I have no complaints when it comes to service or atmosphere but the food is another story, We walked in and seated ourselves (that's how you do it here) looked at the menu and there were more drinks than food, food was 20-30$ per person for the smallest possible portion size available I'm talking 20$ for a Dixie cup full of gumbo... You can't refer to yourself as southern dining if you can even give people southern sized portions. Not to mention your gumbo was horrendous that's shameful. Please don't refer to yourself as Soul kitchen when soul food clearly is not your thing sincerely someone from the south. read more

This was an interesting spot. You come in, take a seat, and scan a barcode. You then order your drinks and food on line. So it's not very personable and there is no one to assist you if you have a question, or wish to customize your order. This took an annoyingly long amount of time and reminded me of door dash. Our food came out pretty quickly, but they didn't seem to get our drink orders. We had to go up to the bar area and ask about them. The food was good. But nothing special. The brisket was pretty fatty. The potato salad didn't have a ton of flavor. Overall I probably wouldn't go back. read more

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Lovely place and AMAZING FOOD. I'm so glad they have so many good vegan options. We had vegan wrap and vegan okra and vegan gumbo, everything was just DELICIOUS. Must must try vegan place you all. They get one less star for not having a good outside sitting area with pets, the high bar stool didn't work well atleast for us. read more

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Comfort food. This is one of the places I go to when I'm feeling homesick & in my top 5 for places we've tried in Grand Rapids so far. The food is good and they have a few twists on some of their dishes. I love that they have vegetarian options. The mushroom grits are great. There's enough variety on the menu that there is something for everyone. We've tried almost everything on the menu at this point. Our favorites are the brisket, catfish, southern grits, the vegan souls grits, fried cauliflower, fried okra & fried green tomatoes. If you're drinking, the dammit Gina & peach cobbler martini are sooo good! I love the music and the casual but lively atmosphere. You order by scanning the QR code on the table. I think the only thing to point out that might be an issue for some, is if you like a bread with a good crust for your po-boy, theirs is not like that, it's a softer bread and maybe ask for a sample of the gumbo (both the vegetarian and the regular) it's good, but it can be a bit salty. But that may just be me. read more

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The fried green tomatoes and soul rolls are pretty good. The prices are reasonable. I'd come back to try more of the menu next time I'm in Grand Rapids. The only slight critique I have is that I had a question about the menu and it didn't seem like I could easily inquire with anyone. While They extended a friendly greeting upon my arrival, it would be helpful if they stopped by the table to inquire if I had questions especially since I indicated it was my first time dining here. Lastly they play Great background music!! Overall, this place is a vibe. read more

Forty Acres Soul Kitchen - Fried Green Tomatoes (V) - Southern Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Man what the world?! I came to Grand Rapids, Michigan to find a gem like this?! Cool chill spot... Outstanding food. I've been wanting to come here for a minute but the last time I tried they were open for the day yet. My second trip to the area I came here for dinner - DID NOT DISAPPOINT AT ALL. I had a turkey leg (outstanding) along with the greens and green beans (fantastic). The only drawback was the corn on the cob which was dry but that's because I didn't ask for butter. On the side, cornbread which was a great cap. I actually asked the manager if they stole the recipes. This is one of the FEW place I've been to this far north where the food reminded me of home. If I come back here I'm doing this again. Until then Grand Rapids you've got a good one here. read more

I have been wanting to try forty acres for a long time and glad I finally had the opportunity. They have a lot of seating and if you are dining in then you can seat yourself and then scan the QR code on the stand at your table to order! The workers explained this to us when we walked in. I liked doing the order that way. I had the build your own platter with brisket, Mac and cheese, turkey collard greens, and cornbread. Everything was SO good. I was blown away by the brisket. You get a lot of food! I had leftovers from this. My mom had the shrimp and grits platter with a sweet tea and she loved everything. It all looked really good. I would definitely come back here and try more food since my first experience was so tasty. Love the modern aesthetic as well! read more

