Fastest review I've done. Sandra thanks a lot for the hospitality to begin. Let me say we arrived at Sandra's and were greeted by the lady herself as we walked in. She was sitting conducting business, but got up and allowed us to sit in the area. All I can say is, this place exceeds your thought process for good food. Yes, it is soul food, comfort food and just plain good food. We started off with the excellent buttery corn bread which was very moist and tasty. Next, I had the fried pork chop with macaroni and cheese along with candid yams. This food was outstanding!!! I tried taking my time to savor the food and enjoy the taste, but it still seems like I ate it faster than I thought I was eating. Before I got to the end of my plate, my stomach said it's too much. For my beverage, I had half and half(sweet tea and lemonade for those who don't know). This too was outstanding as the majority of the table had this. Needless to say, if you are ever visiting New Haven, Connecticut, it is a must to stop by and eat here if you want some good food and pleasant service from a great person as the owner and the staff at Sandra's Next Generation Restaurant. read more

Sandra's Next Generation - Fried Pork Chop with Macaroni & Cheese and Candid Yams. - Soul Food Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I got a Shar'wyn's Church Plate with the fried chicken (dark meat), candied yams, fried plantains, caribbean rice, and baked Mac and cheese. The meal also comes with cornbread. I got a chocolate cake and the lemonade on the side as well. The only reason why I give it 4 instead of 5 stars was because it was a bit of a wait for our food. Some food was made or order which might play into that, but we went in to grab food to go and we were there for 40-45 minutes. Also, the cornbread was a little dry to my liking but still yummy. Otherwise, food was absolutely amazing and made great leftovers. I definitely go back, but we will be ordering ahead of time and then pick up. Happy to see that a New Haven restaurant was on the Cooking Channel! read more

My wife and I were driving from Boston to New York City when we had a craving to try the world's best pizza at Frank Pepe's in New Haven. When we arrived, we found a long line and decided it was best to look for another place. We yelped it and found a soul food joint with 5 stars, so we said "we gotta try this yo!" So we moseyed along to Sandra's and found the place. With no indication of it being a restaurant with its tinted windows, I thought it looked more like a nail salon or something other than a restaurant. The area was a tad sketchy, but despite our car being full of desirables at the time we decided to go in and keep an eye out on the car. When we went in, the place was filled with mismatched tables and chairs - not the most pleasant of facilities. However, before long we were served by our pleasant and polite waiter some sweeeet tea and cornbread and we forgot about our car and odd surroundings. The lunch special entrees came out - fried chicken (wings) with fried okra and corn, pork chopped bbq with string beans and potato salad - and I was like "man, we wish we had a place like this in NYC or Boston to eat at!" While I'm sure if you lived in Alabama or Mississippi you'd get soul food as good as this, but when compared to Harlem (where I go to school), this place is about as good as it gets in the Northeast. Every single food product, including the sides, were just full of delightful flavors. The potato salad was impeccable. The pork chopped bbq was perhaps my favorite - sooo juicy, man. The fried chicken is probably better than Sylvia's, the 'Queen of Soul Food,' in Harlem. Even better was that this is a family joint run by a crew of Sandra's kids. They were so polite and nice, giving us a splash of Southern hospitality we rarely find in the Northeast. They even gave us a try of the oxtail with Caribbean rice, which was super awesome. We will surely come back more often when we make the drive between our home (Boston) and pseudo-home (NYC). Keep up the good work, Sandra's! read more

