Soul Food Restaurants near Kenilworth, NJ

“Excellent spot I’d recommend it to anyone I’ll be returning again“

“Excellent spot I’d recommend it to anyone I’ll be returning again“

“Kawana and Natorie provided outstanding service and was very welcoming when entering the restaurant. Kawana made sure that my food was fresh. I would come here again.“

“?✨ A Dining Experience to Remember! ✨?

Walking into this spot, you’re immediately greeted by vibes for days – a perfect mix of warmth, style, and soul. From the first glance to the last bite, every detail has been crafted to create a true haven of comfort, beauty, and incredible flavors. ?✨

? Ambience & Aesthetic: This place is pure aesthetic heaven. Live plants add a lush, earthy vibe, while the stunning tables and floors tie the whole look together, giving it that cozy, chic feel. Every corner feels intentional, and the art on the walls brings a personality that just makes you want to stay and soak it all in. ??

? Music: The playlist? Perfection. ?? It feels like the heartbeat of the room, setting a chill but lively atmosphere that’s perfect for anything from a family meal to a date night. The tunes just pull you in, making you feel right at home.

? The Food: Let’s talk about that mac ’n cheese! This isn’t just any mac ’n cheese – it’s the kind that makes you feel like you’re back at Auntie’s house on a Sunday afternoon. Each forkful is pure, cheesy goodness, rich and comforting, like that first bite that makes kids run in from outside yelling, “DINNERTIME!” ?️? The chicken, greens, and yams were also top-notch, each one a testament to flavors that feel like home. It’s more than just food; it’s a trip down memory lane with every bite. ?

?‍? Staff: The team here is beyond incredible! From the warm welcome to the attentive service, they make you feel like family. Friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate, they add that extra sparkle to the whole experience. ???

Final Word? Loving god vibes good and a great space….- this place hits all the marks. It’s where flavors meet family, where aesthetics meet artistry, and where every corner invites you to savor, relax, and stay a while. ??

If you’re looking for more than just a meal, but a whole experience, this is it. Trust me – you’ll leave with a full belly, a happy heart, and already planning your next visit. ??️

Parking: Street

Kid-friendliness: Very“

“The food here is amazing. It’s always nice coming in and being greeted by the owner staff. If you need good soul food, this is the place to get it!“

“Loved the food. Authentic southern style cuisine.“

“The food was absolutely delicious, highly recommend“

“The food is excellent, flavorful & not overly salty. Good portions & reasonably priced.“

“First time here and the customer service was outstanding! Everyone was so polite and friendly. I ordered 9 of their sides because I don’t meat and here’s my honest review. I’m glad they were open because I didn’t cook this year.

Rice and peas- needed salt
Mac and cheese- not creamy enough but decent
Cabbage- it was good
Okra- it was ok
String beans- delicious
Collards- delicious
Dressing- 👎🏽 taste like stove top stuffing
Mashed potatoes- delicious
Candy yams- delicious“

“I took food to my job and they loved I brought a pan of yellow rice cabbage and a $20 pan of potato salad and took it to my job cause we had a birthday party for a coworker. They loved the food they never had it before I live in South Amboy but I’m from Newark work in Matawan at the nursing home, and they never had the flu before they loved it. Good job, kings.“

“I Am Always So Happy To Order Anything On Their Delightful Menu. The Food Is Always Prepared With Love And Care!! .. The Dinners Are Hot And Oh So Delicious! .. I Highly Recommend Jefferson's Cafe! Absolutely And Unequivocally Delicious Homemade Food!!! 10 STARS!!!!“

“My first time customer experience: I only had the fried chicken wings (ordered for a Super Bowl party) and they were delicious! Everyone loved them. I would have liked them fried just a little harder so you'll have to make that request, if you're like me. My only issue was I called a few days in advance to understand the procedure when ordering a large quantity of wings. On the day to order, they completely switched up on me and made me come in to pick them up immediately and when I got there, they didn't have my order ready at the time they insisted I be there. Although, I dropped everything (cooking for the party) to get there at the time they told me. Upon arriving, I received attitude because I didn't leave a name, even though they never asked me. I ended up waiting another 30 mins for my order. It cost me 1.5 hours total and I was really late for my party. I will try not to hold this against them because it was really busy for them. I would try to eat here again. I just wanted to inform anyone ordering large quantities of food to beware of that.“

