Crustacean Boil and Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (347) • $$

"When my cousin and I came, it was pretty busy. We were seated right away by a waitress, but I forgot her name. She had short brown hair and glasses. She asked if we wanted to sit on the high table or wherever. After we chose a spot and sat down, she gave us the menu and asked if we've been here before. I haven't, but my cousin has, so we didn't need explaining. We started off with onion rings. For our main course meal, we got the Preset Bucket and the House Bag, which was $20. It comes with 1/2 ounce crawfish, muscles, shrimp, and clams. All of them come with complimentary corn, sausage pork, and baby red potatoes. There's no substitution; you can take out, but you can't replace it. We got to pick our seasoning and I got the House Magic Dust; which is a combination of Rajun Cajun, lemon pepper, and garlic butter. After you pick your seasoning in the bag, you'll pick what kind of heat/spice level you want. I got the Entry (hot, but not too much) and my cousin got the Lava Flow (which you have to pay extra and sign a waiver). The waitress told us that the cook is new, so the food may come out slower. When she brought our water out, she kept checked on us and brought out hot, fresh, and crispy onion rings. They were perfect! She kept letting us know that the food is coming soon. We weren't mad because we understood, even though the food did take a long time to come out (it was busy after all). We finally got our food and she thanked us for waiting. In addition, she gave us extra Snow Crab Legs. We didn't get the corn, but that's okay because I'll take the Snow Crab Legs instead. I asked for gloves to eat with since this can get messy. She came out with 2 bags with buckets, one of them had all the sauce and the other for the shells. The seasoning inside the bag was flavored just right. My cousin asked for the hot seasoning/sauce on the side, so she can dip instead. I decided to try it and I was choking because it was super hot. It was extremely spicy for me, I had to chug my water. They weren't kidding that it was hot. The waitress kept checking on us and refilling our water. She made our experience much better than what it could have turned out to be. In the end, she said whatever we had left, we could take home. I would definitely come back again because the seafood and onion rings were amazing. The wait was longer than I'd like, but it was busy and there was only one cook (who was new), so what can you expect? I had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Would recommend!"

Boss Queens Soul Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (272) • $$

"I have heard some amazing things about this spot, so since we made the journey back to Norfolk we had to pop in. We lucked up on their reverse happy hour from 6p-9p (Tuesday-Thursday), we got a margarita and Long Island for $6 a piece they were well made. Service was quick and everyone was polite! The vibe in here is everything I need in a soul food spot, great music and all. Now food, I got the fried catfish with mac and candied yams with a corn bread. Everything was good on my plate and I would order it again. So far this is the best soul food I've had in VA! The catfish was fried perfectly, mac was so cheesy with the 7 cheeses, and the candied yams were the perfect sweet touch! My husband got fried turkey leg with cabbage and mac, the turkey was good and fried with a good crunch. I would for sure recommend this spot and that's saying a lot for a VA spot."

Family Secrets Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (198) • $$

"The food was great!! When I say great, I mean GREAT! I really didn't want to leave this review because I didn't want to spread the word about this gem of a place. However, someone needs to enjoy the deliciousness that me and my family did this Sunday. We went after church and it was packed! Service was slow but I understood it. The staff was friendly, attentive and just all around great. It really felt like you were at a large family dinner. Ooohh! The cornbread!!!! I'm not even a cornbread eater and after sampling my husband's piece I ordered my own. Nice vibe, great music, definitely going back soon, maybe this weekend."

Shrimps

★★★★☆ 3.9 (109) • $$

"Second time trying this spot off the strength that it's local and black owned. It's honestly missing something for my personal liking. Called in my order over the phone, whoever answered didn't come off pleasant. Upon entering the restaurant, my food wasn't ready yet which was no problem I didn't mind waiting but the cashier gave me cold vibes and the impression that I was bothering them when I asked for extra sauce/receipt etc. As for the food, it's not something I'd want to eat again. I thought since it was a new restaurant, when I initially tried, they were getting their kinks out but years later it's still not great. The crab cake isn't real lump crab meat, it's more of a breaded type patty which gives budget. The bread was burnt but I did enjoy the side of yams. Definitely sweet and savory. I wish it was a better experience for me but this was another time they just did not deliver. Welp! The search continues for good soul food in Richmond. Doesn't land here for sure."

Bowmans Soul in the Wall

★★★★☆ 3.6 (122) • $$

"Served by Quay and she provided great service and recommendations to get.I got the 4 whole wings (crack) w/ fresh collards And also got the Succulent pig feet w/ green string beans and sweet potatoes casserole Will definitely be back again"

King Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.4 (79) • $

"OMG, we loved Kings - definitely a must stop if you're in the area.I ordered a couple of Chix Thighs that came with one of their delicious Cat Head Cheese biscuits, also a side of Hush Puppies and a small Sweet Potato Pie.Super nice staff, huge menu and delicious southern food. Everything was so yummy and definitely the best sweet potato pie I've ever had. So yep, we'll be back, next time we're in NC."

