In Harlem over the weekend.
Located on Lenox Avenue, in the heart of Harlem, this restaurant just opened on Friday, January 17th.
After months of delay, the ‘Red Rooster’ finally opened to the public this past weekend.
The new Harlem eatery, which covers two floors of openness, includes front cafe seating (which looks like a food mart) to accommodate 24, a 20-seat bar, a 76 seat dining area, which is very trendy and very different.
I was a bit turned off by the Aunt Jemima box display along with a can of green beans and pickles used as a decorative touch, however the menu is American cuisine and comfort food.
As a meal, I had the daily market greens, the red grits and shrimp while my crony had, the seared salmon, black-eyed peas and smoked collard greens.
Now., just because black-eyed peas, collard greens and cornbread are on the menu, this restaurant is not considered soul food.
The Red Rooster is owned by Ethiopian born celebrity chef and author, Marcus Samuelson. Samuelson was a guest chef for the Obama administration’s first state dinner and he is trying to become a brand in American popular food culture and cuisine.
Marcus Samuelson, 39, is married to model Gate Haile (couple pictured below), and they just appeared in Ebony magazine’s February issue of “Celebrate Black Love”.
So move over Sylvia’s, there’s a new kid on the block!
If you’re ever in the neighborhood and want something different, check out “Red Rooster” their food flare is different and so is their style…The restaurant doesn’t serve breakfast yet but that’s coming soon!
Conversations Of A Sistah 
A restaurant post finally!!!! I guess yall satisfied huh?
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somewhat? Now we need another one. 🙂
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Why did I know Blog Queen was gonna go here? She love eating out in NY! I gotta check out his spot.
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Yea he chose Lenox Ave cause the old Red Rooster location was recently available, but too small for Marcus’ restaurant. Go Trace!!!
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Him and his wife live in Harlem. right on Fedrick Douglas.
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so they’re saying they do. that’s the squat spot for now. they wanna make it look like they fit in dats all.
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they wanna make it look like they fit in dats all.
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ha you know? some of you swear you know so much.
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“Now., just because black-eyed peas, collard greens and cornbread are on the menu, this restaurant is not considered soul food.”
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Good! Because Harlem don’t need No more soul food spots. c’mon now people. I was hoping he’d bring something different to Harlem!
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well if he’s near sylvia’s, it shouldn’t be soul food period! sylvia’s pretty much have harlem sowed up as far as soul food!
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No soul food? Damn I’m disappointment.!!!!
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@slick, please! we don’t need another upscale fried chicken, mac&cheese, collard greens and cornbread restaurant in Harlem.
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Ya’ll need to stop! Samauelsson don’t know SHIT about cooking soul food, let alone bringing his azz to Harlem.
Didn’t yall also notice, how Tracy didn’t say IF SHE LIKED THE FOOD OR NOT.
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That’s the prblm now, too much damn food for the soul! Ima check da brotha out and see what he about.
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Do they serve oxtails?
Do they have fish?
Tracy didn’t mention any of these things.
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I’m LMAO! It’s like Trace wrote this piece in pain. Like she was holding shit back!!!! either she didn’t like the food or it was average for her at best.
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Don’t PUT WORDS INTO BLOG QUEEN’S MOUTH @ACE: Just because she didn’t say the food was good doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. You can’t do much to kill a salad and some grits anyway.
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Thank you Lexy, 🙂 and to answer that, the food was good!! I’m sorry I should have mentioned that. But you should try the restaurant. It’s right in Harlem, very local for some.
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Not local for me…but when i travel to ny i always see what restaurnats you’ve been to tra for your recommendations. 🙂
stay blessed!!!
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Heyyy Yall
Heyyy Ms. Tra.
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I’m anxious to go for cocktails. My co-workers went and said, the place was ‘on and poppin’
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Restaurant is 100% P.R. hype, 0% substance. He’s no competition for Sylvia Woods. he will appeal to YT trust and believe.
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His yard bird, salmon, sweet potatoes n greens are already popular and he just opened. have you even been? Damn give the brotha a chance. erbody don’t cook soul food with a unch of fat back grease.
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I cosign Lexy!
Eat at the restaurant before passing judgment. It’s a reasonably priced restaurant and it looks like a great addition to Harlem. The most important thing is that the food, minus the apple pie, tastes good.
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To all the people who have yet to try the restaurant, you should go.
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My GF called me cause she wanted to go for brunch but he doesn’t open till 5 on Sunday. Homeboy better get wit the program, people were going elsewhere she said.
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I’m surprised Trace didn’t try the ‘mac-and-cheese’ his mac-and-cheese is da truff people. I went yesterday for lunch. and YES I recommended this spot to Trace. and didn’t need her to shot me out about it either.
