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Food: ALWAYS a hit! Party of 4 today. We were sooo hungry, we all forgot to take pics (SMH). Everyone had the cheese grits, 3 of us had catfish/catfish bites and the remaining person ordered the salmon bites. Yummy x 4. Service: Nothing but praise for the 2 ladies holding it down on this holiday Monday. Ambiance: Meh. Absolutely nothing noteworthy but we came to eat and we're all repeat patrons so, enuff said. One MINOR complaint: No Mimosas today as they were completely out of champagne. However, the server took $3 off of the substitute glass of Chardonnay I ordered (which actually made up for yesterday's unwarranted $3 up charge @glorydaysgrill (Stone Ridge/South Riding, VA).
The food was very good. Had lots of amazing flavor and the portion was favorable. The atmosphere was very quiet since it was a weekday and around 1pm. I appreciated the service and hospitality with the wait staff. It's located in a parking lot inside an executive style building where you would assume there are lots of offices, so, when you follow GPS don't feel like it's steering you wrong. Lol. The kitchen staff was great and I like that I could see them. It puts a cool touch on the experience. They had an office to the side and I would suggest keeping the door closed because it was very untidy. Customers didn't need to see inside that office.
Kitchen Cray Café is alright by me. What makes this place great, if you live in the area and you work from home in the surrounding area and you want to do a random brunch with a little mimosa action with a friend from 10 am to 2pm in the middle of the week. Bay-Bee you can do that!!!! The catfish and cheese grits were yummy, not salty, tender and perfectly fried. Grits were light and fluffy. I had a white wine sangria with strawberries and blueberries. Caught up and had a good ole' kee-kee with my gurl. And we scooted on out the door by 12:30pm so we could be back at home for our 1 o'clock meetings. This place could use a little color and some feminine touch, flowers on the table, etc. Give it more of a café feel. But all and all the R&B music was great, and the staff was very nice and took care of us while we were there. It's just a nice place to be!
Parking availability was good. For a Sunday, I was impressed with the wait time. We came at peak hours, brunch right after a lot of people's church services might let out, and maybe waited 10-15 minutes. They had a DJ that was playing great music, which was a vibe. At times, the music was blaring. We asked our server if the DJ could turn it down a little, and they were accommodating. If no one said anything, it would be impossible to have a conversation without straining your voice. The people I ate with got the fried chicken & waffles, & the catfish & cheesy grits. Both of them were impressed with the portions, and couldn't even finish their meal. For their drinks, I believe one person got a tropical beverage, that they enjoyed, and the other ordered frozen drink that was underwhelming. I was told it was too sweet & creamy, instead of fruity, and came with whipped cream that hurt instead of helped. I got the strawberry splash (strawberry, Sierra Mist, oj, and maybe, passion fruit?) and it was delicious. Think a strawberry lemonade mixed with a tropical sprite. 10/10 For food, I got the seafood grits, which came with sausage and shrimp on top of cheesy grits. I appreciated the diversity of flavors that were provided by the selection of protein. Both were well seasoned. It was the perfect amount of cheese in the grits. Good portion. 10/10
I really wanted to love this place. I've been following Chef Robinson on social media for at least the last four years (if not longer). When he opened his restaurant(s) I was so happy. Keep in mind that I lived in Las Vegas, and really didn't have a reason to visit Baltimore, but I kept this place bookmarked just in case. Now we live in the Atlanta area and decided to take a day trip to the DMV to see the sights, so naturally the first place I wanted to stop was here. The restaurant itself is very clean, and the staff is pleasant. They had a DJ, and there was an all-around good vibe in the place. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to my expectations. We ordered the catfish and grits, the hot honey chicken sandwich, the blackened salmon with mashed potatoes, and the crab fries. Overall, the main dishes lacked flavor. The chicken on the chicken sandwich was overcooked, so it was dry and hard. The salmon was completely bland. I will say the crab fries were actually really good, and I would recommend trying them. What really turned me off is that they provide plastic utensils and condiments in packets. For the price we're paying, we should be given silverware and condiments in bottles.
Where to start!! So I came here on a Sunday afternoon with a group of 5, expecting to have a long wait since it's prime brunch time. When we arrived, the parking lot wasn't too full so we went inside and placed ourselves on the waiting list. We were told it was an hour and a half wait which didn't make sense considering the restaurant itself wasn't that packed. Regardless, we stayed and ended up waiting for around 45 minutes to an hour. Shoutout to the Yelp app for showing us our place in line. Now let's talk about the service. Our specific waitress was very direct and to the point which was nice but the wait time to get essential things was frustrating. We kept asking for waters and didn't get them until we got main courses. We also kept asking for specific orders such as flavors for mimosas and were told they only had one flavor available for the drinks. Even when asking for chicken and waffles, I was told it was just French toast. Just little things to nitpick at honestly. The food was pretty good. I ordered the chicken and French toast, my friends ordered the shrimp grits and the blackened salmon. I would say flavor wise across the board we were expecting more seasoning but I will say that they were able to balance it out pretty well. I loved how the chicken and French toast came with the syrup on the side, which I barely used since it was sweet enough already with the caramel sauce. The chicken was weirdly cooked however with some parts being pink in the middle which turned me off. Overall expected more based on what I've heard about this place, but would like to come again to give it another try.
