This was a delightful meal. My bf and I both got the Pre Fixe family dinner and were very impressed. Yes, the only appetizer that really impressed us were the boiled peanuts while the clams and cheezey crackers left us whelmed, but from the salad onwards (and the a la carte grilled bbq shrimp we got as well) impressed us and kept up that momentum. The snap pea salad was full of fresh herbs and every ingredient was fresh and crisp. The shrimps were fantastically brined and the sauce was complex and savory. Perhaps we would have enjoyed a spicier sauce, but that's personal preference and speculation. The entree of pork loin with the sides of hoppin' John and stewed cabbage were all individually perfect, and even better combined. I absolutely love when discreet dishes complement each other. The pristinely tender pork was best completed by the acidic and smoky hopin' John. The corn bread was some of the best I've ever had. The bread had a great crust on the top and bottom while still being perfectly cooked on the inside. The crumb was superb. It was the most perfectly cornbread-like cornbread I've ever had while also feeling totally new. The buttermilk panna cotta with strawberry lemonade shaved ice was really clever and tart and light and the perfect way to end the meal. Our server was very nice. I also really liked how 60's style everything down to the spoons looked. My only complaint is that it was too loud inside and the acoustics were funky so the ambient noise of chatter was cacophonous. Alas, I am a baby about loud rooms and that's more a personal problem than one for the establishment. Definitely check this place out, and take your grandma! read more

This is a lovely place for a celebration! We had a special Mother's Day brunch here. I told my friends I was looking for some soul food, not just southern food. This place did not disappoint! I enjoyed a mimosa in a lovely wine glass while eating the best hash browns of my life for the starter course. The salad was lovely, but you can't beat the waffles, blueberry pancakes, or beignets. They all had the perfect texture and flavor! We will be back for sure. read more

I would love to tell you what the food at Burdell is like but we never got seated. We arrived at 6.55pm for a 7pm reservation. There were maybe 4 other people waiting too. The host asked us if we had a reservation, I said we did, gave my name and she asked us to sit down. Then three other parties of two came in *after* us and were immediately seated. When I queried this they said that our type of table was not ready but we had not specified anything other than "standard seating". The host then said she was doing us a favour and trying to get us seated in the main area and it would be another 10 minutes. At 7.25pm after they sat *another* two top ahead of us we decided to leave and went across the road instead. For a restaurant that has been lauded as one of the best in the Bay Area they did not cover themselves with glory. I can understand a restaurant being backed up but when they were seating people with reservation times after ours I didn't feel like this place respected our patronage. read more

I saw that Food and Wine Magazine named this the best restaurant in the country and my friend and I just so happened to be walking by after a workout class. What are the chances they were able to fit us in for brunch- it was destiny! We grabbed two spots at the bar and were able to order salmon croquettes to start. These were just what we needed, and they were so good, really reminded me of growing up in the South and what my grandma used to make. We split the omlette, shrimp and grits and my friend ordered the chicken and waffle to go for her man, so we got to have a taste. The shrimp and grits were really standout, really rich in all the right ways. The chicken was so moist and perfect, I will have to order it again. One note- they don't appear to have a full liquor license, so take note if you are planning some serious drinks. read more

We visited Burrell in Oakland for brunch with a party of 5. We ordered the shrimp and grits, chicken and waffle, omelette, pork chop with biscuits and gravy, fried oyster Florentine, beignets, and croquettes. Food-wise, the shrimp and grits and the pork chop were the highlights, both were flavorful and well-prepared. Unfortunately, the rest of the dishes were pretty average, especially considering the hype and expectations. The croquettes were on the saltier side. Service is where the experience really fell short. Our server was friendly at first when taking our order, but the food took a very long time to arrive. Everything eventually came out except the fried oyster Florentine. At first, we assumed it may not have been put in, no big deal, things happen. However, when I asked about it, the server said it was ordered and was just taking a long time. When we followed up again, her demeanor changed noticeably and became defensive. She claimed the delay was intentional because our table was full and they needed us to clear space, which didn't feel honest, especially given how long the dish took to arrive. Overall, between the long wait, inconsistent service, and uneven food, the experience wasn't great. There were a couple of solid dishes, but not enough to make up for the rest of the visit. read more

