Vonda’s Kitchen

8/16/2016

• 1 check-in

Vonda's Kitchen is the must try soul food venue in Newark, NJ. The food is delicious, prices are fantastic, the decor is hip and the ambient music is just right.

This casual dining option is conveniently located on West Kinney Street just a short car ride from Newark Penn Station. No need for reservations. Just walk in and sit wherever you can grab a seat.

Servers will greet you almost immediately and offer a menu with a variety of comfort food favorites: smothered turkey wings, fried whiting, salmon cakes, candied yams, black eyed peas and more. Sip on sweet tea or strawberry lemonade and look around the room at all of the "for-sale" artwork while you wait for your meal.

The portions here are huge. I ordered the BBQ chicken quarters, mac & cheese, and collard greens and cabbage. I had enough for two tasty meals so I ate some and wrapped up the rest to go. Finally my bill was just over $13 for a meal and one drink. Can't beat that!

• 

  Start off your meal with a hefty piece of warm cornbread and whipped butter.

  Start off your meal with a hefty piece of warm cornbread and whipped butter.
• 

  BBQ Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Collard Green and Cabbage all for $10.50 plus tax. Can't beat that deal!

  BBQ Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Collard Green and Cabbage all for $10.50 plus tax. Can't beat that deal!

8/6/2016

So my food was a little hit and miss but overall, I'd be willing to come again.

The meatloaf in smothered gravy is amazing and you should absolutely get it. The corn bread is decent. But the Mac and cheese and the black eyed peas were a bit disappointing. The veggie spring rolls come out HOT and they're not bad but not to die for. The prices are reasonable and the portions are pretty generous.

• 

  Blackened tilapia

  Blackened tilapia
• 

  Veggie soul rolls

  Veggie soul rolls
• 

4/6/2016

Sadly, the single star is a result of the insanely poor service here. I would very much like to support a Black and woman owned business but the lack of respect for the customer here makes my support impossible. I have been here twice, the second time was so bad that I just cannot go back. There is no acknowledgement on entry, the customer is left on their own to figure out where to sit. It takes another ten minutes to be acknowledged by staff. Try to get a glass of water or a menu...good luck. After getting the menu you had better place your order on the spot because it will take another fifteen minutes to place that order. Then, the order finally arrives but there is no place setting, no silverware with which to eat!

I was here with a party of five this time. As I waited for my silverware  my already lukewarm food got colder. I watched as other customers suffered the same issue, I even asked the waitress to please get another customer his silverware after he had already asked the same ten minutes prior. They are lucky that he supports them no matter what. My position is different, please learn from your reviews Vonda. We love your food but your service is poor...just plain poor.

Do yourself a favor, dear customer, take the advice of others on Yelp. Order ahead, pick up your food to eat elsewhere.

The lack of service here is sad and disappointing . It's as if even Black folks don't see the need to serve Black folks well. They seem to think its ok to be substandard in a community that will settle. Well, I don't settle. Straighten up or you will kill your repeat business from a public that wants to love you.

8/13/2016 Updated review

• 11 check-ins

Definitely stepped there game up from my previous review. The service is faster and friendly. The food is still on the list of best food in Newark.

• 
• 
• 

  Bbq Chicken Quarters

  Bbq Chicken Quarters

8/8/2016

• 1 check-in

I had the turkey wings. The food was just alright. If this is supposed to be Soul Food than they did a poor job bc the food definently needed more salt. The staff wasnt too nice either. When you go inside the ambiance looks nice but the food is not memorable which is why Im almost certain I wont be going back

8/7/2016

• 4 check-ins

I really want to support Black owned businesses, but this is my last & final time here at Vonda's...  It is the worst!  While the food is OK, the service is negative 5 stars. The 4-5 times I've come here has been after church service for brunch on Sunday's. I've consistently ordered the omelet & they consistently take 30-40 minutes for the food to come out. But today takes the cake... Not only was the food slow to come out, the order was wrong, I had to wait for my side of fries, only to taste them & find out that they were inedible because they were cooked in fish oil & I'm allergic to seafood.  What sanitary kitchen cooks fries in the same oil as fish?!  And to add insult to injury, they still charged me for the fries & claimed their machine was down so they could not refund the money!  Bye Vonda!  I can get better brunch food at my local diner for half the time, half the price, & better service.

