Took husband out for birthday dinner last night, had a wonderful experience! Shared whole BBQ shrimp, chicken liver/crispy skin with cornmeal waffle, pork neck, biscuits, and cheddar apple Brown Betty with ice cream. Portions were very generous; we came out more than satisfied, and everything was really delicious. Service was friendly and attentive (I had no issue with the automatic 20% service charge added to the bill), and atmosphere was comfortably homey, with mismatched vintage cutlery, etc. Candle on my husband's dessert was a nice touch. Will definitely be back! read more

One of the best dinners I've had in years! Did the family style meal. The tomato and corn salad was exemplary. Awesome cornbread and sides. Delicious panna cotta with grapes for dessert - really delicate and not too sweet. 10/10 recommend! read more

Was so excited as the day approached for our reservation here. Soon as we walked in my wife and I loved the decor and vibe. Gave the 1 star because of that. Noticed right away that it didn't smell like anything good cooking up back in the kitchen. Immediately noticed that nothing jumped off the menu and screamed must try(first red flag). Ordered a bunch of stuff which was suggested by our server and literally everything that came out underwhelmed. Food came out lukewarm at best( no idea if that's how it was meant or it just sat out late). Peanuts were mushy and had a mysterious liquid with them. Eggplant gumbo was a disgrace to the word gumbo. Chicken liver and waffles honestly would only be good as catfish fishing bait. Dirty rice was a travesty to even be mentioned in the same sentence as rice. Lastly the duck was as rubbery as a rubber ducky. I really tried to tell myself things were ok. I forced myself to empty the plates only because of the price I knew we had to pay. But come on....when multiple staff walk by and you don't grab the empty plates when you know the tables are undersized. For the prices we paid....please do better. Took forever to pay to get the bill and even longer complete the transaction only to see 20% added with no choice and was taxed on that 20%. This place ain't it. Sorry read more

literally celestial experience at brunch with the smoked cod fritters and the Brussels sprout and chicory salad. Then tasting the astonishing fried chicken with the fluffiest and most wonderful lemon scented waffle. The hash browns were extraordinary actually fluffy inside with a crunchy exterior and the bacon transcendly smoky with a peppery crunch .The service was lovely and our party of 7 floated out on. A blissful cloud of homemade goodness . Can't wait to go back! read more

You will want to discreetly lick your plate when no one is looking. The flavors are exquisite.

My favorite part about Burdell was the decor and ambiance. They went above and beyond to craft an experience and the 70s baby in me was right at home with that flowered wallpaper in the bathroom. Even the soundtrack was impeccable and my favorite DeBarge song came on right as I bit into their sweet roasted carrots - a nice moment. The greens and carrots were the MVPs on the menu when we were there but I'll be back to try more. read more

Got the family style with beverage pairing and loved all of it. Great service. Pork chops and gravy were stellar.

Great drinks! (Ask for Evan). The vibe and ambiance was so different and had a classic feel. The food gives a very unique experience to soul food. A must try if you are looking for something out of the ordinary. You may want to make reservation cause this is a hot one but there is seating at the bar (you'll find Evan there) read more

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Grotesquely overpriced. $38 for a sausage? Who are we kidding? And poor service... we waited an hour for that sausage. The waitperson said the kitchen was hammered but the place was only half occupied. I suspect they are amateurs. read more

Went in late on a Friday night around 8pm. This spot was super busy and we did not have a reservation. The hostess was super friendly and had us seated at the bar within minutes! The experience was one of the best I've had dining out in Oakland in the past 10 years! Food was incredible! Refined but not bougie! Shrimp made me lick the plate to get more of the sauce! Portions were perfect! Presentation was very nostalgic. They use glassware and dishes that I remember my grandma having in her house. The place is modern at first glance but when you walk in and see the wall of photos on the wall it feels like you're in a familiar home! I recommend this place to anyone who wants a taste of soul food prepared with love! read more

My only question leaving Burdell was, "What's the second best restaurant in Oakland?" Because Burdell opened up and just took that top spot. The food is a perfect marriage of sourcing, refined technique and just straight up yumminess. Do yourself a favor-- come hungry and order everything. The decor sets up a fun scene, the music sets the vibe and the staff ties it all together. read more

