Burdell

A very hip and stylish addition to Temescal (I haven't been back for a few years and there have been more hipster establishments). I remembered what this replaced; it's a bougier version of Aunt Mary's. The interior is well-decorated. I wanted to eat here for dinner but had to go for brunch due to personal planning. The brunch menu is not as great as the dinner menu for me.I got the shrimp and grits. The grits were not as thick as I would like. The shrimps were well cooked and I loved the flavorful spice-filled gravy. I wish they gave me more grits.My friend got the pimento omelette which was kind of salad with a few salad leaves and a small omelette. I really saw the feedback about dishes being small with this especially for the $18 cost.

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.

I've been wanting to check out Burdell ever since the chef got voted one of the finalists for James Beard chef award in California. Finally got to check it out, and wow.. such good food! Surprisingly, it's the sides that absolutely killed it. The grits were absolutely insane. Hands down best grits I've had *ever*. They had shaved truffle, jammy egg, and this smoked maple syrup, making it this perfect combo of salty and sweet. And the dirty rice with duck drippings and crackly duck confit bits was incredible. This was some next level soul food

Trying to ignore the hype, my friends and I and headed over on a Friday night. We were greeted warmly by staff who seated us in the clean, uncluttered space. We then proceeded to order drinks and a few starters, including the beet salad, the shrimp, and rice grits. Holy wow, Batman. The dishes were not just beautifully crafted and plated, but were exceptionally tasty and all very unique in their own way. I enjoyed how everything was served in homestyle dishware similar to the type I grew up with. For entrées, we ordered the mushrooms and brussels, the cod, the duck, and the cornbread on the side. If there was any weak point of the meal, it was the cod: it was probably the least least "punchy"-- good fish, by all means, but the rest of the dishes were so unique, this one felt the most standard and expected. Also, as someone who has not had great experiences with duck, I was blown away by the duck dish. It was an amazing texture and was I was done perfectly. I would come back and eat that duck every week if I could afford it. Moreover, the staff was very friendly when I didn't enjoy one of the cocktails and continued to provide impeccable service all night. I will definitely be back when I need a night of indulgence.

Burdell in Oakland is an absolute gem for anyone craving unique, flavorful Southern cuisine! The dishes here are rich, hearty, and full of bold flavors--think fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, and fried chicken that will have you coming back for more. The vibe is casual yet stylish, with an inviting atmosphere that makes it perfect for a relaxed dinner with friends. The staff is incredibly friendly, offering great recommendations and making sure you're well taken care of. Burdell definitely brings Southern comfort food to the next level in Oakland!

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.

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 appFried chicken and cornmeal waffle - fantastic fried boneless chicken and paired oh so well with the waffleCheeseburger po boy - this was one I feel you can skip, was a bit salty for my likingHangtown 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.

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 gritsCod 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 rollFried 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.

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.

I appreciate the effort but it's overpriced for what it is. Left me a little puzzled why reviews are all the rage? Alas.