Willows & Pine

Let me start off with the food is amazing, there was a little bit of a wait to get my order taken, I even thought I was going to have to leave and go somewhere else because my lunch time is so short. I walked out, but one of the owners, I am assuming because I forgot to ask 😅, came after me and apologized, took my order right away and I got it soon after that. If you’re thinking of eating out, come here, in fact don’t even think about it just get in your car, walk, run, ride your bike and go. Everything about this place is phenomenal!

Went for brunch. Got the oxtail and grits and shrimp and grits. Both meals were Very flavorful. Oxtail were the big ones, the way I like! Portions were very generous and service was on point! I will definitely go back and try more dishes/dinner menu.

The food was delicious! The prix fixed brunch is more than enough to serve two to three people. It was my first time visiting, I was really unsure if it was a seat yourself kind of deal when my party and I first walked in. We stood at the counter for a minute before being greeted. The vibe was very relaxed and family oriented. I would go back again for the food even if it was for take out.

I was on the 580 side of Oakland and remembered the Willows & Pine Restaurant, and after a quick Google search...here I am! While on my way to the table I looked at what the other's had ordered, and when I spotted the Porterhouse Porkchop...that was it for me! Let me just say this...It was truly exceptional in flavor, texture and presentation! 5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆

What a pleasant surprise! Wandered in to a very welcoming atmosphere. Seated in the back area in a spacious booth. The menu read was accurate and managed expectations that each dish is made to order, so be patient! Brunch is curated and not the typical eggs, waffles and French toast. Think oxtail and grits, chicken pot pie done right. Prepare to loosen your belt buckle as the portions could easily feed 4 hungry folk. For me the stars of the day were the fried oyster mushrooms (stellar) and the chicken pot pie! Entire staff welcoming and I highly recommend giving it a try.

We had a fantastic meal here with friends, everything tastes homemade and delicious. Good options for our vegetarian friends as well. Portions are huge, we ordered too much but we were not mad about those leftovers. Service was also great, we were well taken care of. Definitely going back!

Came here after church we waited a good while but the food!!!!!!!! The wait was worth it, you will not be disappointed! Everything is made to order. My party of three had two shrimp and grits with one vegan fried chicken and a house made plantain Belgian sweet waffle, side of eggs and a hot link with mimosas! Celebrating my graduation early the staff was very welcoming, hospitable and professional. It’s a lively environment. The oxtails are popular and will go first. Get in here EARLY or call ahead to place your order. The Chef was wonderful and is passionate about what she does with a light chef Ramsey spirit 😂 this place is the place to be.

Everything was so flavorful and delicious! After a trip to the library, we were looking for something to eat and stumbled upon W&P. The waitress recommended all of our dishes, which included Jambalaya and Shrimp Etouffee. Both were amazing. We also got Mac n Cheese for our little one, which was equally as good. We can’t wait to go back and try more things off the menu!

As a biracial yellow bone with the blood of Louisiana flowing through her veins, Willows & Pine certainly did not disappoint. First of all, the ambiance was giving FOR US BY US, which we love. It was Friday night and there was a DJ playing throw backs. Very comforting. The servers were very attentive as well so we knew we'd be taken care of. But really what we need to get into is the flavor and generous portion sizes. Normally, I'm skeptical of roux-based mac & cheese because I typically prefer egg custard southern style baked mac & cheese, but the Mac and cheese was absolutely delicious, creamy and flavorful. My girl B got the gumbo and it was FIRE, crab legs and everything with that deep chocolate color you wanna see in a gumbo. Not greasy, just full of umami. I got the catfish with greens and rice and it was MASSIVE! Literally 2 meals for lil ole me. The fish was seasoned dowwwwwn and the greens were very solid. Sometimes in dishes like this the rice can be the afterthought, but the rice was also very flavorful and seasoned and paired well with everything. I will absolutely be back to big my back with those big ass plates of tasty Southern cookin.

