If you're in Hartford looking for the real deal soul food, don't let the neighborhood fool you--Hot…read morePots has the best soul food sides in the city, period. This isn't Lilly's or any of the other "soul food" spots people usually talk about; this is the closest you're going to get to the quality and taste of Sandra's in New Haven. While I can't speak to their proteins, their sides are a masterclass in flavor and soul. My pro move is simple: grab a 20-piece suicide wings from Paul's Ranch House just down the block and pair them with the sides of your choice from here. Dinner is served. It's a fast-food environment, not fine dining, but the taste is elite and fits the budget perfectly. If you want authentic sides that actually hit the mark, this is a mandatory stop.

I'm done taking trash food just out of loyalty especially if it's not appropriated never can get…read morewhat I want from black businesses this place

We ordered in with Chef Walt's for the second time and were just as pleased as the first time !…read moreFirst time we had jerk chicken Alfredo which was amazing . The plates are huge , flavorful , fresh , and HOT !

I wanted this to be a 5-star review so badly and must admit that this rating is mostly because of…read moreservice. We enjoy Chef Walt's Caribbean-inspired American dishes! My particular favorite is the Oxtail Alfredo, I can't even think about it too long before deciding that maybe I do deserve to treat my self! I've indulged in their salmon wrap, salmon alfredo and more. The food is always a large portion and the flavor never lacks. The service is often an issue. I've tried multiple times to call with inquiries for an event and just for takeout. More often than not my call is not answered and I've had to resort to ordering online. I'd prefer to order directly from the restaurant to save a bit but also directly support small business but this makes it difficult. If there were an easier way to communicate with the establishment it would be a 5-star experience without question.

I kept hearing about this soul food spot, so while I was in the Wethersfield area, I decided to…read morestop by and see what the hype was about; Soul Bowl's Restaurant. I later found out they have other locations as well. When I arrived, I noticed this is more of a grab-and-go spot. There is no seating area for dining in, just a small waiting area with a couple of chairs. Parking is street parking, so keep that in mind when stopping by. I ordered in person, and I have to say the service was quick! Within about seven minutes, my food was ready. As soon as you walk in, you can see the menu and even see the kitchen area, which I always appreciate because you can get a feel for how your food is being prepared. The employee who greeted me was very friendly and welcoming. You can also order online. I ordered the seasoned rice, shrimp, mac & cheese, and collard greens bowl. First impression... the bowl looked beautiful and was put together very nicely. Everything looked fresh and appetizing. The shrimp was sautéed in a garlic sauce and had great flavor. The mac & cheese was definitely a highlight, very cheesy! When I put my fork into it, the cheese stretched and expanded the way you hope a good mac & cheese will. The collard greens were good, although I'll be honest, I've had better. They still complemented the bowl and added that classic soul food feel. At first glance, I thought, "Is this going to be enough?" But after eating it, I was completely satisfied and full. The portion was actually just right. The price was reasonable and within the range of what many restaurants are charging today. What makes this place stand out to me is that it tastes homemade and I love fresh food made with care. My only suggestion: PLEASE consider adding cornbread to the menu (hopefully soon ). A piece of cornbread would complete this bowl meal perfectly! Overall, I would definitely recommend Soul Bowl's. Great flavors, quick service, friendly staff, and that homemade comfort-food feeling. I'm already curious to try more from their menu! What should I try next?

The soul bowls at this location are extremely good! If you enjoy soul food it's fresh and it's…read morereally good! I order the bowls with the collard greens, sweet potatoes and chicken. At the bottom of the bowl there was a bed of rice. The soul roll was really good too!

I came here for Sunday brunch for a birthday party. My one sentence review would be: Soulbaila is a…read moreclub that happens to have a fairly good restaurant. Their dress code is pretty much club wear, even in January. They are a bit more forgiving in the winter, because coats/not many people will wear stilettos with snow on the ground, but I saw plenty of bodycon dresses and jean/blazer/dress shoe combos on the men. It looks small from the outside but it's pretty spacious, there are a selection of small tables and white club couches in the front where the bar is, two unisex restrooms (which got SUPER filthy because people apparently don't know how to handle their liquor at 2pm on a Sunday) and then the back with the larger group tables and the "VIP" section with more white club couches. The music is pretty good, they play everything under the sun from the diaspora: Hiplife/Afro-beats, hip-hop/rap (mostly trap), R&B, reggae, even gospel and hip-hop remixes of gospel music. However, It is L O U D. As in, you can barely hear the person next to you without leaning uncomfortably close. As in, more than a few hair cells in your ears got damaged after dining here. As in, you can hear the party from down the block. I was genuinely surprised this place got zoned in residential neighborhood. Luckily, the food makes up for it. We had several things from their brunch menu (chicken and waffles, omelets, lobster mac and cheese, wings and fries, fish and chips, fish and grits, bottomless mimosas) and every item was a hit, no one left unsatisfied. Many people left with take away plates, so the portions are pretty generous. The prices are reasonable ($12-16/plate). As for vegan options, there are fries and a side of strawberries (sometimes you just have to make a meal of sides, ha). The fries were crispy and perfectly salted. I would have them again. If you are strict about cross contamination I probably wouldn't come here but I mean, you CAN eat. Would *I* come back again, probably not. But if you are looking for a good time with good food and also want to twerk a bit, Soulbaila has you covered.

