Jacob Restaurant Soul Food & Salad Bar Reviews

JACOB RESTAURANT SOUL FOOD AND SALAD BAR Again, during their sixth year they'll be feeding hundreds of people with Thanksgiving 2016 free meals at their two Jacobs' Restaurant Soul Food & Salad Bar. Currently New York City lacks salad bars' priced below $7.99 per pound. Three years since my last delightful dining experience here, their $5.99 per pound meals still satisfies Harlem's multi-cultural customers' demands at this second Jacob Restaurant Soul Food and Salad Bar's 2695 Frederick Douglas Boulevard venue. Aside from their Frederick Douglass and 133rd Street, Chex Asta French-Senegalese Restaurant, both Jacob Restaurant Soul Food & Salad Bar venues are distinctively the first ever owned and operated by a Black family in New York. Senagelese husband, Jacob Niange, and his Trinidadian wife, Kim Niange's successful restaurant plans evolved through their “dream come true, love legacy” that bloomed as young co-workers employed elsewhere at small restaurant chain several years ago. Since 2010 their dining facilities were the first that I saw featuring large wall mounted hand-sanitizers at the start and end of Jacob's Restaurant Soul Food & Salad Bar dining lanes. Pleasant smiling customers also exude “community love” among hundreds' of daily customers seen marveling at Franco the Great's large wall hung paintings gracing this relaxing, yet vibrantly clean facilty. Though I came a day too early to hear their live band returning the following Sunday, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm, inside their dining room, I watched the news on two TV screens. While delightfully full, saving my small, “ready-to-eat” sliced conbread for the end of my meal was a bit discomforting. I forgot to add butter on my tray. I 've typically eaten hot slices of cornbread with butter most of my life. Suddenly, I was smittened with each small bite of Jacobs' room temperatature, distinct flavored, moist, firm cornbread, lacking butter. Amid my curiousity, I avoided asking about their cornbread recipe. Earlier plans to take some of my nearly two pounds of food, (totaling $12.13 with tax) vanished starting with Jacobs' tender collards, seasoned with turkey, and teeping hot spicy jerk chicken. Their cabbage souffle delectably comprised celery, juicy green squash, carrots, red and peppers. Consider “bragging rights” for their salmon sauteed in thicker than typical lemon sauce. Frankly, their fresh mash potatoes, rice and black beens, string beans, savory turkey legs and macaroni and cheese are reminiscent of what my mom and grandmothers perfected. Relishing my nourishing Ceasar salad; green salad; black and green olives, generously sliced avocadoes and tomato salad, dill pickles, watermelon and banana pudding, made it impossible to take home what wasn't left of my near two pounds dinner. Jacob's fresh, no-trans fat Southern, Caribbean and Continental cuisines menu expanded to 54 dishes. Their fresh food regimen results in Jacobs' charitably providing daily leftovers to several churches and non-profits. As one of the City's busy food caterers Jacobs delivers catered meals to loyal churches, clubs, associations, residents and businesse clientele throughout the City. In this neighborhood where decades old apartment complexes among new luxury building exist, no such dining facility rivals top-rated Jacob Restaurant Soul Food and Salad Bars,. I earnestly admit that during my first visits to this location, I imagined this location to be proven financially risky, given that huge Pathmark Store stretching from 144th to 145th Street on the same side of the street at Frederick Boulevard. and the long standing Popeye's on 145th Street and Frederick Douglas Boulevard's northeastern corner. I was wrong. Jacobs' Soul Food and Salad Buffet Restaurants provides the serenity of a joyful dining home, where Harlem belongs. . Note: None of my previous Trip Advisor Reviews were for clients. Jacobs Restaurant is a former client, and this article will also be published in our New York Global.biz, as was done in 2011 My clients don't pay for editorials they only pay for ads. It would behoove Trip Advisor to publish this review, because Trip Advisor has an original story similar to my others. Happy New Year 2017 and beyond. By Irma Tyus-Mitchell, Publisher/CEO New York Global.Biz

Great eatery where you can choose 'buffet style' - sample soul food in all it's wonderful forms. As Aussies we were most unfamiliar with this style of cuisine so it was a great way to give it all a go. Pay by the pound and be adventurous. It was great.

Went in looking for a quick Quick bite to eat. We found the best soul food around.Their short beef ribs melted in my mouth. Their corned beef and cabbage was absolutely delic ccorned beef and cabbage

The food was great. I selected the beef ribs, yams, cabbage medley and banana pudding for dessert. The beef ribs were tender and well seasoned, the yams were excellent, the cabbage medley was okay. The banana pudding was good. I arrived in time to hear the band; they played a nice selection of music. The female vocalist had a nice sultry voice. The seating was tight. It was worth the trip and I will definitely eat there again. I ate at the Jacob Restaurant on Lennox Ave.

