Shadow Ultra Lounge

I came here (at the recommendation of a friend) for their seafood fest. When I arrived the place was just barely festive and there was no seafood to speak of. The menu only had items of the fried variety — and a burger. For that they get one star.
However, the space is big and airy — high ceilings and very spacious. Though most of it went unused (stacked chairs in distant corners) while I was there. Yet I can imagine if put to good use it would be a great place to hold any number of events. For that they get an additional star.

I came here to watch the Dionysus Presents: Magic of Air show last Saturday night with a VIP dinner and a show ticket. We parked directly across the street in a small parking lot for a $ 5 flat rate. Our table included a bottle of champagne and orange juice to make mimosas, spring salad, chicken and waffles, and a blueberry parfait for dessert. There was no menu provided, but I enjoyed everything that I ate. I wish I could say the same for my entire table; my friends thought the quality of food was cheap. For drinks at the bar we had a round of Don Julio tequila shots for only $ 40! Very reasonably priced. I enjoyed watching the performers, especially Frankie Fictitious!

This lovely venue has been the site of two holiday parties I have attended in the past few years. It’s a great space: airy and chic. We do our own decorating, provide our own entertainment, and even our own door personnel (yours truly this year.) The venue provides the bartenders, security (Ray’s the man), and the great sound system. We have a great working relationship with them. My quibble is the state of the floors. As part of this year’s decorating crew, most of us were already in our holiday party finest. When one of my friends lost her earring, we were unhappy to have to search through dust bunnies and dirt all over the hardwood floor. A heads-​up would have been appreciated.

I get a message from a DJ friend about an event at Shadow lounge, «it’s a beautiful space» they said «you’ll have fun.» I’m having a lazy Saturday and enjoying my long term relationship with my Netflix, I feel like I should turn my friend down but I work with kids all week so I think this may be an opportunity to interact with people who don’t want to build Legos and caugh in my face for a change. I begrudgingly put on my little black dress all the while thinking that maybe I should order a pizza and stay home.
I drive to Shadow, get to the door and I already know that it’s going to be an interesting night because security is already in someone’s face. I manage to make my way inside and my friend was right, it’s a beautiful space. What’s not beautiful however is the fact that I suspect the sound system in my car could do a better job. I’m here to dance not to watch the mime show the DJ is putting on at this point because the rest of us can’t hear the music.
Fast forward to the end of the night (yes I’m a sucker for punishment because I was determined to make sure I spent the 20 I paid at the door). Security is kicking people out, we all make it to the side walk. I stand by the door waiting for a friend to walk me to my car, that’s when I smell something off. My eyes start watering and I begin to caugh. At the back of my head I’m thinking «I don’t know what they smoke in Oakland but whatever it is it’s pretty strong to be fucking with me like this.»
What I don’t find out till the third time they do it is that security is casually walking over to the door and pepper spraying the people on the side walk. Last I checked the sidewalk was public property and this was 5 minutes after closing so ofcourse people would be lingering. A week later and my sinuses are still confused about what happened. This place is a law suit waiting to happen.
I’m not sure where Shadow picked up their jailhouse policing tactics but I’m pretty sure I won’t be going there again. One star for you.

This lounge must be investigated, right from the door , the security guards are so rude and there’s no order. They expose fire arms like caps and really need find out, what level of permission or license these security guards have to be able carry firearms, while guarding door, it seems to be illegal. They have rude cashier’s at the door. One takes your money without furnishing proof of payment, no receipt /​even a simple stamp. Beyond that service at the bar is so poor that, they loose track of your order. They just keep being slow and disorderly that you have no choice either to be ignored or give up. They charge extra from what was advertised, which turns out to be an outright robbery. Am sorry to conclude that this lounge is an outright insult to oaklanders. Can the city help us? Am ready to support my findings.

Nice, big space with smaller private rooms. Great space to hold your private events. Celebrated a birthday here with bottle service and I had no complaints. The service was excellent and one of the owners checked in on us periodically to make sure our party had everything we needed. Music was good — 90s hip hop and soul. I sometimes drop in on an off night and enjoy a nice cocktail. Never said this about a place before… But I love all the bartenders here.

finally found Shadow open. place is huge. HH 4 – 6, drinks only, beers $ 3, wells $ 5.
food menu mostly fried items and burger (9), no more steaks.
drink: lagunista ipa (3)
–pretty good
–no drafts here
–only dozen beers available, a few micros.
on draught:
–was informed they open for lunch also.
–food and drink menu average at best.
–never tried to go to evening events.
2.5 stars.

I totally agree with Janine I will NOT be returning to this place. I also visited this spot a few weeks earlier and the same thing totally unorganized, no DJ and the drinks were horrible! They cater to the young adults who don’t appreciate fine wine/​drinks and entertainment. This place has no class!!!

I visited the lounge last night and there were not enough seating. Most of the tables that said reserve were empty seats. I can understand if you have a reserve area but in the middle of the club, come on. Seats ended up taken but what was the occasion for reserve. I did not see table service. Now, I did appreciate you checking the purses but I left and came back and was not searched. I could have gone to the car for a weapon. So if you have search policy keep it straight, search in and out otherwise you are going to have problems. (Trust me) Find out why Maxwells closed. Just saying Good luck with the business. PS Oh one of our friends ordered food and it had tons of salt on it so she couldn’t eat it. Keep in mind some people may have high blood pressure and food just doesn’t taste good with too much salt.

