Town Fare by Chef Michele McQueen

Start to finish delicious! We used to go to her spot in the Fillmore District SF called Gussie's Chicken & Waffles. Had the Bloody Mary's Revenge and the basil ginger soda, deviled eggs, fried chicken & sweet potato waffles, and the fried chicken sandwich. You can run & tell everybody that this is the spot! DJ Mark Divita during Sunday brunch gave us the perfect musical pairings.

Town Fare which is in the Oakland Museum is a cute spot with great ambiance and plenty of food options. I started with some ginger beer and it was delicious and it wasn’t just some Canada Dry ginger ale. I loved that Town Fare seemed to have some local brands like with the ginger beer and I also loved that these local brands tried to prioritize healthier ingredients. For food I got the fried chicken and waffles with dark meet and buttermilk waffles. The food came out pretty fast and it was hot and fresh which I loved. The fried chicken was absolutely delicious. The chicken was so tender and the skin was crispy and savory. The tender chicken and crispy tasty skin complemented each other perfectly. Once you put some maple syrup on the chicken that’s the perfect bite. The waffle on the other hand was lack luster as it wasn’t very fluffy and was almost dry even after dousing it in butter and syrup. OVERALL, Town Fare was a delicious spot and perfect for Oakland Museum visitors or just people in the area. Keep in mind that Town Fare is on the pricier side when coming though. I would definitely hope to homage again and I recommend this Oakland gem to others!

This place was great! The ordering process was fast and efficient, the staff was attentive and cheerful, and the food was amazing! We had shrimp and grits, pork chops with Mac n cheese and collard greens, and the Brussels sprouts. They also made me a killer Arnold Palmer with unsweetened iced tea and lemonade. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! I would recommend a meal here if you're hungry while visiting the Oakland museum.

Went to brunch today , found the place last minute . They close at 4 , we arrived around 2 . The line wasn’t too long , but the wait was over 30 mins . Food came out at different times , but was still hot & fresh. Some items took too long so we had to cancel some items . I tried the chicken and waffles , 8/10 . Some food items weren’t available because we probably arrived too late . But the food we did have was pretty good . The berry lemonade ( non alcoholic ) was really good 10/10 , refreshing. I’ll definitely return .

The food was really good! The atmosphere was set just right. We started off with the Shrimp and Country Grits that had a nice gravey like sauce that was extremely tasteful and the texture of the grits was thick and creamy and the sausage and added tomatoes really set it apart. The Blackened Waffle had a sweet savory syrup and that went perfect with the chicken. The devil eggs were good but you only get four. The Mac and Cheese were delicious but it's a really small portion. And last be not least the honey glazed wings had me wanting more. For dessert I got the cheese cake and banana pudding. The pudding was just like grandma. Unfortunately I really had came for the gumbo noodles but they were out of crab. With that said I will definitely be coming back.

The place is easy to find on the grounds of the Oakland Museum. You open the door to a spacious room, and you are greeted by a cashier who is ready to take your order and your payment. My group ordered the 2 orders of the gumbo ramen, 3 orders of the crack chicken (one of those with the sauce on the side) 3 orders of French fries, shrimp & grits, and chicken & waffle and deviled eggs. We were happy that everything came out fresh and hot. However, the gumbo lacked flavor, the crack chicken wings are sauced heavily, and the sauce resembled a candied consistency, which was off-putting and wayyyyyyyyy too sweet for our liking. The base of the shrimp and grits left nothing to be desired; as it was too acidic, which left a sour bitter note on the palate. The individual who ordered the crack chicken with the sauce on the side said the fried chicken was delicious as well as the chicken that went with the waffle. The black waffle lacked luster. The deviled eggs were just that. It's not excellent, but it's not horrible. It would have been nice to have a flavored waffle to accompany the chicken. The best thing, in my opinion, were the french fries. They were salted well and not greasy and paired well with the ginger beer that I ordered. The lady that delivered our food saw that a few plates were barely eaten, and she asked for feedback. The feedback given was well received, and she made things right. Which I really appreciated, given that a bit of money had been spent from our table alone. It's safe to say that I will never return. But at least I can say that I tried Towne Fare Cafe.