This food would have been good if it wasn't so salty. Really sad that professional chefs know how to construct a fancy dish but then borderline make it almost inedible due to over salting. The chicken breast was the best thing on the menu. It was perfectly cooked and not too salty. Following that I would say the grits. The rest of our dishes were over powered by sodium. read more

It was my first time at this soulful restaurant. I was blown away at each item the pairing is an absolute must!!! Come hungry and the rabbit and mashed potatoes are to die for! Food, service and ambiance were perfect read more

Burdell - Just a beautiful oven in the corner of the restaurant - Soul Food Near Me - Oakland, California

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Okay ya'll buckle up because you're about to get one heck of a review. Before we get started, let me just say that parking is a nightmare down in Temescal, either take and Uber/Lyft or give yourself 20 minutes to find a parking space. Okay, now that we've addressed that let me tell you about one of the best casual dining experiences I've ever had. Let's start with the ambience. This is casual dining, no need to dress up, but I'm not saying come after you've spent the day cleaning you garage. Dress descent. you'll be greeted by warm and friendly hosts and bartenders... And the retro vibe of this restaurant goes back to late 60s and early 70s really hits you as soon as you walk through the door with a very soothing playlist that includes R&B hits from the 60s and 70s with a few modern hits thrown in here and there. The level of the music is perfect. You can enjoy it, but it will not interfere with the table conversation with your guests, you might even be invited to do a little singalong with your server. The service is prompt, attentive and friendly. The bar offers some very creative dine based cocktails along with wine. There's no hard liquor which I applaud in this case as you know want anything that strong interfering with the flavor of the food which is incredible. Now to the food, I have been to some nice restaurants but never have I been so startled by the pleasurable tastes I experienced at Burdell. How something as simple as carrots can transport you back to grandma's kitchen in bewildering. Every dish had a special and unique flavor. Even the butter (made in-house) was a surprise treat when added to the cornbread or eaten alone ;-). I strongly recommend you and your guests eat family style so you can experience as many of the dishes as possible. So whether it's the chicken, carrots, greens, dumplings, shrimp, or whatever,...my message to you is just Go! read more

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A few of my coworkers and I decided to come here to celebrate my old coworker's birthday. She actually found this restaurant and made a dinner reservation for us on Resy. A couple of us were still waiting for our other coworker, so we ordered drinks at the bar. The restaurant is very strict about sticking to your reservation time since you are only allotted 2 hours. We had to be seated even though our other coworker was running a bit late. We decided on the family dinner which consisted of a snack, salad, mains & sides plus a dessert. I really enjoyed the boiled peanuts because the peanut miso was extremely flavorful. The tomato salad was also tasty because they used dill ranch for the dressing. The pork chops were smothered with gravy which made it a bit soggy. I think it would've been better if the gravy was on the side and used as a dip. I also really enjoyed the rice, greens and cornbread. The rice especially since it was cooked with butter. $72 per person I think is a bit on the steeper side in my opinion for the type of food that you get. The restaurant does feel like I'm coming home to eat a home cooked meal. I'm glad I had the chance to give this restaurant a try and it's great to know that there is another soul food restaurant in Oakland! read more

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Food was great. I came here with my partner's father, who I've never met before, and who led and filled most of the conversation space, which could be a good or bad thing depending on how included you want to feel during a conversation between two adults or in this case--one older adult and his past, plus me. We ordered the family meal, which included starters (boiled peanuts and an heirloom tomato salad), main courses (fried catfish, peanut rice (?), collard greens with pork hock, and hush puppies), and a dessert (custard with pomegranate and shaved ice). The fried catfish (?) and the custard dessert were the best dishes, according to my partner's father. According to ME, however, the interplay between the main courses was dignified and thoughtful. Here's what it looked like, in real time. The rice was silky in texture, complimenting the crunch of the catfish. The collard greens had a generous amount of vinegar to cut through the heaviness of the remoulade with the catfish, and an extra dimension of salt with the pork hock. The hush puppies rounded out the entire flavor profile with a mild sweetness, and their own textural variety of a crust surrounded by a soft inside. The dessert itself was similar in that the pomegranate added a bright note of tartness to contrast the custard while the ice controlled the temperature of the dish. A well designed menu, in my opinion. The service itself was attentive while not overbearing, kind and professional. Now onto the main appeal: the interior design. My goodness, there was some elite aesthetic taste on display. The greens, the browns, the warm lighting, the rattan bar stools, the wood paneling. Incredible stuff. If I had my utopian socialist society, I would find whoever designed Burdell and give them a blank cheque to furnish and layout an entire wing of a hybrid library/pool, giving a whole new meaning to the poolside novel so synonymous with suburban motherhood. Can you imagine smelling like chlorine, cracking open a laminated copy of One Piece in a one piece in a mid-century public lounge slash pool in the new century? Truly a utopia of the mind. read more

