A Guide to Black-Owned Restaurants and Bars in New York State
It’s all about the flavor and the soul, and the Empire State has it all. Support your brothers and sisters when traveling anywhere in New York State.
With the assistance of I Love NY, here’s our guide to Black-owned and African-inspired establishments from Long Island to the Finger Lakes, with all bringing heart, taste, community, family, and enterprise to the experience of eating out in the Empire State.
Restaurants and Fine Dining
BLVD Bistro (NYC): Harlem’s Southern comfort food destination serving shrimp & grits, seven-cheese mac, and lamb chops in a stylish setting.
Melba’s Restaurant (NYC): Harlem icon Melba Wilson’s soul food staple—famous for chicken & waffles, catfish, and a high-energy Sunday brunch.
Red Rooster Harlem (NYC): Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s landmark bistro known for global soul food, live music, and its iconic gospel brunch recently welcomed new Chef ambassador Chef Ro who has brought to the menu of iconic Southern staples (think fried catfish and “yardbird” chicken) a brand-new addition: her own Gullah Geechee family recipe.
Every bite tells a story — honoring heritage, flavor, and the Harlem community through food that hits deep. This place isn’t just a restaurant, it’s culture on a plate it is an, iconic destination in the New York culinary world. Plus, on Fridays from 7 pm to 10 pm, enjoy resident artists who specialize in Harlem Soul, R&B and more, under the direction of Harlem’s own Producer and Red Rooster’s resident artist of 15 years, Ahmaya Knoelle Higginson.
Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi (NYC): Afro-Caribbean fine dining from James Beard–winning chef Kwame Onwuachi, serving dishes like dumplings, short-rib pastrami suya, and braised oxtails in a vibrant, stylish setting. Each plate is elegant, elevated, and a work of art, with seasonal specialties on offer. Pictured in the image below left: Crispy Eggplant Curry, Sofrito Chicken, Fried Branzino with Rice & Peas, and Shortrib Pastrami Suya. The restaurant was named The New York Times’ Best New Restaurant in NYC in 2023.
Brooklyn Chop House (NYC): Black-owned fusion steakhouse serving chops, steaks, and creative dumplings in a lively setting.
BJ’s Restaurant (Hudson Valley): Cozy soul food mainstay serving fried chicken, oxtail, hearty desserts like sweet potato pie, and home-cooked flavors near Beacon’s artsy downtown.
The Public House at Urban Cowboy Lodge (Catskills): Rustic fine dining in a design-forward lodge setting featuring seasonal dishes from a Black-owned boutique hotel in Big Indian. Why not gather your gang and make a weekend of it?
International Flavors
Island Flavor Jerk Cuisine (Long Island): Authentic Jamaican dishes like jerk chicken, oxtails, curry goat, and Rasta pasta, crafted by entrepreneurs with over 40 years of culinary expertise in Amityville.
Just Jollof Kitchen (Hudson Valley): West African eatery in Middletown offering bold flavors like jollof rice, suya skewers, and okra stew—made fresh daily.
Top Taste Restaurant (Hudson Valley): James Beard–nominated Jamaican counter famed for charcoal-fired jerk chicken and oxtail in Kingston.
Keobi Restaurant (Capital-Saratoga): Black-owned restaurant highlighting West African flavors—think jollof rice, jerk chicken, and hearty stews in a warm, welcoming space in Albany. Keobi strives to serve the best Nigerian cuisine in the Capital District. “We provide tasty African delicacies with an emphasis on great customer service, excellence, and superior dining. Keobi is located in Albany, New York.
The owners say: “Keobi is founded on the need of African Immigrants, especially Nigerians, and American families alike to experience the ever-increasing demand for authentic Nigerian food and creating a service in response to those needs. Keobi is the premiere restaurant offering African food in Albany. We have a great selection of quality food and premium drinks.”
Hawi Ethiopian Cuisine (Finger Lakes): Family-run Ethiopian eatery featuring traditional injera platters, rich stews, and coffee ceremonies in Ithaca.
Royalty Food for Soul (Finger Lakes): Generous portions of Jamaican favorites like jerk chicken, curry dishes, and pepper steak served with big island flavor in Sodus.
Casual and Comfort Food
Allie B’s Cozy Kitchen (Capital-Saratoga): A soul food haven with fried chicken, candied yams, and family recipes made with love by Chef Kizzy in Albany. Fresh and tropical fruits are also a specialty.
Kitchen 216 (Capital-Saratoga): Soul food classics like fried catfish, turkey with baked mac & cheese, and collards are served in a casual, Black-family-run space in Albany. Yelp describes the food as “deliciously amazing” and a good choice for takeout and all-day brunch (French toast cornbread!). 518 Foodies raves: “Kitchen 216 is a hidden gem offering authentic southern comfort food, which is often overlooked in the Capital Region, and it’s truly incredible! … The Shrimp and Grits, complemented by their homemade Pineapple Ginger Lemonade, were possibly the best in the 518.”