2/14/2016

• 1 check-in

So I went to Vonda's Kitchen for the first time a few weeks ago with my boyfriend, after researching them on Yelp for quite sometime before. We had a great experience, the art work in the space was intriguing, the staff was beyond amazing (Brittany was our waitress), and the food was DELICIOUS! I had the Fish and Grits and my bf had the veggie omelet.
SOO! I had such an amazing time that I decided to host a Valentine's Day Brunch for my cousin's on 2/13 at Vonda's. I spoke to Sonia (Such a sweetheart, personable, and attentive) before leaving. There were 8 of us. I was allowed to come in about 10/15 minutes earlier to decorate our tables...we had a great time!! Brittany was our waitress again, Sonia was again amazing. Everyone enjoyed their food. We couldn't ask for a better experience!! We will all be back for sure, together or separately.

• 

  The Valentine's Day Brunch Crew with your roses! All cousins, all Guyanese, all beautiful black women.

  The Valentine's Day Brunch Crew with your roses! All cousins, all Guyanese, all beautiful black women.
• 

  Banana french toast with turkey bacon! Thick cut bread...heaven on a plate

  Banana french toast with turkey bacon! Thick cut bread...heaven on a plate
• 

  Beef Ribs!! Oh My Goodness so good and tender! Sauce was just right, not to sweet not to tangy.

  Beef Ribs!! Oh My Goodness so good and tender! Sauce was just right, not to sweet not to tangy.
• See all photos from Blackrose B. for Vonda's Kitchen

3/19/2016

• 1 check-in

Being from nyc I expect a certain flavor when it comes to "soul food" so perhaps I'm too critical. During my one and only visit to this establishment I discovered the food is BLAND! Everything and I do mean everything we ordered was subpar! Mac and cheese, collards and cabbage mixture, chicken and short ribs lacked FLAVOR and the essence of SOUL food was absent. We was really disappointed and didn't bother to finish our meal.   I wish Vonda's continued growth but will not revisit.

I really looked forward to this place especially cause of the good reviews.  But if so many enjoyed their food, taste buds need to be evaluated lol (kidding)!

Pro: environment is nice, friendly staff, except credit cards, reasonable prices

Con: long wait for pick up (several people in the kitchen, yet it took forever for a take out order of food that is already prepared and just need to be placed into containers....), bland food

9/30/2015

This was my first visit to this restaurant as I am new to the Newark area. Based on other reviews, I was prepared for the worst. As others mentioned, the food was pretty delicious and satisfying.

However, the customer service was almost insulting. No one greeted me as I came in, although 2 gentlemen that walked in after me were greeted with a parade. The cornbread that was given was accompanied with no butter, so I assumed they didn't offer it. However, when I looked over to the 2 men sitting next to me I noticed their waiter put jelly and butter in their basket. I asked my waiter why I didn't get any and she stated "Well, I dont like it on my cornbread so I didn't think to put it in your basket." Seriously?

Moreover, I over heard the 2 men next to me ask their waiter while they were making their order if the oxtails were any good. Waiter's response..."I dont know, we are not allowed to try it since its more expensive. We can only try the cheap stuff i.e chicken and fish." Flabbergasted I was. Another disturbing thing I noticed was the bus lady cleaning the bathroom with the door wide open and the entire restaurant immediately engulfed with ammonia. I had to wrap my food to go. Another customer had to ask the bus lady to close the door. Something else that shocked me was the fact that two more customers walked in and were greeted by the waiter while he sat on a chair texting. He yelled across the restaurant while asking them if they were eating in or taking out.

Great tasting food means nothing when the service is horrific. Never mind the 20 flies flying around my food. Get your customer service in line or else you will lose all of your customers. For these reasons I will def not return...plus Ive had better soul food in NY anyway!

• 

  Chicken wings dinner with mac n cheese and collard greens

  Chicken wings dinner with mac n cheese and collard greens

1/3/2016

• 17 check-ins

I would consider myself to be a regular at Vonda's. The food for the most part is pretty good. They're not a lot of soul food places in Newark so there's not plenty of competition. The service needs work! I mean a lot of work. If the food wasn't really good I would not have returned a long time ago. The server normally takes too long to acknowledge you, too long to take your beverage and food order, too long to bring your beverages. And the food never comes out in a timely fashion. I can always wait for food (if I'm not in a hurry) but I don't like to go to places with subpar service. Hopefully they will train their staff better and I believe this place will be even busier!

