“I ain’t willing to die for food”

I was hanging out with a group of like-minded Dads and during a conversation with one of them, I brought up a soul food restaurant I’ve seen pop up on my social media. When I mentioned it was located on Bragg Street, that was his response.

Every city has a street that has a reputation which casts a dark shadow over anything that may be good about that street. I never had a reason to visit Bragg Street and for awhile, like many other folks, I thought it best to avoid the street entirely. But Instagram post of Raleigh Soul Food started to appear on my timeline.

Each post from Raleigh Soul Food showcased dishes that were lavish in portions, sauces and seasonings. With each picture, my reservations regarding visiting Bragg Street wavered.

The Hennessy Hot Honey Catfish sandwich is the kind unabashed offering from this soul food that’s made it worth following. Freshly fried catfish and a sweet sauce I would’ve been happy for the fish to be dunked in rather than it drizzled over the filet.

Mac and cheese is often seen as the benchmark dish for soul food restaurants, so I felt like it was only right to get it as my side. I typically find myself favoring elbow noodles and sharp cheeses for my mac and cheese, so for a mac and cheese that uses a spiral pasta and heavily spiced cheese sauce, I enjoyed it.

To finish off the visit, we picked up a pair of mini sweet potato pies. Crumbly pie crust and a surprisingly milder filling. But to crank up the sweetness, a generous glaze is spread across the pies.

Raleigh Soul Kitchen sits at the back of a small convenience store, on a road that many people want to avoid. And it was worth the visit.

Raleigh Soul Kitchen

https://raleighsoulkitchen.com/

511 Bragg St, Raleigh, NC 27601