4. Restaurants

Picán

2295 Broadway, Oakland, CA, 94612
  • (510) 834-1000
  • Store is closed

Picán Menu

  • Ultimate Southern Social Hour - Pican Tapas Pickin's

Healthy Meal suggestions for Picán

  • Ultimate Southern Social Hour - Pican Tapas Pickin's

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  • Anne D.

    Every dish was fantastic and the service was impeccable. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Michael S.

    My wife and I were disappointed by the food here and the wait for our food. I've enjoyed the food and atmosphere more at other Bay Area Southern restaurants.

    (2)

  • Chad J.

    Party of 6, excellent outing on a Sunday evening. The service was... perfect. I was worried because some people have reported poor service, but our server was the perfect combination of knowledgeable, helpful, charismatic (but not cloying), attentive. Such a pro. I really liked the restaurant's style and ambiance. It was more upscale than I expected; I think "casual elegant" is a good description. The food met my fairly high expectations. We shared several appetizers - Fried Green Tomatoes, scallops, shrimp, and a salad. All good - except a few of us didn't like the high amount of pepper in the salad. I had the fried chicken (with Gouda mac-n-cheese side!) and got to try the catfish, too. The chicken really was excellent - tasty, moist and tender. Catfish was good, probably the best I've ever had, but I liked the chicken better.

    (4)

  • Karlene T.

    I truly enjoyed my experience last weekend at Pican and I can't wait to go back! My guy and I went on Sunday evening of Labor Day weekend. We didn't have a reservation but we went pretty early in the evening and were seated immediately. We were seated close to the kitchen, which I enjoy because I like see the activity in the kitchen and watch the dishes come out. The restaurant was fairly quiet at the beginning of our meal but as more people arrived, the noise level went up quite a bit. At the end of the meal, I felt like we were yelling at each other across the table. Our server, Jill, was delightful. She was knowledgeable, fun and attentive. I ordered the Fried Chicken with Gouda Mac-n-Cheese. The mac-n-cheese was amazing! It was full of flavor, cooked to perfection and was served in a small cast iron skillet that kept it warm. The fried chicken was also very tasty. It was moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. My guy had the Brisket Meatloaf. It was perfectly cooked and served with a scrumptious tomato-cheddar sauce. We both ordered dessert but we were so full by the time it arrived that we only ate a few bites and boxed up the leftovers. I ordered the beignets. They were fabulous that night and also very good the next morning for breakfast! Pican has such an amazing menu that I am already planning my next visit. Next time . . . BRUNCH!

    (4)

  • Paul U.

    Decided to dine here on a whim during the weekday evening. Being seated immediately is always a good sign of things to come. The service was pleasant, attentive and helpful. The ambiance was comforting as it was not loud, nor pin drop quiet. Decor and aesthetics were pleasing to look at. Appetizer: hushpuppies. nothing like deep fried goodness to go with wine. Entrees: duck, which the GF found delicious and I can't remember what I ordered, but it must have been good as if it was unsatisfactory, I'd remember that. Dessert: I can't remember either. Overall dining experience was pleasant and enjoyable. I'll be dining here again,

    (4)

  • calvin h.

    If eating fried chicken in a fancy restaurant is your thing, you've found the perfect spot. Service was great; we had to wait 15-20 minutes after our reservation and without skipping a beat, the host brought over complimentary drinks the second we sat down. The waiter was well versed in the menu and the preparation, which shows good training, something that's lacking so often these days.

    (4)

  • Shannon R.

    The food, service and ambiance is fantastic. I was really impressed with the menu, we had a difficult time choosing between so many great options.

    (5)

  • Ellen F.

    Disappointing experience here. The restaurant itself is beautiful but the food was just "meh". Tried lots of things on the menu, including the "famous fried chicken and mac & cheese", but even they were just ok, but not great. The Chocolate and Coke cake didn't taste like chocolate, but rather like a lot of brown sugar. I think if you are headed to "uptown" to get southern food, Luka's (2 doors away) is a much better bet.

    (2)

  • Christina L.

    Excellent, personable staff who make you feel like they genuinely want to be there. Delicious food. Every bite was amazing. To start, you get cornbread and honey butter. I got the ginger bock which was refreshing. For the main course I got the ribs while my parents both got the fried chicken. Both dishes were incredible. Best fried chicken I've had, and the ribs were tender to the point that the meat fell off the bone. Can't wait to come back!!

    (5)

  • M S.

    What a lovely evening. We were welcomed by the hosts and received attentive and cheerful service by our waiter. I could probably do without the greens in the future, but the mac and cheese is the best I've had in the East Bay. Loved the sweet potato cheesecake too.

    (4)

  • C C.

    Dined here last night. Obviously, Pican has established itself in Uptown. Hadn't dined here for a while . Read some of the reviews . Of course, mixed, but overall good . Happened to be seated in Chelsea's section . Read about him here. I understand, why it is a delight to have him as your server . Firstly, he is proud of the food, rightfully so. Secondly, you forget that you are be waited on by someone. Service is seamless. And my pairing of glasses of wine with my food was perfect. Will request him on my next visit.. Only, coming sooner this time. And never take away the Southern Fried Chicken. Ever! Delicious! Thanks for a wonderful evening.

    (4)

  • Courtenay B.

    This is not an ever weekend sort of place as it is PRICEY. However, this place is amazingly delicious, as well as unique in it's offerings. The bourbon selection alone is worth a field trip to the bar. Food of note: The mac-n-cheese, the collard greens (aka warm pork salad!), goat cheese croquettes, fried green tomatoes, pork chop, um the list goes on and on! THe pecan pie! OMG! alright enough talking eat here for a special occasion, like "friday" or you know whatever!

    (5)

  • Milo Z.

    A welcome addition to Oakland's downtown revival, three blocks from the Paramount Theater. The Corvina was excellent. Ribs were very good as well. Careful about filling up on the corn bread which is replenished once you finish a piece of it. Noise level was fairly low at 6:00 PM, allowing for easy conversation. We will definitely return.

    (4)

  • Annie G.

    the mac n cheese is well....AMAZING...the chicken is so crispy and juicy...the food made me forget my table manners.

    (5)

  • Cristina d.

    Unique menu, excellent servers, trendy interior with lots of browns, beiges, and ambers. I recommend the foie gras with a sweet glaze sauce and the fried green tomatoes topped with feta and bruschetta. If you enjoy bourbon, whiskey, or scotch, they have a 'bourbon bible.' It's a leather book and they only have one copy. You can also choose from the cocktail menu, like the Revolver which is made with Bulleit whiskey.

    (5)

  • Martha C.

    On a rainy Saturday night my husband and I enjoyed one of the best meals we have eaten in Oakland. The food tantalized our taste buds and we felt like pampered guests as we enjoyed excellent service.

    (5)

  • Cal J.

    Had to do a follow-up: Went to Pican for brunch to cap off a friend's wedding weekend. Friend Chicken Benedict....BAM!

    (5)

  • Colleen B.

    California inspired southern soul food. We were able to get a seat at 7:00 on a Sunday evening, the place was busy but not packed. Pican has a very calm, upscale ambiance, without being pretentious. We were seated in the main dining room with a view of the open kitchen. Service was slow at first, we had to flag down the cornbread guy and bar service was running slow. We tried the southern ribs that came with a spicy coleslaw. I couldn't get enough of them, fall off the bone, moist with a mild bbq sauce which was not too sweet. The spicy slaw was vinegar based with jalapeno, green onion and roasted peanuts - one of the better slaws I have had in a long while. We also had the seared duck breast with maple glaze, corn fritter and spicy collard greens. The duck was very good, the fritter was flavorful, with a good crisp moist contrast. I liked the collards, but didn't find anything particularly spicy about them and they were a bit on the sweet side. Just for kicks we also tried the "hopping john" and the Gouda mac and cheese, both were excellent. Dessert was banana pudding with vanilla wafers, delicious and light. Overall I really liked this place, but the service was a bit spotty and the food came a bit too fast. I will definitely return here again, all of the food looked very good and I'm looking forward to trying their shrimp and grits.

    (4)

  • Ryan J.

    Wow. I stumbled onto this place because it was near my house. What a great menu! I like Southern food but was worried it was going to be to heavy, rich, buttery-- all those adjectives synonymous with Southern cooking that make your mouth water and your jeans tighter. What a pleasant surprise to see that they served fried chicken drizzled with honey AND lighter or at least, less fried and battered options for those not looking to go overboard (pecan salads, enchiladas stuffed with grits). Friendly service.

    (4)

  • Pammy C.

    New identity, new policy: if a restaurant has ANY ENTREE on the menu over $20, and the service sucks - no more than three stars. I don't care how good the food is. No more than three stars. I go to restaurants for the experience as much as for the food and, really, in a market like SF (and, ok, parts of Oakland), poor service at expensive restaurants is just not acceptable. So, Pican - three stars. Food was delicious although, admittedly, not breaking much new ground. It's pricey southern food. If you like southern food, grew up in a household with not one, but two Fry Daddy's (i.e. you grew up south of the Mason Dixon line), or maybe just love all manner of fat, you will like Pican. All of the above apply to me so, in fact, I like Pican. Three stars! Service, however, is a mess. Lost our reservation, too slow, etc etc.

    (3)

  • Kurt B.

    She crab soup: delightful Fried chicken was really good. Perfectly made Old Fashioned cocktail. Macaroni and cheese really, really yummy. This place is better than what many of the reviews are saying. It's a bit pricey for my blood, but it was really good, service was pretty attentive.

    (4)

  • Franco M.

    I made reservations for 8pm last night and showed up about 10 mind early. While waiting for our table I was impressed by the place's jazz lounge charm but I worried about the volume level. We were sat down promptly @ 8 and were greeted by our waiter who proceeded to tell us how much he was enjoying the rain after developing a nasty sunburn earlier in the month. I was a bit put off but I dismissed it as him merely breaking the ice. However, I should've trusted my intuition: he became overly pushy with his menu suggestions which just so happened to have been the most expensive items of the menu. I don't appreciate being told that I must try something unless I ask first for such input. The food on the whole was good. The cornbread tasted home made and wasn't too sweet. My girlfriend ordered the hanger steak- medium cooked, but it was undercooked and looked more rare than anything. I enjoyed my catfish dish although it was a little cold. The Gouda mac and cheese was creamy and delicious and the collared greens were tasty albeit a little stale. One concern for couples- the place is loud and the table dimensions aren't conducive for an intimate experience. Br prepared to speak loudly over the ambient sound. I give this restaurant 2 stars mainly because of the obnoxious waiter. The drinks are a tad over priced (8 dollars for a sparkling water) . Picán has great potential with their Delicious southern style food, but they need to rethink some of the waitstaff.

    (2)

  • Angelina M.

