Miss Ollie's - Oakland

[Robert Lauriston]

Sarah Kirnon, former chef of Hibiscus and Front Porch, is doing occasional pop-ups gearing up for opening Miss Ollie's in Swan's Market this fall.

https://www.facebook.com/MissOllies

[Robert Lauriston]

They now have their liquor license and a full bar.

[mariacarmen]

Visiting CH-er grayelf was just there and loved it. i can't wait to try this place, slated to go mid-June. anyone tried the Bul Jol? I'm a chili head - is really super hot?

[Robert Lauriston]

I've had some pleasantly spicy dishes she's made but nothing super hot except the pepper sauce.

[mariacarmen]

thx. good to know i can adjust with the sauce if need be.

[grayelf]

Bul Jo was not hot at all but quite tasty. Make sure you go on a day when they have the fried chicken. And don't miss the pickle plate either : -).

[karenfinan]

I am going next Tues. with my coworkers for my birthday- really looking forward to it and will report after, glad to have the tips:-)

[grayelf]

I am sure you will enjoy it as it really has that ineffable combo of great food, lovely staff and comfy vibe that seems to work for a wide range of patrons. When we were there early on a Saturday evening, the bar was full, the tables had happy people at them and the servers, 'tenders and greeter made it seem like a party at someone's house. I did find my one taste of the pulled pork a wee bit on the sweet side but that could be my palate. Loved it and would be there once a week if I lived in the Bay Area.

[Windy]

Glad you made it.

[mariacarmen]

we're going this coming Tuesday, after all - it looks like we can get the chicken - it's on the regular menu... i think i want one of everything!

[karenfinan]

Me too!

[mariacarmen]

i know, i saw that! i'll look out for the bday girl and say hey!

[karenfinan]

Very cool! It will be great to meet a poster I've been reading for a long time:-)

[Windy]

No, not hot. Sarah's coconut habanero sauce is delicious, but not that spicy either.

The fried chicken is most days now, I think.

Don't miss the ackee. Drinks were good too.

[mariacarmen]

ok, too bad about not that spicy, but it all sounds delicious regardless.

definitely getting the ackee! thanks!

[Robert Lauriston]

The sauce that was on the table Thursday was spicier than any house-made hot sauce I've had in any restaurant, including the habanero salsa El Huarache Azteca serves on request with the barbacoa.

It wasn't quite as hot as the bottle I bought at Hibiscus, but that stuff is so hot that if I added more than a teaspoon to a big pot of stew some people would find it inedibly hot. Which is why I still have half the bottle after I'm not sure how many years.

[mariacarmen]

can't wait to try!

[Windy]

Sarah posts highlights from the changing menu on her Facebook page. Ackee wasn't on the menu last week, but who knows. The oxtails look great too.

The cocktail with rhum agricole and walnut bitters and absinthe was very refreshing.

I don't eat a lot of fried chicken and didn't like the version she made at The Front Porch. But the pieces we had at Miss Ollie's were worth every calorie. Stuffed with an herb mixture.

[mariacarmen]

thanks for the FB tip. the ackee is on the regular lunch menu.... hoping it's there when we go. but heck, i'll go again, after all these stellar reports.

I liked the chicken at Front Portch, although I didn't think it was "the best ever." this one sounds amazing. as does that cocktail. i can't wait.

ETA: hmmm... wasn't able to find a FB page for Ms. Ollie's, or for Sarah Kirnon....

ETA Again: i don't understand this Bauer review - he seems to love it but gives it 2.5 stars? truly, i don't read bauer reviews, so maybe i'm just unfamiliar with his standards.

http://www.sfchronicle.com/restaurant...

[Robert Lauriston]

https://www.facebook.com/MissOllies

[mariacarmen]

how'd i miss that?? thanks!

[drewskiSF]

click on the 'f' at the bottom of the Miss Ollie's website.

edit: nevermind. Robert posted the URL

[moto]

just a guess, but bauer appears to apply the same star rating to places whether they're mid-priced neighborhood spots or fine dining with ten people involved with every plate leaving the kitchen. he's no liberal when it comes to giving even three stars to a place, and for most of us in this area the value of his opinion varies with the type of cuisine and target clientele of a place.

[Robert Lauriston]

Went Saturday night at 9 (dinner hours Friday and Saturday are 5:30-10:30, no reservations) and they had stopped seating new parties. Apparently they got slammed early and ran out of food.

Nice to see they're doing well, but if you want to be sure to get in, maybe go on the early side.

[JasmineG]

I've been to Miss Ollie's twice now (both on Saturdays for fried chicken), and I absolutely love what they're doing there. All of the food that I've had has been great: the first time I was there the chicken came with black eyed peas, greens, and two hush puppies, and the second time it came with plaintains and an avocado salad with a carrot slaw. Along with four pieces of perfectly fried chicken, it's a crazy steal for $11. I also had some of the red beans and rice (delicious), the salt fish salad (unusual and great), and the creole doughnuts (fantastic, and perfectly fried). Everything I've had is really delicious, and wow do they know their way around a fryer, but the fried chicken is really some of the best in the Bay Area. Perfectly crispy on the outside, lots of flavor, well seasoned and well cooked on the inside, and with that little heart of jerk seasoning that Sarah Kirnon is known for. Oh, and the housemade hot sauce is great too -- lots of heat, and the kind that works well with their food, but interesting flavor as well.

I can't wait to go back to try the fish friday (has anyone tried it?) and the Oxtail. The service is also super friendly, which I really appreciate in a new place, and the space is low key and comfortable. I'm glad that there are so many good spots coming to that little corner of Oakland.

[escargot3]

The pop-up this past Friday nite at Stag's as part of Oakland Art Murmur was wonderful: her signature fried chicken was a hit. I also enjoyed the salt cod with roasted veggies and ackee.

Great in-gathering of people there for a party. But don't go if you're in a rush.

Oh, and the zing of her housemade hot sauce...brilliant.

[j mather]

Official opening is today at 11:30 am. I'm sorry to miss the fried chicken today, but I'll try for curry goat tomorrow. Menu for the week includes:

Tuesday: Fried Chicken 12
Wednesday: Curry Goat 12.50
Thursday: Oxtail 12.50
Friday: Fish Friday AQ
Chopped salad/hearts of palm, cucumber, avocado, radishes, hen egg, crispy shallots 8 / 10
Creole ham/sweet potato salad, olives, capers, aioli 7.50
Lamb patties 3.50 / 6
Salt fish & ackee/ plantains 7 / 14
Sancocho/cassava, carrots, green bananas 9
Piri Piri pork shoulder/ field greens 9
Doubles/curry chickpeas, squash, bara bread 4 / 8
Rice & Peas 3.50
Plaintains Garlic Oil 4.50
Buttered Sweet Potatoes 3.00
Pikliz 2.50
Greens 3.00

[Robert Lauriston]

It's actually not in Swan's Market proper but at 901 Washington, the space on the corner that I think was most recently Jesso's.