I’ve visited Darrell Kelley’s Soul Delicious in Leesburg, FL twice now, and while I really wanted to give this new spot a chance, my experiences were disappointing.
During my first visit, I found that nearly 60% of the menu was unavailable, which was frustrating. To make matters worse, I was accidentally served someone else’s order, and the turkey wings I received were overly salty, with rice that was undercooked and cold. I understand that new places might have a few hiccups, so I decided to return for a second try.
Unfortunately, the second visit only reinforced my concerns. The menu had shrunk down to just four items, and even the basics seemed off. The Coca-Cola tasted watered down, and the meatloaf was dense and smothered in a syrupy sauce that tasted more like sugar than anything savory. The cornbread was so hard it could have been a weapon, though it was replaced with a fresh batch that was much better. To top it off, my food arrived in under four minutes, and it was clear the temperature wasn’t being properly maintained—it was lukewarm at best.
I did appreciate the young food runner, who was polite and helpful, but I was introduced to owner and OMG. He came across as incredibly full of himself, almost to the point of being obnoxious. In contrast, the managers I met during my first visit were kind, apologetic, and genuinely seemed invested in making things work. It was hard to take the owner seriously when he mentioned he was a “restaurant flipper,” just opening places to sell them quickly.
As an Afro Latino chef, I always try to support local businesses, but there’s a lot of room for improvement here. The decor felt more like an ego boost for the owner—almost like a shrine to his own musical career, complete with a faint mildew smell. The food had that grandmother’s kitchen vibe, but it was like the grandmother had lost her sense of taste, with everything being overly salty or sweet with no balance. For the portion sizes and quality, the prices felt steep, and it left me feeling like this place needs more than just working out the kinks. It needs a serious overhaul in terms of food quality, service, and overall approach.
Sadly, I won’t be returning!