Ashford & Simpsons Sugar Bar in New York
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New York, New York County, New York, US
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Site: http://www.sugarbarnyc.com/
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:3–10PM
- Wednesday:3–10PM
- Thursday:3–11PM
- Friday:3–11PM
- Saturday:3–11PM
- Sunday:12–8PM
It was alright. It was a party of 5 on Fathers Day. My friends from Ohio placed these reservations weeks ago. The ambiance was nice! The food in my opinion wasnt that good, although I heard great reviews. Perhaps it was my selection. We chose from the brunch menu. I had a basic pancakes, eggs, home fries + bacon. Ive been fiending for pancakes for months, so naturally, I was very disappointed. The pancakes were the worst...The Bellini was delicious. My friends said the shrimp and/or fish w/ grits were good. Perhaps, I should have had those dishes. Also, the seating was very tight. GOD forbid if you had to use the lavatory, everyone had to be moved and the tables had be pulled out to let the person squeeze through. Thats not cool at all.
If youre a musician, careful to bring deodorant or the bouncer will (politely) ask you to mask your odor. Its a shame some of the patrons who frequent the bar cannot bear to pay an unpaid act in their capacity to bear the sweat of a man who came to offer his music free of charge. In fact I had to pay to play. With all due respect, there are other kinds of stench that no deodorant can mask. And they smell the most when wearing a fancy suit. Perhaps this establishment can learn to offer as much soul as some of their artists do. All my sweaty love ❤
I visited for birthday with some friends. Had a good time. Ambiance was very nice. Music was nice. Everyone cleared their plates. Mac and Cheese ok. Collards, too big. Next time, Ill try the cream spinach.☺ Beans and rice good. Drinks good. Grilled chicken good. Fried chicken nice and hot. Bring the red devil. My goddaughter loved the tacos. ☺ Left feeling real good. 😊💃🏾🕺🏾✌🏾
I have been to Sugar Bar several times. My family was in town from LA and I wanted them to hear some of the best live music in the city. We had a great time!!! The food was delicious! So delicious I forgot to take photos of most of it. We had shrimp and grits, veggie burger, lamb chops, penne pasta, and black catfish. Our plates were all clean afterwards 🤤. The ambiance is soulful and family like. Ill definitely be back!
First, this rating is literally primarily based on the disgusting attitude/ service that I received from the hosts at the door entry (5/6/22). (Nothing to do with the food and drinks, which are amazing, my family are regular customers here) however distasteful service can greatly impact returning to an place like this.Well I decided to dine in and treat the special women in my life to an early Mother’s Day dinner, I booked this spot in advance for a table of 5 and then ended up having to change the reservation the day of to just 2 instead.My Aunt and I arrived at around 6:40pm for our reservation at 7pm.The 2 Hispanic women that were the hosts at the door first said that they could not find my reservation. Then suddenly found it, after “skimming” through hand written papers for seating. She informed me that there was a $15 cover charge per person for the entertainment that Friday night at 8pm. We did not initially come for the entertainment because that’s usually done on Thursday nights, but I thought it would be a nice addition for my Aunt since they were playing Motown music, so I ended up obliging to pay. (Also you must have cash for door coverage)It would be nice if there was an ATM to accommodate that request being that most ppl. do not normally carry cash around anymore.We were then recommended to sit at the bar until our table for 2 was ready since we were “too early”. Sat down at the bar at 6:47pm, we didn’t receive service for drinks until around 7:07pm, mind you I’m keeping track of time because, I was wondering why it was taking so long to seat 2 ppl with reservations in an nearly empty restaurant. When entering the bar area, I immediately notice almost all of the lower level dining tables were set & empty except about 4-6 diners that were previously there. So I went back to ask if we could be seated, but then was told those seats were already accounted for the show. But the show didn’t start until 8pm, in which I didn’t mind eating then leaving, but she kept giving me the run around about our table being made up for us upstairs.Before finally getting seated around 7:23p I asked to see the dining area upstairs before having my clearly elderly Aunt climb the steps to upstairs. Well for starters the tables were all already set, as they were downstairs, but upon coming upstairs you can smell the restroom located directly in front of the stair case. The upstairs dining area has small seating booths with short stools on the opposite side without a back rest. (Definitely not suitable for my aunt), nor was I in agreement with paying to watch a live show located on a small tv upstairs.After seeing this was where we were waiting to sit all of this time, I immediately asked for my money back and ordered an Uber for pick up and found an awesome Steakhouse (212 Steakhouse)on the other side of Central Park (18min drive). We were seated shortly after making day of reservations and received happy greetings from the host. Which made a hell of a difference when planning to spend $300 on food. Service is everything and extremely important!I’m disappointed because I initially found this spot for my sisters and I to dine at years ago and my Oldest sister ended up loving it and becoming a regular supporter. (If not stopping by every other week, at least once a month). To receive the treatment that was given yesterday was highly discouraging of me ever returning. I rarely leave reviews now a days, but this was an issue that needed to be displayed and addressed accordingly about this establishment.
