Every single dish was exquisite! I can't find words to describe all the deliciousness!! Holy crap. Even down to the espresso martini, which was super creamy and rich, everything was seasoned and cooked so well. This was my first time here and I was very impressed. The ambience inside was cool and laid back but also very sophisticated. The owner and chef came to visit our table and was so hospitable. I'm for sure coming back as often as possible. Don't sleep on this place!! read more

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As a biracial yellow bone with the blood of Louisiana flowing through her veins, Willows & Pine certainly did not disappoint. First of all, the ambiance was giving FOR US BY US, which we love. It was Friday night and there was a DJ playing throw backs. Very comforting. The servers were very attentive as well so we knew we'd be taken care of. But really what we need to get into is the flavor and generous portion sizes. Normally, I'm skeptical of roux-based mac & cheese because I typically prefer egg custard southern style baked mac & cheese, but the Mac and cheese was absolutely delicious, creamy and flavorful. My girl B got the gumbo and it was FIRE, crab legs and everything with that deep chocolate color you wanna see in a gumbo. Not greasy, just full of umami. I got the catfish with greens and rice and it was MASSIVE! Literally 2 meals for lil ole me. The fish was seasoned dowwwwwn and the greens were very solid. Sometimes in dishes like this the rice can be the afterthought, but the rice was also very flavorful and seasoned and paired well with everything. I will absolutely be back to big my back with those big ass plates of tasty Southern cookin. read more

Willows & Pine - Catfish - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

Today my organization, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated: Chapter, did something special today; we participated in the Kwanzaa Small Biz Crawl. We supported various Black-owned businesses. I was excited to learned that we would be going to one my favorite restaurants. Willow & Pine's food is absolutely delicious and Michauxnée and her team did a great job taking care of their customers. There were roughly 20 of us and everyone left full and satisfied. read more

Came in with a party of 8 & we were seated right away. Good vibes and nice music playing. Been all over the Bay for brunch, this place is in my permanent top 3 now. Banana pudding waffles, oxtail & grits, shrimp & grits, chicken pot pie biscuit... all were excellent! Not one person put any hot sauce, salt or pepper on anything! That should yell you something. The chef came out to check if we were enjoying our meals. She is a very nice person & you can tell she really cares about her customers and the food she sends out of that kitchen. Will be back very soon! 10/10 read more

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Delicious food, and excellent customer service. Felt right at home while dining. The music wasn't too loud and the energy was great! read more

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This place has been on my list for awhile. Sohappy I finally got to check it out. First off, the portions are beyond worth what you pay and the food is delicious. They we out of the chowder (so sad) but I don't know if I would've had room for my entrée had I been able to order it. Shared a mac & cheese which was so yummy. I ordered short ribs while my friend got sea bass. We both took over half home as leftovers. (Unexpected breakfast). My only compliment was dishes didn't come out at once. Our Mac came out first then one entrée followed by the other 5 minutes later. Would've preferred all coming out at once. read more

Willows & Pine - SHORT RIB - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

I wanted to gatekeep this place so bad... but I need it to thrive. The vibes were perfect, the staff were so warm and welcoming it felt like family, and the food was incredible. One of those rare spots where everything just hits. If you're in Oakland and looking for great food and good energy, this is definitely a place to check out. Already planning my next visit. Brunch review coming soon. read more

Willows & Pine - Chilean Seabass - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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I've seen this on a few foodie reviews and had it booked marked for months. On a whim I came to the town and let me tell you.....EVEVERTHING I tasted I was goodt! Lol. So I started with dessert because that's how I live my life. The peach cobbler bread pudding had to made from scratch, because it was heavenly. Then the pseudo fried chicken was good (Oyster mushrooms). I wish it was juicy and plump on the inside like chicken but it had all the other important notes. Flavor, crispy, hot and fresh. Even knowing all that, I'd still order it because it tastes that good. I had the several dishes and they were all on point and I'm picky. My friend said the food was so good she over ate and her stomach hurt lol. read more