The food was absolutely delicious! My only disappointment was that the weight of the styrofoam container was not deducted from the price of the meal. What a great way to cheat consumers!! We are a large family, so the extra charge for each of us left a sour taste in my mouth. We enjoyed eating the turkey, fried chicken, collard greens, candied yams, oxtail, and seafood. The vegetable choices were great!

If you are wanting a soul food variety experience with little to no ambiance this may be the place to go. It is not what I expected from advertisements and pictures in online ads. This is a very, very small place with about 10-12 tables squished together. Actually saw a food tour eating there. While there is a variety of food, I'm not sure about how long the food has been sitting there on the warmer. You pile whatever food you want in a to go food box and it is weighed for cost. Looks like locals like eating here as about half the people I saw took their food out. Yelp has been sporting high ratings for this place so as a reference, I wanted to try it out. Would I do it again? Not sure. If you put something in your food box, you own it. My suggestions is to start sparingly if you don't know the food choices...you can always go back and pay for more. For me it was a hit and miss...shortribs good, candied sweet potatoes a bit too sweet...desserts looked old.

Authenthic soul food restaurant, big variety of excellent meals (6,48 $ per pound !), friendly, helpful staff. Live music on sundays !

Having eaten in other soul food places in Harlem, this was the best so far. It is a buffet so you can take your food to a table in the restaurant or just do take away. The selection is enormous with something for everyone. The food was great and we especially loved the southern fried chicken and the mac and cheese. Don't forget to try the corn bread and save room for the delicious desserts. Our favorites were the pineapple and coconut cream cake and the carrot cake. For the dieters, there is an extensive salad bar. Advice - go off your diet for one day and try everything.

You can choose "your soul food" from a wide range of dishes and enjoy immediately there seating comfortable thinking about you're in the earth of Harlem. Prices crazy (17$ for 3). Gr8

First "salad bar" that I ever dined at with soul food and it was great! The candied yams tasted almost as good as my great grandmas. The mac 'n cheese was yummy and cheesy, just the type of comfort food that I needed on a cold and rainy day in the city.

It's delicious, plentiful, a large choice, an address to remember, succulent vegetables, exquisite pasta gratin and mashed potatoes!

Jacob Restaurant is located off of 125th St. in Harlem, NY. It's close to popular attractions, such as Apollo Theater. The food is awesome! As of July 2015, the cost of the food is determined by weight. It is well worth it as my friends and I went there twice during our stay. You would self-serve from the food bar. Some of the selections included sweet potato, oxtails, baked salmon, salad, fresh fruits, etc. Although the seating area may be small, it's definitely worth the wait if necessary. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this restaurant if you're looking for good eating at a reasonable price.

As a vegetarian, this was a great restaurant. They had a huge variety of choices including a salad bar. The food is sold by weight.

We had lunch at this buffet where they see food by the pound for less than what a grocery store salad bar charges. Tons of comfort food entrees fried chicken, jerk chicken, beef short ribs, pork ribs, ham, baked chicken, fish, and more. Sides included greens, Lima beans with turkey, Mac and cheese, real mashed potatoes, candied whole sweet potatoes, and rices, But the salad bar had everything from Greek salad to melon to mixed fruit, pasta salad, grilled calamari, assorted olives, and assorted vegetables. It's on the corner with open windows so it was nice for a summer afternoon. Very casual, but the food was awesome, and they carried my beverage of choice, sparkling water.

I was introduced to this place by Jacqueline on the tour. We had beef short ribs that were very tender and moist. The candied yams were amazing and the black eyed peas were tasty. Everything on the bar looked awesome.

If you are open to discover something new and never had soul food before, you should go check out this place, or if you are starving and looking for a variety of different flavor at a good price, this is the place to go. I've been going for quite some time and I still don't know how much is the buffet by the pound but I usually amount around 8 - 12 bucks. I get meats, pasta, mash, avocados, fruits, salad.. somebody stops me! Cons: you're gonna want to try everything. On a side note: They speak french.

This buffet restaurant provides lots of choices from cooked cabbage, collards and black eyed peas toshort ribs and oxtails as well banana pudding and other Southern favorites. Good value for pricing: you pay be the pound so you choose how much you want to eat/spend.

The food is amazing here, you can choose from more than 50 dishes and since it’s buffet style, you can control the portion too. I have been struggling with the big serving portion while traveling in the US, happy to be in this place, having great food but not wasting too much food! Tried the oxtail and chicken, both taste very nice!

this was recommend to me by a tour guide and yes, i did not regret coming here. its in harlem, and supposed to be homegrown in this district. but the best part is its buffet style (you put everything you want in a box and they weigh for the price) . this means one gets to sample almost all the flavours available. i love love the oxtail. and the best part, its cheap and is nearby the brownstone houses of harlem. so , one can come for a tour of the brownstone houses and enjoy the food here.

