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    Inner City Blues

    3.9 (31 reviews)
    Closed • 1:00 pm - 11:00 PM

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    Recommended Reviews - Inner City Blues

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    Bologna Burger with sauted onions, sweet potato fries and Mac n cheese.
    Kahlil H.

    I ordered with the intention of choosing items that could easily get messed up. Seemingly simple dishes go wrong all the time, and my litmus test, for the quality of other menu items, is to see who pays attention to the details. These folks nailed it! Wonderful portions. The Bologna was cooked to perfection with just the right amount of charing--cut not too thick, not too thin, just right. The onions still had a little bite in them to let me know they were there, so flavorful on an uncomplicated bun. The fries were awesome and cooked for the right amount of time where they held their shape, while still being tender and sweet on the inside. The Mac was on point, perfectly balanced, noodles cooked perfectly, not mushy. And what can I say about that pie. Defined by an amazingly firm crust, cooked through and the filling had the right amount of sweetness to balance the iced topping. Looking forward to trying more items from this menu. Highly recommend.

    NC-style pulled pork sandwich and the brisket beans are some of the best that I've ever tasted.
    Alise V.

    This might not be the best picture. But y'all. When I tell you that this NC-style pulled pork sandwich and the brisket beans are some of the best that I've ever tasted, I am not lying. Inner City catered my work function for 30 people. The items came organized, individually wrapped for easy distribution, and still warm. Not just the food, but the customer service was also outstanding.

    Pulled Chicken
    Aieda B.

    We found this place bc the hubby was really craving a pulled pork sandwich @9:30pm. This was the only spot open (they close at 11, AHMAZING!!)and we rememebered we wanted to try during the Black Restaurant Experience. We've lived in this area so the location wasn't ever a thought of an issue but as in other reviews it may be a bit offputting to some. Just park and go in; the staff is very kind. The menu was more extensive than I thought; they have a nice variety to choose from. We ordered 2 dinner platters: 1. Pulled pork/ Chicken sandwhiches, macaroni &cheese, string beans 3. Lemon Chess pie & Coconut pie - both sandwhiches were good, nothing to make you slap your mama but, good. They need a better way to package bc my sandwich got wet by the stringbeans, while in the foil. -String beans were the best part of the platter; seasoned so well! -Macaroni & cheese was sweet and I was not expecting that. Sweet mac is a country thing but I prefer salt & pepper. They tasted wayyy better mixed with the string beans. -Now those pies are a whole nother story! They were rich, but not overbearingly so. I would drive all the way across town for the pie alone! *We may have caught an off night; we'll for sure give them another shot. Everything was cooked well, NC style just may not be my thing.*

    Yes Lord!
    Ashley W.

    If you want real authentic North Carolina barbecue you have to give them a try! They mince the barbecue and make it a special way. This is a take out only spot I would call ahead and order before you get there so you don't have to wait! The ribs fall off of the bone no exaggeration and the potato salad is slamming

    1/2lbs pork rib combo. So glad I visited. This is the best local-que I've had in a very long time. I can't recommend inner city que enough.
    Glenn S.

    1/2 lbs pork rib combo. In all my travels this has to be in my top 3. The meat was falling apart y'all! Very good bbq sauce. The collard greens were as good as my grandmother's. I can't recommend inner city blues enough. My new regular joint when I come through here now.

    Ribs, greens and Mac
    Cherrelle D.

    I ordered ribs, Mac and cheese and greens through DoorDash to my job. I asked for extra barbecue sauce and was given ketchup. If I would've been given the correct sauce, they would get the 5 stars! My food was delicious, hot and seasoned! I will definitely order from them again!

    Pulled chicken sandwich, fries, and bbq sauce (added)

    NOTE: posting on August 7, 2020 This place was/is amazing! We weren't sure they were open at the moment because it's a pretty small spot, but within a few minutes we realized we just happened to get there at a good time! They were requiring masks and limiting the number of folks inside, for those who are also concerned. The order went smoothly and we got our food hot and in no time. A hole in the wall take-out spot with decent parking, and it's open pretty late. We got two pulled chicken sandwiches and fries. My brother got the six wingettes, fries and macaroni (he didn't love the macaroni, but people are all picky about mac!). I also got a lemonade -- the jumbo size is the only way to go, trust me. The food was great! I seriously have no complaints: the bun was nice, I got a decent portion, and everything was perfect in the order. The fries are hand cut, so we did put them in the air fryer when we got home... but who cares! They'd have been fine anyway. I got a side of bbq, Im pretty sure they have a tomato/ketchup based sauce as is common so it does kinda just taste like ketchup. All in all, Im excited to go back! They're still open pretty late, but I did see a sign about them being slightly different, so take some caution. I noticed some folks came in without placing an order, so maybe you can phone in? Worth a try! Probably our go-to from now on. PS for those who don't know, this restaurant is Black owned (and part of Black Restaurant Experience)!

