Nice little food truck set up. Right outside The used…read moreappliance and antique mill on main st ext. This is the place to go if your looking for a great piece of fried chicken/pork/catfish Food is fresh, never frozen and the fry batter Is incredibly flavorful, and crunchy with some nice spices included. Everything was cooked perfect. Check it.

One of the worst customer service experiences I've ever had! I placed a very simple order (french…read morefries), and paid immediately upon doing so. As I stood on the sidewalk, waiting to receive my food, several other groups of people walked up, place their orders, and receive their food before me. I noticed that the cook who was working inside the food truck repeatedly pointing me out to his companion, and indicating that I needed to be served. None-the-less, my order was not called until the three couples behind me had received their order. When my name finally was called, and I walked up to the window to take my order, the gentleman taking orders immediately told me that I owed him five dollars. I informed him that I had already paid him, to which his response was "Me? Oh, you didn't pay me!" I had, in fact, paid him immediate;y upon placing the order, as previously stated. I reminded him that I had paid earlier, which he continued to deny, very rudely I might add. I even when so far as to check my pocket for the five dollar been I had been carrying when I placed my order... Just to make sure I didn't still have it. It was gone, as I had indeed given it to the gentleman in question when I placed my order. I received no apology from the man at the window, no did he offer me a refund. However, because I prefer to set a precedent that is beyond reproach, I told the gentleman he could keep my money and the food, and walked away, five dollar out, and hungry. My suspicion is that the gentleman working the window was being discriminatory. I an an LGBT student at Wesleyan University (the truck was on campus that night), and I am gay in a way that is one might describe as "overt." The man working the order window was clearly uncomfortable serving me, and as a result he all but refused to do so, until the gentleman he was working with insisted he give me my food. I also feel that he either forgot I had paid him (because he took so long to give me my food in the first place), or simply felt that he had the right to give me a hard time. I would never again patronize this business, and encourage others not to do so either. It was a terrible experience, and jarring to say the least.

Meek's Heavenly Hands is a new Soul Food Restaurant in @itsallinberlin CT. They have classic mains…read morelike ribs, fried chicken and pork chops, and traditional sides like mac, collards, yams and cornbread. Loved the texture, meatiness and flavor of the Mango Habanero Fried Wings. The Collards were a couple steps above the norm. Very good Mac. The cornbread was moist and maybe had a good hint of cinnamon. Meek's is located in the Ferndale Plaza near the Berlin @seedeatsct . It's getting to be a Foodie Hot Spot over there. They offer takeout and have a few tables for dine in. More functional than fancy. I'll be back to explore. 4.5 Stars

Grabbed food to go, potato salad was excellent. The collard greens are spicy if you mind. The…read morechicken was still super crispy when I brought it home and has great seasoning throughout. One order is enough food for two people. Only minus one star because they didn't have Mac and cheese but I'll definitely be back to try it.

So good. Huge portions. Highly recommend. Honey cornbread is worth the trip alone. Great staff,…read moregreat food

*** DO NOT ORDER THROUGH THE YELP APP OR GRUBHUB*** Use DoorDash only…read more It was my first time ordering online, so I made this mistake tonight. I showed up for my pickup only to find that they didn't get my order. The staff told me that they only do DoorDash I had to cancel the order with GrubHub and then replace my order. Thankfully, there was enough of what I needed to get an order to go. Now that I got the unpleasant part of the story out of the way, let's talk about the amazing place that Southern Dishes is. If you've din d in a traditional southern food restaurant before, you'll recognize the setup. Meals are served cafateria style, that are portioned for you by the staff. You place an order at the counter and grab a seat or wait to be called if you're going to-go. Once your name is called you grab your tray and bring back to your table. Tonight's trip was a simple kid's meal of a (large) fried chicken strip (white meat) and mac and cheese for my son and a large collard greens (made with turkey). Having had all three before, I can vouch for their yumminess. I would be lying if I didn't say that I shared a few mouthfuls of the mac and cheese. This is the bomb, or whatever everyone is calling it. The mixture of cheeses, these crispy top, the well cooked pasta...it's the trifecta of the perfect mac & cheese. If you like collard greens, these are legit southern greens, not like the other ones that restaurants try to pass off as the real thing. The potlikker (liquid from the greens) is amazing. Other mentionables are the fried chicken, the fried fish and of course the wonderful banana pudding! For an authentic southern meal in CT, make the drive to Meriden. You will not be disappointed.

