Brenda's is easily one of my favorite places for a good brunch. I've been to the San Francisco location 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. read more

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

Brenda's Oakland - Kale salad with tofu, 40% gone at time of photo. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

This review is from a visit back in January. I've eaten at Brenda's several times, and the Catfish Benedict has always been one of my favorites and consistently delicious. Unfortunately, this visit was completely different. My friend took me here for brunch on my birthday, and we both ordered the Catfish Benedict. The biscuits were hard instead of fresh and fluffy, and the catfish was overcooked with more batter than fish and there wasn't enough hollandaise sauce. We both tried to eat it but ultimately sent our meals back and asked that they be removed from the bill. Neither of us ordered anything else. I'm not sure what was going on in the kitchen that day because I've had this exact dish several times and it's always been perfect. Hopefully it was just an off day, but it was definitely disappointing. I do plan on giving them another try. read more

Brenda's Food in Oakland was a great experience overall! The fried chicken Benedict was the highlight crispy, flavorful, and really well done. The sides of potatoes were a bit soggy, and the beignet was slightly over-heated, which took away from the texture a little. Even with those small issues, the flavors were good enough that I would still come back. Friendly spot and definitely worth another visit. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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We've been to this restaurant several times in the past and have had much better experiences, so this visit was disappointing. The restaurant was clean, and we were seated within a reasonable amount of time. Some of the food was enjoyable, but other dishes missed the mark. The shrimp were good, and the catfish was enjoyed at our table. The fried chicken, however, was very bland. The cheese grits were okay, but I expected the cheese to be incorporated throughout the grits rather than mostly sprinkled on top. The service was the biggest disappointment. Our reservation was at 5:00 p.m., and we did not leave until around 7:00 p.m., even though we did not order appetizers or dessert. We had to flag our server down to order drinks, and our food actually arrived before the drinks did. Considering the restaurant was not very busy, the overall pace and level of attentiveness were disappointing. We had also noted on the reservation that we were celebrating our anniversary, so we were hoping for a warmer dining experience overall. We appreciated being able to spend the evening together, but unfortunately the restaurant experience itself did not feel special or particularly welcoming. We've supported this restaurant before and wish them well, but after this visit, we've decided we will not be returning. read more

I'm so satisfied that I didn't even finish eating before posting! I ordered takeout. The food was ready when expected which is a major plus. The staff were friendly and helpful. The restaurant was clean and smelled good. The atmosphere was great for a Sunday morning, not too busy. The packaging was perfection! I'd feel comfortable ordering here for delivery. All of this is great but THE FOOD. Then food is amazing! Made just right - well seasoned, the potatoes were the perfect texture, the Mac n cheese was exactly what it's supposed to be, and the shrimp and grits - immaculate! I will definitely be returning! read more

Brenda's Oakland - Shrimp and grits, Mac and cheese, potatoes. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

I love this place. There is both inside and outdoor seating. The restaurant is clean and looks modern. But, I do wish the seating was a little more comfortable. Service is consistently excellent. The servers are always attentive, knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. The food is always excellent. Blackened catfish - 7.5/10 - tasty, nicely seasoned, perfectly cooked. coleslaw side (6.5/10) above average. sweet potatoes (9/10) OMG! these are amazing. Flight of beignets - 7.5/10 - this dish offers a nice taster of the beignets. definitely worth trying Shrimp & Grits - 9/10 - I'm not a grit lover, but holy cow, this is amazing. Fried chicken - 8.5/10 - super tender, flavorful, crispy, and not greasy at all Brenda's is a must try, and a must come back often. read more

