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Address and Contact Information
Address: 826 Fayetteville St #110, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 680-2219
Website: http://www.nzingaskitchen.com/
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Nzingas Kitchen | Durham NC – Facebook
Where will you be next Sunday?? Nzingas Kitchen 826 Fayetteville st. Suite 110 Durham, NC 27701 (919)680-2219 8am to 2pm (Brunch all day) Soul Food Sunday …
NZINGAS KITCHEN (@nzingas_kitchen) – Instagram
Nzingas Kitchen 826 Fayetteville st. Suite 110 Durham, NC 27701 (919)680-2219 8am to 2pm (Brunch all day) Soul Food Sunday starts at 10am.
About Nzinga | nzingaskitchen
… Durham. Chef Zinga is a Durham Native and has attended Hillside High and North Carolina Central for her undergrad degree in Hospitality & Tourism. She went …
Reviews
Shelita Bowens
I’m so sad I have lived in Durham all these years and never ate here before. The food was PHENOMENAL! Sometimes good food is salty food, NOT HERE! Flavor on top of flavor, spices and seasonings …DELISH! The food is made to order so it is fresh and hot when you receive it. And the plate is FULL; there will be leftovers. Their customer service goes above and beyond. They love their customers and they want you to know it. I will be back!
… moreMr Mad-Life
First time eating here after years of awareness and she didn’t miss! Food was excellent, tea was sweet and well balanced which is essential here in the dirty south. Had my dad with me and I think she done made a paying fan of the future. Great job!
… moreAshelynn Burt-Jones, REALTOR
I visited Nzinga’s Breakfast Cafe today for the second time.
The first visit was mediocre, so I honestly never gave it much thought again. But this morning, my husband and daughter found it on their own and were excited to try it. I didn’t mention my previous experience because I wanted them to form their own opinion.
Unfortunately, this second visit was worse than the first.
We got up on a Sunday morning wanting breakfast. I’m not really a breakfast person, so I let my husband and daughter take the lead. They chose Nzinga’s, and I immediately checked myself, second chances matter.
We ordered:
Fish plate with two sides
Plain grits and potatoes
Cheesy grits and potatoes
Pancake, bacon, and egg plate
Total: $54. No issue there.
We ordered through their seamless pay system and left the house about 20 minutes later (10-minute drive). It was Sunday around 10:30 AM, so we expected a bit of a wait.
When we arrived, 30 minutes after ordering — the food wasn’t ready.
We went inside and I’ll say this clearly:
The restaurant has a VIBE.
Jamaican music playing.
Clean dining room and entry.
Books available to read.
A wall full of local businesses highlighted while you wait.
So much potential. I genuinely loved that part.
Now, customer service? 3/10.
There was no greeting when we walked in. The tone felt like the staff didn’t want to be there. My husband was initially told he might as well not wait because they were backed up (it seemed like they assumed he was a DoorDash driver). Once he clarified it was our personal order, the tone shifted and they said they’d take care of it.
We then waited another 45 minutes.
While waiting, I observed:
Rude or dismissive interactions at the front
Customers being turned away
Confusion around online and third-party orders
Staff mentioning they couldn’t see certain tickets in the POS system
As a consumer, backend issues are not my responsibility. As an entrepreneur and service provider, I understand systems fail; but what matters is what you’re doing to fix them.
Now let’s talk solutions.
Here’s what they could implement immediately:
A clear front-of-house leadership presence during peak hours
Mandatory greeting protocol (“Welcome in, we’ll be right with you”)
Basic customer service training for tone, posture, and communication
A POS audit to ensure all online ordering platforms integrate properly
A ticket-time board so customers know expected wait times
A Sunday brunch workflow plan (separate online vs. in-house order flow)
A designated expo person to manage order accuracy and timing
Energy balance at the front counter, someone personable, warm, and composed
The food was actually good.
They have:
The location
The aesthetic
The concept
The product
What they need is:
Structure. Systems. Service standards.
I truly believe this place wants to do better. I could feel it. There is potential here to become one of the next big brunch spots in Durham, with the right guidance and intentional execution.
As an entrepreneur, I don’t just review businesses, I evaluate them.
I will return and provide an update.
For now, 3/10.
… moreThe first visit was mediocre, so I honestly never gave it much thought again. But this morning, my husband and daughter found it on their own and were excited to try it. I didn’t mention my previous experience because I wanted them to form their own opinion.
Unfortunately, this second visit was worse than the first.
We got up on a Sunday morning wanting breakfast. I’m not really a breakfast person, so I let my husband and daughter take the lead. They chose Nzinga’s, and I immediately checked myself, second chances matter.
We ordered:
Fish plate with two sides
Plain grits and potatoes
Cheesy grits and potatoes
Pancake, bacon, and egg plate
Total: $54. No issue there.
We ordered through their seamless pay system and left the house about 20 minutes later (10-minute drive). It was Sunday around 10:30 AM, so we expected a bit of a wait.
When we arrived, 30 minutes after ordering — the food wasn’t ready.
We went inside and I’ll say this clearly:
The restaurant has a VIBE.
Jamaican music playing.
Clean dining room and entry.
Books available to read.
A wall full of local businesses highlighted while you wait.
So much potential. I genuinely loved that part.
Now, customer service? 3/10.
There was no greeting when we walked in. The tone felt like the staff didn’t want to be there. My husband was initially told he might as well not wait because they were backed up (it seemed like they assumed he was a DoorDash driver). Once he clarified it was our personal order, the tone shifted and they said they’d take care of it.
We then waited another 45 minutes.