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We had dinner at Forty Acres on R&B Karaoke night so you already know it was fun and busy. They don't have waitstaff to take your order, rather a QR code that you use to place and pay. It took a little time to figure out how to order the drinks we wanted, but we eventually got there. We aren't cognac aficionados, but we may have ordered something different or tried something new if someone had stopped to discuss it. The Forty Rolls and Black Eyed Peas were amazing. The catfish was pretty good also. I am personally not a fan of brined chicken. I feel like it makes the texture rubbery and stringy. I feel that way about all brined chicken, so that's not a demerit on Forty's menu. The greens were good, and even better with some hot sauce We thought the cornbread was a little dry, but still had good flavor. I'd go back for the Forty Rolls alone, so if you're nearby, give them a try! read more

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SUPPORT THIS BUSINESS! THEIR FOOD IS GOOD! THERE DRINKS ARE GOOD WITH UNIQUE NAMES! THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS IN A BEAUTIFUL SAFE AREA! I see all these complainers talking about food being fatty, expensive, portions ain't enough, and all that but people don't complain about Ruth Chris or those other places this way? Where else are you gonna get the types of food they cook? You know how hard it is to be able to cook this broad of a selection???The staff is always super cool and undermanned. The wings and southern grits have NEVER NOT BEEN AMAZING! I drove 1 hour every Sunday to eat here, and doing it again today for the last time before I deploy to Japan! Stop throwing shade at this establishment. No one is gonna replicate a taste of your favorite southern spot, and if you know a place better than theirs within 2 hours distance with the same food, let us know, otherwise be positive and show love! Geez read more

Went here on my trip to grand rapids and I thought I'd leave them a review from NYC! Let me start off by saying I grew up in / near Jamacia, Queens which has quite a lot of soul food / soul food adjacent establishments and it is a homesick food for me on my travels elsewhere. I however am a bit under informed in specific dishes like gumbo. I thought everything was on point and had a good amount of seasoning, this was the most seasoned meal I had in Grand Rapids and it really showed as I was extremely happy eating here. I liked the mac n cheese it had a nice sharpness to it, the cornbread was nice and flakey with a good taste, the mashed potatoes came out with a good amount of gravy and it felt very even per bite but the main star of the show was absolutely the gumbo. It was really flavorful and had a good ratio of ingredients in it to balance out the flavors, I would probably just eat this on its own. We got some drinks but I can't remember what and wouldn't say if I would or would not get them again because the gumbo really was the star of the show here. I will be back on my visits at some point, excited to try a few more things. read more

Forty Acres Soul Kitchen - Southern Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

It wasn't the best and it wasn't the worst. I have been a few times and each time it never left a massive impression on me either way. But I will say that the spicy chicken sandwich had good flavor but the chicken breast itself was so awkwardly shaped that one end was overcooked and hard while the other was soft. It is also a bit disappointing that while the sandwiches come with fries, you can't just upgrade the to brisket fries. You have to order brisket fries separately and they are $15 or so alone. Others in my party really enjoyed the brisket platters and corn. They are closed Monday and Tuesday and open Wednesday through Sunday. Which is fine, but for us going on Wednesday, which would be the start of their week, they were out of a lot of options on the menu. Lastly, I understand that most places go with QR codes cause its easy. But the ordering system on the link is confusing for some and struggled to work. Also, you should have some physical copies of the menu on hand. When some of us asked they had no idea where they were and stated that the physical menus are not updated which seems like something you should do. The atmosphere is pretty nice. Very chill with modern hip hop and r&b playing. Sometimes a dj. It's a nice feel for hanging with some friends. read more