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HIS “Oysters” ARE GOOD, THE STEAK FRIES NOT THICK ENOUGH IMO THO.
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“YES I recommended this spot to Trace”
Really? Are you sure? That’s not what I heard? Care to retract your comment Sir?
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Ok DAMN!!!!! @Joanne
So I didn’t tell her about this place, but i knew she was gonna talk about it sooner than later.
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See how you get BUSTED when you lie!
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Lieing azz BBallen….
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what men will do for attention!
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Queen, i get PLENTY and I mean PLENTY of attention at home., trust me baby.
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IMO, the place looks like an airport restaurant, and Trace is right, it’s very open.
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actually, it looks like it should be in a mall, you would neva think to see this kind-a place in harlem.
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Pinky, but i like because the bar and dining are are discreetly separated. the place was packed by 8:00 PM.
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Shame on you Tra, for not mentioning that Samuelsson was in the kitchen at Red Rooster too. :)The food is superb, he’s ironing out a few wrinkles but will do well in Harlem.
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was he? @joanne, i heard he’s down to earth.
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@joanne, i heard he’s down to earth.
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Yes he is!
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I heard he has “Great Food”, it has “Great People” and an extraordinary vibe!
I heard it’s off the hook, can’t wait to try it.
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IT’S “Comfort food with an africian twist”
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the service is excellent. The Fried Yard Bird, Organic Salmon, Crab Cakes, Shrimp and greens are delicious, and the desserts are mouth watering!
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He had alotta celebrity parties b4 he even opened his doors on jan 17.
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“So move over Sylvia’s, there’s a new kid on the block!”
Tracy, Sylvia’s is a legend…she already have her clientele and she’s known all over the world.
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Tracy, Sylvia’s is a legend…she already have her clientele and she’s known all over the world.
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Yes I know “Sylvia’s is a legend” but Mr. Samuelsson has still ‘set up shop’ in her neighborhood/territory.
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Morning Tracy…OK
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Hey Ms. Tracy! Glad you keep us up to date on these restaurants gurl!
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morning Tra. whats up baby?
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Tracy who was the CRONY with you?
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Tracy, please spill the tea, do you like this place better than sylvia’s?
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Tracy, please spill the tea, do you like this place better than sylvia’s?
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@acquitta, and now the dumb shit begins…you know damn well, sylvia’s is her ‘top spot’ she was prbly pissed cause the nicca took her here instead of sylvia’s anyway.
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Good morning Tracy, Good morning Fam. Can’t wait to try this spot.
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Good morning all.
@acquitta, c’mon now, i believe sylvia wins it hands down!!!!
@donte, i can see her being pissed about that2. lol.
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Good morning all. You 2 Ms. Bell
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Good morning fam.
let me catch up and see what yall sayin about this restaurant and tracy’s post.
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Good morning people.
Hey Zion, Random, Q, Ashanti and erbody.
Hey yall.
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What’s up Trace.
What’s good people?
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Morning, morning and good morning to all.
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Hey Blog Queen!!!!
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Hey everybody!!! Dang!!! I missed Tra again!
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Happy Tuesday Everyone!
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morning people. ima couple of days late but wth…good morning anyway.
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Good morning BBallen,
Good morning everyone
it’s never too late to say “good morning” and express how you feel, regardless to how many days later it is.
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Tracy who was the CRONY with you?
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Omar, why is that important?
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whats up with the dispay of canned goods? he is cooking out the can? ah hell no, i hope not! I can see why trace said: “I was a bit turned off by the Aunt Jemima box display along with a can of green beans and pickles used as a decorative touch”
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whats up with the dispay of canned goods?
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I thought the same thing.
what dis nicca tryna say, all food associated with African Americans comes from a can or a box?
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He should concentrate on what’s coming out of HIS kitchen rather than putting bullshit groceries on the walls. You get one chance to make a first impression! If it’s not good, people will NEVER come again
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I cosign @spice,
The first 6 Months are crucial to a restaurants success. Those are the initial review periods…He’s hired a Chef. But, for his sake I hope he’s at least in the restaurant…
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he won’t be there and watch, this place will bomb! you can’t have your hands in too much as an enterpernuer.
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It’s all for show., even if he does live in NY, that’s a front too.
As soon as he thinks he’s gotten what he can out of this joint he’ll be on to the next project, if he’s not already.
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@CoCo, I saw thru the whole Aunt Jemima comment and the picture. that’s why again i said: “Putting Aunt Jemima (which is not a positive image for some African Americans) boxes on the wall does not validate you.”
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This dude got a lotta press b4 he even opened. he was on channel 4 and in almost every newspaper.
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he was an american top chef, so you know the media was going to sweat him. plus he worked and cooked for obama. c’mon now., that’s a given.
