My party of 4 (two couples) had a fantastic dinner at Burdell and we received possibly the best service of my entire dining life. Long story short: Due to a miscommunication among ourselves, we ended up with a reservation for 2 instead of 4. Entirely our fault. But the hostess Zara was extremely gracious and kind. She clearly wanted to find a way to include us all, and after a very short wait, she managed to get us into a fantastic table. She even gave us each a splash of sparkling wine while we waited! The service at the table was equally warm and helpful. When we were debating whether to get one or two orders of cornbread, our server offered to bring us a 1.5 order. We tried multiple sides and then two of us got the chicken (the most tender chicken breast I've ever had) and two got the pork. At the end there was only a little chicken and a smidge of three sides left, but it was all so good we asked for boxes to take home. Even the take-home containers were adorable. The one labeled chicken had a little hand-drawn chicken on it and a smiley face. All in all a delicious meal in a wonderfully welcoming space with unbelievable save-the-day service. We are so grateful and we will be back! read more

- Service was a bit slow and disorganized - Main issue is that the food is average and completely overpriced. Main dishes are all around $45; except one bad beer, the other one (Original Pattern IPA) is priced at... $14, and the cheapest glass of wine costs $16 - The drinks selection is strangely bad: cocktails are unappealing, there are 2 types of beers on the menu... how hard is it to offer at least one hazy IPA and one lager? read more

I decided to finally give Burdell since its such a highly recommended restaurant in Oakland, but the experience was pretty disappointing. Even with a reservation, the service felt a bit disorganized -- there wasn't a clear host, and the welcome didn't feel especially warm. Throughout the meal, check-ins were limited, which stood out given the higher price point. We really enjoyed the lamb tartare and all our other dishes were just okay or we disliked, including the chicken, which they were well-known for. One of the top recommendations from our server was a caviar dish, which felt more like a safe upsell than a standout must-try. read more

Got their highly recommended chicken and waffle. I was pleasantly surprised to see they served it with chicken meat as I had though the dish was prepped with chicken skin only...prehaps that was a previous variant. It was, nonetheless, very flavorful and delicious. The cornmeal waffle was also very interesting and added more flavor and texture in comparison to a regular waffle. Our reservation time was closer to their lunch/dinner break, so unfortunately many of the item that I wanted to try was sold out already. Overall, it was a pleasant experience for the palate. read more

Burdell - Fried chicken and cornmeal waffle - Soul Food Near Me - Oakland, California

This place definitely didn't blow our mind away. All the food that we ordered were just okay, nothing was really special. We got to order the fried dirty girl green tomatoes that came with some shrimp remoulade and the petrale sole and the Jidore chicken for the main entrees. The service, on the other hand, was very pleasant and attentive. Although it took quite a long time for the main course to arrive after the appetizer. All in all, so glad that we had the opportunity to try this restaurant, but we don't have a plan to return in the future. read more

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We went to check them out right after the won for best restaurant. We were able.to get a last minute reservation on a Thursday night at 8:30PM. It was packed and there were line for us to get seated even with reservation. Perhaps because they were so busy and end of day, we didn't feel the welcoming gesture from both the host and bartender as we were ordering a drink while we wait for our table. The table where we sat was near the bathroom and definitely has a stuffy/ toilet smell, so we asked to be moved to the front area with a smaller table by the bar. So it's more of 3.5 stars for overall experience. The food was flavorful but it is very rich for my stomach. Lots of butter for sure... I could only taste the food a bit of each dish and not able consume it due to how rich it was and I am sensitive to lactose. I think Southern food is just not a fit for me, but glad we tried it. read more

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We made reservation only because this is the only East Bay restaurant that accepts the Chase rewards card my wife has. The food honestly was abysmal. I'm sorry but we really wanted to like this place but it was just not enjoyable. The only thing decent food were the peanuts and cornbread. Everything else was just not good and overpriced. Luckily we had the $150 credit from Chase, but even $50 out of pocket wasn't worth it. The service was the only good thing in this dining experience. Also they add in table charge of 20% (automatic tip), then they add the taxes after including the 20% tip to the subtotal which is a very deceptive practice. I'm actually surprised they've even 3.5 stars. I would not recommend this place. read more

