Dinner at Millennium
For Maya’s birthday, we went to dinner at her favorite restaurant, Millennium, which is a renowned vegan restaurant in Oakland. This is our third time there, though she has been more times with her friends. The food is elevated and elegant, the flavors complex. The atmosphere is casual. I recommend sitting outside on the covered patio, inside is quite loud. It was chilly when we were there, but they had heaters and blankets to keep you comfortable. Ready for some food pics?
The menu on Fridays and Saturdays is a 4 course prix fixe. The first course is a light appetizer to share, then you choose the next three courses. Because Ted doesn’t eat sweets, he ordered 2 second courses and skipped the desserts.
I didn’t take a picture of our shared appetizer, I found this one (and the description) on Instagram. They call it an Amuse Bouche, but I think of those as being smaller, a single bite. Anyway, it’s delicious.
For the rest of the meal, the pictures are mine, and the descriptions are from their Instagram account. Their menu changes pretty often, and the online menu is from January. I could have said, ‘we had asparagus and mushrooms for appetizers, and broccoli for dinner’, but the ingredient lists are so interesting, I’m glad I found the descriptions on Instagram.
Ted and I each had this delicious seared asparagus appetizer. Asparagus can often be overcooked and soggy. This was crisp and absolutely perfect. Maya even agreed that it does not suck, and she does not care for asparagus.
Ted and Maya each ordered this delicious fried mushroom dish. Maya mostly dislikes mushrooms, but she loves these. She gets them every time. The sauce changes from time to time, but the basic crusted mushrooms are always on the menu.
This was my dinner. It was absolutely wonderful. Happily I saved some room for dessert by only eating about half of it, because that meant I had leftovers to eat for lunch a few days later.
Ted ordered the Miso Glazed Maitake Mushrooms, which he really, really enjoyed.
Maya ordered the Sopes, which she loved. She had never had Sopes before, but they were really good.
Maya and I had dessert, but I also had 2 glasses of wine and I forgot to take pictures. Maya’s was a chocolate mousse, and mine was a little cake with strawberries on the side.
This is definitely a special occasion restaurant, at least if you go on a Friday or Saturday and have drinks. Other nights the menu is not a prix fixe, and they do have a happy hour, so you wouldn’t have to order quite as much. If you’re ever in the area and looking for a Michelin Bib Gourmand rated restaurant, I highly recommend Millennium.
20 Comments
Birchie
This is right up my alley! I’m not vegan, but I also find vegan restaurants to be extra good, and I love seeking them out when I travel. I would love seeking them out at home, but the pickings are slim.
We have a couple of pricier restaurants on our dinning roster, and obviously we don’t go to those very often, but when we do it’s special and well worth it.
J
I think you would enjoy this restaurant, but yeah, it’s expensive. So good though!
AC
When you say, elevated dining, you are correct. Good for you for being able to have and enjoy a meal like this.
J
Thank you, we really enjoyed ourselves.
nance
There are quite a few terms here that I’m not familiar with since I’m not vegan, but the food looks lovely. I’d probably have ordered what Dr. Ted did, but definitely had dessert (Maya’s).
You know I’d have eaten Inside, however. Honestly, now–a blanket?
J
There were so many terms I had never heard of, which is why I stole the screenshots from their FB page.
I know of your dislike for eating outside, but wow, this place is LOUD inside.
PocoBrat
OMIGOSH, thank you for this…
Vegans deserve to have complex tasting plates too, so I’m so glad to hear of this restaurant.
I love descriptions of food and this sounds so intricate and ingenious–nori and capers? How did I never put them together before? Those radishes look like radishes, but I like that they’re described as Easter-egg radishes!
I’m usually hungry after fancy restaurant meals though–the portions seem small to me. I was glad to say you saved some for lunch–but it could just mean you’re more delicate than I am.
J
The portions here were definitely big enough, I doubt you would have to go home and have a sandwich. I am definitely not delicate when it comes to delicious meals.
I loved how intricate and complex these dishes were, but because of that I would never try to make them myself. Definitely a time to eat at a restaurant. And while it was expensive, sourcing all of these ingredients would be even more so I think.
Margaret
I love the interesting combo of ingredients and flavors. My older daughter was vegan for 7 years so I have much experience with vegan food/restaurants. What a wonderful birthday dinner!
J
It was really good, and the flavors were so interesting.
Nicole MacPherson
Oh YUM, I would eat every single thing you’ve listed! So delicious!
J
I think you would love it!
Tobia | craftaliciousme
What a fancy restaurant. Sounds like you formed a tradition to go there. How fun.
J
Agreed, it seems like this is our tradtion now for Maya’s birthday!
San
What a fun outing. I must say the food looks delicious! I am not vegan, but I will happily eat vegan meals that are presented like this and tasty 🙂
J
My thought exactly!
Diane
Oh wow! I love reading all the descriptions. I’m always hesitant to try fancy restaurants because they can be pricy and I don’t want to be disappointed. I wonder if my brother has been here – he lives in Berkeley and is a vegetarian and is really into tryng all the Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants, so I’m sure he’s been there. (When we were in Berkeley last year he took us to the Funky Elephant and Vik’s Chaat and New Dumpling)
J
I haven’t heard of any of those restaurants, but we live on the other side of the tunnel and don’t go into Berkeley too often.
Allison McCaskill
So cool! My daughter is lactose intolerant so she loves vegan restaurants. The menu seems a bit mushroom-heavy for me, but that asparagus dish looks and sounds amazing! “I had two glasses of wine and forgot to take a picture” – lol. We have gourmet dinner nights with our friends and I am the designated food photographer and the pics often get blurrier or non-existent as the night progresses.
J
LOL, I’m glad you understand about the lack of dessert photos!