Bartender etiquette is piss poor! I’m a bartender, so I understand being busy… but when you overlook and bypass someone standing directly in front of you it is unacceptable! I will not spend another dime in this place, if it wasn’t for my group of friends being here I’d bounce! It’ll take some major moves to make me come back to this BS! Plus how do you host a large crowd and not keep toilet tissue in the ladies restrooms! Smh

Went to see my friend perform and the so called manager sucks! My group was asked to move twice because this idiot overbooked his parties.
He told us «they paid» as if we hadn’t so we had to move. Ended up leaving before my friend even performed. Never got those fries I ordered.
I don’t know what kind of manager he was but… little dirty men with dreds and raggedy t-​shirts are not business attire.

Ok so i did come back here as I said from my previous post. I arrived about 9 for a bday party. Yup thats early and it was pretty empty but not much different by 11pm. The music was meh. It was good for a walk down memory lane but only if you know local rap artists. Drinks tasted watered down which was very different from my last visit. Tasty drinks but be sure to ask to taste the «house» liquor before your drink is made. I didn’t think to ask until realized 2 drinks later i had no buzz. Im a tispy off wine kinda social drinker. Oh well too late. Bartenders are super nice though. Not too bad if you wanna just relax for a «cocktail» and a bite to eat and go somewhere else later. They appear to have infrequent concerts but no one could say if there was a website to plan to return. Oh yeah much younger crowd and no dress code IMO.

Came here for an all white party. I didnt stay long, from what I did see, it was pretty chill and they had some good food and drinks. Also, they had someone waiting drinks which I love. Would have to come again.

This would be a great place to go for dinner and dancing if they market and promote it better. They have a nice venue with good food, drinks and DJ. I’m confused with what type of business it is because I had a party there on a Friday evening a couple of weeks ago and the place was empty except for the guest that was invited to the party which means I should’ve done more research on this place and management should’ve informed me that I would have the whole place to myself, LOL. That place on a Friday night should’ve been packed in the restaurant and lounge area. I hope they bring up the energy in there it could be a great spot for Downtown Oakland.

A few weeks ago this lounge added a restaurant .IT’s a shame because the restaurant and lounge should be two different entities. They –CAN– be different experiences. for example, say you don’t care about the clubbing/​lounging… and want a GREAT meal at lunch time or dinner with a date? Or even solo?
The food here is outstanding. Chef is from the old PRIME SPOT on Grand ave. The appetizers such as the Crab and artichoke dip are delicious! The drinks are made well and the Prime rib Is outta this world. Even the Sammich for lunch is outta this world.
Street parking is nearby or there is a garage and they accept all major CC’s.
For dates, double-​dates, small or LARGE parties, this place can accommodate it all, but the Food is where it’s at. The FOOD has me returning when I need my weekly dose of sweet moo-​moo. The Mashed potatoes are heavenly !
I will return and tell everyone to come with!
:D

Check out the «new» recently opened THE KITCHEN at Shadow Ultra Lounge, excellent new restaurant food including appetizers, fire grilled rib-​eye steaks, salmon, handmade desserts etc. with the remodeled kitchen and addition of a new restaurant host, chef and pastry chef. These are the same people that operated the recently closed «Prime Spot» in Oakland.

This review is for Thursday night (salsa night).
Seems like this place just reopened a couple of months ago. Came here on a Thursday night to support some of my friends that are salsa instructors here. The place is bigger than what it seems. Parking can be a pain if it gets too busy. Drinks are reasonably priced (coke and rum was $ 5). Live salsa band on Thursday nights! Cover charge is $ 10. TVs were available at the bar in case you need to know the score to some game you might be missing. Salsa lessons start at 8:15 and go for about an hour and then let the Party begin (whoop whoop!)
I’ll be coming here more often to support my friends. Small crowd but the vibe was good. People are here to have a great time. Get your dress shoes ready and dance the night away!

this should be the new hot spot for all the Oakland folks and others cities. no need to go all the way to the San Francisco to have fun.
Big space, vip area, VIP karaōke room, respectful worker, no fee charge, bottle service available.
a lot of optional beers, shots and mix drink.
best time to go is Friday and Saturday night.
nice light shows.
Music is ok. its mix with old school and new school but still good bump to it.
they have snacks available.
dress code: dress to impress –look nice fella, ladies be your fine self
cons: hard to find parking.
shout out to my Home girl Ju H. for introducing me to the place.

Came here on opening night. This place is a huge night club with lots of tables, lounges and 3 different sized karaōke rooms. They had a live band when I went and the décor is super modern and chic. I like the size of the largest karaōke room, which could probably fit like 20 people, maybe 30 standing? The music videos are the legit kind, not the random asian people walking around in bikinis and stuff. They even have a song by Kobe Bryant. WHAT??? lol!
Service was great, could definitely see myself having more fun times here in the future.

New management has taken over this place after a bit of a hiatus (so I hear).
In any case, the new look is great. The lounge is HUGE – features a holding area before you head either to the right (back area) or to the left, where there are a few private sections and the main dance floor, which is surrounded by cocktail tables. The bar was really open, and the ceilings high. There were three semi-​elevated VIP areas on the perimeter of the lounge, and each was really spacious.
Enjoyed the old-​school hip hop, and especially people-​watching, as there was an array of 30-​somethings all the way up to a few little old Asian men :)
They also serve food: fries, burgers and wings! We ordered fries @ $ 6/​each. The garlic aioli that accompanied each order was bomb.
Friends were discussing how great it would be to host an event here, especially as it has a small stage. Looking forward to see how this place pans out!