Was very impressed with this hidden gem of an establishment. Our server Kyle was amazing, very attentive and on point. Would definitely come back here when I'm in Connecticut. FOOD: Very good and flavorful just how soul food should be and taste. Excellent selection of food items to choose from. AMBIANCE: Like your typical breakfast/brunch ambience. The lighting was just right. ENTERTAINMENT: They have a DJ playing 90's & early 2000's R&B and hip hop. Was pretty awesome made you want to dance while you were eating. Good feel good energy in here. Just a note that it is a tad bit loud with the music but not in an offensive way, kind of a day club in Vegas type of way. SERVICE: Our server Kyle was excellent! DRESS CODE: Casual *YELP ELITE REVIEW DISCLAIMER: These opinions and experiences are my own and may not reflect other's experiences and views of the establishment. I will always provide true, factual & unbiased reviews.* read more

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As always, my oxtails were fantastic. The gravy was flavorful and I so needed a piece of bread. My side of cabbage missed the mark tonight. It wax scorched and a bit undercooked. Almost like they tried to stir-fry it as ordered. Couldn't finish it The waitress was as great as always read more

AmericanSoul Kitchen & Bar - Soul Food Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Ok so don't let my 2 star rating scare you away. Many may look at that rating as terrible but for my rating system, 2 stars doesn't mean a place is awful, just that I did not like it. 1 star means a place is awful. I came here bc I was craving some soul food/bbq. I chose the bbq ribs with mac n cheese and collard greens as my side. Hate to say I was disappointed. Nothing was bad but I didn't like anything either. It was all just ok. Everything was cooked well at least bc the taste of everything I ordered either wasn't to my liking ( the greens) or just meh (the mac n cheese and ribs). Not worth me returning for, unfortunately. read more

My daughter picked this place up for her birthday dinner and she was very pleased with her choice. The place was quiet and very clean, small but cozy. Located in a small plaza in the middle of a neighborhood, we were taken aback about the place but very impressed of what we experienced. Our food was impressive and very flavorful, our waitress said " we are going to change your life" and she was not wrong, we enjoyed it very much. Picked different appetizers to t sample and we felt like it we wanted more. If you are in a rush don't go, because everything its prepared fresh and it takes time, at the end its all worth it . The only thing i didn't like was one of our main courses came out when the rest of us were done eating and we had to substitute a few ingredients because they keep coming back with out of items . But overall it was a good experience. read more

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The vibes are top tear. I went there on Sunday after church. They had a live. DJ bartender. Nikki was phenomenal and Shea was great as well. It's a great place to make new friends. Have a great food and chill out. The hand punch was really good. fried catfish was exceptional and the colored greens are also amazing. read more

This was an amazing. A hidden gem! I took my girlfriend out after she had a long day of work. So I was staying in the area of Meridian, and found this spot near the Holiday Inn I was staying at about 10 minutes away. Great atmosphere was moving and grooving to the music. Shout out to Shay by the way. She took our order we got to dishes to share. I ordered the lobster and shrimp Mac and Cheese and she ordered the shrimp and grits. Shay brought out some succulent cornbread to the table it was so moist and with drizzle butter on it you could definitely tell this was homemade. Then in a little while she brought are main dishes to the table. My mouth is still water just thinking about how good they both were we could not stop eat each other dishes and our own. It was simply amazing if I lived here I would be here all the time. This is a great place in Meriden, you got a hidden gem right in your backyard. So don't walk to it run to it and say hi to Shay for me. read more

AmericanSoul Kitchen & Bar - Shrimp & Grits Shrimp & Lobster Mac And Cheese - Soul Food Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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Food was amazing ! Got the fried whiting with Mac/yams and husband got the smother pork chop same sides. Everything was soooooo good ! We got wings (sweet heat). They were okay. Not bad not amazing. They got the job done. The space was quiet beside another group in there. Wonder why this place is so quiet on a Friday night. Def returning read more

