1st time dining at this location as we prefer their original spot on Polk. What we had here were delicious with great flavors! Service was excellent. This location has patio seating which is a plus on this pleasant spring day. The French toast, the fried chicken, shrimp po boy & fries were delicious. All soooooo good. read more

I love this place. There is both inside and outdoor seating. The restaurant is clean and looks modern. But, I do wish the seating was a little more comfortable. Service is consistently excellent. The servers are always attentive, knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. The food is always excellent. Blackened catfish - 7.5/10 - tasty, nicely seasoned, perfectly cooked. coleslaw side (6.5/10) above average. sweet potatoes (9/10) OMG! these are amazing. Flight of beignets - 7.5/10 - this dish offers a nice taster of the beignets. definitely worth trying Shrimp & Grits - 9/10 - I'm not a grit lover, but holy cow, this is amazing. Fried chicken - 8.5/10 - super tender, flavorful, crispy, and not greasy at all Brenda's is a must try, and a must come back often. read more

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Food is delicious as always. And I appreciate that their Benedict's are on a biscuit and not an English muffin. Chicken is well seasoned. Potatoes are top tier. My friend ordered bananas foster and I would highly recommend that. I never tried it before and it's one of the best I've ever had. Service could've been better. My friend didn't get a coffee refill that she asked for. And we ordered beignet flight to go and they forgot to enter it in and didn't realize it until they were telling us that the table had to be turned over for another reservation. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Fried Chicken Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

Gumbo, Paper Stock, and the Theology of Mild Disappointment I entered hungry and left morally and physically compromised -- blinking into the Oakland nightscape like an over-stuffed foie gras goose who had lost an argument with butter. There is quality here. That is what makes this complicated. Because what happened was not incompetence. It was fragmentation. The Service: A Two-Headed Doctrine The front of house operates like a philosophical experiment in duality. Waiter One: warm, human, luminous. The kind of man who makes you believe hospitality is still a sacred act. He let us hold onto a menu while we were deciding. He smiled. He breathed oxygen. Civilization. Then Head Two emerged. She appeared not as a host but as a compliance officer for semi-premium paper. The menu -- not laminated, mind you, not archival parchment, just a slightly ambitious piece of cardstock that dreamed of lamination -- was snatched from our hands while we were clearly still reading it. Her reasoning? She "didn't want the menus to get dirty." There was no food on our table. No grease. No sauce. No evidence of moral decline. Just water glasses and hope. Apparently we looked like we might exhale oil. If your menu fears contamination, laminate it. Do not weaponize it. Southern hospitality cannot coexist with suspicion. It is metaphysically incompatible. The Bloody Mary (3/5) Pickled okra rising from the glass like a submarine periscope in tomato fog. Interesting. Almost daring. But it hesitated at the edge of chaos and stepped back into civility. A drink that flirted with madness and chose safety. Fried Chicken Thigh (2.75/5) Crisp. Competent. Deep-fried with enthusiasm. Seasoned with restraint bordering on timidity. Fried chicken should feel slightly unlawful. This felt insured. It had crunch but no conviction -- poultry that went to finishing school and refused to start a fight. Shrimp & Cheese Grits (4.5/5) Here the kitchen awakens. Creamy. Bold. Assertive. This dish believed in itself. It entered the room with posture and heat and declared jurisdiction. If everything had been executed at this level, this review would not exist. The Platter: A Symposium of Almost Fried Catfish (3/5) Technically sound. Emotionally evasive. Crisp handshake, no eye contact. Chili Jam (4/5) Bright. Sharp. Charismatic. The jam had more personality than the paper guardian. Red Beans, Rice & Andouille (3/5) Functionally correct. Spiritually beige. Chicken Gumbo (3.5/5) Competent but domesticated. Gumbo should feel like it has secrets. This had a résumé. Hush Puppies (3.5/5) Deep-fried geometry. Pleasant but inert. Meat & Three I chose soft shell crab. Soft Shell Crab (2.5/5) Deep-fried sawdust in crustacean cosplay. Crunch without consequence. Cornbread with Chili Jam (4/5) Hot. Buttery. Generous. Finally, something unapologetic. Collard Greens (3.5/5) Balanced. Respectable. But I make better at home -- and that fact lingers. Sweet Potatoes (4.75/5) These were decadent. Brown sugar. Burnt caramel. Butter without shame. For a brief moment I forgave everyone in the building. Ube Beignet (3/5) Massive. Purple interior like edible hallucination. Intriguing concept. But by this point I was no longer dining. I was being processed. The Exit Fullness is physics. Satisfaction is philosophy. I left saturated in oil and sugar and starch and promise. But promise alone does not earn devotion. The Room Medium lighting. Slightly cramped. No compensatory charm. There is real talent in this kitchen. That is undeniable. But hospitality cannot operate in fractions. You cannot offer buttered cornbread and simultaneously radiate suspicion over cardstock. You cannot serve comfort food while communicating mild distrust. New Orleans may be 1,800 miles away -- but seasoning and generosity travel just fine. Final Reckoning Because the shrimp & grits were genuinely strong -- and because those sweet potatoes bordered on scandalous -- I cannot accuse the place of mediocrity. But most of the menu hovers at "acceptable." And when I can cook better fried chicken, better collards, and better gumbo in my own kitchen while listening to something unhinged and drinking something stronger than their Bloody Mary, that becomes the standard. 3.35 stars. It rounds down to 3.0. Not out of cruelty. Out of principle. There is a great restaurant buried here somewhere. It will emerge the day the food commits fully -- and the menu is either laminated or liberated. read more

