Sequoia Diner

I ordered the lamb sausage with scrambled eggs, goat cheese, lentils, and roasted cauliflower. It stood out on a menu with otherwise Americana fare. It was so delicious. Spicy without being overpoweringly hot, and all of the flavors and textures were very harmonious. My wife ordered the country breakfast, which was okay. The gravy on the biscuit was a little thick, and the potatoes and eggs were a little bland. If this review were based solely on my dish, it would be five stars.

We were super excited about this place but ended up being disappointed. The food was decent but the bacon was raw on one end and crisp on the other and the eggs were not as ordered. The menu also seems overpriced. Oh well, lots of other restaurants around.

This place has everything for a successful hip diner… Except for the basic egg. They got our order wrong twice without making an effort to remedy their mistake. Instead of comping the breakfast order they took only $ 2.00 off our bill. Too bad. Not going there again. Work this out! Note to Unilocalers… it’s bad to be expensive!

I wanted to like Sequoia more than I actually did. I found their menu to be a bit limited and also designed to nickel and dime you if you wanted a biscuit or meat. I eventually settled on the Country Breakfast since I wanted to try the biscuits lauded in the photos. Biscuit and gravy were solid, but not spectacular. Less appealing were my potatoes. Half of them were hard chunks and half were creamy hash browns. I don’t think that was intentional.
Ultimately, my breakfast was fine, but this is not a $ 20 breakfast I want to have again.

A great new spot for the best breakfast in town! You gotta be patient though, as there is always a wait. Just put your name on the list and have a cuppa.
Farm fresh greens and in house biscuits can’t be beat! I have tried the country breakfast and the Benedict — both excellent! The potatoes are amazing and crispy _​you won’t be disappointed!

Since my first review, shortly after Sequoia’s opening, Laurie and I have returned any number of times.
It’s been around six months since that first review and, I have to tell ya, these guys, bless their hearts, are holding it up.
Sequoia’s is probably the best breakfast diner that I have enjoyed.
When I say this — you have to understand — I grew up on the outskirts of New York City during the 70s and 80s. If there is one thing that we from the Tri-​State area know, it is good diner food.
Last time around I had the American Breakfast with two eggs over-​easy, breakfast sausage links, home-​fries, greens, and their toast made from their homemade bread.
Every element was spot on.
Whatever Sequoia’s plan is with the home-​fries or house-​fries, or whatever you want to call shredded potatoes fried to perfection on a diner flat-​top, I have never had any better and I have never made any better… and I am a pretty goddam good home cook who used to do it professionally.
Laurie had a sort-​of Greek egg dish with lamb sausage and feta that arrived in a small caserolle and she loved it.
All their sausages are made in-​house and I was very curious to see if they could pull-​off lamb sausage during the hustle and bustle of a weekend morning, but they did. Lamb sausage tends to be dry, but this lamb sausage was moist and delicious.
The only drawback with Sequoia is that if you intend to drop in on a weekend morning then you will have to wait.
Bring a newspaper and relax.

The woman who wrote our name down on the wait list the second time we visited Sequoia forgot about us. Pregnant, starving, with out-​of-​towners and forgotten. Sad. This is the only bad thing I have to say about Sequoia Diner.
This is our neighbourhood joint and we get brunch and Thursday evening diner here often. The coffee and fresh orange juice are delicious, they bake up their own pastries and brunch is fresh and made with quality meat and produce. I love their classic egg breakfast, the bacon and house jam are so good! Thursday evenings they do a happy hour of sorts with a few super tasty small and large plates and beer/​wine/​cider. The fried squash was amazing. I am still thinking about it weeks later.
The owners care about what they do and it shows. I hope this local stays in business for a very, very long time.