AmericanSoul Kitchen & Bar - Smother pork chops Mac and cheese Fried Whiting yams - Soul Food Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Was good hadn't had soul food in along time! Service was good and polite. Laid back music for the music lover the price was over $30 for each dish so be aware of price my son's bill was $83 for 3 + tip 15%. read more

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Food is INCREDIBLE! We had Catalina as a server and glad we did ! She was attentive , kind and accommodating. The atmosphere was perfection - DJ played all the popular music . Light music between 11am-12pm but the DJ turns it up at 12. Place was full ! read more

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The food was very good. My table got the smothered pork chops, fried chicken and ribs. Sides, entree and drinks were all fresh and tasty. The place has a lounge vibe and offers high tops, booths and tables. If you are bringing a large group you may want to call ahead. The staff was very friendly. Oh and the warm corn bread was very good. 10/10 read more

American soul was a fun experience on a random Sunday. Headed over there with a few friends for brunch. Let me cavest, I am indifferent about brunch in general, but the quality of the food was worth the trip. I appreciated the DJ element to a degree. Sometimes brunch, DJs can be really distracting, but this one seemed to work and complement the experience. With some fresh jams in the background, we got to dig into a variety of breakfast and lunch options. I opted for the shrimp and grits my husband got the chicken and waffles And everything was really fresh. The cocktails were a little sweet but definitely did the job. For those who love a bottom was brunch. This is definitely a place to consider. Service was also on point. They were quite busy but they did a good job staying on top of our busy table and our needs. read more

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We found this place online during our trip to Connecticut and were excited to try it out -- the food and vibe looked great from the ads. Unfortunately, the experience was the complete opposite. When we walked in, we were barely greeted even though the dining room was wide open and had plenty of empty tables. Everyone just stared at us while only one person came by to mention seating. Then, instead of helping us, they seated another group who arrived after us, clearly regulars. When we asked the woman at the bar if we could sit, she literally put her hand up and told us we had to "wait to be seated." We waited another 10 minutes (35 minutes in total!) with no acknowledgment. At that point, we walked out, disappointed and hungry. We had been looking forward to this meal but ended up grabbing fast food on the way home instead. The staff was rude, uninviting, and unprofessional. Sadly, this was such a bad experience it left a terrible impression of Connecticut overall. We will not be back, and don't recommend especially for out of towners. read more

first of all the food is AMAZING but the customer service does not make you want to return. the lady waitress consistently has a face, doesn't greet the customers walking in, and she always looks miserable. I told her I wanted to place an order and she gave me the "who you're talking to" look leading me to leave the establishment without an order. read more

I haven't been in years only because I moved out of state. I came back for a visit and was disappointed that the day I had available to go they were closed....ugh! But I can't deny that their food is great. Atmosphere and staff on top! read more

ASK has become our favorite Brunch spot on Sundays. The food is great and staff are excellent. They used to play great music, which would often start impromptu singing from multiple tables which was always fun. However they recently brought in a DJ which has changed the brunch vibe. The music is way too loud and you literally cannot have a conversation or hear the people at your table. We used to rotate restaurants for our Sunday Ladies Who Brunch, but ASK had become our go to! We'll try again, but if we can't have a conversation without screaming at each other, we may have to go back to rotation. read more

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This was my first time at this location. Me and two other siblings meet up around our Mother's birthday (she is no longer here in the flesh) and pick places in Connecticut (between Boston and New York) where we can spend some quality sibling time. This year we chose AMERICANSoul Kitchen and Bar. The owner was so nice. His energy is welcoming and pleasant. The food was very good! The place was clean and nicely lit. Appetizer items to get: Soul Roll, Fried Green Tomatoes and Garlic Parmesan wings. DELISH. Barely had room for my meal. Fried catfish. fried crispy on the outside and tender inside. Seasoned well! Mashed potatoes. creamy and seasoned perfectly . Grilled veggies. green beans and sliced carrots. Just the right amount of firmness. This location is highly recommended. Don't forget to leave a great tip. The waiter/waitress are hard working and have a great personality! Tell'em I sent you! Sending some New York love!! read more

