Lynn & Lu's Escapade Cafe

Had a great time here! Got the Benedict, pancakes, and French toast. Everything was great, food came out fast and service was friendly.

Busy? You bet! This place reminds me of the breakfast diners in New York. It's small, crowded, with great food! I was surprised by the number of people who came in for takeout. I had the potato pancake Benedict which was served with salad and was truly delicious. My friend had pancakes with eggs and bacon. We both cleaned our plates like good little kids. I like this place!

Highly recommend Oakland breakfast. I ordered a fresh squeezed OJ and chicken and waffles, two eggs over medium. My friend got this salmon lox’s salad with two poached eggs. Her food looked amazing and she reported that is was amazing. The OJ was divine and a nice hit of vitamin C. The fried chicken was a fillet breast, nicely fried and portioned. I really appreciated that the waffle was an OG and not a Belgium which can end up being too heavy for cases like Chicken and waffles (C&W). Only criticism with my meal was that the waffle was cold when it arrived but I still really enjoyed my meal. Although I loved the blueberry sauce with the C&W, I preferred the maple syrup with the C&W. That said LOVED the blueberry, and would get it with French toast or another thing.

Very cozy and comfortable place for a delicious brunch on a sunny day. The service is great and fast and my order was ready in less than 10 minutes with fresh look and hot style. I saw three couples there at the time, so if you wanna have a sunny date, mark your location. Lynn & Lu’s got a special place in my oakland favorite places. Cheers.

I had breakfast here with colleagues and we chatted for hours until they closed at 2pm. The friendly service was excellent. They have a nice back patio that is private with a relaxing ambiance. I was very thankful for a delicious meal and to be able to enjoy the company of friends.

Ordered a vegetarian omelette with sausage and it was delicious! Wasn’t too greasy. Lots of vegetables and just the right amount of cheese. It’s quiet and cozy with a wonderful staff!

Lynn & Lu serves a good breakfast. You can dine indoors or climb up stairs to an outdoor patio. I would not come here if I was in a wheelchair because it's too cramped. I had the meatlovers Benedict which I enjoyed. There can be a wait. I also wouldn't come with a big party.

Casual breakfast spot that has all the feels of a local joint. This seems like the type of place where you could roll up in your sweatpants on a Saturday afternoon after a long night out, and the staff will greet you by name and already know your order. We got the Oatmeal pancake at the suggestion of the host and it was our favorite thing on the menu! The food is nothing fancy but it’s delicious and has a home-y type atmosphere.

We used to live up the hill from here so it was on the rotation for weekend brunches. I always get the oatmeal pancake, which is equally huge and delicious. And super filling - even in the kid's size. The blueberry compote goes great with it too. The rest of the food is standard diner fare and although satisfying, I never can stray from that pancake. They sometimes offer coffee if you check-in, so check Yelp while you're there!

This is one of my neighborhood favorites for brunch. I love me a wholesome turn and burn breakfast spot. I worked in restaurants for many years and serving brunch is tough! The focus is on taking orders and getting the food out. There's no time to go above and beyond when you're busy. So if you're going out to be waited on hand and foot, this isn't the spot. That said, all of the servers are sooo sweet and lovely. The restaurant itself is pretty small and has diner vibes. There are a few tables outside also which is great. All of that said, the potatoes escapade keep me coming back! Goodness, if you like cheese and potato's, this is a game changer. They are literally home fries loaded with cheese, pesto, salsa, and sour cream with a fried egg on top. It's a delicious stand alone breakfast or easily shared if you want to try more options. I ordered a chicken apple sausage scramble and added tomatoes and it was also cheesy and delicious. It was only $1 to sub fruit and the fruit was so fresh and a nice variety. It had banana, strawberry and two types of ripe melon. They have an espresso bar with yummy drinks, they make smoothies and they offer bottomless mimosas!! Honestly, I'm a fan!

Consistently very good food and service. I've been eating her for decades, though not for a while now. Just the same as always. Very good Hollandaise, eggs cooked perfectly; tasty potatoes (Xtra crisp). Never been big fan of their coffee.