    Came here with a few friends, my BF and I had just come back from Napa and then went here. We were going to order "light" at a Southern inspired restaurant. Sooo the waiter announces it's a tasting night and our friends are eager to indulge. I'm trying to remember how many of the chef's choices we received. One thing I remember is my friend was eager to make sure there was going to be mac n cheese, so much so we added it to the tab. The chef made us the pork belly, scallops, the "etouffee" (fancy word for gumbo), of course; more mac n cheese, the fried chicken, a fruit and nut platter and a panoply of four of their desserts! So much for eating light. Everything was great, memorable, except for me the fried chicken was merely okay and the desserts by the time they got there I was already stuffed long ago, but they were obviously pre-made (morning) and tasted refrigerated. The individual price was very very high for the tasting menu, come on, it's Oakland, the drinks weren't over-priced though. My BF and I had just eaten at Ad Hoc the night before and while there was less courses, it was best quality, better personal service, and cheaper. I want to go back to Pican and re-order the pork belly and mac n cheese, and if they ask you if you'd like to participate in the night's tasting menu you better put your game face on.

    (4)

  • Citizen J.

    Geez, when did Oaktown get so pricey?! Honestly, I came here recently with a friend who lives in the area. The service was 5 star and the food was at least 4 star (and we tried numerous dishes)-- but I'm knocking them on PRICING. Frankly, it would be a bit expensive even if sited in Union Square. I recommend anyone try it out but you gotta be fairly well-heeled for frequent visits and I'm not sure it's worth it for the money. Nuff said.

    (3)

  • Betty B.

    Cold chicken, unfortunately, not a good meal. The greens and potatoes casserole was a good attempt at novel dishes. Drinks good but the service and/or food below the midline.

    (2)

  • Lauren B.

    Let me say that this review is totally biased towards the fact that I LOVE when work travel takes me close enough to home that I can see my family. And everything tastes better when I am with my family. That being said the folks, siblings and I stopped in Pican to celebrate my baby bro's 13th birthday and it was a great evening. I started off with a sazerac and some fried green tomatoes but got to taste my mom's mussels and they were absolutely amazing. Pican, if you are listening, please consider selling these mussels by the gallon. My entree was the catfish which was cooked perfectly and well seasoned. My biggest complaint with catfish cooked anywhere other than New Orleans is that flour and/or cornmeal is not inherently seasoned and people leave it bland. I did not enjoy the lemon pie thing we ordered for dessert but I have never been a fan of lemon goo. The service was wonderful and friendly and the whole place had a great vibe, I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Sarah W.

    4 1/2 stars for Pican!! The cocktails are amazing (Stone Rye). The pimento cheese croquettes are totally delish. The fried chicken and collard greens are excellent. Service was good. The atmosphere is great. A wonderful, special restaurant in downtown Oakland.

    (4)

  • Winé C.

    I am definitely coming back to Pican for full on dinner! We decided to come here just for a drink to calm my nerves after cruising in rush hour traffic and while I do not think too highly of their drinks (IE: Tennessee Margarita), your food can definitely have my heart. Ordered the gator nachos (sans gator because they ran out) and the Andouille hush puppies. The nachos were mouthwatering. The cheese they used had a little bit of spice and strong flavors coming through on a formidable chip which boasted endless maize flavor also! Strange to have lettuce on it but I can dig the new age piece of it. The hush puppies were nicely deep fried, crispy outside, soft inside. My only complaint, WHERE is my sausage? I did not take kindly to how Pican was hiding all the meat from my carnivorous side! I could definitely come back for dinner for the appetizing dishes I received! Nice atmosphere and classic place to be.

    (4)

  • Araceli E.

    Brunch here is AMAZING!! However, you seem to always have to make a reservation here...you can bypass this though if you just opt to eat at the bar- worked great for a party of two on a Sunday when the bar was empty while the dinning room was full; bartender was nice. We even got to change the TV channel! haha, small pleasures! *You may want to call before heading over on the weekends; sometimes they're closed for private events and there is no notice outside.

    (4)

  • D M.

    Went here for the first time on Saturday evening, for dinner, with some friends and my hubby! I was excited because it is an upscale restaurant with twists on Southern cuisine. What a great atmosphere! There was music and a nice size crowd of people. Our waiter was friendly and very knowledgable. He made some really good recommendations. They have a extensive wine and cocktail list and the menu wasn't crowded, with great options. Our drink orders were taken and received corn bread to munch on. For starters, everyone, except me, started off with a salad. I ordered the Goat Cheese Beignets. They were really good and it was served with a collard green pesto, which made me say, "My, My, MY!!!" For dinner, I had the Grilled Catfish served over Dirty Rice. The fish was well seasoned and cooked perfectly. The Dirty Rice was flavorful and a bit spicy, not too much. My husband ordered the pork chop with green tomato chow chow, which from my lil' taste, was very good! We also ordered, by recommendation, the collard greens....Did someone want to slap their Mama???? For dessert, each couple shared the Pecan Tart with Buttermilk Ice Cream....another "slap your Mama" treat! The pecans were crisp and sweet(filling), the shell of the tart was buttery and flaky. The ice cream countered the sweetness with a bit of sour from the buttermilk. Needless to say, I was full and greatly satisfied. It is a very classy place! A great place for a romantic dinner, double date, afterwork cocktails, or for a special occasion with a group!!

    (4)

  • Feed M.

    Food was good, but way too expensive. Drinks were expensive too. Our hostess and server were great though.

    (2)

  • Deanna A.

    Let's talk in oxymorons. This place is southern comfort brought to another level of hip elegance. This is simplicity brought up to a level of sophistication. This is home cooking that you need to dress up for. Ambiance: Great downtown oakland spot. I imagine this is an after work date spot or a fun dinner out on Saturday with your love. The bar is accessible, has a tv screen, and open seating. The dining experience is well paced and professional. Again, great home cooking with a twist that you want to dress up for. Southern Caesar: Ask for extra parmesan grits coutons. Smoked Pork Belly: This is my go-to dish. This is why I come back and why I'd come here for drinks & apps alone. Pan Roasted Hangar Steak: You are combined a well cooked piece of beef with chanterelle mushrooms. You are putting garlic popovers in the same dining experience. You had me at "Pan roasted". Brisket Collard Greens: Must have.

    (4)

  • Vanessa Y.

    Awesome wine list by the glass and the best house salads on the planet. Warm cheesy crouton balls? Oh yeah. This is the first 5 stars I've given in a while for a nice, sit down place. Fantastic service, awesome drinks and fried, cheesy and salty everything -- and all of it executed really well. Will def be back. He got the fall-off-the-bone pork ribs and I got the chicken with mac. Closed out the night with homemade RED VELVET, yes, red velvet cake that was still warm. I was very naughty and I'd do it all over again.

    (4)

  • Sal G.

    Southern Fare that has been updated for the modern era, as well as for the local foodie nation. The whole area there at Broadway and Grand has blown up, with the coming of Luka's, another location for Bakesale Betty's, TrueBurger, and the upscale sushi joint right next door, of which I have heard more about the sake than the actual sushi (but I digress). Now I have heard some complaints from friends, who have not gone, saying they are not paying high prices for 'soul food', as historically this is food that is affordable to everyone. That's fine - go find some greasy spoon place to whet your appetite then, as this is not your place. Beautiful location, as whoever outfitted this place did a great job. And if you go on a Friday or Saturday night, this is THE place to be. Hustle and bustle, this is where both the younger, attractive people come, as well as some of us who are more "seasoned". Either way, people of all ages will love what they have done with familiar favorites. I personally ate the Shrimp and Grits, the catfish with brown butter sauce, and the mac and cheese - all awesome. Tasted the fried chicken and the hush puppies, also very good. There were many other options on the menu, so either you come with many people and all share dishes, or simply plan to come back a few more times. The other worthy mention, is that this place claims to have the largest bourbon whiskey menu in the Bay, and I'm going to have to believe them, as they had pages upon pages of what I'm sure are tasty options. I ordered one, and was not disappointed. Staff was SUPER friendly, and as we had a baby in-tow, they were willing to engage him, and try to help when his temper started to decline. Parents can always appreciate this fact. Highly recommended, and though this place is no longer 'new' to the restaurant goers of the area, still worthy of a mention, just in case you still have not been yet.

    (4)

  • Robert E.

    I was really excited to finally come to Pican on a recommendation from a coworker that RAVED about this place. Don't get me wrong, I was thoroughly impressed with the ambiance and the hostess being very nice and courteous. It was definitely upscale and I liked that a lot. The bar was set very high for my first initial impressions. Then thats when things got... very... mediocre. A friend and myself came here before heading over to a concert at the Fox. I really wanted to get the Gouda Mac & Cheese, so I ordered the Fried Chicken that came with it. We ordered drinks and they came out fairly quickly. I forgot what my friend had, (the vegetarian plate I believe) and our food finally came to us fairly quickly as well. When the Fried Chicken was brought out, I was disappointed with its presentation. There was somewhat of a brown paper bag type paper and two pieces of chicken and the mac and cheese in a small skillet. For something that cost 25 dollars I would expect it to look better. I started eating the food and it was VERY VERY good. My friend and I were waiting for the waiter to come back around but he never came. My drink was empty, my water was empty and I wanted to order another different drink (we asked him initially to leave the drink menu since we would be ordering again, but he kept taking it). The waiter would then fly past us multiple times never checking up on us or asking if we needed anything else. Are you kidding me! This is not a cheap place and when I go to a nice restaurant that overcharges I expect to be treated like a god. So finally I waived down the waiter and he came over and my friend ordered a drink, then he proceeded to walk away, I then had to yell "excuse me! I'd like to order something as well." This is when I was just over it. I ordered another drink and about 15 minutes later our drinks arrived. What kind of business does that. And a SOUTHERN style - in the south people are extremely courteous and NICE. Not this place. I most likely wouldn't go back. I wouldn't really recommend this place either because of the horrible service. The dining experience isn't anywhere near what it should be or I expect it to be. I didn't leave our waiter a tip at all, since I had to fetch for him multiple times. I think this is the first time in years that I didn't leave a tip at an establishment.

    (2)

  • kerry f.

    I like this place. Good service, nice atmosphere. Lastvisit was a drag because my favorite item, beef brisket sandwich was all but vegetarian!! They tried to scrape up meat, and added about a tablespoon, its all they could find. wtf?it was all greens. the brisket sandwich!!! they did finally let me get something else but I was bummed cuz I was all set for that once upon a time fabulous sandwich...... Not sure about it, prolly go back and not order my favoriote thing anymore......sad at14 bucks, you need to slap the meat back on that

    (3)

  • Lindsey O.

    We came here for a work event. The salmon was good but the mac and cheese was better. The back room was perfect for our very loud party of 45, and the servers were on their A game with drinks and getting orders correct. I gave 3 stars, because there was no 'wow' factor. They were better than an Olive Garden, but not by a tremendous amount to fuss over. Just a solid dinner that was able to provide good accomodations for a large group.

    (3)

  • Leona C.

