This is the second soul food spot I've tried recently, and hands down, Soul City was the better of…read morethe two. I purposely ordered the same exact meal I had at the last place, fried whiting, mac & cheese, and sweet potatoes, so I could really compare, and every single thing was better here. The whiting was crispy, well seasoned and cooked perfectly. The mac & cheese was really good, and the sweet potatoes were on point too. Honestly, the food itself was a 10/10. No complaints there at all. What brought my overall rating down to a 9 was really just the atmosphere. The restaurant is very small, which is fine, but it wasn't the cleanest. There were boxes in the waiting area and quite a few flies flying around, which definitely took away from the experience. The person behind the counter was really nice and polite, so no complaints about the service either. Overall, Soul City gets a 9/10 from me. The food was definitely a 10/10 and much better than the first soul food spot I tried. I'd absolutely go back, I just wish the atmosphere matched how good the food was.

The food was ridiculously delicious, especially the mac and cheese and yams. The catfish was good…read morebut i took too long to eat it so it cooled down but i bet fresh, it would be amazing. The store seems like a mom and pop restaurant so the service was very personable. The ambience isn't the best it is not a sit in establishment and very small and cramped but they have an A from the food inspector, so it's definitely clean and up to code. Will definitely be coming back.

They were near our airbnb and we found them on Yelp. Thanks Yelpers, yall didn't disappoint! We ran…read morein 30mins before closing, a table of 6, then 2 others joined us with no problem. We placed various orders. The food was good. I rate it a 4. The server we had was a little dry, rate her a 2.5. She wasnt friendly or engaging, she was very much hurry up and buy! I get it, its almost closing time, but a smile goes a long way. The 5 stars is for the owner! When I tell you he is what a small business thrives off of, he should teach many others. He sat down, he engaged, and accommodated us and my late guests. His energy is everything! 10/10 recommend when in NY!!!

I've been eyeing this place since they first open and I finally got to try them as I've never…read morereally had southern food before. Since it was Sunday they were serving brunch all day, they had options such as waffles, pancakes, chicken, mimosas, Bellinis, tea, coffee and they had some main entrees as well. We didn't wait long for a table once we enter the place was almost packed they do have two floors of seating I'm not sure how the upstairs was but the downstairs was pretty much packed. We were greeted right away byvour server who was very nice. Decided to go with the shrimp and waffles along with the Fried Chicken which comes with two sides and a sweet tea which was pretty good. From the outside it doesn't look like much but it's very big inside and it seems to be a really popular spot in the neighborhood as well. I really enjoyed everything but my favorite had to be that candied yam! Will definitely go back to try their other menu items which is serve only Thursday Friday and Saturday as I really enjoy the food.

Hi there! My name…read moreis Melissa- an ex DoorDash employee and former restaurant manager in NYC. My experience at Jacob's Pickles was incredible and I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone for any occasion. This special southern gem has it all figured out. They beat the myth of having "too big of a space" or "too large of a menu". Their speed and service is extremely fast. Waitstaff are very friendly and collaborate very well together. GREEN FLAG that they are always busy with very rare downtimes. I recommend to secure a reservation if possible. The menu has a wide variety of options. As a repeat customer, I can conclude the consistency of quality is 100%. Favorites: Biscuits and Fixins Chicken Caesar Wrap Shrimp and Grits Lobster Mac and Cheese Fried Chicken and Gravy (not pictured) Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (not pictured) I will definitely be returning. I will be posting their content on Instagram at @village.nyc.eats. Feel free to follow along or message me! Melissa.s.joubert@gmail.com

I was back at this restaurant a while ago, having previously eaten at their own location, which was…read moreloud and a bit too dark, almost feeling more like a gastropub than a Southern spot. By comparison, the new one is much better and much more fitting, while still being moderately loud but not earsplitting, presumably due to both the ceilings being a lot higher and the tables being more spaced apart. It's also a lot brighter, with plenty of mirrors on the wall and larger tables. As mentioned by most others, the portions here are rather massive for NYC, even in comparison to some diners and delicatessens, which makes the prices pretty reasonable. Our large group went here for something I rarely do: brunch. The servers were reasonably overwhelmed, but still friendly. Knowing how big the portions are, I only ordered the $22 Spicy Chicken Sandwich, which is typically served with pepper jack cheese, crispy onions, and hot sour pickles on a home-baked brioche bun. I did something I rarely do, which was ask for a substitution. In this case, it was cheddar instead of pepper jack, and it was obliged. The sandwich was quite large and a bit difficult to pick up, as it was pretty messy, but the flavor was nice. The chicken was juicy, the batter was pretty light, and there was a load of crispy onions. The pickles added a bit of sour crunch and a bit of heat, and the bun did just well enough to keep it all together. Overall, it was tasty. In terms of other dishes, there were a ton. I had one of the many tasty Deviled Eggs for $15, served with pickled mustard seed, smoked paprika, and pickle chips. From the same appetizer section, I particularly enjoyed the $13 Okra & Chilies, made from smoked & pickled okra, red pepper flakes, and scallion. I liked the smokiness, and the okra had some good grill marks, with this being the lightest dish on the table, outside of the Pickle Sampler someone else got. If you're looking to have a heart attack, I would order the decent $19 Poutine. Featuring fries smothered in brown gravy, cheese, and a hollandaise drizzle, I would compare it more to disco fries or other forms of loaded fries. This was due to the lack of cheese curds and the style of gravy. Outside of the comically massive portion, it's fine. In terms of other mains, a few had the two types of Smothered Chicken, either with sausage or mushrooms, for $24. Someone else ordered the non-spicy version of the same sandwich I got. Finally, another got the gigantic $24 Chicken & Waffles, consisting of buttermilk fried chicken, a golden waffle, house maple butter, and powdered sugar. There was also another entree, but I don't remember the details. I preferred this experience a lot more than the previous time and would recommend them for brunch, at least. Just come very hungry.

