I was craving a biscuit and finally tried this place out. They did a good job decorating, looks very clean and inviting. Hipster vibe without being pretentious. It is a bit expensive, but expected when you go to brunch now a days. The biscuit wasn't much to look at, but was super tasty, buttery goodness. I didn't even want to put jam on it. I have a feeling butter is a major weapon here, the eggs were also super buttery tasting as well. The little side of fruit is expensive, but was very fresh and worth having. I desperately wish they served a vegetarian gravy for the biscuits. They would be smart to put some vegan option in there as well. Con: the place was ridiculously loud and not in an "oh it's lively in here" kind of way. Headache central. I wanted to shush everyone, but I know they can't really control that. read more

Sequoia Diner - Biscuit and jam, side of 2 eggs, side of fruit. - Diners Near Me - Oakland, California

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I really enjoyed coming here for their brunch. Thank goodness I came with friends so that I can taste their dish as well! One thing I did not like was that we had to wait for an hour to get a table. But then again, what do you expect for Sunday brunch right?!? I order their coconut Thai iced tea and I thought it was just the right amount of sweetness. I believe my friend was indifferent about the drink though. My hubby got the matcha almond iced latte and I thought it was OK but he liked it. He did get less honey in the drink so if he got it the normal way, I probably would have liked it more. I ordered their Country Breakfast and that was good, not great. It came with a biscuit and sausage gravy, two eggs, greens, and potatoes. The highlight for this entree was the biscuit since it was so freakin' moist, soft, buttery! I tried my friend's beef hash and I so liked his dish more than mine. I'd definitely come back here for their pastries, beef hash, and biscuits! read more

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This is a delightful place with amazing food. Most of it's made from scratch, including the sausages and the breads and muffins, etc. but what I really appreciate is there very willing to modify what was on the plate for any dietary needs. And the cocktails are fabulous and they have a very nice wine and beer selection. I only wish they would be open for dinner but I understand why the owner continues to do it the way he does. I will definitely be back frequently. read more

The food is super consistent and is generally good, but the service has been trash these last 6 months. Between the "nice-nasty" comments and condescending remarks, I'm just not comfortable coming here nor bringing friends/ family here anymore. Most recently, I arrived early in the morning when 60% of the tables were free. I arrived before my family, and I was told I couldn't be seated until my entire party was present. I get the idea when the place is busy, but being more than halfway empty and telling me I can't sit is just weird. And actually rude af if I'm keeping it 100%. The way I was spoken to throughout that entire period, by who turned out to be my waiter, was also bizarre and rude. I felt completely uncomfortable and instantly regretted being my family there. Actually, I used to view the automatic 20% tip they add on as something cool, but lately, it's been an annoyance. I wanted to be able to enjoy my neighborhood diner, but I'm definitely done coming here. read more

This little diner serves hearty and crave-worthy breakfast . All of these things are exceptional from here : Pork belly hash with poached eggs and beets Fresh squeezed blood orange juice Fried Chicken with Biscuits Super Sticky Carmel Buns Coffee & Espresso Drinks The only downside is how small the space is . If only there were more tables I would bring all of my friends . read more

The best hash browns I've ever had. The best waffles I've ever had. Everything else I've had here is also great. The drinks, the service, the biscuits. Everything really well done and made with love. I get the goat cheese omelette almost every time I go and never get sick of it. It's clear they really care about serving high quality food, and I'm stoked to support a locally owned business in my neighborhood. It's a shame that entitled dorks like Masha G. will leave a two star rating because they were closed one day she wanted to go. Don't be a Masha G.. Eat great food and show love. read more

Bomb breakfast spot. Lovely atmosphere and staff is super. Definitely worth it if you're looking for a great local diner.

