Black Oak Nights – New York

Amy Ruth's Chicken & Waffles

Being from the South, I know good soul food. I mean, I really know good soul food. Whether it was my upbringing in Maryland, or my latter years in Texas, soul food, southern cuisine and home-cooked everything is almost a religion to me. That said, it’s hard to get really good soul food up north unless you happen to have a grandmother from Alabama living somewhere within the New York City Metropolitan Area. For those of you who don’t, there are still a few havens that get the five star nod on soul food—most of them even compete with your Grandmother’s homemade dishes.

Here is our list of the Best Soul Food in New York City, “Black Listed” style.

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Negril Village

I remember hearing about El Nino all the time when I was younger, and back then, it seemed so “special” that I would have sworn it was a once in a lifetime event. Unfortunately, El Nino has struck again, including this latest snowfall that took sprinkled Manhattan with an inch of snow last night. Nevertheless, that little bit of snow is not going to affect anything going on in Tuesday’s Nightlife Rundown for February 16, 2010. Read the rest of this entry »

The snow may be coming down in Manhattan, but they don’t call this the city that never sleeps for nothing. Here is the Wednesday Rundown for February 10, 2010.
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While everyone else heads home after a long day of work, you, the modern day young black professional, prefer to get rid of your stress by socializing and flirting, not laying down on the couch. And that’s the way a New Yorker is supposed to think. After all, all work and no play makes for a bad nightlife, and that is not what Black Oak Nights is about. So check out some of our favorite spots to attend with the clock strikes five!

Jean-Luc

507 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY

Go here for a truly diverse time. You can find a multitude of different professionals braving this bar during the after-work hours. From actors and dancers, to investment bankers and broadcasters, jean-Luck has been the trendy destination for some of the Upper Westside’s most notable companies. You can see the shining star of celebrodum running through the establishment every once in a while, especially soap opera actors who film their shows not too far from Jean-Luc. The male to female ration is also fairly balanced, providing for a very festive atmosphere that never ceases to amazes its attendees, even on the most unlikely nights. You may come here during the daytime of the after work hours, but you will end up staying for the nightlife.

Ava Lounge

210 W. 55^th Street, New York, NY

This wonderful bar sits atop of the Dream Hotel just north of Times Square. You can see the magnificence that is the Broadway Avenue view of Times Square from the roof of Ava, and it is just an amazing site even in the twighlight of the after work hours. Ava Lounge is a bi-level penthouse looking bar. The downstairs is seductive and offers a full bar and scenic window views. The upstairs has an array of seating that puts you at eye-level with rooftop views of Midtown West. Ava Lounge is flooded with people who work in the hustle and bustle of midtown, mainly singles who are dressed in their stunning office suits and dresses. And while it is easy to think that the everyone there is so dressed up because they’re coming to work, their fashionable duds just might suggest that work was nothing but an after thought in their choice of attire.

Pazza Notte

1375 6^th Avenue, New York, NY 10019

How about a little Italian after-work? Pazza Notte has an extremely friendly environment, and much like its Italian name would denote it is a great place to spend the evening and night hours after a long day of work. There are plenty of great people and groups who come here on the daily basis. Even though it is primarily a restaurant, the atmosphere of the bar will remind you a chatty lounge, full of conversing business men and women, and hungry after-workers enjoying an array of Italian wine and dishes. Some people who go there cannot handle the noise of the Pazza Notte at these hours, but if you are truly looking for an entertaining way to spend your nightlife, then a little talking will not bother you.

Meatballs. Spaghetti. Pizza. Shrimp scampi. Tiramisu. Steak Pizzaiola. Now that’s amore! With all of the possible Italian food selections available to you in New York City, where is a young black professional to go for the best meatball in all of Manhattan?

Rest assure, Black Oak Nights: NYC has you covered. We have compiled a list of some of the most delectable Italian restaurants in the New York City area. We’ve got you covered all the way from amore to ziti!

Barbuto

775 Washington Street, New York, NY 10014

Don’t let the dining area fool you. Because even though Barbuto is located in a converted warehouse and garage, its food is especially marvelous. And its concrete floors, lighting and folding garage doors give this place a relaxed, lower east side club type of feeling. Understand this though; the food compliments the atmosphere well, because it as stimulating and inspiring as Italian food can be. Go to Barbuto with a large group of your friends or coworkers and be sure to order as many dishes as you can in order to take advantage of the entire Italian-style eating experience. Check out the octopus, pork shank, scallops and the pollo al forno. All great family portioned dishes at family style prices!