Sequoia, the new home of the now long-​gone and super mediocre Full House, is a little gem of a hipster haven worth pushing past the throngs of screaming toddlers and hoards of impatient soon-​to-​be patrons for. It’s pretty good. Serving up the usual diner fare with their own flare and fancy (and a bit of a price hike, juheard?), Sequoia aims to please by grabbing you in with something you’re familiar with and getting a good grip on you with their unique flavors. I usually storm the joint on a Sunday or Saturday morning with m’ladies, but today’s dolo trip offered a more reflective experience and prompted me to step outside of my usual «two eggs and toast with avo on the side» comfort zone.
I was surprised to find when I walked up around 10 A.M. on a Wednesday that the diner already had a significant crowd outside. They didn’t have pitchforks just yet but they looked like they were hungry enough to turn into an angry mob. Luckily, I signed in with the lovely hostess and was at a counter seat within ten minutes. Once seated, I ordered a mimosa and decided today was the day I’d get jiggy with that Red Flannel Hash I had heard so much about and constantly peered over people’s heads to get a better look at. I also decided to forego the sliced sourdough in favor of a biscuit so I could finally weigh in on those, as I’ve heard they’re pretty good here.
My mimosa was sad and unimpressive, mostly because the orange juice seemed suspect. But the Red Flannel Hash and the biscuit both surpassed my expectations! The Red Flannel Hash is one of those textural and flavor landscapes I live for: warm, crunchy, soft and runny meets savory, sweet, tart and buttery. The pickled cabbage that comes with the hash is equal parts culinary genius and just damned good pairing for a poached egg and hash combo. I didn’t really get into the sour cream glob on the side but I’m not a sour cream girl.
The biscuit is just as buttery and flaky and scrumptious as you’ve heard. But the nuances of seasonality scalded me: I got stuck with cranberry preserves, which were pretty gross. Still, the biscuit remained sweet and resilient in the face of something so bitter, as we all should. Life lessons, brought to you by Sequoia Diner.

I thought long and hard before writing this review. Did I want more people to know about this great breakfast spot or keep it to myself? I decided to share. Sequoia Diner is a quaint and cute diner… no greasy spoon atmosphere here. We walked in at 9:45 on a Sunday and the restaurant was already packed and we watched the line of patrons waiting for a table grow and grow.
The hot chocolate is rich and lush with warm chocolatey goodness, among the best I’ve ever had. Our waitress said the baker is in charge of creating the hot chocolate which explains the extra attention to detail. Everything here is homemade and it’s evident in everything from the sourdough bread to the jam. I had an omelette which came with potatoes, salad, and sourdough toast. Everything was seasoned well and delicious! The service was also friendly and efficient… I can’t recommend this diner enough!

Great breakfast spot. As a career cook– this place has original flavors and is all well seasoned (plenty of high quality salt!). Simple and well crafted menu items. House cured meats!
Slightly higher price for the neighborhood, but in the next few years it will be average. Fast food

First time here, not disappointed at all. Breakfast was scrumptious and service awesome (coffee/​water never half full).
What did I/​we get you ask?
— Beef Hash — 5 stars
— Lamb scramble — 20 stars
All accompanied with coffee and orange mimosa (not skimpy on the champagne… good job)
Just go there you won’t be disappointed.

Most weekends I sit across the street from Sequoia sipping my latte and watch the lines waiting to entering the little «diner» across the street. Due to my «NYC origins», I also knew the very best advertising for a resturant was the queue in front. So I took the plunge and dropped in on a Wednesday (lines are good, but not if you have to stand in one), and we’re seated without wait.
The «line» did not lie, all present were completely delighted and have been converted! I won’t repeat all other glowing reviews about the resturant’s own smokey bacon, the buttery light biscuit or a rye bread equal to or better than anything I’ve had in a honest to goodness New York deli. However, I still avoid the place on weekends. ;)

I was craving a biscuit and finally tried this place out. They did a good job decorating, looks very clean and inviting. Hipster vibe without being pretentious. It is a bit expensive, but expected when you go to brunch now a days. The biscuit wasn’t much to look at, but was super tasty, buttery goodness. I didn’t even want to put jam on it. I have a feeling butter is a major weapon here, the eggs were also super buttery tasting as well. The little side of fruit is expensive, but was very fresh and worth having. I desperately wish they served a vegetarian gravy for the biscuits. They would be smart to put some vegan option in there as well.
Con: the place was ridiculously loud and not in an «oh it’s lively in here» kind of way. Headache central. I wanted to shush everyone, but I know they can’t really control that.