Forty Acres Soul Kitchen is a friend of mine's favorite restaurant in Grand Rapids and I can really see why! It's casual, but the menu is EXTENSIVE, and basically anything on the menu can be made vegan, making this a very friendly spot for vegans and non-vegans alike! Everything on the menu looked so delicious and my friends and I (a group of 8) came here for dinner after a long day of eating already, so even though we weren't all that hungry, we all balled out on food still because of how irresistible everything sounded and smelled! I personally got their flight of shrimp & grits, which can we just appreciate the fact that they even offer that in the first place?! A FLIGHT?! Of shrimp and GRITS!??!?! I was on cloud 9!!!!!! There were three small bowls of the three different styles they offered, one was like a BBQ-base, one was a tomato-base, and then one was a cheese-base and they were all delicious! I also really appreciated that they were able to accommodate our larger party with no advanced reservation either. They are truly wonderful, the service was wonderful, the ambiance of the restaurant was both upscale and classy, while also being not intimidating at all and casual. Ordering and paying was super easy and could be done all from our phones and we didn't need to deal with splitting checks. I loved everything about this spot and will definitely be back! And next time, I'll definitely try to get here a bit earlier given that they are located on Wealthy Street and there are so many cute shops to check out in their surrounding area as well! read more

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We ordered Forty Acres Soul Kitchen during our trip to Grand Rapids and were so excited to try it! We didn't have the greatest experience, though. The staff were nice, but some of the food was a bit disappointing and all of it was cold. I got the vegan soul rolls and although it had good flavor- I couldn't get past the pieces of vegan "meat" that was inside of it. I'm not a fan of vegan meat and that wasn't listed in the description of the vegan soul rolls. I did choose them specifically because it did not include vegan meat in the description, so it was disappointing to come across it in there, as the texture really threw me off. The flavors were good though! I just couldn't eat the rest of them because the taste and texture of the vegan meat scattered within them wasn't something I enjoyed. My husband really loved the greens, but did not enjoy the catfish or wings. He said they were all cold as well, which was really disappointing. He had ordered the catfish meal with greens and sweet potatoes, and an order of wings, all of which he did not enjoy other than the greens. We really really wanted to enjoy Forty Acres, and are hopeful that if we ever come back to Grand Rapids, it may be a better experience. read more

Forty Acres Soul Kitchen - Catfish, sweet potatoes, and greens - Southern Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Great food and drinks!! Fun little spot! Highly recommend the forty soul rolls and the Po boy was amazing! read more

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Phenomenal staff and restaurant - perfect spot to head to after work for a nice happy hour (try the 99 Problems - you won't regret it!). The restaurant also hosts karaoke nights, and has a wonderful full menu - I can dream about that catfish all day! read more

Ate here again today. Absolutely did not think there was any room for improvement with this restaurant, but they did it. Our best meals yet! read more

Forty Acres Soul Kitchen - Best brisket and turkey greens ever!!!! - Southern Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Nothing good to say about this place. food not good, servers not good and owner, well, terrible.

Food was not good. No seasoning and overcooked. Catfish was fried too hard and the sides had no seasoning. Atmosphere was dope and the vibe of Karaoke night was great. Will come for drinks and karaoke night just not the food read more

I was told by quite a few people that Forty Acres has the best soul food in Grand Rapids, so of course I popped in here after work to try it. I have to say I enjoyed the sides more than the meal and for the cost I will say it's a one and done experience for me. The Mac n Cheese was amazing, I hope they figure out that this is the best item on the menu and make this a full meal! The sweet potatoes had a ton of cinnamon and I loved these as well. The greens were made with turkey meat and my coworker liked them. My Po' boy catfish sandwich was just ok. There wasn't a lot of fish in the sandwich and it was a little too crispy for me. For anyone visiting with a decent budget this place has great music and a good atmosphere. The vibe reminds me a hipster restaurant in Los Angeles. read more

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This place is beautiful and clean. The menu is extensive with several very tasty vegan options. We had the Vegan Gumbo and the flavor profile was magnificent. The fried green tomatoes were cut into wedges and were equally very flavorful. The soul rolls were pretty good and the Vegan Mac and Cheese was the best I ever had. Service was friendly and professional. This restaurant is a Grand Rapid's Gem. I will be back for a future visit. read more

