On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Diners
1507 Park St"This place......oh....this place......you.....YOU... ..this PLACE is the best diner in Alameda. It is the top choice of my kid's very finely…" read more »
Loading...
The food was really good. I ordered a tuna sandwich and it came with chips, it was very good.
I enjoyed the diner experience as well. The inside of the restaurant has a cool atmosphere.
The waitress was also very nice and even cracked jokes with us from time to time. I like that when it comes to service.
Overall I had a pleasant experience here!
So we were looking for breakfast food. I remembered a place on Webster but when we got there I realized it was closed boooo. So we decided to drive here.
Good thing we did, every time I pass by I see a line, so I pass, but today there were only 1 couple ahead of us.
Omelets were A-ok, hash browns were good. Waffles were THE BEST (hey...with the name of this place, can't expect anything but hella good). Nothing is better than fresh squeezed orange juice. I can't wait to come back and try more.
I feel it's in some way tragic to only give 2 stars to Ole's...
But .
.. I've been twice & each time was simply unsatisfied with the food. Honestly, I wasn't even so satisfied with the inside of this place either.
Probably the only thing I fancy about Ole's is its outside look (cool neon sign colors & an overall neo-50s look). The service was OK, too.
Additionally, when you factor in the slightly high prices, I have to say, "Meh."
Sorry Ole's. Only 2 stars from me. :l
This place has been around since forever, and the food taste like it ... but not in a good way. Upon initially entering the establishment, I noticed that there were several people milling around the door, so I asked some one where the waiting list was. They looked at me like I was crazy, and just said wait over there. How do they keep track of who arrived first, and who is next!? I was seated pretty quickly, but in some back, dark anteroom where the wait staffed carried platters of dirty dishes over our heads. I asked to be moved to another table, and they promptly did so. Evidently our waitress was slammed, so when she came to our table and we told her that we weren't quite ready, it took here about 15 minutes to find her way back to us. How did I know that was a harbinger of things to come!?
The food looked to be pretty appetizing and there were tons of folks in the place, so I was excited about ordering and getting some yummy food to eat. I ordered a country fried steak, my girlfriend ordered the special of the day - corned beef hash, and my daughter had pancakes, bacon and eggs.
Chicken Fried Steak is normally made with very tender round steak, and cooked to a crispy goodness. Unfortunately, the folks at Ole forgotten the bits about it being tender and crispy! Every time that I've ever had it, I've been able to cut it with a fork, but not this time. I needed a machete, as it was damned tough! Moreover, the coating was not crispy at all, as it was very soggy, perhaps from sitting in the flavorless gravy. Pretty much everything the brought me lacked seasoning and flavor. I was crazy disappointed and complained the entire time that I eat.
My girlfriend's corned beef has was OK, but certainly nothing to write home about. Someone went a bit crazy with the celery seasoning, as other than excessive salt, it was the only thing that I tasted. Our hash browns could have been cooked a lot harder for my liking.
I didn't taste my daughter's pancakes, but she seemed to like them quite a bit, and cleaned her plate.
The folks sitting next to us left an entire plate of 5 strips of bacon. Who leaves bacon!?
Perhaps they do better at pancakes & waffles, but I'll never know.
Nice waffle shop!
I stumbled across this place today and stopped to have breakfast.
Their menu had a wide selection. I was going to order waffles since it is called the waffle shop but I instead ordered an egg dish. Their breakfasts are an extremely reasonable price.
Their eggs were cooked to perfection and their grits were some of the best I have tasted.
Would go back again.
This place is all hype. What's with long lines on the weekends?? The food is not that freaking amazing. I went there a while back and sat at the bar counter or whatever it's called. I went all out, I had bacon, eggs, hash browns, toast, waffles and I was with a buddy so we split an order of biscuts in gravy. Waa waa waaaaaa, They sucked. The first thing that came to mind when I saw the waffle was Lego my ego. They sucked. I asked for my eggs over medium but still got slimey hardly over easy eggs. They sucked. The best part about the meal was the fact that from where I was sitting I could see and hear everything on the cooks end. It's dirty. Stuff slopped everywhere and I got to sit and watch one of the cooks verbally assault one of the waitresses. What a way to start the day. Oh did I mention the line out the door.......why?