I really want to give this place a better review since I've heard SO many good things about it from coworkers, but it was just ok. Nothing went terribly wrong and the food was good, but the price tag is really steep for what we got. 24 dollars for 4 shrimp felt a bit criminal to be honest. The portions are on the smaller side and service is pretty slow. I get that they're a popular restaurant and quite busy, but I wasn't a fan of being seated 20 minutes after our reservation time. That being said, the duck we ordered was super fragrant and delicious- I wish there was more of it! Everything else we ordered was good, but nothing too special. read more

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Food was terrible. Service was disrespectful Ambience was too loud. Not kids friendly. read more

Glad I was finally able to check this place out. My friend and I ordered the Family Dinner and overall we enjoyed it. They put a unique twist on southern classics that keeps things interesting. The flavors are rooted in tradition, but with a modern spin. I loved the cornbread and really liked the gumbo. The vibes are just as charming as the eats, with a cozy atmosphere and our server was great! Looking forward to coming back and trying more creative takes on soul food staples. read more

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I am well aware that the restaurant is Michelin star rated somehow, but because of that, I thought the service would be a little better. Even with a reservation, we had to wait about 20 min to be seated and saw others who came in after is get seated fairly promptly. That I was not fond of. However, once we were seated, the service was great. We loved our waiter. He was patient and knowledgeable in everything that was going into the food. Also super accommodating with the lighting because our old eyes couldn't see the food well so he raised the lights up so we could fully see and enjoy our food. I highly recommend the hush puppies and caviar. Sooooo delicious with the prosciutto and their sauces. Yum-pop. Chicken liver dish was a bit too sour for my taste, but we gave it a go. Lamb dish was perfectly cooked but a bit too salty for me. However, paired with their sauces Margaret cocktail, it was perfect. Give them a try and tell me if my taste buds are off. read more

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The food here is executed incredibly well. It's a must try restaurant in Oakland & I understand why the head chef was a James Beard finalist! We ordered: - roasted duck (comes with dirty rice) - salmon (comes with braised cabbage) - collards - cornbread The salmon was cooked perfectly, with crispy skin. The cabbage it came with was quite literally the best I've had. I usually prefer collards, but the cabbage was so good! The collards here are good as well. The cornbread was perfectly moist, and it tasted like they made it with some brown butter. I usually don't like dirty rice, but their version with the duck cracklin and leg confit is amazing and I could eat it everyday. I see the connection with soul food but it's also distinct, with unique spins on classic dishes. I was skeptical because the reviews are mixed. But in my opinion, I had a perfect meal here. The space is also gorgeous. It feels like I stepped back in time. It's cozy. Parking is street parking. It was quiet later on a Sunday, but you probably always need a res. read more

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It is difficult to give review on this one, but I have to. This is a special restaurant. Many customers had strong feeling about it (including myself.) Its reviews were often long in length. I think it is either you love it, or hate it. The so-called soul food was not quite the southern cooking I am mostly familiar with. Fine dining like service was not quite the fine dining I have experienced in the past. Plates were very small. Prices were high. The decoration was matching the low-end soul food places. Let's be honest, I did not enjoy the dining experience because it provided little value to me. Its service was both "pretentious" and "awkward," while the food was both "home-cooked" and "amateurish.". I encourage you to give it a try yourself. The restaurant was busy while I dined there. They must be doing right for certain clients. read more

I had a lovely brunch here with friends. The food is generally some elevated soul food, and my understanding is it's black owned so I was willing to try it out. It was perfect for brunch cause while the service wasn't super fast, it was good for just chilling and grazing food with friends. We had the pork verde and grits, pimento omelette with salad, summer squash salad, hashbrowns, pancakes, shrimp and grits, and I had the Bonnie (which is basically an espresso martini with vermouth). I didn't try the shrimp (I'm allergic) but my friends loved it. I think my fave was the pimento omelette with salad but everything was hitting. Also the summer salad was super interesting and I would absolutely get it again. Thinly sliced zucchini with tahini dressing was unique but good flavor. The flavors were next level, you can tell this is a professional chef. Absolutely worth checking out! read more

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This review feels a bit different from my last one. You know, this restaurant popped up in one of my absolute favorite brunch spots, Aunt Mary's, which sadly closed down during the pandemic. So, when it opened, I was super hopeful, especially since the previous owner mentioned they'd found a restaurant to take their place. Sadly, I tried it back in late March 2025, and I wasn't a fan. The flavors just didn't quite hit the mark for me. I brought my wife here to celebrate her birthday, and we had crab, salad, cornbread, and boiled peanuts. Considering the price, I was really hoping for something more. I'll definitely give it another shot sometime and keep my fingers crossed that it'll be better next time! I will say that the service was amazing though! read more

