Soul on Shawmut

I will not be returning to this place again. I ordered a steak and cheese and a chopped cheese for my wife, as well as some fries with buffalo Chicken egg rolls, which weren’t cooked all the way through. My first issue is with the owner/staff. While ordering my wife’s chopped cheese, I explained to the clerk that I only wanted ketchup and mayonnaise on the sandwich. The owner tells me they don’t use mayo, just their special house sauce, so I asked for it to be on the side, but I want just cheese on the sandwich. After waiting 25 minutes, I received my order and returned home, only to be highly disappointed that the chopped cheese contained everything I had not asked for on the sandwich. Additionally, when we decided to try the buffalo chicken eggrolls, the chicken tasted uncooked and was unpleasant. The fries we ordered were cold as well, but the steak and cheese were at least edible. There was no authentic seasoning on the meat, and the amount for $20 just wasn’t worth it overall. I paid over 80$ for very, very mediocre food. They also had a kid working at the cashier, and the kid was in the kitchen playing with his hair near the food. This is unacceptable, and it will definitely be my last time visiting this establishment.

Wonderful spot for casual #halal dining. My wife and I stopped by for a late Sunday lunch and were welcomed by friendly service, chill vibes and delicious smells. The cheese steak and buffalo chicken egg rolls did not disappoint! Ask for the house sauce along with the cheese steak...it's awesome! Will definitely be back to try the other items. Easy parking in the lot next door

Soul food done right. The chicken was delicious and well seasoned. The sides were so authentic. The yams were a little sweet and very tender and the Mac had some amazing mix ins and was well seasoned. The service was friendly and nice, would recommend and will be returning

It was a lively place with regular customers coming in one after another. The chopped cheese was insanely good! The buns were crispy, and everything came together perfectly.

Excellent soul food inspired dishes in Roxbury! The cheesesteak was top tier with high quality meat and excellent flavors. The fried chicken and buffalo chicken egg rolls were also really good. Definitely going to stop by again. Quick and friendly service that makes you feel right at home. Seating is limited. Overall, definitely try them out. Highly recommend!

We used Soul on Shawmut to cater 2.5 meals on our woman's retreat. The catering menu is amazing! We got the lamb, mac and cheese, Peruvian chicken, cornbread, rice and beans and more. Everything was delicious and everyone loved everything and kept asking where I got it from. Everything had such flavor and the Peruvian chicken sauce was soooo yummy 😋. I will certainly be using them again and again.

Tastiest food and the nicest people. I had the smashburger and watermelon hibiscus juice. Both were so great! The person running the place was super personable and made helpful recommendations for how best to enjoy the food. I’ll be back!

Highly recommend this place! The smash burger is perfect! Finely shredded cabbage, tomato, green pepper! Fried chicken pieces was outstanding. Not too salty or overly seasoned just right! Mac and cheese wasn’t dry and the greens and cabbage are cooked perfect! Not too saggy. Lemonade was ok I did think it wasn’t as fresh. Star of the show was that banana pudding!! Highly recommend.

Ordered for pickup (the restaurant itself is quite small). We got the chopped cheese, a 5 piece fried chicken, french fries, and the mac n cheese. Service was great -- the order was ready in less than the 15 minutes it said it would take. The food is BOMB. And affordable?! ($12 for a 5 piece of some of the best fried chicken Ive had in my life.) The fries were like hand cut potatoes and were addicting. The Mac n Cheese is not that cheesy, but smoky and delicious -- I ate it all. My friend got the chopped cheese and said it was delish. We will be back. Such a great neighborhood spot.

Food: 2.5/5 The fried chicken was the highlight big and well seasoned but it was not freshly fried and came out lukewarm. The mac and cheese had a nice smoky touch but overall tasted pretty basic. The yams were unfortunately flavorless and did not bring that comfort food feel I was hoping for. The cabbage and greens also missed the mark both were under seasoned and lacked soul. Service: 5/5 This was the shining star of the experience. The two men who took our order were warm welcoming and had smiles that lit up the room. They made us feel genuinely cared for from start to finish. Atmosphere: 4/5 The space has a homey community vibe that makes you want to settle in and enjoy. It felt inviting and had a great energy. Value: 3/5 The portion sizes were fair but when the food does not quite hit it is hard to feel like you are getting the full value. I wanted to love everything on the plate but it just did not deliver. Overall: 3.5/5 I really wanted to fall in love with the food here because the service and energy were so on point. Unfortunately the flavors just did not live up to the hospitality. I would definitely give it another shot hoping for a fresher batch and some more seasoning love next time.

Excellent soul food inspired dishes in Roxbury! The cheesesteak was top tier with high quality meat and excellent flavors. The fried chicken and buffalo chicken egg rolls were also really good. Definitely going to stop by again. Quick and friendly service that makes you feel right at home. Seating is limited. Overall, definitely try them out. Highly recommend!

