Lois the Pie Queen | Oakland, CA

Ever since we moved from Los Angeles in 2005, we've been in search for a new place to find good, wholesome Southern Soul Food. From staples as mac-n-cheese, collard greens, and smothered pork chops to standards that are more for the adventurous such as oxtail soup, pickled chicken gizzards, and chitterlings and hog maws. We've come close a handful of times, and one of our favorites can be found on the city borders of Oakland and Emeryville.

Lois the Pie Queen has been a neighborhood institution for nearly fifty years, and although Lois herself is no longer running the show following her death some years ago, her son, Chris Davis, continues to honor his mother's legacy by providing diners with "food that warms the soul." A house favorite on the menu is the Reggie Jackson Special: two fried pork chops served with two eggs and your choice of hash browns, creamy grits, or rice. Named after the legendary baseball player who used to frequent the restaurant during his playing days as an Oakland Athletic, we were told that it's a dish that wouldn't disappoint. And they weren't kidding ... This was stick-to-your-ribs stuff! Other savory selections that fall under this category include the Chicken and Waffles, Split-Buttered Biscuits 'n Gravy, the Mexican Scramble, and the Fried Chicken Breakfast with Salmon Croquettes.

And when it was time for dessert (At 10:30 in the morning? You betcha!), we turned to our server and learned that she wouldn't let us leave the restaurant without first having a slice of either the sweet potato pie or the lemon icebox. She didn't need to twist our arms twice, and rather than choose, one of each was added to the bill. While the sweet potato pie was forkalicious, the lemon icebox was clearly the winner in our hearts. So, it's no wonder why Lois the Pie Queen is popular among the surrounding community as well as sports and entertainers alike (the "wall" of pictures behind the counter says it all). We were certainly glad to have stopped in for a bite, and to Mr. Davis, you are doing your mother proud!

Lois the Pie Queen
851 60th St
Oakland, CA 94609