Ordered the fish with cheesy grits and instantly had flash backs of my grandmother's cooking. The food was perfect taste and presentation. I can not wait to come back and try other foods from this diverse menu. Also bottomless mimosas and full bar on-site read more

AmericanSoul Kitchen & Bar - Fish n gritb and soul bowl - Soul Food Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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Fist time there for Sunday Brunch - Was excited to finally try - Music is nice for a Sunday brunch but when you can't even have a conversation that means it's too loud . We ended up moving our seat to a table not right in front of the speaker . The food took over an hour and 3 out of 4 of us received around the same time - had to ask for the toast that came with the meal and were brought dry toast no butter and cold . The last meal came after the other 3 were almost done. Grits came with no spoon and that took another 10 minutes . Ordered a Margarita - waitress was so overwhelmed and not on point nor pleasant . Brought a tequila on the rocks in a rock glass for my 75 year old mother - that got sent right back . food was ok nothing special . would probably not go here again . read more

This place is a little out of the way...so you'll wonder if you're headed in the right direction as you wind through a residential area...but keep going. It is *so* worth it. This is the epitome of a hidden gem. The place is nice, the servers are warm, the diners are obviously regulars and the food is delicious. My husband got their fried chicken and I got the chicken fried steak. And we were both so incredible happy with the quality and the really large portions. The sides were great- we both got Mac and cheese, husband got great collards and I got the cooked cabbage. And that cabbage? I need to know how they make it. It was smoky and so flavorful. I'll definitely be coming back and saving room for dessert next time read more

AmericanSoul Kitchen & Bar - Sooooo much chicken fried steak and a lot of sides. (Took home leftovers!) - Soul Food Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Food was great as always. We live a half hour away and it's a good thing because I'd probably be here too often. They were busy and one of the waitresses hustled for us. They have strong pours on their drinks and mine was good but too strong to finish. Music was on point with lots of 2000s hip hop/R&B which brought back great memories. Great small restaurant with excellent food. My husband had the ribs, corn, and sweet potato fries. I had the fried green tomatoes, crab cakes, collard greens, and Mac & cheese. Lots of food to bring home. Their cornbread is one of the best things about this place! read more

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The people closest to me know my tendency to fixate on seemingly trivial food items from good restaurants. Like the creamy herb dressing at the Inn at Woodstock Hill where I got married. Mmmmm. Well I've got a new one -- the Cornbread at AmericanSoul Kitchen and Bar in Meriden. The whole meal was very good by the way. But -- CORNBREAD!!! You know how cornbread is often dry because (1) nobody loved it, or (2) somebody didn't know what they were doing? AmericanSoul Kitchen and Bar loved this cornbread like it was your kid's birthday cake. It was warm. And melt in your mouth. Sweet, but not too sweet. It had great color. You know what else? It was FREE! Complimentary. The server asked me if I wanted cornbread, as if a reasonable person could actually turn it down. Know this! You should not turn down the cornbread if offered. You should offer to pay for extra. Viva cornbread! The things I ordered and paid for were very good as well. I ordered the Deviled Eggs. Nice execution. I personally prefer a bit more sweet acidity from a bit of pickle juice or something. But their vision works. For my entree, I ordered the Smothered Pork Chops, and my chosen sides were Mac and Cheese and Collards. It came with two breaded, bone in thin pork chops. The pork was very tender. In this case, the "Smothered" just meant the breading had a coat of mild, savory sauce. The Mac and Cheese was reeeeeaaaaly good. Like Top 10 restaurant percentile good. It seemed to have a blend of cheeses, and it was baked with bread crumbs. Maybe a touch of mustard in the sauce, which is one of my go to moves as well. The collard greens were good too. Nice contrasting color and flavor. The restaurant was in a small plaza in a residential area in Meriden. The inside was nice and service was good. I'm not sure if they had recently waxed the floors, but the floors were somewhat slippery. That's really my only note though. This was my first visit. I hope the cornbread is always this good. Because I'll be back for it. Five Stars read more

