Willows & Pine

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.

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 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!

Great atmosphere, nice open space. DJ was jammin’ classic goodies, with their videos. The food was really good. Gumbo was on point. My favorite were the biscuits and the chowder.

The service at this restaurant was very pleasant and hospitable. The food was good, but nothing spectacular. The serving sizes were good for the price and I’d like to go back to try their other food outside of brunch. I got the Salmon Salad and it was a little sweet for me.

Having been to Willow & Pine twice now, I can attest to its delicious food, phenomenal service and lovely dining space. The restaurant’s atmosphere is comforting and very welcoming. Service is top tier. I’ve dined for evening dinner and Sunday brunch. The oxtails and grits are one of the best grit dishes I’ve ever had and some of the BEST oxtails. The seasoning on the gravy, the fall offf the bone oxtails and the creamy grits is such a harmonious dish. Well executed and well done! My grandmother got the shrimp and grits, she said it exceeded expectations. My mom also ordered the oxtail and grits but generally doesn’t eat grits so it would have been nice to have a side dish like rice or potatoes. The value for the amount of food and quality is very good. Don’t hesitate to visit this great restaurant. You’re in for a lovely meal and a good time.

I love Willows and Pine. The atmosphere is wonderful. The service is excellent. The food tastes so good. I have to say the bread pudding is my absolute favorite,🤩 so when you go and you finish your meal, you have to try the bread pudding. It’s delicious 😋.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

All the Food is Amazing, Service and Ambiance Wonderful I love this restaurant and will promote to everyone I know!!

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.

Went to Willow & Pine for brunch today. The decor was nice, the DJ was good and the food was EXCELLENT!!! We had shrimp and grits and banana pudding. Will definitely be back.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

The Food here is very flavorful you can't go wrong with anything on the menu!! Support family and black owned business

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.

Great service. Great chef. Great food. Great ambience.. .. ordered the cabbage and cornbread however they were out of cornbread so they gave me a biscuit. And also the voodoo shrimp The shrimp are good however they had tails on them and the tail still were not cleaned out, but the shrimp were large, plump and delicious, nice sauce and not spicy at all. It normally does not come with rice. My waiter was great and he recommended to get rice. It was seasoned perfectly. The cabbage was good as well ,however , I like a little bit more spicy in my cabbage, but they do have some Louisiana hot sauce on the table. definitely come back to try other stuff

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.

Easter Sunday! Willow and pine was open to customers! Great service great food! Ambiance was on point! The restaurant wasn't crowded but had a steady stream of customers! The wait was long but worth the wait! I would recommend a visit again! Mac and cheese 10/10 shrimp 10/10

Fried Oysters Mushrooms with a side of Red Beans and Rice and Cabbage with a refreshing pomegranate lemonade

Excellent ambiance, low key but elegant. Diverse clientele. The food IS BOMB. Service is great. Awesome local spot. Black owned.

Great Food, Fabulous Service and were not going to forget the Ambiance. So happy this place was recommended.

We hit the jackpot when we landed seats at Willows & Pine! We had a bit of a wait (what great restaurant doesn't have one?) but we were also met with a warm greeting. The chowder was some of the best we've ever had. Hot, well-seasoned, creamy deliciousness with tender potatoes and perfect shrimp. A tastebuds' treat all by itself! But no, we didn't stop there. I had the jambalaya - filled with tender chicken, shrimp and sausage. It has a bit if a kick to it but the seasonings were all perfectly appointed. My husband ordered the pork chop dinner with mashed potatoes and braised Brussels sprouts. He fully enjoyed his meal - well not fully, I kept also dipping in his plate. Food - hot, fresh, amazing! I love, loved how that many customers that came in seemed to be family or at least repeat customers, and staff gave attention and time to everyone to ensure a pleasant dining experience. We were too full to attempt desserts but you can bet when we are back in the Bay, we will drop in on Willow & Pine. In the meantime, if you are anywhere close, go check them out. You will not be disappointed! Bravo Chef & Family!

Brunch was amazing. We arrived around 12:00pm and was seated right away. There's a set 4 Course Brunch Menu, but you can order a la carte as well. I ordered Oxtails and grits and a Mimosa. The portions are huge. The Oxtails were so tender, they fell off the bone. The grits were good too. You definitely get what you pay. There was a DJ and the vibe was chill. Two a la carte entrees with a mimosa and orange juice was $66 and some change before adding a tip which is very reasonable. I will definitely be back soon!

I came with a friend on a weekday evening, was not crowded. Bar was open and service was nice. A month later I'm still thinking about the fried oyster mushrooms! Well seasoned and crisp was perfect! Would recommend!

