Updated review: I was hype when I seen Momma Lynch's Special 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. read more

Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge - Soul Food Near Me - Emeryville, California

I hadn't eaten here in a few years and I must say the food was . I ordered the Momma Lynch which came 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. read more

Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge - Cocktail - Skittles - Soul Food Near Me - Emeryville, California

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Yelp review 5 Stars Breakfast was fresh, hot, and delicious. The dining area and restrooms were very clean, and the background music created a nice, relaxing atmosphere. read more

A post 5th grade graduation for the adults. We were the only ones at 10 am! We received undivided attentions. The food was great! read more

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Every time I come here I'm Satisfied! The Vibe is Right the Staff is Always Super Friendly and Nice! The Food Smacks and The Beastmode is My Ish!! You'll definitely be More then Full & Happy Leaving Here!!! Yeeeeee read more

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Babyyyy!! When I tell you they have THEE best red beans and rice, mac and cheese, and fried prawns. Everything was an absolute 10/10 especially the drinks!! That Hennessy side car had me spinning and in the best way. I absolutely recommend, absolutely incredible. Felt just like I was back in my grandmama kitchen waiting on my plate, I'll definitely be back! read more

If you can't eat without making grunting or mmmhmmming don't expect to do so here, the food that good! I came in on a fluke and it did not disappoint. The reviews are all true! Big BIG portions, full of flavor and an extremely great price. This not yo mama or yo granny's. This another level. I got shrimp and grits with bacon and my goodness smh, gut busting. This made my top 5 this year. You gotta try it. read more

Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge - Shrimp & Grits with bacon - Soul Food Near Me - Emeryville, California

The Beastmode combo is the way to go! An employee at the restaurant told my aunt to get it rather than the plates she was planning on getting, and she did not regret it. The food was really good. With the addition of some oxtail plates and sides, The Beastmode was enough to feed a family of 8 with leftovers! We had yams, mac and cheese, greens, green beans, fried fish, fried chicken, oysters, oxtails and pork chops. The one miss was maybe the cornbread, which seemed a bit undercooked but everything else smacked. read more

Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge - Oxtail plate - Soul Food Near Me - Emeryville, California

Omg the green beans! lol I'm sure this surprises us all, but you have to try the green beans, they're super flavorful and brightly colored! Smack and give me the recipe, pls! Fish has a great home fried taste; and the chicken is very tasty as well. Mac was delicious. I was very satisfied with my food and I look forward to trying the friend pork chops! read more

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Services was friendly and familiar. The fried fish was delicious. My niece was raving about the homemade tauter sauce which is definitely better than the packaged version. I didn't try the sides but I did have two vodka sodas that were tasty. read more

The fish was not good at all an the fry's were very cold fish tasted like fish sticks

Hands down some of the best soul food I've had! It's always poppin in there. The staff is extremely friendly & welcoming, and it seems like they have a lot of regulars. We came around 4ish on a Sunday & it wasn't too busy. We probably missed the rush, because the time we got there they were out of greens. Just another reason for me to go back haha. You will definitely need multiple visits to try everything on their menu. Their fried chicken was perfect! I'm not that much of a grits fan (it's a texture thing) but the gravy they put on the savory shrimp & grits is sooo flavorful. I'd ask for a side of the gravy alone & put it on everything! Hopefully you have a sweet tooth because they also make some super delicious cake! Rob Ben's is a must when you're in the area. They also have an outdoor area, cool little kick it spot - perfect for hosting an event! read more