Omg!!! What a beautiful restaurant ! I’m a little late on this review however I had the most AMAZING 60th Birthday celebration with 5 of my BFFs and family. When I entered the door I was highly greeted and was given the best hospitality ever! The drinks were awesome!!! The food was excellent! Everyone’s food came out piping hot and no one had any complaints! I can’t wait to go back!!! Within the next couple of weeks! Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! 👍🏽
AMAZING! We were in NYC for one day and night staying at a hotel on W42nd St and my wife badgered me into going way up to w70 something to try the Sugar Bar. In my younger day I would not have argued, but given the fact that as out of towners (we live in Laurel, Md.) and are now seniors who failed at hailing cabs I was not anxious to venture beyond the entrance to our hotel. Needless to say, I was gently persuaded to go to Ashford and Simpsons Sugar Bar and I had one of the most memorable experiences of my life! Not only was the food delicious, but we felt more like we were at a family gathering than a restaurant. When the young man who tirelessly assisted us with our dinner choices realized we are huge Ashford and Simpson fans, he insisted we meet their two daughters who happened to be at the bar. They were both gracious, unpretentious, and friendly! What a wonderful experience! We were Invited back on an evening when there will be live music. We intend to go! Thank you everyone at the Sugar Bar for your kindness and for making sure we got back to our hotel safely! Most of all, thank you for allowing us to be a part of your family! Allen and Henriettz
If I could leave 0 stars, I would. The night start promisingly and ended terribly. I went to this establishment for the first time with two friends.We ordered our food. We ate. When it came time to pay the waiter brought out a singular check. We asked him to split it into 3. He did not. He brings back two checks, one with my order, my two friends are on a separate.We pay as instructed with a QR. After payment the app says, “your waiter has been notified of payment you can leave the restaurant.”We leave the establishment, we are walking down the street the waiter chases us down and says we did not pay for our food. We show him our digital receipts, he walks back to the establishment. We continue walking, he runs us down again saying we did not pay and that we must come back to the restaurant.We come back in, the manager and the waiter are telling us in front of a crowded bar that we didn’t pay for our food. We show him the digital receipts as well as the pending transactions from our bank accounts, and they still saying we didn’t pay for a meal.Due to an error on their end, we ended up paying for a plate again. We did not get an apology for calling us out in front of other people, nor for the error of the staff for filing the receipts wrong.As huge fans of Valerie Simpson we were excited to visit her restaurant for the first time, it was disheartening that the experience ended so terribly.
My sister and I went to NY to celebrate her 56th Birthday. So I thought it would be nice for us to support a black owned business while there. So I called weeks in advance and spoke with Matilda who was so professional on the phone and in person and explained that we were coming in from Detroit, MI to celebrate my Sister. When we arrived they (Matilda, Valarie Simpson, Chad Shepherd) had and showed us NOTHING BUT LOVE!!! Valarie and Chad sang “Happy Birthday” to my Sister, the food was DELICIOUS and Plentiful!!! You MUST go to the Sugar Bar when you are in NY so they can LOVE 💕 on you too!!!!!
The food could be called West Indian and soul food fusion. The menu had a good selection of dishes to choose from. The entrees averaged about $25 dollars. I had the pork chop with mashed potatoes and greens. I also ordered a side of mac and cheese. My friends ordered the blackened salmon and the pan fried catfish. Everything was tasty and made to order! I am ready to go back now. They have live music at night. The place had ambiance.
Small in venvue, and can be tight if you are sitting up in the corner. It is a nice environment to enjoy live music. However, I had a hard time understanding the waiter with his spanish accent. He was talking to fast, and had to ask him to repeat himself alot. The food was good, but the alcoholic drinks taste like juice. Other than that, nice spot.
