Crogans Montclair Restaurant

We came here for a belated Father’s Day dinner and started off with the sweet potato fries which were tasty, especially with the ketchup and special sauce. Then we ordered the beet salad to share (yummy), lamb shank (tender), almond crusted cod (yay it’s on the menu), and beef short ribs (a-​ok). We had some hearty portions and had to take half of our dinners home.

This is a great place to watch Sunday football games. The food is not top notch, but the staff is extremely friendly. We visit Crogans Montclair a few times each month and enjoy our time there.

I’ve only ever gotten the burger, as a to go order. Classic, well cooked, nice bun, burger… good enough, that it’s my ‘go-​to’ when I’m craving a hamburger. My boyfriend regards it as one of his favorite Burgers… definitely the best one in Montclair!

I was looking for a place that would appeal to both my 87 yo mother and my 13 yo daughter. I remembered seeing this place on Check Please on KQED. The reviewers were mixed and the Unilocal reviews are mixed as well. Nonetheless I wanted to give this a try. My overall experience was extremely positive.
Crogans is located in the Montclair Village area of Oakland. The neighborhood is quaint, very safe and extremely accessible. Very nice neighborhood to walk around or shop before or after dinner. There is abundant street parking at night and Crogan’s validates parking if needed in a nearby public lot.
We arrived about 5:30 on a Saturday night and were seated immediately. The hostess was very pleasant and welcoming. The menu offers a broad range of pub food. There is something that would appeal to any taste. We tried the crab sandwich, meat loaf dinner and the pan roasted chicken. They were all well prepared and portions were abundant. I tried all three dishes and would order any of them again. The Dungeness crab was very fresh and plentiful.
We found the service excellent attentive, and extremely accommodating. Although their salads and soups are a bit pricey, the waiter was very happy to permit us to substitute soup or salad for the starch that normally comes with the entrée.
Overall a great place for families. They have a very well thought out children’s menu.

There is no more welcoming a place than Crogans. You ARE welcome. The food is consistent and homey. No one rushes you out the door to fill the table. I prefer going here because I know what to expect and I like feeling welcome when I go to a restaurant.

The family called in a reservation here at Crogan’s and we were seated right away. It’s such a beautiful place with great food and conversation. I had the Golden Bear Burger and it was fantastic, the staff was friendly and always ready to serve. Definitely approved!

The response to my very poor review of this place was ridiculous. The owner of this place is delusional. The hamburger that I received said, «we don’t want you here.» It was that poorly prepared — charred on one side (not a problem at all) but the charred part on the other side had been almost completely torn off, exposing raw hamburger I only wanted to get out as quickly as possible.
Please don’t respond again. It’s insulting.

This is one of our special occasion favorites but some of our favorite items on the menu have disappeared according to our waiter tonight. We usually come here to celebrate a birthday and tonight was no exception. They used to have ahi tuna, almond crusted halibut and petrale sole but they are no longer on the menu.
The waiter told us due to the higher costs of fish, these items were no longer offered. We started off with some fried calamari, cup of white clam chowder and a cup of lentil soup and an apple and walnut salad. However, the birthday boy wanted some fish and saw they had cod on the menu as a sandwich so he asked if we could have almond crusted cod and they said yes. So two of us had almond crusted cod, and the others had top sirloin and shrimp scampi. For the complimentary birthday dessert, birthday boy ordered carrot cake which light and airy, not heavy like most carrot cakes. He even got a candle on the slice of cake and we sang Happy Birthday! We had an enjoyable tasty meal. However, we wish they would bring back the ahi tuna, almond crusted halibut and petrale sole.

My salad with chicken on it was almost inedible. The chicken was cold and tough and rubbery. Everything else was ok.

We ate at this restaurant once before, I had the corn beef, and it wasn’t very goo. But we decided we’d give the restaurant one more chance. The restaurant is clean with good Decour, mixed drinks are great. Service was slow, but there were a lot of people there. This time I ordered a ribeye steak on the waiter’s recommendation. The only place to get a worse steak would be sizzler, however steak prices are a cheaper. Mashed potatoes were served cold. The food is very overpriced for what you get. if you want to get a good drink at the bar you might try the place, if you want something decent to eat forget it!

