The first time I've been on an off hour and seen this place not busy. Linner was great - service…read morewas attentive, the music was vibey, and the food was excellent. I went a little ham for one person because I can't NOT get the hush puppies and something spicy and dessert! The gumbo alone was probably enough for me, but upside is I have plenty to snack on when I get home. Yum!

Angeline's absolutely delivered. I stopped in around 12:30 p.m. on a Saturday, and I was surprised…read moreby how empty it was. No complaints though--it made for a relaxed meal and the service was attentive. I ordered the fried chicken and beignets with gravy, and it was excellent. I'm usually someone who prefers bone-in fried chicken, but this version won me over. The chicken was juicy with perfectly seasoned, crispy breading, and the savory gravy paired surprisingly well with the beignets. Everything on the plate complemented each other without feeling too heavy. The only miss for me was the orange juice--it was pretty forgettable. But honestly, the rest of the meal more than made up for it. I'd happily come back for the fried chicken.

Brenda's has been well-known for decades, the first location is in San Francisco. I've gotten…read moretakeout from them before but this was the first time I've dined in at Brenda's Oakland. My wife and I were trying to be strategic with our choices: She got the Fried Chicken wings, I got one of the dinner entrees (the Jambalaya) which came with three sides. For the sides, I'm a potato salad lover so I felt compelled to order the Creole Potato Salad which was mayo-based but not too heavy; Mac and Cheese was pretty good for a side, not the best I've ever had: and their Cornbread was a healthy size for a size, I was expecting a small muffin type side. Their Jimbalaya was good, it was thick and solid as opposed to those that are more soup/stew consistency but it was pretty flavorful. The Fried Chicken wings were solid (my wife doesn't believe in boneless, which I've come around on as well). The fried chicken was not too salty for being fried chicken and the wings were a good size. It came with fries and a small side of cole slaw. We were stuffed from dinner otherwise we would've tried dessert, I've had their peach cobbler as takeout. Pretty good experience, we'll come back again. Brenda's lives up to the hype.

Brenda's is easily one of my favorite places for a good brunch. I've been to the San Francisco…read morelocation several times, and the Oakland location is also great--and quite a bit bigger. The food is consistently good. I especially love their fried chicken. We've tried several different dishes, and there really hasn't been much that I didn't enjoy. My daughter absolutely loved the chicken tenders. They're not your typical heavily breaded chicken strips--they have their own style and flavor that makes them stand out. The everything is also excellent, the biscuits are fantastic, and I really enjoyed the cornbread. And, of course, you can't go to Brenda's without trying the beignets. Those alone are worth ordering. Overall, Brenda's is just an awesome place to have brunch. Great Southern-style comfort food, plenty of choices, and food that actually lives up to the reputation. I've also been to Brenda's Meat & Three, and that's another really good spot. Highly recommended. If you're looking for a great brunch, Brenda's should definitely be on your list.

I recently went to Burdell for the first time to sample items from their new venture "Uncle" which…read morewill be replacing Wood Tavern in the near future. Fortunately, I able to go with a few friends which allowed us to sample a variety of dishes. We ended up starting off with the Caesar salad, calamari, and tomatoes. The Caesar salad was prepared table side and served with fresh cracked pepper. The veggie quality was solid and the anchovies within the salad were a great touch. I also really enjoyed the tomatoes which were seasoned perfectly. I LOVED the calamari which had an awesome briny taste within the batter. The dipping sauce was also very tasty. For our mains we went with the pork chops and the salmon. We also ordered some mashed potatoes and creamed corn on the side. Firstly, the pork chops were excellent. They had great flavor and seasoning while also remaining moist. My friend's salmon was tasty but it didn't blow my socks off. In terms, of sides I think the creamed corn was the star the of the show. I would highly recommend it. The mashed potatoes were also well made. In the end, my experience with the food quality and service at Burdell was great. Our waitstaff were polite and attentive and the food was mostly good. However, in reality I feel like I want to leave a 3.5 star review here for the portion size relative to the price. Again, the food and service were excellent but the portions were not generous at all. We paid north of $40 for a fairly meager portion of salmon alone. The sides were relatively small and I was still left a bit hungry after the pork chops. I think it is 100% fine to charge premium prices for soul food. It is important to respect the time and effort that goes into making a quality meal. Still, I found myself disappointed at the portion size relative to the price point (value). I understand that this was a special menu to preview their new restaurant, so I want to extend some grace. In summary, the food is quite good but the portion size/value piece leaves much to be desired.

I have to admit, this place challenged me and proved me wrong…read more Looking at the menu and photos, I was a bit skeptical about the food that was available. However, Burdell blew me out of the water with the taste and quality of every dish they brought to our table. There wasn't one single item I had that I did not enjoy. The highlights of our meal were the cornbread, salad, pork chops, and Arnold Palmer (this is called something else, however I cannot remember). The food was a culinary experience that made me feel like I was sitting in the home of a family who spent generations perfecting these recipes. If I was eating on food alone, it would be 5 stars easily. My only critique is the service, which overall was great but felt unorganized and abrupt at times. Definitely would recommend to someone who would like to experience a new place!

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!

My wife had this spot bookmarked for months, but since it's in Oakland and we're about an hour out…read morewe kept putting it off. The last time we drove out that way for an influencer-recommended place, it was just okay. Not quite worth the trip. This place? Totally different story. The food was super good. Service was a little slow at the start, but the drinks were solid and everything we ordered hit. We had the cornbread skillet with berry butter, the gumbo pot pie, fried chicken and waffles with the peach cobbler butter, and the ribeye with both the creamy Creole sauce and the jerk butter. Also tried the fried catfish and grits. Everything was seriously fire. The only miss was the fried chicken--it had great flavor, but came out a bit lukewarm and not as crispy as we'd hoped. If it had come out fresh and hot, it would've been perfect. Still, this place is absolutely worth checking out. Closest thing we've had in the Bay that reminds us of New Orleans. Highly recommend.