Hello, I want to first start by saying this review is based on SERVICE , not the food. On February 2 I had a surprise 50th gathering set up for my brother. I stop at the venue three times asking questions and informing the workers that I will anticipate 30 people. I was informed to get there early to get at least the booth and the other tables are for first come first serve no reservation. Now I was there along with my best friend before anyone. There was even a party on the other side to take place and there were table reserved for that party. What's good for that goose should have been good for my geese. My dilemma was that a few tables could have been reserved for my party. I did ask for the two round tables that seat 2 which assuming the owner was resistant to do so. I asked again if I could get the 6 table right in front of us and I was shut down. As soon as she said that all 30 folks showed up. Now my cousin arrived to tell me that they told her to put her name on the waitlist. We been there a whole hour and no one told us about a waitlist. I could have done that. So by this time the waitlist is wait time 30 mins to an hour which I put my name on the list now we have folks from the party sitting far away. Next breaking news I told you I been up there a number of times. Now assuming the owner comes to me and says there is a time limit at the booth ( 2 hour ), but I was told by my family she gave a time limit for the tables as well. That was alarming because I been there a number of times and stayed almost 3 hours. The waiter never stop taking our orders. but we needed to move. We spent $1100.00 and would have spent more. I honestly thought we may have been over charged. My nephew was waiting for his food for 30 minutes to find they ran out the blackened fish, waiter never said anything and we ordered another Mimosa tower and was still being asked to move to the wait area. Not okay. And even moving from the booth to the table we had they came over and said you have to move from here two while we are trying to pack it up. I wanted to have this gathering mainly to support black business and the food is wonderful for my family to see what I was boasting about. Every one love the food but said they will not be back because of the service. Moving forward to my birthday we go to M2 another husband and wife black owned business. Superb Customer Service and Food. We were able reserve a section for 13 people. They constantly checked on us cleared the tables. The owners even set up a tv in our section so we did not have to move were the tvs are set ups. The gave me a complimentary drink and guess what we was there from noon until 5 pm no pressure and that was super bowl night so very crowded. You could have the best food in the world but if you lack Customer Service that could hinder growth I will not be back and will not refer. Hopefully this review will encourage to restructure the CS and maybe add in making reservation with a 5 minute show before reservation is gone. Best to you.

Celebrated Black History Month with a Soulful Brunch!! The catfish, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, Mac n cheese, waffles - oh so good!! Live music with a fantastic DJ, a talented Sax player, Black Panther playing on the screen and trivia questions with prizes! Such fun!!

I rarely ever go into Oakland anymore due to the increased crime lately, but I'll risk it for this delicious establishment. Town Fare is such a vibe, and the food is something I crave and think about often. I've had the deviled eggs, brussel sprouts, chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, honey butter cornbread, and a few of their salads. All were pleasantly delicious. But baybyyyyyy... the southern fried pork chops! Whew! Sooooooo good, and that's what keeps me coming back. The service has always been good. The first time I went was a little confusing because it was for a birthday celebration for a really large group. But they eventually got it together, and things flowed smoothly. The next time I went was still a little confusing because people didn't know if they should stand in line to be seated or order at the register and then fall in line to be seated. All the other times flowed pretty effortlessly. I'm happy for the success of this restaurant and noticed it's been harder and harder to dine at due to all the social media influencers posting about it. The last time I tried dining here, the parking garage at the museum was a hot mess! We were stuck in the garage, trying to get out for over 45 minutes due to no parking. We ended up leaving and determined that we would only return on a weekday vs. the weekend. All in all, bomb food and delicious drinks. The DJ spinning music on the weekends is an added bonus. Can't wait to return!

Came at the end of brunch on a rainy sunday! It took an hour to get seated. Alot more g birthdays were being celebrated Chuey Gomez was dj'n it was an older crowd vibe going down. Ordered - craft of mimosas - chicken and waffles - deviled eggs - donut holes - 40 water (2) Next time when I come, it'll be earlier due to some items not being available (my bad)

The food here was delicious. We got the fried pork chop with greens and mushroom jambalaya. Jambalaya was flavorful! The collard greens were cooked perfectly and the fried pork chop.. my boyfriend enjoyed! Our drinks - sidecar was yummy and the rose lemon drop was good too. The workers were very friendly and helpful. Would return back!

Town Fare which is in the Oakland Museum is a cute spot with great ambiance and plenty of food options. I started with some ginger beer and it was delicious and it wasn't just some Canada Dry ginger ale. I loved that Town Fare seemed to have some local brands like with the ginger beer and I also loved that these local brands tried to prioritize healthier ingredients. For food I got the fried chicken and waffles with dark meet and buttermilk waffles. The food came out pretty fast and it was hot and fresh which I loved. The fried chicken was absolutely delicious. The chicken was so tender and the skin was crispy and savory. The tender chicken and crispy tasty skin complemented each other perfectly. Once you put some maple syrup on the chicken that's the perfect bite. The waffle on the other hand was lack luster as it wasn't very fluffy and was almost dry even after dousing it in butter and syrup. OVERALL, Town Fare was a delicious spot and perfect for Oakland Museum visitors or just people in the area. Keep in mind that Town Fare is on the pricier side when coming though. I would definitely hope to homage again and I recommend this Oakland gem to others!