DON’T BOTHER! I have been going to Crogans for many years, but in the last 2 years it has tanked. I’m not a big Unilocaler, but I feel the need to warn others tonight. I ordered the apple, walnut and feta salad for $ 9.95. There are 2 very very thin slices of apple and zero feta in what looks like old lettuce. Bagged salad for $ 2.99 at Safeway is way better! I can’t believe they have the nerve to serve this. I also ordered the crab cakes for $ 13.95. Now, I understand that crab is expensive so I asked about how large are the crab cakes. I was told the size of a chips ahoy cookie, but way thicker. Uh — not even close. So, for $ 24 I have no dinner and am disgusted. A waste of time and money.

As an Oakland native this restaurant is one of the key places that I feel particularly qualified to review. For the last 30+ years Crogan’s has been both a personal and family favorite. I recently went after an incidental two year hiatus and nearly everything was, as expected, delicious and fresh. I have always loved their Boston Clam Chowder, the Burgers, and their scrumptious Cesar Salad (the dressing is insanely addictive). The service at the bar was friendly and very accommodating. Let me add that during my latest visit I was on a date with another Oakland native who had never been to Crogan’s before, and afterward he was clearly delightfully impressed and adamant about returning for a future visit to try more of the same.
I plan to update my review if we use their back room for a private party. Otherwise, I am a patron for life because this is a worthy Oakland cornerstone.

The food here were amazing! It’s a HUGE improvement from last year The atmosphere was airy and old-​school (wood panels and traditional murals on the walls) which I appreciated b/​c you can hardly find these kinds of restaurants anymore.
We had the following:
1) Potato Skins — This was recommended by the waiter and truly a wonderful version of your baked potato with all the works (sour cream, bacon bits, green onion, cheddar) BUT w/​o doing any work. LOL You just pick up a potato wedge with everything already on it and savor it. It tasted so good. If you like baked potato, get this!
2) Steamed Manila Clams — The claims were fresh and the sauce was heavenly and not too salty or rich.
3) Fried Calamari — Fresh and the batter was not too thick. A sizable portion.
4) Full Rack of Baby Back Ribs — The sauce was flavorful and not overboard (exactly how you wanted them on your ribs) and the meat came easily off the bones. It was hearty but worth it. Half rack available but I paid $ 8 for full rack to share with everyone.
5) Rib-​Eye Steak — A good cut of steak marinated well and done just right. When you asked for medium rare, you got medium rare.
6) Scallops and Brussels sprouts — This was a special of the night. The scallops were big, marinated well and pan-​seared perfectly. The Brussel sprouts were a tad too raw and not cripsy enough.
7) Apple Crisp — It was the most disappointing dish of the night. There was barely any «crisp» and too much apple.
8) Key Lime Pie — A refreshing finale with a good combination of tartness and creaminess.

Since my original review two years ago, we have given Crogans another chance. Several more, in fact. The manager’s nice comments in response to my review made me realize I may have been a tad harsh so we tried again with an open mind.
I’m happy to report I’ve changed my mind. I’ve had many, many delicious meals at Crogans with my family and with friends. The atmosphere is a bit old fashioned but that’s okay. They have a solid menu and the service is good. I have lunch there most often and usually eat a sandwich — it’s always tasty and the portions never leave me hungry. My husband and daughter are also always happy with their meals too. I’m glad I gave them another shot.

Although the food is good here, the vibe was all bad. My son and I were the only African Americans in the resturant and it made us feel uncomfortable. It almost felt as people were looking at us as we did not belong nor were welcome at the restaurant. I cannot say that we will return unless it is for takeout.

