Burdell
American restaurant · Temescal
4640 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
Highlights
Modern soul food with family recipes, diverse wine list, and sourcing
Modern soul food with family recipes, diverse wine list, and sourcing
"Burdell is a fantastic soul food restaurant in Temescal that feels like you’ve stepped back in time. Family photos hang by the host stand, vintage ovens are next to pews and cane-backed chairs, and groovy hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s play. Dinner is like getting dropped into an intimate family meal, but here, the chef cares a lot more about fancy presentation. There’s a decadent chicken liver mousse spread over a wonderfully crispy cornmeal waffle, balanced and vinegary greens, and an impressive roast pork neck topped with honeynut squash that cuts like a knife through butter. Service is unhurried, but embrace it, especially since you’re spending quality time with your tablemate over a bottle of wine." - team infatuation
"Chef Geoff Davis named this nostalgic, homy Temescal spot after his grandmother, whose cooking informs his own fresh personal take on soul food. The small menu is a blend of staples like collard greens and fried chicken (though these are tweaked with the addition of berbere and pickle brine, respectively), novelties like an appetizer of chicken liver mousse with cornmeal waffle, and more broadly contemporary, Southern-inflected fare like a halibut crudo with buttermilk and grapefruit, or dry-aged duck with cherry "drippings" and dirty rice. Desserts follow a similar style, like strawberry shortcake with strawberry rhubarb jam and sorghum whipped cream. A particularly thoughtful wine list offers a wealth of options for afficionados, and who doesn’t love fried chicken with champagne?" - Michelin Inspector
"Burdell is a fantastic soul food restaurant in Temescal that feels like you’ve stepped back in time. Family photos hang by the host stand, vintage ovens are next to pews and cane-backed chairs, and groovy hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s play. Dinner is like getting dropped into an intimate family meal, but here, the chef cares a lot more about fancy presentation. There’s a decadent chicken liver mousse spread over a wonderfully crispy cornmeal waffle, balanced and vinegary greens, and an impressive roast pork neck topped with honeynut squash that cuts like a knife through butter. Service is unhurried but embrace it, especially since you’re spending quality time with your tablemate over a bottle of wine. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - lani conway, julia chen 1
"Burdell is an upscale soul food spot in Oakland (and one of our highest-rated restaurants). For $45, you can get a Restaurant Week-exclusive smothered pork chop with wild mushroom gravy. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - julia chen 1
"A soul-food restaurant in Oakland serving hearty, travel-friendly dishes that feel both comforting and rooted—examples include roasted duck with dirty rice, duck cracklings, duck confit brightened with apple cider vinegar, cornbread, and chocolate-chip cookies with benne seeds—meals that the author enjoyed on the train and that underscore food’s role in connection to land and community." - Nylah Iqbal Muhammad
