ZELLS Kitchen & Lounge

I visited this place in search of a good spot to take my family for a meal. Since moving back to Prince George's County from Northern Virginia, the local food scene has been a big topic of discussion in my household. With that in mind, I want to leave an honest review in hopes of contributing to the community I grew up in.First, the location of the restaurant made it difficult to find. Bigger signs or something to make it stand out more would be helpful. I circled the building a few times before finally spotting it. Even then, I wasn't sure if it was open--it wasn't very clear.When I walked in, the staff greeted me warmly and seated us at a table. We started looking through the menu, and based on Yelp recommendations, I ordered the wings (mango and BBQ, I believe). My wife ordered an omelette, and my daughter got a side of sausages and hash browns.The wings and sausages were good, but everything else was just okay. The hash browns were too salty, and the omelette wasn't well-executed--it just wasn't enjoyable.On the bright side, we received a complimentary glass of champagne, which I thought was a nice touch.Overall, I don't feel comfortable giving this spot 4 or 5 stars. I debated between 2 or 3 stars because the vibes and food quality didn't quite hit the mark. The prices were on par with a high-quality restaurant, but the experience and food didn't match those expectations.This business has potential, but the location and food quality need improvement.

When my son's godfather sent me this spot in Lanham, MD to check out, I was intrigued. It's in the same location where KitchenCray used to be, and the fact that it's Black-owned? Say less--I was sold.I made a reservation for 1:15 PM the night before, but honestly, I didn't need to. The place was quiet when I arrived, with only two other parties dining. Parking was easy since they have a dedicated lot--a rare treat for the DMV.The decor is a mix of vibrant warmth and rustic charm. Bold red walls immediately catch your eye and add energy to the space. Paired with dark wooden tables, rustic sliding panels, and sturdy metal chairs, it gives off a cozy, farmhouse-meets-industrial vibe. The open kitchen concept is a nice touch, letting you see your food being prepared, which adds a layer of transparency (and a little entertainment if you're nosy like me).Chalkboards with friendly messages like "Have a great day!" give the space a personal and welcoming feel. Overall, it's casual, inviting, and perfect for a laid-back meal.When I walked in, the hostess had stepped away, so there was no one at the front to direct me. For a second, I thought about seating myself, but I decided to wait. When she returned, she greeted me warmly and asked where I'd like to sit. Naturally, I opted for a table by the window because, hello, natural lighting for food pics!After bringing me water, she came back to take my order. I couldn't decide between the catfish bites and the salmon bites ($15), so I asked for her opinion. She recommended the salmon, so salmon bites it was--along with the mumbo shrimp deviled eggs ($16).From my seat, I had a view of the kitchen, where the owner and what looked like a trainee were cooking. My "not-that-hungry" order came out pretty quickly.* Salmon Bites: Crispy, fried in fresh grease, but they definitely could've used a sprinkle of salt and more seasoning. They weren't bad, just not memorable.* Mumbo Shrimp Deviled Eggs: These were the star. The filling was flavorful but a bit loose, so eating them was a messy affair. Luckily, I was dining solo, so no judgment, but if you're on a date--proceed with caution.Midway through, I decided to upgrade to the "starving" section of the menu and ordered the lamb chops with mashed potatoes ($36). For the lamb, you can choose from flavors like sweet chili, honey lemon pepper, BBQ, jerk, or buffalo. I went with honey lemon pepper, thinking it'd have a nice balance of sweet and tangy.* Lamb Chops: Tender, flavorful, and seasoned well with the lemon pepper, but where was the honey? It was all tang and no sweet. Still, the meat was cooked to perfection, so no real complaints there.* Mashed Potatoes & Spinach: The mashed potatoes were lumpy in the best way--real potato texture with the skins left on (I love that). They paired beautifully with the little bit of sautéed spinach on the side, which was seasoned just right. Honestly, the spinach might've been my favorite part of the dish.While the food was decent and fulfilling, nothing truly blew me away. For a $63 tab (plus an automatic 18% gratuity) bringing it to $78, I was expecting more. I was expecting a little more pizzazz. I also wasn't thrilled that the printed receipt didn't include a breakdown of the items I ordered--just the total cost. Transparency is key, especially when dining out.Would I return? Maybe. The vibe was chill, and the food had potential, but I'll likely come back to see what their brunch is hitting for. Stay tuned--I might spin the block and give them another shot!Visited 12/3/24

Horrible Over priced, food wasn't good and coldCoffee was mud, I will never go there again, I will definitely tell everyone not to go there Very bad experience