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This is probably one of the most underrated spots for soul food in the bay area. And you know it's good when you walk in, and you just weren't expecting what you ended up getting. I remember trying to go here a couple weeks ago and ran into two people outside who were carrying large bags and asked if it was worth it. Their eyes got really big and they were like "it's good!!" But they also told me that it wasn't worth going right then because they had sold out of so much stuff. So I waited a couple weeks and came back. I even called before to ensure that they had all the things that I wanted. Now don't judge a book by its cover. And good luck finding parking nearby (it's not impossible but you may need to walk a couple blocks). This place is very nondiscrept and easy to miss. It's a total dive bar yet down home feeling when you walk in initially but they do have seating towards the back and it is family friendly (there's even an outdoor area off the main dining room). Service isn't slow, but you definitely need to wait and good things come to those who wait. I ended up ordering the shrimp and prawns with two sides and then the six chicken wings with two large sides. Something to keep note of is that the chicken wings came with large sides and the shrimp and prawns came with small sides. Just something to keep in mind because if you want large side you're gonna have to order them à la carte (which is an option). They told me it would take 20-30 minutes, so I knew that they were gonna put a lot of love into that food. I placed it to go order and so I had to take it home with me and sometimes to go orders don't go well because the food just doesn't travel well but that was not the case here. Once I got home, it was on. The chicken was crispy and so flavorful. The fish and shrimp were cooked to perfection. All of the seasoning was on point but also everything was so fresh and crunchy. We ended up getting the grits, greens, mac & cheese, and yams. There was not one bad side. In fact it was so hard to choose a favor because they were all delicious. All of them. This isn't necessarily rocket science however I feel like it's really hard to get this right and this place got it right! The grits were so creamy and flavorful. I could eat a tub of those. The mac & cheese was just chefs kiss. The yams tasted like they had been cooked and marshmallows and I didn't see any marshmallows but the flavor was just so delicious! The greens are probably one of my favorites. They were on the more on the vinegary side that I really love that they did not get cooked and any type of ham or turkey (so great if you are vegetarian or don't eat pork or meat). The portions are pretty awesome. I do wish the sides were a little bigger and that they were all larges but I'm totally fine with paying more cause it is totally worth it but the amount of fish and chicken we received was on par with the price in my opinion. This is definitely a spot you need to check out if you're craving soul food in the Bay Area. You will not be disappointed. read more

This is not about the food but rather the service! I hate having to turn to yelp to voice my complaint, BUT... today I went to Rob Ben's expecting to get what I always order (#24 and shrimp&grits). I walked in and there was no staff to welcome me but that wasn't an issue. I just asked one of the servers if I could seat myself and he agreed by saying "if that's what you want to do". So, I head to my favorite table #4. The same server( guy with locks) hands me a menu and walks away. When he returned to take my order, I inquired what time happy hour started; he replied at 12:30 so I said "I'll be back in thirty minutes then". His facial expression was very smug at this point so I asked him did I upset him and joked by telling him to smile . He replies with "I don't have to smile as long as you get your food"! Wow, if you think I want you taking my order and serving me looking like you doing time in San Quiten state prison, you're sadly mistaken. I drove all the way from Hayward ready to enjoy my food today, but sadly that didn't happen and now I'm making this review! LET ME REITERATE, THIS WAS SOLELY ABOUT THE SERVICE ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY. I hope dude has a better day because I took my funky Lil money elsewhere just because of HIM! read more

Food was very good, service was second to none. Ambiance was friendly welcoming. Pork Chops over rice, with a side of red beans and rice with candied yams and corn bread. I was so full after eating. The food was delicious. Everything was on point like if it came out of Mama's kitchen. Only problem was I had no room for dessert. The portions are huge. read more

Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge - Smothered pork chops, red beans and rice, candied yams, and corn bread. - Soul Food Near Me - Emeryville, California

Pulled up at the behest of my younger brethren. Familiar with the location as my dad used to bring me here when it was Scends. Really impressed with what they have done with the space as the ambiance is warm and inviting. Staff were excellent, friendly and welcoming as soon as we walked in. Very friendly waitress made great suggestions and took our orders promptly. Food came out hot, fast and delicious! My shrimp and grits were some of the best I've had in recent memory. Wonderfully seasoned, perfect consistency and a good amount of shrimp, no complaints here. They were out of oysters the day I came so I gotta go back soon. Solid on all fronts, definitely recommend read more

Omg!!! The food was 10/10!!! The fish, grits, wings, Mac and Cheese, greens and the brown sugar lemonade! The service was exceptional and our server Sirena was top tier. We will definitely be back. read more

Everything we had was delicious. The chicken wings, the yams, mac n cheese, corn bread, greens, red beans and rice. The shrimp and grits had a little more sauce than I would like hit the flavor was there and they didn't skimp on the bacon. The red kool aid was diabetic just how we like it. 10/10 would go back here. read more

The food was wonderful The service was hilarious... he definitely made the night. Ambiance was laid back! read more