The food took almost 45 minutes to arrive. But, the lady kept calling me "sweetie" and "luv" and refilling my coffee, so I would've waited forever. That's all it really takes, honestly. Also, the biscuits and gravy were good; crispy on the outside, fluffy inside with flavorful, rich gravy to drag my eggs and crispy hash browns in. Glad to have a spot like this in the neighborhood; makes top notch food with amiable and welcoming people to serve it. I used to love Full House cafe and this is as fitting of a spiritual successor as there could be. That is all. read more

The food is mediocre. I had the country breakfast and they have no clue how to make gravy or biscuits. Other reviewers said the potatoes have no flavor and that is sadly true. Even the eggs were blah. Coffee was ok. The worst part is being told we would be seated in 30 minutes and 65 minutes later we were seated. Don't waste your time with this place not worth it. Some staff was nice but others didn't care we were there. I won't be back. It's also a tiny place and very crowded. read more

Breakfast is our favorite meal to dine out. Sequoia Diner is one of the best, most consistent breakfast spot in Oakland. Their bacon is a standout (and it's always worth a side order) , but everything on the menu is good. Alas, this place is a victim of its own success. The place is so popular that there is almost always a wait, requiring you to hang out on the street. It's best to go on warm sunny days when you can enjoy the outdoors while waiting. Service is adequate and friendly, but this place is so busy all the time that sometimes the servers may be slow in checking on your or getting you a coffee refill. read more

Came here on a Saturday afternoon and waited about 30-45 minutes for a table for 2. There were a cute little shops around the area to look at while you wait and the host also offered to come grab us from the store next door when our table was ready. I ordered the mushroom sandwich which was quite disappointing. The sandwich was very sour/ tangy and you could barely taste anything besides that. This was also served with a salad and more pickled veggies so everything on my plate was just sour with no other flavors. My boyfriend ordered the all American plate with bacon which was better than the mushroom sandwich but it wasn't anything too special. I was quite disappointed with our experience and had higher hopes. read more

Slow service + cold under seasoned food = me not going back. I'll give them that it might have been an off day, and we came latter in the day, but I don't think I'll be back. It took asking the same server 3 time to get creamer, and we had to get our ketchup and hot sauce from another table that had left. read more

Sequoia Diner - Diners Near Me - Oakland, California

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Updated review from a vegan perspective. I previously gave this place 5 stars. Good food and service. But if you're a plant-based eater, your food options are limited and as such your experience will be closer to 2-3 stars. They offer only one vegan breakfast entrée called "plant-based breakfast," which consists of a smattering of beans, potatoes, avocado, tomato and carrots. The portions are small and the dish is boring. The finesse that goes into their non-vegan dishes is sorely lacking in their "plant-based breakfast." In addition, at $15, this meal was not worth it. Moral of the story: Non-vegan restaurants really aren't great at coming up with good vegan dishes. (However, Rick & Ann's has more vegan options, including vegan griddle items--correction they don't either.) The other thing about this place is that, in general, it is one of the most expensive breakfast places around. Two plant-based entrees, a waffle (not-vegan), orange juice and coffee, with tax and tip, came to $60. That's a lot of money for breakfast. On the upside, the non-vegan food is very good and the service is very nice across the board. If you go, plan on a wait. By 930 on weekends, expect at least a half hour wait most of the time. Still a very nice place, but pricey and limited options if you're vegan. read more

