The food was really good! The music was a little loud and the service could stand improvement, but the food will get me to return. Hopefully, it was just a bad day. read more

Clean restaurant and friendly service, but the food was just okay. I've gotten better chicken and waffles at a diner, and for less money. The margarita tasted like cheap sour mix, and the music was too loud. In short, it didn't live up to the hype. read more

I went for my birthday on 12/4 & the food and the music was fabulous! 12/31 is my Husband's birthday and we want to repeat the experience! read more

Had a reservation at this soul food spot in Atlantic City and waited outside in 45 degree weather with winds at 15mph for 1hour. In that time the staff took 1 couple from the line ! No place or food is worth me waiting that long in weather. Staff was way too arrogant and I will never attempt to go there again !! I give this place 1 star read more

The service was excellent. I grew up in Texas and lived in the South most of my life. Soup food is Southern food. The food was good but underwhelming. I had the shrimp and cheese grits. It had very good flavor, but the shrimp was overcooked and chewy and the grits had a consistency like they'd been sitting around for a while. Two other guests had the ribs (pork and beef). Coming from Texas, my smoked meat standards are high. Again, the flavor was very good, but I'm accustomed to ribs that are barely need a fork tender. Neither the pork nor the beef ribs were. The beef ribs were actually a little tough. The fourth member of our party ordered barbecue wings which were overwhelmingly sweet. The mac and cheese was quite tasty. And the cornbread was some of the best I've ever had. Overall, the service brings it up to a solid B+. If rated solely on food, it would have been a B-/C+. read more

I was visiting AC from out of town and this place was said to have a really nice brunch. The food was ok however, I could not hear the person seated right beside me because the music was absolutely tooooo loud! I'd like to be able to converse with the person seated right beside me without having to basically yell. A part of any experience at a seated restaurant is to be able to have a conversation within your dining party. The management should give some consideration to folks wanting to be able to speak to one another without having to yell across the table. read more

We made e a reservation so we didn't have to wait as I heard this place gets crowded fast. Upon our arrival, there was a small number of people in line. We were seated quickly and knew prior, we would be having the brunch buffet. The food did not disappoint, everything was delicious and flavorful. The grits prepared here are the best grits I've ever had in my life. The pancakes melted in your mouth. All the food items were displayed neatly and the business was ran with order. The waiters were very attentive and kind. I will most definitely be back here. Everything was delicious! read more

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Service was good. Food was delicious! By far the best fried chicken that I have ever had (and I've had a lot). Will definitely come back when I am in AC. Drinks were good too. read more

Kelsey's - Soul Food Near Me - Atlantic City, New Jersey

Fabulous experience at Kelsey's! We went for dinner to celebrate my Mom's 70th Birthday. The food was delicious! We all had different dishes and every dish was chef's kiss. There was a band playing and they gave my Mom a birthday shout out and the lead singer serenaded her. She felt like the Queen that she is. I want to return for brunch. read more

We had dinner reservations not long after the restaurant opened, and the vibe was incredible--great atmosphere and music! We were seated right away, our server was quick and attentive, and the food was absolutely delicious. Honestly, Kelsey's might be the best soul food spot I've ever been to. Well done! read more

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First thing you feel when you walk into this place is southern love. On a 3 day trip to Atlantic City, I heard Kelsey's is a great southern inspired restaurant. Boy did they not disappoint. Everyone was super friendly, I walked in and it felt family protested. The drinks were top tier, will definitely need to Uber as they're STRONG lol. If you have a strong love for Mac & cheese. Their crab Mac will have you in awe. I was never a beef short rib person, I prefer pork. But it was so tender & juicy, it fell right off the bone. I love me some good soul food and it took me back home with this one. When you want to get away from the casinos. Come to this restaurant right here and pleaseeeee. Order more to go!! read more

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The for Brunch at Kelsey's is absolutely amazing. The shrimp and grits pure perfection. The best sweet potato waffle ever. The service is Elite. The chef is doing great things in that restaurant. Everytime I go its a good time. The music and atmosphere is top- teir. read more

Food was AMAZING!!! The wait wasn't long because we had reservations, but the lobby/waiting area is small and gets packed with people waiting in their table for trying to walk in and dine. Overall the atmosphere was nice, everyone was friendly and again the food was AMAZING. It's hard to find a spot with good authentic Soul Food, but Kelsey's hit the spot! read more

Food was amazing as always. I noticed they cut back on the wings as well as the overall serving portions of the foods, you get less & pay more, but good overall. read more

There is no place better! Rhyan is the best server! 10 outta 10 every time!!! Breakfast lunch or dinner! It's always a win!!

