Commis (**) Oakland, California

Visit Date: 12.10.2025

Discovered Chef James when I watched him make his signature dish for David Kinch and instantly became a fan of his https://youtu.be/WgNkWXFAUFc?si=1bTi3nhhn62tSU9U

His flagship restaurant Commis has been open for 17 years and has maintained its two Michelin stars for 11 years.

Commis seamlessly blends French techniques with flavors from his Laotian heritage, putting more focus on bridging those East and West flavors rather than food presentation.

The Plates:

1. Caramelized Onion Financier, Sour Cream
2. Pacific Oyster, Naam Jiim & Passionfruit
3. Raw Spiny Lobster Tartlet with Sesame
4. Hamachi & Asian Pear, Marigold Curry Paste. Standout Dish: The curry paste was very fragrant, paired really well with the fatty hamachi but the asian pear is what balanced the flavors and brought texture to the dish.
5. Osetra Caviar, Banana, Dill & Coconut
6. Chef Gift: Tapioca wrapped Pork & Pistachio Dumpling
7. Signature Dish: Slow poached Egg Yolk, Smoked Dates, Alliums & Malt. Standout Dish: Checks all the marks for me. You get natural sweetness and savoryness from the soubisse soup, balanced with the right amount of acidity from the malt vinegar. The dish was paired with their bread & butter to dip into the soup. A sourdough loaf with koji butter and I gotta say their sourdough bread was the best I ever had, and I live in California having had many great sourdoughs in San Francisco. Crispy, airy, right amount of sour, and served HOT… wow.
8. Bay Scallops, Autumn Squash with Thai Basil & Chrysanthemum, Savory Soymilk. Standout DIsh: This dish is a perfect example of Chef using flavors from his heritage. The thai basil & chrysanthemum paste was very fragrant, paired so well with the sweet bay scallops, the squash brought a nice creamy element and the savory soymilk had so much umami it seasoned and brought the whole dish together perfectly.
9. Black Cod with Fermented Broad Beans & Clams
10. Roast Duck with Toasted Chestnuts & Cognac, Preserved Pluot Hoisin
11. California Haiga Mai Rice Congee, Beef Bouillon & Matsutake
12. Osmanthus Tea Ice Cream, Sour Apple
13. Warm Persimmon Pudding, Red Walnuts & Palm Sugar with Milk Jam
14. Chef Gift: Cream Puff with Japanese Sweet Potato Filling
15. Buckwheat with Li Hing Mui
16. Pomegranate & Coconut Pate de Fruit
17. Lotus Root Pudding with Thai Tea

Overall, it was a wonderful experience and it's a restaurant in my opinion that doesn't get enough recognition when comparing it to the other 2 stars in the bay area. Great food and great service, fully deserving of it's stars!