Delicious food, warm service, and hiphop all in one location? I'm sold. Food: Cornbread - Soft, moist, topped with butter, it was probably one of my favorite sides Fried plantains - Just do it Candied yams - This tastes like brown suga and spice and everything nice. When you eat it, it just welcomes you in its warm embrace. Fried okra - Wasn't my favorite but I felt like I needed to get some veggies in Corn - average, I liked mixing it into the Caribbean rice BBQ ribs - bombdotcom. The sauce was on point and the tenderness of the ribs was heavenly. Fried chicken - Oh, how I've missed fried chicken..biting into that juicy white meat with the crunchiness of the skin was a beautiful moment. Service: This is some of the best customer service I've experienced in a long time. The server was so sweet and he joked with us the entire night. He noticed how we were eyeing the other tables' food and he offered to bring out the dishes that were already ready first instead of waiting to bring them all out at the same time. He also had no problem taking pics of us (at different angles like a true instagrammer). Music: Finally, this is the first time in a long time that I've heard solid hiphop, spanning from the 90s to Beyonce. Nothing made me happier than hearing "Countdown" as we were at the register paying. As a Bay Area transplant, I'm so freaking happy that I found a piece of Oakland in New Haven. With its warm service, on point music, and soul-fulfilling soul food, I will definitely be back. read more

Fast friendly and delicious. Spend $2 for +2 sides. Came for the chicken but was blown away by the collard greens. Easily the best I've ever had. read more

Hands down the best soul food spot in CT! I've had the fried chicken and the fried fish, Mac cheese, collard greens and sweet potato. Each portion in its own right is amazing but all together is just perfection! A must do spot if your in Southern CT. P.S. The staff is super helpful and nice both in person and on the phone. read more

We were visiting New Haven for just one night and woke Sunday craving a good home cooked meal. We researched on Yelp and found Sandra's Next Generation and were most fascinated by her story. We got there just as they opened and walked by an abundance of freshly cooked goodies on the way to our table. One of Sandra's 4 children greeted us with a big smile and asked if we were hungry. We knew we wanted to start with wings and ordered the Fried Chicken...which was 4 jumbo whole chicken wings with a crisp but not greasy, well-seasoned crust and hot juicy tender meat. We knew then we had stumbled on something really GOOD! We both had 'Church Plates', which allowed us to try 8 different sides between us. The catfish entrée had a flavorful part-cornmeal crust that kept the perfectly cooked fileted fish piping hot to the very last bite...just like my mom used to do! I resisted spoiling it with the tartar sauce I had requested! I anticipated that the collards would be greasy and heavy with salt, but no...they were tender and juicy, with a few chunks of smoked meat, and you could taste the true flavor of the greens. I was VERY happy that all the sides were lightly seasoned and fresh, allowing the natural flavors to come through...the sweet potato fries were the best...both sweet and lightly salty! The cornbread was served as its own 'course' after the wings, and was steamy hot, moist and buttery...I had to keep from devouring the entire piece in a few bites, and make it last throughout the meal...and it was just as moist as the very last bite of my meal as when it came to the table!! As we were getting ready to leave, the place started filling up with families coming from church, neighborhood cops grabbing a wholesome bite, and newbies, who had luckily stumbled on Sandra's like us! There was a real sense of a community and Sandra came over and talked to us for a good 15-20 minutes, making us feel instantly part of that community, sharing her story, and introducing us to her kids who are equally passionate about keeping the family legacy alive...and continuing to give the gift of love! Even her sister participates...we saw a freshly made personally-customized birthday cake in the refrigerator getting ready to be destroyed by an unsuspecting one-year old! We are hoping to get back to New Haven for the celebration on August 17, where multiple generations of Sandra's family are hosting a unique soul food celebration of flavors from the south! Thanks Sandra and family!! J&R read more