    Thank you for being the ONLY restaurant open for lunch the Sunday after Christmas. 15 stars!! Personally not a zealot fan of southern cuisine, I was quite pleased with our afternoon here. I stayed away from the fried chicken and pancakes, but these grits are gonna KILL me! The cat fish (albeit fried was not oily) swam in a plate of grits. It was So good I almost forgot about the fish. Everyone loved the fried green tomatoes & the spicy crawdad / mushroom etouffee. The Southern Veg Plate was less than impressive. The greens missed it's southern flavor and there weren't very many veggies on the plate. All is well. We appreciated the speed of service - they knew we were in a rush - and the lack of judgment for our pre-noon martinis.

    (5)

  • E H.

    I went there for brunch- Service was very slow and food wasn't that great. Overpriced.

    (2)

  • Sean F.

    The first time we came here - about 6 months after the place opened - it was fantastic. I raved about the fried chicken, the gouda mac n cheese, the desert, and the staff. My next trip was not until a few months ago when the restaurant had a prix fixe menu for Abel Gance's Napoleon at the Paramount down the street. I did not like that we could not order off the menu and that the combined price for the prix fixe was more than it would have been if we could have ordered a la carte. The fried chicken was a choice we had but it was several orders of magnitude down the taste scale this time...

    (3)

  • Peter B.

    I really don't understand all the rave reviews on this place. I found it pretentious without justification. The waiter copped an attitude once he found out we weren't having cocktails. And the food was really disappointing. I had the duck which lacked flavor, but most importantly the collard greens were underdone and crunchy and very difficult to chew. They needed another hour in the pot. My companion's fried chicken was good, but nothing to write home about and the famed mac and cheese tasted of flour, so I expect that the roux wasn't cooked enough. The food was mostly edible, but not good enough to warrant a second chance.

    (2)

  • rosylen m.

    I can't tell you what I drank, but it was good and I know there was bourbon in them. Service was a little slow, but the food was really, really good--fried green tomatoes, charcuterie plate, pork belly. It was all good.

    (4)

  • Keith N.

    Rebel Yell for 7$??? Ribs sucked. $25 Cocktails are great, food blows and it's expensive as fuck for "homestyle southern food which should be on the low side. Seriously, don't waste your money.

    (1)

  • aireen p.

    I went for a new years eve early dinner. They had a pre-fixed menu with wine pairing which made it easy, no actual decisions to make but the main course. Great ambiance and vibe in the heart of Oakland which was very much unexpected. My water was always refilled, the staff always had a smile on there face, our waiter was attentive. only cons i may have was our appetizer came too fast, like 5 min after we sat down, and then we ended up waiting for our main course. other than that, the wine pairing was on point with the food. will definitely return

    (4)

  • Evelyn S.

    I went to Pican for my birthday dinner and loved loved loved it. Everything from the service to the food! Im definitely going back!

    (5)

  • Cecille C.

    I've been to this restaurant a few times. The first time I went I think I had the best meal of my life - the pork chop entree. You can't beat pork chop plus pork belly - wow! I also tried the gouda mac and cheese which was yummy, fried chicken, and the shrimp and grits. However, the bread pudding was not very good (and I notice it's not on the menu before!!!) I've had their brunch but I much prefer the dinner (I ordered the steak and eggs and the steak was just not cooked right!)

    (4)

  • shelly m.

    This place is unusual and beautiful. What a wonderful interior space, and the food is rich with flavor and heritage. I really enjoyed my duck and southern style greens-it was wonderful! The Banana pudding is something grandma would make. The special attention from the staff and owner was very nice

    (4)

  • Nat And Dave C.

    Food was awesome.... atmosphere nice.. Peace

    (4)

  • Melinda J.

    I think 3 1/2 stars is really about right-on for this restaurant. We went last night for our anniversary and, while it was good...it was not great. I'd say for the prices and the hype, we were a bit let down. We started with the fried green tomatoes...which were probably the best thing we had. I'd give them 4 1/2 -5 stars, for sure! Then, we shared a Southern Caesar Salad. It was good...the dressing was tasty but not overbearing...but the crispy yet creamy grits croutons were amazing! Putting the first one in my mouth was the only time during the entire meal my eyes rolled and I let out an involuntary "MMmMmMmmmm" For our entrees, we ordered the fried chicken with Gouda mac n cheese and the flat iron steak with potatoes. We both seemed to like the other person's entree better, lol. I thought the fried chicken was really good...but not the best I've ever had. It was juicy, very moist and flavorful and the coating was really great. As much as I love Gouda and mac n cheese, I did not love their Gouda mac n cheese. The top was crispy and dry and the bottom was super saucy and well, I just didn't like the flavors...it tasted like Velveeta to me. My partner, however, loved the mac n cheese and the chicken. My partner's flat iron steak was flavorful and super tender, but we asked for medium rare and got rare. The dish arrived with only 4 pieces of steak, each piece about the size of a domino, so it was a bit of a let-down, especially for the hefty $32 price tag. The steak came with with thin slices of fingerling potatoes cooked with some onions. She didn't like the potatoes that much, but I did, so I ate most of them. I will say, though, that while tasty, they weren't very appetizing looking. The thin slivers of potatoes looked like kitchen scraps in a heap, in my opinion. But again, they were tasty. Over all, all the dishes lacked proper seasoning. I do not like salt that much, but I found myself wanting salt on almost everything I tasted. And they don't have salt or pepper on the tables, so we were just stuck jonesing for some salt. I joked that if we come back, we'd have to sneak in a little salt shaker in my bag :) The service was slow but the servers were all nice and friendly. We did feel a little deserted at the end of the meal, waiting to get our bill. So...it was a good meal. But not great. If the total bill had been $30 cheaper, I would give the restaurant a higher rating, but I just thought there were too many things that were close but not quite there to rationalize the almost $100 tab.

    (3)

  • Laurel E.

    I've eaten at Picán twice; once for dinner, once for lunch. Weeks and even months later I am still thinking about the entrees and how good they were. I love that the menu is determined by what is fresh and available--otherwise I would probably order the same thing over and over. The pork belly and the fried chicken tacos were both outstanding--I'm guessing that anything on the menu that is appealing would be fantastic. Service is good, efficient, and professional.

    (5)

  • michaelsmisc m.

    Chicken was good, but the mac and cheese was incredible... My wife always complains that we always go to the same places. so when I saw this place on Eye On The Bay, I thought this would be a good place to go on our date night with another couple. The atmosphere was nice. I wasn't like a Chili's or TGIF, it was something nicer. Just about perfect for a date night. For an appetizer we had fried green tomatoes, spicy slaw, and greens. I'm not one for fried green tomatoes, but everyone else seemed to like them. Same goes for the greens. The spicy slaw was very tasty. It had a good bite, but not too much for those who don't like things too hot. It took awhile for us to get our meals. We were there with friends catching up what was new, so it wasn't a big deal. But we did notice it was taking some time. It's one of those things that if you notice it's taking awhile, then it's probably to long. Our friends had the salmon and catfish. Both enjoyed their meals. My wife and I ordered the fried chicken. It comes with mac and cheese, which I had, and my wife substituted with mash potatoes. The Fried Chicken: The outside was light and crisp and very tasty, slightly spicy. At first I didn't notice and just enjoyed the goodness. My wife said it was "peppery". I could understand that there was a hint of pepper. Just fine for my taste, but she felt it was to much. The inside of the chicken was tender and juicy. Each order comes with a drum stick and breast. I was worried that the breast would be dry, but not the case. Tender, moist and juicy goodness. The Mac&Cheese: I'm not a mac and cheese guy, but this was an experience like I have never had. I was a bliss of warm and creamy cheese with tender pasta. There was almost a light smokey thing going on there. I'm not sure if it was from the gouda, but it was something else. I found myself with my elbows on the table and hands on my head savoring each bite in my mouth. Overall this place was perfect for our date night. Nice atmosphere and good food.

    (4)

  • Giselle W.

    Simply Excellent...I really felt like I was eating some real southern food. Pican is basically good southern food with a gourmet twist. The place is beautiful and the food is great. I got the southern fried chicken and the gouda mac and cheese, some brisket collard greens and hush puppies...all super delish...of course I had to get a cocktai so I got the pican praline...I had 3...This place is the best place to go to...I know I will be back soon!

    (5)

  • Betty D.

    Located in Oakland's new uptown cultural district is this swanky restaurant that serves southern food. When I mean swanky, I'm talking about 2 piece of fried chicken for $23! Holy crap! But it's totally worth it and their buttermilk fried chicken is what they're known for. It's so tender and juicy I'm salivating just thinking about it. The pieces are big so 2 was enough to share between the two of us. It's served with smoked gouda mac 'n' cheese which is creamy but so delicious you can't resist but keep eating. We also ordered collard greens which was sooo good and buttermilk mashed potatoes to go with our entree. We also got the small plate black pepper seared sea scallops which was heaven! YUUUUUUUMMMMM. Everything we had was amazingly delicious and filled us up enough that we even had left overs to take home. I won't ever look at fried chicken the same way again. I can't wait to come back and try the rest of their menu and for once I don't have to be scared of getting shot at =)

    (5)

  • Ree-och G.

    **This is a review of the Sunday brunch. We decided to come in Sunday morning after I had seen a segment on the restaurant while watching Eye on the Bay. The ambiance was very nice and clean. Good use of browns all around and love that they have a wide variety of bourbons which I will have to try during dinner some time (just doesn't seem right that early). We were seated promptly by the friendly hostess while I took a gander around at the food that everyone was enjoying. My wife ordered the breakfast which came with sausage, grits, eggs and a biscuit, while I had the buttermilk fried chicken eggs benedict. Her food was okay, but I thought mine was very good. HOWEVER... the portions were small and it came with NO SIDES, so I had to order the potatoes separately. I literally could've eaten each stack with a single bite. I will say that the food tasted very fresh, but I suggest that they either bump up the portions a little or include a side. I mean, it's fried chicken, not lobster. We saw beignets on the menu, so we ordered them afterwards since I was still hungry. The beignets were light, warm and flavorful with not too much sugar. Now the service, for which I have mixed feelings about. I would say that I experienced, bad, okay, and good service while there. The manager at the time (I'm assuming since he was dressed differently and seemed to oversee everyone) was very friendly and seemed to be checking up on everyone. Our waitress, while not rude, seemed either indifferent or perhaps inexperienced. Some of the other servers seemed to be friendly, BUT while were we seated I could hear one of the servers cursing under his breath about a customer as he walked by. Whether or not it was merited....I don't know. But I will say that it would be a good idea to keep that to yourself or vent your frustrations behind closed doors. Don't do it where customers can hear you because it can set a bad tone for their dining experience (case in point, our experience). I will probably give them another chance at dinner in the near future. I hope this place works out because this part of Oakland sure can use some improving. If I could give 2 and half stars, I would, but I'm a nice guy, so I'll round it up to 3. For now, though, I will probably not try their brunch again anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Peggy K.

