As noted on Brown Sugar Kitchen’s website, “We are located at the center of the bay area in Oakland’s oldest neighborhood. I encourage everyone to come out and discover the incredible diversity and history of sweet west Oakland”.  With 36 seats and 14 bar stools, waiting time on a Sunday morning can be up to an hour or more.  But, it’s worth the wait. The cuisine at Brown Sugar Kitchen reflects Chef Tanya Holland’s interpretation of soul food. Her influences include her African-American heritage, her formal training in France, and her general appreciation of a wide variety of cuisines.  Serving breakfast and lunch from 7am-3pm daily, popular dishes include organic cheddar cheese grits with two poached eggs, buttermilk fried chicken & cornmeal waffle with brown sugar butter & apple cider syrup, smoked chicken and shrimp gumbo, and a pulled BBQ pork sandwich with spicy cabbage slaw.  Sides available include cast iron skillet cornbread with brown sugar butter and macaroni and cheese.  Baked goods such as sticky buns change daily.