Homeroom is a popular Mac and Cheese spot. It was indeed, yummy as anticipated. They have a few…read moreoptions on the menu that elevate the classic food. It was filling. Thank you to our server, Anthony.

TLDR: 50 minute wait between sitting down to getting your food. Don't visit thinking this is a…read morequick drop by kind of place. While this visit was in between the lunch and dinner rush, unfortunately I think they are understaffed because at the time we sat down there was only 1 person who was busing tables and taking orders. As a result, it took a while for them to be able to stop by our table and provide water, take our order, etc. There was quite a long wait between sitting down to ordering to actually receiving our food. By the time we had actually received our food, almost an hour had passed. While we were waiting, a few other servers eventually joined, but service was still pretty bare for us and we never received refills on water or plates to eat off of when we received our food. I understand that staffing and a backup in the kitchen are out of the staff's control, but it would've definitely helped for us to know in advance how long to expect to wait to align our expectations and arrange our plans for the day. Would advise giving customers a quick heads up/warning because that on its own would've made a big difference. As for the actual food, we ordered the mac trio with elote mac, chicken pot pie mac, and kogi short rib mac (for an extra fee). The elote mac was the best and most flavorful, the short rib mac was okay but not amazing or worth the extra money, and the chicken pot pie mac was very bland/flavorless and didn't have much chicken in it. The food didn't feel like it warranted the wait time and because of that I would not return.

Brenda's is easily one of my favorite places for a good brunch. I've been to the San Francisco…read morelocation several times, and the Oakland location is also great--and quite a bit bigger. The food is consistently good. I especially love their fried chicken. We've tried several different dishes, and there really hasn't been much that I didn't enjoy. My daughter absolutely loved the chicken tenders. They're not your typical heavily breaded chicken strips--they have their own style and flavor that makes them stand out. The everything is also excellent, the biscuits are fantastic, and I really enjoyed the cornbread. And, of course, you can't go to Brenda's without trying the beignets. Those alone are worth ordering. Overall, Brenda's is just an awesome place to have brunch. Great Southern-style comfort food, plenty of choices, and food that actually lives up to the reputation. I've also been to Brenda's Meat & Three, and that's another really good spot. Highly recommended. If you're looking for a great brunch, Brenda's should definitely be on your list.

Brenda's runs a right ship, serving delicious New Orelans-inspired fare in an elevated yet…read morewelcoming atmosphere. The Kale salad with grilled tofu was way over my expectations and was enough for two meals ez.

Wow. I was so blown away by Lovely's! The food and drinks are really great! I feel like i'm at an…read moreold dive bar with all the small vintage details. The service is also amazing. I had a whole conversation with the server about my nails (little things like this make the experience more personal). My friends and I got cheese fries, regular fries, a veggie burger, a regular cheeseburger, and a hotdog. Safe to say, everything was devoured and we even went back for seconds. I think my favorite option is getting a vanilla soft serve cone for later. You basically pre-order it, then pick it up whenever you're done with your food so you don't have to rush to finish your meal. I had so much fun here and the environment was super friendly. Feels like real community at Lovely's. p.s. there's street parking or lots available in the area for cheap!

The Westerner Burger was pretty solid. It captures the essence of a typical "western/cowboy" burger…read morewith the BBQ sauce and crispy shallots. I appreciate that they did not put too much BBQ sauce because that always drenches the buns and makes the eating process very messy. The fries were also great - fresh potatoes? Corn fritters were underwhelming for its price point, would've been fine not getting it. While the food was pretty solid, the extremely long wait and the packed seats are what makes my rating go down. Lovely's is a very popular spot, even for a weekday dinner. The vibes are immaculate. It offers both indoor and outdoor seats, very spacious. However, because of the amount of people, the wait in line was a bit more than 30 minutes. Then adds another wait to get the food. On top of all the waiting, seating options become limited and you will most likely be stuck with the outdoor tables, which can be unfortunate on a very cold evening. If you're hungry, don't come here. But if you don't mind the wait, this is definitely a great spot with great company.

