Old Skool Cafe

We had a great experience here. Like with many other reviewers, Chef Kevin visited our table and asked how everything was and if we had any questions. The teenaged host and servers were very friendly and attentive. I loved the décor and the jazz music being played throughout the night. It’s a really nice touch that the musicians as well as the staff are teens — Old Skool Café is doing really good work and I intend to come here again and again. Everything we tried was outstanding, and I look forward to returning to try more dishes.

I saw this place on an old episode of «Check Please!» and finally was able to go there this past weekend with my wife. We were celebrating an early birthday for me and she made the reservations knowing that I love Southern comfort food.
Upon arriving, we were introduced by a fine young gentlemen. I forgot his name unfortunately but when opening the menu, I read some of his backstory. For people that don’t know, this place helps foster at risk and some foster care kids with the hopes of leading them down the right path in life. I believe the young teens/​adults range from ages 16 – 22.
Anyways this young gentlemen was very polite and professional; something that lacks even at some finer establishments. We received two complimentary biscuits, which was nice of the staff.
My wife and I ordered the fried chicken meal which comes with coleslaw and mashed potatoes. We also split the gumbo and had a side of collard greens. Everything tasted pretty good. I will say that the gumbo portions were a bit small for a bowl. Just something to consider if you love gumbo.
The atmosphere was very relaxing especially once the live performer arrived promptly at 6 pm. He was this very young kid wearing a tuxedo and he was great. He covered the classics. Lets not forget the man with the top hat who was on the piano. This along with the dim lighting made for an enjoyable evening.
I would rather shell out my hard earned money for a good cause than to go to BJ’s or Cheesecake Factory (not a knock; just corporate examples). I also would like to commend the founder; Teresa is her name I believe. We need more people like her.

This place has amazing comfort food. The flavor is unbelievable. My friend and I drove up from Santa Cruz to enjoy the city and come to this restaurant to try it out. It was well worth the trip! We loved our food and the people here are very nice and lovely.
The peanut butter stew and shrimp and grits were AMAZING. We were so pleased. They also brought us sweet potato fries as an appetizer and we gobbled those up so quickly because they practically melted in your mouth, I don’t know how they get them so good.
Must try place!
Just be aware that the surrounding area doesn’t seem to be in the best part of the city. And one thing the servers could work on is refilling your water!

Great, great place. Wonderful atmosphere, superb food (some of — if not — the best fried chicken in the city — and beyond), great friendly service (and attentive! It was like they were desperate to help), and a really worthy cause. We definitely plan on going back — and taking people. A real gem flying under the radar.

This place is amazing in many aspects!
Food quality: 5 stars! The Shrimp on grits and Blackened cat fish are my favorites!
Service is superb: attentive, polite and genuine
Live music: talented young jazz musicians play and sing beautifully
What’s most important is: it’s for a great cause: to help the at-​risk young people.
The founder Teresa is such a compassionate human being, she has a beautiful soul and a gentle heart !!

My husband wants to go back to this place, that is rare! We highly recommend this place! Beautiful ambiance, great service, fresh and delicious food! We drove almost two hours to eat here and we are so glad we did. This is a restaurant with an awesome mission, to help youth. We will be back.

I enjoyed the food and atmosphere here. The service could have been better (refilling water/​bringing out cream and sugar with coffee, etc.)
Side note: There were 8 couples at dinner, 2 of which had their cars broken into in the parking lot right in front of the restaurant. Make sure to clear out your car before coming here and park directly on the main street if you can.

Old Skool Café is a unique place to eat. The food was most amazing, music was great!

Delish Soulfood in downtown Oakland. Great Shrimp Grits — w pan seared shrimp, chorizo and scallions. Pretty good BBQ braised ribs. Even better appetizers. The best part is they (non-​profit) employ only at risk youth and really help the community. Big fan. Plus, they have live music and our piano player was great.

Description of the Restaurant:
Old Skool Café is a faith-​based, violence prevention program, providing marketable employment skills in the restaurant industry to at-​risk youth ages 16 – 22.
++++There can be nothing more satisfying than supporting a great cause such as this.
+Great food. Nice big portions of soulfood.
Blackened catfish was cooked to perfection, also enjoyed the sides of greens.
Ribs were the most tender and melty we’ve ever had.
Fried chicken cooked perfectly and crispy while not oily
The complimentary corncakes were also delicious!
+Service. The kids working there are taught polite service skills which they use and are very professional.
+Cost. Honestly not very expensive for what it is. Maybe $ 10 – 20 a person.
+Ambiance. Decorated very cute and homey with a nice warm, red interior. That night we went they even had a young musician singing and playing music.
–Area. The area is a big on the seedy side, so much so that our Über drive did not want to drop us off. So be prepared so you aren’t surprised.

