Comments on: Rack and Soul: Great Fried Chicken & Ribs at affordable prices http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/03/01/rack-and-soul-great-fried-chicken-ribs-combo-platter-especially-at-lunch/ NYC's Most Delicious & Affordable Food Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:44:50 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Frannyonthego.blogpot.com http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/03/01/rack-and-soul-great-fried-chicken-ribs-combo-platter-especially-at-lunch/#comment-3968 Frannyonthego.blogpot.com Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:43:52 +0000 http://nyceats.wordpress.com/?p=433#comment-3968 Just ate there last week- ribs were rockin' though pricey at lunch and plate came out in a minute flat- very suspicious. Just ate there last week- ribs were rockin’ though pricey at lunch and plate came out in a minute flat- very suspicious.

]]> By: DDR http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/03/01/rack-and-soul-great-fried-chicken-ribs-combo-platter-especially-at-lunch/#comment-435 DDR Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:08:28 +0000 http://nyceats.wordpress.com/?p=433#comment-435 Restaurant patrons from all over the country and the city rate and write reviews of the restaurants, and mail them to Zagat's (free labor). All Zagat's does is tally and average the numerical ratings into a single number (computer data entry), and choose the best quotes and zingers that free labor has provided (a handful of low wage "editors"). Stir, publish, and sell at a huge mark-up. Voila! Restaurant patrons from all over the country and the city rate and write reviews of the restaurants, and mail them to Zagat’s (free labor). All Zagat’s does is tally and average the numerical ratings into a single number (computer data entry), and choose the best quotes and zingers that free labor has provided (a handful of low wage “editors”). Stir, publish, and sell at a huge mark-up. Voila!

]]> By: The NYC Food Guy http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/03/01/rack-and-soul-great-fried-chicken-ribs-combo-platter-especially-at-lunch/#comment-434 The NYC Food Guy Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:12:55 +0000 http://nyceats.wordpress.com/?p=433#comment-434 What's the business model? Do restaurants pay to be in the book? What’s the business model? Do restaurants pay to be in the book?

]]> By: DDR http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/03/01/rack-and-soul-great-fried-chicken-ribs-combo-platter-especially-at-lunch/#comment-420 DDR Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:12:50 +0000 http://nyceats.wordpress.com/?p=433#comment-420 Zagat's is nothing more than a cash cow for Tim and Nina. It is one of the most brilliant business models I've ever come across. Zagat’s is nothing more than a cash cow for Tim and Nina. It is one of the most brilliant business models I’ve ever come across.

]]> By: The NYC Food Guy http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/03/01/rack-and-soul-great-fried-chicken-ribs-combo-platter-especially-at-lunch/#comment-426 The NYC Food Guy Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:30:08 +0000 http://nyceats.wordpress.com/?p=433#comment-426 DDR- Zagat's isnt as reliable as it lets on. I'm reminded of the Chris Farley/Adam Sandler Old Couple Reading Zagat's skit on SNL.... "How about "Mario's Restaurant? Mini-Pizzas and delish desserts make this Italian eatery a must! Ravioli? Holy Cannoli!" I don't really know what my purpose was there but that was fun. DDR-

Zagat’s isnt as reliable as it lets on. I’m reminded of the Chris Farley/Adam Sandler Old Couple Reading Zagat’s skit on SNL….

“How about “Mario’s Restaurant? Mini-Pizzas and delish desserts make this Italian eatery a must! Ravioli? Holy Cannoli!”

I don’t really know what my purpose was there but that was fun.

]]> By: DDR http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/03/01/rack-and-soul-great-fried-chicken-ribs-combo-platter-especially-at-lunch/#comment-427 DDR Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:37:25 +0000 http://nyceats.wordpress.com/?p=433#comment-427 I haven't been to either because after my visit to Chuck's I lost interest in soul food for a while. Don't get me wrong - it wasn't bad. But after seeing it perrenially earn 27s in Zagat's, my expectations were way too high. I think it's down to a more tolerable 23, now by the way. I haven’t been to either because after my visit to Chuck’s I lost interest in soul food for a while.
Don’t get me wrong – it wasn’t bad. But after seeing it perrenially earn 27s in Zagat’s, my expectations were way too high. I think it’s down to a more tolerable 23, now by the way.

