Miss Ollie's--Oakland (Caribbean-influenced Soul Food)

Located in Old Oakland at 901 Washington Street, Miss Ollie's probably cooks up some of the best fried chicken in town. With Caribbean influences, some of the dishes they offer seem inventive while also being comforting and familiar at the same time. The atmosphere is relaxed with counter ordering at lunch and table service at dinner. Be sure you're not super hungry when you go, it may take about 20+ minutes to cook your skillet-fried chicken; but it's well worth the wait. Below are some of the things I've enjoyed.

http://www.missolliesoakland.com/

Hibiscus Soca. This house-made beverage was lightly sweet with very nice, complex flavors.

Drum & Bass. A very refreshing and citrusy drink. This included Beefeater Winter Blend Gin, Allspice dram, Velvet Falernum, lemon juice and Angostura bitters. It was very well balanced.

Manhattan. This was requested off the menu, but they have everything needed to make it. This one included Bulleit Bourbon and the house vermouth. Well made.

Cucumber-Tomato Salad. Really fresh Early Girl Farm tomatoes with thinly sliced cucumbers and topped with a buttermilk dressing, a drizzle of olive oil and fresh parsley.

Garlic Plantains. Pan-cooked until tender and splashed with garlic oil; these just melt in your mouth.

Rice and beans. Steaming hot with well-prepared beans that were not mushy. A nice side.

Collard greens. These were not cooked until they were a messy mush-ball, as they sometimes can be. It had a mild vinegar flavor and were still a bit crunchy.

Potato Salad. The crunchy red bell peppers gave this salad a nice texture and flavor. It had just the right amount of mayonnaise.

Fried Chicken. Moist and juicy on the inside; very crispy and peppery on the outside. They also inject the pieces of breast meat with garlic and herbs. A definite winner.

Roasted pork. This might be one of the best pulled pork dishes I've had. So tender and succulent with so much umami flavor. A huge pile of the pork was served over some beans with a side of tangy cabbage/carrot cole slaw and topped with a mixture of chopped garlic, cilantro, bell pepper and lime juice. This also came with a bowl of basmati rice with a few slices of fried plantains. Fantastic.

Creole Donuts. More of a cake-like donut, these had great texture with cinnamon in the dough, fried till golden brown and dusted with powdered sugar for a light sweetness. An excellent way to end a fantastic meal.

Being that Miss Ollie's is near downtown Oakland, where most of the businesses are, it doesn't get too crowded on the weekends until about 7:30pm. So stop in early for a table right away and enjoy a fantastic meal.