Ole's says they've been in business since 1927. Its easily my favorite breakfast restaurant in the East Bay. Pancakes, waffles, French toast, sausage, omelets.... I haven't had anything that didn't taste good. There's usually a short line waiting to be seated. Some of the waiters tend to have an attitude, probably because they are busy all the time. The prices are reasonable.
None of the shortcomings are serious enough to knock a star from the rating. Their food is 5-star quality all the way!
Had a good breakfast here. While it was eggs, bacon, and a waffle. The waffle was sooooo light. I was afraid it would be too much but it was just right. The waitresses and other employees were very nice and they knew their frequent customers names which always speaks volumes to me.
Motion picture location scouts and historians would probably enjoy a visit to this venerable Alameda institution. The rest of us would do better to pass.
I had the pecan waffle (thin and greasy), a side of link sausage (burned beyond recognition), and a cold glass of milk. The service was well-meaning but inept.
The only reason I would go back is if I had left my sunglasses.
I went here as recently as last weekend...Well, I usually come here at least once a month! I'm still surprised to see people write about the wait to get in! If you have a party of more than 4, than yes, expect a long wait because the place consists mainly of tables for 2 and booths for 4. The longest I've EVER waited to be sat here was 20 minutes, and having been coming here for YEARS it's only happened TWICE! One time was because there was a group of 7 of us, and the majority did not want to split up. Yes, I've gone here on a late Sunday morning (that's usually when I go).
If you're expecting to get some Starbucks-type of coffee, don't. It's your standard diner fare (Peerless/Farm Bros.). What REAL breakfast spot serves the cafe stuff anyway?
Oh...if they have it (specials menu) TRY THE CHORIZO SCRAMBLE...YUM... =)
This is the long debated issue in Alameda...Jim's or Ole's? I believe Ole's is still the true… Read more »
Atmosphere, food big pluses -- weather you're doing breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Ole's won't be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're looking for really authentic down to earth diner with great food served served in generous quantities this is the place. There aren't many genuine diners left in the East Bay that can truthfully say they've been around longer than most of us have.
Ole's Waffle Shop has surprisingly good grits, very well flavored linguisa, and nicely sized eggs.
Too bad the wait staff was somewhat unattentive, focusing the bulk of their customer service to those sitting at the counter. That's okay, though. The food quality somewhat made up for their lack of service, providing one of the more favorable breakfast meals.
I still have yet to taste other items on the menu such as their waffles and shakes. Perhaps on my next go'round!
(from October of 2008)
We sat down to a loud and cheerful room of breakfast lovers. It seemed like Ole's would always be crowded. I have been going there occasionally for two years and I realized that they lacked one thing: an Ole-cam. Yes, that would tell people how many minutes they'd be waiting before going there. Every time we went there before this time, we had to wait; and the waits were up to 45 minutes. The food is good, and the service is accommodating, but the waits, that's the only thing that makes you not want to go.
So we sat down and ordered. I had eggs, a waffle, and a side of ham. The ham there was generously cut. Actually, I couldn't finish that slab of ham. Coffee is pretty good and eggs are usually done well. My girlfriend had strawberries with her waffle. It's no secret, the waffles there are great! I think you'll have a good time trying out all their different toppings.
We left after a morning of random banter. Nothing like starting the day out with a good hearty meal.
Ole's is a nice place to have any meal. I find myself here more than any other restaurant every time I come to Alameda. Veronica the waitress is a doll. We always get good food and are never disappointed.
This place always has a line out the door so I figured the food here (especially the waffles!) were amazing...
Anyways had a chance to come here today and tried the pancake and sausage combo. Also had a bite of my boyfriend's waffle. The pancake was good, nothing too special though and the waffle was thin and crispy.
Food came out fast and we finished our plates in a speedy manner too!
Prices here are pretty cheap and portion size is just right.
Wouldn't wait in line to come here but if it was not super busy I'd try again
Yes we have been coming here for years. If you get here early, then maybe you won't have to wait long. But if you get here at 10am or later then get ready to wait for a while. If you come alone or bring another person, then sitting at the bar would be for you..
We came here at around 9am and didn't have to wait long for a saturday... The waffles of course are great and the two men that seat you and bust tables are real cool. I don't know their names but they always come over to our table, shake our hands w/ a smile and provide great service.
The sad thing about it is that it of course depends where you sit, your waitress may be just a bit too slow sometimes.. That's why every gets a tip. sometimes I'll tip the two men that seat us and refill our drinks and take care of us more than the waitress... sad isn't it???