Today my organization, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated: Chapter, did something special today; we participated in the Kwanzaa Small Biz Crawl. We supported various Black-owned businesses. I was excited to learned that we would be going to one my favorite restaurants. Willow & Pine's food is absolutely delicious and Michauxnée and her team did a great job taking care of their customers. There were roughly 20 of us and everyone left full and satisfied.

My famikyvand I took my mom here for her 80th birthday brunch. Willow and Pine made it the best experience imaginable. The staff was friendly, patient and knowledgeable. The owner/chef came out and told us about the restaurant and the menu. (She is a brilliant cook and a joy to meet!) Then the food came out. I ordered the 4 course prix fixe option and was not disappointed. The salad was fresh and the salmon perfectly cooked. The oxtailes were cooked perfectly so that nearly all the fat had rendered from the bone and all that was left was the tender meat. My daughter had the French toast and LOVED IT. If you are looking for excellent food, amazing service and a really exceptional overall experience, this is the place!

The food here was absolutely impeccable! I love food that I can't get anywhere else. Each of the dishes I tried were nothing short of amazing. I have no complaints whatsoever. Also the customer service was top tier. Everyone was so nice. The restaurant itself was spacious and well decorated. I would definitely recommend this to others, especially those who love southern authentic cuisine.

Willows & Pine was damn good. Whoever recommended this spot to me, you are appreciated. It was this past Sunday and it was a last minute brunch idea. I've wanted soul and creole food in one spot for a while, and I'm excited to try the rest of the menu knowing that they offer shrimp etouffee, jambalaya and gumbo, red beans and rice, etc. These items are not on the brunch menu so I'll be back for dinner. Until then, on to brunch. Drink Order - Sex in the South. Made with soju, peach cordial and pineapple, this was a subtle fruity drink. They ran out of whatever ingredients were needed to make the Rum Punch Slushy? Doesn't that sound amazing? Another reason for me to return. Anyway, I'd give Sex in the South a 5/5. I ordered a second, and because don't like soju on its own I was initially a skeptic but this blended well and didn't taste too fruity. Entree: Shrimp & Grits. Look, I was going to skip and find something else and then I saw another table's food being brought to them. The plate is big enough to share. I'm not saying I'd have wanted to share, but I am saying the portion size is valid. With that said, the only thing I wish they did was provide more gravy. My friend ordered the oxtails and grits and her plate was gravy down! I'd like the same and that's the only reason I'm giving them a 4.5/5. You can't miss the flavor of that roux, and the shrimp was the texture of crab - flaky and buttery, like Argentinian shrimp. Extra Treat: banana pudding French toast. Look, banana pudding is having its moment and I want to be part of it. It wasn't a hard decision to make after seeing that it's made using brioche bread, the best bread to ever use for French toast! It was a good sweet treat I was able to try at the restaurant and save for later. Very reminiscent of banana pudding, and the cream on top does is what ties the dish together to really make it taste like the dessert it drew its inspiration from. I'm a sucker for sweets, so I'll have to give this a 5/5 because they pulled this one off beautifully. This is a popular spot with zero complaints from me. Service was on point, food was on point, drinks were on point. I think there's only street parking available, but I didn't have a hard time finding it. It may be due to the time I went which was around 1:00 PM on a Sunday, but let's be honest. I'd trek here if I couldn't find parking nearby.

This was our 2nd time coming here to eat. The food is very good. We stopped in on a Sunday afternoon. The spot had many customers inside eating. We had a wait once we entered as there were tables that needed to be cleaned. Once we were seated the server came and took our orders. This is a Black woman owner business. Support Black business.

First time giving this place a try and it was delicious. The food was full of flavor. The service was amazing. I would definitely come back again.