This evening, after attending a funeral for a family member, my family and I went to Rob Ben's in Oakland, California for dinner. While our waitress provided excellent service and treated us kindly, our experience with the bartender, David, was extremely disappointing. One of our family members is a regular at this establishment and requested their usual drink from a specific employee. When other members of our party went to the bar for a second drink, David was condescending, dismissive, and verbally rude. His demeanor made it very clear that our presence and business were not welcome. Given the circumstances of the evening, this lack of professionalism and basic courtesy was especially upsetting. We expected respectful service and unfortunately did not receive that from the bartender. read more

Get there early. The bartender and the Sista that waitresses. That food and the drinks are so delicious. The waitress is super busy but goes overboard to accommodate everyone. So please b patient. It's worth the wait. read more

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Marshawn Lynch's (Beastmode) kickback family lounge. Good music, drinks, games and vibes. The staff is very nice and welcoming. They make you feel like you're part of the family. The service was very great. Overall, a very wholesome experience. Thank you Rob Ben's! read more

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Except the hours on Saturdays...everything else was AWESOME !!! THE service, food, the fish was fried to perfection will be back !

Dined here recently for lunch with my BFF. We were greeted by beautiful and friendly staff. Seated right away in the dining room. The bar looked like a great place to get a drink though! My friend had the garlic shrimp and grits which she could not say enough good things about! Also had the brown sugar lemonade which was everything! Definitely check this place out! Parking was easy in the neighborhood. The Vibes are great here! read more

This restaurant baby, is great. The atmosphere is awesome, it's a vibe within itself. I absolutely love the food; truly soul food. The cocktails were good, not water down. Yes, the service is great, amazing young lady waited in me. Beautiful smile and very helpful with the menu. It screams grown folks establishment!!!! read more

Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge - Grits and Shrimp - Soul Food Near Me - Emeryville, California

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you will get robbed! They over charge u and add things to your bill. Don't trust them Them server girls be scamming Don't say I didn't warn u read more

I had smothered pork chops, collards and candied yams. I ordered my meal for take out. The pork chops and collards were tasty and the yams were the best item in my order. There was enough food for 2 meals. I will visit this restaurant again and try the fried chicken next time. I placed my order online through door dash and picked it up at the restaurant, but I still had to wait 30 minutes for my order. The kitchen was very busy; but the food was worth the wait. read more

"Rob Bens has someone working the front desk who is completely unprofessional." My husband and I have been longtime customers, but I want others to beware of the new staff. When you first walk in, the woman at the front desk greets you very nicely, but then she immediately starts talking about how her coworkers are mean and disrespectful to her, and even tells customers not to deal with anyone else but her. The situation became even more concerning when we walked out to the car. My husband showed me that she had slipped him her phone number on a piece of paper while my back was turned. I'm certain she didn't realize we were together, but that is absolutely inappropriate in any workplace, especially in front of customers. This experience was extremely uncomfortable and unprofessional. Because of this, we'll either stick to ordering takeout from here on out or possibly stop coming altogether. read more

So Family decided to take me out for Brunch for my bday !! A close friend Dj Smooth is the Dj there on Sundays . We arrived at 12:15 being early as the game was on and we wanted to watch it we were stopped short at the door . It's too early what are you guys doing and who is this Tony . Well she was just giving me the business as the Dj told her I was coming with my family . She gave me the business the whole time as she sat us down all in fun . Place is small but homey and comfortable. TV's on every wall so no bad views . There was 7 in the party so we got after it . Drinks are named after areas in Oakland so that was fun trying them and talking about old times growing up in Oakland . Now the Food !! Kitchen is going and you can smell the goodness coming out the back . Mouth watering we ordered everything as we would share everything . I think if you have a big party the Beast mode is the way to go . 5 sides and that corn bread to die for . Waitress was on point with the service taking care of our party . Music was a nice twist as we ate and watched the games . Very friendly and polite . I forgot my cake tho so I will. Be back !! Thx again for helping me celebrate my bday read more

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Sirena, lady with the green hair, did a masterful job serving us. She was very professional, pleasant, with a great attitude. Thank you so much for such a positive experience. read more