We were visiting from Southern California & had high expectations after Burdell's received Food&Wine's 2024 Restaurant award. The General Manager was sullen, curt and never seemed to smile or extend any type of greeting - no friendly or inviting atmosphere here. The heirloom tomato salad was excellent; however, everything else (duck and halibut were true disappointments). The duck sauce was bland (one would think there would be reduction resulting in a depth of flavor). The halibut was boring. My friend thought it was not authentic and too "designer". A tablespoon of the honey butter with the cornbread was not enough, and it took 20 minutes after asking for more for it to be delivered to us. We also did not find the cornbread to be in the least bit special. And then there was the automatic 20% tip that was applied. A disappointing experience. read more

I was excited to check out Burdell's (since its soul food and I'm originally from the south). [I frequented Aunt Mary's Cafe when it resided in that location.] Needless to say, the food was awful. The greens were vinegary, tasteless and not cooked fully. Portions were small and the peach cobbler pie was not very peachy. I will not be coming here for the pretended soul food. read more

As someone who dines out frequently, has significant experience in the restaurant world and considers herself a veritable "foodie," I'll go so far to say that Burdell strikes me as one of the most exciting restaurants to come along in the Bay Area (maybe the nation) in the past 30 years. Chef is taking among the most thoughtful perspectives on American foodways I've encountered--ever--and is executing at a Michelin-level yet with relaxed, intimate and personal service that feels like you're at Ma's house. If you care about cool, thoughtful, creative, deeply intentional and--YES--delicious food existing in the Bay Area, it is your civic duty to visit Burdell ASAP and with great frequency. This is exactly the kind of restaurant I want in my community. Also, the note from my child (not remotely kidding): "I want to eat the lamb again! Imagine if God was like a sheep. That is how good the lamb was." read more

Decent food, good service (though a bit robotic). On the expensive side. Two of us dining, the place was nearly empty the entire time we were there. Our appetizers arrived 15 minutes apart. The melon cucumber salad was a highlight, the fried green tomatoes (topped with nearly raw bay shrimp that added nothing to the dish) was so so. The sausage with warm potato salad was good, but nothing special. The weird thing is when I asked for mustard, the waiter froze up like he had never heard of mustard before. He walked over to the kitchen. I could see him. He just stood there. Comes back and says "No." I don't even know if he asked the kitchen. Or they had no mustard in the entire restaurant. 2 drinks, 2 apps, 2 sides, 2 entrees $227. Don't understand all the raves about this place. read more

Not quite sure what all the hype is about. To be fair, I have only tried this place once. I'm not even sure it deserves a 3 star when you factor in price. read more

The worst restaurant I have ever been to in Oakland. I never write reviews, however, I was so disappointed that I did not want anyone else to have the same experience. The service was lacking and the personnel was apparently not trained because we never had one server. The experience started off with a woman who did not introduce herself and I asked if she could order a Shirley Temple for my grandchild and she look at me like I was from a different planet and then she said she would check and never came back to the table. The food was cold, no subtitutions and the menu description is not correct and in addition, they charge 20% for a tip instead of me tipping on service. This sadist part is it was my daughter's father's birthday and he even apologized. I have lived in Oakland for many years, and I am really sad that I encountered this type of poor service. I called the restaurant, but of course no one answered but I was not surprised because this is exactly the type of poor service we received all night. Lastly, I must say I brought my grandchildren to introduce them to southern cooking, but they were very disappointed. We did not eat any of the food and not one server asked us if there was anything was wrong. One of the may servers that we had tried to bring us additional plates that we did not order. We paid $400 for awful food and service and we went to another restaurant later. This is so sad!!! read more

It was an interesting place. If the intention of the decor and style was to create a feeling of having a meal at your grandparents house then they nailed it. The staff was friendly and attentive. I was not a big fan of the menu selections. The cheese grits had more cheese than grits which was unfortunate because I love cheese grits. The salad was delicious. I may circle back to give their chicken sandwich a try. Wishing them success. read more

