WHY GO? Legit fluffy, flaky, moist Southern-style biscuits that’ll fill you up, body and soul, for under $10.
WHAT’S THE VIBE LIKE? Is it odd to hear country and bluegrass twang in the urban heart of Uptown Oakland? Sure, but the Town has always been a melting pot, and why not add a little Southern flair on 25th Street, an unassuming block pinched between Broadway and Telegraph Avenue that’s also home to the likes of an auto body shop, art gallery, rooftop cocktail bar, hair salon, and German döner kebab spot run out of a shared commercial kitchen. The petite interior is probably best geared for takeout but also graciously serves as a friendly industrial-chic setting for dine-in.
WHAT TO ORDER? Scratch-made buttermilk biscuits are the only game in town at Town Biscuits, and the only one you’ll want to play. You can get them halved and smothered in a remarkable, velvety white gravy that’s unusually light but still loaded with flavor from pepper, herbs, crumbled sausage, and a hint of spice. We were going to save half for later but couldn’t put our fork down until we were done—and licked the plate afterward. Portable sandwiches fill out the rest of the biscuit menu, including variations with Southern fried chicken, egg (scrambled and folded) and melty American cheese, house-made pimento cheese, and a sweet option with homemade blueberry jam and goat cheese. You can’t go wrong with any of them.
ADDED BONUS: Fixins (aka sides) are delish. Home fries are cubed small for maximum flavor and aggressively doused with cumin-heavy Southern seasoning, while the cheddar grits are made with small-town North Carolina–grown grain enriched by scratch-made chicken broth. For beverages, there’s drip coffee, lemonade, sweet tea, and Yoo-hoo.
HOW MUCH? Sandwiches are all $10 or below, while biscuits and gravy are the most expensive item on the menu at $12. 434 25th St., Oakland, (510) 447-4344, townbiscuits.com. Breakfast Thurs.–Sun. 💲
KEY TO SYMBOLS🆕 A new review of a restaurant🔂 An update of a previous review🏆 A Best of the East Bay winner💲 Cheap ($10 or less per dinner entrée)💲💲 Inexpensive ($11–$17)💲💲💲 Moderate ($18–$24)💲💲💲💲 Expensive (more than $25)🍷 Wine and beer🍸 Full bar☀️ Outdoor dining➕ Accommodates parties of 50 or more🕚 Late-night dining (service after 10 p.m.)