Not only is there nothing wrong with Soul Bowl, it's F***ING AMAZING!!! You walk into a smell that…read moremakes your mouth water!!! Prices are reasonable but the food...the food is OVER THE TOP!!! I've been back 4-5 times since being introduced to it and I already have a fav - a sautéd shrimp bowl, hold the rice, double both the crack-n-cheese and sweet potatoes!!! The shrimp are HUGE & slathered in garlic butter! There's nothing wrong with the rice, but I'd rather fill-up on the crack (Mac) and sweets, both of which are OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! The service borders on brown sugar sweet, the food comes up fast so you're not kept waiting. Their food comes up in paper bowls with a clear plastic top so you can see exactly what you're getting while maintaining 75-85% recyclability!!! All in all, they've earned (& continue to earn) my highest marks. DO NOT MISS THIS PLACE!! One foot note: Because all their food is made fresh daily, when if something runs out, it's out for that day. So, if you want to have dinner and you're coming by 15 minutes before closing, you might want to call ahead and see if they're out of anything you're jones-ing for!!!

I kept hearing about this soul food spot, so while I was in the Wethersfield area, I decided to…read morestop by and see what the hype was about; Soul Bowl's Restaurant. I later found out they have other locations as well. When I arrived, I noticed this is more of a grab-and-go spot. There is no seating area for dining in, just a small waiting area with a couple of chairs. Parking is street parking, so keep that in mind when stopping by. I ordered in person, and I have to say the service was quick! Within about seven minutes, my food was ready. As soon as you walk in, you can see the menu and even see the kitchen area, which I always appreciate because you can get a feel for how your food is being prepared. The employee who greeted me was very friendly and welcoming. You can also order online. I ordered the seasoned rice, shrimp, mac & cheese, and collard greens bowl. First impression... the bowl looked beautiful and was put together very nicely. Everything looked fresh and appetizing. The shrimp was sautéed in a garlic sauce and had great flavor. The mac & cheese was definitely a highlight, very cheesy! When I put my fork into it, the cheese stretched and expanded the way you hope a good mac & cheese will. The collard greens were good, although I'll be honest, I've had better. They still complemented the bowl and added that classic soul food feel. At first glance, I thought, "Is this going to be enough?" But after eating it, I was completely satisfied and full. The portion was actually just right. The price was reasonable and within the range of what many restaurants are charging today. What makes this place stand out to me is that it tastes homemade and I love fresh food made with care. My only suggestion: PLEASE consider adding cornbread to the menu (hopefully soon ). A piece of cornbread would complete this bowl meal perfectly! Overall, I would definitely recommend Soul Bowl's. Great flavors, quick service, friendly staff, and that homemade comfort-food feeling. I'm already curious to try more from their menu! What should I try next?

It depends on the vibe you are looking for. We went to an after dinner vibe and it was old and…read moreslow! I know I'm not the youngest chicken but my girlfriend saw her church deaconess there. Now maybe that was just the night because there was definitely a live show happening. But we went in and came out. I can can't judge the food or drinks but it was definitely an older crowd vibe there.

I recently visited Black-Eyed Sally's for lunch. It's been maybe a Decade since I've been, but I've…read moreprobably eaten there between 10 and 20 times. The space boasts cool Blues and New Orleans vibes. Only place I know in CT like it. Service was pretty good. There was a bit of a delay getting me started with water and a menu, even though it wasn't busy, but things went smoothly after that. My New Orleans Shrimp Po Boy was good. The shrimp were tender. The batter was a bit denser than I prefer, but good. I liked the shredded lettuce, pickles and zesty, creamy dressing. The bread was fresh. I don't remember any other places in CT presently doing Po Boys. So this is the place to get one. The Gumbo was OK. They got the blackened roux part right, but there really wasn't enough nuanced flavor. It could have used some fresh herbs. More salt. I would try something else next time. 3.5 Stars