Everything we ordered was amazing I have no complaints the oxtail tails the vegan chicken & waffles made with oysters mushrooms the banana pudding waffles Their menu states they make everything as uts ordered so the wait is a little long but it's worth it. I do wish they had other creamer for the coffee Their staff are young ppl but they do a good job and their owner is a black lady The music was very fitting for the environment

Date: 4/19/2025 Time: 2:00 PM 62° Sunny My companion suggested three different restaurants for lunch. He asked me to select one. After reviewing the menus and taking into consideration the locations of the three venues, I chose Willows and Pine. We were in sync as he also chose the same venue. Well, what else can I say except like minds think alike. Perusing the menu online, I knew what I desired for lunch - Chilean sea bass, which I haven't had for almost 12 years. We get to the restaurant only to find out that the Chilean sea bass is only during the dinner hours (5 PM to 9 PM). All right I needed more time to peruse the menu and decide what would be pleasing to my palate. What did I have a taste for on the lunch menu? Eats: companion had a grilled salmon salad and two orange mimosas. I decided on the biscuit chicken pot pie gravy and a butterfly pea iced tea. My entree was absolutely delicious. Best chicken pot pie I have ever had. Perfectly seasoned and loaded with all the veggies I like. The homemade biscuit was definitely biggly, and a bit too much for me. Service: Waitstaff were friendly, pleasant and attentive. Ambience: quite nice. Comfy and casual. Sit by the window and people watch. Seating capacity: 50 people, but the restaurant space is small. Front room: perhaps 20 people. There is a room in the rear of the restaurant. I did not see how much space was in that room. Drawback: street parking can be problematic. However, my companion lucked out and found a parking space nearby. Return visit? Yes, if I happen to be in the neighborhood. Public transportation (AC Transit) is within walking distance.

I went for Sunday lunch with friends. I had the shrimp and grits and it was really good! The portion was good. We were a party of 13 and they took good care of us. Others said their food was good too. I took the oxtails and grits to go. My family enjoyed it. I would come again.

Four of us had dinner at Willows & Pine for the first time this evening. We definitely will be back. The service was welcoming and the food was great! One caution: the portions are huge; be prepared to take home stuff. I had jambalaya, which was nicely spicy and filled with shrimp, sausage and fish. Another one of us had the sea bass and a cabbage and greens, and two had gumbo. Unfortunately, none of us had room for dessert. The chef clearly loves to cook--a family tradition--and you should go before it gets so popular you can't get in.

I loved it...the whole experience! Came here to celebrate a friend, there were about 15 of us...and so the fact that they accommodated us was awesome! And then the complexity of ordering for a group that size. I had the oyster mushrooms with yams and cabbage...delicious. I am always challenged when I go to a restaurant and they don't have vegan/vegetarian options so I was very happy. More than anything, it's the people that make the experience...the staff...family run business...is just amazing, warm and welcoming...so I would come back just for that. The chef...thank you for your love and light! I will be back for sure!

The best biscuits ever! I was looking forward to trying the Jambalaya but that's only served during dinner. We arrived at 1PM and the brunch menu was available. We wanted to try a variety of items and ordered a few sides. Smothered potatoes, grits, hot link and scrambled eggs. The biscuit was the best followed by a flavorful smothered potatoes. We loved to cool and modern interior design. Looking forward to trying more fine restaurants in Oakland:)

I call it a hidden gem but it's known to the people in the know and now I know. This is home cooked food with love in my humble opinion. There is love and passion being infused into each and every dish, drink and dessert. I got the beef short ribs. They were so tender and tasty. Paired perfectly with the mashed potatoes and gravy and cabbage. I had the pomegranate lemonade for my drink which was a unique yet familiar taste, super refreshing, never had that combination before. The shrimp in voodoo sauce was our appetizer and it was cooked to perfection. I could drink the sauce, it was that good. We used the remaining sauce for dipping the fried oyster mushrooms in. We didn't leave a drop, dont judge me, haha. The peach cream bread pudding is simply divine. Each bite was better then the last. It's a must if you even remotely like bread pudding, trust me, I wouldn't stear you wrong. I highly recommend this place for a food experience, not a meal, an experience. Enjoy.

The food here was really good! The jambalaya, voodoo shrimp, and shrimp & crawfish chowder were all delicious and full of flavor. The only thing I wasn't wowed by was the cabbage--it felt pretty plain compared to everything else. Our server, Kamela, was so nice, and I also appreciated the chef--she clearly puts love into her cooking, and it shows. This is definitely elevated comfort food, the kind of place I'll be coming back to. Honestly, if it were in a different neighborhood, I think it would be packed all the time.

