Friday nights can sometimes leave one wondering what to cook for dinner. It’s the end of the week, you’re tired, don’t want to make a big fuss in the kitchen, but need to feed a hungry family who might not be happy with my choice of an lowly omelette. That was just the case in my house the week just gone – although as I’m so organised I planned ahead to be lazy. Having seen Soulfood Kitchen the last time we ate out around Erindale, we decided to give it a go.
As you can make out from the website http://www.soulfoodkitchen.com.au, Soulfood Kitchen is based around southern American style cooking, particularly that hailing from New Orleans. Having been there many years ago and being a bit smitten with the food, I was curious to see how it has been re-created.
We were the first ones in. Very early I have to say due to Master Cholet being only 5, but that was not a problem. We were greeted, seated and handed menus. Orders taken and drinks (they’re licenced) brought all in a jiffy, which is great when you have a hungry child on your hands. No problems with us not ordering a specific meal for our son either. A plate was readily added to the table for him and he was amply served form our plates.
I’m a sucker for ribs. The bigger the better, with lashings of bbq sauce and cooked until the meat is falling off the bone. I can’t deny we only went there to eat ribs. The large rack of ribs is served with sweet potato chips and salad. I can’t recall if I have had better American style ribs than this, but these certainly hit the spot for all of us.
The menu is not large, so if you are looking for much past ribs, shrimp, chicken or fish then you may be disappointed, but I reckon that it is all worth tasting. They cater for breakfast (weekend), lunch & dinner, including takeaway.
Dessert options are very small – two items. But honestly, if you are really hanging out for dessert after eating one of these meals then there’s maybe something wrong. Anyhow, we gave the Key Lime Cheesecake a go. Not as limey as I recall the original Key Lime pie from the US and certainly not green (although that’s probably no longer allowed or wanted due to the green colour historically being from a bottle). We shared our slice – more than enough for three to have a taste.
We weren’t alone in there for long. According to Victor the chef who came around and spoke with all the diners, that night was his busiest after a few weeks of quiet times. Seems the trend has changed for them which is great to hear as it’s in a difficult spot for a new business – the last iteration of this location was a great Vietnamese place which had been there for donkeys years. The atmosphere could probably be better, again a better location would add something. There’s an old piano in the corner and BB King in concert was on a loop. Missing a certain something, but then again it was pretty early and it got quite busy as we were eating. Apparently it is best to book if you want to guarantee ribs, which I can understand as these things don’t just materialise with a few minutes cooking.
We were out in about an hour, but had enough of a nice time that we would go back. Service was friendly. Food was tasty and filling. Not cheap for a ‘can’t be bothered to cook’ Friday night, but then again it was probably a cut above the usual ‘how about Thai?’ for want of another choice. Would be nice with other adults as well, rather than a hungry and tired five year old.