Hey friends! This restaurant is the revamped Kitchen Kray. It's owned by the owner of Kitchen Kray's mother. I was very excited to try this restaurant because I loved Kitchen Kray. My experience wasn't the best but I went during their first weekend open and would love to give them another chance.My cousin and I both ordered the French Toast Combo($22). It was okay. The menu says the eggs are cheddar eggs, I also confirmed with our server that the eggs would be cheddar eggs. Both of our eggs were cheddarless.... We watched our French toast sit under the warmer for a while :)))))) And of course it was stale once we got it :))))))) My boyfriend ordered the Topshelf Burger($27). He enjoyed it, he would have preferred a fresh patty and only got a kids size portion of fries. The mimosas were the saver! They were very strong. The flight is such a cute idea! The flight consists of pineapple, strawberry, mango, and blue raspberry flavors.Service was friendly. The owner introduced herself to us which was thoughtful! She let us know about the HH menu they're launching soon. This restaurant includes an automatic 18% gratuity to your bill, just as FYI.*The ambiance is intimate. The music was at a moderate level. Which we appreciated, because at a lot of brunch spots you have to scream to talk lol. Parking is free and plentiful. I'll be back to check them out for HH! Enjoy and be safe!With love, The Picky Pescatarian

MangoPassion Refresher - 10/10Mumbo Shrimp Deviled Eggs - 9/10French Toast - 10/10 (get the half order - it's filling)Showtime Omelette - 10/10Every single thing I ate was amazing. This is the quieter location and it definitely comes correct with taste. I am officially a loyal customer. Service: We had Ylicia and she was very good. Super attentive and even sat us (no host was at the front). We appreciate her.

This my second time at this location and it's been an enjoyable experience. Parking: parking lot with plenty of parking spots.Wait: we came in a sunday around 12:30 and there was no wait for a party of 2. We were seated quickly.Vibe: I love the old school R&B being played by the dj. It's a fun vibe. It's also great that the music isn't so loud that it's hard to hear,Food: we for the shrimp deviled eggs and they were delicious. The shrimp was a nice size and well seasoned. We got a side of the lemon pepper honey lamb chops and they were cooked well and the sauce was addictive. I ordered the shrimp and crab omelette and I thought it was ok. I asked for light cheese but it was still a good amount of cheese. The omelette was topped with the crab and shrimp. It was a decent omelet but not the best. My fiancée got the french toast and he said it was good but tasted more like cap'n crunch than french toast. He felt his eggs had way too much cheese. The tater tots were perfect.

Parking availability was good.For a Sunday, I was impressed with the wait time. We came at peak hours, brunch right after a lot of people's church services might let out, and maybe waited 10-15 minutes.They had a DJ that was playing great music, which was a vibe. At times, the music was blaring. We asked our server if the DJ could turn it down a little, and they were accommodating. If no one said anything, it would be impossible to have a conversation without straining your voice.The people I ate with got the fried chicken & waffles, & the catfish & cheesy grits. Both of them were impressed with the portions, and couldn't even finish their meal.For their drinks, I believe one person got a tropical beverage, that they enjoyed, and the other ordered frozen drink that was underwhelming. I was told it was too sweet & creamy, instead of fruity, and came with whipped cream that hurt instead of helped.I got the strawberry splash (strawberry, Sierra Mist, oj, and maybe, passion fruit?) and it was delicious. Think a strawberry lemonade mixed with a tropical sprite. 10/10For food, I got the seafood grits, which came with sausage and shrimp on top of cheesy grits. I appreciated the diversity of flavors that were provided by the selection of protein. Both were well seasoned. It was the perfect amount of cheese in the grits. Good portion. 10/10

Food: ALWAYS a hit! Party of 4 today. We were sooo hungry, we all forgot to take pics (SMH). Everyone had the cheese grits, 3 of us had catfish/catfish bites and the remaining person ordered the salmon bites. Yummy x 4.Service: Nothing but praise for the 2 ladies holding it down on this holiday Monday.Ambiance: Meh. Absolutely nothing noteworthy but we came to eat and we're all repeat patrons so, enuff said.One MINOR complaint: No Mimosas today as they were completely out of champagne. However, the server took $3 off of the substitute glass of Chardonnay I ordered (which actually made up for yesterday's unwarranted $3 up charge @glorydaysgrill (Stone Ridge/South Riding, VA).

Food was excellent Service was superb Ambulance was great.The owner was very welcoming. She explained the menu options and recommended that we look at the brunch which we did and saw the menu and felt that we would not be disappointed. The chef Bobby did an excellent job with our meal and our server. Zaire was tentative to what we needed and wanted . Try you will not be disappointed. I had catfish with crab and shrimp and cheesy grits. The grits were perfect in the fish. I didn't have to ask them to cook it hard. It was cooked right. Everything was well seasoned. I enjoyed it immensely and you will too.

I wish I could give this place zero stars. The only saving grace of our visit was our waitress she was amazing, constantly checking on us and doing everything she could to accommodate us. Unfortunately, everything else about our experience was a complete disaster.Despite there being only seven other people in the entire restaurant, we waited over an hour and a half for our food. When it finally arrived, it was cold and incorrect a completely unacceptable mix-up after such an excessive wait time. The Mac and cheese was black (they did bring out fresh replacements). To "make up" for the horrible service, they initially said they would comp part of the meal. Yet, when we got the bill, it was still $140! After complaining, they reduced it to $115, which was still an outrageous ripoff for cold food and an awful experience.To top it off, we had to ask for a free drink to hold us over during our ridiculous wait. Nothing about this place is worth the price or the frustration. Save your time and money go somewhere else. Horrible, horrible, horrible. ***We really should receive a refund as this experience was 100% horrible.