Be forewarned: this is not an ordinary review.My bestie and I were on an expedition to discover Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad, in Cambridge, MD. A well timed recommendation from the staff at the Visitor's Center, we were off to Porter's Soul Food Restaurant, which was about a 15 minute ride into town.We arrived to Porter's on an early Friday afternoon in great spirits and empty bellies. We were hOngry!! Although the space was modern, it had a very "home-like" feel to it.As I awaited my meal, I went to wash my hands and was even impressed with the cleanliness of the bathroom. The room itself was spacious, and it resembled big mama's master bathroom; you know the one that is off limits to company, unless you were one of her favorites.Breaking out of my nostalgic fog, I burst out of the bathroom when I faintly heard the number 54 announced. Composure in place, I retrieved my meal with a toothy grin and joined my bestie, who's eyes were already closed. I assumed she was blessing the table, but alas! She had her first bite!I blessed my meal and slowly slid my fork into the piping, hot serving of fried cabbage. Instantly, I was taken aback by the symphony of flavors that ignited my palate. I'm not entirely sure what happened at that exact moment, but it was if the flavors harmonized in a melodic kind of bliss. I blessed the Lord.My eyelids gently closed to seal in the delectable experience."M-mmmm," was all I could muster."M-m-m-m-m-m-m-m.....mmmmmm....Am I being disrespectful at the table with all this noise I'm making?" My bestie asked with a child-like expression."No, girl. Those sounds are a form of worship---you know the Lord can interpret our indecipherable sounds, don't you? This is worship," I responded.I take another bite and slowly chew. OMG. This is delicious---it's a party in my mouth! OMG, OMG. OMG. Thank you Father! This is everything I prayed for...this is exactly what I had a taste for and I am not all disappointed. It was so delicious that I had forgotten about my beautifully fried piece of catfish. So I tasted that perfectly fried morsel of fish and it just melted in my mouth.It was beyond delicious. I likened it unto ambrosia: food for the gods! I just kept blessing the Lord between chews. Once I realized how fast I was chewing, I instinctively slowed down because I wanted to fully enjoy the masterful blend of seasonings. There was absolutely no need for condiments. Admittedly, I didnt want to swallow what I was chewing as---I just didnt want the experience to end.I kept blessing God because the experience was unlike anything I had ever encountered at a restaurant!It was at that precise moment that I had come to the realization that the 70's music that was playing earlier had changed to gospel. When I mentioned it to bestie, she too, acknowledged her amazement with a nod, as she too, was having her own experience.Before I knew it, I was so enraptured by the entire experience, that I'd gotten filled! Right there at the table, I was in a blissful worship experience. If ever there was a scripture that came to life for me, it was Psalms 34:08; the one that says: "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!"There I sat, weeping sheer tears of joy. This went on while another two gospel songs played. The moment I regained my composure, the music returned to its original programming. I wanted to remain where I was within the experience!I recommend PORTER's Soul Food Restaurant for their fine cuisine and the experience. The dining establishment was noticeably clean, thoughtfully decorated, well run and maintained with a sense of excellence. The staff was genuinely kind and accommodating. The offerings were reasonably priced, very-well seasoned, and freshly prepared.Eating at Porter's was a soul-full experience. That food ministered to my entire soul.Great job to Porter's Soul Food. I am so proud of you all!!!!! We'll be back for certain!!!Vegetarian o
Jerry Lee
Recently visited Cambridge area and stopped by for a dine in dinner. The ambiance is nice, the music accompaniment was R&B classics from the 70's and 80's, the staff friendly and the owner welcoming.We had a group of four. The menu was affixed to the wall behind and order/cashier area was a bit challenging to read the menu for our older members of the group ( in there 80's).It appears an order usually consists of a protein and two sides.I ordered the catfish, collards, rice and gravy along with sweet tea. For dessert I tried the banana pudding. One other note - the meal comes with a small square of cornbread.The order took a bit of time as there were call in orders which seemed to have arrived before we did. The meal was served in a pastic, camp like to go container, with three segregated sections.The catfish was hot tender, the seasoned coating was on point and was not over cooked - EXCELLENT. The collards were not too mushy and not too hard, I was hoping for a bit more flavor - but since we have so many vegetarians running round, I suppose animal meat for flavor might take away a revenue stream. The rice and gravy hit the spot but was not over or underwhelming.The sweet tea, did not taste homemade which disappointed me a bit, but to quote EWF "thats the way of the world" these days.The banana pudding was GREAT. It was a throw back just like the music - a real classic.It actually had bananas and vanilla wafers! ( I don't know how many times, I have tasted a "banana" pudding with no banana!The fish portions were considerable for me and I took a filet and a few collards home with me in a to go container.As I have found, there are so many different flavors and individual opinions about soul food in general and mama's cooking so I say TRY THIS PLACE and make your own decision.Glad I could support a business run by a local member of the community creating jobs and fulfilling his or her vision.As Maze says, this place gave me "happy feelin's" as I ate being able bring back memories of "joy and pain" from days long past.As an old time Whispers fan, I will end by saying "love is where you find it"Stop by, I am sure you will realize Luther was right when he sang " there's nothing better than love" other than great food!