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    6 months ago

    This food bussing. Real soul food finally. Probably the best I've had and I eat out a lot!

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    It was so good! Had the smothered pork chops, rack of ribs and pulled pork sandwich. Everything was hot a seasoned to perfection!

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    Mama J's Kitchen - Mac and cheese and sweet potatoes are on the side.

    Mama J's Kitchen

    4.3(1.6k reviews)
    2.1 mi•Jackson Ward, Downtown
    •$$

    Yes! Yes! Yes! Mama J's has ruined me for anything else right now. I was eating and humming and…read morelegs were dancing throughout my meal. SO, SO GOOD! Okay so, I love fish, but if I run up on a bone, I am done. This catfish was crispy, flaky, boneless and downright delicious. The collards, Mac & cheese and sweet potato.....excellent. My husband had to personally thank the cookI I will travel to eat at Mama J's.

    7 out of 5 stars. Yes, I said 7…read more So I went to Mama J's after scoping it out on Yelp, and let me tell you something: Richmond, we may have a problem. I have found the food. I initially walked into the market next door, which is actually great because there aren't a lot of grocery stores nearby. Then I headed over to Mama J's on a Monday afternoon. The place was teeming with associates doing all kinds of things, which I actually loved. I was seated quickly and started looking around. It was comfortable and familiar, even though it was my first time there. Then my server greeted me, called me "baby," and suddenly I felt like I had walked into my auntie's house. Okay. We were off to a good start. I ordered an Arnold Palmer and some catfish nuggets. Now, I knew I was in the right place when my server brought me TWO glasses of the most perfectly made Arnold Palmer. Two. Glasses. Start the happy dance. While I waited for my food, I looked around at the old photographs and magazine covers featuring Mama J's. It all made sense. The restaurant felt familiar because it felt like somebody's dining room. A place that has history. A place where people have been eating, talking, laughing and coming back for years. Then my catfish nuggets arrived. HOT. Golden. Crispy. When I tell you I did a happy dance... I ate those catfish nuggets with a knife and fork, humming to myself and saying, "This is the best catfish I have eaten in my life." And mind you, I eat out at least twice a week. So I ordered the crab cake sandwich with a side of macaroni and cheese. We were not particularly focused on vegetables because my server could not promise me the collards and cabbage weren't cooked with chicken broth. It's fine. I didn't really want my vegetables anyway. Then my plate arrived. HOT. I ate that macaroni and cheese and literally had to rock, hum and say to myself, "Woo. This food is good." The crab cake sandwich and fries were so good that I immediately knew some of them were coming home with me for lunch tomorrow. Because I may love food, but I also believe in planning ahead. Now let's talk about this crab cake. First, the brioche bun was EXACTLY the right bread. I am not a sliced-white-bread kind of woman. I need a brioche bun sturdy enough for the remoulade to hold onto. And then there was the crab cake. Enunciate that K. Fresh crabmeat. Maryland could NEVER. I know, I know. Maryland swears they have the best crab cakes. No ma'am. No sir. The best crab cake is sitting on Clay Street, about a mile from the James River, in Jackson Ward, the Harlem of the South. And the fries? HOT. You know that perfect fry: crispy on the outside, soft in the center? Yeah. Those. At this point, I was full and getting sleepy at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. But apparently that wasn't enough because I ordered some potato salad to go so I could top off tomorrow's lunch. Because priorities. I left Mama J's full as a tick. Came home. And promptly took a several-hour nap. That is how good this meal was. Mama J's, you have officially set the bar. 7 out of 5 stars. I am going back. And, quite frankly, they are going to get sick of seeing me. Richmond, if you haven't been to Mama J's, what are you waiting for?

    Photos
    Mama J's Kitchen - Seating

    Seating

    Mama J's Kitchen - Pork Chops, Cabbage

    Pork Chops, Cabbage

    Mama J's Kitchen - Exterior

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    Exterior

    Lillie Pearl - Dads Breakfast Sandwich

    Lillie Pearl

    4.5(774 reviews)
    2.3 mi•Jackson Ward, Downtown
    •$$

    Lillie Pearl was pretty good, but not good enough for me to rush back. I think they may have been…read morehaving an off night. Their famous short rib egg rolls were a bit burned on the outside so a bit dry on the inside. They did have a very good sauce served with them that pretty well covered the flaws. We also got the sweet potato corn bread. It was tasty, but fell apart just a little too easily. I had to eat it with a fork. The risotto that came with my duck leaned a little too far to the mushy side. The duck itself was really good. My niece had the salmon, and she had no complaints. She said she had the leftover last night as a sandwich and that it was delicious. Service was excellent. No notes.

