"The soul food will stick with you," said the waitress after we lunched at Q F & H, a soul food restaurant on Martin Luther King Drive. She was right. The portions at most soul food restaurants, Q F & H included, are so large that you walk away stuffed. In fact, one plate usually isn't big enough for your meal, which includes surprising side dishes like sweet corn bread muffins and mounds of buttery vegetables.

"Soul Food" is a term that was invented by slaves in the American south. Because only meager ingredients like the least desirable cuts of meat and weed-like vegetables were available to the slaves and sharecroppers, they were challenged to create tasty and nutritious meals for their families. But somehow, they did it, and a hearty and delicious cuisine evolved.

It's amazing that one of the darkest and most despicable periods in American history inspired some of the finest comfort foods of all time. Lucky for us, Milwaukee has many outstanding soul food kitchens and a few of the very best in the Midwest.

Soul food restaurants are famous for their home cooking, great service and lively atmospheres, and are a fun, finger-licking-good way to get a taste of African-American culture.

The Bungalow
3466 N. 14th St., (414) 265-0155
This secret dining place of the Green Bay Packers is inside a classic brick bungalow and serves great soul food, from catfish to collard greens. Even if you don't spot a Packer, you can still enjoy the many autographed photos on the walls.

Grant's Soul Food
411 W. North Ave. , (414) 263-2929
Another classic Milwaukee soul food restaurant, featuring an interesting array of menu items including spaghetti, mac and cheese, fried corn, hamhocks and homemade meatloaf.

Ja'Stacy's Restaurant
2370 N. Martin Luther King Dr., (414) 264-9054
This restaurant is OMC reader recommended! Stop in for a huge selection of soul food, including smothered steak, smothered chicken, fish, baked chicken wings, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, red beans and rice, dressing, greens, candied yams and more!

Mr. Perkins Family Restaurant
2001 W. Atkinson Ave., (414) 447-6660
Specializing in catfish, collard greens, black-eyed peas and candy yams, the Perkins Family has home-cooked delicious soul food in a comfortable setting for over 40 years.

Potawatomi Bingo Casino Restaurant
1721 W. Canal St., (414) 645-6888
www.paysbig.com/dining/
This all-you-can-eat soul food buffet happens every Sunday evening, and for $15.99 you can fill up on all your soul food faves.

Q F & H Diner
3340 N. Martin Luther King Dr., (414) 372-2710
Since 1961, thousands of people, including Milwaukee's African-American political and business leaders, have dined on the meatloaf, cabbage and fried chicken in this down-home diner. The corn bread dressing is to die for, and the service is top notch.

Speed Queen Bar-B-Q
12th and Walnut St., (414) 265-2900
The home of Milwaukee's most famous barbecue sandwiches offers a quick and delicious eating experience. Speed Queen BBQ sauce is also available in grocery stores. Put Speed Queen on your list of places to take out-of-towners, right after Safe House and Koz's Mini Bowl.