Jacob Restaurant
“The cost per pound is $5.49, which I think is a huge steal, especially if you just load up on the protein.”
“The best part was that the jerk chicken was way better than the local Jamaican spot on Fredrick Douglass & 146th.”
“Yes, there are a ton of Soul Food buffets in Harlem, but my family likes Jacob's restaurants.”
Jacob Restaurant
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
Rate and write a review Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I was visiting a friend and saw she didnt live far from this spot so in we went. The restaurant is small and definitely a take out spot. The selection wasnt as big as I expected but what they did have looked delicious. As soon I walked in I smelled so many yummy flavors. The price per pound is fair an you can sample a little of everything which I did. They had two buffet stands one with the salads and fruits that I didnt give a second glance and the main one with all the soul food goodies. I enjoyed all of my food from the piece of rib, mac n cheese, lima beans, yams, baked and fried chicken, plantains and turkey wings everything was delicious. I most definitely will return when I am in the neighborhood.
Everything I had was savory and delish
– lima beans
– string beans (had a nice lil crunch)
– mac and cheese (macaroni pie style tho, cheese only on the top)
– fried whiting
– baked fish
Not into posting buffet plates, you'll have to take my word. Everything cooked perfect. Savory and Flavorful.
Hmmm…
I wanted to like this place. And I've had a filling meal there, but it's just all a bit underwhelming.
Cornbread dry & too sweet (I know). Fried chicken soggy. Greens gone bitter. Onion in the oxtail gravy crispy.
The food's good, but not great. It's not really any cheaper than anywhere else– though it is open late — but not worth breaking down over a buffet to go, methinks.
Right. It's late and I should sleep.
oxtail! oxtail! oxtail! OXTAILLLL. GET IT. Mac and cheese, collards, and BBQ wings are also good. If you come at the right time (we showed up at 11am) everything has JUST come out of the kitchen and is as fresh as it will get. Don't get too much rice or things with bones cause you pay by weight. I'm going to try the one downtown on 125th next. Hope it's as good! 😀
This place is heaven on earth (or hell on earth, depending on how much you end up gorging yourself). It's just close enough that I can walk there and just far enough that I wouldn't go every single night. If you are looking for a soul food place that has a good mix that you can pick and choose from, Jacob Restaurant is the place for you (BTW, it's just "Jacob" and not "Jacob's." If anyone knows why that is, please educate me).
I came here a couple times but this is the first time I'm writing a review. I brought a friend with me who helped me move into my new apartment and we stacked up on food. It came out to be about 4lbs worth and the total bill was around $21. They do accept credit/debit cards now with a minimum of $5 purchase. The cost per pound is $5.49, which I think is a huge steal, especially if you just load up on the protein.
Ox Tail: Really delicious and fall-off-the-bone tenderness. The sauce that they come in was also amazing.
BBQ Pork Ribs: Pretty standard. Not bad, but not great either. Still, I enjoyed them and would definitely get them again.
Brisket: Ughhh so delicious and mouth watering. The meat was done well where it was very tender, because a lot of places mess up the brisket and dry it out. Not here though. Definitely recommend it if it's available.
Curried Goat: A little dryer and tougher than the other meats, but that's the nature of goat meat, so not going to hold it against the chef. The spices on the curry were really well done and gave it the nice kick that the other meats lacked
Mashed Potatoes: excellent. Tasted like they were marinated in butter though. Not that I mind.
Lima beans and Turkey Neck: got this in accident, but it was great. The broth especially was really good.
All in all, this place is a total bargain. I always end up getting like 2 lbs of food and hating myself afterwards. But the good kind of hating.
I recently had the very good fortune to stay in an airbnb quite close to Jacob restaurant. So close in fact, that even though I wrenched my knee earlier in the day and could barely walk, I was able to hobble my way over to Jacobs!
I came with two of my children. Right inside the entrance are two huge steam islands with just about any kind of soul food you can imagine! There were three different kinds of chicken, ribs, mashed potatoes, whipped sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, cornbread and yes, green beans. It was actually amazing how many options there were to choose from! There was also a section of fruit and homemade Nilla Wafer pudding!
