Soul Flavors, located at 354 Grove St. in Jersey City, is a relatively new restaurant bringing a new kind of soul food, located a short walk away from the Grove Street PATH Station and the new Grove Pointe development.
Opened this spring by Queens, N.Y. native Wayne Lyons, a former executive chef for the Marriott Corporation, along with his wife Jill and fellow chef Shawn Santana, the restaurant offers a variety of Southern dishes infused with Caribbean flavor, some of which Lyons named affectionately for favorite aunts who passed down their love of cooking.
This reporter along with a guest decided to have a leisurely lunch at Soul Flavors. Both of us had the lunchtime specials of the day.
The guest had crab cake with salad and ginger carrot cabbage slaw ($5.50) followed by a dessert of homemade vanilla ice cream ($3), while I had the fried chicken cutlets ($8.50) topped off with lemon pound cake ($4). The crab cake was tasty and light without being too crispy; the ice cream was a delight for its smooth creaminess. The cutlets were tasty and almost melt in the mouth for its soft meatiness.
What else is on the menu?
Soul Flavors has an array of items on its menu that can please the even the most finicky eater. The main dishes are called “Soul Specialties” priced from $11-$13. Those dishes include buttermilk marinated fried chicken ($12) and smothered loin of pork with green peppercorn and roasted pineapple (also $13).
There are other culinary delights with appetizers, like Aunt Nita’s cod fish cakes ($7), sides such as Aunt Dot’s macaroni & cheese ($6), the soul roll sandwich ($6.50), and the mélange “A” salad ($9.50).
And to end any dining experience at Soul Flavors, one should partake in the delectable desserts that include not only the homemade vanilla ice cream and lemon pound cake but also the Ms. Vicky Bourbon glazed bread pudding ($6.50).
Lyons cites that his most popular dishes with the customers are the buttermilk marinated fried chicken and Aunt Dot’s macaroni & cheese.
How ‘Soul Flavors’ got started
Wayne Lyons brings nearly 20 years of culinary experience, not just as a chef for Marriott but also as the proprietor of Mélange Caterers, which he started in his native Hollis, Queens. Since then, he has catered for numerous celebrities including rapper Kanye West, film director Spike Lee and the cast and crew of the NBC series.
But Lyons said when he and his wife moved to downtown Jersey City three years ago, they wanted to do more than just have a residence but to settle down. He credits downtown resident and Oona Jackson, a realtor for RE/MAX in Jersey City for helping Lyons and his wife find their current space.
“The idea of opening up something near where you live was appealing to us,” Lyons said. “And location is always important. Downtown is up and coming and the people in this area would appreciate what we were doing.”
Lyons described what he and his staff are preparing at Soul Flavors as “postmodern Caribbean and Southern”. “It takes something traditional and embellishes it, and making it better.”
Soul Flavor is located at 354 Grove St. in Jersey City at the corner of Bay and Grove Streets. Diners are welcome to B.Y.O.B. (Bring you own beverage). It is opened from Tuesday through Saturday at noon to 9:30 p.m., and the Sunday Brunch begins at 12 noon and 4:30 p.m. (closed Mondays). They also do catering orders. For more information, call (201) 217-3004 or visit www.soulflavors.com and http://www.melangecaterers.com Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com