Queenie's Soul Cuisine

Based upon the recent Courier Journal review, I had lunch there today and ended up very disappointed. For $7.99 I got one medium sized salmon croquette and two small sides. With a drink I spent $10 and walked away hungry. The salmon croquette was good, but for that price I should have had two, not one. My greens were good, but full of grit, which tells me they were not properly washed. My green beans were awful, no seasoning & straight from the can. I had asked for two orders of greens, but was given the green beans as a substitute, being told the greens were still cooking? This does not make much sense to me. The service was average at best, really not good service at all.

It amazes me how some places with such good reviews can end up being so disappointing.

My experience there a few months ago was also humdrum. My wife, on the contrary, liked the place. This may also reflect cultural differences as she was raised on this type of food (I was raised on feta cheese, olive oil, lamb, lentil soup, etc). Since Queenies is probably the only restaurant offering this type of food apart from Jay's, especially further east than Jay's, it is warmly welcomed by those who long for some downhome cooking! That was evident by how packed the place was after church services on the Sunday we went.

[Robin Garr]

It amazes me how some places with such good reviews can end up being so disappointing.

You talkin' to me?

Robin Garr,
I was referring to the reviews I read in the Courier Journal. I find that I typically don't agree with their restaurant reviews, and question at times the knowledge of their person. On a good note, you & I tend to see things from the same perspective, we approach food in the same way.

[Robin Garr]

Robin Garr,
I was referring to the reviews I read in the Courier Journal. I find that I typically don't agree with their restaurant reviews, and question at times the knowledge of their person. On a good note, you & I tend to see things from the same perspective, we approach food in the same way.

Chris, I hope you didn't take me too seriously! I just saw that opening and couldn't resist blasting through it. Thanks for the kind words, though.

I do agree that it's very unusual to find a CJ review of a place that Marty didn't seem to love. I doubt that they require him to do that, but I suspect that his natural optimism meshes well with the CJ's advertising objectives and keeps everybody happy.

The first time we went to Queenies, we loved it. They had some of the best fried chicken I'd eaten in town. The second time we went back was a manor disappointment and mirrors the above sentiments. Underseasoned, and small portions.

Well my husband is on his way home with food from Queenie's....I hope it is a good night for food from there. I really want this to be good and worth the money...since Mr. Lou's is not open at night anymore I have not been able to find a good home cooking place that has cabbage, greens and such. The fact that it is just down the road from the hubby's work is a plus too.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Ok here it goes.....Overall very good, very well seasoned and decent portions. Friendly prompt service.

I got the baked chicken, cabbage, and greens. Chicken seasoned just right, cabbage spicy with red pepper flakes, greens spicy also with maybe a hint of something sweet (I don't really like my veggies sweet but the pepper along with the vinegar I put on them was good). I got the banana pudding and that I will have to say was not the highlight of my meal. I am not sure what was wrong with it but it was very dry and the bananas had a wierd texture. Needless to say I did not finish it. I would probably try it again...maybe just a bad day for banana pudding, but disappointing none the less.

My husband got the fried chicken, blackeyed peas, and candied yams. He liked all of those, said the peas were flavored with ham (yum..as you can tell I could never be a vegetarian). His dessert was the sweet potato pie which he likes and said that it tasted like pumpkin.

We will definately go back!