Burdell - cute tv stand thing - Soul Food Near Me - Oakland, California

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Burdell's is a cute addition to the Temescal area. We didn't have a reservation on a weekday but arrived before they opened and were seated at the counter. The restaurant has a 60's kitchen vibe and they serve their food with vintage Pyrex! Love love love! We both weren't too hungry to start so we shared: Heirloom tomatoes and fried oysters. A great salad. A bit too much dressing for me but the combination of the items were such a hit Stewed green beans. A nice veggie side! Sonoma duck. So yummy with the rice. Pretty small portion. Loved the jam on the top of the duck pieces with the sauce. Cornbread. This was amazing. Almost like a wheat cornbread. A great accompaniment to our meal! The music was pretty loud and they did lower a bit but maybe it more noticeable at the counter as we weren't the only ones to ask to turn it down. Price point was higher than I expected. A cute restaurant of gourmet southern soul food! read more

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Burrell was one of the more unique fares I've had in Oakland in the past few years and that in itself makes it memorable and more worth the cost. The boiled peanuts are indeed boiled and served in the traditional sense, something you don't see often. We use ordered the Petrale Sole and Fried Chicken and both were well executed and tasty. The sauce on the sole was a flavor bomb, and our only wish was that there was more yam as a vehicle. The potato salad that comes with the chicken was a pleasant surprise is that it held its own quite nicely. Otherwise, the dishes come with very little sides so if like a larger portion, definitely consider a side or multiple apps. We saw many people getting the cornbread. The apple crisp dessert with house made buttermilk ice cream was a treat, I'd buy a pint of the buttermilk ice cream if I could. All in all, this place deserves its spot as Best Restaurant in 2025 by Food & Wine as it delivers a great taste and serving size with a memorable menu and service. Definitely make a reservation before you go for a date night or celebration and you'll be in for a good time. read more

I was so excited to finally try this place and was very disappointed. My husbands swordfish was the thinnest sliver of swordfish Ive ever seen and had cold beans underneath it, and our friend wanted to have 2 starters rather than one entree and they told her that wasn't "recommended " and that they couldn't time it for her to eat them with our entrees. (None of us ordered starters). The cornbread was good and my grits were very good, but given the prices this should have been a meal to rave about. Rather than a warm southern atmosphere it feels undeservedly pretentious. read more

Once I saw that the #1 restaurant in Food and Wine magazine was in Oakland, I had to try it! I looked on Yelp and saw 3.8 stars, which I found to be interesting... I mean, #1 restaurant?! I made reservations for dinner, hard to come by at the moment and counted the days until I could eat here. I see what all the hype is about! You place your entire order at the same time, and they pace the meal for you, bringing out the starters, entree, etc. at a nice pace that allows you to enjoy the meal. I found the service to be perfectly attentive, beyond bringing out the food and refilling drinks (which they did) I'm not sure what other service people are looking for. Everything I tried was incredibly delicious, the only thing I found underwhelming was the boiled peanuts. We had the arugula salad, cornbread, grits, cod, and the chard and spinach side. Wow! I could eat this cornbread all day every day. My fave was the grits, but really it was all good. We finished with the cookies for dessert, yummy and took the leftover cookies home. Great vibe, good music, and amazing food. I can't wait to go back! read more

Burdell - Cod, with Manila clams and potatoes - Soul Food Near Me - Oakland, California

Ambiance: Simple and clean, reminds me of my grandmother's sun porch in Georgia. Very cute. Service: Well staffed and attentive. Our server also mentioned that we might want to order more food than originally had, which I'm glad we followed her suggestion. Though not overtly friendly, still very helpful and polite. Food: I really enjoyed the food here overall, but the heirloom tomato and fried oyster salad was my favorite and absolutely delicious. The pork jowl was light, but very tasty. The greens are good, but not exceptional. The corn bread is ok, but the honey butter that comes with it is delicious. read more