Forty Acres Soul Kitchen - Southern Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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HORRIBLE SERVICE FROM THE MOMENT WE SAT DOWN ... CAUTION if you go and DONT HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS DESPITE THE PRICES AND GOOD REVIEWS ... READ MORE IF TOU DARE : I had an absolutely horrible experience at this restaurant and will never be coming back. My boyfriend and I dined in on a Saturday night at 7:30 pm. Upon arrival, we were told by the host/bartender to find a seat and scan a code to order, which meant we had to place our order through an website . The website asked for a tip upfront, and there was an automatic 18% gratuity added, which I didn't realize was mandatory. It was just the two of us ordering, and I assumed it was a standard automatic gratuity that I could change. I thought I adjusted the tip to 20%, but it ended up charging both the 18% gratuity and an additional 20% tip separately, making our total nearly $100 for two sandwiches, sides, drinks, and an one appetizer. This was very misleading and frustrating. Unfortunately, things went downhill from there. After placing our order for two brisket sandwiches, two sides of mac and cheese, two drinks, and fried pickles, the food arrived in strange intervals. First, the sandwiches came out, then we had to wait 20-30 minutes for the fried pickles and mac and cheese. However, as the server was about to give us the mac and cheese, another staff member whispered something in his ear, and the server took the mac and cheese back, saying it needed to be remade. We were confused but didn't say anything at that moment. 30 minutes passed with no update, and when another staff member came over to check on us, I asked about the mac and cheese. He seemed completely unaware of our order and apologized, saying he'd check on it. After another 15 minutes, the soggy mac and cheese finally arrived--but it looked completely different from the first batch. It was inedible, and I took one bite before deciding to leave, while my boyfriend didn't even try his. We left well over a $20 tip before even receiving our food, but the service was so bad that we had to leave. As we were leaving, the host/bartender wished us a nice day, and I didn't respond because of the terrible service we had just experienced. She then rudely added, "Or not." I turned around to address her comment because, after two hours of terrible service, she was in no position to be rude. I explained how unacceptable it was, especially after we had already left a generous tip before even receiving our food. She insisted that I was rude and that they were short-staffed, but I don't believe that excuses the terrible service. I was patient, but waiting 20-30 minutes between courses and receiving cold, poorly prepared food is unacceptable. Things escalated when the host kept arguing with me, and the waiter even had to tell her to stop yelling at me. All I wanted was a simple acknowledgment of the poor service and maybe some compensation, but instead, I was met with rudeness. This was my first and last time at this establishment. I will be calling tomorrow to request a refund because the entire experience was completely unacceptable. I was nothing but polite and patient, and I should not have been yelled at when raising a concern about the service and the way i was treated. read more

Service!!!!! I ordered my meal at 8:15pm and sat down with my family. It's now more than an hour later and everyone who came in after us has been served , 2 tables came and left already. This place only has 8 tables of people eating, everyone else is sitting at the bar. I've asked 3 times where my order is and I'm being told "they are cooking it". Since you have to pay and tip first I feel like I am being held hostage with my 3 kids, waiting for my $135 order!!!! This feels like a reality show, waiting for me to flip the F out. 2 more tables have left now that arrived after us. WTF this is a joke. read more

Food was excellent, portions were large! Service was excellent, everyone pitched in! Ambiance was very pleasing too! For the size of the portion they could charge more, so kudos to a business that gets it! Will come back read more

Forty Acres Soul Kitchen - Gumbo, potato salad and Mac and Cheese! - Southern Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I'm from the south so I was excited to try a black owned spot in Michigan. This is a sorry excuse for southern food. This person has to be 4x removed from the south. Food was hard and so unseasoned. Someone had to be playing in the kitchen. read more

unfortunately i have to update my review from my original 5 stars. my first trip i was just dairy free. my most recent trip was as a vegan and definitely not as good. i got the vegan chicken sandwich and the bread was extremely stale. there was also barely any sauce on it so i made some ranch to try and add some moisture. the fries were super good and the soul rolls were still good. we also did take out and were missing two sides and in its place was an extra fry and extra sandwich. my partner picked up the food so he didn't double check and it was too late to go back for it. i would still get the soul rolls and fried green tomatoes but the vegan main dishes might be a pass. read more

