Mägo

Enjoyed a lovely night out with a friend for a belated birthday dinner. Did the 7 course tasting and beverage pairing. All was delicious.
Apr 6th, 2024

I dont think they like my skin but thats ok he had a fair skin black person work the door be cause they probably work better . Boy the Bay Area is officially whited out .
Mar 22nd, 2024

This restaurant is advertised as Colombian influenced, but its not. The only true Colombian items are: arepas, plantains, buenos, one liquor specific to Colombia (Aguardiente), and lastly the chef. Although the rest of the menu is rather anything but Colombian, all of which does not equate to a being called a Colombian restaurant. It should be the menu and in this case with the lack there of with true or inspired Colombian dishes which makes it apparent it is just an upscale restaurant, just not a Colombian one. The positives are the atmosphere of the dining room and the courteous staff. I wouldnt recommend this restaurant for anything but tapas on date night.
Mar 21st, 2024

Ideally, a 3.5/5. My friend and I visited Mgo during the Oakland Restaurant Week (priced at $65 pp). From outside, it looked like a regular building, but once inside, Mgo offered a charming atmosphere. The indoor area had a warm, intimate feel with soft lighting, perfect for a quiet dinner. They also have a back patio with heated lamps, making it a versatile spot depending on your preference. They also had blankets for us to use because the weather was extra chilly and rainy. Their patio area is mostly covered, so you should be fine if it starts raining unless you are seated at the table we were at. Our table was slightly exposed to the outside elements, and with the strong winds, we could definitely feel the drizzle, but it wasn't a big deal. We just moved our seats, and we were fine afterward. The food had its ups and downs, but unfortunately, the service significantly impacted the overall experience. Our Restaurant Week tasting menu, which consisted of only 4 courses, stretched out to a staggering 2.5 hours. This slow pace put a damper on the evening, especially considering the number of courses. The menu itself was an interesting mix. The jicama, rhubarb, feta bunuelo, and radicchio starter had intriguing flavors, but the execution felt a little disjointed. The bunuelo was hard like a brick and wasn't much cheesy. I liked the rhubarb, but my friend wasn't a fan. The ling cod, maitake "ajiaco", capers, and avocado were pretty good, with the ling cod cooked perfectly and the maitake mushrooms adding an earthy depth. The avocado was a little salty, but it came on the side, so it didn't really impact the overall flavors of the dish. All in all, it was a great dish. The beef carne asada was a bit of a letdown. While the asparagus and black garlic were interesting accompaniments, the beef itself wasn't as consistent, and some pieces were a bit dry. The pan de coco with plantain butter (an additional $8) was phenomenal (MUST TRY). It was a delightful combination of sweet bread and creamy plantain. We devoured this in no time. I'm still dreaming about it. The torta de zanahoria (carrot cake) with rum raisin and cinnamon was another great dish that delivered a classic carrot cake flavor with a boozy twist. All the textures and flavors complimented each other really well, and the cold ice cream on top really took this dessert to the next level. Overall, Mgo has a lovely ambiance and some creative menu ideas. However, the incredibly slow service significantly detracted from the experience. While our dinner started off with some okay dishes, it definitely ended on a high note.
Mar 23rd, 2024

Popped in for Restaurant week and opted for their $75 4 course tasting menu. The hostess was very kind and charming which built up the anticipation for the rest of the night. However, once we were served our cocktails, fear began to creep in. My friends tasted like chilled pickle juice when the menu said there was pineapple and all sorts of tropical flavors. Mine was decent, not great but decent. We were then served a gazpacho as our first course. The experience was like spoon feeding ourselves vinegar. I love a vinegary taste, but this wasnt pleasant at all. Then onto the Cod It was over seasoned and just tasted like pure salt. Purely disgusting and indigestible. Thankfully, the steak with black garlic pure was delicious. However, the plating was funny with one asparagus split into three. How generous. You also cant go wrong with dessert which was pretty and pleasant. In all, for its price point, I was deeply unimpressed and saddened at the steep letdown this night turned out to be. We had high hopes when making the trip out all the way to the East Bay, but were sent home crushed. Thanks.
Mar 21st, 2024