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Few restaurants give the intrigue like this one. It is all over the place, the service is awkward and does not portray team conherence. The decor is a comfort food setting, the food is soul food but not quite the common soul food, the waiters set and clean the table often like fine dining meal but the service is pretentious rather than fine dining quality. This mixed quality is hard to characterize. The green tomatoes and okra appetizer is small in portion and the fried item does not seem to be green tomatoes. The chicken is good yet there are definitely better fried chicken, not quite what we expected for soul food. The eggplant gumbo is ok but expensive for its price tag. King Salmon is good and I like it served with beans. Overall it is expensive for the quality of food and service. The position of the restaurant shows inconsistency : the price tag is high like an upscale restaurant, there is some fine dining attempt but not matched with the decor and service. The food is all right though it lacks the traditional soul food character. Overall an interesting experience. read more

Super cute period touches throughout the restaurant had me remembering my parents' house. They even had the grapes everyone seemed to have in that generation. I had the grits which came with three shrimp. It was delicious, but I was still hungry. It wasn't a large portion. The waffles and fried chicken were reportedly delicious. Service was ok. read more

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We really wanted to love this restaurant,. According to the reviews, it was to be well loved. Soul food is one of our favorites and a new twist on it is always welcome. Maybe it was just a very loud night, but you could hardly have a conversation in a normal volume. The service was just bland. They definitely missed out on selling a second glass of wine by not offering it. They never came by and asked if the food was to our liking or check on us for any reason. The waffle and liver was interestingly good. The cornbread was great. The other appetizer and two main dishes were just fine. Overall it was just a very bland experience. Also, for the price I was definitely expecting a better outcome. Possibly when the staff knows they're going to get a 20% tip they don't really have to do anything but take your order and bring you food. With so many great restaurants in the Bay Area this will not be on our list again. Best of luck to all of them. read more

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The effort is there, I know soul food intrinsically. I have also had plenty of fine dining experiences; I absolutely get the intersection of the 2 and I can appreciate the attempt at captivating a clientele of a more refined palette with what one might assume to be standard black Americana. The restaurant decor is a beautiful nod to black American history and heritage (an era beyond my years, I presume). The music perfectly fit the scene. I found the plating to be easy-going, the crowd as pretentious as one could imagine, it was buzzing. There is no bar, only beer and wine. We had the Chicken and waffle, Tomato salad, duck, cornbread and greens. The salad was nice but a bit salty. The duck was well made, the chicken liver mousse had good texture but EVERYTHING was far too vinegary. The menu lacked a cohesiveness that I was hoping for; i.e. vinegar in the greens and tangy butter with the cornbread and serving them together. Also, we ordered the Duck entree which was maybe $47 and there was duck, dirty rice and no vegetable side. Still, this place could be a gem, I look forward to dining again maybe....once they tweak some things a bit. read more

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Came here for Oakland Restaurant Week and really wanted to like the place, but it wasn't that great. Food was super unique and interesting and fairly tasty, but the service was pretty bad. The staff was friendly and all but we had 20 minute waits between courses or between asking for the bill and receiving it. They switched us between still and sparkling water multiple times, which was annoying, but the biggest service issue was we asked to take some of our leftovers home and so the server took our plates, packed it up, and then brought us a bag of leftovers about 25 minutes later. Once we got home we realized that someone else's half-eaten dinner had been packed up and sent home with us! The waffle was great while the chicken liver and crispy skin was pretty good. The beet salad was nice. The smothered pork chop was very good. The coconut & banana puddin' tasted like a small bowl of canned coconut cream with a few banana slices in it, not great. read more

I used to be a GM at a popular habachi and sushi spot in ATL and I've never entered a restaurant in my whole entire life and got looked at by two servers at the entrance and then they go about their business like they never saw us. Not even a "I'll be with you shortly" so we sit down by the entrance and after a few mins still nothing so we had to get their attention to sit us (with a rsvp) which was insane! The oil that they use to fry and cook is trash. As soon as I got back home my knees start to be inflammed and is still now this morning. I use organic everything and definitely know when a restaurant cuts corners. Some of the items looks like elementary kids made it.. Why not let us know that they ran out of liver?? Give us the option of still ordering it or not. Why put it on our table when the cook and servers know that the order for the Waffle and Chicken liver dish is incomplete?!? Totally Not professional! Only 1 star because the bartender knows his stuff. read more

