Omega's Restaurant — Restaurant in Merchantville

My experience at this eating establishment on the evening of 12/07/2024 was not good at all; aside from being seated quite rather quickly by the hostess upon entering the establishment & the fact that the food came out not long after I was seated. Now for the negatives: The wine glasses that they initially give you in this place were quite rather small, which I had to request a larger one from restaurant staff. This is a BYOB Establishment, so naturally I came with my own bottle of red wine (visible to all staff & not hidden) to have with my dinner & the staff had the nerve to not even offer a corkscrew after I was seated, so that I could open my wine bottle...I actually had to request a corkscrew. Also, this place has the nerve to charge a "Cork Fee" when not only didn't they offer a corkscrew (Again, I had to ask for one) but they didn't even offer to open your bottle for you or pour the wine in your wine glasses that were sitting on the table. The main course dish that I ordered was "The Salmon & Shrimp Cajun Pasta" which was a little pricey for the portion compared to a place like "Olive Garden" or "Cheesecake Factory" for example....& the dish had a little too much seasoning on it. When the main course was first brought out, I told my waiter how good the dish looked in appearance & she replied to me that it was her boyfriend's favorite, which I thought was really unnecessary, tackey, ghetto & of low class....I'm here to enjoy a good meal & not to try to hook up with any of the restaurant's employees.

Now, for the appetizer, I had "The Shrimp Stuffed Crab Cakes" which was very expensive ($21.00) & when they brought it out, it was two of the littlest crab cakes that I have ever seen....I had to ask the staff, did they forget the rest of it!!!!! I was in such disbelief because the portion didn't match the price. Moving along, the table for two that I was seated at was very rickety & shaky (Both the table & chairs) because of this, my butter knife accidentally fell from the table & made a loud noise upon hitting the floor, which could clearly be heard by everyone & not one staff member approached & asked if I wanted it replaced. Another thing that I didn't like was the fact that apparently this place charges a miscellaneous fee 3.7% of your total bill....For what reason, I have no idea!!!!! My waiter (At least who I thought was my "Waiter" that's another thing that seemed to be confusing in this place as well) never came back to tend to the table & to check to see how we were doing after the food was initially brought out, which caused me to have to ask another staff member for extra napkins for the table....And it took her FOREVER to return with the napkins, during a night that wasn't even busy in the restaurant. Lastly, the only time the person who I thought was my "Waiter" came by the table, was to ask if I needed to go boxes, which she did over & over again, when I wasn't even halfway thru my meal...Which to me spoke volumes & meant that they were ready for me to hurry up and leave. The vibe that I got from this place was: JUST PAY OUR EXORBITANT PRICES & FEES FOR INFERRIOR FOOD DISHES & A SUBPAR DINING EXPERIENCE & THEN HURRY UP & LEAVE!!!!!!! This place is all "Hype" "Fluff" & no "Stuff" & will never, ever get another dime from me. Emphatically NOT!!!!! I DO NOT recommend this place at all, please avoid this restaurant at all costs!!!! So-called "Black Owned" Businesses like this one, have to do better....Because if you think that we are going to continue to support you in OUR community simply just because you claim to be "Black Owned" but offer an inferior product &/or services, then you are sadly mistaken. This about sums up my dining experience. Please take heed!!!!! And avoid...