11÷20÷15. Breakfast
This feels like Valencia Street in San Francisco. A diner serves modern twists of traditional breakfast. The well-​lit space has a dining encounter, booths and tables. The tables are also reminiscent of the city – they are packed pretty tight. Service is quick and friendly.
*Golden Waffle ($ 7.50) is thin eggo-​like topped with candied apples. It’s the kind of waffle we prefer, not the thick Belgian kind.
*Spinach and Mushroom Scramble ($ 12) is the only scramble on the menu so here it is. It’s perfectly done with runny scrambled egg woven evenly with spinach and fresh mushrooms. I’m not a cheese person usually but the Swiss is not overpowering and adds flavor to the egg. Served with arugula salad, fried potato and a thick buttered toast. Hearty and tasty.
Coffee is constantly refilled. It’s from Hot Wire. They also gave fresh-​squeezed orange juice. The homemade goods for the day are cranberry scone ($ 3) and pecan sticky bun ($ 3.50) both of which are tempting.

Berkeley appears to be bleeding into Oakland, as this locally owned and sourced café felt like a place you would expect to find about twenty minutes north of this location. I’ve never been to Laurel before, but it’s one of those transitional, culturally diverse neighborhoods where you could have a cup of artisan coffee one minute but you feel a need to keep staring at your car while it’s parked on the street. It’s a Temescal-​in-​waiting, and if it does become the East Bay’s next gourmet ghetto, you can thank the husband-​and-​wife team of Andrew Vennari and Sequoia Broderson who opened this comfy-​cozy spot which drew quite a few for breakfast on Saturday morning (photo:
).
As usual in Oakland, I was done with my haircut and found myself here in a peckish state. Although it was only about a ten-​minute wait for me, I was surprised by the constant stream of people looking to dine here since it’s fairly nondescript from the outside. However, I could tell why the attraction by the eclectic selection of breakfasts on the menu including a $ 13 Huevos Rancheros and the same-​priced Shakshuka, an Israeli-​originated mélange of squash, peppers, garbanzo beans, lebni (kefir cheese) and poached eggs. That all sounded appetizing, but I adhered to the Patriot Act and ordered the all-​American-​sounding Beef Hash (also $ 13), certainly not a Hormel Mary Kitchen canned creation by any stretch.
It consisted of shredded slow-​braised beef chuck mashed up and fried on the griddle with potatoes. You could barely see it on the plate because it was covered by big shavings of raw carrots, arugula and a pair of poached eggs with homemade rye toast on the side (photo:
). It looked almost downright healthy but not really, just tasty in a Berkeley commune kind of way with a bit of a kick from a dusting of horseradish. As much as I like this dish — and I did — I have to admit it was overshadowed by the sheer flakiness of the freshly baked $ 3.25 Strawberry Scone (photo:
). Worth every penny and perfectly complemented by the slightly overpriced $ 2.75 cup of Highwire Coffee (photo:
). Now where is Laurel again?
FOOD — 4 stars… bold, fresh flavors for such dinerish fare with a standout scone
AMBIANCE — 3.5 stars… nice, all-​white interior (I mean the walls, not the people… sort of) in a neighborhood still looking for its identity
SERVICE — 4 stars… very friendly and attentive server
TOTAL — 4 stars… coming back for the Shakshuka… but seriously, where’s Laurel again?

Just had a wonderful breakfast at the counter bar, my first visit to Sequoia. There was a waiting list that covered the sidewalk in front of the place, and I must say I can see what the fuss is about. The ambiance is something of a hip take on the rustic diner, and the staff is super friendly. I could see into the kitchen from my seat at the sturdy wooden counter, where a large but efficient-​looking crew pivoted and stirred and flipped with gusto. Sometimes super busy restaurants can have a subtle (or not subtle) taciturn vibe, where customers are viewed as obstacles and annoyances – not here.
The food is as delicious as it looks. I got two perfectly poached eggs with nicely seasoned greens and one of their hot, flakey homemade biscuits with adequate though not stellar country gravy. The High Wire coffee pours are fresh, delicious, and refills keep coming. I’m looking forward to checking out several other temptations on their menu, such as the beet hash, the waffle, the homemade sausages, and more of their baked goods.

I’ve found my go to Laurel district breakfast diner! Im currently obsessed with this place.
The food is outstanding. My favorite is the country breakfast plate: biscuits and gravy, eggs and a really yummy side of collard greens. Yum! It’s not greasy at all, which I love. I can’t remember the brand of coffee they serve, but it’s really good and strong. The service is always delightful and I enjoy that they remember me every time I come to visit. I suggest a week day to check this place out. The weekends can be a long wait. But what delicious breakfast place doesn’t have a wait on weekends? If u must wait, do so its totally worth it.