Oh the fish and grits is to cry for, so tasty and delicious. The grits are flavored through and…read morethrough. Thick with a great consistency, I want the recipe. The savor of flavor in those grits, they are thick but thin. I have taste none other no where. Then the fish, battered just right crispy on the outside but soft and savory inside. I saved some fish for later because the portion can make 2 meals. This meal made me so happy I am going back a few more times. Definitely a repeat, stop by eat and grab a seat. You will be happy you did.

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.

Good food, great service. Place was nice. Definitely would come back again…read more Food is a bit inconsistent, very crispy wings and soggy fries and catfish in po boy wasnt as crispy but if youre not a picky eater, this place is great

I tried this place thinking it would be like the Pittsburgh location, which was a hit or miss. Man…read morethis place looks so nice and clean with a nice bar. However, the staff was less welcoming. Understanding it's a Sunday and the were filling orders and what not but i regret not turning around. I saw how busy they were and knew it was going to be a long wait. I chose to get a side of dressing because that was really the star for me previously. Welp I'm not sure where the young lady went to the back to get mine (maybe an old pan or something) but it wasn't not appetizing looks like dog food. And not it wasn't good. So hard to find consistency I suggest you set a standard to not serve anything you wouldn't eat.

So glad there is a DoorDash pickup option to enjoy this restaurant when I don't have "cash only"…read moredining as an option. I had to try the Fried Chicken and I got the breast meat. It was flavorful, delicious and tender. It came with a couple eggs, a couple biscuits and I did the hash browns as my side. I love sweet potato pie and cheesecake so I had to order the sweet potato cheesecake and it was amazing. The food was ready in about 15 minutes and the lady helping me was friendly and provided good customer service. I love the decor with all the photos of all the folks that have enjoyed Lois' food. Looking forward to returning:)

I'm so happy that a friend put me on to this place. It reminds me of my late aunts cooking and it's…read morejust good ole simplistic breakfast staples. I tried corned beef hash for the first time and loved it so I came back for that and was not disappointed. The meal is about $16 comes with toast, eggs, and I chose the grits which are also hella good. The service is always amazing and so is the food. The only reason why I gave 4 stars is because I can't bring myself to agree with the price of their breakfast sides compared to what you get. & it may have been some months but they used to fill both sides with grits. Seems like portions are getting cut for Togo orders maybe but prices are staying the same. For 3 slices of thin xtra crispy pieces of bacon (actually two slices and burnt pieces) it's $8.25+ I remember thinking it was insane so I never added any extra meat and after going recently I was reminded why, my order came out to $27, when I opened the side of bacon I was disappointed. I believe the quality and quantity should better match the price. Otherwise I'll gladly go buy a full pack of thick cut Oscar Meyer bacon for less than what they're charging for 3 slices and just add it at home lol. it's tough for business owners and consumers out here so while I understand price increase, it should still make sense for the consumer. Still love this place down. Just won't be paying for a side again.

My fourth time ordering from here in a Month. Hands down best BBQ spot in Oakland. The consistency…read moreis key for me and the beautiful waitress Dominique was so helpful in fulfilling my order. Thank you and I will be back but I gotta give it sometime before I get burnt out lol.

I can't speak to the ambiance of the establishment as I had take out…read more There was a wait, but not extremely long. The brisket was delicious albeit a little fatty. The BBQ sauce was phenomenal. The baked beans were fine. The Mac and cheese was OK. I would go back and try something different like links and collards. Overall good.

Absolutely fabulous experience. Great customer service. Epic food. Anyone who doesn't like homeroom…read morejust don't appreciate good food, especially cheese Loved Bailey and Sandra. Ambience is awesome and music is on point

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.

The food was Gr8, would not recommend the Calamari. The Pork Chop was to die for it was the size of…read morea Tomahawk Steak. The Coleslaw was a trail from the Chef it was good & spicy not on the menu but I sure hope it gets added, I'll be running back for it! The salad was gr8, I also had the Wings, Ribs. NEED I SAY MORE!

Well, I'll give it to them for consistency. Consistently bad…read more There was something wrong with over half of our party of eight's entrees. - Pork chop: According to our server, this was an "excellent choice". It was HELLA DRY (see pic)! Like, hard-to-swallow-dry. The carrots and the potatoes were good though. The poor pig died in vain. - Spaghetti di mare: Oily! - Steak: Ordered medium, came out super rare. Mom was just going to eat it, insisting it was fine, but then our server came over and took one look and said "yeah that's definitely rare". At our server's insistence, it was sent back and it was more medium, but it was tough. Not much flavor either. - Fish and chips: Also overcooked and tough. - Shrimp: Same, overcooked and tough and the pesto pasta also lacked flavor. - Ribs and tagliatelle were "ok". The only passable entrees, but far from being spectacular. You may ask why we didn't complain to our server. Well, first, we never send entrees back. Second, how do you even send five out of eight entrees back?! After my mom's steak returned medium and it still wasn't good, why bother? Our starters: buffalo wings, fried calamari and truffle fries were decent enough, but after that it was all downhill. We all passed on dessert. I don't think we've ever had a family dinner where we all complained so much. Looking at the most recent reviews, it looks like our experience is not an isolated one. The prices are not justified for what it was. $51 for a steak, $42 for a pork chop. $15 for a mocktail is steep even for a fancy restaurant, which Townhouse is not. I am not opposed to forking over money for food and drink, if it's good. Almost $500 including tax and tip down the drain. The service was fine. The apps and alcoholic spirits were alright, thus 2 stars.