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Kelsey's Atlantic city

4.6
·491k reviews·,

Kelsey's is a classy soul-food restaurant in Atlantic City, known for elevated comfort dishes, live music, and a vibrant weekend brunch buffet.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Classic cocktails

Kelsey's Atlantic city

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Kelsey's is a classy soul-food restaurant in Atlantic City, known for elevated comfort dishes, live music, and a vibrant weekend brunch buffet.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Indulge in delicious soul food, experience live music, and enjoy strong, flavorful drinks in a vibrant atmosphere!"

TIP

Book Ahead for Tables

Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, to avoid long waits for a table.

Embrace the Weekend Vibe

Weekends offer a popular brunch buffet and a lively atmosphere with a DJ and celebratory feel.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Open·Closes 10PM

Cuisine

Soul Food

Price

$$$

Phone

(609) 344-2200

Address

1545 Pacific Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, USA

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Weekend Soul Food Brunch Buffet

Weekend Soul Food Brunch Buffet

Vibrant weekend brunch with a DJ, mimosas, and a wide array of soul food favorites. Worth the wait!

Atlantic City Bars & Restaurants For When You're Not Trying To Party Party - Atlantic CityGoogle Review
Live Music & Energetic Atmosphere

Live Music & Energetic Atmosphere

Experience live R&B and soul music while enjoying your meal, creating a lively and entertaining dining experience.

Why Atlantic City’s Food Scene Might Be Having a Renaissance Right NowBest Restaurants in Atlantic CityGoogle Review
Signature Soul Food Dishes

Signature Soul Food Dishes

Indulge in elevated comfort food like BBQ ribs, shrimp & grits, fried catfish, and delectable candied yams.

Best Restaurants in Atlantic CityGoogle Review+1
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Book Ahead for Tables

Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, to avoid long waits for a table.

Embrace the Weekend Vibe

Weekends offer a popular brunch buffet and a lively atmosphere with a DJ and celebratory feel.

Prepare for Lively Music

Expect potentially loud music during peak hours, contributing to the energetic atmosphere.

Scan to See the Menu

The menu is presented via a QR code, so be ready to use your phone to view the offerings.

Tips

from all over the internet

Book Ahead for Tables

Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, to avoid long waits for a table.

Embrace the Weekend Vibe

Weekends offer a popular brunch buffet and a lively atmosphere with a DJ and celebratory feel.

Prepare for Lively Music

Expect potentially loud music during peak hours, contributing to the energetic atmosphere.

Scan to See the Menu

The menu is presented via a QR code, so be ready to use your phone to view the offerings.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Kelsey's Atlantic City offers a vibrant soul food experience with live music and a popular weekend brunch buffet that many find worth the wait. Diners frequently praise the delicious shrimp & grits, flavorful yams, and attentive service. However, some reviews point to inconsistent food quality, particularly with mac and cheese, and issues with staff rudeness and perceived poor management.

"My Husband and I had a FANTASTIC TIME here. It was our first time and upon entering the vibes were IMMACULATE. Our waiter’s name was Scott and he was SO AWESOME!! Super personable, super professional, and super kind. My Hubby and I came on a Wednesday to celebrate our anniversary and we were not disappointed. This place is everything and the food was DELICIOUS! I can’t wait to come back. We also had our picture taken, edited and framed in a cute little 5x7 frame and we were super happy with it. It was just a wonderful experience. Support this business."

Anisa Boyd

"I came here craving some soul food and had passed by the other day and wanted to come back.
I got a seat pretty quick at the bar. The menu is a scan code for your phone that was pretty cool.
I got a sweet tea and the fish and shrimp platter with Mac and cheese and black eyes w rice. The black eyes were great with just enough salt and shreds of pork in it. The shrimp were great, nice seasoning and the white fish was good. They did a good job on removing almost all the bones.
Now anyone that has read my post when it comes to Mac and cheese, they know I am a critic. This Mac and cheese was a disappointment. It had no cheese sauce and was more like scrambled eggs, either they curdled it or to much flour but bartender said they dont use a rue. Needless to say it was very dry. I added a pic of it.
Bartender was super nice and the music was great."

fewx jacob

"Kelsey's Atlantic City was absolutely amazing! All around great experience, phenomenal service and outstanding food! The service was quick and our server, Dom, was amazing! Menu is not overwhelming with a tight focus on the perfect Soul Food items. I started with their famous Corn Bread, some BBQ Wings and some Catfish bites and my entire was the Blackened Salmon with Black Eyed Peas on Rice and Broccoli. 100% satisfied... 100% true Soul Food Experience! I highly recommend it!"

Steve Pelehos

What People Like

Weekend brunch buffet
Live music and atmosphere
Shrimp & grits and candied yams

What People Dislike

Inconsistent food quality (mac & cheese, ribs)
Staff rudeness and service issues
Overpriced for the quality

Frequently Asked Questions

Many diners rave about the shrimp & grits, BBQ ribs, fried catfish, and candied yams. The cornbread is also a popular favorite.

Best Restaurants in Atlantic CityGoogle Review+1

Yes, Kelsey's features live soul and R&B music, particularly on weekends, adding to the energetic atmosphere.

Why Atlantic City’s Food Scene Might Be Having a Renaissance Right NowBest Restaurants in Atlantic CityGoogle Review

Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend dining, as the restaurant can get very busy and tables are often reserved for walk-ins.

