Vonda's Kitchen

I come here often after church with family, and today I couldn’t overlook the numerous shortcomings of this restaurant. I firstly ordered an uptown, the drink tasted like it had been sitting for days. I sent it back. We went to order food and they were out of so many options, I settled on chicken wings. The table next to us although arriving after us, got their food first. Not ideal but okay. 10 minutes later the waitress comes out to say what we ordered is now sold out and they can’t get us that either. The food is usually okay while the service isn’t anything to boast about. The service today was absolutely terrible, from the spoiled uptown, not having things in stock, to upselling the chicken wings just to return later on and tell us they’re sold out. When the food finally came out, the chicken wasn’t seasoned, fried until all juice was gone it actually tasted old, cabbage tasted like it was boiled in water. Yams were a 4/10. This restaurant has definitely gone down hill over the last few years, which is very unfortunate.

Party of 2 in the morning on a weekday. Firstly, entering the restaurant, some substance was on the ground directly outside the door, making it a bit sticky/slippery. I suspect it was oil, but the floor inside was much better. Upon entering, the host greeted us and prompted us to sit anywhere we pleased. Unfortunately, I no longer remember her name, but the host was knowledgeable and friendly throughout our experience, often checking in on us + other guests. We had the spicy chicken hash, eggs, grits, home fries, and toast for our meals. Everything was good, and I definitely would recommend the chicken hash. As we left, we bumped into another employee who asked how the meal was and if we needed anything else. After she introduced herself as Vonda, the owner. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience, and I will be returning.

Ok so I ordered the brioche French toast from this place the other morning . I was literally in utter disbelief when I realized that they have me a burger bun cut up as French toast. When I had looked through the reviews before going I seen people with triangular French toast with powder sugar etc . The service was ok it was early in the morning so I understand that the mood wasn’t a 10/10 . But the picture alone will speaks for itself . The portion was way too small for the price of $17. The food was also rock hard and not hot enough.

Amazing service , amazing food, nice atmosphere for a date or business meet. My wife and I enjoyed . Chicken and waffles were great . Thank me later

Found this spot while we were in town & the food was amazing, the wait staff was very friendly and made us feel welcomed. The food did take quite a while, but came out fresh and tasty.

Came here for breakfast -- i had the Best banana walnut pancakes 🥞 . You can take out or dine in. Our server was very warm and attentive. Would definitely revisit to try the waffles or grits !

First time experience left much to be desired. The waitress and atmosphere was the only good thing about our experience. Food was mediocre, some things tasted old. Don't complain about your food, though. The chef/owner may try to shame you using profanity. Not worth it. There are much better soul food restaurants in the area where the food actually tastes good. 0/10 do not recommend. NEVER going back!

My family and I went here for Sunday brunch and it was pretty good. Outside of the waiter mistaking salad dressing for oil and the brioche French toast and bananas could have been a better presentation, we had a great waiter. It was amazing and I would definitely go back and try something else.

Found this spot while we were in town & the food was amazing, the wait staff was very friendly and made us feel welcomed. The food did take quite a while, but came out fresh and tasty. Clean establishment as well.

Ambiance : decor is very modern art deco features local artists paintings but could use more cleaning Service: the greeting was very welcoming but however being served was not organized i was seated before someone but they order was taken before me. Food: chicken was very good and flavorful, grilled cheese was good and toasted golden brown. Waffles were bland thick and hard to swallow even with syrup still bland . The worst thing about my whole meal was my drink there was something floating in the bottom of my drink that no one could identify.

The food was just okay. I ordered a salmon pannini. I was expecting a patty but the ball was fine. However, the sauce was missing so it was dry. The fries were fries. The sweet tea was mid. The service was good. The ambiance was pleasant. I will go there again and try another dish.

GREAT Food!!! The service is fabulous and quick. Did I mention the Food!!! Holy #$@&*!!!! Outrageous!!!!

