Brenda's runs a right ship, serving delicious New Orelans-inspired fare in an elevated yet…read morewelcoming atmosphere. The Kale salad with grilled tofu was way over my expectations and was enough for two meals ez.

This review is from a visit back in January. I've eaten at Brenda's several times, and the Catfish…read moreBenedict has always been one of my favorites and consistently delicious. Unfortunately, this visit was completely different. My friend took me here for brunch on my birthday, and we both ordered the Catfish Benedict. The biscuits were hard instead of fresh and fluffy, and the catfish was overcooked with more batter than fish and there wasn't enough hollandaise sauce. We both tried to eat it but ultimately sent our meals back and asked that they be removed from the bill. Neither of us ordered anything else. I'm not sure what was going on in the kitchen that day because I've had this exact dish several times and it's always been perfect. Hopefully it was just an off day, but it was definitely disappointing. I do plan on giving them another try.

Wow. I was so blown away by Lovely's! The food and drinks are really great! I feel like i'm at an…read moreold dive bar with all the small vintage details. The service is also amazing. I had a whole conversation with the server about my nails (little things like this make the experience more personal). My friends and I got cheese fries, regular fries, a veggie burger, a regular cheeseburger, and a hotdog. Safe to say, everything was devoured and we even went back for seconds. I think my favorite option is getting a vanilla soft serve cone for later. You basically pre-order it, then pick it up whenever you're done with your food so you don't have to rush to finish your meal. I had so much fun here and the environment was super friendly. Feels like real community at Lovely's. p.s. there's street parking or lots available in the area for cheap!

Comfortable hang out with picnic tables and nice vibe. Nice selection of beer. Burgers are good…read more Fish and chips are awesome EXCEPT they don't have malt vinegar or even any plain apple cider vinegar to put on them. Never been to a fish and chips place that didn't have vinegar. It's just not right! They were tasty, but I had to take them home to eat them the way I like them and I had already bought a Coke that I couldn't take with me because they have no to go cups. So those two things basically spoiled the meal. Service is good if they're not busy, but I have stood on line for over an hour when they were really busy.

FOB Kitchen is one of our favorite restaurants in Oakland! We love their modern take on Filipino…read moreclassics while still keeping the flavors that make the cuisine so comforting. Their version of Adobo was so good that it inspired us to start adding coconut milk to our own recipe at home and we've never looked back. The restaurant itself is warm and inviting, with beautiful plants throughout that give it such a cozy, homey feel. The staff has always been welcoming, making every visit enjoyable. My personal favorites are the Calamansi drinks and the Palabok, both are absolutely delicious. If you're looking for creative Filipino food that still honors its roots, FOB Kitchen is definitely worth checking out.

Great Filipino fusion spot close to the Temescal in Oakland! Tip: try to make it before 3 PM so you…read morecan order off their brunch menu. They don't offer as many items for dinner. We ordered the Adobo Fried Rice and Lechon Kawali Silog. The fried rice was fantastic--it had a nice crispy rice texture that really made the dish. I also liked the silog which came with very crispy pork, super flavorful garlic rice, a refreshing salad, and a citrusy dipping sauce that gave it a unique twist. Whatever you order, make sure to add their hot sauce! It definitely elevated each dish! The ambiance of the place was kind of boho chic and it was relatively empty at around 12:30pm on a Thursday. Service was nice, our waitress was prompt and paid a good amount of attention to us. I feel like they are a bit understaffed though, but that might be due to business being slower than usual during the time we went. Overall, I would recommend this spot to people look for Filipino food with a twist in the area. Would love to come back myself to try their lumpia, sticky wings, or desserts!

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

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

While looking for something on the way, I found this place thanks to Yelp. There is a dedicated…read moreparking lot which was a bonus. There are tables inside and outside for dining. The beef pho was ok. The broth was on the sweet side. The sticky rice (zoi man) was fantastic though. It came with quail egg, pate, Vietnamese ham, sweet sausage, scallion oil, fried shallot, and house sauce with a choice of chicken or pork. I went with the pork which was nicely chargrilled. The entree didn't look too big, but it was quite filling. Service was quick. Overall, I'm glad I found this place!