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The atmosphere is lively and energetic, especially during weekend brunches and when live music is playing. It's a great place for celebrations.

Atlantic City Bars & Restaurants For When You're Not Trying To Party Party - Atlantic CityGoogle Review

Kelsey's offers strong and flavorful drinks, including popular choices like mimosas and various cocktails.

Atlantic City Bars & Restaurants For When You're Not Trying To Party Party - Atlantic CityGoogle Review

Yes, their weekend brunch buffet is highly recommended and offers a wide variety of soul food favorites.

Atlantic City Bars & Restaurants For When You're Not Trying To Party Party - Atlantic CityGoogle Review

Reviews on the mac and cheese are mixed. Some find it dry or disappointing, while others include it as a standard side option.

Google Review+1

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Whether your evening ended with late-night discussions of how the TikTok algorithm knows you better than your significant other or a sensible 11pm nightcap and face mask, you’ll want to make your way to Kelsey’s for the soul food brunch buffet in the morning. Tap into the party spirit once more and vibe to ‘90s R&B or whatever the DJ is spinning with a mimosa in hand. While some people will be dancing at their tables or in the aisles, you’ll see others feasting on shrimp and grits with the gusto of a kid let loose in a candy shop—we support both journeys.

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If there is a current culinary torch being held aloft as a nod back to what the Northside had, it's thanks to Kelsey and Kimberly Jackson. The Jacksons own and operate three restaurants in the area, two in AC proper: Kelsey & Kim's Southern Cafe, and the more upscale Kelsey's, which features live music on the weekends. Walking into Kelsey’s, you could see a mural along the backstage announcing it as “Atlantic City’s Premier Supper Club.” There’s live soul and jazz almost nightly.

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Chances are you’ll have to wait for a table at Kelsey’s — the popular soul food restaurant reserves most tables for walk-ins. But it’s worth it for some of the region’s best fried chicken, catfish, candied yams, and other house specialties from husband-and-wife team Kelsey and Kimberly Jackson. And with live music and a celebratory vibe, the popular brunch is the place to be on weekends.

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It's soul food that literally comes with a side of soul: Kelsey's hosts R&B and jazz acts to go along with its chicken and red velvet waffles. This local favorite fries up whiting and catfish along with the chicken, slow-smokes its ribs St. Louis-style and properly smothers a pork chop. Black-eyed peas and collard greens are among the sides, along with mac and cheese and candied yams.

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Craving comfort food with a soul that fuels both meetings and good times?. Look no further than Kelsey's Atlantic City on Pacific Avenue, with husband and wife duo Kelsey and Kim Jackson at the helm. This Black-owned gem whips up elevated versions of familiar favorites, from melt-in-your-mouth BBQ ribs to fresh seafood and crave-worthy sides like mac and cheese and collard greens.

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It’s actually a soul food restaurant which doesn’t seem like it should have anything to do with seafood at first glance. However, Kelsey’s has a fairly eclectic menu and one of the things it does do is serve up soul and Southern versions of a lot of seafood-heavy dishes. For instance, you want a seafood starter?

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Kelsey’s, Atlantic City: As ground zero for soul food in Atlantic City, to say Kelsey’s knows their way around a chicken wing would be a serious understatement. Their entry is sure to cause lines at their table at Wing Wars when they bust out their honey garlic wings paired with blue cheese and sweet soy sauce.

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I must say, Kelsey's Atlantic city surpassed all expectations when it comes to seafood buffets!. From the freshness of the seafood to the mouthwatering variety of dishes, this place truly knows how to wow the taste buds. The cruise ship-inspired decor added a playful touch to the dining experience.

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If you’re looking for a fun dining experience, check out Kelsey’s. This lively restaurant offers a menu of American classics with a twist, along with a full bar featuring creative cocktails. Live music and a vibrant atmosphere make it a great place to unwind after a day of exploring the boardwalk.

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One of the top restaurants in the city, the renowned Kelsey’s is located in the heart of Atlantic City. This black-owned restaurant has been featured on the Food Network’s T.V show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives." Owners Kelsey and Kimberly Jackson turned their fantasy into reality

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This Atlantic City buffet is not located on the casino floor, but it’s still pretty close to the Boardwalk, so we’re putting it on the list. Kelsey’s is a classic diner-style restaurant that has a buffet-style brunch on the weekends from 10 AM to 3 PM.

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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (475 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)- Type of cuisine: Bar, American- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 1545 Pacific Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401-7009- Read more on Tripadvisor

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1545 Pacific Ave, Atlantic City, NJ 08401Phone: (609) 344-2200 Visit Website. A post shared by Kelsey’s Atlantic City (@kelseysac). With thousands of positive reviews, it’s no surprise Kelsey’s is one of the top restaurants in this town.

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Kelsey's is an affordable soul food restaurant and bar located in the heart of Atlantic City, which offers exceptionally good dishes like fried chicken and cornbread that never disappoint.

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Kelsey's, located at 1545 Pacific Ave., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the soul food and New American spot, which offers seafood and more, four stars out of 750 reviews.

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Treat yourself to dinner in a nice ambiance when you visit Kelsey’s. It’s a soul food restaurant that serenades its guests with live music and decorative style.

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