    I went here with a large group of girls for lunch on a weekend. They had plenty of seating and we…read morewere sat upstairs. The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated. We had the option of getting brunch or the regular lunch menu. I ordered the OG chicken sandwich and it was amazing. The chicken was full of flavor and juicy and I liked the sauce that came on it. The only complaint I had was the service. The server wasn't bad but he also wasn't good. It almost felt like he did not want to come to our table. He forgot to put in the order for one item that my table asked for. We had to flag him down to ask for refills or things like the check.

    Photos
    Lillie Pearl - Top floor decor and portrait wall

    Top floor decor and portrait wall

    Lillie Pearl - Roasted Heirloom Baby Carrots Dinner

    Roasted Heirloom Baby Carrots Dinner

    Lillie Pearl - First floor dining

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    First floor dining

    Southern Kitchen - Catfish Bites

    Southern Kitchen

    4.0(592 reviews)
    9.3 mi•Stony Point
    •$$

    Very nice atmosphere! Wasn't to crowded! The host led us to seat promptly…read more The server was very nice! No complaints. I order the Southern Roll and Turkey wings. It was goof - very nice portions. I had leftovers!

    Southern Kitchen is one of those places I go to primarily for the espresso martinis. I actually go…read morepretty often, but I'm not a big eater (and extremely picky), so it's rare that I order a full meal. I recently decided to try the meatloaf, and while it was still good, it was a little dry for my taste. I would order again despite that. The cabbage wasn't really for me either because it had a sweetness to it that I didn't love. The yams, however, were good. The catfish bites were also really good--crispy, hot, and flavorful. The Mac and cheese was *chefs kiss* delicious. Mashed potatoes were decent. I also tried the Soul Food Roll, and I really enjoyed it. The outside was perfectly crispy, and the duck sauce was really good. My only thought? Add some mac and cheese to that thing and you'd really have something. My biggest hesitation with eating here regularly is the portions. The plates are BIG, and when you look at the ingredients all piled together, it gives "that's easily 3,000 calories" energy. I'm not saying it actually is, but that's definitely how it looks. As someone who likes a small waist, I don't feel like I need all that every time I go. Now, the ambiance? EVERYTHING!!!!!!! Southern Kitchen is absolutely beautiful inside. It's one of those restaurants where you could easily dress up and have a really nice date night, celebrate something, or bring a group. Even the bathrooms are fancy, so they clearly understood the assignment. The food is good, but for me, the atmosphere and drinks are what really make this place stand out. I'd absolutely bring a group here or come for a date night. Service was also great. Our waitress checked on us often even though that place was jumping when I was there. I would highly recommend giving them a try.

    Photos
    Southern Kitchen - Dining room

    Dining room

    Southern Kitchen - Southern Rolls @Southern Kitchen

    Southern Rolls @Southern Kitchen

    Southern Kitchen - Catfish Bites; Blackened Catfish; Mac N Cheese × 2; Candied Yams; Cornbread Muffins

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    Catfish Bites; Blackened Catfish; Mac N Cheese × 2; Candied Yams; Cornbread Muffins

    Croaker's Spot

    Croaker's Spot

    3.9(972 reviews)
    2.7 mi•Manchester
    •$$

    We had the pleasure of visiting Croaker's Spot while in town from Northern Virginia and stopped in…read morefor an early dinner. From the moment we arrived, we had an amazing experience. We were warmly greeted by a lovely hostess who ended up being our server, Jamila, I hope I spelled her name correctly. She was truly one of the best servers we have had in a long time: attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, and full of great suggestions. She checked on us often without being intrusive, and her customer service was exceptional. When I mentioned that I did not care for the mac and cheese, Jamila immediately offered recommendations for another side. To our surprise, the chef even came out personally to apologize and brought me a fresh serving of mac and cheese. The replacement was much better! That is what I call going above and beyond to make customers happy. The food was delicious. I ordered the catfish dinner with collard greens and candied yams. The catfish was moist, fried to perfection, and seasoned just right. The collard greens were flavorful and well seasoned, while the candied yams reminded me of my grandmother's homemade yams sweet, comforting, and absolutely delicious. The portions are huge, so you definitely will not leave hungry. Between the wonderful hospitality, outstanding service from Jamila, and amazing food, Croaker's Spot gave us a memorable dining experience. We will definitely be back!

    Corn bread = great Chips / fries = great…read moreFish = nasty, oily, dried out, chewy. In a word, garbage. I gave it to the stray cats. And over priced I got some cake there also, another mistake. Lord knows how long it had been sitting, drying out. Cat food also Save your money, don't eat here

    Photos
    Croaker's Spot
    Croaker's Spot - Mashed potatoes

    Mashed potatoes

    Croaker's Spot

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    Inner City Blues - bbq - Updated October 2026

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