Sweet Chick Opens Monday in LIC

Yesterday we got the news—Sweet Chick is opening their new LIC restaurant on Monday, April 9. Known for their modern fried chicken & waffles, it’s owned and operated by famous Queens rapper Nas and his restaurateur friend John Seymour, and they are proud to open their fourth NYC location in Nas’s hometown of LIC (he grew up just a few blocks from the restaurant).

Particularly notable is the private back room exclusive to the LIC location. It is “inspired by the jazz clubs of Harlem where Chicken & Waffles has its roots,” and will be a nice resource for people looking to host special events and parties. We often hear from Queens folk looking for private event space, so this will likely be a good option for that.

On that topic of African-American jazz clubs in Harlem being the place where chicken & waffles originated, Nas speaks about that in Paper Magazine:

“Years ago in New York City, the nightlife in Harlem alone would go to the wee hours of the morning. People wanted to enjoy fried chicken, but it’s also morning time. It’s time for breakfast. Somehow those dishes wound up being the same dish. A lot of entertainers wouldn’t want anything but chicken to eat at night, and then waffles in the morning. It stuck. You had lots of places in Harlem like Wells Chicken and Waffles, legendary places where your Duke Ellington’s and your Louis Armstrong’s, your greats of the Harlem Renaissance, would dine; it’s always been a New York thing.”

On top of that, Nas envisions the location to be an homage to his acclaimed jazz musician father, Olu Dara (who has given his stamp of approval). Look for the decor—in both the main dining room and the private room—to hearken back to the time when jazz clubs were king Harlem.

He and John Seymour also have plans for this Sweet Chick location to be a real community space, where customers “eat and feel like family.” You’ll likely find Seymour behind the bar serving drinks and chatting with patrons at this neighborhood spot, where live music will also be a factor in creating a welcoming and friendly vibe. BTW, they are also expanding to Citi Field with a new “Lil Sweet Chick” menu—a tasty option for Astorians heading to catch a Mets game (we know you’re out there).

As for the food, described as, “new American comfort food” is “a twist-on-classic dishes created by Executive Chef, Lawrence Duda, guzzle-worthy cocktails concocted by beverage director, Wilmer Reyes, desserts that make you feel like a kid again.” Look for the specials, in particular. You can check out their menu, here.

Their hours are:

Monday-Thursday, 11am-midnight
Friday, 11am-2am
Saturday, 10am-2am
Sunday, 10am-midnight

We look forward to stopping by the new LIC Sweet Chick and chowing down on fried chicken, waffles, mac and cheese, short ribs, and the Kale B.L.T. Salad sure caught our eyes. Welcome to the neighborhood, Sweet Chick!

Sweet Chick, 46-42 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City
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