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Brunch food was flavorful, definitely lived up to the chef's credentials. The portion was on a smaller side. My husband commented that shrimp a d grits might as well be an appetizer cos it was small. The flavor was great though. Ambience was really warm and inviting. They paid attention to the decorations. Service left a mark on me, in a bad way :( We ordered right away after sitting down but it took more than 30 mins for the 2 dishes to arrive. I think the chef himself brought food to our table. Straight face, no greeting, no customary apology for the wait. When the bartender came to clean the table and asked how was the food. I told them my honest feedback: the food took a while to arrive. And again, I was greeted with monotone, unapologetic response: "as you can see, it was full (but there were actually still empty tables) and we cook to order. We don't cook and heat it up by microwave." I responded politely with a thanks but in my mind I felt off. Will I come back? Probably yes to try the dinner menu. Let's see if my experience was because of an off day and the short of staff. read more

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Drove the 1.5 hours from San Jose to Oakland try Soul Food. I was excited anticipating fried chicken but it was not available on the a la carte menu - only on the special Juneteenth Family Dinner menu for $105 per person. I really came for fried chicken since it is "soul food" and nothing on the a la carte menu appealed to us. We opted for the Juneteenth menu. Came with 3 snacks/appetizers, a small salad, Buttermilk Brined Fried Chicken, 3 sides, and Vanilla Sponge Cale dessert. The snacks were the best part of the meal. The salad was good but very small for 2 people (few bites). The fried chicken which should have been the star was a big disappointment. Chicken was brined so juicy enough but lacked any flavor. Did not care for the Smoked Green Chile Hot Honey sauce topping which made the skin soggy - on the side would have been a better option especially since we did not care for the flavor. We got a thigh, drumstick, and breast to share - would have been better if there were 4 pieces for 2 people rather than 3 pieces which was a bit odd. The sides were OK - nothing stood out. Dessert was the Sponge Cake miso caramel lime flavor. I did not like the flavor but my dinner companion did so he enjoyed the entire cake. No complimentary birthday dessert, but a candle with the well wishes card. I left the candle and card so they could re-use it :-). The restaurant was clearly busy when we were there dining so they are doing something right or like us, diners went due to the positive Yelp reviews/rating. Service was attentive. Would I recommend Burdell to friends - sadly no I would not. Automatic 20% gratuity added clearly stated at bottom of menu. No complaints on service. Not server's fault we didn't enjoy the meal. read more

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My husband and I came here because we had a Chase credit and had heard amazing things about it. We took it as an opportunity to try a place we were excited about, and it was a great, cozy spot for a date. We had read the reviews ahead of time and braced ourselves for poor service and high prices. We did get the high prices, but our server was lovely and highly attentive. They talked to us about their grandmother (after whom one of the cocktails is named) and they checked on us regularly. We ordered the crispy delicata squash rings as an appetizer, and they were delicious (almost like tempura). As a vegetarian, my options were a bit limited for entrees (which is normal). I got the cheddar dumplin's. They were very very good, though a bit dense -- that is a matter of personal taste, however! This is a newer style of cuisine for me and not a critique of the delicious food. My husband got the sole and raved. We also got the cornbread, which, as everyone else has pointed out, was amazing. Our server had told us that we would probably need more food, but they were wrong. We couldn't even finish what we had. We also both had drinks (I had a red wine and my husband had the Margaret cocktail -- both were good). Overall, it was a positive experience for us, though a bit more expensive than what we would typically go for on a date night. Glad we got the chance to try it! read more

Listen. Soon as I walked in, irritated. First things first, NO AIR CONDITIONING AND BARELY ANY SPACE. Then yall ask our dietary restrictions & once we tell yall the allergies it's suddenly unable to be accommodated because "the cook believes the flavor won't be there without pecan butter". Then yall got black people on the wall and no black people working OR sitting in the restaurant. How is this a soul food spot with no black people? Anyways, we sit down and turn into the center of attention for every other group dining in. Stares the entire meal. Interruptions from the server and once she realized we were not satisfied for the service, more interruptions came as if she was trying to save herself and the restaurant from a review that was already in the works. The food was terrible, chicken was pink EVEN in the dark ambient lighting that's so dark we needed a flashlight for the damn menu. The plates are the size of something my kid cousin would eat off of. And then yall bring us a cold block of throw-up tasting Mac n cheese that was probably sitting in the kitchen for a half hour as an "apology". Mind you it is my father's birthday!! And the service comes with an included 20% gratuity but we can't get good food or service. Never again and I miss the Oakland before all this gentrification. Genuinely what the hell. read more