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First off, I couldn't breathe after I finished my food. Good or great does not describe this food. I told my husband I believe that this is the best food I've ever eaten in my entire life. That is no exaggeration, I am not kidding. In fact, I'm actually scared to taste anything else in this place for fear that I am going to gain 45 pounds. We had the oxtail and grits and shrimp and grits. Not only was the food off the hook, the portions were out of this world. Thank you to this wonderful restaurant for fulfilling my comfort food fantasy. We will be back, I guarantee multiple times. read more

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So I took my granny here cause we do Granny Granny and granddaughter dates took her here. We got the shrimp étouffée and she absolutely loved it like she took some home with her to eat for the next day. The service was really good. The Ambiance you can go with your girlfriends you can go a solo day. You can go with you on a date, but it was really nice overall it was if I give it five. read more

Willows & Pine - Shrimp Ettofee - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

The Vegan Chicken and Waffles here is amazing and definitely worth a trip to Oakland. The portions are so generous that my husband and I only needed to order one to share. The chicken-fried oyster mushrooms have a perfect, crunchy, and melt-in-your-mouth texture that goes great with the homemade plantain waffle. The restaurant is spotless, including the bathrooms, and the service is great. Street parking was easy to find too. Just a heads up that the vegan chicken and waffles are only for weekend brunch, but you can get the chicken-fried oyster mushroom sliders on weekdays. Wish they had more vegan options as they sure know how to make delicious food! read more

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Willows & Pine was damn good. Whoever recommended this spot to me, you are appreciated. It was this past Sunday and it was a last minute brunch idea. I've wanted soul and creole food in one spot for a while, and I'm excited to try the rest of the menu knowing that they offer shrimp etouffee, jambalaya and gumbo, red beans and rice, etc. These items are not on the brunch menu so I'll be back for dinner. Until then, on to brunch. Drink Order - Sex in the South. Made with soju, peach cordial and pineapple, this was a subtle fruity drink. They ran out of whatever ingredients were needed to make the Rum Punch Slushy? Doesn't that sound amazing? Another reason for me to return. Anyway, I'd give Sex in the South a 5/5. I ordered a second, and because don't like soju on its own I was initially a skeptic but this blended well and didn't taste too fruity. Entree: Shrimp & Grits. Look, I was going to skip and find something else and then I saw another table's food being brought to them. The plate is big enough to share. I'm not saying I'd have wanted to share, but I am saying the portion size is valid. With that said, the only thing I wish they did was provide more gravy. My friend ordered the oxtails and grits and her plate was gravy down! I'd like the same and that's the only reason I'm giving them a 4.5/5. You can't miss the flavor of that roux, and the shrimp was the texture of crab - flaky and buttery, like Argentinian shrimp. Extra Treat: banana pudding French toast. Look, banana pudding is having its moment and I want to be part of it. It wasn't a hard decision to make after seeing that it's made using brioche bread, the best bread to ever use for French toast! It was a good sweet treat I was able to try at the restaurant and save for later. Very reminiscent of banana pudding, and the cream on top does is what ties the dish together to really make it taste like the dessert it drew its inspiration from. I'm a sucker for sweets, so I'll have to give this a 5/5 because they pulled this one off beautifully. This is a popular spot with zero complaints from me. Service was on point, food was on point, drinks were on point. I think there's only street parking available, but I didn't have a hard time finding it. It may be due to the time I went which was around 1:00 PM on a Sunday, but let's be honest. I'd trek here if I couldn't find parking nearby. read more

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The food here is DELICIOUS! The shrimp and grits to die for. The freaking vegan chicken and waffles superb. The problem, is the service! The wait time was ridiculous. The wait to get a server, the wait for the food to come, the wait to pay the bill, the wait for them to come back. Then the worse part, the owner made a very distasteful announcement in regard to them being busy with an event they had going on. Which was understandable until she said if you don't like the wait and got a problem you can leave. That was uncalled for. Other than those two things this place would be 5 star restaurant! read more

