Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Smith's Cafe

    3.8 (6 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 10:30 AM

    Order Smith's Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Smith's Cafe Soul Food Restaurant Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Smith's Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    a tray of food on a table
    Jay H.

    I got the Hamburger steak w/ mashed potatoes and fried okra LITERALLY only ate the mashed potatoes, the hamburger steak actually needed a knife to slice not to mention it was also very pink on the inside... I actually was too hungry to be trying new restaurants but I really had faith in this place, BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!

    the outside of the restaurant

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jay H.
    200
    1
    4

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kyle A.
    130
    825
    3378

    8 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    The breakfast is pretty good. The staff is friendly. The restaurant itself is pretty clean as well as the restrooms.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Smith's Cafe

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Soul Food 118 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    The Counter at Chef & the Farmer - Fried collards

    The Counter at Chef & the Farmer

    4.3(16 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    My wife and I visited Chef & the Farmer in Kinston to celebrate my birthday, and it turned out to…read morebe one of the most memorable dining experiences we've had in years. We were delighted to be personally greeted by none other than Vivian Howard -- James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, television personality, and author. It was our first visit since Chef Vivian reimagined the restaurant into its current format: an intimate, chef-driven dining concept she calls "Chef New," inspired by one of her favorite restaurants, Chez Nous in Charleston, where a compact menu of six rotating daily selections keeps the focus squarely on quality and creativity. Chef Vivian herself seated us, and from that moment, the warmth and intentionality of the experience never let up. We were fortunate to be seated directly in front of the open kitchen, where we had the pleasure of meeting Chef Hope and watching the culinary team work with quiet precision. Every member of the staff -- from our server to the pastry and salad chef -- contributed to an atmosphere that felt both refined and genuinely welcoming. The prix-fixe menu, which rotates weekly, offered a wonderful range of choices. We opened with a starter of soft-shell crabs -- caught just two hours prior -- served with charred scallion mayo and a bright corn relish. The dish was extraordinary: delicate, fresh, and perfectly executed. My wife's Brussels sprouts, tossed with spiced peanuts and goat cheese and finished with a honey vinaigrette, were equally impressive. A generous pour of Sorgente Prosecco made it all the better. For our mains, I chose the flank steak, accompanied by asparagus with green butter and a silky root vegetable purée. My wife opted for the house-made tagliatelle in a shrimp scampi that she couldn't stop talking about. Both dishes were beautifully presented and thoughtfully composed, reflecting the restaurant's deep commitment to farm-to-table sourcing and local ingredients. The meal concluded with fantastic desserts and continued conversation with the staff, who were as knowledgeable as they were passionate. Throughout the evening, there was an evident attention to detail in every element -- from the food preparation to the way each dish was explained and presented. This is the kind of dining experience that reminds you why food matters. We will absolutely be back.

    We've eaten a few times at Chef & the Farmer, enjoyed the Kitchen Bar experience, and were excited…read moreto try the latest iteration, The Counter. As always, Vivian does not disappoint. The Counter occupies what was once the private dining room at Chef & the Farmer. Decor is cool - bare brick, tin ceiling, polished cement floor, tables and chairs new but antiqued. An eclectic mix of music plays - a little too loud for my liking, but not so loud that we had to shout. Perhaps a dozen tables, plus a few on the sidewalk for when it warms up. The menu is simple, only a dozen or so choices. Some are old favorites, some new creations. A special of the day is offered. You order at the counter, and food is served at your table. You pick your table. We opted for an early dinner, arriving at 4PM on a Sunday. It was quiet in the restaurant, only us and and one other table. Service was good, but a little disjointed - one entrée arrived a full 5 minutes before the rest of the food. I tried shrimp and grits, the daily special. 6 shrimp, atop a bowl of cheddar grits, adorned with ground sausage, mushroom and roaster red pepper sauce. The shrimp are smoky; a crispy crunch to each one. Grits are creamy and perfect, complete with a few lumps. The sauce pulls it all together and adds the tiniest hint of heat. YUM! Also tried blueberry bbq chicken enchiladas. These are 3 to a serving; tortillas stuffed with shredded chicken prepared with Vivian's famous blueberry sauce. They're served in a shallow pool of poblano cream and topped with sliced radish, cilantro and cotijo. With a side of black beans. The chicken is the star.. it's moist, flavorful with the sweet/sour goodness of the blueberry sauce. Delish! Also tried a trio of sides - fried collards, hushpuppies and beets. The fried collards are a familiar favorite - deep fried collard leaves, crispy and salty. Hushpuppies are golf-ball sized, wonderfully crisp on the outside, moist and sweet on the inside. They're topped with apple & jalapeno preserves. Beets are served with slices of orange, topped with spiced and feta vinaigrette. To be honest, you could just order one of each of the sides (there are others) and that would be a meal! The counter offers wonderful food. Not quite the experience of a full sit-down meal (I really MISS Chef & the Farmer), but still - worth the drive to Kinston.

    Photos
    The Counter at Chef & the Farmer - Command Central Kitchen.

    Command Central Kitchen.

    The Counter at Chef & the Farmer - Bmeele Sprouts, Spiced Peanuts, Goat Cheese, Honey Vinaigrette

    Bmeele Sprouts, Spiced Peanuts, Goat Cheese, Honey Vinaigrette

    The Counter at Chef & the Farmer

    See all

    King's Restaurant - Beef tips

    King's Restaurant

    3.3(25 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $

    Love the fried pork chop sandwich!!!! It was the best I've ever had! I never thought I would find…read morefried pork chops like my grandma use to cook for me I will definitely be back

    I visited the Vernon Ave location on May 8th at which time I ordered a fish (trout) and barbecue…read morecombo for $19.20. When I received my order the plate was so light I thought they handed me the wrong order. I looked at the plate and there was this thin hard cooked half fish and a little bit of barbecue in a very small styrofoam container. There was also 4 overcooked hush puppies and a dab of potato salad and green beans. I'll admit it's been a long while since I've been there but I am familiar with their fish and barbecue plates because I use to get them for my mother atleast 2x a month on Fridays. The lady at the drive through was very nice when I commented about the plate and she took it and told me to drive up. As I sat in the car I thought if this is the quality of food they are serving nowadays it's not going to get better so I went in the resturant and requested a refund. The man who prepared my plate wanted to know what was wrong with it. I told him the amount of food and quality of the food was not pleasing. When I said it looked like a toddler plate with a dab of barbecue and fish on it he said that's the size of a combo plate. I told him that I beg the difference because I use to order this plate for my mother and he then said, I've been here for 13 years and it's been this way. I told him to give me my money back because we are not going to agree on this one. My point is the same plate use to cost $12.99 atleast 7 years ago, however; I expected a price increase because that's the world we live in now. What I didn't expect was such a poor quantity and quality of food. Had the plate been of the same quantity and quality it use to be nothing would have been said. I was given a refund without any issues. Resturants really need to rethink their approach to the pressures of rising prices because if you think it is okay to jack up prices and pass on garbage to customers you're in trouble. I did what I should have done in the first place I went home and cooked my salmon. Bye Kings!

    Photos
    King's Restaurant - Railroad

    Railroad

    King's Restaurant - St. Louis ribs with fried okra and slaw

    St. Louis ribs with fried okra and slaw

    King's Restaurant - Pig in a puppy

    See all

    Pig in a puppy

    Smith's Cafe - soulfood - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...