Red Oak Cafe

This is one of my favorite brunch spots in Oakland because everything they make is so delicious. I would highly recommend their pancakes. I’ve also had a few sandwiches there that pleased me just as much. It can get kind of crowded, but it is well worth the wait.

I stopped in Pittsburgh to have lunch. I wanted something healthy and filling; the menu here satisfied those needs. I ended up getting a vegetable hummus tomato wrap with a pickle and home fries. The home fries are a little weird with the wrap, but I’m also a breakfast person so it made sense. Yum.
1. Ambiance
This place was way too busy for my liking. It’s already a small building, but being right across from the Pittsburgh campus makes it so busy that it’s pretty uncomfortable. As soon as we entered, I was going to suggest we find another place to go eat. It’s very healthful food. While looking for places to eat in the area, this seemed like a pretty strong choice because they are one of the only cafes that serves such healthy combinations of food (ignore my home fry choice). However, I would suggest an expansion or a larger building or something. Way too congested for my liking.
2. Food
Was pretty decent, although I was hungry a couple of hours later. The vegetable/​hummus combination was delicious. The home fries… meh. I hated the side choices, so I felt like home fries were the next best choice.
3. The Superfood Smoothie
Just don’t get it. The hot mixture looks like mud and the cold version is like a sludgy applesauce. They need to refine it and add something a little bit more enticing. I ended up throwing half of mine out.
Overall, I was itching to hurry up and eat my lunch and leave. The crowd just makes me want to hide and loses it’s edgy hipster-​vibe, which feels like it was the original intention of the restaurant. I enjoyed my food, but would probably enjoy it more in the early hours of opening, when there are a lot less people around. It’s hard to have a conversation when there’s so much going on around you.

I have gotten the fish tacos before and have really liked them. I went back today and was really disappointed. The piece of «fish» was so tiny I could barely see it when I bit into the taco, and it was so overdone and burnt there was no white inside just dry deep fried crisp. It was really gross. Also, while I was attempting to eat it, clearish liquid poured out of the back of the taco… It’s experiences like this that make me think twice about spending $ 9 there again. I don’t want to risk wasting a lunch out on this garbage.

We visited Red Oak for brunch on Saturday. Our experience was average at best. I hypothesize that the positive reviews are a result of: 1) the lack of good (tasty/​fast/​affordable) food in walking distance and 2) the high population of student reviewers.
Pros:
1. Gluten free bread option for sandwiches.
2. Healthy options. The fresh avocado on my sandwich was delicious.
3. The food was solidly executed although nothing caused us to crave a return visit. My Frick sandwich was good, and the Nutella pancakes made my kiddo happy. We both dug the potatoes.
Cons:
1. Lack of value=WAY overpriced. I ordered a side of potatoes because my tiny $ 6 sandwich was ala carte. $ 3 of potatoes was 8 tiny slices. My daughter’s Nutella pancakes had a minimal coating of Nutella given the $ 6 price tag. I had an iced tea, and they didn’t even bother to fill up my glass all the way.
2. Dining room was not clean. When tables, counters, and floors are dirty, I can’t stop thinking about the condition of the kitchen.

I had an appointment in Oakland and decided to have lunch in the area. I decided to give this place a try. I ordered the smokehouse turkey sandwich. I got a great window seat and could people watch as I ate. The sandwich was good but there was something a little off. I think the range of flavored didn’t quite meld together as I thought they would. I would go again to try a different lunch. It gets a lot of business for lunch so it’s obvious that the locals love it. They have won local awards for Best Vegan and Best Vegetarian several years in a row.

Yesterday I took my friend to Red Oak for her birthday. Let me say again, if you want to go to Red Oak you better get there before the lunch rush. They get so busy that sometimes it will take forever to just get your food or it being so busy that there is no where to sit.
I ordered the ½ sandwich and salad special. I keep on ordering this and expecting the sandwich part of it to be better. The sandwich is always good but small and the salad is over flowing the plate. There should be a better compromise of half sandwich/​salad. I get the half of a sandwich but they usually just give the smaller end of the bread loaf. I feel that the sandwich isn’t really as well done because the bread is skinnier and the meat (or fake meat) always just falls off. But maybe that is just me?
I ordered the Green Garden salad — Spinach & Romaine, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Carrots, Broccoli, Beets, Daikon Radish, Celery, Homemade Croutons, Avocado Vinaigrette. Mostly I love the avocado vinaigrette so this salad is a huge draw for me. The other reason that I ordered it was because I love beets. Sadly, there were no beets in my salad. I looked for them. Tomatoes, yes; cucumbers, yes; carrots, yes; broccoli, yes; radishes, yes; celery, yes; croutons, yes; BUT NO BEETS. It was a sad day. I should have walked it up and asked for a sprinkle of them but I just suffered in silence. The salad was good though. That dressing really makes the entire meal.
For my sandwich I ordered the Melvin — Vegetarian Reuben with Pickled Seitan, Sauerkraut, Swiss Cheese, Thousand Island Dressing on Grilled Marble Rye. Reubens are my favorite sandwich. I always order them then I always feel terrible because they are so bad for you. I decided yesterday, «Adelina, just do it, try out the ‘healthier’ option.» I was not disappointed. I am not saying that it tasted exactly like a real Reuben but it was good enough and tasted close enough to not cause a problem. Yum.
I enjoyed my meal, even if it was heavy on the salad. But really, is that so bad?