Check it out!!!
Get here early and get the grits and a biscuit. And the pancakes. And a waffle. And maybe a side of bacon. Think this is too much food? Well, if you don't take my advice and get there early, you'll be damn hungry by the time you sit down. Trust me and make it worth your while. It's never too much food when it's this delicious.
When I was a kid I used to go to the Woolworth's diner with my Grandma every week. Each week I would order the same thing- A grilled cheese sandwich, french fries, and a chocolate milkshake. The toast was crispy, the cheese was melted perfect, the chocolate shake wasn't too thick. As I got older, I stopped ordering grilled cheeses, stopped going out to eat with Grandma, and eventually Woolworth's closed. Since then, I've tasted grilled cheese sandwiches with chocolate milkshakes across the entire Bay Area trying to recapture the same flavor and memory that I've held onto all these years. Well Yelp, I'm here to tell you that I was finally able to find the place, and it was right here in my hometown all along...
Ole's is a funny place because every Saturday/Sunday morning you drive by here, you see a ridiculously long line of people waiting to get in. Rain or shine, people will wait forever to get into Ole's. To me, a waffle is a waffle, I can get a waffle anywhere right...? Yeah- but Ole's serves a damn good waffle. Like, one of the best really... a combo plate with bacon, eggs, and toast is totally affordable too...
I would never stand in line and wait to eat here like some people do... What I would suggest is go during their 'Off Peak" hours- which is basically anytime they are open and it's NOT Saturday or Sunday morning. Ole's is a fine diner!
I went for the first time on a Wednesday at 2pm.
My thoughts when I entered -- Why is it packed...who are these people? Don't they have to work on Wednesday's? Are they on their breakfast/lunch breaks? ....I guess they could have ask the same questions of me.
Regardless of the crowd, we were seated immediately, got our coffee and had our orders taken immediately.
I got the waffles, (good, but I'm not writing home about them) with eggs and grits. I've never had a huge bowl of grits before, but I devoured them nonetheless (didn't want to seem rude).
My only issue is that they didn't have fresh fruit for the waffles...which is ok I guess, but well kinda not ok since they are a waffle shop and we do live in produce central.
All in all a good experience, and I'll return.
stopped in for a late brunch on a weekday. our party of two was seated instantly since the shop wasn't too crowded. very old fashioned diner appeal. even the service we received from the hostess and waitress was of that. not too much small talk, very to point since they know what they offer and have been around for quite some time.
since the shop was known for waffles, i opted on a tradition waffle breakfast plate while my friend ordered the corned beef hash special for the day. they have a pretty wide selection which also goes on towards desserts. we always like to order complete opposites and then share. i'm usually not a heavy waffle eater, but i have to admit i scarfed that baby down rather quick! portions were very filling and comforting in a sense. definitely good ole traditional breakfast and comfort foods.
parking here is a little tough. stray behind the strip towards the neighborhoods. our couple block trek back to the was a good way to burn off all that food!
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's AIMEE'S FACE IN FRIED CHICKEN!
OM NOM NOM! NOM NOM NOM!
This place RULES for dinner. Why? This economy blows, and we're all madly saving our Benjamins (or in my case, Lincoln pennies). So spend wisely, young padwan and eat your way through Ole's dinner menu.
Specials abound, which always include a soup or salad, drink, and dessert. Seriously? Really? Yes! I had the fried chicken, which was perfectly crispy, awesomely juicy, and tantalizingly succulent. Dive into the mountain of mashed potatoes, and stab your fork into the al dente vegetables. Accompanying side salad is a beast to be reckoned with, mercilessly topped with extra crunchy croutons, a handful of sunflower seeds, and four round orbs of beets.
Afterwards, stash your worries into a homemade dessert of the day; cinnamon streusel one day, fruit cup the next (whipped cream, yogurt); you never whatcha gonna get!
Seriously. Good eats.
This is a pretty good breakfast place though not awesome enough to wait in that huge line I see on weekend mornings. I came a couple of times during the weekdays when the line isn't long so I never had to stand in line. I do like their waffles which are pretty good. Everything else is just like a normal breakfast place. I like the internal decor (which is always a plus for me). It's like a 50's diner.