Went on a Saturday, they were very busy. Their system on guest waiting for a table can be fine tuned but it could've been an off day because they mentioned the had a large party. Also the server could've been a bit better on getting things/ checking in. The shrimp n grits were pretty good and standard. I would eat it again. I wished the grits itself had more flavor or a little bit more salt. I enjoyed the fried oyster mushrooms and it tasted better with hot sauce. The plantain waffle is a unique offering that I thought was pretty cool. It's literal plantains cooked in a waffle iron. I liked it because I like plantains while my mom did not like this one bit. if you don't like plantains or not used to getting them, it's probably not for you. I also tried their version of sweet tea which is butterfly pea tea sweetened with honey. It was a little too sweet for my liking. If you like a sweeter tea this may be for you. Looking forward to trying them again and trying different things on the menu.

First time customer but definitely not my last. We ordered the French toast with peaches which was absolutely delightful. We also ordered the shrimp and grits dish which was really delicious. The portions are huge so we shared both dishes and had a to go box for each. Service was great too.

If you haven't tried this yet you should! The food is delicious, the staff was great. The chef came to our table to greet us and the atmosphere was great! Will definitely go back!

A friend of mine found out about this place through another friend so we figured we give it a try. We do a guys dinner month so this was on our list. I made reservations since there was 7 of us. We arrived on time and only waited a minute or so before they sat us down. The place isn't that big even though they have seating in the back so if you go there with 4 or more people definitely make reservations. Our waiter asked right away if we needed any drinks which was good. They don't have hard alcohol so all you get is beer, wine, sparkling, and some type of other mixed drinks. They only had a cabernet red wine so I ordered that, our group also ordered a mimosa, and a couple beers. The mimosa was a nice poor and it pretty good, and the wine was very good to. We ordered some appetizers right away. The apps we ordered were the Shrimp in Voodoo Sauce, and the Po Thang Sliders. The shrimp didn't have much flavor in it definitely not blackened. The sauce was just bland. The sliders were good and the sauce on it was tasty. Our entrees were the jambalaya, the Shrimp Etouffee, the Chilean Sea Bass, and the ox tails. They didn't have pork chops, chowder, or the short ribs. The jambalaya had good flavor to it but the spices were overbearing the dish. The shrimp etouffee had a great flavor to it and the shrimp were cooked perfect. The Chilean Sea Bass was cooked perfectly, light and tender, the spices were perfect, the greens although vegan tasted pretty good, and the cabbage was also cooked perfect. The short ribs were tender and fell off the bone, great flavor, and the rice went well with it. Short ribs and the Sea Bass were the best dishes. For our deserts we ordered the Banana Pudding Waffle, Peaches and Cream Bread Pudding, and the Strawberry dish. The Banana Pudding Waffle was outstanding plenty of flavor in it. The Peaches and Cream Bread Pudding was light and good flavor. The strawberry dish was ok, plenty of strawberries. just needed some type of strawberry syrup to go with it. All of our dishes were pretty big, definitely not short on food. We all took togo boxes. As for the service, our waiter was very slow on picking up any used or empty dishes and refilling our water glasses. The service overall was just slow. We would go back there to try some other dishes and see if the service would be better.

We ordered takeout: the banana pudding waffle, salmon eggs benedict, and smothered potatoes. I had wanted to try the cornbread and sweet potato fries, but those were out of stock that day, so we got the potatoes instead. - Banana pudding waffle: I wish they included nilla wafers as that felt like a big missing component from the banana pudding flavor. I'm not a big fan of maple syrup personally. I also wish the banana pieces were cut smaller. This one was a little disappointing overall. - Salmon benedict: it had Hollandaise sauce, some salmon, English muffins, lots of liquidy egg. I enjoyed it overall, although I prefer my eggs more solid personally. - Potatoes: These were pretty good, though not particularly memorable to me. Food was good overall, though I wish there were even more savory and salty, not just sweet, vegetarian entree options. I do see they have added vegan chicken and waffles to the menu which I'd be interested in trying in the future.

