Mike L.
Yelp
To be perfectly honest, I actually have no idea how I first came across Fixins Soul Kitchen. What I do remember is that as soon as I did, I immediately bookmarked them to come here. Obviously, it was a nice bonus to see that the reviews for this place were so positive, but I kind of expected them to be after seeing all of the delicious looking photos of the food. At that point, it was never in doubt as to whether or not I'd end up coming here, it was just a matter as to how soon it could happen...and why couldn't I make it happen sooner!
Given their immense popularity, I was genuinely shocked we didn't have to wait for a table when we walked in without reservations for brunch on a Saturday morning. Not sure if that's typical or if we just got lucky, but I certainly wouldn't recommend temping fate like we did, as this place was packed by the time we left. It's easy to see why - between the lively atmosphere, the cozy back patio area, and their hip-hop playlist (heard so many of my old jams!), the vibe of this place is great! Of course, that's without even mentioning the menu, which is chock full of Southern/soul food staples. From their Fried Chicken & Waffles, Biscuits & Gravy, Smothered Pork Chops, Shrimp & Grits, Fried Fish, Gumbo, all of their fixins, and so much more, there were so many things we wanted to try!
-- SAC TOWN MANGO LEMONADE - Hennessy V.S Peach and Mango Puree, Lemon Juice, Sprite...$16
As tempting as the Uncle Nearest Strawberry sounded, the peach and mango puree in this was too good to pass up. Thankfully, this didn't disappoint. The pour wasn't overly heavy, though you could still taste the Hennessy, and I love how well the puree mixed with the Sprite and lemon juice. Refreshing!
-- DEEP FRIED DEVILED EGGS - Deep Fried Egg Cups Filled with Creamy Yolks Topped with Bacon and Hot Sauce...$12
Pretty tasty, but I still prefer regular deviled eggs, which I love. The batter had a nice crispiness and the yolk/filling tasted great, thanks to the bacon and the bit of heat it had. That said, given how it's fried, it had a slight taste of oiliness that I wasn't as fond of. Still, great starter!
-- CHICKEN & WAFFLES - Two Pieces (Dark) & a Waffle...$16
Quite simply, this was so good! On the outside, the batter was crunchy (in the best of ways) and well seasoned while on the inside, the chicken was juicy and piping hot. As for the waffle, it was just about perfect - big yet not dense nor "bready" and so good with the butter and syrup.
-- FRIED FISH - Cornmeal Crusted Fish Served with Corn Fritters and Choice of Two Fixins (Grits and Collared Greens)...$
More solid than spectacular. The cornmeal crust made this feel a bit dry, but the fish itself was moist and the fritters were delicious (crispy, flavorful). As for the fixins, I'm not big on collared greens, but these weren't too shabby, and I liked how creamy the grits were, though, we forgot to add cheese.
Along with how good the food was, our server was great - super friendly and very engaging. Plus, he was so (unnecessarily) apologetic that they were out of certain fixins that we wanted (unless we wanted to wait). We had to keep telling him it wasn't that big of a deal, as we were curious about most of their entire slate on the menu. Also, the other thing that I LOVED about our trip here was how easy to was to find parking. I don't know if we were similarly lucky, but it was both awesome and refreshing to able to find a spot around the corner without having to circle endlessly around the neighborhood.
Now, I just need to figure out when I'll be able to make my way back here to check out their dinner menu! FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down for now.