This place is more than a restaurant. Not only is it a «Supper Club,» it’s an establishment that reaches beyond the kitchen, touching and transforming the lives of at-​risk youth. The food, service, and ambiance is superb, but the program Old Skool represennts is undeniably one-​of-​a-​kind!
Chef Kevin and the staff (who are the young graduates of the «second chance» program) cook and serve with excellence. I beseech you my brethren and sisteren by the mercies of God to support this cause. The program is a successful one, some of the graduates have gone on to attend colleges such as Stanford and Howard University.

Supporting a good cause, great food, and live jazz music during dinner? Old Skool, you really had a way to my heart. Now if only guys could do the same. HAHA. JK, not really.
Reunited with my super food buddy since sophomore year, Nathan W. and I have been wanting to go here since 2 years ago. And we finally somehow ended up here 2 years later.
Old Skool hires at-​risk youth age 16 – 22 and gives them a place to go to get into a healthy life loop. I LOVEEEEE the mission of this place. It was so meaningful and super heartwarming to be able to support these youth.
.:Atmosphere/​Service:.
Red chandeliers hung from the ceilings, warm decors filled the room, a piano on one side of the room, a live musician playing and singing great music while I ate= the perfect breathtaking atmosphere one could ever imagine.
The chef himself greeted us at the door and he came to check on us when we were eating our entrée. The staff were all very friendly. Everything was just amazing.
.:Food:.
We shared all the following items:
+Pan Seared Shimp ‘n Smoky Grits $ 18: Award-​winning dish. Topped with Spanish chorizo and scallions. Flavorful shrimp paired with very thick creamy grits that made my mouth water.
+Daniel’s Gumbo ($ 12cup/​/​$ 18bowl): New Orleans classic with andouille sausage, chicken and shrimp; topped with Dugeness Crab over rice. WARNING: for those who cannot handle a bit of spice (not even hot cheetos like me) there is a hint of fire to this dish haha. I took a big gulp before realizing I was sentencing my taste buds to death. Not TOO bad thou. Super bold in flavors and everything was super good.
+Bread Pudding ($ 7): there was no dessert menu so the waiter verbally listed their selections. Once waiter said bread pudding, my friend screamed BREAD PUDDING. And we were done. The bread pudding was super moist and the ice cream on top melted quickly. There was a hint of cinnamon to it. This one seemed to be a seasonal dessert.
.:Wait Time:.
NONE. NONE whatsoever. But it was because we came on halloween so we were lucky. The chef recommended reservations on Fri-​Sun. Other days would not be a problem.
My only one complaint, and not really their fault at all would be the area it’s located at. I was scared for my life. I would not frequent here often if a guy was not there with me haha.

The Oakdale neighbor hood is rough but to find this little place nestled right inside was quite a treat. Appearance wise, it looks like it should be a prohibition era speakeasy so they definitely do play to their name. I love it. The waitress was wonderful and offered us the free Unilocal drink checkin without us having to ask.
The food:
–The shrimp and grits was tasty and was pretty much what I expected. 8.5÷10
–The fried chicken with mash potatoes and cole slaw is a solid ⁹⁄₁₀. It was fried VERY nicely. Probably one of the best fry jobs I’ve ever had.
–The sweet tea. You’ve gotta order the sweet tea. Hands down the best I’ve ever had.
–The mint lemonade. It was as expected… maybe a little bit better actually. If LEMONADE the chain restaurant in LA had this flavor as an option, it’d be popular. However I’m just gonna give it an above average rating at ⁸⁄₁₀.
The 5^th star is for the service. Definitely some of the nicest people and best service I’ve had in a long time. The chef instructor even came out to greet my table at the end of the night. How often does that happen?!?