Food was disappointing and service was worse! Nasty attitude left a sour taste in our mouths and the mouths of our out of town guests! read more

Service and food were amazing and seasonal. I was intrigued by the homey atmosphere and the twists on the food. We started with the Brussels sprouts Caesar, chicken and waffles, and boiled peanuts. The boiled peanuts were fun, messy, and slurpably delicious. Is that a word? I asked for a spoon, the miso broth was *that* good. The lemon tang on the Brussels sprouts was delicious and the anchovies were subtle. The crunch was a surprise! Really complex cooking going on. I was the only one that enjoyed the chicken and waffles. The denser waffle held up to the chicken skin and liver. Your head has to twist around on the pate aspect of the appetizer rather than what you might expect. We ordered the pork jowls and roast. This was the favorite with perfectly cooked chop and tender beans and a hit of Dijon mustard. High-end touches with a homey presentation. Another twist of a "classic." The surprise chicharron was fun! The fried chicken was delectable and so good with the pan juices. The potato salad with house made mayonnaise and pickle relish with fresh herbs was a complex symphony. It is not your boring grandmother's old-fashioned rendition. The mushroom dumplings with broccoli, cauliflower, and gai lan was another mind--altering take on a pedestrian vegetable dish that made you go back to taste the layers and textures. What a genius combination! For dessert, the carrot cake with cream cheese frosting accompanied by homemade salted caramel was sumptuous. Lots of nuts and not too sweet, just balanced. A great place to celebrate and enjoy an elevated homey meal; in grandmother's house. I have to mention the wines are thoughtfully selected to complement the food. We had a Hungarian Tokajji that finished the palate both complex and dry. The chef worked at a winery and the drinks, wine and beer demonstrate his training. Thank you, Zara, our server for her enthusiasm, her expert suggestions and for making a celebratory meal extra special. read more

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Been visiting Burdell since the pop up days, and the team seems to be really hitting their stride right now. The food has always been an excellent exploration of Soul Food, from history, diaspora, and roots, to modern remixes on classics. The decor reflects the thoughtful, playful nature of the food. Really pleased to see the staff has developed a groove with service, being attentive, but not cloying, and always having a good beverage pairing recommendation. Yes, there is a 20% service charge. It says so on every menu. Anyone claiming that it is a "surprise," must have severe challenges with basic literacy. Reservations are highly recommended, but the bar is a blast, too! read more

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A very cozy, understated spot near Berkeley, Burdell was an excellent dinner spot for my friends and I. We made reservations for a Sunday night and were seated in a fully-packed restaurant. The decor reminds me of the colors from the 1970s, a simplistic but elegant vibe. The food is simply plated, and it really does remind you of eating at home. It is pricey for what it is, in my opinion. But everything tasted delicious. The cornbread was no doubt a stand out for me, and the waffle was super crispy on the outside and fluffy and warm. A nice date spot, or if you're looking for a unique feeling of home-cooking in an elevated setting. read more