While waiting, I observed:
Rude or dismissive interactions at the front
Customers being turned away
Confusion around online and third-party orders
Staff mentioning they couldn’t see certain tickets in the POS system
As a consumer, backend issues are not my responsibility. As an entrepreneur and service provider, I understand systems fail; but what matters is what you’re doing to fix them.
Now let’s talk solutions.
Here’s what they could implement immediately:
A clear front-of-house leadership presence during peak hours
Mandatory greeting protocol (“Welcome in, we’ll be right with you”)
Basic customer service training for tone, posture, and communication
A POS audit to ensure all online ordering platforms integrate properly
A ticket-time board so customers know expected wait times
A Sunday brunch workflow plan (separate online vs. in-house order flow)
A designated expo person to manage order accuracy and timing
Energy balance at the front counter, someone personable, warm, and composed
The food was actually good.
They have:
The location
The aesthetic
The concept
The product
What they need is:
Structure. Systems. Service standards.
I truly believe this place wants to do better. I could feel it. There is potential here to become one of the next big brunch spots in Durham, with the right guidance and intentional execution.
As an entrepreneur, I don’t just review businesses, I evaluate them.
I will return and provide an update.
For now, 3/10.
Kymberli C.
I have been wanting to try this spot since moving to the area. I finally had the chance today and was pleased. I was greeted immediately upon entry by a nice man, who even asked if it was my first time and provided instructions on how to order. He was very welcoming! I then placed my order with another man who was also nice. He came to check on me and even offered a sample of their version of cabbage, made with spices from his home country of Zimbabwe. I appreciated that especially since the cabbage was vegan and tasty! I decided to get the shrimp and grits, a side of eggs with cheddar and a strawberry lemonade. The eggs were scrambled well, hot and exactly how I like them. The shrimp and grits were hot, seasoned well, and the perfect consistency. The lemonade was delicious also. If I had to leave one critique I would omit the additional season salt sprinkled atop the shrimp. It made the dish a bit more salty than I like but without it, chef’s kiss! The restaurant itself was clean, had afobeats playing and an overall great atmosphere. I would definitely be back to try their other selections because their soul food looks delicious also!
… moreAkemahs E
My 1st experience & it was awesome! There were a lot of tasty choices on the menu. The customer service was great. It was a very clean & warm welcoming feeling atmosphere. They even have books to read! I ordered the waffle and fish…Delicious! My brother & nephew enjoyed their plates as well.
… moreBrianna Davis
I was in town for this past weekend. Everything was so good! The catfish, yams, and cheesy grits were amazing. The staff was also very nice and welcoming. Definitely worth stopping by!
… moreKory Barrow
I’m from out of town, the staff was super friendly and made me feel at home. The food was amazing definitely cooked with love. My wife loved the shrimp and grits and I enjoyed the fish but my favorite side dish was the candied yams. I’m sure the locals rave about this place but for everyone who visits from out of town definitely stop here for great food and amazing atmosphere. I was too excited to eat to take any pictures.
… moreRyan Walsh
The chicken tenders were juicy and perfectly crispy! The fish sandwich had more filets than I could eat. It was flavorful and flaky. We tried to finish it all, but had to take it home. The fries are just like ones you get at the ball park! The food was amazing! We can’t wait to try the French toast on our next visit. It’s a hidden gem! Definitely gonna recommend to all our friends. Sorry for taking pictures halfway through. It looked so good we couldn’t help ourselves.
… morePatrick Slaughter
This establishment serves up a satisfying fare at an attractive price point. I highly recommend the chicken and fish plate, where the chicken tenders stand out with their irresistible crunch and juicy interior. The whiting fish, while flavorful, could benefit from a crispier exterior. The shrimp and yams are also a solid choice.
The house-made lemonade tends towards the sweeter side, so consider diluting it with water. While the Oreo banana pudding is enjoyable, the lack of real bananas detracts from the experience.
In conclusion, this spot delivers delicious, budget-friendly meals that satisfy you.
… moreThe house-made lemonade tends towards the sweeter side, so consider diluting it with water. While the Oreo banana pudding is enjoyable, the lack of real bananas detracts from the experience.
In conclusion, this spot delivers delicious, budget-friendly meals that satisfy you.
CJ Jones
It was OK. No way to really order at the counter (it’s discouraged) so there’s not a way to ask about options or suggestions, and nowhere to sit down. My clothes smelled like the cafe after just a few minutes of being there. There was no option for unsweet tea to tone down the sweet tea or do 1/2 and 1/2.
They had no idea what Offline was, it took over 15 minutes to use that and quite the hassle. For the amount of food I got, the shrimp and grits was overpriced ($17?) there were maybe like 4-5 shrimp. I’ve had phenomenal shrimp and grits for like $18 in Raleigh that had so many shrimp I couldn’t finish it. I went out of my way to try this place, and overall I can’t recommend it. They also got my order wrong, I had ordered the fried fish with mac and cheese and my son ended up getting pancakes. Because we couldn’t eat there, we didn’t realize the mistake till we were home.
… moreThey had no idea what Offline was, it took over 15 minutes to use that and quite the hassle. For the amount of food I got, the shrimp and grits was overpriced ($17?) there were maybe like 4-5 shrimp. I’ve had phenomenal shrimp and grits for like $18 in Raleigh that had so many shrimp I couldn’t finish it. I went out of my way to try this place, and overall I can’t recommend it. They also got my order wrong, I had ordered the fried fish with mac and cheese and my son ended up getting pancakes. Because we couldn’t eat there, we didn’t realize the mistake till we were home.