Brenda's Oakland

Wow! What a wonderful time we had at Brenda's.The staff was kind the minute we walked up to dine in. We had a short wait then we were seated on the patio. The inside is not very big.However it's very clean and has seating for about twenty.The restrooms were gender neutral and because there were only 2, it was a plus.The food was amazing. The biscuit was flaky and the peach cobbler jam, well I could have eaten it by itself it was so yummy. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy with great flavor on the inside. The jambalaya had just the right amount of spice. My husband had the vegan bbq po boy and it was good as well. The grits and the red beans and rice were both creamy and dreamy. Glad I had the side of grits.Unfortunately we were not able to eat all our food but fortunately we took it home and will have for dinner.This was our first stop at Brenda's amd won't be our last when we come to Oakland.

I've had some really good fried chicken in Nashville, TN and was looking forward to something at that same level. Unfortunately, the fried chicken here was very disappointing. The batter was overcooked and pieces were really small. The flavor was underwhelming. I did like the texture and flavor of the biscuit. The pepper jelly is what caught my attention and led me to want to order this dish. Unfortunately, it was just okay. I could taste the sweet jelly and could barely taste the pepper. I think I would've preferred honey with it instead. I've honestly had better fast food fried chicken and biscuits from a gas station than this.The catfish and grits was my favorite dish of everything we ordered, although, I expected the catfish to be crispy and it wasn't. There was also not that much catfish, maybe 3 small pieces. Maybe they should put it on site so it doesn't get soggy from the grits. We ordered a side of cheesy grits, thinking the catfish and grits wouldn't have enough for three people. It was definitely enough, and I felt that the flavor of the grits that came with the catfish was better than the side order of grits. I wouldn't mind getting the catfish and grits again but I would try something else before revisiting.The side dish of cheesy grits was good but not amazing and would probably skip it.The banana Foster's French toast was pretty standard. Nothing special about it either. I'd skip it.I'm a sucker for flights. It's a good way to try everything. Out of all of them, I liked the chocolate paired with the cream from the banana Foster's French toast. However, on its own, I'd probably go with the apple. I was a bit disappointed with the crawfish. It didn't have very much crawfish in it. Although, the sauce was good. Would I order three apples? Probably not. I would order 3 chocolates with a side of that cream though. Service was a bit slow, but they were friendly enough. Overall, not overly impressed and probably wouldn't come back unless I was with a group that wanted to go.

Food was delicious although service wasn't that great but the taste of the food made up for the service I think it was due to being Valentines Day of course they were also busyI'm not complaining I highly recommend this place everything was tasty from the greens to the Mac and cheese The fried chicken wings were perfect We had beignets to go OMG!! They were cooked fresh and full of flavor The milkshake was thick and delicious

My friend was here from out of town and wanted soul food and everyone says the best spot is Brenda's. We decided to go to the Oakland location since we didn't want to go to the TL in SF. The place is cute and it was easy to find parking on the street. We sat outside since they had the patio heated. The service was lacking - took a while to be greeted and sat, but overall good was good.

Practically ordered everything off the menu. My favorite is the blackened catfish plate, mac and cheese, crawfish beignets, and the fried oysters. The collard greens with bacon was next, then the fried cauliflower, fried chicken pieces with biscuits, and catfish po boy.I wasn't a fan of the banana foster, fried chicken sandwich or gumbo.It was great going with a large party and being able to family style the dishes. Although with a group of 5 we arrived around 12:00 and had a 1 hour and 15 minute wait. I recommend going a little before they open if you have a larger party, making a reservation, or going on a nice day so you can walk around the area for a bit.Service was great once seated all the staff was attentive and took our orders timely. Food was placed and arrived quickly. We had so much food that the server was even shocked herself! All in al, I enjoyed finally sitting down and trying this place out for myself.

Ordered a pickup order.. didn't take long to be ready and everything was nice and hot! I only saw street parking available. I was lucky enough to park right in the front but I'm sure during busy hours, parking could be sparse. I didn't have much time to look around, but inside seating seemed small but cozy. And there was an outside patio as well.Pricing wasn't too bad and food was good. I came here for beignets but grabbed a small order of food to try.- Chicken strips, good flavor, personally a little too salty and I'm not a fan of the breading. 3.5/5- Green beans 5/5- Mac & Cheese was a lil dry with coagulated cheese and no flavor 1/5- Jambalaya , okay now this was DELICIOUS 5/5- Chocolate beignets seems to be filled with a ton of chocolate chips that end up melting after being fried? Idk but it was really good! Loved that they didn't skimp on the filling! 5/5 - Apple Beignet 2/5 .. filling was kind of dry. Didn't taste very good- Also purchased plain beignets for the family that they said were pretty good. I would come again for the chocolate beignet, jambalaya, and to try other items! Wouldn't get the Mac & cheese or fried chicken again.Rounding up 3.5 to 4 stars because the service was good.

Came here with friends from out of town for brunch who wanted Southern food and they were not disappointed. The food was delicious and very different from what they can get in LA. The shrimp and grits were perfectly creamy and savory with a generous amount of cheese and shrimp. The French toast was devoured by my kids. My friends enjoyed the chicken, biscuit, eggs, and the seafood pasta dish. The Mac and cheese was good too and we finished with freshly made beignets. The grandma's molasses coffee and watermelon sweet tea were also hits. Really nice staff and a great brunch experience overall. We got a nice seat inside with the bench in the back.

All the deliciousness of Brenda's without the line at the SF location!There is indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating has some heat lamps. Staff were friendly. Note that one of the staff members has a severe allergy to lavender and so there are signs everywhere prohibiting lavender scent, so don't wear lavender perfume etc. I only come to Brenda's for the breakfast. The shrimp and grits is my favorite, very cheese and rich. The catfish and grits were good as well, the catfish was perfectly cooked, though for me, it was a bit too rich between the grits and the fried fish. The crawfish beignets are also a go to for me! One is plenty. The ube beignet also had a great ube flavor and some sort of cream inside.Also they tend to be open on holidays. I went on New Year's Day.

Decided to stop here for lunch on my Birthday and let me just say this place did not disappoint. My son's family is from Louisiana and I have been a few times and this place by far exceeded my expectations.Things we tried:Fried shrimp po' boy - bread was excellent the shrimp perfectly flavored and crispy and the sauce was perfection 10/10Fried chicken and biscuit - I ordered the breast and wing and my boyfriend ordered the thigh- all perfectly crispy on the outside lots of flavor and juicy in the inside. The biscuit- BEST BISCUIT IVE EVER HAD! 10/10Greens- delicious and perfectly cooked - one thing I wish their was more meat but other than that 10/10Gumbo was delicious! I prefer seafood gumbo but it was very flavorful! Begneits were perfection! We got the plain ones but definitely will try the others next time! 10/10Capuccinos were also amazing! 10/10

**Ambiance:** The restaurant has a warm and inviting vibe, decorated with charming touches that create a relaxed setting. It's often bustling during brunch hours, which adds to the lively atmosphere but can sometimes lead to a bit of a wait during peak times.**Menu Highlights:** Brenda's Brunch offers a diverse menu featuring classic breakfast items with a twist. Their signature dishes include fluffy pancakes, savory egg benedicts, and unique takes on traditional favorites. The use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients is a standout feature, ensuring quality in every bite.**Service:** friendly and attentive staff, who are eager to make your dining experience enjoyable. Whether you're a regular or a first-time visitor, you'll likely feel welcomed.**Overall Experience:** Brenda's Brunch has delicious food, vibrant atmosphere, and excellent service. It's a great spot to gather with friends or family for a cheerful start to the day.