    Aesthetically, a beautiful addition to Broadway. The atmosphere was hip and pleasing. The food was just OK. We had hush puppies as an appetizer. Not a good choice. Super salty. We mentioned this to our waiter and he thought that it was the sauce that they drizzled on top. Whatever it was, it was way too salty. I had the pork chop. It was just OK. Both of my friends had the fried chicken and the mac and cheese. We also got a side of collards. They were good but $6 for a small side of collards seemed steep. Service was attentive except that our waiter didn't offer to take the hush puppies off the bill or at least offer us something else, which I think was warranted as they were not edible.

    (3)

  • Evan L.

    I was the dinner guest of Charlie H. and just want to reiterate how disappointed I was in Picán. I've heard nothing but fabulous things about Picán - great southern food, great drinks, fun environment, classy times IN Oakland. We showed up at 6 and were able to find room at the communal table near the bar. I saw that the vegetarian plate included fried green tomatoes which I FLOVE. The complimentary cornbread was solid but the hushpuppies were completely overwhelmed by the horseradish sauce. The drinks, however, were AMAZING. I mean seriously, great, great drinks. My meal arrived and instead of fried green tomatoes it includes raw red tomatoes that were lightly salted. Hmph? I checked the menu again to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. I asked the waitress. "So green tomatoes are actually out of season. Sorry. I should have told you." And that was it. So the plan is to have an incorrect menu until green tomatoes are back in season? And hope that the waitress remembers to tell the guests? That's pretty appalling and obviously it's not going to work since we weren't warned. The check came and I fully expected there to be some comps or something. Nada. Billed in full. And the food was pretty subpar. I've had better fried chicken and mac and cheese at a billion places. Hop on BART and take yourself to farmerbrown. Hell, go to Church's and get a bucket of that stuff because I'm not sure this was really any better. 1 star because this place could be great and is definitely classing up Oakland. But my experience was awful and I wouldn't recommend this.

    (1)

  • Bridget C.

    I was there Sunday, late Father's Day gift, and I really enjoyed the Chef's taster. It was three of us so it was pricey, but it was as a gift so I didn't mind as much. Dad's kicked down a few bucks during the years. It was six courses. Fried green tomatos, shrimp and grits, bbq pork ribs, mac and cheese, greens, pork shop, jambalaya risotto, banana pudding, deconstructed lemon meringue, and a third dessert, and baklava sweet potato. I'm sure I left something out, but there was so much food. The chef does it as a surprise so you don't know what is coming next. Excuse me it I messed up names but I am not a chef. No one complained about a dish and said it was all delicious. By the third course we were just able to taste each course and have them pack it up. But it was a great experience and I would definitely do it again. We had the cutest little waitress. Very good at her job. Not intrusive but inquiring how the meal was going, what was our favorite, etc. I think they have changed chefs because it was even better than my last experience.

    (5)

  • Brendan R.

    Pican is an excellent addition to the up and coming Uptown District. My wife and I showed up with no notice on a Saturday night after a disaster at Hibiscus, and even though they were packed they were very friendly and accommodated us by offering us full-service seating at the bar. The food was wonderful; my wife ordered the shrimp and grits small plate (which was just that) and I ordered the fried chicken which was more than enough to satisfy me and supplement my wife's lighter food choice. Both of us loved the creamy grits, fresh shrimp, and delicious fried chicken with table-side honey service (A MUST). The cornbread was a delicious start to the meal which we finished off with a pecan tart. Best of all, we left happy without putting a major dent in our wallets. I will definitely go there again to sample other appealing entrees.

    (5)

  • H T.

    the bourbon drinks here are really good but they kinda sneak up on you. by the end of the night, all i wanted was my bed. it may also have just been food coma. i came in a big group and tried a bunch of stuff. the apps were delightful, particularly the fried green tomatoes and mussels. the she-crab soup was really good too but would have been too rich if i had my own bowl. they start you off w/ cornbread which is good but a bit dry. for my entree, i had the salmon, which was good but didn't stand out in any particular way. i tried the pecan tart and bread pudding for dessert, and both were good, but the pecan tart definitely was better.

    (3)

  • Ken L.

    Really good food, nice atmosphere. Nothing really to complain about, but just wanted to mention that, at least the last two years, in February, they have had, in addition to their normal menu, a sort of prix fixe menu for black history month with ~4-5 courses, paired wines, etc., and both times I've tried it, it has been outstanding. Also, I'm originally from GA, and the grits they have here are among the best (or the very best) I've ever had.

    (4)

  • Vinesha P.

    We have been here for drinks and appetizers a few times with my co-workers. I really like this place. One time we were there on a Friday night and someone was playing the piano when we got there. The drinks, appetizers, ambiance and the service was excellent. We will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Lauren K.

    I can't seem to stop talking about this place. My husband and I will tell anyone willing to listen about the meal we had here. A friend recommended this place so we decided to try it out and we were very happy with the results! Instead of a basket of bread they bring you fresh, warm cornbread and honey butter which is to die for. My husband isn't a big fan of cornbread normally, but he definitely asked for more. We started with a flight of whiskey which included 3, 1oz. shots, a bourbon, a rye, and an American whiskey. For our meals he had a porkchop (which he ate every little bit of, including some gristle) which came with a side (hopping John or something like that) which was white rice, black eyed peas, ham, and pickled cabbage. There was also a piece of pork belly on the plate which had an incredible amount of flavor. I had the "slow and low" ribs. I consider myself a great lover of ribs and these are definitely at the top of my list. I went to go cut off one rib to eat and the bone just slipped right out leaving the tender, juicy meat on my fork. The ribs came with a jalapeno peanut cole slaw which had a good amount of bite, but still retained the coolness of cole slaw. We also ordered a side of the smoked Gouda mac n cheese because when it comes to mac n cheese I can't resist it. This was cooked in a small cast iron skillet giving the top of the dish a nice crust, but leaving the underneath gooey and creamy. It was awesome. For dessert we had the pecan tart which was like a slimmer pecan pie giving you the perfect ratio of gooey inside and crunchy top. This was served with buttermilk ice cream (which reminded me of tart frozen yogurt, but creamery) and bourbon caramel sauce. This dessert plate just worked. Combining the different textures, temperatures, and flavors made for a plate scrapping dessert. If you are looking for a great dinner in Oakland I definitely recommend Pican!!!

    (5)

  • anita c.

    I hate it when waiters make things up when they don't know the answer -- heard our server telling the next table that "Logan Turnpike" was a style of soft-creamy style grits from the Logan area, like Manhattan chowder or Carolina BBQ. (It's actually the name of the mill the grits are from.) He also disappeared for long stretches of time, leaving us without coffee, water, etc. Food was OK; I'd go back if I were in the area but it's not worth the trek from the city. Prices were high for what we got; most brunch entrees ($13 to $18) did not include potatoes or grits, although they could be purchased separately.

    (3)

  • Bess K.

    Went here last night for the first time after hearing rave reviews from friends. Started with the peach and heirloom tomato panzanella with bacon vinagrette. The peaches were AMAZING, but the bread part of the salad was just slices of toasted (seemingly stale?) bread underneath the peaches and the tomatoes. I'm used to panzanella with cubed bread, which is far easier to eat, but no matter -- the peaches made up for it. Next course was the slow-cooked pork ribs and coleslaw. Delicious. The ribs fell off the bone and were melt-in-your-mouth tasty. Same for the slaw -- a perfect complement to the ribs. My friend ordered the fried chicken and gouda mac n'cheese. I tasted the mac n'cheese---amazing. Ooey goodness. We split the key lime chess pie for dessert. It was tangy, but the crust was so hard that you had to saw through it with a knife to cut it. All in all, a welcome addition to the neighborhood -- a classy place to enjoy some solidly good food.

    (4)

  • M E.

    faves---- gouda mac n cheese collar greens and i hate collar greens pork belly caramel ice cream

    (4)

  • Roger G.

    The adventures of Ro&Mo and Seb&Moan at Pican... Let me get this out of the way: the food was fine. The chicken was moist and tender, the greens and mashed potatoes were fine. But it was hard to even really enjoy the food when you have a dickhead server. There were lots of tables open, so even though two of our four hadn't arrived yet, I didn't feel too badly about being seated early. After a small eternity, our server finally acknowledged that we existed and came over to take drink and appetizer orders. I ordered wine, and since I was hungry but wanted to wait to order shared appetizers until our friends arrived, I asked if I could get some of the honey buttered cornbread ("served with our compliments") listed at the very top of the menu. I was informed "We generally don't serve that until later." Wha?? Did I really just get told "no, you can't have that???" A long time later, my glass of wine arrived, the entire bottom of my glass wet with spilled wine, which dripped on me when I took my first sip. Thanks, buddy. The rest of our party arrived and ordered drinks. While they were ordering, another staff member came over and served everyone cornbread. Oh, I see, now it's ok. They had been to Pican several times, mentioned something about having previously tried a bunch of stuff on the menu. The server started arguing with them about how things were new, or different, and interrupting them, telling them that they were wrong. I don't care if they were wrong, the way he talked to them was just plain rude. Oh, and the cornbread? As Mortiche said, the cornbread that I made off the recipe on the box of corn meal was actually far better. Every time he talked to us, he looked like some weird combination of annoyed, uncomfortable in his own skin, and defensive. It made for a really unpleasant atmosphere. Our friends assured us that the female server they had previously was far more competent and pleasant. For the sake of Pican's business, I hope so, because I'm pretty soured on the place.

    (2)

  • Mike K.

    Exquisite. Pican nailed it, and if you've ever wanted to know the true roots of this Palindrome, the southern charm of this place is a good place to start. There's something about the food from the south that speaks to me. Direct, comforting, and will leave you wondering why you'd ever eat anything else. For a pre Thanksgiving family get together, we headed out to Pican and found an Oakland treat. The decor is dark, sleek, yet rustic with additions of charming old pieces that played with your mental timeline. The menu will sing to you. We started with 2 dishes, the Crispy smoked Pork Belly and the Black Pepper Seared Scallops. The pork belly was magical. Drenched in a maple glaze, this fragile piece of fatty meat fell apart and gave you a true nod to why you'll never be a vegetarian. The scallops were buttery, and rested on a bed of creamed corn that could care less about the gym. I moved onto to the hickory smoked Pork Ribs with peanut jalapeno coleslaw. The meat was tender, the sauce was thick, and the coleslaw had one heck of a kick. The pieces of the dish danced well with each other, and each bite lulled you to sleep in the most comforting way. Others had the Buttermilk Fried Chicken that was also extremely gratifying. Each bite gave you a crunch and the meat left you licking your fingers for the last bit. The dish came with a side of mac & cheese with gouda and it was heavenly. Warm melted cheese layered over big macaroni, with a crunchy crust. To top off the evening, we had the deep fried pie, which was essentially an apple turnover, deep fried with a nice dusting of powdered sugar. Yes folks, it never stopped being good. The apple slices were warm, and when you paired each bite with the dollop of ginger ice cream, your spoon couldn't move fast enough. Service was lighthearted, fun and the dishes came out in perfect timing. The complimentary honey cornbread, the delicious mint juleps, and... Well everything, was spot on. This was a meal that was written for me. As a person who could sit on a lazy porch swing all day watching the world go by, this meal on a wooden table surrounded with friends would be the way I'd like to go.

