Located in Washington Shores, P & D Soulfood Kitchen has been serving old-time soul food classics to the Orlando area since 2010, drawing the affection of locals and out-of-towners alike.
My experience at The Soulfood Kitchen was studded with friendly service and food that lived up to the homestyle comfort that has become synonymous with soul food. If you are craving the classics, The Soulfood Kitchen is a must try on the west side.
P & D Soulfood Kitchen is takeout-only, so when you enter you will be greeted by a galley-style setup with menu signage to the right. The menu boards show entrées and sides that are ready to serve, and their “From the Kitchen” board shows items that are cooked to order.
If you order one of these meals, be prepared for a 15-to-20-minute wait while your food cooks. To accompany your entrée, meals come with cornbread, two sides, and your choice of dressing, brown or yellow rice.
Beverage choices include canned sodas, bottled water, and house-made sweet tea, lemonade, and fruit punch. The Kitchen also offers a variety of desserts including sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, and various cakes sold by the slice.
When I arrived during lunchtime on a weekday, there was no line but there were a few people waiting outside the restaurant for their food. There is no dining area in the restaurant, but there are a few tables just outside where others had gathered. Some ready-to-serve dishes were not listed on the menu, and some items’ availability depends on the day of the week, meaning that you may have to ask for clarification on what is available.
Should you have any questions, do not be afraid to ask; the service is friendly, and my questions were answered clearly and kindly. I ordered the fried chicken wing meal and selected sides of fried cabbage and green beans along with yellow rice. The portions were fair for the price, with most meals priced between $9-$12.
The food was everything you would expect from traditional soul food: a classic homemade taste without the bells and whistles. Both the made-to-order entrée and the side dishes tasted fresh, and while I enjoyed everything I ate, the chicken was the highlight of the meal.
The meat was perfectly cooked with a crisp breading and seasoned evenly throughout the whole cut. It was not greasy, and I appreciated my entrée being packed in a second box to avoid any sogginess. Overall, I sensed a great deal of care and passion put into the food and service at P & D Soulfood Kitchen, and I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a traditional soul food staple in the Orlando area.
