Ma Dukes Serving Germantown with Home-cooked Goodness
Article on renovations and new restaurant in Germantown, Ma Dukes.
If you are looking for a soul food restaurant in Germantown, then look no further. Local restaurant, Ma Dukes, is the first "soul food" restaurant located in Montgomery County and with food for all, a growing popularity. "We just wanted to have a place to go to without traveling to Washington DC to get soul food," owner and cook Shirley Drayton said. As a resident of Germantown since 1987, Drayton has searched all throughout the DC Metro area trying to find a place to satisfy her and knew once the opportunity to open up a location in Germantown with husband Charles Drayton and co-partner Ardenia Jordan arose, she had to jump on it. Opening on July 25, 2010, they were quite pleased with the turnout and growth since.
When asked about the name of the establishment, Shirley smiled. "Well my husband is from New York and there 'Ma Dukes' is just another way to say 'mom'. After a lot of thinking, we figured this would just be the perfect name. It represents your mom's cooking and that's what we aim to have here." Even though she has no formal cooking background, Shirley as well as the other cooks on staff have been inspired by their own mothers and families cooking and have come as as natural chefs. Ma Dukes is especially known for the fish, seafood, fried chicken wings, and flavored wings that come in four different spices, including Old Bay, as well as homemade sides and desserts.
Not only does Ma Dukes try to comfort you with the food that will take you back home but they also make sure to cook everything fresh to order and purchase only top quality, kosher meats for all to enjoy. As a family owned business, they aim to please families in the area as well as couples young and old, and people of all backgrounds. No matter what, everyone will be very pleased with the food as well as the price.
"The wings and the fries are definitely the best," says local and regular customer Diana Reyes.
When asked if the food compares to his mother's, another regular customer, Kevin Watson shook his head. "I can say it reminds me of my grandma's which is a huge compliment. And compared to other places, you get a good amount of food and good quality food the price."
With new renovations to the store being finished at the end of November, the Draytons are looking forward to attracting more business with a new look and an added menu. "A lot of people think we only have fried foods but we also have baked chicken and fish. Not only that, but we are adding a few entrees that are exclusive to winter such as stews and smothered chicken. We'll also be adding a breakfast menu sometime after the new year."
Ma Dukes is located at 13015 Wisteria Dr. Germantown, MD 20874. They are open Monday-Thursday from 11 am – 10 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am – 12 midnight, and Sunday from 11 am – 8 pm. They offer dine in services as well as takeout and has WiFi available. To place an order, call (301) 515-7715 or (301) 515-7533.
Jim
1:50 pm on Sunday, April 3, 2011
Please do not eat at this restaurant. The food looks good and smells great but the meats are under cooked. I have been served a hamburger that was raw in the middle. The barbeque chicken was not all the way cooked. When I told the staff the man got a nasty attitude because he had to re cook it. The staff do not wear hair nets and they come in from outside without washing their hands. I will not recommend this restaurant to anyone. If you want real soul food go to Levi's in mitchellville.
Charles Drayton
4:59 pm on Tuesday, May 24, 2011
My Reply: You dont get to pick your family, however you do get to pick your friends.I like that we have that option. What doesn't break you only makes you stronger. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change ,The courage to change the things I can , and the WISDOM to know the difference.
Daphney
1:54 pm on Sunday, April 3, 2011
I have gotten sick from their food once, I'm not sure if it was because of the meats being undercooked but I have definitly gotten sick from their food. They should have kept wingstop.
omar cumberbatch
7:13 pm on Sunday, April 3, 2011
Omar
Poor food ........poor customer service ........ I recently went to this resturant with my wife and son and we were suprised to see ghetto obnoxious teenagers being loud and outlandish then we go in and go the counter and the man that took our order had a very very nasty attitude and to top it off we get our food 30 minutes later undercooked and they cook it again it took another 15 minnutes I was starving then I got sick later that night my son was vomiting and me and my wife got food poisoning bottom line don't eat at this piece of crap they call resturant where's the fda when you need them
Nicky carter
1:08 pm on Friday, April 8, 2011
I eat there twice the 1st time food was really good and the lady i think she was the owner was really nice,the second time food was not that great and the customer service was not that great
Nicky carter
1:11 pm on Friday, April 8, 2011
@omar why do you have to use the term ghetto ? black,white,spanish BLUE thats how alot of teenagers are just because they are black does not mean they are ghetto
paul
3:23 pm on Monday, May 23, 2011
I recently ate at ma dukes and the food was wonderful
Paul.
Charles Drayton
4:47 pm on Tuesday, May 24, 2011
We strive to make every visit enjoyable for all, we are receiving a warm welcome from the community. And we Thank You for this .To ease the minds of anyone who is looking to dine with us our kitchen can be toured anytime ,the cleaniless speaks for itself , The meats are kosher bringing you top quality meats. We are inspected four times a year and have never failed an inspection. I am displease to hear that anyone has received a less than enjoyable experience at Ma Dukes . I see that Jim, Daphne and Omar, made your entries on April 3,2011, It seems as though you three share more in common than your exeperience here, I hope this isn't what it looks like,however if you would like to return to MaDukes you will experience a delightful enjoyable meal as everyone else. I hope we get the chance to serve you again. I would not have known about these comments if it was not for a potential customer who has been wanting to dine with us but was apprehensive due to the reviews he saw listed here. With him enlighteneing me on what is being said about Ma Dukes, I viewed this website and after reading the reviews and seeing the entry times and dates I have come to the conclusion their's foul play here, enough said. I will continue to review the website and address all genuine concerns. We are here to serve you and pray to be around for years to come. So come check us out I'm sure you will find the staff, food and atmosphere to your liking. Thanks ,Charles
deb t
1:12 am on Saturday, May 28, 2011
I absolutely love Ma Dukes! Their food and staff. I cannot believe the other comments here considering the great food & experiences I've had there. I've had take out twice and loved every bite! First was the Coney Island Shrimp sub. Shrimp were fried perfectly, no heavy breading - delicious! The owner's wife gave me a huge piece of cornbread to try and it was wonderful. Warm, buttery & flavorful. The best I've ever eaten. My second visit, I had 6 whole wings with Old Bay, which were fried perfectly too. I've had wings from other restaurants in the area which were undercooked. My two sides were mac & cheese and candied yams. The mac & cheese was better than any I've had out, better than most relatives too but I shouldn't say that. The candied yams were delicious too. They were lightly mashed like potatoes with cinnamon. I couldn't believe how great the flavor. I can't wait to take their mac & cheese and candied yams to my folks. They will love Ma Dukes too.
loyal customer
11:50 pm on Friday, July 29, 2011
I eat at this place often. I'm tired of the same food. The food is okau, but they need to expand their menu.
elizabetha
11:06 pm on Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Don't eat this place call ma dukes I was there last night and now I am in the hospital dont eat the fish or the Hamburg the fish had a bad smell the Hamburg was not cook well when I went to eat it had blood in it
mommy
10:21 pm on Monday, November 14, 2011
This place is a jungle not a restaurant dont eat here unless you want to be sick.
Herbert
4:54 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
I think i eat here at least once a week. I order the bbq wings and seasoned fries and not ONCE have i gotten sick. I Love Ma dukes and would recomend it to EVERYONE. If youre scared of teenagers and or nasty attitudes, then you might as well not go out to eat anywhere for im pretty sure you find these things anywhere.
Herbert
4:56 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
that being said, the staff has not once given me an attitude. Maybe its just the way or manner in which you order your food. Treat others the way you would like to be treated.