My wife and I were in Birmingham for a couple of days. We read about Jake's Soul Food Cafe in…read moreHoover on Google and decided to give it a try. We're glad we did. My wife had Port of Spain's Curry Chicken and I had the Jamaican Jerk Chicken. Both were good and flavorful. The chicken was meaty, tender, and juicy. We both had "cabbage with soul" and fried sweet plantains for our sides. Both dishes came with sweet cornbread. The chicken was good, but the cabbage with soul and cornbread were the stars of the plate. Oh, man, that cabbage was mighty fine. We talked with the GM afterward and she said we have to try the Pork Chops with gravy and collards. When we make it back there one day we will do that. If you're in Hoover, give them a try.

Decided to eat dinner here . I ordered a veggie plate and while I was shocked that the food comes…read morein small containers , it was more than enough. I ordered Mac & cheese, cabbage, greens, black eyed peas , sweet potato casserole, and cornbread. I still have food left and took small portion of dessert banana pudding . I ordered the black cake but didn't try it. The black eyed peas were the best and I least liked the greens. I didn't receive the cabbage and I'm assuming they ran out since I got 2 greens ? The Mac & cheese was ok. The drinks were good and not super sweet. If u want a Caribbean feel eatery try them out!

Found this place while looking for some soul food and I'm so happy that I did…read more This is down home, no frills, seat yourself, small batch, hand crafted, cafeteria style goodness at its finest. Each and every bite was absolutely delicious. When I went in there was just one woman working and it was after lunch and not particularly busy. From behind the counter she took and filled my order and handed it over. The peas, the mac & cheese, the hamburger steak...and the yams...the yams...all of it was amazing. Quick, easy, delicious, priced fairly...what else can you ask for? If you're in this area don't hesitate to give this place a shot.

Everything I ordered did not have any seasonings to it at all. Greens taste like water and…read moresmelt-tasted like fresh cut grass. This is not soul food. It was just food with no passion. No hairnet was worn. Dressing was not dressing, it was jiffy mix.

Great meat & three type spot just across from the courthouse in Bessemer. Prices are super low and…read morethe food I had today was pretty good. Nothing too fancy, just hop in line, tell them what you'll have and they plate it up and bring your drink to you at the table. Everything looked pretty good. Meatloaf, grilled chicken, some greens, potatoes, mac and cheese, etc. I went with the country fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy with mac and cheese. It was the middle of lunchtime to everything was hot and fresh, and the white gravy was really good. They didn't have many desserts, just slices of cake by the register and by the time I saw those I was full and it was too late to make the bad decision to stuff myself with dessert. The people were friendly, the place was clean and tidy and the food was served in large portions especially given the price. If you're hungry and near this part of town, don't think twice. Head in and they'll hook you up with some gravy covered goodness and they'll do it for around 10 bucks. Not bad at all.

I live right down the street from this restaurant and never noticed it until a friend said I should…read moretry. The food was great besides the macaroni. It taste bland, like I was eating noodles and cheese but no cheesy taste or flavor. The chicken was seasoned great. The dressing was good but I've had better. Their prices are great and give you a good amount of food. I will return and try something different.

The best meat and 3 in Birmingham! Served cafeteria style by friendly staff. Very strong family…read morefeel. They had to get a bigger building for a reason!!

yum yum and affordable pricing. The previous shop was closer to home but wanted to try this…read morelocation. Nice parking. Right off the main road. Had my taste buds ready for bbq chicken but settled for fried white meat chicken. It was crispy and tasted good to me. Had greens and yams. Price was under $15 with tax. They kept replenishing the food. The line moved fast. Inside the was basic diner atmosphere.

My mom and I used to attend church in Bessemer, and Bre's was on our rotation of places to eat…read moreafter service. I haven't visited here in about 4 years before my mom passed. Mom would buy hundreds of dollars in gift certificates every Christmas for her church friends to enjoy a lunch or two on her. I remember the owner being super sweet and accommodating to my dear mother and her requests. Top notch customer service! As for the food, the rotation varied daily. Most of my visits were on Sundays, but I do remember a couple of trips during the week to try the lasagna, which was delicious. I really enjoyed the Mac and cheese, and Caribbean grilled pork chops. The desserts were great too, however I think I remember the owner partnering with another business to supply the cake slices, so the choices varies. The inside was always very clean and classy and pleasant to sit and enjoy your meal. I miss this place! I will visit soon to add some photos to my review.

They are opened 11-3pm. They were crowded with folks in line to eat there and take out like me…read more The kitchen is restocking the steam line as needed. Unfortunately there was a short wait on several items I wanted so I went with the Caribbean Chicken, yellow rice & fried corn. Corn was seasoned well but needed 35 mins in convection oven to cook completely. I don't understand why they don't cook it more so it isn't crunchy? Their chicken sauce was delicious. Spicy and sweef, but not too spicy. Chicken breast (yes only 1 piece of chicken) was dry even with the sauce. I chewed it and then threw it to my happily waiting dog. Skin was fatty like and my dog got it too. I use the Hawaiian roll they pulled out the bag unheated and unbuttered to sop up that sweet chili sauce and buttered corn juice. There's a reason I don't go there often. I want to support BOBs but I've been disappointed two days in a row. I considered getting a sweet tea but their price is ridiculous when not eating there and I can get refills. I got a cup of ice and 1 Liter of Lipton Tea from the corner store for $1.75. Enough tea to sip on all night for half the price of a cup of tea there. I admit I must be the issue, because they were doing a brisk business of repeat and new customers. I kid you not a lady apologized for jumping the line to just look at the steam line. I'm sure she played the middle age lady high on weed in a Tyler Perry movie. I wanted to ask her if that was her but she was deciding on her lunch very intensely. She got her tray and sat down to attack her meal in a way that said leave me alone. The facility is clean and organized. The owner is on top of the kitchen when trays are running low. She is making sure her line moves quickly. For $13 and change for a meat and two I will be back. Just not soon. There are items available not on the daily menu. For instance they had spaghetti and seafood lasagna.