Finally made it here for brunch last Sunday!! Casual, family friendly, black owned restaurant. I've had Kitchen Cray food for years at various events in DC! I don't eat shellfish and their menu is primarily that but I was able to order french toast with chicken. It was actually ok. My friend also got the same and she enjoyed it. We shared a carafe of raspberry mimosas. They weren't overly strong but not bad. Added my name to the waitlist via the Yelp app. It gave an estimate of 20 minutes. Showed up within that time and they were able to seat us. I've heard super long wait times...like over an hour! They don't take reservations so try the Yelp app to get seating or just arrive very early especially with a group. We were there at noon. The place is located in an office building. I'm not gonna lie, it's not very aesthically pleasing or very big. It gave me cafeteria vibes. It's definitely more on the casual side. Of course if you want to put on your "Sunday Best" you can, but definitely not necessary here. Plenty of parking. The service was decent. The restroom is down the hall and a code is needed. The host/hostess will give it to you. There was a DJ but he didn't stay the entire time we were there. After they just had music playing. Overall, a 3.5 star rating so I rounded it up to 4! I would possibly come back not in a hurry.
Decided to come meet a friend here at 1PM on a Sunday for brunch! They DO NOT do reservations, but you can add yourself to the WAITLIST! Then when you arrive, check in with the hostess. I highly encourage this. Add yourself through their YELP page. You can even see where you are in line. When our table was ready, I got a text message to come in. If you don't, you will just have to wait until there's a table ready for your party size. This location is in a business park. It's pretty small inside. I *Think* there was a separate room for dinners but I couldn't really tell. There was a DJ playing old school and current music of today. All of the music was on point and had everyone excited! This really wasn't much of a "turn up" spot as it gave me more "cafeteria" vibes and the tables were kind of close together. The food was mediocre at best. Myself , nor my guest, really enjoyed our food. We both took home most of our entrees to go. I had the catfish and grits. All bland. The grits were more soupy than anything. Presentation was not desirable. We shared the Shrimp appetizers. They were okay. We did get a carafe of Passion Fruit mimosas which was really good. About 6 full glasses each. Yummmm! Our waitress was really nice. I would like to try the H Street Location next time.
As I write this review I wish I had leftovers from our Valentine's Day (my birthday) food journey to Kitchen Cray. Now I have been following them for a long time on IG, but needed to try them out because as we know food on social media can look good, but decieve your taste buds! They had dedicated Love Day options, however we opted to order off the regular menu. The service was great and the food was really impressive! We ordered the lemon pepper honey wings, chicken and French toast, jerk fettuccine shrimp, and the lobster mac. When I tell you ever dish was DELICIOUS! As the kids say, it was BUSSIN! Especially the French toast that was something special. Toast to the Chef and if you aren't going to Kitchen Cray what is you doing!!!!
So I've been following kitchen Cray since the food truck days! I finally made it to the restaurant in Lanham. So it's in a business park off of MLK you might think you're in the wrong place but look for the green awning and you're there. So the place was really a vibe and I really like to support black owned businesses when I can so here we are. FYI: The venue isn't huge and they have a little out door seating but not a lot. The indoor seating is limited. They don't take reservations on weekends so my suggestions would be to go early for brunch. We arrived at 1:15 and there was an hour wait. But they were true to the wait time! The food was amazing! Not one complaint. I order the seafood grits EXCELLENT. Consistency if the grits 10/10 flavor 10/10 whew Chile would recommend. My dining partner got the seafood omelet just copy and paste the same review. They don't have bottomless mimosas but the mimosa karfe was really reasonably priced and we each had at least 4 mimosas out of it. I really think it was more. Also a really good mix. The only thing that can be improved is that the dining room floors were a bit slippery, not a dig, it really was busy so it may be a result if that, but I definitely had to step lightly. The only other thing that could have been better was that it took us a while to get the food but again, it was busy and the manager promptly addressed it and took care of us without request or complaint. I forgot to mention there was a DJ and he was on point. Overall would recommend! They also have an H street location in DC. Give it a try!
If you're looking for a place with incredible food, music & vibes tou have to check out Kitchen Cray. We visited on a Sunday for brunch and checked in ahead of time through the yelp app (highly reccomend, a couple ahead of us had an hour wait). I couldn't resist the French toast with fried chicken, I'd seen so many raving reviews about it & honestly it did not disappoint. Rhe vanilla and caramel sauces are so good. My husband got an omelet that had some veggies, shrimp & crayfish. He enjoyed it as well! We decided to get a peach flavored mimosa and that was also delicious! We definitely want to come back to try their lobster mac & cheese to! They have other locations, including one in DC, but this is right outside so if you're staying in Maryland while on a trip to DC definitely visit this location
Who doesn't love brunch?!?! This place offers several options to choose from and I am excited for the several locations. Overall my food was not great and it was not a very family friendly establishment. However, knowing more from my first experience, I can set my expectations for a second visit. I will expect blasting music from the DJ, so loud I can't hear my guest but the music will have you grooving. There will be a wait even though we joined the waitlist prior to arriving. The floor will be grossly sticky. The server will not be as attentive but I'll be distracted by the music. The grits will be the some of the worst savory grits I've had but there are more menu items to choose from. Overall not a great experience, but not a home run. I look forward to trying additional items with my expectations adjusted.
