Next month will mark one year since I discovered Down Home Comfort Cafe in Woodbridge, Virginia,…read moreand I can honestly say that finding this place has been one of the best things to happen to me. I was in town when I first stopped by, and what started as a visit turned into spending the entire day with the staff. From that very first day, I felt something special. These wonderful people are no longer just restaurant staff to me -- they are family. Now, every month when I fly into town, I make it a priority to spend the entire day with my Down Home Comfort Cafe family. I love the atmosphere, the food, the conversations, and most of all, the people. I even enjoy talking with the customers and recommending different entrées. It feels like I'm coming home every time I walk through those doors. And let me tell you -- the soul food is absolutely incredible! The food is made with love, and you can taste that love in every bite. If you're looking for delicious, authentic soul food and an atmosphere where you're treated like family, look no further. In my opinion, the best soul food cafe is right here in Woodbridge, Virginia -- Down Home Comfort Cafe!

I've only tried the chicken and waffles, but they never disappoint. The sweet potato waffle with…read morethe cinnamon is absolutely amazing, and the chicken is always crispy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. I also tried the bread pudding. I love bread pudding, but this one just wasn't my favorite. It wasn't bad it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. The café itself is small, cozy, and welcoming. They have a small bar area, indoor seating, and a customer restroom that's tucked away in the back. When I stopped in, there were several people dining in, and it had a relaxed, homey atmosphere. Overall, I'd definitely recommend Down Home Cafe, especially if you're looking for a comforting brunch or a laid-back Sunday meal. I'll definitely be back for those chicken and waffles! Oh! Open parking!

Amazing staff! Claudia was excellent to me. The crab and artichoke dip was great! and the drinks…read moreare very well made! Definitely go check it out!

The Spot at Belmont Bay is officially our new brunch problem!!!…read more We went to The Spot at Belmont Bay this past Sunday for brunch, and I'm just going to say it: this is the best brunch in the area. Not "pretty good for Woodbridge." Not "solid little neighborhood spot." I mean clear-your-calendar-because-you're-going-back good. We ordered the Breakfast Board for Two, and it was exactly what brunch should be: generous, fun, shareable, and absolutely loaded. Eggs, bacon, house-made sausage, smashed potatoes, Belgian waffles, biscuit, gravy (so good), fresh fruit, Greek parfait, and pastries of the day all showed up on one board like brunch had assembled the Avengers. And here's what makes it even better: everything is made from scratch. You can taste it. Even the sausage is made in-house, which explains why it stood out so much. The smashed potatoes were seasoned beautifully, the scrambled eggs were fluffy, the bacon had that perfect crispy edge, and the waffles were golden with just enough crunch. The biscuit was soft and buttery, and the cinnamon roll situation on the side had absolutely zero interest in helping anyone make responsible decisions. Respect. But the absolute star of the show was the spicy Bloody Mary. Best Bloody Mary I've ever had. Full stop. It had real zip, great spice, and that pickle salt rim took it completely over the top. Salty, briny, spicy, savory, it hit every note. Add the crispy bacon and lemon garnish = forget about it!! The drink menu is no joke either. They've got mimosa carafes, mimosa flights, sangria, margarita flights, brunch cocktails, dirty sodas, coffee drinks - basically, The Spot looked at brunch beverages and said, "Yes. All of it." We also had a mimosa, and it was bright, fresh, and exactly what you want sitting next to a big brunch board. We also had the chance to meet the owners, and they were fantastic. Warm, welcoming, and clearly passionate about what they're building. That makes such a difference. You can tell when a place has real people behind it who care about the food, the service, and the vibe. The Spot absolutely has that. I liked it so much that I'm already going back for their bourbon tasting Saturday night, and then again for their Father's Day brunch on Sunday. Great food, great drinks, great owners, great atmosphere, and scratch-made brunch that actually delivers. The Spot at Belmont Bay is a winner. It's a cute small place so make sure you call and make reservations!