My girlfriend and I have been coming to Lynn & Lu's for about a year now and it has never missed! Food is always great and their service is awesome. HIGHLY recommend. Don't even get me started in the coffee

I've been going there for years. Always good food and good service. However this time not a great experience. New owners, I assume. Now staffed by overwhelmed employees. Non present owners makes for bad service. Not sure I'll be back....meh

Walked in for breakfast around 10:30am- ish on a Saturday, for 2 people, and were seated right away! (Surprised because if it was busier there's not a ton of seating inside or outside, but also looked like they fulfill a lot of to-go orders). Service was initially slow but once our order was in, everything came out really quickly! Servers refilled our coffee a few times and were attentive if you did ask for/need something. The food was overall decent - your classic American breakfast. Portions are solid. *Lu's breakfast - rate 4/5 - French toast was pretty good but for me, not quite on that custard buttery/sweet level. Syrup definitely helped. Scrambled eggs and bacon were what you'd expect. *Meat Lover's Benedict - 5/5 - meat ratio was good, eggs poached well, and overall just good tasting Benedict. *Grilled potatoes (side) - 4/5- they were not like other breakfast potatoes that are baked/fried on all sides. We think they added some dill and there's a small side of sour cream. Softer than more crispy/crunchy pieces. Overall good flavor. For the food plus coffee and a Diet Coke, it was ~ $45. Would come back again for a quick/classic breakfast!

I really like this place. I've been a few times and the food is always consistently delicious. It's a small restaurant and tends to be busy, especially on the weekend but the wait hasn't ever been too long. Their scrambles, omelets, breakfast burritos and Huevos rancheros are some of my favorites. They make a great latte too.

Tried to get a table for six for lunch. At first they told us they had no tables, then they asked us to sit at two different tables outside. We agreed, but then when we sat down, the server came out and told us we should just sit at one of the tables and move some chairs to the other. We agreed, and they left us with some menus. After five or ten minutes, no one came to get our order or even bring us water. One of the people in our group asked what was happening and they said they'd come out and take our order...and then nothing. Got a very unfriendly/passive aggressive vibe from the server the entire time, so we just left. Avoid.

Good food. No complaints on the quality of food. Service was fine, not amazing. And the place is small. We ordered lox Benedict and Willis scramble. The Benedict was good and the egg was cooked perfectly. The scramble was fine, but I wouldn't get it again.

Such a gem! We came for sunday brunch around 11:30 and it wasn't too crowded. We nabbed the window nook seat and it was perfect for social distancing and people watching. We had a toddler in tow so appreciated that the food came fast and they had a high chair. My husband raved about his pancakes and I loved my huevos rancheros. Service was kind and it's very kid friendly! Super reasonably priced and big portions too. Easy/free street parking on Sundays. Only points for improvement would be to make potatoes more crispy and to serve rancheros with chips instead of tortilla but those are minor preferences of mine. We'll be back!

Good food and I've been a happy customer for years, but the chronic understaffing takes some of the pleasure out of breakfast. The waitstaff hustle but often there's one server when there should be two or three. The Eggs Escapade is a particular favorite.

I'm a Long long time customer since the 90's! Great food, service and value! I love the eggs Benedict and champagne. The potatoes escapade is an old favorite. I wish they would bring back the vanilla ice cream in a big glass of fresh squid OJ. I love the backyard outdoor seating with the lovely trellis and greenery.

I have enjoyed this spot in the past. Only to walk in at 1:45 for lunch, and adamantly told we close at 2:00. Other diners were still there, and being served. Really, you couldn't make one more sandwich before close. Very inhospitable! Probably next on the list of restaurants closing in Oakland!

Solid breakfast spot! As a solo diner, I often encounter less-than-friendly service, but this place was a pleasant surprise. I requested a table change, and they were accommodating without any fuss. The food was delicious, but what truly stood out was the exceptional service.

The Oatmeal Pancake does not disappoint! Delicious and not too sweet, would recommend. Whole menu looks amazing! Great and timely service.

My friend and I went to this place this morning to have breakfast , but the waitress had a pushy attitude to us. Also, she asked us about the tips and wanted to make sure to get her tips when we haven't even finish drinking our coffee. The food was good though.

There are a lot of things to love about Lynn & Lu's: their sun-soaked (on a good day) outdoor patio, their yummy omelettes, their superb staff with their stellar customer service. But chief among them for me is their oatmeal pancake. Please let it be known that I am not a major proponent of pancakes. They can be tolerated once in a while, but I rarely seek them out. (Find me face-first in a cheese omelette with avocado and way too much Cholula instead.) So, I was hesitant when my brother ranted, raved, and then begged everyone at our table to try them. I obliged and when that soft, beautiful fluff of lump or lump of fluff--whichever you prefer--arrived, I knew this was another example of my brother never steering me wrong. The pancake was delicious and please don't be intimidated by the term "lumpy", there's oats but the texture is perf. Next time you're in the area, I'd suggest dropping by L&L to get your 'cake on.