We love having Refined to Go in our community! The food is always exceptional and the owner is so…read morekind and talented. We enjoyed the wedge salad and fish tacos today. Everything was seasoned or sauced immaculately. We did request fries as a substitute when we placed our order but still received the cumin chips alongside our fish tacos, so make sure you check your order before leaving the restaurant!

Update: 10/15/25... owner immediately responded and apologized for my experience. They had a new…read moreemployee and he addressed the concern with her. I really appreciate owner response and made things right. Back to supporting my favorite restaurant in Helena! Original post: 10/12/25... It's Sunday 10/12/25 4:33pm and they close at 5pm. I called to place an order and it was too late. What??? I have placed orders several times and never had a problem. I literally live 5 minutes down the road and it's too late?

I kept hearing about this place on the radio and decided to try it after church. Well, others must…read morehave had the same idea, because the line was out the door. Fortunately, the Pastor had just given a sermon on "wait for it" which is exactly what I had to do. Although the line was long, the people were very friendly and kind, giving the restaurant a family vibe.I was pleasantly surprised to see so many young people working in all areas of the restaurant showcasing their professionalism while being polite. are all so polite. Now, let's get to the food.... The greens, pinto beans and Mac n' cheese were all seasoned to perfection. The servings were more than enough. The food is GOOD!!! 1 meat and 2 sides or vegetable plate, your choice. Plenty of seating. Great place for a friend's meetup, class meetup, church meetup, baby shower or any celebration!

3/5 Sometimes your…read morefourth choice turns into a worthwhile stop. On Father's Day, our original lunch plans fell through after Curry Up, Eugene's Hot Chicken, and Boston Fish Market were all closed. That led us to Thelma's Place, a restaurant that had already been on my list to try, so we decided to give it a shot and ordered our meal to go. The first thing that stood out was the hospitality. Everyone we encountered was warm, welcoming, and genuinely friendly. Around 1:00 p.m., the restaurant wasn't busy, and the service was prompt. From an ambiance standpoint, there isn't much to speak of. The dining room is simple and functional, and the overall presentation could be elevated with improved lighting and a more polished steam table display. Those details may seem small, but they help create stronger first impressions. I ordered the meatloaf with collard greens and candied yams. The portion size was generous, but the meatloaf itself needed more seasoning to really stand out. The collard greens were one of the best items we tried, full of flavor without being overpowering, and the candied yams were solid. The cornbread was also a nice addition. My wife and Bethany both ordered fried chicken wings, even though they weren't listed on the menu. Those turned out to be a hidden gem. They were crispy, golden brown, hot, and cooked just right. For sides, my wife chose cornbread dressing and macaroni and cheese. We both felt the dressing had too much sage, which masked the other flavors. The macaroni and cheese was decent but not memorable. Bethany also enjoyed the collard greens and agreed that the macaroni and cheese was just okay. One disappointment was that they were sold out of oxtails, which would have been my wife's first choice. I was also hoping to see smothered pork chops available but didn't notice them. The pricing felt fair, and the portions offered good value. The biggest takeaway? Order the fried chicken and collard greens. Those were the clear standouts from our visit. I'd also be interested in returning when the oxtails are available, as they appear to be one of the restaurant's signature items. Thelma's Place didn't hit a home run across the board, but the friendly service, good value, and standout fried chicken made it a worthwhile stop. With a few improvements to seasoning and presentation, it has the potential to leave an even stronger impression.

I rarely give 5 stars, but consider this experience a STRONG 4.5, and highly recommending you to…read morevisit for a delicious plate of soul food (in California, our food is considered amazing if you slather avocado on bread and call it "chic," so I need food like this while on vacation). First off, the disclaimer. ONLY come here if you have time to kill. I don't mean that as an insult in anyway, but it took almost forty five minutes to get our food. The atmosphere is that you were invited into someone's house and they are cooking fresh food from scratch, and if you are patient, that is what you will enjoy. The staff was very friendly, made sure we were taken care of, and ALL said goodbye when we left. Now, then, onto the food. I wanted the traditional foods I can't get tasty anywhere else, and my plate was fried catfish, seasoned rice, cabbage, corn bread, and sweet tea. I am not a fan of super sweet things, so I was not fond of the tea. That is most likely my personal taste, and not a knock on their tea by any means. Catfish was hot, well-seasoned, and crispily battered. My wife (Southeast Asian), who cooks cabbage a lot and deliciously (love you babe!), has never made cabbage like this. It was some of the best cabbage I have ever had, and I did not know a side dish like cabbage could taste that good. The cornbread did not need butter, and I was munching on it on my way out the door. So, DEFINITELY eat here. Just be warned, this is where you go to take your time and enjoy the meal. If in a hurry, maybe come back a different day.

Food was good service was great. Haven't been here in a long time due to how slow the service was…read morebut it was extremely better this time and the lunch was great.