They do not take reservations and do not tell wait time over the phone. We went on a Sunday morning (around 11am), we were seating quick. But it became full with in the next hour. The staff were very friendly and polite. Coming to the food, everything was amazing. Kudos to the Chef. 1. Chicken and French Toast (5/5) - Chicken was jucy, tender and the french toast was perfect. 2. Seafood Salmon with Lobster Tail (5/5) - Great cheddar grits (Coming from me - I am not big fan of Cheese) with a lot of meat (Fish, prawns and lobster) 3. Mimosa carafe (5/5) We got the regular mimosas. A great place for brunch. Must visit with friends. One of favorite places to go
Arrived @ approximately 11am (we should have arrived earlier). 45 minute wait ended up being more like 1 hour 20 minutes, however, the food was well worth it! The Seafood Salmon w/cajun cream sauce over cheese grits & spinach was TO DIE FOR, TO ABSOLUTELY DIE FOR!!! The grits were smooth, velvety, creamy & everything a southern girl loves. Definitely a dish I'd order again & again & again! My fellow foodies dined on catfish & cheese grits w/a side of scrambled eggs and hot chicken sandwich w/fries & a side of cheese grits. read more
So I'll keep this short and sweet! promise..... Yes!! this place is a definite must try! Parking is plentiful since the restaurant is located inside a building that is in a business park. Food....yoooo!!! i almost threw my money at the chef..seriously, I would've made it rain over those oxtails and lamb chops. And man....that french toast...they lucky I don't live nearby! The service was fantastic and friendly..shout out to our server Jasmine. Pro tip: try visiting on Sundays for brunch. you can reserve your seating via prepaid online reservations to avoid any long wait. Obviously, I highly recommend!! read more
2 years ago
great food and excellent service by Tony and Light. Shrimp and shrimp Tacos were very flavorful. read more
My recommendation is to visit but before you do call and check to see if you can make a reservation because you will wait if you do not have a reservation. On a Thursday at 12:30pm the wait was 45 minutes and yes my friends it was well worth the wait. Host: Polite and efficient Wait Staff: Professional and prompt Food: Tasty and we'll prepared. My only disappointment is I witnessed the cooks preparing food like potatoes out of an Ore Ida bag. That was disappointing and easily dropped what could have been a 4 star rating to a three star rating. Other: my friend ordered the shrimp and grits and enjoyed them but did run into two concerns. One his spoon wasn't clean...no big deal he got a new spoon, 2. He found a tiny piece of hair in his food and it wasn't his because he doesn't have any hair. But he said he would love to bring his wife to the place. I would surely go back and recommend that others do to. By the way i rested the French toast and Chicken, as well as the chicken burger (I don't know how this taste it's for the Mrs), and the mumbo chicken wings. I'm just realizing that chicken was a theme. Overall good and please Go check this place out. Cost: Fair Prices not expensive, not cheap. read more
Business owner information
James R.
Thanks for the feedback, those were Tader tots in the red bag.
5 years ago
I finally got to try KitchenCray Cafe!!!! They did not disappoint. This is honestly one of the best brunch experiences I've had in a long time. From the waitlist being on Yelp (yes!), the vibe and overall experience... I wouldn't change a thing. The restaurant already plays great music but shortly after 12:30pm they have a DJ set up and it really sets the vibe. Good food, tasty and strong drinks, quick/good service and COVID-19 safety was great. My favorite thing was well EVERYTHING! But those grits... you don't even need salt and pepper they are delicious. I scraped the bowl! Can't wait to come back and this is for sure my new brunch spot! Drinks: Strawberry Mimosa Carafe (about 4-5 mimosas per person/2) Food: Showtime Omelet Chicken & French Toast Grits Bacon Literally everything was amazing and it's not too many places I can give that compliment to. Prices were comparable to the area and the bill for a party of 2 was under $100. Try it, you seriously won't be disappointed! read more
Great food and ambience, but the service could be better. The location is kind of unexpected, but still easy to locate with a lot of parking. The wait was not bad at all for a Sunday afternoon. I think the wait process to be seated needs to be revamped, but it was not bad overall. We had Seafood Grits, Salmon w/ Spinach and Mash Potatoes, and French Toast and Chicken. Everything was delicious. The restaurant offers assorted flavors of lemonade and beverages. The same applies for alcoholic beverages. I would definitely visit this establishment again. I also recommend that everyone else does. You will be pleased. I gave four stars instead of five because of the service. read more
5 years ago
We went on a Monday so it wasn't very crowded we walked right in and we're seated at 10:30. The coffee was delicious it seemed like it was personally made. The food was good, presentation was pretty but it could've used a garnish of parsley just wake up the colors. But it tasted great and was well worth coming out. read more
3 years ago
Service was great! There is great music to listen to inside. It's usually crowed when I go but that just goes to show how good it is. Scenery is nice. They have a jukebox! Food... AMAZING. read more
3 years ago