I spent all of my college years at this café. Took my girlfriend here for our first date, ate here for breakfast for our 2 year anniversary, and we’ll probably come back for our 20 year anniversary. Love the food and service. Pretty sure the owner is the guy behind the counter. He comes around and asks how everything is. Have a conversation with him, he’s a cool dude. Love the salmon avocado salad and my gf loves the Mary Schenly egg/​toast combo. The only suggestion I have for this place is their chili. it needs a kick of flavor and spice. The juices are also super tasty (beets anything).

I love this place! They have a wide selection of vegetarian (and non-​vegetarian) options for breakfast and lunch, and everything is unique and delicious. My favorite sandwich is the Sleek wrap, and their homemade chips are seasoned well and very tasty. The only thing I didn’t like as much were their soups– I tried 2 different ones and each one was a little bland.
Overall, the flavors here are great, they have good vegetarian and good healthy options, and the prices are reasonable.

Alright, fine. I’m a huge snob and I don’t want french fries on my sandwich (which apparently everyone does with Primanti’s across the street). But Red Oak Café, and the later the box of Mike N Ikes, were the two best meals I had while staying in Pittsburgh all week.
Though still greasy, I had a great breakfast sandwich here that really hit the spot. Looking around, others food choices looked good also and my husband was happy with his turkey sandwich. The café was crowded, so snuggle up close with some strangers and find a seat.

I have been a patron of The Red Oak for years. They consistently provide fast, fresh and delicious food. Their menu has many healthy and vegetarian options. Those with lactose intolerance & who are gluten free can find great meals there as well!
It is a must to go to in Pittsburgh, and those working in Oakland can make it in for lunch breaks. Get the roasted red pepper hummus wrap, it never fails. The sleek & brussel sprout has are also amazing. One of my favorite Pittsburgh spots.

3.5 stars. An okay spot for a quick bite (especially if you’re a broke college student) but I wouldn’t come back here.
Went here with two friends: one of them and I got egg sandwiches, which were okay. Nothing to write home about. My other friend got an egg scramble, was also decent, but the potatoes were cold and undercooked.
We also got a smoothie and juice, and the staff forgot about it. Had to go up to remind them, and a second time because the juice wasn’t ready during the first trip.

During lunch hour, this place is packed. I ordered the oak club sandwich and was hungry enough to try the highly recommended banana nutella pancakes. The oak club is a croissant sandwich, with ham, turkey, and thin cut bacon. It was a little dry, and wasn’t really all that special. The potato side dish was not even seasoned and lacked any flavor. ²⁄₅
The redeeming quality of this restaurant is probably its breakfast. The banana nutella pancakes was a unique dish. The banana is incorporated inside the pancake itself, and there is a generous amount of nutella on the pancakes. I personally think the pancakes taste better without maple syrup, as it overpowers the nutella. ⁴⁄₅

It’s a cute and cozy dinning destination for lunch right in the heart of Oakland. The service kind of reminds me of Panera where you order at the counter and then pick up after yourself when you’re done. It’s a great spot for a casual lunch and the food is quite delicious too.
I had the fish taco as a part of the special of the day. The entrée came with two fish tacos and a side of rice and beans. The fish tacos had a good balance of vegetable, flavors and fish. The fish was crispy and the vegetable on top was equally crisp. My only complaint was the excessive onions overpowering the other flavors. There was barely enough guacamole on my tacos to taste. The side of rice and beans was the filler.
Overall, I really enjoyed my dinning experience at Red Oak. I will definitely return again in the future to try other entrees. The service was quick and efficient, and the food good and affordable.

Really wanted to like this place, but the food was sub-​par. Ordered a scramble which was lukewarm. The breakfast potatoes were actually cold. I sent back the plate to make it warmer and the potatoes came back less cold but by no means warm. Hopefully, this feedback will help the line cook improve service for future patrons.
Even though I’m visiting, I would not return here if visiting Pittsburgh again.

Usually Red Oak is very busy. I went a little late for lunch and therefore the dining room was not that crowded. I was surprised that for so few patrons, the staff was a bit discombobulated. Having to repeatedly repeat my order. A party of 4 arrived after me and the staff completely messed up their orders. However, my food was very good and offered a very fresh taste to my palette. I loved sitting next to the window and watch people walk past.