I was driving up Congress Avenue a while back and noticed this place and I hoped it had something to do with the delectable Sandra's up on Whitney Avenue that I would frequent back in my bright college years. So I did my homework and indeed it does: Shortly after having shuttered the downtown location, the the proprietor's children (dba the "Next Generation") convinced her to reopen shop, this time in a much more laid back environment in the center of The Hill. I'm pleased to report that Sandra's is back and better than ever. I'm a Chicagoan and my partner is from Alabama, so we have had our share of what some might call soul food, both down south and in the greatest destination of the migration. Sandra beats the pants off of any meat and three I've had down there, and it definitely crushes the favorite South Side haunts of the Windy City's storied pols. Literally my only complaint is that the sweet tea is waaaay too sweet--but seriously, with food this good, who cares? You order by (her child's) name--Shante, Sharywn, and Miguel all come with a different number of sides. The best thing about this place is that you cannot order incorrectly, but particular standouts include the smothered pork chops, fried catfish, fried or baked chicken, and chopped barbecue. As for sides, I tend to skew veg and love the lima beans, cabbage, and yams. But the fried okra is fierce and I hear the mac and cheese is tasty. For those looking to eat light, Sandra's prepares a series of "Go Green" options, but might I suggest you just cheat and splurge? This is full calorie cuisine. Speaking of splurge, save room (or make room) for dessert. Banana pudding that doesn't even make you think of a box, pies, and cakes so moist that they're probably made with a jar of mayo a piece. I usually hate cake but I went gaga over their pineapple coconut confection. And I almost ordered another slice after a whole banana pudding cake emerged from the kitchen moments later. But my cardiologist and I thought it wise to save something for next time. And there will be a next time and a next time and a next time. Dine in, take out, curbside pickup, whatever. This place is that good. They also have a frequent diner program. I'm banking up my rewards for a catering job that they're going to do for my funeral if I don't wake up from one of the blissful food comas that eating at Sandra's inevitably induces. read more

Everything we ate was incredible. One of the best meals I've had in New Haven (or anywhere)! BBQ chicken and ribs were all so juicy, the mac and cheese had an amazing seasoning, and I dream about the cornbread (will they sell me an entire pan of it?). We can't wait to come back! read more

I LOVE soul food. It my absolute favorite type of food after Jamaican lol. I used to always say CT does not have any good soul food. But baby let me tell you....Sandra's is the real deal!! I no longer have to drive to NYC for my soul food fix. The church plate is my favorite meat and four sides. Her fried chicken wings are amazing, ribs are amazing, fried fish is yummy too!! Sides are amazing mac and cheese, collard greens, potato salad, yams, and corn bread on the side. And dont forget the lemonade to wash it down. She also has cakes for desert. I love the apple cake!!! Yum yum yum. read more

We've only just started to explore the food scene in New Haven since moving, and it's fun to choose a new place each weekend. The colder weather made me crave warm, comfort food, and soul food a la Sandra's Next Generation sounded too perfect. I called in our order for pick up, and we quickly drove over (and discovered it's near my husband's work, lucky guy!). The place was seriously bustling early Sunday afternoon, so they were already running out of items and there was a line of customers ordering food from the young staffers behind the counter. Having heard that the Go Green Chicken is a special, top offering, we definitely got a plate of that with rice, cabbage, and collard greens, and another plate with fried chicken (because, as my husband insisted, it's not good soul food if they don't know how to fry chicken) with more cabbage, and green beans. The car smelled waaay too good as we raced home. The chicken - for both entrees - was delicious. The Go Green was definitely my favorite, super moist and smothered in that herby, green gravy that thankfully was spooned over the rice as well. The fried chicken was also moist and fingery-lickin' good with a crunchy, spiced buttermilk crust. The cabbage was cooked to the point of deterioration and was tasty, but the collard greens were the best of the bunch. read more

as soon as i walked in i instantly fell in love with this place. the food smelled so good and the staff was warm and welcoming. after watching them on tv, i was excited to try this place especially since i had a huge craving for some delicious soul food for some time. we ordered one entree with four sides fried chicken (the skin was perfect, it was so crispy and crunchy) and cooked to perfection sides - sweet plantains, mac n cheese, corn and candied yams. they also gave each of us corn bread (yayyy). each side dish was flavorful and did not disappoint at all (even tho i was suppose to order sweet potatoes instead of sweet plantains). thanks yelp for the free dessert! we chose the chocolate cake and it was their last one for the day which made it even sweeter read more