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Hadn't been to Brenda's in quite a while and decide to go there for breakfast when my Mom was in town. We decided to sit at one of the outside tables as it was a nice day. We ere able to Quincey order once we had decided on our entrees. I chose the succotash omelette with choice of side/breads- cheese grits and buttermilk biscuit. My Mom chose a two way eggs and such, selecting scrambled eggs w/ side of grits, buttermilk biscuit and bacon; which was an extra charge. Our food came out quickly and we were chomping away. I would like to specifically state the service was impeccable and I will definitely be back sooner or later if not to only grab a to go order of those crawfish beignets read more

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Lives up to the hype! Food was delicious, great flavors! Service was excellent. Food does take a while to come out but it's hot when it does! Restaurant has a great vibe for brunch, cute patio seating as well. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Fried Chicken Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Leah was out waitress and she was so kind! She literally had to run the entire patio by herself and she rocked it! Service was very very slow but that had nothing to do with her but everything to do with the kitchen. Possibly they were short handed with the holidays since Christmas was coming up a lot of people tend to leave town. Overall the food was a 7 out of 10. You're probably wondering why the 5 stars then? Because the food we did like was delicious! The French toast so good! Fried chicken so good! Shrimp po boy so good! Fries were deliciously crunchy! So yeah the gumbo was mid but I don't like okra so I guess that is my preference. The Mac and cheese was mid I like mine better and the catfish po boy needed more seasoning. My husband did the side of gravy he could have done without. All in all we will be back again soon! read more

Brenda's Oakland - Underberg drink my hubs ordered lol - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee the breakfast French toast Grits Mimosa Shrimp and grits (tomato based) read more

Brenda's Oakland - Shrimp & Grits Bananas Foster French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

Came on a Friday for brunch. Made a reservation online for 11:15. Arrived and had a table on the patio ready for us. We initially made a reservation to be seated inside but they didn't have enough room to accommodate us however the patio worked out for us. They had the heater on outside and it wasn't too cold. Ordered the shrimp and grits, florentine eggs Benedict, jambalaya, fried chicken with biscuit, a side of gravy and spiked apple cider. We enjoyed everything with the exception of the jambalaya. The chicken was a little dry in the jambalaya. The eggs benedict was so yummy. We didn't expect it to be in the biscuit and that made it so good. Shrimp and grits are a classic and so good here. Cant go wrong with fried chicken. We got a side of gravy to enjoy with our biscuit and loved it. Service was great. Staff were friendly and very accommodating. We had our baby with us and they brought out a plastic cup of water for her and made sure to put food out of her reach when they brought it out. read more

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Love a good Shrimp n grits...and this is one of the best around. I frequented the one in San Francisco much more than the one in Oakland, but both are flavorful. Everything I've eaten here has been packed full of flavor including the fried catfish and several other items on the menu. I've introduced several to Brenda's and they've fully enjoyed their meals every time. They aren't on the low end price wise, but definately worth it. Cheers! read more

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For an authentic Louisiana food in a nice setting and great service this place is terrific! Gumbo and jambalaya are fantastic Nice serving and a relaxing atmosphere... Can eat inside or out read more