I dined @ Burdell's Soul Food restaurant. The atmosphere and the service was great. The food was horrible. I've never tasted food that bad @ any establishment. I had the Chicken and Waffles. The chicken was like liver smashed with crumbs on top. Sometimes Soul Food restaurants call themselves putting a twist on food and it just doesn't work. My husband had the Blackened Cod fish with grits, another bad dish. I've never seen mushy grits and the fish was half the size of a dollar bill. It was an experience I never will forget. Left there still hungry. Of course I couldn't eat my dish. Very disappointed . read more

cool mid-century furniture/tableware delicious food friendly service We had the following and enjoyed everything. I've noted some specifics but if there is no note, it was solid! boiled peanuts corn bread marinated cucumbers brussel sprouts BBQ shrimp - wouldn't get this again. fine but nothing special. greens mashed potatoes (next time I would ask them to leave off the dollop of butter on top bc they were already super rich and delicious) Sunchokes - this was outstanding. Would go back just for this Sole - also outstanding Pork neck roast - really good but a lot of meat. I definitely recommend sharing this among 3-4 people and getting other entrees to complement it. Guinea Hen Lemon cake - nothing special but maybe we were just so full by then that we didn't appreciate it :) read more

There fried chicken & cornbread!!! It's out of this world. Absolutely scrumptious & the bread is moist & buttery & sweet all in one bite. Yes! That what I am talking about!!! read more

Maya Angelou said people may forget the things you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. This restaurant is a pretentious snotty snob bag. Mandatory 20% tip pretty much means service is out the window. What's worse is they try to justify with some shpiel about the dirty history of tipping. Lightbulb: YOU the restarant can just pay more! The worst part is the person at the checkin stand. He's everything snobby about the restaurant personified. Barely looked at me when I came in. When I sat down he asked in a snobby manner: what brings you in here. The way he looked at me and asked was not out of curiosity but more like: what is your kind doing in such a "fine" (not) establishment like mine. I don't even care about the food. When another customer that looks like him left, he was kinda chatter bug. But when I left, surprise surprise: radio silent. Any way. Gonna give this rubbish establishment a year before it shuts down. read more

If you are looking for soul food, this is NOT the place to go!!! Descriptions of dishes are loaded with lovely adjectives but dishes are unrecognizable, small and way too overpriced!! We ordered three appetizers and two beers for a bill of $115!!!! We left there and went to get something to eat!!! I must say though that the servers were nice. I don't expect that this restaurant will survive to years end! read more

Ate here with a few friends last night. We almost cried because the food was so good. The ambience was beautiful (music wasn't too loud and beautiful setting and lighting). The staff was incredibly warm and friendly. For being an upscale restaurant, we were surprised at the generous portion sizes!! We were able to take home a beautiful bag full of leftovers. Can't wait to come back!!!! Thank you Burdell!!! read more

I had heard good things and was excited to try this place. The dishes sounded like creative twists on southern classics. Unfortunately, almost everything left a bit to be desired. The prawns were fishy and had an unpleasant texture, the duck was undercooked, and the dirty rice was greasy. The fried green tomatoes had a tasty sauce, would recommend. Everything was overpriced in my opinion, and although the service was good, I was pretty shocked by the 20% tip added to the bill. Perhaps that was stated somewhere in the menu but I didn't recall seeing it. My friend was surprised also. All in all, a very expensive experiment that will not be repeated, in spite of the nice folks that run/operate the place. read more

First and foremost, the food is delicious. We got the family style sampler menu for the whole table - this is definitely the way to go to get the broadest experience. The cornbread was out of this world. I asked them to pack up a small sliver that was left and got home to discover that they had replaced it with a whole new slice. The service was friendly and prompt. Great reasonable wines. A definite must try! I would go back again and again if I lived in the area. read more

The room temperature sparkling water for $8 started the meal on the wrong foot. But I was eager to course correct. Next came the chicken liver mousse and waffle dish. The mouse was cold and mixed with battered and fried shallots, also cold, surprisingly. It was as if the fried shallots and mousse had sat in the fridge for a while. The waffle had an interesting speckled fill, which looked nice but the flavor and texture were mediocre at best. Perhaps with freshly fried shallots and warm mousse and a fresh waffle this could have struck a chord; but it felt like eating it the day after, cold and lackluster. Two misses so far. Next came the cornbread. Surely this would be good. But it also missed. I've had dry cornbread; I've had not sweet enough cornbread; this missed the mark in a different way. The texture was almost gummy. The top reminded me of a Dutch crunch sandwich loaf. It wasn't hot, didn't melt the butter. It had a similar speckled color palette to the waffle. Not yellow ish like typical corn bread. Sadly, another miss. The last dish that arrived was the $38 roasted chicken and dumplings. The chicken is stuffed with some type of spinach puree and roasted. Served with dough dumplings that reminded me a lot of gnocchi. The flavor and texture of the chicken were unique. The texture reminded me a bit of chicken tenders yet there was skin and a bone in the leg so it couldn't have been too processed. It was stranger than it was tasty. I almost didn't write this review because it hurts to throw shade on a local newish spot. It is possible we ordered wrong or it was a bad night; however with such a small menu, I think everything needs to be solid. For what it's worth, my dining partner felt the same and that compelled me to share my experience The service was acceptable, but nothing particularly memorable. The ambiance was fine. There was a coherent aesthetic to the decor- sort of a minimalist 70s style. It could use a few plants, and real candles on the tables. It was $100 to feed two adults and a 5 yr old. read more

