Comments on: Rack and Soul: Great Fried Chicken & Ribs at affordable prices

By: DDR

DDR — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:08:28 +0000

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

The NYC Food Guy — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:12:55 +0000

What’s the business model? Do restaurants pay to be in the book?

By: DDR

DDR — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:12:50 +0000

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

The NYC Food Guy — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:30:08 +0000

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

DDR — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:37:25 +0000

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

The NYC Food Guy — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:37:29 +0000

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

DDR — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:05:44 +0000

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

The NYC Food Guy — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:14:53 +0000

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

DDR — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:34:41 +0000

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.

By: The NYC Food Guy

The NYC Food Guy — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:35:55 +0000

DDR-

That’s hilarious. I had no idea. I went with NYMAG.com’s listing, pretty much considering it gospel. The real questions are, business card aside, what does it say on the sign, and is it worth making the trip up to?

By: DDR

DDR — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:18:15 +0000

The name of the uptown spot is Charle’s, not Charles’, and not Charles’s (which would be correct). The name is even spelled Charle’s on their business cards.
Both Charle’s and Charles’ are gramatically incorrect, but the first one, which is the actual name, is absurdly incorrect.
Adult illiteracy: it’s the scourge of our era.

By: The NYC Food Guy

The NYC Food Guy — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:00:05 +0000

Danny & Miss Menu-

I can’t say I’d be up here myself if I didn’t live on the Upper West Side but there are a lot of places I haven’t checked out yet above 109th street. I’m going to make an effort to get up there so definitely keep an eye out. Rack and Soul is just the first stop on my NYC Soul Food Tour.

Thanks to both of you for the comments.

By: Miss Menu

Miss Menu — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:05:32 +0000

So funny, Danny…I feel the same way. I always am looking to head downtown when picking out a new restaurant. Sounds like I need to look north too, esp for a little taste of home. Growing up in Atlanta, we use to frequent Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles. Wonder how it compares to Rack & Soul!! Glad you liked it NYC Food Guy!

By: Danny

Danny — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 19:42:44 +0000

That looks like an amazing meal, especially for just $16 dollars. Ahh.. i gotta get over this aversion to go north of 60th street. haha