Stopped over after dinner closeby just to pick up some biscuits to take home for an evening treat. So excited that the biscuits are the original size, not the updated versions that I get when in the city (please bring them original biscuits back to all Brenda's, it's a missed staple). Service was great as expected. p.s. I wish I could've gotten strawberry jam or another option other than apple. read more

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One of my favorite spots in Oakland for brunch. The food is always delicious and doesn't disappoint. In highly recommend the freshly baked beignets. Service was great and the server checked up on us a few times throughout our meal. The place has a relaxed vibe inside and really nice patio outside. So, if you haven't been, check it out! read more

Brenda's Oakland - Boneless combo + Biscuit - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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After so long ago, this place is still staying strong with service and food. Love the gumbo. There is everything in every bite and it was seasoned so well The catfish and shrimps were crunchy but not overly battered. The devil sauce has a kick and is a bomb I wanted to use it on everything. Came out so full and satisfied read more

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Haven't been to Brenda's in a minute! Didn't realize they had one in Oakland, last time I went was the one in the city. I had the fried chicken Benedict, did not disappoint! Followed it up to end the meal with an ube beignet which was as good as it sounds. Might get the one that comes with 3 next time just because I love beignets. They have an outdoor seating area with heated lamps. We came on a rainy day and they had awnings up to block the rain from coming in. Helps that the building is situated where the wind isn't blowing into the outdoor seating area, too. I got seated quickly and was tended to promptly as well. Service was good, no complaints there. They accommodated my request to sit at a different table which was great! I didn't think they'd remember. They also are dog-friendly on the outdoor seating area! Will be back soon for more beignets read more

Brenda's Oakland - Fried Chicken Benedict with Potato Hash Side - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Had a lunch meeting at Brenda's, and this place was busy, especially for a Friday afternoon breakfast. The first thing was that the waitress greeted me and was very friendly. Food at Brenda's is excellent. I had fried chicken with a biscuit and a side of grits. The ambiance had a modern feel, with seating outside. They also had a good menu with things like shrimp and grits or even catfish. Go to Brenda's for some excellent soul food. read more

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This was my first time at the Oakland location and I had a great experience. I love Brendas the food is always delicious. Came here for brunch with my sister and we sat on the patio because it was beautiful outside. It was definitely busy, we came during a rush but our server was on top of it. They serve good portions, the food came out hot, and seasoned perfectly. Definitely will be coming back. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Oh god. If I lived in Oakland, this would be a real problem. Like finding excuses to come here kinda problem. I would be eating here all the time. This is a good breakfast/brunch spot with a soul food/creole/cajun twist. They have unique takes on Americana fare. Think ube beignets and succotash omelettes. If you're a fan of beignets, they have some big 'uns in multiple flavors. Serena our server was lovely. She had such a calm energy that is palpable. This is only my second time in Oakland and Brenda's has given me another reason to come back. read more

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Breakfast at Brenda's Oakland was fantastic! The Café au Lait had a unique licorice like taste but was smooth. The gumbo was hearty and full of flavor, while the fried catfish was crispy on the outside and tender inside. My partner enjoyed his 2-egg combo and Andouille sausage with creamy and buttery grits that were absolutely delicious! We stop at Brenda's each time we visit the San Fran area and it continues to be a must stop each visit! read more

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Brenda's merges southern food with savory creole food for people in the Bay Area. While visiting the area, I decided to give them a try. I would advise any coming during peak hours, weekend or holidays make a reservation in advance. If you don't & wait until you get there to make one you will have to wait about 40 minutes before a table will be ready for you. The ambiance blends New Orleans style and photos of the owner/head Chef Brenda. Me and my bf both got the catfish plate one with sautéed string beans and the other with sautéed spinach. read more

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I got the catfish Benedict and it was one of one. I will say it was carb heavy and definitely gave me the itis, but would I get it again? Absolutely. It's a great breakfast to have every now and then. The customer service here was okay and they have options to dine inside and outside depending on your preference. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Been - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

Biscuits are the main attraction here but the entire menu is mind blowing. This is true creole food on par with anything you'll find in New Orleans. Fried chicken, grits, greens, hush puppies and beignets are staple orders. I'd also recommend the jambalaya and etouffee. The Ettouffe is particularly amazing! You'll need a reservation here otherwise you risk not getting in. This is my preferred location but they have a few in SF as well. Brenda's meat and three is not bad if you're in the city. Enjoy! read more

