The 411 on Sirene #
Address: 3308 Grand Ave
Region: Grand Lake, Oakland, CA
Website: https://sirene-oak.com/
Phone: 510-200-8750
The Vibe: Seafood and fried chicken with sophisticated sauces and sides are the specialty at Sirene. The upscale restaurant and café resides in the former Sister restaurant and café space, which was the Boot & Shoe Service restaurant and café when I resided just up the hill.
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Sirene carries on the tradition of dedicating half their space to à la carte pastries and beverages during the daytime hours, with the dining room reserved for fancy occasions and dinner.
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Of course, your fancy occasion may just be Tuesday, but mine was for my birthday this year. I had come across glowing reviews of Sirene’s menu, and their award-winning wine and cocktail menu seduced me. But the prices, much like Sister and Boot & Shoe before it, are high, so I needed a good excuse to justify the visit. Thus, birthday dinner!
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My guests were my husband and one of my good friends, and we had an enjoyable time, especially working our way through that drink list. The space is tight, with limber waitstaff doing their best to maneuver between tables, and patrons doing their best not to stare too hungrily as their neighbors’ food arrives. It’s a cozy feel, and with so many celebrations taking place around us, it did feel special. Something in the air at Sirene exudes “special occasion.”
In addition to the seafood and chicken, Sirene makes use of their brick oven, offering a few pizzas such as the shrimp chorizo and a classic margherita. Lesser known aperitifs and liqueurs are given a special place on the cocktail and by-the-glass lists: Chartreuse, Madeira wine, and amaro.
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Add-your-own bitters preference to this cocktail
Happy hour seems like a solid choice, with $2 oysters and $5 Chartreuse slushies on offer. Items not on the main menu may appear on the Happy Hour list, such as a shrimp chorizo dog with smoked trout roe and red onion creme fraiche that I really want to try! But Happy Hour only runs from 5 to 6pm, Tuesday through Thursday.
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Despite feeling more “special occasion” than casual dining to me, I appreciate that Sirene is cultivating a neighborly feel with their café offerings, newsletter, partnerships for special dinner nights with guest chefs, and social media vibe. They've cultivated a friendly reputation, and that’s part of what drew me in. I like businesses that make an effort to become part of the community.
My Take on Sirene #
The Food: We started with what ended up being my favorite course: potato chips with smoked fish dip and trout roe.
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I wasn’t sure there’d be enough fish dip to enjoy with each chip, but my fears were wrong. The dip was creamy and appetizing in flavor, the chips had a good crunch, and the roe gave it a special touch. Potato chips and caviar are one of my favorite appetizer pairings, for good reason.
My dinner entrée was not as delicious. That is not to say it was bad—every element was well-prepared, from the tuna cooked just below medium (I am not a fan of rare) to the brown rice with popping outer hulls and the vibrant red tomatillo sauce and fresh pea shoots.
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But they did not come together to create a complete dish, in my humble food-blogger opinion. The individual parts were good, but the whole felt uninspired, more of a “what do we have on hand tonight?” option than a truly thought-out preparation.
My companions had no complaints, and the gnocchi dish seemed excellent.
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Its fresh, vegetal-green, garlic nettle sauce enveloped the soft gnocchi. Ricotta dotted the dish. I could have eaten more of that, for sure. My husband’s fish and chips, made with ling cod and served with piquillo pepper aioli, also satisfied.
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But I did find myself wishing I’d opted to try the fried chicken instead. Dessert, however, was exceptional.
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I opted not to try the chocolate cake with buttermilk ice cream that has earned Sirene glowing reviews, but instead went for the hazelnut tart. It was like two desserts in one, with a delicate olive oil cake sandwiched between the hazelnut cream and thick pastry. Earl grey-infused cream blossomed on top and had more flavor than most earl grey-themed desserts achieve. Each element was wonderful, but this time they also combined wonderfully.
The Drinks: This is where Sirene shined for me. I began the meal with Sirene’s Cup #2, a tiki-inspired cocktail with two types of Chartreuse, gin, pineapple, and lime. Sipping it put me straight into a festive mood, and it was a fun accompaniment to the chips and dip.
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For dessert, in addition to the tart, I shared a trio of Fernet-type amaros with my friend. We each enjoyed different ones the most, and the expert guidance through them by the waitstaff, from Italy to Japan, was super helpful.
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I’d love to work my way through their whole list of cocktails, wines, and liqueurs by the glass, though I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to try the house wine, charged at $2 per centimeter. I’d be sweating the cost!
Would I Go Back? I would, but I might enjoy the Happy Hour more than the regular dining service, especially if that shrimp chorizo dog sticks around. Tasty, thoughtful drink curation with some simple bites sounds like a relaxing afternoon that Sirene would pull off well. I’ll try the fried chicken someday, too, but the current list of sides and gravies they offer for it don’t tickle my taste buds.
Sirene has a lot going for it, especially the buzz for their alcohol program, which they deserve. If I liked raw seafood more, I’m sure their crudo bites and aguachile appetizers would excite me, like the halibut with strawberry, avocado, and English peas. It sounds great! But I like my fish cooked, I can’t help it. If raw is more your style, and you have a special occasion to celebrate, be sure to check Sirene out.
Reviewed 3 May 2026.