Let me start out by saying, we've been coming here for years and used to love their food. But after our last visit, we won't be back. As we entered the restaurant, the floors were "crunchy", sticky and tacky. I assume they mopped the dining room with the same mop they use to clean the greasy floors in the kitchen. They don't have high chairs, So we spent most of the time with our toddler in our lap. The sweet tea tasted off, sour almost. Had to give it back to the server because I couldn't stomach it. Had my husband taste it, and he immediately agreed that something was wrong with it. The plastic utensils were such a turn off. We're dining in, is it too much of a hassle to give your customers actual silverware?? Got fish and grits. Potatoes, toast and eggs. Honestly, the only flavorful item on my plate was the potatoes and eggs. Was upcharged to add cheese to my grits, but the cheese never melted. Pre shredded bagged cheese is what they have on hand it seems. My husband ordered shrimp and grits and asked for a side of eggs, but that arrived 15 minutes after we all received our food. Not sure why it took so long so cook up 2 eggs for him. He was also disappointed in his brunch. It was obvious they used frozen bagged shrimp. Probably the 26-30/lb because the shrimp were really small and had the nerve to be overcooked. Workers just seemed disheveled. Not sure what happened to Vondas but it fell off for sure. We're not from Newark and would travel here for years. Not anymore. This is the end of an era, definitely won't be back. Absolutely don't recommend.

The after church crowd was here on Sunday and I completely understand why. The food was every thing it needed to be & then some. I ordered the shrimp & grits with a side of eggs. They serve breakfast all day and have a vegan menu. The restaurant is connected to an apartment building so be careful not to pass when looking for it. It has a black & white striped triangular umbrella hovering over it. The staff were kind and the atmosphere was extremely down to earth, but not ghetto. This is a great mom & pop shop that you should fed check out. Be sure to try a flavored lemonade or iced tea. They are tall and one was more than enough. I didn't notice any ASL speaking staff, it wasn't needed, but there is space for wheelchairs. There is also street parking so be mindful. Only downside, our table wasn't exactly clean when sat down, but it was obvious they were busy. Overall, this is a great place for brunch or Sunday takeout dinner.

Good food , fresh and service is always good . Pretty nice and clean if you wanna dine in .

Do not visit!!! Vonda's Kitchen needs a lot work before it should be able to serve patrons. After traveling from California to New Jersey, I attempted to try a black owned restaurant that specialized in Soul Food. The experience began with the server mentioning they were out of products on the menu. The server then brought out one plate and not the full party. The server then brought a sandwich to the table that had sticker in the sandwich. I returned the sandwich and asked that the sandwich be prepared properly. I then tried the eggs which were cold! The pancakes were cold! I approached Vonda and explained that I had lost my appetite and was disappointed with the dining experience. Vonda made an attempt to explain that she's never seen that. It was not the best response to such a bad dining experience. I would never return and I hope that others choose not to dine at Vonda's Kitchen.

Vonda's has great comfort food, friendly staff, courteous service, and reasonable prices. Parking is available and convenient in front of the establishment and the lemonade is off the chain good. I drive over from New York to eat there.

My sister and I decided to dine in At Vonda's.. I had raved about how good the food was and decided to take her to the actual place. Well...when we walked in 3 of the employees were sitting down in chairs, adjacent to the register. One of the ladies looked at us as if we were disturbing her peace. We checked out the menu and I ordered the catfish box and my sister got the crispy chicken sandwich. What a huge disappointment..the catfish was cut up into the smallest nuggets purposely only giving me one piece of fish. ( I'm a chef so I knew exactly what they did). My sister's sandwich.. as she put it was " more bun, than chicken" I wish I had of taken photos but we don't do stuff like that. I've always been and will continue to support black restaurants but my bragging about Vonda's, had my sister looking at me side eyed, since she drove out here from NYC to experience what I thought would be spectacular. What a let down!!

Food was SO FRESH. Catfish was fried to perfection! First time here, will definitely be back. Customer service was great too.

The best! I've had in awhile the fish was seasoned well and grits were good. I should have asked for soft eggs but, that's it. Everything was amazing!!

Mt Brother and I visited this black owned establishment for the first time and was not disappointed. The workers were very kind. They greeted and sat us instantly. Very nice place and also very clean. We ordered the fried chicken wings appetizer and I got the whitings platter sided with green beans and Mac & Cheese. I also got an "Uptown". In other words, an Arnold Palmer that was really tasty. The food was very good. Literally no complaints. The pricing on the menu is very reasonable. What I loved is this establishment offers a true "Soul Food" experience. I plan to return again soon and I suggest you try it out if you haven't already. Thank you for a nice experience to the people of Vondas Kitchen.

they very unprofessional I brought me some food today this old man & white lady being rude too me & I'm pr

Service was good...Just wish our server spoke up louder so we can hear her.. Black owned establishment.. Sweet tea isn't good at all, Nothing sweet about it, the strawberry lemonade is pretty good... The catfish and grits was good as well, fresh, hot, flavor and big portions.. Overall good place for breakfast and I will be back..