Christina Hebert
Omg. Amazing food. I had the catfish with okra and beans. Omg. The catfish was done to perfection. The beans so delicious. The okra wonderful. Amazing amazing restaurant. I just wish I could take this place back home with me.
J Kosmides
I always wanted to stop in and finally made the trip. I enjoyed the sides but the entrees, meatloaf and bbq chicken, were not my favorite. I can recommend the potatoes and onions, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. I also liked that there were a few tables out front which is a huge plus for me - anytime I can eat outside its +1. Thanks!
April Ekroos
Everything we had was excellent! My mother and I both had the catfish. Hubby had the chicken. Everything was perfect. Side are awesome and the banana pudding is incredible. Will definitely return!
Steven E.
This restaurant is a gem. We came to Cambridge for the weekend and this is the best meal we have had. The catfish was so plump and luscious with a breading that reminded me of southern fried chicken. The greens were superb with just the right amount of seasoning and cooked perfectly. This place deserves your business.
OlgaLing
Stopped by Harriet Tubman Garden and goggled near by restaurants. So glad I found this spot. The fried liver was AMAZING. The collard greens, stuffing and corn bread was just what I needed. If I am ever in the area again I will stop by for sure.
Mrs Jones
Delicious food wonderful atmosphere and great service every time I visit
Deanna S.
Delicious and well done! Took a sandwich shop and added a lot of class! Local and fresh! Wish it was closer ti my house!!
Loretta Walls
Absolutely necessary to visit if you desire soul food at it's best! Worth the wait as it's made to order.
I came to visit Hyatt resort for a weekend and visited this restaurant. My whole family was extremely happy and surprised with the quality of the seafood that we were served with. It’s not the taste and quality you should expect with this price. Every dish was so delicious and healthy. It would’ve costed me more than double if I had the same food in DC. The owner and waitress were very kind as well.
Hjj H.
did we come on the wrong day? Fried catfish was too mushy and string beans and potato salad were C grade! best thing was the cornbread...
Betty Seals
Found this on Google Search for good food near me.People was friendly atmosphere was fantastic music made you feel like you at a family dinner. Plenty of people coming in for to go orders. We were eating inside. The food was COLD I asked for NO gravy on my food as you can see there was gravy. My husband ate his food I did not. We travel to Salisbury often first and last time for me at this place.Not speaking bad about the place just not for me.
Angel C.
An interesting find for this area! Love that it's here and gives you something different! Super excited to give this place a try, as I'm a huge soul food fan. Unfortunately couldn't find much online presence like an updated menu etc so we ordered in person. Went about an hour before they closed, they no longer had catfish and the what's on the menu isnt offered daily. Waited about 15 mins and the food was fresh and hot! As we waited though apparently there was catfish...we were offered tilapia but as other people came in catfish was available, maybe they were regulars or friends of the owner but it was kinda a bummer since I came for catfish. Took the plates to go and no condiments or napkins were in the bags. The greens were good, Mac was hard and the tilapia was breaded nicely. The corn bread is really the star here! I'd definitely want a whole pan of that! We also had the honey bun pound cake because they didn't have the other desserts on the menu and its nothing special, good with coffee though. Overall they definitely need an online presence, an update IG account and online menu/ordering system, a consistent menu and an updated vibe, it def has potential.
