regular, its not listed as veg, people who arn't veg simply love the food,very different to the normal animal free type meals. They have a special desert chef who has amazing
Read morecreative skills. We like to sit at the bar and eat, you can watch all the chefs preparing amazing food. All organised by the wonderful owner Eric Tucker. You can buy their books too.
Millennium is know as a destination restaurant. We had 5 nights in San Francisco and ate here each night. There were
people having dinner with us from all around the globe.
Guest
Lindavegan
Points +20
Millenium - Edit
Love place, love food, love chef!!!
Read morePros: Top food, Clean, Gourmet
Cons: None, None, None
Guest
pipistrella
Points +28
delicious. - Edit
I liked the atmosphere and the food - it's a little bit pricey but perfect for special occasions.
Read moreThe dishes are tasty and very creative.
Guest
·X·
Points +21907
Millennium - Edit
I travel a lot and have eaten at many vegan fancy-pants restaurants. This one falls short in many aspects, especially in comparison to it's peers across the US such as Vedge (Philadelphia), Blossom (NYC), Candle Cafe (NYC), etc. I obviously decided to give Millennium another shot and decided to upgrade it from a 3 to a 4, but I really think it's a 3.5 overall.
Read moreI had the roulade and my travel partner had the polenta as our main dishes. We also ordered a few appetizers too, the brussel sprouts and the potato gnocchi.
The potato gnocchi was pretty good, but I felt there could have been more gnocchi and less of the extra stuff they put in there. The brussel sprouts were just brussel sprouts, I think they could have been more innovative with this appetizer, especially for $8.
The roulade was actually good. But honestly, it tasted like vegetable samosas that you can get at an Indian restaurant. The polenta was good too, but my dining parter didn't care for it enough to finish it.
Updated from previous review on Wednesday September 22, 2010:
This restaurant was within footsteps of my hotel so my travel friend and I decided to go here for a 'fancy' dinner. Overall Millennium was really nice and fancy, but the food was just not for me/us.
kindlizard
I respect the views of folks like you who have reviewed a lot of places. I see a bad review for one of the highly acclaimed veg places in the country. As I haven't tried this place yet but see conflicting reviews, I am curious why you don't like this place. Could you please tell us more about your meal? Was the food bad? What about it did you not like? Service ok? Other than being close to your hotel and "fancy", and "nice" I know little about your opinion of this place other than it wasn't for you. Why so? quality please, over quantity
Read morekindlizard
What did you order? Was just adequately done and not really "worth" it, all in all? I was going to go here the other week in SF but felt like if it tanked and I brought my in-laws to an expensive place that tanked, it somehow loses credibility for the next time. They did love Horizons fwiw... Thanks SV
Read more·X·
Hi Kindlizard - Based off of the mixed reviews, we had originally intended to go to Greens for our nice dinner. We didn't get around to making a reservation until the middle of our 1.5 week vacation in SF, so the day we set aside happened to be a day Greens was closed for a private party. Therefore we made the reservation at Millennium instead. I find that this place is similar to Green Zebra in Chicago or even Terrene in St. Louis - fancy places with fancy food. I really thought the food was just OK, hence the 3 cow rating, and not worth the price they were charging. I'm all for spending more money on good food, but this place simply didn't make the cut for me. I think you should still try it for yourself and see what you think. :)
Read moreGuest
super8J
Points +130
Really impressed - Edit
My wife and I went to Millenium accompanied by our one-year old daughter for her birthday. The food was excellent and the staff could not have been nicer. Really good to see a vegan restaurant so busy: its trick is not to to be smart enough to attract anyone wanting a bit of a special night out. It was a real treat for us!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Monday October 27, 2008
Pros: Atmosphere, Food, Chandeliers!
Guest
rommiej
Points +42
As creative as it gets - Edit
We've been to Millennium a few times, but somehow never bothered to write a proper review. In a city filled with wonderful vegan/vegetarian options, this venerable spot is the crown jewel. Tucked inside the quaint Hotel California just a few blocks from Union Square, Millennium has all the trappings of an upscale, fine-dining experience but deftly evades the stuffiness usually associated with such an affair. The top-notch cocktail menu and world-class (but locally focused) wine list don't hurt in that regard, but a kitchen that's accomplished enough to be playful is what really sets the tone.
Read moreOn our most recent visit, the globally-inspired, impossibly creative regular menu was replaced with a chef's prix-fixe tasting menu, complete with wine pairings. It's always fun to put your culinary fate in the hands of a creative professional (especially when you're confident they understand your dietary choices), and this was no exception.
Our meal began with an amuse course of King Trumpet Mushroom "Crudo" served alongside an inventive Beet Tartare (not a typo). Both were delightful, but we were especially impressed by the way the chef created vegan versions of familiar "meat"-based dishes without feeling any obligation to make them actually taste like animal products (a phenomenon all-too-common at many veg eateries). The first course was a Blood Orange, Nopales and Watermelon Radish Ceviche, continuing the theme of appropriating "meat"-based conventions. (Instead of the traditional raw fish, we got citrus-marinated, brilliantly colored fruits.) It's tough to make a memorable salad, but they pulled it off with unique ingredients, a creative approach and an absolutely sublime wine pairing (Old World Winery 2010 Pinot Gris, Russian River Valley). The second course, Poori, was split down the middle, half green and half yellow, almost like a yin-and-yang of South Asian cuisine. On the left, we had a mild, creamy Punjabi soup and on the right a heartier Sri Lankan stew -- equally delicious eaten alone or together. For entrees, I got the Musquee De Provence Tortellini while my wife got the Black Garlic and Miso Glazed Abalone Mushroom. The mushroom dish was the standout with its variety of textures and heavenly sauce, but the tortellini helds its own, offering a symphony of earthy flavors. Black and White Layer Cake was easily the most decadent chocolate cake we've had -- vegan or otherwise.
Long story short, Millennium is a must-visit restaurant whatever your diet.
Pros: Creativity, Ambience, Wine List
Cons: Expensive
Guest
greenshoes
Points +474
Good food, really bad service. - Edit
The food was yummy, not much fake stuff but they really did the healthy stuff, wide selection and seasonal options available.
Read moreService was really bad, barely anyone ever came to my table and I had to beg them to bring me desert.
Don't know whether I come back. Price too high for no service.
Guest
SoledadMoretti
Points +77
Delicious - Edit
Well, Millenium was my very first visit to a 100% vegan restaurant, I have to say I was amazed. Food is delicious, dishes are very well served. I must warn, if you are very hungry, this is an expensive gourmet restaurant, so don't expect large portions.
Read moreDesserts are also exquisite.
Must go and visit. It's worth it.
Pros: delicious, tasty, nice place
Cons: expensive
Guest
veganamanda
Points +251
Disappointed - Edit
I was so excited to try Millennium on my trip to SF. I ordered the Mushrooms and corn cakes and was really underwhelmed. The portabellos were bland and something in the sauce got stuck in my throat and made me cough and eyes water. I also tried the chocolate mouse pie. It was good, but not great. Having dined at Candle 79 a few weeks earlier, it just wasn't as good. A $40 meal should be better. The wait staff was quick and professional, but not friendly. The place was dark and kind of had a weird smell. Sad :-(
Read morePros: quick service
Cons: overpriced, dark, bland
Guest
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