Almond and Oak is a new american brunch spot in Lake Merritt, Oakland.
Almond and Oak on Grand Avenue near Lake Merritt runs weekend brunch with chef Rico Rivera's market-driven plates. Saturdays and Sundays only.
Must order: Seasonal benedict and the brunch pasta.
Tip: Brunch runs Saturday and Sunday only; dinner picks back up at 5 p.m.
Address: 3311 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610
Bake Sum on Grand Avenue is the East Bay's most-loved Asian American pastry counter. Brunch-grade pastries from 8 a.m. with coffee to match.
Order: Spam musubi croissant and a black sesame latte.
Tip: Pastries sell out by noon on weekends; arrive early Saturday or Sunday.
Wise Sons on Telegraph in Temescal runs daily brunch with bagels, matzo ball soup and pastrami plates. The Mission deli's East Bay Oakland outpost.
Order: Everything bagel with house cream cheese and lox.
Tip: Daily breakfast all day; weekend lines snap by 10 a.m.
Bake Sum on Grand Avenue is the East Bay's most-loved Asian American pastry counter. Brunch-grade pastries from 8 a.m. with coffee to match.
Order: Spam musubi croissant and a black sesame latte.
Tip: Pastries sell out by noon on weekends; arrive early Saturday or Sunday.
Hawking Bird on Telegraph in Temescal runs a Thai weekend brunch on kao mun gai and double-fried fillets. The fast-casual sibling to two-star Commis.
Order: Kao mun gai plus the Hawking Bird sandwich.
Tip: Weekend brunch is the strongest order; James Syhabout's cheap-eats sibling to Commis.
Sweet Bar Bakery on Broadway in Uptown Oakland runs a daily savory and sweet bakery brunch. Bacon-gorgonzola scones, gluten-free options, vegan fauxnuts.
Order: Bacon-gorgonzola scone and a flat white.
Tip: Coffee and panini through lunchtime; the bakery does cupcakes and event cakes through the afternoon.
Town Biscuits runs a Thursday-to-Sunday biscuit breakfast in Oakland's Uptown. Fried chicken and bacon-egg sandwiches on flaky buttermilk biscuits.
Order: Fried chicken biscuit sandwich with pimento cheese.
Tip: Order ahead for pickup; the line snaps to the corner on weekends. Chili-dusted home fries are the under-rated side.
Burdell in Oakland's Temescal opens for Sunday brunch with a Southern gravy-anchored menu. The Michelin Recommended room flips to brunch service on Sundays.
Order: Sunday gravy-inspired brunch plate.
Tip: Sunday brunch service runs 11 to 2 only, then resumes for dinner. Book the 1 pm slot to roll straight into the afternoon.