We had a great launch here. Don't get impressed by the aspect of the place. (look at the advice on the wall inside 😉). It's a very genuine and real experience to eat here. The food is self-service and it's price is per-weight. With 10$ you can have a very good meal.

I have nothing against a hole in the wall if its good, but this place did not live up to its own hype. Seating was lacking and the decor leaves a lot to be desired. It was messy, and there was so much food that it was spilling out of its containers. The food was overcooked and underseasoned. I won't be going back.

Good place to dine. They serve a good portion of food and a nice variety to choose from. Good location, parking may be difficult.

Skip Sylvia's. You must try Jacob's. We were visiting from Philly and it was recommended to try Jacob's. We are happy we did. The West Indie and Soul food buffet was delicious. Everything was fresh from the fruit/ salad to the entrees. The price is reasonably. It's set up cafeteria style and there is a section to sit down to eat. Try it! You want be disappointed. Don't forget to grab some cornbread! So good!!

Large selection of soul food in Harlem. Self service bar where you fill up with everything thing from gumbo, fried rice, corn bread, greens, salads or chicken, etc. Sold by the pound. Nice hot sauce too!

We were looking for a restaurant after arriving in Harlem and entered Jacob´s by chance. We´ve never heard about "soul food" before and we were surprised to get such a huge choice of different, tasty food, hot or salad bar, payable by the pound. You can mix it as you wish, its all for the same, reasonable price. We would go there again.

Food was good, but takeaway only at both Jacob’s locations. Disappointed not to have seats in a ‘Resteraunt’. Hopefully this will return.

We were walking around Harlem and came across this gem, great food self service but a place to sit and eat your food. You can also do take away. The ribs, chicken and beans were great. The food comes in a box and you pay by the weight.

I went for the collard greens, candied yams, black-eyed peas, beef ribs and pork ribs. Everything was so tasty and felt so like grandma’s cooking (not mine though, she wasn’t such a great cook...). If you’re looking for selected ingredients and small portions nicely presented, this is not your place. But if you want honest food, I’d say here they put their heart and of course their soul into it.

We didn't have time to go to Sylvia's and we happened upon Jacob's. They offer a variety of hot foods like ox tail, fried chicken, There's soul food, Caribbean food, American fare and even Spanish and African dishes and it's ALL good! You can eat in or take out. The food is weighed and reasonably priced.

Good food; you pay by the pound and can take away or sit down and listen to some good music. Plenty of choice and all fresh. Loved it

I went with my husband to have some food yet I really couldn't decide what to have as a small portion because everything look so yummy and fresh so I chose more than I can eat at a time. The food was appealing,fresh and it was flavorful. The atmosphere was pleasant; there was a band playing loud, good music and the place gets crowed with customers. I will go again.

OM goodness. I just happened upon this restaurant and I'm glad that I did. The buffet style food was a huge selection, the staff was friendly and helpful(as I was visiting from out of town) and the restaurant was nice and clean. You can pick what you want and how much you want but, of course, you pay for what you want. I can't wait to go back, this will be first on my list!

Fried chicken, collard greens, Mac & Cheese, Potato Salad - outstanding! Everything was clean & delicious! It’s food weighted by the pound so your able to get a sample of a lot! You won’t be disappointed.

The food here was amazing.. The place is a buffet style restaurant which so much choice.. Rices, beef, chicken, fish, massive salad and fruit bar etc.. You get what you want in your container and then they weigh it out.. You can then sit in or take away.. I choose to sit in and have a freshly made lemonade which they make too... Overall was well worth the subway ride from Times Square.. If I had the chance I would definitely come again..

The Jacob's I went to is up in Harlem. The atmosphere is very much like a diner but it is a huge buffet of cultural favorites like collard greens, curries, ribs, corn, salads and Jamaican dishes like various rice dishes. There were several types of meats from beef to lamb to ox tail and a huge salad bar. A memorable meal for sure and you can tell the place is loved by the locals

We missed Sylvia's they were closing on the 4th of July. But however, I was excited about JACOB too. Oh my gosh the food and the amount you get to pick and choose according to the pound. I am in a food sanctuary. This was absolutely the right choose. I am loving it. Can't wait to come back to NYC.

We had a very pleasant time in this little restaurant where you serve yourself very tasty dishes and fresh fruit all for about thirty dollars only for two which is exceptional in NEW YORK and as a bonus this Sunday we were treated to an extra jazz concert really we feasted Go ahead with your eyes closed This is a place that Harlem locals frequent

I wish it was an all you can eat buffet! Lol I especially enjoyed the baked ziti and boiled egg stuffed with chicken salad.

PROS *Came here after tour guide recommended it and liked the food more than the tour. Lots of good options. *The jerk chicken was outstanding. The right bit of spicy. If I go back, I’ll mostly load up on jerk chicken and Mac and cheese. *It’s by the pound and came out to like $8.83. Beats the $20 I would have spent at Sylvia’s. CONS *Fried chicken was kind of bland.