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Gumbo, Paper Stock, and the Theology of Mild Disappointment I entered hungry and left morally and physically compromised -- blinking into the Oakland nightscape like an over-stuffed foie gras goose who had lost an argument with butter. There is quality here. That is what makes this complicated. Because what happened was not incompetence. It was fragmentation. The Service: A Two-Headed Doctrine The front of house operates like a philosophical experiment in duality. Waiter One: warm, human, luminous. The kind of man who makes you believe hospitality is still a sacred act. He let us hold onto a menu while we were deciding. He smiled. He breathed oxygen. Civilization. Then Head Two emerged. She appeared not as a host but as a compliance officer for semi-premium paper. The menu -- not laminated, mind you, not archival parchment, just a slightly ambitious piece of cardstock that dreamed of lamination -- was snatched from our hands while we were clearly still reading it. Her reasoning? She "didn't want the menus to get dirty." There was no food on our table. No grease. No sauce. No evidence of moral decline. Just water glasses and hope. Apparently we looked like we might exhale oil. If your menu fears contamination, laminate it. Do not weaponize it. Southern hospitality cannot coexist with suspicion. It is metaphysically incompatible. The Bloody Mary (3/5) Pickled okra rising from the glass like a submarine periscope in tomato fog. Interesting. Almost daring. But it hesitated at the edge of chaos and stepped back into civility. A drink that flirted with madness and chose safety. Fried Chicken Thigh (2.75/5) Crisp. Competent. Deep-fried with enthusiasm. Seasoned with restraint bordering on timidity. Fried chicken should feel slightly unlawful. This felt insured. It had crunch but no conviction -- poultry that went to finishing school and refused to start a fight. Shrimp & Cheese Grits (4.5/5) Here the kitchen awakens. Creamy. Bold. Assertive. This dish believed in itself. It entered the room with posture and heat and declared jurisdiction. If everything had been executed at this level, this review would not exist. The Platter: A Symposium of Almost Fried Catfish (3/5) Technically sound. Emotionally evasive. Crisp handshake, no eye contact. Chili Jam (4/5) Bright. Sharp. Charismatic. The jam had more personality than the paper guardian. Red Beans, Rice & Andouille (3/5) Functionally correct. Spiritually beige. Chicken Gumbo (3.5/5) Competent but domesticated. Gumbo should feel like it has secrets. This had a résumé. Hush Puppies (3.5/5) Deep-fried geometry. Pleasant but inert. Meat & Three I chose soft shell crab. Soft Shell Crab (2.5/5) Deep-fried sawdust in crustacean cosplay. Crunch without consequence. Cornbread with Chili Jam (4/5) Hot. Buttery. Generous. Finally, something unapologetic. Collard Greens (3.5/5) Balanced. Respectable. But I make better at home -- and that fact lingers. Sweet Potatoes (4.75/5) These were decadent. Brown sugar. Burnt caramel. Butter without shame. For a brief moment I forgave everyone in the building. Ube Beignet (3/5) Massive. Purple interior like edible hallucination. Intriguing concept. But by this point I was no longer dining. I was being processed. The Exit Fullness is physics. Satisfaction is philosophy. I left saturated in oil and sugar and starch and promise. But promise alone does not earn devotion. The Room Medium lighting. Slightly cramped. No compensatory charm. There is real talent in this kitchen. That is undeniable. But hospitality cannot operate in fractions. You cannot offer buttered cornbread and simultaneously radiate suspicion over cardstock. You cannot serve comfort food while communicating mild distrust. New Orleans may be 1,800 miles away -- but seasoning and generosity travel just fine. Final Reckoning Because the shrimp & grits were genuinely strong -- and because those sweet potatoes bordered on scandalous -- I cannot accuse the place of mediocrity. But most of the menu hovers at "acceptable." And when I can cook better fried chicken, better collards, and better gumbo in my own kitchen while listening to something unhinged and drinking something stronger than their Bloody Mary, that becomes the standard. 3.35 stars. It rounds down to 3.0. Not out of cruelty. Out of principle. There is a great restaurant buried here somewhere. It will emerge the day the food commits fully -- and the menu is either laminated or liberated. read more

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Leah was out waitress and she was so kind! She literally had to run the entire patio by herself and she rocked it! Service was very very slow but that had nothing to do with her but everything to do with the kitchen. Possibly they were short handed with the holidays since Christmas was coming up a lot of people tend to leave town. Overall the food was a 7 out of 10. You're probably wondering why the 5 stars then? Because the food we did like was delicious! The French toast so good! Fried chicken so good! Shrimp po boy so good! Fries were deliciously crunchy! So yeah the gumbo was mid but I don't like okra so I guess that is my preference. The Mac and cheese was mid I like mine better and the catfish po boy needed more seasoning. My husband did the side of gravy he could have done without. All in all we will be back again soon! read more

Brenda's Oakland - Underberg drink my hubs ordered lol - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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1st time dining at this location as we prefer their original spot on Polk. What we had here were delicious with great flavors! Service was excellent. This location has patio seating which is a plus on this pleasant spring day. The French toast, the fried chicken, shrimp po boy & fries were delicious. All soooooo good. read more