Wow, if you like butter, this is the place. It will be ooozing from your body as you leave. Have to say, I like butter and they give you a lot of it here. The pancakes are buttery and very tasty. Hash browns are old school, but I like that too. The waffles are a bit too thin for my taste and they weren't as crispy as I would like, but my boy at the whole shabang and devoured his 4 strips of bacon too. My little girlie had the kids special with 3 dollar pancakes, 1 egg and bacon. It was huge. She couldn't finish. Our friend tried the french toast and it was pretty good too.
The service was good and the place is pleasant. There's counter seats, tables and booths. Pretty crowed, but we were seated pretty quickly.
I went here a few times for breakfast. Ive had pretty much everything there is to try. Nothing here really knocks my socks off but i can see why people come here. Lets face it breakfast is one of those things that is always pretty good except for when its bad. I think the main appeal of this place is an old school diner that reminds us of the good ole days. Or atleast from what i hear. Of course i will come back.
best waffles ever!
go early. this place gets crowded on the weekends and even on the weekdays. place is small but all the Ole's folks are fast and professional. it's a small down-home place that's not perfect every time, but you can't beat it for great food and service!
Yeah, this is as good as people say it is. It's rough to decide whether or not this is worth waiting for (I've seen lines on some days)...usually if I'm hungry, I'm not going to wait for any place to sit me, but if you REALLY want some good breakfast or waffles...stand in line.
The service was a bit slow when we went (and it wasn't too bust), but food was GOOD.
Come for the waffles, duh!
Crispy, chewy just as I like it! I could have eaten 2 more...
Cute diner like a blast from the past.
Ole's Waffle House - i was so excited to try it for breakfast a few years ago.
Meh.
Ole's lost its glow.
We were served *margarine* (!!!), not real butter. Gag, wretch, wretch.
There was no option to pay a bit extra for real maple syrup, just that nasty flavored corn syrup that masquerade as maple (flavored) syrup. Patooey, patooey.
Maybe people today can't taste the difference between real and fake maple, and butter and artificial butter flavor, but i can, and it ruined my experience.
Has it changed? Do they offer the real stuff now? Cuz if it's the same now as it was then, there's no reason to go. It is not worth the time and money.
I got a voracious craving for eggs, swine and a golden pancake at dinner time. My options were the Ole Waffle Shop or Buttercup Grill. I went with the former and couldn't be happier that I did so. The bacon was crispy and the eggs were soft scrambled. The best part of the meal though? Hmmmm.... that golden pancake.
The pancake was oh soooo perfectly cooked. Just slightly crispy on the outside edges, moist in the middle, it was pure carbohydrate decadence. Final bill was under $20, quite reasonable for a duo at dinnertime. Bacon and syruped pancakes has to be in my top 5 for sweet / salty combinations of all time. And the pancake I had from here has to range in one of the best I have ever had.
The waitress was especially friendly and delightful. It's true that we didn't come during rush hour but she was nice, personable and got even cynical old me to remark how service like that isn't seen much these days. You got me hooked Ole! You got my vote! And you get 5 stars which is tough for this old stickler!
I will be back for your pancakes and oh so much more! This could be quite a dangerous relationship.
It seems every Sunday morning Ole's has a crowd so I go to Jim's around the corner instead. But this Sunday morning my bestie and I beat the crowd (8:45 AM) and that was cutting it close. Ole's is known for their pancakes and waffles and I chose the latter. I thought waffles have large squares but their waffles have the small squares. But this is the unique part...they heat the maple syrup.
Two eggs and a waffle ($6.60)
The poached eggs were not to my standard (I love poached eggs) so next time I will do over easy or sunny side up.
Great hash browns that are golden and crispy.
They have a limited selection of teas. Where was the breakfast tea?
Supposedly this is where the professional sport figures (Oakland A's and Golden State Warriors) hang their hats when they visit.
Priced fair and good service.
Its been around forever and I am not sure why. I've been 4 times and it has always been sub par. Dry waffles, weak coffee, slow service. I won't be back.
The biscuits have gotten even bigger. Seems like the prices have gone up, but you'll still get your money's worth. I love the chicken apple sausage, and that hit the spot after my early morning run.
I do think this place is great to go for the early riser. Anytime I'm there before 8:30 am, I never have to wait. This is a plus on those warm mornings as the line outside is facing into the sun. So, bring your shades if you get there past 9, especially on a Sunday.