Was in the mood for pho and decided we'd try someplace I haven't been before. I've had enough pho…read morealong the west coast to know what great pho should taste like and I haven't had the best luck in the Bay. So, the verdict? Extremely impressed. This is already on my top five list in a single visit. Went for the basics: beef pho, and salad roll with tofu. I was initially put off by the short menu and few options to add toppings (I didn't see any tendon or tripe for example), and worried it would be too bland or too sweet--but it was not. The broth was deeply flavorful and more savory. Meats were generous and meatballs were exceptional, maybe the best I've had. The basil and sprouts were garden fresh, and unusually, the rice noodles were exceptional, not at all soft or pressed together. I could genuinely taste the love here. It extended to the salad rolls which were generously portioned and used lightly fried tofu which I prefer. One additional note about the broth. It's a richer style than I normally like so I couldn't drink it to the last drop, but I can't fault its great flavor. The service was above average, with a spirited vibe. Loved everything, will be back to try more on the menu.

Yelp actually led me to this sandwich shop. I searched for sandwiches in my area, and this was one…read moreof the few places that popped up. I'm forever grateful for that recommendation because they make some of the best sandwiches I've ever had. I've tried a few items on the menu, but the one I always recommend is the Hot Italian. Everything about this sandwich is incredible. It's packed with flavor, and you can honestly tell it was made with care. I usually pair it with a bag of chips, and the total comes to around $18. It's absolutely worth every penny and always leaves me full and satisfied. The shop is consistently clean, and the customer service is always friendly and welcoming. I find myself going back over and over again, then telling myself I need to take a break--only to end up back there a few weeks later. That's how good it is. A couple of things to keep in mind before you visit: there's only limited street parking, so you may have to circle the block to find a spot. There's also not much room to wait inside, although they do have a bench or two where you can sit while your sandwich is being prepared. In my experience, the wait is usually around 15 minutes. I've honestly never been here when it wasn't busy, so expect a crowd. But once you take that first bite, you'll understand why. Great food, great atmosphere, and great customer service. I highly recommend checking this place out!

I told my companion I was craving a sandwich, which is rare, especially on Dutch crunch. He is…read morealways so good with making sure my cravings are satisfied, and after perusing Yelp, we decided to come here. We arrived at the deli on a weekend afternoon. It wasn't too busy. The deli is a nice size with a couple of benches to sit and wait for your food. You can look at the menu and order, plus grab a drink or chips. They have a nice variety of items to grab that go well with your sandwich. The service was friendly and quick. Workers were all kind, and we love that it's dog-friendly! Regarding the sandwiches, you can get a hot or cold sandwich. You can also build your own! Companion got the Hot Boy, and I went the Build Your Own route. The sandwiches are hefty, with lots of great meats and fillings, and for the price, very decent! I wish my bread were a bit more toasted and crunchier, but that's my preference. It hit the spot, and I'd be open to trying their other sandwiches. I don't often go to delis, but Brothers Deli was a nice place to try. We enjoyed it by the waterfront, which makes it a great picnic option. Find them off Park Blvd., with street and residential parking around.

Sideshow Kitchen has crispy wings, garlic fries, and surprisingly reasonable prices…read more What I ordered: Lemon Pepper Wings Hyphy Hot Wings Garlic Fries Overall: 8.5/10. If you're going, I'd definitely recommend the lemon pepper, they had the best balance of seasoning and crunch. Service was great and fast. It was such a vibe to watch the soccer game :)

3.5 stars (Review…read morebased on delivery) $19.30+tx Sideshow Burger with bacon add: large, sloppy, pretty darn good. $5.50+tx cheese fries: a beautiful mess $7.15+tx vanilla shake: yup. Tastes like a shake. I'd say I'm getting my $ worth.

Xingones is exactly what the neighborhood needed. There's ample seating and good bartenders if you…read morewant to dine in, though I usually end up getting their food to go. My go-tos are the Cali-style burrito with asada and the Xingones nachos (with extra cheese). Good quality ingredients and portions that are generous enough that I almost always have leftovers. Plus, the prices are fair for what you get.

The service is slow and food is just meh.. definitely not the "Best Mexican food in Oakland" like…read moretheir website says lol. The taco truck on 1st Ave will serve you better (Tacos mi Rancho)! Two stars instead of one because their horchata offered some redemption.