I realize I came here years ago and my experience on Mother's Day was so much better! We got seated very quickly despite the busy day - we got our orders SO quick and the food we ordered was hot and right! Our server was also very friendly. The portions are huge so of course we took some to go. The only thing I wish was that their cheese on the grits came on top, not cooked in. Otherwise I felt like they full redeemed themselves from my subpar review years ago! Oh icing on the cake - I got two complimentary chocolate covered strawberries for mothers day - sweet indeed. Ooh parking can be a pain. Get there early for parking in the private lot or take your chances on street parking or walk a little and park in the garage down the way. read more

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My first time dining here, and it was truly wonderful. I sat at the counter and was followed over by the host with a menu -- no wait time at all. The diner is clean, cozy, and chic. The staff is warm and inviting. The portion sizes are HUGE, so my only regret is that I didn't have a buddy with me to split all of this food with. I went for the classic eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and toast combo. I asked for my bacon well / crispy and it came out perfect -- shoutout to the kitchen for a delicious breakfast. The Jessica's Coffee Cake was the perfect "something sweet" to end the meal with, but fair warning, this is not the size you usually get from say a Starbucks -- you could feed a family with this thing. I'll be back. Thanks for a memorable breakfast, Buttercup staff. read more

ButtercuP - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

I had to take a moment to share such a wonderful experience. After chaperoning my kids at prom and navigating a stressful, rainy drive back toward Oakland from the Chabot Space Center--dealing with flooding, accidents, and getting completely turned around--I decided I deserved a little dessert (and a drink ). I showed up just five minutes before closing, and honestly expected to feel like a burden--but instead, I was greeted by Joe, who welcomed me with the warmest smile and such a genuinely kind demeanor. Not once did he make me feel rushed. I had heard the bread pudding was amazing, and wow--it absolutely lived up to the hype. Paired with a perfectly made margarita, it was exactly what I needed to unwind. Joe even took the time to ask how I liked my margarita--weak, regular, or strong (he must've seen the stress on my face! ). His attentiveness and friendliness really stood out. We got to chatting, and he mentioned he works in Vallejo on Wednesdays--safe to say, I'll definitely be making a visit out there to see him again! Joe left such a lasting impression on this tired, stressed-out mama. His kindness, patience, and hospitality truly turned my whole night around. Just a reminder that compassion and great service always make a difference. Thank you, Joe! read more

ButtercuP - Regular margarita - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Do yourself a favor and get the churro waffle and Irish coffee!! The indulgence is worth it I promise. The waffle is everything you wish a funnel cake would live up to. So crispy and delicious with the cinnamon sugar coating. Nice diner setting and a small parking lot/street parking right near Jack London Square read more

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The P is for pie, but today I chose the C for coffee & coffee cake. I was warned by my hotel that the portions are huge and one leaves here with a to-go box and in a diabetic coma. I chose a lite breakfast of scrambled egg-whites, a turkey patty, and fresh fruit. Made my own vanilla flavored coffee. My server brought me vanilla syrup in a glass, a mini-bowl full of half-n-half creamer and I doctored my coffee to my liking. Hey it worked. To avoid spilling the syrup everywhere, pour the syrup over the back of a spoon in the coffee cup. Voila no mess. My breakfast was good. The place was packed. Had a family with two of the most Hyper-ADHD kids in the place invading my personal space, bumping the feet against the booth, to laying down on the booth, and bursting out with a 'Yah-ooooo' while his Das tried to have adult conversation with his friends. I tell ya, that man has his hands full. Next my coffee cake arrived. Wow, humongous piece. I only took a couple of bites and sat and enjoyed my coffee while I was thinking of my review. A greasy spoon this is, but this is the spot in Oakland. Ok so the family leaves and here comes the busboy, clinging, clanging, the dishes, silverware in the black bin so loud that I looked up from my phone & saw others look his way. I paused and asked him, 'Are you mad today?' He smiled and said No. I think he got the hint and became quieter. Sometimes people are just not aware. No merch today. I know I'll be back. They have plenty of options and a bar. Until next time Oakland, see you on Yelp read more