Tonight I treated my family from out of town to dinner at W&P. The service was excellent. We ordered an array of meals from the menu. The food was presented nicely, the flavors were spot on, and my family members who are true foodies and I couldn't stop praising everything we consumed. The Navy bean soup was an absolute treat. The shrimp and crawfish chowder was flavored to perfection. The chicken fried mushrooms (spiced just right) were crispy and flavorful. The black eyed peas, rice accompanied by cabbage with a kick was delicious. The jambalaya and shrimp etouffee gave the folks in New Orleans a run for their money. Oooohh so good. Don't sleep on their biscuits. You won't be disappointed. read more

This is very wholesome and hearty my food and my bf likes his food and good service too comfy chairs and great dj pleating all the old school jams I like it here thanks read more

Willows & Pine - Oxtails and grits and my baby had shrimp and grits - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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I'm giving this experience a 2/10 for several reasons. I was genuinely excited to try this establishment because of what I saw on TikTok, but what I experienced was honestly really disappointing. We sat down at 11:55 AM and didn't receive our food until 12:55 PM. Our server brought us lemonade, but at no point did anyone provide an ETA on our food, explain the delay, or offer any type of accommodation for the wait. What stood out even more was that the owner was present in the restaurant the entire time and never checked on a single table. As an owner I would have communicated with my guests or have the servers do so. I wouldn't walk past them, not say a word. The restaurant only had four tables occupied, so it wasn't busy. After waiting nearly an hour, my girlfriend's fried oyster mushroom entrée still wasn't hot, and the cabbage was overly salty. After that long of a wait, you would at least expect fresh, hot food. On top of that, our server never checked back in with us or offered drink refills throughout the visit. Overall, I was really disappointed by both the customer service and the food quality. I try not to publicly criticize Black-owned businesses because, as a woman of color, I understand the importance of supporting them. But accountability matters too, and this experience simply did not meet expectations. Especially with the owner present, it felt like there was a lack of care and urgency toward the customer experience. Acknowledging the delay and communicating with your guest, would have been great. I truly hope improvements are made because the potential is there. read more

Gumbo Roux was fantastic. Flavorful lil spice . . . So good. My hubby had the short ribs and he gives it 5 stars. We will return we had the banana pudding as late night snack and it did not disappoint. Excellent service! Very friendly. read more

Willows & Pine - Gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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This was our 2nd time coming here to eat. The food is very good. We stopped in on a Sunday afternoon. The spot had many customers inside eating. We had a wait once we entered as there were tables that needed to be cleaned. Once we were seated the server came and took our orders. This is a Black woman owner business. Support Black business. read more

Willows & Pine - Biscuit, breakfast potatoes and sausage - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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The food here was absolutely impeccable! I love food that I can't get anywhere else. Each of the dishes I tried were nothing short of amazing. I have no complaints whatsoever. Also the customer service was top tier. Everyone was so nice. The restaurant itself was spacious and well decorated. I would definitely recommend this to others, especially those who love southern authentic cuisine. read more

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Everything we ordered was amazing I have no complaints the oxtail tails the vegan chicken & waffles made with oysters mushrooms the banana pudding waffles Their menu states they make everything as uts ordered so the wait is a little long but it's worth it. I do wish they had other creamer for the coffee Their staff are young ppl but they do a good job and their owner is a black lady The music was very fitting for the environment read more

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Date: 4/19/2025 Time: 2:00 PM 62° Sunny My companion suggested three different restaurants for lunch. He asked me to select one. After reviewing the menus and taking into consideration the locations of the three venues, I chose Willows and Pine. We were in sync as he also chose the same venue. Well, what else can I say except like minds think alike. Perusing the menu online, I knew what I desired for lunch - Chilean sea bass, which I haven't had for almost 12 years. We get to the restaurant only to find out that the Chilean sea bass is only during the dinner hours (5 PM to 9 PM). All right I needed more time to peruse the menu and decide what would be pleasing to my palate. What did I have a taste for on the lunch menu? Eats: companion had a grilled salmon salad and two orange mimosas. I decided on the biscuit chicken pot pie gravy and a butterfly pea iced tea. My entree was absolutely delicious. Best chicken pot pie I have ever had. Perfectly seasoned and loaded with all the veggies I like. The homemade biscuit was definitely biggly, and a bit too much for me. Service: Waitstaff were friendly, pleasant and attentive. Ambience: quite nice. Comfy and casual. Sit by the window and people watch. Seating capacity: 50 people, but the restaurant space is small. Front room: perhaps 20 people. There is a room in the rear of the restaurant. I did not see how much space was in that room. Drawback: street parking can be problematic. However, my companion lucked out and found a parking space nearby. Return visit? Yes, if I happen to be in the neighborhood. Public transportation (AC Transit) is within walking distance. read more

