We are just rolling through the stops, as our next spot on the list was one I was so excited to try – Lady J’s Diner in downtown Charles Town. As a person who spent nearly 20 years living and working in Charles Town, this spot was extra special to visit. From the moment we walked in and got to chatting with the owner, Rakita, I knew I had found a new favorite diner. This place did not disappoint.
Price 💲💲out of 5
When you come to Lady’ J’s, you are going to get the right type of soul food for the right kind of price. Everything here is affordable, and because the food is so flavorful and the portions are huge, you are getting a ton of value for your purchase. Nothing here breaks the bank, even though it all tastes like it should. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, even catering – whatever the occasion, Lady J’s is ready to serve you delectable food that won’t break your budget.
Ambience 🧑🍳 🧑🍳 🧑🍳 🧑🍳 🧑🍳 out of 5
This is an incredible diner spot, with plenty of seating. Diners are so cool because you can watch the chef at work, as they cook the food right in front of you. Rakita was so friendly and such a joy to talk to. She had gospel music playing in the background. It was such a soulful and relaxing spot to have a meal. I was sad when we had to leave because I was having such a wonderful time just relaxing and digesting all the incredible food that we ate.
Food 🥩🥩🥩🥩🥩 out of 5
Let’s dig into the reviews of the food. We tried Lady J’s special Restaurant Week dish, as well as a couple other items on the menu. First, the Restaurant Week feature – a cajun chicken and broccoli pasta. This dish was incredible – it actually tasted cajun. Rakita told us that she wanted to perfect that Cajun flavor that you find in the Caribbean. There was actual spice to this dish, and as a spicy food connoisseur, I was so happy to have that tingle in my mouth as I ate every last bite. The noodles were cooked perfectly, the chicken was so tender, and the broccoli was perfectly soft. But the star of the show was the cajun sauce that hit on all the right, powerful flavors of the island.
We also ordered the whole chicken wing dish that came with two sides. The wings were meaty and tender. I probably could have eaten a dozen (at least on a day where I wasn’t touring the county!) I love chicken wings, and these did not disappoint. Splash a little of her hot sauce on them and you have yourself the ultimate comfort food. For the sides, we got the mac and cheese and collard greens. I was pretty much at capacity at this point, so I did not try any of the mac and cheese, but it was a traditional creamy mac and cheese and my foodies compatriots said it was incredible. What I’m about to say next should not be taken lightly, because I heavily seek out collards at every place I go that serves them – these were the best collard greens I have ever had in my life. A little sweet, a little savory, even a little spicy. They were cooked perfectly and I do not think I’ve ever been happier eating collards.
Experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
I do not hand out five stars very often, but Lady J’s gets a five star review from me. Everything about this place is amazing, from the ambience to the food, but especially from the conversations with Rakita. She is a true chef – everything is cooked with love and recipes were passed down from her family. I cannot recommend this place enough. Please, do yourself a favor and stop by Lady J’s Diner during Restaurant Week!