11/28/08

Great Memories

by rowrupa

I ate at the Gingerbread house for my birthday about 20 years ago. Ever since I have been trying to replicate the amazing warm gingerbread/chocolate chip cookie they serve ala mode as dessert. It was the stuff memories are made of. I've spent the last ten years living in Seattle and have reminisced fondly about this place to anyone I knew would be visiting the bay area.

The jambalaya was also lip-smacking good and equally delicious as leftovers the next day-- cold, right out of the fridge even!

Now that I am back home in the bay area I am just looking for an excuse to make the trip over the bay to see if it is all that I have built it up to be in my mind.

As for the negative reviews I have read on here... pull the sticks out or stick to your favorite overpriced "clean" spots and leave the magic of the Gingerbread House to those of us that can appreciate it.

• Pros: Great food, magical atmosphere, family run, and friendly servers.
• Cons: Might be lightly pricey for some, apparently you need reservations and this is upsetting to some.

08/08/07

Best New Orleans-style restaurant in town. Don't miss it!

by uncle_fox

My girlfriend (who ought to know something about Creole/Cajun food, since her mother was a cook in New Orleans' French Quarter) and I have been coming to the Gingerbread House for several years now, and it remains our favorite East Bay restaurant. Its years in business and the many civic awards it has won make it unnecessary to defend either its ambiance or its menu; but to suggest that the proprietor behaves as though she were on coke has no place in a restaurant review, and whichever ignorant person wrote it ought to be ashamed. Both of us can testify to the decency, generosity and unique flair and style of the beautiful and hardworking lady who has devoted herself to the Gingerbread House for something like thirty-five years. Avoid the food, if it doesn't suit you, and tell your friends not to go there - that's certainly your right and your privilege. Libelling the proprietor's character is not. She and her family restaurant - and we have come to feel like family when we're there - are ornaments to the Oakland community, and deserve to be recognized and treated as such. That woman who carries herself like a queen while she serves your dinner is a lady, in case you never saw one before.

• Pros: Delicious food and elegant service!

08/07/07

Slow But Fun Birthday

by appledumplin

I came here for my birthday a few nights and I had a blast. I can understand why other people call their service slow, but if you're not in a huge rush, the wait is fine. The service is friendly and attentive. Yes, the food took a while to appear, but we never minded because waitress made sure we always had enough cornbread and starry-eyed tea (which is to die for). One of my friends and I had the jambalaya while my other friend had the gumbo, and all of us cleaned our plates! Then at the end the waitress brought out a fresh gingerbread cookie and ice cream for me and sang happy birthday. Overall I was happy with my experience and I'll be bringing my relatives there to eat when they come to visit.

• Pros: starry-eyed tea! and the food is wonderful
• Cons: slow service, kind of dark