Thank you, Megan, and Crogans for making my 65^th birthday very special and delicious.
My friend and I came in for lunch today. We were given our choice of tables and seated immediately. One of the staff came over an raised the blind a bit for us. And left us to chat and peruse the menu, after ensuring we had bread and a beverage.
My friend’s order was simple, the Grilled Cod. I wanted the Lamb Shank but, could they please substitute mashed potatoes for the white beans and leave off the mushrooms? No problem.
We started by splitting the Apple Walnut salad which was delicious. The greens were fresh and the dressing was perfect.
While we were still eating the salad, the wonderful, and very attentive, Megan, came to tell us our entrees would be a bit delayed but they would comp us dessert. The entrees didn’t take that much longer than usual, nor would we have expected their offer, but were very impressed by their making it
My friends Cod was excellent, as were the veges and potatoes served with it. My Lamb Shank was HEAVEN. The meat fell off the bone, although it was so good, one was tempted to do a «Tom Jones» and pick the bone up. The mashed potatoes were creamy and the gravy was perfect. Although I did give a bit to my friend, who pronounced the the BEST she had ever had — she was right — there wasn’t a speck left when I finished.
For dessert, we split a piece of their cheesecake, which was creamy and delicious.
Truly, full compliments to Megan. She was attentive without being intrusive, friendly and very helpful. I come to Crogans quite often, but I can say with all honesty, this was the BEST meal and overall experience I’ve ever had there.
Thank you!!!

C and I came to Crogan’s for dinner last Saturday on our way to a party in Montclair. Traffic from Marin was horrendous, so we were running late. We were happy to be seated right away. It was our first visit here in about five years, and we talked about starting to frequent Crogan’s once again.
I ordered corned beef and cabbage, with a substitute of steamed broccoli for potatoes. C ordered a bacon cheeseburger well done with a salad substituted for fries. Our friendly server was very accommodating in this regard.
My corned beef was decent, but clearly is not the best I have had. But that isn’t the main issue. Despite having emphasized that she wanted a well done burger, C’s came out raw in the middle. The outside of the burger looked great, but the inside was raw. She sent the burger back, but because we were already late to our party she didn’t have time to have a new one cooked properly. Very disappointing.
Our server was apologetic, and we were not charged for C’s meal. C left Crogan’s still hungry. We were very disappointed about this return visit.
A kitchen getting something like a hamburger so wrong is the sign of a bad kitchen. I think it will be another five years before we return.
Two stars, instead of one, because our server was very nice and attentive.

Again: specific dishes only. What they do well, they do consistently; something fancier hip bistros should copy, LOL.
It’s been a while since we’ve been back. We noticed much of the staff has changed, and the food has changed slightly as well. Nothing drastic, but more a stylistic difference. The burger, for example, is formed fatter than before, meaning it doesn’t cover the bun as it should. On the good side, the «Golden Bear» burger now has the nice touch of sautéing the sliced onions with a splash of white wine, making them a little tangy, which adds some interest. The Cheddar is flavorful, the bun is toasted but not buttered (as we prefer it), and a trio of crisp bacon slices are fun to munch on.
I asked for onion rings instead of fries, and although they weren’t the best onion rings I’d ever had, they were the right thickness. The current rage for onion rings is to slice them into two– or even three-​inch rings, which is much too thick IMHO. It was nice to see that Crogan’s onion rings are the classic ½″ to ¾″ high.
Spouse ordered a cup of the gumbo. He enjoys Crogan’s gumbo, although like everything Crogan’s does, it’s a second-​tier effort. Still, it has all the requisite flavors and is nicely spicy.
He picked the top sirloin as his entrée, which is the smallest steak they offer. It was unusually thick, almost round; a full 2−½″ high. It’s not the tastiest beef cut, but he appreciates that the fat is completely trimmed off. It was also more rare than medium-​rare, which is actually an advantage for this cut. Despite the rareness, it had a good crust to it, showing that whoever is manning the grill knows his/​her job.
We finished with coffee, and shared the bread pudding. Disappointingly, this has changed and is no longer the soft creamy type. This was once their best dessert, but no longer. I left most of mine. Coffee is typical diner quality, meaning low-​quality Farmers Bros.
We don’t expect great food from Crogan’s. It’s enough that it’s comfortable, service is reasonably good, and the basics are consistent enough to be worth ordering when we’re in the mood for them.
The one dish they do exceptionally well are the fish tacos. I originally was tempted by the fried chicken, which is another dish that Crogan’s does well. Maybe another day; there’s no rush. Crogan’s doesn’t change much, if at all. Whether we have the fried fish tacos next month or next year, we know what to expect. And sometimes, that’s worth the trip right there.