My favorite location in New England hands down! The Food, drinks, vibes, and ambiance are all top…read moreof the line. Highly recommended within the community.

Gave this place another go after a few years. Last time I was pregnant and the house sauce was no…read moreconsistent. I went back the flavor of the house sauce was pretty decent and more butter than seasoning. It wasn't horrible and it hit the spot. Place is not overly busy or crowded. For a $30 dollar bag it wasn't too bad. Will return when craving seafood locally

Walked in to the waiting area and was excited because the restaurant was almost completely empty,…read moreso things would be quick. Unfortunately, the host said it would be 15 to 20 minutes because the kitchen was "messed up and having problems." We asked if we could be seated so we could order some drinks, but we were told no because there was someone else waiting to be seated before us. They said it would complicate things, so we left and went somewhere else. It really perplexes me how places have no understanding of customer service and customer satisfaction. If I was the host or manager, I would have encouraged a guest to sit so they would hopefully order some drinks while waiting, and then I would give them some free chips and salsa for the delay. That would make a good impression, but instead they lost an order, and probably a customer who won't be back.

Ever since I moved to East Hartford I've been looking for a Jamaican restaurant in my new hometown…read morethat will become my regular go to. I can definitely say that Dutch pot is easily my favorite of the other East Hartford based Jamaican restaurants. The food is fresh and delicious and no matter what the stereotype says. The staff is always extremely kind and courteous. While I would love to give them a five star rating unfortunately at times they're opening and closing hours can be inconsistent. Otherwise a perfect restaurant to grab your Jamaican food and go.

I absolutely love Dutch Pot Jamaican Restaurant! The food is always fresh and made to order -- you…read morecan truly taste the quality and care in every bite. The lady who runs it is so pleasant and welcoming, which makes the whole experience even better. I'm a repeat customer for a reason -- consistently delicious food and great service every single time. Highly recommend if you're craving authentic Jamaican cuisine!

I always hear about a lot of Jamaicans being in Connecticut and a lot of Jamaican Box Lunch places…read morebeing around too. My husband and I were driving back from New York to Boston and our route took us through Hartford. After debating between trying here and Benjie's, by the fact that I'm writing this review you can guess where we stopped. My go-to at a box lunch place is always fried chicken, leg and thigh, with rice & peas, curry gravy and raw veg. We both ordered a medium. They didn't have any raw veg ready yet, just steam veg and macaroni salad so I got the latter. Fried chicken - good. Tastes just like how it's done in Jamaica. You get like 2.5 pieces of chicken with the medium. 5/5 Rice & peas- good. They use gungo peas instead of the usual kidney beans. 4/5 Macaroni salad/ Pasta salad- I haven't gotten macaroni salad in yearssss probably since I was living in Jamaica. I was nervous when I saw the macaroni colour didn't look like what i'm used to back home BUT once I took a bite, it nice it nice it nice I had to stop myself from nyam it off so I could have some with my leftovers. So other than the macaroni pasta itself being orange instead of white, it's good. 5/5 Curry goat gravy- so this was interesting experience. It doesn't taste like curry goat gravy that I know. But the more I mixed it around in the rice and ate it i got used to it. 3/5 Steam veg- my husband got this as his side he said it was good for steam veg in america but not what he's used to in Jamaica. 4.3/5 What I was excited to see them have CranWata and the lychee flavour Tropical Rhythms juice which I haven't been able to find in Boston. The staff was nice. There 2 or 3 tables to sit and eat. But more of a to-go place.

Recently ate at Pampi's for the first time and will absolutely be back for more soon. Jerk chicken…read morewas very tasty, and the good people running the place make it a warm neighborhood spot. Lots more on the menu I look forward to trying!

Went for lunch and unfortunately they were understaffed. Took a little while to get help, but all…read morethings considered they were as attentive as they could be. The food took a while to come out as well. It was decent, not the greatest cheese steak I've had but certainly good. Their other menu options looked good as well, lots of different options. For a "bar" I would say they are pretty good. The all wood interior is a cool vibe and I'm sure at night with a live band this place would be great.

I love the local places to eat, but this one was a bust today. Maybe it was just too early as I got…read morethere right after they opened. Ordered the French onion soup and the barbecue wings. Both were marginal at best. The French onion was lukewarm and the wings were dry almost like they were left from last night and just reheated. Looks like a nice little pub area and the waitress was nice. I have wings in my fridge that were fresher. Doubtful of a return visit.