Paul Milliner
Unbelievably good food. Great service and friendly employees. The cook even came out and asked how were we enjoying the meal. I'll definitely be back again soon.
Be forewarned: this is not an ordinary review.My bestie and I were on an expedition to discover Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad, in Cambridge, MD. A well timed recommendation from the staff at the Visitor's Center, we were off to Porter's Soul Food Restaurant, which was about a 15 minute ride into town.We arrived to Porter's on an early Friday afternoon in great spirits and empty bellies. We were hOngry!! Although the space was modern, it had a very "home-like" feel to it.As I awaited my meal, I went to wash my hands and was even impressed with the cleanliness of the bathroom. The room itself was spacious, and it resembled big mama's master bathroom; you know the one that is off limits to company, unless you were one of her favorites.Breaking out of my nostalgic fog, I burst out of the bathroom when I faintly heard the number 54 announced. Composure in place, I retrieved my meal with a toothy grin and joined my bestie, who's eyes were already closed. I assumed she was blessing the table, but alas! She had her first bite!I blessed my meal and slowly slid my fork into the piping, hot serving of fried cabbage. Instantly, I was taken aback by the symphony of flavors that ignited my palate. I'm not entirely sure what happened at that exact moment, but it was if the flavors harmonized in a melodic kind of bliss. I blessed the Lord.My eyelids gently closed to seal in the delectable experience."M-mmmm," was all I could muster."M-m-m-m-m-m-m-m.....mmmmmm....Am I being disrespectful at the table with all this noise I'm making?" My bestie asked with a child-like expression."No, girl. Those sounds are a form of worship---you know the Lord can interpret our indecipherable sounds, don't you? This is worship," I responded.I take another bite and slowly chew. OMG. This is delicious---it's a party in my mouth! OMG, OMG. OMG. Thank you Father! This is everything I prayed for...this is exactly what I had a taste for and I am not all disappointed. It was so delicious that I had forgotten about my beautifully fried piece of catfish. So I tasted that perfectly fried morsel of fish and it just melted in my mouth.It was beyond delicious. I likened it unto ambrosia: food for the gods! I just kept blessing the Lord between chews. Once I realized how fast I was chewing, I instinctively slowed down because I wanted to fully enjoy the masterful blend of seasonings. There was absolutely no need for condiments. Admittedly, I didnt want to swallow what I was chewing as---I just didnt want the experience to end.I kept blessing God because the experience was unlike anything I had ever encountered at a restaurant!It was at that precise moment that I had come to the realization that the 70's music that was playing earlier had changed to gospel. When I mentioned it to bestie, she too, acknowledged her amazement with a nod, as she too, was having her own experience.Before I knew it, I was so enraptured by the entire experience, that I'd gotten filled! Right there at the table, I was in a blissful worship experience. If ever there was a scripture that came to life for me, it was Psalms 34:08; the one that says: "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!"There I sat, weeping sheer tears of joy. This went on while another two gospel songs played. The moment I regained my composure, the music returned to its original programming. I wanted to remain where I was within the experience!I recommend PORTER's Soul Food Restaurant for their fine cuisine and the experience. The dining establishment was noticeably clean, thoughtfully decorated, well run and maintained with a sense of excellence. The staff was genuinely kind and accommodating. The offerings were reasonably priced, very-well seasoned, and freshly prepared.Eating at Porter's was a soul-full experience. That food ministered to my entire soul.Great job to Porter's Soul Food. I am so proud of you all!!!!! We'll be back for certain!!!Vegetarian o
Recently visited Cambridge area and stopped by for a dine in dinner. The ambiance is nice, the music accompaniment was R&B classics from the 70's and 80's, the staff friendly and the owner welcoming.We had a group of four. The menu was affixed to the wall behind and order/cashier area was a bit challenging to read the menu for our older members of the group ( in there 80's).It appears an order usually consists of a protein and two sides.I ordered the catfish, collards, rice and gravy along with sweet tea. For dessert I tried the banana pudding. One other note - the meal comes with a small square of cornbread.The order took a bit of time as there were call in orders which seemed to have arrived before we did. The meal was served in a pastic, camp like to go container, with three segregated sections.The catfish was hot tender, the seasoned coating was on point and was not over cooked - EXCELLENT. The collards were not too mushy and not too hard, I was hoping for a bit more flavor - but since we have so many vegetarians running round, I suppose animal meat for flavor might take away a revenue stream. The rice and gravy hit the spot but was not over or underwhelming.The sweet tea, did not taste homemade which disappointed me a bit, but to quote EWF "thats the way of the world" these days.The banana pudding was GREAT. It was a throw back just like the music - a real classic.It actually had bananas and vanilla wafers! ( I don't know how many times, I have tasted a "banana" pudding with no banana!The fish portions were considerable for me and I took a filet and a few collards home with me in a to go container.As I have found, there are so many different flavors and individual opinions about soul food in general and mama's cooking so I say TRY THIS PLACE and make your own decision.Glad I could support a business run by a local member of the community creating jobs and fulfilling his or her vision.As Maze says, this place gave me "happy feelin's" as I ate being able bring back memories of "joy and pain" from days long past.As an old time Whispers fan, I will end by saying "love is where you find it"Stop by, I am sure you will realize Luther was right when he sang " there's nothing better than love" other than great food!