Nice little cafe the food was a amazing ad customer service was great. Service was fast and loved that I got to pick where I could sit. I came here on a weekday and it wasn't busy i dont know how busy they get on the weekend. Price was just like everywhere else and the great portion size. Coffee was strong but who don't love a pick me up.

Decent spot. This is tucked between my barber shop and another long standing coffee/breakfast stop on Grand Ave. I had the "Eggs Escapade". Not bad. I think the plate was overall under seasoned (to my liking) I found myself adding a decent amount of salt and pepper over my eggs and potatoes. But not bad. Not spectacular either. Kinda disorienting when you walk in. No one greets you and I had to pull a person taking orders from a table to understand whether I have to order up front or if I can take a seat. I took a seat and my server was really nice. Food took kinda long but not so bad. I feel like if you don't flag ppl down for things like taking a check or if you need more of something else, they seem understaffed and too busy to be able to check on you very often. Overall nice vibe--has cool outdoor seating..and the folks seem nice. Woman owned-- right on! My rating is mostly due to underseasoning on food. This is my second time eating here and it's pretty much the same issue. A little pricey too--but everything around here is.

I wish I could give more stars. This is hands down my favorite place in oakland. 1. The food is delicious. I get the Wayne's breakfast an oatmeal pancake w bacon and eggs. 2. The service/ employees are so incredible/ nice. Here are a few examples: A. I needed help with my stroller up the stairs and the cook saw me struggling and came out and helped B. My son was crying and they brought him out some whipped cream on his pancake to cheer him up Then my son ran out of the restaurant while I was paying and the waitress distracted him to avoid him going in the street. 3. It's easy to get to/ park and indoor/outdoor space is amazing Like I said, I love it and come once a month with my family since it's so delicious and easy for families.

Looking for something a good simple breakfast without all the frou frou? Lynn and Lu's got you. Got the waffle, egg, and bacon combo. Everything was cooked nicely. Ordered a glass of OJ as well and was pleased to see a large glass and not a toddler cup, they dont skimp! Service was excellent.

I was in the mood for pancakes and hadn't tried this place yet so I went on a random Saturday morning for a sample. Ambiance was a small open homestyle kitchen/diner with a no frills vibe. It was quite busy but service was friendly and prompt. Prices seemed decent. I ordered the blueberry pancakes, which were buttermilk pancakes with a side of blueberry sauce. It was ok-tasting but nothing special especially compared to some of the other higher quality spots in the area. I would probably give it another shot and try another item, but the experience was all very average to me.

Mostly typical brunch faire, but done well. Their oatmeal pancake is pretty good -- and huge. Their waffles are pretty good too. (Although it's not on the menu, you can request an oatmeal waffle.) My only complaint is that, more often that not, the toast is under-toasted so it's basically warm bread. I usually have to send it back to request that it be toasted more. This place is in our rotation of brunch places.

My favorite local diner, by far. The staff are super kind, the food is solid, and the ambiance says "little neighborhood gem". Nothing too fancy on the menu, they do classics really well. Check it out!

Wasn't really a huge fan. I like the menu variety- there is a nice combination of breakfast classics like pancakes/omelletes/french toast (even a waffle/chicken combo!) and some Latin dishes. But the food tastes just "okay", the service was very slow. It took about 25 minutes to get a waffle/2 eggs/2 bacon combo order- it was all room temperature - and about 10 minutes after that to get my toast. The restaurant was about half full at the time. I stacked my dishes up in a pile to make it easier for the busser to pick them all up and they sat there for about 15 minutes with the busser/waiter walking by and glancing at my table numerous times. Eventually I got bored of waiting and flagged her over to ask for the check and for my table to be cleaned. I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they're understaffed today but it's not a good look. The venue is also "okay". It's kind of a cramped space and the kitchen isn't separated from the dining area so you can see and hear all the food being prepared. Not inherently a bad thing but at one point they were making smoothies and there was about 5 or 6 minutes straight of a super loud blender going off. The chairs are also some cheap classic ones that you would expect to see in like a middle school or something. Overall I wasn't very impressed but I might give them another go in the future and update my review accordingly. I noticed as I was leaving that there is an outdoor dining area in the back and that might be a more cozy experience, and with the service they could have been having a bad day. We'll see.