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The food was delicious! We tried the shrimp and grits flight, and the gumbo with a side of sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, and corn bread. The sweet potatoes were some of the best I've ever had. N read more

Absolutely delicious meal! I loved the scan and order method they had for ordering. The food and drinks came out so quickly. The music was amazing - whatever playlist they had on was SO GOOD. I ordered a fried chicken platter with Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. The cornbread was some of the best I've ever had. My husband got the spicy chicken sandwich and it was equally mouthwatering. read more

Forty Acres Soul Kitchen - Southern Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Visiting from Nj. Came to visit a friend in Detroit. We had to be in the Grand Rapids area. When I tell you the 2 hour was so worth . I got more excited as we got closer to the spot. I am a lover of cognac. And haven't had the opportunity to check out a cognac bar until now! The food came out promptly and was flavorful . We were being taking care of by the general manager who had to cover over the her due to a call out. She was friendly and chatted up with us. Im coming tomorrow for more food before we make the trek back up to Detroit . Being here for the weekend. This was the perfect spot to start off a "foodie's exploration" read more

Forty Acres Soul Kitchen - Style It Platter (Build Your Own), fried catfish with Mac & Cheese & Dirty Rice (GF). Moving on Up cocktail with Hennessy Black - Southern Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Great place in downtown Grand Rapids! Decided to try it after hearing great things about it and it was worth it. They have the hands free concept of menu via QR code along with your table number. So you place your order online and they bring it right to you. It's a great place with amazing decor. They have a nice vegan menu. We ordered fried okra, vegan wrap, vegan gumbo and mac n cheese. It was all delicious!!!! It was the first time we ever had fried okra and it was as crispy as it could get and very delicious. The batter was super tasty too! Vegan wrap came with fries! It was stuffed with veggies and cooked to perfection. The buffalo sauce was delicious too! Gumbo was amazing, it had rice and veggies. Was super warm and filled with flavor. It does get a bit heavy, we had to split it in two to finish. Mac n cheese was super yummy too! They have great cocktail options too- however we didn't get any this time. Overall it's a great place and location is equally great. Can't wait to go again! read more

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They were kind but you can't eat kind. Service was super like mule slow. The setting was nice but the ordering system with scanning the code was confusing at best. Sorry I'd love to recommend this black owned restaurant but I can't seeing and killing the cockroach near my table did it for me. read more

I finally made it back to experience their version of the impossible burger. The first time was spectacular. It was a unique shape with the sauce graciously spread over it. It was so good. So yesterday was a whole new experience. After waiting over an hour, the dry tasteless burger and the sloppy chicken sandwich my husband ordered did not match our expectations. The 60 minute drive and $43 spent was a pure waste. The fries were good but I'm in no hurry to return. read more

I've been trying to stop by Forty Acres for the past four years and I regret not trying it out earlier... I came in for dinner! The ambiance is cozy with just enough lighting. The playlist is just my style though just a little bit too loud at some points. Everything is pretty much self service starting with a water station near the entrance. To order, you scan the QR code at your table and pay through toasttab. The food is brought in metal trays and comes out pretty quickly! Now, let's talk about the food: I was told I couldn't leave without trying the Soul Rolls and I completely agree. SO good and the best way the start this meal. The fried chicken was big and perfect to eat with my favorite condiment (ranch LOL). The cornbread was amazing as well as all of the side dishes. We originally wanted the coleslaw but they ran out so we got the rice instead. I'm a sucker for mashed potatoes and I have to say it was probably the most flavorful ones I've ever had! The brisket..... to die for. Incredibly soft, melts in your mouth, savory, and every good thing you can think of. After we finished, we threw the waste away and placed the trays on top of the trash bins. Street parking available! Forty Acres is at the top of my list for the best eats in GR!!! read more

