pier 29 on ballena blvd has excellent service and food and is a pleasant atmosphere for those who find tranquility next to the water. it has views both facing the marina and the san francisco bay, which can be seen from any table.
i am a regular and eat at the pier at least once a week. the food has a home-cooked style, which not only satisfies my hunger for great seafood, but gives me a comforting feeling. there isn't any other restaurant in alameda like this one.
i recommend that one makes a reservation before dining, especially on the weekends and if you're dining with a large group of people. i've seen some people get upset because they have to wait twenty minutes. but if you go to any other corporate restaurant like elephant bar, they don't even take reservations and the wait can be up to two hours. in my opinion, pier 29 is very resposive to customers' needs.
as far as the service goes, the staff works very hard and everyone is both friendly and attentive. they each have their own personalities and always greet me with a smile.
my all time favorite dishes are the prime rib, petrale sole dore, the steamed clams, and the chateaubriand. (mmmm..so good)!! but the hardest part is deciding what i want because there's so much to try and so much to choose from! i recommend this restaurant to couples, singles who are out looking for a relaxing evening, and families who simply want to eat out!