Merritt Restaurant & Bakery

Enjoyed the chicken and fries (fried hard) but was rushing to a movie so I didn’t get a chance to try the shortcake. Next time! Overall, it was hot and tasty.

They now have a limited menu at the old Kwik Way. Apparently they no longer plan to re-​open the old fire-​burned place on the other side of the lake. It’s a shame.

Food was ONLY edible. You will have to go home and eat because there is no table to eat on except the ones baking in the sun. It takes a while for them to make the food to find out that the waffles and chicken were below par. Waffles were not sweet at all and chicken was made with old ingredients. My family and I left with unpleasant faces.

This place has THEE BEST waffles ever in life!!!

My mother is completely obsessed with this place and she should be. We always order their chicken and waffles and I promise you that NO ONE can beat their waffle recepie. It’s so damn good that I’d commit a serious crime and do time JUST to have the recepie. They’re so good you’ll literally become a fiend! So buttery with the right amount of crunch and not over OR under cooked. Pure perfection! The chicken is good and is fried well, but needs to be seasoned a lot better. As soon as they do this, the place will indeed deserve the 5^th star.

They have been around forever, through several owners I’m sure… its always busy, and I’d say it is what it is here. What stands out most about this place for me is that it’s been here since I was born :) Its real old school 80’s diner/bakery…the colors and décor in there are kind of somber and autumn like year round. Even the pastries and cakes are on the muted end of the color spectrum .
The staff has always been very nice and helpful. I’ve had several of their cakes and pastries which are pretty nice, but nothing I have to specifically come back to Merritt bakery for. When I came a week ago, my brother got a large peach cobbler that everyone really enjoyed. I’ve only had food from here once, so I can’t judge the food.
It’s local, they have a large selection of cakes, cookies, pastries, and a restaurant… I say try it out and see for yourself.

I typically come to Merritt Bakery for just two things: Birthday cakes or fried chicken.
The cakes are very well made, if you order in advance, you can get a real whip cream cake with any number of cake flavors and fillings. We loved it so much that we got our wedding cake here years ago, and got our kids birthday cakes, too.
The fried chicken is tasty and reasonably priced. You can even get all dark meat or all white meat. The sides are good, too, mashed potatoes, potato salad, rolls, etc. Great way to easily feed a whole bunch of people inexpensively on short notice.
The staff is usually very friendly and helpful. Right by Lake Merritt, easy parking.

I can’t believe I haven’t written a review til now, I haven’t had any of their diner food but their cakes are amazing. My company office was located in downtown oakland and we would frequently order their sheet cakes for birthday celebrations — most moist cake I’ve ever had. I’ve tried both their vanilla and chocolate base cakes and both are equally delicious. They’re also known for their strawberry shortcake which is hands-​down the best I’ve had. Strawberry shortcake was consistently moist but I’ve found their cake slices sold in the restaurant are kind of dry when it’s not fresh-​made for an event, probably because it’s pre-​cut and loses its moisture while it’s sitting in the display.
The outside looks like a diner from back in the 80s, but the cakes speak for itself. I’m a life-​time customer.

I really want to love this place. It has diner characteristics that cause you to do a double-​take right when you walk in. Thinking to yourself, oh man, I just hit a found a hidden gem. Well, let me save you some time young traveler — it’s not a diner and it’s not a gem.
[Disclaimer: speaking only about the restaurant, I haven’t had anything from the bakery].
The food is mediocre at best. I’ve had breakfast foods and I’ve had lunches here. Yes. I have been there at least 8 times and every time I say, «Nevah… again!» This time, I’m writing this review so that I can never with respect for myself return for more.
Back to the point. The breakfasts are meh. I don’t have the energy or anger to go any further. The lunches. Dear god. The fries are straight out of the freezer bag. Make your own damn fries. The burgers… when they ask you how you want it done, just grunt because you’re getting it medium/​well regardless. I’ve had entirely wrong items served to me when I’ve ordered club sandwiches and at a certain point I just realized, if I send this back, I’ll just have to wait even longer so I ate it and GTFO.
The service. It depends on who you get. To Tom K.‘s point they’ve got some people in there that are really great and can joke around a bit with you. But too many times I’m just sitting there waiting and watching other customers sitting there waiting too. It’s not a huge place, there are multiple waitstaff. Why am I sitting there for 10 minutes waiting for you to pick the check back up? For more water? For ketchup? For silverware?
Finally, when you charge $ 2.75 for a soft drink — don’t wait for me to be done with my entire meal before you ask if I’d like a refill when it’s been sitting there empty since halfway through eating — it’s stuff like that.
TLDR — The execution is really poor. It’s not the diner you desperately wish it to be. The people mean well, but the service just doesn’t pass muster.