I'm a firm believer that the official Yelp star rating should be based solely on the food taste, which is why the rating is so high. But if I had to rate the whole experience, it would probably have been a 2.5/3 stars because the wait was double the time they estimated for a group of 4. The food was good, but not good enough to wait for 1.5 hours for it. If we had known that was how long the wait would have been, we would have gone somewhere else. We arrived a little before 11 and were told it would take 45 minutes for our group of 4 to be seated. It did look like a few of the larger tables were waiting around after eating to talk, which made the wait even longer. However, it didn't seem like they tried to push tables together to make more tables of 4 for the groups that had been waiting longer. Plus, they seated some tables of 2 at 4 table booths. The organization of seating was not well thought out here, so parties of 2 were flying through the list while groups of 4 were continuing to wait. We ordered the country breakfast with fried chicken, the huevos rancheros with chorizo, and a waffle with strawberries. The best items: - Fried chicken. Really juicy and the outside was nicely crisp. It was a good size too. - Chorizo. The chorizo was the size of little sausages. It was a little bit spicy and tasted great. - Potatoes. Nicely crispy and was a mixture of larger cubes potatoes and shredded crispy hash browns. I wish they gave us more of that on the plate. The disappointing items: - The biscuit with gravy. The gravy had some pretty good flavor but it wasn't good enough to make up for how lacking the biscuit was. It seemed too dry and may have been because there wasn't enough gravy or the biscuit was too thick. Don't get me wrong I still ate it, but I was hoping for more since that was the reason I ordered the Country Breakfast. - Tortillas with the huevos rancheros. For some reason they put the tortilla on the plate first, then covered 3/4 of it with the beans they were putting on the plate. It would've been better to have the tortilla on the side or on the top of the plate so the tortilla wasn't covered in bean juice. I did enjoy the food here, but I really wish they had given us an accurate representation of the wait time. I liked the food but I would not wait 1.5 hours for it again. If I come back, I would either split my party into groups of 2 or go right when they opened. Also forgot to mention that the servers are super nice! read more

Good food but the wait is ridiculous and the prices are not cheap. Not worth the money.

I am a self-professed breakfast freak and there are only a handful of top shelf breakfast spots in Oakland. I would say sequoia diner is probably number one or number two but pretty close to number one. It's got a very creative menu. There is healthy stuff there and there's regular breakfast stuff like bacon, etc. but it's very interesting. The different combinations of food and I can't recommend them enough. This is really five star breakfast in the heart of the Laurel district my one complaint of course is that the coffee they use is a medium roast which I really don't like. I only pretty much drink dark roast French roast Italian roast and they seem stuck on this coffee so I always grab a coffee from, the coffee place across the street which is excellent by the way this is not a review for them but if you are in that neighborhood go check them out world grounds, incredible pastries, and coffee, etc. but if you're looking for probably the best breakfast in Oakland head over to Sequoia diner. read more

THIS IS MY FAVORITE DINER EVER!! I haven't been to a diner as great as this place. If you come here on a Sunday you can get chicken and waffles, otherwise I would highly recommend the beef hash, or their waffles. In general anything you order from this place is great. I dare say, if you have a bad food experience here you have terrible taste. read more

Sequoia Diner - SUNDAYS ONLY!!! CHICKEN AND WAFFLES!!! So booooomb!!! Om nom nom!! - Diners Near Me - Oakland, California

The food is great the services not so great. Maybe the waiters are overworked but it is unacceptable for them to take the order of 4 other table that arrived after you, food and drinks were also served prior to ours. Unfortunate, how they pick and choose how they attend to specific customers in a neighborhood I grew up in. read more

The Biscuits and Gravy is a must the first time you visit!! (And many times after that.) The Bacon!! The Fried chicken. Excellent Coffee. Do get a cup. It's a very clean restaurant with great service. We came here once years ago but for some reason she doesn't want to come back. Hopefully she'll forget what she thought was missing but that's probably not likely. read more

FRIED CHICKEN & MIMOSAS! Say no more. Ever. And real silverware that they polish every day. Such a gem. Better be on your "must eat at" list anywhere in the East Bay. read more

Sequoia Diner - I mean, fried chicken AND a mimosa?!?! - Diners Near Me - Oakland, California

Took me a year after moving to the neighborhood to finally try Sequoia Diner and I'll definitely be back soon! There's always a wait on weekends- but the food was totally worth it. I had the country breakfast and the sausage gravy was soooo good. Can't wait to get back and try more things! read more

This is the best breakfast I have EVER had. I almost cried it was so good. I'm not exaggerating. Seriously. Blew. My. Mind. Those biscuts?!? I am from the south, I come from a Biscuit people, I'm telling you they LITERALLY MELTED in my mouth. Delay no further! Go here! read more

This is my go to breakfast spot when I'm in Oakland. The wait is kind of long but the food and the service (especially if you're at the counter) is fantastic. The fried chicken is some of the best I've ever tasted and the biscuits are incredible. I've only been here twice but I've already purchased one of their mugs for my own home, that's how much I love this place. I can't wait to go tomorrow! read more

