Southern Cafe Cleveland Premier Soul Food Destination — Restaurant in Lakewood

When hunger comes knocking, your mind starts to consider how it’s going to answer. Steakhouse? Asian cuisine? Mexican? Fast food? You slowly open the door, exchange mechanical pleasantries and return to a familiar culinary rut. Yet sometimes, that knock becomes a pounding, a ravenous howling, to be let in. You know exactly what it wants, what it craves…what it needs. Your stomach harmonizes with your hunger and from the depths of your very being you scream, “Soulfood!” This recently happened to me. I began my Google search for some good ol’ fashioned, down-home, southern cooking near me and “Southern Cafe”, just three minutes from my location on Lake Avenue, popped up. I packed up the wife and daughter and headed out, in search of soulful southern satisfaction. Located on Detroit, close to W. 117th, shining brightly in the shadow of the old “Phantasy” and “Chamber” nightclubs, we pulled up to the unassuming little restaurant. We walked in to a cozy dining room, no flash or unnecessary decor, Curtis Mayfied (and plenty of other classic R&B, drifting on the airwaves, seamlessly blending with the glorious smells of southern fried delicacies. We were seated right away by a smiling, pleasant gentleman who suggested using the online menu, a digital holdover from the pandemic. The menu was perfectly balanced with the expected soul food fare, and plenty of unique dishes and options, without being an intimidating amount of choices. The prices were shockingly reasonable, a fantastic surprise, especially in this recession! Now down to brass tacks…the food! My wife had the fried chicken and red velvet waffles. Sweet! Savory! Unforgettably good! My daughter chose the catfish po’ boy, a delectable sandwich fit for southern royalty! I knew right away what I wanted: the fried chicken dinner, a true classic. It was beyond perfection, crispy and flavorful without being over seasoned, moist and tender on the inside. I’m glad I ordered an extra side of whole, fried wings! The entrees were brilliantly executed, and the sides did not disappoint, either. Creamy grits! Fried okra! Fresh cut fries! Sweet corn muffins. And the gravy and onions? Oh, it elevated that chicken to another level. The food was served hot-to-the-bone fresh, too. Nope. No sitting under heat lamps for this place. I’ve had food that’s falsely labeled soul food. I’ve been to restaurants that claim to serve southern cooking. Those places usually left me with indigestion and a feeling of brutal disappointment. Not here, though. Not at “Southern Cafe”. We left with full bellies and a sense of pure joy. We found a no-frills, no nonsense restaurant, that delivered the goods and let their food and service do the talking. Yes, sir…it was indeed a fine meal and an exceptional dining experience. We...

I have been going to Southern Cafe for years. Before the pandemic and now. I use to dine in but the inconsistency of the temperature makes it uncomfortable to sit down and enjoy the experience. In the winter time it is freezing inside and in the summer time its hotter inside then outside. The issue I have is the consistency of not having certain items and the lack of communication. For example I ordered a 2pc catfish dinner and my sides are always Mac & Cheese and Collard greens...Either out of catfish or collard greens and no communication prior if sold out. Yesterday 2/25/23 I ordered online for a 2 meal (2 pcs catfish dinner) sides : Mac & Cheese and Collards greens, Soul rolls and 2 pieces of chicken thighs with tip it was over $60. I get there in 28 minutes as mentioned on ready time. When I got in only waited an additional 5 mins or so which was great and I did not mind to only see I have 2 out of 4 things I ordered. Prior to checking my order I had spoke to the server and informed her if the soul rolls were in this order and she did not know that I ordered it and went to the back to check. In the meantime I checked my order to see I was given cabbage instead of collard greens. When she came back she provided my order of soul rolls and my 2 pieces of chicken thigh which was also forgotten I had told her my order is incorrect and I had ordered collard greens. She said they were out and she "tried" to call me. I received no call, no text, no email. I said may I please have an extra side of Mac as we do not eat cabbage. She said yes let me inform the cook. She then came back took my food and removed the cabbage and replaced it with Mac. I was glad of the replacement but shocked on taking the cabbage back after I already opened and checked my food. My questions are: Why is there so much inconsistency? Why not provide a to go container on the Mac instead of taking the containers back and reusing the cabbage after a customer touched the containers? Why is the server not double/triple checking to go orders? Why not inform the customer ahead of time when an item is out of stock? If a confirmation via text is valid then it should be kept and honored. I could understand if its extremely busy but when I got there only 1 table was there placing an order, a door dash employee and myself. No excuses when this has been going on for a very long time. After yesterday I will no longer come back nor recommend. The city of Lakewood should check the temperature conditions as well as that is ridiculous for customers...

We heard about your restaurant on a sports TV show. The food looked amazing so we decided to try it out. My wife ordered a two piece white meat dinner with two breasts and the two sides it came with and a diet Pepsi. I ordered soul roles and two piece dark meat with an extra breast and the two sides it came with and water. We took a peach cobbler home for dessert. My chicken was very dry and tough. Disappointing for chicken thighs. Collard Greens lacked flavor. Chicken breasts were dry and flavorless. When I asked for my check our server looked at his hand held computer and said $55.71 and never showed me a copy of my bill. After recovering from shock. I paid my bill with three $20's. My sever asked me if I wanted my change. I said yes. I had his tip separate in my hand. He brought me all single dollars and no coins. When i asked where the change was, he said, "We don't have change." Your a cash only restaurant with no change??????? Poor quality food, way overpriced and poor service. Needless to say, we were very disappointed with the...