Vonda's Kitchen is my go-to spot in Newark! Vonda is a friend and a great chef and businesswoman. I took my Mom and wife to Vonda's for Mother's Day Brunch. I enjoyed my favorite shrimp and grits. Mom had crabcakes and my wife had fried whiting. I highly recommend visiting Vonda's if you are looking for an awesome, authentic soul food meal!

Super disappointed as they are not open Sunday's at 9am as listed. No answer on the phone either. ‍

Small quaint homey atmosphere. Good food, good service. Nice to see the owner walking around from time to time.

Absolutely delicious for breakfast /brunch. I highly recommend the waffle topped with peach cobbler topping, the spicy chicken hash, and the Parmesan grits!

Disgusting. You call this a business? Right when you walk in you're greeted by dog poop at the door. Be careful not to step in it. The floor is extra sticky once you walk through the doors as well. They definitely mop their floors with a dirty mop and sugar water. Also, their food portion size is despicable. I got the tilapia fish meal which was over 20 something dollars and the size of the fish is smaller than my nephews hand. Okay. Small fish size? Sometimes that can't be helped. But why are you giving me ONE PIECE OF SMALL TILAPA when the meal is over $20?! Are you out of your mind????? Other businesses in your area have you beat and definitely feed you more than that. And you wanna call yourselves a southern restaurant? What kind of southern hospitality is that???? They would laugh and spit on your business in the south. DO BETTER. In general, do not go here unless you want to have mid, greasy, disgusting food with horrible staff.

The venue may be small, but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and the food is absolutely delicious!

The place was fine. The food was tasty, but the portion size was for a five year old. The waitress said, "Girl, you ate everything." I was about to voice my opinion, but my husband said don't. I had newborn whiting fish (3) that added up to 1normal size whiting fish, a fist full of grits, and 9 home fries. I counted because I was already upset and had to fake a smile. This place needs to double up on their portion sizes and people will continue to support.

I came here with my best friend and son.. the food was good!! We went during lunchtime on a Saturday and we walked in and sat down

I went to Vonda's Kitchen just a little while ago and order a fish dinner. I should have checked the pieces

***4 1/2 stars*** Several years ago, I came here with a friend and had a perfect experience. It didn't get any better - the food was out of this world and at one point Vonda herself came out to chat with us for a few minutes. It just checked off all the boxes, and I recommended this place to tons of people. Shortly after this meal, I actually had Vonda's cater my Oscar party. I couldn't have loved this place more. This was my first visit in a while, and while the food was still amazing, some of the magic is gone, which is a shame. Vonda's is not in the best neighborhood, but I've been in worse. We found street parking very close by, probably a hundred yards or so from the entrance. As with my last visit, my chum and I were the only white visitors, but I definitely didn't feel like we were being eyeballed or anything - we were treated just like anyone else (and I go out of my way to mention this because I know some people WOULD be nervous coming into an area like this; it is what it is. Also, I stick out like a sore thumb in all-white neighborhoods too). We stopped by around noonish this past Sunday. There were a few tables to choose from, but you could also tell Vonda's was slammed with to-go orders based on the frenetic activity behind the counter. Throughout our meal, there was definitely heavy foot traffic in and out, and I'd guess our food was delayed by 10 minutes or so because of that. Not a huge deal, especially since this is made-to-order goodness and you should expect a slightly longer wait time as a result. I opted for the fried catfish entree ($12.50), which came with two sides - I went with the mac and cheese and the candied yams. Vonda's has the best mac and cheese I've ever had. It's not up for debate. I LOVE it, and like basically any warm-blooded American, I've had my share. It's just scrumptious on all levels. The candied yams are amazing. I definitely haven't had nearly as much of that particular dish for comparison purposes, but I feel like it's a good way to get dessert without actually getting dessert, if that makes sense. Perfect candied taste and texture. The fried catfish was also amongst the best I've ever had. I think it was supposed to come with some type of sauce but it was so juicy I didn't bother to follow up with the waitress. My chum ordered the chicken and waffles ($13.50), as well as the kitchen mac bowl ($11.50). She liked the food but wasn't as over the moon about it as much as I was. That's probably at least partially on me since I talked this place up massively ahead of time, but what actually prompted this visit was a March meal that we had at Sweet T's in Montclair. They serve very similar food, and during that meal I told her that I thought Vonda's was better. (For the record, I really liked Sweet T's but I had concerns about their service and an oppressive reservation policy.) She still thinks Sweet T's is better, but she can write her own review if she feels that passionately about it. The price point here is excellent (WAY lower than Sweet T's), and the food is noticeably yummier. So why can't I commit to the full five stars here? It came down to the staff. Everyone we interacted with seemed super stressed and overwhelmed (though I wouldn't say anyone was unpleasant to us). Our young pup waitress was very nice but also seemed to be in charge of manning the phone, which rang constantly. There were a few little things that slipped through the cracks. For instance, she forgot to take our menus off the table after we gave our orders, which prompted one of the other employees to ask us if we had been helped yet, and my catfish entree was supposed to come with corn bread and didn't. Huge problem? Absolutely not, but some of those tiny issues can add up over the course of the meal. This is still a recommendation for sure, but my enthusiasm has diminished a bit. I think the problems can be rectified fairly easily, especially since they've mastered the food.

