Barclay's Restaurant & Pub

DO NOT COME HERE TO WATCH THE WORLD CUP!!! They have a ridiculous ""policy"" of not having any sound with their TVs. I walked in this morning expecting a rowdy, excited crowd to watch the Mexico-South Africa game only to find it dead silent. It wasn't silent for lack of people - in fact, it was full - but those that there were in a bad mood having realized they chose the worst spot to watch futbol. Turned out that many folks had already left the venue immediately after arriving and learning of this silly rule. To make matters worse, this policy was enforced by a bartender/manager with a really bad attitude. We would have understood a policy of no volume if there were different games playing on the screens but everyone was there for the same thing! Well, we made the most of it and ended up making new friends, partly out of our shared frustration with this establishment..... Pros: there is beer to cope with hot lame the place is Cons: lame. worst place to watch sports. no sound on their TVs!? more

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- more

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 more

With the pool tables, darts and of course a Golden Tee video game this is the place to come on guys night out...married guys because you won't find many women in this place. more