FOB Kitchen is one of our favorite restaurants in Oakland! We love their modern take on Filipino…read moreclassics while still keeping the flavors that make the cuisine so comforting. Their version of Adobo was so good that it inspired us to start adding coconut milk to our own recipe at home and we've never looked back. The restaurant itself is warm and inviting, with beautiful plants throughout that give it such a cozy, homey feel. The staff has always been welcoming, making every visit enjoyable. My personal favorites are the Calamansi drinks and the Palabok, both are absolutely delicious. If you're looking for creative Filipino food that still honors its roots, FOB Kitchen is definitely worth checking out.

Great Filipino fusion spot close to the Temescal in Oakland! Tip: try to make it before 3 PM so you…read morecan order off their brunch menu. They don't offer as many items for dinner. We ordered the Adobo Fried Rice and Lechon Kawali Silog. The fried rice was fantastic--it had a nice crispy rice texture that really made the dish. I also liked the silog which came with very crispy pork, super flavorful garlic rice, a refreshing salad, and a citrusy dipping sauce that gave it a unique twist. Whatever you order, make sure to add their hot sauce! It definitely elevated each dish! The ambiance of the place was kind of boho chic and it was relatively empty at around 12:30pm on a Thursday. Service was nice, our waitress was prompt and paid a good amount of attention to us. I feel like they are a bit understaffed though, but that might be due to business being slower than usual during the time we went. Overall, I would recommend this spot to people look for Filipino food with a twist in the area. Would love to come back myself to try their lumpia, sticky wings, or desserts!

Updated review: I was hype when I seen Momma Lynch's…read moreSpecial back on the menu at Rob Ben's Restaurant. I'm not going to lie, I been checking the site waiting for them to bring it back lol. Soon as I saw it, I had to order through DoorDash, and it did NOT disappoint. This plate is a whole feast for real. You get 3 party wings, 3 pieces of fish, 2 pork chops, plus green beans and mac & cheese. Everything came hot, fresh, and smelling good as soon as I opened it. The fish was crispy and seasoned right, not greasy at all. The wings were juicy and full of flavor, and them pork chops? Tender, seasoned all the way through, and cooked just right. Now the sides? Just as fire. The green beans had flavor, not bland like some places be doing, and that mac & cheese was creamy, cheesy, and hitting for real. You can tell they put love into this food. Portions is solid too. They not being stingy at all. Definitely worth the money. I'm glad they brought this back because yeah... I'm running this order back again real soon.

I hadn't eaten here in a few years and I must say the food was . I ordered the Momma Lynch which…read morecame with 3 pieces of fried fish, 3 whole fried chicken wings, 2 fried pork chops, 2 sides (greens and red beans and rice) and corn bread. My favorites were the fried fish, greens, and red beans and rice. Everything was fried to perfection. I also had the Skittles cocktail and it was very good. We went when they opened for the day so the restaurant was quiet. Service was fast and our server was friendly and knowledgeable. *Side note - The women's bathroom was spotless.

Extremely flavorful chicken pho noodle soup, I can see why! They have outdoor seating and I am so…read moreglad I sat outside. It was extremely busy inside. I will be back with my family! I ate my fresh shrimp spring rolls so fast, it was so good but I was also really hungry lol I had to order the mini shrimp pancakes because it looked like it's a "must" order... The waitresses were super friendly and quick with taking my order! To the owner(s): Please do not change your ingredients in your food menu! Thank you for offering delicious pho!

While looking for something on the way, I found this place thanks to Yelp. There is a dedicated…read moreparking lot which was a bonus. There are tables inside and outside for dining. The beef pho was ok. The broth was on the sweet side. The sticky rice (zoi man) was fantastic though. It came with quail egg, pate, Vietnamese ham, sweet sausage, scallion oil, fried shallot, and house sauce with a choice of chicken or pork. I went with the pork which was nicely chargrilled. The entree didn't look too big, but it was quite filling. Service was quick. Overall, I'm glad I found this place!

