V’s Kitchen brings hearty soul food with mixed consistency

What the ratings say

V’s Kitchen carries a strong 4.5-star Google rating from more than 1,300 reviews, a substantial signal for an inexpensive Durham soul food restaurant. The public feedback provided here paints a more complicated picture than that headline score alone. Several families describe welcoming service, timely orders and food that recalls a home-cooked Southern meal. Others report major disappointments with seasoning, texture and overall consistency.

That split matters. The positive reviews are enthusiastic and specific, but the negative accounts are equally direct. V’s appears best approached as a casual, budget-conscious option with clear strengths rather than a guaranteed success on every visit.

Fried plates and Southern sides lead the praise

Fried chicken is one of the most frequently mentioned orders. One family singled out fried chicken with mac and cheese, while another praised four chicken wings alongside fish and shrimp. That same diner described the fried food as well seasoned and cooked properly. Fish also appears more than once, including a fish plate served with mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy.

The side dishes generate nearly as much attention as the proteins. Mac and cheese recurs throughout the feedback, earning strong praise from some diners. The cabbage and collard greens mix is another repeated favorite, as are sweet potatoes or sweet potato fluff. Pinto beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, rice and cornbread also appear in individual meals.

Service is a steadier positive theme. Multiple reviews mention a warm greeting at the door, friendly staff and food arriving within a reasonable time. The setting is described as inviting, and the family-style appeal comes through in reports of groups ordering several different plates and sharing an overall positive experience.

The kitchen can be inconsistent

Not every plate lands well. One returning customer described oxtails as overcooked, tough and stringy, with accompanying mac and cheese and greens also falling short. Another lunch review criticized the chicken, mac and cheese and pinto beans for lacking seasoning, while the fish plate and mashed potatoes did not rescue the meal.

Those complaints directly conflict with reviews praising the chicken, oxtails and mac and cheese. That suggests execution may vary by visit rather than pointing to one universally weak dish. Cornbread received a smaller caution in an otherwise positive takeout report, where the rest of the order was described as hot and fresh.

Long-distance takeout carries an added risk. One diner did not discover the oxtail problem until returning to Knightdale. Customers transporting a large order may benefit from checking the containers before leaving, especially when ordering texture-sensitive dishes such as oxtails or fried food.

Bottom line

V’s Kitchen has the rating volume, affordability and repeat praise to merit consideration for a casual soul food meal in Durham. Fried chicken, fish, mac and cheese, greens and sweet potatoes form the strongest pattern across favorable reviews. Warm hospitality is another reason families may find it appealing.

Still, the sharply negative experiences cannot be dismissed. Seasoning and doneness appear inconsistent, with oxtails drawing both praise and serious criticism. V’s is most convincing as an inexpensive, low-formality choice for diners comfortable with some variability, particularly those ordering the frequently praised fried plates and Southern sides.