We've looked into this restaurant frequently while visiting the library up the street, or stopping at Farmer Joes' down the street, and patrons always seem happily seated inside, so we decided try it out. What a great addition to the Dimond! The place is stylish: modern, clean and comfy; the service was very friendly and helpful, and the food was great! We only ordered two entrees, because we could see the portions were really generous, and the shrimp etoufee and the porkchops were plentiful and very tasty. We really liked the veggies and the gravies, and the entrees themselves were fine too! I would have liked a biscuit or some bread to sop up the gravy! We are definitely coming back: Having a "special" each night would bring us back more often.

Great service and food love the drinks also. The customer service and food portions was top tier

I was so excited to try Willows & Pine and it did not disappoint. Every time I step foot in this place, I feel like I'm at my Rich auntie house. Lol. It just feels like home, for real. The staff is great. I believe it is family owned and ran and it definitely has that feel. As far as the food......... the short ribs, TOP TIER! The Jambalaya, TOP TIER! The shrimp etoufee! My God! *licks lips* Everything is soooooooooooooooooo good and you can tell it was made with love. And don't even get me started on the dessert. They had a peach cobber bundt cake or whatever it was and I didn't need to scrape the plate trying to get every crumb like I did. The food can take a minute to come out and it can get pricey (be well worth it) so be prepared. It is best to make a reservation if you can, especially on the weekends. It gets busy. I've only been for dinner, but I hear the breakfast is really good too. Overall, Oakland needed this black-owned jewel. You won't regret coming here. I've returned serval times..... and with friends and family.

Outstanding food -- I keep coming back for the cuisine, the warm atmosphere, and the excellent service. I'm so glad we have a restaurant like this in Oakland. I love supporting local business owners, and it makes it even better that Michauxnee is homegrown!

So so so good! The sea bass was INSANE, so tender, juicy and flavorful. I was supposed to share with others at the table but I ended up eating most of it! The fried Brussels sprouts were perfect. Crispy and perfectly sauced. Our table shared all of the dishes we ordered and every single one was delicious. The smothered pork chop, the chicken pot pie, the grilled cheese with braised beef... The staff are friendly and super helpful. This is simply an absolute gem of a restaurant.

Went to this restaurant and the meal was GREAT! Make sure to go to Willowa and Pine and you will be satisfied with the LARGE portions and the GREAT customer service!!! I will be back JAN 9, l made my reservations yesterday

I was headed home on 580 one evening and wanted to grab dinner first in this corner of Oakland near the hills. I've actually never been on this side of Fruitvale Ave, only the part around the Bart station, which is very Hispanic. This part in the hills, not so much. This place hit my feed back in 2024. Sit down Soul Food that has an upscale tinge but still quite casual. Great local story of a family that migrated from the South in the 1930's to escape racial oppresion and started a new life in West Oakland. There the grand parents opened a neighborhood store and eventually some local kitchen. All that eventually got phased out through development and this is the newer generation of that family trying to do something in the same town. Gotta respect that. The menu is actually quite small, but I think they have certain specials on certain nights. Like I would have wanted to try their seafood gumbo but I think it is only on Fridays. They also do brunch on the weekends that I've heard are quite buzzin'. Shrimp/Crawfish Chowder ($10/cup/4*) Very creamy with a standard chowder consistency. Very flavorful maybe even a tad salty. But definite garlic presence with all that creaminess. And serious chunks in this chowder like a handful of medium sized shrimps, just a few hits of small crayfish meat and substantial chunks of potato and carrot. The shrimps were just okay to me, but it is the part that'll fill ya up. The crayfish is what made it special that I wished there were more of it, but kinda expected. And their cup size is larger than most, that to me it is almost meal sized, and they even have a bigger size. This was so filling that I could only eat half of my entree. Smothered Pork Chops ($32/4*) These were just regular smaller diner style pork chops, just lightly seasoned and lightly pan fried without any coating/breading. So pretty plain but still decent. The mashed potatoes and gravy is where this place can separate themselves from other soul food joints. Here they have a lighter and more elegant hand than say a typical divier joint. Here the potatoes were super smooth and light, almost fine dining mashers. And the gravy was much lighter to where when it tops the meat, you can see through it and see the meat. Most other gravies it tends to smother the meats, covering it almost entirely. And it was supposed to come out with their brussel sprouts but they were out, so I chose their collard greens. And theirs were perfect to me, cooked down til soft but not totally mushy, still had some structure. And the leaves were cut in a uniform manner, so I'm gathering that someone back there has some good kitchen cred. For a first visit I was pretty impressed. Just curious to see how they evolve and hoping to see it firsthand.