This restaurant did not start off nor end off on a great foot for me. The actual restaurant was extremely hard to find and once I was able to get inside, I was thoroughly disappointed with what I saw. The tables and overall decor just seemed run down or outdated. While it was not a busy time of day, I had to wait for a long time to be seated with just two people. Once seated it took even longer to get our order taken. I chose the crab fries which were pretty decent but did not have nearly enough crab or sauce on it for the price. As I watched other tables receive their meals, everything seemed overpriced for the portion sizes people were getting. Would not go again. read more
Finally visited, I was off and accompanied my husband to an appointment and to the advantage to say let's go here maybe I shouldn't have with him as he was disappointed he is a " regular breakfast" man and was off put with the minimal selection on the menu that only seemed to be brunchy? Enough with his dissatisfied expectations I ordered the omelet it was very good I opted for grits instead of tots grits were good but way too cheesy for me I wish it had more on the menu I know brunch offers more but I know I won't experience that with my husband as he likes the basic eggs,bacon,home fries etc. Price is pricey considering most is served with seafood our bill was 30 hubby only got a side of French toast did not want all the bells and whistles that came with it. Overall I enjoyed my meal 1 thing though the music is a bit loud place is small I would love to try other items just not with husband lol. read more
What can i say...this was worth the wait! I finally got an opportunity to eat at this exciting new spot and find out what the hype was about! I was not disappointed! The location is unexpected, nestled in an office park, but the location has plenty of available parking. The kitchen is a bit open for my taste, but if you enjoy watching the kitchen staff prepare food, you will be in the right place! We tried to eat almost everything on the menus...I am so ashamed! We started with the crab topped tater tots, and they were excellent! Crispy and flavorful. We decided to share the lobster macaroni and cheese, and that was excellent! Topped with fried lobster with bits of lobster mixed into the Mac and cheese...gooey and wonderful! For my meal I had the lamb chops on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach. My companion had the chicken and French toast, it looked wonderful and she enjoyed every bit! Finally, I took some red velvet cake to go and it was a wonderful late night snack! read more
I wanted to love this place and the food. The food was meh (3/5) and the facility is coldly unattractive (1/5). Perhaps my expectations were to high after reading the glowing YELP reviews. Even with my more liberal pandemic rating scale the max this place deserves is a 2/5. Let's start with the food. & food related stuff: If you don't eat catfish, which we don't, there is no other fish option. If you want the Lobster Mac & cheese, which reviewers raved about, it's not on the menu. We asked. It's no longer available we were told. Plastic eating utensils folded in a napkin is what we got. Some folks got silverware type utensils. I asked for regular silverware. Plenty of alcoholic drinks being served in plasticware also. Why? Don't expect me to spend $25 for lunch and eat with plasticware. NOPE. Ain't happening twice. The crawfish on the Showtime omelette was overcooked and rubbery. When you leave crayfish, you either cray-cray or they darn bad. These were simply bad. The French Toast is over-the-top sweet and won't be appreciated unless you are in you are still in your teens or under. It's so saturated with caramel that the syrup is superfluous. The 3 pieces of boneless chicken thighs were decent but nothing to brag about. Then there is the facility: Cold and sterile. All hard surfaces. Tables not that far apart either. There is nothing pleasant to look at, inside or outside. The patio was closed they said due to the light sprinkle of rain. Even the tables under the nice canopy was not in use. They were bone dry. Let's talk service: We stood in the doorway 7-10 minutes before anyone even made eye contact with us. I suspect that was intentional. I asked our server, in advance, if I needed a key for the restroom and was told no. I mosey to the RR after paying the bill and it's locked. There is a freaking combo lock. I go back. Aha, I am given the combo. What the f***, I think. This is exactly the right way to loose a female customer. read more
3 years ago
100% always going to support black owned business! Come here on a Sunday and you'll see beautiful families gathering for good eats after church. Music is always a vibe, their video playlist is the one! Lamb and shrimp dish was insane and the catfish and grits fire too l read more
5 years ago
Great food..I just wanted to try everything. They don't really serve liqour but sell Mimosa's in different flavors. Customer service is top notch and I loved the manager on duty who handled her staff with a smile and calm demeanor. read more
I have heard and read many mixed reviews on this restaurant. However, I wanted to give this place a try and see if it's worth the hype. Parking: There are tons of parking spaces as the restaurant is located within a business park. Wait: When we arrived at the hostess stand, we were greeted by a ghetto hostess; she informed us the wait would be 30 minutes. She collected my phone number and sent me a link to check the status of our wait time. We waited exactly 30 minutes if not a couple of minutes before. Seating/Decor: Seating was prompt. The floors were dangerously slippery. There was also a DJ. The DJ was spinning all of the right "Brunch Tracks." The decor was basic but screamed brunch. Ordering/Menu: The Saturday Brunch menu was short and sweet. Our waitress took a couple of minutes to take our order, but she was pretty good overall. Food: OMG, the food was amazing, I had the Lobster Mac and Cheese, and my mom had the Blackend Salmon with crab, shrimp, and lobster. We also ordered a pitcher of mimosa (which is made to order and you can customize the flavors). Overall: Overall, I am rating this place a 4/5. The food was great, and the music was even better. However, the wait to be seated, and the time it took to find my waitresses to request and pay my check was a bit longer than expected. We sat at least 5-10 after we had finished waiting for our waitress. I'm not upset with her because unlike other restaurants, servers aren't assigned a specific area. I feel like the size, and the popularity of this place requires that the wait staff have assigned areas, especially during the brunch rush. I would recommend and would return in the future. read more
