We hosted a baby shower for 65 people, and Ben was incredibly responsive and attentive throughout the whole process. He made setup and pickup so easy -- we felt completely taken care of. The food was fantastic -- friends were still raving about it weeks later! We really appreciated the variety of options for different diets: salmon, fried tofu, and fried chicken. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and so well-prepared. And I also loved the biscuits: so flaky and buttery. The portions were generous without being too much- we had just the right amount of leftovers, which speaks to both how good the food was and how well Ben calibrated the number of guests. We couldn't have asked for a better experience -- highly recommend Sunnyside Catering! read more

SunnySide came through for us like gangbusters. We needed an order ASAP for 80 people and they pulled it together for us. Not only were they on time, but I looked like a rock star amongst my peers. The delivery person set up our meal and was out super quick. I am really hoping we order again from them soon. Maybe I need to make up an excuse...Thank you Team! read more

Catered a tailgate for us on UC Berkeley campus (not an easy place to get to and he got it done!). Food was well packaged and warm upon arrival. Ben communicated well via email and text. read more

My company wanted to organize a last minute retirement brunch for 50 people and looked to Sunnyside Catering to do the job. There is a reason why they have 5 stars folks and it's because not only do they deliver on taste and quality, they will have your coworkers talking about it for awhile. We had a full breakfast buffet with biscuits, eggs, potatoes, bacon, chicken apple sausage and Canadian bacon. Although the eggs were just described as "scrambled", they were so good that people were raving over them. There was lots of healthy choices like fruit platters and asparagus, as well as homemade biscuits that were to DIE for. There was something for everyone and Ben came early and set up the entire buffet, along with all of the jams, jellies, sauces and condiments that were needed to have a great event. Everyone came together and really enjoyed the brunch, thank you!! read more

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I ordered from SunnySide via ezCater for a team luncheon and am very disappointed. I selected them because of the raving reviews here. I am convinced that all the other reviews are fake because the reviews do not match the quality (or lack thereof) of the food we received. My team even bought extra food because most of what we received was not edible. I haven't written a Yelp review in a while, but this experience brought me out of hibernation. What I ordered: Lunch Option Three × 23 two Proteins: Smoke-Roasted Brisket, Fried Chicken Thighs 3 Biscuit types: Sweet Potato Biscuits, Bacon-Cheddar Biscuits, Gluten-Free Herb Biscuits (GLUTEN-FREE) Vegetable: Sautéed Long Beans, Braised Collards Starch : Mushroom Risotto Salad: Caesar Salad Dessert: Peach Cobbler What we did/did not receive: * The Brisket was the best item. * The fried chicken thighs were boneless strips. Not tasty at all. * We did not receive the Braised Collards * Risotto was not completely cooked. Risotto should never be crunchy. * We did not receive Caesar Salad, but did receive an arugula salad that was decent. * The biscuits were the worst so-called biscuits ever, especially with "biscuits" in their business name. You can't even taste sweet potato. They all tasted like someone was heavy-handed with baking soda or baking powder...and they were hard as rocks. * The peach cobbler I ordered was delivered as apple cobbler - and definitely not edible. Once container was overcooked and the other container was burnt. The crust was so tough you can't even slice it with a knife let alone poke it with a fork. I tried heating up a serving and could not take a bite. I'm so embarrassed and will be scheduling a re-do luncheon for my team to make up for this poor excuse for a meal. read more

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Sunnyside catered the brunch for our wedding weekend (60+ people) to our backyard in Oakland and I'm so glad they did. The ordering process was super easy, they even offered a chaffing dishes for a small fee and set up/pick up, and Ben was great to work with. The brunch dishes and coffee was really delicious! The eggs were just right, the cheddar cheese biscuits were addictive, and Ben even threw in some pork belly as an extra -- it was all so good! I love that we have such a high quality and professional local catering option right here in Oakland - highly recommended! read more

Wow I cannot say enough nice things about sunny side catering. Professional kind courteous delicious, they were incredible. My new go to for all future events read more

We used Sunnyside Catering for Mother's Day a couple days ago, and it was a fantastic experience! Rather than go to a restaurant we decided that with an infant present, it would be a lot easier to do a catered meal at home than go out. The quality of food and service really exceeded our expectations. Ben let me know in advance what kinds of plates / dishes to have ready for the food, and as soon as he arrived, he took control. He warmed biscuits in the oven, put the eggs on the stove, and arranged everything so that it looked absolutely beautiful on the table. We got a brunch package that included brisket, sous vide eggs, scrambled eggs, salmon, two kinds of fresh biscuits, and asparagus. It truly was a feast. We really enjoyed the experience of using Sunnyside Catering, and we'll likely use them for an upcoming family event in a couple months. read more