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We're only in town for 24 hours visiting family and this place was highly recommended. The food was great. Cornbread was DELICIOUS! My 74 year old mom said it was the best cornbread she's had in her life. Shrimp & grits is a must order. Stacy was our server and bartender - she was so lovely and friendly! Drinks were fantastic and I would def come back often if I lived in town. I can't wait to come back next time I'm in town! Music was a vibe too. read more

AmericanSoul Kitchen & Bar - Soul Food Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

We call on our to the restaurant and Kyle was helpful in making sure that we had a table, however when we were seated it took 45 minutes to have a waitress take our order. The food and ambience were good, the service meh. read more

I went a while ago. The food was all right. The prices were good, service was a bit slow, but it's a small location so I could imagine they don't have very many employees. If you're around the area & want to grab a bite to eat. I think it's a good spot just don't go in with very high expectations. read more

Customer service is horrible the food is good but not good enough to be treated like that. asked me for my order three times got it wrong than gets mad at me because I asked where the rest of the order at safe to say I'll just spend my money else where. read more

New restaurant in town. Went after their grand opening. They were still serving their soft opening menu which was still appealing. Place is beautiful and very clean. A lot bigger than it looks from the outside. Nice contemporary decor. The bar is well stocked and drinks are very "crafty". I had the smothered pork chops (They gave me 2!with corn and yams. The pork chops were the juiciest I've ever had. The gravy was very satisfying. The wife had the grilled salmon which she said was very well prepared and had a nice lite lemon butter glaze. The little man had the ribs and we thought he was going to eat his own fingers as he devoured them. All in all a very cool and exciting restaurant that we will be back to many many times again. read more

We stopped here while driving through, just looked at the gps and saw the restaurant, so we went for it. Started with corn bread, which was delicious. Our party got chicken and waffles, fried chicken meal with Mac and cheese and roasted veggies, fried fish with collard greens and roasted veggies, as well as a fried chicken sandwich with fries. Everyone was happy with their food, it was all tasty. We highly recommend AmericanSoul, stop by and get great food. They also checked on us a number of times, making sure everything was good and we got everything we needed. read more

Came for Sunday Brunch. Amazing ambience and vibe. The decor was really nice. The food presentation was very upscale. We had banana pudding waffles fried chicken, grits and fish. The food was really good. I do not like creamy grits, but they were seasoned very well. The waffles were Superb!!! The banana pudding as a dessert was ok. I could taste that it was not fresh and thawed from being frozen, I could taste a "freezer"taste. All of the food was very flavorable and delicious. There is a DJ and pick up the mic session which was really fun. We had a carafe for mimosa. It was definitely enough for more than two people. The wait staff was kind and professional. The only negative is the service is on the slower side. We waited quite a while for our food and the waitress who was also tending the bar could not be as attentive. read more

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We found a place to meet up for our yearly time together and I will tell you that if you are ever in Meridan CT, you have got to check this place out. Absolutely Amazing! Great staff! Great ambiance! Friendly atmosphere. Great music! The Cook totally ROCKS!!! Thank you so much for your service! I'm so glad we chose you. See you next year! read more

AmericanSoul Kitchen & Bar - This place is Awesome! - Soul Food Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

The food here is utterly delicious. The chicken is very flavorful and the entrees had good portions! It is in a weird location but inside is a great experience and has a great ambiance! Our server was lovely as well ! They were aware of the longer wait and gave us a very yummy cake for free too!! Will definitely be coming back! read more