I love the location. I came here a couple of months ago the energy and the staff were very helpful. The food was good. We really came for deserts the banana pudding was ok. That peach cobbler bread pudding was so delicious. I would come just for that. My 2 year old at the time tore them red beans up. We would definitely come again. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. I would come again the tables are nicely decorated.

Had lunch at Town Fare with my family on a Saturday afternoon. We were visiting the Oakland museum, where it is located, which is an amazing museum. We didn't have to wait in line to order and there were plenty of tables available. The restaurant was clean and spacious. Staff was very friendly and helpful. The menu sounded delicious . I ordered the Southern fried pork chops that came with mac & cheese and smoked braised turkey collard greens. The pork chops were okay, a little bland, but tasted much better dipped in the BBQ sauce that came with my niece's meal. The mac & cheese was delicious! I could have eaten a big bowl of that. Didn't try the collard greens. I also ordered a side of honey butter glazed corn bread. It was too dry and I couldn't eat it.

Came again to try the blackened fish and grits. Service again was amazing and the food was superb. The fish had the perfect flavors and the grits were creamy and flavorful not think it runny. Just perfect. Ambiance is always nice vibe. Can't wait to come back

I came here on a break for lunch from the museum next door and the food was great! I ordered the fried chicken sandwich, and it was honestly the best fried chicken sandwich I've had in a long time. The chicken was juicy, the bun was warm and soft with a little crunch, the aioli was a little spicy, and the slaw was fresh! The service was fast and I loved the DJ who was playing Afrobeat music. It was a great lunch. Would come back again.

Came for brunch here and let me tell you this place has some amazing food. Fried chicken, best shrimp and grits I've had, Mac n cheese is top tier, so many options. Great mimosas, excellent service, live music. I will definitely be back here regularly.

Me, my wife and a few family friends went to this restaurant. We all have been to this restaurant before. We were greeted by staff when we entered the restaurant. We ordered the food before we were seated. I had the chicken and waffles. The waffles were fluffy and very delicious. The chicken was crispy, tender and cooked to perfection. The chicken was also very flavorful. The ambiance is customer friendly. This is a great place to go for lunch, dinner or brunch.

This was a laid back place. I went there during brunch and it was laided back. Soft music with great food atmosphere. The food took a little long to come but it may have been short staff that day so I won't complain too much. I will for sure go back and bring more people to enjoy some great food. The 40 water drink was a plus. (Chefs kiss)

It was such a cool place... The food was so delicious. I had the pancakes with pecan and peaches and eggs and my wife had the chicken waffles and the chicken was so juicy. The drinks were good and the ambiance was off the hook. I enjoyed my breakfast and DJ experience. First time here and it will certainly not be the last. The staff was nice, it seemed like there was some kiddos learning the business... I wondered if it was part of a school program. I forgot to take pictures but trust me, everything was eaten.

Food was great, but honestly, the atmosphere is what made it. We had a drink on the sun-filled patio while we were waiting on our table and then joined the buzzing, warm room of guests inside when seated. Music wasn't overpowering, sophisticated vibe. It was nice to enjoy brunch while supporting a talented chef in the community.

This is located inside the Oakland Museum. A hidden gem! 5 star food. Parking available underground at the museum in addition to street parking. The fried chicken is crispy and not over done. Yummy 5 star chicken. Fresh flowers on the tables. Everything super clean. You order at the counter and take a number and they bring the food to you. They pick up your dishes, provide boxes upon request. In addition to the wonderful friend chicken, we had waffles with sweet potato butter, a sweet potato roll, red beans and rice, fresh blueberry and beet salad, savory Brussel sprouts, salmon chowder, and a generous serving of fresh banana pudding(should be a shared dessert). All our food was spot on and delicious. i will be back.

We came for a late lunch and completely enjoyed ourselves. The ambiance is going to be the main star. The restaurant was filled with groups of very diverse people of different ages who are all very clearly enjoying themselves. The interior space is very tough to beat - it is beautifully designed, full of natural light and spacious. The space outside the windows, the museum gardens, are spectacular; you can sit outside and take it all in. You have more secure parking in the OMCA Museum garage than regular street parking. The core fare is comfort food and is really good. Five stars for the servers. They came and found us. They were chill, but checked in on us just the right amount. I want to eat here more often with friends, especially for lunch!

Recently celebrated my husband's birthday there. Food was delicious, although we were not expecting to have a brunch buffet and would've preferred a plated meal. I guess they have buffet style every 4th weekend or something like that. I would suggest if you do buffet offer mimosas in the price and or add dessert to buffet. Also a nice Bloody Mary bar where people can purchase with all the fixings! Ambiance was nice. Best biscuits I've ever had. I plan on going back during a non-buffet weekend.