My friends and I were visiting from Chicago. We stopped in regarding a reservation for brunch. The host invited us to have a seat. The server was very rude and stated if we were not dining to sit at the bar. This was fine but the bar area was unaware and upset. I don't like being shifted around like trash. We are here for Nurses week, Mother's Day and a concert! We found this place on Tik Tok and the customer service is horrible!!!! Update:::: After our first experience, we received a call to come back! And I must say the service and food is phenomenal!!!! Thank you for listening ! Michelle is the best! Service recovery at its finest!!! Thank you from Chicago! read more

Great atmosphere loved the live band and good service! I will be back! Wish the were In Philly

I went here for my BIRTHDAY today. This is my first time coming here for Dinner. I'm not a fan. I love the brunch hands down. However, this dinner it's not my jam. I ordered Blackened Salmon with pasta. I received Blackened Salmon and rice with macaroni and cheese. My other 2 Party People ordered beef ribs, candy yams, and Mac and cheese. That was okay. The other person ordered Smothered pork chops and that was good. Yumm. ANOTHER NO NO WAS THEY SANG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME WITH NO CAKE. WHAT???????? NEVER HAVE THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME. NO SPARKLES, NO CAKE SMH.... read more

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Soul food in Atlantic City! Before I start I want to say Please make reservations, especially if you are going in a weekend. The lines are super long on Sundays around the block and they don't open until 4 PM. We had reservations and was seated immediately. The waitress was very nice and knowledgeable. The restaurant was only 1/4 full but there was still a long line outside. The margarita sampler was delicious. It was actually one of the best margarita I've had in a long time. The greens was a bit salty, and the fried whiting was the frozen kind. But the fried chicken, potato salad and candy yams were amazing. The portions were good and the vibe was cool. I will probably go back for the margaritas. You can see a full video review on TikTok or ig: @missmiko21 read more

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Everything was amazing food and the service. The food was delicious . Everything on the menu was very good. Home cooking for sure. read more

Visited this establishment on 3/29 while in AC , traveled from MD for the MJB concert. Thankfully, we had reservations as there was a long line down the block before opening. The food was amazing and the service was top-notch. Our server was particularly excellent... so upset I can't remember his name, he provided top-tier service. The inviting atmosphere and live music made for a great casual dining experience. read more

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Always good food and good vibe. Live music be everything. Always a great time. My favorite place when I visit AC

Made reservations via Yelp . Please if you don't want to have a long wait MAKE RESERVATIONS. The ambiance was cool at dinner time why had live singing if you're into that .. We were seated close to the back in a tight spot which I didn't like and it took a very long time for us to be acknowledged . We were sitting for more than 40 mins which I find quite ridiculous... I had the catfish Mac and yams . My mom had whiting Mac and collard greens , my brother had wings mac and collard greens and my son had the chicken tenders and waffle . Starting with my food it was OK I wouldn't say I would get it again , the max was really good but the yams were way too sweet and the fish was a little undercooked because it was extremely gummy . . My son had the tenders and waffle which he said was tasty . The whiting my mom said was ok but had the same complaint of it being a little over breaded .. she said the collard greens were and Mac was really good . She said the greens had a little sugar but was over powering. My brother said the wings were pretty decent . Sb: A server dropped and slashed bbq sauce All over my brother very expensive clothes and didn't say anything until my mother made quite a big deal to the house manager . An apology was given and a piece of cake to try and smooth things over but honestly this kind of turned us off and we probably won't return . read more