“100 percent recommendation“

“Best restaurant. Staff is great, food is great and prices are good. I'm from Montreal, Canada and everytime I go to New Jersey its a must that I eat at Top Knotch restaurant.“

“I always try something new when I go and have not been disappointed yet. Customer service is great and the atmosphere is top tier.“

“FOOD IS THE REAL SOUTHERN STYLE FOOD. FAMILY IS VERY FRIENDLY AND WILL COME OUT FRONT AND TALK TO ALL THE CUSTOMERS. 💋💋💋💋💋💋💋🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋🥰“

“Very delicious, we all went back for more.“

“It's a long wait but we'll worth it the greens where so good....I should have got 2 sides of just greens....going back soon“

“Everything was great I just did not like seeing to many peoplle walking in from the outside into the kitchen. I feel that we do not know what germs they are bringing from the outside.“

“Chef Monique & her team provide a culinary experience for your soul! The food we catered (Mac & cheese, greens & cabbage mix, along with jerk salmon) were all delicious with the perfect amount of heat. The dishes were beautifully presented for us upon pick-up to warm easily for our gathering with specific warming instructions to prevent drying out. Our family appreciated the hands that prepared our feast. Chef Mo goes out of her way to make sure details are met with a smile! I would highly recommend everything on the menu.
Thanks Chef Mo & your Team! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽“

“This is my first time here. The food was DELICIOUS! It had me swaying in my seat. We ordered fried catfish with cheese grits, french toast, home fries, turkey bacon, homemade biscuits and a slice of carrot cake for later. I did notice on the menu automatic gratuity of 20% of groups of 2 or more. After receiving such great and attentive service, I didn't mind. Both servers deserved it. I've added J's Soul Food to my list of favorites. I will definitely be returning.

Parking: Enter the restaurant from the parking lot, not the street.“

“I recently had the pleasure of dining at Stars N Elites Restaurant Lounge New Jersey, and it was truly an unforgettable experience! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was vibrant yet inviting, setting the tone for an incredible evening out with my family.

The menu offered a fantastic variety, and each dish we tried was nothing short of amazing! The flavors were spot-on, and you could tell a lot of thought and passion went into each recipe. Not only was the food superb, but the bar was also impressive?!

What really made the experience exceptional was the staff. Everyone we interacted with was warm, attentive, and seemed genuinely happy to make our visit memorable. The owner even came by our table to check on us and make sure we were enjoying everything – a wonderful personal touch that made us feel valued.

The location added to the overall vibe, making it a perfect spot. I can confidently say I can’t wait to return when we are visiting family again.“

“Excellent Food!!! I ordered the jerk chicken platter with Mac n cheese and fries. Came with some banging cornbread too!! highly recommend. Sooooo Good!!!!“

“Great home cooked food; friendly staff; Fair prices; Highly recommended“

“I heard of this place when I first moved here. Unfortunantly, they were in the process of renovating then. Now that there back open, Big Al's Soulfood has to be the #1 Spot to go to on Staten Island, if you want "REAL SOUTHERN COOKING!" Everything tastes Awesome! My favorite dish is the Homemade Baked Macaroni & Cheese! Yummy😋... Thanks Big Al for the great food! Definitely see you all again!👍 🫶💜

Vegetarian options: The Homemade Baked Macaroni & Cheese is very delicious! Perfect!👍😋👏“

“Friendly staff, good food! The fried whiting and grits are delicious!!!“

“ITS EVERYTHING PEOPLE NEED FOR THEIR SOUL AND IT BRINGS BACK THE FEELING OF LOVE AND FAMILY“

“Only giving 4 stars bcuz I've only eaten here once, and I'm kinda bias bcuz I only like soul food from Harlam or the deep south. However I door dased this place and was surprisingly pleased. I mentioned Door Das, bcuz it always taste better to eat in person. Food was fresh and tasty. I will return, in “

“Excellent catering experience for our holiday family dinner. Wonderful service and our meal was DELICIOUS! So pleased and will definitely order again. Highly recommend Savory Selections Catering.“