While I was doing some research before posting about my experience at the House of Chicken and Waffles, I ran across an article in the San Francisco Chronicle titled “Oakland in midst of soul food renaissance”.
I’ve now been to 3 of the 4 restaurants mentioned in the article. The Southern Cafe is only a few blocks from my house. Their fried catfish and fried chicken are fantastic. The rice with pork gravy is mighty tasty, too. The only thing I don’t like are the greens. I normally like greens, but they cook theirs with really salty ham hocks that I think completely overwhelm the taste of the greens.
The Purple Plum is only a couple more blocks from my house. They serve California-influenced soul food. Or maybe it’s soulful California cuisine. Either way, their fried chicken is about on par with the Southern Cafe’s, which is a mighty high standard for fried poultry.
If you think the Colonel serves up good fried chicken, you must go to either the Southern Cafe or the Purple Plum and try theirs. The House of Chicken and Waffles also has excellent fried chicken, but I would have to rate them a close third. Fried chicken doesn’t have to be so greasy it slides down your throat, but that’s what you will get at KFC, Church’s, and Popeye’s.
The other wonderful thing about the Southern Cafe, Purple Plum, and HCW is that the people who work at each restaurant demonstrate the sweet Southern hospitality that I do miss from Mississippi.
So, next up for me is Sweetie Pie and Poppy’s Southern Cuisine in north Oakland. I’m very curious as to whether they really can deliver traditional, tasty Southern cuisine that is also healthy.
Update June 19, 2005: The Purple Plum has closed. I went to the Blackberry Bistro, which is on the same block of Park Blvd., this weekend and my wife asked the chef/owner Robert what happened. He said that the owners of the Purple Plum decided to take some time off and relax. The Blackeberry Bistro, by the way, is pretty fabulous. Breakfast is fantastic, and they even serve shrimp and grits.
Update October 29, 2008:The Southern Cafe has closed. There is a For Rent sign on the building. My top two fried chicken destinations are now closed. Very sad.
There’s also Powell’s soul food. They just reopened on Turk and Fillmore here in SF.
Thanks, Steve! I had read about a Powell’s Cafe in Hayes Valley, but had never made it over there and didn’t know it had closed. I will definitely pay a trip to the reopened Powell’s at Turk and Fillmore.
While doing some more searching, I turned up Gravy’s Soul Food. The review at Fudcourt.com says they have shrimp poboys, which rate as one of my all time favorite foods. Everytime I go back to Biloxi, I eat at least one, and often three or four, shrimp poboys.
There is a place called Nellie’s in Oakland that isn’t bad.
http://eastbay.citysearch.com/profile/1018745/oakland_ca/nellie_s_soulfood_restaurant_bar.html
You must also try Lois the Pie Queen in Oakland — very near Sweetie Pie and Poppy’s. And please tell us how you rated Sweetie Pie and Poppy’s — I’ve never been because I’m loyal to Lois, but I’ve seen it many times from MLK.
You really need to check out Dorsey’s Locker on Shattuck, north Oakland near the Berkely border. Best Soul Food I’ve had, excellent friendly service. I ate in the Bar where the atmosphere was very festive with lots of sports enthusiast.
Thanks for the recommendation’s for Lois the Pie Queen and Dorsey�s Locker. I’ve seen Dorsey’s Locker many times while driving in Berkeley, but I never remember to add it to my restaurant list on my Treo. I’ll do that tonight.
Another place I can recommend is DeClancy’s Welcome Table on Park Blvd. just up from the Parkway. The people I’ve met there are really nice. Service is a bit slow, but the food is very good. If you want traditional Southern food served fast, you’re missing the point. If you go to DeClancy’s, just make sure you have enjoyable partners for conversation or a good book. Your stomach will thank you.
Yes! Dorsey’s Locker is amazing! Would love to try the others. Thanks for the tips.
DeClancy’s closed, unfortunately.
However, I can definitely recommend Taste of Joy on Grand. Great food and great service. They also run the restaurant side of the house at Monaghan’s in Montclair. I went there a couple of nights ago and the food was also very good.