There are dreams that stay dreams, and dreams that come true. I dared to wish upon a star and lord Jesus brought me Burdell. I'll tell you something- I saw someone with a brunch cocktail that looked pretty good, so I asked the table next to me because just like the Olive Garden, when you're here you're family. I ordered it, and it was a damn delight. Nectar. My pregnant friend couldn't have any, and I made sure to tell her she was missing out. We both shared the biscuits and gravy, and the chicken and waffle, her pregnancy doesn't preclude her from those as far as I know. And you know what? A DAMN DELIGHT. It was a Sunday, cozy, dreamy vibes and even better music. The energy was nostalgic, and I was transported to my childhood home, rolling in the grass in a warm cocoon. Except better. read more

Burdell - Bar area - Soul Food Near Me - Oakland, California

Decor is nostalgic. Place is expensive and the food really ain't that good or worth it. Fun to go once but probably won't go back. I had higher expectations. read more

What a phenomenal experience! I made dinner reservations for 4 people tonight after attending a Giants game. We felt a bit underdressed coming straight from the game, but the staff made us feel comfortable and welcomed. Let me start off by saying that the interior and decor were so homey and nostalgic. I loved every bit of it - from the silverware to the family photos on the wall when you first walk in. You can tell how much thought, effort and love was poured into not only the interior, but the food. We were also seated in the back and I loved having a view of the kitchen. The food...holy moly. We went with the Family Dinner option, but also added on the BBQ Whole Shrimp. The Family Dinner came with Boiled Peanuts, Savoy Cabbage Salad, Smothered Pork Chops, Whipped Potatoes, Greens, Cornbread and also Strawberry Shortcake. Everything was uh-mazing! I've never had boiled peanuts before and the dressing and whole herbs in the salad -- chef's kiss! Don't even get me started on the best Greens I've ever had and the homemade butter that came with the cornbread. Everything was just so so good! You can also add drink pairings to go along with the Family Dinner for an additional charge. They also do Brunch on Sundays! The staff and all around service was top notch. They do an amazing job of taking care of you and giving great recommendations. Do yourself a favor and check out Burdell. I promise you will not be disappointed! I cannot say enough great things! This is one of the best meals I've had in a long time and I will be counting down the days until we return! read more

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The best words to describe Burdell - nostalgic, quality, comfort. Came in and instantly felt like we took a step into someone's home on the 70s. The decor, the glassware, the bar, windows, the colors, everything worked well together. Service was decent, nothing bad but nothing to write home about. Chef was out, here and there running food but not engaging with any guest (def a miss there). Rest of staff was nice. Food was high quality, fresh when needed with all the expected richness and taste. Corn bread was fire, whole shrimp was so good we ordered a second round, and maybe my favorite dish was the outstanding spilt pea stew with the morels. Although prepared well, the chicken did fall a bit flat for me, and the pluot salad was next level skill and gorgeous but calling that a salad is a bit of a stretch. I feel bad because the hype is going to disappoint a lot of those IG wannabe foodie folks but I'm excited for how Burdell will evolve and look forward to see them grow. read more

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Excellent food, staff and what an amazing ambiance. Super cozy and those plates and cups, well I felt like we stepped back into 1984! What a super smart concept to pair with the food. Now, let's talk about this food! We had the barbecued shrimp and grits, steak, hush puppies, and the beignets. Holy smokes everything was mouth watering! I think I dreamt about more hush puppies last night! Kudos to the staff! read more

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Visited on a Wednesday with a friend around 6pm, restaurant had a few other guest but plenty of open spots. We were seated at a table near the bar. As the evening progressed restaurant definitely filled up so probably a good idea to book a table if you want to dine here during peak hours. Drinks: grabbed a glass of rose which was pleasant, light, crisp, chilled and refreshing Food: Smoked Pork Jowl with Fig - served chilled, pork was super thinly sliced with a rich smokey flavor, this paired really well with the sweet jammy ripe figs, a small and light starter Fried Green Tomato Salad - great, tart, tangy and bright, tomatoes had a nice crisp breading, the creamy green goddess like dressing added some richness topped little shrimp made this a heartier starter, and herbs which added some additional freshness really enjoyed this one Chicken liver and Waffle - very rich and fatty but pretty tasty overall, cornmeal waffle had a nice crisp interior, great bite a chew, the chicken liver puree was tangy and bright with a bit of fruity sweetness, topped with lovely crunchy pieces McRib - delicious, soft plush bun with a well seasoned BBQ pork patty and a creamy aioli that added extra richness and contrast in flavor, definitely a favorite bite Greens - savory, brothy, and well seasoned, with a hint of meaty smokey flavor, greens were tender and really flavorful, wish we had bread or rice to soak up the broth. Service was good, very attentive, well paced. Water was refilled regularly and staff was warm and friendly with great familiarity of the menu and excellent recommendations. Overall really enjoyed our meal at Burdell, the menu is a fun seasonal and southern inspired. The ambiance of the restaurant is cozy and retro with really lovely warm tones that feels almost like a 1970's living room in the best way. read more