We order the omelettes here pretty frequently. Spousies favorite is the bacon. I go for the spinach & mushroom. I like that it's one of the few breakfast places where the mushrooms are always the perfect texture. None of that funky rubbery junk. I feel their portions are of a good medium size. & I'm always one for the potatoes. Not too crispy, not too soft. Always satisfying!

Space is nice, bright, and clean. Food is OK. Coffee is terrible. They are stingy with the sides of sour cream. That's really all I have to say about it, and this sentence is just here to satisfy Yelp's minimum word count.

This cafe is a hidden gem!! There food is so flavorful and delicious. If you want a coffee, the mocha is absolutely to die for. Their eggs Benedict is exquisite. The only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because my boyfriends eggs Benedict had a couple pieces of the egg shell in his food, however it didn't phase him because of how delicious the food was. They got the food out to us so fast and the store was very homey and personable.

I love this place. I miss it so much. My favorite go to was always the salmon omelette. Loved the vibe inside too. Wait can get kinda long but it's because they make great food and the service is always spot on. They keep my coffee cup filled! Ugh open in Vegas please!!

Thank you for the great service! Be back next year! Wife enjoyed her break I took home as well

Wow...I have been on the hunt for good waffles, with real waffle batter, not pancake batter since moving out here...and I thought I'd found it... When they came to the table they were served with a basically CLEAR 'syrup', obviously tinted slightly brown...when it poured it was thick with strands stretched out that stuck to everything from the glass spout...it was clearly NOT MAPLE SYRUP (not even Log Cabin which would have been fine). When I asked the waitress about it, she literally said, "We didn't say it is maple syrup in the menu, just syrup." REALLY?...Who serves CORN SYRUP WITH WAFFLES & PANCAKES?? Totally GROSS... The over easy eggs were great, but they need to understand that waffles/pancakes, French toast, etc are ALWAYS served with maple syrup, even if just the cheap kind...not corn syrup which isn't even used as syrup in that way, on anything! ...yikes...

Great local breakfast spot!! When I lived near the Lake, this was my go to weekend breakfast place. Their potatoes are straight fire!!! I ordered the Spud-O-Rama so many times, I actually had to make it a point to order something else!! Very small place, chances are you'll be sitting next to other customers, but relatively fast service. I had the Eggs Escapade last time I was there, very good!! Lynn & Lu's is an Oakland staple, been here for a long time!!

Great breakfast spot, step your water game up though! We don't do tap, maybe even just a filter will be good !

What a frustrating experience. We've been coming here for years but the now nearly nonexistent service is horrible. No direction about table service so we waited in line. Then the waitress said take a menu and sit down, someone will come and take your order. Fifteen minutes later still no table service after being directed to sit down; then ten people come in, line up and order before anyone comes to take our order. Finally, another waitress comes in and was going to take our order--after a woman who had just sat down. Inexcusable. We were there for nearly 40 wasted minutes. This place is now Inefficient, rude, and clueless. We walked out and sadly, will not return.

GOOD BREAKFAST PLACE, HARD BUTTER Lyn & Lu's is a reliable breakfast place, with some unusual items, e.g., oatmeal pancake, and the egg breakfasts are good. I usually get a basic two eggs, hash browns, toast breakfast. I do have one complaint, one that's not unique to L&L's, unfortunately: They don't butter your toast, English muffin, whatever. They give you a couple of those butter cubes, and they're rock-hard. I don't understand this. The additional labor to butter toast is miniscule, and if someone doesn't want any butter, they're definitely going to speak up. Trying to butter lukewarm toast with freezing cold butter just doesn't work. At the very least, they could make sure the friggin' butter is warmed up/softened ahead of time.

Quite impressed with this little breakfast place. Dined outside on a Saturday morning around 9:30. It was fairly busy but we got our food in what seemed like record time! Everything was hot and fresh and the portions were very generous. I wouldn't have been surprised if my omelette had an entire avocado in it! Per usual with breakfast joints, the coffee was a bit burnt. But we had brought coffee from elsewhere so thankfully it wasn't our main source of caffeine. The staff was great, friendly and efficient, and I certainly see myself returning.