1st time back in a while and they still serve up some of the Bay's Best Cajun/Southern/Soul food around. Came in on a Thursday mid-morning and got a table for 2 right away. The service was great. Creole Sampler Platter - Fried Catfish, Gumbo, Collargreens, Hushpuppies, Red Beans & Rice. Everything was packed with flavor, ITS A MUST TRY!!!! Hangtown Fry - Fried Oyster, Bacon & Scallion Scramble, Hash, & Sourdough Toast. I never knew fried oysters would go this well with eggs on breakfast, WOW!!!!! read more

Brenda's Oakland - Creole Sampler Platter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Our visit was just to enjoy some beignets, but I definitely need to return for a full meal, as all the food coming out of the kitchen looked incredible. Service is very friendly, the atmosphere relaxed and welcoming. The beignets are INCREDIBLE. Dangerously good. Looking forward to returning to try lots more from the menu. read more

Brenda's Oakland - chocolate beignets - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

I have been hearing about this place for years and I *FINALLY* came to try and now I'm wondering "what took me so long?!" Came on a Saturday at around 12:30ish and got seated immediately. Ordered the 2 eggs (poached) with andouille, hash browns and a biscuit. SO GOOD!! The eggs were poached perfectly, the andouille provided a nice subtle heat/bite that paired perfectly w the poached egg and that biscuit- TOTALLY the move to sub biscuit for toast. And I thought my dish was going to be the best bite but my boyfriend got the catfish and grits and I didn't think I was a grits girl, but I will HANDS DOWN be coming back and ordering the shrimp and grits EVERY TIME!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! We also got the beignet flight. I used to go to New Orleans often as a kid- while these were no where near as light or airy as the ones in NOLA, if they had just listed them as "donuts" I think I would have been 100% satisfied. They weren't bad- they were great *donuts* but the outside was too hard/crunchy in my opinion. I will say, my fav of the flight was the plain bc it was the lightest of the four; and my boyfriend loved the apple one. Prob would skip when we come back, BUT will absolutely be back for the shrimp/catfish and grits! read more

I went to Brenda's thinking that I was gonna take my granny out to like brunch or something, but she end up not going, but it was a nice little place. I sat outside. The view was great and I loved to people watch the food was good. The service was good. I had the shrimp and grits. I'm more of a less cheesier grit person, but they were good if you're in Oakland go check them out. It's a cute little spot. I wouldn't do a large party there cause if you did, he would take up the whole spot, but it is a great spot to go get lunch or brunch with a couple of girlfriends or something. read more

Amazing service. Great food. Location allowed us easy access. Great music. We will definitely be back. We ordered 12 items between the two of us because they come on small shareable plates. Anything you order will be delicious so do not hesitate! A must try if you haven't been! read more

I didn't love the food here. The catfish was fried and seasoned decently. The yams were also OK. The cornbread, the beignets were dense and thick, the macaroni and cheese tasted curdled and flavorless. I wouldn't eat here again, but glad we gave it a chance. read more

I've been eating Brenda's for years and it's consistently one of the best soul food places in the bay! You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu! read more

Brenda's Oakland - Catfish Poboy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Southern soul food at its best (in the west...?). Great food, classic diner ambiance, and excellent friendly service. A staple of the bay area. So few places in the bay you can get a good shrimp and grits... read more

It was nice to get to Brenda's for some flavorful comfort food while visiting Oakland. I appreciated the quiet environment and sidewalk seating. I visited off-hours so service was plentiful and friendly. The menu has lots of options, and it was difficult to decide what to have on such a short visit. read more

We ordered pickup from Brenda's and the food was ok. The succotash omelet was more wet than I expected. The food was packaged well so the poboy and the beignets weren't soggy but we think it would have been better in the restaurant. read more

Brenda's Oakland - 1/2 & 1/2 Poboy* - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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I enjoyed a Sunday afternoon meal with my friend and we loved all the food! We left full and happy! The serving size was just enough and the catfish was perfect! I would buy the romalaude sauce to take home because I couldn't get enough of it! The place looks small from the street view and main entrance but it actually has a good amount of seating. There are options to sit at the bar, indoor, or outdoor. We opted for outdoor because we didn't want to wait 20min (walked in without a reservation) and it was a chilly day but the clear roof covering and the heaters did the trick. We started with drinks (latte and tea) but noticed later that one of the cups wasn't adequately cleaned. The server changed everything right away and apologized. Had this not happened I would have given 5 stars. Although it was a busy day and just after Christmas, the manager should make sure this doesn't happen again. But, all was well, and I will definitely come back when I'm in town :) read more

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I ordered the breakfast sandwich and the ube beignet; both were fresh and delicious. I appreciate the fast service and also the packaging.