Sandra's Next Generation - Soul Food Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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American sole food. The best. This is some of the best Connecticut has to offer. Fried chicken is just perfect with greens

Trash.way overpriced .good luck to your buisness Sandra but it's not worth that price let's be real .you can be profitable without robbing people .charge less you will get higher volume . read more

I have passed by this place over 1000 times, but have Never been inside to eat. My first time going in and eating was fantastic. OMG! It was crowded but the staff handled the flow of traffic perfectly. The place smelled so good. We were seated within 25 minutes. The service was excellent and our meals were Delicious. Even the little 10 year old (staff person in training) was very attentive and helpful. We had a great experience AND we got treated to some extra delicious cornbread to go. read more

Best soul food option in the New Haven area. I have always been please with the quality of service and food during all of my visits. Nothing lilke Soul Food on a Sunday to take that hangover down a notch or two. The portion are good and I always opt for the Church Plate (1 entree and two sides). The BBQ ribs are on point! Fall off the bone on point! I would definitely recommend dining here. read more

Food is great and the staff is phenomenal. The only complaint I have is that Sandra's is way overpriced. I'll keep going but like once or twice a year. read more

This was by far some of the best Soul Food I've had anywhere outside my Grandmas kitchen! Great portion, great flavor, great service! They were busy all thru lunch (line out the door), yet our server Sharwyn was extremely attentive and checked back often. We WILL be back! We talked with Sandra herself and got the hookup for a cooking show coming soon! read more

Wow! Completely awesome! I've had BBQ and Soul food from all over the country but who knew that the best of the lot was only about two miles from my apartment in New Haven? Every thing here is incredible. We had the BBQ pork, collard greens, mac and cheese, potato salad, candied yams, corn bread, hush puppies and peach cobbler and sweet potato cheese cake for desert. Every bite was perfect. Honestly, I've rarely had a dining experience like this and cannot wait to get back. The folks that own the place are incredibly warm and welcoming. Visiting Sandra's is like going home to eat - can't give it a higher recommendation. Do yourself a favor and go! Go now! read more

Sandra's earns every bit of her 5 stars! The staff welcomed us like family from the moment we walked through the door! This southern belle has been DYING for some soul food, and boy did I get it coming here! Started with their homemade sweet tea - perfection Homemade cornbread - melts in your mouth Church Special with Fried Chicken, Greens, Mac-N-Cheese, Plantains (YUM) and cajun rice - I'm going back for a second plate this week! I deferred on a free dessert this time with a yelp check in, but you can save it for a later use. I was too stuffed! And as an avid dessert connoisseur, this alone will tell you how good the food was! Thank you to the WHOLE family for this diamond in the rough! read more

Any time I'm in New Haven I make a point to go to Sandra's. The food is simply delicious and reminds me of the food my grand dad and great aunts from Georgia would make. I usually get the fried catfish, collard greens, yams, mac n cheese, and caribbean rice and immediately regret that I didn't get a second plate once it's all gone. A couple of things that I think they should consider: 1. It's cash only - we're an an age where you can pay for things using your cell phone or a watch so not at least accepting credit/debit cards is archaic. 2. I usually get take out because there isn't a lot of seating area, which is fine. But more often than not it's impossible to place a phone order. The other day the line kept ringing busy so I just went there and had to wait while they put my order together. Providing online ordering would help with this. A lot of take out restaurants do this and will let you know when your order is ready for pick up. I'm sure this would help them in preparing orders in an efficient manner and again, people could pay online and save time at the restaurant read more