New, clean trays kept coming out of the kitchen to replace the old. The place was hopping with lots of customers. Once you make your selection, you pay by the pound. For all 3 of us, it came to $28 which is pretty reasonable considering both of my kids PILED it on!
There is a dining room for seating on the other side.
After leaving the JR, I had to move my car. While double parked waiting for a spot, a man came in a car from out of nowhere and scooped up a spot vacating right across from me. I hadn't even seen the other driver get in his car to leave! Anyway, no big deal, I understand the unspoken rules of parking in the city! So the man who took the spot, sees me and comes over and offers me the space! I'm super shocked and say, "It's ok, don't worry about it etc…", but the man insists, so I back up, he leaves and I get the spot!
Honestly that has NEVER happened to me before in all the years I have been parking.
It was pretty magical and entirely memorable and it will be forever connected in my mind with the Jacob Restaurant. What a place!!!
While in Harlem, Manhattan for a vital workplace meeting afterward calls for lunch in the area at Jacob Restaurant for soul food buffet, Southern comfort and Caribbean cuisine. Like any salad bar buffet it is sold by the pound which my bill totaled $6.53 pre-tax. Jacob Restaurant carries all the staples and essentials of soul food: Oxtail, macaroni & cheese, candied yams, collard greens, fried chicken, BBQ chicken, BBQ spare ribs, fried Calamari, Okra, corn bread, mash potatoes, Hushpuppies, corn, yellow rice and white rice, Greek salad, green bean salad, mixed fruit, and avocado salad. I usually do not eat soul food due to soul food's notable health concerns as high starch, fat, sodium, high cholesterol, and calories intake pending the cooking lard. However, I like the oxtail, BBQ spare ribs, and fried chicken.
Seating is available to dine-in but my party of three from the workplace opt to takeout as we were all on the clock. The two steam island food bars are clean and well stocked but rather too close proximity leaving no space to maneuver without bumping into other patrons. Checkout is efficient and courteous.
Jacob Restaurant is family owned and operated and is vital to the Harlem community. They cater for businesses, churches, non-profit associations in NYC's five boroughs. A business card is available for grabs.
Jacob's is the man and has the Upper West side of Harlem cornered for very good solid Southern & Carribean food, I'm talking about the food I grew up on with that down home way back in the South rich and thick on flavor food, the kind that sticks to your ribs for the entire day, delicious and highly seasoned food done right.
All of the food is displayed in a Hot & Cold Buffet Style with lots of options to choose from for both the meat Carnivores and vegetarians alike and that's in addition to the very nice variety of fresh seasonal fruit to choose from. Pick and choose how little or much you want, everything is priced per pound – but the Ox-Tails & mac-n-cheese weighs in heavy on the (PPP), however I didn't come here to play so the mac-n-cheese is a staple in all of my plates here.
Both my family and I have been coming to Jacob's since they opened and they've only gotten better with time since then. I will admit that some of the food selections are little heavy handed with the salt if they could fix this issue that would be perfect.
I've eaten almost of the food they have featured here and so has my family at one time or another and its all good just a word of caution the Jerk Chicken & Ox-Tails can be a little to salty at times while the mac-n-cheese is a solid 5 for cheesiness all the time, Collard Greens, Pasta & Tuna Salad and so much more of their food is a solid 5.
Now the cakes which are sold per slice here are just what Mamma used to make fluffy, rich on buttery frosting and a variety of the in between fruit fillings get yourself a slice of Heaven for later if your already too stuffed.
The dining area which is located in the rear of the restaurant isn't fancy however it is very nice, spacious and kept clean, has television playing for those of you who need to see entertainment while you eat and R&B music playing in the background at a respectful and comfortable listening level for those of us who enjoy music.
If your in town stop by and go grab you some get down with it Soul food that Is reasonably priced and with a comfortably clean dining space that won't put a hole in your purse or wallet.
What Else… the turnover on food is fast and furious customers coming in and going out the doors constantly and with that said its Freshness guaranteed.