Soulicious II (Capital-Saratoga): Soul food favorite offering ribs, fried chicken, mac & cheese, and Southern-style comfort in a welcoming environment in Schenectady.
Park Vue Soul Food Bar & Restaurant (Greater Niagara): Family-run kitchen dishing shrimp, fried chicken, and classic sides like collard greens in a neighborhood hangout in Buffalo.
The Fire Spot (Greater Niagara): Black veteran-owned kitchen serving soul food from soup to nuts. Think chicken and waffles for breakfast, steak hogie for lunch, and pork chop with all the sides for dinner! Serving as a Lieutenant in the Buffalo Fire Dept, a veteran in the United States Air Force, and selling a successful restaurant he built from the ground up, Rodney Wilkinson is the charismatic figure behind this beloved spot. “We don’t have customers, we serve family” is the slogan. And that’s you!
Simply Soul (Greater Niagara): Comfort food served with warmth—fried chicken, ribs, cornbread, and soulful sides in a welcoming, down-home space in Niagara Falls.
Bars and Breweries
Harlem Hops (NYC): Manhattan’s first 100% Black-owned craft beer bar, known for rare brews and Caribbean-inspired bar bites.
The Honey Well (NYC): Retro-chic cocktail lounge in West Harlem with vintage décor, creative cocktails, and small plates—a must for a night out. Extremely LGBTQ+-friendly, the back patio draws groups for special occasions and Pride celebrations. Owned by Lauren Lynch and Marcio Ramos, The Honey Well serves up elevated, experimental cocktails with a sense of humor, and stylish bar bites.
The Guest House Bar & Bistro (Long Island): Upscale Mediterranean bistro in Levittown featuring happy hour drinks, brunch with bottomless mimosas, and entrées like lamb chops and seafood pasta.
Hunter Mountain Brewery (Catskills): Black-owned brewpub in Hunter with over 15 taps, hearty fare, and mountain views—perfect after a leaf-peeping drive or ski trip.
Legacy Wine Bar (Finger Lakes): Cozy urban wine bar in Rochester featuring curated wines, truffle fries, and Philly egg rolls with Rochester’s famous Boss Sauce.
Apogee Wine Bar (Finger Lakes): Black-woman-owned neighborhood wine lounge in Rochester pouring diverse global wines with chef-driven small plates.
Bites and Beats
Café Erzulie (NYC): Haitian-inspired café by day, party spot by night with craft cocktails, DJ sets, and a colorful backyard scene in Brooklyn.
The Rum Bar (NYC): Caribbean-inspired bar and bites in Brooklyn serving jerk spring rolls, reggae playlists, and a laid-back vibe ideal for groups.
Suite 36 Brunch & Bistro (Long Island): Brunch classics with a twist—lemon pepper wings, seafood grits, skirt steak, “suite life” waffles with lobster tail!—in a lively atmosphere with DJs in Floral Park. Our spies tell us the brunch is definitely worth the wait!
Lavish Lounge (Finger Lakes): Jamaican American fusion spot known for oxtail, jerk chicken, live music, and a buzzing late-night crowd in Auburn.
Cafés and Bakeries
The Nourish Spot (NYC): Two locations in New York City offering acai bowls, wellness shots, and cold-pressed juices from this health-forward Black-owned brand.
Bayview Kitchen (Long Island): Black-owned café in Amityville offering brunch and dinner menus featuring avocado toast, jerk chicken, salmon scampi, and chicken & waffles.
See & Be Kitchen (Catskills): Black-owned bakery and café in Cairo serving sourdough, wood-fired pizza, and seasonal pastries—perfect for a cozy brunch after a hike.
Golden Cup Coffee (Greater Niagara): Black-owned café in Buffalo serving premium roasts, fresh pastries, and a welcoming community vibe.
Northstar Public House (Finger Lakes): New American fare and craft cocktails in a cozy converted house in Ithaca—founded to celebrate Black heritage and local produce.
Epicurean Itinerary Ideas
Brunch + Nature: Grab breakfast at See & Be Kitchen in Cairo before a hike at Webster’s Pass from the lovely Winter Clove Inn, which is situated perfectly next to trails that reach waterfalls, ridges and mountains offering beautiful views of the Catskills.
Wine + Culture: Sip at Legacy Wine Bar after visiting Rochester’s jazz history spots.
Soul Food + History: Dine at Simply Soul, then explore the Underground Railroad Center in Niagara Falls.
City Night Out: Feed your soul at BLVD Bistro and sip cocktails at The Honey Well in Harlem dance the night away at Café Erzulie in Brooklyn.
