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Categories: Southern, Latin American, American (New)
Neighborhoods: Theater District, Hell's KitchenSweet Emily's is now open Tues - Sun at 12 noon!
50th St-8th Ave (C, E)
50th St-Broadway (1)
7th Ave-53rd St (B, D, E)
Mon. 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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Just... wow.
We came here after the Colbert Report (On yelp's recommendation, so thanks!) and now adore this place. I don't go to NY often, usually just for an event, but this will be on my list of awesome, sure-fire places. It's uncannily cheap for NY! Our party of four got out for about $120, and we had a bottle of wine.
I had the adobo chicken, and it was amazing. Perfectly seasoned, juicy, tender, delicious. Served with a chorizo rice, equally stunning. I literally picked it clean. Our waiter was brand new, it was his first night, and he was great. Emily must do a good job picking her staff.
Speaking of Emily, she came to say hello to us at the end of our meal and to deliver a few cheesecake bites, on the house. I was informed that she just opened in February. Good luck, the restaurant is awesome! And for God's sake, hold on to your chef!
As mentioned by others, Sweet Em's has a very homey vibe--you feel as if you're walking into someone's home instead of a restaurant. Once in, the waitstaff are welcoming and friendly. The food is quite good--I especially liked the house-smoked pork chops and shepherd's pie--although the portion sizes a little spartan. The drink menu has lots of interesting concoctions; I've tried a few of them and have yet to be disappointed. If you're not sure which one of their cocktails to try, I'd recommend starting with the Dark and Stormy--it's rum mixed with homemade ginger beer.
The meal starts with complimentary mini corn muffins and butter that serve as both an appetizer and a view of coming attractions. My only complaint is that the dessert selection here is quite predictable (bread pudding, chocolate something) and the actual items leave much to be desired.
Meh is right. I want to give this place a better review because the wait staff was so nice and the decor is really cute (reminiscent of a 60's living room). But, the food was really just ok. The best thing that we had were the chicken arepas. The place was pretty empty the entire night, too, despite the ongoing jazz.
On the upside, they have a really great space upstairs that they apparently use for classic movie screenings and comedy nights. The word is they also rent it out for events, which, if I ever have the need for a space, this might be it.
Over the years, West 51st between 8th and 9th always had a mini restaurant row feel to it. And over the years restaurants have come on gone except for the standard family owned Tout Va Bien.
On the same block is Sweet Emily's. Simply decorated, it feels as if you are walking into someone's living room. People are warm and friendly and Emily herself is really sweet.
The dining area is plain , tables covered with what feels like oilcloth. The food is not only reasonably priced but...great...I mean great tasting, looking, smelling, etc.
Butternut squash soup, plaintain coated tilapia in a mango/ginger broth, cheesecake empanadas...great combination of flavors!
On Friday night there was live jazz: an interesting blend of Indian musicians playing some traditional instruments with a contemporary jazz sound.
I'll be back!
Sweet Emily's sweets was the only thing that was sweet. We tried the Bacon Mac & Cheese Croquette because of the rave reviews, but were a bit disappointed. It was just two mozzarella sticks with mac and cheese fillings. I really wanted to try to mussels, but they were out :(
For my entree I had the Panko-Crusted Salmon Cakes (listed in the small plate section) and it was so-so. The warm apple cake was the only thing I really liked at the restaurant.
The restaurant's interior was fancy and the presentation of the food was fine, but I felt that I could have gotten more food for the amount I paid :/
Recommendations
~would be appropriate for a business meeting dinner; seemed a bit too formal for a casual girl's night out
~Come here for sweets! (especially the Warm Apple Cake)
Sweet Emily's is the kind of place you just can't help but have warm and yummy feelings about.
Emily's the unassuming homely girl-next-door who turns out to be the most satisfying seductress behind closed doors.
My friend and I walked a little after 8p on a Thursday night. We were the only ones there. The bartender explained that the theater crowd had just left....all of them. I'm not gonna lie, eating in a big empty restaurant felt strange, weird, awkward...I kinda wanted to leave.
But then I had a sip of some berry margarita. I forget what it was called, but it was amazing. We decided to stay and dine mid-slurp.
The food was WOWZERS. We shared the bacon mac-cheese croquette and we were pretty much fighting for the last piece...I almost lost a friend. The entree...we had a jerk chicken special which came with coconut rice and plantains...everything was awesome. THEN....THEN....we shared some kind of warm apple cake...and the world disappeared...the only thing I could see was the spoon and the cake...I stopped breathing to focus on eating every crumb.
Yes, Emily is THAT good. She's worth sitting in an empty restaurant for. She knows what's up....don't trust anyone who judges her by her appearance (which can only be described as 80s diner chic).
Great food at a great price.
We stopped in for a late lunch after checking in at the W-J hotel across the street. We ordered a couple of specialty cocktails, the mac & cheese croquettes, ceviche, chicken pot pie, and chef's salad. All the food was great and the service was prompt and friendly.
Best of all the prices were very affordable. We're used to downtown Chicago prices and had been suffering Manhattan sticker-shock all weekend, but Sweet Emily's prices compare very favorably to Chicago and are a downright bargain compared to everywhere else we've eaten this weekend.
After reading such great reviews from yelpers, we decided to come out here to check it out ourselves. We were welcomed by a friendly bartender who tried to fool us into thinking he was French. Since the place was pretty empty (twas only 6ish), we had a choice of where to sit and received great service from the start. We were all satisfied with our dishes. I ordered the Mexican lasagna which is a lot like a taco salad but reversed-- the lettuce is on top of tortilla chips filled with taco like beef and cheese. My friend enjoyed her Chicken Arepas which was on the lighter side (the tender chicken had a special kick thanks to the coffee flavor, the arepa was soft ). My other friend had chicken tortilla soup for the first time and was pleasantly surprised.
Although we were full, we couldn't pass up sharing dessert and trying the much raved about chocolate bread pudding. Hands down, we concur, "IT'S SOOO AMAZING! The intense dark chocolate flavor was balanced by the light and slightly spongy texture and topped with sliced strawberries on a surface of melted vanilla ice cream.
I plan on coming back here again and trying the main dishes. I wish the place could be a little more lit or had actual windows, but it certainly has an unexpectedly chic decor. Now, if only I could own one of their beautiful sage green sofas in the waiting area....
Emily and her husband, Vincent, the chef, have created a charming place with a bistro-like atmosphere reminiscent of the 40s. The food is great, the wait staff is friendly and the prices are right. What more could you ask for?
Yelp helped again! I was looking for a place that wasn't one of the usual suspects of soul food places for Mother's Day that could accomodate 5 people. So I put in all a load of criteria in the filter bar and found Sweet Emily's and boy were we pleasantly pleased!
The food is so good you wanna slap the cook good which we could have since we met Emily who is quite sincere and chatted with us for a while. Nothing was disappointing and the drinks were on point too!
Sweet Emily's was a sweet find!
After all the rave reviews I'd read about this place, I could hardly wait to go try it! After a couple of false starts, we made it there for an early dinner at about 6 PM on a week night. We were the only customers in the restaurant. It felt really weird, but we'd read other reviews from people who had also had the place to themselves, so we decided to stay. We were very, very disappointed in the entire experience. The portions were very small (we had small plates, but there was little on them), and the flavor was uninteresting. A lot of salt helped, but still... it was all very bland. Even the cornbread mini muffins were dull and without flavor. So- we'd read about their great desserts, and ordered the chocolate cake, hoping that it might be good enough to make us forget that we were still starving after dinner (if you can call four bites dinner). It was chocolate cake. Noting more, nothing less. A box cake made at home tastes as good or better. By the time we left, there were people at three other tables, so that made it less spooky in the very dimly lit place. We left and went elsewhere for another dinner, since we'd had appetizers, dinner, and dessert at Sweet Emilys- and were still hungry. Bummer. We thought we'd discover our new neighborhood favorite, but honestly, we won't be going back. (PS. It smells a little old and stuffy inside.)
Sweet Emily's is located in the former Rene Pujol space on the alternative to Restaurant Row, 51st between 8th and 9th. Entering the restaurant reveals a cozy lounge area and bar which on a Friday evening was well populated. The main restaurant area consisted of several tables for two and space for larger parties as well. Space between tables was a healthy distance- one need not fear overhearing the minutiae of your neighbor's life or risk bumping into them upon exiting.
Interior details aside, the menu consists of a mix of US southern style favorites along with Latin American delights. As an appetizer, I opted for the ceviche, served in a milkshake glass with various peppers and chopped veggies. My fiancee had the cheddar poppers which were surprisingly hot, spice-wise, not temperature. We were both satisfied by the appetizers appearance and taste.
Service was prompt and cordial as it should be.
Moving on to the main attractions, I ordered the shrimp and grits while my fiancee had their southern fried chicken special. The chicken special comes with potato salad but a substitution of mashed potatoes was not a problem.
However, mashed potatoes usually come with gravy and these didn't. Oversight? Neglect? A new way of presenting an old favorite?
My shrimp and grits were tasty enough, presenting approximately 6 shrimp sans shell spread across a base of grits. The grits were tasty and creamy, not a hard gritty piece to be found.
And finally, dessert consisted of chocolate cake and an apple cake. Dessert was our favorite part of the meal by far.
What makes Sweet Emily's an especially attractive dining proposition is price- we're looking at entrees costing 15 dollars or less, with a 'small plates' section of the menu at an even lower number. That, when combined with good taste, is a win.
Ridiculously cheap for being in Manhattan and central location w/in Manhattan.
Went before a broadway show, found restaurant right here on yelp. They accomodated us perfectly, bringing the food out quickly. And getting us the check when we requested it.
Both the blackberry mojito and cucumber/gin drink were stellar, very smooth and refreshing. They could have easily charged $13 for them (only $10)
We had the plantain encrusted tilapia and sheperd's pie. Both were delicious and cheap, like the drinks.
Only regret is that I wish we had gotten there earlier to have the dessert and maybe a second drink.
highly recommend
I dont know how this place got such great reviews. the food was good but the portions are small and not what you expect from a "southern" restaurant. the space is dingy, old and dim. we ordered a large plate but the waitress messed up the order and gave us a small place instead, but she offered to fix her mistake (which we didnt take bc we were in a rush) so she gave us two future free drinks.
I came here based on the awesome reviews on Yelp and I twas hrilled!!! Walk down into the restaurant and you feel you are at grandma's southern house with a bar right in front. The bartender was AWESOME! So friendly and even transferred our drink tab to the dining table. Rare to find in any restaurant! Must have the jalepeno infused margarita with FRESH strawberries and limes! It was the most exciting drink I've ever tasted!!! The blueberry mojito is also very delicous.
The food was just as exciting and flavorful. I had the salmon which was cooked to perfection accompanied by mashed potatoes and spinach. They even bring out little corn bread mini bites when you sit down.
This is a great, comfortable, friendly restaurant that makes you forget you are in NYC. Which at points is a good thing!...Did I mention it was affordable too?
Wow - I came in during their soft-open and I have to say the folks here were really friendly. I ordered the Jacquis burger and the bacon, mac and cheese croquette. While waiting for the dish, they let me try some of their pork quesadilla. Wow! This was beautifully presented and very tasty. I didn't feel that it was very greasy, AND it left me with a hunger for more. I almost wished I didn't order the burgerm that is, until I tasted the burger.
Both (burger and the croquette) were awesome. The burger had carmelized onions, and a chipotle BBQ sauce that came with your choice of cheese. Really flavorful and the bun didn't get soggy.
The bacon, mac & cheese croquettes were shaped like HUGE cheese sticks and were relatively light and sweet. They went well with the salsa which had a light spice to it. I can't really nail down the ingredients, but it leaves you with a similar feeling as A-1 steak sauce... with fresh ingredients of course.
Anyway, the food was really tasty, the crew was incredibly friendly. and me? I am excited to welcome this restaurant to the neighborhood with many more returns.
6 of us had a great dinner at Sweet Emily's last night. Emily and Victor treated us like family, and we had great service thoughout the meal. The food was universally delicious. The quality and preparation were worthy of meals in the mid $20's, but all the entrees were in the mid teens.
One often hears horror stories of poor service for new places that haven't gotten their acts together. Emily clearly knows what she's doing, starting with a small menu and only opening one dining room to start to ensure a great dining experience from day one.
I went to Sweet Emily's after seeing a promotion on http://Restaurant.com for it. The prices looked good and the yelp reviews even better. Here are the results...
The order:
Shrimp Mojito Appetizer/Small Plate
Plantain Crusted Tilapia
Honey & Red Pepper Roasted Salmon
The service/atmosphere:
It was not busy (it was a Monday night and raining), and the decor was nice. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be fancy or laid back - bc it was definately a mix of both.
The service was excellent and the waitress very helpful.
The food:
The shrimp mojito was amazing. For $10, we got 6 jumbo shrimp (which could be considered an entree at some restaurants). They were perfectly seasoned and cooked. The mojito sauce was to die for.
Each entree was $15, way below what most restaurants would probably charge.
I had the plaintain crusted Tilapia and it was really good. Great flavors, not too oily and beautifully presented. My husband had the Salmon, and once again, delicious, well balanced and very well presented.
I never would have guessed that our superb 4.5* meal cost under $50 (including tip and tax).
While in NYC over the weekend we checked out Sweet Emily's. This restaurant is fantastic! Everything we had to eat and drink was amazingly tasty and reasonably priced. To start, I had the Blackberry Mojito-- so good and it had just the right amount of rum. My boyfriend and I shared the Vegetable Quesadilla-- the veggies were grilled to perfection and the tomatoes and onions were very fresh. I also loved the avacado sour cream on top. I ordered the Coffee Rubbed Chicken Arepas. The coffee idea might sound weird, but it tasted so good. I could have eaten twice as much. My boyfriend ordered the Mexican Lasagna and loved it as well. For dessert we had tea and shared the Chocolate Bread Pudding-- to die for!! I can't wait to go back to NYC to eat at Sweet Emily's!
Great food! Fantastic service!
My husband and I were just visiting NY for the weekend and we stayed at Hampton Inn on 8th Ave. It was totally out of chance that we ended up at the restaurant. It was a cold February winter night and we decided to just walk around the block.
There it was, newly opened then. The menu was just inviting so we decided to try it out. The short-ribs (which, i don't think, is in the menu anymore) was just delicious. The food was sophisticated yet homey. And the atmosphere of the place was comfortable. It wasn't touristy at all, yet not intimidating to out-of-towners like us. Of course, the staff were very friendly.
The blackberry mojito was very refreshing and was well worth a try.
We would definitely come back when we visit New York.
I really really hope this new restaurant makes it! The food is an amazing value, especially given the location. The decor is classy and the lighting is sexy. Saying the service was attentive would be an understatement; there were few others in the restaurant. I started with the margarita with jalepenos and strawberry (inspired by the Death and Co Fresa Brava?) which was strange but in a good way. They start you off with a mini cornbread. The bacon mac and cheese appetizer was almost spot on; the texture was great but the inside was a bit cold and I did not taste much bacon. The main courses are really noteworthy and average a mere $15. I ordered the shrimp and grits, both were prepared exactly as I hoped they would be. The tilapia entree had the perfect crust and tasted very fresh. There was unfortunately no room for dessert, next time. The place is just so darn inviting that we ended up moving to the couches at the bar area for a post dinner drink where I enjoyed the tartness of the blackberry mojito. I was sad to see so many empty tables at this restaurant. I hope they fill up (hint hint go eat there tonight), I am rooting for them!
Eating in Hell's Kitchen and Midtown West can go…