Ahhh, so I came here back in November just for the Beignets and swore I'd double down on some food when back in town. We came for lunch, ordered a plethora of different items. The biscuits were delicious, the hushpuppies too. I got the catfish plate with potato hash and spinach. All done well. My mom and sister order fish n grits and the chicken basket. My daughter ordered a side of Mac n cheese and a biscuit. Our only disappointment was in Mac n cheese and the chicken. The noodles were still a tuff chew, the cheese sauce was runny and seemed to just be topped with cheddar cheese before throwing in the broiler, which I get is the standard for restaurant Mac, but that roux/cheese sauce gotta be a lil thicker and then noodles should a been cooked a lil more so dente. The chicken wasn't bad, just lacked a lil flavor. Felt like it just had a breathe of spice put on it. And one last thing I have a pork restriction and for a lot of the items I couldn't get it prepared without it, so I just had to miss out on that experience. I understand folks restrictions aren't top of the priority list all the time, but as a restaurant you should be able to make subtle accommodations. Other than that, service was good, ambiance was great. I'll definitely be back for the breakfast. read more

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Brenda has a breakfast sandwich in the morning, I think between 8-11AM. The sandwich is pretty good. While they use a biscuit to in case the sandwich in, I would prefer a toasted brioche bun, but that's just me. Check it out if you haven't tried it. read more

Love a good Shrimp n grits...and this is one of the best around. I frequented the one in San Francisco much more than the one in Oakland, but both are flavorful. Everything I've eaten here has been packed full of flavor including the fried catfish and several other items on the menu. I've introduced several to Brenda's and they've fully enjoyed their meals every time. They aren't on the low end price wise, but definately worth it. Cheers! read more

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Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee the breakfast French toast Grits Mimosa Shrimp and grits (tomato based) read more

Brenda's Oakland - Shrimp & Grits Bananas Foster French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

Stopped over after dinner closeby just to pick up some biscuits to take home for an evening treat. So excited that the biscuits are the original size, not the updated versions that I get when in the city (please bring them original biscuits back to all Brenda's, it's a missed staple). Service was great as expected. p.s. I wish I could've gotten strawberry jam or another option other than apple. read more

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Came on a Friday for brunch. Made a reservation online for 11:15. Arrived and had a table on the patio ready for us. We initially made a reservation to be seated inside but they didn't have enough room to accommodate us however the patio worked out for us. They had the heater on outside and it wasn't too cold. Ordered the shrimp and grits, florentine eggs Benedict, jambalaya, fried chicken with biscuit, a side of gravy and spiked apple cider. We enjoyed everything with the exception of the jambalaya. The chicken was a little dry in the jambalaya. The eggs benedict was so yummy. We didn't expect it to be in the biscuit and that made it so good. Shrimp and grits are a classic and so good here. Cant go wrong with fried chicken. We got a side of gravy to enjoy with our biscuit and loved it. Service was great. Staff were friendly and very accommodating. We had our baby with us and they brought out a plastic cup of water for her and made sure to put food out of her reach when they brought it out. read more

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Lives up to the hype! Food was delicious, great flavors! Service was excellent. Food does take a while to come out but it's hot when it does! Restaurant has a great vibe for brunch, cute patio seating as well. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Fried Chicken Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Hadn't been to Brenda's in quite a while and decide to go there for breakfast when my Mom was in town. We decided to sit at one of the outside tables as it was a nice day. We ere able to Quincey order once we had decided on our entrees. I chose the succotash omelette with choice of side/breads- cheese grits and buttermilk biscuit. My Mom chose a two way eggs and such, selecting scrambled eggs w/ side of grits, buttermilk biscuit and bacon; which was an extra charge. Our food came out quickly and we were chomping away. I would like to specifically state the service was impeccable and I will definitely be back sooner or later if not to only grab a to go order of those crawfish beignets read more

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Haven't been to Brenda's in a minute! Didn't realize they had one in Oakland, last time I went was the one in the city. I had the fried chicken Benedict, did not disappoint! Followed it up to end the meal with an ube beignet which was as good as it sounds. Might get the one that comes with 3 next time just because I love beignets. They have an outdoor seating area with heated lamps. We came on a rainy day and they had awnings up to block the rain from coming in. Helps that the building is situated where the wind isn't blowing into the outdoor seating area, too. I got seated quickly and was tended to promptly as well. Service was good, no complaints there. They accommodated my request to sit at a different table which was great! I didn't think they'd remember. They also are dog-friendly on the outdoor seating area! Will be back soon for more beignets read more

