Drake’s Dealership in Oakland: Pizza & Beer in the Heart of the City

California has no shortage of great breweries, but for me, there are a few that stand up above the rest. Breweries like Stone, Russian River, Anchor Steam, Sierra Nevada, and Drakes are the ones you will want to visit again and again. I love the beer at Drakes, but I had only visited the brewery before this trip to Oakland. I made it a point to stop by the large restaurant and beer venue they have in downtown Oakland, and I have to say it was a fantastic spot to spend a few hours in the city. Here is all the information so you can check it out yourself.

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Details

  • Cost: $15 -$20
  • Recommendations: Out and In Pizza, Pretzel, and the Jolly Rodger beer
  • Location: 2325 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612
  • Information from my visit in 2017
  • Read about all of my favorite Oakland spots here

Getting There

Drake’s Dealership is located on the busy Broadway St in the heart of the city, and parking can be difficult in the area. There is street parking if you can find it and there is a paid lot near the restaurant that you can use but the hours for that lot differ each day. I usually park in the structure across the street if I can’t find street parking, but it is expensive at $3 for 20 minutes.

Drakes Dealership

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Located in an area with lots of car dealerships, I thought it was fun for them to name the restaurant in homage to that. The restaurant is in a big old brick building, and it is pretty massive, with a large outdoor seating area complete with fire pits and tables.

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There is also a good sized dining room inside as well, which has a fireplace and assorted seating.

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We sat outside since it was a beautiful day and looked over the menu full of unique options. Here is what we ordered.

Pretzel

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Made locally in Oakland, these are the perfect way to start your meal. They go great with whatever beer you chose, and you can dip them in either spicy mustard or the bacon cheese dip. It’s hard for me not to order a pretzel when at a brewery, and this is no exception.

Out and In Pizza

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This pizza tastes almost like an In-N-Out hamburger, thus the play on the name. I had to order it because it was such a unique idea, and I wanted to see how they pulled it off. I will say that when it arrived I was a little weary of my choice, but after diving in, I was pleasantly surprised. The pizza has a great flavor that is reminiscent of the famous cheeseburger without being a copy. It is more like a high-quality version, but you will be surprised how much it tastes like it when you get the lettuce, grilled onions, and sauce all in one bite. A super fun dish to order here.

Oakland Salad

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Naturally sweet from the sweet potatoes and cherry vinaigrette, it is a very light dish that pairs well as an entree after eating the pretzels and beer. The hazelnuts add a good crunch, and the aged Gouda completes the flavor.

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For beer, I recommend any of the barrel-aged ones, including the Jolly Rodger or the Denogginizer, which is a flagship.

Drake’s Dealership is such a great spot that we stayed after the meal was over to just hang out by the fireplace. Our server Brooke continued to take care of us and was an excellent addition to our dining experience. If you are in Oakland and you like beer, then you can’t miss Drake’s Dealership. Be sure to add it to your list and let me know what you think in the comments.

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