FOOD
— Complimentary bread: sweet and soft! I wanted more but I wanted to save room for the entrees. 4.5÷5
— Daniel’s Gumbo: sausage, shrimp, chicken, and Dungeness crab, topped with a scoop of rice and green onions. Hands down the best gumbo I’ve ever had. Sooooo good! ⁵⁄₅
— Jordan’s Fried Chicken: 2 huge pieces of fried chicken with a side of mashed potatoes and coleslaw. The chicken was tender, juicy, and flavorful. The mash was creamy and well seasoned. 4.5÷5
— Babyview Baby Back Ribs: marinated ribs with a side of coleslaw. The meat was tasty and fall off the bone. Delicious! ⁵⁄₅
— Pan Seared Shrimp & Smoky Grits: flavorful shrimp and creamy grits, topped with chorizo and green onions. This was my first time ever having grits so I don’t have anything to compare it with. I just know it was good. 4.5÷5
— Blackened Catfish: filet seasoned with cajun with a side of almond couscous and cranberries and collard greens. The catfish was very flavorful, a little on the salty side. ⁴⁄₅
SERVICE
We were immediately greeted and seated. Our server was very friendly. She constantly checked on us. I really enjoyed the live performance. The artist even let me come up and duet with him. It was awesome! ⁵⁄₅
FINAL THOUGHTS
I love everything about this place. The food and staff were amazing! I, also, love the fact that the restaurant gives the youth an opportunity and the skills to better their lives and helps guide them on a good path.

I really like Old Skool Café! The food is delicious (try the ribs!) and the service is great. These kids have such cool testimonies and share them via song, poem, or some other artistic way with the entire restaurant
Definitely a cool place to check out with a positive message and mission.

«Best catfish I’ve ever had». a quote from my younger brother also trying this place for the first time. I feel that is setting the bar a bit high but this place does make it a good debate. All the food was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Simple menu but it is executed perfectly. You also get a great vibe once your inside. The outside as noted in other reviews can be intimidating but once you step through the doors the mood is nothing less than inviting. The chef Kevin checks on all the tables personally so plus points for quality control.
Blackened Catfish: Delicious. Comes with collard greens and cous cous
Mac & Cheese: Freshly made and brought right to the table. Give it a minute or risk a burned tongue. Excellent amount of cheesiness. hmmm is that a word?
Peanut Butter Stew: Works on alot of different levels. Can be a meal or added as a side.
Bayview Babyback ribs: no utensils required. You can pull the meat off with your fingers; enough said.
This is going to be tough but try to save room for dessert. The rice pudding is a great refresher and I’m saving the fifth star as a formality for after my next couple of visits which will be very soon…

Check Please Bay Area has yet to disappoint me. We saw this restaurant featured on the show, and I was convinced by the show’s end that this was the place where we were going to celebrate our special wedding anniversary. I was looking for ambiance, great food and an altogether unique experience, and based on guests’ comments and Unilocal reviews, this place meets all three requirements.
This restaurant is not your typical restaurant. It’s a «Youth-​Run Supper Club.» Both the front and back areas of the restaurant are run by at-​risk and previously incarcerated youth, giving them a chance to gain valuable work experience. And what a setting! The 40s supper club theme décor is fabulous! You just need a jazz band to complete the experience. But lucky for us there was a nice young man playing jazz tunes on the piano using his iPhone for his sheet music. How’s that for a unique restaurant experience?
The food here is really good. We ordered several dishes which we shared for the most part, and we enjoyed all of them. We started with the ceviche and the gumbo. The ceviche was refreshing and light and the gumbo was spicy and very tasty! It’s one of the best gumbos I’ve ever had. The shrimp was tender, not overcooked as they often are, and next time we eat here, I am ordering that for my main course! My husband and I shared the Mac and Cheese and Fried Chicken entrée as well. The fried chicken plate came with half a chicken, a nice serving of garlic mashed potatoes and slaw. The fried chicken was very lightly breaded and seasoned well with spices. Very good, not heavy at all. The mashed potatoes was delicious. Definitely a good recipe! I didn’t eat much slaw as I was getting full by that pointbut it was good too.
In between courses we were visited by and congratulated by the founder of the restaurant and the social worker working with the young people. They thanked us for choosing to celebrate our anniversary here and gave us a couple of glasses of champagne on the house. How amazing is that?! We enjoyed our Chocolate Mousse dessert with the champagne.
Service was efficient and friendly and the food came out in a timely manner. There was a group of 40 that came in after we got seated and were into our starters, and another group of at least 20 people celebrating someone’s birthday, but the kitchen handled it very well. We did not experience any delay in our food and the food just kept coming out for the large groups! The kitchen people obviously know how to handle large groups.
I would recommend making reservations especially if you’re dining on the weekend. I reserved through Unilocal about three weeks in advance. Don’t worry about parking as they have a parking lot for patrons. Free parking in front of the restaurant!!! How rare is that in San Francisco?! Wear those heels. No need to walk a few blocks to eat here!

