Somewhat concealed by overhanging trees just across the street from the B Street BART parking lot, the restaurant Neumanali offers a fine dining experience without leaving Hayward.
While Hayward is not often associated with fine dining restaurants and lavish wine selections, Neumanali breaks those barriers with a romantic setting, good food and great service.
Located across from the B Street BART station, the restaurant looks like an old Victorian style house. It would be easily overlooked if it weren’t for the quaint sign out front indicating that you are indeed in the right place.
Upon entering the main dining area on the first floor of the building, guests are enveloped in a dimly lit, picture perfect room.
The space is modest, seating around 60 people at tables and about ten more at the small bar area, but this adds an intimate effect as opposed to seeming crowded.
Right at the entry of the dining room stands a wine rack that takes up about eight feet of the wall with a wide selection of red and white wines.
Neumanali also offers a beautifully landscaped outdoor dining area- which can also double as a special event venue, such as a wedding.
The restaurant offers a small menu of starters, small plates, entrees and dessert. The food and wine are a little pricey, but the quality of the dishes is worth the tab.
Starter salads and other items are fairly large and pair perfectly with a small plate item for a complete meal.
For those with larger appetites, the entrees are reasonably sized and attractively plated.
The menu selection is not very creative but it is good all the same. Beef is cooked according to the guests’ request and chicken is served juicy and flavorful.
Vegetarians and vegans will have a difficult time finding dishes to meet their dietary needs, but there are plenty of seafood dishes for pescatarians.
Neumanali has an extensive wine selection to compliment every dish on their menu and the waiting staff is more than happy to make suggestions.
The restaurants waiting staff is well trained in serving etiquette and offer friendly service.
Neumanali’s employees give guests a warm welcome and maintain a pleasant demeanor throughout the evening.
While it might take a while for the kitchen to prepare the food, the staff is very attentive and works hard to keep diners happy—glasses are always kept filled and made sure each table had what it needed.
Given the price and atmosphere of the restaurant, Neumanali isn’t intended for every night dining. Rather, it is the perfect place for special occasions, like birthdays or anniversaries.
It is only open from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday, so making a reservation is always a good idea.
Neumanali is great for east bay residents looking for a classy night out without having to deal with the traffic or hassle of San Francisco.