I would do one star if I could. The restaurant is incredibly over priced, the food is mediocre, the service extremely slow and the atmosphere loud. We had the family dinner...don't do it. Definitely not worth the $75.00 per person. The hushpuppies were good but the main course did not have enough food for three, the fish was way over done and the sides were only ok. Two of us had the drink pairing at $40 per person...again don't do it. The pours were extremely small, maybe a sip. We had a reservation at 5:00 and told our server that we had a show at 7:00. At 6:45, we still had not received our check (after asking multiple times) nor our dessert on the "family dinner" nor the final pairing. We finally got our dessert to go (they gave us 2 desserts instead of 3) but they over charged us on our check by $40 (they charged us 3 pairings instead of 2). The whole experience was the worst we have had in a long time and we go out quite often. read more

The food was good. Had the cauliflower starter which was okay. The local albacore starter was delicious. I had the salmon as the main dish which was quite yummy. Had a Gussie for a cocktail...tasty. The atmosphere is super cute. Staff was super nice. read more

Fantastic food, good cocktail, really nice ambiance. Servers were attentive and very kind. We got the fixed-price menu and it was so incredibly good -- if you choose that option you'll get stuff that you can't order off the regular menu! It was portioned perfectly. Highly highly recommend! read more

I'm visiting from the San Diego area.. heard about Burrell's Soul Food Restaurant and made a reservation for 7 pm. Didn't get seated until after 8 pm. (With a reservation) Then it took a while for our server Evan ( who really tried) to get food to us. We ended being served around 9. I was curious about the boiled peanuts but disappointed that the nuts were not shelled in the gravy. Maybe I just didn't understand... then I (and 3 others) ordered carrots - sold out... I thought the menu was limited as there were only 2 : items of the 4 that I could even consider. I ended up with the chicken... it was okay... then We ordered bread pudding for dessert... sold out... To their credit they did comp our cocktail but I was disappointed that there was what appeared too little creativity in the presentation ---all in all, although the food that we did get was decent, they need to pay attention to service times. Took too long to get seated, too long to get served, limited selection and selling out of menu items, especially with no comparable substitute. This restaurant has potential. They need to address these issues post haste! Patricia P Watson Ed.D read more

Good location, cute decor, nice ambiance, decent food. Supper options are slim - just 4 main options (both a good and a bad thing). Lots of sides, so you could actually build out quite a meal, tho. Portion size seemed moderate, which again is fine, but was expecting more. Service overall ok... Basically, everything was fine... I just wanted to like Burdell more than I did (especially for the cost). read more

I looked so forward to this place, but it was a resounding disappointment, both for the food and the service. IT started with appetizers, all of which used salt as a main ingredient rather than a seasoning. While all 3 apps were uneven, they were served at the right temp and time. When app plates and silverware were cleared, we expected our mains, but after 30 minutes, we were still waiting. We had ordered wine, but after the initial pour, both bottle and waiter disappeared. When the mains did arrive, the duck was room temp bordering on cold. The dirty rice sides were hot but the mains were not. The waiter proceeded to tell us that the duck was supposed to be room temp, and bloody. One guest sent hers back bc it looked too raw. Another asked to have it put in a to go container so she could cook it when she got home. I kept mine which was a mistake since I began to feel sick before leaving the restaurant. 20 minutes after leaving, I became very ill. I don't know if there was a failure in the kitchen bc the place was hopping and the volume overwhelmed them, or if our waiter simply forgot to serve the mains and that's why they were cold and undercooked, but if diners do go there, if a dish tastes or looks off, send it back. read more