Wow, I had the pleasure of dining at Old Skool Café last week, and I was totally blown away by the food, the service, the entertainment, the ambiance, and their social mission.
I started off with the black-​eyed pea salad, which very tasty. We followed up with Abu’s Peanut Butter Stew, and the a half slab of the Bayview Baby Back Ribs.
I was very curious about the peanut butter stew because it was the most unique item on the menu, and it did not disappoint. It was kind of like a garlicky peanut coconut curry, but the flavors were unique and unlike anything that I’ve had before. I highly recommend this dish, it’s very unique and absolutely delicious.
The Bayview Baby Back Ribs were amazing, and were the best back ribs I’ve ever had. They were meaty, juicy, and tender, and the sauce complimented the porkiness perfectly.
During our meal, Chef Kevin introduced himself to us and made sure that everything was fine. He chatted with us about Old Skool’s history, the food, and their mission. He was a very gracious host, and the rest of the staff was friendly and attentive too. We also enjoyed the live piano music that accompanied our meal.
One thing to note for people who are not familiar with the neighborhood — although we had no problems, you should be mindful of your surroundings and not leave anything of value in your car when you park.
I really enjoyed our meal, and I’m looking forward to going back again!

Having seen OSC at various Unilocal events around town I thought it’d be cool to finally come here with my fiancée. A lot of the other reviews have mentioned the scariness of the neighborhood and I have to agree with them. I parked on Oakdale right nearby and the car parked next to me had 2 of their windows shattered. I figured the vandal probably came and went but I still made sure to hide anything within view and of value in my car like any good San Franciscan.
We made reservations through the Unilocal app on a Thursday evening and we were one of 2 groups eating. There’s space to host at least 50 people. The musician of the day was playing the piano and he went non-​stop for a good 30 minutes probably. Good stuff! The server/​host was attentive and welcoming. We were treated to a yummy fried sweet potato dish to whet our appetite.
Started out with the Taumoepeau Oka. It looks like a small like appetizer, but for 2 people it actually packs quite a lot of food. They noticed that we were running low on the homemade tortilla chips and got an extra helping to finish off our swai.
I ordered the fried chicken and my girl got the Shrimp and Grits. Both packed good flavor and juiciness… although I think the fried chicken is a bit overpriced IMO. We finished off the night with a lavender cheesecake which actually tasted like lavender with the right amount of sweet and cheesiness.
Overall, I believe in the mission of OSC and really hope they continue to do well and invest in at-​risk youth. Although I wish the neighborhood was a little less sketch, I still will try venturing out there every so often. BTW, they also cater events and weddings… which is something I may consider having them do.

Be ready to be transported to Bourbon Street upon entry. The sultry red chandeliers, cozy booths and velvet soft, black chairs will make you feel like you walked into a locals lounge in New Orleans! The live Jazz musicians playing front and center complete the scene.
The service here is impeccable, everyone is attentive and available to help. It wasn’t the décor, the food, or the cause that impressed me the most but rather when Chef Kevin came out with my plate and introduced himself and talked about their purpose. That is attention to detail! I don’t know if he does that at every table, but I sure felt special that he came to mine. Maybe he just wanted to know what party of two was ordering all that food.
As soon as you sit down the staff brings a plate of four mini pieces of sweet cornbread. The Frenchman ate them so fast, I didn’t have time to take a photo. They were so fluffy and light (no Jiff here folks), topped with a small drizzle of honey on top. Truth be told, I was here to see what sort of food game this place had — was the food truly southern? With this in mind I ordered the Fried Chicken, The Gumbo and the Spicy Greens.
Those greens!!! I pretty much ate them all on my own. The chef prepares them in smoked turkey necks, so for all us southerners who know about that back fat and ham-hocks.none of that in these here and they were still amazing! Juicy, spicy, not overly vinegary or salted. They were beyond exceptional!
The Gumbo had an aroma that led me to believe the roux was made with love. Indeed it was; spicy, not too watery or thick mixing well with the rice, crab and sausage. The shrimp were sautéed in butter beforehand and complemented the flavor altogether. There was no ocra thank goodness. It wasn’t my Mamon Rieux’s gumbo, but it was probably the best I have had in California. Ya’ll westerners need some practice.
Anyway, the Fried Chicken was satisfying as well. Juicy, juicy, juicy. There is nothing worse then some dried fried chicken! Well done Chef Kevin, that little bird was seasoned and saucy. I wasn’t so much a fan of the mashed potatoes and cole slaw. But I’m a little funny about cole slaw — I only like Popeye’s LOL!
Seriously folks, take a taxi, Lyft or Über, or even the Muni to this eatery. The muni stops right in front, so you have no excuse. The basis behind their establishment is comendable. They employ youth who would otherwise be getting into shenanigans, lacking guidance, heading down that terrible path of self destruction. Old Skool Café keeps them focused with paid jobs, encouraging support and leadership. So get there, support the future and your hungry tummy!