A pink, green, and white sign glows on the corner of Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 127th Street. It reads “Fish & Chicks.” When the door opens, the
A pink, green, and white sign glows on the corner of Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 127th Street. It reads “Fish & Chicks .” When the door opens, the smell of crispy chicken and the sound of music carry out.
Fish & Chicks opened in Harlem in February, offering all-day happy hour drinks every day of the week. The kitchen and bar are open from noon until midnight on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends. The food options are in the name: fish and chicken. The menu features a Catfish Po-Boy, Hot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwich, and even Jerk Shrimp Tacos. At the bar, there are frozen margaritas and coladas, as well as specialty drinks like the Grand Marnier Creamsicle.Photo by Nia Watson The owner, Marc Bernstein, says that the restaurant is all about “fun.” Fish & Chicks runs “Karaoke Wednesday” and themed DJ nights on the weekends, like “After Work Party” on Fridays and “Ladies Night” on Saturdays. Bernstein described the Saturday concept: “ $7 martinis and $1 floaters for frozen drinks for the ladies.” He added that he plans to introduce additional specialty nights soon. “I love how the restaurant is a staple in the community and how our regulars all live in the area,” said Thomas. “So it’s a place people feel a part of.”The walls and ceilings inside Fish & Chicks are lined with grass and leaves, fishing nets and string lights, and wooden carvings that resemble tiki statues, carefully placed on the walls.“Tiki is a Maori term that refers to a wood or stone image of a professed Polynesian supernatural power,” according toby Stanford Professor of Sociology Glenn R. Carroll. The study explains how tiki bars have risen as a popular “cultural phenomenon” in the American food and beverage industry since the 1930’s.Bernstain explained how the core of Fish & Chicks is the island atmosphere. The frozen cocktails give customers a tropical escape—a moment of warmth away from the winter city chill.“ I have so many frozen drinks in my establishment and I noticed they had a lot of frozen drinks,” he said, referring to both the popularity of frozen beverages at two other bars he has owned since 2012 and the inspiration he drew on from Tiki Chick. There are similarities in decor between the two establishments, but Bernstein says that Fish & Chicks offers different drink options and a larger food menu. “ I go out to dinner a lot of times and I try a lot of restaurants in the city, because you never know where your next idea’s gonna come from,” he added. Bernstein says his appreciation for food helps when operating in the restaurant business. He has worked in the industry since he was young and has even owned a range of restaurants in Harlem, includingWhere Fish & Chicks now sits is where Harlem Bar-B-Q used to reside. Bernstein opened the previous establishment in 2009, and it was known for its smoked brisket and ribs. “ The neighborhood is really welcoming and it’s amazing. We had our core group of people that really supported Harlem Bar-B-Q from 2009 and that same core group was a little nervous that we were rebranding,” said Bernstein. “But they have come in and they like it far better than Harlem Bar-B-Q, from what I can see.” Bernstein even kept some elements from the past, based on what he noticed the regular customers enjoyed the most. “ The mango wings were popular with Bar-B-Q and we carry the same recipe now,” said manager Carlos Alvarado about the similarities in menu items.A lot changed in the transition, from structural renovations to food; however, Bernstein says he kept a majority of his staff, many of whom he’s worked with for years, during the transition. He estimates that the current staff is roughly 60% retained and 40% newly hired. In terms of community reaction, Alvarado echoed Bernstein’s words about their loyal customer base from Harlem Bar-B-Q. Though there are some who miss the old restaurant, Alvarado says most people are excited about the change.“ If you come to Fish & Chicks, it’s good to relax, lose yourself, you know, let it go,” said Alvarado. “Have some fun and respect other people. That’s actually what we need right now. Everywhere, not just in Fish & Chicks.”Agency tasked with protecting workers says it needs more lawyers as Mamdani reverses campaign commitment to double its budgethas nothing to apologize forChasing Rainbows: The radical intimacy of monumental public artBronx man convicted of murder for 2021 New Year’s Day triple shooting at notorious Queens hotel: DA
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