    (4)

  • D To The R.

    Pricey, but good. The service was excellent. I was full with just my entree but couldn't stop eating the pecan tart. Great decor with high ceilings, a view into the kitchen, and old school MJ playing. Nice.

    (4)

  • Jenna R.

    We are "foodies" and are always pleased each time we eat at this restaurant. Service, presentation, creativity, and paramount: taste! The southern food with a luxurious spin on flavor make for a real treat. Totally worth searching for parking (or valet if you must) but definitely get over there!

    (5)

  • Charmian D.

    Ahh... nice to put on that little black dress & my man...a tie. Ladies, we love this every now and then...fine wine, idle chit chat with the men we love and maybe some twinkle for our toes as we glide on the dance floor underneath the twinkling stars... And fine dining, on the other hand...is a different story in Pican Ok so I love the atmosphere of the place... the high ceiling, mood lighting, woodsy furniture & dark hardwood flooring...brings out the elegance of the moment However, when you're seated and your waiter looks & acts like he hates his job...and the service reflects it...the smiles are exhausted, the moment...poof...gone in a cloud of smoke Fortunate for Pican....my food experience trumps service if it's amazing Here's the verdict, folks Honey Buttered Cornbread- love the crunchy top & the moistness of the bread Buttermilk Southern Fried Chicken- are you kidding me when they say this is the "signature dish?" According to Pican, the chicken goes by a three day process of flavor infusion...then marinated in seasonings, floured then fried... Somehow, I think they forgot to mention dried out in the sun, put in a clothes dryer, submerged it in salt...because that's how it tasted like...very dry, very salty Smoked Gouda Mac n' Cheese- a favorite out of my meal but I can probably make it at home....just like the Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes Georgia Pecan Tart- my next & top fave of the meal...you can't go wrong with pecan & ice cream...you just can't! Please have some of their whisky... deep, strong flavored from the well...as I happily experience it on my whisky sour...you'll need it to glide away from underneath the stars & straight to the door because the food here just doesn't deserve the black dress, black tie treatment

    (2)

  • Kamilah M.

    So, I'm not much of a fan of Soul food but I know good food! Overall, the food was just okay! Nothing to write home about. Actually, I think my Aunt's cooking is better. Everyone was screaming about the chicken, but when my cousin received her plate it was burnt! However, I did enjoy the Fried Green Tomatoes, the sauce was great.. One thing that ruined it for me, was the poor service we received from the waiter! He was rude and impatient. I never do this but we didn't leave a tip, we asked to speak to the General Manger! However, I would be willing to go back and give it another shot!

    (2)

  • Jason L.

    I had a wonderful time at Pícan, so why the four stars instead of five? The fried chicken IS really good, but a) Bakesale Betty's is better, and b) the truffled honey isn't all that it's cracked up to be. GREAT cocktails, great mac-and-cheese, very cool/hip atmosphere . . . only been there once, and it's definitely worth a second visit. Wine list is only so-so. "Great for kids," as always, depends upon the kids.

    (4)

  • Pete D.

    WARNING: this place is addictive! We love this place. The service, food, ambience - basically everything is solid to great. I'll admit that we weren't sure about "fine dining" in downtown Oakland but boy were we surprised! Defintely put this place on your short list! Nice job Pican

    (4)

  • C L.

    Down home soul food with a gourmet sensibility? Pican was made just for me! I've heard the raves for this restaurant since their opening 7 months ago and we finally had an opportunity to experience Pican's beautiful blend of California cuisine,Carolina Low Country flavor and southern soul. Upon entering the restaurant you are greeted by a doorman which felt welcoming without being overtly pretentious. We were taken to a smaller room near the bar at a table next to a glass door which had a horrible draft on a cold, windy night. Sadly, while the dining room had an aesthetically warm appearance I could have used a heat lamp. Luckily, the "Autumn Harvest", a spicy cocktail made with Bourbon, butter and bitters warmed me up temporarily. Pican is known for a $20.00 fried chicken whose claim to fame is the truffled honey they drizzle on the bird at the table. They had me at truffled honey.... I must say this decadent treatment really added a special touch to the chicken, but truthfully the dish doesn't hold a candle to my mom's fried chicken. I also didn't like the fact that they charge extra for the honey--that should really come standard with the dish. The standouts: Let's talk Hoppin' John. Pican's version was by far the best seasoned black eyed peas and rice I have EVER had. This dish alone deserves 5 stars. It was so good I forgot that the Hoppin' John was an accompaniment to a smoky, flavorful pork chop. Everyone at my table agreed that this was the best all around dish. The molasses/burbon glazed ribs were also very tasty for a sauced rib, and the meat was succulent and fell of the bone. Other sides included grilled, sea salted asparagus and the gouda mac in cheese. In the many iterations of mac and cheese I've sampled over time, this was creamy and rich, but it didn't bowl me over. Gouda alone isn't enough to really set this apart as a distinctively different mac n cheese dish. Hands down, the best dessert is Pican's PECAN pie, which is served warm with a caramel sauce and a hefty scoop of rich buttermilk ice cream and a dollop of whipping cream. This is an insanely decadent dish that begs to be shared. The banana pudding has vanilla wafers which is a nod to anyone who grew up with a grandma who made this iconic dish. You'll certainly be transported back in time with this, but given the choice between the pecan pie and the pudding, give up your memories and indulge in the pecan pie! The front of the house was a disappointment, as there were two gentlemen making rounds to greet guests but were almost conspicuously MIA at our table during our entire meal. The stellar service from the wait staff and the servers eclipsed the otherwise icy, nonexistent hosts. I have a feeling they knew about that drafty door we were sitting next to and didn't want to own up to how we were given the worst table in the house. Oakland scored a winner with this restaurant. My criticisms are small and easily fixable (hint patch that dreadful draft and greet all of your guests), and I look forward to coming back to Pican for some small plates and more Hoppin' John. (3.5 stars with the benefit of a round up.)

    (4)

  • Scott A.

    Hey people wake up! There are a lot of great restaurants in the bay area ...this isn't one of them. I'll give it props for it's decor and friendly staff but the food was very forgettable as was the name because I kept thinking it was Walnut! Picán is below average for a restaurant of the level it is "trying" to be. Sorry...thanks for playing. Summary, might be OK but there are many many better places; at least certainly across the bridge where I'm most familiar with. So try somewhere else. In case for some reason, you *still* want to know more, this is what I tried: Pomegranate martini - I actually thought the drink was pretty good someone else I was with wasn't so enamoured with it. Seared Sea Scallops - I never thought I'd say this but the ones I had at PF Changs were better and the ones at RN47 I had just a few days ago blew these (and PF Changs) away! Shrimp & Grits - with all those ingredients, how can there be so little flavor? A shrimp dish at RN47 toasted these as well. Burbon Lacquered Duck - OK, this dish actually was really good but not enough to make up for everything else Braised Pork - average, boring, and somewhat bland. Hmmm must be related to the shrimp Smoked Gouda Mac n Cheese - pretty good. Not "to die for" as our server claimed. However, I was the only one in our party that thought so ...meaning they didn't like it. Peanut Cole Slaw - Reasonably good but I've definitely had better even at fairly lower end places Banana Pudding - OK Scope of Buttermilk Ice Cream - did I read someone actually thought this was amazing!?!? OK, that's cool and I can totally respect that but for me I wasn't impressed. Texture was off (maybe best described as being dry) and not a very bold or interesting flavor As one last comment you may find useful, we went here because someone in our group had heard really great things about the place. Having tried it previously and not being very impressed, they wanted to see if it was just that time and whether I'd share the same view. I think you know the answer....

    (3)

  • Fille C.

    From the reviews here I was excited to try the chicken. Unfortunately, when I went THEY WERE OUT OF CHICKEN!! No chicken=very disappointing. The crawfish roll was tasty and I may actually go back for the mac and smoked gouda (if I'm too lazy to make it myself). The bourbon & coke and banana pudding do NOT remind me of real southern cooking. Maybe it was an off day. I will update if I make it back there.

    (2)

  • Andre J.

    Went here for a business dinner one week ago and my experience was AMAZING! First, be forewarned that this is on the more expensive side of dining. Believe me, it was worth it! Had reservations and our table was ready when we got there. That's surprisingly difficult for a few restaurants I've been to. Service was impeccable. Our servers were attentive, engaged in slight conversation, often giving their opinions in what they thought we'd enjoy especially for the first-timers. When the food came they looked pretty. You eat with your eyes first, right? Definitely Food Network worthy in appearance. That's not the best part. I had catfish on rice with some kind of magic in it because it blew me away. No joke, the first bite...oOohh! It was so good I couldn't help but share a bite to my friend right away so she could experience my heaven. Dessert was delish! How we packed in sweets after the meal and the sides (my favorite were the collared greens) I have no idea. Good ambiance. Good wait team. Like I said, it's not your everyday dinner restaurant. However, if you need an intimate restaurant for a memorable meal Pican is definitely the place to go. On my checklist to come back here most definitely!

    (4)

  • Janet P.

    I've been DYING to try out Pican and finally got the opportunity to try this place out thanks to Oakland Restaurant Week. There was five of us all together and we were all eager to try different items on the menu. We ordered two of the prix fix menu specials which includes 3 courses and a bourbon tasting for $40 as well as items from the regular menu. We ordered the Cast Iron Seared Mississippi Catfish, Buttermilk Southern Fried Chicken, and the BBQ'D Ribs. After we placed our order, I was a little alarmed when the server told us that they may have run out of Chicken. I mean, really? He came back several minutes later to tell us they had Chicken...whew. I couldn't help but wonder what they would do if they really had run out of Chicken, substitute with another dish, I suppose. We got to taste both appetizers from the Prix Fix Menu: the Beet Salad and Gumbo. The Beet Salad was refreshing and the Gumbo was yummy and well flavored. The second course of this meal was 2 Chicken Thighs over some of the best Grits I've ever tasted in my life. I was in heaven! The Beignets they served for dessert were aight, nothing special. The 2 bourbon tastings also came out at this time. I kind of wish they came out sooner as some of us were worried about driving after, so yes...there was some wasted alcohol involved. Such a shame. The ambiance of the restaurant is impressive. I loved the decor and the feel of this place. However, the service was quite slooooooowwww and their menu is a little pricey for my taste. The best part of this meal were the Grits.

    (3)

  • Victor B.

    A great find over in Oakland right neat the Fox Theatre and Paramount Theatre. We were over for a show and looking for a bite to eat, and this place was an amazing treat! All the dishes looked and smelled amazing, but I have to recommend the fried chicken and mac and cheese, which may well have been the best Mac and Cheese I have EVER eaten. Place got PACKED after work hours, so make a reservation!!

    (5)

  • Merissa E.