Never underestimate the power of a ROTD. Last Friday’s from Angela L. of Sequoia Diner, and subsquent scans of its other reviews, more than piqued my interest. And with the day unexpectedly off, I made plans to partake of a late breakfast there.
From entering to departing, S.D. more than earned its overall 4.5 star reviews. The décor is simple but endearing, down to the homey re-​purposed silverware. The wait staff was super-​sweet and friendly. But mostly, the food — was outstanding. Nothing elaborate or exotic in concept, but everything sublime in execution. To point:
The order of beef hash with poached eggs, biscuit ($ 1.50 substitution for the standard sourdough toast) and assorted veggies.
The pic does not do justice to the superb hash. The eggs scored a 9.9 on the JZ jiggle scale. But the veggies — a marinated red root dish, the baby arugula, and the micro-​planed carrots — imparted levels of subtle flavors that were completely unexpected. I mean, who ever remembers carrots from a brunch dish? I did here. While still very good, the biscuit may have been the least strong addition to the brunch — glazed with an egg wash, and sliced in half, it seemed as much like a bun as a biscuit.
Friday’s b-​fast was SO good, I wooed Jeffers and Nick two days later for Sunday brunch. The wait was predictably longer (40 minutes or so), but well worth it. We wanted the daily offering of a fig pastry, but was unavailable at our later arrival — so instead «settled» on the pecan sticky bun, which didn’t disappoint.
My main dish of shakshuka also didn’t disappoint. Every component, from the eggplant to the tomatoes to the chick peas, was full of flavor and perfect texture. All except the eggs, which were for my tastes rather undercooked on top (see pic)
. I asked, and was told this is how they make and serve it – apparently heated in the oven or stovetop from below, as the yolks were cooked solid at bottom. I wouldn’t order this again with the uncooked tops, which *possibly* spawned some GI issues a few hours later (admittedly I may have sensitivities to uncooked egg), but taste-​wise it was still a winner.
While not pricey, Sequoia Diner’s fare may not be cheap, but its value shows in the quality of its sourced foods and the loving care to preparation. A 4.5 star brunch experience rounded up to 5, S.D. is an easy recommendation for a very tasty brunch/​lunch/​breakfast.

After surviving the half hour wait in line for breakfast I had my turn on having the best breakfast in the Laurel District of Oakland. I ordered the poach eggs and beef hash. The eggs were poached to perfection. Never had beef hash like this, I thought the Egg Shop’s hash was good. Oh My! What a flavorful breakfast plus the homemade biscuits put this breakfast over the top. I had read on a Unilocal reviews that the servings were small, the portions are not small.
You can tell when a restaurant is really good when you see other people olgoling your food. Ingredients are so fresh, even the coffee is local. The breakfast is not inexpensive, approximately $ 10 to $ 14.00 a plate but truly worth it. Service outstanding, the servers came back to refill the water and coffee. So polite. I thought I was in one of the those hip places in West Seattle for breakfast.

Unlike most of the folks in the area/​on Unilocal,I wasn’t a big fan of Full House. So when I heard they were retiring, and a new spot was opening up, I was excited to find good breakfast in my area.
It looks much cleaner, and much more modern than before. They took out that hideous carpet, and the place is bright and cozy. Unlike before, service is very attentive here. The food lives up to all the hype! Everything tastes amazingly fresh and homemade. I had a simple breakfast, with eggs, potatoes, bacon, and their homemade biscuit, and it was so delicious I texted my friend when I was few bites into my meal and told him we absolutely had to come here next time he comes over. The potatoes are perfectly cooked; nicely seasoned, crispy on the outside without being overdone or stale. Bacon is housemade, and the dish comes with some fresh mixed greens that are perfectly dressed. The eggs were cooked perfectly, and I don’t know where the hell they get their eggs from but they were super tasty and the yolks were a deep, rich yellow.
The biscuits here are out of this world. I’m not usually a fan of biscuits but I almost finished mine, if I weren’t so full already. Super flaky and soft, not dry at all. Comes with their homemade strawberry preserves, which isn’t overly sweet. They also serve local coffee, and the owner herself was walking around and greeting customers. Such a welcome addition to the neighborhood!