Despite the recommendation in all nyc guides, the place retains its original atmosphere: nothing fancy, local patrons, great variety, delicious hot food, US, southern and Caribbean. More reserved on cold salads, bland and somewhat tired. Delicious fruits. Pay by weight. We’ll go back any time, every time.

Dropped in with a friend for a bite to eat. Simple decor, with emphasis on the food. We were amazed with the selection and it's high quality. The best curry goat I had in years and the oxtail to die for.

This was my first time ti be at the famous soul food restaurant and I loved it. The service was fast and friendly. The food was amazing. I served generously and finished the whole platter (see pic!)b Amazing treat to my taste buds! Just serve generously! Everything was tasty!

This is our second visit We were here last September too. what a find A great place to eat The varied ,healthy , homemade and wholesome food served buffet style.It is amazing to see.So much choice and absolutely delicious.Really pleasant staff. Help yourself,your food is weighed and you pay.You can sit inside or outside Please visit when in Harlem You will not be disappointed

It doesn't get any more basic than this: Take a styrofoam tray; serve yourself from dozens of hot- and cold-food trays containing an impressive assortment of soul food, from salads to curried goat; pay by the POUND; stuff yourself; take the rest home. No frills at all, as you can imagine, but at $71 for a family of 4, it's hard to complain. My daughter discovered the place while living in the area, and couldn't wait to take us. While it's not the best soul food I've ever eaten, it's not bad at all -- and a lot cheaper than the fancy fare Marcus Samuelsson is serving up the street. Biggest annoyance is parking, of which there is precious little, and made even more annoying by all the double-parkers who rush in, grab their food, and rush out before they get towed away. You might want to Uber it, or take a bus.

While making videos at the Harlem National Jazz Museum, I took everybody out for lunch. Tried to get into Silvia's, that Harlem soul food landmark since the 60's, but the wait was too long. Just down the street is Jacob's, and even though business was brisk, there's no waiting. 5 of us loaded up on terrific food, and spent a great afternoon at an outside corner table. Breeze was just right, and food was mmm good and hit the spot! Highly recommended!

This is my after work go to salad bar. Great mac and cheese and fried chicken. Lots of salads to choose from. I wish they would make their stuffing more available on a regular basis. the banana pudding and peach kobbler are to doe for.

This place is great for a fast snack or take out meal. Me and the wife really enjoyed our meal, much easier than the busy restaurants.

The food at is restaurant was so delicious, my husband and I still talk about it weeks later. It was easy to sample lots of different foods, since you pay by the pound. It also meant that I just got as much as I could reasonably eat, instead of way too much food that just looks good, like I typically do at a buffet. Everything was delicious. They have a great selection of meats, vegetables, greens, and other dishes like mac n' cheese, which makes it an easy place for people with different food interests. We overheard the person next to us comment to a table mate that the kitchens are very clean and you can see them from the buffet. If you are in the area, definitely check this place out.

Okay...its not one of the 'heralded' overpriced Soul Food Restaurants associated with Harlem... what it is though is awesome food and a great atmosphere for a reasonable price with live Blues Music on the weekends. We've been to Jacob on two other occasions and so one afternoon when we dropped our youngest ( the Columbia Grad student) off at her apartment and were heading back home to the Island; my wife said what do you want to do for lunch.... ding ding ding the light went off and we headed to directly to Jacob. If you've read some of our other posts we been to the chic chic restaurants and we've been to hole in the walls, regardless of the location; we have only one criteria... good food. Jacob Restaurant delivers in a big way. It is a Food and Salad bar where you pick and choose your own desires. They have everything associated with the way Soul Food should be served. Collards, fried chicken, pork ribs, beef brisket, catfish, mac and cheese and the list could go on and on. They have simple desserts and cold salads also. After you load up and pay (its all by the pound... regardless of the choice), you find a table and sit family style and everyone is there for the same reason... good food and great atmosphere; its a great homogeneous mix of every race, color and creed and here we're all friends and share laughs together... as it always should be. We happened here on a Sunday afternoon and at the time there was live Blues music...I'm not sure if this is a everyday occurrence however, it only heightened the enjoyment of visiting again. They also have plenty of outdoor sidewalk seating ... so definitively a warm weather stop. If you have to go to a restaurant to 'be seen' or droll on that you've been there ...this is not for you; because the only people who care about you here are the ones serving and the friends you share a table with. If you want great Soul Food, reasonable prices, friendly company and live music... then run, don't walk to the corner of 143rd and Frederick Douglass and join the fun.

We had lunch here inclusive as part of our Get Your Guide Harlem Renaissance Tour (which by the way if you are interested you should do). Self service with more food than one can eat, staples like southern fried chicken, ribs, mac n cheese rice and peas and collared greens and a selection of fruits and jello to finish. We would not have chosen to eat here but satisfying all the same

Had a wonderful late lunch here on a very cold afternoon - the staff was so kind to accommodate our very large group. Great southern cooking with loads of sides and sweet cornbread. Worth the trip!