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Wow, had a great time at the Red Rooster, ambiance was superb! Oh yeah and to those who said that Marcus wasn’t going to be there…well he was and was actually taking his time to talk to everyone in the dining room and bar area. 🙂
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Of Course he was there on OPENING NIGHT!
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for the record, i wasn’t there ‘opening night’ go, check the place out, then come back and tell us if he was there.
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@Zion,
He had “Friends and Family” last week were you there?
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This Samuelsson dude should be in the kitchen every nite and day atleast for a year. you gotta train ya people if you wanna stay afloat.
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I ate there last evening with two others. Red Rooster is a wonderful mid-range restaurant. The food was excellent with many surprises. Marcus Samuelson visited every table., so he is there and on the spot.
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as the food and service are good, people will go. It looks like it’s a nice addition to this area as well. so yes, “move over sylvia’s a new kid’s on the block”
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@Zion, how do we know that he won’t be another absentee celebrity chef.???
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This restaurant got 2much hyped, over-pubicized, over-exposed just becuz dude was opening this restaurant in Harlem.
There are 6 four star NY Times restaurants that don’t get this much publicity and deliver food that is EXTRAORDINARY. RR is just going to be another good neighborhood restaurant, nothing more, nothing less. It’s not going to be (nor does it aspire to be)
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I think what people object to is that Mr. Samuelsson comes across like he’s the Obama of the cooking world and the Savior of cuisine in Harlem (where i live and work, and he just recently moved to).
And for the record, Putting Aunt Jemima (which is not a positive image for some African Americans) boxes on the wall does not validate you.
Alot of times when Trace speaks in these post, you gotta READ BETWEEN THE LINES, i do.
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🙂
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Oh Shit!!!! LMMFAO!!!!!
She gave you a 🙂 @Point, must be some truth to what you said.
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I cosign @POINTMEN,
Displaying “Aunt Jemima” will not win you brownie points in a black community when they already questioning what your nationality is. He say he black but i wanna actually know, if he can cook worth a damn!!!!!
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IMO, he’s trying to appeal to both races/nationalities. i bet you his greens have no flava, and his black eyed peas are bland. I may try it but going to harlem and not having sylvia’s will be extra hard for me.
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@POINTMEN: I like your train of thought…
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all I know , is I won’t be going there
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why cause it’s in harlem?
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oh go @angelhair, don’t nobody want ya azz. us decent black folk don’t want you boo.
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It looks like it’ll be a great appliance store.
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wow…it does look a little wierd from the inside.
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@april, it LOOKS like that but LOOKS are decieving.
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atleast he’s married. Tra can you post an updated picture of he and his wife.
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Having a partner does make life so much easier. Wonder how he feel about her being taller than he is?
They make a nice couple.
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yes! a married man means his mind is made up!
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he and wifey are cute.
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she’s standing by her man. and playing that role legitamally…..he aint got no HO’s frontin or chillin in da cut.
hell no he aint black. lol
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it aint funny @ACE,
so you tryna say ‘black men’ don’t wife they women. so not true.
Hey Ladies.
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Hey Q. what’s good in ya hood hun?
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so you tryna say ‘black men’ don’t wife they women. so not true.
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they’d rather have a baby mama 1st.
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so you tryna say ‘black men’ don’t wife they women. so not true.
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they’d rather have a baby mama 1st.
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LMAO!!! Thank you @Man
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@MAN & ACE: Y’all both dumb! Cause to put down the black man, your ‘putting down yourselves’ just make sure you don’t fit this mode your trying to display and marry your women when the time is right.
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Thank you @QueenC,!
I’m so glad my black man married me!
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Haters!
Let’s hear the positive things. In today’s economy, it’s wonderful to find a place where you can go to take your mind of of all the pressures of life. Everyone has an opinion, but it doesn’t make it fact. Kudos Chef Marcus Samuelsson, and The Red Rooster.
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welcome to Harlem Marcus!
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I’m LOL! Why are you welcoming him to harlem? when you don’t live there.
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IDK, I wanted to add something poistive i guess.
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i applaud the ceo family for trying to be positive but keep it real yall. trace was not feeling this restaurant sorry.
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Tracy
Correction: This restaurant opened in Decemeber. Not this past weekend.
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I thought so, esp. since my co-worker said she was there on New Year’s Eve.
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Thank you both, someone else told me that too. well maybe blog queen thought the restaurant opened this past weekend. ya neva know.
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I checked this place out last night. It’s hip and trendy but reminded me of a market place/cafeteria/bar/restaurant. The food was good and def. not prepared like soul food but he can get a pass from me.
Thank you Ms. Bell, I love your restaurant post and always look forward to eating some place new (like you 🙂
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I’m LOL, cause Tracy doesn’t sound excited about this place at all! Wonder where my girl ate 2nite?
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