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shrimp poboy, mac and cheese, and corn on the cob was a nice dinner! wish there were flavor options for the corn. when our group of four went, we sat ourselves and you order on your phone. food comes out when it's ready so you don't really have to interact with staff. read more

Forty Acres Soul Kitchen - shrimp poboy, corn on the cob, mac and cheese - Southern Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Things I loved: Southern shrimp and grits. I mean. Dreamy. Like I am in Charleston but I'm not. They hit the mark. Shrimp was cooked perfectly, flavor of grits . The music. I mean...90's rap and R&B. I would've stayed and sat at the bar just so I could jam. My drink was very good, and such fun names. What I didn't like: The way you ate/got served (or didn't actually). You went in and order at a counter or from an app at your table. This was tricky though because I wanted to order appetizers/drinks/meals/dessert. So I wasn't ready to order all at once but that's not how the app worked. You get and refill your own water from a jug by front door. Come on, just give me a carafe of water for my table. Ugh. The flimsy cardboard bowl the grits were served in. I feel like these need a solid shallow bowls/plate. This just didn't sit right with me. All the food was served from throw away containers. For the price point I really expected some real plates/some sort of service. Overall, I would go back but maybe for takeout...‍ read more

Forty Acres Soul Kitchen - Southern shrimp and grits and hushpuppies. - Southern Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

My family and I have come to Forty Acres a couple of times when we have a craving for soul food. It's the type of place where you order first, pay, and then they bring the food out. I know some people don't like that, but I always appreciate it, because it makes everything move faster; you aren't waiting for a server to bring the check. And the food is always top-tier. My wife and I love the greens - they almost made me weep with joy. Catfish is excellent, chicken is delicious, everything is amazing. It's like a streaming service playlist that only plays your favorite songs. The ONLY thing that you would have to get used to is that sometimes the music is loud. Like, just a little uncomfortable. But that's it. I'm sure they'd turned it down a little if you asked, but we choose to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy it. We love this place. read more

When you walk in your told to serve yourself water and open the menu on your phone. when you place your order they automatically charge an 18% gratuity and ask you to tip on top of that. then when you go to pay the bill there's another service charge. We had to clean our own table and if you're not going to have to sit staff then you should not expect tips or exorbitant fees. We walked out before ordering. read more

Amazingly delicious food. The shrimp po'boy was tasty, great appetizers, and drinks. Service is top notch. Outdoor space is lovely for enjoying Eastown. One of my favorite spots for the whole package! read more

Stayed at an AirBNB around the corner and saw southern cooking and a black owned business, you better believe I am stopping in. Had the shrimp platter with a side of grits and mac N cheese and it was outstanding! For sure will be back when I am in the area to try some more menu items. If you are in the area I think it is a must stop! read more

Forty Acres Soul Kitchen - Blackened Shrimp Platter with Mac and Cheese and Grits. Side corn bread. - Southern Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Flavorful and good, but I wish they had better hours. It says they're open on sundays online but when I went they were closed.

We have been wanting to try Forty Acres for awhile and finally gave it a shot. We were greeted and brought to a table without a wait on a Sunday at 3pm. Our waitress was friendly and helpful but rather quiet/shy. She did a great job ensuring we enjoyed our lunch. We started with the wings and they were fantastic. I don't think my wife and I said a word to each other until the wings were completely gone and we were picking up crumbs! My wife ordered the Grilled Cheese from the brunch menu, and she loved it. It's filled with cheese as well as eggs and it's massive. I went with the chicken pot pie and I loved it. It was also massive but cooked perfectly. The crust is always my favorite and I loved dipping it in the filling. Overall, we will definitely be back and look forward to trying more of their dishes! Definitely stop by. read more

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