Best southern food in my life. My aunt and I came here on a whim to get some food because we drove…read more2 hours from home for a dr's visit, they were nearby and looked the best, so we ordered from here. Never had hushpuppies but they were fantastic. Who knew deep fried cornbread was what was missing from my life. Paired with their housemade butter. So much southern food disappointed me but angelines finally filled that hole in my stomach for the intense craving for good soul food. Their jambalaya is killer. Super heavy but its everything that ticks the boxes. I feel catfish was a tiny bit underwhelming but the sauce saved it. My only issue was I wasn't able to finish all the hushpuppies they gave us, and thats a good problem lol. They also had a half open kitchen so you could see what everyone was doing. The dining room was a lil dark and cozy, I like dark dining rooms to be honest so it was the icing on the cake for me. Wish I dined in instead of did takeout, I live in stockton so we were here because we were visiting berkeley. Would come back to try everything else if berkeley wasn't a huge drive out for us :( but overall great food and service.

One of the best Southern food experience ever! Went to celebrate my bestie's birthday and while we…read moreforgot to reserve (since they are always full) so couldn't get the best seats, the vibe was so lovely and the server was really nice (and patient in recommending dishes). Buttermilk fried chicken was so tender, every single kind of gravy/sauce was so flavorful and paired well with the main dishes. Gumbo is the perfect definition of comfort but the banana pudding was an absolute star. We were so full but couldn't resist since the taste was just remarkably sweet yet balanced to end the night with. Will definitely come back for another special occasion!

The Catfish Benedict is the star of the show at Brenda's…read more Brenda's Oakland is what you want when you're hungry enough to stop pretending you want something light. It's New Orleans comfort food with a casual, neighborhood feel, and the kind of menu that knows exactly what it's doing. What I ordered: Catfish Benedict with home fries The Dish: Crispy fried catfish, poached eggs, and a rich hollandaise-style sauce on a biscuit... it's basically brunch wearing a leather jacket. The catfish had real crunch without feeling greasy, and the sauce played nice instead of taking over the whole plate. The biscuit showed up like it understood the assignment soft, buttery and held up well under all the toppings, which is no small thing. The home fries were a solid side too -- crispy in spots, tender inside, and a good match for a dish that already had plenty of personality. Vibe & service: Relaxed, casual, and clearly a place people come back to on purpose. The food came out looking like brunch meant business. Parking is limited so plan on walking about a block or so. It's DEFINITELY worth the walk (a few extra steps after brunch won't hurt) LOL. Psssst: If you want something more interesting than the usual eggs Benedict, get the Catfish Benedict. It's rich, satisfying, and feels like one of those orders you'll think about later. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

1st time dining at this location as we prefer their original spot on Polk…read more 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.

Everything was absolutely delicious. The grits was out of this world. Vibe and service was great…read more No notes.

Oakland continues to surprise me with its incredible food scene, and my recent dinner at Burdell…read morewas a reminder of exactly why. Our party of four made reservations about two weeks in advance, and I'd definitely recommend planning ahead, especially for larger groups, since reservations for six were much harder to secure. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere immediately transports you. Verdell creates a space that feels warm, intentional, and deeply rooted in appreciation, connection, and comfort. The ambiance alone set the tone for a memorable evening. Because portions lean smaller, we ordered several dishes and doubled up on a few items so everyone at the table could fully experience the menu. Every plate felt thoughtful and beautifully prepared. Standouts from the night included the dandelion greens, collard greens, lamb neck, fried chicken cornbread, chicken liver and waffles, and the lamb. But the absolute favorite of the evening was the spring onion dish recommended by the staff. The service elevated the experience even more. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful when guiding us through the menu and recommendations. Burrell delivered great food, great vibes, and a dining experience that felt special from beginning to end. I'll absolutely be making reservations again.

The food was Amazing no complaints there.. it came out hot and well seasoned!! 9/10 easy.. service…read morewas great.. however they do share the restaurant with another restaurant I guess the other restaurant is in charge of the drinks.. the you lady could use more training easy.. attitude was not pleasant.. everything was just lightly tossed in front of you.. your straw? And napkins they provided.. she didn't even comeback to check on us to see if we needed any more to drink.. hopefully soon Samara will have drink service to go along with her great food!

What are you waiting for?! Just book the reservation! 10/10!!!!…read more Stopped in to try Samara's Southern Creations while in town for the weekend visiting the Black Food and Wine Experience. Of course me and the bestie had to grab brunch before we headed home. Was a bit thrown off when booking via OpenTable as it comes up as Haus of Chefs, but when I got the concept of hosting local chefs and rotating menus all was smooth. We got a few shareables and entrees and everything was so good. S/o to tik tok for putting us on to some amazing food. We ordered the boudin balls, crab stuffed shrimp, peach cobbler waffle, and catfish/ grits. For drinks, we had the brown sugar mint julep and madame butterfly. My fav items had to be the boudin balls, catfish / grits, and brown sugar mint julep. Presentation was so cute. Add a flower or herb to my drink or plate and I'm yours. Everything was so flavorful, paired nicely together , and wasn't too much. Portion sizes were on point and no need for condiments because sis seasoned the hell out that food! The ambiance is definitely brunch vibes. You can tell it's a local favorite as people were so chill about coming in and just enjoying their meal. Seating includes table and bar seating but no matter your area the service was on point almost little to no waiting and everything was freshly served ! Did I mention they had the jams in rotation. Again, who was on the aux because I need the playlist?! Prices for menu items were reasonable and worth it. I had a little moment when I realized the chef herself served us our plates and checked into see how everything was going. Like come on how cool was that! Overall, great experience and yes I'll be back for a dozen boudin balls. Big S/o to our servers/ bartenders Ashlee and Kia for the hospitality and customer service. Keep up the good work! If you in the Oakland neighborhood stop by and try!

