Y'all! Three words.... Sweet potato tarts! This was our first time dining at this restaurant and it will not be our last. I planned a dinner with a few of my corporate friends while I was in SF. I really appreciate it the mission of this restaurant and the work that they are doing so we reserved a table for a Wednesday. When you arrive, you enter into a long hallway filled with photos and you can hear the live music playing. The vibe is everything!!! We were greeted when we all were seated and one of the servers brought us a complimentary tray of sweet potato biscuits. They were not on the menu but they should be!! To start, I ordered a Cabernet, and I also started with some of the sweet chili glazed wings. The wings were so good!!! For my meal I had the braised short rib and my goodness.. it was absolutely delicious!!! I also ordered a side of macaroni and cheese which was creamy and flavorful! One of my friends ordered a side of greens and I'm telling you I don't know how they got so much wonderful flavor without any meat!! Absolutely delicious! Everyone's food at the table was devoured. We all kept talking about how delicious everything was and then we got to dessert. We have been talking about the sweet potato tarts before we even got to the restaurant and so of course we had to order those. That was one of the best desserts I've ever had in my life! Y'all have to get you some sweet potato tarts. We even had a few at the table take orders to go. One recommendation for check splitting, don't do it or talk about it at the very beginning with your server. We had a party of five and the splitting our check by individual orders at the end was not the best process at all. We should have just divided the check five ways evenly and figured it out on our own. All this to say that this place is so cool and the food is delicious!!! read more

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Best place to dine in SF! One of the most legitimate and well deserving restaurants in the City. Loved the fried chicken, salmon and ribs. All sides (Mac and cheese!) and desserts are worth it, Do the right thing and go today! read more

Such a cool spot hidden in SF's Bayview- Hunters Point neighborhood. We appreciated the speakeasy vibe of the venue and friendly and attentive service we experienced while there, as well as the lovely jazz performed by youth (live music ended at 9:00pm, though the menu noted that it ends at 8:30pm). Awesome sounds on the baritone sax, bass, and drums, with songs like Fly Me To The Moon setting the mood on a Saturday evening. To eat, we had the catfish fingers appetizer, daniel's gumbo, and slow braised short ribs. The catfish was lightly breaded and tender, the short ribs were soft like butter with a tasty sauce, and the gumbo was a hearty dish in a flavorful stew, generous with the meats (chicken, ham, andouille sausage, and shrimp). We also got the dessert special, banana pecan muffin which came with fresh slices of strawberry and blueberries, as well as a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was delightful. To drink, I tried a couple different cocktails, the Lavender French 75 and The Cotton Club. Both were really good, but I especially enjoyed the latter which was heavy on the strawberry and lemon flavors, my fave. All in all, we had a wonderful experience here, savoring every last bite of our meal while immersed in the inviting atmosphere ideal for date night or any special occasion. read more

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Exceptional service, delicious food, and live jazz?? Sign me up!! Already recommended this spot to several friends and family. Keep up the great work! read more

Old Skool Cafe - Braised short ribs with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

Old skool cafe is a hidden gem that serves up a mix of new American cuisine with a hint of New Orleans incorporated into it. The menu changes every now & then so be sure to check before you go because it may have changed by the time you read this review. The ambience is definitely "old skool": the dim lighting, the attire of the wait staff, the big old seating booths and the decor screams great gatsby/50s era. It sets up a really romantic, cozy atmosphere for the drinks and dinner. Drinks were solid. I haven't had a sidecar made this impeccably in a while, the rum based cocktail (forgot the name) was also a hit. We tried a little bit of everything. For apps, we had the catfish fingers and the French onion soup. For entrees, we each got a different entree so we can try each other's order. The standout dish for me was the beef short ribs which was so tender that you can just use a fork to eat it. It is served with a red wine sauce and creamy mashed potatoes. I also liked the gumbo, had some meaty sausages in there and pieces of chicken. Old skool cafe, thank you for having us! We will return, hopefully sooner rather than later. read more

