Top 9 Southern-Inspired Restaurants in NYC
AKA where Southern girls go when we miss our food.
I moved to NYC from Georgia a couple of years ago and, sometimes (okay, often), just crave biscuits and gravy or really good fried chicken and waffles. I’ve done the dirty work, scampering around the city, to find the best Southern food I can. I even posted a forlorn status on Facebook about how much I missed Southern food, and got suggestions from fellow Southern-transplants in the comments.
Where I get my Southern Fix(ins)
1. Root & Bone
Root & Bone has great ambience — slightly romantic and cozy. Also they have tiny chicken and waffles! And really excellent cocktails. Like this — The Preacher Man — an herbal twist on a classic gimlet: Gin, Green Chartreuse, Lime & Dill. Sluuuurp.
2. Jacob’s Pickle’s
I think Jacob’s Pickle’s is probably my favorite restaurant in New York. Thank god it’s always a 45 minute wait to get in because I would go all the time if not for that and the fact that it’s in the UWS and very far away from me. Not only can you get pickle flights (which is genius) but every biscuit and gravy option is delicious. I think I had a surf and turf — with friend chicken — last summer that is a surprising combo but had the right amount of both! Also, I really like their jam jar cocktail. Served in an actual jam jar (as all of their drinks are), like so:
A photo posted by Jacob’s Pickles (@jacobspickles) on
3. Pies N Thighs
The chicken biscuit at Pies N Thighs is really spicy. I say this from a person who is relatively new to liking spicy but also as a person who was converted to spicy starting with this chicken biscuit. Also their butter and wheat waffles are ideal.
4. Birds & Bubbles
I actually haven’t been to Birds & Bubbles, but it’s on my list because champagne and fried chicken. A little high and a little low.
Feeling cozy ☔️ #chickenandwaffles by @nycdining
A photo posted by 166 S. 4th St., Williamsburg (@piesnthighs) on
5. Melba’s
My friend loved Melba’s. It was his favorite spot to go because of the steak. He was a huge fan of the braised short ribs. And this place has a dish with chicken wings and eggnog waffles which has always been on my to-eat list.
6. Peaches in Brooklyn
Peaches in Brooklyn is my coworker’s favorite spot. She can’t stop hyping the place. She loves their food and has gone on-and-on about their Brownstone Punch and burgers, but just to start. She swears I’ll love all of their dishes, so I want to try the Low-Country Shrimp Boil.
A photo posted by peachesbrooklyn (@peachesbrooklyn) on
7. Amy Ruth’s
I went to Amy Ruth’s for my birthday. The wait wasn’t too long but the place was really busy. They had really awesome sides, and I got macaroni with bread crumbs, cornbread, collard greens, and really great shrimp and grits. I couldn’t eat it all, but I sat there for a long time to see what I could finish.
8. Hill Country
Hill Country is all about really speedy fried chicken. Though don’t forget about their pulled-pork sandwiches. Cafeteria style and super adorable decor. They even have pie milkshakes, which is how I found this place, because I used to get pie shakes from Pie Face before they all closed.
Good for the S O U L #amyruths #harlem
A photo posted by Quincy Carmichael (@jr_carmichael) on
9. Sugar Freak
Come for the catfish! I love Sugar Freak. It has such good gumbo. I hardly went out when I first moved here (my first neighborhood was Astoria where Sugar Freak is) but my only exceptions was an Indian restaurant down the block form my apartment and Sugar Freak. I always had gumbo which is properly spicy and I liked the boudin balls. Check out their Blackened Catfish with Catfish Étouffée. Mmmm.
And, oh man their Bloody Mary’s at brunch were also super amazing. And had lots of vegetables in it. But my favorite was the decor — shabby chic meets all of the really quaint trimmings from grandma’s house. Oh and and the U.S. President placemats. Those were always fun.
Suggestions on my friend’s FB status that I have yet to go:
John Brown Smokehouse
Dinosaur BBQ
Morgan’s Brooklyn BBQ
Now, go on, eat some shrimp and grits.
Southern-Inspired NYC Suggestions
Root & Bone $$
200 E 3rd St, b/t Avenue B & Avenue A
East Village, Alphabet City
Jacob’s Pickle’s $$
509 Amsterdam Ave, b/t 84th St & 85th St
Upper West Side
Pies N Thighs $$
166 S 4th St, b/t Bedford Ave & Driggs Ave
Williamsburg — South Side (+ Lower East Side location)
Birds & Bubbles $$$
100B Forsyth St, b/t Broome St & Grand St
Lower East Side
Melba’s $$
300 W 114th St, b/t Manhattan Ave & 8th Ave
Harlem
Peaches $$
393 Lewis Ave, b/t Mac Donough St & Decatur St
Bedford Stuyvesant
Amy Ruth’s $$
113 W 116th St, b/t 7th Ave & St Nicholas Ave
Harlem
Hill Country $$
30 W 26th St, b/t Broadway & Avenue of the Americas
Flatiron (+ Downtown Brooklyn location)
Sugar Freak $$
36–18 30th Ave
Astoria
Georgette also has strong opinions on doughnuts.
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Georgette • June 3, 2016