By Thomas Lucy

With light snow falling on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 20, Bird Murray (‘20), Charlie Schutt (‘20), and Liam Bellamy (20’), ventured to Mama J’s Kitchen on 1st Street in Jackson Ward. This historic African-American neighborhood is a perfect location for the rich and refreshing taste of the South. 

The menu consists of soups, salads, sandwiches, appetizers, and their famous entrées, which include fried or baked chicken, fried catfish, trout, pork chops, spare ribs, crab cakes, and beef brisket. This southern and soul food restaurant might not be as well known in the Collegiate community as Chipotle, but it is the 11th-highest rated restaurant in Richmond, according to Google Reviews. Mama J’s has been recognized beyond the local food scene, as it made the Thrillist “50 Essential Restaurants Every American Should Visit” list, which described the cuisine as, “will either you remind you of your grandma’s Sunday cooking, or make you wish you had a grandma who cooked on Sundays.”

I have been to this restaurant twice, and each time it has been quite full, with a diverse range of customers, all indulging fried spreads. As you walk into the restaurant, the glass-covered tables are accompanied by a full bar on the left side of the restaurant. The kitchen is visible to the customers, where you could see the chefs in action. 

Upon entering the restaurant, we were immediately seated and waited on by great service. We were pleasantly surprised by the lack of a wait, due to the fact that Mama J’s does not take reservations. 

To start the meal, we ordered chicken tenders as an appetizer. From the first bite, I was not extremely impressed by the breading of the tender, but once I tasted the juiciness and saltiness of the chicken that lay within, I had to take another bite. The chicken was nothing close to being dry and had great flavor, and the breading was just the beginning of the flavor, differing from your traditional tender. My assumptions about the classic chicken tender, that the fried outside is often the best part, were changed forever by this appetizer. 

The waitress was constantly checking in on us, refilling our drinks, and asking us how we were doing. Once our meals arrived, Murray’s three-piece white fried chicken was accompanied by fries and a house roll. Murray says, “My chicken was cooked to perfection, with a godly breading, unparalleled tenderness along with incredible fries, and good ranch.”

As we were ordering food, Schutt was unaware of what Mama J’s was known for and how great their fried soul food was, so he ordered a Caesar salad with a side of mac and cheese. He flustered that he had ordered a salad after tasting the chicken tender appetizer, but he enjoyed his Caesar salad and got to have a taste of the other meals. His overall experience of the restaurant was still fulfilling: “Mama J’s was the single greatest dining experience I have had in my life. From the hospitality of the wait staff to the inspirational quotes in the bathrooms, I was incredibly pleased. I was exuberant with my culinary endeavors and will most definitely be returning shortly!”

Bellamy ordered the chicken sandwich, which was filled with Mama J’s signature juicy white chicken covered in lettuce, onions, tomato, with fries and mac and cheese on the side. Bellamy said, “Amongst all of the restaurants that serve fried chicken within the Richmond area, Mama J’s makes a strong case for having the best. It was just fire.” 

My meal consisted of the two-piece fried catfish, with a corn muffin and mac and cheese. The catfish was full-flavored, and the fried outside was perfectly done. I rarely eat catfish, but it is one of their best dishes, so I had to try it. I thought the catfish was a better dish than their renowned fried chicken, which is quite a feat. 

Mama J’s pleased everyone that went with me this past Thursday. Vlastik Svab, Upper School English teacher and Chief Match adviser, is also a fan, and he says, “I ate once at Mama J’s, and I loved it. I had the fried catfish, potato salad, and collard greens. And I took a piece of chocolate cake home. It was delicious, and I liked venturing into Jackson Ward, a neighborhood I’m less familiar with. I’m a big fan of Southern cooking, and Mama J’s is some of the best I’ve had in Richmond.” 

Mama J’s is a restaurant that I look forward to returning to and a place I highly recommend for a savory taste of southern cooking and cuisine. 

Editor’s Note: Due to COVID-19, Mama J’s is currently open for take out or delivery (through Doordash and Postmates).

All photos by Thomas Lucy, except featured image credit: Mama J’s Facebook.