Came here after cheering my friends on at the oakland marathon and the servers were really friendly and accommodating to our large party of almost 20 and dj was nice/fun touch who kindly accepted one of our songs requests i ordered shrimp and grits and it was tasty and filling (for me personally)! but overall my party felt that it was more on the expensive side for the taste and quantity so likely won't be returning

We've been wanting to go to this place for awhile but just never took the time to drive out to Oakland until now. It's in a museum which is different so don't expect your typical type of restaurant, it's like being in a cafeteria. They don't take reservations so you can just show up. The place is pretty big inside so plenty of seating. There was only a couple people in line so the wait wasn't that long. We ordered the fried chicken which came with rice and beans, and cornbread, oxtail ramen, pork chops which came with greens, and mac n cheese, and the shrimp and grits. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly and had some nice cripy skin on it, the cornbread was light and delicious, the rice and beans had wonderful flavor and cooked great. The oxtail ramen was unbelievable, such great flavor, the meat was tender, and the noodles were cooked perfectly as well. The shrimp and grits had great southern flavor to it, the shrimp were cooked perfectly and the meat was tender. The pork chops were a little over cooked but it had some good flavor, the greens were good, and the mac n cheese was just okay. Could use some more cheese flavor to it and a little bit of seasoning. The prices aren't too bad, just a little pricey but worth it. They also have a bar so you can drink up.

Interesting on how they sit people based on "who" you are....... LOL But the food is always good. The Fried pork chops and chicken were really good. Cocktails were tasty plus I had Clovis company.

I have such high hopes for this restaurant. I did not like that my chicken wings(they were huge) were tossed in a mambo sauce that seem like it was just ketchup, barbecue sauce, and brown sugar boiled together. I did not like the brussels sprouts they were too acidic the lemon overpowered the garlic. I can't tell if they were fried ,roasted, but the brussels sprouts were kind of soggy and my mac & cheese was coagulated as if it had been sitting out. I really wanted mac & cheese that day, but I'm gonna have to go to Smelly's and continue to get my mac & cheese, yams... soul food fix. Save your money respectfully. This is solely the review of the food. The staff was friendly and the lady that took our order was friendly. The service was really nice and the ambience is there. I love how you can eat inside and outside is very spacious. But if you go bring your own food.

So I want to start by saying this restaurant is probably really a 4 1/2 star. I took away a half a star because of the way you have to enter and it was a little disjointed when we came in on Sunday. People came from multiple ways and there was no tracking who came first. So let me start with the positives. The staff is extremely friendly, our server Ramah was super attentive and came through with all the recommendations. My daughter started off of the punch, which she loved and followed it with, and Martinelli's apple juice. I had two lavender margaritas they were to die for, and the birthday girl had three perfectly made old fashions. So needless to say the bartender was on point. Food: for starters we had the deviled eggs and a basket of biscuits. I literally could've eaten 3 orders of the deviled eggs. The sriracha was a perfect kick. The biscuits, that was my meh. They were dry and not super fluffy. I hope it was a one off. I had the shrimp and grits, so smooth so yummy, it was soooo delicious. I highly recommend! The basket of chicken was perfectly crisp, juicy, the honey was sweet and spicy. Lastly, the pork chop. The birthday girl asked for a knife which they only have butter knives but baybe... she didn't even need it. It was so juicy, tender and seasoned perfectly. I mean you really can't miss! The cons: you can enter through the front entrance and the parking lot. Now if you're there waiting for it to open when security comes to open the gate they literally open the flood gates. There is no order with how you're taken and maybe passing out #'s will alleviate this confusion. Other than that, the music wasn't overwhelmingly loud it was the perfect pitch for the moment! Parking: if you can't find on the street parking, there is a parking lot across the street that you have to pay for or apparently there is a garage at the museum.

I ate with the awesome people of Town Fare by Michelle McQueen today and it was amazing! My choices were the Cheddar Scalllion Grit Cakes, Southern Fried Chicken, and Garlic Parm Brussels Sprouts. An awesome trio of choices for a Saturday! The food was DELICIOUS! You have to stop by and give them a try. They are certainly proving their worth! Money well spent and a lunch well enjoyed! 5 stars!

Town Faire is an amazing and special experience. There is nothing I didn't love. Had the chicken and waffle, shrimp and grits, all great. Drinks and the atmosphere was lovely.

