Martin’s Soulfood & Catering

I came to Martians soul food for a quick snack and I fell in love. The employees were so helpful, polite and the food was amazing. I ordered a set of chicken wings and they were literally the best wings I’ve ever had.

Disappointed. Thats one word to sum up my experience here. I ordered 2 turkey wing dinners for me and the hubby. I had mac and cheese and yams and I ordered him the mac and cheese and cabbage. The total tab was $ 18. I didnt think that was steep for the usual soul food dish until I got it home. Each dinner had ONE, yes ONE little turkey wing in there. Seriously? For me that may have been okay but to a grown man that’s a snack. Not to mention the price was wayyyyyy to steep for a one turkey wing snack. Sorry but I won’t be returning. The food was okay in taste but it doesn’t compare to A Mayes. Not to mention I usually get 3, yes 3 meals out of their portions.

Janaf Location: The diner was clean, and the young lady working the register quite well mannered. My husband enjoyed the fried gizzards. They were seasoned well, cooked at the correct temperature, and were not sodden with grease. However my order of meatloaf with macaroni and cheese, greens were a matter of great concern. The meatloaf was under cooked, partially raw. The side orders were bland and not served at the correct temperature for hot foods, lukewarm. Obviously temps were not checked after reheating. Also when l explained to situation to the staff regarding the meatloaf l was told company policy does not allow for refunds, but l could order another entrée, and the fact one mouthful of mac and cheese, and two of the greens they would not refund any money for the sides. I truly am discussed, that l had to strongly disagree and defend my stance concerning this matter especially since, l understand this was human error that began when the meatloaf was cooked and the temperature was not checked, and also before serving for customer consumption. Standards set in place simply were not followed. Only after much discussion was l refunded for the food. I personally never eat something at a restaurant if l have to send the food back. Lukewarm vegetables l can deal with, but never under cooked hamburger meat, this is definitely an appetite killer in every sense of the word.

First time trying this place and i wont be returning. I ordered the Chicken wings w mac and cheese and yams. The chicken tasted like it was fried in old grease and a little too dark for my liking. The mac and cheese was basic and bland. The TWO stars is for Yams they were sooo good! Overall if you are looking for great soul food try Some da eat on tidewater drive, its amazing.

Martin’s Soul Food quickly became an institution in Norfolk. it’s one of the best soul food restaurants Hampton Roads. One of their signature dishes is the Turkey Chop Dinner. I just visited their new location in Chesapeake. No disappointments here! Service is fast and friendly. And the Turkey Chop dinner with okra and mac & cheese was even better than Martin’s Norfolk. Chef Delano is in the house y’all!

I heard about this place from some family members and tried their new Chesapeake location. I went during the lunch time and the «dinner special» for less than 7 dollars. I decided to get the ribs with sides of mixed greens and macaroni and cheese and a roll. The sides were great, mixed greens were good couldn’t tell if they were fresh on canned and just well seasoned but good none the less. Macaroni and cheese was good. The ribs were fall off the bone tender but they put wayyy to much bbq sauce on it, I prefer to have the sauce cooked in the meat. I will definitely return in the future but will choose a different main entrée.

Recently visited there new location in Chesapeake. Omg worst food ever… nothing what I expected. Ordered Fish only to be told that it came with cole slaw an fries. anything different would be a dollar charge. Really??? Portions are small defiantly not worth the money. The taste of the food was horrible the cabbage tasted like can cabbage… not fresh at all. Potato salad tastes like it was spoiled the fish was rubber. This restaurant is not wanted in southnorfolk!!! Sorry I normally don’t write reviews I just had to let it be know… I wish I was told before I spent my hard earnings.

We went to the store at Janaf for lunch. I was excited to see they had a chicken fried steak lunch special. It was kind of weird that even though we wanted to eat in we had to stand in line to order first and pay and then seat ourselves. They did bring us our food when the orders came out but it did take quite a while though for us to get our food, but it was alot of people there. My co-​workers loved their meals, they got whiting, pork chops and they did look good and their meal came with a type of bread that they called a «puff» (it looked like deep fried bread). When I got my order, it came with regular bread roll and the chicken fried steak was as thin a paper — I’m not exaggerating — it was as thin a paper. I might try them again but I’m not rushing back any time soon.

This restaurant was not good to me, I cooked better at home! Customer service is nice, but unfortunately, I will not pay $ 10 for that again. Meatloaf tasted chewy bland. Yams were watery, and the seasoning threw me off. No thanks, my friend and I won’t be visiting again…

I CAN NOT with Martins. I have tried them at the old location, I’ve tried them at the new location and I’ve been disappointed every time. They charge you $ 10 for a dinner and give you a piece and a half of tilapia. REALLY!!? On top of that, I ordered white rice and it was sour, like going rancid sour like sitting in the starchy cooking water all day putting it in the fridge taking it back out warming it back up and serving it two days later sour. And I don’t appreciate how they thought it was the best idea to put that hard tail roll in a sandwich bag and mushing it into your food was a good presentation because ITS NOT… it’s actually nasty and unsanitary!!! They also don’t believe in draining and putting down paper in your to-​go box to soak up the grease for the fried fish so either way… your getting soggy fish before you get home. Also, someone made the executive decision that every person who eats fried fish WILL eat fries and slaw with it and if you don’t $ 1 extra to go against the grain.

Curry chicken with rice and mac and cheese was quite yummy. I will be back to sample the rest of the menu in the near future.
Oh! And I found out that they do make banana pudding on Sundays, and it may or may not still be available throughout the week. I high-​tailed it back over there to get some, and it was homemade, complete with merengue and as good as I expected it to be.

There was a nice lady working there and the food was amazing! I have been a few times since then and only see an older man working there. Now the food is just ok. But I don’t know of any other soul food restaurants in the area.