Canvas Social Cuisine

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (97) • $$

"We came here for brunch on a Saturday, and we had a good time. The wait wasn't long. Customer service:Phenomenal. Our waitress was so attentive and amicable. She was very good at making recommendations, checking in with us, and keeping up with refills.Food:My meal was a 10/10. I got the Steak N Eggs. My steak was cooked to my liking and well seasoned. The scrambled eggs were creamy and delicious, and the potatoes were seasoned well.Drink:I got the "pull out," and it was so good. Very strong but good. One drink was more than enough.Atmosphere:They had excellent music playing, and the vibes were incredible. The music wasn't too loud where you couldn't talk. It only got loud when they came out with signs for people's birthdays and celebrations. I will definitely come back. I had an amazing time."

Blackeyed Peas

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (91) • $$

"BlackEyed Peas is a soul food restaurant located outside of Lynnhaven Mall by the AMC theater. I went for an Open Mic night they were hosting. The service was extremely slow. This is why they lost a star. I had to ask front desk after 20 minutes for help. Once the server got to us, everything was fine. He rarely checked in on us, my guess because we were there for open mic. I ordered a strawberry lemon drop drink and kids chicken tenders and fries (I wasn't too hungry). The kids chicken tenders were large and 3 was too many; even for my 29 year old self. I wanted to try the Lea h cobbler but will have to test it out at a later date."

Ellens Homestyle & BBQ Express, llc

★★★★☆ 4.1 (53) • $$

"If you're looking for soul food that feels like a warm hug, Ellen's Homestyle & BBQ LLC is the place to go! I ordered the collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and three fried pork chops, and every bite was absolutely delicious.I didn't eat inside it was a to go order. The collard greens were seasoned to perfection. The mac and cheese was creamy, cheesy, and baked to a golden perfection--comfort food at its finest. And those fried pork chops? Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with flavor. They were fried just right, without being greasy.The portions were generous, and the food tasted homemade, like it was crafted with love and attention to detail. The staff was friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better.Ellen's Homestyle & BBQ LLC is now my go-to spot for real homestyle soul food cooking. Highly recommend it for anyone craving a soul food feast!"

Jackie's Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (78) • $$

"Enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The service was good. Staff made us feel welcomed. Salmon cakes were delicious."

JEM'S "Take A Plate"

★★★★☆ 3.7 (52) • $$

"I've eaten at JEM's several times. I love the Cabbage and Macaroni and Cheese these items are the BEST. Pros: Cooked to order and Large portions of foodCons: They don't always pick the phone for the calling orders. The long wait sometimesThe customer-facing staff is slow sometimes putting the orders in the bags. The Food:Fried Chicken: Overall good (a couple of times a little burnt)Turkey Wings: Pretty good, a large portionWhiting Fish: Just okay - Would not order againChicken and Dumplings: Extremely salty - Would not order againCabbage and Collards: I order this all the time, very good especially the cabbage. Yams: It is good if you like very sweet yams. Macaroni and Cheese: A must-buy so delicious!Potato Salad: This is truly a hit or miss for me. Sometimes it has a hint of vinegar and that makes the potato salad taste sour."

Daily Menu Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (50)

"I love this place!! I always go for the vibes. If you're looking for a laid back spot that plays great music, and has good food & drinks, this is it! I was pleasantly surprised by the extensive options available for vegans/vegetarians. I have tried every plant based option on the menu from the vegan burger, plant based brunch wrap, beyond meat tacos, mushroom tacos, and my ultimate favorite, the fried oyster mushroom "chicken" sandwich. That alone is worth a visit. Seriously, it gets a 10/10! Service is great, but it can get a little busy during peek times like weekends, so I tend to visit during weekdays/happy hour and definitely on Sundays for brunch. Vegan girlies, this is a safe place ."

