Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Brooks.
Robert , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The Story of Dakari’s Soul Food
Dakari’s Soul Food was born out of love, faith, family, and unimaginable loss.
Before there was a restaurant, there was simply a dream. My wife and I always loved being in the kitchen together. Cooking was our love language. Long before we ever opened a restaurant, we spent countless nights creating recipes, feeding family and friends, laughing around the table, and bringing people together through food. Every dish carried comfort, warmth, and soul. People would constantly tell us, “You need to open a restaurant.”
At the time, we were originally planning to name the restaurant “Old Taste and See,” inspired by the biblical scripture:
“Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
We wanted a place that felt welcoming, meaningful, family-centered, and grounded in faith.
In 2019, while searching for the perfect location, we welcomed our beautiful son, Dakari, into the world. When he was just one week old, we walked through what would become our first restaurant location. We were full of hope, dreams, and excitement about the future we were building for our family.
But tragedy struck.
Exactly one month later, on September 23, 2019, our son Dakari passed away unexpectedly. The pain was unimaginable. In the middle of grieving and preparing for his repass, we received a phone call from the owner of the building telling us we had been approved for the restaurant location.
In that moment, everything changed.
We knew the restaurant could no longer be called Oh Taste and See. This business had become something far greater than a restaurant. It became a legacy. A memorial. A purpose. A way for our son’s name and spirit to continue touching people all over the world.
That day, Dakari’s Soul Food was born.
We officially began building the business in October 2019, renovating the location with our own hands, determination, and faith. We opened our doors going into 2020 — right as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. Like many small businesses, we faced uncertainty, fear, and challenges that could have easily shut us down. But by the grace of God, support from our community, and relentless hard work, we survived.
Over time, we expanded into a second location in Edgewood, which is now our current home.
Dakari’s Soul Food is more than a restaurant to us. It is a story of resilience. It is proof that purpose can come from pain. Every meal we serve is rooted in family, comfort, culture, and love. Every customer who walks through our doors becomes part of our extended family.
Our vision is much bigger than one restaurant.
We envision Dakari’s Soul Food becoming a household name across the world — bringing people together through soul food, culture, and hospitality. We want people everywhere to experience not only traditional soul food, but the beauty of foods and flavors from many nationalities and backgrounds. Food has always been a universal language of love, and our goal is to create spaces where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and at home.
Dakari’s name lives on through every plate served, every family gathered around a table, every prayer spoken over a meal, and every dream we continue to build.
This is not just our business.
This is Dakari’s legacy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road at all.
The journey of Dakari’s Soul Food was built through grief, sacrifice, faith, and perseverance. Losing our son Dakari while simultaneously trying to build a business was one of the hardest experiences imaginable. Most people grieve privately and slowly. We had to grieve while making business decisions, renovating buildings, managing finances, raising our family, and trying to stay emotionally strong enough to keep moving forward.
There were days we questioned everything.
There were days when the pain of losing our son felt heavier than the dream itself. But at the same time, building Dakari’s Soul Food gave us purpose through the pain. It gave us a reason to keep going. Every wall painted, every recipe perfected, every customer served felt like we were honoring Dakari’s life and keeping his memory alive.
Building a business while grieving changes you. It teaches you endurance. It teaches you how to keep showing up even when your heart is broken. It teaches you faith in a way that words cannot fully explain.
On top of personal loss, we also faced the realities many Black-owned businesses face in America.
Access to capital has been one of the biggest struggles along our journey. Many minority-owned businesses start with less generational wealth, fewer financial connections, and limited access to traditional funding opportunities. We did not have major investors or unlimited resources behind us. Much of what we built came from personal sacrifice, reinvesting every dollar back into the business, working long hours, and figuring things out along the way.
There were moments where funding limitations slowed expansion, delayed opportunities, and forced us to operate leaner than we wanted to. We had to be creative, resilient, and resourceful constantly. Sometimes people see the finished plate, the branding, or the vision, but they do not see the sleepless nights, the financial pressure, the emotional exhaustion, or the uncertainty entrepreneurs carry behind the scenes.
Then COVID-19 hit shortly after opening.
Like many restaurants, we were faced with survival mode almost immediately. The industry shifted overnight. Costs increased. Staffing became difficult. Consumer behavior changed. But we adapted. We leaned on family, community support, faith, and our commitment to quality food and hospitality.
Despite every obstacle, we kept going because Dakari’s is bigger than a restaurant to us.
It represents legacy.
It represents healing.
It represents Black entrepreneurship.
It represents family.
It represents faith.
And it represents what can happen when people choose not to give up, even during the hardest seasons of life.
The road has been difficult, but it has also been meaningful. Every challenge has strengthened our vision and deepened our commitment to building something that lasts for generations.
As you know, we’re big fans of Dakari Soul Food . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Dakari’s Soul Food is more than a restaurant — it is a legacy brand built on faith, family, resilience, culture, and community.
We are a Black-owned, family-operated soul food restaurant based in Edgewood that was created in honor of our late son, Dakari. What started as a passion for cooking together as husband and wife evolved into a mission-driven business centered around bringing people comfort, love, and healing through food.
At Dakari’s, food is personal. Every recipe is handcrafted, rooted in tradition, and elevated with creativity, flavor, and intention. We specialize in authentic soul food while also incorporating diverse culinary influences and modern flavors that make our dishes memorable and unique. We are known for bold flavors, generous portions, hospitality, and creating meals that feel like home.
Some of our signature offerings and specialties include:
* Stuffed salmon with crab and shrimp
* Lamb chops
* Curry crab legs
* Oxtails
* Homemade sides crafted from scratch
* Specialty drinks and handcrafted lattes
* Signature sauces and seasonings, including our well-known Moma Jazzy sauce
One thing that truly sets us apart is our commitment to freshness and quality. We pride ourselves on preparing food with care and intention, avoiding shortcuts whenever possible. Our food reflects the same meals we would proudly serve to our own family.
But beyond the food itself, what makes Dakari’s different is the heart behind the brand.
Our business was born from tragedy, perseverance, and purpose. We built this restaurant while grieving the loss of our son, and that journey shaped our company culture and mission. Dakari’s became a symbol of survival, healing, and hope. Customers often tell us they can feel the love when they walk through our doors, and that is intentional. We want every guest to feel welcomed, valued, and cared for.
Community is also central to who we are.
We actively work to serve and uplift our local community through outreach initiatives, including participation in Maryland’s Restaurant Meals Program to help provide hot meals to vulnerable populations, including seniors, individuals experiencing homelessness, and disabled residents. We believe food should nourish both people and community.
Brand-wise, what we are most proud of is that Dakari’s has remained authentic. We have never tried to be something we are not. Every challenge, every setback, and every success has been rooted in real family values, hard work, and consistency. We are proud that our brand represents resilience, Black entrepreneurship, and generational legacy.
What we want readers to know most is this:
Dakari’s Soul Food is not just a place to eat. It is an experience built around love, culture, hospitality, and connection. Whether someone visits for comfort food, catering, brunch, family gatherings, or simply fellowship, we want them to leave feeling full — not just physically, but emotionally.
Our vision is to continue growing Dakari’s into a nationally and globally recognized brand while staying true to the values that built it from the beginning: faith, family, quality, culture, and love.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Seeing customers enjoy thier food makes us so happy and knowing that God is the primary backer of our business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Dakarisoulfood.com
- Instagram: Dakarisoulfood
- Facebook: Dakari Soul Food Restaurant
- Youtube: Dakari Soul Food