My day-​off haven. I live a few blocks away and generally come here when I have a whole day to waste. I sit at the bar, get something heavy and unhealthy, drink 5 cups of coffee, rush home on my sugar and caffeine overdose, and then nap for the rest of the afternoon. Any place that enables me like that wins a gold star in my book.
I have a certain affinity for the diner life. Something about someone knowing your name and topping off your coffee with a coy smile gets me every time. I also love breakfast.
I come from New Jersey originally which just so happens to be the diner capital of the world. I can say that this place compares on just about every level:
Fast and friendly service.
Always a full cup of coffee.
Comfortable atmosphere that makes you want to return.
Decent food at a decent price and served hot when it’s supposed to be hot and cold when it’s supposed to be cold.
What else do you need? This ain’t the Ritz and it doesn’t want to be. I don’t want it to be either.

I came here a year ago and wasn’t excited by the menu. I ordered the fried chicken and macaroni. Chicken was dry, macaroni was ok. Service was rushed and I was more then happy to go. Upset I wasted my time and money.
I just left the to go bar today. Why is everything so expensive for what it is? $ 3 for a medium cup of watered down orange juice. $ 5 for a little tiny slice of key lime pie.
$ 17 for eggs bacon hash-​brown and toast that resembles high school breakfast.
Never again. I should have stayed away after the first time but tried to give them another chance. Ugh.

Having been born and raised in Oakland, I am ashamed to say that after 25 years, I finally got a chance to stop by and get some baked goodies. I LOVED the truffle bar and it was worth every calorie (I had just walked the entire lake). I also got a ginger cookie, and even the next day, it was still soft and delicious! The service was also top notch. Everyone was so cheerful and polite.

Came here at 9pm on a Wednesday night. Waited for a while to be seated not because it was busy but because staff was in the back talking… the bakery folks felt bad that we were standing around and finally seated us. We were 1 of 2 tables dining in the entire restaurant. Took 15 minutes to order and another 30mins to be served. Service was extremely slow for such a quiet night. Never got a refill on water and took a lot of effort to get our waiter’s attention to order and get our check.
Food was actually pretty decent. Ordered chicken and waffles and the bf had a chili burger. Didn’t try any desserts because I didn’t want to wait another half hour to get served. Would prolly come back to order baked goods to go. Not sure I have the time or patience to dine in again.

[Update based on service]
Came in last Saturday with three other women after Women’s Group at church, and we were seated at a semi-​circle booth in the back. Our waitress was really attentive and I wish I had gotten her name so that I could thank her specifically in this review.
One of my friends ordered chili cheese fries, but she brought out curly fries instead. When my friend spoke up, the waitress apologized and then after about 20 minutes or so, after the rest of our party had already gotten ¾ths of the way through our meals, she brought out a steaming plate of chili cheese fries and told us that, «Of course this is comped. I kept trying to hurry the chefs in the kitchen, but it still took forever. I’m so sorry.» I know some of you might think that that wasn’t enough to make up for it, but having had some experience as a server myself, I know that you really don’t have control over what goes on in the kitchen, and the timing of it all. That is, unless you want to muscle your way back there and make it yourself… which isn’t really feasible, so all you can do is shoot semi-​death glares and check-​in as much as possible in a way that won’t totally burn your bridges with the cooks. Not an easy line to walk, people. Not. At. All.
So we all chose to just appreciate how pro-​active she was when it came to fixing the mistake, and how kind and considerate she was to one of the members of our party with a newborn infant. And in contrast to the Sunday church folk stereotype… we actually did tip, lol, and not in gospel tracks —
. =P
As far as the food here goes, I got the #4 Breakfast Combo — Belgian Waffle & 2 Sausage Links (you can also opt for bacon) — and man… that was one of the best Belgian waffles I have ever had. I don’t know what kind of batter they use, but I want that recipe!

Merritt Bakery & Restaurant used to be really good, which is where I’m guessing most positive reviews come from. A year ago, I would have given this place 4 stars. Now? The food is terrible and the service ain’t much better.
FOOD:
I’m pretty sure they’re now serving box and canned foods. I ordered mac and cheese (something light, as it was getting late) and it wasn’t cheesy or seasoned. There was no cheese on top and salt and pepper were needed. In the past, the mac and cheese mimic homemade stuff. Also, TWO waiters couldn’t accommodate my request to add bacon, whereas this wasn’t an issue in the past. My friend got candied yams which I’m certain were straight from a can. They were lukewarm and I could even swallow the one bite I took.
SERVICE:
The service has always been not so great. This time, I was even more disappointed. Like I mentioned before, my request to add bacon was denied. The waiter who ended up serving us (Jorge) did not check on us once. Granted we didn’t have big orders, but we were paying customers nonetheless.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Merritt is now shit. Which is sad, because this was one if my favorite Oakland eateries. Their chicken and waffles was a fave of mine, but after my mac and cheese disaster, I won’t be spending another dollar here. The ambiance is outdated, the service is okay, and the food is now terrible and overpriced. I asked if they were under new management; I was told they were not. I don’t know what happened here.