Been here a few times and enjoy the atmosphere and staff. Only eaten in the bar where they have large tables and a good sized area if you have a larger group that wants to stay in the bar.
I tried the Shepard’s Pie on two occasions and both times it was very tasty. One of the occasions my buddy had the same thing and agreed with my assessment. Its a good sized meal too so you won’t walk away hungry.
They have a number of beer on tap (But, NO Drakes!) for your drinking pleasure and a full bar for anything a little harder. I’ve been here a number of times and its become my goto place when I want to meet for a beer and some good food.
Forgot to mention the staff! They are great too. They smile and give great service.

Crogan’s, Crogan’s Crogan’s, how you bring me down memory lane! High school memory lane that is. This was one of my regular date restaurants back then, mostly because I didn’t know of any other place to go that didn’t involve driving into sketchy parts of Oakland or getting on the freeway somewhere. Most people I knew in high school lived in this area, so a lot of us came here. Yeah, we couldn’t be drinking back then, but this place sort of made us feel grown up!
Crogan’s is an institution here in Montclair, opening way before I was born. I have fond memories of some family birthday dinners here over the years. Today it’s still here. Yes, I still use it as a date place, but I get to drink now! Yeah, I get my ID checked! It seems it hasn’t changed a lot, OK maybe some new paint over the years, but it basically a nicer bar restaurant. It’s not a hipster crowd here, more of a mature crowd … yes, it’s a place parents would like, so if you are say 20 to 30 and need a place to take your parents, this place would be fine.
The menu is pretty wide ranging, offering appetizers of normal bar type stuff, like potato skins, fries, wings and a bit more upscale stuff like clams, crab cakes and oysters. Crab cakes are my fave and they do a pretty decent version here. There are quite a few choices of entrees of beef, chicken, pork and lamb. The prices sure have gone up since high school! Rib Eye is $ 30, half rack of baby backs are $ 22, and Fish and Chips are $ 18. You know when just fish and chips are $ 18 bucks, you’re bill ain’t gonna be cheap. For lunches I usually get the burgers. The Bacon Cheese burger here is $ 15 bucks … yeah, it’s a good quality burger, but I don’t normally spend $ 15 for a burger, plus a drink and tip and its a 20 something dollar lunch. The food here overall is competent, nothing awful but nothing mind blowing good.
The menu and the general atmosphere here I think is geared more towards a mature crowd, not that I knew that years ago, but I can see it now, definitely not a hipster hangout … but it does fit Montclair. You might like it, if it fits what you want in a dining experience. Me. I like it enough, but not crazy to come here as soon as I can. I’m grateful it’s still here in Montclair and I can come when the occasion call for it, like if Mom and Dad wanna take me out for my birthday or something.

Was here with a group of folks from work — 10 of us. The staff was extremely accommodating. We had reservations, but asked for something on which to sit gifts. They provided an entire table for the gifts along with chairs for our coats… a very nice touch.
We ordered many different appetizers. I only tried the fried calamari, which was good, a potato skin, which was also good, and a coconut shrimp, which seemed a little over fried. The shrimp was good, but the coconut breading was very dark brown. I didn’t use the sauce, which I’m sure would have elevated the flavor… it was just too hard to get to with so many folks at the table.
I ordered the Golden Bear Burger medium rare. It was done to perfection. The sweet potato fries were very tasty, but could have been hotter. As I mentioned there were ten of us at the table. It took a while for everyone’s meal to be delivered.
I find it hard to review a restaurant when visiting with a work group. If we’re ever in the area again I’d come back.

The worst meal I’ve had in the East Bay, hands down. We shared a bunch of things — a beet salad with walnuts, vegetarian nachos, the portobello mushroom sandwich, fries. Nothing was edible. The salad was soaked in dressing to the point of sogginess, and the walnuts were so sugar-​coated they made my tongue curl. The chips in the nachos were soggy by the time they hit the table, and we discovered that the cheese was actually cheeze — Velveeta??? REALLY? Two bites of the portobello mushroom sandwich was all we could stomach, and even the fries stayed on the plate.
Perhaps a good place to go for a beer while watching the game, but don’t come for the food.