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OMG! If we hadn't read about this place in the SF Chronicle'a Best of the Bay, we never would have known about it. What a wonderful surprise. The food was excellent. Some of the best we've ever had. We had the gumbo and the fried chicken and both were amazing. We started with a delicious salad and catfish fingers. Our waiter and the entire staff were extremely attentive and helpful and the young jazz musicians were phenomenal. Highly recommended. Can't wait to bring friends and visitors here to enjoy the cool supper club ambiance. read more

I was in town from San Francisco for a basketball tournament and hadn't planned on eating out much beyond quick bites. But when friends invited us to brunch and we had some time before our games, I decided to join--and I'm so glad I did. Parking was easy, either on the street if you get lucky or in the lot next door. Since we made reservations, the wait wasn't long, and in the meantime, we played cornhole--a great touch for families with kids who can't sit still for long. Our server was wonderful (wish I remembered his name--lots of tattoos!) and very knowledgeable about the menu. On his recommendation, I ordered the shrimp and grits, which I later learned had actually won a "Best Grits" award from a grit society. The dish was incredible--full of flavor, and the grits absolutely lived up to the hype. The menu is creative, the atmosphere welcoming, and the food memorable. Next time I'm in town, this will definitely be on my list to revisit. read more

Old Skool Cafe - Shrimp n Grits - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

My family and I absolutely loved our experience here! We came for my Mother's 70th Birthday and she loved the experience! The food was very very delicious! We ordered the gumbo, the short ribs, warrior wings, jerk shrimp, mocktails and a cheesecake desert. All were really delicious! The service was great, and the servers were really sweet and respectful. They even gave my mom a birthday card from the staff. The atmosphere was really extravagant. I loved the live performance and the lighting was really settling. I also loved the mirrors. This place is a vibe! I cannot wait to go back. read more

Great idea. Loved the restaurants feeling of an old school speakeasy. Loved the kids working and having stories to share. Service was attentive. Loved the high school band members playing jazz in the background (they were very good) . Food was ok... nothing was bad, but neither was it special. At the end of the day... I've had worse, I've had better... that leaves me at average food with a little too much salt for my personal taste. At the table braised rib (fair), fried chicken (I thnk it was the baked variety), mac & cheese (not baked soul food style, think shells and melted white cheese), fried catfish (a few catfish nuggets).... This is a great restaurant to support because of the mission of helping the kids. It is a very cool experience in a challenging area of town... for a premium price. read more

Old Skool Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Nice spot. Our first time here, pass by this place pretty often. Really digging the ambience and the music, and our server was an absolute sweetheart. Ordered a couple things off the menu. Braised short ribs was my favorite. read more

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Few parking spots right in front of entrance Just a beautiful restaurant. The interior, people, mission, and good cause. Right when you step in, you'll feel like you're transported to another place, gorgeous and elegant 1920's decor. Food was delicious and plated wonderfully. Tried Abu's peanut butter stew which caught my attention because how often do you see that? It was yummy. There's a bar so you can order cocktails to go with your meal too I had a group of 5 and had the window booth area Happy hour specials available at certain time Live music by young performers was a treat. Check online calendar for performers read more

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Gotta' say, I did like this joint. It is everything you've read and heard about. The band wasn't playing when we dined, although a pianist was upstairs playing some nice piano the whole time. Service was excellent and attentive. The food was very good. I had the short ribs, which were pretty perfect. My friend had the sea bass over risotto which he said was great. All in all I'm very happy I went here and it felt good to support a good cause. I would go back! read more

Old Skool Cafe - Sea bass over risotto. - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

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what an amazing experience... everything amazing i love jazz and the live jazz band set it off read more

Old Skool Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wonderful experience! The ambiance was amazing. The food was even better! And the staff were all friendly and fun. We eloped and made this our wedding night dinner experience. They were friendly and celebrated with us! The food... AMAZING! The shrimp appetizer was delicious! The fried chicken was elevated in a way I didn't know was possible, with greens that made your mouth water and mashed potatoes that were like a cloud that dissipated on your tongue. The braised short rib was the best I've ever had. The drinks were perfectly crafted! And supporting their mission and purpose of helping at-risk youth made the whole experience better! Thank you for a wonderful evening! Mandy & Jesse Cox 4-2-26 read more