Classic big-ass breakfast. Biscuits are very good. This is not a breakfast place for the vegans or… Read more »
I hadn't been to Ole's in years. I used to live in Alameda, and when I suggested to a friend that we meet for breakfast, Ole's was their first suggestion. I had the "special" which included the pancakes. They were indeed delicious but when they say it comes with a "thick" slice of ham, they weren't kidding. It's more like a ham steak. Holy cow... I mean... pig. Good stuff, I will need an extra hour on the treadmill to work that off, but it was worth it. I didn't have the waffles this time, but my friend did and they looked as good as I remember. Get there before 10AM or you will be waiting in line outside.
Pancakes + warm syrup + orange juice = 1 good meal
The price here is reasonable and it's usually packed in the mornings.
Warm syrup!
We recently went to Ole's for a mid-afternoon "dinner." Sat at the counter with the 2 kids and realized it might be the way to go. All the tables are really cramped when you have children but the counter seats are nicely spaced and there's a wide aisle behind you.
I'm really writing to update about the food. We usually go for breakfast and in the past I've not been happy with the non-breakfast items (e.g. hot turkey sandwich). I was kinda turned off (salty gravy, fakey-tasting mashed potatoes), but glad we gave them another try. This past Sunday, I ordered the Turkey Pot Pie from the specials board even though I was really tempted to get waffle with fried chicken. I half expected to get a prefab, frozen pot pie but gave it a shot anyway.
What arrived was not only a feast for the eyes with its hearty, buttery crust lolling over the top of the dish but was obviously fresh and homemade. It arrived simply with a hunk of cornbread (bonus!) and a ball of butter. The filling was creamy and just what the doctor ordered. As rich and filling as it was, I ate the whole thing! So do add Ole's to your list, not just for breakfast. The burgers were popular, and the chili cheese fries looked awesome, too.
Ole's falls into my personal "sticky floor" category of restaurants. Usually refers to an old… Read more »
Great coffee wonderful service, friendly diner. Come to Ole's if you want to step back in time. The coffee they serve is GREAT.
The food is a step above greasy diner food mainly because the also offer healthy choices like egg white omelets.
We thought this would be a super cute old school breakfast spot (especially since it's in Alameda) with great food. I hate to say that we were very disappointed. The food was OK, very Denny's quality (which some people love), but not what we wanted.
Its super loud and doesn't have that warm at home feeling you expect from places in Alameda. Its a shame that people buy restaurants and take the vibe of the neighborhood right out of it. It could be so much better, but I doubt it unless someone else buys it.
I was in the East Bay looking at a job prospect in Alameda. Since I arrived late morning, this became the opportunity to visit Ole's Waffle Shop. This was my chance since I hear this place is busy on weekends. Still, it was busy when I was there during the week (Wednesday).
The inside is old school to the max. If you are looking for a bistro brunch place with outdoor seating, this is not it. There is plenty of counter space, so I sit next to the grill for great service. But I know I will smell like bacon when I leave.
I get the waffle combo which includes one egg, bacon or sausage and a large waffle. As far as the egg, I don't think this is one egg since they are very generous with the portion. It takes half a side plate. There were 4 strips of bacon which are good. The waffle was light and airy in texture - not the greatest but still good. I love dousing it with maple syrup.
Not bad for an Alameda visit. Good for you, Ole's Waffle Shop.
I liked this place a lot, especially because they do Waffles and breakfast all day! There was one problem: they have Waffles all-day and they have Fried Chicken, yet no Chicken and Waffles as a menu item!
The service was pretty good, the delivery was fast, and the chili-cheese open-faced burger was really tasty and I loved the chili especially.
The Lovely and Talented Linda had a fine Tri-Tip Melt that I thought was very good and I almost ordered it myself. The fries were really good too. I was placed overall and I'm hoping that I'll get back sooner or later.
Alameda, CA
Category: Diners
Alameda, CA
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Alameda, CA
Category: Diners
Alameda, CA
Category: American (Traditional)
Alameda, CA
Category: Burgers
...ain't gonna happen because the security guard…
Alameda... I've been here 24 years and counting...…
Even after a late night I am up disgustingly early…
Although I left my heart in San Francisco, the…
Unique places that some seem to exist in an…
These are stories from my life that seem too…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Alameda is cool... you really should visit more…