Lil Momma's Soul Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4 (31) • $

"8/30/20: We were SUPER EXCITED to try this place out after all the great reviews on Yelp. I had a craving for candied yams, so that was foremost on my mind. We got a variety of things, so I will share the score of each. Wingettes - 4 stars - They were pretty big & fresh. I don't have many complaints about them other than all the chicken feathers that were left on them prior to cooking them. That kind of freaks me out & turns me off. I don't want to be plucking feathers off before I eat something. Mac'n'cheese - 4 stars - My kids loved it. Chocolate cake - 1 star - Completely stale. Can't enjoy that no matter what you do to it. #Trashed Fries - 4 stars - They were yummy. They weren't fresh but were warm. The seasoning on them was good too. Fried whiting - 4 stars - The fish was warm & had bones but not many. I love fried fish, so they really couldn't go wrong here. Candied yams - 3 stars - They were really fragrant. When I tasted them, I expected an explosion of flavor. Instead, they were lacking. It was like they were missing balance with salt or something. They weren't super sweet nor did they have much cinnamon. They didn't hit the spot for me, which is disappointing. Fried Pork chops - 4 stars - For the price you pay for them, you get A LOT. You get 2 large bone in pork chops, but the coating they were fried in basically fell off of them. They were not seasoned very much which wasn't that big a deal. I liked them. Cornbread - 4 stars - This is unlike any cornbread I have EVER had. It moreso reminds me of vanilla cake. I ate it with no issues. It actually tasted better than that chocolate cake we actually bought. I can tell it wasn't fresh fresh, but it was still moist and delicious. I may go back for something else down the line like their shrimp basket. I will keep searching for the candied yams though. I can't give 4 stars today, but maybe I can after my next visit."

Ward's Soul Food Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.5 (40) • $$

"I have came a few times but this most recent time is where the review is coming from! I always start my soul post talking about my soul food test. You all that follow me know, how i feel about place that call themselves soul food restaurants. This place did ok with the test, i have had better from them. The test consist of Fried wings mac and cheese and collards. SO the wings were cooked well, and they are seasoned. Yes, the meat has flavor. Everything was going GREAT until i go to the Mac. I had to take some points off .the Noodles were mega mushy, its was like i was eating mac cheese pudding. Which doesnt sound that bad, but when its suppose to be mac and cheese we might have a problem. But the collards were on point. Like i said i have been to this place before, and they normally hit. This time it was a 3 out of 5 from me!"

7 Spices Soul Food With A Twist

★★★★☆ 3.8 (32)

"Food doesn't disappointment at all. The food is made to order and staff is friendly. I've ordered to-go and pick-up. Oxtails can be a little more fatty than I like. Wish they gave hot sauce (would be good for the collard greens). However. It hasn't been a bother too me too much since I do not eat there. The inside is a bar type feel with tables and seats. Parking can be a bit of a challenge, but nothing one can't figure out. Will continue to come and support!"

29th & Green Bistro

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (48)

"I'll start with bad news. Came to visit some friends in Va. they want to go here. So we order. We ate (wasn't great). We ask for the check. The waitress ask if we wanted separate check. Sure we are two different couples. Check came back. I paid. Look at the tax and it like 19% tax charge in Va for a state that the Tax is no more than 7.5%. Look up reviews and come to find out they charge for having separate checks (Per reviews). And the staff didn't inform us that would be the case. That is totally wrong in my opinion. Nva been to an establishment that did this. Now on to the food. Way too much parsley on everything. Mac and cheese seem to not be prepared. The turkey bacon was cooked too hard. And there is very small portion. Fish had bones in them.Eggs were ok. Now the waitress did a great job. So overall a 3 stars."

Fat Ducks Seafood & Soul Food Express

★★★★☆ 3.9 (29)

"Went last Sunday. Couldn't wait to try it. I got the whiting fish dinner with Mac & Cheese and string beans. My sister got the same accept with Collard greens. And and order of onion rings. I must say we were pleased. Quite tasty. We sampled the crab salad . It's a good stop by for some good food at a great price. If you buy over $10. There's points to work towards a discount dinner. That's a plus. No one thought of that. A+!!! See you soon"

Ms. Mary's Resturant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (27) • $

"Rainy and ugly, so what better to put you in a great mood then southern food with a creole kick. That describes this establishment of home cooked comfort food. It's not a large restaurant, but they deliver big flavor. I had the smothered pork chops, greens and a delicious sweet potato soufflé oh can't forget that great cornbread that comes with the dishes. The prices are reasonable and the service is awesome. A definite diamond in the ruff. This was my first of many visits to come!"