Sequoia Diner - American breakfast with fried eggs and added chorizo. Biscuit on the side and coffee. - Diners Near Me - Oakland, California

I had the best vegetarian sandwich I've ever had, grilled mushroom with pickled vegetables, no cheese, on a grilled house made sour dough bread. I also finished the side of potato salad, I never eat potato salad anywhere other than my own, their's was so good, better than my version. The space is a modern twist on a diner. I'll definitely come back and especially during the weekdays when there is no line. read more

Sequoia Diner - Grilled mushroom sandwich, so good. - Diners Near Me - Oakland, California

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This is a popular spot judging by the wait time for a table. I ordered the country breakfast which was good. My wife had the chicken & waffles and said her chicken was undercooked. We also ordered a sticky bun. The bun was pretty dry and slightly burned. The server was friendly and there were no issues there. Also they automatically add a 20% tip to any ticket. I don't mind tipping, even 20% on good service but what if the service is substandard? I don't want to be forced into a specific percentage. Overall I would not go back due to the long wait for below average food. read more

I went to college a few blocks up MacArthur Boulevard. Back then, a spot like this in the Laurel District would have been unimaginable. Thank progress, because Sequoia Diner is delicious and clearly a neighborhood hub. I came here for a weekday brunch in late December with a fellow Millsie who is a regular. She insisted on ordering a biscuit and made me eat half. (Okay, okay, she didn't really have to try that hard...) The biscuit was ridiculously good. I will never come here again without ordering a biscuit and neither should you. I also really enjoyed my Huevos Rancheros. Ditto the coconut Thai iced tea. The wait was long, and I suspect it always is. That's pretty much the only negative thing I can say about Sequoia Diner. When I'm feeling flush with time I'm going back for biscuit and another big, satisfying brunch! read more

My friend found out about this place from a fellow worker. They said it was great and you had to come early so you didn't have to wait long. We got to the restaurant about 15 min prior to opening. It was fairly easy to find but the sign above said "Diner" and the window sign said "Sequoia" So look for a Diner sign. Parking was not difficult, we found street parking right away. They opened and we got a small table for two. Our server asked us what we wanted to drink as soon as we sat down. We both got coffees in "Sequoia" mugs. Then we ordered. It seems that there are the basic food items and the ones that change frequently on the menu. I got the beef hash which came with carrot salad, sauerkraut, two poached eggs, house made rye and arugula salad. The hash was mostly potatoes and some meat, but I had shared them with my friend and she said she had lots of meat, thus about 1/2 meat and 1/2 potatoes. It was very tasty. The poached eggs were perfect! ! Nice firm whites and runny yolks, just the way I like them. The carrot salad was in matchbox strips and had a mild flavor, the sauerkraut had red cabbage with very nice touch of seasoning, I enjoyed this. The arugula salad was a nice touch and added color to the plate. The bread had no seeds in it but I thought I saw some grains, it was very good especially with the home made jam. My friend ordered the mushroom, spinach and swiss scramble with potatoes, arugula salad and toast. she loved it and enjoyed the taste of my hash. We both had too much to eat for one meal so we took the rest home. Our wait person, Theresa, was wonderful. She frequently asked if we needed anything, coffee, jam? She was very attentive to our needs. But looking around, I think all the servers seemed to be doing a great job. There are 14 tables and all were filled. There was a line of people outside and outside benches were in use. There is one unisexual bathroom with a child changing table in it. I saw several tots enjoying their meals with parents. Overall, it was a very nice place to go for breakfast and perhaps lunch. We were able to talk, so it was not too noisy. They do not serve dinners. Look for the "Diner" sign when searching for this restaurant. The servers are very helpful and were great, they seemed to enjoy what they were doing. I definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

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Absolutely amazing! Excellent food, beverages, service and ambiance!! Definitely worth the stop!