    I give it 4 stars and not 5 so you can read this review and not see the 5 stars and run over!!! Although, running over is encouraged ( for D & A). I have to break this down into service, food, and ambiance. Ambiance - uber swank. I really, really loved the ambiance and decor. Our entire party was not there when we got in, we were directed to the bar, and seats near the beautiful piano area. Music - very nice. A waiter came right over to get our drink orders, and while we were deciding, two glasses of water arrived out of thin air. Leading me to service... Service: Can i just say that I have been missing service like this for years. I self-proclaimed foodie and sometimes food/service snob... I have such high expectations that they're never met. Pican, delivers the most astounding, amazing service I have experienced in a long, long, long time. We had one main waiter [she was incredible, patient, and gave a lot of solicited advice ;) ] to take our orders and answer questions, and there was a constant revolving of other waiters around our table. Our drinks would get filled automatically, our silverware changed out, our plates whisked to our table, and empty plates away from our table as soon as were done with each course. It was a beautiful harmony of precision and attentiveness. The food which is next to be reviewed, I have to say one of our many dishes were not to my taste, (see below) and one of the waiters noticed i didn't eat it, and again, instantaneously the very amazing, and gracious Operations Manager Ruben was by my side twice (once when I sent the order back, and once again when I didnt eat it the second time). He went above and beyond to make sure I had enjoyed my dinner and experience and Pican, through and through. 6 Stars for service. Food & Drinks: YOU HAVE TO try one of their Bourbon drinks! You can't go to Pican and not try one. The Old Fashioned was very yummy and they don't skimp out on you either ;) Appetizers were the stars of our dinner. We had the crab soup and mussels. They split the appetizers before hand for us and made it easy to share everything with everyone. Crab Soup - tasted like something you'd order in the skies above. There were stars in all of our eyes, and we all were finding ourselves scraping our spoons to get every last drop against our bowls (gasp!). Yes, we faux pas'ed at a restaurant like Pican shoot us. Mussels - ordered sans bacon with garlic bread-- incredible, large, juicy, soft, savory, delicious. Dinner, we ordered the meatloaf, duck, salmon, and tri-tip with oxtail sheperds pie. The bad - Tri tip steak. I asked for it medium it came out, a little more on the raw side, I couldnt cut it, and it was a five minute chew per bite. Sent it back, came back too over done... I didn't mind, but by now, it tasted as I put it like I was eating the cow itself straight up :/. The sheperds pie left too much to be desired, and the "tempura" style veggies above it seemed out of place. The ok - Meatloaf. It was meh. Is it bad to say we would've prefered Boston Market over theirs? Yes they had fancy sauces and presentation, but still.. come on I was expecting a tastier yummier, better consistency meatloaf. The good - Duck! Yummy, delcious, only problem was we wanted more :) for that price, a few more pieces of Duck wouldn't hurt, but it was good, really good. The AHHHMAZING - Salmon. It was cooked to perfection, the veggies, and sauce complimented the salmon and spices. It was a very good dish, would order it again in a heart beat. Summary: Go for Drinks + Appetizers = you will be over the top satisfied especially when they treat you like the Queens and Kings you all are :) I heart u Pican, will be back for more yummy Bourbon and Amazing apps!

    (4)

  • Hans T.

    This is a great addition to Uptown, both because it anchors the Grand/Broadway corner and because it brings dressed up diners and fancy cars to an area already populated with hipsters and other locals. I love the diversity of the area on Friday nights. It really feels like an Oakland that need make no apologies to the other city across the bay. Despite appreciating Pican, I do not find myself dining here all that often. I've been four times and have had most of the fish and poultry dishes. Almost all have been too salty for my taste, and the one that wasn't was too sweet. Maybe it is the nature of southern cooking, but the flavors are a little blunt and heavy-handed for my taste. I prefer the NorCal school of thought that lets the ingredients speak for themselves. The decor is great. This is a place to take out-of -town guests to wow them. The service has been good, but is not as intimate and "local" as some of my favorites in the East Bay. All that said, this is still a four-star spot in my book, and it is worth a visit with friends that have hearty appetites.

    (4)

  • Marc P.

    Love this place. And you should, too. There are so many reasons, but let me start with a few of my favorites from the recently revamped lunch menu--pulled pork sandwich, the Reuben, fried chicken, yam fries, hush puppies, sweet tea, and, oh yes, the Arnold Palmer.

    (4)

  • Ben M.

    Gourmet Southern cooking?! Didn't know what to expect at thus place, but heard of reviews that it was pricey yet good. The atmosphere when arriving was surprisingly nice, and the interior was dark in the main area, & more well lit in a side area. Food was delightful. Portions were average for most people, but I felt they would have been slightly larger for the price, still, very good. I especially loved the Pork Belly!

    (4)

  • William D.

    Went in for dinner with the misses on Friday. We made a reservation for 5:30 on Friday night,before a show @ Fox,I received a reminder call from Pican on Friday afternoon,thought that was pretty cool. The place was empty when we arrived,but was full by the time we left @ 7:15. On the reccomendation of other yelpers we had the Scallop appitezer & the fried Chicken & ribs for our entrees. The chicken had a tasty ,crunchy coating & the ribs were seasoned nicely with a heathly coating of BBQ sauce. Both entrees were very good.. Also split the Pecan Tart for desert. The tart was excellent,but the butermilk ice cream sucked.It had a sour milk,yogurt flavor not to our liking. The meal with two drinks & tip was $113.90.. A little spendy,but the inside of the restaraunt is beautiful & the service was spot on. 3.5 stars

    (3)

  • Norman R.

    I hadn't been to Pican for at least a year, and had almost forgotten how good it is. Very nicely laid out and designed restaurant, not far from Oakland's 19th street BART station. A sophisticated, well-dressed somewhat older crowd that is fun to watch--a great mix of black, white and "other"--who are enjoying some of the best comfort food in the Bay Area. Not one of the dishes we tried tonight were less than delicious. The southern fried chicken was moist and perfectly fried, with just the right amount of seasoning. Wonderful, slightly sweet cornbread. The jambalaya risotto was amazing....smooth, a little spicy, but loaded with shellfish. This is definitely an "occasion" restaurant. I'll come back again soon.

    (5)

  • Laura T.

    This place is stylish, has super fun and good drinks, and a friendly and efficient waitstaff (I'll leave the somewhat snooty/odd host out of the kudos) but the food just isn't up to snuff. While the catfish gumbo was super tasty (smokey, earthy and a little spicy), the other food we tried was just OK. Since all three of us got some sandwich variation (pork sloppy joe; croque monsiour) we all were able to notice that Pican really does not care about the quality of the bread they serve. With the croque monsiour, which came with a heavy sauce that was strangly dusty and dry, the bread was way too soft and chewy. But super friendly and good waiter. And, though I normally don't do "specialty" drinks, I tried them here (something with bourbon and pureed peach) and it was awesome and not sweet. And the place is very cool inside. So, definitely a place to go for a drink or two; and maybe I'd try food there again, but I won't be rushing back.

    (3)

  • Eric B.

    Well, what can I say? This place is good. Very good! The fried chicken and pork chop were my favorites. Although the slow cooked ribs were amazing. I don't think I can ever recall having such an assortment of tastes at once. Everything from the pork belly to the chow chow to the mac/cheese, all had my taste buds on overdrive. I truly enjoyed my dinner experience at Pican. The service was excellent as well. From the bar with Britt and Ruben, to the table service with Jasmin, they were all friendly and full of smiles. I will be back Pican! Oh yeah...

    (5)

  • Laurence T.

    great food and nice location in oakland. cannot say enough great things about how friendly the staff was to us - service was really good.

    (4)

  • Chris R.

    The food was delicious. Loved the fried-green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, mac and cheese, catfish dinner and the pork chop. Excellent drinks: Bulleit 'Frontier Whiskey' and Southern Peach Squeeze. Waitress was great too.

    (4)

  • M-C R.

    My comment to the bar tender: "I'm a southerner. This is the first time that I've been to a southern restaurant outside of the South and REALLY enjoyed the food." Yes, this place is upscale and priced accordingly, but it's SO good and the real deal.

    (5)

  • Timothy S.

    Dinner: 3 stars - really good, but slow service. good cocktails, but the menu doesnt change often enough. id like to see other southern dishes on it. Brunch: DING DING DING. 5 stars. no cornbread, though. make sure to ask for biscuits, and plan not to eat for the rest of the day. i highly recommend the fried chicken hash (boneless), and the pecan pie tart for dessert. they say its enough for two, but just get one for yourself. you will eat every last bite.

    (4)

  • Caro S.

    I really enjoyed our experience at Pican. We ate here before a concert. We would have had to wait to sit inside but we opted for outdoor seating. Very nice. The decor and ambiance are nice. We brought our own bottle of fabulous red wine but I look forward to coming back to try the cocktails. Our meal included the following: Picán Magnolia Salad- Summer lettuces, toasted pecans, cornbread croutons, white balsamic vinaigrette. Was super yummy. This was accompanied by some good not great cornbread. Buttermilk Southern Fried Chicken Crisp natural chicken with smoked gouda "mac 'n cheese" with Tableside truffled honey service was amazing I loved the mix of gouda and honey. Georgia Pecan Tart: With buttermilk ice cream and bourbon butterscotch was okay. Me and my man both agreed that a vanilla bean ice cream would have been a much better fit. Overall a great dinner place. I will definately go back.

    (4)

  • John R.

    Never in a million years did I think my "sophisticated" palate would stoop to eat something called "grits", but I went to Picante and had the shrimp and grits for lunch. It was delicious. The grits had a nice buttery aftertaste, and the shrimp were cooked to perfection. The Southern Iced Tea was excellent, too. I'm taking one star off, though, because when we went EARLY at lunch (11:30), the hostess asked if we had a reservation and seemed annoyed when we said "no" even though the restaurant was TOTALLY EMPTY. She made it seem like a big deal that we were being accommodated. By 12:30, when we were finished, there were still PLENTY of tables available. Thankfully, this attitude did not rub off on the waitstaff and our waiter was excellent. Helpful and attentive enough, but without the "hovering" that annoys the crap out of me.

    (4)

  • Mihir M.

    Nice atmosphere. Several vegetarian items. This is southern food, & nice to see this cuisine in SF.

    (4)

  • Taylor Y.

    Everytime I come to this place, I love it. The vibe is elegant and classy, but without the snobbery. The hostess and wait service are always personable and attentive. We were a group of 5 on a very busy night because of 1st Fridays Art Murmur, and we wandered in looking for dessert. The restaurant was packed with reservation only people. Everyone at the bar was sippin bourbon and there just wasn't room for us. We single filed it out the door, but just as the last friend almost got the last of her appendages out the door, the hostess came to us and said they got a last minute cancellation and can seat us. This was really nice since she knew we wouldn't be full paying customers, since we only wanted dessert. Southern style desserts with a CA flair abound, and although a bit pricey, you also pay for a nice ambiance. Complimentary, piping hot cornbread is served to you at the table, and it's like heaven. On this night, I opted for one of their specialty coffee drinks and I cannot tell you how amazing and potent it was. Now, if it only left my memory intact! ;)

    (4)

  • Van W.

