Brown Sugar Kitchen
2534 Mandela Pkwy
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 839-7685
Category: Soul Food
Neighborhood: West Oakland
3 star rating
My sister organized a brunch date with some co-workers and I got to tag along. Even tho we arrived early and there were many open tables, we were told that there was a 10 minute wait to be seated? Then after we negotiated a faster seating option by sitting at the counter (awkward for more than 2 people), we sat waiting for a server for what seemed to be an endless waste of time. Friendly enuff, after taking our drink order, the ever so hip waitress disappeared for another eon. Passing back thru bearing only a glass of OJ, she assured us that our coffee was on the way. Several crabby moments later our coffee appeared, and the waitress came back to take our order.
We split everything-
crispy spicy chicken (only 2 pieces - 1 wing) + light and airy waffle, cider apple syrup was overpowering on the waffle but a welcome smoky molasses accent to the fried fowl
cheddar cheese grits and poached eggs- creamy grits and rubbery eggs (they use vinegar in the poacher). Good flavor but the grits needed more texture and the eggs were a bust
buscuits and jam- delitefully fluffy with good layering and crumb, deliciously succulent with the artisanl blue chair jam
grind on coffee was too fine for esspresso machine, so grounds leaked thru into the latte making it gritty and slightly bitter
lots of staff milling about, no really good expediters. I'll give it another chance for the lunch food, but I left feeling a little frustrated with the service.