Fried catfish and chicken, boiled crawfish, cornbread, fried pickles, and more
—Ernest “Dubs” Hall, along with his wife Grace, and children Angel, Leinae, and Romeo opened Dubs Paso Soulfood Grill in downtown Paso Robles in April 2022. The restaurant was the first and only one to offer true soul food in the area.
The restaurant is owned and operated exclusively by the Hall family. The entire family works at the restaurant, with the eldest daughter Angel as manager. Ernest, a Paso Robles native, indicated that his two favorite things about the restaurant are getting to work side-by-side with his family and being able to connect with the locals.
On the menu, you will find traditional Southern dishes that Ernest’s grandmother made for him: fried catfish, boiled crawfish, fried chicken, crab leg bowls, cornbread, black-eyed peas, okra, fried pickles, corn on the cob, collard greens, and hush puppies. Items can be ordered a la carte, or in popular combos. If you have your heart set on a certain dish, be sure to go early since all food is made from scratch, fresh daily, and when items sell out, they are out until the next day.
The most popular item is fried chicken which has received rave reviews. Last year the restaurant put Paso Robles on the map as a fried chicken destination by being ranked number twelve in the nation on Yelp. Customers can order legs, breasts, thighs, or wings, with generous portion sizes. “We were happy to see the fried chicken ranking and this year we are working on making it number one. We want to deliver the very best fried chicken to our guests,” said Ernest.
Ernest indicated the restaurant is frequented by both locals and tourists who embrace the menu and family atmosphere. Over the past couple of years, he has been pleased with the response to the menu. He thinks part of the reason they are so popular with families is that they do not serve alcohol and they offer a casual dining environment where everyone feels comfortable. The menu is unique and for many, it is the only place they can find tasty dishes like catfish.
The full menu is available online and can be ordered for takeout or delivery. It is best to order ahead for pickup to avoid long wait times, especially on the weekends when they tend to be busier. At this time the Halls are considering extending their hours and perhaps opening additional days.
Dubs Paso Soulfood Grill is located at 1401 Park St, Paso Robles. Open Thursday-Sunday 1-8:30 p.m. For more information visit pasogrill.com or call (805) 222-3040.
—Lisa Pretty
