Truth be told, brunch doesn't appeal to me that much. Mainly because: there are always lines, it's pricey for what it is, I'm tempted to day drink, and I always feel like going back to bed afterwards. Usually, I'll just wait for lunch.
But, when a friend excitedly forwarded me the Pinx Pop-Up brunch menu, I was like "hmmm, that's different". Red velvet pancakes, shrimp & grits, sweet potato waffles. For $15, why the heck not?
They hosted their pop-up at the Sound Room in Uptown Oakland, which added an extra element of surprise, but also gave the space a more corporate vs. cozy feel. We had reserved a table for 9 people at 11am, but weren't seated until almost 11:45, as they were running behind. I get it, these things are hard to predict. We might have been peeved if it weren't for the owner coming out to chat with us and give us free packets of cookies to hold us over. The mood outside was festive, as all the pop-up supporters peeked through the windows, waiting for their turn to indulge in the 3-course brunch party.
Once seated, the food varied from good to great. The spicy shrimp & cheesy grits were the winner, I could have eaten an entire pot full. The sweet potato pancakes were also plate-licking good, with their crispy crust, gooey center, and salted caramel sauce soaking in. The thick cut bacon was some of the best I've had, and I usually pass my bacon to my boyfriend. The red velvet pancakes and frittata, I could have done without. Same with the coffee -- it was too reminiscent of my "International Delight" days. Shame.
The Pinx staff were enthusiastic, friendly, and working hard to make this pop-up go smoothly. There were some inevitable kinks, but the upbeat spirit and soulful food left us all with a sweet taste in our literal and proverbial mouths.
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