• 

  Breakfast for a Champ

  Breakfast for a Champ
• 

  Yum

  Yum
• 

  Blackened whiting, eggs and potatoes..

  Blackened whiting, eggs and potatoes..
• See all photos from Ashley J. for Vonda's Kitchen

8/16/2016

Yummy!  The food was quite delicious - truly down home cooking.  The service was quick and delightful.  I order the fish cakes, grits, eggs and toast.  The seasonings were on target and I didn't have to add any salt.  It was just right.  The portions were on point - I didn't leave there feeling like I could have order seconds.  I tasted my husband's home fries and wished I had ordered some for myself.  I placed a takeout order for fried whiting and pancakes.  Those pancakes - Oooooweee and the fish was seasoned and fried just right.  Vonda's Kitchen ROCK!  Kudos to Sonia, Barbara and the Chefs!  I'm definitely going back and recommending to family and friends.

7/19/2016

Absolutely incredible! My waitress was awesome. The oxtails were scrumptious!  Oh, and I ate a sample of my friends short ribs ! I will have them next time!

11/11/2015 Updated review

• 6 check-ins

Yum Yum & Yum! My meal was excellent & exceeded my expectations. I've been here before but today the service was great, I didn't wait long for my takeout order. The collard Greens taste fresh, the Turkey wings were well seasoned without the taste of salt & I absolutely loved the Macaroni & Cheese. The portion size was more than I could eat at 1 sitting, so I guess I'll have the left-overs for dinner. The cornbread was good, but would have been better if it were hot, but overall I give today's experience 4 stars; I would have given it a 5 if the menus were online & if I were able to order online, after all, although this restaurant is in a residential area its also across the street from a school & I work for another neighboring school, so having the menu assessable online would be more convenient, as well as great for business.

11/11/15
Not sure what they put in the grits, but I was already to add salt & before I knew it, I was eating then without adding salt. This is a first! The grits were great!

• 

  Carrot Cake

  Carrot Cake
• 

  Potato Salad

  Potato Salad
• 

  Blackened Wings, Garlic String Beans & Cornbread!

  Blackened Wings, Garlic String Beans & Cornbread!
• See all photos from Cheryl W. for Vonda's Kitchen

3/30/2016

Finally got to Vonda's !! Went with a friend who can cook, so you know that's a tough palate to please... We both ordered the fried whiting, candied yams, collards, spinach, and the mac... Everything from the corn bread to our ginger lemonade was on point !!! We will be going back for the food!!!

7/14/2016

I love vonda's kitchen they got the best catfish and grits around very fresh me and my co-workers go there on our break

6/22/2016

Went their today for lunch, and I must say I was very impressed.  An older black man took my order.  He was very pleasant and nice. They serve breakfast and soul food. Love their collard greens and macaroni and cheese. Also the prices are very reasonable. Would definitely go back again.

6/22/2016

Been to Vonda's a few time now. Had the smothered turkey wings, rice and greens. Wings were big and fall off the bone tender. Catfish was a good size and fried perfectly. Mac and cheese was fair. Shrimp are a nice size and tasty. Strawberry lemonade was sweet and flavorful. On crowded times service is slow. I would have given 4 stars if everything on menu was available.

7/24/2016

It's a shame that I can only give this black owned business two star and the only reason is due to a nicely fried peace of flounder. I started to write a detailed account of my experience and opted not to. I was neither satisfied with the food or the service and the fact that management did not attempt to acknowledge it's short falls and kept it's distant is enough to take my business elsewhere.

3/20/2016

• 1 check-in

Ok so I had high expectations for this place being its soul food restaurant with more then 3 stars. But my complaints would be long wait for my food (should've called and ordered an hour ahead) since that's how long it took to receive my order. This was a bit of an attitude with the staff amongst each other which I do not like to see. Although everyone was very polite to me. I believe this establishment has a lot of potential. I will be returning hoping things are more organized, because the meal I ordered was very good the quality even better...

• 

  The front entrance not very noticeable I couldn't see it at first. so I thought I'd post a picture for others

  The front entrance not very noticeable I couldn't see it at first. so I thought I'd post a picture for others
• 

  Turkey BLT

  Turkey BLT
• 

  Shrimp and grits sauce taste great with the grits

  Shrimp and grits sauce taste great with the grits

6/19/2016

Great food. Well seasoned ribs.  Best baked Mac n cheese I've tasted in a long time. Friendly service.