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| - I've eaten here once a month for nearly 2 years; let me tell you why: First, I can totally vouch for the fried whiting & croaker, mac&cheese, yams, and TURKEY RIBS WHICH ARE INSANELY WONDERFUL. I live 15 miles from the restaurant, and make the trip whenever I crave soul food & good company, which leads me to #2. The front counter staff (Dottie, Henrietta, and owner Ralph) treat you like family, which is really at the heart of a good soul food restaurant. Yes, it is located in a strip mall and is no where near "upscale". So what?! What it IS is clean, well-lit with natural light, tiny & welcoming, and that's what REAL SOUL food is about! When I want upscale, I go upscale, but I have business & personal lunches here, and love to watch my guests enjoy the food & the staff despite the tiny modest set-up. It also sends a good message about the fundamentals of a good business. 70% of orders are for take-out, so there is much movement in & out the door, but there are about 8 tables of varying sizes to accommodate diners. As people wait for either their takeout or food to the table, strangers chat, and you discover who moved to Charlotte from where, and everything else beautiful about human interaction. For all you NYC transplants to Charlotte like myself, the owner Ralph is a native New Yorker, so the place has the authentic NYC soul-food 125th st vibe. Lastly, this is a small business putting out a great product every day ALONG with great customer care. They work hard together as a team, and it is really inspiring to watch, especially when that phone starts ringing non-stop with orders. They simply aim to treat you right, make sure you're comfortable, and make sure you're thrilled with your food. With the average meal with heavy portions setting you back a mere $10, how could anything be more perfect?
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