Food coma! Now I'm from the south and I cook southern. This place in Jersey is the south in your mouth. I had the meatloaf with the barbecue sauce. Candied yams and collard greens and cornbread. I had the itus after 3 bites. The staff was was so friendly that it felt like family. The owner and other staff members came out and welcomed us to their restaurant. It felt truly like back home, the food and the atmosphere. Do y'all door dash to Alabama?

Vonda's Kitchen is loved and adored in the community. After Eleven Clinton closed, this because my Soul Food fix in Newark. Smothered Turkey Wings, Beef Short Ribs, Candied Yams, Oxtails. .. you'll find all the Southern classics here. The consistency isn't always there, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I've never had a bad meal, but I suspect the cooks do their own thing. No measuring cups or strict adherence to recipes. The Cornbread is really popular. It's almost like cake. .. light in texture and sweet. My favorite dish is the Smothered Turkey. The gravy and sides are perfect for a stick to your ribs kind of meal. Sundays are jammed packed so get there early or plan to wait. There's not much in the area to help pass the time. I strongly recommend supporting this Woman Owned Small Business the next time you're in Newark.

Good vibes every time I go here. Whenever the owner is there she always takes her time to greet each patron and shares fun stories. You get a hefty amount of food for the cost of the meal. The food is very tasty and reminds me of my grandmothers cooking.

Passing through and wanted soul food I will say this is in my top 5 BAD RESTAURANTS I would never recommend this place watch your receipt they will over charge you if you don't pay attention the bbq chicken is dry as hell the Mac and cheese has no flavor and is very oily the cornbread was burnt and the lemonade was like drinking sugar in cup if you don't want to waste money I would not go here

I've always had a delicious experience at Vonda's . The food is fresh, flavorful and really tasty. The restaurant is clean and mellow aside from regular talking at tables amongst themselves and some some amazing classic RnB playing in the background. I initially considered to take away a star for slower than typical service and some behind the scenes tension behind the counter that customers could hear/sense BUT in this post pandemic world ... every restaurant I've been to has been understaffed and overworked so I am giving some grace and hope you will too. The food was damn good and the owner Vonda came out and greeted us to ensure we were taken care of. Highly recommend and will be back

I was craving some soul food and knew this was the spot to go. I drove a bit of a distance for the food. Upon arriving I was told to sit where I wanted and luckily a corner seat near the window was open. The hostess immediately brought over the place setting which was also the menu... clever. It took a little while before my server came over to take my order but once the order was in it didn't take long before the food came. My eggs were good, and my grits were okay, not what I remember them tasting like from the last time I was there a few years ago. The salmon cakes tasted a little off, not fresh. To top it off the wheat toast had been pre buttered and was super soggy, nothing like a nice slice of toast. I left a little disappointed in the food. I saved my calories for it. Not sure I will be back.