4 years ago
Does this look like a $9.00 piece of cake?? I always try to support black businesses, but they are making it hard. I placed my order online using ApplePay and I received a txt message telling me that my order is ready, only go in and be told that I need to present my card or ID to pick up my food, my food mind you not my kid from daycare. I don't have a card for Apple Pay and who's going to have my name or know that I have an online order to pick up besides me, the person that placed the order and also received the text message to come pick up the order. I felt like I was being treated unfairly and this was a little bit too much to put a person through just to pick up some food. I can go to Grace's right up the street and give them my name and receive my food with no problem. Why can't it be the same here?? And if the answer to that is we've had problems in the past, then to that I will say...if you treat people a certain way they will act a certain way. Treat me like a paying customer that I am and not a thief. read more
I have been an admirer, I have been an INSTAGRAM stalker and now I can say that I am a FAN of Kitchen Cray Café. Had the awesome opportunity to get in on one of the "Reservation Only" Sunday Brunch and I was NOT disappointed! The website suggested that we get there a little earlier than the reservation and although it was pouring down raining my SIL and were there. We were immediately greeted and our names were checked off of a list and almost at 11 o'clock on the DOT we were seated. So I have to tell you that the décor is simple, but it works! I've driven past this place literally hundreds of times and didn't know it was there. It's tucked away at the bottom of an office building that is closed. The Food was DELICOUS! My server Jasmine was attentive and even let me take my pictures of food and drinks with no complaining! The ENTIRE staff was actually very friendly, the guys cooking in the back were moving and shaking and it was just refreshing to eat a good meal with some Old school music in the background, eating food that TASTED like they cared about you when they cooked it! I started off with some Salmon patties, my SIL had the Deviled eggs, I had Catfish & Grits. The Lambchops looked like they were out of a magazine and our rum cake was moist and MMMM...MMMM...GOOD! read more
5 years ago
My sister and I went on a Sunday for brunch. And it was a vibe! The DJ was playing aaaalll the hits from the early 2000s as well as current hits. Transitions were on point! We were obviously jamming the whole time lol Definitely ordered a pitcher of the passionfruit mimosa, delish! My sister is kinda basic so she went with the chicken sandwhich. It looked really good and she said it was even more flavorful than my catfish seafood dish that came with lobster and shrimp over a bed of mashed red potatoes and sautéed spinach! Ta! Sure The food was amazing, I danced and ate with excitement. We also ordered the lobster fries, which were also really good. Definitely check this spot out. read more
Have tried Kitchencray several times, all for takeout/delivery Delivery took forever to come (which is more on the delivery service than the restaurant) Love the food here and have enjoyed just about everything I've tried. Crab cake blt- thick bacon, crab cake no filler, toasted brioche bun, huge sandwich Loaded lobster- possibly my favorite dish here. The fried lobster is great on all of their dishes. Salmon was juicy and tender, enjoyed the sauce & mashed potatoes. Dish went together well Seafood mac is great as well, did not have the one with fried lobster on top but will order that the next time. Mac wasn't too cheesy or too dry. Noodles cooked perfectly and had the right amount of meat baked in. read more
5 years ago
YAAAAY! Thanking Jesus for the fact that this business survived the pandemic drama. I've been following the Kitchen Cray crew since I don't remember when, all the way from NYC! The Mango Mimosa was the perfect balance of flavor. The Shrimp n Grits was perfect! I prayed before and after the meal! The R&B music playlist was the perfect accompaniment to the tasty vibe. Location: It looks as if the spot is in an office park which I really don't care about. If this place was in a fire pit in the middle of a dangerous highway I would still patronize. This message has been approved by my BFF! She has the Catfish n Grits! read more
5 years ago
Not worth the $$$. Service - Really good service overall. The staff were friendly, attentive and kind. Atmosphere - Nothing fancy, simple and clean. Definitely did enjoy the music though, it was a vibe. Food - Disappointed in the quality for how expensive the entrees were. My husband got the seafood grits and I got the catfish & grits. We also shared the full order of their french toast. The crawfish itself were dark in color, and the shrimp were not deveined. For the price, we'd expected better. As far as taste, the catfish and the french toast were the standouts. Grits were decent. My husband didn't enjoy his shrimp unfortunately. I don't think we'll return, but definitely wish the restaurant the best. I'm sure with some improvements and tweaks, you may want to consider trying. read more