Tweak a few things and this place will kill it! FOOD: Fried chicken was so crisp and delicious. Collard greens are off the charts, but, the Mac and cheese was reheated and the cheese was broken (cheese separates into oil and solids) and overall it was soggy and bland from having sat for too long. This just killed my experience and really not forgivable when that is a basic soul food staple. :( TEA: Iced tea was irresistible with their creative takes but it was way way way too sweet, but I understand that sweet tea is a "thing" and might just be me that doesn't like sweets this sweet, so I didn't subtract a star for this because I understand this may be how some people like tea. DESSERT: Cheesecake was Noms! Nice birthday splurge of calories, not too sweet and plenty real baked cheesy texture that most such deserts miss. PRICES: The prices have gone way up since I lived here when it was a ghetto in the nineties. This visit I was shocked to see Yallies and Doctors filling most seats. I seriously never saw anyone from Yale within blocks of this place back then. Back then the food was cheap and it really did feel like discovering a secret. Ah gentrification. read more

Sandra's Soul Food is a must if you're in the area and even if you're not. The food is unbelievably delicious. Everything we ate (and we ordered a lot) was great. The fried chicken, wings, BBQ chopped pork, corn bread and cajun rice were personal favorites of mine. (Also the cake. And the fried okra. And the candied yams. And Mac and cheese. And blackened fish. Ok I'm done.) Everyone who helped us was so kind and made our experience really fun and special. Thank you for an amazing meal that kept us full for hours in the best way! Cash only, FYI. Tip is added automatically if you dine in with 2 or more people. Apparently they do breakfasts and it's $12 for all you can eat. I'll be coming back. read more

I have about six places that I have checked into and will write a review on each. However, this place moves to the front of the line. I just got home from a late lunch and had to write about this so I could try to start thinking of something else! WOW. I could stop there... but I need to keep going. Atmosphere - Very few tables. Most of her business is take out. Since we live an hour and a half north of this place, we waited for a table. They offered us cornbread while we waited. The cornbread was amazing - light, just the perfect amount of crumbs and melt in your mouth fantastic! Very organized lunch crowd - great work on the cafeteria type line keeping the happy people moving! Any other place I would have rated down because of the few seats - this place does not need to change a thing! Wait for a seat if you have too... wait a long time if you have too... just wait!! Service - I'm not sure when I have rated a place a five star service. Including a lovely visit from Sandra herself! When checking on us she wanted to know how the food was - which I will get to in a minute - once we said how much we enjoyed it, she asked the question.... "just as important as the taste of the food... how was your service?" The answer to that question was "outstanding!" Seriously - nice, nice, nice people! Made you feel so much at home. Loved every minute of our wait and dinning time. Food - A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Seriously good food. For those who have never tried soul food - this should be your place. For those who know what soul food is and like it - you will love this place. Fried chicken, fried pork chops, green beans, collard greens, black eyed peas, fried okra, and mac and cheese. Each and every item is an "oh my god" experience. Truly terrific food. Banana pudding - had to be homemade. Crazy good! The fruit punch I got with my meal tasked like a melted popsicle! Ummm.... did I mention that this is not a diet place? Oh... come on... who cares! Once in a while it's good for the soul!! It's been a long time since a place has brought me to a place of absolute happiness. Sandra should be (and I'm sure she is) very proud of what she has going for her and her family. Everyone who is looking for how to make a retaurant a success... talk to Sandra... she has it down. Not only will I be back. I will become as much as a regular that I can be being an hour and a half north! Congratulations Sandra. Everyone else is looking for it... and you found it read more

This is a family business and I am blessed when I walked in at Sandra's when they were still at Whitney Ave. I gained a job and a new family. I no longer work there and moved 40 minutes away but still come to the restaurant at least once a month. I have now become a soul food snob because of their food. My favorite is their fried chicken,macaroni and cheese and collard greens. Their chopped turkey BBQ is also great, go green chicken or shrimp and their daily specials (Caribbean food). I love their chitterlings. It's clean and not chopped too finely. Desserts; sweet potato pie; sweet potato cheesecake; banana pudding, peach cobbler, etc) Parking: street or side lot Payment method: cash or credit card $10 min Ambiance: casual Take out? Yes Sit down: yes Outside seating: seasonal Don't miss their all you can eat breakfast buffet on the first Saturday of each month (red velvet waffles, fruits, grits, bacon, sausage, etc). I can write forever about this place!!!! This is my fave comfort food!!!!! read more