5 stars for the oyster mushroom "fried chicken" slider. a cute addition to the neighborhood. friendly, family-run spot.

A Cajun, creole dining gem in the Dimond. I had the best jambalaya, red beans and rice, and cornbread since I left Louisiana 50 years ago.

After walking a whole block in heels...I was just turned away for the second time....kitchen closing over an hour before the listed closing time....being that this is my second time; I'm finding really easy to say there will not be a third time as I've given up.

I was excited to go to this restaurant and was disappointed in the experience. My friend ordered the sea bass. The sea bass portion was EXTREMELY small and sat on a huge pile of rice. It was also too expensive for what you got. My friend asked why it was so small and she was told that it was 6 ounces and they could show her "the box" it came in. Lol, yeah, it might have said 6 ounces but they only served her 4 ounces!!! The service took a long time and it wasn't that busy on a Friday evening. They were out of the chowder and a few other items and we were told that because they are a small restaurant they don't always have everything on the menu! Really?!? I tried the gumbo and was under whelmed! Again very expensive but not well seasoned. The country fried mushroom slider was delicious. Also is it a new trend to have a DJ playing loud music in restaurants so that you can't talk or hear yourself think ? Why? It seems to be a Black restaurant trend. I don't have the same experience in other restaurants unless it's Mexican and there is a mariachi band there. It does not add to the ambience and I personally haven't returned to those restaurants that continue to blow my eardrums out. As for this restaurant, perhaps they save their dishes for their brunch on Sundays. I'll never know though as I will not be returning. When I ate at her spot when she was in Jack London Square, it was a wonderful experience and the food was so so good!!! I wanted to have same experience with her new place.

The food was largely inedible. I ordered gumbo, red beans and rice, and cabbage and cornbread. The gumbo was so salty, I couldn't even swallow one bit. The red beans and rice were grossly under seasoned and not appetizing in the least. There was no sauce to tie the two together. I did enjoy a few bites of the cabbage until my stomach complained. The only explanation for such poor quality food is that the restaurant just opened and maybe the food was left over from the night before. When i called to complain I was told that no one else had a problem with the food. That was not a very emphatic response. I had high hopes for this establishment but I certainly can not recommend them - at least not for delivery.

Our friends heard about Willow & Pine and its Cajun/creole cuisine and selected it as our dinner spot for our next get-together. Located in the Dimond district on Fruitvale, we arrived at 5pm and were able to find street parking across the street in front of the restaurant. We were seated in the front room at a window table. Our server took our drink orders and I got a butterfly pea iced tea. It's a honey sweetened tea that was a cool purplish color. For starters, we shared sweet potato fries and we were going to get fried oyster mushrooms, but our server recommended the Po' Thang sliders. The sweet potatoes fries were crispy and tasty with the smoked buffalo aioli. The three sliders with the fried oyster mushrooms with pink lemonade slaw and smoked buffalo vegan aioli were so delicious. I could have eaten all three. I had the shrimp etouffee for my entrée. A dozen shrimp was in this savory red creole gravy with a large scoop of jasmine rice and a side bowl of collard greens. The sauce was so delish and having the rice sop up that sauce was wow! Shrimp was cooked perfectly. Chilean Sea Bass - fish was on top of Jasmine rice and covered with a Jamaican coconut curry sauce. Had a taste and the fish was moist and the curry was tasty. An entrée that one of us wanted was the pork chops, but they were out today. For dessert, we shared: Banana pudding waffle - house-made vanilla custard, bananas, whipped cream and honey butter sauce over a Belgian waffle. This was so delicious. Strawberry short cake - consisted of biscuits with strawberries, strawberries sauce and topped with whipped cream. This was very good but I enjoyed the waffle more. Friendly and helpful service in a nice decorated restaurant. Check out Willow & Pine for delicious Cajun/creole food.