If you want a great tasting healthy meal, this is the place to go.We stayed in New York for nearly 2 weeks and this was one of the best places we came to for lunch.We actually came here with a tour group. The price is good too

This is a great buffet of both cold and hot food, loads of veggies, fresh fruit and meats. Vegetables are well cooked, happily not overcooked as some soul food can be. The staff is helpful and hard-working. Dine in or take out. Very reasonably priced.

A very delicious soul food experience. I really liked the collard greens and banana pudding. Good value.

We were planning to visit another restaurant but decided to try Jacob’s after walking in and seeing the large variety of great looking food. After selecting our food we were not disappointed, the food tasted as good as it looked. I especially enjoyed the fresh garden salad, fried chicken and the greens. We will defiantly return to try other items.

Mac and cheese is fabulous, drinks were good, great music, stays busy, host were great. Location was good.

I thought this restaurant was way larger in size (food & seating) by reading the flyer card. Well worth the trip from Queens for. Quality of the food is very similar to OLD COUNTRY BUFFET in Long Island...nothing really to write home about if you've had it. I was impressed by the pictures of greatness hanging on the walls. The picture of Obama could be much more profound but hey it was there. What took me back by total surprise was the Africans who seem to be running the Soul Food place (register, kitchen, clean up, etc.): particularly the one who spoke his language while on the phone when I asked for a bag. After eating my second helping & charging a whooping $12 the first round and another $11 on our meals, I noticed how he sucked his teeth when asked. He told the person to "hold on" as if I disturbed him ... was he not there at the counter to work? The patrons is of a mixed array of nationalities (wjites, Asians & blacks) who seem to know good food. I would like the workers to be mindful that not everyone live in the area. We made a trip to go dine there. The one person they treat like second class might just be the same person writing their next review.

Visited the Lennox avenue branch a couple of times during a week in Harlem. Jacobs is a help yourself buffet. There is a choice between hot and cold foods. There's an amazing choice such as Jerk chicken, Beef ribs , Tilapia, rice and peas, noodles, seafood rice,fried chicken, collard greens, calimari, loads of salads and fruit and much more! You take a plastic take away tray and fill it with what you want, they weigh it, and you pay accordingly. I think it was 6 -7 dollars per pound depending on hot or cold food. We had good filling meals for about 10 dollars each including free water. Good fresh food at a reasonable price. What's not to like!

very good, big selection, very authentic, nice back room to sit in, occasional live jazz in back room, reasonably priced, but not cheap. very convenient and friendly.

first experience of soul food and this place did not disappoint. Wide array of dishes to try at the same time. Food put in a container and weighed - around 6 dollars per pound. Very nice staff.

Great selection, atmosphere, Great Price. Recent first time visit with friends was very good and happy we stopped by. Can't beat the price!

Numerous very well-prepared offerings. Eat in or carry out. Many seafood, meaty, and vegetarian choices. I particularly enjoyed the tender and delicious chicken gizzards. The brisket was also excellent. Mac and cheese was quite good -- not easy to accomplish when working with steam tables, I would think.

Large trays to compose with a wide choice of products: meats, salads, vegetables, starchy foods... All very well cooked! Possibility of making trays of fresh fruit, pure joy!! All for really not very expensive. Great atmosphere in the bar thanks to a little concert!! I recommend it to anyone wanting to eat local in a great setting!

If you're looking for the real thing at a good price go to Jacob's. It's cafeteria style and their business is mostly take out but there are tables in the back. The collard greens are excellent as is the mac n' cheese. Their meatloaf is excellent too.

Great to explore all the dishes you always read about but don't find at home. There is something for everyone's taste: savoury and sweet, meats and greens.

We came to eat here after two employees at the Apollo Theater recommended it and I must say, this was some of the best soul food I have ever eaten. You must first know that you pay by the pound but trust me it is well worth it. It is easier to just sample a little bit of everything. There is a hot buffet and a cold buffet.The hot buffet had ox tails, fried chicken, jerk chicken, rice and beans, collard greens, mac and cheese, ribs and a ton of other choices and the cold buffet had a variety of cold salads, tossed, macaroni salad, cucumber, deviled eggs, fruit salads and once again a ton of other choices. You can not go wrong with anything...enjoy and you will return. I'm already anticipating my return.

Full buffet... meat, fish, vegetables and fruits, good Caribbean cuisine and above all, and not bad, cheap. Highly recommended if you are around here... maybe for a Sunday lunch on the fly after a gospel.

Tried this restaurant and now I continue to return. Food is delicious! The only downfall is that everything tastes so good and you pay by the pound of food, so the restaurant can get a little pricey. I recommend to anyone looking for REAL soul food in NYC.