Spigolo

1561 2^nd Avenue, New York, NY 10028

Welcome to the Upper East Side, where Italian food is abundant at so many different restaurants. With such a great array Italian family favorites, it is no surprise that the lead chefs at Spigolo are husband and wife. Their delectable menu and dishes are extremely creative. From the salmon tartare to the braised octopus crostini, Spigolo provides its customers with a different treat for every taste bud. And as if the food and family atmosphere were not enough reason to take a cab to the Upper East Side, than how about the fact that you can still get a serving of braised escarole and roasted monkfish medallions up until 2 o’clock in the morning? Now that’s late night the Italian way!

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

19 Old Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201-1322

Located right by Water Street, Grimaldi’s can be found right beside the Brooklyn Bridge. So for those of you who don’t like to leave Manhattan, this is a close as you can be to the main island without swimming in the water. The atmosphere is perfect for the perfect Italian experience. It is a very relaxed and chatty environment where everyone from friends, family, co-workers and lovers go to. You’ll think you’re sitting in Italian restaurant from “Everybody Loves Raymond,” as you dine on checkerboard-print tablecloths with pictures of Italian idols surrounding you. But it is the food that gets people to make the trek to Kings County. They serve a wonderful pizza (and only pizza) with crisp, thin crust and the most authentic pizza sauce in New York. You can get any topping that you want, and with their homemade mozzarella and house-roasted peppers, you can’t beat the authentic flavor of these bona fide Italian pies. I’ll admit that the service is not their best feature, but nonetheless, if you don’t mind spending a little time there, it’s worth the wait.

There’s no doubt that everyone is out looking for something to eat every night of the week in this fair city that we call New York. And anybody who has lived in New York for a long period of time knows the struggles that people go through trying decide where the place to go is.

Well, I’m ending all debates. Through extensive research, and a lot of eating, I’ve found the places everybody can enjoy, and places that blacks and minorities need to be more prevalent at. Here are some of New York City’s best restaurants.

Blue Water Grill – Union Square; If you want to talk about atmosphere, this is the place. It seats 500 people on three levels and has dimly lit romantic ambiance on the lower leve and an incredible jazz band. Some of the freshest fish can be found here, and the sushi is one of the best in the city. The Meal? Try the Seafood Castle, which is a mountain of seafood that includes lots and lots of shellfish.

Stone Park – Park Slope; Don’t let the putty-colored walls and earth tones fool you, this place packs quite bite…to eat. Stone Park has some of the best American genre food you will find in the city. Their brunch is great, and you should get the Stone Park Omelet should you attend at that time. Their most infamous dishes are the rib-eye steak and the pan-seared halibut with saffron risotto. And if you don’t taste the sweetbread, you’re missing out on life.

Telepan – Upper West Side; Owned by Bill Telepan, a 3-star chef with a published cook-book. His three-course American menu is a culinary experience and is extremely creative in presentation and taste. You can try the New York State foie gras with citrus and almonds, black truffle pierogi or the heritage pork cassoulet. Trust me, with this eclectic menu, you will never order the same thing twice.

Cassa La Femme North – Midtown East; Want to see a truly youth-inspired restaurant? How do white tents, belly dancers, exotic plans and leather ceiling lamps sound? Sounds like Spring Break in Miami, huh? Well, not quite. Welcome to Cassa La Femme North in the heart of New York City. While a little expensive, it is feasible, and well worth the price. Everything is fresh and made from scratch. Start off with the Crab Kofta, and you can then move on to an entree of whole fish or wood-grilled red snapper.

Dos Caminos – Midtown East; If you’re looking for a good time, this is it. The minute you enter, you will feel as if you got an SUV when you only signed up for a Sedan. A mist the packed bar full of New York socialites, you will walk your way to the dining area and enjoy all kinds of exotic drinks. There is an abundance of Tequila choices, and to help you soak up some of that alcohol, have the guacamole which is made right at your table. For dinner, have some baby back rids, roasted chicken or sirloin steak. And for you pescetarians, try the big eye tuna ceviche with chile salsa.

Alma – Brooklyn Heights; Looking for a view? Try Alma, one of New York’s best rooftop restaurants. Sit and dine as you look onto the Manhattan skyline and throw bag tasty margaritas. There Mexican dishes are plentiful and includes every food that ever came from South of the Border. A three-course dinner may run you about $30, but the time you’ll have there is priceless.