5 /5 Cherrice Brown: The missing link: Riverhead was without its iconic soul-food spot. Once Spicy’s left, something was definitely missing. Do they have that tangy mustard sauce like Spicy’s? Yes. Im unsure what they call the sauce. I think they need to give it a name if they dont already have one, and use it consistently so that people will refer to it by that name instead of Spicy sauce. (I heard that mentioned while I was eating.
Inside: The team acknowledged the customers upon entering. The music was low but enjoyable (R&B). The staff wasnt speaking loudly to each other, so you can eat and read as I did. I was there for about an hour, and traffic flowed in and out. Seating is tight but manageable. I like that they have a smooth process for placing orders and waiting for your food, so everyone isnt crowded. The two portion sizes were explained very well.
On to the food, I ordered one meat, two sides, and cornbread—fresh and bottled sweet Raspberry Ice Tea. The chicken was fried hard (crispy), (chicken when ordering plate is already made), but it wasnt hard or felt like it was sitting all day. It was wings (drums and flats). The chicken was seasoned well and cooked to perfection; no aftertaste of old grease or of other things fried in the same oil. Very fresh. The mac and cheese tasted like a true grandma made it; you can taste the authenticity (reminds me of Thanksgiving). I also got the candied yams—made the right way—I got my perfect bite. The cornbread was little corn muffins with real corn inside. I liked that very much.
I think the plating options were good; next time, I will order a larger size or get a side of cabbage to break up the starch.
Overall, I will come back; the energy in the space was light and very inviting. The food was very, very good.
