The first time I went to Urban Comfort Foods they were closed for a revamp. I was eagerly awaiting…read morethe reopening because my niece said their food was simply delicious. Today I stopped by and was pleasantly surprised they were open.
It's a small location, but decorated nicely with everything being very neat and clean, which I truly appreciate. The staff was welcoming, explained everything clearly and provided good customer service.
The premise of the restaurant is you build your own bowl. Step one select your base from a choice of two types of rice or potatoes. Step two choose your protein. Step three choose five toppings from a list of hot or cold items. Step four choose your one sauce from a list of six sauces. The final part are some toppings like cornbread crumble, candied, bacon and four or five other items. You get to choose two.
My first observation was, I didn't see the prices of the bowl on the menu unless I overlooked it. I saw pricing for sides and extras, but not the base price of the bowls based on their size. I did like the fact that they offer three bowl sizes to meet your appetite.
I ordered the blackened salmon. The salmon was moist, flaky, and cooked well. However, I did not like the blackening seasoning. For me it overpowered the salmon versus complimenting the salmon. My husband and I both agreed the salmon was fishy.
My base was the herb rice. I really liked the freshness of the herbs with a good balance of seasoning on the rice.
For toppings I ordered the red beans, braised greens, bourbon sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and cucumbers. The toppings were good but not what I expected. I thought the braised greens weren't going to be cooked as much and would have a lighter flavor. I did not care for the yams. I thought they were overcooked. Red beans were cooked well.
I'm not sure I ordered the right toppings because everything blended together with a similar flavor profile. The amount of sauce you get for the size of the bowl is really small. We tried the Bbq, Caribbean Ranch and Green Goddess. The barbecue had the best flavor, but it was just too spicy for me.
My husband said the honey jerk chicken was tender and had a good flavor.
Overall for customer service and the aesthetics I give it five stars. For flavor of the meal I give it a 3.
I might go back and try something else that doesn't taste like soul food. I cook enough soul food at home so I typically don't purchase it out. The restaurant was definitely busy and I hope they do well and stay open.