This would ideally be 3 1/2 stars. We had a nice time last night here. Service is a little slow but good. And it’s nice to take your time. We had the lamb chop and the pork chop and they were both good. The cocktails are great. Their red wines, not so much so I had a Prosecco. Maybe it’s a cocktail kind of place. The one big negative is that it’s LOUD. The tables on each side of us were very loud. I had to scream for my husband across the table to hear me. They had burgers and tacos and I can see me taking the kids here
Came on Open Mic Night, I am FIIIINE, if I go back to Dallas today, thats how much Ive enjoyed the first night of NYC! Never heard of this place, until Tevin Campbell mentioned it on Black Music Honors, so I checked their calendar for events and my first NYC night was there! AND TO SEE VALERIE SIMPSON THERE TOO! I DID NOT EXPECT THAT!!!
I made reservations a week in advance to come to this restaurant and came all the way from Virginia. When I arrived the restaurant was closed and had a sign on the door. A courtesy email, text or something would have been nice. I was so looking forward to dining here.
Love the ambiance. The one thing that could possibly be a fall back is the thing that I love about this spot: quaint, close quarters!! The staff is friendly and accommodating. The food selections are perfect for the size of the restaurant. Love that this is a hot spot for celebs!! On blues night Tuesdays, there is an open Mic set that is off the chain. If youre lucky, you may even run into Val Simpson, who is ALWAYS at the spot.
My wife and I came here for dinner and absolutely loved the food! If you’re a fan of classic southern soul food and 60’s - 70’s R&B music, this is the spot for you! Great food, great ambiance, and extra points for being black-owned. We’ll definitely be coming back to the Sugar Bar.
I went last Friday to have a couple of drinks with my friends. Beautiful place, amazing food but what’s very unacceptable is that we waited forever for service , because apparently just one person was working the entire floor. And that on a friday ? Just to get the servers attention took each time about 20mins. But it’s beyond me why nobody else was able to come and take care of my even there were other servers . If you are going to run your establishment like this, might as well be open just on Mondays and snow days .
Small, intimate, cool, hip eatery with an excellent selection of food and music to boot. Particularly enjoyed the plantains and warm atmosphere. Ashford and Simpson are one of my favorite duos from back in the day. Thanks for a great evening of food and fun in the Big Apple (NYC).
I absolutely love this place!!! The jerk lamb chops/ pork chops are both my favorite! I don’t like any ole Mac & cheese but they have nailed it! I miss the music but Now that things are opening up and weather is changing I’m enjoying the outdoor seating. I will be back! This feels like home!
The Sugar Bar has been one place that I have always wanted to experience. I havent lived in NY for more than 4 decades. My friend Bernard Davis who is also the drummer there, made our reservation for Open Mic. My friend and I had a fabulous time. The food was sumptuous and our sweet dessert was having our picture taken with the incomparable Valerie Simpson...
Loudest bar in the neighborhood. I am across the street, and 150 feet up, I get all the noise without the service.there are chicken bones on the sidewalk of this restaurant almost every morning.It would be nice if Sugar bar cleaned up the bones and removed choking hazards for dogs.I am confident the food is amazing, but I have not yet tried.
Sugar Bar is one of my favorite neighborhood spots! I initially went to support two iconic music legends, Ashford and Simpson, and I keep returning for the delicious food, curated atmosphere, and welcoming environment. Sugar Bar also had plenty of delicious full vegan options such as the lentil bowl, vegetable wrap and vegetarian chili. Thank you to Nick, Valerie and their team for this special spot.
0/10 I don’t recommend at all. It was very unprofessional the waiter judged us for what we chose to order and told us we were “consuming too many carbs”! The drinks tasted straight out of a fish tank. Food was like the food at ur local chicken spot nothing spectacular only the Mac and cheese was the star. The tacos were so dry I thought I was eating a Popeyes biscuit. They’re was one person cooking the food and serving tables and when we told him our meat wasn’t well done he still forced us to eat it...we originally wanted seats outside but the hostess in very loud heels told us we couldn’t because they’re was no space but proceeded to give up our seats to a group of caucasians...why is they’re discrimination at a black venue? Smh do better please.
Had a relax good time tonight! Food was goid came in a timely manner! Our waiter/bartender was on point he was very busy but still made time to care for us! I love going to a black owned businesses that has great food an custom service! We be back this week for sure to try other dishes
I love it, love it, love it. There is a cover charge ($10 I think) but the place it tons of fun, especially on Tuesdays when Demera hosts an amateurs night to die for. If the downstairs is full they can accommodate you upstairs where you follow the show on a screen. The food is plentiful but not of top notch quality. But who cares? The music is so much fun that the food becomes an afterthought.
