Billingsgate Seafood - Oakland, California

Alma R.

I have been a patron of Market Hall Foods for almost two decades, I love how everything is fresh and how the buyers keep finding new exciting things to try. In these years I enjoyed getting fresh fish and prepared foods from their fish and seafood counter. The clam chowder and fish and chips were excellent treats!

Well… there’s a new kid in town and they are not friendly to me (I figure to anyone who looks like me). I was reading their menu today -poorly displayed with tiny font- and I was excited to get some ceviche, until I saw another lady being cheerful and aggressively pursued by a man and a woman who were awfully close to me but had completely ignored me.

They greeted her, offered to answer her questions and gave recommendations, to which she started walking away… I was looking at them, still invisible.
Now, IDKY but I no longer spend my money at places where I am not welcome, or where anybody is being treated as “less than”… I took a picture of the scene and the man immediately jumped and said an intimidating “good morning” staring at me.

Should you remember that money comes in all shades and purses in the Bay Area, try to overcome your color blindness (blind only to color) and do what you are supposed to do: sell some fishies!!

Grace L.

I used to buy one of the delicious, fairly priced, fish sandwiches weekly at Hapuku, from the friendly staff. Now the new owners jettisoned the fish sandwich in favor of overpriced, precious seafood dishes, which I can't and won't eat. Everyone loved those sandwiches. Myself, and many others, hope they bring them back.

Alex B.

The best seafood in the East Bay, hands down. Extremely friendly staff and a wide array of options. Their ceviche and octopus carpaccio are so fresh and delicious. Also, plenty of oysters, many of which are east coasters. Very excited to have this option so close to home.

Nate B.

super friendly staff! offering dry aged fish among other great, unique products! love this new spot!

David T.

I'm not sure this will survive in this location. Perhaps it will be another example of a San Francisco business that thinks it can bring the same formula to Oakland and the East Bay only to be proved sadly wrong. Billingsgate has a vastly wider selection of fish than Hapuku but it's a little too precious, everything being covered up with Saran Wrap. I was also surprised that they carried Chilean sea bass, a fish we're not supposed to eat due to mercury content and lack of sustainability. The prices were quite a step up from Hapuku and I doubt I will be trying any of their $30 poke bowls. Too bad, I wanted it to be a success but I can't really see myself shopping here on a regular basis. There are plenty of other places less pretentious to buy fish. On the other hand, perhaps they will listen to criticism and adapt their business model

Alison G.

I had ordered fish from Four Star before because it was far superior to most available. So I was completely delighted when Billingsgate came to Rockridge, and wasn't disappointed -- there is a beautiful selection and it is pristinely fresh and reasonably priced for the quality and the staff could not be nicer or more helpful. Will be back!