Rob Bens was on the list to try out for a couple of years now. I finally made it in and it didn't disappoint. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich, my boyfriend got the fried shrimp sandwich. They are big in size and have the option of lettuce or dry coleslaw. I went coleslaw so it had lotsa crunch. You can choose your sides and I went with greens. (I LOVE greens so much). And then we also ordered an extra side of Mac and cheese. Everything was absolutely delicious! Crunchy fried chicken in the sandwich, great seasoning and even the roll it came on was toasted to perfection. It comes with a mildly spicy aioli sauce that was also perfect. I ate every bite down to the bare plate. They have kool aid on the menu but they didn't have any ready that day so the server recommended the brown sugar lemonade. That lemonade was amazing! Next time I go I'm getting some of it with a shot of vodka in it. This place is comfort food all the way with smothered turkey legs and all kinds of fried food. I don't eat seafood, but that didn't matter to me because I enjoyed everything I ate and I'd come back for more. They didn't have the turkey leg that day, but I'd love to come back and try them sometime. I loved it there. TV's everywhere, got greeted nicely right when we walked in, and our server was sweet and attentive. Even the bathroom was impressive. It was a satisfying experience and we love supporting local businesses. read more

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This place has really good food and a nice ambiance. It's kind of hard to find the door if you're anything like me, but the food is really good. I didn't eat anything I didn't like. Also the service when I went was great, our waitress was really attentive. read more

My service was great both times that I went. My food was amazing. My waitress Sirena was phenomenal. The atmosphere was awesome. Everyone and everything was on point. If you are ever in Oakland area. Please gooooooooo. read more

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Service is terrible they never have any specialty drinks. As far as the service, food takes for ever to come out and drinks are served with your food. Pick up is also horrible took over a hour for me to get my food after they told me it was 25 minutes , and they don't know when it will come out. Food is amazing besides the service. They also don't know how to do doordash or in person dinning read more

I came in for a birthday party and I must say the food definitely satisfied my palate.. However the service was unacceptable our waitress had green hair. She could hardly be found because she was the only one taking tables. This place is under staffed and definitely needs more people serving. People from our party began ordering drinks at the bar and it seems like our waitress was irritated by that as she expressed her concern Her attitude was evident. Had she been available to take orders this would not have happened.The part that really got me, though this is when it came time to pay.Our waitress attitude changed once she received generous tips from a few people in our party as she expressed if we paid with a credit card she would only get half the tip. read more

Amazing food amazing customer service, one of the best places to eat in the Bay Area and I'm a chef so I'm really picky about food. They cook for the community as they would for their families and that's the best quality of a restaurant. read more

We arrived just as they were opening on a Friday afternoon. I could smell the aromas as we approached the restaurant!! We ordered the Mama lynch that came with fried fish, fried pork chops, and chicken wings.... Our side selections were the red beans and rice, mans and cheese and an extra side of yams... OMG.. the flavors were smacking.. delicious... flavors popping. So good.. our waitress Shawnee , sorry if I misspelled or got your name wrong, was very polite and attentive. She shared that she made the Mac and cheese and red beans and rice with love and that's exactly how the food tasted, loved Five stars so delicious . When we return to the area, we will be back. read more

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After a long day of shopping for cabinets with my pregnant sister and mom we decided to grab a bite at Rob Ben's. Let me tell you after about an hour of debating where we were gonna go we knew we made the right decision here. We came when it first opened but the service was still exquisite. The staff is super friendly and attentive which is always a plus! They play throwback jams and that's always a vibe. The food was 10/10 would recommend in my opinion. I ordered the po boy with the rice and gravy and the flavor on the sando was everything I needed it to be. I also had had cocktail(not pictured) which was super delicious ! ILL BE BACK read more

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Looking for comfort and community and good food, then Rob Ben is your place. Walking in evoked memories of the Crab Shack for me, where everyone was welcome no matter the profession or station in life. I can't wait to bring my friends and family from So Cal, I am sure they will enjoy and have a great time. read more

Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge - I was served the Oxtails which were cooked to perfection. Tasty and seasoned to perfection, accompanied with Mac and cheese, candied yams - Soul Food Near Me - Emeryville, California

Out standing the service is top notch like going to you mothers kitchen.The food is fresh hot and with large portions .Good music in the background also read more