AmericanSoul Kitchen & Bar - Cajun Fettuccine Alfredo with Cajun Chicken - Soul Food Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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So in late winter/early spring 2023, we came to this place and it was a solid 5 food option. Since then, we had picked up to go a few times through summer, but got busy and never circled back thereafter. Today, nearly a year after the first visit, we went back for a meal there at the restaurant. Unfortunatley, the new visit did not hold up well in comparison. For what it's worth, we got 2 appetizers, drinks and largely the same meals as last time. The apps included fried green tomatoes (a bit more mealy than last time or not as firm) and wings (one of the best parts of the meal with a sublime balance of sweet, spicy and acidity on the Buffalo wings). For drinks, the wife had the sangria (solid and worth the cost), the old fashioned from their specials list (meh, a bit washed on flavor with ice that is way too tiny and mashed fruit rather than muddled fruit) and 2 Arnold palmers for the kids (solid but a bit light on flavor). All in all, this portion of the meal was a 4 experience. I would have given more but service on extremely chipped plates isn't a good look. The meal is where things fell off even more from last year. We got the exact same 3 entrees and 1 of the 2 sides we got last year. The chicken and waffles was good but the chicken was smaller and less juicy than last year. The southern chicken sandwich was ok though no regular fries were to be had and they swapped for sweet potato fries (which they tried to charge us an up charge for until we said something at receipt time). The country fried steak was a gristle filled unevenly cooked mess. Additionally, the Mac and cheese was ok (nothing special) and the grits were nothing as good as last year or the multiple picked up meals in between. Less creamy, less flavorful, and a far cry from one of the best bites never had last year. This place unfortunately is not as good as the amazing experience we had last year and if this is the new norm, I don't know if we will be returning. The first trip was amazing enough that we will give this another chance at some point, but not sure when. Oh and the cherry on the cake tongiht, or banana not on top (as the situation went) is they were out of banana pudding. read more

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Food was horrible, chicken was fried in old grease. The yams weren't t yaming. The collard greens. Came with a liter of collard juice. I'm one and done!! read more

The food was super good tasty the atmosphere was nice and quiet , the owner was super nice as well had a good conversation there server was very nice as well always asked if I needed anything read more

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The food is decent with some dishes. I have been here several times but 1-2 hours before closing and they always tell me they closing soon. It's 7:45 on a Thursday, closed at 9 but say they closing soon and didn't want to serve me. I take a 30 minute drive for the meal only to be refused more than once with more than an hour to closing. Bad Business. Too many gnats flying around. read more

I heard great things about this place and decided to check it out last week and I'm already planning on going back ASAP. After perusing the menu. My bf and I opted for ribs, Mac n cheese, fried chicken, corn, yams and collard greens. Everything was so bomb! The fried chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The ribs were so flavorful and tender, meat was literally falling off the bone. And the sides were tasty. Everything was cooked to order and piping hot. They have definitely been added to my list of great soul food spots in CT. Do yourself a favor and check them out! read more

AmericanSoul Kitchen & Bar - Soul Food Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Catalina was a great hostess! The customer service was everything. Chef came out to make sure everything was to our liking. The cornbread tasted like more , the grits were creamy and delicious. The fish and lobster mac and cheese was a bit salty to our liking and was still good. I'll definitely come back. Want to try the Sunday Brunch next. read more