October 10, 2016, Great little restaurant for lunch located in Harlem, staff very friendly, buffet style, food very good, many choices, I had the fried chicken "excellent". seating in back very clean and neighborhood safe near subway 145th street, A Train.

If you're looking for delicious, homemade soul food without the pomp and price of some of the other, better-known restaurants nearby, Jacob is the place. Food is fresh and tasty -- plenty of options for vegetarians -- and the people are lovely. Great that it's a buffet, so you can taste lots of different dishes. Outdoor seating is a plus. We got there just before the rush. When we left, there was a line out the door. For very good reason, this place is well loved by locals and visitors alike!

This is a place for all foodies like me! It is a buffet kind of place. Eat in, or take your food away, but either which, you'll return. As I will in the very near future. I stumbled upon this by accident. It is a few blocks away from the Apollo Theater (they directed me to this eatery whilst awaiting my tour session). You go in, pick up a tray, and fill it with all the deliciousness that they have to offer. I was greedy! I had the Short Ribs, Oxtail Tail (which was finger licking, I may have chewed on my own fingers if I hadn't have been careful), rice, beans, salad and more! The food was fantastic, cheap and well worth the side-step away from the touring. We all have to eat! I could return again and again, just to sample the rest of the various dishes on offer. Soul food is the way to go!

This must be one of the high Points during our week in NYC! The owner is an unbelievably foulmouthed yet genuinely warmhearted individual. If You can take this quirky combination, You are up for a great experience. You pick Your own dish in a styrofoam container from an abundance of "soul food" varieties. Either bring Your food to one of the nice parks nearby, or stay and eat in the back room. If You can, make Your way here on a sunday. In the afternoon after Church, there's a jazz band playing. We caught this opportunity by sheer luck, and the entire experience was pure bliss!

Great atmosphere, music and mixing with the local people just great you pay for food by the weight and can try a big variety of soul food which is really yummy

The food here is very good and prices are reasonable. I loved the Jerk chicken, goat curry, oxtail and the ribs. So good, I have been here now at least 5 times. Always met my expectations. So popular, no matter what time I went, the food trays at the buffet are always hot and freshly made. Eat at this place then if you like good live music, Shrine is highly recommended.

It's not your typical buffet. This place was recommend by the bellman at the hotel we were staying at in Time Square. I was looking for a Soul Food restaurant and didn't want to do the typical tourist places like "Sylvia's". Now, I don't like buffet's, but when the gentleman that recommended this place was talking about it, it brought a big smile to his face and he started licking his lips. At that point I knew I had to check it out. I must say, for a buffet, the food was good. It's not an "all you can eat" buffet. It's a "pay by the pound" buffet. They had a good selection of hot and cold foods. I liked that I could put as much or as little as I wanted on the plate. It allowed me to sample several things. It also saved me from wasting a lot of food. Many times on vacation these restaurants give you so much food you can't eat it all. So being given control over how much to put on my plate knowing how much I was going to eat was a big plus. I would definitely recommend this place to others visiting the area and stop in myself the next time I'm back in town.

There are days when everything goes wrong. You plan a surprise, it fails. You try to go to a restaurant, it’s packed. You try another one, it’s closed… 😭 When this happens to me I tend to get stuck and become unable to make a decision. That Sunday, in Harlem, NYC, I was in that kind of mood so my wife picked a restaurant for us, Jacob Soul Food Restaurant, based on its reviews on Google. Jacob Soul Food is not a regular restaurant: there’s no service, no menu, no private table… 🤔 It’s like a self-service school restaurant. You help yourself with want you want to eat and then you pay according to the total weight of what you’ve picked. To be honnest, with my mood, it felt nice to be able to eat a bit of everything that looked good to me at that moment. It was not the best food of my life (not bad either, eh) but it was comforting 😌 The atmosphere of the restaurant was comforting too: there was some live music and people even were dancing 🕺🏿💃🏻 Plus we ate a lot for $15, which is not common in NYC, nowadays. If you want to have the best food, that’s not the place. But if you want to feel good, go ahead! Quality & taste: 6/10 Quantities: 10/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Originality: 8/10 Ratio price / quality: 8/10 Service: n/a How I felt afterwards: 7/10 More on IG @runnerandfoodie

We are Australians and had never tried soul food. Buffet allows you to try a little of all the dishes you have heard of - fried chicken, candied yams, black-eyed peas, corn bread, ribs...comfy sitting out back. No beer available which would have been nice on hot June day.

Really enjoyed Jacob's when we went there. Being a "southern" girl, I'm pretty picky about food and how I like it. The fried chicken was spot on and the black eyed peas (with onions in them, just like Mama's) were great. Diverse salad bar with lots of interesting options. The fruit was fresh and the staff was nice, too.

We came here at the end of the Hush Hip Hop Tour. It was a great choice of place to go there is something for everyone, plenty of meat options, ribs, short ribs, jerk chicken, fried chicken, salmon but there is plenty of salad and fruit to choose from for those who fancy something a bit healthier. You pay for the food by the pound, I think it was just under $7 a pound of food whatever you choose. Just load up your box and pay for it at the counter.