Omg. Amazing food. I had the catfish with okra and beans. Omg. The catfish was done to perfection. The beans so delicious. The okra wonderful. Amazing amazing restaurant. I just wish I could take this place back home with me.
I always wanted to stop in and finally made the trip. I enjoyed the sides but the entrees, meatloaf and bbq chicken, were not my favorite. I can recommend the potatoes and onions, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. I also liked that there were a few tables out front which is a huge plus for me - anytime I can eat outside its +1. Thanks!
Everything we had was excellent! My mother and I both had the catfish. Hubby had the chicken. Everything was perfect. Side are awesome and the banana pudding is incredible. Will definitely return!
This restaurant is a gem. We came to Cambridge for the weekend and this is the best meal we have had. The catfish was so plump and luscious with a breading that reminded me of southern fried chicken. The greens were superb with just the right amount of seasoning and cooked perfectly. This place deserves your business.
Stopped by Harriet Tubman Garden and goggled near by restaurants. So glad I found this spot. The fried liver was AMAZING. The collard greens, stuffing and corn bread was just what I needed. If I am ever in the area again I will stop by for sure.
Delicious food wonderful atmosphere and great service every time I visit
Delicious and well done! Took a sandwich shop and added a lot of class! Local and fresh! Wish it was closer ti my house!!
Absolutely necessary to visit if you desire soul food at it's best! Worth the wait as it's made to order.
Restaurantji Recommends
I came to visit Hyatt resort for a weekend and visited this restaurant. My whole family was extremely happy and surprised with the quality of the seafood that we were served with. It’s not the taste and quality you should expect with this price. Every dish was so delicious and healthy. It would’ve costed me more than double if I had the same food in DC. The owner and waitress were very kind as well.
did we come on the wrong day? Fried catfish was too mushy and string beans and potato salad were C grade! best thing was the cornbread...
Found this on Google Search for good food near me.People was friendly atmosphere was fantastic music made you feel like you at a family dinner. Plenty of people coming in for to go orders. We were eating inside. The food was COLD I asked for NO gravy on my food as you can see there was gravy. My husband ate his food I did not. We travel to Salisbury often first and last time for me at this place.Not speaking bad about the place just not for me.
An interesting find for this area! Love that it's here and gives you something different! Super excited to give this place a try, as I'm a huge soul food fan. Unfortunately couldn't find much online presence like an updated menu etc so we ordered in person. Went about an hour before they closed, they no longer had catfish and the what's on the menu isnt offered daily. Waited about 15 mins and the food was fresh and hot! As we waited though apparently there was catfish...we were offered tilapia but as other people came in catfish was available, maybe they were regulars or friends of the owner but it was kinda a bummer since I came for catfish. Took the plates to go and no condiments or napkins were in the bags. The greens were good, Mac was hard and the tilapia was breaded nicely. The corn bread is really the star here! I'd definitely want a whole pan of that! We also had the honey bun pound cake because they didn't have the other desserts on the menu and its nothing special, good with coffee though. Overall they definitely need an online presence, an update IG account and online menu/ordering system, a consistent menu and an updated vibe, it def has potential.
Unbelievably good food. Great service and friendly employees. The cook even came out and asked how were we enjoying the meal. I'll definitely be back again soon.