Elve's BBQ & Soul Food - Oakland

Elve's BBQ & Soul Food is a tiny little eatery that features home-style soul food. Is there any other kind? The more well-known and so-called soul food houses in the area could take some lessons from the ever-present owner and namesake of this cute little hole-in-the-wall.

Elve dishes up classics like Fried Catfish, Smothered Chicken, BBQ Ribs, and many more delicious plates, with an even mixture of pride and generosity. The half-order Fried Catfish Sandwich is a generous serving of Catfish, with your choice of two sides. I always opt for green salad and french fries. The salad is crisp and fresh chopped romaine (no mixed baby lettuces here), with a creamy ranch dressing and shredded cheddar(request on the side, as these are applied quite generously). His french fries are shoestring, crispy and fried to perfection. There are numerous other more soul food-themed side dishes to choose from, including Baked Beans, Greens, and Red Beans & Rice, to name a few. The breading on the catfish is where Elve really shows his seasoning skills. All that food for only $6.95 makes me wonder what a full order is like!

I've tried the pork ribs, which were tender, succulant and smothered in a BBQ sauce that was the perfect combination of spicy, sweet, and tangy. The Smothered Chicken is stewed down to falling-off-the-bone tenderness, and literally smothered in a tasty brown sauce. There are Fried Chicken specials starting at $3.99 - leg, thigh w/fries up to a 20-piece family-style portion - 5 thighs, 5 legs, 5 wings, 5 breasts w/lg potatoes, lg slaw. He also cooks up $1.00 value menus for the neighborhood kids and poor starving artists, Chili Dogs, Tacoes, Fries and more! Something for everybody and always fresh and affordable!

VEGETARIANS/VEGANS: The owner assured me that veggie/vegans can order the French Fries - cooked in vegetable oil in a seperate fryer from their fried chicken/fish, Yams, String Beans, Russian Potatoes, or green salad - comes with cheese and ranch dressing (vegans can request no cheese on salad, and oil & vinegar for dressing). The Red Beans & Rice and the Greens include Beef, so don't order those!

LOCATIONS/HOURS: 3214 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, Oakland, CA 94609, (510) 655-9500. Call for Hours. Cash/Credit accepted. There are two tiny tables and a jukebox if you opt to eat-in, but take-out is best for larger parties.