Vonda's is a legendary spot. Got two to go plates from here. The whiting fish was well seasoned and cooked (took the bread off it). I got them with some fries that were perfectly cooked as well. Everything complimented each other. The yams and Mac and cheese for my second plate were okay, that chicken though was dry and over cooked. Other than that I would give this place another try and see if the chicken is better the second time around!!

Came over from seeing the cherry blossoms and tried out Vonda's kitchen. We ordered the mac and cheese with bacon the chicken hash and the classic egg panini. All three were fantastic and we were greeted by Ms Vonda. Loved the food j will return with my mom .

I'm not from Jersey but moved here, and my mom came to visit so I decided to take her to Vondas because I've Uber eats the food before, so I decided to take a chance on dining in. The food wasn't the best and the service was horrible. I don't know if the waiter was having a bad day or just didn't want to be there but she was awful (On a Sunday at that, God's day) . But we didn't complain to her, just asked if she was ok; so eventually the owner came over to ask if everything was going well and we told her yes, because we didn't want anyone to get in trouble(and also we aren't the complaining type), so we just let things be, (but I did tell her how bad my home fries were; y'all can see how bad they look in the photo and the waiter didn't want to change it out for me or give me another option) it's like I almost had to beg her to change it, like girl what !!!!!! Needless to say, when we were leaving the owner stopped my mom and asked about the tip I gave the waiter (meanwhile the waiter didn't deserve anything but I gave her something) and I just think it's weird to ask anyone about what they're tipping, that's not anyone's place. Now if you want to know the real about your server ask about that, but not about the money we are giving. I hate that we had a terrible experience but I hope whoever goes have a better time. The situation about the tip really rub me the wrong way so I had to make this review, but I hope the servers do better moving forward.

Tried shrimp & grits for the first time & omg. I loved it! I paired it with the ginger root lemonade & wow- it wasn't too sweet and the perfect amount of ginger. It felt like I was being hugged by someone. The dine in bowl was loaded with jumbo shrimp & my takeaway bowl had just enough. This is definitely comfort food cause as soon as I got home, I went to sleep. I've been here twice so far & will keep coming back!

First and foremost super busy. Small homey feeling type of place. You can tell my the customers that it's the type of place that has regulars. Came in for some breakfast to go. Have the French toast with fruit on it. Delicious. The only reason I gave it 4 out of 5 was because I don't think I go the full experience getting my food to go.

If you are in Newark New Jersey, this place is a must stop. This was one of the best breakfasts that I've had in a long while. Service did take a little bit because the place was packed with customers, but the food came out quick and delicious!

My reason for giving vondas kitchen one star is because her food ain't all that great anymore.everything taste like burnt ,dirty cooking oil.the way they lay your food on your plate makes you not even wanna pay for it.she needs to stop making harsh comments about black people because from eye sight,we the only ones paying for that mess.boy,do she have some nerve.looks like her business is kinda slowing down,I wonder why.when you be mean to the wrong people,karma has its way of returning ms vonda.

The catfish was awesome but I was a bit disappointed with the mac and cheese. The ambiance is very plain yet still pleasant. The service was good, quick and friendly.

Breakfast was horrible! Cups have stains. We asked for apple juice and the server never bought it. My sister had to ask for something else. Worst place I've been to since iHop.

5 stars is not enough! We came here after picking up a relative from the Newark airport. Zero regrets. Would come back here a million times over. Clearly all the locals do because it was packed with a lot of pick up orders going out the door as well. So worth the wait for a table! All of the food was so good. The chicken and waffles are the best I have had in a long long time. The chicken was perfectly fried so it was flavorful and juicy. The waffle. The waffle folks. It was so delicious I was trying to steal the waffle from my other dining companion. It was the perfect level of savory with both lovely pull and crispy that it was just heaven in a bite and when combined with the syrup was just the right balance of savory and sweet. Heavenly. Do yourself a favor and eat here ASAP and get the waffle!

