Matt and Philly's in Baltimore: New American Soul Food in Canton
Matt and Philly's is a counter-service and casual sit-down restaurant in Canton that treats soul food classics—fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, cornbread—as the foundation for a New American kitchen that respects tradition while adding precision and care to technique.
What Matt and Philly's actually is
The restaurant operates as a hybrid: order and pay at the counter, then seat yourself in a modest dining room or take food to go. The menu centers on fried chicken (bone-in thighs and breasts, skin fried until crisp) and slow-cooked vegetables, with rotating daily specials that shift between braised short ribs, smothered pork chops, and seafood preparations. The operation is small enough that inconsistency can happen, but large enough that lines form at lunch and early dinner hours on weekdays. The space feels casual without trying; exposed brick, simple wood tables, and a kitchen you can partially see from the counter.
Menu, pricing, and portion size
Entrees range from $11.50 for a two-piece fried chicken plate with one side to $16 for protein-forward dishes like smothered pork chops or baked chicken. Sides—collard greens, mac and cheese, cornbread, black-eyed peas, sweet potato—cost $2.50 to $3.50 individually or come bundled with entrees. A full meal for one person runs $14 to $18. Portions are substantial; a single entree with two sides is enough for most appetites. Specials, posted daily, often cost $13 to $15 and may include items like oxtail stew or fried catfish, though pricing and availability shift weekly and are best confirmed by calling ahead. No alcohol is served.
How Matt and Philly's compares to other Baltimore soul food
Chap's Pit Beef in Dundalk and Bay Café in Canton both operate counter-service formats, but Chap's focuses primarily on roast beef sandwiches and Baltimore-specific crab fare, while Bay Café leans toward breakfast and lunch with a lighter menu. Nemo's in Federal Hill offers casual New American cooking but does not specialize in soul food preparation or regional vegetable sides. Matt and Philly's distinction lies in specificity: the fried chicken is seasoned and fried to order rather than held under heat, and the sides are cooked throughout the day rather than sitting warm. The collard greens are salted and pot-liquor forward, not sweetened; the mac and cheese is baked creamy rather than dried out. For diners seeking authentic soul food technique rather than a stylized reinterpretation, Matt and Philly's delivers more consistency than grab-and-go competitors, though less fanfare than higher-priced New American restaurants that treat soul food as novelty.
Who this place suits and who it does not
This restaurant works for lunch crowds on a budget, families wanting straightforward food without pretense, and people craving fried chicken and proper greens without traveling to West Baltimore. The counter-service model and modest seating mean it does not suit large groups expecting table service or a prolonged dining experience. Those seeking a full bar, plated presentation, or slow-paced ambiance should look elsewhere. It also does not accommodate vegan or restricted-ingredient diets easily; the focus is on animal proteins and traditional preparation.
What the first visit involves
Walk in, read the menu board above the counter, order and pay, grab a number, and find a seat. Your food arrives in 8 to 12 minutes. Water and napkins are self-service. The space fills quickly at 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. on weekdays, so arriving early or after 1:45 p.m. avoids waiting for a table.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Matt and Philly's operates Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed Mondays. It sits on a Canton side street with street parking only; the lot fills on weekends. No online ordering or delivery is offered. A phone call before ordering is useful if you want to know what the day's special is or confirm that a preferred side is available.
Matt and Philly's fills a gap between the speed of chain fast-casual and the price of sit-down New American restaurants, making it a reliable spot for anyone in Canton wanting fried chicken cooked well and vegetables prepared with actual time invested.