I have never been treated so downright poorly at a restaurant. They sat us late for a reservation though there were free tables, scolded us throughout dinner for various things and asked to leave when we lingered with friends we hadn't seen for a long time at the end of our meal, though there many empty tables available. I have never been asked to leave a restaurant before unless it was closing or there was an inpatient crowd at the door. This was not the case. Never saw a smile from any of the staff. Never heard a thank you or how was the meal? We were told we were not allowed to order any extra dishes after the initial order...ummm, ok. Literally felt like the "bad kids" in a classroom with mean teachers at the helm. We eat out all.the.time in the east bay and sf at wonderful restaurants...never seen anything like this. Not paying for rude service again. Ironic that a place that is supposed to embody warmth has such a cold vibe. Could not enjoy the food because of the strange and stressful atmosphere. A shame. read more

My husband and I had a fantastic experience on Friday night eating here for the first time, and our first date night out since having our son. We made a 5:15 reservation & we're seated right away. We had great servers all night, all fun & helpful. I love that the 20% charge is added to your meal by default cuz I felt it meant that any server available helped us which made things run smoothly. We LOVED the food! I was so nervous I had overhyped it to myself because my husband and I love soul food (he's from NC) and I had been really wanting to try this place & had read lots of reviews etc. We were not disappointed! We loved the bbq shrimp, my god that milk bread was heavenly! Then we had the chicken and waffles which was awesome. We got the cod & pork neck, both absolutely delicious. We were obsessed with the cod in particular. We so enjoyed the cornbread & greens & the carrots were also good. The collards were like melt in your mouth & the cornbread was so satisfying. My husband loved the two cocktails he got, with his fave being the Leah. I had delicious wine all night. Great food, great service, beautiful restaurant with fun vibes and no pretension. Also random, but I loved the way the bathrooms were decorated. Reminded me of my grandmas bathroom growing up (in the best way). Everything was nostalgic but elevated. We can't wait to go back! read more

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New place. This will be going for a Michelin star service. Good vibe, Great food. For only 2 weeks in, this place will need reservations in advance soon. read more

Outstanding. Equal parts cozy and ethereal. Will become a tradition for ANY excuse of a special occasion or simply an act of self-love. The presence of the staff and their contributions to the atmosphere is unmatched. You can't go wrong on selection. This is all the stuff of dreams. So delicious I could cry. read more

Burdell is amazing! The interior, design, and vibe transports you into the comfort of your grandmothers' home - but with a twist. The food is delicious and fulfilling with an elegant, modern spin. My favorites were the melon/ham dish, peach cobbler, BBQ shrimp, and chicken and waffles. The service was outstanding and all of our servers were friendly and attentive. Definitely will be coming here again and again! read more

I feel compelled to reply given the owner's commentary. i went back and talked to my partner and confirmed my recollection. I only asked her once up front for the details of what was gluten free - I asked if certain apps were gluten free and she said she had to ask the kitchen and she then told me she needed my dinner order so she didn't have to go back and forth to the kitchen. The only other time I asked at the end was about something in my meal that was clearly deep fried in a restaurant that deep fries bread-covered items. I was diagnosed with celiacs 18 years ago and eat out regularly so i have a good understanding of when a server understands what has gluten in it. In the east bay, there are plenty that are good and my server was definitely not one of them. Dear owner: you should look at your reviews - your service is poor and you're going to have serious problems with your restaurant if you don't remedy that. Also, if there is a "minimum meal" - which I have never heard of, but woudl suspect an app and two mains would suffice - you should communicate that. read more

Burdell is simply outstanding and the buzz is more than deserved. The place has a sweet and understated decor that feels like your favorite childhood memory. They serve perfectly executed dishes with some minor but oh so lovely! subtleties. Like a dill yogurt sauce on tomatoes and greens. My friend and I had the pork neck and black cod - both perfectly balanced and bursting with flavors. I always expect a new place to work out some kinks in the first two weeks but Burdell didn't need any test run. They are on and running this place like they've been there forever and serving the regulars. The staff is attentive, welcoming and offered perfect guidance on food and wine pairing. My advice: go before this place has a 3 months waitlist. read more