    I came here for my parents, sister, and our boyfriends. It was a nice place. i think I waited 10 minutes outside for a valet guy, gave up, and street parked the car and walked back 2 blocks. It was fine on a weeknight but might be tougher on a weekend. Service was friendly, our server took the time to explain a lot of the weird phrasing in the menu. The free cornbread I thought was yummy but most people didn't finish the little piece they were given. The biscuits at Church's is way better. There was a lot of food sharing. Let me see -- The southern classic fried chicken -- it was decided by the table that Church's was better. And a lot cheaper. Hmm... interesting pattern. The ribs were ok the rib eye was ok, there were a few bites that were really tender but for the most part just ok The fish was ok, I liked it, which is impressive since I'm not much of a fish person The duck was, well, ducky. I didn't really like it but Corey seemed to enjoy it. I liked the collard greens, the asparagus was yummy, and I thought the mac n cheese was awesome. Gouda is good-a. Apparently Kat wasn't a big fan, but that's probably b/c her Mac and cheese is so good (she puts bacon in it!) Probably not worth another visit because of the price. Too bad.

    (2)

  • Charlie H.

    Ok Pican...here's the deal... You're drink did me good. The fried chicken was very satisfactory (definitely on par with the finest of KFC and Church's). My only qualm was that we ordered the vegetable plate, which was to include the fried green tomatoes. My lovely dinner companion was very disappointed to receive uncooked red tomatoes instead of what was advertised as "fried green tomatoes". Now that is a problem... When I asked our server about this, she responded that fried green tomatoes were out of season, that she should have though to tell us. So we had basically paid $17 for a plate of tomatoes, black-eyed peas, and mashed potatoes and asparagus that, total, would have cost about $5 to buy canned from a grocery store. As a southerner by birth who has spent significant time in Piggly-Wiggly, I know this to be a fact. We were not offered any kind of compensation for the disappointment about the tomatoes either. The overall feeling was that we had definitely been mislead. If you do not have an item "in season" it does NOT need to be advertised on the menu. Very unprofessional.

    (1)

  • Cheesemonger Jeff D.

    Summation: There's no excuse for inattentive, sloppy service, especially at astronomical prices. Pluses: Great looking space - hurrah to the owners for being part of the Uptown revival. I'm proud to be an Oaklander and Pican is a great addition to the mix Great looking crowd - upscale, beautiful, multi-culti mix of politicians, workin' folks and starlets (or girls who looked like starlets) Nice wine list - well chosen but small - highlighting African American winemakers Food - for the most part, the food was well-prepared and well seasoned. Minuses: Service: My Dad, Cheesemonger Senior, is deathly allergic to wheat, and we patiently explained this to the waiter, who proclaimed that he was "intimately acquainted with the menu", because he's worked " there "since opening day." We let him know that the allergy could cause my dad to DIE and that wheat of any form, - bread, gluten, in a sauce, in a gravy could kill him. He told us not to worry. After a while, we ordered our starters, and Dad ordered a Tomato and Peach Salad. "Is this dish alright?" "Yes". Forty minutes later (yes, it took forty minutes to plate three apps!) the salad arrives with two toast points practically covered by the tomatoes and peaches. I politely point out this to the waiter and ask him to be sure that my dad's next dish doesn't contain any wheat, as (I point out again) any wheat can kill him. Does he take away the salad and replace it with a wheat free salad? No he goes away, returns in a few and tells me that "bread is made from wheat" as if it's a fact he's just learned! Did he take the charge for the salad off the bill? Nope. He overpoured all of the wine (6 oz is waay too big a pour). He hovered when he shouldn'tve and ignored us when he should have been attentive. My Water Glass was unfilled for 20 minutes. The appetizers took nearly forty minutes to arrive after ordering. Food: Three tiny (26-30 count) shrimp, three tablespoons of grits and a small bunch of oversalted and oily arugula for $11? Don't get me wrong, the combo tasted great, but that was about 75 cents in food cost, that's what over 1000%?!?! Mrs. Cheesemonger's Fried Green Tomatoes were amazing, but again $11 for two small slices of tomato and a handful of greens. Food cost? 30 cents? My chicken was good, but it was a small half breast and a stringy drumstick, and NOT from an organic, sustainable or cool named farm. (It was just labeled "chicken" on the menu.) Food costs? $3 at most, cost on menu? $23 without the highly recommended truffle honey (hmm, if it's so recommended, then make it part of the dish, not an add-on to make those who don't order it feel shitty). In other words the restaurant is long on flavors and really, really shockingly, embarrassingly short on value. Noise: I could barely hear my wife who was seated next to me. Why can't acoustic designers be consulted during the build out of a space? this is a newly constructed restaurant - there's no excuse for this level of din... We'll be back though - not to eat - probably for cocktails at the beautiful bar. We'll eat at Luka's across the street - whose grits are only $3.

    (2)

  • Em C.

    My guy surprisingly made the suggestion that we come here after work on a Friday. The restaurant location is convenient to his workplace, so it made sense. I skipped the drinks although a bourbon sampler, going on at a nearby table, looked like something I'd like to try. The cornbread was soft and warm, and not too corn flavored, which I liked. I didn't like the honey butter. For some reason, it reminded me of bacon fat that I had rendered the previous day. We shared the scallops to start. Very tasty, being nicely charred it some spots. I thoroughly enjoyed the creamy rice, much like a risotto. The brussel sprouts were roasted and bitter, but added a good contrast of textures and flavors. As a whole, some parts of the dish seemed much more seasoned than others. My guy had the fried chicken, sans truffled honey. I only had a bite, but it seemed more greasy than juicy. The coating was interesting and mildly spicy. I really looked forward to trying the gouda mac and cheese. However, I'm not much of a gouda fan, or mac and cheese in general. Plus, I like a crumb topping, which is not what they do here. So I didn't like the flavor and at one point, grease was dripping off the macaroni. My dish was the flounder with clams, chorizo, and hominy. To me that sounded like a crazy, unlikely combination, but I liked all the different textures and flavors (yes, I said that about two dishes). I'm not intimate in nuances of different fish, so I though the flounder was fine and I was more interested in the chorizo and hominy. As far as chorizo, I've only had super greasy versions, and thankfully this one was not. I scooped up every last kernel of the hominy with the broth. I stopped short of finishing the broth because it was again, over seasoned. Overall, I felt like my mouth was tasting something comforting, but my body would be absorbing something unhealthy. Fit my idea of the southern food stereotype. We finished off with the banana pudding. Light, not too exciting, exactly as described on the menu. Service was very good. I'd like to return perhaps. I would recommend this place to people that live and work in the area, but not as a destination.

    (3)

  • Vada P.

    This was my first time in I took my mom and a very dear friend who said this place was great and it was from the time we walked in the door, we arrived early before it opened we did not have a reservation and the gentleman said it would be no problem getting us in our waitress was fun and funny and really took care of us, all I can say the food was great and I want my facebook family to know this place is great.

    (5)

  • anthony m.

    Fried Chicken Benedict?? I think that's all that would need to be said in a review, but seriously the service was great, the ambiance completely transport you into the moment. Although folks rate this as upscale we took our children on Sunday morning and all had a great time. The children especially loved the Beignets which came out warm and delightful

    (4)

  • Peter B.

    Gator nachos Salmon awesome BOSSum! Bacon Old fashioned pecan tart with buttermilk ice cream! Yum yum yum!!!!!!!!!Definitely worth the money! Cheesy music, tho.

    (5)

  • Marisa G.

    THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE DESSERTS ONLY!!! I came here with my girlfriends for a dessert fix since we weren't happy with the dessert selection where we had dinner. We called ahead of time and were told we could sit in the lounge to have our dessert without a wait. We got a table at the lounge without any problems and waited quite awhile for someone to come by to offer us drinks. We ordered the pecan tart and the coca cola chocolate cake, which were both tasty! The buttermilk ice cream on the tart was a bit strange (tasted more like ice milk and was very tart) but it helped to balance out the sweetness of the brown sugar in the tart. The chocolate cake was very moist and not too heavy, which I appreciated. The service was just okay (but it was a busy Saturday night). I definitely want to come back for dinner because the food looked amazing!

    (3)

  • Bryce F.

    Service is slow but the food is amazing. In fact, I think it may be that the kitchen can't keep up with the servers and the demand. The servers themselves are quite attentive.

    (4)

  • Jenny M.

    I've only had great experiences here! From the atmosphere to the service to the food and drink. I have visited at least 4 times and I highly recommend Pican. Atmosphere: Very luxe decor with warm tones and neutrals. Love the bar area. Low lighting and intimate seating areas, too, which I waited in for 5 minutes for a table once. Just once. Otherwise I've always been seated right away. Service: All the waitstaff and bartenders I have dealt with were friendly and knowledgeable and even with a full restaurant, they never gave us a rushed feeling. You know, when the waiter comes over and barely wants to put the time or effort into answering your questions because they are too busy? That doesn't happen here. It is well managed and well staffed. They also seem to have a fun and happy rapport with each other, which puts you at ease as well. I mean, this is a southern style restaurant. What is more southern than a relaxed and friendly demeanor? Food: Mmmmm, upscale southern food? Yes please. The ribs are so tender they just fall off the bone. The fried chicken and mac and cheese is delish, just ask for the table side honey service. Haven't been disappointed by their desserts either. The pecan pie is definitely my favorite. Everyone we bring here agrees that the food is excellent. Drink: The Pican Praline is my fav cocktail and is almost a dessert in itself! If you are a Bourbon lover, come here for a wall of selections.

    (4)

  • Chives S.

    Went here with a few friends for a birthday dinner for my girlfriend. The service started out slow but once our order was taken everything went smooth. The fried chicken with Mac & cheese was 5 stars. Another person had the meatloaf & said it was great also.

    (4)

  • Will W.

    Get the fried chicken! Everything was good, but I thought the fried chicken was the standout. It was so well cooked, with a huge crunch of a spiced double breading that encased the wonderfully succulent and juicy chicken. Accompanied with awesome mac and cheese.. *drool* Peach and tomato panzanella was a beautiful salad to start with, and the maple glazed pork belly was melt in your mouth good. The ribs they were smoking out front looked fantastic, but I can only eat so much in one sitting... Maybe next time. Uptown Oakland is seeing quite a resurgence and Pican is a "must try" in the area.

    (4)

  • J. C.

