Review: Gilliam Sisters Soul Food worth the wait

Photo courtesy tallahassee.com

Nestled off Tharpe Street just west of High Road stands a small brick building with red and grey trimming along with a parking lot full of hungry customers.

The Gilliam Sisters Soul Food restaurant opened at 1710 West Tharpe St. on Feb. 11. What started as a food truck has turned into something more.

The business owners are Yashica Gilliam and Sheree Gilliam. According to their social media, the sisters have been selling scrumptious soul food since 2018.Their Facebook page has more than 6,500 followers and is full of loyal customers who have been supporting the business before they were storefront owners.

Velvet Wilson said that despite negative reviews she believes this is a good business.

“For them opening up a storefront they are doing amazing,” Wilson said. “Several people have bad talked the business. For a small Black family owned business they are doing amazing.”

When you walk in, it smells like grandma’s kitchen on a Saturday afternoon. The cashiers greet you with a warm smile and courteous mannerism. The line is usually in the parking lot but guests are patiently waiting for their meals. All dishes are cooked to order and prepared with customers in mind.

The menu offers a variety of platters which all come with rice, two extra sides of choice and a corn muffin. The corn muffins are sweet, soft and savory, a statement side that every soul platter needs.

In addition, they offer brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, with an all you can eat option. They also have a variety of sides and a kids menu.

One of their popular drinks is strawberry lemonade. It is personally mixed and prepared at the restaurant.

One customer said this is her new favorite spot. She said she visits every other day and gets their infamous loaded potato. The potatoes are topped with broccoli, cheese sauce, butter and sour cream. You can add chicken, bacon or shrimp for an extra charge.

The portion sizes are  generous for the price you pay. You definitely get the bang for your buck.

I ordered the baked chicken platter with rice, mac and cheese and yams. The food was delectable. Every bite tasted of love. The chicken was tender and well seasoned along with yams. The yams and mac and cheese duo was a banger to my taste buds.

I sat inside to gain the full restaurant experience. The server was polite and checked on me regularly, asking about the taste of the food and hospitality. Overall, the restaurant was full of style and substance along with a hospitable experience. I did not know what to expect going into the restaurant but I walked out with a good feeling and a full stomach.

The Gilliam Sisters Soul Food restaurant holds true to its motto: “Food that touches the soul.”