Service was amazing. This place is like a little second family, even if you aren't family. You can…read moretell the folks that eat here and work here love being in the restaurant. Our service was fast and easy. The server was very kind and helpful. As for food, I got the meatball and chef salad which were both exactly what I'd been hoping for, but with a little let down. (Causing the star drop) The meatball was a great flavor. It came with a beautiful red sauce and bread on the side (would've liked for it to have been warm and toasted, with garlic butter). I think it may have been slightly colder than it was hot, but the flavor was still wonderful. Salad was fresh, crunchy and a hefty dinner portion. Perfectly layered, very well done salad. Filling and satisfying

Our server (Angelica) was friendly and generally attentive to us. The restaurant has a pleasant…read moreupscale Italian restaurant vibe. NOTE: It would be even nicer if they had a classier clientele instead of the types of people who were there during our lunch today. They had their phones on speaker and were talking loudly, with no regard for others around them. Another group had two young children who were running around for awhile. Really, Rucci's ought to have AND ENFORCE a no-loud-conversations policy so that people can enjoy their dining experience more. This could be a really nice place with that type of commitment to proper decorum. Our food was very good and portion sizes were big. I got the Tony Soprano sub and my partner ordered the Reuben sandwich. We both thoroughly enjoyed them.

Amazing brunch spot! Very crowded though, make reservations in advance, preferably well in advance…read more If you wait until the day before, you may not get your preferred time. We found that out the hard way but it was our fault, not the restaurant's. So we met an hour earlier. Lesson learned. I got the apple pie pancakes and they were amazing and the portions were huge. The biscuits looked good as well, my friend got them as a side, but I can only eat so much. The brisket hash and brisket bennie too. Everything is awesome here. You will not go hungry. They have many delicious apps and sides but you don't need them because the brunch portions are huge. You will have leftovers for one, maybe two more meals. That is a good thing. Only downside is parking is tight. There is a small lot out front, another one out back, and some street parking. You may have to drive around a bit to find it especially at peak hours. And the bathrooms are small. But this is an amazing place so be sure to check it out for brunch! Oh I have a hunch breakfast dinner and brunch would be so much more fun if I had it at Ruthie's All Day!

Two Haiku Review:…read more Renowned throughout the Region, not overated At all! Top notch food, Price, service, and vibe. Be sure to make a booking Before you arrive.

When the whole menu looks good, just get everything!!…read more Mr. Evan's' cookout worthy entrees are prepared with passion and southern sensibilities and range from seafood platters with catfish to pork smoked ribs. The banana pudding and sweet potato pie are definitely the exclamation point on this meal.

I got a Soul Food spot out in Sterling Virginia that a good friend got me hip too. Yeah I know,…read moreit's a hump, but, I'll say this...the folks that own this spot were a special kind of KIND. Just genuinely nice people that just so happen to have good food!! GET THERE!! Where I am: @cesouthernbites . Location Reviewed: 23520 no.124 Overland Drive Sterling Virginia . Items Reviewed: STAMP!! Their NC Pulled Pork Sandwich (with slow cooked pork, slaw, & NC bbq sauced). Thick, smoky, well flavored, & tasty!! STAMP!! Their Whiting, & Shrimp Platter ($28.50 with 2 pieces of fries whiting, six large shrimp, red skin potato salad, cornbread, & hush puppies). Crispy, thick, & well seasoned whiting, & shrimp!! Fulfilling hush puppies, & STAMPED red skinned potato salad with DELICIOUS cornbread!! STAMP!! Their Ribs Platter ($28 for a half a rack of pork ribs drizzled in their homemade bbq sauce, fried okra, & yams). Meaty well dry rubbed, & savory bbq sauced up ribs, sweet yams, & LIKE THAT okra!! STAMP!! Their 4 Piece Combo ($20.50 for 4 whole wings, Mac n cheese, cornbread, & collard greens). Nice crispy whole wings with tangy sweet Mumbo sauce. The collards were well flavored...LIKE THAT, & the mac was a tad bit dry...DELICIOUS. STAMP!! Their Catfish ($10 for 2 pieces of fried catfish). Hands down some of the best catfish in the area!!! Use that hot sauce it wasn't super hot!! STAMP!! Their Banana Pudding ($5 with Nilla wafers, & real bananas). Classic, real bananas in banana pudding get me every time!! . Customer Service: On Point. . Parking: Decent. . Recommendations: Just GO!! Good Food, Good People!! Accessibility: This spot is wheelchair friendly, & differently abled persons friendly. 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews

Another year, another 5-star review!…read more Johnathan yet again was the gem at the bar! Great service, drinks how we like them, and food worth another visit! Love this place!

