Brenda’s Owners Expanding Beignet Empire With Oakland Restaurant

SF chef/restaurateur Brenda Beunviaje (Brenda’s French Soul Food, Brenda’s Meat and Three, Libby Jane Cafe) is bringing her beloved crawfish beignets and more across the Bay to Temescal. She and business (and life) partner Libby Truesdell will open a fast-casual version of their original Polk Street restaurant in a new development at 41st and Broadway. The new business, to be called Brenda’s, could open as soon as May.

“We live in San Francisco, but I know a lot of people cross the bridge, and we thought, let’s bring the food to them,” Buenviaje says. She’s got a “solid fan base in Oakland,” and will offer them more of what’s been so successful at her SF restaurants, like po’boys, biscuits, and fried chicken, with an emphasis on quick service.

“I’ve wanted to do something fast casual forever,” Buenviaje says. And with three children of their own, Buenviaje and Truesdell will also emphasize kid-friendly food items.

Building out a restaurant from scratch will allow the team to specify their own setup, including a front prep area with windows onto the street, through which passersby will see the team preparing beignets. “At Meat and Three, whenever our prep guys are making food and the door is open [for customers to see], folks are mesmerized,” says Buenviaje, hence the idea.

Stay tuned for more as the Brenda’s heads across the bridge.

• Brenda Buenviaje and Libby Truesdell Opening Brenda’s in Oakland in 2019 [Tablehopper]
• The 21 Best Fried Chicken Dishes in San Francisco [ESF]