Omg so good! I was so happy the hubby and I finally got to go. I've been wanting to try this place since it opened in summer of 2022. I am not a catfish person at all, I prefer sole , snapper, etc. but I ordered the blackened catfish with grits and it was a hit. Those grits . Hubby got the pork chops and the waffle. I don't eat much pork but I tasted and I was so excited to eat this! I could've ate the whole thing. I can only imagine how the fried chicken tastes after trying this. Super crunchy, super flavorful I would not change one thing. The waffle was equally amazing coming from more of a pancake person but the waffle had a delicate sweetness, a little crispy just soft and just melted in my mouth. Oh and the biscuit , flaky, buttery , fluffy, everything you would want in a biscuit. I cannot wait to come back and order the rest of the menu. I can't wait to come back and try more things. Everything we both had was a 10/10 easily. Be prepared to wait a bit they don't do reservations but they have a lot of tables so we waited about 20-25 min and didn't mind it. This is a popular place and now I see why.

Town Fare is a staple in the Oakland community. Attached to the Oakland Museum, Chef Michele has curated a menu that speaks to everyone's soul. You will want to order every single thing on the menu. During Oakland's restaurant week though, this place was the first on my stop due to the laid back sleek feel inside. You are greeted promptly with a big smile and hi from the staff. The blackened catfish with hoppin' John, cheddar scallion grit cakes and the peach cobbler croissant bread pudding is cooked to perfection! Don't wait to till the last minute to try out Town Fare, especially during Oakland's restaurant week.

Lions, tigers and bears...OH MY! you walk into what's seems to be a seemingly simple museum cafe (simple tables with flower center pieces), but to an extreme pleasant surprise....you are met with a wonderful southern style menu. You order at the counter, staff were friendly and patient. The food is BOMB. I ordered the Shrimp and Grits and deviled eggs. My husband ordered the fried chicken, beans and rice and cornbread with a side of mac n cheese. Imma start with my Shrimp and grits- creamy, rich roux, topped with succulent shrimp. The deviled eggs had the perfect hint of Siracha and sesame flavor. Fried chicken- crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. Beans and rice is cooked with smoked Turkey! And the cornbread was borderline cake- loved it!! I'm not mentioning Mac n cheese because you just have to try it--- seriously everything is good. Can't wait to go back!

Delicious food! We came here for Father's Day for the buffet brunch pre-paid meal. Didn't really care for the fact that we had to pay in advance and the entire pre-paid cost was non-refundable. Thinking in terms of there being some type of emergency situation and having to cancel. Gratuity was automatically added regardless of the size of your group. We had to track down our server a couple times to place an order for drinks and then to actually get the drinks several minutes after placing the order. There was very little alcohol in all our drinks, as much as they cost. I never got a buzz. So I didn't order another cocktail. I'll order wine next time. For the most part, everything turned out fine but the pre-pay was definitely a concern initially. With that being said everything was well organized and orchestrated. Tables were already mapped out and specifically reserved by reservation name and the food was delicious and on point. A couple of snafus like forgetting to put out serving utensils for the desserts and running out of desserts and not replenishing without bringing it to their attention. But my parents, daughter and I loved the food. Everything was delicious. I will probably never do the pre-paid events again. But I'll have to try the walk-in soon. Overall, the food was good. My post is several months after going. So hopefully they've made changes. But I'll definitely try again!

Towne Fare has a pretty tasty brunch. I enjoyed the deviled eggs, shrimp and grits and especially the catfish and grits. I was not a fan of the biscuits & gravy because I found it to lack flavor (it just tasted like ham) so I sent them back and was very happy with the catfish instead. The only issue with Town Fare is that they don't take reservations and getting a table can get messy. Myself and another group were waiting outside before it even opened and so many people cut the line that we ended up with 40 people in front of us. It's not their fault people were being messy but a reservation system would help organize seating a little better. We were nonetheless frustrated with the long wait and will consider coming back on the tail end of brunch when the rush has died down. Last tip--please read the street signs outside the museum when parking. My friend got an $80 ticket on a Sunday so don't be fooled if you see other people parking out front.

10/10. This cafe is located inside the Oakland Museum. You do not need to pay admission to eat there. The cafe itself is very nice. It's decorated with a modern flow. There are floor to ceiling windows on 3 out of the 4 walls. Which I love. It's non traditional as far as wait staff. You order at the front register as soon as you walk in. You are given a number that you place at your table. Your food is then brought to your table when it is ready. The food was scrumptious! Very satisfying. The portion sizes were good too.

I'm so happy we finally got a chance to visit Town Fare Cafe. I've been a fan of Michele McQueen's cooking for many years. I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich and it did not disappoint. The chicken itself was nice and juicy, seasoned excellently, and the crunch was just right. The remoulade sauce was the perfect accompaniment within the sandwich. The side salad was a flavorful and light addition. My son wanted to give the black waffles a try, he said they were good with the syrup. I ordered the Brown Sugar Sweet Tea because I like brown sugar in coffee, but I did not like the flavor in tea. My son didn't like the Brown Sugar lemonade either. That won't stop me from returning however. I'll just order a different beverage next time. The decor was beautiful, from the furniture down to the lovely floral arrangements. The music was excellent, I heard many of my favorites. The vibe was just right. The best part for me was seeing Chef Michele working. I like seeing business owners working in their own business, It brings a personal touch. I'm looking forward to returning.