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Even before chef/owner Geoff Davis recently won the prestigious Restaurant of the Year award from Food & Wine, I was curious about his place since good soul food eateries have come and gone with alarming frequency in Oakland. Just the fact that Davis opened his homestyle restaurant in the middle of Temescal's foodie-centric corridor struck me as a vote of confidence in the quality and appeal of his food. His work at True Laurel was excellent (review: https://yelp.to/ZGDmjYdsI3). After spending three weeks in Asia, Jamie W and I were in the mood for something down home Southern rather than exotic Far Eastern. The menu was full of temptations, so we decided to share the alluring $19 Chicken Liver & Waffle on top of the $75-per-person four-course Family Dinner centered around Fried Petrale Sole. What we noticed was how each soul food staple would incorporate some unusual element to deepen the flavor. For instance, the starter, the unshelled Boiled Peanuts, were accentuated with peanut miso and house spices to enhance their flavor (photo: https://yelp.to/GmZWMaDedp). The Cabbage Salad was a zingy hybrid of cole slaw and potato salad with salt & vinegar shoestrings, herbs, and new potatoes mixed with a buttermilk dill ranch dressing (photo: https://yelp.to/doHnETdcV1). The Chicken Liver & Waffle came next with the cornmeal waffle taking up half of a Corelle plate and the chicken liver mousse taking up the other half. The use of the creamy liver was a savory complement to the sweeter waffle (photo: https://yelp.to/jlnssRLZ6t). The Greens were pretty close to traditional with the smoked ham hock and cider vinegar the most pronounced ingredients (photo: https://yelp.to/uHmQWGm-o2). The Heirloom Corn Hush Puppies were delightful spheres of yellow cornmeal fritters deep fried and offered with a dab of honey butter (photo: https://yelp.to/dv1inzuu49). The Shelling Bean Hoppin' John appeared to be true rice and beans accented by scallions (photo: https://yelp.to/KC20KPTmlA). The main entree was the Fried Petrale Sole finely breaded and accompanied by a Creole remoulade and pickled green tomatoes (photo: https://yelp.to/qU24SfiG7-). The dessert was an unexpected trip to Italy as it was topped with Babylonian pomegranate seeds and pomegranate Italian ice (photo: https://yelp.to/e-nXS0Twfm). What a delightful meal served on the same Corelle dishes I had bought in college and kept over the years. I appreciate how Davis retained memories of his grandmother's kitchen in the modest place settings and minimal decor. FOOD - 5 stars...creative accents with fresh ingredients bring soul food classics to life...reminds me of Chef JJ Johnson's exemplary culinary work at Fieldtrip Harlem and his short-lived Henry at Life Hotel AMBIANCE - 4 stars...very simple with a touch of retro vintage SERVICE - 4.5 stars...very cordial...hey, isn't that you, Chef Geoff? TOTAL - 5 stars...soul food classics taken to the next level RELATED - Exploring Temescal? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2I0RAHj read more

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Wow wow wow! This place came with a lot of hype and I only dined for brunch (just a disclaimer) and I thoroughly enjoyed this meal. What was ordered: Old fashioned donut holes - tasty but the coffee custard dip seemed a bit too light in flavor to compete with the frying of the donut hole. Smoked salmon croquettes - definitely one of the factories we ordered, just a well balanced and tasty app Fried chicken and cornmeal waffle - fantastic fried boneless chicken and paired oh so well with the waffle Cheeseburger po boy - this was one I feel you can skip, was a bit salty for my liking Hangtown fry toast - loooooved this one too, the oysters, oof. Salivating as I'm typing about it. Shrimp and grits - ORDER IT, DONT DELAY (unless you're allergic to shellfish). Great prawns, awesome awesome awesome dish. Wished it wasn't family style when I tried it lol. Aunt Mary - fantastic Bloody Mary mix. All in all this was a great place, with a very inviting space and a staff that was very attentive and very much enjoy the food they serve. Our server was very enthusiastic about our choices. Definitely a space that can be done via family style. I will say because I notice the ratings on this place didn't seem as high as I felt. This definitely NOT a traditional soul food spot, nor does it need to be. Go in with an open mind if you're a self proclaimed soul food aficionado. read more

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I don't know how to put it but this was probably the worst "elevated" dining experience I've ever had. Went here last night to catch up with a friend and ended up regretting the whole thing. First off, the service here is HORRIBLE. From the rude host to the very snooty server we had. I work in service, I would never imagine having the type of attitude I was given. I go in at 5:30 and as soon as I walk in, no greeting just stupefied stares and I say HI! The servers scurry off and the host just nods. Then she asks if I have a reservation, I say no but my friend will be here in 2 mins and we want to get a table. She was like "are they here?" I was like no, as I said they are 2 mins away (which they were!) and she was like well I can't seat you until your friend gets here. Which is like weirdly petty to me because it was practically empty save for a few people dining (I get there's reservations but I heard her saying there was room), I requested bar seating and she just ignored me. Finally my friend gets there and suddenly the host is all smiles and asks them for all the details like a phone number and a name and doesn't bother to look at me once. Weird. We finally get sat and the server immediately comes up to us and gives us a whole spiel of the menu. Cool. We eventually order the cucumbers (sorry portions), waffle/liver thing (half a waffle and crusty chunks), fried green tomatoes (smaller than sand dollars) and the rib plate (gave me indigestion). Everything was BEYOND lackluster, small, laughable and honestly a joke of a presentation. I didn't even take pictures because one, I was catching up with said friend and two, it just looked so sad and forgettable. Different servers came to drop off food one at a time and very slowly to explain for 10 minutes "how to eat the dish" like what is this? It just seemed like one big sick joke to me. Just let me eat this sorry food in peace, you explaining it isn't going to make it look or taste better lol. I will never return to this establishment again, there was nothing soulful about it just void of anything warm and good in Oakland. I feel like I wasted so much money on food scraps. Never again. Oh! And they don't tell you it's automatic gratuity...so they just smarmy style add a tip just to give you terrible low quality service and horrid food. Yuck. read more