I go here for the music. Would not make a recommendation based on the food - at least what I ordered. First time here I ordered the wings and they were good. Second time ordered the burger - was dry and the bun was hard. So the four stars is based on the music - was $10 cover charge on a Tuesday. Plus the have a good mixologist. Knows his stuff! Since Ill continue to come for the music I will keep trying different dishes. Maybe Ill find their specialty.
I totally loved this place. I brought my mom for her birthday. They were having motown Wednesday live music. All of the performers were exceptional. The best Ive heard in a long time. The food was amazing and delicious. The service was great.no complaints and I plan on coming again and again especially when they have live music. Theres a $10 fee the night of live music to support the band. It will be well worth it.
This was our 1st time at the Sugar Bar and I would like to say thank you to the waiter who served us Manuel was attentive and welcoming. He made sure we were comfortable before we were seated for dinner. Good service is a plus for me. The food and music complimented one another. The crab cakes are amazing! Our entire dining experience was great! We will be returning to enjoy the good music,the company of a mature crowd, and its delicious food.
Fabulous. Not many places you can continually have a good time and be surprised. Open mic nights are a lot of fun... every night is fun! Wonderful friendly staff and delicious food. Catfish fingers and fried chicken never disappoint. I almost always get and enjoy a special as well.
This is a lovely, handsome and mature spot. The food is delicious and the service is spot on. My lady and I definitely enjoyed the live jazz. It, to some degree, made us feel like a contemporary version of the Harlem Renaissance. Whenever you are in the City, indeed check out this place!
Not too happy about the wait service here. The menu had elements missing from the dish, but the staff claimed it was in infused.For example, the mashed potatoes were suppose to have green onions and cheddar, but anyone with clear vision and pallets could see and taste that there were no green onions nor cheddar in the dish. My opinion - not worth the amount of money theyre offer.The live band was good tho.
It was amazing night for me and my wife as the atmosphere was full of energy and entertaining I have ever seen. It was a great privilege to meet Valerie Simpson the owner of the place as she had a heavy influence in my life and the way she and her husband helping aspiring artist in the music industry. We also enjoyed the music, foods and drinks which got everyone into groove throughout the night. I wouldn’t mind going there again as this is been the best bar I have been with my wife in a long time. Thank you.
The chicken, which is the only dish I had is solid... Solid as a rock... By the way, I only mean this in a good way. The chicken is actually really tender... And good. Also fun mixed drinks. I cant believe I lived in the neighborhood for a while and never went to check out music there in pre-covid times. Im looking forward to when this is all over and I can go.
It started off rocky. Took a minute place orders for appetizers and even longer to place entree orders so long that we had to be moved because the band was starting to place and I had to pay the cover charge anyway even though our server took really long to take our entree orders. So we got moved upstairs the bartender was pretty great had good knowledge of the menu kept us entertained while we waited even longer for food. I had the salmon which was great my friend had the fried pork chop and she loved it. Our dates ordered sandwiches one po boy and the other was a chicken sandwich. The chicken barely had any chicken on it and it was cold not sure if It was supposed to be that way. The po boy was okay but the bread was so HARDDD on both sandwiches that they had to pull it apart and just eat the meat. The entertainment was good
There is where my mom chose to spend her 50th birthday. We went on a Thursday, the day they have the live band, open mike, and appearances by Valerie Simpson herself. This place has a very homey rustic feel to it. On one hand we had a great time, we had awesome seats in the front, the drinks were great, the food was really good as well..With the exception of the greens my mom didnt feel they were cleaned really well because as she was eating them she could taste the grittiness of the sand. The band and the performances were amazing, they were very interactive with the crowd and even sang her happy birthday during their break. On the other hand there were a few things that could have been better. Once we made our reservation we were not informed of the mandatory $20 entrance fee for a Thursday, we were also not aware of the mandatory coat check which was only informed to some. The tables were all really close and there was no space to move around them. If someone had to use the restroom their table had to be pulled all the way out in order to let them exit. Outside of this I will recommend this restaurant for smaller parties.