Vonda's kitchen may be a little tricky to find, but you know you're in the right area if you're near the JFK recreation center. This is delicious hometown cooking, straight from the heart. It's a great place for brunch! :-)

I'm going to be honest, we were very underwhelmed with our experience at Vonda's. I was expecting it to be a lot better because we heard so much about it. Maybe we came on an off day? The staff is great and friendly, restaurant wasn't too crowded and it was clean. But let's talk about what's important, the food! We ordered: - Fried Catfish: 10/10 stars - Shrimp & Grits: 5/10 stars - Fried Chicken with Collard Greens and Mac & Cheese: 5/10 stars - Peach Cobbler: 1/10 stars - Cornbread: 10/10 stars Out of everything the Catfish was by far the best part of the meal. That is worth the hype, perfectly seasoned and crispy. Highly recommend. The Shrimp & Grits were greasy, the tails were still on and the shrimp itself was overcooked and rubbery. Fried Chicken wasn't crispy enough and tasted very bland, it tasted like they just seasoned the skin and not the chicken itself. The collard greens needed salt. The mac and cheese was bland and basic. For a soul food restaurant, I expect better. The cornbread was also a very good. We were disappointed and ready to go but we already ordered the Peach Cobbler with the food. Big mistake, HUGE. DO NOT ORDER THE PEACH COBBLER. I should've read the reviews first because I could have avoided this. It's literally canned peaches and mush. There is no "cobbler" part. Everything was wet mush. We didn't even finish it and threw it out.

1)Catfish was very good 2) Wife loved rice and beans 3)Cornbread was very good 4)Now, Mac and cheese, we were very disappointed. I understand that mac and cheese is pricey to make if you use top-notch ingredients and restaurants are into turning a profit. However, when I think of soul food, I think mac and cheese. 5) Next to may flies flying around that need to be tightened up! I have always heard good things about Vondas over the years, Overall decent Tighten up mac and cheese and get flies under control.

I really enjoyed my visit to Vonda's Kitchen, and the only reason I have to take a star off is because of the slow service. On a Sunday afternoon, you can imagine just how packed this place was and despite that, I still decided to dine in. I must admit, I am so happy I did. The food was extremely good! After going back and forth between breakfast and dinner, I finally decided to go with a dinner entree. For my meal, I had the catfish with two sides - mac and cheese & potato salad. OWWWW, it was SO good and flavorful. The mac was just as cheesy as it should be and the potato salad was made to perfection. Nothing says soul food than like feeling like you're back at your family's house for a Thanksgiving dinner and this is just how Vonda's Kitchen made me feel. The establishment is clean, you're given big portions for the price you pay and although the service is slow, the food certainly makes up for that. Vonda's Kitchen has earned a loyal customer.

Food is great. I'm from Florida and a clerk at the hotel recommended you. Worth the try!!

Vonda's Kitchen catered an event for my family member, and the food was out of this world! Fried chicken, potato salad, yams, whiting fish and cabbage! Everything I put in my mouth was SO GOOD, that I just had to visit her restaurant. Since I had already tried a few items from her dinner menu, I decided to pop in for brunch. I went on a Sunday around 11am and was immediately greeted as soon as I walked in. If you're looking for good ol' southern hospitality, look no further! The restaurant is really small, but we were lucky enough to get a table just minutes before the Sunday brunch rush! The waitress was attentive and extremely pleasant. Vonda came out several times to greet her guest and was friendly and funny as ever! The brunch was just okay. Everything was presented well, but for some reason the food wasn't hot. During our visit, Governor Phil Murphy came in to dine, followed by Senator Cory Booker! I think their appearances may have played apart in the room temperature food as they drew tons of attention. I had the fried chicken and waffles and I wasn't that impressed by it. The waffle was extremely thick and chewy, and the chicken was way over cooked & dry. My moms fried fish was amazing, but her home fries were cold- delicious as ever but cold! Again, I blame Phil Murphy and Cory Booker LOL! Although I can't rant and rave about the brunch, I can sure as heck testify about dinner! It's ALL good! Oh, and that fresh brewed sweet tea is worth more than gold! Visit Vonda's!

Never a disappoint!!! I was greeted as soon as I walked in the door anThis is one of the best!! Highly recommended!!

01/30/2021 I'm gonna make this short & sweet for you. Although my order took longer than anticipated, the food is still good, the potion size is great and the price is appropriate. The only downfall on this trip is that it taste as though someone changed the recipe for the grits. These aren't the grits that I remembered, loved & came for, they were just regular grits, but that's what you get when you can cook , but don't. I'm full so now I must go & take a nap. Chao.