Brenda's Oakland - Fried Chicken Benedict with Potato Hash Side - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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After so long ago, this place is still staying strong with service and food. Love the gumbo. There is everything in every bite and it was seasoned so well The catfish and shrimps were crunchy but not overly battered. The devil sauce has a kick and is a bomb I wanted to use it on everything. Came out so full and satisfied read more

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Oh god. If I lived in Oakland, this would be a real problem. Like finding excuses to come here kinda problem. I would be eating here all the time. This is a good breakfast/brunch spot with a soul food/creole/cajun twist. They have unique takes on Americana fare. Think ube beignets and succotash omelettes. If you're a fan of beignets, they have some big 'uns in multiple flavors. Serena our server was lovely. She had such a calm energy that is palpable. This is only my second time in Oakland and Brenda's has given me another reason to come back. read more

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Breakfast at Brenda's Oakland was fantastic! The Café au Lait had a unique licorice like taste but was smooth. The gumbo was hearty and full of flavor, while the fried catfish was crispy on the outside and tender inside. My partner enjoyed his 2-egg combo and Andouille sausage with creamy and buttery grits that were absolutely delicious! We stop at Brenda's each time we visit the San Fran area and it continues to be a must stop each visit! read more

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Dang, what happened to this place?? Used to come all the time and the food AND service was always great! Stopped in for brunch today with our out of town guests after not having been here in a while. It was honestly a little embarrassing taking them here after gushing about how much we loved this place. Let's start with the service, which used to feel warm and homey, but the service today was odd. Our waitress seemed annoyed that we were there and I genuinely felt uncomfortable asking her for anything. The people at front of house were also a bit cold, and it took a minute to get anyone's attention to get seated because they were all scrolling on their phones. Now the food- I recommended the Benedict to our guests, and I got one as well. The eggs? Extremely overcooked. Hard middles instead of that gooey yolk you dream of with a Benedict. The whole Benedict was sloppy- broken biscuits, not enough hollandaise, dried out chicken. The person seated next to us also had issues with everything she ordered. It just felt messy. So I'm not sure what happened today, but we used to love this place. Now maybe we had a bad day, but for Saturday brunch, it was very disappointing. read more

One of my favorite spots in Oakland for brunch. The food is always delicious and doesn't disappoint. In highly recommend the freshly baked beignets. Service was great and the server checked up on us a few times throughout our meal. The place has a relaxed vibe inside and really nice patio outside. So, if you haven't been, check it out! read more

Brenda's Oakland - Boneless combo + Biscuit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Had a lunch meeting at Brenda's, and this place was busy, especially for a Friday afternoon breakfast. The first thing was that the waitress greeted me and was very friendly. Food at Brenda's is excellent. I had fried chicken with a biscuit and a side of grits. The ambiance had a modern feel, with seating outside. They also had a good menu with things like shrimp and grits or even catfish. Go to Brenda's for some excellent soul food. read more

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This was my first time at the Oakland location and I had a great experience. I love Brendas the food is always delicious. Came here for brunch with my sister and we sat on the patio because it was beautiful outside. It was definitely busy, we came during a rush but our server was on top of it. They serve good portions, the food came out hot, and seasoned perfectly. Definitely will be coming back. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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The environment is sweet and the food is consistently good. I had the Grillades & Grits which was extremely tasty.

Brandas do better. I use to love the crawfish benign from here. But they have fallen off. I wasn't feeling well and my mother in law stopped by and got me some, she knows i love them. When i got them i immediately noticed they where smaller. First red flag. Upon opening them i noticed there was very little crawfish filling. It was all bread. Immediately i was disappointed. Anyone who's had Brenda's knows there food it not cheap. So to skimp on the main ingredient is unacceptable. You guys need to do better. In a climate here people barely have money to eat out and to skimp on the main ingredient is not cool. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Crawfish benign or at least that's what it supposed to be to be - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Brenda's merges southern food with savory creole food for people in the Bay Area. While visiting the area, I decided to give them a try. I would advise any coming during peak hours, weekend or holidays make a reservation in advance. If you don't & wait until you get there to make one you will have to wait about 40 minutes before a table will be ready for you. The ambiance blends New Orleans style and photos of the owner/head Chef Brenda. Me and my bf both got the catfish plate one with sautéed string beans and the other with sautéed spinach. read more

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Catfish in the catfish and grits dish was inedible. Little doughy, flavorless pieces. Grits were good. Biscuit tasty. Beignets okay. Outdoor seating pleasant. Pricey. read more