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Service. I went in here early this morning trying to beat the Sunday morning rush. I go in and am seated immediately no problem. Several waitresses walk around without acknowledging my presence. One gives a slight head nod as she's walking to drop off drinks to another table. 10 to 15 minutes later a couple is seated one table over from me. They were greeted immediately with water and someone ready to take their order. I simply left. read more

I adore this place. Bread pudding french toast was a seasonal option but down right amazing. It has a very classic diner feel. The pies are worth going there alone. I really enjoyed my experience and plan to go again soon and try more of the menu. read more

Stopped in today after a Black History celebration during this month got my egg scramble was very delicious thanksfor good food read more

ButtercuP - Egg scramble - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Had lunch with a couple of colleagues and took two online meetings. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Vegetarian omelette was quite tasty. Servered did not mind me hanging out at the table after I ate to do an online meeting. Bathroom needs a lot of work. read more

Went for the shrimp and grits based on the recommendation here. I was disappointed. As a POC I thought they would taste like southern shrimp and grits, especially being in Oakland, but they don't. The grits are undercooked and lumpy, the shrimp is breaded and gets soggy in all that liquid and veggies, the overall taste was just meh. I wish I had ordered something else. The atmosphere and other food looked amazing. I saw the omelettes, waffles, fried chicken and other food that looked amazing. Service was great as well. I will be back but I will order something else next time. read more

ButtercuP - Shrimp and Shrimp N Grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Took the crew out for brunch for Xmas. It was a nice get together. I didn't get a pic of the mozzarella sticks but they were 5outta5. Nice size, crisp & very cheesy! Churro waffles - Crew member said they were good! Veggie omelette- Crew member really enjoyed the dish. Loaded potatoes - 4.5outta5 a lil too much cheese but delicious otherwise Shrimp & Grits 4outta5 Didn't care for the clumps of grits & although the sauce was delicious, there was a tad too much of it. Good seasoning, shrimp cooked perfectly & I enjoyed the dish. Nice atmosphere, attentive service; We all enjoyed the experience. read more

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I mainly came here not for the quality or particular price of the food and drinks but the service. Even though there are still two awesome waitresses there, However, things will never be the same without Tynu! Her leaving takes all the vibe and character outside of that building. Plus she was the ONLY bartender employed who can actually make good drinks. While the Old Deacon aka Morgan Freeman man there needs to retire because he can barely remember peoples orders or even walk. I may return however I may not. But the gap between better places has widely spread. read more

Best Denver omelet I have ever had. Whenever I go out to breakfast that's my standard order so I know a good one when I taste it. Service was excellent. read more

Lately, the service--especially from management--the old Bkack Man & the Hispanic manager with the glasses & dark beard.has been consistently disappointing. On multiple visits, both managers have come across as dismissive and unprofessional. Instead of feeling welcomed like a longtime customer, I've felt like an inconvenience. It's frustrating because good management sets the tone for the entire dining experience, and right now, that tone is far from hospitable. I don't expect perfection, but I do expect basic courtesy and respect, especially after being a loyal customer for decades. At this point, I won't patronize them! Also, they fired the BEST BARTENDER & waitress they wver had. read more

Paid at counter and tipped 20%. Server had the audacity to double my bill with her own tip amount written in thereafter. Manager refused refund said, only owner can authorize this. Never received refund of stolen money. OWNER ARE YOU AWARE YOUR STAFF STEALS from customers? read more

If you're going for breakfast, it's pretty good! Waffles and pancakes are pretty good! French toast is tasty as well! If you're going for actual food, I'll give it maybe a 3/5. I've been coming to this restaurant since I was a little girl and I will say they have elevated the menu as well as the aesthetic and that's awesome to see! read more

grits/shrimp and sauce very delicious, french toast with strawberries/whip cream very tasty, staff very nice and welcoming read more

ButtercuP - DELICIOUS GRITS/SHIRMP THE SAUCE VERY YUMMY, AND FRENCH TOAST/STRAWBERRIES WHIP CREAM VERY TASTY. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

The service was excellent! We had a party of five, and one person arrived 15 minutes late. The staff was patient and welcoming, waiting until our whole group was there. They also checked in on us every 3-5 minutes to see if we needed anything, which I really appreciated. The ambiance has a classic yet modern restaurant style, very clean and nicely set up. Now, onto the food. I enjoyed the omelette I ordered, and the sausages were very tasty. While I personally prefer my scrambled eggs slightly undercooked, I didn't mind them here. A little salt and pepper on top added a nice touch of flavor. Overall, this place offers good value for the price. read more