Old Skool Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Valentine's Day dinner. Perfect ambience. Think Jazz club meets a dinner club. The staff were friendly and attentive without being intrusive. The food was sublime. We'll be going back for sure, especially given we're neighbors. read more

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Took my son, mother and her husband to this gem of a restaurant. I stumbled upon it on Yelp and so glad I found it. When I asked how long they had been around and was told 20 years, my mom and I were surprised. This place is like SF's secret and it shouldn't be. I think everyone should be dining here. What reeled me in was that it's a "speakeasy." I just visited Chicago earlier this month so I am still coming off that high so to see a speakeasy that also featured live music I thought was fitting. So I made reservations via Yelp and the earliest dinner reservations offered was 7:45. So then I emailed to request if we could possibly be squeezed in at 5:00PM since my son and I would be travelling a couple hours and my mom and her husband wanting to eat earlier. I was called later in the day and was told they could accommodate my request. Which we were all happy for. This place was easy to get too off Highway 101. We parked in front of the school along Mendell Street. Walk up to the building that dawned the marquee and was hesitant at first because it's so unassuming. Luckily for us there were a group of gentleman sitting outide bbqing (not for the restaurant just because it was a Saturday) and they pointed out which door to go through. You open the door and are immediately transported back in time. The walls are dark and adorned with various photos in brilliant gold frames. Music lures you in down the hall until you get to a door way that opens up to the roaring 20's. Your eyes immediately lock onto the large bar area where the bartenders are dressed in black shaking and mixing drinks. Then you notice the plush red booths. We were immediately taken to a corner booth that was decorated in everything peacock (my absolute fave) and a crystal chandelier. It was in this moment that I was so bummed I hadn't dressed the part! Typically there is live jazz but they had called off last minute. I can only imagine that the live music is the icing on the cake! We didn't order anything from the bar but we did order the following: Apps: 1. Catfish fingers: seasoned and coated perfectly in cornmeal and served with a delicious aioli dipping sauce. Fingers fried crispy. 2. Warrior Wings: chicken wings deep friend and then dressed in their sweet and sour sauce. Cooked well and sauce was indeed everything you want a sweet and sour to taste like. Dinner: 1. My mother's husband ordered Abu's Peanut Butter Stew with shrimp: It reminiscent of a thai coconut curry. Delicious and served with a mound of rice. 2. My mother ordered Jordan's Fried Chicken: It comes with 3 pcs of fried chicken on top of a mound of mashed potatoes and greens. Chicken was a perfectly golden brown, crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. Mash was yummy and the greens were cooked well. 3. My son ordered Daniel's Gumbo: It was a shrimp gumbo. My son is used to my gumbo wherein I use shrimp, chicken, sausage and crab legs. That roux was a nice color though, someone back in the kitchen got a sore arm from getting that roux the right color! It came with a mound of steamed rice. Even though the kid grumbled in the beginning he sure did lick his plate clean..lol! 4. I ordered the Smother Pork Chop: what had me convinced was that whiskey mushroom gravy. Delicious and will need to try my hand at it. Pork chop was a thick cut and seasoned and cooked well. It laid on top of a bed of grits and stewed veggies. All components complimented each other well. Dessert: 1. Date Cake: My mom made a face when I ordered it. She said it was because she doesn't like dates. I tried a date cake in Vegas and was a fan. So had my fingers crossed this would change her mind. I was right. She enjoyed it. 2. Lavender Cheesecake: you can't really taste the lavender in it. Delicious cheesecake nonetheless. There are 2 gender neutral restrooms that were spacious, clean and well stocked. Drinks menu looked yummy. Next time I'm bringing a DD so I can enjoy a yummy bevvie. We will be back. This time I am coming dressed the part and I got my fingers crossed we can catch some jazz. read more