When I saw that this place had 5 stars with so many reviews, I had to try it! I was definitely not disappointed as this place is southern through and through. The food was great and the atmosphere was friendly and inviting (like going to a favorite relatives house for dinner). You can eat-in, although it's small, or take the food to go. I personally recommend eating in. So the food, first things first, bring your appetite!! My friend and I came here for lunch, which if you're looking for a deal, is the best option. Their lunch special is only $9 and that gets you a main entree and 2 sides. We, however, decided to be ambitious and order the Church Dinner which cost $15 but comes with a main entree and 4 sides. If you have a big appetite, can take a nap after or it actually is Sunday after church, this is the best option. I got fried chicken as my main entree and then collard greens, green beans, cabbage and Caribbean rice as my sides. Before our food came we were given some of the best cornbread I've ever had! It was seriously heaven; warm and crumbly and covered with what tasted like a sweetened butter. Amazing. All of the food was equally delicious and comforting, but I feel a need to further brag about the chicken.... So much so that it gets its own paragraph. It's important to note that not only have I previously been vegan, but I also have never liked chicken. Something about the texture and the way it becomes dry if it's slightly overcooked has always been unappealing to me. With that said, this was hands down the best chicken I've ever had! It was super juicy on the inside and the outside was crispy and delicious. My friend had ordered the baked jerk chicken which was also incredibly juicy and amazing. To top the whole food experience off, the people that work here are also really kind and inviting. Our waiter was very nice. The place is very clean. The food was brought to our table by the cook, who later asked us how we enjoyed the meal. While we were eating another worker (possibly the manager) came to our table to ask if it was our first time here and ask how we had heard about their restaurant. After our conversation he welcomed us to the Sandra's family and said he hoped we'd be back. That last bit really sums up the essence of this place. It seems like a place where they actually know who their customers are and make an effort to make everyone feel like part of the family. If you are still reading this review, you need to stop, just stop and go eat here. You won't be disappointed. read more

Visited Sandra's twice, I had Texas friends that craved fried chicken and corn bread. It was a walk from Yale to get there so its always a planned trip for us. The food is so good, the fried chicken is tasty, I always get dark meat which is my favorite. Their serving portion is huge, like most southern meals. The corn bread is delicious, so is the mac and cheese, collard greens and sweet tea. Service is awesome, you definitely get the family run restaurant vibe and everyone is always happy and cheerful. read more

I took my wife here last week for her Birthday. I have to say we loved it. The customer service was very pleasant and they made us feel like family. The food was pretty on point. The cornbread was moist and wonderful, the macaroni and cheese was perfect and the fried chicken was great. I am only taking a star off of this review because a couple of things could have had a bit more seasoning (fried okra and the catfish), but most of their dishes and desserts were full of flavor. If we lived in the area, would absolutely be back! Thank you to everybody at Sandra's who gave us a great evening out. read more

INSANE ON ZE MEMBRANE! I brought my parents here, and the whole experience was amazing. We were greeted by one of the owner's daughters who insisted we eat in and made lots of suggestions. The service was kind and prompt. We were brought complementary cornbread which was fantastic. Between the three of us, I tasted the most wonderful collard greens, Mac n cheese, sweet potato fries, ribs, Cajun chicken, and blackened fish in my life. The watermelon green tea and sweet tea were to die for. The entire family introduced themselves to us and made me want to go back as soon as possible. Here are some cons: 1) It's located on a shifty block, but you will certainly feel safe inside. 2) The table was a little sticky when we sat down, probably because of the humidity + no air conditioning. 3) There is an automatic 18% gratuity added for parties of 2 or more dining in (we probably would have tipped more if that wasn't in play). Nonetheless, those are minor blemishes compared to the quality of food and service. I can't wait to go back for the bottomless brunch!!! read more

