The food was fresh, not overly seasoned, and definitely not salty. For a first-time visit, I have…read moreto say--it was delicious. I ordered the salmon croquettes, collard greens, and fried corn. My friend had the lamb chops, mac and cheese, and sweet potatoes. Everyone was pleasant. They greeted us as soon as we walked in and explained how everything works if you're dining in. The ambiance felt like a relaxed café--comfortable, welcoming, and come‑as‑you‑are. We were very pleased with both the food and the service.

I got the fried catfish, cabbage and Mac and it was delicious. I'm definitely coming back here!read more

Cook It Mama Cafe is a welcome addition to Bridgeport. I stopped by on a weekend about a month ago…read moreand there was a good amount of people waiting for food. The staff is incredibly friendly but move quickly to serve. We ordered the Queen T's Submarine which was very good and a nice sub sandwich. We also split the That's Not Yo Cheese Jerk nachos which topped with jerk chicken - it stole the show and I would happily order this everyday if I could. The Red Pineapple Squirt is a refreshing drink that complimented all the flavors of the nachos and sandwich. Cook It Mama Cafe is an underrated restaurant that should not be overlooked. Check it out when in Bridgeport!

Tried this restaurant through fooda. Maybe the restaurant experience is better, but with a name…read morelike cook it mama, i thought the food would look and taste more homemade. I considered the salmon pasta or jerk bowl and went with the jerk since the salmon pasta looked mostly pasta with some salmon pieces scattered about. The jerk bowl was disappointing. Before i ordered i saw that the ingredients looked prepackaged (canned beans, store pico & corn.) Even the sauce was poured directly from a bottle, but decided to support the business anyway since everything around the office is fast food or a sit down restaurant. I hate to report that the taste matched the look of the individual ingredients -- very bland. Not worth $16 at all

I had the worse experience at Pearl's Place…read more I've only been to this establishment twice and I paid a total of $40 in which my bill was $47 + gratuity for soulful buffet. I did not eat because the food did not taste good however I didn't complain, but the folks who was with me felt that I shouldn't have paid however, I didn't wanna make a fuss about it . They called the manager. He came over and asked me what was the issue. I let him know that I did not eat the food and that I basically pay to be there "" he looked me right in my face and said I'm so sorry to hear that please come again and the list go on.. I will not be back. This restaurant will be at the top of my never again list.

I've been here a couple of times with my family, and we love it!…read more We've gone for breakfast and lunch. They do an all you can eat buffet, but they also have a menu you can order from. Everything is made to-order, which I love! Always ensures your food is HOT. The staff are so nice and kind. Definitely feels like a friend or a family there. It's very familiar and homey. Overall, an amazing place I'll come back to over and over again!

I had their jerk chicken with yellow rice at the Evanston Folk Festival. The chicken was moist and…read morethe portion was ample. The flavoring was outstanding.The staff were really friendly and grateful. I hope to visit their restaurant!

From the owner: Food that feeds the soul read more

I frequently visit Michelin restaurants. Currently sitting in this restaurant you have to pay for a…read morereservation not uncommon. But it is very uncommon to not receive cutlery when being seated before many other diners and receive the wine you order late on top of the waiter completely ignoring your existence me and my partner received our entries late and the food was cold they automatically add gratuity so NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF SERVICE YOU RECEIVE YOU MUST STILL TIP DO NOT GO HERE.

The service was amazing. Our server was very attentive and the manager was extremely polite. The…read morefood was impeccable and I would definitely recommend this place for anyone who is looking for a soul food restaurant.

A gem in on the south side of Chicago! Randomly came across Dirty Tiff's Cafe while walking around…read moreand we are always up for soul or Jamaican food! We were greeted by Tiff herself, just sooo very welcoming, sweet, and provided great recommendations! All entrees come with rice/peas (Jamaican style w/ a sweet/savory sauce( and your choice of two sides. There is something for anyone's tastebuds! I ordered the fried fish; very crispy w/ collared greens and mac and cheese! Other two friends ordered the jerk chicken and fried chicken. The plate sizes are big enough to share so order a few things and try everything! There are high top chairs to eat inside and carry out is available! Definitely a go to!

The food was good. I ordered two jerk chicken tacos, a half dark jerk dinner with rice and peas,…read moreyams and Mac and cheese. Everything was good but I personally don't care for rice and beans that aren't savory! The rice and beans had a sweetness that I didn't care for. The jerk chicken was tender and very good. Solid Mac and cheese and yams. The jerk chicken taco was decent but why all the yellow part of the lettuce to the tacos? Seems like you guys are cutting corners! The yellow part of lettuce is bitter and shouldn't be used!

Went to Soul Food Lounge for a birthday dinner. The space is pretty small and every seat was taken,…read moreso there is really nowhere to wait if you do not have reservations. Definitely book ahead. We all ordered the Grand Tasting, which lets you try three entrees plus a beverage. It was so much food but everything was delicious. I had the short rib, fried chicken, and catfish, each with different sides. The only thing I did not really care for was the dressing. They also had live entertainment, which made the vibe even better. Customer service was just okay, but I would still recommend it. I definitely want to try their other location since I have heard the menu is different.