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Was in the area and stumbled upon this soul food restaurant. Who doesn't love a feel good story about someone giving back to the community! It's a walk right into the roaring 1920s inside the establishment. They had live jazz and all the staff dressed the part. I ordered the peanut stew and my wife ordered the Fried Chicken. We both really enjoyed our dishes! The peanut stew was warm and comforting. All the staff were extremely accommodating and attentive. All and all, I would for sure check out this unique place in BayView again! read more

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My first visit. This was an absolutely delightful culinary experience. Service was friendly and attentive. The food was incredible and such a delight to have live music. I highly recommend dining here and contributing to a very worthy cause. read more

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Absolutely charming in every way. Great food. Great atmosphere. Lovely people and good music. When was the last time you felt good about patronizing a restaurant? Check out the back story on this place. They're doing it. And it's great. read more

Old Skool Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

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So glad we dined at @oldskoolcafe tonight. I agree with another Yelper about this being truly the definition of dining with a purpose. Old Skool Cafe is a violence prevention program, that provides job training, employment and a second chance at life by way of a 1920's speakeasy, jazz restaurant, run by at-risk, formerly incarcerated and foster care youth ages 16-22. It allows these at-risk teens/young adults a chance to develop skills in hospitality, life-lessons and getting them ready for a life where they can support themselves. The restaurant is located in not the best neighborhood in SF, but as someone commented, "don't judge a restaurant by its location"! We opted for one special 3-course dinner (which high included fried catfish fingers, smothered fried chicken and a dessert), gumbo and short ribs. We also ordered the side of mashed potato's and mac & cheese. I must say, you cannot go wrong with anything on this menu!!! Everything was finger licking good!!! We tired the sweet potato tart and the date cake with toffee sauce. The food was just an amazing southern culinary experience. The staff is extremely friendly and easy to chat with during dinner. We will definitely be back supporting this great cause and gaining a few more pounds along the way! read more

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Everything was stellar! It was New Orleans meets San Francisco! Ryan did that!! Omg what else do I have to add. Run to this cool spot!! read more

Had a fantastic experience at Old Skool Cafe tonight. I'd been a couple of times before and couldn't believe how long it had been! The place has a great neighborhood vibe. Everyone seems happy to be there. Some young jazz musicians were playing a really good set. Food was great. We had the Taumoepeau Ota to start - kind of like a ceviche with white fish and coconut milk. Unique and really good, and not something I've ever seen on a menu. I had the smothered pork chop at our server's recommendation, which was cooked perfectly, the grits were excellent and the gravy was rich and full of tasty mushrooms. Drinks were perfectly prepared and presented, food portions were great. Despite the excellent food and overal vibe, the best part was the service. Professional but comfortable. Attentive but appropriately relaxed. The staff even sang happy birthday to me and all signed a card, which was so sweet. Then as we left each person we encountered wished me happy birthday again. This is a special place, run by people with caring hearts who do great work. It's now my favorite restaurant in SF. read more

Old Skool Cafe is a youth-run, jazz-themed supper club. It is a faith-based, violence prevention program, that provides job training, employment, and a second chance at life by way of a 1920's speakeasy, jazz restaurant, run by at-risk, formerly incarcerated, and foster care youth ages 16-22. The food, service, and ambience were incredible. Highly recommended. Pictured here are sweet potato rolls, catfish fingers!, shrimp and grits, fried chicken, and sweet potato tartlets. I love their mission and food. This is a must do. read more

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the food is so comforting. great environment, and even better mission! we will definitely be back to enjoy some tunes and bites here!