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A very hip and stylish addition to Temescal (I haven't been back for a few years and there have been more hipster establishments). I remembered what this replaced; it's a bougier version of Aunt Mary's. The interior is well-decorated. I wanted to eat here for dinner but had to go for brunch due to personal planning. The brunch menu is not as great as the dinner menu for me. I got the shrimp and grits. The grits were not as thick as I would like. The shrimps were well cooked and I loved the flavorful spice-filled gravy. I wish they gave me more grits. My friend got the pimento omelette which was kind of salad with a few salad leaves and a small omelette. I really saw the feedback about dishes being small with this especially for the $18 cost. read more

Underwhelming. This place seemed very hyped on a bunch of different lists like Eater and Infatuation, but it just didn't cut it. Bland, unexciting. Very typical popular "this is where hip hop comes from" music that you'd hear in a college dorm of a kid first discovering old school r and b. Under seasoned. It seemed like "hey rich tech kids, here is soul food for a price but we made it boring". The wine pairing with the family style menu was nice. The key lime panacotta was excellent. Our server was very nice and attentive, he should probably work at a better restaurant. Not coming back. Would not recommend. read more

I came here with my husband for restaurant week and this was such a huge disappointment. The service wasn't terrible but it felt odd and it was also so slow! We arrived just before our reservation time around 6:50pm and when we got there multiple people made eye contact but then ignored us. No "welcome in" or "we'll be with you in just a second". Finally someone came over to greet us and let us know our table was ready but it wasn't clean. She then left to go clean it and by the time we sat down it was about 7:10pm. Not terrible, but I was hungry and for having a table "ready", waiting 20 minutes doesn't scream "ready" to me. We then waited another 10ish minutes for water and to be greeted by our server who continued to flit around at the tables next to us. Once again, not a long time, but for a reservation at 7pm, but we had been waiting for 30 minutes at this point without even being addressed by our waiter. After looking at the menu, I noticed that they had their full menu plus the RW menu. Most people were ordering a la carte (guess that should have been a sign). It's clear that RW was an afterthought and the kitchen was incredibly inefficient at getting our food out, which I will get to. We ordered a beer and a mocktail and went with the restaurant week menu ($90 per person with 4 courses). The drinks took another 15 minutes to come but luckily the snacks came fairly quickly. The peanuts were good but a little messy and the smoked salmon was solid. Next came the salad, which came 20 minutes after the second snack. Honestly, I was starving at this point. The salad was probably the best thing on this menu. The dill dressing was super good and I'm not normally a salad person. Kind of a long gap, but that's okay. Here's where things got rough. Our server brought out some utensils for the main course including a bib and tools for the crab at 8:09pm (yes, we had been there for an hour and 20 minutes at this point with no real food). Our main course and sides didn't come out for another 30+ minutes after this. That's 45+ minutes after the last course was served. The best (read: worst) part? Our waiter didn't even mention anything. No "hey it's going to be a little longer" or "sorry for the wait". We just sat there in sad, awkward, hungry silence for forty five minutes. The main course was a crab gumbo that they "built the whole menu around" and it wasn't bad but it was incredibly salty. Also to have to then break into the crab myself after almost 2 hours of waiting was just the absolute worst. I was so hungry and still had to work through the crab on my own before I could eat it. It was also so incredibly messy with the crab pieces already dunked in the gumbo sauce. The crab was also very small, so all the work was for very little meat. This meal honestly felt diabolical. The sides included crab rice, pickled cabbage, and corn bread. I love corn bread but this one fell flat. It tasted like a pound cake and was on the dryer side. The crab rice was good but was cold by the time I got to it and the cabbage wasn't memorable. The dessert was a panna cotta with lemon ice and that didn't come out for another 35 minutes after the main course. I mean to be fair, we did need extra time to deal with the crab from our main course, but there was still a longer than needed awkward gap. The panna cotta was fine. I didn't particularly like the lemon ice. All in all this meal took a whopping 2 hours and 40 minutes. Absolutely insane for what was served. We saw parties arrive an hour after us come and go before we even got our main course. At the end of it all, I was upset and just wanted to go home. I would never choose to come back here. I appreciate the thought behind no longer tipping, but at this price point, this restaurant is incredibly inefficient and the food was mediocre at best. read more

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Had a reservation on a Saturday night and the place was happening, which was a good sign. As we are not familiar with southern/soul food other than the garlic chicken one of my colleagues brought to a potluck over 20 years ago, my limited experience is Popeyes chicken... So we went for the family set for 4 ppl and 2 add on wine parings. I had high hopes. The boiled peanuts were interesting. The gravy was very flavorful, just messy to eat. We got this small bowl for the 4 of us. I was expecting another one but that was it. The tomato salad was DELISH!! fresh and crunchy. The dressing with dill was so good I wanted to lick the plate. The pork chop was tasty as well but I wish the gravy was on the side instead of poured all over, which made the crunchy batter mushy. The gravy was good , just my personal preference it would be better if on the side. The greens and rice ... the green I assume was collard greens but they were cooked to the point was almost black. Again personal preference I like my veggies remain close to its natural color and texture. It was very sour as expected as it was cooked in vinegar. The rice - I had one small bite and that was enough. No other comment. I was excited when the cornbread arrived as I love cornbread, and I got the end pieces!! But it was very dry and no amount of butter made it better. Felt like it had been left out for too long, but I don't know if that is the southern thing. The dessert was strawberry shortcake. The jam was yummy, the strawberries were fresh. The candied biscuits didn't hit the mark for me... I felt like I got the leftover piece as it was tough and dry. The paring were decent but each serving was about 2 sips. Overall the unmatched utensils and the serving plates/bowls and presentation gave the feeling of eating a casual and last minute meal at grandma's house ( not my grandma, she would not have unmatched utensils). The service was okay. The gap between food was long... very long. So be prepared to sip water while you wait or order more wine. Maybe that is the tactic? As I mentioned before I am no expert on soul food but I was expecting richness and in your face flavoring from my recollection of the darn good garlic chicken 20 years ago. Therefore my high hopes were not exactly met. Maybe I would have done better with a La carte instead of family style. I would think family style is a good entry way for beginning soul food tasters like us, the offering choices would be to hook us to crave for more, but this time it didn't do the job. read more

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I was really excited to try out a new Soul Food restaurant that has gotten a Michelin nod. I've been to Michelin restaurants (Akoko, Ikoyi, Le Comptoir at Bar Crenn) and I'd definitely not consider what I ordered at Burdell Michelin level cooking. I had the Broccoli Croquettes, BBQ Shrimp w/ Rice Grits, Hash Browns and Beignets. None of these items were BAD just not amazing. It's the food you'd get at a fairly good B restaurant like Pacific Catch, only way more expensive. On a positive note, my server Vicki was a star and was very attentive and professional. However, the staff responsible for bussing my table weren't as professional. I had to ask for a plate for my appetizer and plates weren't cleared away once I was done with them. It's funny that another Yelper mentioned that most of the people at Burdell were cashing in their Chase Reserve dining credit before it expired. That was me!! LoLOL read more

***** BLACK OWNED BUSINESS ALERT***** This was a cute place to have a nice Sunday brunch. I read really great reviews about Burdell's and couldn't wait to try this restaurant. My guy got the shrimp and grits and I got the rib eye po boy-esque sandwich. All tasty. I would make a point to go back once I make my rounds to other restaurants on my list but everyone should try this place at least once. read more

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I really wanted to like this place as Oakland was representing for Food & Wine's #1 and SF Chronicle's #1 restaurant. However, the portions are SO small for what you're paying for and nothing really stood out to me flavor wise. We got the family dinner menu which included clams and pimento cheese crackers as an appetizer. It was criminal to have only ONE quarter sized clam and ONE cracker per person. Might as well not have it on the menu for its disappointing portion size or at least give out two more of each per person? Entrees were a good sized portion but flavors were pretty standard. It's comfort food but I was expecting something different to make it stand out considering the awards. Dinner was $90 each + 20% mandatory tip so came out to about $238 with tax for 2 people. It is really steep for a chicken meal. Overall, the restaurant isn't bad but does not live up to the hype. It's expensive for what you get. I would go to support but the overall meals need something else to take it over the edge with its price point. read more