SunnySide Catering & Biscuits - Yup. If you were wondering, it DID taste as good as it looks! - Caterers Near Me - Oakland, California

The good aspects were: people generally liked the food, there were gluten free options, and Ben agreed to take the job the week of the event due to another caterer flaking on us. However, I was disappointed in the unprofessional delivery, communication, and presentation of the food. We told Ben it was for a baptism. He showed up in shirts and shorts with his underwear, and sometimes, his butt showing. While I set up the cheap looking aluminum dishes and plastic serving utensils he provided, he told me what utensils to use for what and that I should keep the foil on for labels. That was ridiculous; we weren't at a barbecue. I wasn't going to keep the foil on the already ugly looking pans. He also took some of the forks he provided from the utensils tray I already placed in the tray, saying I didn't need all of those. He then proceeded to tell me to let him set up. I changed everything around to how I wanted to. There were no chafing dishes. It looked horrible.He never even said hello to me or introduced himself to me, one of the people who ordered the food, who would be paying him. Worse yet, we paid for the highest priced package to have the most food, and we gave Ben the right number of guests. We ran out of food, and I had to buy more food at the farmer's market. I was so embarrassed. Clearly, we didn't get our money's worth and we got ripped off. I don't recommend this company for classy events. Very unprofessional all around and doesn't provide the amount of food you pay for. I'm amending my review to add a star because Ben did provide some gluten free cobbler in addition to the peach bread pudding we had ordered. He didn't have to do that, and I appreciate it. read more

Ben catered a bridal shower that I was throwing. He was easy to communicate with and put together an amazing menu and was a huge help during the event. All of the guests raved about the brisket and biscuits! Thank you for helping me put together an unforgettable event. read more

Very disappointed in the caterer's communication and negligence for COVID-safety in food service

Ben and Laura (with 3-month-old baby in tow) put on one hell of a picnic feast for my company! Ben's Virginia roots must have inspired his savory grilled chicken and brisket. The biscuits for which he is known were delicious; even the gluten-free ones were great. Laura's seasonal fruit pies (including a gluten-free mango cherry pie) were not only delectable but beautiful. It was far from traditional heavy southern fare. Ben was so easy to work with, accommodating every taste, from meaty BBQ to healthy vegetarian entrees and sides. His versatility and usage of seasonal fruits and vegetables was tasteful and totally appropriate for our diverse employees and their kids. I must also mention that Ben's estimate was the most reasonable of all the BBQ caterers we checked out. read more

Ben and Laura of SunnySide Catering and Biscuits did an awesome job of catering our 10th wedding anniversary for about 80 people. They were on time, BBQ'd on site, and took care of every detail for a home cooked meal that our guests thoroughly enjoyed. Their BBQ chicken with a fig sauce was mouth watering, as well as their Beef brisket. All the kids enjoyed the mac and cheese. The meal was well rounded out with their salads, long beans, biscuits, and pies. We would highly recommend them for any fun, tasty, BBQ setting! read more

NEVER HAPPIER!! THANK YOU! Ben and Laura catered a party for me. I was referred to them by friends who who LOVED the food and service from Sunnyside. After my experience with Ben and Laura I can testify not only is the food tasty beyond incredible but the customer service provided was wonderful.The food was fresh and displayed very nicely. The fish was so tasty and was of superb quality, the salad delich, biscuits mmmm finger licking good, the everything he made was tasty not a morsel was remaining. They went above and beyond with everything. We now have an excellent, reliable and fantastic caterer for our events. I recommend their services, you will not be disappointed! read more

Fantastic! We hired SunnySide for a post-wedding recovery brunch. The biscuits and brisket were much needed after a night of drinking and dancing. Everything was delicious! read more

Ben cooks delicious food! He catered our son's birthday party and people were talking about it for weeks afterward. We miss having him as a neighbor, when we got to try all of his delicious varieties of biscuits. You will not be disappointed! read more

I eat about 4 biscuits of theirs a week and have bought their food at Faction Brewing recently. Not only is the food amazingly delicious and fresh, but the couple who work together are charming. They have a 3 month old baby we met so it's nice to know you're supporting a growing local family business. But seriously, those biscuits are to die for. And if you're lucky enough to catch them barbecuing brisket, prepare to order seconds. read more

One Word! DELICIOUS! We had the brisket, cheese and sweet potato biscuit and pluot Jam! Brisket was super flavorful, tender, and moist. The biscuits were amazing - I don't care for dry biscuits. So these biscuits were denser than most but definitely moist and chewy which is the way I love them! The pluot jam was very good too! I am going to have to try to order the biscuits from GoodEggs.com. I noticed they only have the cheese biscuits though. Hopefully they will begin to sell the sweet potato biscuit and pluot Jam too! read more

