Nationwide — Jollof Bowl, a popular Black-owned restaurant in Baltimore owned by Andrea Kamara and Lekan Oketunji, says Uber Eats owes the business nearly $30,000 in unpaid earnings dating back to July 2026. The owners say they have struggled to get answers from the delivery company while continuing to prepare orders and cover business expenses without the expected payments. The restaurant opened in the summer of 2025 and operates inside Cross Street Market in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood. About one-third of its sales come from third-party delivery apps, making them an important source of income. The limited parking in the downtown area makes many customers rely on delivery apps to order food without visiting the restaurant.
According to WMAR-2 News, the payment problems began in July 2026, when the owners noticed that their daily payouts did not match the amounts they expected. Uber Eats collects payments from customers and transfers the restaurant’s earnings, but those transfers stopped coming through as expected. The owners estimate that the unpaid balance has grown to nearly $30,000, including outstanding payments and account adjustments. Kamara said the missing money has put pressure on the restaurant’s finances, forcing it to cover food and operating costs without receiving the revenue from completed orders.
The owners contacted Uber Eats several times but said they received few clear answers. On September 18, Uber Eats notified the restaurant that it had paused payments after detecting unusual activity on the account. Follow-up emails dated September 22 and September 28 cited delays in customer support, including a high volume of requests. The company also told the owners that the restaurant could remain visible on the platform and continue accepting orders despite the payment hold. However, they said they had lost access to parts of the platform’s back-end system and continued receiving automated responses instead of clear information about when they would be paid.
Uber responded to the concerns after being contacted about the restaurant’s concerns on October 8. The following morning, a company spokesperson said the issue had been escalated for further review and that the team was working to understand the circumstances and contact the owners directly. Kamara later said Uber had called her around the same time and indicated that it was working to release the payment. The company also said it investigates potentially compromised accounts to help protect businesses and customers from scams. However, it did not provide a confirmed date for the restaurant to receive the full amount owed.
As they wait for the payment issue to be resolved, the owners are encouraging customers to order directly through the restaurant’s website or visit in person. Jollof Bowl has also extended its hours, serving customers until midnight through its pickup window on East Cross Street. Oketunji hopes sharing their experience will encourage other small businesses to check their delivery app payments carefully and look for missing money. The restaurant continues to accept Uber Eats orders while waiting for the dispute to be resolved.