Hi - had a delightful brunch at this place on 5th and Wilkens in Oakland. This is a converted home, the buffet is set up in the library and one can eat in a small dining room, in the room with the bar, outside on an open porch or outside on covered porch. as it rained, we were pleased to be inside. There is the buffet and then one may order one entree. Todays included lobster salad with lobster meat and croquettes on a delecious bed of greens, (which we had), lobster club sandwich , spinach,mushroom, goat cheese in filo, potato pancakes, omlets, pancakes and maybe French toast. The buffet included sliced turkey breast, (didnt try) chicken marsala. huge shrimp (though you had to peel them yourself - bummer), cold grilled veg., pasta salad with asparagus, other salads, whitefish salad, lox with accessories. a vegetable pie type thing and chicken liver pate. all were excellent.Oh yes, a run-of the mill fruit and cheese tray. Bread and bagels were nondescript. Blueberry muffins were fine. desert was tiny slices of choc. cake, tiny cheese cakes, tiny manaroons - all not worth eating. service was extremelyh spotty (maybe it was our particular person), the coffee was not hot and hard to get refills, the tea water was cool and when we asked for replacement, she seemed surprised. At first some opera was piped in, then a pianist performed classical pieces - all subdued and very nice. Price $22.00. Reservations a must - today there were 2 seating - they might vary. All in all it was very enjoyable - different types of food and lovely ambience.
Pittsburgh, PA
Brunch at Sunny Ledge
I have to disagree with the favorable review of Sunny Ledge. I went to a brunch there earlier in the summer, and found that the only thing noteworthy about the place was the final bill. Our affair consisted of a small hors d'oeuvre buffet followed by table service. The appetizers were very good, but the were things that were merely unwrapped and presented by the kitchen staff (e.g. smoked salmon, cheeses, etc.). The menu had some very tasty sounding entrees, and when they arrived they were very beautifully presented. However, we all agreed that nothing actually tasted very good; the lobster entrees had a decidedly canned taste to them, and everything was dull and unflavorful. The wait staff, while very accommodating, were amateurish and clumsy. I felt like I had been mugged every time the waiter or a busboy shouldered past me to get at the table. Fortunately, the company was very good, so I managed to enjoy my meal very much. It would have been better had I brought my own food.