Stopped in for some take out with family. Enjoyed the rice and fried chicken was good. The jerked chicken a little disappointing. Beef meatballs were good and the salad bar was fresh.

I traveled to NYC, and had a taste for soul food. Jacob Restaurant came highly recommended by the concierge from the hotel that I stayed at. The only downside in my opinion was that the price was by the pound, so it could get a little pricey. Otherwise, the food was really good. From the jerk chicken, oxtails, and rice and peas to corn bread, cabbage, and macaroni and cheese. I loved the mix of southern and Caribbean food. So good that I went back for a second time before I flew back home.

We walked past here as part of a foot tour and the guide recommeded it, having lived nearby for many years. This was one of the best bits of advice we got in 5 weeks in the States. We walked in and didn't have a clue how it worked. Other customers were great and one of the best bits of advice was 'don't get carried away'! Take a plate, pile it up and take it to the unreal checkout, where it gets weighed and you pay for it per pound. Easy to understand and great value. The range of food is wonderful and makes no concession to the tourist trade, it doesn't need to, it stands up on it's own and stands tall. Plenty of choice of meat, veg, salad, dessert. We both took different approaches and everything on our plates was soooooo goooooood!! I'd love to say this or that was the best, but everything was fantastic. If you're not sure, have a little and if it floats your boat, go back and have some more, it's no more expensive this way. Unpretentious surroundings, loaded atmosphere, real food and value for money - unreal. We loved it and would go back tomorrow. Only problem is we live in the UK. It'll be our first stop in NYC every time. We loved it.

We had tickets to the Apollo Theatre and started looking for restaurants in the area. We decide when in Harlem, we needed to get some soul food, not to mention Caribbean food too. There are fancier soul food places with in a couple of blocks but we wanted to try an assortment of offerings in one meal. This buffet style restaurant features a wide variety of excellent main courses and side dishes. You fill a take-out carton and they weigh it and you pay by the pound. I took a little of a lot of different dishes to try as many as I could. Some of the dishes that I ate were Oxtails in brown sauce, Jerk Chicken, Tilapia, Curry Chicken, Fried chicken, ham in a sweet sauce, rice and beans, collard greens, okra and corn, cut up kiwi, and fried plantains. All were excellent but some of the hot dishes were lukewarm at best. Fortunately, none of us got sick from food kept out at room temperature. The cashiers weren't very friendly either but the food more than made up for their surliness.

Absolutely delightful, filling, and yes, soulful, food! The chicken jerk was mildly spicy as it should, and there is a good variety of meats, veggies, and fruits to choose from. Prices are very good too. I paid $7 for a box of hot meal. Service was friendly and prompt.

Found this tasty buffet style soul food restaurant around the corner from my accommodation in Harlem. Filled up on fried chicken, very good mac n cheese and a variety of green and salad. Don't forget the corn bread!

Me and my two daughters went to Harlem for a mommy and me trip and we stopped to eat at Jacobs soul food and delicious is an understatement! the variety of fresh homemade sides and meat are absolutely wonderful I wish we had a place like this in Detroit. I will be back again.

Superb buffet food which will have you locking your lips after. For 30$ we had a feast for 2 people and drinks.

I love food but I tend to steer away from buffets for a couple of reasons, but we found ourselves here for lunch. Oh my goodness! How lucky were we! The food is delicious and fresh. It hit the spot on so many levels. There was a great variety of choices - hot and cold. I had to go with the collards, yams, stewed okra, jamaican rice and fried chicken. OH the flavors! Topped off with delicious banana pudding. I am very picky about my food because I am a good cook and like good food. I am also very picky about banana pudding because my mother made the best. This was right on time! Did I mention that it is reasonably priced? It is a local place that serves the community well!

What a find! Great selection of a variety of food. Everything was fresh and delicious. Very casual. Very economical. Loved this place. I of course was trying to stay on a low carb diet and found lots of things to eat. They also had things I would have loved to try and will when I go there next time.

Best take out and caterer for southern soul foods in Harlem New York, Two locations, Seating area on 129th Lenox Avenue and take out, Yellow rice with red kidney beans, best flavor tasting collard greens, equally are the sweet yams, mac n cheese, lima beans, corn bread, okra and tomatoes, salmon in curried sauce. desserts: sweet potatoes pie, fresh baked goods,

This is the first soul food spot that does not cook with love! Rice and beans were not seasoned enough. Most of the veggies like the brussel sprouts, okra, and cole slaw weren't cooked properly. Mac and cheese was blah. Even the watermelon had a sour taste! It may be cheap but it's not worth it at all. Left disappointed and will not be going back. There's plenty of other quality places nearby.

