Soul food restaurant, coffee shop coming soon to the Village at Sandhill | Business
A new soul food restaurant that also doubles as a café will soon be opening in the Village at Sandhill.
Esther’s Soul Food + Kitchen will be holding its provisional opening on August 12 from noon to 5 p.m. and a big opening celebration will take place during the week of August 16 to 21.
Restaurant co-owner and Hell’s Kitchen season 19 contestant Richard Conklin embarked on the adventure of opening Esther’s Soul Food + Kitchen during the pandemic.
“This past year has forced me to step out of my comfort zone to dream and be bigger,” Conklin said. “I am delighted to bring my grandmother’s soul food to a bigger and better space that merges two of my passions, coffee and soul food. I am also delighted to be partnering with Philadelphia chef Kenny McDuffie to merge the cooking styles and ideas of our grandmothers and bring something new to the city.
The restaurant is named after Conklin’s late grandmother. Conklin and McDuffie both take inspiration from their grandmothers’ cuisine in the restaurant’s dishes.
Menu items will include baked and fried turkey wings, cornbread dressing, red velvet cake, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, and other classic soul foods.
Cream & Sugar Coffeehouse and Bagels will be part of the restaurant, offering locally roasted Brazilian and African coffee, sandwiches, pastries, deli sandwiches and bagels. Espresso drinks and homemade fruit puree lemonade will also be part of the menu.
Additional restaurant features will include shows, weekend brunch, and cooking classes with Conklin starting in October.
Esther’s Soul Food + Kitchen will be open Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Additional details about the restaurant can be found online or on Facebook.