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

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

We were in the Bay area for a getaway, and we really wanted some good soul food, especially after…read morebeing disappointed by going to Y's Choice Soul Food Restaurant, the day before. Touch of Soul Soul Food Restaurant delivered one of the best comfort‑food experiences we have had in a long time. Every dish tasted like it was made with care, tradition, and a whole lot of love. The catfish was perfectly seasoned with a crispy golden crust and tender, flaky meat inside. The chicken wings were just as impressive --well‑seasoned, juicy, and cooked to perfection. The sides were the real stars, though. The yams were rich and buttery with just the right amount of sweetness. The potato salad was creamy and flavorful without being heavy. The greens had that slow‑cooked, soulful taste you can't fake, and the macaroni and cheese was exactly what mac and cheese should be--cheesy, comforting, and baked just right. And those corn muffins? Soft, warm, and the perfect finishing touch. From start to finish, the meal felt like a true home‑cooked experience. If you're looking for soul food that hits every note--flavor, comfort, and authenticity--Touch of Soul is absolutely worth the visit. The foot is priced just right, especially in today's economy. One last thing, the service was AWESOME!!!!

My experience with this restaurant has been inconsistent, but my most recent catering order was…read moreextremely disappointing. The first time I visited, it was late in the evening and they had already sold out of several items. The food I did try was average at best--about a 2.5/5. The second time, I went with someone who knew the owner, and the experience was completely different. Everything was excellent--easily a 5/5. Based on that visit, I felt confident enough to place a large catering order for a Black History Month event at my job. I ordered yams, dressing with gravy, greens, mac & cheese, fried catfish, fried chicken, cornbread, peach cobbler, and German chocolate cake. The total came to $590, which I paid immediately after confirming via text. I requested that the food be ready by 2 PM since the event started at 3 PM. When I arrived, nothing was ready. There was also confusion about my order--they initially only prepared one dessert, even though I was charged for both cobbler and cake. I had to show proof of my order to resolve that. As the food slowly became available, I was handed trays one at a time with no assistance, meaning I had to carry everything to my car by myself. On top of that, the cornbread I ordered was never provided. The food wasn't fully ready until around 3 PM, which caused delays for my event. Unfortunately, the quality didn't match my previous experience either. The fried catfish pieces were extremely small--more like nuggets than full portions. The dressing was undercooked and even had large turkey bones in it, which was unacceptable. The greens had excessive liquid, which I had to drain before transporting them. Overall, this was a frustrating and disappointing experience. Order accuracy was a 1/5, timeliness and service (including lack of assistance) was a 1/5, and food quality was about a 2.5/5. Based on this experience, I will not be returning. For catering orders or anything from a local soul food restaurant I'd highly recommend Ys Choice.

The Reggie Jackson Special is affordable and delicious. The food comes fast, but out cooked well…read moreand tasty. You should check this place out. They close before 3 pm.

While in Berkeley I stumbled upon this place. Glad I did. I…read morewas so happy to support this establishment that has been feeding Berkeley for over 60 years. Since I wasn't prepared for the experience, I only had a spinach omelette, some grits, and their homemade biscuit. Gotta go back.

After work Easter dinner. We finally dined in here…read more Really good BBQ spot. Glad we came here. Everything looked so yummy when it came. Good flavors from everything. My favorite was the mac & cheese and brussels sprouts. The meats were so tender! Although, I tried a piece of pork link, for some reason, I didn't like it. It seemed too grainy. The ambience was chill, and they have full bar. Nice and spacious. My only complaint is that I was trying to order & the phone rings & the host took the call. What I learned in customer service in my 20 years +, you attend to the customer in front of you first. Phone calls can wait. When she got off the phone, other workers came over and they started talking about what's next in their schedule. Still, I'm over here, waiting to order the rest of the stuff. That what the unprofessional part of things.. Glad we still came here to try. It still earned a star to come back!

BBQ is not cheap But you would expect a certain quality…read moreOrdered the two combo plate which is about $30 with tip The rib tips were mostly bone or dried out pieces. The beef brisket was tender but lacked the Smokey flavor The Brussels sprouts were crisp but a tad too salty Baked beans were good as was the dinner roll Order was ready early but lacked any utensils or napkins in our to go order

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

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

This was our second time there and we brought opur friends with us for a bday celebration. The…read moreservice was very slow and non attentive. The food was not as good as the first time we were there 9 months ago. I am not sure what has changed? It is a lovely spot with a lovely in and outdoor area. I hope they figure out what is not working and fix it fast as it has the potential to be a fabulous spot!

I tagged along with a friend to get a drink here. I ended up trying the fried brussels sprouts…read more They are amazing! They are fried and then glazed with a bourbon dressing. The crispies of the outside of the brussels sprout contrasts to the inside softness. So good!. All of the staff here is fantastic. This is a well run restaurant.