5 years ago
I went to the kitchen Cray in Lamham MD. The food was amazing. Definitely a 10/10. Brunch starts at 10am. We got there by 11 and there was already a 30 minute wait. The kitchen was kind of backed up due to the amount of people but the manager came over and spoke with us and helped us out with everything we needed. Our server was amazing too. I was there to celebrate my birthday and she gave me strawberry crunch cake. I got the blackened salmon with mashed potatoes and my friend got the loaded catfish. The mimosas were also amazing I can't wait to go back! read more
The owner, staff, and management of Kitchen Cray should teach a master class in hospitality! The service was that good. Came in on a random Thursday morning and I was greeted more times than a Big Brother pledging a line of wannabe Alphas. Sunlight flooded the space while the sounds of smooth R&B wafted throughout the well appointed dining room. The vibe is comfy cozy diner. I was surprised that there have liquor, which is a plus. Also, I noticed the pepper mills on all the tables (other restaurants should take careful note). The water glasses are mason jars with a handle so it automatically invokes what is to come from the kitchen. The food was outstanding. Very well seasoned all around. I will have to update this review because I only sampled a couple of breakfast dishes. My favorite thing was actually a side item. The potato hash was hands down the best I have had in a while. They added sweet potatoes to the normal group of russets and Yukon Golds. The were cooked perfectly tender with a slight crust and not too salty. The added touch of rosemary and diced red peppers was a win for me. My second favorite was the chicken biscuits with turkey sausage gravy. I tip my Yankees cap to the chef for cooking many of the dishes that typically are flavored by pork with turkey instead. The results were like a Stacy Lattisaw and Johnny Gill duet, a perfect combination. I sopped up all that divine gravy with the light and fluffy biscuits. The chicken on top was a cutlet of a whole breast cut into manageable sections and pounded, probably brined and seasoned, then expertly fried golden brown. It was fork tender and not overly breaded. The combination is tried and true comfort food with a chef's flare all up and through the gravy. The portions were very generous but not supersized like the gimmick lesser places try. I was still full at lunchtime from the earlier breakfast. Here quality is front and center. Next up for me will be the rest of the breakfast items including the French toast and the waffles. Also, I am looking forward to the lunch/dinner items. I am a fan now, but I could easily become a super fan once I eat my way through the menu and it proves to be of the same quality, taste, and satisfaction. I have a humble brag quibble with Kitchen Cray. Would that they were open longer than just between 9:00-3:00 on weekdays. Those of us with day jobs can hardly frequent your fine establishment without taking leave. It is the only reason it has taken me so long to visit even though I am less than five minutes away. Please extend your hours. Five stars, easy. Nice job Kitchen Cray!!! [Yelp Review #106] read more
5 years ago
Brunch with one of my dearest...hostess (short curly copper colored hair) not friendly, almost rude, hence 4 stars. However, the ambiance, server, Weaam, and meal absolutely made up for the experience. I had the blackened salmon w/mashed potatoes and spinach and my friend had the seafood w/cheese grits....DELICIOUS!!! The food was amazing and we didn't wait long. Cooked to perfection. The only thing "negative" I could say is that they don't offer plain grits w/butter or with vegan cheese for the lactose intolerant people. Lord I really wanted that catfish n grits plate Please consider if possible I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town. read more
Excellently well seasoned food. I had the shrimp 'n grits. Daughter had the chicken 'n french toast. She said the chicken was kinda dry (thin sliced breast meat). Menu is severely scaled back on Saturday such that most of what we were looking to try wasn't available. Our server suggested a weekday visit for more offerings. Hmmmm..... Service was efficient and very pleasant. The dining room is like a club. Speakers thumping and all. We were seated right underneath a speaker. Remember tryna have a conversation in the club back in the day - next to a speaker?? Yeah, exactly. :/ They play all the 90s R&B stuff too so it's cranking up in there. Try not to dance while eating your food m'kay? Overall wonderful experience and comparable to Milk & Honey foodwise. Daughter said she prefers M&H's food better. I'm torn. I know the wait is kinda sucky here too, but not nearly as bad as there. We were originally told an hour but it ended up being about 35 min. Smaller parties are seated faster than larger groups. The Food: The grits here are creamy/fluffy like they added cream or evaporated milk. Excellent! The sweet tea is perfectly sweet - and served in mason jars as are all drinks. Free refills, I'm told, but I never tested it. The shrimp were nice sized and I enjoyed the riff with the turkey sausage in my dish (which I likely would never have ordered otherwise). Also, a biscuit would be nice or maybe some toast would be helpful with this dish. Took the lobster mac to go. The noodle/cheese ratio is way off. They should consider adding more elbows - or - using a heartier noodle, like ziti or something. It's good, but way too cheesy...no pun intended. Not bad, all things considered. Parking is office park available and it's black-owned, like M&H. I dig it. 4.45 stars. They need a bigger space (sooner than later) and maybe reservations disks that buzz when you're up because calling out into the hallway reminds me of being in a classroom or a hospital waiting room somewhere. read more