Yelp actually led me to this sandwich shop. I searched for sandwiches in my area, and this was one…read moreof the few places that popped up. I'm forever grateful for that recommendation because they make some of the best sandwiches I've ever had. I've tried a few items on the menu, but the one I always recommend is the Hot Italian. Everything about this sandwich is incredible. It's packed with flavor, and you can honestly tell it was made with care. I usually pair it with a bag of chips, and the total comes to around $18. It's absolutely worth every penny and always leaves me full and satisfied. The shop is consistently clean, and the customer service is always friendly and welcoming. I find myself going back over and over again, then telling myself I need to take a break--only to end up back there a few weeks later. That's how good it is. A couple of things to keep in mind before you visit: there's only limited street parking, so you may have to circle the block to find a spot. There's also not much room to wait inside, although they do have a bench or two where you can sit while your sandwich is being prepared. In my experience, the wait is usually around 15 minutes. I've honestly never been here when it wasn't busy, so expect a crowd. But once you take that first bite, you'll understand why. Great food, great atmosphere, and great customer service. I highly recommend checking this place out!

I told my companion I was craving a sandwich, which is rare, especially on Dutch crunch. He is…read morealways so good with making sure my cravings are satisfied, and after perusing Yelp, we decided to come here. We arrived at the deli on a weekend afternoon. It wasn't too busy. The deli is a nice size with a couple of benches to sit and wait for your food. You can look at the menu and order, plus grab a drink or chips. They have a nice variety of items to grab that go well with your sandwich. The service was friendly and quick. Workers were all kind, and we love that it's dog-friendly! Regarding the sandwiches, you can get a hot or cold sandwich. You can also build your own! Companion got the Hot Boy, and I went the Build Your Own route. The sandwiches are hefty, with lots of great meats and fillings, and for the price, very decent! I wish my bread were a bit more toasted and crunchier, but that's my preference. It hit the spot, and I'd be open to trying their other sandwiches. I don't often go to delis, but Brothers Deli was a nice place to try. We enjoyed it by the waterfront, which makes it a great picnic option. Find them off Park Blvd., with street and residential parking around.

Sideshow Kitchen has crispy wings, garlic fries, and surprisingly reasonable prices…read more What I ordered: Lemon Pepper Wings Hyphy Hot Wings Garlic Fries Overall: 8.5/10. If you're going, I'd definitely recommend the lemon pepper, they had the best balance of seasoning and crunch. Service was great and fast. It was such a vibe to watch the soccer game :)

3.5 stars (Review…read morebased on delivery) $19.30+tx Sideshow Burger with bacon add: large, sloppy, pretty darn good. $5.50+tx cheese fries: a beautiful mess $7.15+tx vanilla shake: yup. Tastes like a shake. I'd say I'm getting my $ worth.

Xingones is exactly what the neighborhood needed. There's ample seating and good bartenders if you…read morewant to dine in, though I usually end up getting their food to go. My go-tos are the Cali-style burrito with asada and the Xingones nachos (with extra cheese). Good quality ingredients and portions that are generous enough that I almost always have leftovers. Plus, the prices are fair for what you get.

The service is slow and food is just meh.. definitely not the "Best Mexican food in Oakland" like…read moretheir website says lol. The taco truck on 1st Ave will serve you better (Tacos mi Rancho)! Two stars instead of one because their horchata offered some redemption.

OMG I thought I was in New Orleans at 2 o'clock in the…read moremorning with the man I love. Chef Smelly is the real deal. I ordered red snapper, mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts. It was definitely enough for two people. I can't wait to return with my whole family. So glad my birthday is coming up. Dear Chef Smelly, thank you so much for caring about what you do. Your attention to detail and your love of good food is reflected in every meal I've had at your restaurant.

Very rude customer service. Also never has a few seafood items in stock. It says at the front door…read moreto wait to be seated and there was no server in sight. Since I have sat at the bar before I sat myself at the bar and grabbed my own menu. There was a gentleman sitting next to me wrapping up his meal and the restaurant was half full and I finally saw the server running tables and I still patiently waited since I saw she was the only server working. The older lady server preceded to acknowledge every other customer including the gentleman next to me and when a customer came in for a pick up she looked past me to acknowledge him and never once told me she would be right with me. After 15 minutes I ended up leaving the restaurant and going down the street to Y's Choice which has great service and plenty of items in stock on their menu. Would not recommend it here!