100% plan to eat at OMCA when visiting or just make Town Fare your destination. A beautiful and fabulous restaurant with quick and quality service, large airy dining room with an array of views of the grounds and Lake Merritt, and incredible food. We were just looking to share some food to hold us over for a large dinner later. The Fried Chicken Sandwich was beautifully dressed, extra crunchy, and full of flavor. Served with either fries or a salad, we went with fries of course. They were fresh cut, hot and greasy, as fresh cut fries should be! We also ordered a side of Mac n' Cheese and it was like the mac n' cheese I haven't had since I lived in Georgia- the ooey gooey full of cheese baked on top kind, the real deal for me. The menu has options for everyone and there is a good assortment of drinks in the cooler to choose and even a full bar if that's what you're in the mood for. Really great restaurant and great to have in a museum!

Had the best experience at the Oakland Museum with Town Fare. The vibes were exquisite with a DJ and the staff were very kind and sweet. We got the chicken and waffles with a side of grits and shared it between two people. I would say, we could've opted for our own orders because the waffle was a bit thin but we didn't want to be in a food coma while walking the exhibit, so sharing was the right call. Would def recommend if you're visiting the museum to just eat right at Town Fare and simplify your day!

Fantastic food, comfortable place and friendly service. Highly recommend treating yourself to lunch at Town Fare!

Possibly one of the best restaurants in Oakland. Street metered parking at lunch time. Located for lunch only inside the modern Oakland Museum. Spacious and modern. Order at the counter and they bring your food to you. Get your own utensils and water. I had the chicken and waffle, apple and beet salad, brussels sprouts, and the mac and cheese. Fabulous. Everything else looked great. Only open for lunch Wednesday through Sunday 11a-4p. Too bad it's not open for dinner - you could park in the Museum parking garage for safety.

WHEN: Weekday Lunchtime PARKING: You can do free street parking across from the museum, or in the museum parking structure for just a couple of bucks an hours (validated). Worth it for families because there's a direct entrance tot he museum from there. I've been here twice for lunch now because I have a membership with the Oakland Museum! That means I get 10% off my orders at Town Fare Cafe! I'm so glad the food option is actually really good! There's a decent amount of seating, both indoor and outdoor. Some feeling more loungey outside. Please note that since this is a restaurant, food is made to order, so with that and the lunchtime rush, the food WILL take some time coming out--at least half hour. So during both times I've been here for lunch, ate outdoors, so here's a consolidated list what I tried: HONEY BUTTER GLAZED CORNBREAD - $4 Scratch made, sweet cream butter, local honey. It's just okay, nothing mind blowing. CLASSIC MACARONI AND CHEESE - $8 Five cheese blend, elbow mac, house spice. Very cheesy, and I really enjoyed it. GARLIC PARMESAN BRUSSELS SPROUTS - $12 Fresh grated parmesan, crispy garlic, lemon zest, chili flake, meyer lemon aioli. Oh yes, this was so good. This had a lot of grated parm and I enjoyed that aioli dip. Yeah okay this dish is not healthy but dang it it was enjoyable! Still counting them as my greens! LOW COUNTRY SHRIMP AND GRITS - $24 Chicken Andouille sausage, grilled prawns, trinity, confit tomatoes, crispy shallots, cheddar grits. This huge dish was so good. There was 4 pieces of shrimp, and plenty of that flavorful yummy gravy sauce (trinity). BEST EVER FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH - $ 19 Marinated and brined chicken breast, smokey remoulade, jalapeño slaw on toasted brioche. Comes with fries or salad. Chose the salad. The sandwich was messy but really tasty. I think it's enough to share. MS. PEARLS BANANA PUDDING - $12 Vanilla bean pudding, fresh banana, classic vanilla wafers, homemade whipped cream. Perfect for sharing. This was such a wonderful treat for kids (and the adults). It's exactly what you hope to have out of a banana pudding parfait. I enjoyed all the food here. I appreciate the museum offering high quality food that won't break my wallet too badly. Oh and being a member help with that 10% discount!