We arrived about 15min early for our reservation and were asked to take a seat at the bar to wait for our third person. We were offered water while we waited. While I sat and waited I noted a golden yellow aura of the 70s interior design. We ordered the fennel salad and fried green tomatoes to start: But the corn bread (one of our entrees sides) arrived first - we wondered about this bc we were hoping for that to arrive with our entree but the smell was intoxicating and it was warm so we just went for it. No regrets, that citrusy honey butter was on point. They gave us 4 pieces. The pluot / fennel salad was enough for one bite each - it was refreshing, we wanted more, I could've used a more generous helping. The fried green tomatoes were much more substantial - about two-three lettuce cup bites each. We loved the interactive experience of this dish a lot. Eating with your hands automatically makes it feel like home for this Southeast Asian eater. We then shared 3 entrees and 3 sides: cod, lamb, chicken, red beans and rice, greens, corn bread (which arrived before our starters and the sides arriving to our table before our entrees). So we went with the flow, as dishes arrived and just enjoyed them as they hit our table. I personally was a fan of the grits and cod and the chicken. The lamb was served quite rare and was a bit on the gamier side for me. Not my cup of tea but my husband enjoyed it. We caught a glimpse of Chef Davis when he brought out our Lettuce cups and gave us the run down. There were glimpses of warmness from different servers. And bc the website asks to refrain from using your phones, I decided not to take photos. To finish the night we ordered the strawberry cobbler. And it was sweet, the team overheard we were celebrating a bday so they brought out a candle and HBD note along with the cobbler. Although we started out thinking the portions wouldn't fill us up, by the time I got to my entree I was able to eat half of the portion of chicken. We were asked if we'd like to take home but unfortunately the servers took it to the back to get boxed, but forgot to bring it back out before we paid the bill and scurried out. The bill has a 20% gratuity built in up front. So 6 drinks later (4 cocktails, coke, and coffee), 2 starters, 3 sides, and 3 entrees brought us to $400 and some change. The pricing made sense. This was a special occasion, the meal was incredible and included top notch ingredients with standout herbaceous flavors - basil in that pluot salad & that chimichurri with the chicken, was wow! The timing of the dishes as they came out, forced us to slow down to enjoy and taste everything as they arrived. It was overall a great experience. I look forward to coming again! read more

I had heard that this place was overhyped and now understand why. The restaurant itself has a cute cozy feel, decorated to invoke feelings of an 80s kitchen. The staff are lovely and we felt that the service was fine. The food was distinctly average for my palette. We started with the fried green tomatoes- tiny hard discs that were a bit tough to eat. The shrimp remoulade was quite fishy... Perhaps it was the type of shrimp they used. The lamb four ways was good; the neck was surprisingly the best cut of lamb and this was the best dish of the night. The corn bread was average- not as good as Aziza's cornbread. Greens were also fine- as expected. Carrot cake was too sweet for me, but probably better for a sweeter tooth. Is the food good? Yes. Is it the best the bay area has to offer? No. If you go in expecting good but not amazing food, it's worth checking out. If you go in with San Ho Won, Singlethread or Harbor House as comparators, this is not it. read more

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I'm glad I came despite the unwarranted negative reviews. Everything was 5/5. The team was attentive and genuine. The ambiance was curated perfection - every detail from the nostalgic plates to the cups. It was dreamy. The food was flavorful and unique. We ordered: Brussels caesar- we order brussies everywhere we go because they are my husband's fave and these brussies were complex with the tanginess, acidity, and a crunch for texture. Chicken liver & waffle - Love the adventurous take on it. One of the best ways I've had liver Cornbread - everyone is right about this one - crunchy, buttery, and moist Greens - cooked perfectly. Nice kick to it and loved the broth/sauce/base it came with. I poured it over my rice Mains: Chicken - the breast was tender and flavorful - loved the note of licorice or star of anise. The fried leg was perfectly seasoned Petrole Sole - Delicious! The complement of the sole with the greens together created this synergistic perfect bite. Will definitely be coming back. We want to try the family dinner next time. read more