Had a galentines brunch with my girls this Valentine's Day and I'm so so happy my friend…read morerecommended we eat at The Soul Food Lounge. Because it was a busy holiday we had a reservation made for 1:30 pm, and of course my friend group was running a little late but they were so friendly and accommodating. There was a 90 minute time limit to eat due to how busy the day was, but they were so kind to start the clock after everyone in our party showed up. Now for the good stuff! The food? Phenomenal! On the menu they have a special called the Grand Tasting where you can get 3 sampler entrees and a free glass of champagne or wine (red or white), all for $69. Everyone in my group decided to get this deal so we could all sample one another's food. I ordered the Tuffle Lobster Mac and Cheese, The Carolina Creamy Shrimp and Grits, and the Sicilian Sriracha Chicken Parmigiana. Everything was fantastic, so incredibly delicious. For the entrees to be samples they were a pretty decent size. The shrimp and grits and the Mac and cheese were absolutely perfect 10/10. I wish there was a location in the suburbs I would go here all the time! Huge thank you to the staff for their great hospitality. I almost forgot to mention that this place has live music, which definitely helps create an enjoyable vibe while you're dining. This place is a must try!!

This was my first time having a meal from Jerk & Soul Food, I've heard great things about the…read morefamilies restaurant, but as we know in Chicago , "Lemme taste it for myself!"....I was not disappointed, The jerk chicken was superb, the cabbage was a hit, and the Mac and cheese definitely passed the test (y'all know Mac and cheese is not everyone's ministry) they nailed it. To cap it off, my son was able to meet the proprietor, Mr. Fears. My Wife and I have added this to our "Hey kids, we will be right back!" list. Keep Making It Happen! Best, D. Hills

Food 9/10; Jerk chicken, & wings, cabbage, plantains, rice &…read morebeans. All hot, fresh, on point. This was much first time visiting this place and I would highly recommend it. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Easy parking outside. The restaurant was clean and I came right before closing.

The best hands down!!! So far I've had chicken tips, dressing, Mac, cabbage, loaded fries, egg…read morerolls, fried rice Only 1 item I didn't like was the elote because it tasted like oil was used instead of butter it was greasy and not good for $5 dollars that pissed me off BUT Everything else GREAT!!! Call in is recommended because you'll be waiting until hell freezes over for your order 45-1or 1&1/2 hours for food. Trust I learned the hard way BUT!!!!! I learned I called in my order early the next time & told them I'd be there at 4 for pickup I called at 1 & my food was ready & hot when I arrived. It's not exactly in an area I'd want to stay waiting in for more than 5 minutes iykyk. Not a sit down restaurant get your food & GOOOOOO

1st visit impressive. Great service. Promptly handed off…read more Plate was heavy but I can't recommend the jerk eggroll. Best to order via UberEats as to avoid a wait until my 2nd visit Went during lunch and my pickup wasnt ready. They said 10 more minutes. They started fighting in the kitchen. Wholly in Spanish. 2nd visit - rice too buttery and watery. Smothered pork chop wasnt center cut like 1st visit. Mac N Cheese was given for both sides on the wing plate when spaghetti and macNcheese was ordered. Either way, it was salty. Peach cobbler too sweet. Blue koolaid was a win 1st visit but this time... Too sweet. Sugar and Salt has to have balance. Maybe another time in the Spring I'll swing back by but there is a parking lot.

I went there last year and I thought that the food tasted good, however they took a long time to…read moreprepare it. What shocked me was when the cashier asked me if I needed a fork with my food and I said yes. When I looked at my receipt I noticed that they charged me fifty cent for the plastic fork that he gave me. Because they charged me for a plastic fork, that should've came with the food for free, I haven't been back since, because I thought that was absolutely ridiculous! I'm 55 years old and I've been to thousands of restaurants, and I decided to support a Black Owned Business and they had the nerve to charge me for a plastic fork!

Let me start off by thanking Cleo's for actually being open due business hours. It's very…read moredisappointing when actually traveling long distance to an establishment and they not being open. I've traveled a time or two to a couple of spots in Chicago to support; only to be welcomed to a closed sign. So, Cleo's THANK YOU for blessing me with your service and love for food. It made my birthday, day trip that much better. Now, where do I start. Well, I called to make sure that they were open. I wanted to place my order via phone, but was instructed to place it via their website. The website was easy to navigate and updated. The time given for pickup was pretty much exact. I may even say that it was ready 5-10 minutes before. Parking can be a bit of a challenge. However, depending on when you go, there's a small lot across the street where you can park. Also, you can dine inside, however, depending on how busy, you may or may not have a spot. I lucked up and was able to dine in. Which made my experience better because I was able to take my food out, examine and get comfortable. All food is made to order. That is a huge plus!!!! Food was packaged right and sealed tight. I tried the Float & Fly which consisted of 3 pcs of catfish fillets and 3 fried chicken wings. I tried the green beans, Mac n cheese and pineapple candied sweet potatoes and pineapple cheesecake for a treat. Oh, let me not forget the Purple Rain drink. The catfish & wings were well seasoned and fried to perfection. If I had to choose between the two, wings for the WIN!!! The greens beans had a bit of a kick to them. So much that I followed up with some Mac and sweet potatoes. Ha! The Mac was cheesy and kinda creamy. Great texture. The sweet potatoes were different with the pineapples. The pineapples gave a little twist, but still delivering your childhood memory of sweet potatoes that grandma used to make. Desserts are limited; cheesecake or brownie. The cheesecake was my least favorite thing. I either want peach cobbler or cheesecake; not them being married. Ha! I was happy and pleased with how clean the inside was and how organized it was as well. I like an open kitchen concept. I'll definitely be returning when in Chicago. My advice is to place your order online. Keith Lee approved and so do I!