Priscilla's Ultimate Soulfood - Hillside

Had some pretty good soulfood at Priscilla's yesterday. The restaurant is setup cafeteria style, which means you grad a tray, pick out your entree and then pick two sides. The entrees change daily as do the sides.

I had Smothered Pork Chops with Macaroni and Cheese and Sting Beans. Everything was bursting with flavor. The pork chops were very tender; I broke them up with a fork. Even the string beans were great (how often do you say that about string beans?), they had chunks of meat and potatoes in them. I wish I had my camera to show the amount of food they give you--the portions are obscene.

Priscilla's Ultimate Soulfood
4330 W. Roosevelt Rd.
Hillside
(Just west of Manheim)
www.priscillasultimatesoulfood.com

I think that the Fried Chicken at Priscilla's is some of the best in town when it's hot. It's crispy with a back bite of cayenne. Good place. Kind of expensive for a cafeteria.

YourPalWill wrote:I think that the Fried Chicken at Priscilla's is some of the best in town when it's hot. It's crispy with a back bite of cayenne. Good place. Kind of expensive for a cafeteria.

Will,

I'd agree, though I'd emphasize timing a little more strongly. I've had very good chicken at Priscilla's, though, about a month ago, the chicken was just ok. This last visit, which was about 2pm, they were not at their best form as the smothered pork chops, which yourbar mentions, were a bit tough and the gravy slightly congealed with the short ribs suffering the same problem.

Priscilla's is capable of turning out quite good soul food, but the fact they serve from a steam table makes the proposition somewhat hit or miss, especially during slightly off hours.

By the way, for those interested, Priscilla's serves Douwe Egberts

Enjoy,
Gary

I'm just glad to hear Prisicilla's is open. Twice in the last few weeks, the VI clan pulled into the parking lot, only to find it closed. They seem to keep some odd hours this time of year.

Vital Information wrote:They seem to keep some odd hours this time of year.

They're closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, perhaps you were there on those days?

From their website:
Wednesday - Sunday 11am - 8pm

Note for the future:

Priscilla's is also closed for vacation the first two weeks of July. (This information is not apparent on their web site).

Headed there now ...

-ramon

This restaurant is right next to my office and so I have eaten there numerous times. This isn't my favorite style of food--heavy meat and lots of fried items, but it is fine once in a while. People I work with go all the time. My favorite is the fried catfish--ususally served on Wednesdays and Fridays, maybe on the weekends, too.

The place is quite popular--Sundays are PACKED! I agree with the comment about sticking to traditional meal times to get the food at its best.

At the holidays, they seem to do a lot of carry out--big trays of food for home entertaining. One of my co-workers got a giant tray of their yams for a holiday dinner. Those yams are great, by the way. I normally save mine to eat as a dessert. They are very sweet.

Seven wrote:The place is quite popular--Sundays are PACKED!

Yowsa! Forgot about that Sunday thing -- the place was stuffed to the gills with folks in their Sunday finest. The restaurant could handle the crowd, but the parking lot was a nightmare. It was a bit too busy for my elderly parents, but the food made up for it. (Crowd thinned out around 4:00).

When we finally got to the head of the line, they were out of fried chicken, so it was brought out to the table, hot and fresh. It was spot on, among the best I've had (in this geographic region). Sides were excellent, we had greens, corn, candied yams, and mac and cheese. Desserts were good, but not overly memorable.

One comment on the sides and desserts: Priscilla's (as do many soul food establishments) uses more "cookie" spices than many are used to and this can put some people off.

Possibly interesting side story: Inexplicably, Ramonita (8 yo) got her bent elbow stuck in the slats of the back rest of the chair like a monkey refusing to drop the banana outside the cage. Trying to unbend the elbow, move it up or down, or prying apart the slats would not free her. Panic drove her cries louder and louder and a large crowd grew around us shouting ideas ("anyone got any vasoline?") and encouragement ("someone please help the poor thing.") I felt lost and helpless. I wanted to call in the Hillside FD and the jaws of life. Finally, after a much shorter time than it seemed, a burly man on Priscilla's staff wedged the slats open using his foot and arm power. He disappeared into the crowd before I could hug him. Ramonita was eating and laughing contently moments later.

I never did thank anyone, being embaressed for the scene caused. I also went for a few minutes thinking Priscilla's was negligent at providing such dangerous chairs. Both the embaressment and blame are nonsense, and I thank you Priscilla's.

-ramon

In the confusion, I got a major fact wrong, and I have just been corrected -- it was my Korean War-Marine, octagenarian father who rescued my precious baby with the combined strength of his arms and legs while his spoiled son floundered in failure and despair. He will always be our hero and he always gets plenty of hugs.

-ramon

I stopped at Priscilla's for the first time on Wednesday night, about 6pm. The menu was a bit confusing, as items which they had not listed on their "wednesday" menu were still available. There were about six groups of patrons in the restaurant, plus a steady light stream of take out orders.