Tried three pieces of mixed fried chicken for $7 crispy and juicy and mild truly southern style and a great value can't wait to try the other offerings here.

My partner and I shared a smash burger, chopped cheese, 3pc fried chicken, yams, and African chai - TASTE: 4/5 - everything hit the spot, as expected for soul food, from the burger's sauce and chopped cheese's ground beef, to the seasoned wings and caramelized yams. Never had African chai before and enjoyed its strong cinnamon and ginger taste TEXTURE: 5/5 - both the soft brioche bun and toasted sub roll were satisfying, especially w their combo of lettuce, tomato, and onion fillings. Fried chicken was crispy and the yams were tender PRICE: 4/5 - was surprised that the chopped cheese was $20? Subtotal came to $45 SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - good portions for lunch, though wish the sandwiches and burgers automatically came w fries lol SERVICE: 4/5 - tried coming here about a month earlier but the doors were closed and no one was inside, and we later learned, via social media, that they were closed except for catering. This time, the doors were closed again when we walked up at 12:15pm on a Sunday, but they opened them for us lol. The whole staff was friendly. Food started coming out 10-20min after ordering, and the space quickly filled up w dine-in and takeout orders ATMOSPHERE: 4/5 - about 10-15 seats inside w a large map paying homage to the family's Roxbury roots. Appreciate the halal menu and the strong community vibe PARKING: 4/5 - free street spots on Shawmut Ave, though we later realized the nearby parking lot is available for customers too

Here's a refined version of your review with a more annoyed but still fair three-star tone: I arrived at the restaurant at 5:45 PM and waited in line for about 10 minutes--not a big deal. The place was clean, and it was nice to see them getting support. However, I immediately noticed a woman seated who had clearly been waiting a long time for her food, which wasn't a great sign. I tried to order the party wings but was told they were out. Fine. I then asked for the 5-piece chicken since I saw them taking out a fresh batch. We also ordered mac and cheese, collards and cabbage, and rice and beans. The owner mentioned they were backed up with a previous order, so the chicken would take 30 minutes. Since it's a new business, I wanted to give them some grace. We agreed and waited in the car. Then, things got frustrating. I looked back and saw that someone who was two people behind me in line was already eating their chicken. Maybe they called ahead? Doubtful, but okay. We waited 40 minutes, went back inside, and were told it would be another 15 minutes. At this point, we were already committed, so we waited. About 10 minutes later, the owner came out and explained that one of the fryers was down, they had a catering event, and--surprise--there was no chicken. By now, I had been stuck in the car with screaming kids, which only made the situation worse. They gave us some sides and refunded the chicken, but there was no mac and cheese, which is a big problem when you have kids. I really want this place to be great, but the food we actually got was just okay. The yams were still a bit crunchy, the rice and beans were fine, and the cabbage and greens could have used more seasoning. Honestly, they would've been better off closing for the night instead of making customers wait around for food that wasn't coming. I'll give them another shot in about eight months, but they have a lot to figure out.

Couldn't have been happier with this new neighborhood restaurant. They deliver on their concept of classic soul food staples - fried chicken, yams, greens, and even banana pudding. I got a bunch of things to go for lunch to try them out and had to stop myself from finishing enough food for 2-3 people... The smash burger was perfectly cooked with a nice house-made sauce and the fried chicken was moist, lightly fried and well-seasoned. The banana pudding was perfect down to the butter cookies and the sweet potato cheesecake was a tasty twist on the usual soul food-staple of sweet potato pie (and not at all heavy like some cheesecakes). Service was quick and the staff were super welcoming and helpful. I hope this place does well and will definitely be coming back - highly recommend!

Some of the best soul food I've had outside of my mother's kitchen. We went after a funeral and the staff was warm and welcoming and went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our meal. Will be back again and again!

Visited for the first time, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It's a smaller operation without a whole lot of seating, but has relatively ample parking in a side lot. While we had a bit of a wait for our food, the staff was super friendly and attentive from the moment we entered. By far, our favorites were the Chopped Cheese Sandwich and Garlic Parm Party Wings. The Chopped Cheese had just the right amount of fresh crisp veggies, and the sauce complimented the combination of flavors well. The wings had phenomenal flavor on their own, and the mild, creamy garlic parm sauce was one of the best we've had. Sides are not made to order, and so we were not big fans of the Mac and Cheese. The Not-So-Classic Fried Chicken, also had great seasoning and a unique dipping sauce. In all, we'll definitely be going back for more!

First time going to this place and my first impression was how clean the inside was. You can see the kitchen and it was very clean as well. There's ample seating inside but I ended up doing takeout. Now to the main event....the food was GREAT! The burger was perfectly cooked and very filling. The secret sauce and the bacon jam is ah-mazing. The fries were actually fresh hand cut fries and I watched them go into the fryer. There's some seasoning on the fries which was perfect. The banana pudding was creamy and delicious as well, but not overly sweet. I'll definitely be going back to try other things on the menu but can't go wrong with a burger, fries and a pudding!