I recently visited this establishment for my birthday and I can say I was impressed.. the food was delicious.. only cons were one of the pieces of my chicken basket was overcooked to the point I couldn't eat it , however the other pieces were moist , crispy and well seasoned.. also my friend said her deviled eggs were too salty to enjoy... Pros ... I also had the Vanilla French Toast and Candied Bacon.. OMG .. so delicious.. and my drink Purple Rain was so delicious and refreshing! We will definitely be back on a weekday for the Gumbo Ramen I have been wanting to try.. .. Also side note .. Please enter in the Oak Street side entrance, we waited 20 minutes on the 10th and Fallon st. before we realize this was service entrance only .. The service was great and the Live DJ set the atmosphere!

After listening to people rave about this place for months, I was finally able to give them a try. I guess we went in the wrong door (from the outside) because no one was there to greet us so we were a little lost. Finally someone came and said that we order at the cashier to the left of us, then have a seat and wait for our order. I ordered the typical chicken and waffles and it was delicious. I got a couple of handfuls of fries and they were the bomb. Seasoned to perfection. The ambience was nice (Friday afternoon around 12 noon), not too crowded, and food came rather quickly.

Beautiful ambiance and amazing food. I would eat here every day if I could. Also, it's so refreshing visiting Black owned businesses and not having to deal with negative attitudes and bad energy. Basically saying that to say the customer service here is exceptional, very polite, helpful and professional. I recommend getting the shrimp and grits and side of mac & cheese with sweet tea. I love eating here. Town Fare is in my top 5 Oakland restaurants to visit and talk about. Thank you, Michele McQueen!

Really enjoyed brunch at Town Fare. Best shrimp and grits I've had in the bay area by miles. Chef also rolled by our table to greet us and chat. Service was excellent. Food and drink were excellent. I really love the vibes. Very 'grown and sexy' crowd ;)

Very good southern food. I had shrimp and grits. Shrimp was finger licking and grits delicious.

Amazing shrimp and grits here today! Good service, lovely setting and great food. Second time eating here, and it does not disappoint! Fellow diners also loved the chicken sandwich, but I didn't get a chance to photograph before it was tasted : ) Definitely will be back when I'm back at the underrated Oakland Museum of California.

Not really in a mood to do a review but did want to post a photo. Great 4th Sunday Brunch for the price. Good food. Never able to try the gumbo ramen because they don't do it on Sundays or it always sell out. Something wrong with the phone; either the calls don't go through or they don't answer-it's very weird. Met the owner, she's cool and is very involved with the restaurant. Go as early as possible for brunch because you don't want to get caught waiting in that long line. Great music from the Dj. They do not do reservations.

Came to dine for the (1st time) Sunday Brunch on Sun, May 26th. Arrived at 2P and was informed by a young lady behind the counter that they stopped serving. I took my business to OYO in Pleasanton and we had great experience as usual.

Stopped in before seeing Hella Feminist. I was thinking a cocktail was going to be necessary. Aperol Spritz for me, please. So refreshing. I got the Catfish and Grits. Perfect amount of spice and seasoning... I still added a little hot sauce...and refrained from licking the plate. Okay now on to a finisher of Banana Pudding... it's $12. I'm expecting a damn good banana pudding... I wasn't expecting a bucket of banana pudding... Here's the deal: Don't get this if you have no concept of self-control unless you're sitting at the table with 3 other people who would cut you for banana pudding. Town Fare: PLEASE MAKE A HALF SIZE! tyty! Also it's delicious. Maybe ask for a to go with it. Also, worth it. It's a pricey spot but I figure you're also donating to the museum. Can't wait for the next time!

Service was great, our server was Noah and Asante was really really nice. I had a side of waffles and they were so good nice and fresh, the only thing that was. Then we ordered the shared chicken and OMG the chicken was old taste like they reheated it from last-night, although they did give us a fresh batch after a courtesy complaint about the chicken. Also ordered the Cat Fish and Grits the Cat fish which wasn't Cat fish tasted very like Basa fish, taste very fishy not fresh honestly it was just nasty, then OMG we ordered some Fries and talking about salty as hell my God!! Pork chops tasteless no flavor and the eggs was not cooked as asked. When you say disappointed Very disappointed after waiting to come here on a Sunday OMG so disappointed. Very disappointed. One more thing the ambiance was Great

At the Oakland Museum with a group and we all decided to eat at the cafe there. I was impressed by the options listed on the menu. I was expecting preprepared salads and sandwiches, they did have that too, but much more! I ordered the beet salad and curry vegetable spring rolls, pictured here. My colleagues probably tested the whole menu with chicken wings, deviled eggs, jackfruit carnitas tacos, fried chicken sandwich... you name it! It was a comfort food haven. I loved the beet salad. It was lightly dressed and colorful. The egg rolls were crunchy and drizzled with a creamy curry sauce. We enjoyed the exhibit we were there to see, but I would go back there just for lunch if in the area. There was also a really nice garden area to eat outside, that was very pleasant.