]]> By: The NYC Food Guy http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/03/01/rack-and-soul-great-fried-chicken-ribs-combo-platter-especially-at-lunch/#comment-429 The NYC Food Guy Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:37:29 +0000 http://nyceats.wordpress.com/?p=433#comment-429 DDR- Yessir, you spoke right, I'm ready to go far for food. I'm up near 86th street so the subway ride is doable. It's tough for anything when you have expectations in tow. I know that Charles is a "consultant' for Rack and Soul, how that plays into his direct influence over the chicken on a daily basis, I don't know. I imagine it's more like the Gap where one day he came in and showed 6 people how to make fried chicken his way and now we get the spinoff. Is he even cooking it up at Southern Kitchen? In the end, I might have to go just to do a soul food run and see what's what. Other spots I'm considering are Amy Ruth's and Sylvia's. Though I hear the latter is a little pricey. Have you been to either one of those? DDR-

Yessir, you spoke right, I’m ready to go far for food. I’m up near 86th street so the subway ride is doable. It’s tough for anything when you have expectations in tow. I know that Charles is a “consultant’ for Rack and Soul, how that plays into his direct influence over the chicken on a daily basis, I don’t know. I imagine it’s more like the Gap where one day he came in and showed 6 people how to make fried chicken his way and now we get the spinoff. Is he even cooking it up at Southern Kitchen? In the end, I might have to go just to do a soul food run and see what’s what. Other spots I’m considering are Amy Ruth’s and Sylvia’s. Though I hear the latter is a little pricey. Have you been to either one of those?

]]> By: DDR http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/03/01/rack-and-soul-great-fried-chicken-ribs-combo-platter-especially-at-lunch/#comment-430 DDR Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:05:44 +0000 http://nyceats.wordpress.com/?p=433#comment-430 Is it worth the trip? The cab ride up from the UWS was less than $15. And the bus ride back took about 25 minutes. Seems like you travel a lot farther than that for other meals so I don't know. All I know is, the first time I had pastrami at Katz's, I knew it was the best there is, and I've made the long trek many times since. Not so with Grimaldi's. As for Chazz and his chicken: it's very good. That's it. I think it's the same as the chicken at Rack & Soul, isn't it? Is it worth the trip? The cab ride up from the UWS was less than $15. And the bus ride back took about 25 minutes. Seems like you travel a lot farther than that for other meals so I don’t know.
All I know is, the first time I had pastrami at Katz’s, I knew it was the best there is, and I’ve made the long trek many times since.
Not so with Grimaldi’s.
As for Chazz and his chicken: it’s very good. That’s it. I think it’s the same as the chicken at Rack & Soul, isn’t it?

]]> By: The NYC Food Guy http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/03/01/rack-and-soul-great-fried-chicken-ribs-combo-platter-especially-at-lunch/#comment-431 The NYC Food Guy Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:14:53 +0000 http://nyceats.wordpress.com/?p=433#comment-431 DDR- All you can eat is interesting and now that I've geared myself up for people sitting on my lap while I eat I might be ready. I think I'll just have to give it a shot to try the chicken. Does the chicken make it worth the trip? Thats Charle's or Charles' or however he spells its' specialty right? DDR-

All you can eat is interesting and now that I’ve geared myself up for people sitting on my lap while I eat I might be ready. I think I’ll just have to give it a shot to try the chicken. Does the chicken make it worth the trip? Thats Charle’s or Charles’ or however he spells its’ specialty right?

]]> By: DDR http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/03/01/rack-and-soul-great-fried-chicken-ribs-combo-platter-especially-at-lunch/#comment-433 DDR Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:34:41 +0000 http://nyceats.wordpress.com/?p=433#comment-433 The sign also says Charle's, if I recall correctly. Is it worth the trip? That's the $12 question. You get all you can eat fried chicken, ribs, mac n' cheese and some other stuff that I didn't eat. The chicken was very good, the ribs and mac n' cheese were good. The place has about 5 tables and is the size of a very small studio apartment, if that. If there are other patrons you will be right on top of them. It's just weird being there. I went in a group of five, including 3 big eaters, and I doubt any of us will ever go back even though it was pretty good, cheap, and a buffet. In my view, it's just not a good place to relax and enjoy your meal. The food was good, and worth trying, but not good enough to justify coming back. The sign also says Charle’s, if I recall correctly.
Is it worth the trip? That’s the $12 question.
You get all you can eat fried chicken, ribs, mac n’ cheese and some other stuff that I didn’t eat. The chicken was very good, the ribs and mac n’ cheese were good.
The place has about 5 tables and is the size of a very small studio apartment, if that. If there are other patrons you will be right on top of them. It’s just weird being there.
I went in a group of five, including 3 big eaters, and I doubt any of us will ever go back even though it was pretty good, cheap, and a buffet.
In my view, it’s just not a good place to relax and enjoy your meal.
The food was good, and worth trying, but not good enough to justify coming back.

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