8 years ago
I had the pleasure of visiting Kitchen Cray for their Sunday brunch. We had to prepay online. If you go that route, and are planning to go with a group, it may be best to just buy tickets as a group. It's easier that way. Our group of 6 had a great time. At the time that we arrived, it wasn't extremely crowded. We were able to get seated at some of the counter height tables and immediately ordered. The prepaid brunch menu is set. You choose one appetizer, one entreé and a dessert. For the bottomless mimosas, we chose from cranberry, orange juice or a mixed mimosa. For my appetizer, I chose the Green Field Salad with Strawberries. For my entreé, I decided on the Catfish and Jalepeno Grits and got the Rum Cake for dessert. Everything was excellent. I had enough grits to eat with another meal. I lov was that my catfish wasn't soggy. It had a light crunch and was so flavorful. I would definitely get it again if I see it on the menu. Overall, the food is great here. I'm happy that I've found another soul food place to love here in Maryland. read more
4 years ago
First time here. Was headed somewhere else and decided last minute to give the Lanham location a try at lunch time celebrating a young person's send off to Grad School. At first, I wondered about the inside....seemed unfriendly, no silver ware, loud music, asked to sit outside and was told they weren't serving outside due to being short handed. Eventually sat outside. It was more private, less cold and could hear my conversation. Our server Ty was very nice, she knew the menu well and made great recommendations and was very responsive to our requests for refills, extra napkins, etc. We ordered the Showtime Omelette but they were out of the breakfast hash first thing. A half order of French toast and the loaded crab fries. All in all, pretty tasty but nothing to rave about. The ingredients were fresh, especially the seafood. For the tables outside, there should be some type of placemat or something....the table didn't seem wiped as well. And the condiments were just sat in the table....ketchup packets, coffee creamer, etc instead of being in a small dish. I ordered coffee which at first was unavailable due to a broken pot but then coffee appeared and it was hot and fresh. I was only offered Splenda! Odd. I'd like to return and try something else but may try the other location bc the ambience in Lanham wasn't very inviting. Hoping this restaurant is able to remain open bc the food is good. read more
6 years ago
This place...whatever you order you will be thinking about it for weeks to come. We had the crab tots for an appetizer, and they were simply delicious. The aioli on top adds this little razzle dazzle that brings it all together. For my main course I had the famous lobster Mac and cheese, and I loved everything about it. The lobster, so well seasoned and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The Mac and cheese was hitting every note and then some. The cheesy goodness went so well with the lobster. Oh I will be dining here again. My visit was prior to COVID, and the vibe inside was so chill. It was packed but our sever and the chef made sure to check on our table regularly. The food, the service, you simply have to eat here. read more
3 years ago
This was my first experience here, and honestly I appreciate my server. I originally ordered the shrimp and grits and although it was a bit too cheesy for my forte, she was soooo willing to get me another dish of my choice to replace my meal as she insisted. She was very attentive and although I didn't like my first meal the second one, which was the jerk salmon and salad was sooooo worth it. Everyone now days have very high expectations but her customer service for me was refreshing coming from a youth group. read more
4 years ago
i would give them a five stars but there a few things off 1.service .. my server didn't bring plates , refill when asked or anything she came to take the order & didn't even return until she brought the check .. . 2. the place looks a little like a cafeteria ... but it's okay The food is amazing !! everything else didn't even matter anymore bc of how great the food was. i didn't get to take pictures of all the food we ordered but the everything was amazing and cooked perfectly read more
KitchenCray was okay to me. I ordered a crab cake blt to-go online. The restaurant is a lot smaller than I thought it was from the pictures. I was a little confused at first trying to find the restaurant. It's pretty much in a corporate park/center. My sandwich and fries were okay. I didn't think it was anything spectacular but it was solid. I would like to try some of the other menu items, especially the brunch/breakfast menu items. read more
I visited this restaurant twice. Once with my colleague and once with my family. We were very pleased with the food, service, and the music. If you are a mac and cheese lover, I highly recommend the lobster mac and cheese. It is by far the best lobster mac I've ever had. I really appreciate the fact that they provided discounts to veterans on Veterans Day as well. During my second visit, I brought my parents and children. Everyone was very please with their food. read more
Business owner information
James R.