Since the closure of Cast Iron Soul (I'm still grieving), I've been looking for a new go-to spot to eat the food of my homeland (e.g., the South). Some friends had raved about Sandra's, so I decided to check it out myself. What I loved: - affordable plates - you have several options of combining entrees with sides, which is great because you don't have to struggle with limiting yourself to just one choice. Portions are huge - I ordered fried chicken with 2 sides and got a wing, thigh, and drumstick on my plate. - hot piping cornbread right when you sit down - massive containers of sweet tea, so sweet it makes your teeth ache - excellent service, very friendly and personable - two words: FRIED CHICKEN. I have to say, however, that not all of the dishes measured up to the glory of Cast Iron. For one, the mac n cheese, although it was much hyped, was pretty bland and limp. I also thought the fried okra was overbreaded and was served too cold for my taste (the sides just sit in a buffet near the entrance). It's cash only, so make sure you are aware of that. The hours are also sometimes a bit fickle, so make sure you check before heading there. read more

My husband and I always see this place pop up as the highest rated in New Haven. He swears it's a conspiracy where restaurants pay people to write rave reviews in order for their business to show up in the "highest rated" filter. Well, hubby is out of town this weekend so I got to check this place out myself. I was a little surprised to see how cozy Sandra's is...not that it is a bad thing, actually it adds to the charm. I ordered takeout with fried chicken, collard, string beans, mac and cheese, and fried plantains. The girl who took my order was super pleasant as were all of the other employees. I had to wait a few minutes to get my order since there was a new batch of chicken frying up. No worries, it was totally worth the wait. The car ride home was agonizingly long due to the mouth watering smells emanating from my take out bag. It was a lot of food for just under $17. I easily could have split it into two meals, but after one bite of the wonderfully juicy and crispy fried chicken, there wasn't a chance in hell there would be many leftovers. Everything I ordered was delicious. Can't wait to bring the hubby here and have him taste why Sandra's has so many 5-star ratings. read more

THIS PLACE IS SO DAMN GOOD. ALWAYS. love the environment inside/outside on a nice day. I recommend this place to all people visiting New Haven. read more

Can't get over how good their food is. Though I do wish the prices were lower OR that the portions were bigger. I had the 2 meats & 2 sides meal, I chose fried chicken and bbq ribs with Mac and cheese and Caribbean rice. It was all delicious. Their hot sauce for the fried chicken was amazing too. Definitely worth trying! Love love loved it. read more

Everything is delicious.. Pricy but worth it. Order over the phone because the wait can be crazy

Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and was seated promptly. We were served by Dershauna? I think. I honestly can't think of enough nice things to say about that woman, she was great. I can't imagine dining here without having her as a server. I would come back just so she could wait on us! I hope management or the owner sees this review and acknowledges her merit. Food was served fresh, everything was executed perfectly. Definitely a place you want to order something new each visit. The restaurant itself is in need of a revamp or an entirely new location. This food served in a nicer restaurant and closer to downtown would make a killing. read more

I really wanted to fall in love with this place... but it just wasn't what I expected it to be after reading the yelp reviews. Food was okay... but nothing stood out. It was pretty bland and served lukewarm ( the food is shared out from heated pans). Decided to try a dessert while I was there and ordered the banana pudding cake. It was dry and tasted like a lemon cake with vanilla wafers on top :( On the bright side our server was very kind and made us comfortable.Overall, the staff is very passionate and you can totally tell they love what they do! Will try again one day if I'm feeling risky.. but it just wasn't worth it to me. read more

Best soul food restaurant I've ever been to. The staff is lovely and kind. you can tell there's family or heart in this business. I had the Caribbean rice and jerk chicken. if you ever had real jerk then you will not be disappointed. the macaroni and cheese is great as well as the fired okra. if you check in to this restaurant on yelp while speaking with your waitress, you receive a free desert. their I tasted their fried chicken and I will admit it was pretty amazing. I left as a very full and satisfied customer with food to take home. I will be back. read more