Customer sitting at the bar area was loud, annoying the patrons around him, cursing up a storm and no one said anything to him. There were children eating in the restaurant while he was cursing. Stil Noone says anything. I spoke with the assistant manager to find out that mine is not the first complaint. Perhaps the owner needs to decided if this regular is worth the six tables that won't be back because of his behavior. Gave us all indigestion read more

Great family spot in the Laurel. Love the brunch options. Honestly I'd love more. More hours and more meals offered. I love the team and the space. read more

Just found our new favorite local diner! The staff is amazing and the food and drinks are killer! Thanks to the folks at Sequoia for the amazing hospital! Will be back soon! read more

Sequoia Diner - Bloody Mary - Diners Near Me - Oakland, California

This little diner is everything a diner should be. Unlike so many other diners, the menu isn't composed of just the usual greasy regulars. You get some inventive dishes, both vegetarian and meat. The dishes are attractively presented, the food tastes fresh and delicious. And they offer some serious quality baked goods. We had an egg/cheese sandwich on a biscuit, avo/mushroom/spinach scramble, and a beef hash topped with a poached egg. Orders taken and dishes served in an efficient and friendly manner. read more

Cute dinner with delicious breakfast food. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed our breakfasts and I had a great latte with perfect foam. The thing that stood out to me the most was the great service! The waitresses were so kind and attentive. This breakfast hit the spot! read more

Fabulous brunch spot! Worth the wait to be seated. Excellent cocktails and house baked goods. Something for everyone. Loved the plant based options, fresh salads and biscuits. We enjoyed sitting at the counter. read more

It's good but not good enuf for their wait times. Please. We showed up on a Sunday with a party of 4. They estimated an hour wait! We figured it would be shorter because many won't wait/ will drop out. A fifth person showed up to our party but one of our party was a child. So, after 25 min of waiting (as soon as the city showed up) we told them we had a fifth person but we could squeeze into a 4 top. They increased the wait to 80 min! And the hostess was cranky. We watched and there were 6 open tables and a line outside. They kept the 6 open tables open for at least 15 min while they called people on the waiting list. We left. It's good but not that good! Go to Rockridge Diner. They're just as good- or better! And they know how to churn tables. Sequoia was on the show called Check Please Bay Area. They need to staff up/ learn how to churn tables. Not worth the wait. And learn how to set expectations for higher and over deliver. When people are hungry for breakfast you don't increase the wait time. Rooky move. read more

Have been back multiple times sinc emy first review, and usually arrive just after opening, and MY GOODNESS, the food is just so spot-on. These folks really know what they're doing, and the staff is always delightful! Happy they've started carrying spirit, too, which always makes for a fun brunch. LOVE. read more

Homemade chicken apple sausages were totally IT. Customer service it was on poinT. All the ladies serving we're courteous and efficient in time management from which I saw. Small but they have it down pack. The food was HELLA good! Y'all go check emmmm out came on 4/20 & came back again 4/27 ‍ THEY HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY JELLY POPPING TOO! read more

Sequoia Diner - All- America breakfast with homemade sausage, 2 eggs scrambled with cheddar - Diners Near Me - Oakland, California

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Oh my gosh!!! The food here is delicious. Definitely an early breakfast spot! The service team is awesome - so nice and friendly. Zach is the best. You know how it is when you're full but there is still a lot of good food left on your plate and you feel obligated to eat anyway.... Yeah the struggle was real, Lol!! read more

This was my second time to Sequoia Diner, the first was when they first opened. I remember missing the old place the first time, but my second time was very enjoyable. I decided to not order the Hash, because I generally like a basic homemade version and the ingredients list threw me off a bit. So, I went with a recommendation from the waiting staff and got the Trout Benedict. It was excellent! It was slightly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and reminded me a perfectly cooked salmon. I would absolutely get it again if it was on the menu! The Highwire coffee was a bit bright for my taste, but still very good. read more

The most amazing food here! You have to wait for a bit but it's TOTALLY worth it! I love the servers. They are earnestly trying their best even when it's crazy busy. I have loved everything I've ever eaten here. Their waffles are on a whole other level. The best I've EVER had! read more