I highly recommend Sunnyside to cater your next event. Ben and Laura catered my 50th birthday party at Building 43 Winery in Alameda and everything was great. Everyone commented on how delicious the food was. Ben set up at the winery, cooked the food fresh, arranged for the rentals we needed, and worked with the venue to ensure a fun and tasty event. I had requested malasadas fried up fresh for dessert. (Malasadas are a Portuguese donut that is popular in Hawaii.) Ben came through and everyone loved them. It was a very special ending to a great meal. Thanks. read more

Our office hired Ben to cater our holiday party. This was a welcome departure, because we usually do DIY - that's to say, we're a potluck group. Ben prepared a really great spread for us: Niman Ranch brisket with fig BBQ sauce, Rocky's roasted chicken, cauliflower mashed potatoes, and braised turnips and Brussels sprouts. There were also sweet potato biscuits and a spinach salad with pecans and oranges with dressing on the side. Some quotes from our happy group: "I'm usually not a big red meat fan but the brisket was amazing and I loved the mashed potatoes and turnip/Brussels sprouts!" "Nothing left to feedback. I cleaned my plate! Very good grub! Thanks." "I am so grateful that we found Ben and Sunnyside catering. He was so easy to work with, delivered on everything he promised and the brisket (with fig BBQ sauce) was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The turnips and Brussels sprouts dish was savory and delicious And then there were the biscuits. Yum!" "Ben's food was a step above most office party fare. I really appreciate the fact that he used range-fed beef and 'happy chickens.' The food was inventive without being too far afield for our less adventurous eaters. A lot of us remarked on how tasty everything was. The brisket was the best I've ever had." For dessert there was a chocolate pie, a pumpkin pie, and orange Junior Mint cookies. Although many of us went back for seconds, there was still a lot of food left over. When Ben returned to clean up, he boxed up the leftovers for us. Great experience and highly recommended. read more

Sunnyside Catering is awesome. The food is amazing and I love that they use local, fresh ingredients (that's always a plus in my book). I was able to try the food out with a group of friends at an event and so happy that I did. The overall menu was really tasty but I had a special affinity for the pumpkin/squash soup with green curry/saffron ginger ice cream. It wowed by mouth, and yes, I just typed that. The duck confit was tender and I loved that it was paired with ginger pistachio pesto. I mean really, who thinks of that?! This is a definite must try. read more

Words cannot do Ben justice! His food is an experience. Ben catered my niece's college graduation this weekend and my guests were raving about Ben! From mouthwatering pesto apps, beef brisket, homemade biscuits, coleslaw, salad with the best balsamic, and grilled peaches....first I heard silence, and then, "who is the caterer? Where is he located? Can I get his card? Etc. As a host, booking Ben is the best decision you will make for your guests. read more

Ben always provides interesting and tasty meals. Our last meal with him was a Spanish inspired lunch. One time there was unexpected traffic and he communicated with me every step of the way to let me know when he would arrive. Looking forward to our next lunch catered by him read more

We stayed on Barkissimo, the boat B&B in the Emeryville Harbor. To really enjoy our stay, we opted for the private chef meal. The options were all spectacular. We chose a four course meal. Oysters - fresh!!! - to begin with a delicate tangy salsette with interesting finger limes. The salad was fancy and delicious. The main course of fish on a potato gratin was yummmmmmmy! To top it off, the made fresh chocolate cake. Delilah bread and wine accompanied! Honestly, we felt we were the King and Queen of Siam! Ben was a delight to work with. read more

I've tried a few of their dishes at pop-up markets and they are always so tasty and high quality. Recently I had the baked oyster po' boy sandwich, which was delicious. The cheddar biscuits and sweet potato biscuits are always perfect. I wish I had an upcoming event that needed catering so I could try even more by Sunnyside. read more

Food is amazing! If there were more stars to give, they'd be given. You can definitely tell that the food...ESPECIALLY THE BISCUITS...are always made with a lot of love. Ben is extremely talented and definitely knows what he's doing. His biscuits and jam are crack and are one of the reasons why I'll never be skinny. If you want good food and great catering...this is your go-to. SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS!!! It also helps that Ben's super funny and awesome. read more

Oh My Stars!! What delicious breakfasts Ben creates! Our firm gets breakfast catered about once a month from this place and the food is so yummy!! My favorite items are the biscuits and the brisket. It's been a few hours since breakfast and I am eating lunch but all I can think about is the brisket!! All of the food we order is perfectly cooked and super tasty and I never thought I'd like brussel sprouts in the morning but now I do. Highly recommend Sunnyside. Everyone at work loves it too! read more