When I tell y'all that I've been looking forward to write this review! This restaurant was posted on a locals recommendations post AND I immediately knew it would be perfect for an anniversary dinner with my husband. My husband tends to choose places based on food and I'm guilty of sometimes only concerning myself with the aesthetics. Luckily this place has both! It's his kinda moody/jazzy/darkly lit vibes and I love the "old skool" type of bar seating that I saw on other reviews. We live SJ so traveling an hour away for dinner, I am always thorough with our choices. So when visiting the restaurants website I was so delighted to learn about their overall mission and goals. My husband and I met via philanthropic common interests in college so imagine my delight finding a great foodie restaurant, in the city, with cool vibes, beyond admirable achievements and available reservations for 16th anniversary! There was live jazz, great service, personable associates, and overall thoughtful experience. When greeted by the hostess, we were wished a happy anniversary by her and at our table there was a signed card by all team members wishing us a happy anniversary! (Our anniversary tradition is a food/restaurant crawl and this was the ONLY restaurant to wish us a Happy Anniversary) Now that is just the service! Now let me tell y'all about their food! We were left in literal food heaven, with our starter shrimp dish, and a soup, and with our main, the hydras special, the chickennadobo with fried cabbage, plantains - accompanied with their delicios cocktails for my husband and sauvugnon blanc for me. I can't describe how happy and loved this specific dish made us feel, the whole food experience felt like a welcoming hug after a long day. The food was so good that I wanted to cry - my body chemistry couldn't handle the over abundance of joy. I wish we lived in the city because would definitely be a regular spot for us! read more

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I'm from the south and this soul food hit the spot. The smothered chicken, mashed potatoes, and collard greens ! And the collards were not cooked in pork (no pork on my fork), seasoning was perfect! Gravy on the chicken I could have quite literally sopped (southern slang) it up with a biscuit! The sweet potato tartlet has me excited for Thanksgiving with family! Can I order a whole pie?! Cotton Club and French 75, perfect! Almost forgot the complimentary sweet potato biscuits at the start of your meal! There was no picture because I demolished in two seconds! I will definitely be back! #SFrestaurantweek #eatdrinkSF #speakeasy #nonprofit #soulfood #BayareaEats read more

Old Skool Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

Never judge a restaurant by its location. Old Skool Cafe is helping the community by teaching youth how to properly run a restaurant, while serving great food. My husband and I celebrated his birthday with dinner and drinks and the experience was wonderful. We enjoyed live jazz music, and the speakeasy vibe. Be prepared for the service to be slow, as this is a learning environment. But the kindness of the staff and the delicious food will make up for your time. All of our food was excellent. We ordered the chicken wings for our appetizer, smothered pork chops and fried chicken as our entrees, a side of macaroni and cheese and cheesecake. read more

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This is a beautiful dining experience because juveniles are taught how to serve and prepare food. The food, atmosphere, and cocktails are delis! On certain nights there is live music which adds so much to the atmosphere! The Ambiance is all encompassing speak-easy, a delight to come in dressed up, but not a must. read more

The food was amazing the service on point ant there goal with the youth is absolutely great. There goal with the youth of Bayveiw HP is a great opportunity for the kids to have a chance in life. It's 1920 atmosphere live jazz music and very cozy. I highly recommend this place to eat and help support the people. Matthew, Al, Jeff are great people to put there time in with the community. read more

The food was outstanding the service/ waitress was very nice helpful professional. The ambiance was amazing cool and inviting read more

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The ambiance is fabulous,one fills transported back in time. The aromas embrace you as you are heading to your seat and began your Soul journey at OLD SKOOL CAFE. There is no disappointment here,all the dishes are truly inspired by earth ,wind and fire. read more

Brought my fiancé here last night for his birthday and had an amazing meal. I'm we ordered: The jerk shrimp as an appetizer. Soooo good. Comes with crostinis (not like the ones that are hard and could potentially break your teeth on). No. These were just perfectly toasted. I ordered the Fish of the Day - Sea Bass with roasted potatoes, cauliflower, and squash. Delicious! My fiancé had the Short ribs. A big portion that just slid off the bones. His came with mashed potatoes, carrots, and cauliflower. It was so darn tasty. Then they gave him a birthday dessert. I wish I could remember what it was. My fiancé has a massive sweet tooth (I don't) but he loved it as well. The staff was incredible. Our server was super sweet. Very attentive. The band upstairs crushed it. The decor is awesome. Fantastic from start to finish : ) Two thumbs up! Five stars! I highly recommend it! read more

