This place serves all your traditional soul food. They got beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes,…read morelambs, rams, hogs, dogs, chicken, turkeys, rabbits, you name it. Well, they don't have rabbits, rams, or lambs, but you get the picture. This is a little carryout restaurant just outside the downtown area. There is metered street parking on the road out front and within a reasonable walking distance. They do not have a dining area. This is a carryout-only place. I was on a tight schedule, so I ordered online ahead of time. I scheduled my order for pickup at 5. They have music playing on a little speaker, and the woman working there was friendly. I ordered the beef ribs with a side of mac and cheese and collard greens. I got an additional side of cornbread stuffing. I arrived at 5, and my food was not ready. It was not even prepared until I got there. I did not get out of there until about 520, mind you; I had pre-scheduled a 5 PM pickup. The food traveled well and was delicious. I loved every item. They were all so flavorful. It was also a ton of food. The stuffing was really good. The ribs were amazing, and the collard greens were just like Mom used to make. And the mac and cheese was fire. I really enjoyed my meal here. I highly recommend checking this place out and look forward to going back there real soon. They have some of the best soul food that I have ever had. It would have easily been a 5-star joint if my order had been ready at the scheduled time.

So, really wanted some "Ancestor food" (Chitterings). Now, if you know, you know; they can't be…read morepurchased just "anywhere." After walking in (take-out only), and seeing that there were six people waiting for their food, I was convinced, this place CAN be trusted. So, staff, really nice. Informative, hospitable, and accommodating. As indicated, exclusively "Take-out," so not much attention given to aesthetics. All those waiting raved about the food. People there have been patronizing the restaurant for decades. Again, very good sign. Ordered chitterlings, potato salad, and collard greens. Initially thought $30.00 was a bit much, given I'd NEVER eaten chitterlings "out," BUT, thought about what it actually requires, and quickly changed my mind. The price point is fine. Everything was delicious. Everything. Including the Cornbread. Given I know how to cook, there were obviously some things I would have done differently. That doesn't even matter, this place is my "Soul Food" "go-to." If they can do chitterlings well, they can do anything. I can't wait to try everything else on the menu. I highly recommend.

My wife and I were in the area with and just happened to find this place through Yelp. We liked…read morethe photos and we haven't had really great southern food recently. When we arrived we were warmly greeted. The menu was expansive so we ordered a lot. The food was delicious. My wife said this was the best place she has eaten at since we've moved to the area. I enjoyed and it reminded me of being home. The Catfish was super crispy and well seasoned. The wife enjoyed the ribs and fried corn. The sides met the high standards of the kids especially the Mac and cheese. I would like to also highlight the variety of deserts that the cheesecakes and apple cobbler were to die for. Some of the beta southern food and I can't wait to go back.

Wow! The bbq here is spectacular! Today I ordered the half slab of ribs with a side of Mac and…read morecheese and I didn't want to put it down. The ribs are tender and each bite is packed with the flavor. They're slathered with sauce which may be off putting to some. For me, it was that perfectly fine balance between enough and flooded. Oh and the portion size? Amazing! Definitely enough to get full for dinner. Pass out for a minute then finish the rest the next day. The Mac and cheese was great. No, these aren't hand made noodles but the amount of cheese, the seasoning, evening l everything else was done expertly. If you want to save yourself an hour or two of cooking mac and cheese at home, get it here. The atmosphere here is very home cooking. It doesn't feel like it's some massive cookie cutter operation. It's nostalgic. This is what comfort food is supposed to taste like. Eating it made me think about fun times with the family back in Florida. While I made the order online, I was greeted as soon as I walked up to the counter. My order was done exactly when it said it would be done and was made with my additional request. I couldn't it be happier and look forward to many more orders and glad to have this place in the neighborhood.

I stopped at this spot on a humble. I was surprised of the food and service. The place was clean…read moreand staff were nice. I ordered bbq turkey wings, cabbage and macaroni and cheese. To my surprise the food was actually good. I never tried bbq turkey wings and they were amazing. The place reminds me of Mid Atlantic on queens chapel rd minus the bar, I would definitely return again.