Thank you
8 years ago
Why it took me so long to try Kitchen Cray is beyond me! Solid 4 stars. Service: As other reviewers mentioned, the wait time for Kitchen Cray is absolutely "cray." Seriously speaking, on a Saturday morning, a wait time for a party of four was one hour. I will say the hostess was on the money - once an hour passed by, we were called to be seated. Once seated, our waiter did her best to make her rounds to the tables, but not once did she come back to our table to ensure that we our glasses were filled with water. The waiter also forgot my mom's biscuits after we reminded her twice about them. We finally gave up, and just asked the waiter to take the biscuits off our bill since they never came. - 3 stars Food: Excellent. I ordered the Seafood Omelet. Inside, the omelet was packed with cheese, spinach, and blue crab meat; it was topped off with shrimp. The omelet was delicious and had just the right amount of cheese - absolutely delicious! I also ordered the hash as a side. I kid you not, the hash tasted like perfection. I didn't need to add ketchup, but I did because I simply like my hash with ketchup; but, the seasoning was on point. I have no complaints at all with the food. And, from what my family said about their food, there weren't any complaints on their part either. - 5 stars Drink: I had a mimosa--more champagne than OJ. With those parts, you'll always get 5 stars from me. Overall, Kitchen Cray delivered. I hate the wait time and the lack of overall service, but with this being a fairly new restaurant, hopefully, the service will be remedied as the restaurant continues to establish itself. read more
Business owner information
James R.
I apologize for the service today, we are definitely working on…
KitchenCray Cafe is a delicious black owned business located in Bowie, MD. I visited KitchenCray after work at about 10am with a close friend. When we visited, it was fairly empty... we were immediately treated by the host who took our temperature and offered us hand sanitizer. Masks are required when entering, once seated you can remove the mask. There is ample lot parking located right outside the restaurant. It appears the restaurant is located amongst other businesses, but it's super easy to locate. We ordered the crab fries and the chicken and French toast. The crab fries were absolutely delicious, the sauce and the crab meat was delicious and well seasoned. It just needed a little more sauce. The chicken and French toast was delicious, a little too sweet for me... as I was craving savory food. The mimosas were hitting!!! Both of us were definitely was lit of the pitcher of mimosas (they offer peach, mango, grapefruit etc.) and it's worth it! Each mimosa pitcher is $30 and we got 2 and couldn't finish the 2nd one because we were too lit! Overall, great restaurant, will definitely return. read more
4 years ago
My husband and and I were out celebrating our 5 year anniversary. I looked up brunch spots near me and kitchenCray popped up. Loved everything. Food is good. Great brunch spot. read more
5 years ago
Expectation: I decided to try this place because I saw all the great reviews. I checked out their menu which has a limited amount of food options but I still saw more than one dish I would like to try. What stood out to me on the menu was they listed the French toast as the best ever! I love French toast so I knew that what I would order. Location: I googled and saw they have 2 locations.; a restaurant in DC and a cafe in Maryland. I went to the cafa1 in MD. It is located in an industrial business area so it's in a suite. There was plenty of parking. The cafe is small and they practice social distancing and the staff wears masks. Experience: We were there as soon as it opened. We were greeted at the door and seated. The staff was very nice. Our food came pretty quickly. I ordered the Chicken and French Toast and it was AMAZING! It was the best French toast I've ever had! I highly recommend this place and will be coming back. read more
4 years ago
KitchenCrayCafe: 3/1/19, 12:05 PM seating after 30 minute wait for a table. They do not accept reservations, but they will call your cell when it's time to return for your table. Abria - Waitress 7 minute wait for waitress to approach us for the first time. She introduced herself and asked what we'd like to drink. When I mentioned that were ready to order our meals as well, she replied that she's only taking drink orders for now. Immediately after she took our drink orders, she asked what we'd like to eat before getting our drinks. A better response should have been...Absolutely, I can take your food order now as well. Drinks aren't listed on the menu and when we were given options details weren't shared: pricing, refills included or not, etc. We ordered fries for my 2 year old cousin, and they arrived on a bowl that had strawberry stains on the inside and outside. After our meal, we cleared our own table and piled our dishes in the middle until Tae (very nice young man) came by to assist. He took our desert order also because our waitress was inattentive; Tae was very attentive. I wish he was our waiter! Ambiance is non existent, except for the music & that place seemed smaller than a 7-11; but the food is delish! read more
3 years ago
My family and I tried this place for brunch and it was lovely! The food was tasty and filling. The service was great and we felt very seen my our server. The vibe was also very calm and good vibes. We had the fettuccine Alfredo, Chicken & French toast. The French toast was the best I have ever had very delicious. read more
More info about KitchenCray Cafe
4601 Presidents Dr
Ste 110
Lanham, MD 20706
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Ask the Community - KitchenCray Cafe
Does this location have Wifi?
Does KitchenCray offer bottomless mimosas with their brunch?
They don't. But when you purchase the pitcher, you won't even want bottomless. They are strong and tasty!!
When is brunch opening? Thank you ! How can I register for the wait list?
KitchenCray Closed on Monday's Tuesday's -Thursday 10am-2pm Friday- Sunday 10am - 3pm. Brunch is…
Can someone tell me is this buffet style and also is the lanham location open on Sunday for brunch?
It is not buffet style for the Sunday brunch.
Do you they only offer brunch on Sunday?
Yes we only have a brunch menu on Sundays.
How do I make a reservation?
I just walked in....no reservation was made. However, for brunch I think you can go to their website and register for it. I hope this helps.
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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
78 reviews that are not currently recommended
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