Angie's Soul Cafe — Restaurant in Cleveland

I'm an introvert and rarely leave comments but for this, I'll make an exception! The guy who greeted me and took my order was nice... However I asked for "short ribs" and they were "out"...moved on to "oxtails"...out...then decided to try an item from the menu of the day (the Salisbury steak)...was told, they're out of that too but the meatloaf was basically the same thing 😒. So anyway, ordered the meatloaf meal, and two chicken meals (with a side of yams and Mac n cheese) -gave my name for the order. Passed time in the semi empty dining area while I waited for my food. Some time passed when my order-taker walked to me to say my food's ready and my name was called (I heard nothing- despite the place being practically empty). I go to pay for my food, while approaching the counter, a younger girl asks if I'd already paid, I replied "no", and in such a dry, lifeless, and dgaf manner, she said I need to pay for the food first (gee, thanks captain obvious). I continue to walk toward the older woman at the register and without greeting or much of acknowledgement, she utters, "ticket" (same dry tone as younger girl). I hand her my ticket, she tells me my total, I hand her my money, she hands back my change. I then WAIT. I wait to see who's going to hand my bag of food to me. Older checkout woman begins to dish up food for the next customer. Confused, I spot the greeter and asked him to grab my food. He then called for the older cashier woman to hand my food to me. Without an apology or word of any sort, the chick simply hands over the bag (as if I were the nuisance). I naturally snatch it, and as I'm leaving, I hear her mumble a count-down under her breath (as I'd to calm her nerves)..SIGH!! So much to elaborate on. Anyway the food was mediocre (chicken dry - like their attitude and skin... Mac n cheese and yams sucked as well. Inconsistent taste from the time my husband...

Porkchop, chicken wings we're awesome, I would have given this place 5 star and above, but it took 50mins to get my food, not to mention the person who took my order was the same person who keep running back and forth outside and didn't wash his hands as I watched him look over my food to make sure it was correct and add items missing or finishing touches i don't know, just unsanitary, I was really scared to eat my food and I ordered 3 dinner's. This was my 1st time there, and I'm sad to say this place is a hidden gem that I would love to return to but too scared to really eat the food because of the person that is taking orders up front, not to mention I watched him open a jar of kool-aid from the cooler take a straw, extract some from the jar, and attempt to put it in my mouth so I could try it and then proceed to put the jar back into the cooler with the others, I was beyond shock, caught me off guard, and didn't know how to act, I stopped him and just offered to buy it only not to drink it when I made it to my destination, I was too scared! I just keep thinking how many times this man has done this to these other jars just so someone could try it instead of just pouring some into a cup and not touching the straw with his unwashed hands. I wasted over 50.00 in food because I was scared to comfortably eat my food with confidence. The items I took a chance and picked at were really good. This place has so many opportunities to be amazing. I hope you can crack down on speed and sanitation. Besides that, this place could be really, really,...

Round 1, July 2021: Stopped by to get a 3 wing "snack pack", some Mac n cheese, and some sweet potato pie to go. Everything tasted good and I will return.

The only caveat, and it is a minor one, is that it is a 100% cashless business. Many times, I don't want to use my credit card or debit card for purchases.

Round 2, August 2021: ordered the chicken wing dinner this time. Got 5 whole wings that were fried crispy like my grandma used to. My two sides were the macaroni and cheese along with the cabbage. Everything tasted good and was reasonably priced. The chicken could've used more pronounced seasoning (perhaps a pinch more of seasoned salt), but was alright after applying hot sauce. The texture was just right crispy on the outside and juicy meat on the inside.

Pros: Clean restaurant with recently re-opened indoor seating area for patrons. Simplistic menu with prices listed. Any deviations or special rules are posted. Good food Plentiful parking Sturdy food packaging. They used microwave safe containers which do not buckle, bend, and leak like the styrofoam containers. Counter for ordering is separate from the window used to pick up. No need to ask "have you ordered yet?" Or "Are you in line?" 👍🏽

Cons: Not all the food is made to order. It would be somewhat nice to see the food. The patrons need to check and verify their food prior to leaving the store as indicated on the signs. I get why they have that...