Food was very good so was the service , fried okra was a little too salty . Fried chicken was juicy…read moreand had a lot of flavor the greens and potato salad were excellent !

Finally tried here after years of wanting to! We were…read moreoffered the free cinnamon muffins, which were the star of the show! Warm and delicious! We ordered hushpuppies to start. They were extra crispy on the outside and had great flavor. I had the bbq chicken which was good, and tender, the skin wasn't very crispy tho and I ended up taking it off which left me w/o much bbq sauce for the chicken meat. The other two people enjoyed their fried chicken. The waffle probably could've been cooked w bit longer. (He went w the traditional buttermilk but there are a few flavors you can choose from). There was so much food that we each had leftovers! Another table asked for the music to be turned down. Overall, it was good and I'd come back.

I came in when they were closing and they showed me so much hospitality. I ordered 3 piece catfish,…read moreanother 8 piece fish dinner with 2 large sides of greens and Mac and cheese. When I tell you the fish was made to perfection and seasoned well with their hearts, and the Mac in cheese was cheesy and seasoned well and the collards was made with smoked turkey- fresh and seasoned well. Everything I tried that night was made to perfection and satisfaction. My kids are picky and one doesn't like fish- but he asked for more catfish. (I kept saying, "is there anything here that's not good?!) The hot honey wings are the top sellers and I've tried a lot of other wing spots and hands down they make the best. The hot honey wings are spectacular! I'm still thinking about them. Lol! And their desserts, I believe are home made and better than the store bought. The strawberry cake was moist and fought over. The family staff were warm and exemplified excellent customer service. I will be back to try the tender falling of the bone oxtails and a second round of everything else. Father and Sons Soul food is the epitome of Great Soul Food!

The food is on point every time but the service can definitely use some work. Overall I'll give it…read morea 8/10

Came up from NC wanting some good Southern food, and we found a true gem!…read more We ordered the smothered turkey wings, fried fish, yams, mac and cheese, and delicious cabbage--and everything was SO good! The portions are generous enough for two people, so you definitely get your money's worth. The workers were sweet, welcoming, and friendly, which made the experience even better. And listen... the cornbread and freshly squeezed lemonade are a MUST! If you're looking for authentic, delicious Southern comfort food, definitely give this place a try! 5 stars all around!

Overall, it wasn't that great of an experience. I had the chicken and waffle. Three stars for the…read morefried chicken. It tasted good but was a little pink in a couple of parts. The waffle and cornbread was just ok. My waitress was efficient but not friendly and she rushed through everything. She set the tone for why I didn't enjoy my visit. I still tipped her but I won't be coming back. One of the reasons I came was to support a black owned business, but it's not black owned anymore.

Got a hot chicken biscuit sandwich and 5 fried pickle spears. The to go screen said 20 min, I got…read moremine probably in around 10 or less (I was probably lucky?). Both the sandwich and pickle spears were great! The only problem is that they forgot the pickles on the chicken sandwich, which is one the one hand hilarious and on the other very annoying lol. However, I still liked it a lot (even without the pickles). Would probably eat in next time so I can make sure the pickles get on my sandwich!

Ya'll, believe all the one stars. The service is almost intentionally bad. It operates like a…read morejailhouse slop kitchen run by equally miserable staff that seem personally offended that you showed up to eat. I placed a to-go order and when I questioned how long it would take, so that we could walk around and come back to pick up the order, the waiter responded with an unnecessarily snarky attitude, telling me that they were "not a fast-food restaurant." I wasn't asking for fast food. I was simply asking about the wait time. There was absolutely no reason to be condescending to a customer. Since I didn't have 30 minutes to wait, I asked him to cancel the order and refund my payment. This somehow made him even snarkier. I asked to speak to a manager, who I'm fairly convinced may be a fictional character at this location. After some additional attitude, he finally agreed to cancel the order. Except he didn't. Which raises the obvious question: why work in an industry that requires you to interact with people when you seem to actively resent interacting with people? If basic courtesy and politeness are beyond your emotional bandwidth, perhaps customer service is not the career path for you. I was charged for an order I never received, and the refund was never processed. I only discovered the charge much later when reviewing my bank statement and ultimately had to dispute the transaction with my bank to get my money back. Avoid this place like the bubonic plague. Honestly, the plague might offer better hospitality.