Waited an hour in a mostly empty restaurant and was never served. Had to flag down a waiter to ask for coffee which I never received. Staff didn't even acknowledge our presence after seating us. Avoided eye contact and literally acted like we weren't there. The chef was sitting at a table next to us and didn't seem to care. We were trying to support our community and locally owned restaurants. Very disappointing behavior. After an hour we got up and left, walked a block to Lakeshore Cafe and were served immediately. Idk how the Willow and Pine folks stay in business.

Open for lunch Wednesday through Friday! Food was delicious and plenty to eat....will be back to try the oxtail for brunch.

Went there on an early Saturday morning after some local shopping and fell in love with the place! Love the staff, the space, the owner and most importantly (for this review) the food! We had the chicken and biscuit and the peach cobbler French toast. The biscuit was large and flaky and airy, delicious. The chicken gravy was well seasoned and spot on. The peaches were caramelized and tender and the French toast was well prepared and very good. Can't wait to go back and try the voodoo ! I take them very seriously so that will be the tell.

My friends and I were looking for a black owned restaurant and Willow & Pine was highly recommended. Trust me when I say they did not disappoint. When you first walk in you are instantly greeted and the atmosphere is very nice. It's beautifully decorated throughout, even in the bathroom (FYI, the family's history is in the wall there). And the music is off the hook. When it comes to the food it is absolutely delicious. I got the shrimp and crawfish chowder and my girlfriends got the shrimp étouffée (which is her signature dish). The people who work there including the owner are extremely friendly and hilarious. We felt honored to have the owner sit with us and share her journey and future goals. You almost feel like family when you're there. Kudos to Michauxnée for all the greatness that she does for the establishment and the community.

Great vibe, delicious food, ample portions. It's a small space -- or so you think! Check out the back room -- great for a party or private event. Will be going again soon

If you want longer reviews maybe you should offer to pay for them or just accept the shorter reviews

I ordered the short ribs via door dash. They were so good. The rice and gravy were delicious. And man, the cabbage was also really good. I'll definitely order again. This was my first time ordering from the restaurant. I've had their food at catered events and was always impressed, especially with the biscuits and gravy! I'm looking forward to dining at the restaurant!

My SO said the shrimp etouffee was the best he ever had. My jambalaya was really good too. It has a nice friendly atmosphere but our service was really slow. Maybe they were short staffed as there was only one lady waiting, hosting and making drinks and one busboy. Also a large party arrived after we were there. One other comment is that they need hush puppies and beignets on the menu. It's a big miss without them. Otherwise we liked and would come back or order out.

Yes, I had the Seabass with a coconut rice and curry. Oh my God it was amazing. I'm definitely going back there and eat again on Fridays. They have gumbo. I saw a lot of people eating it.

I had been wanting to go eat here for a while and when the opportunity presented itself me and my broke best friend had dinner. She ordered the red beans and rice, mac and cheese , with a side of cornbread, and maple lemonade. I ordered the Po'Thang sliders, which are mushroom sliders and Voodoo shrimp. The sliders came out first and they were delicious I would get them anytime and every time and would even try the mushroom entree. Now for me the beans Didn't Do It For Me they were cooked to tender but there was no creaminess to them they were slightly seasoned but not the bell pepper, celery, onions, and garlic that I'm used to( and I do make mines meatless except for that ending of butter) so they were not my favorite. My daughter thought that mac and cheese was okay she thought it would be better baked but not a total disappointment. The customer service and Hospitality was excellent. Definitely a great advantage to have a DJ to add some fun to the atmosphere. I thought the voodoo shrimp was well made with nice plump succulent shrimp. The verdict is still out on the lemonade because with the title Maple lemonade I thought it would be sweet but it's very much unsweetened or they may have forgotten the maple part of it it just wasn't anything other than a regular lemonade with a little more water. Would I go here again yes especially for the mushroom sliders or a mushroom entree I would like to try their cabbage but because I cooked this type of food at home it's hard for me to eat it without comparing it in my mind to the flavors I'm used to.

Amazing! This restaurant has some of the best food I've ever had in Oakland... so good I had to stop eating and leave a review immediately. I want this restaurant to get all their flowers. The food is seasoned perfectly and the options are authentic to creole cooking. It's a new establishment so I will advise customers to be patient, but know that their customer service is good and the food is absolutely worth the wait.