Food is delicious as always. And I appreciate that their Benedict's are on a biscuit and not an English muffin. Chicken is well seasoned. Potatoes are top tier. My friend ordered bananas foster and I would highly recommend that. I never tried it before and it's one of the best I've ever had. Service could've been better. My friend didn't get a coffee refill that she asked for. And we ordered beignet flight to go and they forgot to enter it in and didn't realize it until they were telling us that the table had to be turned over for another reservation. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Fried Chicken Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

Our visit was just to enjoy some beignets, but I definitely need to return for a full meal, as all the food coming out of the kitchen looked incredible. Service is very friendly, the atmosphere relaxed and welcoming. The beignets are INCREDIBLE. Dangerously good. Looking forward to returning to try lots more from the menu. read more

Brenda's Oakland - chocolate beignets - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

1st time back in a while and they still serve up some of the Bay's Best Cajun/Southern/Soul food around. Came in on a Thursday mid-morning and got a table for 2 right away. The service was great. Creole Sampler Platter - Fried Catfish, Gumbo, Collargreens, Hushpuppies, Red Beans & Rice. Everything was packed with flavor, ITS A MUST TRY!!!! Hangtown Fry - Fried Oyster, Bacon & Scallion Scramble, Hash, & Sourdough Toast. I never knew fried oysters would go this well with eggs on breakfast, WOW!!!!! read more

Brenda's Oakland - Creole Sampler Platter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Tastie food with good presentation, attentive service & nice ambiance. Was disappointed with the benignets, (good flavor but the batter was thick & the filling wasn't enough). However, the Grits and Catfish pieces was delicious & plentiful. Will return to try other menu items. read more

Spent a good $60/person no drinks. Fun and memorable beignet tasting. Was able to eat outside with my dog and girlfriend. The Ube is to die for. Dough/filling ratio leans more on the fried dough side on the others. The hollandaise sauce is finger lickin good. Cool Oakland restaurant to support. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

I got the catfish Benedict and it was one of one. I will say it was carb heavy and definitely gave me the itis, but would I get it again? Absolutely. It's a great breakfast to have every now and then. The customer service here was okay and they have options to dine inside and outside depending on your preference. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Been - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

I have been hearing about this place for years and I *FINALLY* came to try and now I'm wondering "what took me so long?!" Came on a Saturday at around 12:30ish and got seated immediately. Ordered the 2 eggs (poached) with andouille, hash browns and a biscuit. SO GOOD!! The eggs were poached perfectly, the andouille provided a nice subtle heat/bite that paired perfectly w the poached egg and that biscuit- TOTALLY the move to sub biscuit for toast. And I thought my dish was going to be the best bite but my boyfriend got the catfish and grits and I didn't think I was a grits girl, but I will HANDS DOWN be coming back and ordering the shrimp and grits EVERY TIME!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! We also got the beignet flight. I used to go to New Orleans often as a kid- while these were no where near as light or airy as the ones in NOLA, if they had just listed them as "donuts" I think I would have been 100% satisfied. They weren't bad- they were great *donuts* but the outside was too hard/crunchy in my opinion. I will say, my fav of the flight was the plain bc it was the lightest of the four; and my boyfriend loved the apple one. Prob would skip when we come back, BUT will absolutely be back for the shrimp/catfish and grits! read more

I've been eating Brenda's for years and it's consistently one of the best soul food places in the bay! You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu! read more

Brenda's Oakland - Catfish Poboy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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We ordered pickup from Brenda's and the food was ok. The succotash omelet was more wet than I expected. The food was packaged well so the poboy and the beignets weren't soggy but we think it would have been better in the restaurant. read more

Brenda's Oakland - 1/2 & 1/2 Poboy* - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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One of my favorite spots. Food is wonderful and plentiful. Me and my best friend was just there a week ago. Ordered the Eggs Benedict with Catfish , side of buttered grits sooooo good. My best friend had a fried egg, with a side of buttered grits and a side of fried prawns and a biscuit. Yep and she ate every bit of it hahahah. We decided to share the half order of the French Toast with Butter Pecan Sauce... wonderfully made..the sauce was beautiful not too sweet but savory. Just an incredible experience and my best friend is from New Orleans and loved. We will definitely be back. Staff is pleasant and attentive. We sat outside and the weather was beautiful. I definitely recommend this spot for breakfast or weekend brunch read more