A surprisingly delightful soul food brunch. When friends invited me to Sunday brunch at Town Fare, I'll admit I did not know much about this place. I hadn't been to the museum. We didn't make a reservation but if you have a larger party I would suggest making one. The menu wasn't extensive but covered something for everyone who has a soul food tastebud. Our server was experiencing her first day so there was a lot of grace for her. This space has enough of flare to give it a good vibe. Whether you are out with your crew or having a family day outing this a good spot. The service was good and the food tasted amazing and well seasoned. I suggest the pork chops and the chicken. We also did the deviled eggs and the shrimp and grits. Everything hit. If you want a little razzle dazzle add a carafe mimosa with the guava to top off your experience. Definitely a place I'll be back.

Loved everything about the experience. The music, the vibe, the layout. Food & service was great. Loved what I ordered. Will definitely be back to enjoy that sun deck when it's Spring/Summer!

This was our first time eating at Town Fare. We went with friends for Sunday brunch. 4 adults, 2 kids, and a baby. We arrived at noon and the place was packed. They don't take reservations, so the 6 of us found a spot outside for the alleged 50 minute wait. We tried to get a drink at the bar that was inside the huge dining room but were told they were backed up with drink orders for tables and that we would receive faster service if we went to the outside bar, so we did. The outside bartender was very nice but she was left at a bit of a disadvantage as she did not have access to the same things that the inside bar had. For instance, no orange juice for a mimosa, no grenadine, no sangria, all of which would have been available at the inside bar. We settled for a mango mimosa, the offered "rum punch" style cocktail (which my friend did not like - probably the Aperol), and a couple of bloodys. The bloody mary was a bit of a different take. They used Filthy brand mix which was fine, but the drink was shaken with ice and I thought it was about to be served up, but then ice was added back at the end. It was a much lighter version of a bloody mary. You could see through it, but it tasted ok. Mimosa was fine. It ended up taking an hour or a little longer before we were finally seated. There was a DJ spinning R&B and Hip-Hop records, so the ambience while loud, was a good vibe. The music was at a reasonable volume, but that coupled with the overpacked dining room made conversation from opposite ends of the table difficult. Our server asked us if we were ready to order, but we had literally just sat down. We were however, ready to order more drinks, so we did that. Two more bloodys and another cocktail. A few minutes later, we ordered food. Deviled eggs (4 halves to an order) and Doscuits (fried biscuit dough with cinnamon and sugar) were ordered for the table. We also ordered the chicken and waffle (opting for the sweet potato version of the waffle as our server said it was her favorite), low country shrimp and grits, fried pork chop with grits and eggs, the farmer's breakfast, and the "best ever friend chicken sandwich". We also ordered a side of pancakes with the farmer's breakfast. It took at least 35 minutes for our food to arrive. Everything arrived at the same time (including the appetizers) except for the chicken and waffle. We were a good five minutes into our meal when it ocurred to us that we never received our drinks. We asked our server about it as soon as we saw her again (she had about 12 tables, so we didn't see her very often) and she said that they only have one bartender who was backed up with orders, but they were just about to start making them. By that point, we were more than halfway done eating and told her to cancel the drinks. Normally a cocktail comes before the food or at the very least along with the food, but the bar and kitchen are apparently very overworked for the amount of diners they are attempting to serve. All of the food arrived lukewarm at best. VERY DISAPPOINTING considering the wait for a table and the wait to receive the cold food. The chicken and waffle that arrived 5 minutes or so after the rest of the food was a little closer to hot, but not that much closer. The fried chicken was a little pink in the middle and the leg was hella salty, while the thigh was properly seasoned. Hope I don't get sick from undercooked chicken! The sweet potato waffle was delicious. When they brought the chicken and waffles, we reminded the (manager maybe?) person about the pancakes. He looked up and down the receipt but apparently they hadn't made it on. He said he could make them but it might be awhile as the kitchen was backed up. I must have heard that the kitchen or bar were backed up at least 20 times from 5 different employees while we were there for THREE HOURS! We walked in at noon, it took a good 20 minutes to get drinks from the one bartender outside, were seated after 1PM, and walked out at 3:09PM! Despite not being hot, everyone said their food tasted good (might have been waiting around while our poor server saw to her other 11 tables?). This was not an ideal first visit, but I feel like they are experiencing the Booziebrunch effect. We learned of the brunch from her Instagram and we can't be the only ones. They may be victims of their own success. We may try again, but not soon. They've been open since 2022 so I would have thought they'd be more polished by now. Maybe Sunday brunch is new? In any case, they need to scale back on how many people they try to serve at once, hire more bartenders and servers, and work on getting things out in the right order, and hot.