They were basically out of everything I wanted, and the food we got was terrible…read more When you come to a restaurant because the menu says your mac & cheese is famous and you have a hungry seven-year-old, the waiter should let you know that they're out of their one of their star items. The fried pickles were so doughy that you could barely see a pickle, the waffle fries were undercooked, and the pickle slaw looked like you could've gotten it at Stop and Shop deli counter and added pickle chips. It was also drenched in so much mayonnaise that I couldn't eat it. Get yourself a turkey and cheese sandwich from the grab and go and be thankful that you did.

Let's start with the ambiance. Although Terminal 5 at JFK offers few restaurant choices, Jacob's…read morePickles stands out and never disappoints, even when options are limited. The hostess greeted me warmly and allowed me to browse the menu at my leisure without feeling rushed. The seating was spacious, and the self-serve bar area offered plenty of room. The decor and vibe evoked an early 60s charm, though the playlist featuring early 2000s hits was a quirky mismatch, yet, honestly, it grew on me and seemed to add a lively edge to the meal. The menu was straightforward, offering a tempting selection of chicken sandwiches and biscuit dishes. After some thought, I settled on the chicken ranch, it was ready in less than five minutes! The "Porch Sipper" drink was delightful; I ended up ordering a second, as its flavors transported me to open Kentucky fields, sitting on a wraparound porch on a warm summer day, savoring the music and gazing at the blue summer sky. The experience was truly immersive. And I must say, the staff radiated positive energy, they seemed genuinely happy to be there, which makes a difference when dealing with thousands of travelers daily. Jacob's Pickles is definitely a must-visit spot when passing through JFK Terminal 5.

It's Black History Month and although I like to support black-owned businesses all year long, I…read moreespecially make a point to support these businesses during this month. This brings me to Dootsie's Kitchen. My aunt frequents this spot and actually told my mom and I about it last year, but we just never got the chance to check it out. I happened to be in South Brunswick for work and would have to pass by this restaurant getting home if I took the back roads, so I used this as my opportunity to check them out. When I arrived into the restaurant, I was a little confused on how to order at first. However, a guy that I'm assuming is the owner and/or manager came out from the back and asked if I was picking up or placing an order. I told him I would like to place an order but needed a menu. He pointed me to the other side of the counter where the menu is posted. They also have a kiosk ordering system that allows you to place and pay for your order. I ended up ordering two fried whiting platters, one for myself and one for my mom. They make the food fresh after you order, so there was a bit of a wait. I was even asked if I would like my fish fried hard. I said yes, but not too hard. I got my food to go and ate at home. I enjoyed my food. The fish filets were small, but there were at least five pieces in my platter. I requested mac n cheese and cabbage for one platter and collard greens and yams for the other platter. Only problem I had is that I didn't receive cabbage and got collard greens instead. I still enjoyed the greens. My mom thought the greens were too spicy. Personally, I really enjoyed them. The mac n cheese was that real southern mac n cheese. It tasted pretty similar to my mom's mac n cheese. I asked my mom if she liked her food. She said it was "okay" but didn't leave anything behind, so I take that as a good sign. The owner/manager was nice. He kept me updated on the status of my order. When he was bagging up my food, he asked me if it was my first time there and I told him that it was. He asked how I heard about them and I told him. He really seems to care about his business and is very appreciative of those who come to support. The restaurant is not large, but they do have some seating areas if you'd like to dine in. While I was waiting for my food, there was a large group having lunch, approximately 10-12 people. They all seemed to enjoy their food and kept giving compliments as they were heading out. I'm glad I got the chance to check out Dootsie's Kitchen and support a local, black-owned business.

A Soul Food Gem Worth Every Bite! My wife and I recently…read morevisited Dootsie's Kitchen and left thoroughly impressed. The dining area was bright, clean, and welcoming -- exactly the kind of atmosphere you hope for when sitting down for a good soul food meal. We came in hoping for Whiting, but they were serving Basa instead. The staff assured us that many customers actually prefer it, and after our first bite, we understood why -- it was absolutely delicious! My wife enjoyed the fish dinner while I went with the fish and grits, and both dishes were outstanding. The portions were generous, to say the least. The food was so good that I couldn't leave without ordering extra fish to take home. That says it all! If you're looking for great soul food with a warm atmosphere and hearty portions, Dootsie's Kitchen delivers. We'll definitely be back!

Absolutely loved dining at Southern Table Kitchen and Bar! I came on a Sunday evening and…read moresurprisingly it wasn't too crowded. Our server Amelia was amazing and gave us some great recommendations. I got the cucumber mocktail which was super refreshing! I love that they have a separate menu just for mocktails. We loved the fried green tomatoes and I also really enjoyed my steak salad! Over all this is a great restaurant especially for groups and families. Will definitely be back to try more of their menu items.

John C. From Westchester I've been there many many times…read more The food is always great, drinks great The staff led by one of the owners(Michael) is awesome, the cornbread amazing, over all great spot a fun spot to hang out and enjoy And remember Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene