BB King Blues Club & Grill Dining Review
Both venues offer menus that tilt toward Southern soul food: barbecue pulled pork sandwiches, Cajun rock shrimp popcorn, blackened catfish, chicken and andouille gumbo and barbecued baby back ribs. Although the kitchen churns out some surprisingly creative specials that are more imaginative than most nightclub fare, few folks come to the club for haute cuisine food, or for that matter, for quiet conversation. Along with its counterparts in Memphis and Los Angeles, B.B. Kings in New York is a scene (and not a serene one). And if its not tete a tete territory, it is an exciting, electric spot filled with head bobbing, toe tapping, aisle jumping aficionados.
The night I was there, Bo Diddley, "The man who put the 'rock' in rock n' roll" brought the standing, screaming, hand-clapping crowd to a frenzy at his finale. B.B. King appears a few times a year, as do performers like James Brown, Sonny Rollins, Roberta Flack, Oleta Adams and the Brothers Johnson. Appreciative New Yorkers and tourists from all over come to take their pictures and sway, bounce and gyrate in their seats to the pulsating sounds, the vibrating beat of hot music. At the tiny, bare tables with their candles and ketchup bottles, the faithful eat everything from club sandwiches to venison in a port wine and red currant sauce accompanied by poached pears. So if you want to eat a two or three-course dinner, not to worry.
Many, perhaps most, of the people around you will be chopping on burgers, macaroni and cheese, fries, onion rings and pecan, apple, key lime and Mississippi mud pies. We started with a shrimp cocktail and were rewarded with five truly jumbo fellows and a zippy sauce laced with fresh horse raddish. One of the unexpected culinary flourishes also came at appetizer time: an entree-size seared tuna fillet wrapped with black peppercorns in four phyllo dough rolls, drizzled with teriyaki sauce atop mesclun greens dressed with lemon vinaigrette.
A very respectable, no-nonsense main course is the juicy, herb-roasted half-chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy. Light eaters can opt for the light, diminutive catfish filet described as ìblackenedî, but not the least bit spicy or threatening. The numero uno entr»e sampled was a slab of moist, grilled Atlantic salmon on a bed of savory, wild rice, alive with sundried tomatoes, mushrooms and artichokes. These straight-ahead victuals can be washed down with anything from unsweetened ice tea to wine to one of five martinis (berry, red apple, peach puree, pear liqueur or chocolate).
237 W. 42nd St. (Seventh-Eighth Aves.), 212-997-4144.
New York City Activities
More Articles
Dine Like a New Yorker: Why Redeye Grill & Brooklyn Diner USA are Two of the Best Restaurants in Midtown NYC
Experience the best of NYC dining at Redeye Grill & Brooklyn Diner USA on 57th St. Enjoy top-notch cuisine & ambience near at these restaurants near Carnegie Hall in Midtown Manhattan.
Where to Eat When Visiting Manhattan’s Museum Mile
Explore a diverse range of dining experiences near Manhattan's Museum Mile, from international cuisines like Austrian and Greek to classic Italian and French options.
Best Late Night Desserts in NYC
From iconic cannolis at Caffe Palermo in Little Italy to nostalgic desserts at Empire Diner, there are great places all around NYC when that late-night sweet tooth starts to tingle. Read on for great shakes, cakes, cookies, and more in the wee hours.
Utsav Introduces New Bengali Menu
Utsav, a woman-owned restaurant in the Theater District, has been serving a dynamic combination of Chinese and Indian cuisine now for more than 23 years. They've recently introduced a Bengali menu.
Conversations: David Letterman with Alex Honnold at Perelman Performing Arts Center | PAC NYC on 4/25/24
Late Night legend David Letterman brings his trademark dry humor, irreverence, and sincere curiosity
F*Bomb Presents: Green Day & My Chemical Romance Tribute at Berlin Under A on 4/25/24
Prepare for a night of pop-punk insanity when F*Bomb, NYC's longest running monthly Rock & Roll part
The Lemonade 5K at Hempstead Lake State Park on 4/28/24
Charitable Events, Other Volunteering/Nonprofits, 5K
Craig at Players Theatre on 4/26/24
The award-winning variety comedy group Craig presents, for one night only, a high-energy show packed