Definitely not hip, but this is an excellent alternative for a healthy buffet in the center of Harlem. It serves real traditional food, and you will eat with the locals. You pay by the pound. It is highly recommended.

As stated in the title, this place has food for more than one kind of taste if you can't agree with friends or family (even yourself on what to eat). Place is owned and ran by the owners which makes it more of a family joint, which is in my opinion always nice to support. Place itself is a buffet bar with about 16 trays of different entree options, and about 10 different salads and about 8 different fruit options for those that can't quite decide. The menu is online if you use google if you want to know more than this review, but it has a different assortment of ribs, stews, fried chicken and fried rice, regular white rice, fried plaintains, mac and cheese, jerky chicken (and much more), simply several different options for those that want a bit of everything. Place is very well kept, and food indeed was simply delicious, even on a saturday night at 9:30 PM our meal was VERY fresh. For those looking for caribbean, soul or american food, this place will make you and your wallet very happy, price is $6 per LB.. a whole meal for a family of 4 ended up being about $24.. or $6 per family, making also a great budget option. I regret not discovering this jewel in Harlem earlier. They also have a selection of deserts, and drinks, but I cannot vouch for them as I did not have them.

Jacob was awesome. I love the fact that this was a Bar style resturant and I could mix and match food options that I wanted to try. The food was fresh and the atmosphere was fun. You can eat inside or outside of the resturant. The staff was friendly to me and I felt right at home.

I love the vibe of the folks who work here! The food is buffet style and extremely fresh! Everything was cooked with love and perfection. I really like the collard greens, the mac and cheese and the corn bread. I'll be back!

Every-time I come home to visit. I just can't stay away from Jacobs. I prefer the one on W 125 St, the turkey wings are better tasting. I had to grab a plate for the road. Heading back to GA. YUM.. See ya next year.

What a wonderful find on a Friday night! Great soul food buffet with an array of healthy options as well; just a bit pricey. A positive plus, we were able to eat and listen to some great live music! Pleasant experience.

Everything was delicious. Greens, corn bread, jerk and fried chicken were fenomenal. It's going to be hard to walk back.

There is a reason why this restaurant has (as of my review) no Poor or Terrible reviews: it's delicious! The variety of food here and the fact that it as ALL cooked so well and the bars are replenished regularly was what did it for me. We love Jacob's!

To whom it may concern, This was the first time I purchased a meal from Jacobs on 129 & Lennox Avenue NYC location and was completely suprised the meal was totally under par for Jacobs😟 The Lima beans were not fully cooked and the smoked turkey parts were "blood" red raw inside half cooked as well. I was & still am shock disappointed; that's why I am writing this review. This is not the Jacobs I am accustom too. When I got home & sat down to eat a delicious dinner from Jacobs & the food was raw under cooked, I had to say something. This is unacceptable & I do not believe Mr Jacobs is aware of the situation. So please someone show him this review so he can correct it & bring back the great food Jacobs is know for. It maybe just what I purchased which was Lima Beans & smoked turkey parts, Yellow Rice & Beans, corn medly & Chocolate cake that was dried out from refrigeration to long. I pray it was only my purchase & hope the other patrons enjoyed their meals ATLEAST!!! Dissatisfied patron customer 🙋

Family owned small chain of soul food buffets. There is a big selection of dishes: fried chicken, roasted chicken, several pork selections, several beef selections, including ox tails. There are also several seafood selections. A big assortment of vegetables: greens, black eyed peas, broccoli, asparagus, okra and tomatoes, green beans, etc. There is also a big assortment of salads: chicken salad, crab salad, marinated vegetable assortments, and fresh lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, etc to create your own salad. You pay per lb and your bread choice is free. They have the best macaroni and cheese! They also have a great assortment of beverages.

I tell ya, I had never had brown stew turkey wings in my life. What an impression. Everything on my plate I finished. Oh Jacob Hun, I will be back in town to din with you once again. Too bad for Sylvia she closed down as soon as we pulled up and got of the car. July 4th evening I will not forget.

Jacob's Restaurant, located in the heart of Harlem, NYC, has some of the best soul food you can ever taste. This establishment is set up buffet style with a large selection of entrees all superbly cooked. From the collard greens, okra, candied yams, oxtails to baked fish, smothered chicken, to Mac and cheese, to sweet potato pie it just doesn't get any better than this. We arrived at 4PM and everything was fresh. The food prices are set by the pound at a very reasonable rate. There is an unimpressive dining so we chose to take out. The staff are extremely courteous, warm, and quite proud of their food, and the residents of Harlem rave about this place as well they should. I can not wait to go back, it was truly worth the trip. I highly recommend Jacob's on 129 th Street.

The meat isn't cooked enough. Did not find the food good. The banana pudding is full of pudding hardly no cookies or bananas. Would I go there again. No

Not only was the food delicious but everyone was very friendly. This was our second trip to NYC and we made a special trip to Harlem to try Jacob's. It was worth it.