Stopped by Julep's Kitchen & Bar with the family for a quick lunch while we were out running…read moreerrands, and it ended up being what we were looking for. We were in the mood for some comfort food, and it was the good spot for us. We were seated quickly, and our server was attentive, got our orders in fast, and checked on us throughout the meal. We started with the crab dip, which was honestly one of the better crab dips I've had. I ordered the brisket, and my mother had the chicken both were really good and hit the mark. They have a solid selection of food and drinks, parking is no issue, and a comfortable atmosphere. Whether you're grabbing lunch, catching a game, or looking for a sit-down spot with friends, Julep's is l worth checking out

Great food. Super awesome and friendly staff. Cute outdoor setting. GET THE BBQ PLATTER. It rocks…read more The baked beans and the mac and cheese were amazing. Churros where so good too. They serve beer too. Enjoy!

We have been going to Raven's Point for several years and the food and service are outstanding…read more Always look forward to going to Raven's Point when we are in Colonial Beach. The two women who are there are wonderful.

I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the quality and quantity of fresh and delicious food…read morethis evening at Marie's! I ate one of the most tender and moist fried chicken breasts that I have ever tasted. the mashed potatoes were fresh, hot and creamy, two types of gravy were offered and both the cornbread and biscuits were tender, flavorful and delicious. The broccoli was steamed but not not floppy and the green salad was a generous portion of green goodness. I could only eat about half of the offerings and the price was less that $12. from where I was sitting, my daughter's bar be que chicken and Mac and cheese looked great and my granddaughters child portion of turkey dinner was as delicious and generous as the adult meals. We will return here again! absolutely amazing!

Actually I was quite impressed! I got the breakfast with…read morethe two eggs two pork links biscuit and potatoes. Plus a cup of tea all of that cost around $13. The meal itself was around 899. I was just happy that they had pork link sausage because that's one of my favorite breakfast items. I'm dinging them because nobody seems to be able to get eggs over medium right and the yolks were runny. Service is good it's a bit of a greasy spoon kind of feel. I thought that the tea was a bit overpriced given that it was a generic bag of it. They did provide two packets though. Plenty of parking and lot. Seems like a good value for the price and the quality of food

Huge thanks to The Charles for hosting opening night for Legally Blonde The Musical. Darrin the…read moreowner, and his staff, went above and beyond! Shout out to Drew, Cheeto, Charles, and the whole crew. They stayed open late for us, created a special menu and drinks, and offered free appetizers with proof of purchase to our show. I should note, the show was sold out so we had a HUGE crowd for them to serve. Now for the food. Everything I had was delicious! The short ribs were literally melt in your mouth!!! Highly recommend. The Kung Pao Sprouts are amazing. I also love their football wings with half buffalo and half mumbo sauce. My family had the Asian wings and crab dip and enjoyed them. As for drinks, I haven't had one there I haven't liked. Smoked old fashioned, signature old fashioned, espresso martini, sangria with Hennessy, and awesome whiskey sours. As for when to go, They have Taco Tuesdays with great tacos, Wednesday nights they have an awesome live band, and the weekends are always a good vibe. There's three dining areas and that doesn't include the outdoor seating so even when they get crowded there is always room. I will be back!

Our group enjoyed brunch today and it was a welcome experience. Staff were friendly and…read moreprofessional and definitely enhanced our experience. The Charles has a wonderfully appointed interior which never disappoints. I had the chicken and waffles and they were done nicely. I hoped for a bit more flavor on the chicken but also enjoyed that they used chicken thighs instead of a dryer piece of chicken. A nice spot with decent food and atmosphere.

Maaaaaan where do I start?? The food was incredible, the customer service was superb, and the…read moreatmosphere was great. They were closing at 8, we went in just to grab a few desserts. Normally ppl wanna rush you out. The entire staff and owner gave us great conversation and suggestions on what to get. Love love love this place will visit again. A++ Mac&cheese, yams, salmon, fried whiting, oxtails, sweet potato pie, we literally tried everything lol

Been to the old location…read more Been to the new location. I don't get the hype. The food is basic at best. The fish (catfish and croaker) always tastes like it's been fried in grease that needs changing. There's no flavor profile in the food which is weird for a soul-food restaurant. The mixed veggies were absolutely disgusting-- gave them back. I paid $65 for fried catfish with two sides, fried croaker with two sides, a cookie and two drinks---and sadly, the only thing that was sort of worth it was the cornbread, but it tastes like it has coconut in it. I hate coconut. The item that was the most flavorful for me was the black eyed peas/hoppin John (minus the big pieces of fatty meat in them).