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My husband and I were in town as I was attending a conference at the Ocean. The food was good but the service was subpar. We did not see our server after getting our food. She never came back to see if we needed anything. Had to get my own water from the bar and the bar attendant had an attitude. We ate our entire dinner and never saw our server again until it was time to get the check. Kelsey when you know better you do better. read more

Food is AMZING everytime I visit!! Drinks are great the customer service is wonderful nice laid back vibes

We were celebrating my nephews 21st bday. We were seated in a nice area we had a nice view of the live band . The food was excellent for the price and they give you large portions. Our waiter was very courteous and explained everything to us on the menu and how to order our food for that night. I love the fact that they had a live band the music was perfect for the Occassion. I would definitely go there again. And I would recommend friends if they are ever in the area to go there for great Soul food read more

Went to this establishment on Father's Day during my trip to Atlantic City for my granddaughter graduation. I made reservations weeks prior to my coming there because I heard that walk ins usually had a long wait time. Was happy to say we were seated as soon as we arrived We did order appetizers of wings and The Cornbread basket. Both was really tasty. I ordered the fried shrimp and fish platter and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the entire meal. It was cooked to perfection. The service was excellent and the drinks, delicious. Only complaint was it took a long time to get the waiters attention to pay our bill. Other than that, I will return the next time I'm on the East coast. read more

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Lawd have mercy! There's a reason why there is a line out front at 5:00 pm on a Thursday. If you're looking for legit southern cuisine, look no further than Kelsey's. The 20 minute wait was well worth it. The menu has all the classics including fried catfish, fried chicken/waffles, pork/beef ribs, and also some southern bayou specialties such as shrimp and grits, etoufee and more. Food came out quickly and well presented. The portions are generous and prices are reasonable. Every bite of every dish made you want to slow down and savor the complex flavors of what you thought was a simple dish. A perfect exampe are the collard greens. The greens were perfectly seasoned and texture was neither too hard or too soft. The fries will also surprise you. The sauces that accompanied each dish seemed to be homemade and were delicious. You'll want to ask for extra. Those who like a little heat, their homemade hot sauce adds a little kick and tartness. Southern food can sometimes be heavy and greasy. Somehow Kelsey's fare comes across very light. Never did any dish make you feel guilty. The decor is warm and the staff are friendly. We didn't see desserts on the online menu but did see some cakes in the case as we walked out. A perfect closure to the meal could have been a slice of pecan pie and a coffee. Full bar is available. Tip: spacious parking lot across the street is available for $5 per spot. Also their are some house rules you should be aware of, see online menu. 20% tip is automatically added for bills over $100. I'd come back to Atlantic City just for another meal here! read more

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First make sure you make a reservation. Start with the cornbread. We tried the delicious ribs, fried fish and shrimp, chicken tenders for the kids. Everything was great from start to finish. read more

We went to Atlantic City to get away for a couple days total disaster. Besides that we found a good restaurant to have some dinner at and it was totally worth it. I've came to this same restaurant at least a good 10 years ago and I can still remember how good the food was. Going back 10 years later still did not disappoint everything was delicious the only thing we didn't care for was they're many rules of the menu can't find a picture but it was like they running a plantation field directing people just for coming in to their restaurant to eat. Other than that everything was truly delicious and our server was amazing. She really was attentive and made sure we were satisfied. The restaurant is pretty big and very spacious will definitely visit again. read more

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The atmosphere is Lovely and the food is so tasty. Everything is seasoned well. Every time I go to Atlantic City this is my go to spot for Dinner. The breakfast is delicious as well. I recommend reservations, because the wait can be a bit long. read more

Didn't even get to eat here but by my experience walking in I knew just to leave!people standing in the hot entry way waiting for the hostess after being told to stay outside. When she finally reappeared, she seemed very frazzled. I understand it can get busy, but the attitude was not necessary. People just seemed aggravated and frustrated and annoyed. I knew it was only gonna go down from there. when I went to ask the hostess a question, she put her finger up in my face and said give me one minute. She did not do it in a polite way she did it in a rude. I'm bothering her way. I decided to turn around and walk out. read more

