Yummmmy yummmy!!…read more Tried them out at the Alameda Art and Wine Fair. It was close to closing time and I was able to order their last Ribeye Cheesesteak. I wanted to add peppers and mushrooms = "the works" but being end of the day they were out. I got my cheesesteak and it wasn't as loaded as I expected to be BUT again I did get the last one so I understand. Although the filling to bread ratio was off, that bread was so soft!!! Had the bread been dry it would have been bad but this bread was obviously fresh. Now the ribeye meat was very tasty and tender and with the cheese onions and sweet peppers... it was such a good sandwich. If you are lucky enough to catch them, please give them a try.

Had the Philly cheesesteak and true to name, it was a big sandwich. Meat was flavorful, acme bread…read morehad a nice crust and soft middle. Onions were well-grilled. For $18 and being in the Bay Area, value isn't bad.

Cafe Gabriela is a consistent staple of Oakland on the edge of Chinatown and Old Oakland. They've…read morebeen around for decades, when the Golden State Warriors were still based in Oakland and their headquarters was a short walk away, I've seen then-General Manager Bob Myers there who was a regular. Shout-out to the owner Penny who has not only supported social causes but has been down to work out catering orders for events of all shapes and sizes. I've recently ordered their lunch boxes for a work meeting I was hosting in Downtown which had a sandwich, a side salad and cookies. I called Penny who talked through options, I had some folks with dietary restrictions and Penny was down to work out an alternative. I know it's shocking to actually use my phone as a phone, but in working something out with the owner/manager, they end up making more revenue than if it were through one of the delivery sites (EZ Cater, doordash, etc) so consider supporting small businesses directly when you can. The day of our meeting after we received our order, we needed a few more sandwiches because more people than expected showed up and Penny's team was able to produce a few more lunch boxes on the fly. I also ordered coffee for my meeting, and Penny gave plenty of sugar, milk and milk alternatives. I've had their sandwiches more times than I can count and can't get enough of their Pork Adobo or Soppressato, it just depends on my mood at the time. Their cookies are yummy as well.

I'm absolutely hooked on this spot. I walked in out of shear convenience, I've had my back side in…read morea chair 2 days a week ever since. The half salad and half sandwich combo is the perfect thing to keep me full and moving in my work day. Would give this place 6 stars if I could!

Love the wall decor and LOVE the panini's This is a super…read morecute shop, the guy who spoke with up was so friendly and kind. Will definetly be back :p #paniniperfection

Neighborhood sandwich shop with a kind and generous owner -- and rich paninis! The menu has the…read moreusual warm sandos and all are done well. Portions are large and they lay it on thick. We ordered the tuna salad and veggie sandwiches. The veggie sandwich had a thick layer of pesto and the tuna salad was mixed with a variety of seasonings, so that both were strongly flavored (if a little homogenous) with every bite. Both stayed warm and the bread stayed crispy, even after takeout. The sandwich game is strong, but even more notable is the owner who goes out of his way to make customers feel welcome. While we were there, a senior came in needing to use a bathroom and not speaking much English. The owner readily made the "Not For Customers" restroom available. And when a leashed dog stopped by, he came out from behind the counter with cuts of deli meat as treats. The sandwiches lean heavy here -- you can watch them brush oil over the bread before toasting -- so plan to split or save the second half for dinner. But be sure to stop in: the owner makes the shop a neighborhood institution.

This is a gem. The only place I will queue up for. Do not let the long line discourage you…read more Chicken sandwich no slaw is my go to order and Betty (in the blue wig) knows how to fry chicken. Don't sleep on the strawberry short cake, on a biscuit rather than angel food cake, fresh whipped cream and the best strawberries. All the cookies are good too. It's a walk up in 2026 and they used to have ironing board tables with chairs outside but no longer, it just to go. Very efficient and great service. Near to Whole Foods and Asmara too. As mentioned, the line moves quickly. A must.

The OG "upscale fried chicken" sandwich in Oakland. It changed the game in the 2010s but the rest…read moreof the world caught up fast. The sandwich has three elements: bun, chicken (or tofu), and coleslaw. The strongest is the chicken: afried breast with thick batter that makes a satisfying crunch and contains enough black pepper to bring some warmth. The coleslaw is heaped on and becomes its own substantial event. It could be part of the greatness but for two drawbacks. First, there is a lot of oil in the coleslaw. Maybe it could work for a grilled chicken sandwich, but a fried one already brings the oil. Second, shrinkflation came for the bun. Holding the thing together is a challenge. However much, the plain bread used to soak up the slaw oil, there is just not enough bun to do it now. But here's the catch: there are at least two great upscale fried chicken sandwiches just down the road. BSB is a good take on what the chicken sandwich can be, but I wouldn't make it a regular spot.

Nice, unpretentious little spot tucked away on Piedmont. Kind of a blink-and-you'll-miss-it facade,…read morebut don't miss it if you're looking for homey comfort food, especially on a weekend. Dropped by with my brother for a quick, light meal. He recommended it and said he'd stopped for a meal on a whim recently and liked the place. The waitress was really nice and our food came out pretty quickly. I got the fried egg sandwich, which comes with two eggs on toast, with tomato and lettuce and a thin layer of mayo. I also got a side order of bacon (four pieces to an order), and they made it extra crispy, just like I requested. This was the perfect meal for wanting something to get full but not stuffed. The eggs were cooked perfectly, the lettuce was crispy and not wilted, the tomato wasn't mush, the sandwich was a decent size, and everything tasted great. I do think if I hadn't ordered the bacon, I wouldn't have felt quite as satisfied, and I was put off by the fact that the price of a side of bacon was almost the same price as the sandwich itself. But I did enjoy my food and it was a pleasant dining experience. No frills, no drama. Would be happy to eat here again.

We've been here 3 times and they were all fantastic. We ate in two times. Both times I got the…read morecroissant breakfast sandwich. It comes in a giant croissant with melted cheese, a single egg, and crispy bacon, or at least that is how I got mine. The croissant just melts in your mouth, it's so flakey and buttery. My husband got the 2 egg breakfast with a side of hash browns and south dough or English muffin. We both enjoyed our meals and we will be back. On our third visit we split the cinnamon roll donut. It was large and soft, so so very soft. I loved it and there was a hint of cinnamon to it. Not the same as a traditional cinnamon roll with cream cheese frosting, but will work in a pinch. I'd order it again. The Cafe is clean and tidy and bright. It's an old cafe, more like a diner. It looks like it brings in the same regulars, even the police eat there. There was a groups of at least 6 of them last time we were there eating at the table in front of us. They sounded like they've been there before. They have a single bathroom in the back. It's clean and well stocked. They have a donut case in the front filled with all kinds of donuts. That is where we got the cinnamon roll donut. There is a French bakery down the street, but they don't serve donuts. In addition it's nice and warm, not too warm, but the perfect temperature in the cafe to be comfortable. I liked being there better than the bakery down the street. If you are looking for donuts or croissants this is the place to come. Also if you are wanting a breakfast or lunch spot stop in and try them.

The *best* chicken and waffle in Oakland. That sounds crazy, but it really is. The chicken is a…read morejuicy, crisp schnitzel that's seasoned with some sort of chili oil. The waffle is thick, crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside, and sweet! It pairs beautifully with the spicy chicken. It comes with a side salad that's bright and helps clear the palate. You can't go wrong with their house potatoes or latkes, but be sure to use the sauces given for each one because that's where all the amazing flavor comes from. I've started going every week after a hike. It's THAT good.

Better understood as a Jewish-deli-themed restaurant than a proper Jewish deli. That goes double…read morefor the bagels. We ordered a half dozen plain bagels and cream cheese. The bagels appeared to have a crispy crust but biting into it revealed the crust to be an illusion. It gave way to a dry interior with the flavor of white bread. This was the proverbial "roll with a hole" and a scratchy one at that. The cream cheese was, however, entirely successful. It is a rich, smooth spread with only the mildest tang. When you need a cream cheese that sticks to the middle of the road -- guaranteed to offend no one -- this is the ticket. Proper bagels can be found just a few blocks away, so you may wish to look elsewhere.

It's a crime that I didn't take a picture of my sandwich today, but it was so good that I just went…read moreinto dreamland and forgot about everything else. I got the chicken curry salad sandwich. The best chicken curry salad I have ever had hands-down and I've had a lot. I think they put watercress in it, but I'm not sure. Just the right amount of sweet and savory. Texture was delectable and so tasty on the Acme sweet roll. I should have just eaten half of it, but I could not stop. Can't wait to have it again and I will take pictures next time.

This place has gotten my order wrong too many times. I order online and always build my own…read moresandwich. It's essentially The Bird, minus the bacon with a couple other minor tweaks, including the softer sesame roll. Usually they just fuck up the bread and forget one of the veggies. Today, they just gave me a Bird sandwich which was drowning in mayo, not the garlic aioli I ordered - no sesame roll, no tomato, no pickled onion...just a whole other sandwich. I stopped ordering in person at the shop because someone there always ended up being kind of a dick during the interaction - either during the ordering or the pick up - without fail. You don't have to like your customers, but you do have to at least pretend to tolerate them. I'm not asking you guys anything hard. So enjoy my last nearly $19 for the completely wrong sandwich. I don't know why I kept trying.

From the moment I walked in, the energy was lacking. One staff member on duty, and unfortunately…read morefriendliness wasn't part of the experience. It set an awkward tone that carried through the whole visit. The cafe was clean and offered a nice open cafe feel. I ordered the oatmeal to go and it was extremely watery and not something I could get through. It's a simple dish, and it just wasn't executed well. The chai tea was decent. Three stars feels generous. Not a place I'd return to or point anyone toward.

I have been there twice, Breakfast Croissant super delicious and the Reuben sandwich also…read moredelicious, the most incredible thing is that only one person was working. Great place