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I had been wanting to try this place since they open. But the hours are 3 days week and you will miss it. If you don't pay attention to time. But I love that it's ran by urban youth from the neighborhood I grew up in it. The ambiance was definitely giving jazzy. I love the uniform they were wearing red and black. The gumbo, the short ribs and Mac was cracking. I will definitely be back to dine in. read more

I'm embarrassed to say that I've had this place bookmarked since I moved to SF 8 years ago and my first visit was just a few weeks ago. Visit #2 was this past Friday night and I brought my bf for an after dinner date night. We had reservations and were seated at the bar, where we enjoyed some cocktails, apps and dessert. There is a new chef so the menu was slightly different - I really liked the catfish fingers. The summer salad was simple, a little too much for my liking but I enjoyed it. We tried four different cocktails and our top favorites were The Flapper and The Cotton Club and dessert was great. Compared to my first visit, I was happy to see a steady and diverse crowd come in and out during our time there. The live music is great, not too loud and suits the space. The staff, youth and adults alike, are very friendly and professional. I look forward to making this a regular spot of mine to visit. read more

Old Skool Cafe - Lavender cheesecake - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I have wanted to check out Old Skool Cafe for several years, and it did not disappoint when I finally visited with family! First, the place is a bit non-descript outside, which is perfect for the speakeasy vibe. Once you walk in, however, you are transported to the 1920s. Everything is covered in red velvet and luxury. There is a large bar, and a balcony for the jazz band. The hosts, servers, and cook staff are at-risk, foster, and/or formerly-incarcerated youth. We received great service. The youth were polite and so attentive. Chef Kevin also came around to check in on us, which we appreciated. The drinks - Aviation, Bee's Knees, Cotton Club - were tasty, and the food was delicious! Our favorites were the free biscuit to start the meal, the Tongan appetizer dish, collard greens, and the shrimp and grits. It's definitely worth a visit for a classy time! read more

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INCREDIBLE!!! Fabulous food, great drinks, exceptional service. Our delightful server, Kenia, was the best. We will definitely go back.

Finally made it here, and what a treat! Taking the kid to a speakeasy run by other kids? Already a win. But every single person on staff was so attentive, genuine and social with us. Some of the best service I've experienced. The whole place radiates with energy, smiling faces, talented entertainment by local kid artists, and a cozy vibe that made it feel like we'd walked into grandma's kitchen. You know, the kind of place where she insists you chat with her while she's cooking instead of waiting around quietly. (I mean, don't actually walk into the kitchen here...) Oh and the food? Delicious southern comfort. The kid loved the appetizer biscuits so much he asked our server to pass along the compliment. The next thing we know, the chef himself comes out to say hello and brings another round. He spoke directly to our kid so sincerely, like what he said truly mattered. That meant a lot. We chatted with much of the staff by the end of the meal and loved it. Warm, soulful, and full of heart. Don't forget dessert! read more

Really enjoyed this pls e! Food was excellent- service was top notch. Would definitely recommend this place. read more

This is the definition of dining with purpose. The non-profit that runs this place gives at-risk youth an opportunity to earn a living and develop hospitality skills, and it's an inspiring place to eat. The menu features brief testimonials of the current staff, connecting you with that mission quite effectively. The staff is sometimes overeager, checking in a tad more than is necessary. But it's not a problem, just an observation. Old Skool Café is a gorgeous restaurant ripped from the 1920: and planted at a plaza in the Bayview neighborhood. The ambiance does a lot of heavy lifting, but it adds glamour to the meal. The food itself is fine - a little overpriced but it's good. Definitely work a visit, especially for perfectly-made brussell sprouts. read more

Wow what a fun time with delicious food and amazing service. The Easter Brunch menu was delicious loved that Cat fish amongst many dishes. The club vibes and the jazz finished a great meal. Will be back! read more