Given the time of day, I tried to pick items that would be steam-table friendly. I ordered short ribs, for my two sides I got mac & cheese and green beans, as well as a corn muffin. Add in a diet soda, and the total came out to $11.86.

The food was good, but not great. The short ribs were smaller (both in meat and bone size) than i was expecting, and the portion was a little on the small side. The green beens were very good, the consistency of the mac&cheese suffered from the steam table but the taste was good. The muffin was good for its style, but I am not a fan of the small hard corn muffin style. But none of the food jumped out at me and said "now, THIS is why you took 290 home tonight instead of 55!"

The soda was a bit of an annoyance, as the plastic tumblers were 8oz, and you had to get refills at the bar instead of going to the machine yourself. For $1.89, the least they could do is give you a 12 or 16 oz. tumbler.

I would go back for lunch if I had an obligation in the area, but I don't think I would go back for dinner. The food just doesn't quite hold up in the steam table well enough for the price.

On Friday I was looking for a new place to try for lunch, close to my work in Burr Ridge, so I went to the GNR rec's for the immediate area, and decided on Pricilla's( I have tried some of the others in the area a few times, and liked them all(Lao Szechuwam, Katy's, & Fabulous Noodles). Pricillas did not dissapoint as expected it was good, and worthy of its GNR status.

I enjoyed the smothered pork chops, 2 huge chops covered in a thick gravy with onoins, and green & red peppers. My sides were mashed potatoes, and gravy, and mac n cheese. Total bill with pepsi $11.

The chops were tender, and flavorfull, the best pork chops I have ever eaten, and the mashed potatoes were good as well as the mac n cheese. I also enjoyed the hot sauce they brought around with a glass of water.

I didnt try the fried chicken, it looked good, but since I now live out in LaSalle County(the home of the best fried chicken in the area), I usually do not bother trying fried chicken in Chicago anymore.

Thanks again LTH, Pricilla's is another cant miss spot in my book, ranking right up there with the rec's of Amanacer Tapatio, & Katy's

After an LTH event, some very quick thoughts on the food from my last two visits:

Smothered chicken: The best thing I've had from there, better to me than the smothered pork chops because I like the texture better. Thursday nights!
Fried chicken: Not a style that I like.
Side dishes: I'd go for two from mac & cheese, green beans, and yams. I tried the mashed potatoes as I thought they would go better with the smothered chicken and because I got dessert.
Dessert: I took my obviously made-there pecan pie home and it was ok, but not really worth the calories or the price. I'd stick with the yams instead.

Ramon wrote:One comment on the sides and desserts: Priscilla's (as do many soul food establishments) uses more "cookie" spices than many are used to and this can put some people off.

What are "cookie" spices?

Cogito wrote:

Ramon wrote:One comment on the sides and desserts: Priscilla's (as do many soul food establishments) uses more "cookie" spices than many are used to and this can put some people off.

What are "cookie" spices?

I see google is not much help here, but I did not coin the term. This very thread came up at the top of google's second page, so in the interest of all:

Cookie spices are spices a "typical" American (dammit) would associate with sweet foods: cinnamon, clove, allspice ,nutmeg, etc as opposed to spices one would usually think of in savory foods. Think Christmas cookies.

Of course, I think most LTHers are used to this and don't think it entirely odd, but I know that many others do.

-ramon

After having a one o'clock lunch at Priscilla's on Saturday, I'm thinking that carry-out is the way to go unless you can arrive soon after the food is loaded into the steam tables.

I took Junior here because he likes mac and cheese. Most of the food was tasty, but none of it was hot.
The fried aquatic tabby was first-rate, even when only warm. Light, crispy, and not greasy, this took my little guy's focus away from the mac and cheese.
The fried chicken was nicely spiced but a bit dried out.
I much enjoyed the greens, which had a generous infusion of mystery meat, although a small portion of the meat, too, was dried out.
The mac and cheese had a thick sauce and cheese at the top clinging together. A nice tangy blend of cheeses, but nothing earthshaking.
The corn muffin was good. A nice touch was that one of the cooks threw a small package of Kraft chocolate chip cookies on the tray for Junior. He beamed his appreciation.
Also appreciated was a busboy who offered to refill our drinks.
I do have to note that if a place has its parking lot in back, it has to do a better job with sanitation around the Dumpster area. A very ripe smell on a 50-degree day is not a good appetite stimulant as one is making one's way toward the front door.

For me, Priscilla's falls in the category of Solid, But Not Worth a Long Drive.

It bothers me that Priscilla's does not have greens every day. That hasn't changed , has it?

It bothers me that Priscilla's does not have greens every day. That hasn't changed , has it?

I went to Priscilla's for the first time 2 days ago, and they did have collard greens on the buffet. But since I have never been before, I cannot tell you if there are days they don't offer it. I do know, however, that I will soon find out, because I will certainly be back. Although the fried chicken was not crispy enough for me (although it had a good flavor), the mac'n'cheese (rich and creamy) and yams (nice ginger punch) were both excellent, and so was the corn bread. I will return for more without a doubt.