Soul Food To Go

We live close and not only want to love this place, need to love this place since no one else is open for anything close to dinner on a Friday/​Saturday night. The place was jammed in the beginning because there is NOTHING here but pizza and burritos. I love both, but I also love and need a place that is not pizza and burritos at least for Friday and Saturday night dinner with my significant other. But the name is «Soul Food TO GO» so maybe I want them to be something they do not want to be. My fault.
Unfortunately after three visits and one take out, I have to agree with the other reviews
The menu is printed out from Word. Just stick to the blackboard.
They are only cooking certain items each day. I totally get that. So write them on the blackboard as today’s specials. Do not taunt us by letting us select three items that are not available from the sheet of paper menu, until we guess what is cooking today.
Loose the PVC patio furniture. Either upgrade to matching furniture or stick to the TO GO theme. Take the out.
Now to the food:
Mac and cheese… to die for. Must is a must have and is what is keeping them in business. If this was the only item on your menu, this would be a 5 star review.
The chicken and fish were good, not great,
I think the Greens are good, not great
Rice and beans, a bit bland.
If you want dine-​in business, please be BYOB friendly. The last time I was there, they went next door to buy paper cups from the grocery store since they explained that they sold soda in cans and bottles and no one needed a cup…

I went to this place yesterday after I found out the taco place I wanted to go to was now closed. I was in the neighborhood for lunch and decided to give the place a chance.
I walked in and was looking for some type of menu. The young lady at the counter gave a sheet of paper in a plastic covering and it was handwritten menu, I thought, «okay»… Nevertheless, I asked her what came with the dinner, she told me you get 2 sides. So I said, okay. I had to ask what was in certain sides, due to my non-​pork, non-​beef diet and she accommodated. I ordered the smothered chicken, with red beans and rice and greens. My order came out fairly fast.
I walked to cramped front and sat down to eat at the patio furniture set-​up, I thought to myself, «okay»…whatever!
Well… let me say, I could have sent 4 to 5 dollars on lunch at subway and had a MUCH BETTER satisfied meal! I tried the red beans and rice first and it had ZERO favor… it was VERY bland and had NOTHING! Because I cut down on my salt in-​tack YEARS ago, I rarely if ever add salt to already cooked food. THIS was one of those times and it did absolutely NOTHING to it. After a couple of I didn’t touch it anymore. The greens were okay, even with all the damn stems in it! They had a nice favor and was the star of the plastic to-​go container. Then I tried the chicken. It was fried then laid in a bucket of gravy… First of all, DAMN-IT…because I forgot fried is usually the first step (I gave up fried food for lent this year and haven’t gone back yet)… Let me say, that chicken wasn’t even worth it… The breading was wayyy too thick and again, it had zero seasoning. It too was bland… I spent 11 dollars for a meal that I could only enjoy a ¹⁄₃ of… Very dissatisfied!.. I will not be back to «try» anything else. I’m afraid to say, this is a «one and done» production. I tried to give a new place a chance, it just didn’t do it for me.
I know that everyone’s «taste» are different. Some people have given the place far more stars than I have and that’s cool, hey, «everything is everything».

Food specials are good for $ 5.99 but the variety is at most simple. I ordered smothered chicken for lunch with a side of white rice and mashed with corn bread. Now here’s the cut:
* there are more items on regular menu (which they ran out of, but cleverly wrote on the chalkboard menu wall)
* chicken actually was good until I got to the center, a little undercooked.
* I think they needed more soul seasonings to take it to the next level.
* I use to work out in this space when it was a gym, and it seems like it hasn’t changed too much, it is a tiny spot and if you want to eat in for lunch, it may seat you and a few friends.
* The girls working there are really accommodating. Very pleasant and extremely attentive, when asked if they would be using credit card soon they said that by tomorrow the debit machine would be in. Big Plus.
* It was a cool and brisk day in Chicago and the inside of the restaurant was a bit hot so I suggest that you order and pick up vs having to wait and get warmed up on the super hot days
* CO Worker was not happy that her fried chicken had two wings vs a wing and breast that many restaurants provide. And for my special I was also surprised that I had two legs as the entrée. This is something that does bother me but again, its just me.
Okay so for the most part, I didn’t mind it as far as taste, but with a little tweaking, I am sure they will get it together and make this place thrive. I have waited for quite a while since seeing their sign last year so I guess the anticipation was high up there. I will give them a four because it’s definitely worth you checking them out and trying some «soul» food in the Little Italy (Original) area.

I have VERY VERY mixed reviews about this place.
First, I called and placed my order. And two of the things that I wanted «they weren’t serving today» I called back two minutes later to add an additional sandwich to my meal and I ended up talking to 3 different people before I could finally place my order. The receptionist said my dinner would be ready «in 10 minutes». I was on a strict time schedule so I double checked with her to verify the 10 minutes was accurate, she again, assured me «10 minutes.»
Well, when i get there of course my food is not ready. Also, the lady that I guess is the person that takes orders had on some bright shirt, with her boobs hanging out and tatoos on them to bring more attention. IN ADDITION, there was a 2 to 3 year old walking around in the little kitchen being supervised I guess by all the workers. UNACCEPTABLE.
I ended up getting my food 10 minutes later than quoted when I told them repeatedly what time I needed it ready by.
Now to the food, I ordered a catfish dinner with sweet potatoes and mac and cheese.
I almost choked on a bone because the fish has many bones in it! The mac and cheese was fantastic. The sweet potatoes were gross (thats if you know what good soul food taste like) In addition, I ordered a catfish sandwich. When I opened the box, I had 4 pieces of bread and some fish. No sides, no sandwich made, it was just sloppy!
I hate that my first experience with this place was bad because I had been anticipating its opening. If you are in the Medical District and there is no other soul food places and you arent on a time schedule and do not care about the venue, then go here.
But if you have the opportunity to choose between MacArthurs, Morrisons, Ms Pearls; Dont even consider this place.
This is a note to the staff «If you want to bring in professional people to support your business, YOU MUST FIRST BE PROFESSIONAL!»
****UPDATE***
I sent two friends to try this place out today and there was a note on the door that read: SORRY WE ARE CLOSED. IT’S TOO HOT.
ONCE AGAIN, HORRIFICALLY GHETTO AND UNACCEPTABLE!

This place is amazing! this place just opened and it has been jammed packed with people. I had the smothered chicken with mac-​n-​cheese and a side of corn. BEST MAC AND CHEESE EVER! food is cooked fresh and its sooooo good! Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I also had the truffle cheesecake. TO DIE FOR. Everything is so fresh and delicious. it is worth a try! also you are able to try it before you buy it!!! which is amazing because i was undecided of what sides to get. def. try the mac and cheese!