When 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.

The 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.

Today 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

My goddaughter had not really been beyond 42nd street, so I decided to treat her to an upper west side black owned experience, Sugar Bar! There were a few partons at the bar and a girlfriends table of seniors, but other than that, slow moving for clientele. It was a wonderful experience, great, attentive waitress, bartender/hypeman, music maestro manager all made for a good 1st impression for my goddaughter. 👏

Very small, yet cozy establishment. The food was delicious, however, it took almost an hour for us to receive it, thus the food was hot, and satisfying , with large portions. Because of the size of the venue, it was very hard to move around. The entertainment was on point. I had the red snapper, which was huge and delicious, along with the street corner drink. Again the drink and entree was delicious. We also ordered the New Zealand lamp chops, and the seafood linguini. Overall the experience was wonderful, minus the size of the venue and the fact that the entertainment did not start at 8pm as advertised. There is also a cover charge to see live performances. I would recommend this establishment if you are looking for some good food, with live entertainment.

Appetizers (Catfish Strips, Crab Meat Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp, Fried Calamari and Jerk Chicken Wings) were good. The Crab Meat Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp was missing the Saffron butter sauce. Meal (New Zealand Lamb Chops with Collard Greens and Rice and Beans and Seafood Linguine) was excellent. Will definitely dine there again soon.

Great little lounge and bar restaurant. Had blacken catfish with mac & cheese & sauteed spinach. Excellent and plan to go back the following Saturday. Went back after one year out because of an ankle injury. They had a live jazz band and I ordered the crab meat stuffed shrimp and garlic toast. Had a good convo with the bartender. Very friendly atmosphere and I will return for open mic night.

The service was very good. The food was amazing. I got the fried catfish fillet with mac and cheese and sautéed spinach 10/10. The fried chicken was fried to perfection, it was crispy and packed with flavor. It is also located near the 2 & 1 train stations. You should check out this place, it’s definitely worth the try.

Food 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.

In 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.

Me and Mom came in today for an early dinner...I had the Catfish with Mac and Collards and my Mom had the crab stuffed shrimp. Yall this food was absolutely delicious. The service was great, the ambience was great and the bathroom was spotless. Will definitely come back when in town.

We had our annual brunch blessing at the Sugar Bar. The food and service were good. The coat check is mandatory for $2.00. Our waitress Vicki was great and fast!

Loved. I could've 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*💕💕

A true honor to be in the space and place of NYC and R&B legends Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar. Steve, the manager, made sure our group of 20 had a private room and we’re well taken care of. Food was amazing and the staff was top notch. The live music when we were there highlighted a saxophonist from Baltimore!!

Despite these less than 5 star ratings, I had an incredible time, and I would absolutely return again with more friends. The overall experience was worth it. However, with all due respect, the facility and food could be better. It's an older place that could use a good renovation. The interior layout between the bar up front, entertainment stage, rear dining area, and upstairs bar was awkward. The entertainment was awesome, but I felt embarrassed watching the entertainers change in the open under the stairs just outside the kitchen. Meeting Valerie Simpson was PRICELESS! I love the place, and I will return next time I am in NYC.

Whenever I’m traveling from Connecticut to New York This is one of my go to spots. Great atmosphere and the food is phenomenal.

The service was GREAT and the food was pretty good. The New York Blossom and Lemon Drop drinks were AMAZING!

Everything was good. A1. The food was good. The waitress was nice and attentive. The sugartini drink was good. The band was awesome. The singers were great. Souf Le Frè (a breath of fresh air) was just that. I ordered the fried snapped to go because it looked good on someone's plate. $20 cover was well worth it.

Food and Services were EXCEPTIONAL! We are from Houston they were so kind to us! Excellent Experience.. I belong to the clean plate club...lol. I ordered the Seafood Stew.

OMG, The. Best. Went for my aunt's pre-birthday celebration, and it did not disappoint! I had a turkey burger w/ salad and sautéed spinach. Bomb!!!! My table mates had lamb chops and salmon. They said it was all fantastic! The drinks, open mic entertainment...were amazing! We even took a pic with the legendary Valerie Simpson herself. If you find yourself on the Upper Westside of Manhattan on a Thursday night, do yourself a favor and stop in to say hi to Ms. Valerie, sample her eats and libations, and sit back and enjoy the open mic sounds!

While the place is small-- it's actually the perfect cozy spot for entertainment. You really have a personal warm connection with other patrons and as a " people person" I dig that.. The waiters are fast and the food is amazing and the "railroad" style layout gives it some old school swag! Chicken & waffles: highly recommended

Solid. Solid as a rock. The food was solid. The service was solid. The atmosphere was solid. The music was solid. Stopped here with my wife while our daughter was at a concert at the Beacon Theater. Excellent food, prices were very reasonable. Wife had the fried chicken, I had the French cut pork chops. Mash potatoes, Mac n cheese, corn bread. Our waiter Dom was personable and attentive. I would return here again.

Great food and atmosphere, the Chilean sea bass was tasty, the blackened catfish, Mac and cheese and desserts were all equally tasty. The fried calamari in your mouth and the fried catfish was worthwhile The picture included was the banana cake

Amazing 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. I'm a forever customer.here. 🙏🏽💗

Too closed in a one way out joint I felt unsafe. Heard there was a upstairs. Very crowded. The guess was rude one guy had is behind in my moms face while taking a picture in front of the Ashford & Simpson sign where we were sitting downstairs in the back. They took one of the chairs from our table without asking when there were other not occupied tables with chairs they could have took from. The entertainment was well how can I say not worth my $15 admission fee. They had young people as young as 11 years old performing after 11 pm. Will never ever fo back there again. Stop using these famous people name for a place like this.

Very 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!

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent! From the bar to the food and the Entertainment was the Most Beautiful experience I have ever had! The Band, The Singers and The Producer was Wonderful. Such Talent! My new Favorite hangout! Just Amazing!!

The legendary place should be own everyone’s bucket list. Great for family gatherings date nights and girls night out. It’s also family friendly so there is something for everyone. The catfish strips and lamb chops are a fan favorite for many. On many nights of the week you can catch a live show. The sugar bar host some of the industries greatest performers as well as upcoming talent from all over the world. Don’t be surprised if your dining on a Friday night and Cyndi Lauper just happens to be on the stage singing one of her platinum hit songs.

Nice cozy establishment. Service provided by Tremaine was good. Food and drink were good. The music was excellent! We will return to dine again.