So I went to Omega because not only is it a Black Owned restaurant (and we love to support) but the reviews were pretty good. First, let me say I tried calling since 6pm because I didn’t want to wait long for my take out (I’m uncomfortably pregnant). When I didn’t get an answer by 7pm I decided to go because me and my bf really want to try. When I got there the atmosphere was lovely! However, I was never greeted. I asked the lady in front of me was she helped, she replied “not really”. Soon after a server did come over and direct us to takeout. I ordered the blackened shrimp Ceaser salad, crab cake stuffed w/ shrimp and honey garlic wings. My salad, the shrimp weren’t blackened, in fact they were barely seasoned and didn’t look to be pan seared at all and my kale wasn’t cold. But over all the salad was satisfying. I really enjoyed the dressing (6.5/10). My cake crab! I wouldn’t know how it tasted because they gave me and charged me for seafood Mac instead! But I did let the manager know of the error. He was very pleasant and apologetic also promised me my crab cake my next visit because it was close to closing. I was fine with that. But the seafood Mac (shrimp/crabmeat) was very underseasoned as well! I was very disappointed. Soul food is supposed to be flavorful and I didn’t get any of that. The presence of crab meat was there though! It’s not lump crab but it is present in every bite so for $21 I think the crab/shrimp ratio was very fairly priced. Overall it was a 6/10. If it had more seasoning it definitely could have been an 8/10 because again the shrimp and crab were present and it wasn’t dry at all. Lastly, the honey garlic wings! My wings weren’t crispy at all! But again, this was takeout and I had about a 10min drive home so that could have played a part! It was definitely giving buffalo, butter and garlic in the sauce. Like traditional homemade buffalo sauce but the presence of honey was missing, definitely. Overall the wings were a 6/10. This is my personal review as someone who has raised by my grandma and lived down south knowing true southern soul food. I only keep emphasizing on the “soul food” part because all the social media reviews I’ve seen described it as “soul food”. I also want to say I know the restaurant is in a gentrified area so the food has to be seasoned to everyone’s liking and following health guidelines. So please be understanding of that. But if you know, you know! Traditionally our ancestors season our food for us and it’s not that. Overall though, the restaurant is a 8/10. The service could be better but they are new and learning so please be gracious. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. The ambience is warm and beautiful. The atmosphere was amazing. Before I go! I just want to remind everyone that this was a takeout order 45mins before closing! So I may had got the “we about close” experience. I would definitely try them again early in the day before...

A week after my 40th birthday and on my goddaughter’s 7th, my two besties and I finally made it to Omega Restaurant for their Sunday brunch. I’d been wanting to try this spot for months, and let me tell you — it’s worth the hype. Omega is a Black-owned restaurant, named after the Black Greek fraternity, and located on a cute boutique-lined street in Merchantville. With a BYOB brunch buffet, live music, and a family-friendly vibe, it’s like stepping into a neighborhood celebration.

The Wait: We arrived at noon with a party of six (four adults, two kids) and were quoted a 30-minute wait. Unfortunately, that turned into over an hour. Since Omega doesn’t take reservations, it’s strictly first-come, first-served. While I understand the laid-back, communal atmosphere they’re going for, not having a reservation option makes it tough to gauge how long you’ll be waiting. It also seemed like the hostess was overwhelmed trying to manage the flow of guests, especially with larger parties. I’m not suggesting anyone should be rushed, but some sort of system for table management would definitely help.

Another con? The bathroom situation. There’s only one shared restroom for everyone — men, women, and children. With a bustling crowd, that line grew quickly. Having at least one additional bathroom would make a big difference.

The Pros: But once we were seated? It was all good vibes. Omega truly shines when it comes to atmosphere. The space felt warm and family-oriented, like we were part of a small, tight-knit community. The live music set the perfect tone, playing 80s and 90s feel-good hits — the kind that make you reminisce and sing along like you’re at a family reunion or a backyard cookout.

And the food? Absolutely delicious. From the creamy shrimp and grits to the perfectly seasoned fried fish and crispy chicken tenders, every bite was on point. The scrambled eggs were fluffy, the French toast was sweet and golden, and the salmon was tender and flavorful. They even had juice options that hit the spot — I went for a classic lemonade and sweet tea mix, and it was chef’s kiss. Plus, it’s a buffet, so you can go up as many times as you like, all for one set price.

Another bonus? The BYOB policy. Having the freedom to bring your own bottle makes celebrations even more festive. We brought along our own drinks, popped a bottle, and enjoyed the whole experience to the fullest.

Final Thoughts: Despite the wait and the limited bathroom situation, Omega’s brunch is one I’d absolutely recommend. Just plan ahead, arrive early if you’re with a larger party, and come ready to enjoy a laid-back, soulful dining experience. The energy is unmatched, the food is fantastic, and you’ll leave feeling like part of the community.

Would I go back? In a heartbeat. And next time, I’m definitely bringing...