I've had some really good fried chicken in Nashville, TN and was looking forward to something at that same level. Unfortunately, the fried chicken here was very disappointing. The batter was overcooked and pieces were really small. The flavor was underwhelming. I did like the texture and flavor of the biscuit. The pepper jelly is what caught my attention and led me to want to order this dish. Unfortunately, it was just okay. I could taste the sweet jelly and could barely taste the pepper. I think I would've preferred honey with it instead. I've honestly had better fast food fried chicken and biscuits from a gas station than this. The catfish and grits was my favorite dish of everything we ordered, although, I expected the catfish to be crispy and it wasn't. There was also not that much catfish, maybe 3 small pieces. Maybe they should put it on site so it doesn't get soggy from the grits. We ordered a side of cheesy grits, thinking the catfish and grits wouldn't have enough for three people. It was definitely enough, and I felt that the flavor of the grits that came with the catfish was better than the side order of grits. I wouldn't mind getting the catfish and grits again but I would try something else before revisiting. The side dish of cheesy grits was good but not amazing and would probably skip it. The banana Foster's French toast was pretty standard. Nothing special about it either. I'd skip it. I'm a sucker for flights. It's a good way to try everything. Out of all of them, I liked the chocolate paired with the cream from the banana Foster's French toast. However, on its own, I'd probably go with the apple. I was a bit disappointed with the crawfish. It didn't have very much crawfish in it. Although, the sauce was good. Would I order three apples? Probably not. I would order 3 chocolates with a side of that cream though. Service was a bit slow, but they were friendly enough. Overall, not overly impressed and probably wouldn't come back unless I was with a group that wanted to go. read more

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My friend was here from out of town and wanted soul food and everyone says the best spot is Brenda's. We decided to go to the Oakland location since we didn't want to go to the TL in SF. The place is cute and it was easy to find parking on the street. We sat outside since they had the patio heated. The service was lacking - took a while to be greeted and sat, but overall good was good. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Catfish, Hushpuppies, Mac & Cheese Side, Collards Side - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

Came here with friends from out of town for brunch who wanted Southern food and they were not disappointed. The food was delicious and very different from what they can get in LA. The shrimp and grits were perfectly creamy and savory with a generous amount of cheese and shrimp. The French toast was devoured by my kids. My friends enjoyed the chicken, biscuit, eggs, and the seafood pasta dish. The Mac and cheese was good too and we finished with freshly made beignets. The grandma's molasses coffee and watermelon sweet tea were also hits. Really nice staff and a great brunch experience overall. We got a nice seat inside with the bench in the back. read more

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Not sure what all the hype is about but I probably won't be back. I had the fish and grits. Absolutely no flavor. The tomatoes also threw me off. Staff was kind and attentive. I had a watermelon lemonade that was delicious. The place is very small so book a reservation if you can. Overall the food needs seasoning. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Catfish & Grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

Practically ordered everything off the menu. My favorite is the blackened catfish plate, mac and cheese, crawfish beignets, and the fried oysters. The collard greens with bacon was next, then the fried cauliflower, fried chicken pieces with biscuits, and catfish po boy. I wasn't a fan of the banana foster, fried chicken sandwich or gumbo. It was great going with a large party and being able to family style the dishes. Although with a group of 5 we arrived around 12:00 and had a 1 hour and 15 minute wait. I recommend going a little before they open if you have a larger party, making a reservation, or going on a nice day so you can walk around the area for a bit. Service was great once seated all the staff was attentive and took our orders timely. Food was placed and arrived quickly. We had so much food that the server was even shocked herself! All in al, I enjoyed finally sitting down and trying this place out for myself. read more

Brenda's Oakland - Gumbo, banana foster, fried chicken, blackened catfish plate. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

I enjoyed the food here! I got the spicy chicken sandwich and it was very tasty! The sweet tea was great and so was the fried chicken breast read more

Brenda's Oakland - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California