Burdell - Bar area - Soul Food Near Me - Oakland, California

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Beautiful space, feels like someone's home. Good service, and friendly staff. The dessert was delicious, cocktail yummy. All our dishes were way over salted, and I love salt. read more

Burdell - Soul Food Near Me - Oakland, California

We came for Oakland Restaurant Week but boy am I glad my group overrode my vote to go with the prix fixe menu to order a la carte and try more of the menu - though the fried chicken looked and smelled out of this world as it came out to every table around us. I was quite worried when we walked in and the restaurant seemed small, but relieved to be led to a back area that was actually quite charming - and had a good view of the kitchen. Service was excellent, with every person we interacted with gracious about checking in on us and taking the time to remind us of each dish composition as they brought it out. We of course started with boiled peanuts, which were an elevated and well-executed classic. I was afraid the blistered brussel sprouts and crispy pig's ears would be too greasy, but it was just enough oil so that it didn't stick when charred. Chicken liver and waffle was rich but just the right amount that you don't get overwhelmed. I do wish there was more vinaigrette, maybe a little dish of it on the side, to add to taste if they didn't want the waffle to get soggy because the dish needed it to cut through the dense flavor of the liver and cornmeal. The pork neck was my favorite main. You can see the juiciness in the photo! The fresh mustard seed was a brilliant move to give it some bite. The other mains - fried catfish, guinea hen, and bone marrow stew - were all extremely well done, just paled in comparison slightly to the pork neck. I can absolutely see why Chef Davis has risen so quickly and am glad he's making people pay attention to the Oakland food scene! read more

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Burdell is 1000% soul food. Let the haters hate. Every detail from the decor, to the music and obviously the food, is a vision, and it all clicked for me. We had the Family Dinner and it was a great value for the amount of food we got (we have leftovers). The food reminded me of my Southern favorites (boiled peanuts, pimento cheese, stewed cabbage, hoppin' John, banana puddin') while being new and exciting. Service was friendly and warm - from welcoming GM Erica, to Vicky and her Mothership Ferments kombucha (wow). Hoping to become a regular here now that we live so close! read more

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What can I say. This place is worth the hype. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was calm and inviting. We had such a wonderful time. The food did take a while to arrive but when it did, it was worth the wait. I'll be coming back to this restaurant in no time! read more

Burdell has accolades that made me very excited to go to the restaurant. I took my friend for her birthday and unfortunately it was a very bad experience because of the poor service. Our server was Seth C. who was basically a ghost. He arrived without smiling, no eye contact and not even a hello. In fact, I don't believe he even spoke to us, other than to pull out his paper to take our order and to say "no" to any asks of assurance that there wouldn't be anything raw on the plate for my pregnant friend. The food took 1 hour (literally) to arrive after ordering. We sat at 12:45 and got our food at 2PM. Another server came to give us some water, and I had to waive Seth over to ask if our food was given to another table. There was no apology or care. I then had to get up after waiting some time to also ask for the check from the hostess who rang up our final bill. To top it off, we are forced to tip 20%, but he wasn't even there to help us. My friends' omelette was overflowing with way too much melted cheese. My pork and biscuit was good and crispy. I didn't realize how this type of experience can cause tension in the body. When I left the restaurant I immediately gave a huge sigh of relief. I finally let out my irritation that I had to sit there for hours being neglected. I didn't realize I was holding my breath throughout the experience. I will never return again. read more

These haters are high! Beyond the service, I judge the quality of a restaurant first and foremost on its cuisine. Is it delicious? Burdells reinterpretation of soul food is incredibly delicious. People's preconceived notions of what this cuisine should embody is way too personal. Leave your mommas and grand mammas cooking out of it. This is the chefs vision of what high quality ingredients sourced for flavor and nutritional value, can do to enhance a culinary tradition rooted in sustenance and economy. He's trying to feed y'all better chicken and waffles. Better tasting. Better for you. Stop tripping and be grateful we got something special in Oakland that's not a Canes. Give this restaurant your support. read more