Unfortunately the service wasn’t consistent I waited for an order from the bar that took four songs from Kym Hampton and then I got frustrated and went up to the bartending and got my drinks. The appetizer order was wrong we explained three times to the waiter that we wanted golden fried shrimps and he brought us something else he was very comfortable with the lady who is by herself in front of us sitting at a table by herself and was conscientious to make sure she had her food her drink and even refilled her wine. Besides that Kym Hampton was amazing. My daughter and her Husband order was brought 15 minutes before Kym Hampton was ending at 7 o’clock show unacceptable I’m so sorry for this review but I enjoyed myself with my wife
Great entertainment and food. However, more regulation needed on people standing in the walk way during the show. We arrived early enough to get great seats & spent quite a bit on food and drinks. Then came folks standing in the walk way, drinking water, not eating, and were simply wasting space & in the way of those trying to enjoy the show. Additionally, the wait staff repeatedly had to bump into them to get by. Your paying customers should take precedence.
Lovely place to celebrate a birthday. Food was great, drinks were okay and I love the Afrocentric decor. Interesting to have the option to pay $15 per person for live entertainment or be placed in the rear or upstairs of the venue to view on screen. However, the emcee (G-water or whatever) needs a lesson or two in hosting. It appeared this young man was so intoxicated that he could not articulate his introduction properly. It was sloppy and unprofessional.
My wife and I were visiting NY from Orlando. A music industry friend recommended that we go to the Sugar Bar for open mic night. We were not disappointed. We sat upstairs, which we quickly realized was the green room for the singers. The bartender (cant remember his name) was super cool, and all the people there were warm and friendly, making us feel like family. The food was awesome, and the entertainment was out of this world. All in all, this was one of the highlights of our trip.
Great music. Great service. Overall great. Our food took a bit long bit we got complimentary cornbread, which tasted great and a shot. The food was so good. Teriyaki salmon and fried chicken. What a good place. I will be back. P.S. its winter so sitting by the door brings a draft.
Came for my birthday dinner as a party of 7, was seated in the back of the restaurant with the air conditioning blowing on everyone we ate dinner in our coats. Asked staff to turn heat on was told that it gets really HOT back here. Ordered a pitcher of sangria it was WATERED DOWN so much from it being filled to the rim with ice!!! Smh, took super long for the food to come out and the order was wrong for the 3/7 people from our party, someone ordered the whole snapper and got tilapia, ordered collard greens and got string beans, etc. a side of sweet plantains came out 1/2 hour before the meal did. We had the manager take the $$ off from the WATERED DOWN PITCH OF SANGRIA ($35) which the waiter said he also heard us say when we poured the first glass. I gave 2 stars 1 for our nice waiter and his co worker who help clear the table after and 2- the music I would not be returning here sadly although the music was nice.
This was my first time ever going to this establishment, Very small and the decor is really out dated. For the name on the outside I was expecting so much more from this restaurant. I ordered the shrimp stuffed crab from the appetizer menu which were If memory serves me $14 give or take ( I may be off $2 up or down lol). You get 3 medium sized shrimp at best with a teaspoon full of crabmeat and 1/4 cup of mixed green tossed in a vinergerette dressing. It pains me to say but the mixed greens was the best thing on my plate, the shrimp and crabmeat were voided of any seasoning but thank sweet baby Jesus for S/P. Some of the others in my party were less than impressed with their meal as well. The 3 stars is for the band, although very loud...very entertaining and I enjoyed them very much. Oh btw, the hostess at the front was awesome and very stylish, should be a more suitable place for the aura that was given off because I saw a light in this lovely creature.
Served us our food after the band started and after not only paying for our large party, they charged us an extra $10 for the band. Wasnt like we werent already paying customers with a large group. Honestly felt like food was served slower to be able to charge the $10 cover. Love black owned, but that isnt right.
I was the Sugar Bars biggest fan until my last dining experience at the venue. The service at the place has never been good, but this time it was pretty bad. My friend and I were one of the first parties to sit down but the last party to get our food. I was also pleasantly shocked by the new menu and how many of the food favorites no longer existed. My waitress said there is a new chef and I think the new chef should be fired. I hate to be harsh but the food was terrible as well as bland.I always love the entertainment but Im not sure it is enough to make me come back to the Sugar Bar.
I first visited the Sugar Bar in 2004 with a friend visiting from Virginia Beach. We loved it! We partyed with Nick Ashford upstairs. Thereafter, at least twice a year my VB friend and I would visit the Sugar Bar reserving a seat near the stage. The food, the soulful ambiance, the music, Nick and Valerie singing together was a treat. We last visited in 2012 and we were personally greeted by Valerie Simpson and the night was so special. Do made a reservation on Thursday Nights which is the best!