Friend brought me here for soul food that's been getting traction. It's got a very retro vibe to the place. Almost like stepping into a movie set. The color palette is like the amber stained glass. They got some good drinks to start the meal off with. Had their cod cakes, doughnut balls, chicken and waffle, burger in a french roll, fried oyster toast, shrimps and grits Cod cakes were amazing, def recommend. Will be a bit dryer than crab cakes but still great. Doughnut balls weren't for me. Might've been the coffee batter bit it was a bit on the bitter/burnt taste to me. The crispy outside, fluffy inside and the dip was great textures. Burger sandwich didn't really have anything standout. Kind of a cheese burger in a french roll Fried oyster toast was a great dish. The combo of the oyster, egg, and toast was delicious. Chicken and waffles are great, but not a fan of their vinaigrette. Could've been too concentrated to my bite but the citrus did not pair well with the chicken and waffle. Shrimp and grits was a dish we were hesitant in getting but did anyways. It was a good decision to get it. Great plate of grits. read more

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If you have a lot of time to burn and don't mind waiting 30 minutes for every dish, this is the place to be! The portions are incredibly small. Be cautious if you're talked or forced into ordering the family-style meal--it felt like a total scam. High prices for fast-food service and quality. Definitely not worth the money nor time. read more

The 3.5 star avg rating is misleading, I really loved this place! The only reason it didn't get a 5 is because I'd have liked more vegetarian options. The hominy grits was ridiculously umami and delicious, no idea how people write about lack of flavor. Same with the cornbread and boiled peanuts with miso broth. Partner got swordfish which was a bit salty but still pretty good too. Yes the place is small, but it's a cool 70's Motown vibe and feels appropriate. Servers were nice and the dishes here are all unique and interesting. Coming back! read more

I love the ambiance of this place. It's warm, cozy, cool and inviting. The interior design is a dream. We had reservations but the table before us was having too good a time so we waited at the bar for half an hour. The staff was really professional about it and comped us the broccoli appetizer for waiting - which ended up being one of the best things we ate! Some of the dishes are adventurous like the chicken liver and waffle. I like liver so this was enjoyable for me but there is a lot of it on the plate, even for someone who likes liver, and it doesn't exactly blend well with the waffle like fried chicken does. Along with the broccoli appetizer, the prosciutto and plum dish was excellent. The cornbread was yum - but my FAVORITE was the duck rice. I would go back for this alone. I didn't even need the duck filet after trying the rice. Most of the staff was awesome. Our waiter seemed a bit off...a little passive aggressive and made jokes that weren't really jokes. The chicken liver plate got cleared before we were finished with it and I would've taken it to go. I ordered a NA kombucha and was given a NA wine and when I let him know it got taken back - would've been nice to just keep it since it was going to be dumped anyway. read more

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Honestly, one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Many people are saying this is the best restaurant in Oakland right now. When Burdell opened in 2023, it quickly became one of the most talked-about restaurants in the country. Chef Geoff Davis is rewriting the narrative of Black food. Named after his grandmother, the space feels like a time capsule - warm, nostalgic, and full of soul. The menu? Southern classics, reimagined. We started with the miso-boiled peanuts, the chicken liver mousse on a cornmeal waffle (so good), and Chef's favorite, the BBQ shrimp in a rich, umami-packed sauce with Vietnamese dried shrimp and fermented Fresno chiles. For mains, we tried the split pea stew with golden morels, and it was seriously incredible. And definitely don't skip the warm cornbread with tangy honey butter. read more

Very expensive. It was good, but one bacon sausage for $38? It was good but for that price, it feels like robbery. Portions were small for price as well. For restaurant of the year, I expected a lot more. I also didn't like how they had items in the family dinner menu that was $75 each that weren't allowed a la carte, which is a business strategy to force you to buy the set menu. Didn't like that at all. Service and people were great though and ambiance had comfortable southern feel to it. Food was good, I thought the chicken liver and waffle was unique, gotta say the fanciest chicken and waffle I ever had. Chicken liver was rich and the sweet waffle helped cut through, making it a good pairing. My favorite was the corn bread and delicious butter. However, the price point prevents me from coming back, unfortunately. I would suggest either lowering prices or increasing the portion. read more