ButtercuP - Shakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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7am morning. Quick and. Fast service. I had the corn beef hash. I asked for crispy and coffee cake to go. read more

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Terrible no meat in a meat lover's omelette. Ambiance was good but the food was lousy. I should have ordered a vegetable omelette read more

ButtercuP - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

Today I went to Buttercup my simple breakfast of scrambled eggs medium soft with onions and cheese with white toast and butter. Had to be sent back twice and they still didn't get it right. The eggs were hard and dried out. Most likely they put in the microwave to melt the cheese which made the eggs extra hard.. This breakfast was totally unacceptable. DO BETTER BUTTERCUP!! read more

The Buttercup is my fave breakfast spot for shrimp and grits I recommend it to anyone who loves the cafe hometown vibe read more

My husband and I ate once before food wasn't bad so we were back In town so we decided to go back for breakfast. He had the chicken & waffle and I had an vegetable omelet. I went to unzip my Purse looked up and here comes ROACH from behind the counter . I moved my purse told the waitress she told the manager he took a picture and said I will show this to corporate and killed it. So we got a $60 bill and a ROACH. We will NEVER go back again. This was on 09/23/2025 read more

ButtercuP - A ROACH - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

Food was good. Veggie egg benedict did not blow me away but presentation was nice. My husband got the jambalaya and he liked it. Definitely big portions. Ambiance was nice and service was great too. Parking lot is tiny and so we had to park 2 blocks away. read more

ButtercuP - Jambalaya - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Chicken fried steak I wouldn't be embarrassed to take Southern friends to; well-executed eggs; and I haven't had better hash browns anywhere. Even the toast is better bread than other Oakland diner breakfasts, and the well-garnished bloody Mary is better than many. Add a lively weekend morning atmosphere & it's a quintessentially Oakland place. The pies in the case look amazing & will be taken home in the future. read more

ButtercuP - CFS, eggs over easy, bangin' HBs, Maggiora wheat toast, bloody - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

Came here for Mothers Day with my mom, grandma and sister around 9am, thankfully it was pretty slow around this time so we got seated immediately (business picked up RIGHT afterwards). Food was fantastic, the service was good, we ordered the chicken parm, cinnamon churro waffles, shrimp n grits, and pork chops. Everything taste phenomenal, was expecting the pork chops to be dry but they were extremely tender and well seasoned. My chicken was also done well, very tender. Their menu is very big, I like that even though it's early in the morning they still provide the lunch & dinner menu as an option as well. Great food, can't wait to come back!! read more

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My favorite meal of the day breakfast and Buttercup, after all these years I had yet visit until this day. They have a smallest lot that easily gets filled. I ended up parked on the street. My table was in the back by the bar with the big screen tv with sport channel on. I had ordered the country fried chicken with hash browns, easy over eggs and sour dough toast with ice tea. The portions are generous. Initially, a mistake was made on my eggs and the wait person had the kitchen corrected it. Surprisingly, the country fried steak had sufficient gravy. The hash brown was good. However with the corrected eggs, they were over cooked. From reviews and knowledge of this place for years, I wanted to like it but I didn't get taste that compel me to make another visit soon. read more

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Parking lot full on a Sunday morning. A good sign for a hot breakfast plate. I did get that. Quick seating, greeted warmly, a pleasant server, and a hot breakfast. Just the classic with vegan sausage for me. Thank you read more

ButtercuP - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

I've been a customer of Buttercup in Oakland for years but today might be my last time coming. 2 weeks ago I ordered the beef Nachos for Lunch a hefty plate & full of beans cheese & xtras. Unfortunately when I retuned to my office 3 min away, I stuck my fork to the bottom of the plate & pulled up cheese, meat, sour cream, beans drenched in grease. Enough to make one nauseous. Tonight I tried again against my inner voice. I ordered a burger & fries, meat was flavored, patty was nice size. condiments ok, but lettuce slice was the brown slice from that iceberg lettuce that has been in the frig 5 days :( , sloppy application of Mayo, ketchup on the bread. And Nor foe the Grand finale this was close to 1 1/4 lb burger, with stale buns the size of a wendy's Jr cheeseburger, and the worst part, the bottom bun was flat as a smashed pancake, tearing and soggy. Beyond Disappointed. read more

ButtercuP - It's supposed to be a cheeseburger with everything and buns, not flatbread disguised as a bun - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

amazing biscuits and gravy. fast service. can't wait to try more. nice ambiance of the place too.