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I heard about this place from a friend and thought I'd try. Came with my sister and WOW, we will be back. The french toast was amazing so we already agreed we would return to try the trio. We tried the strawberry and the flavor of the bread was delicious. The other flavors they have are banana, peach and I think caramel apple. We also tried the fried mushrooms, which were good, but to me that sauce that comes with it needs to be different, personal opinion. The home fried potatoes were pretty good, but I had to add salt and I was also pleasantly surprised that the shrimp and grits were just OK, they needed more seasoning in my opinion also. I am not saying the flavor was bad but salt was needed. Because I'm submitting this review late I cannot remember the name of our server, but she was a very pleasant young lady and our food came out quick. We got there right when they opened, and there was several other tables seated within minutes of us and they were still able to accommodate. The restaurant is somewhat small, but the setup is very nice. Again, we will return. I have to try those other french toast. read more

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I loved it...the whole experience! Came here to celebrate a friend, there were about 15 of us...and so the fact that they accommodated us was awesome! And then the complexity of ordering for a group that size. I had the oyster mushrooms with yams and cabbage...delicious. I am always challenged when I go to a restaurant and they don't have vegan/vegetarian options so I was very happy. More than anything, it's the people that make the experience...the staff...family run business...is just amazing, warm and welcoming...so I would come back just for that. The chef...thank you for your love and light! I will be back for sure! read more

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My friends and I went out for an overdue an overdue girls night out. We couldn't have selected a better restaurant to break bread! The atmosphere, food, customer service, vibes, and hospitality were all top tier! When I tell you that we tried almost everything on the menu, and did not have one complaint. My all time favorite was the seafood chowder and the peach mimosa! The staff welcomed us in with open arms and we enjoyed great conversation with the owner and had the pleasure of touring this beautiful establishment. I highly recommend and we will be returning for brunch! Oh and I can't forget to mention that my friend wanted brussel sprouts, and they were out as we did visit later in the evening. However in stead of dissappotiment, they went to the store to grab more just for her at the end of the night and they were definitely worth the wait! Now where do they do that at Thank you all so much for making our evening one for the books and warming to our souls. God bless you all and all of your future endeavors! read more

First time giving this place a try and it was delicious. The food was full of flavor. The service was amazing. I would definitely come back again. read more

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The best biscuits ever! I was looking forward to trying the Jambalaya but that's only served during dinner. We arrived at 1PM and the brunch menu was available. We wanted to try a variety of items and ordered a few sides. Smothered potatoes, grits, hot link and scrambled eggs. The biscuit was the best followed by a flavorful smothered potatoes. We loved to cool and modern interior design. Looking forward to trying more fine restaurants in Oakland:) read more

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I call it a hidden gem but it's known to the people in the know and now I know. This is home cooked food with love in my humble opinion. There is love and passion being infused into each and every dish, drink and dessert. I got the beef short ribs. They were so tender and tasty. Paired perfectly with the mashed potatoes and gravy and cabbage. I had the pomegranate lemonade for my drink which was a unique yet familiar taste, super refreshing, never had that combination before. The shrimp in voodoo sauce was our appetizer and it was cooked to perfection. I could drink the sauce, it was that good. We used the remaining sauce for dipping the fried oyster mushrooms in. We didn't leave a drop, dont judge me, haha. The peach cream bread pudding is simply divine. Each bite was better then the last. It's a must if you even remotely like bread pudding, trust me, I wouldn't stear you wrong. I highly recommend this place for a food experience, not a meal, an experience. Enjoy. read more

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Everything she touches is magic!!! She has a gift that can't be touched!!! I may be biased but you can't deny her food is really good.... read more