Compliments to the head chef and Oakland native owner for the all the delectable food and for hosting a friend's birthday. Everything was so rich in flavor, and refreshing to find in somewhat the rougher parts of Oakland and an calming ambience to go along with it.

Good service. Friendly staff. Excellent food! Definitely would go back again for the short ribs.

If you are in a rush, bypass. The food is great. A must try. Being that everything is made fresh, the service is on the slower side. Don't be discouraged. Good things come to those who wait. The portion sizes are large and there is a so many great options to choose from. They have a dj on Friday nights and he plays great music while you dine. They also have brunch on Sunday.

Amazing food, delicious Gumbo on Fridays. Short ribs are phenomenal. Great atmosphere.

OMG the shrimp and grits have savory flavor and fried mushrooms taste like chicken! My meal is Fantastic! Ambience is Great!

Loved it! Very good food, service, and ambiance to say the least. I had the jambalaya and red beans and rice in which both were on point. One thing I quickly noticed with the jambalaya was that they didn't skimp with the meat. It was how a jambalaya is supposed to be. All in all, I highly recommend this establishment and I definitely plan on returning soon.

First of All , ask yourself.. Do I want a good home made food full of flavors and a big portion? If your answer is YES to this ... go to Willows and Pine ... Me and my husband enjoyed an excellent soul satisfying food ... Yes the ambience is Great and the place is clean , Yes the customer service is Amazing.. Our special thanks to Kamila ... what an Excellent Customer Service Experience... her recommendation will not fail you , Alex was great as well . The owner came out to greet the customers...We thoroughly enjoyed the big portions of food . We Will Be Back Absolutely!!!!! This is a gem restaurant and I wish all the Best for their success in Oakland. Kamila you know we will be back for the peach dessert.

The food was delicious! The prix fixed brunch is more than enough to serve two to three people. It was my first time visiting, I was really unsure if it was a seat yourself kind of deal when my party and I first walked in. We stood at the counter for a minute before being greeted. The vibe was very relaxed and family oriented. I would go back again for the food even if it was for take out.

Came at opening for brunch; no reservation because there were none available. Seated in 1min. Order taken in 10min. Out of beef bacon; opted for hot links. Ordered pomegranate lemonade, side salad as a starter, vegan chicken and waffles, brioche caramel apple french toast, and eggs. Great price point. The family history on the back of the menu was inspiring. Very nice interior. R&B music. Servers were kind. Food came 26min after ordering. Everything came out at once. Had a side salad that I wish could've came out sooner. The whip on the french toast was good; it was a lot. There wasn't much batter on the toast. Great thick brioche bread. Good food. The dinner menu looks great too. Want to try again.

Great food and atmosphere, service on a Saturday was a little slow but, overall a good experience!

I love Willows and Pine!! Their food is absolutely amazing! Ive been going here for a couple of years, and their food always taste better everytime I go. The service is never rude! Always sweet people helping me. They are always so hard working! You never wait to long for your food. Its never too loud, it's kid friendly too!! I would recommend this place to anybody!

Food was delicious and service was great. Very generous portions. Highly recommend it.

Food was good, service has some potential, and ambiance was nice. Enjoyed their seasonal watermelon salad

I am hooked on Willows & Pine. Just discovered it a couple months ago and been there multiple times. I love that the owner's family members work there and are so helpful and friendly. I also love the family photos and vibe. The music is always good too. I'm a vegetarian so I can only speak to the dishes I cannot get enough of!!- oyster mushroom sliders and the plantain waffle w oyster mushrooms. Even the salads are great! Ooh and the biscuit w caramel was so good.

Food, services, ambiance, good vibes, the new spot #creole The owner is very nice and friendly!

Service was great! Food was tasty, ambiance was nice relaxing. Loved being able to see into kitchen. Drinks were good ! would definitely come again !