Two words Brussel Hash, so freakin’ good! Was with a group of 7 for breakfasts, not the best place for a large party, but we lucked out that the big table was open. Everyone enjoyed their food. I got two eggs overhard w/​rye toast and the aforementioned hash. I would definitely go back on my own to try some of their breakfast sandwiches.

Sorry Pamela’s and Chipotle, you ain’t got nothing on Red Oak Café. They serve breakfast (egg sammies, omelets, pancakes etc), and lunch (sammies, wraps, salads). Every day they offer a Blue Plate Special, a balanced meal for the se price. I recommend Friday’s fish tacos. They also serve tea, coffee, fresh pressed juice and smoothies. Service is friendly, food comes out quickly, and the portions are never too small. You must try the salmon avocado salad! The avocado dressing is tangy, spicy, and creamy! I swear I’ve never craved anything more than this salad. It also has dried cranberries, pecans and feta in it. I want to eat it every day. Although the bathroom needs serious improvement, Red Oak Café remains my only go-​to for dining out and take out in Oakland during my work shifts.

I was in town for work and this was the place my U. Pitt colleagues took me for breakfast. It’s a local breakfast and sandwich joint that everyone in the office likes to go to because it’s owned and operated by an alum. And because it’s good.
The interior has a hippie/​organic feel to it: cozy, and food specials written on slate in a myriad of chalk colors. And I’d like to highlight that the staff here is incredibly friendly and chatty. And honest. I was mulling whether or not to get the medium or large coffee and the server informed me that both sizes were the same price. Bam, done. Large it was.
None of it is anything you haven’t seen before, but IT’S ALL DONE REALLY WELL. I was referred to the breakfast sandwiches, all named after someone historic. I ate the ‘Michelangelo’: eggs, spinach, provolone and mushrooms on grain bread. Simple but fantastic. And the coffee here is good too. Good food and good coffee at the same place seems to be a rare occurrence these days, like a sasquatch riding a unicorn pulling a sled filled with leprechauns. When you find a place like this, latch on! My colleagues also enjoyed their food.
The only mark agains this place is the ventilation. As I write this from a coffee shop in Portland, ME, I can still smell the restaurant on my coat. Please find a way to fix this and I’ll pay rent and move in tomorrow.

I came here with my mom and sister for my moms birthday last week. Overall awesome experience!
We came around noon and it was packeddddd, I will plan better when coming next time. It’s not very large in there and therefore it was quite noisy and crowded. But that was really the only downfall of the experience.
I ordered a Cobb salad and their smokehouse turkey sandwich on their «pick two» combo. I placed my order at the counter, took my number and found a seat.
The half portion of my salad and sandwich were quite large and satisfying! And for $ 8.75, you couldn’t beat it! Everything was fresh, from the avocados in my salad, to the lettuce and tomato on my sandwich. Everything was tasty and I left feeling very full and satisfied:). The avocado vinaigrette on my Cobb was amazing. It was so refreshing to have a healthy, fresh meal in Oakland! I also tried a few spoonfuls of the cream of mushroom soup my mom ordered… It was packed with flavor! Mhm!
I am excited to have found this little gem. I plan on returning this week! :)
(Just a note: after paying, I noticed two receipts on the counter with slashes through the tip area, leaving me here to give the public service announcement to tip! Yes, you aren’t ordering with a server… But your meal is still being brought to you. The servers might all run food during lunch in order to deal with the crowds and might split tips. Regardless, just tip, always– when you’re being served! :) end rant !)

It’s been awhile since I’ve been here, but when my lab was located on Forbes Ave., we came on occasion for lunch. My PI was a big fan of the blue plate special at the time (fish with avocado sauce), and I agree that it was pretty good – particularly the sauce, which was super-​flavorful and really spruced up the fish, which was quite bland). This is definitely some of the healthier food you’ll find in Oakland, although it will cost you a bit more than at other local places. While I was a fan of the blue plate special, the salads I’ve had from here have been just okay. Then again, I’m not a huge salad person, so perhaps salads have to be really original and delicious to wow me, and, to be honest, I have yet to find that in PGH (other than perhaps at Cure).
My biggest complaint about this place is the seating area. As others have noted, there aren’t many tables, and it can be difficult to snag one if you come in during peak lunch hour. I’d recommend getting your lunch to go and walking a block or two to the benches near Posvar Hall to eat it – or else taking it back to your desk. My lab used to come here during non-​peak hours to avoid this problem, but at least once, we came later and the blue plate was sold out. I’ve come here more than once with a group and we’ve walked right back out when there was no seating for us. Overall, an okay option for lunch, esp. if you’re looking for something on the healthier side, but assume that you won’t be able to be seated if you come during peak hours and plan accordingly.