Sweet Mama's Southern Homestyle Cookin — Restaurant in Jacksonville

I’m a truck driver so I was here in Jacksonville for a few days, i had my mouth craving oxtails so I scrolled thru a few places online trying to find who had the best ones and I ended up finding this place. I was super excited I immediately headed there, when I got here the line was long but not bad it was moving steady, I was happy to see an establishment so busy for lunch, anyway, it was my turn to order and I immediately knew I was at the wrong place soon as I started ordering, I asked for oxtails platter there wasn’t any, so I’m like ok find something else on the menu so I asked for the fried ribs wasn’t any, I asked for smothered turkey wings which I’ve never tried, they literally only had one wing left, minding you they just opened at 11 so I’m like smh, so I said to him I’m in the wrong place then he says I haven’t had time to start the oxtails or turkey wings, we out of ribs,we might have some later later on tonight🤔 I mean how late cause they close at 9 but anyways, so I ordered the chicken and waffles also the shrimp and grits and side of Mac and cheese, I ordered my co driver tenders n Mac n cheese, after a hour of waiting I didn’t want it but the music they were playing kept me entertained so! I finally got my food, the shrimp was delicious the grits was ok jus needed alil love the Mac n cheese was ok the chicken n waffles not my favorite at all the waffle was super thick and dry the chicken well the grease to fry them needed to be changed and on top of that they didn’t give me no syrup or powdered sugar I wasn’t going bk for it so I just threw the waffle away n ate the chicken. While waiting a few customers left without order because they were there for the oxtails as well even the ladies in front also ordered the same but I guess ordered something else. So with that being said I probably won’t comeback, it was an experience...

Today was my first day of ordering from Sweet Mama's Kitchen, and it was not good at all. I ordered the oxtail dinner and it came with yams. I also ordered the Mac N Cheese. The oxtails were under seasoned and overcooked. The bed of rice that they were layed in was also under seasoned and smothered in a boring gravy that had little flavor. The yams were way overcooked, unbalanced in flavor, and way too sweet. I really don't know who made the yams but they can definitely keep that recipe to themselves. A little tip for the yams, do not overcook them, add a fat like butter to cook them in. You can also marinate your sweet potatoes in thyme, salt, pepper, and heavy cream which brings more depth of flavor than just putting the sweet potatoes in whatever cinnamon/ sugar content alone that you all use, then baking. The Macaroni and Cheese was very lackluster and mediocre. I saw the process of how it's made, and there is little technique to what they do. Also when they make their macaroni and cheese you can tell that they just layer unmelted cheese then put it in the oven because the macaroni and cheese is very stringy. Overall the place is very clean, you can tell whoever opened the place thought it was a good idea to put a soul food restaurant in that area which was smart... yet they neglected to have any real culinary finesse or experience to bring alive what real Southern Cuisine should taste like. Sweet Mama's kitchen is a restaurant, the food should be up to par. I tasted the food and did not finish it. It was like trying to eat one of my aunts food at a family reunion, wishing that my grandmother would have cooked instead.. the meal wasn't worth the $29 that I paid. I Won't be back that food didn't have soul and whoever is leading the kitchen needs to take lessons and step up when it comes to...

If you're looking for a place that feels like your grandma's kitchen, but with a 90s soundtrack, Sweet Mama's is your spot. This was our second visit, and we were still dancing in our seats. The service was warm and friendly, like catching up with an old friend.

The atmosphere was pure nostalgia. Imagine a cozy diner with the best 90s jams playing on repeat. We couldn't help but tap our feet and sing along while we waited for our food. Even though I had to order at the counter, the vibe was so good, I didn't want to leave!

Now, let's talk about the food. My husband, a chef, is notoriously picky, but even he gave Sweet Mama's two thumbs up. It's like getting a home-cooked meal without the hassle of cooking or cleaning. We ordered their baked wings, and they were seasoned to perfection. The skin was crispy, and the meat was juicy. I also had the yams and dirty rice, and they were both incredible. The dirty rice had a nice kick that satisfied my spice cravings, and the yams were sweet and comforting.

Overall, Sweet Mama's is a must-visit for anyone who loves good food, great music, and a friendly atmosphere. It's the perfect place to relax, enjoy a delicious meal, and relive the...