The first thing I see when I enter is a sign reading five cooks and 10 cashiers needed… My thought to myself is of course, who the hell works here then?
EDIT: I now realize that the sign was likely for their new location on Lake Park in the old Kwik Way. I still maintain the remainder of this review.
The menu is absolutely enormous and there’s cooked food in all of the coolers just sitting there for who knows how long. I assume that when you want something they just go and slap it on a plate and microwave it.
Today I went in because I remember how good the red velvet cake was. I had previously learned my lesson about the food here, but what self respecting «bakery» can screw up cake? However, upon seeing the pile of wet cake and air dried frosting soaking through the paper that holds it… my appetite was immediately gone.

Merritt is a serviceable ²⁴⁄₇ diner. There’s nothing too fancy about the place (except for the huge cakes in the display), but it’s not like I died from eating the food either. The spinach and bacon omelet I got wasn’t runny, so there’s that.
However, the service is slower than slow. I had to flag down the waiter twice just to get things like the check. The guy at the next table over had the exact same problem, waiting more than 20 minutes just to get somebody to take his order. It’s not like the place was super crowded — maybe they were watching The Finals?

This is a destination place. This is the most consistent bakery I’ve been in. I remember them making good ice team and desserts. And memories are re– living itself.
AJ had the creamiest chocolate ice team on a cone. It was smooth and not too sweet.
I had a lemon bar. The crust was crumbly as had the right snap. The lemon custard was lemony an sweet :)
I definitely recommend this place for anyone in the area.

This was the first place that I ever had authentic Chicken and Waffles so no matter what, it’s at the top of my list.
This is not the best Chicken and Waffles you can get but it’s good. This isn’t the cleanest restaurant or the newest but it is in no way dirty. It’s well kept, especially for it’s age and the service is appropriate.
Get the Chicken and Waffles!

I’ve lived in Oakland all my life and have never eaten here. My friend took me here to brunch for my first time and my first response was: «it’s open?!»
How many times has this place been caught on fire and I thought it was closed for good! I think I am long over-​due to try eating here finally.
Here’s what I ordered:
FRIED CHICKEN & WAFFLES — $ 11.50
Waffle with 2 thighs
I requested to have all dark meat which is 2 drumsticks. I thought it tasted fine… nothing mind blowing or anything. The waffles were fine too. I was told this place had really good chicken and waffles but I thought it was just OK. I appreciated the waffles being crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
I thought the servers were awkward. My buddy and I ordered take out at the counter. He ordered an omelette and told her to add whatever I wanted to the bill. After I ordered she told ME our grand total… which I didn’t mind paying. When y buddy found out he was half-​upset and all she said was «oops, sorry.» And didn’t try to do anything else about it, haha. It’s ok I didn’t expect anything of this place… merit bakery never appealed I me in any way. I’m happy I finally tried it and didn’t have high expectations to be disappointed about.

Service: 2.75 stars.
Food: 4 stars.
It’s bad enough that I’ve eaten fried chicken two days in a row but who cares? I don’t.
So my sister and I went here today and both ordered chicken and waffles. I ordered the waffle with two thighs and my sister got hers with a breast. We also had onion rings.
The service was really slow and I don’t know why since there were barely any customers in there.
The waffle:
SOOO good and sweet. I think it’s better than House of Chicken and Waffles.
The chicken:
I thought my thighs were excellent; fried to perfection and very savory and fantastically juicy. My sister’s breast, though, was tight and didn’t have that much flavor. She didn’t like it but we both agreed to come back and have something else and especially try the deserts.
The onion rings:
They were greasy but surprisingly good with ranch.
We wanted to pay separately so our waitress was very accommodating.
I would definitely go back since their menu selection is quite wide and I really want to try a couple of their cakes and pies.
The service altogether, on the other hand, was below average. We were seated and waited a good 10 – 15 minutes just to have drinks ordered and the onion rings (which we assumed would be served as an appetizer) came with our main meal. Who I think was the hostess only said, «Two?» when we walked through the door and nothing else as she gave us water. Pathetic, really. No smile, no nothing. I did not feel welcome.
The interior is great, though.
Thumbs up for Merritt Bakery and Restaurant because the food and interior saved the service!