Coopers Restaurant and Lounge

This is the spot you go to when you really want authentic, southern, soul food. No lies told--everything from smothered pork chops to "trotters," (Pigs feet). The potato salad, greens, everything is delicious. The service is exceptional. The servers are very attentive, accommodating, and helpful. Be sure to bring cash to tip your servers. They definitely deserve it, especially since you pay before you eat. It's an "all-you-can-eat" buffet. The food is replenished regularly because diners have been plentiful every time I've been there. Ambiance is basic. People are there for the food. THAT's what really matters. I learned that the owners used to own a place that I'd been to before the Pandemic. This reiteration is far better. I highly recommend it.

Came here with my mom as someone recommended it to her. We decided to do the buffet but noticed a lot of people doing take out. The greeter told us to seat ourselves. Once we were seated, a waitress came to get our drink order. Drinks are included in the buffet price of $24 for lunch. We went to the buffet and the sign said to use gloves provided. I actually love this as I generally don't like buffets due to germs. They have a variety of "soul" food including liver and rice, collards, Mac n cheese, yams, chicken wings, and fish. The food is was seasoned well. The waitress was soooo nice and had great customer service skills. They provide dessert that's pre-wrapped including carrot cake and pies. I took off one star because there were people that came in to decorate for an event and they were all around our table. Once even bumped into my mom's chair without saying a word. I'll be back to try it again as the food is as seasoned well.

I start this review with stating that this restaurant is off High Street in Portsmouth, Va. and the Mrs and I were a little concerned with what kind of quality of food we would receive.When we read the reviews we decided to go and patronize this restaurant based off the stars and favorable Elite reviews. The lot was packed and customers were parking in the Rite-Aid lot and walking to the restaurant. It is Sunday afternoon right before church main service let out. We made it before the rush! There was a short line that did not distinguish between eat-in and carry-out customers so it is a little confusing for first timers.I asked my wife to go and check out the bar and decide whether it's worth the wait. She named a few things on the bar but nothing really stood out as far as "eye-catching I gotta try that!"We ended up waiting anyway because I found it hard to believe that this jam packed restaurant with all these "Sunday Folk" were paying and enjoying sub-par food.It was finally our turn, you pay up front $25.00 p.p. and then it's find a seat. Once you find a seat you can immediately go to the buffet which the plates and "gloves" are available at station across from the food bar. (I appreciate that gloves are a must when making your plate) The food bar offered hot, cold, steamed, and fried foods but it was obvious that the two most popular delicacies were the pig feet and candied yams, they could not keep them stocked fast enough.I chose the smothered turkey wings, collards, potato salad, and Mac and cheese for my first go around. Fried chicken, steamed shrimp, seafood Mac and cheese for my second go around and liver and onions and white rice for my last trip. I enjoyed every bite. Your meal comes with all you can drink and a choice of cornbread or muffins that a server brings to your table.As much as I would love to say my entire experience was outstanding that would not be the truth. There were some things that can be improved. Like, the dessert choices can be improved and the ambiance can be updated.However, for the quality of food that is served here I can get past those two challenges. We will be returning the next time my soul needs food but for right now I am about to take a nap!

Service was not professional but was a nice person, not the cleanest place. The food taste good but not good enough for us to come back. I love the gospel but they could've mixed it up with some line dancing music on a Friday.

Ok so whew bare with me on this one because this one is a doosy. This was my first and last time at this restaurant. This is very much a mom and pop restaurant but there was so much going on. I very much feel like the food, ambiance, and service can collectively make a break an experience.This place is very dated and could use some minor upgrades because a little goes a long way. To me the place looks very unorganized. Like there is just stuff everywhere. The floors were filthy look like they hadn't been swept all day. I was really confused about our server because when we came in she was sitting at the table in front of ours eating, then came right over and started taking our drink orders without washing her hands or anything. She didn't have a uniform on just a dirty sweater and jeans, and she was carrying around her purse the whole time so that's where my confusion came in.The hot bar is smaller than I expected limited but good options. They require you to wear gloves when you are getting food, however I was watching several staff members come in and out the kitchen and almost all of them did not have gloves on.I did not get any pics of my plate because I only had the chicken wings which were delicious, I had small samples of cabbage, greens and mac, very sub-par because they were not seasoned at all. And just the service in general with our server just became a no for me because she was touching dirty plates picking up trash off the floor and then trying to assist me and my family was a hard no for me and just made me lose my appetite.All in all i would rate a 2/10 but I still encourage you to give this place a try and see for yourself, it might be different depending on the day.Sidenote: my cousin wanted a ginger ale and instead of saying they didn't have any the waitress stated that a coke and sprite combo was the equivalent. Ummm yeah no its not.

Today was my first time visiting this restaurant with a friend who had already been before. Upon entering, everyone was nice and inviting. The price wasn't bad at all for a buffet. The server was very nice and attentive. It's not a huge buffet but it was the right size. They kept the food stocked. The seating was spacious and it was a family-friendly vibe. Everything was DELICIOUS. The cornbread was amazing and I loved the sweet tea. Tasted like some good tea I'm used to having when I lived in Georgia. Will definitely be back again.

Food was pretty good and fulfilling. Service sucked had to ask for drinks several times just to end up going ro the counter to get them.

I really really wanted to like this place. My aunt who is 80 and I much respect, told me to go here. She loved it. My hubby and I went for breakfast, which breakfast is something new they are doing..First very limited options and the food was Awful. Everything was just not cooked properly. The eggs were cold. And they are going to have to rotate the food more often because everything was cold. The thing they did right was fry the fish fresh as you ordered it. We should have known it was not going to be a good experience because we were the only ones in there. Then it looked like some folks from church came in. I asked for lemon in my water and they did not have lemons. The lady in the back yelled to the gentleman in the front to have someone pick up lemons before they came in. The table of five that came after us had a complaint,not sure what it was about but the server kept apologizing. You pay before you are seated. But if I had seen this buffet before I paid it would have been a no. The folks that work there were homey and friendly. But for $15 per person for this it was not worth it even at $5. It was just bad. I love supporting our peoples businesses and I don't need it fancy I just need it good.

Love this restaurant! The buffet is $21 per person for dinner and $14.99 brunch buffet Thur-Saturday. The dinner buffet is always different. The fried fish and chicken are always fresh. They also have a great assortments of vegetables and desserts. Recommend

The family loving atmosphere is amazing The food is SUPER DELICIOUS the waiters are very nice and sweet!