Oakland’s popular brasserie, Wood Tavern, to close by end of year

A popular and longtime dining spot in Oakland, Wood Tavern, is getting ready to shutter.

Located at 6317 College Ave., in the tony Rockridge neighborhood, the restaurant specializes in American brasserie fare like ribeye steaks and charcuterie — it is, printed in caps on its website, “OAKLAND’S GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE.” Proprietors Rich and Rebekah Wood opened it in 2007, running off its success to launch sister restaurants The Wolf and two locations of Southie.

But now the Woods are throwing Wood Tavern on the, ahem, wood pile. It will close at the end of 2026, according to The San Francisco Chronicle, which first reported the news. The cause of the closure is a mix of the owners getting older and modern times making it harder to run a full-service restaurant. Southie and The Wolf will remain open for now.

Wood Tavern had ridden the highs and lows of the restaurant industry over the last two decades. In 2019, The East Bay Times included it in its guide to the Bay Area’s 50 Best Restaurants, writing:

“Rebekah and Rich Wood’s 12-year-old American brasserie is a vibrant, bustling affair, refined and rustic at the same time, with a seasonal menu by exec chef Yang Peng that just makes us happy. The Butcher Block showcases charcuterie and terrines. The immense grilled pork chops have a cult following. And we can remember every soup we’ve ever had here.”

Over time, the Michelin Guide also took note, writing in its recognition:

“It’s a classic neighborhood standby, where friends, families and chic couples congregate for drinks at the copper-topped bar. Flanked by organic groceries, indie bookstores and antique shops, its environs speak of peace, weaving a bohemian spell that captivates both regulars and rookies alike.”

Wood Tavern outlasted the pandemic, when many eateries did not. When the virus was exploding in 2020, the establishment switched service models and posted a defiant message on Facebook, declaring itself “resilient as (expletive).”

Well, it was a good run. Folks hankering for some whisky-laced chicken liver pate or seared dayboat-scallop risotto have until the end of the year to get their orders in.