My famikyvand I took my mom here for her 80th birthday brunch. Willow and Pine made it the best experience imaginable. The staff was friendly, patient and knowledgeable. The owner/chef came out and told us about the restaurant and the menu. (She is a brilliant cook and a joy to meet!) Then the food came out. I ordered the 4 course prix fixe option and was not disappointed. The salad was fresh and the salmon perfectly cooked. The oxtailes were cooked perfectly so that nearly all the fat had rendered from the bone and all that was left was the tender meat. My daughter had the French toast and LOVED IT. If you are looking for excellent food, amazing service and a really exceptional overall experience, this is the place! read more

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Went on a Saturday, they were very busy. Their system on guest waiting for a table can be fine tuned but it could've been an off day because they mentioned the had a large party. Also the server could've been a bit better on getting things/ checking in. The shrimp n grits were pretty good and standard. I would eat it again. I wished the grits itself had more flavor or a little bit more salt. I enjoyed the fried oyster mushrooms and it tasted better with hot sauce. The plantain waffle is a unique offering that I thought was pretty cool. It's literal plantains cooked in a waffle iron. I liked it because I like plantains while my mom did not like this one bit. if you don't like plantains or not used to getting them, it's probably not for you. I also tried their version of sweet tea which is butterfly pea tea sweetened with honey. It was a little too sweet for my liking. If you like a sweeter tea this may be for you. Looking forward to trying them again and trying different things on the menu. read more

Willows & Pine - Inside seating - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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Had a reservation, we had a blast that us ladies needed and it was overdue. Started off with chicken fried mushrooms that were crispy and delicious that was our appetizer to kick off our brunch. Between the 3 of us, we had 2 oxtails with grits and shrimp & grits. Entrees arrived steaming hot. Ooh la la. Our server was Bree, she came by to check on us. Josh answered our inquiries about this & that. The Owner even came by to chat with us. Whatta beautiful brunch we shared. Ambiance was delightful as DJ Jimmy played music softly to add a positive vibe as everyone dined. Laughter was all about as we were happy and sassy as well as everyone else. Great to be in amongst joyous company. As we left, we noticed Josh walked our buddy to her vehicle. What a gentleman. We'll be back soon to try Wednesday's Turkey Wings and Friday's Gumbo. We had so much oxtail, we took part of it home to indulge later. read more

Willows & Pine - Crispy fried mushrooms - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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The food here was really good! The jambalaya, voodoo shrimp, and shrimp & crawfish chowder were all delicious and full of flavor. The only thing I wasn't wowed by was the cabbage--it felt pretty plain compared to everything else. Our server, Kamela, was so nice, and I also appreciated the chef--she clearly puts love into her cooking, and it shows. This is definitely elevated comfort food, the kind of place I'll be coming back to. Honestly, if it were in a different neighborhood, I think it would be packed all the time. read more

Willows & Pine - Shrimp and Crawfish Chowder (BOWL) (Really good with bread as a dip!) - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

A friend of mine found out about this place through another friend so we figured we give it a try. We do a guys dinner month so this was on our list. I made reservations since there was 7 of us. We arrived on time and only waited a minute or so before they sat us down. The place isn't that big even though they have seating in the back so if you go there with 4 or more people definitely make reservations. Our waiter asked right away if we needed any drinks which was good. They don't have hard alcohol so all you get is beer, wine, sparkling, and some type of other mixed drinks. They only had a cabernet red wine so I ordered that, our group also ordered a mimosa, and a couple beers. The mimosa was a nice poor and it pretty good, and the wine was very good to. We ordered some appetizers right away. The apps we ordered were the Shrimp in Voodoo Sauce, and the Po Thang Sliders. The shrimp didn't have much flavor in it definitely not blackened. The sauce was just bland. The sliders were good and the sauce on it was tasty. Our entrees were the jambalaya, the Shrimp Etouffee, the Chilean Sea Bass, and the ox tails. They didn't have pork chops, chowder, or the short ribs. The jambalaya had good flavor to it but the spices were overbearing the dish. The shrimp etouffee had a great flavor to it and the shrimp were cooked perfect. The Chilean Sea Bass was cooked perfectly, light and tender, the spices were perfect, the greens although vegan tasted pretty good, and the cabbage was also cooked perfect. The short ribs were tender and fell off the bone, great flavor, and the rice went well with it. Short ribs and the Sea Bass were the best dishes. For our deserts we ordered the Banana Pudding Waffle, Peaches and Cream Bread Pudding, and the Strawberry dish. The Banana Pudding Waffle was outstanding plenty of flavor in it. The Peaches and Cream Bread Pudding was light and good flavor. The strawberry dish was ok, plenty of strawberries. just needed some type of strawberry syrup to go with it. All of our dishes were pretty big, definitely not short on food. We all took togo boxes. As for the service, our waiter was very slow on picking up any used or empty dishes and refilling our water glasses. The service overall was just slow. We would go back there to try some other dishes and see if the service would be better. read more