    The food and ambiance are actually quite nice, but two thumbs down for customer service. Let me explain. My husband and I had a nice meal at Pican, but the server returned someone else's credit card to us (after paying). Well, we didn't discover this until the next day (as the card was the same kind we used so we didn't notice when we were still at the restaurant). My husband called the restaurant and they asked us to come back, that they would contact the other party who had our credit card and we could do a swap. We asked Pican if they could find out where the other party lived to see if it would be more convenient to go to that person's house. Well, it so happened she lives in the same city as we do so we were able to take care of it among ourselves. When I dropped the other party's credit card off, she told me she asked Pican if they would be willing to offer something to both of us to make up for their mistake and causing the inconvenience. She said they told her they'd think about it. Really?! So I sent a friendly email to the manager explaining what happened and asked if they would be willing to provide a discount on our meal or if they would be willing to send us a gift certificate for a future visit (because yes, we were still willing to go back despite the mistake). Well, it has now been one week and I have received no response, and Pican can bet that we will never return and that we will tell our friends never to patronize the business either. What a bummer. I consider myself to be a reasonable person and even acknowledge that mistakes happen. But what I find inexcusable is that Pican did not even acknowledge my request nor did they seem apologetic. Any smart business person knows that great customer service is a key to success. I am extremely disappointed and truly hoped I would not be writing this review. Bottom line, you'll probably have a fine experience so long as Pican doesn't make a mistake and cause an inconvenience to you. If they do, you're SOL.

    (2)

  • Caitlin M.

    COCKTAILS. I ate here a little while ago, and the fried chicken was amazing, and so were the short ribs, and the polenta. The mac and cheese that everyone's gushing about is actually too goopy, but better that than the dried-out mac and cheese you get most places. but... COCKTAILS. I could easily go here just for the cornbread and compound butter, and maybe dessert (which I couldn't try as I was way too stuffed). I'd also get some COCKTAILS. Old fashioned was elegant and smooth, manhattan-esque cocktail was beautifully crafted, and these folks really, really know their bourbon, which is good because I really like bourbon in my COCKTAILS. Oh. Yeah. Know what's good here? THE COCKTAILS. DRINK THE COCKTAILS.

    (4)

  • mia s.

    Went back for dinner and it seems they have straightened things out in the kitchen. The food was really great and not overseasoned. I'm still not sold on the smoked gouda mac n cheese but all else was delicious. The fried chicken was divine as was the sea bass. My favorite of the evening was the southern caesar salad. The beautiful romaine hearts were perfected dressed and accented with fried okra and hushpuppies. Easily the best caesar salad I've had in a long time. In addition to the food, the restaurant is gorgeous and lively and always teeming with a wonderfully diverse crowd. Looking around, I could see that everyone was having a wonderful time. In these gloomy times, just being around this energy is worth more than the meal itself.

    (5)

  • Derick D.

    Had a belated birthday dinner here with my wife and some good friends and had an amazing meal. I really enjoy cooking and one my favorite things to make is ribs (and mine are damn good) - so I'm always critical of other ribs, so I decided to try them. I was blown away, they were the perfect balance of smokey, tender, juicy deliciousiness. My wife had the Fried Chicken which was fantastic (get the truffled honey service). We ordered a bunch of small plates, but I can't totally remember those.... perhaps it was the bourbon sampler I had before dinner? Everything was top notch on this particular evening: food, service and ambiance which is why i'm giving 5 stars. *side note: we had made a previous attempt to have dinner here prior to this evening, and I had called and made a reservation earlier in the week which they seemed to have lost when we actually showed up. We didn't end up eating there that night and I was pretty bitter for a while, but I'm glad i got over it.

    (5)

  • leena k.

    Pican is upscale California-meets-the-South, which means scrumptious bites (kicked off with honey butter cornbread), yum cocktails, and friendly service. If you do it proper with drinks, appetizers, entrees, and desserts for two, you can reasonably expect to exceed $100, which is by no means cheap, but at least your tongue and belly will be pleased. The tasty items I had: lavendar lemon drop, scallops with brussels sprouts and brown butter, black pepper crusted salmon, and pecan pie with buttermilk ice cream. Portion sizes were perfect to have all those things and feel contently but not explosively full. As a neutral observation, the atmosphere is definitely not young -- or at least wasn't the night I went. Lots of older men in suits.

    (4)

  • Myles L.

    The food was good enough to rate a 4 or 5. We had fried chicken, meat loaf, ribs, catfish, mac and cheese, and fried green tomatoes. The service was weak. Our server seemed inexperienced and had too many tables. She was pleasant, but little else. At one point, it took her 30 seconds to walk across the room, pick up 2 wine glasses, and carry them to the bar. She didn't multi-task, but worked in a linear fashion, not ideal for a server. We watched our drinks sit on the end of the bar and wondered how diluted they'd taste. The food also took awhile, which may have been the kitchen's issue, but everything was delicious. Overall, it was worth the wait. The server may improve with experience.

    (3)

  • Victor G.

    pican is an elegant looking eatery, they specializes in the cajun/creole, southern cooking genre. samplings: -creamy vidalia onion bisque(7)a clump of spinach, some schredded chicken, and a smoked bacon morsel was in the middle of a creamy glob of tastiness.. -yam crisps(5): interesting parody of belgium fries. came in a cone with ketchup and honey mustard dips. once is enough. -coffee(3):undistinguished joe -texas style fish & chip(16):2 piecesof beer battered fries, very moist and flaky. blue crab hush puppies tasted of shellfish, that's it. half the plate was barely warmed regular fresh cut fries.(or made to look like it) music:: jazz audible outside pican, inside barely audible. leftovers -majority of diners were african americans. -food pricey, huge plates, small portions. -food options, one page, liquor options-four sheets. -service overall very good, spotty at times. (coffee to be refilled didn't return) -none of my "friends" have dined here, did i miss something? -is there a dress code here? was first placed at bar. i said no. -open kitchen, kitchen staff entirely hispanic. -count me a doubting thomas.

    (3)

  • Julie S.

    We had issues with the reservation and service. I called in for a lunch party of 8 and the hostess asked for my credit card. She informed me that they charge $75 for no shows but if I cancel 24 hrs in advance, there would be no charge. The day before, the restaurant called to confirm my reservation. When I showed up, they could not find my reservation for at least 20 min. The hostess proceeded to take us to some other large party's table; she thought we were part of another party of 8. So another 5+ min wait for her to figure that out. The waitress got our drinks right away but we sat around for 45 mins before we decided to flag her down to take our lunch order. I heard this place had really good fried chicken but it wasn't on the menu when we went on Wed. Instead the waitress said they were making it part of their regular menu starting Mon. That would have been fine except ever other item we wanted to order was substituted by something else and she kept repeating..."not sure if I told you, but we're updating our menu this coming Monday..." OK, we get it but it does not help us because the selection sucked for our lunch. The food was ok but I'm not sure if it was worth the price. I'll probably go back to try the chicken at least.

    (2)

  • anjou k.

    Amazing food. Seriously. I have this weird aversion to scallops. I don't know why, but I've only liked them twice. Since I'm considering leaving pescatarianism for vegetarianism once again after being influenced by Morrissey I thought I might as well give scallops another shot while I'm still munching on sea creatures. Wow. They were served with brussel sprouts and brown butter. Yummy. The bass with asparagus was super delish. And the pecan pie was damn good with that buttermilk ice cream. Oh, and going backwards, totally forgot about the cocktail and cornbread. Lavender lemon drop. I overcame my aversion to vodka, which means that I overcame all aversions because I only had two. I was super hungry when I arrived and smeared butter all over that cornbread, stuffed face, and washed it down with the lavender lemon drop. Satisfaction. The only thing that was odd was that about 80% of the patrons were men in suits.

    (4)

  • Nicol B.

    I normally have excellent experiences here, but today was different. I went for lunch and ordered a usual staple there, fried chicken and Mac. Instead of fried chicken... (wing, breast, drumstick, etc.), I got 3 boneless thighs, huh? I have been a regular over the years and know that the boneless thighs are used for the chicken Benedict for Sunday brunch. Seeing that it was a Monday, it wasn't hard to figure that they hadn't got their shipment in or had just run short. Nonetheless, the thighs were dry and not served hot, bummer. The usual stellar Mac n cheese was lacking today, not bad, but not great. I love this restaurant and want to see them around for years to come, but they can't cut corners and expect the regulars not to notice.

    (2)

  • seven s.

    Went for a friend's bday and was excited to finally try this place. Ambiance was really nice, the piano player, the packed bar and dimmed lights. But the service? Where is it? I couldn't find it anywhere....um excuse me, have you seen the good service anywhere? My friends couldn't find it either. Oh well, that really would've made the night great because we all really enjoyed the food. So my compliments to the chef. Had the cornbread, fall off the bone ribs, a couple of those lavender lemon drops....mmmm.

    (3)

  • Kim-van T.

    I came here on a Friday night and the place was packed! I'd recommend making reservations ahead of time. It's located right next to Ozumo and is one of the very popular Uptown area restaurants. Street parking was a snap but there's also valet service available for your $100,000+ car (we saw one that night!). The interior is spacious and nicely decorated. There is seating at the bar but also lounge area seating where you can have a drink or wait for your table to be ready. We were seated in the main dining space with a view of the kitchen. It was amazing to see all the food expedited - it was like watching Top Chef! I ordered a Basil Berry Refresher - half the glass was muddled strawberries! It was really refreshing and I could barely taste any alcohol. When I was finished with all the liquid I was contemplating asking for a spoon to scoop out all the strawberries but I decided against it =P. Food overall was pretty good but it definately is on the pricier side. More rounds of fresh baked cornbread please! It was the perfect way to start our meal while we waited for our food to come out. The cornbread was a tiny bit dry for my taste but it was still yummy. The bf and I decided to split the fried green tomatoes for our appetizer - really tasty! Delicious crunchy coating and the feta cheese was delish with it! I HAD to try the fried chicken - how do you come here and not have the fried chicken!? It comes with a little skillet of smoked gouda mac n cheese which was CRAZY DELICIOUS. The portion is pretty good - they give you a large chicken breast and a drumstick. The chicken had a crunchy crust and even though it was skinless chicken it was SO MOIST and flavorful. YUM-MY. The bf had the grilled berkshire porkchop that had a really yummy sauce and "Carolina plantation hoppin' john" which was also really good. We were stuffed but our server convinced us to have dessert so we opted for the peach fried pie (a little pie pouch!) with ginger ice cream (I try to blame the server - I can't help it if I'm easily convinced!) It was so good!!!! I was a little hesitant about the peach pie because I've had some pretty bad peach pies but this one was not too sweet and the crust was flaky and delicious. If you're on the hunt for fried chicken I'd check this place out. Pican is great when you feel like splurging a little. =)

    (4)

  • Quyen T.

    It's true that I despise overly trendy, expensive fare. But I heart Oakland and I really love the fact that Broadway is being revitalized with Luka's and restaurants like Pican. The vibe is nice, and the food is also very tastey. We ordered a vegetable plate (fried green tomatoes, asparagus, black eyed peas, and mash potatoes), and mac 'n cheese with fried chicken. It was delicious. I have to say that it was exactly what I had in mind. The corn bread (free) was also super tastey and moist. I also ordered an Arnold Palmer. An Arnold palmer, and two entrees = $70 with tax (this is sans alcohol too!). I know, not cheap. But it was a pleasant dining experience. I won't come running back here b/c it isn't cheap, but it was good and I definitely will return. Yay! for good restaurants in Oakland.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Valet, Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Dressy
    Ambience : Classy
    Noise Level : Average
    Music : Background
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Picán

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