This is a little soulful gem tucked away in the UWS with a grown and sexy vibe. The bartender Christopher took great care of my date and I as if we were regulars. The food was nothing short of comforting and abundant. A great date spot on a whim or a planned dinner with friends and family. Enjoy!
On a girls trip with my mom. She had heard about this spot and wanted to have a late dinner. I made a reservation a week in advance. I received a text yesterday asking to confirm my reservation. I responded and confirmed we would be there. We had tickets to a comedy show before dinner. They called while at the show to confirm again. Of course I couldn’t answer. We make it to the restaurant 5 minutes early and are told “You have a reservation? We have a private event!” I say yes I have a reservation and you confirmed it. A guy walks up and says they don’t have a reservation for tonight, I say yes I do. The hostess opens the book and finds my name. She says she’s sorry they don’t have a table. Another woman walks up and says go look for a table. The hostess leaves then comes back and says “we don’t have a table but you can wait 20 minutes and see if something opens at the bar but we’re really crowded!” WTH? How does this happen? Unacceptable. I will never come here again. Customer service is JOB 1 and if you can’t get that right I’m not interested!
I took my family to a pre Mothers Day dinner and show at the Sugarbar. BOY WERE WE DISAPPOINTED 😔. The hostess who greeted us and the performer, Burgandy Williams, are the shining two stars. They were great! Everything else was such a disappointment. We had to ask for bread after everyone who came after us was served. Our waitress was slow and nowhere to be found. When she finally took our orders, other tables were finishing their appetizers. I had to go to the host to get her to get the manager because we hadnt been served our entrees. The backup signers, sitting at another table was served before us. YES, THE BACKUP SINGERS, WHILE INTERMISSION WAS GOING ON, ATE BEFORE US!When my catfish finally made it to the table I had to send it back because it was oversalted and inedible. At that point I no longer had an appetite. My plate was not charged however, the manager acted as if he were doing some grand gesture.I really wanted to like this place. However, the Sugarbar left me with a bitter and salty taste.
A friend of mine took me to the Sugar Bar for my birthday dinner. The service was exellent and so was the food. I had the special of the day, which was Lamb chops. I tell you....it took quite a long time to get the food, but when it came it was cooked perfectly and the rice and beans were good, but the vegetable were exceptionally good. Im going to be honest....It was the best lamb chops I have ever had cooked with red wine and the taste was to die for. Not only will I go back but I am bringing quite a few friends and family with me. Special shoutout to the chef.
The space is a bit small and oddly shaped and the staff could be friendlier, but the musicians are great and the food and drinks are good. If youre unable to get a table in the main room, there are other rooms in the back and upstairs where you can watch the entertainment on a monitor. To me, that kind of lessens the thrill of going to a LIVE show, so Id suggest to reserve your seat as early as possible or else youll get stuck standing in the back.
Food and entertainment was top notch!!! Winston , Steven, maddy, angel blu and drea were awesome!!!!!!! The service on the other hand was lacking. This place has gratuity already added to bill and the service doesnt match it. Manuel was our waiter and was not friendly at all. He didnt give us his name, ask us have we been there, didnt even say hi! He took our order and we seen him one more time to bring check, everything else was done by other people. I really hope they share tips because we paid him 20 to take a order.
This place was amazing. The food was incredible, and I loved seeing Danny Kean here. The atmosphere is great too. Nice for a quiet night, if you want it, before the music starts of course. The staff was incredibly nice, but a little aloof. We walked in at 6:45. There was one other table. I ordered an app within 10 minutes and we ordered food at 7 pm. An hour later, nothing had come out, so we asked about it. Everything, including the app, came out 2 minutes later ... luke warm. They had forgotten! Which doesnt make sense since there was only one other table to pay attention to. My order came with dressing when I ordered it on the side, and when I tried to send drinks over to a friend, I had to order them three times. All that being said, the food, even though it wasnt hot, was incredible, as was the music. And Ill definitely be back. Luckily we were in no rush, and I dont think Ill ever be in a rush to get out when I come here. Loved the atmosphere. Id rather have slow service than mean service anyway.
