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| - It's a no-atmosphere soul food joint. You're going to be lucky if the staff doesn't actively mock you before shoving the food across a sticky counter in your general direction.
Thus, there is but one reason to come here: the food.
As you can see from my quintuple-star review, that food is reason enough.
Cleveland is superior to Detroit in many ways, but Detroit generally whups us when it comes to good, stick-to-your-ribs soul food. Thankfully, this will do quite nicely.
The fried chicken is amazing - a light, crispy crust that's so tasty you could strip it off and eat it on its own, the chicken cooked to a juicy perfection. The ribs are a little tough - though that's a style issue, they make them that way on purpose because some folks like chewy ribs (I prefer fall-off-the-bone), and there's not a lot of bark on 'em.
Fortunately, they will ask you at the counter: "You want the sauce?" Hell yes you want the sauce, Peppery without being blatantly hot, flavorful, why the hell did you come to HOT SAUCE WILLIAMS if you don't want the sauce? Might as well go to Six Flags America and not buy a flag.
Anyway, the mac and cheese is soft but flavorful (no broiled crust, alas, which would bring it to perfection) and sticky with real cheese. The mashed potatoes are saturated with butter, and a little chunky. The candied yams are a little dry - I won't lie - but still nice enough to gobble through.
And it's cheap. $9.99 will get you enough to last you through lunch and dinner.
If you're looking for haute cuisine, well, maybe the hideous pink building should have warned you off. You come here as a food ninja - you sneak in, snatch the chicken from the master's hand, and get the hell out with a full belly. It works.
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