I'm back! Welcome to Carmine's! The restaurant is located on 389 Main St. in East Hartford. It's…read morecold in here! The temperature has got to be 55 degrees (the way Carmine likes it). I live the nice music in here. It's very livel! It's Happy Hour from 3-7 on weekdays (food) and all day for drinks on Monday! The kitchen here makes everything built fresh, from scratch, and all homemade. The appetizers, pasta, entrees and desserts combine old-world traditional Italian flavor with a modern flair for presentation, and the freshest ingredients around. Menu staples like calamari, chicken milanese, fettucine carbonara and ravioli are paired with unique recipes like pappardelle with sausage and tenderloin steaks. They have staffed their kitchen with a dream team of local chefs that ensure our quality does not waiver and our kitchen is always OPEN! Not every place can say that! For my first drink, I'm having the Manhattan's Creek made with Knob Creek bourbon, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth and Angostura bitters. Wait a minute! These are the same ingredients as a Perfect Manhattan! This is chilled, well balanced and nicely garnished. I like it! For my first food item, I'm having a House Salad (small, off-menu version). This is made with a spring mix including basil, tomatoes, julienned carrots, cucumbers and a red wine vinaigrette dressing. This is nice and fresh! I love the dressing! I like the nice cloth napkin as well as a disposable one. The bartender is the nicest one I've ever met. For my next item, I'm having the Rigatoni Marinara. The is made with rigatoni and house marinara sauce. It's low cholesterol and guilt-free (for me). This is steaming hot and delicious! Nice portion size too! For my next item, I'm having a cup of soup. This is broccoli cheddar with potato. Oh yeah! I love those oyster crackers! This is yummy! For my next drink, I'm having the Pratt n Whiskey made with Woodford Reserve bourbon, sweet vermouth, red wine and sour mix. I love it! It's shaken well and tastes great! For my next food item, I'm having the Carmine's Secret Tenderloins. These are actually pan seared caramelized CHICKEN tenderloins made with wine, olive oil, cracked black pepper, kosher salt, shredded Parmesan and a VERY special secret sauce. I can eat this with little regret. This should be interesting! This is quite good! I do like that creamy sauce! For my dessert, I'm having the Toasted Almond. This is soaked in Amaretto layered with light custard and topped with crushed almond. Oh yeah! Look at the presentation! This is fantastic! What a great meal here!

Random selection in my travels off Rt 84. Food was delicious and I happily stumbled on live music…read more Mixed crowd Cappuccino gelato truffle, JD tips over pasta and 1/2 Caesar salad

I came here for Sunday brunch for a birthday party. My one sentence review would be: Soulbaila is a…read moreclub that happens to have a fairly good restaurant. Their dress code is pretty much club wear, even in January. They are a bit more forgiving in the winter, because coats/not many people will wear stilettos with snow on the ground, but I saw plenty of bodycon dresses and jean/blazer/dress shoe combos on the men. It looks small from the outside but it's pretty spacious, there are a selection of small tables and white club couches in the front where the bar is, two unisex restrooms (which got SUPER filthy because people apparently don't know how to handle their liquor at 2pm on a Sunday) and then the back with the larger group tables and the "VIP" section with more white club couches. The music is pretty good, they play everything under the sun from the diaspora: Hiplife/Afro-beats, hip-hop/rap (mostly trap), R&B, reggae, even gospel and hip-hop remixes of gospel music. However, It is L O U D. As in, you can barely hear the person next to you without leaning uncomfortably close. As in, more than a few hair cells in your ears got damaged after dining here. As in, you can hear the party from down the block. I was genuinely surprised this place got zoned in residential neighborhood. Luckily, the food makes up for it. We had several things from their brunch menu (chicken and waffles, omelets, lobster mac and cheese, wings and fries, fish and chips, fish and grits, bottomless mimosas) and every item was a hit, no one left unsatisfied. Many people left with take away plates, so the portions are pretty generous. The prices are reasonable ($12-16/plate). As for vegan options, there are fries and a side of strawberries (sometimes you just have to make a meal of sides, ha). The fries were crispy and perfectly salted. I would have them again. If you are strict about cross contamination I probably wouldn't come here but I mean, you CAN eat. Would *I* come back again, probably not. But if you are looking for a good time with good food and also want to twerk a bit, Soulbaila has you covered.

My favorite location in New England hands down! The Food, drinks, vibes, and ambiance are all top…read moreof the line. Highly recommended within the community.

Great food and service. Great variety. Timely service. Atmosphere very comfortable. Clean place.read more

Hit or miss for me. Overpriced for extra sides. Some of of the staff are friendly and welcoming.read more