If I go there, its to sing at their open mike and this rating is for it from a singers perspective. Every time I get on stage, the band has its own drama queen moments as they seem to have an attitude. They dont let you to count in the song and they ignore the cues given to them during the song. Also, note, the first set is for the well known singers who are given a plenty of time to execute their songs and at the second set is where they drag through the people who either dont frequent the joint and thus are not familiar faces or who are not famous. So, if you are not famous or frequent the joint, youll sing past 12am and the band will start playing the intro of the song the moment they hear the title so you wont be able to cue or tell them how youd like it at all. After the famous people are done singing during the first set, they just wanna go home and finish so they speed up the process like a cattle call. Theyll call the next singer up while youre barely done singing your last note. It has been like it for many years, since I went there the first time in 2012 or 2013. I went back there after two years not visiting and its still the same attitude. I want to love the place, but I just cant, despite the food and bar being top notch.
Let me start off by saying communication at this establishment amongst employees does not exist. I called on 8/15 to make a reservation and was told I didnt need to. I called back on 8/17 and ask if I needed to make a reservation and was tolf no but she would take my information for 8/19. I received a phone call on 8/19 confirming my reservation and was told there is a $10 cover charge .I was aware of that because that was stated on the web site she then proceeds to tell me there was also a $20 minimum purchase which was not stated on the site. Upon arriving the young lady state the person I spoke during the confirmation had given me the wrong price for the cover charge and now it was $15 per person. We arrived about 7:15, we were there for dinner also. The R&B show was to start@ 8:00 according to the website calendar. We had dinner and sat until 9:00 and then asked what time will the show begin and was given a variety of excuses. We asked for a refund of the cover charge and was initially given $10 then received the full amount of $30. They seamed to be very uninformed about the information on their website. Very disappointed and will not return to this establishment nor will I recommend it to any of my family or friends.
Celebrated 39th wedding anniv. with my wife thereThe ambiance and live entertainment with blues guitarist ( Dave ? ) was greatThe food was greater .. espec. Crab cakes and. Mac cheese with bacon and shrimp ! Delicious ! There servers were great tooWe recommend it for special date( not a cheap one )Plus a bonus -Came after 7pm after meter park time --got a free park on 72nd st not far from restaurant Nice
This place is a Transporter, once the live music starts you are somewhere else in the world where music is air to breathe, the food has a soul and is undeniably authentic and vibrant in taste. Inside the walls of Sugar Bar a community quickly forms and everyone is on one accord, with one purpose--transport you to estacy where all your senses are teased, tickle and tantalizingly satisfied.P.S. the owner Valerie Simpson is FIRE!!!
My very first trip to NY was in the winter of 1999 for a magazine shoot. A friend suggested we go to Ashford and Simpsons Sugar Bar.Listen...This was one of the most unforgettable nights of my life. Ashford and Simpson, both of whom were extremely nice made me and everyone there feel like we were guests at their home. But before we even got in the door, who should we meet coming out the door but Luther Vandross!The entertainment that night was non other than legendary Roberta Flack whom he had just done a set with.Of course the place was packed wall to wall in anticipation for Ms. Flack! But the door opened and who walks in but Denzel Washington... I met he and Roberta Flack and they both were also very nice and down to earth. I will never forget how Sugar Bar made my first trip to New York one I will cherish a lifetime. I plan on going back this week while in NY!
Was visiting the city and my beau figured wed give this a go. He enjoyed the mac and cheese and cornbread. The beans and rice and greens were bleh. Horrid seating situation, causing you to bump elbows with the person sitting next to you. In order to get out, you had to move tables around. Im not claustrophobic, however I think this experience has led to the diagnosis. I was trapped with no way to get out. Anywho, musicians were ok, nothing great. Overall, its an ok spot to hang, I guess.
The restaurant is nice, the food was good but the service sucked, I was there with a group of 58 people and they werent prepared for us. The servers had bad attitudes. This restaurant is a place to go for an intimate setting or a group of 4. I dont know about ever going back to the restaurant, I was so displeased with the service. The servers give Valarie Simpson a bad look.
I am a native New Yorker and will keep to the directness of how we are known to be :)Food: Excellent! Try the Garlic Butter Shrimp.Drinks: Great.Space: This is a very casual, modern and relazed southern style dining setting. The intimate and modern layout is conducive to mixing and mingling, date nights, and get-togethers.Crowd: 20s-30s. Mostly locals.Scene: Romantic. Date night. Get-togethers. Jazz.Service: Excellent! Very courteous & professional.