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Customer service was great. The food portions are very hefty. I loved the culture of the story behind the restaurant all over the walls. read more

Willows & Pine - Catfish and greens - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

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We ordered takeout: the banana pudding waffle, salmon eggs benedict, and smothered potatoes. I had wanted to try the cornbread and sweet potato fries, but those were out of stock that day, so we got the potatoes instead. - Banana pudding waffle: I wish they included nilla wafers as that felt like a big missing component from the banana pudding flavor. I'm not a big fan of maple syrup personally. I also wish the banana pieces were cut smaller. This one was a little disappointing overall. - Salmon benedict: it had Hollandaise sauce, some salmon, English muffins, lots of liquidy egg. I enjoyed it overall, although I prefer my eggs more solid personally. - Potatoes: These were pretty good, though not particularly memorable to me. Food was good overall, though I wish there were even more savory and salty, not just sweet, vegetarian entree options. I do see they have added vegan chicken and waffles to the menu which I'd be interested in trying in the future. read more

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This place came highly recommended by a friend of mine from Oakland. When I tell you that this place reminds me of mama's house on New Year's Day, Christmas Day and Thanksgiving I mean it. I had the short ribs with rice and greens. Needless to say everything was tender, savory and deliciously divine! I will be back with 10 family members in tow. See y'all soon! read more

The food is AMAZING!! You can tell that every dish that comes out of the kitchen is made with pure love!!!

We've looked into this restaurant frequently while visiting the library up the street, or stopping at Farmer Joes' down the street, and patrons always seem happily seated inside, so we decided try it out. What a great addition to the Dimond! The place is stylish: modern, clean and comfy; the service was very friendly and helpful, and the food was great! We only ordered two entrees, because we could see the portions were really generous, and the shrimp etoufee and the porkchops were plentiful and very tasty. We really liked the veggies and the gravies, and the entrees themselves were fine too! I would have liked a biscuit or some bread to sop up the gravy! We are definitely coming back: Having a "special" each night would bring us back more often. read more

Willows & Pine - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

I was so excited to try Willows & Pine and it did not disappoint. Every time I step foot in this place, I feel like I'm at my Rich auntie house. Lol. It just feels like home, for real. The staff is great. I believe it is family owned and ran and it definitely has that feel. As far as the food......... the short ribs, TOP TIER! The Jambalaya, TOP TIER! The shrimp etoufee! My God! *licks lips* Everything is soooooooooooooooooo good and you can tell it was made with love. And don't even get me started on the dessert. They had a peach cobber bundt cake or whatever it was and I didn't need to scrape the plate trying to get every crumb like I did. The food can take a minute to come out and it can get pricey (be well worth it) so be prepared. It is best to make a reservation if you can, especially on the weekends. It gets busy. I've only been for dinner, but I hear the breakfast is really good too. Overall, Oakland needed this black-owned jewel. You won't regret coming here. I've returned serval times..... and with friends and family. read more

Willows & Pine - Dinner with Bae! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California

I went for Sunday lunch with friends. I had the shrimp and grits and it was really good! The portion was good. We were a party of 13 and they took good care of us. Others said their food was good too. I took the oxtails and grits to go. My family enjoyed it. I would come again. read more

Willows & Pine - Shrimp & Grits - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Oakland, California