Munchies Southern Soul

★★★★☆ 4.2 (22) • $$

"4 of us decided to make Munchies our supper destination after reading about their story in The Virginian Pilot. It's a new soul food spot that just opened this year. Wow were we impressed!! The location is right off Rt 199 in the Lightfoot area of Williamsburg.. super close to Ford Colony as well (hint hint - market this place to Ford Colony). It's tucked in the middle of a shopping center to the right if you're turning onto Olde Towne Rd from 199. We were there early so the place was all ours. The menu had us falling over ourselves - immediate hunger pains like... All the goodies.. it was so hard choosing. So we ordered waaay too much food 90's R&B hits swayed in the background.. we are not apologizing for singing Toni Braxton at the top of our lungs.. we honestly didn't have a choice. For a starter we picked the Crab Bites. These were just solid crab meat.. 5 crispy bites to an order and each one is a good 2-3 bites. The dipping sauce was a tangy honey mustard aoili (I think) - "the perfect amuse bouche" was uttered at some point. We all got extra sides. Because it was impossible to choose. Here's a summary of the sides: - Mac n Cheese - baked, classic, not gooey, DELICIOUS crust- Collards - mine had a big ole piece of meat in it and I was in heaven. First time trying these with Red Hot and I'll never be the same...- Green Beans - best I've ever had. - Yams - sorry mama, I didn't mean to do that it was was like a reflex - Mashed potatoes - classic, smooth and fluffyFor entrees we got the 2 piece dark chicken, pork chops, and crab cakes.. everything was hot and crispy. Crab cakes were just like the bites - none but lump!! For dessert: banana pudding and cherry cobbler. Listen... ...we were on the floor those desserts were so tasty... And the portions were fabulous.. a whole pint container of each.. we asked to meet the chef that created the desserts. Sheldon came out and we learned that everything we ate was his mom's recipes. He had grown up helping her in the kitchen and is carrying his family's legacy.. how beautiful is that!? Very reasonably priced place also - appetizer and entree with extra sides was around $30. Can't beat that. Please check this place out. I will be back and I may even be inquiring about catering soon!"

Lv's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (20)

"I've been driving pass LV's for years but never had the guts to stop in. After seeing a few reviews on here I decided to try them out! I am so glad I did. My dad and I visited for Sunday dinner. I was REALLY craving some good soul food and Southern Comfort was closed. LV's opened at 4 so I did have to wait until then. When we walked into the restaurant I was expecting it to be sit-in like most restaurants are now. But they are only doing to-go orders. My dad ordered the 6 Whole chicken wings and I ordered the smothered pork chops. Unfortunately there was an hour wait for Mac n cheese, I wasn't willing to wait so I didn't try it out. But I will next time. The pork chop was delicious, I looovez the gravy! The chicken wings were also delicious. Next time I think I'll order the wings and Mac n cheese. I will definitely be returning when I need my soul food fix!"

Marylous Soul Dining Experience

★★★★☆ 3.6 (27)

"So I really want to write a review about Mary Lou's. The food was really good. The atmosphere was really cute and our waiter was really nice. it seemed like a really friendly restaurant bar with a space that look like it could be great for event space! Dinner was lovely!"

Thee Soulfood Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.5 (25)

"my wife and I went to Thee Soul Food Kitchen to enjoy the live band and the food. met our expectations due to it was our first time going the food was really good wish they would've kept the chicken and fish hot because they were cold, but the rest of the food was hot. I would like to make a suggestion for the price you could add a couple of deserts to the buffet maybe cake and pie.... overall good vibe but need to be advertised more!! people missing out"

Truth Soulfood Restaurant and Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.7 (17)

"So yummy. Ordered a seafood platter. Everything in my tray was seasoned to perfection. A crab cake, pc of fish, 6 fried shrimp, and I got fries and cabbage for the sides. All for 15 dollars and a drink. Can't beat that price at all. Very flavorful. The crab cake was all crab no filler which is a plus. Came with a roll as well. And let me tell you that roll was buttered up so good. Everything was delicious down to the tarter sauce. Alot of places tarter tastes mayonnaisey but at this place that was not the case. I very much recommend the restaurant. Staff was pleasant as well. So glad this place didn't let me down as I drove from Richmond to find a decent eating."

Lookatdatder BBQ House & Catering

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"A hole in the wall! Friendly staff with their own lingo. No place to sit inside to eat but heavy plates of well seasoned and delicious food to go!"

Grannies Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"Whoever granny inspired this masterpiece of an establishment THANK YOU! This is real deal SOUL FOOD! This is a place your order for takeout type of restaurant so it's not ideal for dine in. They only put your order in once you arrive and not in advance so placing the order prior to arriving is pointless. I ordered the crab cakes, Mac and cheese, and collard greens and this meal did not disappoint! Meal was made fresh to order and came out fairly quick! I was shocked at how fI ate the food as soon as it came out and finished it in one sitting! I damn near inhaled the meal! Don't walk here RUN!"

Reggae Jamaican kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.7 (3)

"WONDERFUL FOOD!!! Customer service is excellent and extremely knowledgeable. I don't go anywhere to get my Jamaican food."

Queens Cuisine

★★★☆☆ 3 (3)

"EXCELLENT soul food cornerstone items: Mac and cheese, collard greens and fried chicken!! Extensive menu, cooked to order. Definite recommend"