I was in Middletown which is very rare and I knew I had this place bookmarked, so I finally decided to try it out. What's better than soul food on a Sunday? I was greeted by a very nice young lady at a takeout counter upon walking in. They do offer both outside dining and inside dinner. There is also a full bar! I know I wanted seafood and I decided on crab. They offer sliders, a crab cake sandwich or a crab cake as an entree with two sides. The collard greens contain meat, so I opted for the sandwich which originally comes with fries. But, I was able to upgrade to mac and cheese. They crab cake was "meaty" and seasoned well. It was formed nicely but still falling apart (in a good way). It wasn't overloaded with egg or breadcrumbs, just crab and flavor. It was served on a soft and lightly toasted bun, maybe brioche? I also requested a side of hot sauce and tarter sauce. The mac & cheese was delicious. No complaints. As soon as I opened the container, I got a whiff of sharp cheddar and/ or Parmesan. Pungent but a good cheesy aroma. The last time I had soul food, I passed on dessert because of the side of candy yams, but it was warranted today. Sweet potato cheesecake. The best of two worlds. The cheesecake layer was creamy, with that tangy flavor. The sweet potato layer was a sweet balance. And if that wasn't enough, it has another layer of something sweet, maybe a moist cinnamon crumble. It was all amazing. There is definitely a nice ambience, should you choose to dine in. read more

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I paid full price and tip, as always. To start with what is wrong with your kitchen, do you think it's okay to serve disgusting Mac n cheese, that's the biggest mess up I've seen, even Kraft Mac and and cheese would have been creamier and tastier that this garbage. The rest of the food was mid at best, the only good this was the shrimp and fried green tomatoes. The ambience was trash, the bar was disappointingly not organized. Multiple dirty tables one table as you'll see in the pictures took like 20 mins to be cleaned, even though it wasn't that busy. And the noise and smells from the kitchen were so disgusting I got a headache that lasted for 3 hours. That's it, not enjoy the pictures. Thank you read more

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This place is a such a hole in the wall gem for everyone to check out. It's located in an area that you wouldn't expect it to be in. No lie. The place is so much more sophisticated than I thought it would be and I loved it. Came there to see a friend and was pleasantly surprised. The first thing I noticed was that none of the tables had salt and pepper on them and for good reason. I ordered The Pennyman, a refreshing vodka, elderberry cocktail. Very tasty. For my entree, I ordered the Fish & Grits with a side of Roasted Veggies. I want to start off by saying THE FOOD HAD AMAZING FLAVOR. From the cornbread that they give you as a starter to the entree, everything was seasoned well and cooked amazingly. The grits were some of the best grits I've ever had and I mean that. The best I've ever had. The cornbread was so moist and delicious. Please try this place out if you ever find your way to Meriden. They also have brunch Saturdays and Sundays until 1pm. Will definitely be back. Hopefully they enforce a no-dog policy very soon. read more

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I have frequented this restaurant many times for delicious soul food dinner on the weekends & I always have a great experience. The food is delicious, affordable & generous. The hostesses & waitresses are always beyond pleasant, funny & attentive. The business is always clean. The music will always have you in your feels, reminiscing while you sway in your seat to the tunes. On this visit, We attended their all day happy hour (Wed & Thurs). They have a very nice selection of food & drink choices. The drinks are well made, with just the right amount of liquor poured. For food, we went with fried green tomatoes, crab cake sliders, wings & deviled eggs. The sweet, sticky, cornbread is complimentary. I'll only comment on what I actually ate. The tomatoes are bomb & what I think is a sriracha mayo dip, goes well with it. The breading is crispy & we let a couple sit & they never turned soggy. Also, they came out pipping hot. I like dry rub wings so I ordered plain with the lemon pepper on the side. Don't do what I did. Just suck it up & get messy with the wet sauce. The wings were too dry & a little overcooked. Choosing that sauce wasn't the best idea, because the liquid was on top & all the seasonings were at the bottom. Once it solidified, it was better. I intended on ordering more & even dinner to go, but the kitchen closes at 7:30p! You live & you learn. I was able to get a slice of red velvet cake for the road. That dessert was beautiful & moist. I ate it before taking a picture. We arrived at the restaurant around 4:30p, stayed til closing & it never became busy. I'm stunned since it's surrounded by condos, apartments & houses. I'd come here everyday if I lived in the area. A very nicely hidden spot indeed. read more

AmericanSoul Kitchen & Bar - Happy hour - Soul Food Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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