Bringing sunshine to a cloudy day, this was the ideal spot for a night with my boo. Well curated colors and decor, it was classy and refined in interior as well as in the food. We were quick to be seated by the wait staff who were cordial and comfortable having great conversations. The menu included some down home favorites and d a few with a twist. Who would have thought crispy, meaty mushrooms on a soulful menu??!! The food arrived fresh and flavorful. I asked the server for some white bread to sop up the shrimp roulade sauce. Greens were tender, well seasoned and with just enough potliquor to please me. I'll be going back for what I hear is an amazing brunch experience and the beignets which they were out of at the time. You won't be disappointed.

Stopped by here with hubby after getting a gracious recommendation. Hubby had shrimp & grits, no photo as he ate it swiftly as it was sooooo good & hot. He had the pomegranate ice tea. I indulged in the oxtails & grits, ohhhh my, it was fantastic, the meat literally fell off the bones. I managed to snag one of hubby's shrimp. Traded him for two oxtails which he devoured and grunted. Now that we're in a food coma, that's all folks. Give it a try, you'll be glad you did. Ok, Sandman is calling.

Party of 2- we came today (a Saturday) during brunch hours and the food was good, but the service was really slow. The place wasn't packed so it was a little bit confusing why this was the case. But that's not the issue. The issue was that our greeter didn't show us to our table (they TOLD us where we're sitting and THEN brought menus 5 min afterwards). Then after 10 min our waitress came to take our order. We asked for the cocktail menu and she never came back at ALL. The food was very good but the service soured our experience. Such a shame because this place is good and the place has good ambience but after the subpar service I don't see coming back anytime soon :(

Came in for brunch with my girls. The food did not disappoint. The fried oyster mushrooms were delicious! We all had the biscuits which were light and delicious. The oxtails and grits had me dancing! Ooohhh wweee! Just delicious. I brought some leftovers home for my boyfriend and he loved it! Service was great. Lots of mimosas. I will most definitely be back sooner rather than later. Highly recommended.

"The best meal I've ever had!" my father when we went there together. He had the short ribs, along with the house salad. My jambalaya was also amazing. don't just come for the food, which is some of the best in Oakland, the rest and also has a great story to tell. The desserts looked wonderful, but we didn't have room. Maybe next time.

My wife and I had a wonderful time as our first time at this restaurant. The food was excellent, the service was attentive and willing to chat, and the whole experience was great. One of the few restaurants that we've gone to in years that really made a great impression on us. We had the shrimp and crawfish chowder, and it's superb, one of my favorite chowders ever. It was creamy and all the vegetables were perfectly cooked. The shrimp and crawfish tails were plump and tasted wonderful. The jambalaya was also excellent with the rice being cooked correctly with well cooked shrimp and really nice spicy sausage. For dessert, we had the banana pudding waffle and another apple dessert that I can't see on their menu right now. The banana pudding was really really fantastic. The apple desert was good, but didn't compare to the other. The restaurant seems to be very much family and friends like and/or part of the community with lots of people seeming like they were locals. It doesn't hurt the experience at all, but you get lots of friendly loud greetings. The chef came and chatted with lots of diners and her recommendations were great and on point. Ambiance wise, it's fairly loud and friendly. There's just the 1 TV playing sports games. Staff was friendly, talkative, attentive, and fun. We made reservations, and you definitely needed them for a Saturday, even early like 6/630 when we arrived. We enjoyed our experience a lot and am looking to come back. Thank you.

I absolutely adore Willows & Pine. Food was amazing and delicious. We ordered the oxtail grits, shrimp and grits, sausage, eggs (wasn't my fav) and Carmel Apple French toast. The chef was really nice including the servers. Nice ambiance, great place for large & small parties.

Fantastic Brunch! I'd heard good things about this fantastic find from friends and family. One day I by chance met the owner at the post office. Convinced by the interaction, I wandered inside this Southern Creole delight on a rainy Sunday and it was just what I needed to brighten my day. I started with a mango mimosa, shared a Biscuitee Doux, and finished with an oxtail and grits. The Atmosphere: You walk in to be greeted by welcoming smiles with RnB vibes lightly pushing through the speakers. (A dj had set up around noon close to my departure so I may have missed to Sunday funday vibes) The Food: Biscuitee Doux - a delicious warm biscuit with a goat cheese, caramel and peach compote. The owner brought us a second one after she realized we'd met prior. How kind! Oxtail & Grits - tinder meat and amazing flavor in every bite. The Service: Our server was very hospitable and the bar staff were very personable. The owner even came out to greet us and gifted us a Biscuitee Doux on the house. I will definitely be back once the Bay Area weather gets better. This is going to be my spring/summer spot when I'm looking for great vibes and even better food.