I was craving a burger, and was extra hungry, so I ordered a double smash burger, which was not on the menu. They cheerfully obliged. This is good, honest food. The burger was lean, and not at all greasy; the toppings were perfect, and not overpowering, and the green pepper and house sauce were lovely touches. The fries are fabulous -- skin-on, crispy on the outside, tender inside, and seasoned perfectly. The mango lemonade was a particular treat -- obviously house-made, with mangos puréed in house. The dining room isn't wheelchair-accessible, but I can't wait to try more soul food dishes there, and plan to go frequently!

Absolutely, without question, 100% the best chopped cheese I've ever had. This place rules. The people are cool, the food made me practically levitate off the ground. This is one of the best restaurants in Boston.

What a great place for the community and all big backs lol this food was nothing short of amazing. The Mac & cheese was cheesy and seasoned. The beans and rice were delicious and actually one of my favorite things on the menu. The chopped cheese was on point, too, and I'm picky about those! The portion was huge and I have more for later. Banana pudding was ok. I've had better but still give it a 8. The host was also amazing. Very informative and inviting. This is important to me when visiting an establishment. Everything was bussin, down to the mango lemonade.

New place. Be patient. Love seeing these young black kings and queens doing there things. My daughter loved the grilled burger and real fries

Ordered a cheese burger & fries. Both were very good, their fries are seasoned. That came to $18, after dropping $1 into the tip cup. I'll most likely go back and try another one of their selections. I was there at about 1pm on a Friday and it was very busy. I thought they were doing a great job of trying to keep up with the volume of orders. The guy behind me place an order for 5 people. I had planned on eating there, but the place is small, and was crowded, so got it to go instead.

Just wanted to let you know that the owner still opens at off hours. He's wasting people's time. Very unprofessional. If you're making more money catering, just do that. Because what you're doing now ain't cool. Just saying.

The food is AMAZING. I lived on Shawmut my whole life and been craving for a food spot just like this. I can go on about the food like the fried chicken, fries, mac & cheese, steak & cheese, and last but not least the CHOPPED CHEESE. Chopped cheese is by far my favorite. Always heard that the New Yorkers grew up on having it, so brining along to my side of town, I am grateful. I highly recommend to anyone who is a meat lover to try this out.

honestly, I've heard so many great things about this space and I was really super excited to give it a try. I love the fact that it is black owned /minority owned in the Nubian Square location. The customer service was really nice and really sweet although the gentlemen seemed like he might be a little bit confused with operating the POS system. It's a unique space. I wouldn't say it's the coziest, but it has a certain charm. I did have the opportunity to try the wings, the chicken sample the chopped cheese, which apparently is something like of a New York thing not a huge fan and the fries and the mango lemonade and the hibiscus drink. I would say I could see the direction that they are heading in and maybe some simple improvements can help it flourish even further. The chicken I had was crunchy loved the crunch, but also simultaneously the chicken could've been cooked a little bit longer because it wasn't good it was it greasy. the fries, I wasn't really a fan of the handmade fries the seasoning was nice, but the fries themselves weren't that tasty. the chopped cheese I don't know if chopped cheese is a thing where there has to be some kind of like dressing on the top of the steak and cheese. It kind of reminded me of 1000 islands kind of salad dressing on top of the steak and cheese and maybe the tomatoes are kind of like pickled in a sweet marinade. I wasn't expecting that combo. also I wasn't blown away with the combo. I'm I'm just not a fan, but I do appreciate the culinary adventure and creativity just execution wise maybe some things can be tweaked. The mango lemonade was an interesting concept but for me it tasted really too sweet and then even sweeter when you got to the bottom and had the mango bits, and then the the hibiscus drink I think it was pretty good maybe maybe not as sweet would be better, but it was pretty good. I am writing this with the best intentions in hopes that it would further help this business improve itself. Blessings.

Exceptional service and amazing food. Stopped here on our way to our air BnB from the airport. Both the owners were in store and had phenomenal attitudes. The female owner helped the group find the right food we would like with recommendations. They both were extremely sweet and kind and the food was beyond amazing. It is a small location with a small amount of seating but we definitely will be coming back again when we are in the area.

We saved our appetites after church & skipped out on a church meal to patron Soul on Shawmut. Unfortunately we were unable to experience the food. Although hours were listed as 10am-5pm on Sundays, when we arrived on Feb 23rd at 12:30pm - they were closed & there was nothing online to indicate they would be closed that day.

The food was incredible. The service was amazing. I would definitely recommend the fried chicken and the greens.

The best soul food in Boston. Must stop by if you're in Roxbury. Fried chicken is excellent.

honestly some of the best friend chicken I've had in Boston area. looking forward to more!!