I've been eating here for years. The food is delicious. I like the meaty bacon they serve.(Though this was the first time my waffle was overcooked) The chunks of tomato were a bit large but still fresh. The French toast was perfect. The coffee is mild so diehard folks might wanna grab some Coffee Mill before you go **I have decided to add a modification to my review. While I was there an order was delayed and the kitchen staff was yelled at in front of customers for the delay. 4 star food 3-star service

I've come here a few times now and it's been great every time! Lots of food options and none have been a miss yet. The coffee is also excellent. Highly recommend finding a spot on the back patio. If you walk by the checkout counter and up the stairs, you'll find it!

I love this cute little cafe. They serve breakfast and brunch entrees. The staff are very attentive to clean up tables. The cafe has an outdoor area to eat, indoor area, and a backyard patio. When you get there, you will order first then the staff will give you a number. My co-workers and I sat in the little nook area in front of the cafe. The price of the breakfast was fair and they serve big portions. Everything we had were delicious. I love how the staff treat the dogs so well. I have seen the staff brought out water bowls for the dogs if they're left outside. It is a very dog-friendly restaurant.

I received a corporate lunch from them via this company named Good Time (I think). I had requested a chicken sandwich with avocado and bbq sauce. For some reason, they believe A1 sauce is equivalent to bbq sauce. I don't think I need to say more, as it just got worse after that. I do not recommend.

I typically don't like to write reviews but in this matter I am. There's no way I should have had to wait 30+ mins for 2 to go waffles. Then kind of gave me an issue when I asked for a refund I will not be spending my money there ever again.

Ordered on Doordash -- burger was terrible and orange juice was clearly store bought / from concentrate despite being labeled as fresh squeezed.

Ok

Decided to randomly stop in for a quick breakfast on our way home and we are obsessed. We will definitely stop here anytime we're in the area. Servers were kind and decor is cute. I ordered the eggs Benedict that have "justin" in the name. They were so good!

The eggs benny is a must Apparently they received good reviews on Uber eats and yes you may order eggs benny Monday - Sunday at this restaurant :-) Restaurant: located off grand across from Michele's chocolates and sushi boat . Place is extremely and I mean extremely clean and taken care of. THe place has 14-15 tables that sit 2 people each . Service: looks like there's only 1-2 people working here and a pretty good size menu . The gentlemen who served me was extremely quiet- I decided not to take this as being rude given he was kind of chatty and joking with a few other patrons Choices: I ordered the traditional eggs benny which came on a large plate with house potatoes and 2 huge slices of ham and a side of sour cream. I also added spinach :-) there's other choices- a bacon benny, veggie benny with avocados and a Mediterranean one with mushrooms and artichokes Coffee was diner decent and strong But most importantly they served Franks red hot original hot sauce ... youre welcome

This breakfast nook is easy to overlook but they've got fantastic brunch food and an incredibly charming back patio. I took my mom here when she visited, and she loved it. The benedicts are fabulous.

Solid breakfast, nice staff and a very cute neighborhood. The food was... good (not great or memorable but not bad at all... just a bit bland. I had a scramble with sausage, avocado and provolone and found myself needing to add salt and pepper as it somehow didn't taste like too much of anything). Coffee was very weak as well. That said, I'd go back if I'm in the neighborhood (but wouldn't make a special trip out of it). Nice vibe, nice staff and it was a solid breakfast with good portions. Spendy by most standards but pretty average prices for the Bay Area.

This is an ok breakfast place. Minus two stars for the price for ok food. They charge 15% surcharge for having parties of 5 or more people. Which does not include tip. The location is nice and the service is good. But comparable to other breakfast / brunch places I'd give this place 3 stars. The food was good. Nothing special. I took my brother here for his birthday. The good thing is that they serve the food fast. And they have nice seats up front and then more tables in the back. But it was outside where it was a bit cold. So bring a jacket. Also the place has character. Which means it's kinda old. The location is great it's walking distance to Grand Lake movie theater and Lake Merritt. I'd come back but under different expectations. I recommend getting the bacon avocado cheese burger.

Ordered breakfast for delivery from this place on a whim this morning. It was really good! Got the eggs Benedict, 2 eggs breakfast with chicken apple sausage, fruit smoothie and two pancakes. My husband was raving about the hollandaise sauce and the pancakes were fluffy and delicious! Will definitely be eating here often!

Have ordered delivery from L&L a few times, and thought to give in person a try. Small place and they keep the door open, so it was kinda cold inside. Other than that, everything was great. I ordered the Classic Benedict which was delicious. Large slices of ham. The Hollandaise was on point. My eggs and my company's eggs (Over easy, runny) were also on point. Got some cinnamon french toast to go - great stuff.