We ordered WAY too much food but we did try a little of everything. Flavors are a little "tame"…read morebut not exactly bland. The collards are solid, not crazy flavorful, but good enough for a Wednesday and better than a lot of what I get back home. The ribs are really tender and might have been the standout--but the sauce is closer to a Chinese BBQ (sticky red and maybe a hint of five spice powder) than any regular BBQ sauce. We could have fed like 5 people for what we spent. The ladies behind the counter were friendly and helpful. Oh! The fried pork chops and hush puppies were really good, too.

The food was amazing. The flavor was on point. The amount of food you get is worth the money.read more

The food was excellent! True soul food and good portions. The staff is very friendly. My first…read moretime here and will definitely be back and recommend. The menu is extensive with so many selections of good home cooking. I had the fried catfish, collards and mac. Fresh, seasoned and plentiful.

Next month will mark one year since I discovered Down Home Comfort Cafe in Woodbridge, Virginia,…read moreand I can honestly say that finding this place has been one of the best things to happen to me. I was in town when I first stopped by, and what started as a visit turned into spending the entire day with the staff. From that very first day, I felt something special. These wonderful people are no longer just restaurant staff to me -- they are family. Now, every month when I fly into town, I make it a priority to spend the entire day with my Down Home Comfort Cafe family. I love the atmosphere, the food, the conversations, and most of all, the people. I even enjoy talking with the customers and recommending different entrées. It feels like I'm coming home every time I walk through those doors. And let me tell you -- the soul food is absolutely incredible! The food is made with love, and you can taste that love in every bite. If you're looking for delicious, authentic soul food and an atmosphere where you're treated like family, look no further. In my opinion, the best soul food cafe is right here in Woodbridge, Virginia -- Down Home Comfort Cafe!

I've only tried the chicken and waffles, but they never disappoint. The sweet potato waffle with…read morethe cinnamon is absolutely amazing, and the chicken is always crispy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. I also tried the bread pudding. I love bread pudding, but this one just wasn't my favorite. It wasn't bad it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. The café itself is small, cozy, and welcoming. They have a small bar area, indoor seating, and a customer restroom that's tucked away in the back. When I stopped in, there were several people dining in, and it had a relaxed, homey atmosphere. Overall, I'd definitely recommend Down Home Cafe, especially if you're looking for a comforting brunch or a laid-back Sunday meal. I'll definitely be back for those chicken and waffles! Oh! Open parking!

Maaaaaan where do I start?? The food was incredible, the customer service was superb, and the…read moreatmosphere was great. They were closing at 8, we went in just to grab a few desserts. Normally ppl wanna rush you out. The entire staff and owner gave us great conversation and suggestions on what to get. Love love love this place will visit again. A++ Mac&cheese, yams, salmon, fried whiting, oxtails, sweet potato pie, we literally tried everything lol

Been to the old location…read more Been to the new location. I don't get the hype. The food is basic at best. The fish (catfish and croaker) always tastes like it's been fried in grease that needs changing. There's no flavor profile in the food which is weird for a soul-food restaurant. The mixed veggies were absolutely disgusting-- gave them back. I paid $65 for fried catfish with two sides, fried croaker with two sides, a cookie and two drinks---and sadly, the only thing that was sort of worth it was the cornbread, but it tastes like it has coconut in it. I hate coconut. The item that was the most flavorful for me was the black eyed peas/hoppin John (minus the big pieces of fatty meat in them).

Um where has this place been hiding!! I had the pleasure of trying First Impression during Black…read morehistory month for a work event and let me tell you something, the food BUSSIN! I ordered the chicken strips with mac n cheese and mashed potatoes. So so good. I've been in need of good soul food and this will be my spot

This place was a surprising hit! The staff is friendly and even made some really good suggestions…read moreas I went JUST before closing and they still made everything fresh to order. Truly just a take out spot but could smell the food the entire way home and couldn't wait to dig in. We ordered the fried chicken and shrimp with 3 sides (Mac/cheese, potato salad and yams). The fried chicken was perfectly fried and seasoned while the shrimp and surprise hush puppies stole the show! The Mac and cheese was cheesy and not bland while the yams were sweet but not overly sweet. The potato salad had all the usual suspects and was a delicious cool addition to the meal. I forgot to take pics as we just wanted to dig in once we got home. I will be back to try a few more items and for more shrimp!

