Lunch at Priscilla’s Ultimate Soulfood Cafeteria
Lunch at Priscilla’s Ultimate Soulfood Cafeteria
If you’ve ever looked at a menu and thought, “I would like enough food to hibernate through winter,” Priscilla’s might be your place.
Located across from the cemeteries on Roosevelt Road in Hillside, this cafeteria-style soul food spot has built a reputation around generous portions and classic comfort food. The setup is simple: grab a tray, move through the line, and point at things that look like they could shorten your life expectancy in the most enjoyable way possible.
I ordered the beef short ribs with mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese, plus a slice of funfetti cake. My family went in a different direction with fried chicken, collard greens, fried green tomatoes, yams, and cornbread.
The short ribs were exactly what you want from soul food: hearty, rich, and substantial enough that you start making post-lunch nap plans halfway through the meal. The mac and cheese was creamy and satisfying. The mashed potatoes did their job as an excellent gravy delivery system.
The yams were memorable, although maybe not in the way I expected. They had enough cinnamon that my brain briefly wondered whether I was eating a side dish or a Christmas candle.
The portions are no joke. Every plate feels like it was prepared by someone who believes “reasonable serving size” is an insult.
The cafeteria format is interesting because they don’t rush people through the line. Even when busy, they seem more interested in getting the plate right than shoveling food onto trays as fast as possible. That attention to detail is nice.
The downside is that it also means service can move slowly.
And that’s where my review gets complicated.
The food was good.
The portions were excellent.
The restaurant was packed.
My family already said they’d go back.
I probably won’t.
Not because the food wasn’t worth it, but because the slower pace hits one of my personal quirks. If you’re someone who enjoys taking your time and settling into a meal, you’ll probably never notice. If you’re wired like I am and start mentally calculating line velocity, table turnover, and the heat death of the universe while waiting, your experience may vary.
A few quick notes:
Ask for butter with the cornbread. It isn’t automatically provided.
Fountain drinks are Coke products, but they aren’t self-serve.
No reservations.
Expect crowds during peak hours.
Come hungry.
Final Verdict
Would I recommend it?
Yes.
Would I personally rush back?
Probably not.
But that’s more about me than the restaurant.
If you’re visiting the cemeteries nearby, craving classic soul food, or simply want a meal that leaves you full enough to question your life choices, Priscilla’s is absolutely worth trying. The food delivers, the portions are generous, and judging by how busy they stay, plenty of people clearly consider it a regular stop.
“Come hungry. Leave full. Schedule absolutely nothing productive for the next hour.”
It’s at 4330 Roosevelt road hillside il 60162 This is their menu All dinners include the entrée, 2 sides, and a muffin
Entrées
FRIED CHICKEN DINNER
$15.99
1/2 BAKED CHICKEN DINNER
$16.99
SMOTHERED CHICKEN DINNER
$15.99
JERK BAKED ½ CHICKEN DINNER
$16.99
FRIED CATFISH DINNER
$17.99
SALISBURY STEAK DINNER
$14.99
BEEF SHORT RIBS DINNER
$24.99
LIVER & ONIONS DINNER
$14.99
SHRIMP DINNER
$16.99
VEGGIE PLATE
(4 sides & a muffin)
$14.99
Sides
All Sides Small $5.00 | Large $7.50
MACARONI & CHEESE
DRESSING
COLLARD GREENS
(Your choice of turkey or pork)
CANDIED YAMS
RICE & GRAVY
CORN
CABBAGE
RED BEANS
POTATO SALAD
MASHED POTATOES
STRING BEANS
COLE SLAW
SPAGHETTI
This is their website https://www.priscillasultimatesoulfood.com/