Food was delicious. Drinks and ambiance were fantastic. Highly recommend making a reservation inadvance. Music in the evening worth sticking around. The vibe is awesome so sticki around. read more

Kelsey's - The vibe is fantastic - Soul Food Near Me - Atlantic City, New Jersey

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Top of the tier in all 3!!!! Food Service and Ambience!!! They still remain undefeated in the soul food industry read more

Kelsey's - Fried chicken potato salad Mac and cheese black eyed peas - Soul Food Near Me - Atlantic City, New Jersey

Food was delicious! Entertainment was excellent! I always stop here to eat when I'm in Atlantic City. read more

Kelsey's - Mango Long Island....Strong - Soul Food Near Me - Atlantic City, New Jersey

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I had a wonderful time Celebrating my Birthday at Kelsey's with a delicious brunch with a group of friends. I made a reservation online through Yelp a few weeks in advance. The hostess was very patient and friendly. We paid in a advance prior to eating which was great for a large group as we did not have to debate about the bill at the end of our meal. The brunch was buffet style. There was a plethora of hot menu options. A-la-carte Belgium waffles and omelets. I opted for the omelet in efforts to get extra protein. Some of my friends enjoyed the Shrimp and grits. They raved about it. All the food was served warm and frequently replenished. The DJ was energetic and kept the guests grooving as they dined. I particularly like my sparkling mimosa as it had glitter in it. It was delicious and my first time trying it. I will definitely go back next time in Atlantic City. There is street parking and a parking lot across the street. Definitely recommended for some good soul food. read more

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Went there for dinner. There was a line outside of about 20ppl (we were walk-in's). They told us the wait would be 45min but we were inside & seated within 20min. Nice mood, low lighting and music. Nothing to aggressive being played. Great mix of songs. Tables all had tea candles on them, nice touch. Ordered chicken and waffles, fish and shrimp, collard greens, mac & cheese, & yams. The food was good. No complaints about the taste of the main dishes. The yams and mac & cheese wouldn't make my top 5 but I would eat them again. The syrup was very thick for the waffles which wasn't great & the chicken that comes with the waffles are wings, as opposed to other places that give you a quarter piece of chicken. All in all a great place to visit. Friendly staff and reasonable prices read more

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The drive was worth it. I went down to Atlantic City just for the restaurant that day and I'm glad that I did. I had an amazing time. The food was tasty. A little different though. We opted for all you can eat buffet. It was an omelette and pancake station off to the other side. Also back in the kitchen they fried whiting fish to order and also made waffles. Red velvet and regular. I tried the red velvet and it was so delicious. The food and drinks were on point. I enjoyed. The music played by a DJ was very good. I was having a good time vibing to the music. Everyone else there looked like they were having a great time too. Service was spot on. They kept coming around asking if things were good. Picked up the plates once we were done with them. Overall, good service. Thanks for a good experience. read more

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Dined here for dinner on a Sunday in celebration of my cousin's bday. We arrived a little before 4 (the restaurant opens at 4) and stood outside in line before we were let in... I am so thankful that we had reservations because I was a little off put knowing that we had reservations and were standing in line; we were called to enter the restaurant a few minutes after 4. The service was pretty good; our server was friendly and knowledgeable about the restaurant offerings and even made some good recommendations. I ordered the wings for an appetizer and my entree was fried shrimp, Mac n Cheese and collard greens. The wings were really good - they came with a sauce but were fine without it. Catfish nuggets were ordered also as an appetizer but I didn't care much for them. I did enjoy my entree and the serving size was pretty generous; it was more than I could eat. Everyone else said they enjoy their food too. The food was really good and the atmosphere is warm and relaxing. Again, the service was great also! What I enjoyed most though was the live entertainment; it really helps set a relaxing mood and made me not want to leave. I definitely recommend trying this place!!! read more

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Everything was amazing. The food, service, and ambience were absolutely outstanding! We loved the live music.