Man what can I say?…read more They really came through for me with a great meal! I ordered the turkey wings with collards and cabbage via UberEats because it was crazy hot outside. The food came really fast. It was hot! It was flavorful. Great portions too! For a decent price too! It was outstanding! I'd order from them again. If the weather stays like this it may be sooner!

Overall: 5/5 - Will be back! Def top 3 soul food spots for me…read more Food: 5/5 - Wings (w/ mumbo sauce) was BANGINGGGG. The crunch was just how I like them and it was the perfect amount of sauce on the wings. The mumbo sauce was really good as well, because as we all know...everybody do not have good mumbo sauce lol -Whipped yams was A-mazing because this is how I like to eat my yams. They were not too sweet to me and I don't really eat sweets anymore, so I was expecting them to possibly be overly sweet for my palate but they were perfect. -Collard Greens were great as well. Really good flavor. They do have a small kick to them though, but it's manageable and I ate them all. I really don't like spicy foods so on the spice level I give it a 1/5 which is a good thing. If you do like a kick to your greens then you will love them, but if you do not like spicy at all I'd say skip it. Service: 5/5 I had my food delivered and everyone's order was correct when it arrive and was neatly packaged

We had such a great experience at Carolina Kitchen in Bowie! The atmosphere was lovely, and we sat…read morein the beautiful sunroom area, which made the meal feel even more enjoyable. Our bartender/server, Aiesha, was fantastic! She knew the menu well and gave us great recommendations for both our meals and drinks. What I especially appreciated was how authentic and honest she was. She shared what she knew, and if she wasn't sure about something, she simply said so. That kind of genuine service goes a long way. And the drinks she made were excellent! The chef even stopped by our table to check on us, which was such a nice personal touch. From the atmosphere to the food, drinks, and especially the customer service, we really enjoyed our visit. Aiesha definitely helped make the experience memorable. We'll be back!

tabernacle baptist church burlington nj bus trip stopped for a soul food dinner. the service and…read morethe meal delicious. we will be back deacon bill owens.

At last, after years of seeing them place in the local top places to eat, I finally paid them a…read morevisit. They're usually closed the days that I'm in the Upper Marlboro area, but not this time! It's in the same Plaza as the Amish market, so there's plenty of parking. I stepped inside and there were a couple of chairs for waiting along the window. Otherwise, it's a small open space and there are desserts on display, I'm in you to read, and very polite staff behind the counter. I decided to get the blackened salmon and shrimp entree with collard greens and mac and cheese. I got their salts at caramel banana pudding for dessert. I decided to use my insulated bag and wait until I got to my friend's house to eat. I love the shrimp and the salmon. They were seasoned well, but not to a point of tasting too salty, which can happen at a lot of soul food restaurants for me. Unfortunately, despite the good flavor, this was the case with the collard greens, whew. Also, there is turkey in there, so don't get it as a vegetarian option! The mac and cheese was good... Not sure where I would put it in my rankings, but I enjoyed it. That banana pudding.... Whoa. It was the perfect dessert, and I would happily get it again. The salted caramel and banana balance surprisingly well. Their top rankings are well deserved, and I am looking forward to trying their wings and other items next time!

Disclaimer: I didn't have an entrée this time--I had the sides and a mango lemonade. And let me…read moretell you, the sides were really tasty! The food looked delicious, and the staff were welcoming and friendly. My only disappointment was that they had run out of potato salad, which was the one thing I was craving! The mango lemonade was good too a little on the sweeter side so you definitely need some ice. The ambiance was okay, and while nothing really stood out about it, the prices were reasonable. I'd definitely go back and try a full platter next time. Overall, based on what I had, I'd say it's worth giving a try!