Sandra's Next Generation - The corn bread was fresh, tasty, and came with the meal. - Soul Food Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I have been in and out of New Haven several times on business in the past few months. Why did I wait so long to find and try this place? The only excuse I have is it wasn't on the side of town I was working until this week. Please Lord, bless me with another work trip up here so I can come back to SNG. SNG is a small place that is hustling and bustling. As others have stated, it does mostly takeout but does have seating inside and outside. Today was a nice day so there were occupied tables outside upon my arrival. Folks inside were staff and take out customers. I was greeted warmly upon arrival and my order was taken promptly. They have a take a number thingy which I imagine they use on extremely busy days. Today they were busy but it was steady busy and not crazy so they weren't using that number thingy. I ordered the combo plate with two proteins and two sides. I chose the fried chicken (wings) and pulled pork for my proteins and mac n cheese and collards for my sides. Fried chicken. The.Star. Seriously the best damn fried chicken I have ever had. It was seasoned so so well and with balance (i.e. salted but not overly salted). The breading was crispy but light and not greasy. The meat was moist, juicy and flavorful. They package it in it's own bag and it was still nice and hot like it had just come out even after a ten minute drive from SNG to my hotel. Pulled pork. I was pleasantly surprised by this. Upon opening my to go container (which, btw, they take great care packaging their to go orders) I saw the pulled pork and it looked pretty plain. After taking a bite, i realized it really didn't need any sauce. It had a nice and slightly acidic punch to it already like a NC style pulled pork. In fact, It was so good I had it half gone before I stopped and reminded myself I still had chicken and sides to eat also! Macaroni and cheese. I think mac and cheese is a one of those foods that can be debated. Some people like it super cheesy and creamy. Some people like it with super soft noodles and bland. And then some people just want it to taste like their grandma used to make it with noodles that aren't over cooked, one where you can taste the cheese but it's not dripping in cheese sauce and a top that's just a little bit crispy on top. That's what you get at SNG. So, if you like a Kraft or Velveeta cheesy type mac and cheese then this may not be quite your speed. I enjoyed it. Collards. I.love.collards. Living down south, I've had some really good collards but most of the time they are way too salty. Not at SNG, they were perfect to me. They were really tender, not tough (if they were undercooked) or falling apart (if they were overcooked). Some Yelpers have said they are sweet but I didn't find them to be. I could taste a smokiness to them from whatever meat bone they cooked them with but I didn't find any meat in them (which I didn't miss). Again, the seasoning was so well balanced...they were salted but not salty. I am so impressed with SNGs ability to balance their seasonings! SNG collards will be the collards I compare all others to. Lastly, the cornbread. It was a little bit sweet and just a tad dry. It probably would have been better right out of the oven. I still ate every bite though! ;-) SNG, thank you. Thank you for the best meal I have had in New Haven. I could taste the care, love and respect you put into your food in every bite. read more

Go! You will not be disappointed. Right from the start, a very friendly place. There are not many tables and it was Saturday night. Other patrons moved so our larger group could sit together. The service was friendly and fast even as they served many many takeout customers. As far as I could tell, every single item was homemade down to the lemonade and sweet tea. They start you with cornbread, great recipe, not too sweet. The fried chicken were biggest wings I've ever seen. You could get breast for $1 more. We also had ribs, blackened catfish, bbq pork. All the food was delicious, perfectly seasoned and nothing was greasy at all. The servings are big. We took dessert to go. Hospitality was great. Loved our server. Can't wait to go back. read more

Sandra's Next Generation - So friendly and food smells good! - Soul Food Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I was fortunate enough to make my first visit to Sandra's Next Generation on Sandra's birthday! The food is great and you definitely feel the heart and soul as soon as you walk in the door. Sandra and her family infuse the food, service and atmosphere with love! I will recommend this wonderful restaurant to anyone visiting or living in New Haven! I will look forward my next chance to get there!!! read more