Food is good but not the best I've ever had. The service is pretty fast and you get your food right away. The ambiance is modern with a breakfast vibe to it. Ordered the biscuit breakfast and it was okay. The biscuit was a bit hard and the chicken tenders were kinda bland. read more

ButtercuP - Biscuit breakfast and sausage showdown egg scramble - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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Everyone greeted me with a smile. My coffee choice had a twist as it does contain alcohol. It had chocolate sprinkles which I had to decline. The shrimp and grits were okay. Didn't like they had the tails on as I had to get a little dirty to remove them since were covered in the grit and sauce blend. Comfortable seating and has a nice intimate bar as you can have a cocktail if you so choose. Definitely would return but for a different meal item. read more

ButtercuP - Shrimp and Grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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I enjoy Buttercup a great deal. I think this was the first place years ago I got chicken apple sausage! My review today is for the delivery. I was staying at the Oakland Marriott Center for an event and ordered Door Dash. My food came quick and hot!!! And it was still good!!! read more

ButtercuP - Chicken Apple Sausage Breakfast w/scrambled eggs and Country Potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

Visiting San Francisco and the family decided to come here as our first stop. Service was great and the inside actually was pretty nice. I will say, it does look like cars get broken into here (window glass was all over the parking lot spot we parked at). The waiting staff was kind and attentive, food came out quick too. I got a scramble, it was okay. I think they put a tonnnnn of tomatoes and I actually don't think it works too well with the giant potatoes, I think smaller potatoes would work better for this dish. Overall, food was okay, I would come back to try other stuff. read more

ButtercuP - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

They have a parking area, I guess it's enough for the people that eat @ the restaurant. I did not have any issues finding parking. It's really huge inside the restaurant, lots of seating & also extra space that no one is in, but ready (great for large parties) It was a little busy inside but, they also had a lot of people in the front, either waiting for the food to go out to the tables, chefs or just extra workers. It took less then 10mins to get us seated, a party of 7 but assuming it's because the tables that were able to seat the big parties were already taken & they were all kind of spread out. It's a nice place to check out if your in the area. They have lots of options on the menu & our food spread was pretty tasty, we shared our plates because we were not that hungry & we had no leftovers, but whatever we all ordered, did its job & filled our belly's for the ride back to SJ read more

ButtercuP - If you're there just for the bar, u can actually enter this way & not have to go through the front :)) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

This is the cutest restaurant! Service was great! Even though they were busy we got seated and served quickly. The food was absolutely amazing. So fresh and tasty. Definitely try this place or if you are in the area! read more

ButtercuP - Mozzarella Stix and Mac N Cheese - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

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I'm not sure what the hype is about. I got the pumpkin waffle and made it a combo with scrambled eggs and sausage. The waffle was soggy before I even added the syrup. The candied walnuts saved it tho. The scrambled eggs were just that. The sausage wasn't anything special either. The service was also lackluster. All of that being said, the ambiance was pretty positive, which is why the 3 stars. The space was inviting and the energy in the room was upbeat. read more

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Can't wait to go back food was really good I got meatloaf meal and cashew chicken. Both very good and honestly hands down fresh and cooked to order. Service was I don't remember not memorable though. Regular Dennys layout seating all the way in the back it better. read more

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This Oakland landmark has been my favorite diner to frequent with my dad since girlhood. You can't go wrong with the chicken apple sausage, pancakes and wings. read more

ButtercuP - 3 Pancakes and Chicken Apple Sausage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Oakland, California

I went in to reserve a spot for seven people, and the girl told me she could not check me in till most of my party was there. The parking lot is small, so they had to look for street parking. Once everyone arrived, we got seated in less than 10 minutes. Our server checked on us only once and did not offer us more coffee refills. The pumpkin waffles did not have any flavor (1/5) T-Bone Steak good flavor (3/5) Wake me up, buttercup was strong (5/5) read more

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