Deep Kho Kho had the pleasure of performing onstage at the infamous Sugar Bar. She also shared the evening with a fellow Bon-Ton Baby & jazz great Bobbi Humphrey and a couple of well known playwrights... They loved the performance and wanted to share a photo.The food was superb. Steak, mashed potatoes and greens. Ummm uhh. Delicious.
It was great to revisit with my bestie❗ This restaurant holds such fond memories for me❗As I had performed at their open mic night years back⭐ Mike Phillips, his band & Chaz Shepherd blew the roof off the joint🎷🎤 Definitely a wonderful venue for a night out in the city❗⭐ Its a narrow venue, so be aware, reservations are encouraged❗What they lack in square footage they more than make up for with great service and an accommodating attitude❗Thank you Matilda, Laverne & Hugo⭐
Cannot comment on the food or service but this place is so SMALL it is uncomfortable. The tables are piled on top of each other. No space to move or go to the restroom. The tables have to be moved in order for you to get in and out. You are sitting shoulder to shoulder with strangers and people standing over top of your tables drinking, in a club like atmosphere. To add insult to injury the tables are virtually on top of the stage. We did not bother to stay and pay money to be uncomfortable. Add that to a $15 cover charge, even with a reservation for dinner is ridiculous. Definitely not what we expected from this establishment. Will NOT be going back and will NOT recommend. They need to chose whether or not this is a restaurant with live music or a night club with live music, either way it cant be both at the same time. IT IS WAY TO SMALL FOR THAT.
Total reviews rating 4.4
199 Reviews for Ashford & Simpsons Sugar Bar 2023:
Review №1
2022-05-21When I say arrest the cook. I mean arrest the cook because it should be a crime for the food to taste so dam good. Mac & Cheese perfect. The Snapper is to perfection. Love the host & everything about this place. I took my mom and she loved it & She is hard to please. She Keeps talking about the shrimp. I won points for the Sugar Bar. Make sure you get your reservation though. If you read my post, you already know I tell my truth on how I feel about everything. This is a perfect intermitt spot.
Review №2
2022-02-27Today surprised my aunt at this amazing spot plus we at the New edition the culture tour as i write this and we really enjoyed ourselves food was on point . i like the afro style design . plus staff was friendly
Review №3
2022-03-02Loved. I couldve stayed just to listen to the 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵. It was a quiet night. Usually live music on Thursdays. I hear Ms. Valerie comes in regularly. Food was great. I forgot to take pics. I had catfish strips and collard green...*mwah*💕💕
Review №4
2022-07-16Very nice and lively place with great food to boot.The kitchen staff and waiters were very quick and attentive.The music performances were very phenomenal and fun!
Review №5
2022-07-10Amazing atmosphere, warm staff with excellent food and drinks. Entertainment is Stella and regal some real talent across the board. Love this place went back the next day and received the same warm energy. Mrs simpson was there and greeted us with a smile and just checked in. Im a forever customer.here. 🙏🏽💗
Review №6
2022-06-04Food is amazing. Our party of 6 sampled plenty on the menu. Server was very polite. Beer was not as cold as expected for June summer night.
Review №7
2022-02-26The food was good if you like it warm . However if you are looking for large portions you’re not getting it here (seriously it’s not happening) Reservations were misleading. If you reserve a seat at 645pm be prepared to pay $10 per person for open mic (cash only). They told us we were seeing a live open mic show unbeknownst to us it was in a small sauna back room with two televisions that did not work. Up front seating was not available because the owner had guest coming. It would have been great we were told the locations of our seats ahead of time and that it would have not been a live show for us. Note it was already streaming from Facebook. The only option offered was to sit at the bar which was crowded. The manager said there was nothing he could do to fix the television unless he stopped the show. We requested the cover charge back and was provided a refund (which was great)Overall the food was good but the ambience was left to be desired. The place is small, dark and tight. The Jungle/Safari theme might have worked in the 80s but it is desperately in need of l an update.
Review №8
2022-06-07Nice cozy establishment. Service provided by Tremaine was good. Food and drink were good. The music was excellent! We will return to dine again.
Review №9
2022-06-20Fabulous dining experience! Food was great. Hubby loved the fried checked and for me, the grilled bass was delicious. We both loved greens and rice and peas. Customer service and ambiance were wonderful, personal and welcoming. Perfect place to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
Review №10
2021-09-05In love!! The ambiance, the staff, the food, Steve the manager, the restaurant is perfect!!! Every dish was just scrumptious!! Definitely going back to try brunch.