We love Ben! Once a week he feeds our office of 40 people, and it is *always* delicious. I have to highlight his creativity and the variety in his menus, along with the consistent quality and reliability. He prepares everything from carnitas tacos to Dungeness crab to foie gras for our group, and I never hear a single complaint. And we can't recommend his biscuits highly enough!!! read more

Sunnyside worked with me to create a smashing party for an Oakland office party. We collaborated with a local barbecue joint (Everett & Jones) to create a show stopping Small Bites Menu. Chef Ben provided a beautiful array of handmade locally sourced dips and sides and two kinds of the most delicious handmade biscuits. The roasted brussels sprouts with bacon mustard had everyone coming back for 3rds and 4ths! Because we paired his Southern inspired artisan specialties with comfort soul food, it guaranteed that there was something for everyone: Vegans, gluten free eaters, and carnivores alike. Great job Ben!!! Affordable, affable and most important, DELICIOUS! read more

So happy to have found Ben and Sunnyside Catering for our event. We were hosting a company bbq for about 15 people. The food was delicious! We had fried chicken and brisket - yum! There were plenty of biscuits, salad and sides for everyone, and we had enough for leftovers at the office for lunch on Monday. Our venue changed unexpectedly at the last minute and Ben had no trouble bringing our food to the new place (which was about a half hour drive from the first place). He was very easy to work with, accommodating, and my company will be asking Ben to cater events again in the future. Overall, a great experience! read more

I hosted a Women's Retreat in Oakland 1/12-1/14/2018 (my first) and Ben prepared all the wonderful meals. He also exposed some of the ladies to new foods (red walnuts). He was very accommodating and a pleasure to have in the house for the weekend. He also made sure that my needs were met since I don't eat meat and white flour and his gluten free biscuits were great. Thank you so much for making this event special with delicious nutritious food and may your business and family prosper in 2018. read more

Ben is great on the BBQ. He cooked for a backyard party we hosted. He did what he said, when he said for the price he said. Very casual approach. Back and forth on email a few times. He came by to check out the venue and that was it. Great BBQ beef, the chicken was maybe pre-smoked or something - best I've ever had. Mac 'n cheese, grilled fresh veggies and biscuits got rave reviews. Fresh strawberry rhubarb pie and blueberry pie were fabulous. Seamless food catering. You will need to provide your own beverages, tables, chairs. He provides paper plates and plastic utensils - easy clean-up; great for a backyard barbeque. Thanks Ben! read more

Ben and Co. have catered two graduation events for my film school (75 people & 100 people) and both were very delicious. He delivered the food on-time, set-up quickly and made my guests very happy. The biscuits were the highlight, but everything was tasty. As a business owner, I highly recommend Sunnyside Catering for any professional event. read more

After reading his reviews on Yelp I contacted Ben to help out in a pinch with an office picnic. Without much notice Ben agreed to provide Niman Ranch Brisket with Horseradish Sauce, Rocky's Chicken with BBQ sauce, and Falafel with Tzatziki sauce. And of course both cheddar and sweet potato biscuits! He was a delight to work with and delivered as promised. I appreciated his light footprint with disposables, too. The food was a huge hit! It was great to cater to our carnivores and vegetarians alike with fresh, homecooked, sustainably sourced and delicious comfort food. read more

Best biscuits ever! Baked to perfection! Our office continues to call them back for our Friday Breakfasts! Ben always makes our experience memorable. The vegetables are fabulous, Ben sent some asparagus along with the brussel sprouts this time. Awesome - even if you don't like brussel sprouts! The brisket, bacon, and ham are always delicious as well. Ben is so easy to work with and accommodating!! Don't hesitate to call this Oakland jewel!! read more

I really wanted to love the catering because they had such fantastic reviews. Sadly, it did not live up to its reviews. I ordered the option 2, which is $13 per person. We had approximately 50 guests and I ordered coffee for guests. With tax and travel fee, it came out to a little over $700. For that, I was expecting a good amount of food. We've had our kids' birthdays catered before and I spend $500-600 typically and get a whole lot of food (yes...good food from local restaurants). This birthday was Easter themed so we wanted to do brunch. For $700, the food was so scarce. I was shocked at how little it was. The caterer threw in some store bought Hawaiian rolls with the biscuits. Thanks I guess but I could've gone to the store and done that. The salmon and brisket were good but very, very small quantity. I'd say only 1/3 of our guests got to try it. The scrambled eggs were a little salty. The biscuits got super hard because of the heat from the chafing dish. Definitely did not live up to the hype. Would I recommend this place, probably not. For the amount they charge and the quantity you get, you are better of scrambling your own eggs at home, frying some bacon from the store and throwing in some Hawaiian bread. Lesson learned. No more brunch catering for me. read more