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Me and my family came for fathers day. We had high expectations since it had a Michelin star. It was a cute place when we walked in. The first thing we ordered was boiled peanuts, the were not the worst but were also not the best. Then we got shishito peppers. They had no flavor, and it did not appeal us. Then for our main I got a roast which was literally 99% fat. I had to cut an inch out if the two tiny pieces of steak and got charged 59 dollars for it. I would not recommend and would go somewhere better. read more

The food was delicious and the restaurant interior was nice. From The food my family ordered, I love the corn bread, the salad, the duck and the panna cotta. We dined here on a Thursday night at 8:30pm and we finished our dinner at around 11:20pm. The service was super slow and all the dishes came out one at a time. We were just waiting for the food to come out and left right after we finished eating because it was very late already. I wasn't very satisfied with the service. I had my phone on the side of table and I wasn't even on my phone as I was just having a conversation with my family but I was told by the owner Mr. Davis to put my phone away with no explanation why. I was shocked by his comment as it sounded more like a scold than out of politeness. His comment basically ruined my time there. read more

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It's been awhile since we ate here and I wasn't able to review the restaurant because a bunch of folks who have never actually eaten here got upset about the tipping policy and gave this spot a ton of unfair reviews. They are wrong. I'm not being hyperbolic, but the food here literally brought tears to my eyes. You know that scene in Ratatouille when the food critic tears up- yeah, that was me, only it was a roasted chicken and it took me back to my grandmother's Sunday dinners. We did not order the family style meal because my partner just doesn't eat some of the items they were serving (like rabbit,) next time I go back I hope to have maybe slightly more adventurous palettes with me. Everything we did order was great, I might have skipped dessert, but I'm not big on sweets and I was so full it's really more preference than complaint. Now the service, this is important because as I mentioned in the very beginning of the review people were irate and reviewed this restaurant unfairly- so here's the thing, you don't tip. There's a service fee, the servers and staff are paid a living wage and health insurance. Some people seem to think that if the server isn't working for tips they aren't as attentive or basically that they aren't groveling at the diners beck and call for every penny (that's my interpretation of the haters.) The service is perfectly fine, you treat the servers with respect, they treat you with respect, the restaurant was absolutely packed and there were no service issues at all. And I'm also going to add that the service fee was fair and if you're not tipping appropriately you shouldn't be eating out in a modern society anyway. The restaurant was comfortable, homey, eclectic but tasteful, anchored by a large art piece by local Taylor Smalls. read more

This was a delightful meal. My bf and I both got the Pre Fixe family dinner and were very impressed. Yes, the only appetizer that really impressed us were the boiled peanuts while the clams and cheezey crackers left us whelmed, but from the salad onwards (and the a la carte grilled bbq shrimp we got as well) impressed us and kept up that momentum. The snap pea salad was full of fresh herbs and every ingredient was fresh and crisp. The shrimps were fantastically brined and the sauce was complex and savory. Perhaps we would have enjoyed a spicier sauce, but that's personal preference and speculation. The entree of pork loin with the sides of hoppin' John and stewed cabbage were all individually perfect, and even better combined. I absolutely love when discreet dishes complement each other. The pristinely tender pork was best completed by the acidic and smoky hopin' John. The corn bread was some of the best I've ever had. The bread had a great crust on the top and bottom while still being perfectly cooked on the inside. The crumb was superb. It was the most perfectly cornbread-like cornbread I've ever had while also feeling totally new. The buttermilk panna cotta with strawberry lemonade shaved ice was really clever and tart and light and the perfect way to end the meal. Our server was very nice. I also really liked how 60's style everything down to the spoons looked. My only complaint is that it was too loud inside and the acoustics were funky so the ambient noise of chatter was cacophonous. Alas, I am a baby about loud rooms and that's more a personal problem than one for the establishment. Definitely check this place out, and take your grandma! read more

Incredibly delicious food and the service is so pleasant and welcoming. I know there's been some comments about their standard service charge of 20% on the bill but most restaurants over a certain price point do that, and it's fair. I suspect it's some kind of concerted effort to give this black run restaurant a bad name. But if you're just looking for really great food in a really nice setting and if you're looking for a good overall experience this is a great place. read more